Functionalized, Fluorescent, Conjugated Polymer Nanospheres for Protein Targeting via Förster Resonance Energy Transfer.

We report the preparation of fluorescent nanospheres based on conjugated polymers, which enables a facile fluorescence color tuning. The fluorescent nanospheres have aldehyde groups on the surface that enable the introduction of a protein ligand, biotin. The intrinsic fluorescence of the nanospheres allows detection of a dye-labeled target protein, streptavidin, via Förster resonance energy transfer.

Conjugated polymer dots-on-electrospun fibers as a fluorescent nanofibrous sensor for nerve gas stimulant.

A novel chemical warfare agent sensor based on conjugated polymer dots (CPdots) immobilized on the surface of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-silica nanofibers was prepared with a dots-on-fibers (DoF) hybrid nanostructure via simple electrospinning and subsequent immobilization processes. We synthesized a polyquinoxaline (PQ)-based CP as a highly emissive sensing probe and employed PVA-silica as a host polymer for the elctrospun fibers. It was demonstrated that the CPdots and amine-functionalized electrospun PVA-silica nanofibers interacted via an electrostatic interaction, which was stable under prolonged mechanical force.

Simple technique for spatially separated nanofibers/nanobeads by multinozzle electrospinning toward white-light emission.

Electrospun, emission color-tunable nanofibrous sheets were fabricated by multinozzle electrospinning equipped with a secondary electrode for the preparation of white-emissive sheets under a single excitation source, manipulating energy transfer between dyes. By control of the concentration of commercially available red, green, and blue dyes in the matrix polymer [poly(methyl methacrylate)], emission color tuning can be easily accomplished because each dye is located in spatially separated fibers to maintain enough distance to prevent or suppress energy transfer, allowing white-light emission. The application of dye separation for the white-light emission upon excitation with a blue light-emitting-diode lamp is demonstrated, indicative of its potential application for the easy and facile tuning of fluorescence color toward flexible illumination.