Highly Bright and Photostable Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials Assembled from Sequence-Defined Peptoids

Free-standing two-dimensional (2D) organic nanomaterials are highly attractive for biological applications because of their unique structural properties and high biocompatibility. Herein, we designed and synthesized a new class of highly bright and photostable membrane-mimetic 2D nanosheets from sequence-defined peptoids. These nanosheets exhibited high quantum yield and photostability as a result of the precise placement and ordering of dansyl dye molecules within crystalline nanosheets. We further showed the use of these nanosheets as biocompatible and programmable probes for live cell imaging and cell labeling. By programing these nanosheets with different surface charges, we achieved the enhanced lysosome escape of these nanosheets, showing their great potential as nanocarriers for the efficient intracellular delivery of macromolecular drugs.