Bright and biocompatible AIE polymeric nanoparticles prepared from miniemulsion for fluorescence cell imaging

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) with a size of several tens of nanometers were successfully prepared by miniemulsion copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with an AIE monomer, 1-allyl-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylsilole (AMTPS). The prepared AIE poly(MMA-co-AMTPS) NPs exhibited strong photoluminescence with high quantum yields. Promisingly, the brightness of AIE poly(MMA-co-AMTPS) NPs, which increased linearly with an increase in AMTPS content, could be accurately modulated via the AMTPS content in the range of 0–20 wt%. In vitro cell experiments indicated that the AIE poly(MMA-co-AMTPS) NPs were promising cell staining reagents with good biocompatibility and high photostability.