Rhodamine-anchored poly(norbornene) for fluorescent sensing of ATP

A fluorescent poly (norbornene)-based copolymer probe P1 , which was obtained via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of a PEG-anchored norbornene monomer NB-PEG with a rhodamine-functionalized monomer NB-RB, has been designed and synthesized. Owing to its amphiphilic property, copolymer P1 self-assembles nanostructure aggregations in aqueous solution with a weak emission. Upon addition of ATP , visual color change from colorless to red and a large fluorescence enhancement were observed for the ring-opening of rhodamine spirolactam mechanism. This probe shows a good photostability, and has been successfully applied for imaging of ATP level in living SMMC cells.