Preparation of Biocompatible Aggregation‐Induced Emission Homopolymeric Nanoparticles for Cell Imaging

A series of new homopolymers with various degrees of polymerization derived from vinyl tetraphenylethene, that is, poly[2‐(4‐vinylphenyl)ethene‐1,1,2‐triyl)tribenzene] homopolymers, is synthesized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The homopolymers exhibit a significant aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) effect and an ability to assemble themselves into AIE polymer nanoparticles (NPs) during precipitation in a water/tetrahydrofuran (THF) mixture. The NPs also exhibit good dispersibility, stability, and biocompatibility. The AIE polymer NPs are used in imaging studies of HeLa cells.