Ruthenium(II) Complex Enantiomers as Cellular Probes for Diastereomeric Interactions in Confocal and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

Ruthenium dipyridophenazine (dppz) complexes are sensitive luminescent probes for hydrophobic environments. Here, we apply multiple-frequency fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to Δ and Λ enantiomers of lipophilic ruthenium dppz complexes in live and fixed cells, and their different lifetime staining patterns are related to conventional intensity-based microscopy. Excited state lifetimes of the enantiomers determined from FLIM measurements correspond well with spectroscopically measured emission decay curves in pure microenvironments of DNA, phospholipid membrane or a model protein. We show that FLIM can be applied to monitor the long-lived excited states of ruthenium complex enantiomers and, combined with confocal microscopy, give new insight into their biomolecular binding and reveal differences in the microenvironment probed by the complexes.     

Highly Selective Mitochondrial Targeting by a Ruthenium(II) Peptide Conjugate: Imaging and Photoinduced Damage of Mitochondrial DNA

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) plays a crucial but incompletely understood role in cellular biochemistry and etiology of numerous disease states. Thus, there is an urgent need for targeted probes that can dynamically respond to changes to mtDNA such as copy number in live cells, but it is difficult to permeate the mitochondrial membrane of the living cell. Now, a ruthenium(II) light‐switching probe targeted by peptide vectorization selectively to mitochondrial nucleoids is presented. Evidence for DNA binding by the probe in live cells is derived from confocal fluorescence microscopy, resonance Raman, and luminescence lifetime imaging. While viable under imaging conditions, specific staining of mitochondrial DNA permitted efficient and selective photoinduced toxicity on a cell‐by‐cell basis under higher excitation intensities. This powerful combination of imaging and photocytotoxicity is an important step towards realizing phototheranostic application of such Ru^II probes.     

钌配合物[Ru(bpy)2(PNT)]2+的合成、表征及与DNA相互作用研究

以cis-Ru(bpy)2Cl2·2H2O与PNT为原料合成钌(Ⅱ)多吡啶配合物[Ru(bpy)2(PNT)]2+(bpy=2,2’-联吡啶, PNT=2-[4’-(5-四唑基)苯基]咪唑-[4,5-f][1,10]邻菲咯啉), 通过元素分析、质谱和核磁共振波谱对该化合物进行了结构表征. 利用紫外-可见吸收光谱、荧光光谱、热变性和黏度实验研究了配合物与CT-DNA的相互作用, 实验结果表明, 该配合物以部分插入模式与DNA结合.     

Tuning of luminescence spectra of neutral ruthenium(II) complexes by crystal waters

Neutral ruthenium(II) complexes [RuLL'(CN)2] (L, L' = bpy, dmb, dbb; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, dmb = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine, dbb = 4,4'-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine) were prepared, and the luminescence characteristics of the complexes in the solid state were measured. The luminescence was tuned by crystal waters included in the crystals; for example, [Ru(dbb)2(CN)2] x 2H2O, [Ru(dbb)2(CN)2] x H2O, and [Ru(dbb)2(CN)2] emit luminescence at 640, 685, and 740 nm, respectively.     

不同配体对钌多吡啶配合物与DNA的作用和荧光性质的影响

Two polypyridyl ligands DCHIP (2-hydro-3，5-dichlorophenyl-imidazo[4，5-f][1，10] phenanthroline)，MDHIP(2，4-dihydrophenyl-imidazo[4，5-f][1，10]phenanthroline) and their ruthenium(Ⅱ) complexes [Ru(phen)₂MDHIP]²⁺ and [Ru(phen)₂DCHIP]²⁺ were prepared. Their DNA-binding properties were studied by spectroscopic methods and viscosity measurements. The results indicated that the complexes both bound to DNA by partial intercalation mode， but [Ru(phen)₂DCHIP]²⁺ exhibited stronger binding affinity for DNA than [Ru(phen)₂MDHIP]²⁺ due to the different planarities and steric effects of ligands. On the other hand， after binding to DNA， the fluorescence intensity of [Ru(phen)₂MDHIP]²⁺ decreased， while the fluorescence intensity of [Ru(phen)₂ DCHIP]²⁺ increased.     

