Rhodamine B (RhB)-anchored amphiphilic poly(poly(ethylene glycol)methacrylate)-b-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) block copolymer (PPEGMA-b-PGMA/RhB) has been prepared by a sequential atom transfer radical polymerization and post-functionalization of RhB. The chemical structure of PPEGMA-b-PGMA/RhB is characterized with gel-permeation chromatography. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and H-1 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. PPEGMA-b-PGMA/RhB has shown self-assembly behaviors in tetrahydrofuran and aqueous solutions. The RhB aggregation induced with the intermolecular interaction of RhB results in the various core shell structures of the assembled nanoparticles. The photoluminescent properties of the PPEGMA-b-PGMA/RhB nanoparticles are structure-dependent and exhibit yellow-light, blue-light, and white-light emissions. The fluorescent organic nanoparticles of PPEGMA-b-PGMA/RhB in aqueous solution show low cytotoxicity and have been used as a bio-dye for cell labelling. Internalization of PPEGMA-b-PGMA/RhB nanoparticles into HELA cells to exhibit fluorescent images has been demonstrated. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.