Fabrication and cell imaging of konjac glucomannan-copper nanocluster conjugates with aggregation-induced emission

A positively charged konjac glucomannan- graft -poly-(2-methacryloyloxyethyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride (KGM- g -PDMC) was prepared by using ceric ammonium nitrate as the initiator in aqueous solution. Negatively charged copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) were prepared by a one-step reduction method using glutathione as the reductant. Then, the two precursors mentioned above were combined through electrostatic attraction to form a conjugate (KGM- g -PDMC/CuNCs) exhibiting aggregation-induced emission (AIE). The resultant products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , zeta potential and particle size analysis , X-ray photoelectron spectrometry , transmission electron microscopy , and fluorescence spectrophotometry . The results showed that KGM- g -PDMC enhanced the AIE effect of CuNCs, with an approximate 4-fold increase in fluorescence intensity . A cytotoxicity analysis showed that the products possess good biocompatibility. Moreover, cell imaging indicated that the products have potential for application in the field of biomedicine.