(116bj) Polymeric Micelles as Fluorescent Probes for Stem Cell Imaging

This research explores the feasibility of using polymeric micelles as the template to fabricate target specific imaging agent for molecular cellular imaging. Nano-particles based on polymeric micelles have drawn much attention and they have been successfully used as drug delivery vehicles in pharmaceuticals. Yet, little study exists for using polymeric micelles as imaging probes. Polymeric micelles are formed by the self-assembly of amphiphilic copolymers above their micelle concentration in aqueous medium. Upon micellization, the hydrophobic core regions function as the reservoirs for the fluorescent molecules. The size of a fluorescent molecule loaded polymeric micelle should form a core-shell fluorescent nanoparticle with diameter ~50 nm. So far, research demonstrates that the polymeric micelles can efficiently load the fluorescence dye to form core-shell fluorescent nanoparticles. The particles are very stable in different pH (ranging from pH2 to pH10). Temperature dependency studies indicated that polymeric micelles have a phase transition temperature at ~ 70 C. In order to see the interaction between these polymeric micelles and cells, stem cell study was performed. It was demonstrated that stem cells don't uptake polymeric micelles. Also we found that the dye is toxic for these cells; therefore polymeric micelles can reduce cell toxicity against organic compounds.