Time gating improves sensitivity in energy transfer assays with terbium chelate/dark quencher oligonucleotide probes

Lanthanides are attractive as biolabels because their long luminescence decay rates allow time-gated detection, which separates background scattering and fluorescence from the lanthanide emission. A stable and highly luminescent terbium complex based on a tetraisophthalamide (TIAM) chelate is paired with a polyaromatic-azo dark quencher (referred to as a Black Hole Quencher or BHQ) to prepare a series of 5'TIAM(Tb)/3'BHQ dual-labeled oligonucleotide probes with no secondary structure. Luminescence quenching efficiency within terbium/BHQ probes is very dependent on the terbium-BHQ distance. In an intact probe, the average terbium-BHQ distance is short, and Tb --> BHQ energy transfer is efficient, decreasing both the terbium emission intensity and lifetime. Upon hybridization or nuclease digestion, which spatially separate the Tb and BHQ moieties, the Tb luminescence intensity and lifetime increase. As a result, time-gated detection increases the emission intensity ratio of the unquenched probe/quenched probe due to the shorter lifetime of the quenched species. A 40-mer probe that has a 3-fold increase in steady-state luminescence upon digestion has a 50-fold increase when gated detection is used. This study demonstrates that time gating with lanthanide/dark quencher probes in energy transfer assays is an effective means of improving sensitivity.     

Lanthanide luminescent anion sensing: evidence of multiple anion recognition through hydrogen bonding and metal ion coordination

The delayed lanthanide luminescence of the terbium [Tb(III)] diaryl-urea complex 1xTb is significantly enhanced upon sensing of dihydrogenphosphate (H2PO4(-)) in CH3CN, which occurs through multiple anion binding through hydrogen bonding interactions and potential metal ion coordination to Tb(III).     

Remarkable tuning of the photophysical properties of bifunctional lanthanide tris(dipicolinates) and its consequence on the design of bioprobes

Derivatives of dipicolinic acid with a polyoxyethylene pendant arm at the pyridine 4-position have been functionalized for potential grafting with biological material. Four ligands with different terminal functions (alcohol, methoxy, phtalimide and amine) have been synthesized, which react with trivalent lanthanide ions Ln (III) to yield triple helical [Ln(L) 3] (3-) complexes, as shown by NMR and UV-vis titrations. The tris chelates display large thermodynamic stability with log beta 13 approximately 19-20 for all Eu (III) complexes for instance. Photophysical measurements reveal adequate sensitization of the metal-centered luminescence in the europium (eta sens = 33-72%) and terbium complexes, which is modulated by the nature of the terminal function. The lifetimes of the metal-centered excited states are long, up to 1.4 ms for [Eu(L) 3] (3-) and 1.6 ms for [Tb(L) 3] (3-) at room temperature, in line with hydration numbers essentially equal to zero. Quantum yields are as high as 29% for the [Eu( L ( NH2 )) 3] (3-) and 18% for the [Tb( L ( OH )) 3] (3-) tris chelates in water at physiological pH. These series of complexes demonstrate the extent of fine-tuning achievable for lanthanide luminescent probes and are simple models for investigating the effect of binding to biological molecules on the metal-centered luminescent properties.     

Fluorescence lifetime of terbium(III) as a probe for the ion-binding properties of tactic poly(methacrylic acids)

The binding properties of trivalent metal ions to polyelectrolytes were investigated through the use of terbium [Tb(III)] in fluorescence studies. The fluorescence intensity and lifetimes of the lanthanide ions are directly dependent upon the number of water molecules bound to their inner coordination sphere. The more efficiently a ligand coordinates to a lanthanide ion, the more water molecules are expelled and consequently, the greater the fluorescence intensity and lifetime. This effect was used to probe for differences in the complexation behavior of tactic polymers. Aqueous solutions of isotactic and syndiotactic poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) were neutralized and complexed with Tb(III) ions. The fluorescence intensity of the 286 nm hypersensitive excitation band was monitored and the lifetimes were measured using several excitation wavelengths. It was found that the isotactic PMA/Tb(III) complex exhibited a six times greater fluorescence intensity than the syndiotactic PMA complex. Lifetime measurements gave the number of water molecules coordinated by Tb(III) in the isotactic complex to be 2.4 while 3.4 waters remained bound to the Tb(III) ion in the syndiotactic PMA complex. These results indicate that isotactic PMA has the greater binding affinity towards Tb(III) ions. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Investigation of Ion-Binding Properties of Synthetic Polyelectrolytes with The Tb[III] Luminescence Probe