Ruthenium(II) complex of Hbopip: synthesis, characterization, pH-induced luminescence "off-on-off" switch, and avid binding to DNA

A novel ruthenium(II) complex of [Ru(bpy)2(Hbopip)](ClO4)2 (in which bpy=2,2'-bipyridine, Hbopip=2-(4-benzoxazolyl)phenylimidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline) was synthesized and characterized. The spectrophotometric pH titrations of the complex showed that it acted as a pH-induced luminescence "off-on-off" switch: a luminescence off-on switch with a luminescence enhancement factor of IpH=3.0/IpH=1.0=20 occurring over a narrow pH range of 1.00-3.00 plus a luminescence on-off switch with a luminescence enhancement factor of 3 over a pH range of 3.20-9.40. The excited-state ionization constant of the complex derived, pKa1*=3.06, is 1.36 pKa units greater than the ground-state pKa1=1.70, and pKa2*=5.01 and pKa3*=8.22 are comparable to the ground-state pKa2=5.23 and pKa3=8.22, respectively. The complex avidly bound to calf thymus DNA with a large binding constant of (1.2+/-0.3)x10(7) M-1 in buffered 50 mM NaCl, as evidenced by UV-vis and luminescence titrations, steady-state emission quenching by [Fe(CN)6]4-, DNA competitive binding with ethidium bromide, viscosity measurements, and DNA melting experiments.     

Ru(bpy)2(L)]Cl2: luminescent metal complexes that bind DNA base mismatches

Here we report the synthesis of luminescent ruthenium complexes that bind DNA base pair mismatches. [Ru(bpy)2(tpqp)]Cl2 (tpqp = 7,8,13,14-tetrahydro-6-phenylquino[8,7-k][1,8]phenanthroline), [Ru(bpy)2(pqp)]Cl2 (pqp = 6-phenylquino[8,7-k][1,8]phenanthroline), and [Ru(bpy)2(tactp)]Cl2 [tactp = 4,5,9,18-tetraazachryseno[9,10-b]triphenylene] have been synthesized, and their spectroscopic properties in the absence and presence of DNA have been examined. While [Ru(bpy)2(pqp)]2+ shows no detectable luminescence, [Ru(bpy)2(tpqp)]2+ is luminescent in the absence and presence of DNA with an excited-state lifetime of 10 ns and a quantum yield of 0.002. Although no increase in emission intensity is associated with binding to mismatch-containing DNA, luminescence quenching experiments and measurements of steady-state fluorescence polarization provide evidence for preferential binding to oligonucleotides containing a CC mismatch. Furthermore, by marking the site of binding through singlet oxygen sensitized damage, the complex has been shown to target a CC mismatch site directly with a specific binding affinity, Kb = 4 x 10(6) M(-1). [Ru(bpy)2(tactp)]2+, an analogue of [Ru(bpy)2(dppz)]2+ containing a bulky intercalating ligand, is luminescent in aqueous solution at micromolar concentrations and exhibits a 12-fold enhancement in luminescence in the presence of DNA. The complex, however, tends to aggregate in aqueous solution; we find a dimerization constant of 9.8 x 10(5) M(-1). Again, by singlet oxygen sensitization it is apparent that [Ru(bpy)2(tactp)]2+ binds preferentially to a CC mismatch; using a DNase I footprinting assay, a binding constant to a CC mismatch of 8 x 10(5) M(-1) is found. Hence results with these novel luminescent complexes support the concept of using a structurally demanding ligand to obtain selectivity in targeting single base mismatches in DNA. The challenge is coupling the differential binding we can obtain to differential luminescence.     

Applications and challenges for single-bacteria analysis by flow cytometry

Flow cytometry (FCM) is a powerful technique for single-bacteria analysis via simultaneous light-scattering and fluorescence measurements. By offering high-throughput, quantitative, and multiparameter analysis at the single-cell level, FCM has gained an increased popularity in microbiological research, food safety monitoring, water quality control, and clinical diagnosis. Here we will review the recent applications of flow cytometry in areas such as (1) total bacterial cell count, (2) bacterial viability analysis, (3) specific bacterial detection and identification, (4) characterization of physiological changes under environmental perturbations, and (5) biological function studies. Nevertheless, despite these widespread applications, challenges still remain for the detection of small sizes of bacteria and biochemical features that cannot be brightly stained via fluorescence. Recent improvement in FCM instrumentation will be discussed, and particularly the development of high sensitivity flow cytometry for advanced analysis of single bacterial cells will be highlighted.     

