FRET-based carbazole-fluorescein ionic nanoparticle for use as an effective bioimaging agent.

Fӧrster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based systems are widely applicable in many areas of interest. In this study, a novel FRET-based ionic material (IM) was synthesized by pairing carbazole imidazolium cation (CI) with fluorescein anion (Fl) through a simple ion-exchange method. The resulting IM ([CI][Fl]) was converted into an ionic nanoparticle (INP) in aqueous media for practical use for bioimaging application.

Understanding of Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) in Ionic Materials.

Herein, an ionic material (IM) with Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) characteristics is reported for the first time. The IM is designed by pairing a Nile Blue A cation (NBA) with an anionic near-infrared (NIR) dye, IR820, using a facile ion exchange reaction. These two dyes absorb at different wavelength regions.