Multifunctional Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles (CPNs) for Biological Applications

摘要

Luminescent markers for monitoring biological processes is a well-developed, although imperfect science. Luminescence, in this case, is actually photoluminescence from an organic semiconducting electronic structure, where a photo-excited electron recombines with a photo-generated hole, specifically from an exciton in the pi/pi* orbitals. Organic dyes are the usual material when cell-imaging studies (or associated diagnostic procedures) are required. Recent advances in material science have opened up new avenues to biologically-relevant luminescent materials, usually considered the domain of organic chemists. These new materials exploit the robust optical properties required for display applications and, when combined with other functionalities provided by such materials, represent the next generation of imaging technologies.