Issue 14, 2015

Soft fluorescent nanomaterials for biological and biomedical imaging

Abstract

Soft fluorescent nanomaterials have attracted recent attention as imaging agents for biological applications, because they provide the advantages of good biocompatibility, high brightness, and easy biofunctionalization. Here, we provide a survey of recent developments in fluorescent soft nano-sized biological imaging agents. Various soft fluorescent nanoparticles (NPs) (including dye-doped polymer NPs, semiconducting polymer NPs, small-molecule organic NPs, nanogels, micelles, vesicles, and biomaterial-based NPs) are summarized from the perspectives of preparation methods, structure, optical properties, and surface functionalization. Based on both optical and functional properties of the nano-sized imaging agents, their applications are then reviewed in terms of in vitro imaging, in vivo imaging, and cellular-process imaging, by means of specific or nonspecific targeting.

Graphical abstract: Soft fluorescent nanomaterials for biological and biomedical imaging

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
03 Sept. 2014
First published
22 Dec. 2014

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2015,44, 4699-4722

Author version available

Soft fluorescent nanomaterials for biological and biomedical imaging

H. Peng and D. T. Chiu, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2015, 44, 4699 DOI: 10.1039/C4CS00294F

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