Magnetic borylated conjugated polymer nanoparticles for deep-red optical and lifetime imaging.

Abstract

The near-IR emitting conjugated polymer (borylated poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole)) was processed into colloidally stable nanoparticles doped with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), giving multifunctional luminescent and magnetic nanoparticles between 100 - 140 nm in diameter. Emission between 710 and 720 nm was observed, and quantum yields (QYs) of up to 2.7% were achieved. The resulting particles were used to image HeLa cells using conventional and lifetime imaging techniques.