Energy transfer between molecules from core to shell in one-dimensional coaxial electrospun nanofibres

Abstract

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) within a coaxial (core@shell) nanofibre structure is explored. Using a host polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), the donor 4,4-difluoro-1,3,5,7,8-pentamethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) was incorporated into the core of the coaxial nanofibre and the acceptor rhodamine B was incorporated into the shell (B-PVP@Rh-PVP). Structural and morphological characterization (SEM, TEM) were coupled with optical methods (absorbance, solution and solid-state fluorescence, confocal microscopy, and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy) to show that effective energy transfer was observed from BODIPY to rhodamine in this architecture.