One-pot synthesis of super-bright fluorescent nanogel contrast agents containing a dithiomaleimide fluorophore

Abstract

Fluorescent nanogels with radii ranging from 12–17 nm, high quantum yield, concentration-independent emission, and fluorescent lifetimes of ca. 25 ns have been synthesised in a one-pot process. Solutions demonstrate a concentration independent emission between 0.1–10⁻³ wt%, allowing for true quantitative imaging where dye emission is a measure of local nanoparticle concentration.