Nucleic acids induced peptide-based AIE nanoparticles for fast cell imaging

Abstract Herein, we utilized nucleic acids induced peptide co-assembly strategy to develop novel nucleic acids induced peptide-based AIE (NIP-AIE) nanoparticles. Strong fluorescent of AIE could be observed when a little amount of nucleic acids was added into the peptide solution, and the intensity could be regulated by the concentration of nucleic acids. This AIE nanoparticles with good biocompatibility could achieve fast cell imaging. It is also proved that the fluorescence intensity of AIE decreased with time, which indicates that the reducible cross-linkers of Wpc peptide by GSH and nanoparticles gradually disintegrate in the cell. Based on the different of AIE fluorescence signals which regulated by the formation and disintegration of nanoparticles, this AIE system is expected to be used for real-time monitoring of drug release from peptide-based nano carriers in vivo or in vitro, and may provide a platform for the construction of other organic AIE nanoparticles.