Design and synthesis of FRET-mediated multicolor and photoswitchable fluorescent polymer nanoparticles with tunable emission properties.

Novel multicolor and photoswitchcable fluorescent polymer nanoparticles were prepared by one-step miniemulsion via methyl methacrylate (MMA) copolymerization with 4-ethoxy-9-allyl-1,8-naphthalimide (EANI), allyl-(7-nitro-benzo[1,2,5]oxadiazol-4-yl)-amine (NBDAA) and spiropyran-linked methacrylate (SPMA). Under visible-light conditions, SPMA moieties in polymer nanoparticles are colorless and nonfluorescent, by varying the incorporating ratio of two dyes (EANI and NBDAA), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-mediated emission signatures can be tuned so that the nanoparticles exhibit multiple colors under a single wavelength excitation. Moreover, the fluorescence emission of EANI and NBDAA dyes in nanoparticles can be reversibly switched "on" and "off" through the FRET process by the alternating irradiation of UV and visible light. This class of novel photoswitchable multicolor fluorescent polymer nanoparticles may find potential applications in multiplexed bioanalysis.