Fabrication of pH-Responsive Nanoparticles with an AIE Feature for Imaging Intracellular Drug Delivery

Abstract

Here we have demonstrated a facile method for construction of self-assembled nanoparticles with excellent fluorescent properties by the synergetic combination of unique AIE effects and tadpole-shaped polymers. The introduction of acid-sensitive Schiff base bonds furnished the polymeric vesicles and micelles with unique pH responsiveness that can possess maximal drug-release controllability inside tumor cells upon changes in physical and chemical environments, but present good stability under physiological conditions. Having benefited from the efficient fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), the DOX-loaded fluorescent aggregates were employed for intracellular imaging and self-localization in surveillance of systemic DOX delivery. Cytotoxicity assay of the DOX-loaded aggregates indicated a fast internalization and a high cellular proliferation inhibition to MCF-7 cells while the PEG-POSS-(TPE)7 nanoparticles displayed no cytotoxicity, exhibiting excellent biocompatibility and biological imaging properties. These results indicated that these biodegradable nanoparticles, as a class of effective pH-responsive and visible nanocarriers, have the potential to improve smart drug delivery and enhance the antitumor efficacy for biomedical applications.

Aggregation‐induced emission enhancement of anthracene‐derived Schiff base compounds and their application as a sensor for bovine serum albumin and optical cell imaging

“…AFM images of R1–R3 in f w = 80% H 2 O for R1 and R2 and f w = 90% H 2 O for R3 are shown in Figure . The topography of the surface showed that the aggregates were spherical and rod shaped, similar to the SEM images and matching well with previous reports …”

“Turn‐On” Activatable AIE Dots for Tumor Hypoxia Imaging

“…Due to the high brightness and biocompatibility, the AIE dots have been used with great success in bioimaging. However, studies on AIE‐dot‐based biosensors remain rare . The development of novel environmently sensitive AIE dots is in need to further expand the application of these exceptional fluorescence nanoaggregates.…”

“…However,s tudies on AIE-dot-based biosensors remainr are. [9] The developmento fn ovel environmently sensitive AIE dots is in need to further expand the application of these exceptional fluorescencen anoaggregates. Therefore, in this work, we present an activatable AIE dot (aAIE dot), which is an organic dot that can be activated to emit AIE fluorescencei nr esponse to environmental cues.Hypoxia is among the most important features of malignant tumors.…”

Tumor microenvironment-responsive docetaxel-loaded micelle combats metastatic breast cancer

“…However, more than 65% of DTX still remained in the micelles, meaning that DTX would not be pre-released in the extracellular space at tumor tissues. In the pH 5.5 medium, the drug release rate was more than 80% at 48 h, which was a sign of ample and prompt intracellular DTX release in the endo/lysosomes of tumor cells [31].…”