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In this study, positively charged polystyrene-co-poly (ar-vinylbenzyl) trimethylammonium nanoparticles loading with Aggregation Induced Emission (AIE) fluorescent molecule sulfonated 9,10-distyrylanthracene derivatives (SDSA) by coulomb force denoted as SDSA/PS-co-PVBTAC have been prepared. The size, size distribution and morphology of nanoparticles have been tested by Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM). The synthesized nanoparticles possess uniform size, good monodispersity and low biological toxicity. The AIE-type SDSA/PS-co-PVBTAC showed good fluorescence stability at pH from 3 to 10. It has been proved that the biological macromolecules including Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), DNA and RNA can amplify the cell imaging signals. Moreover, the AIE-type nanoparticles have been shown to perform fluorescent imaging of various cells. It suggests that the prepared SDSA/PS-co-PVBTAC can be used as a new biological probe in the field of cell imaging and detection, as well as expanding the application of AIE fluorescent molecules in biosensing field. Through Coulomb force of nanoparticles with AIE fluorophore SDSA, hybrid polymeric nanoparticles SDSA/PS-co-PVBTAC for various cells imaging were prepared. It has been proven that the biological macromolecules can amplify the fluorescence signals, accompanied with good fluorescence stability at pH from 3 to 10. The electrostatic attraction between the positively charged nanoparticles and the negatively charged cell membrane is conducive to improve the cellular uptake of nanoparticle, as well as the effect of intracellular imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doubly charged pH-responsive core/shell hydrogel nanoparticles with green fluorescence were prepared and were shown to be viable bioprobes for active targeting tumor tissue and imaging of cancer cells. Via emulsionfree copolymerization hydrogel nanoparticles as VANPs were prepared, the core of which was polystyrene (Ps) and the shell was comprised of strongly positive electrolyte (ar-vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium (VBTAC) with weak negative electrolyte acrylic acid (AA). Through conventional amidation, the shell was conjugated with cell-specific folic acid (FA), denoted as VANPs-FA. Then, negatively charged sulfonated 9,10-distyrylanthracene derivatives (SDSA) based on aggregation induced emission (AIE), was binding tightly to positively charged VBTAC of VANPs-FA shell. The prepared double charged fluorescent core/shell hydrogel nanoparticles abbreviated as VANPs-FS, showed excitation/emission wavelengths at ~420/528 nm. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements were performed to determine the size and surficial zeta potential of VANPs-FS. Under proper ratio of VBTAC to AA, the VANPs-FS was stable (~ 64.63 nm, −20.2 mV) at high pH (> 7), started to aggregate (~ 683.0 nm, −3.2 mV) at pH around 6, and can redispers at low pH (< 5). The MTT analysis proved that VANPs-FS had good biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity. The targeting effectiveness of VANPs-FS was confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]