An efficient multiple-mode molecular logic system for pH, solvent polarity, and Hg ions

A novel fluorophore 1,3-bis(1,1,3-trimethyl-1H-benzo[e]indol-2(3H)-ylidene)propan-2-one (L) was synthesized and fully characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HRMS, and X-ray single-crystal structural analysis. Compound L is a pH-controlled molecular switch due to its protonation. The fluorescence change in protic polar solvents means that this compound also could be used as a protic solvent polarity sensor. Among the considered metal ions, the fluorescence of compound L could be quenched completely by Hg²⁺ ions with a high selectivity. Based on these fluorescence characters, this fluorescent dye L has promising applications as a multiple-mode molecular logic system.     

Molecular ‘OR’ and ‘AND’ logic gates integrated in a single molecule

Based on the N electrodes elastic scattering quantum chemistry (NESQC) technique, an intramolecular circuit simulator is presented for the design of electronic logic functions integrated inside a single molecule interconnected to the N electrodes. Using molecular rectifier groups, a molecule-OR and a molecule-AND are designed, their current-voltage characteristics calculated and their logic response presented. Both the OR and AND molecules have approximatively the targeted function. The running current of the OR gate, 10 fA, is quite low and the AND gate works only in an output voltage mode. This forbids the design of larger logic functions inside a single molecule with molecular rectifiers.     

Transformative Supramolecular Vesicles Based on Acid-Degradable Acyclic Cucurbit[n]uril and a Prodrug for Promoted Tumoral-Cell Uptake

Smart supramolecular vesicles constructed by host–guest interactions between “acid-degradable” acyclic cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n]) and a doxorubicin prodrug are reported. “Acid-degradable” acyclic CB[n] is a high-affinity host for several common antitumor drugs, and its degradation leads to a more dramatic decrease in binding affinity than that observed for “acid-sensitive” hosts. Supramolecular complexation between acid-degradable acyclic CB[n] and a doxorubicin prodrug resulted in the formation of negatively charged supramolecular vesicles. The prodrug strategy allowed doxorubicin to be conjugated to vesicles in a stable manner with a high drug-loading ratio of 20 %. The resulting supramolecular vesicles were responsive to tumor acidity (pH 6.5). Induced by mildly acidic conditions (pH 6.5–5.5), acid-degradable acyclic CB[n] could be degraded, and this led to a vesicle-to-micelle transition to form positively charged micelles. This transition resulted in a pH-dependent change in size and surface charge, which improved tumoral-cell uptake for doxorubicin.     

Construction of triblock copolymer-gold nanorod composites for fluorescence resonance energy transfer via pH-sensitive allosteric

To explore the effects of microenvironmental adjustments on fluorescence, a pH-sensitive nanocomposite system based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was constructed. The model system included a modified triblock copolymer (polyhistidine-b-polyethylene glycol-b-polycaprolactone) and gold nanoparticles. A near-infrared dye was used as the donor, and spectrally matched gold nanorods, attached after C-terminus modification with α-lipoic acid, were used as the receptor to realize control of the FRET effect over the fluorescence intensity for two polymer configurational changes (i.e., “folded” and “stretched” states) in response to pH. After synthesis and characterization, we investigated the self-assembly behavior of the system. Analysis by quartz crystal microbalance revealed the pH sensitivity of the polymer, which exhibited “folding” and “stretching” states with changes in pH, providing a structural basis for the FRET effect. Fluorescence spectrophotometry investigations also revealed the regulatory impact of the assembled system on fluorescence.     

A H+/Ag+ Dual‐Target Responsive Label‐Free Light‐Up Probe Based on a DNA Triplex

We developed a dual‐target responsive sensor for label‐free light‐up fluorescent detection of protons (H⁺) and silver ions (Ag⁺) using an “OR′′ logic gate. Berberine, a cost‐effective and non‐toxic indicator, partially intercalates the formed triplex DNA in the presence of H⁺ or Ag⁺, generating enhanced fluorescence. The designed Ag⁺ probe has high selectivity and desirable sensitivity, which is necessary for practical use. The robust ”OR“ logic gate is capable of a rapid and reversible response to the H⁺ and/or Ag⁺ inputs.     

