Tetraphenylethene-based aggregation-induced emission fluorescent organic nanoparticles: Facile preparation and cell imaging application

Abstact henylethene-based (TPE) aggregation-induced emission fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs) were facilely prepared via Schiff base condensation with ɛ-polylysine (Ply) and subsequent reduction to form stable CN covalent bond. Thus obtained TPE-Ply FONs were characterized by a series of techniques including fluorescent spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Biocompatibility evaluation and cell uptake behavior of TPE-Ply FONs were further investigated to explore their potential biomedical application. We demonstrated that such FONs showed high water dispersibility, intense fluorescence, uniform morphology (100–200 nm) and excellent biocompatibility, making them promising for cell imaging application.