Structural features of Ag[AuF4] and Ag[AuF6] and the stuctural relationship of Ag[AgF4]2 and Au[AuF4]2 to Ag[AuF4]2

Synchrotron radiation X-ray powder diffraction data (SPDD) have been obtained for Ag[AgF4]2, Au[AuF4]2, Ag[AuF4], and Ag[AuF6]. Ag[AgF4]2 and Au[AuF4]2 are isostructural with Ag[AuF4]2, space group (SG) P2(1)/n, Z = 2, with the following: for Ag[AgF4]2 a = 5.04664(8), b = 11.0542(2), c = 5.44914(9) A, beta = 97.170(2) degrees; for Au[AuF4]2 a = 5.203(2), b = 11.186(3), c = 5.531(2) A, beta = 90.55(2) degrees. The structure of Ag[AgF4]2 was refined successfully (SPDD) applying the Rietveld method, yielding the following interatomic distances (A): AgII-F = 2.056(12), 2.200(13), 2.558(13); AgIII-F = two at 1.846(12), others = 1.887(12), 1.909(13), 2.786-(12), 2.796(12), 2.855(12). AgAuF4, like other AA'F4 salts (A = Na-Rb; A' = Ag, Au), crystallizes in the KBrF4 structure type, SG I4/mcm (140), Z = 4 with a = 5.79109(6), c = 10.81676(7) A. SPDD gave (in A) four AuIII-F = 1.89(1) and eight AgI-F = 2.577(7). SPDD for AgAuF6 confirmed that it has the LiSbF6 structure, SG R3, Z = 3, with a = 5.2840(2), c = 15.0451(6) A.     

A photophysical study of the urea effect on micellar properties of sodium dodecylsulfate aqueous solutions

With the aim of studying the effect of urea on micellar properties of aqueous solutions of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), steadystate fluorescence experiments were carried out with different luminescence probes incorporated into the micellar phase. The increase of critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactant with urea addition was followed by changes in the relative intensities of the vibrational fine structure of the pyrene fluorescence spectra. Micellar aggregation numbers were obtained from the analysis of fluorescence quenching data using ruthenium tris(bipyridyl) chloride and 9-mehylanthracene as a donorquencher pair. It was found that the decrease in the aggregation number is mainly controlled by rise in the surface area per headgroup of the surfactant. From fluorescence measurements, using several ionic probes (8-anilino-1-naphthalen-sulfonic acid, rhodamine B, and auramine O), it was found that urea decreases the polarity and increases the microviscosity of the micellar interface. These effects, which are dependent on the concentration of urea, can be explained according to a direct interaction of urea at the micellar surface.     

Dinuclear Ruthenium(II) Complexes as Two‐Photon,Time‐Resolved Emission Microscopy Probes for Cellular DNA

The first transition‐metal complex‐based two‐photon absorbing luminescence lifetime probes for cellular DNA are presented. This allows cell imaging of DNA free from endogenous fluorophores and potentially facilitates deep tissue imaging. In this initial study, ruthenium(II) luminophores are used as phosphorescent lifetime imaging microscopy (PLIM) probes for nuclear DNA in both live and fixed cells. The DNA‐bound probes display characteristic emission lifetimes of more than 160 ns, while shorter‐lived cytoplasmic emission is also observed. These timescales are orders of magnitude longer than conventional FLIM, leading to previously unattainable levels of sensitivity, and autofluorescence‐free imaging.     

Dinuclear Ruthenium(II) Complexes as Two‐Photon,Time‐Resolved Emission Microscopy Probes for Cellular DNA

The first transition‐metal complex‐based two‐photon absorbing luminescence lifetime probes for cellular DNA are presented. This allows cell imaging of DNA free from endogenous fluorophores and potentially facilitates deep tissue imaging. In this initial study, ruthenium(II) luminophores are used as phosphorescent lifetime imaging microscopy (PLIM) probes for nuclear DNA in both live and fixed cells. The DNA‐bound probes display characteristic emission lifetimes of more than 160 ns, while shorter‐lived cytoplasmic emission is also observed. These timescales are orders of magnitude longer than conventional FLIM, leading to previously unattainable levels of sensitivity, and autofluorescence‐free imaging.     