六、七、八元瓜环与苯胺系列衍生物的相互作用

利用紫外吸收光谱、荧光光谱以及¹H NMR方法详细考察了六、七、八元瓜环(Q[6], Q[7], Q[8])与苯胺系列衍生物客体的相互作用和体系pH对其作用的影响. 实验结果表明, 3种瓜环与苯胺系列衍生物客体的相互作用强弱、作用比例以及作用模式与体系的酸度密切相关: 在“高”或“低”pH条件下, 未观察到瓜环与这些客体的明显作用; 在介于“高”与“较高”或“低”与“较低”的pH范围, 瓜环与这些客体发生相互作用, 形成1∶1的包结配合物; 而在介于“较高”与“较低”的pH范围, 瓜环与这些客体发生相互作用, 可形成1∶2的包结配合物. 对于不同的瓜环-客体作用体系, 相应的pH范围各不相同. 本文利用简便的实验方法, 测试了这些pH值及其范围. 根据测定的结果, 结合瓜环以及客体的结构特征, 对体系主客体在不同的酸度区域表现出的不同作用模式进行了探讨.     

A molecular NAND gate based on Watson-Crick base pairing

[reaction: see text] A DNA-binding dye, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) signals AT base pairing with a shift in the fluorescence emission spectrum. The signaling follows W-C base-pairing rules, and both dAMP and dTMP are required for the largest spectral shift. Thus, the dye with its two phosphate receptor sites functions as a molecular NAND gate accepting nucleotides as inputs. Moreover, when the observation wavelength is changed from 470 to 411.5 nm, the gate functions in TRANSFER logic.     

Molecular AND and INHIBIT gates based on control of porphyrin fluorescence by photochromes

A molecular triad consisting of a porphyrin (P) covalently linked to two photochromes-one from the dihydroindolizine family (DHI) and one from the dihydropyrene family (DHP)-has been synthesized and found to act as either a molecular AND logic gate or an INHIBIT gate, depending on the inputs and initial state of the photochromes. The basis of these functions is quenching of porphyrin fluorescence (output of the gates) by the photochromes. The spiro form of DHI does not quench porphyrin fluorescence, whereas its betaine isomer strongly quenches by photoinduced electron transfer. DHP also quenches porphyrin fluorescence, but its cyclophanediene isomer does not. The triad has been designed using suitable energetics and electronic interactions, so that although these quenching phenomena may be observed, independent isomerization of the attached photochromes still occurs. This makes it possible to switch porphyrin fluorescence on or off by isomerization of the photochromes using various combinations of inputs such as UV light, red light, and heat.     

Lineal DNA logic gate for microRNA diagnostics with strand displacement and fluorescence resonance energy transfer

Designing molecular logic gates to operate programmably for molecular diagnostics in molecular computing still remains challenging. Here, we designed a novel linear DNA logic gates for microRNA analysis based on strand displacement and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Two labeled strands closed each other produce to FRET through hybridization with a complementary strand to form a basic work unit of logic gate. Two indicators of heart failure (microRNA-195 and microRNA-21) were selected as the logic inputs and the fluorescence mode was used as the logic output. We have demonstrated that the molecular logic gate mechanism worked well with the construction of YES and AND gates.     

Dye@MOF composites(RhB@1): Highly sensitive dual emission sensor for the detection of pesticides,Fe3+ and ascorbate acid

With the rapid development of economy, industrial and agricultural pollutants have caused great damage to the ecological environment and the normal development of organisms, posing a serious threat to global public health. Therefore, rapid and sensitive detection of pollutants is very important for environmental safety and people’s health. A stable multi-response fluorescence sensor(RhB@1) with dual emission characteristics was constructed by embedding Rh B guest molecules in Zn-MOF using a simp...     

Supramolecular Interactions of Nonsteroidal Anti‐inflammatory Drug in Nanochannels of Molecular Containers: A Spectroscopic,Thermogravimetric and Microscopic Investigation

Supramolecular host–guest complexation between the nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug indomethacin (IMC) and molecular containers were investigated. The weakly fluorescent drug molecule becomes highly fluorescent on complexation with different molecular containers, and time‐resolved fluorescence emission spectroscopy reveals that the lifetime components of IMC significantly increase in the presence of molecular containers, compared with the lifetimes in neat water. The respective solid host–guest complexes were synthesised and characterised by Fourier transform infrared and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis. Microscopy techniques were used to analyse modifications of the surface morphology, owing to the formation of supramolecular complexes. The effect of the molecular container on the optical properties of IMC has also been investigated to determine the effect of nanochannels of different size and structure.     

