Poly(amino acid)s-based star AIEgens for cell uptake with pH-response and chiral difference

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Organic Chemistry
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Chiral aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) are advanced chiral sensors.
• Understanding their chiral recognition in biological systems is crucial for expanding applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel star chiral AIEgens functionalized with poly(amino acid)s.
• To investigate their pH-responsive and chiral-dependent properties for biological imaging.

Main Methods:

• Precise synthesis of TPE-PLV and TPE-PDV via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP).
• Characterization of AIE properties, pH-responsiveness, and cellular uptake mechanisms in HepG2 cells.

Main Results:

• Synthesized star chiral AIEgens (TPE-PLV, TPE-PDV) exhibit typical AIE characteristics and concentration-dependent fluorescence.
• AIEgens show pH-responsiveness, with enhanced emission in acidic solutions.
• Cellular uptake is ATP-dependent, chiral-dependent, and pH-responsive in HepG2 cells.

Conclusions:

• Developed a novel strategy for synthesizing poly(amino acid)s functionalized AIEgens.
• Demonstrated the potential of these chiral AIEgens for pH-responsive and chiral-dependent biological imaging.
• These findings inspire the development of advanced fluorescent materials with chirality.