Post-polymerisation functionalisation of conjugated polymer backbones and its application in multi-functional emissive nanoparticles

Abstract

Backbone functionalisation of conjugated polymers is crucial to their performance in many applications, from electronic displays to nanoparticle biosensors, yet there are limited approaches to introduce functionality. To address this challenge we have developed a method for the direct modification of the aromatic backbone of a conjugated polymer, post-polymerisation. This is achieved via a quantitative nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) reaction on a range of fluorinated electron-deficient comonomers. The method allows for facile tuning of the physical and optoelectronic properties within a batch of consistent molecular weight and dispersity. It also enables the introduction of multiple different functional groups onto the polymer backbone in a controlled manner. To demonstrate the versatility of this reaction, we designed and synthesised a range of emissive poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT)-based polymers for the creation of mono and multifunctional semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (SPNs) capable of two orthogonal bioconjugation reactions on the same surface.

Comparison of Semiconducting Polymer Dots and Semiconductor Quantum Dots for Smartphone-Based Fluorescence Assays

“…Several strategies can be adapted from other materials, 34,14 and new methods that leverage the unique Pdot surface chemistry are already being implemented. 35 Another caveat with respect to Pdots, in our hands, is significant inter-batch variability, which accounts for the large uncertainties in Table 1 (e.g. CNPPV Pdots were brightest on average, but F8BT Pdots were brighter for the batches used for Figures 1-4.)…”

Organic Bioelectronics: Using Highly Conjugated Polymers to Interface with Biomolecules, Cells, and Tissues in the Human Body

“…We focus exclusively on interfaces that use highly conjugated polymers to interface an aspect of human physiology, where the polymer's primary proposed use relies on its electronic properties. For example, we do not discuss organic small molecule devices, conjugated polymer nanoparticles for imaging or optical biosensing, [ 3–5 ] biomimicking neuromorphic designs, [ 6–8 ] hydrogen‐bond mediated bioprotonics, [ 9–11 ] or polymers for nonelectronic/ionic driven drug delivery. [ 12 ] We also include a brief discussion of the origin of bioelectricity itself, as this is fundamental to the motivation and application of many organic bioelectronic interfaces.…”

Block Copolymer‐Directed Synthesis of Conjugated Polyimine Nanospheres with Multichambered Mesopores

“…In the past decades, conjugated polymers have attracted enormous attentions in various fields, [ 1 ], e.g., optoelectronic devices electronics, [ 2 ] light‐emitting diodes (LEDs), [ 3 ] chemical sensors [ 4 ] and polymer solar cells, [ 5,6 ] due to their unique electronic and electroluminescent properties. [ 7,8 ] Among them, polyimines (also named as Schiff‐base polymers or polyazomethines), as a kind of typical conjugated polymers, are constructed from the covalent imine bonds (CN) in backbones.…”