An excimer ‘ONOFF’ switch based on telomeric G-quadruplex and rGO for trace thrombin detection

In the recent decade, GO has emerged as an amazing 2D nanomaterial for developing DNA-based biosensors due to its fluorescence quenching properties, whereas similar research based on rGO was reported rarely. Herein, a novel multi-pyrene functionalized G-rich DNA probe based on the screened rGO showed much higher fluorescence quenching efficiency and excimer emission than that of universal GO. Different from the universal thrombin detection of the G4-forming aptamer-TBA(GGTTGGTGTGGTTGG), the original telomeric sequence is used in this study. The excimer emission “ON-OFF” switch amplified the response of thrombin detection is as low as 50 units. Furthermore, for four pyrene moieties that are sited in a crowded steric circumstance, the melting temperature (T_m) values and molecular dynamics simulations showed a positive effect on duplex G-quadruplex or _GDNA·_cDNA stability, without disturbing its helix structure.     

All‐Optical Integrated Logic Operations Based on Chemical Communication between Molecular Switches

Molecular logic gates process physical or chemical “inputs” to generate “outputs” based on a set of logical operators. We report the design and operation of a chemical ensemble in solution that behaves as integrated AND, OR, and XNOR gates with optical input and output signals. The ensemble is composed of a reversible merocyanine‐type photoacid and a ruthenium polypyridine complex that functions as a pH‐controlled three‐state luminescent switch. The light‐triggered release of protons from the photoacid is used to control the state of the transition‐metal complex. Therefore, the two molecular switching devices communicate with one another through the exchange of ionic signals. By means of such a double (optical–chemical–optical) signal‐transduction mechanism, inputs of violet light modulate a luminescence output in the red/far‐red region of the visible spectrum. Nondestructive reading is guaranteed because the green light used for excitation in the photoluminescence experiments does not affect the state of the gate. The reset is thermally driven and, thus, does not involve the addition of chemicals and accumulation of byproducts. Owing to its reversibility and stability, this molecular device can afford many cycles of digital operation.     

Control of the Fluorescence of DNA‐templated Silver Nanoclusters by Adenosine Triphosphate and Mercury(II)

Several DNA templates with the sequence 5′‐T _n TAACCCCTAACCCCT ‐3′ (n = 0, 15, 30, and 45) were used to prepare DNA template–silver nanoclusters (DNA –Ag NCs ). The T _n sequence acts as a recognition element for Hg²⁺, while the rest of the sequence acts as a template for DNA –Ag NCs . At pH 3.0, the fluorescence intensity of DNA –Ag NCs is enhanced by ATP , and the enhanced fluorescence is quenched by Hg²⁺. The length of polyT shows a slight effect on the sensitivity for the detection of Hg²⁺ but almost no effect on the optical properties of DNA –Ag NCs . The fluorescence response of DNA –Ag NCs (T₁₅‐DNA –Ag NCs ) vs. Hg²⁺ concentration shows two linear ranges over 10–100 and 100–1000 nM , mainly because of the fluorescence quenching due to DNA conformational changes through T–Hg²⁺–T coordination and the formation of an amalgam with Ag NCs , respectively. The sensitivity of the T₁₅‐DNA –Ag NC probe was validated through the analysis of Hg²⁺ in spiked pond water. Based on the switch‐on and switch‐off fluorescence properties of T₁₅‐DNA –Ag NCs , an IMPLICATION logic gate was fabricated using the concentrations of ATP and Hg²⁺ as inputs and the fluorescence intensity at 585 nm as output.     

Design of crystal packings of styryl heterocycles and regularities of [2+2] photocycloaddition in their single crystals 8. Topochemical [2+2] autophotocycloaddition and back reaction in styryl dye of the benzothiazole series

New styryl dye of the 2-benzothiazole series was synthesized. The new dye contains two methoxy groups in the benzene ring and tosylate counterion. The [2+2] photocycloaddition (PCA) of the dye was studied in the polycrystalline film and in single crystal. Two modifications of the dye cocrystallizate with hydroquinone differed in the ratio of components were obtained, and their ability to enter PCA was studied. According to the X-ray diffraction data, molecular cations of the dye form stack packings either of syn-“head-to-tail” type or relatively isolated stacking dimers. In all cases, the ethylene bonds of the adjacent cations are brought together and antiparallel, favoring PCA to form the centrosymmetric rctt-isomer of 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted cyclobutane. In two cases, the PCA reaction proceeded as the “single crystal-to-single crystal” transformation. Hydrogen bonds in crystals including hydroquinone molecules strengthen the crystal packing retarding the PCA. The back photoreaction (retro-PCA) was detected: it occurs without single crystal decomposition and results in the accumulation of the initial styryl dye in crystal consisting of the cyclobutane derivative. This is the first example of such a transformation in single crystals.     

