Abstract
By skilful combination between polythiophene backbones and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) side chains of different lengths, amphiphilic, fluorescent copolymers having branched architecture of “hairy rods” type were obtained by Suzuki polycondensation. Their structural characterization was performed by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and FT-IR spectroscopies and thermal behaviour was followed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetrical analysis (TGA). Photophysical properties in aqueous solutions were evaluated using UV-Vis and fluorescence measurements. The amphiphilic nature of the synthesized polythiophenes and the presence of PEG side chains induced the self - dispersability in water, as well as the formation of fluorescent nanoparticles through self-assembling. The size of the nanoparticles in water was assessed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigations and the effect of incubation time on three cell lines viability was evaluated, as well. Keywords: polythiophenes, nanoparticles, Suzuki polycondensation, “hairy-rods”, self-assembling