Synthesis and characterization of fluorescent copolymer containing rare earth metal complex and its interaction with DNA

A complex of Eu 3+ , acrylic acid (AA), and 1, 10‐phenanthroline (Phen) was synthesized. The structure and fluorescence of Eu(AA) 3 Phen was characterized with elemental analysis, FTIR, 1 H NMR, and fluorescence spectroscopy. A novel copolymer containing rare earth complex, poly(PEGMA‐ co ‐NIPAm‐ co ‐Eu(AA)3Phen) ( PPNEu ), was prepared by free radical copolymerization in methanol with azodiisobutyronitrile as initiator. 1 H NMR, fluorescence spectroscopy, UV‐vis spectroscopy, and TEM were used to characterize this copolymer. The interaction of PPNEu with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy, UV‐vis spectroscopy and agarose gel electrophoresis. The results of fluorescence, UV‐vis absorption, and agarose electrophoresis indicated that the PPNEu could interact with DNA in an electrostatic bonding mode. The TEM observation showed that the PPNEu could form spherical micelles in water solution small than 100 nm; the efficient complexation of PPNEu with DNA occurred. These results suggested the potential of the PPNEu as gene detective reagent and gene delivery carrier.