‘On-Off’ reversible switch for Fe and F mimicking XNOR logic function

A new pyrene-appended chemosensor based on thiacalix[4]arene of 1,3-alternate conformation has been synthesised which demonstrates selective optical recognition of Fe³⁺ and F⁻ in two contrasting modes. The chemosensor behaves as a bifunctional fluorescent switch which mimics the performance of an exclusive-NOR (XNOR) logic gate with chemical inputs of Fe³⁺ and F⁻ ions.     

Dual Stimuli‐Responsive Self‐Assembled Supramolecular Nanoparticles

Supramolecular nanoparticles (SNPs) encompass multiple copies of different building blocks brought together by specific noncovalent interactions. The inherently multivalent nature of these systems allows control of their size as well as their assembly and disassembly, thus promising potential as biomedical delivery vehicles. Here, dual responsive SNPs have been based on the ternary host–guest complexation between cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]), a methyl viologen (MV) polymer, and mono‐ and multivalent azobenzene (Azo) functionalized molecules. UV switching of the Azo groups led to fast disruption of the ternary complexes, but to a relatively slow disintegration of the SNPs. Alternating UV and Vis photoisomerization of the Azo groups led to fully reversible SNP disassembly and reassembly. SNPs were only formed with the Azo moieties in the trans and the MV units in the oxidized states, respectively, thus constituting a supramolecular AND logic gate.     

Molecular Logic Gates and Switches Based on 1,3,4‐Oxadiazoles Triggered by Metal Ions

Organic molecular devices for information processing applications are highly useful building blocks for constructing molecular‐level machines. The development of “intelligent” molecules capable of performing logic operations would enable molecular‐level devices and machines to be created. We designed a series of 2,5‐diaryl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazoles bearing a 2‐(para‐substituted)phenyl and a 5‐(o‐pyridyl) group (substituent X=NMe₂, OEt, Me, H, and Cl; 1 a – e ) that form a bidentate chelating environment for metal ions. These compounds showed fluorescence response profiles varying in both emission intensity and wavelength toward the tested metal ions Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺, and Pb²⁺ and the responses were dependent on the substituent X, with those of 1 d being the most substantial. The 1,3,4‐oxadiazole O or N atom and pyridine N atom were identified as metal‐chelating sites. The fluorescence responses of 1 d upon metal chelation were employed for developing truth tables for OR, NOR, INHIBIT, and EnNOR logic gates as well as “ON‐OFF‐ON” and “OFF‐ON‐OFF” fluorescent switches in a single 1,3,4‐oxadiazole molecular system.     

The isoindazole nucleus as a donor in fullerene-based dyads. Evidence for electron transfer

A series of isoindazole-C(60) dyads 4a-c based on pyrazolino[60]fullerene have been prepared by 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of the nitrile imines, generated in situ from hydrazones 3a-c, to C(60). Molecular orbital calculations for 4b revealed that the electron distribution of the HOMO is located on the isoindazole moiety, while the electron distribution of the LUMO is located on the C(60) moiety. Electrochemical properties of the new dyads 4a-c show a similar electron affinity with respect to C(60). Charge-transfer interactions in the ground state between the isoindazole ring and the fullerene cage are predicted by the molecular orbital calculations and confirmed by electrochemical studies in 4a,b. Steady-state fluorescence emission spectra of dyads 4a-c show that fluorescence intensities in polar benzonitrile solvent decrease with increasing electron-donating ability of the substituent attached on the isoindazole group. This was confirmed by the shortening of fluorescence lifetimes, from which intramolecular charge-separation rates and efficiencies via the excited singlet states of the fullerene moiety were evaluated. The yields of the triplet states in polar solvent decrease with the electron-donating ability, supporting the competitive formation of the charge-separated state with the intersystem crossing from the excited states. Thus, isoindazole[60]fullerene 4b can be considered a molecular switch with an AND logic gate.     

A Novel Three‐Way Chromophoric Molecular Switch: pH and Light Controllable Switching Cycles

Programmed with an unusual number of functions , the tetraethynylethene derivative 1 exhibits three addressable switching subunits, which can undergo individual reversible switching cycles that are controllable by pH and light. Three “write/erase” processes and one “AND” logic gate process can be separately addressed, and in each case an efficient nondestructive readout is possible.