The binding properties of trivalent metal ions to polyelectrolytes were investigated through the use of Tb(III) luminescence studies. The condensation of Tb(III) with the homopolymers poly(acrylic acid) and poly(methacrylic acid) was studied in detail. In addition, the 1 : 1 copolymers of maleic acid with ethylene, isobutene, and 2,4,4-trimethyl-1-pentene were also examined. The emission intensity of the 305 nm Tb(III) hypersensitive excitation band was found to correlate with the size of the alkyl group on the polymer chains. Tb(III) luminescence lifetime studies indicated that the metal ion binding site was equivalent over a wide range of Tb(III)/polymer ratios. The number of solvent molecules coordinated by Tb(III) in the various polymer complexes was determined and found to range between 3.5 and 4 molecules of water of hydration.     

Octadentate cages of Tb(III) 2-hydroxyisophthalamides: a new standard for luminescent lanthanide labels

The synthesis, structure, and photophysical properties of several Tb(III) complexes with octadentate, macrotricyclic ligands that feature a bicapped topology and 2-hydroxyisophthalamide (IAM) chelating units are reported. These Tb(III) complexes exhibit highly efficient emission (Φ(total) ≥ 50%), large extinction coefficients (ε(max) ≥ 20,000 M(-1) cm(-1)), and long luminescence lifetimes (τ(H(2)O) ≥ 2.45 ms) at dilute concentrations in standard biological buffers. The structure of the methyl-protected ligand was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and confirms the macrotricyclic structure of the parent ligand; the amide groups of the methyl-protected cage compound generate an anion binding cavity that complexes a chloride anion. Once the ligand is deprotected, a conformational change generates a similar cavity, formed by the phenolate and ortho amide oxygen groups that strongly bind lanthanide ions. The Tb(III) complexes thus formed display long-term stability, with little if any change in their spectral properties (including lifetime, quantum yield, and emission spectrum) over time or in different chemical environments. Procedures to prepare functionalized derivatives with terminal amine, carboxylate, and N-hydroxysuccinimide groups suitable for derivatization and protein bioconjugation have also been developed. These bifunctional ligands have been covalently attached to a number of different proteins, and the terbium complexes' exceptional photophysical properties are retained. These compounds establish a new aqueous stability and quantum yield standard for long-lifetime lanthanide reporters.     

Luminescence behavior of a water soluble calix[4]arene derivative complex with terbium ion(III) in gelation solution

The complexation luminescence behavior of a water soluble calix[4]arene derivative, 5,11,17,23-tetra-sulfonate-25,26,27,28-tetra-carboxymethoxycalix[4]arene (L) with lanthanoid ion (Tb(3+)) has been investigated in gelation solution at 25 degrees C by using UV-vis and fluorescence spectra. The results obtained indicated that the water soluble calix[4]arene derivative can form an efficient energy transfer complex with terbium ion(III). The fluorescence of L x Tb(3+)complex is partially quenched by gelatin in gelation solution. The quenching intensity is related to the concentration and the hydrolysis degree of gelatin. Absorption and fluorescence spectra analysis show that the -COO(-) groups on gelatin have a definite binding ability to Tb(3+), and then, gelatin could compete binding with calix[4]arene derivative upon complexation with Tb(3+), leading to the relative fluorescence quenching of the formation complex of terbium(III) ion with calix[4]arene derivative.     

