Morphology‐Dependent Cell Imaging by Using a Self‐Assembled Diacetylene Peptide Amphiphile

Herein, a novel cationic peptide gemini amphiphile containing diacetylene motifs (DA2P) is presented which self-assembles into novel tadpole- and bola-shaped nanostructures at low concentration and nanofibers at higher concentration, respectively. Interestingly, the DA2P assemblies can be polymerized to a fluorescent red phase but only during incubation with HeLa cells, most likely owing to the reorganization of the diacetylene chains of DA2P upon interaction with the cell membrane. The red-fluorescent polymerized DA2P assemblies can serve as a novel cell imaging probe. However, only vesicles, tadpole- and bola-shaped DA2P assemblies can be translocated into HeLa cells, while the nanofiber-like DA2P assemblies are trapped by the cell membranes and do not enter the cells. Hence, morphology dependent cell imaging is observed.