Magnetic borylated conjugated polymer nanoparticles for deep-red optical and lifetime imaging

The near-IR emitting conjugated polymer (borylated poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole)) was processed into colloidally stable nanoparticles doped with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), giving multifunctional luminescent and magnetic nanoparticles between 100–120 nm in diameter. Emission between 710 and 720 nm was observed, and quantum yields (QYs) of up to 2.7% were achieved. The resulting particles were used to image HeLa cells using conventional and lifetime imaging techniques.