Simultaneous Detection of Carbon Monoxide and Viscosity Changes in Cells

A new family of robust, non-toxic, water-compatible ruthenium(II) vinyl probes allows the rapid, selective and sensitive detection of endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) in live mammalian cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Uniquely, these probes incorporate a viscosity-sensitive BODIPY fluorophore that allows the measurement of microscopic viscosity in live cells via fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) while also monitoring CO levels. This is the first example of a probe that can simultaneously detect CO alongside small viscosity changes in organelles of live cells.     

Using Multi-parameter Flow Cytometry to Monitor the Yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodotorula glutinis</Emphasis> CCMI 145 Batch Growth and Oil Production Towards Biodiesel

Multi-parameter flow cytometry was used to monitor cell intrinsic light scatter, viability, and lipid content of Rhodotorula glutinis CCMI 145 cells grown in shake flasks. Changes in the side light scatter and forward light scatter were detected during the yeast batch growth, which were attributed to the different yeast growth phases. A progressive increase in the proportion of cells stained with PI (cells with permeabilized cytoplasmic membrane) was observed during the yeast growth, attaining 79% at the end of the fermentation. A high correlation between the Nile Red fluorescence intensity measured by flow cytometry and total lipid content assayed by the traditional gravimetric lipid analysis was found for this yeast, making this method a suitable and quick technique for the screening of yeast strains for lipid production and optimization of biofuel production bioprocesses. Medium growth optimization for enhancement of the yeast oil production is now in progress.     

Quantitative Monitoring and Visualization of Hydrogen Sulfide In Vivo Using a Luminescent Probe Based on a Ruthenium(II) Complex

Development of novel bioanalytical methods for monitoring of H₂S is key toward understanding the physiological and pathological functions of this gasotransmitter in live organisms. A ruthenium(II)‐complex‐based luminescence probe, Ru‐MDB (MDB: 4’‐methyl‐[2,2’‐bipyridine]‐4‐yl)methyl 2‐((2,4‐dinitrophenyl)thio)benzoate), was developed by introducing a new H₂S responsive masking moiety to a red‐emitting Ru^II luminophore. Cleavage of this masking group by a H₂S‐triggered reaction leads to a luminescence “off–on” response. The long‐lived emissions of Ru‐MDB and its reaction product with H₂S allowed quantitative detection of H₂S in autofluorescence‐rich human sera and adult zebrafish organs using the time‐gated luminescence mode. Ru‐MDB exhibits red emission, a large Stokes shift, high specificity and sensitivity for H₂S detection, and low cytotoxicity, which enables imaging and flow cytometry analysis of lysosomal H₂S generation in live inflamed cells under drug stimulation. Monitoring of H₂S in live Daphnia magna, zebrafish embryos, adult zebrafish, and mice, was conducted by in vivo imaging using Ru‐MDB as a probe.     

Luminescent dipyridophenazine-ruthenium probes for liposome membranes

Ruthenium complexes with dipyridophenazine (dppz) type ligands have several characteristics that make them good candidates for use as luminescence probes for hydrophobic environments. Most studies have concerned DNA intercalation, but also lipid membrane fluidity and liposome orientation have been assessed. We report here dipyridophenazine derivatives ([Ru(phen)2dppz]2+) substituted with one or two alkyl ether chains of different lengths aimed at finding the optimum substitution for a high quantum yield when bound to a phospholipid membrane bilayer. The orientation of membrane bound molecules is studied using flow linear dichroism (LD) with phospholipid vesicles as membrane models. LD, excitation anisotropy, steady state luminescence and excited-state lifetime measurements are used to quantitatively investigate the insertion and orientation of the complexes in the vesicles. All complexes are inserted with their long axis of the dppz moiety mainly parallel to the lipid chains, and the degree of orientation is comparable to that of the orientation probe retinoic acid. The ruthenium "head group" with its positive charge functions as a buoy at the water-membrane interface while the hydrophobic chain part embeds the complex down into the bilayer. The complex with two hexyl ether substituents (named D6) has the optimal chain length regarding membrane insertion and orientation, and together with the highest quantum yield, is the best luminescence membrane probe in the two series.     

