Abstract
A new multi-functional fluorescent polymer dot was readily synthesized and used for live cell imaging and broad-spectrum bacterial killing.
Highlights
We found that compared to other ionic liquids such as 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methyl sulphate (BMIMMeSO4) and tetra ethyl ammonium chloride (TEAC), BMIMBF4 offers the highest yield of pTh-polymer dots (Pdots)
We have synthesized a new fluorescent polymer dot derived from non-fluorescent polythiophene using a simple and high yield procedure
Exploiting its negative solvatochromism properties, here we demonstrate the use of pTh-Pdots in live cells to label and differentiate early endosomes and lysosomes along the endocytic pathway
Summary
Fluorescent quantum dots or nanoparticles derived from semiconducting polymers (Pdots) have attracted considerable interest for various biomedical applications (e.g., fluorescence and photoacoustic cellular imaging, optical sensing, and photodynamic therapy), owing to their unique properties such as high brightness, tunable and non-blinking emission, broad absorption, high photo-stability, biocompatibility, and molecular size.[1,2,3,4,5,6] Pdots are usually made by collapsing and packing long-chain fluorescent polymers using, e.g., miniemulsion or reprecipitation methods.[7,8,9] These Pdots are often large in size and require a tedious synthesis process.Experimental sectionPreparation of polythiophene (pTh) films The 2,20-bithiophene (BTh) monomer and ionic liquids (1-n-butyl3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate – BMIMBF4; 1-butyl-3methylimidazolium methyl sulphate – BMIMMeSO4) were purchased from Sigma Aldrich.Using a 0.1 M BTh monomer in the ionic liquid BMIMBF4, the poly(2,2-bithiophene) (pTh) film was electro-polymerized onto an ITO working electrode held at the constant potential of 5 V for 45 minutes. Likely due to its negative solvatochromism properties, pTh-Pdots fluoresce blue in early endosomes but green in lysosomes, allowing tracking of the endocytic pathway a School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 70 Nanyang Drive, 637457, Singapore.
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