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Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Synthesis of Stimuli-responsive Nanogels using Aqueous One-step Crosslinking and Co-nanopolymerization
Published on: January 24, 2025
A Cell-Targeted Non-Cytotoxic Fluorescent Nanogel Thermometer Created with an Imidazolium-Containing Cationic Radical
Seiichi Uchiyama1, Toshikazu Tsuji2, Kyoko Kawamoto1
1Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
Abstract:
A cationic fluorescent nanogel thermometer based on thermo-responsive N-isopropylacrylamide and environment-sensitive benzothiadiazole was developed with a new azo compound bearing imidazolium rings as the first cationic radical initiator. This cationic fluorescent nanogel thermometer showed an excellent ability to enter live mammalian cells in a short incubation period (10 min), a high sensitivity to temperature variations in live cells (temperature resolution of 0.02-0.84 °C in the range 20-40 °C), and remarkable non-cytotoxicity, which permitted ordinary cell proliferation and even differentiation of primary cultured cells.
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