Issue 27, 2012

Engineering FRET processes within synthetic polymers, polymeric assemblies and nanoparticlesvia modulating spatial distribution of fluorescent donors and acceptors

Abstract

Polymeric micelles and polymersomes self-assembled from amphiphilic and double hydrophilic block copolymers (DHBCs) offer great promise as smart nanocarriers of chemotherapeutic drugs, genes, and imaging or contrast agents. Specifically, fluorescent polymeric assemblies and nanoparticles render possible the in situ tracking of intracellular transport, in vivo circulation characteristics, and biodistribution of drug-loaded or conjugated nanocarriers. The introduction of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) processes into polymeric assemblies and nanoparticles can further enhance relevant functions due to the fact that the tracking can be conducted in a ratiometric manner to effectively exclude background interference and enhance spatiotemporal detection resolution. Moreover, if the FRET efficiency is responsive to the variation of solution conditions such as pH value, temperature, metal ions, glucose, and tissue-specific enzymes by taking advantage of the responsiveness of polymeric matrix, sensing of the external microenvironment will also be achieved. This article highlights recent developments of fluorescent polymers, polymeric assemblies and nanoparticles involving FRET events, in which the modulation of FRET efficiency can be achieved by tuning the spatial distribution of fluorescent donors and acceptors.

Graphical abstract: Engineering FRET processes within synthetic polymers, polymeric assemblies and nanoparticles via modulating spatial distribution of fluorescent donors and acceptors

Article information

Article type
Highlight
Submitted
14 Mar 2012
Accepted
13 Apr 2012
First published
09 May 2012

Soft Matter, 2012,8, 7096-7102

Engineering FRET processes within synthetic polymers, polymeric assemblies and nanoparticles via modulating spatial distribution of fluorescent donors and acceptors

C. Li, J. Hu and S. Liu, Soft Matter, 2012, 8, 7096 DOI: 10.1039/C2SM25582K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements