Polyion complex micellar nanoparticles for integrated fluorometric detection and bacteria inhibition in aqueous media

摘要: The development of portable and inexpensive detection methods can significantly contribute to the prevention water-borne infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria. Here we designed a nanosystem capable both bacterial inhibition, where polyion complex (PIC) micelles are constructed from negatively-charged tetraphenylethylene (TPE) sulfonate derivatives, which exhibit aggregation-induced emission (AIE) feature, cationic diblock copolymers, poly(ethylene oxide)-b-quaternized poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PEO-b-PQDMA). Upon contacting with bacteria, PIC disintegrates presumably due competitive binding polycation blocks surfaces. This process is accompanied conspicuous quenching TPE fluorescence emission, serving as real-time module for microbial detection. Furthermore, sharp decrease in CFU indicative prominent anti-microbial activities. Thus, possess dual functions fluorometric inhibition bacteria aqueous media. By tuning charge density derivatives chain length PQDMA blocks, optimal performance against Gram-negative Escherichia coli has been achieved limit 5.5 × 10(4) CFU/mL minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 19.7 μg/mL. Tests Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus were also conducted demonstrate versatility nanosystem.