Photoreversible Fluorescent Modulation of Nanoparticles via One-Step Miniemulsion Polymerization

A nitrobenzoxadiazolyl(NBD)-based fluorescent dye and a photochromic spiropyran derivative are incorporated into polymeric nanoparticles via a one-step miniemulsion polymerization. The diameter of the nanoparticels can be varied from approximatley 40 nm to 80 nm by adjusting the polymerization conditions. The prepared nanoparticles exhibit the spectral properties of both NBD dye and spiropyran, indicating that the two chromophores are incorporated into the nanoparticles. The determined amount of NBD and spiropyran in the nanoparticles are about approximate to 85-90% of the feed amount, while the determined weight ratios of spiropyran to NBD in nanoparticles are very close to that of feed ratios, suggesting the mini-emulsion polymerization is a suitable approach for incorporating multiple chromophores into individual nanoparticles with controlled amounts (content) and ratio. UV and visible light can be applied to modulate the fluorescence emission of NBD dye in nanoparticle. Upon UV irradiation, the spiropyran moieties in nanoparticles are converted to the open-ring (McH form) structure and upon visible-light irradiation they return to the closed-ring (SP form) structure; as a result, the fluorescence of NBD can be reversibly switched off and switched on. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer from the excited NBD dye molecules to the McH form of the spiropyran moieties is the drives the flyorescence modulation. The nanoparticles display fairly good photoreversibility, photostability, and relatively fast photoresponsivity upon alternate UV/V is irradiation. This class of photoresponsive nanoparticles may find applications in biological fields, such as labeling and imaging, as well as in optical fields, for example, individually light-addressable nanoscale devices.