Meiying Liu

Facile Incorporation of Aggregation-Induced Emission Materials into Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Intracellular Imaging and Cancer Therapy

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials were facilely incorporated into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) via one-pot surfactant templated method. Cell imaging and cancer therapy applications of such fluorescent MSNs were further explored. We demonstrated that AIE-MSN nanocomposites showed strong fluorescence and uniform morphology, making them promising for both cell imaging and cancer therapy.

Carbon-dots derived from nanodiamond: photoluminescence tunable nanoparticles for cell imaging.

Water dispersible carbon-dots (CDs) with tunable photoluminescence were synthesized via one-pot hydrothermal oxidation of nanodiamond and subsequently utilized for cell imaging applications. The CDs were characterized by the following techniques including transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-Visible spectroscopy, and fluorescent spectroscopy. Results showed that the size of CDs is mainly distributed at 3-7 nm. Many functional groups were introduced on the surface of CDs during hydrothermal oxidation procedure. Cell morphology observation and cell viability measurement demonstrated the good biocompatibility of CDs, suggesting their potential bioimaging applications.

Surfactant-dispersed nanodiamond: biocompatibility evaluation and drug delivery applications

Effective dispersion of nanodiamond (ND) in aqueous media especially in the physiological solution is of significant importance for its biomedical applications. Herein, the effect of surfactants on the water dispersibility of ND were investigated. On the basis of the dispersion results, biocompatibility as well as utilization of zwitterionic surfactant (lecithin) dispersed ND for intracellular delivery of doxorubicin hydrochloride were explored. We demonstrated that ND nanoparticles displayed enhanced dispersibility in both water and physiological solution in the present of lecithin. Given its facile, effective and low-cost features, the method for dispersion of ND nanoparticles described in this work will contribute significantly to the practical applications of ND.

Polymerizable aggregation-induced emission dye-based fluorescent nanoparticles for cell imaging applications

A polymerizable aggregation-induced emission (AIE) dye (named PhE) was facilely incorporated into polymer nanoparticles through reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The thus obtained fluorescent organic nanoparticles showed uniform size, high water dispersibility, strong fluorescence and excellent biocompatibility, and are expected to show great potential for cell imaging applications.

Interaction of tannic acid with carbon nanotubes: enhancement of dispersibility and biocompatibility

The interaction of manufactured nanomaterials with environmental and biological systems has been a subject of great research interest for a long time. In the present study, adsorption of a universal environmental organic material (named tannic acid (TA)) on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was investigated. The influence of CNT properties and pH values on the sorption capacity of CNTs for TA was also evaluated. Our results demonstrated that the sorption capacity of CNTs was positively correlated with their specific surface areas. Furthermore, TA could effectively enhance the water dispersibility of CNTs and reduce their cytotoxicity. Our results implied that TA could influence the environmental behavior and biological responses of the manufactured nanomaterials, reminding us that much more attention should be paid to the synergistic toxicity of nanomaterials when we evaluate their environmental impacts.

Fabrication of aggregation induced emission dye-based fluorescent organic nanoparticles via emulsion polymerization and their cell imaging applications

Aggregation induced emission (AIE) dye-based fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs) have recently emerged as novel fluorescent bioprobes due to their remarkable optical properties, water solubility and biocompatibility. In this work, a novel strategy for the fabrication of AIE-based FONs was developed via emulsion polymerization for the first time. During this procedure, a polymerizable AIE dye (named as PhE) with a double bond end functional group was facilely incorporated into the hydrophobic core of polymer nanoparticles. The obtained polymer nanoparticles (named as PhE–Pst NPs) exhibited strong fluorescence and high water dispersibility owing to the partial aggregation of PhE and the surface covered with a hydrophilic shell. More importantly, these FONs showed spherical morphology, uniform size (about 200 nm) and excellent biocompatibility, making them promising for bioimaging applications.

Tetraphenylethene-based aggregation-induced emission fluorescent organic nanoparticles: Facile preparation and cell imaging application

Tetraphenylethene-based (TPE) aggregation-induced emission fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs) were facilely prepared via Schiff base condensation with ɛ-polylysine (Ply) and subsequent reduction to form stable CN covalent bond. Thus obtained TPE-Ply FONs were characterized by a series of techniques including fluorescent spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Biocompatibility evaluation and cell uptake behavior of TPE-Ply FONs were further investigated to explore their potential biomedical application. We demonstrated that such FONs showed high water dispersibility, intense fluorescence, uniform morphology (100-200nm) and excellent biocompatibility, making them promising for cell imaging application.

Facile preparation and cell imaging applications of fluorescent organic nanoparticles that combine AIE dye and ring-opening polymerization

An aggregation induced emission dye (PhNH2) with two amino end groups was facilely incorporated into fluorescent organic nanoparticles through one-step room temperature anhydride ring-opening polymerization under an air atmosphere. Such obtained polymeric nanoparticles showed high water dispersibility, uniform size, strong red fluorescence and excellent biocompatibility, making them promising for cell imaging applications.

Facile fabrication and cell imaging applications of aggregation-induced emission dye-based fluorescent organic nanoparticles

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) dye-based fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs) were prepared via Schiff base interactions between an AIE dye and a carbohydrate polymer (carboxymethyl chitosan). The obtained FONs with uniform size, high water dispersibility, strong fluorescence and high biocompatibility were explored for cell imaging applications.

Recent developments in polydopamine: an emerging soft matter for surface modification and biomedical applications

After more than four billion years of evolution, nature has created a large number of fascinating living organisms, which show numerous peculiar structures and wonderful properties. Nature can provide sources of plentiful inspiration for scientists to create various materials and devices with special functions and uses. Since Messersmith proposed the fabrication of multifunctional coatings through mussel-inspired chemistry, this field has attracted considerable attention for its promising and exiciting applications. Polydopamine (PDA), an emerging soft matter, has been demonstrated to be a crucial component in mussel-inspired chemistry. In this review, the recent developments of PDA for mussel-inspired surface modification are summarized and discussed. The biomedical applications of PDA-based materials are also highlighted. We believe that this review can provide important and timely information regarding mussel-inspired chemistry and will be of great interest for scientists in the chemistry, materials, biology, medicine and interdisciplinary fields.