Synthesis of Water‐Soluble Dendritic Conjugated Polymers for Fluorescent DNA Assays

Abstract

AbstractSummary: Cationic water‐soluble dendritic poly(fluorene)s with positively charged amines on the exterior (PFP‐G0–2) can be prepared by a macromonomer (generation‐by‐generation) approach. The charge densities of PFP‐G0–2 can control their distances to DNA by electrostatic interactions. The PFP‐G2 with higher generation of dendritic side chains possesses a higher charge density, and gives rise to efficient fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to a signaling fluorescein labeled at the terminus of DNA. These new conjugated polymers form less aggregates and yield more efficient FRET in a tetrahydrofuran/H2O mixed solvent as compared to in pure water. The sensitivity of the DNA sensor is improved by utilizing highly dendritic conjugated polymers.Structure of the dendritic conjugated polymer PFP‐G2.magnified imageStructure of the dendritic conjugated polymer PFP‐G2.