Title
Nontemplated approach to tuning the spectral properties of cyanine-based fluorescent NanoGUMBOS
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-3-2010
Abstract
Template-free controlled aggregation and spectral properties in fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs) is highly desirable for various applications. Herein, we report a nontemplated method for controlling the aggregation in near-infrared (NIR) cyanine-based nanoparticles derived from a group of uniform materials based on organic salts (GUMBOS). Cationic heptamethine cyanine dye 1,1′,3,3,3′,3′-hexamethylindotricarbocyanine (HMT) was coupled with five different anions, viz., [NTf2-], [BETI -], [TFPB-], [AOT-], and [TFP4B-], by an ion-exchange method to obtain the respective GUMBOS. The nanoGUMBOS obtained via a reprecipitation method were primarily amorphous and spherical (30-100 nm) as suggested by selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The formation of tunable self-assemblies within the nanoGUMBOS was characterized using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy in conjunction with molecular dynamics simulations. Counterion-controlled spectral properties observed in the nanoGUMBOS were attributed to variations in J/H ratios with different anions. Association with the [AOT-] anion afforded predominant J aggregation enabling the highest fluorescence intensity, whereas [TFP4B-] disabled the fluorescence due to predominant H aggregation in the nanoparticles. Analyses of the stacking angle of the cations based on molecular dynamic simulation results in [HMT][NTf2], [HMT][BETI], and [HMT][AOT] dispersed in water and a visual analysis of the representative simulation snapshots also imply that the type of aggregation was controlled through the counterion associated with the dye cation. © 2010 American Chemical Society.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Langmuir
First Page
12867
Last Page
12876
Recommended Citation
Das, S., Bwambok, D., El-Zahab, B., Monk, J., De Rooy, S., Challa, S., Li, M., Hung, F., Baker, G., & Warner, I. (2010). Nontemplated approach to tuning the spectral properties of cyanine-based fluorescent NanoGUMBOS. Langmuir, 26 (15), 12867-12876. https://doi.org/10.1021/la101463r