Naphthalimide‐based Functional Glycopolymeric Nanoparticles as Fluorescent Probes for Selective Imaging of Tumor Cells

Abstract

AbstractA series of functional glycopolymer nanoparticles with 1,8‐naphthalimide motif was designed, synthesized and applied for tumor cell imaging. With the pH‐sensitive and aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) effect of the 1,8‐naphthalimide fluorescent probe, the presence of glucose‐based glycopolymers enhanced its water‐solubility and biocompatibility. Owing to the dual tumor‐targeting effects of the dense glucose part and the boronic ester modification, the obtained glycopolymers showed high affinity to tumor cells, with a much faster staining rate than normal cells, indicating a great potential for diagnosis and treatments of cancers.