Poly(phenyleneethynylene) nanoparticles: preparation, living cell imaging and potential application as drug carriers

Conjugated polymer nanoparticles (PPE nanoparticles) are fabricated by the self-assembly of novel amphiphilic poly(phenyleneethynylenes). The morphology and cytotoxicity of PPE nanoparticles were investigated. Moreover, confocal fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry assay revealed the effective internalization of PPE nanoparticles. PPE nanoparticles were also used as a carrier for drug delivery systems. Upon encapsulating an anticancer drug, DOX, PPE nanoparticles exhibited high drug loading efficiency (26.6 wt%) and good release properties. Subsequently, DOX loaded PPE nanoparticles were investigated by employing dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Finally, cell uptake, cytotoxicity and Western blotting analysis were carried out, which revealed that PPE nanoparticles successfully deliver the drug into cancer cells and retain the anticancer bioactivity of DOX. All these results indicated that this new type of PPE nanoparticles would be a promising drug delivery system for therapeutic delivery and/or bioimaging applications.