Europium(III) and terbium(III) chelates of quinolonecarboxylic acid derivatives as labels for immunofluorimetric assay

Luminescence properties of Tb(III) and Eu(III) complexes of quinolonecarboxylic acid derivatives were studied. Optimal conditions of luminescence were determined, and the influence of surfactants and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid on the luminescence properties of the complexes was studied. It was demonstrated that species-specific immunoglobulins labeled with terbium ions can be determined with the detection limit of the lanthanide label 5 x 10^-14 M.     

Synthesis and characterisation of dimeric eight-coordinate lanthanide(III) complexes of a macrocyclic tribenzylphosphinate ligand

The macrocyclic ligand 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triyl(methylenebenzyl-phosphinic acid) H3L3, has been prepared and its complexes with Eu, Gd and Tb(III) studied by NMR, relaxometry, luminescence and single crystal X-ray crystallography. In solution and in the crystal, the complexes have eight-coordinate metal centres with bridging phosphinate groups linking the two twisted square antiprismatic coordination polyhedra. A single stereoisomer crystallises from solution with an RRR and SSS configuration at the P centres in each sub-unit. The relaxivity of [GdL3]2 is low (1.9 mM-1 s-1, 298 K, 20 MHz), consistent with the absence of any proximate water molecules. The terbium dimer possesses a relatively long excited state lifetime (2.47 ms, 298 K).     

Luminescent nanoparticles prepared by encapsulating lanthanide chelates to silica sphere

The luminescent nanoparticles were prepared by encapsulating the [LnL₄]^? (Ln = Eu, Tb; L = BTFA, HFAA, TTFA, TFAA) complexes anion into the silicon framework. We firstly synthesized a series of novel siloxy-bearing lanthanide complex precursor, and then encapsulated them into the silica sphere by a modified Stöber process. As a result, four europium and two terbium tetrakis β-diketonate complexes functionalized silica sphere nanoparticles were obtained and characterized in detail using Fourier transform infrared spectra, X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscope, thermogravimetric analysis, luminescence excitation and emission spectroscopy, luminescence lifetime measurements, and diffuse reflectance UV–Vis spectroscopy. The result shows that these luminescent nanoparticles maintain the distinctive luminescence character of lanthanide chelate including broad excitation spectra, line-like emission spectra, high quantum efficiency, and long luminescent lifetime, which makes them great potential application in the synthesis of luminescent nanoparticle.     

The Formation of Luminescent Supramolecular Ternary Complexes in Water: Delayed Luminescence Sensing of Aromatic Carboxylates Using Coordinated Unsaturated Cationic Heptadentate Lanthanide Ion Complexes

The synthesis of four lanthanide ion complexes Eu?1, Eu?2, Tb?1 and Tb?2, from the heptadentate tri-arm cyclen (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) ligands 1 and 2 that were made in one-pot syntheses is described. These coordinatively unsaturated complexes have two labile metal-bound water molecules, as demonstrated by X-ray crystallography. This was also confirmed by evaluating their hydration state (q～2) by measuring their lifetimes in D²O and H²O, respectively. The above complexes were all designed as being “photophysically silent” prior to the recognition of the anion, since they do not possess antenna that can participate in sensitisation of the Eu(III) or the Tb(III) excited state. However, the two water molecules can be displaced upon anion binding by the appropriate aromatic carboxylates to give ternary complexes in water, through either four- or six-member ring chelates (q～0), or possibly via a monodentate binding. In the case of Tb?1 and Tb?2, large luminescence enhancements were observed upon the formation of such ternary complexes with N,N-dimethylaminobenzoic acid at ambient pH. Such binding and luminescent enhancements were also observed for Tb?1 in the presence of salicylic acid. On all occasions, the anion recognition “switched” the emission “on” over two logarithmic units. At higher concentrations, the emission is reduced possibly due to quenching. In the case of aspirin, the binding was too weak to be measured, indicating that Tb?1 selectively detects salicylic acid, the active form of aspirin in water. In the case of Eu?1 and Eu?2, the affinity of these complexes towards such aromatic carboxylates was too weak for efficient ternary complex formation.     

