Biocompatible Fluorescent Probe with the Aggregation-induced Emission Characteristic for Live Cell Imaging

A new kind of biocompatible probe (PEG-TPEFE) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristic was reported, which was synthesized from fluorene, tetraphenylethylene (TPE) and polyethylene glycol monomethyle ether 1000 (PEG1000). PEGTPEFE can aggregate into nanosphere and emit strong blue fluorescence in aqueous media. Cytotoxicity assay reveals low cytotoxicity and excellent biocompatibility of this nanoprobe. This nanoprobe was internalized and accumulated by live cells and shown high photostability