Preparation and Characterization of Intrinsically Fluorescent Polyphosphazene Microspheres

The novel polyphosphazene and cyclomatrix type microspheres were synthesized via a one-pot self-assembly polycondensation method. Octachlorocyclotetraphosphazene and two fluorescent compounds; fluorescein and curcumin were used as a crosslinker and monomers, respectively. The prepared microspheres were characterized by SEM, EDX, FTIR, XRD, UV-vis techniques. Also, the fluorescence properties of the microspheres were investigated. The microspheres exhibited fluorescence emissions both in ethanol and as solid-state when excited at 470 nm. The optimum pH was determined as 9.0 for fluorescence measurements. Owing to fluorescent properties of the microspheres, the delivery of curcumin from the prepared microspheres, and cell imaging can be investigated in the future. It is thought that the obtained intrinsically fluorescent polyphosphazene microspheres have the potential for use as sensors and labels, also.