Delayed lanthanide luminescence sensing of aromatic carboxylates using heptadentate triamide Tb(III) cyclen complexes: the recognition of salicylic acid in water

The coordinately unsaturated terbium complexes Tb.1 and Tb.2 possess two labile metal-bound water molecules that can be displaced upon metal chelation to aromatic carboxylic anions such as salicylic acid in water, which gives rise to large enhancements in the Tb(III) luminescence.     

Two-photon microscopy and spectroscopy of lanthanide bioprobes.

The linear and non-linear photophysical properties of tris-dipicolinate europium and terbium complexes (absorption, emission, lifetime, luminescence induced by two-photon absorption) are studied in the crystalline state as well as in protein derivative crystals and compared to those in solution. Upon laser irradiation at 532 nm, luminescence of terbium is induced by a two-photon antenna effect, whereas luminescence of europium results from one-photon absorption in forbidden f-f transitions. Finally, linear and two-photon microscopy imaging experiments on biological and bio-inspired crystals are performed. These first proof-of-concept experiments open the way for the development of time-resolved non-linear microscopy that should combine the advantages of lanthanide luminescence (long lifetime, sharp emission bands, insensitivity to oxygen) with those of confocal biphotonic excitation (near-IR excitation, 3D resolution and reduced photodamage).     

A long-lived luminescence and EPR bimodal lanthanide-based probe for free radicals

We developed a novel spin-labeled terbium complex Tb(3+)/cs124-DTPA-TEMPO (1) by covalently labeling a nitroxide radical on the terbium complex for monitoring free radicals of various areas. This lanthanide complex probe shows a high EPR signal which resulted from the nitroxide radical moiety, and is weakly luminescent which resulted from the intramolecular quenching effect of the nitroxide radical on sensitised terbium luminescence. The intensity of both the EPR and luminescence can be modulated by eliminating the paramagnetism of the nitroxide radical through recognition of a carbon-centered radical analyte and thus gives a quantification of the analyte. We have preliminarily applied this probe in the luminescent detection of model carbon-centered radicals and hydroxyl radicals (·OH). This probe is water-soluble and contains lanthanide-luminescence properties, favorable for the time-resolved luminescence technique. The investigation of the intramolecular quenching process has showed that the labeled nitroxide radical quenches multiple excited states of the terbium complex, resulting in highly efficient quenching of terbium luminescence. This probe is the first example of intramolecular modulation of lanthanide luminescence by a nitroxide radical.     

Synthesis and luminescence properties of lanthanide complexes with a new aryl amide bifunctional bridging ligand

A new aryl amide type bifunctional bridging ligand 4,4'-bis{[(2'-benzylaminoformyl)phenoxyl]methyl}-1,1'-biphenyl (L) and its complexes with lanthanide ions (Ln=Pr, Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Er) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectra, conductivity measurements and thermal analysis. At the same time, the luminescence properties of the Eu and Tb complexes in acetone solutions were investigated. Under the excitation of UV light, these two complexes exhibited characteristic emission of europium and terbium ions. And the lowest triplet state energy level T1 of this ligand matches better to the lowest resonance energy level of Tb(III) than to Eu(III) ion.     

Development of responsive lanthanide-based magnetic resonance imaging and luminescent probes for biological applications

Lanthanide complexes have unique chemical characteristics compared with typical organic complexes, and have recently attracted much interest because of the expanding need for new bioanalytical sensors. For example, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) permits noninvasive three-dimensional imaging inside opaque organisms, and gadolinium ion (Gd(3+)) complexes have become important tools as MRI contrast agents. However, most of them are nonspecific, and report solely on anatomy. Therefore, responsive MRI contrast agents, so-called "smart" MRI contrast agents whose ability to relax water protons is greatly enhanced by recognition of a particular biomolecule, have great potential for elucidating biological phenomena. On the other hand, lanthanide complexes such as europium (Eu(3+)) and terbium (Tb(3+)) complexes have excellent luminescence properties for biological applications, i.e., long luminescence lifetime of the order of milliseconds and a large Stoke's shift of >200 nm. Their long-lived luminescence is especially suitable for time-resolved measurements, because the interference from short-lived background fluorescence and scattered light rapidly decays to a negligible level after a pulse of excitation light is applied, and the emitted light can be collected after an appropriate delay time. These luminescent lanthanide complexes have already found commercial use as highly sensitive luminescent probes in heterogeneous and homogeneous assays. This paper reviews our research on the design and synthesis of responsive lanthanide-based MRI and luminescent probes for advanced bioimaging.     

