Polymer Dots with Enhanced Photostability, Quantum Yield, and Two-Photon Cross-Section using Structurally Constrained Deep-Blue Fluorophores

• DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c06094
• Publication Date: 2021-10-08T03:11:57Z
• Authors: Don M. Mayder; Christopher M. Tonge; Giang D. Nguyen; Michael V. Tran; Gary Tom; Ghinwa H. Darwish; Rupsa Gupta; Kelsi Lix; Saeid Kamal; W. Russ Algar; Sarah A. Burke; Zachary M. Hudson
• Keywords: Quantum yield; Section (typography)

Semiconducting polymer dots (Pdots) have emerged as versatile probes for bioanalysis and imaging at the single-particle level. Despite their utility in multiplexed analysis, deep blue Pdots remain rare due to need high-energy excitation sensitivity photobleaching. Here, we describe design of fluorophores using structural constraints improve resistance photobleaching, two-photon absorption cross sections, fluorescence quantum yields hexamethylazatriangulene motif. Scanning tunneling microscopy was used characterize electronic structure these chromophores on atomic scale well intrinsic stability. The most promising fluorophore functionalized with a polymerizable acrylate handle give deep-blue fluorescent acrylic polymers Mn > 18 kDa Đ < 1.2. Nanoprecipitation amphiphilic polystyrene-graft-(carboxylate-terminated poly(ethylene glycol)) gave water-soluble fluorescence, 0.81, molar coefficients (4 ± 2) × 108 M-1 cm-1. This high brightness facilitated visualization dramatically improved signal-to-noise ratio photobleaching versus an unencapsulated dye. were then conjugated antibodies immunolabeling SK-BR3 human breast cancer cells, which imaged both one- modes.