Shape Control of Carbon Nanoparticles via a Simple Anion‐Directed Strategy for Precise Endoplasmic Reticulum‐Targeted Imaging.

Herein, small‐sized fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (CNs) with tunable shapes ranging from spheres to various rods with aspect ratios (ARs) of 1.00, 1.51, 1.89, and 2.85 are prepared using a simple anion‐directed strategy for the first time. Based on comprehensive morphological and structural characteristics of CNs, along with theoretical calculations of density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations, their shape‐control mechanism is attributed to interionic interactions‐induced self‐assembly, followed by carbonization. The endoplasmic reticulum‐targeting accuracy of CNs is gradually enhanced as their shape changes from spherical to higher‐AR rods, accompanied by a Pearson's correlation coefficient up to 0.90. This work presents a facile approach to control the shape of CNs and reveals the relationship between the shape and organelle‐targeting abilities of CNs, thereby providing a novel idea to synthesize CNs that serve as precise organelle‐targeted fluorescent probes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]