Silver@quercetin Nanoparticles with Aggregation-Induced Emission for Bioimaging In Vitro and In Vivo

Fluorescent materials based on aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) have unique advantages for in situ and real-time monitoring of biomolecules and biological processes because of their high luminescence intensity and resistance to photobleaching. Unfortunately, many AIEgens require time-consuming and expensive syntheses, and the presence of residual toxic reagents reduces their biocompatibility. Herein,[email protected]nanoparticles ([email protected]), which have a clear core–shell structure, were prepared by redox reaction of quercetin (QC), a polyphenolic compound widely obtained from plants, including those used as foods, and silver ions.[email protected]show both aggregation-induced luminescence and the distinct plasma scattering of silver nanoparticles, as well as good resistance to photobleaching and biocompatibility. The[email protected]were successfully used for cytoplasmic labeling of living cells and for computerized tomography imaging in tumor-bearing mice, demonstrating their potential for clinical applications.Keywords:quercetin;silver;self-assembling nanoparticles;aggregation-induced emission luminogens;bioimaging