Incorporation of an aggregation-induced-emissive tetraphenylethene derivative into cationic gene delivery vehicles manifested the nuclear translocation of uncomplexed DNA

A fluorophore displaying aggregation-induced emission was introduced at the terminus of branched polyethylenimine (PEI). The formulated polyplex not only demonstrated an improved safety profile and preserved transfection activity but also importantly indicated that the uncomplexed naked DNA rather than the polyplexes translocated into the nucleus.