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Conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) have been widely used as light harvesting macromolecules to amplify the signals of fluorescent assays that betray the presence of various biomolecular targets. Electrostatic interactions play an important role in coordinating optical coupling events and lead in the formation of complexes between oppositely charged CPEs and the target species. Here, we combine for the first time optical studies and structural characterization by liquid phase atomic force microscopy (AFM) to provide a picture of aggregate structure and growth dynamics between cationic CPE and DNA as a function of charge ratio. Specifically, poly1 20, a copolymer containing a backbone with 50% fluorene, 30% phenylene, and 20% 2.1.3-benzothiadiazole (BT) units and pendant cationic groups was mixed with single stranded DNA (ssDNA) labeled with the Cy5 acceptor chromophore. Continuous addition of ssDNA Cy5 to poly1 20 leads to a saturation in Cy5 emission due to Cy5-Cy5 self-quenching. Addition of ssDNA to a preformed poly1 20 /ssDNA-Cy5 solution results in increased sensitization by energy transfer and a reduction of Cy5-Cy5 self quenching. Adsorption of aggregates onto negatively charged mica under water allows for direct imaging of the polyelectrolyte complexes as a function of charge ratio. The composite set of observations allows for the development of a model for aggregate growth, which is dynamic and ceases when the surface charge becomes sufficiently negative. This saturation point can be mitigated by addition of unlabeled ssDNA.

Two water-soluble conjugated polyelectrolytes, poly(9,9′-bis(6-N,N,N-trimethylammoniumhexyl)fluorene-alt-1,4-(2,5-bis(6-N,N,N-trimethylammoniumhexyloxy))phenylene) tetrabromide (P1i) and poly((10,10′-bis(6-N,N,N-trimethylammoniumhexyl)-10H-spiro(anthracene-9,9′-fluorene))-alt-1,4-(2,5-bis(6-N,N,N-trimethylammoniumhexyloxy))phenylene) tetrabromide (P2i) are synthesized, characterized, and used in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments with fluorescein-labeled single-stranded DNA (ssDNA-Fl). P1i and P2i have nearly identical π-conjugated backbones, as determined by cyclic voltammetry and UV-vis spectroscopy. The main structural difference is the presence of an anthracenyl substituent, orthogonal to the main chain in each of the P2i repeat units, which increases the average interchain separation in aggregated phases. It is possible to observe emission from ssDNA-Fl via FRET upon excitation of P2i. Fluorescein is not emissive within the ssDNA-Fl/P1i electrostatic complex, suggesting Fl emission quenching through photoinduced charge transfer (PCT). We propose that the presence of the anthracenyl “molecular bumper” in P2i increases the distance between optical partners, which decreases PCT more acutely relative to FRET.

The spectroscopic and near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) studies of phosphorescent films doped with colloidal gold nanoparticles (NPs) are presented. Films with a high concentration of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-21H,23H-porphine platinum(II) dispersed in a neutral polymer poly[(methyl methacrylate)-co-(ethyl acrylate)] demonstrate a twofold increase of the phosphorescence quantum yield after the addition of aggregated NPs. In materials doped with unaggregated particles, a decrease of the emission yield is observed. Theoretical modeling of the phosphorescence transients suggests a minimization of the triplet–triplet quenching owing to the presence of fast processes that decrease the concentration of chromophores in the excited state and may be both of radiative and non-radiative origin. NSOM examination of the films reveals increased light emission around large NP clusters. This observation demonstrates significant enhancement of the spontaneous emission rates by the large aggregates, although unaggregated NPs introduce mostly phosphorescence quenching sites.