Innovative design of fluorescent PLGA–1,8-naphthalimide nanoparticles as multifunctional materials for next-generation nanotechnology and biomedicine

Innovative design of fluorescent PLGA–1,8-naphthalimide nanoparticles as multifunctional materials for next-generation nanotechnology and biomedicine Full article

Journal

Journal of Materials Chemistry B
ISSN: 2050-7518

Output data

Year: 2026, Volume: 14, Number: 18, Pages: 5564-5582 Pages count : 19 DOI: 10.1039/d5tb02866c

Authors

Yuriev Danil ¹ , Tkachenko Sergey ¹ , Ermolin Danila ² , Ivanov Ilya ^2,3 , Melnikov Pavel ⁴ , Malinovskaya Julia ¹ , Ryabova Anastasia ^5,6,7 , Mishin Alexander ⁸ , Perfilov Maxim ⁸ , Ramil Khasbiullin ⁹ , Medvedev Michael ^2,3 , Skorb Ekaterina ² , Oshchepkov Maxim ¹ , Gelperina Svetlana ¹ , Oshchepkov Alexander ^10,11

Affiliations

1	Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Miusskaya pl., 9, Moscow, 125047, Russian Federation
2	Infochemistry Scientific Center, ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova Str., St. Petersburg, 191002, Russian Federation
3	N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry of Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation
4	Rudolf Virchow Center, Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, Würzburg, 97080, Germany
5	National Research Nuclear University MEPHI, Kashirskoye Highway 31, Moscow, 115409, Russian Federation
6	Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Str. 38, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
7	RUDN University, Miklukho-Maklaya str. 6, Moscow, 117198, Russian Federation
8	Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, RAS (IBCh RAS), Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation
9	Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry Russian Academy of Sciences (IPCE RAS), 31-4, Leninsky prospect, Moscow, 119071, Russian Federation
10	Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 2, D-06120 Halle, Germany
11	Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Department of Physics, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-based nanoparticles featuring covalently incorporated 1,8-naphthalimide fluorophores were developed through DFT/TD-DFT-guided molecular engineering. Systematic variation of 4-position substituents and carbon spacer lengths established clear structure–property relationships governing spectral–luminescent characteristics and conjugate stability. Computational modeling accurately predicted experimental absorption/emission features. The optimized PLGA-fluorophore conjugates yielded nanoparticles with high aqueous fluorescence, excellent colloidal stability, and approximately two-fold higher photostability than PLGA–Cy5 under the tested imaging conditions. Live-cell confocal microscopy (405 nm excitation) demonstrated strong emission and homogeneous distribution in 4T1/HeLa cells, confirming suitability for in vitro cellular imaging with high cell viability. This covalent PLGA labeling platform establishes a quantifiable foundation for advanced fluorescent nanomaterials in cellular imaging applications. While these results establish a robust platform for cellular imaging applications, extended in vivo validation remains a goal for future work.

Yuriev D. , Tkachenko S. , Ermolin D. , Ivanov I. , Melnikov P. , Malinovskaya J. , Ryabova A. , Mishin A. , Perfilov M. , Ramil K. , Medvedev M. , Skorb E. , Oshchepkov M. , Gelperina S. , Oshchepkov A.
Innovative design of fluorescent PLGA–1,8-naphthalimide nanoparticles as multifunctional materials for next-generation nanotechnology and biomedicine
Journal of Materials Chemistry B. 2026. V.14. N18. P.5564-5582. DOI: 10.1039/d5tb02866c WOS Scopus OpenAlex

Submitted:	Dec 20, 2025
Published online:	Apr 22, 2026

≡ Web of science:	WOS:001756518500001
≡ Scopus:	2-s2.0-105037837146
≡ OpenAlex:	W7155187798