Luminescent lanthanide coordination polymers with transformative energy transfer processes for physical and chemical sensing applications

The photophysical process of lanthanide(III) ion is based on the 4f-4f transition, which is the Laporte forbidden with narrow emission band and long emission lifetime. The 4f-4f emission process is affected by introducing aromatic organic ligands. In this review, recent progress of one-, two-, and three-dimensional polymer-typed lanthanide complexes, luminescent lanthanide coordination polymers, are focused for physical and chemical sensing applications. Their changeable luminescence depended on the physical and chemical environments come from the energy transfer between lanthanide(III) ions and aromatic organic ligands. The characteristic physical (temperature, pressure, pH and mechanical force) and chemical (adsorption of metal ions and molecules) sensitive luminescence of lanthanide coordination polymers are useful for future sensing applications.     

Interaction of Tb(III) and hydrolyzed polyacrylamides in solution as a gel and in the solid state

Formation of the HPAM-Tb³ complex in solution was observed in the intensification of Tb(III) fluorescence, viscosity, and light scattering. The interaction is dependent on the degree of hydrolysis of the copolymer and the pH of the solution. As the pH value increases, an intensification of the interaction and formation of a gel is observed. The latter was associated with the appearance of crosslinks in which terbium, or one of its hydrolysis products, works as a binding agent between chains. After drying, the characterization of the residues of the gels was effected by analytical determination (C, H, N, Cl, Tb), fluorescence, and infrared spectrophotometry. The analysis and fluorescence revealed the existence of particles of terbium hydroxide; the infrared spectrophotometry showed the binding of terbium (III) to carboxylate of the copolymer.     

Synthesis of Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes with novel pyridine dicarboxamide derivatives and their luminescence properties

A novel ligand, N2,N6-bis[2-(3-methylpyridyl)]pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide (L2) and the corresponding Eu(III) and Tb(III) hydrochlorate complexes have been synthesized and characterized in detail based on elemental analysis, IR and NMR. The crystal and molecular structure of the complexes was determined by X-ray crystallography. The Eu(III) and Tb(III) ions were found to coordinate to the amido nitrogen atoms and pyridine nitrogen atoms. The luminescence properties of lanthanide complexes in solid state, in different solutions and in different pH value were investigated. The result shows that Tb(III) complexes exhibit more efficient luminescence than Eu(III) complexes, and the ligand (L2) is an excellent sensitizer to Tb(III) ion.     

Application of long-lived luminescence for detection in liquid chromatography

Summary Quenched and sensitized lanthanide luminescence as detection in liquid chromatography has been investigated. An important advantage in comparison with phosphorescence is that the long-lived luminescence as applied does not require deoxygenation of the samples. In order to obtain a high luminescence intensity Tb(III) complexes with acetylacetonate have been formed, after which indirect excitation of Tb(III) can be realized via the ligands. The potential of Tb(III) luminescence as a detection method in ion chromatography has been shown for chromate, which is an efficient quencher. Sensitizing of the Tb(III) luminescence has been applied for thiol-containing analytes. These compounds are derivatized with maleimidyl salicylic acid to complexes that sensitize the Tb(III) luminescence. From a comparison of the results obtained with normal fluorescence detection and time-resolved sensitized Tb(III) luminescence detection it has become clear that the last method has a higher sensitivity, but in particular a higher selectivity.