Aggregation-Induced Emission Active Copolymers Designed for Stabilizing Cubic Phase Lipid Nanoparticles That Can Be...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Fluorescence imaging is crucial in biomedical fields.
• Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) probes offer high photostability and sensitivity.
• Hydrophobicity of AIE probes limits their application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel fluorescent stabilizers for lipid nanoparticles (LNPs).
• To overcome the hydrophobicity limitations of AIE probes.
• To create pH-responsive nanomaterials for enhanced fluorescence imaging.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized amphiphilic block copolymers incorporating tetraphenylethylene (TPE) and 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA).
• Investigated self-assembly of copolymers into core-shell micelles in aqueous solution.
• Utilized these polymers as stabilizers for monoolein-based LNPs (MO-based LNPs).
• Evaluated pH-dependent fluorescence intensity changes.

Main Results:

• Polymers self-assembled into fluorescent core-shell micelles.
• Polymer-stabilized MO-based LNPs with Q2 and H2 mesophases were formed.
• Incorporation of DMAEMA enabled pH-dependent fluorescence enhancement.
• Successful fluorescence imaging of LNPs in HeLa cells via confocal microscopy was achieved.

Conclusions:

• Developed the first TPE- and DMAEMA-based block copolymers as fluorescent LNP stabilizers.
• Demonstrated tunable fluorescence intensity through DMAEMA block length and pH.
• Highlighted the potential of these AIE block copolymers for advanced biological imaging.