Temperature and pH Responsive Light‐Harvesting System Based on AIE‐Active Microgel for Cell Imaging

Abstract

A highly emissive microgel is synthesized by polymerizing tetraphenylethene (TPE) based comonomers, acrylic acid, NIPAM, and permanent crosslinker ethylenebisacrylamide (BIS) (named as TPE microgel), which exhibited temperature responsive fluorescence emission. Rhodamine B (RhB), a positively charged molecule, is then inserted onto the surface of fabricated microgels through electrostatic interaction. As a result, a novel artificial light harvesting system with high energy transfer efficiency is constructed (named as TPE microgel‐RhB light harvesting system), which is the first light harvesting system based on TPE microgels presenting dual response to pH and temperature. MTT assay indicates the fabricated TPE microgel and TPE microgel‐RhB light harvesting system has good cytocompatibility. The strong fluorescence and good cytocompatibility make them perfect candidates for cell imaging. The prepared emissive microgel and light‐harvesting system with desirable fluorescent property not only provide a new strategy for the fabrication of tunable luminescent nanomaterials, but also expand potential applications in the fields of stomach recognition, temperature sensors, and drug delivery.

Synthesis and Aggregation‐Induced Emission of Polyamide‐Amines as Fluorescent Switch Controlled by Hg2+‐Glutathione

“…Figure 3b presents that the fluorescence intensity of PMPBAP solution was increased with the decrease of temperature. As the temperature decreased, the thermal motions of PMPBAP molecules are greatly limited [37] . The many dissipative pathway of energy absorbed by particles decrease, which results in fluorescence enhancement.…”

“…As the temperature decreased, the thermal motions of PMPBAP molecules are greatly limited. [37] The many dissipative pathway of energy absorbed by particles decrease, which results in fluorescence enhancement.…”

Self-assembled supramolecular artificial light-harvesting nanosystems: construction, modulation, and applications

“…9 ). 108 The microgel was synthesized by polymerizing TPE based comonomers, acrylic acid, N -isopropylacrylamide ( N IPAM), and permanent crosslinker ethylenebisacrylamide (BIS), which acted as the donor with energy transfer to the acceptor RhB. The pH value showed an obvious effect on the energy transfer efficiency for this light-harvesting system, increasing from 21.6% (pH = 2.0) to 52.3% (pH = 8.0) accompanying the diverse luminescent colors at a molar ratio of TPE/RhB of 5 : 1.…”

A temperature-responsive artificial light-harvesting system in water with tunable white-light emission

“…However, articial supramolecular LHSs with temperature response are rarely reported. 39,40 Herein, a fundamental challenge is how to construct a similar articial system to mimic the temperature-responsive light harvesting process and achieve specic functions.…”