BioAIEgens derived from rosin: how does molecular motion affect their photophysical processes in solid state?

Nat Commun. 2021 Mar 19;12(1):1773. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22061-y.

Abstract

The exploration of artificial luminogens with bright emission has been fully developed with the advancement of synthetic chemistry. However, many of them face problems like weakened emission in the aggregated state as well as poor renewability and sustainability. Therefore, the development of renewable and sustainable luminogens with anti-quenching function in the solid state, as well as to unveil the key factors that influence their luminescence behavior become highly significant. Herein, a new class of natural rosin-derived luminogens with aggregation-induced emission property (AIEgens) have been facilely obtained with good biocompatibility and targeted organelle imaging capability as well as photochromic behavior in the solid state. Mechanistic study indicates that the introduction of the alicyclic moiety helps suppress the excited-state molecular motion to enhance the solid-state emission. The current work fundamentally elucidates the role of alicyclic moiety in luminogen design and practically demonstrates a new source to large-scalely obtain biocompatible AIEgens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / pharmacology
  • Luminescence*
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Molecular Structure
  • Motion
  • Optical Imaging / methods
  • Organelles / chemistry
  • Organelles / metabolism
  • Resins, Plant / chemistry*
  • Resins, Plant / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Resins, Plant
  • rosin