Abstract:
Common fluorophores in bioimaging and bioanalysis such as fluorescent dyes and proteins are often limited by their emission brightness.
Semiconducting polymer dots (Pdots) are an emergent luminescent nanomaterial with many advantageous properties, including their extraordinary per particle brightness. However, there are several key problems that must be solved before Pdots may find widespread use. To enable the development of Pdot biosensors, we have performed photophysical studies to better understand the complex photophysics of Pdots and discern the nature of energy transfer in Pdot-dye systems. We have also designed a dextran-based surface coating material to address poor particle stability and the paucity of specific bioconjugation methods. Dextran-coated Pdots show improved performance in cell labeling and imaging applications.
Overall, our studies lay the groundwork for the use of Pdots in bioimaging and biosensing applications.