Near-infrared fluorescent nanoparticle of low-bandgap p-conjugated polymer for in vivo molecular imaging

Abstract

Fluorescent nanoparticles at the NIR range were prepared from the low-bandgap conjugated polymer CDPDOF. The emission intensity was successfully enhanced by the FRETmechanism from CDPDOF to an energy-acceptor dye moiety, SiNc, resulting in the strong fluorescence in the NIR region. The fluorescence from the CDPDOF/SiNc-PNP was brightly observed through a living body in in vivo optical imaging, indicating that the PNP accumulated in the liver of a mouse. The ability to target a specific site can be added by the surface modification of the PNPs with functional groups. The dye-doped PNPs of the low-bandgap polymer are thus a promising candidate for an in vivo molecular probe. © The Society of Polymer Science, Japan (SPSJ) All rights reserved.