一种新型含二茂铁基的多吡啶钌配合物与DNA的相互作用

利用金属配合物与DNA作用前后的光电性质变化探索大分子DNA的结构、构象、生物功能和作用机制之间的规律是无机化学前沿研究热点．Koepf等发现二氯二茂钛[(C6H5)2TiCl2]具有抗肿瘤活性,开创了金属茂类抗癌络合物研究的新领域,大量实验表明：金属茂类化合物不仅具有广泛的抗癌谱,     

Synthesis,characterization, and DNA binding of ruthenium(II) complexes with 2-benzo[b] furan-2-yl-1H-imidazo[4,5f][1,10]phenanthroline as an intercalative ligand

DNA-binding properties of a number of ruthenium complexes with different polypyridine ligands are reported. The new polypyridine ligand BFIP (=2-benzo[b] furan-2-yl-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline) and its ruthenium complexes [Ru(bpy)₂BFIP]²⁺ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine), [Ru(dmb)₂BFIP]²⁺ (dmb = 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine), and [Ru(phen)₂BFIP]²⁺ (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectra, IR, UV-Vis, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, and cyclic voltammetry. The DNA binding of these complexes to calf-thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was investigated by spectrophotometric, fluorescence, and viscosity measurements. The results suggest that ruthenium(II) complexes bind to CT-DNA through intercalation. Photocleavage of pBR 322 DNA by these complexes was also studied, and [Ru(phen)₂BFIP]²⁺ was found to be a much better photocleavage agent than the other two complexes.     

DNA-binding of semirigid binuclear ruthenium complex delta,delta-[mu-(11,11'-bidppz)(phen)(4)ru(2)](4+): extremely slow intercalation kinetics

We here report a remarkably slow rearrangement of binding modes for a binuclear ruthenium(II) complex upon interaction with DNA. It has been previously shown that Delta,Delta-[mu-(11,11'-bidppz)(phen)4Ru2]4+ binds to DNA in one of the grooves. However, we find that this is only an initial, metastable, binding mode, which is extremely slowly reorganized into an intercalative binding geometry. The slow rearrangement and dissociation, revealed by flow linear dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy, are concluded to be a result from the complex being threaded through the DNA, with one of the bridging aromatic dppz ligands intercalated between the base pairs of the DNA, placing one metal center in the minor groove and one in the major groove. A negative LD, a high luminescence quantum yield, and long luminescence lifetimes, similar to the intercalating complex Delta-[Ru(phen)2dppz]2+, indicate intercalation of the bidppz moiety. The unique slow dissociation of the complex in its final DNA-binding mode suggests that this class of threading, partially intercalated binuclear complexes may be interesting in the context of cancer therapy. Also, their unique optical and photophysical properties could make such complexes, either alone or scaffolded by DNA structures, of interest for the development of nanometer-sized molecular optoelectronic devices.     

Evanescent wave excited luminescence from levitated quantum dot modified colloids

Evanescent wave excited luminescence of quantum dot modified polystyrene (QDPS) colloids is investigated to measure potential energy profiles of QDPS colloids electrostatically levitated above a planar glass surface. Luminescence is characterized for three different-sized PS colloids modified with three different-sized QDs using confocal microscopy, emission spectra, flow cytometry, and temporal measurements of levitated and deposited colloids. Colloid-surface potential energy profiles constructed from scattering and luminescence intensity data display excellent agreement with each other, theoretical predictions, and independently measured parameters. QDPS luminescence intensity is indirectly confirmed to have an exponential dependence on height similar to conventional colloidal evanescent wave scattering. Our findings indicate that evanescent wave excited QDPS luminescence could enable total internal reflection microscopy measurements of index-matched hard spheres, multiple specific biomolecular interactions via spectral multiplexing, enhanced morphology-dependent resonance modes, and integrated evanescent wave-video-confocal microscopy experiments not possible with scattering.