Fluorescent Glycopolymer Nanoparticles Based on Aggregation-Induced Emission Dyes: Preparation and Bioimaging Applications

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) dye-based fluorescent glycopolymers nanoparticles (FGNs) are synthesized with abundant carbohydrate groups on the surface for the first time. This is carried out firstly by free radical polymerization between AIE monomer (PhE) and a renewable biobased monomer itaconic anhydride (ITA), then by the ring-opening reaction between ITA and glucosamine hydrochloride, to obtain glycopolymers with plenty of glycosyl groups on them. The resulted amphiphilic glycopolymer is prone to self-assemble into nanoparticles with high water dispersibility due to the surplus carboxyl groups and glycosyl groups covered on the surface, which can also be further functionalized. The obtained nanoparticles demonstrate strong fluorescence emission, owning to the AIE dyes in the core of nanoparticles. Biocompatibility evaluation and cell uptake behavior of the nanoparticles are further investigated to explore their potential biomedical applications; the demonstrated excellent biocompatibility makes them promising for cell imaging.