Facile fabrication of AIE-based stable cross-linked fluorescent organic nanoparticles for cell imaging

An aggregation induced emission dye (RNH2) with two amino end-groups was facilely incorporated into stable cross-linked fluorescent organic nanoparticles via room temperature anhydride ring-opening polymerization and consecutive cross-linking with polyethylene polyamine. Thus obtained RO-OA-PEPA FONs were characterized by a series of techniques including 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV–vis absorption spectrum, fluorescent spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Biocompatibility evaluation and cell uptake behavior of RO-OA-PEPA FONs were further investigated to explore their potential biomedical application. We demonstrated that such FONs showed high-water dispersibility, strong red fluorescence, stable uniform morphology (100–200 nm) and excellent biocompatibility, making them promising for cell imaging application.