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Natural or Natural-Synthetic Hybrid Polymer-Based Fluorescent Polymeric Materials for Bio-imaging-Related Applications

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Abstract

Fluorescent polymeric materials such as hydrogels and particles have been attracting attention in many biomedical applications including bio-imaging, optical sensing, tissue engineering, due to their good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and advanced optical property. This review article aims at summarizing recent progress in fluorescent hydrogels and particles based on natural polymers or natural-synthetic hybrid polymers as the building blocks with a concentration on their bio-imaging-related applications. The challenges and future perspectives for the development of natural or natural-synthetic hybrid polymer-based fluorescent hydrogels and particles are also presented.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for financial support from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Jun Chen acknowledges the financial support from GE Fellowship.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA

    Xiaoyu Ma, Jun Chen & Yu Lei

  2. Department of Chemistry, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA

    Xiangcheng Sun

  3. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA

    Yu Lei

Authors
  1. Xiaoyu Ma
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  2. Xiangcheng Sun
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  3. Jun Chen
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  4. Yu Lei
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Correspondence to Yu Lei.

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Ma, X., Sun, X., Chen, J. et al. Natural or Natural-Synthetic Hybrid Polymer-Based Fluorescent Polymeric Materials for Bio-imaging-Related Applications. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 183, 461–487 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-017-2570-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-017-2570-9

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