Positively charged water-soluble polythiophene (PT0) that could self-assemble into nanoparticles in pure water solution was designed and synthesized. PT0 exhibited high photostabilities and pH stabilities, excellent biocompatibility, strong 1O2 generation capability, and large two-photon absorption cross sections. Moreover, we showed that the fluorescence of PT0 was unaffected by the interference of biomolecules and metal ions. As an example application, PT0 was demonstrated to be capable of simultaneous cell imaging and photodynamic therapy under either one-photon or two-photon excitation modes.
Keywords: PDT; conjugated polymer; fluorescence imaging; two photon.