PEGylated nanoparticles of diperylene bisimides with high efficiency of 1O2 generation

Diperylene bisimide bearing poly(ethylene glycol) chains (PEG-diPBI) were synthesized using click coupling reaction between mono-azido terminated PEG113 and bis-alkynyl functionalized diPBI. Then the PEG-diPBI self-assembled into micelles in water, which were characterized by cryo-TEM, UV–Vis spectrometry and fluorescence spectrometry. Furthermore, the PEG-diPBI was applied by continuous photolysis procedure, the result showed a broad absorption and very high efficiency of 1O2 generation (ΦΔ = 0.66). Moreover, the uptake of PEG-diPBI particles by human bladder carcinoma EJ cells was observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Also, phototoxicity experiment result was applied to PEG-diPBI, and gave the result that it is worth to investigate the properties of PEG-diPBI particles for photodynamic therapy.

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► New kinds of PEGylated PS nanoparticles were synthesized by CuAAC reaction.
► The particles have broad absorption spectra and a high efficiency of 1O2 generation.
► The particles could be used for developing high performance PSs for PDT application.