Förster resonance energy transfer within single chain nanoparticles

Single chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) are a highly versatile polymer architecture consisting of single polymer chains that are intramolecularly crosslinked. Currently, SCNPs are discussed as powerful macromolecular architectures for catalysis, delivery and sensors. Herein, we introduce a methodology based on Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) to evidence the folding of single polymer chains into SCNPs via fluorescence readout. We initially introduce a molecular FRET pair based on a bimane and nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD) moiety and study its fluorescence properties in different solvents. We subsequently construct a low dispersity polymer chain carrying NBD units, while exploiting the bimane units for intramolecular chain collapse. Upon chain collapse and SCNP formation – thus bringing bimane and NBD units into close proximity – the SCNPs report their folded state by a strong and unambiguous FRET fluorescence signal. The herein introduced reporting of the folding state of SCNPs solely relies on an optical readout, opening avenues to monitoring SCNP folding without recourse to complex analytical methodologies.