Singlet and Triplet State Properties and Singlet Oxygen Yield of an Amino-Acyl-Quinoxalinone Yellow Dye

Amino-acyl-quinoxalinone yellow dyes are cyclised analogues of the yellow azomethine dyes developed for, and still used in, silver halide colour photography. Unlike image azomethine dyes, which are rapidly deactivated in their excited states by torsion about the azomethine bond, amino-acyl-quinoxalinone dyes have an interesting photophysics because torsion is not possible due to their cyclised structure. We report results from studies on singlet and triplet state properties, and singlet oxygen yields, of the yellow dye, 7-diethylamino-3-(2,2-dimethyl-propionyl)-5-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-quinoxalin-2-one, in polar and nonpolar solvents. The dye photophysics is characterised by a weak fluorescence, with a solvent dependent emission yield (Φ_F?≈?0.002–0.004), and short singlet state lifetime (τ_expt?≈?20–50 ps), both increasing by a factor of ≈2 in going from polar acetonitrile to non-polar dioxane as solvent. DFT ZINDO calculations show a transition involving significant electron transfer from the diethyl-amino group into the carbonyl region of the molecule. In solution, in the presence of oxygen, the triplet state decays almost exclusively by oxygen quenching, and singlet oxygen is produced in high yield (Φ_??≈?0.5–0.55). The triplet state absorbs across the 450–750 nm region with maxima around 480 and 650 nm, and moderate molar absorption coefficients (ca. 6000–8000 M^?1 cm^?1). In a glass at 77 K, triplet decay gives a red phosphorescence, with λ_max?≈?640–650 nm, and a ?≈?0.25 s lifetime. If singlet oxygen yields are a good indication of triplet yields, then internal conversion and intersystem crossing occur with roughly equal efficiency.

     

Determination of the rate constant of oxygen quenching of the excited states of molecules from the singlet oxygen luminescence

We have pioneered a method of determining the rate constant of quenching of the excited electronic states of molecules by molecular oxygen from measurements of the kinetics of photosensitized luminescence of singlet molecular oxygen (^lδ_g). The method can be used in the case where the lifetime of the excited electronic state in an air-saturated solution is comparable with or larger than the luminescence time of the singlet molecular oxygen in the given solvent. It is shown that this situation is implemented on quenching, by molecular oxygen, of the excited triplet states associated with the biopolymers of tetrapyrrole molecules in aqueous (H₂O and D₂O) solutions. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 67, No. 3, pp. 401–404, May–June, 2000.     

Singlet oxygen lifetime dependence on photosensitizer concentration in lipid films

It was shown that lipids substantially influence singlet oxygen lifetime. Question arises whether photosensitizers triplet states and excitation energy transfer to oxygen are also affected by lipids. In this contribution, the influence of lipids on excitation energy transfer from lipophilic photosensitizer tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) to oxygen was investigated in bulk lipids and dry lipid films.Two components of TPP triplets decays were identified: quenching by oxygen which does not depend on TPP concentration and triplet-triplet annihilation. Rather long lifetimes of the TPP triplets around are due to low solubility and diffusion coefficient of oxygen in the lipid. They are also reflected in low signal of singlet oxygen luminescence. Kinetics of the singlet oxygen luminescence follow convolutions of two exponential decays: rise-time independent on concentration and well corresponding to the short component of TPP triplet decay and decay time decreasing from 14 to with increasing TPP concentration due to quenching of singlet oxygen by TPP.     

A mathematical model of the photodynamic fullerene-oxygen action on biological tissues

A kinetic model of the photodynamic fullerene-oxygen action on biological tissues is developed. The efficiency of generation of singlet oxygen is studied in relation to the intensity of exciting radiation and the concentrations of fullerene and oxygen. The spectral efficiencies of singlet oxygen generation upon irradiation of a biological tissue by a lamp and different lasers are studied and compared with each other. The power of luminescence of singlet oxygen is calculated. The spatial distributions of singlet oxygen in allantoic fluid and in murine sarcoma are studied. The oxidation of lipids of external membranes is assumed to be the basic mechanism of cell damage. The characteristic time of this oxidation is calculated. The dose curve of cell survival is estimated. The results of modeling are compared with experimental data in the literature.     

Specific features of the luminescence of singlet oxygen in solutions of fullerene in aerated organic liquids

The luminescence of singlet oxygen at wavelengths of 760 and 1270 nm in solutions of fullerene in aerated organic liquids irradiated by high-power short laser pulses and by xenon lamps is considered theoretically. The obtained analytical formulas allow one to determine the lifetimes of the ¹Σ O₂ and ¹Δ O₂ oxygen levels, as well as the rate constant of the reaction of generation of singlet oxygen by triplet fullerene in this solution.     

Generation of singlet oxygen by indotricarbocyanine dyes in low-polarity media

We present the results of a study of the spectral luminescence properties of three groups of indotricarbocyanine dyes, each of which is formed from compounds with the same cation and different anions. In high-polarity solvents, in the absorption and emission spectra of the dyes we see one type of center; in low-polarity solvents, due to the presence of different ionic forms of the dyes (free ions, contact ion pairs), we observe either one type or two types of centers. By analysis of the luminescence of molecular oxygen in the 1.27 μm spectral region, we determined the efficiency of photosensitization of ¹O₂ formation by dyes in deuterated solvents. We have shown that in low-polarity solvents, the yield for singlet oxygen generation is higher for indotricarbocyanine dyes which are found in the contact ion pair state and which also contain a heavy atom (I) in the anion. We have observed that an increase in the fraction of contact ion pairs in solution as the dye concentration increases or when an additional salt is introduced leads to an increase in the quantum yield for generation of singlet oxygen. In polar deuterated acetonitrile, the counterion has no effect on the efficiency of photosensitization of oxygen by the dyes. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 75, No. 5, pp. 684–693, September–October, 2008.     

Mechanism for quenching of the luminescence of 9,10-anthraquinone vapor by oxygen

The fluorescence of 9,10-anthraquinone, 1-aminoanthraquinone, 1,4-diaminoanthraquinone, and 1,5-diaminoanthraquinone is not quenched by oxygen because the singlet-triplet energy difference in these compounds is less than the energy needed for excitation of the triplet state of oxygen to the singlet state. Luminescence of 9,10-anthraquinone is quenched because it is mainly phosphorescence, for which the singlet-triplet difference is sufficient for quenching by a mechanism involving singlet oxygen formation. The weak fluorescence of 9,10-anthraquinone is not quenched. The resistance of the fluorescence of 9,10-anthraquinone vapor to quenching by oxygen and the quenching of its phosphorescence explain the different effects of oxygen on the luminescence of α-substituted and β-substituted anthraquinones known from the literature, and indicate that their singlet excited state cannot convert triplet oxygen to singlet oxygen. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 75, No. 1, pp. 79–4, January–February, 2008.     

Luminescence Study of Singlet Oxygen Production by Meso-Tetraphenylporphine

The research in the field of the photodynamic therapy of cancer (PDT) is focused on a development of photosensitizers exhibiting high quantum yield of singlet oxygen production. Direct time-resolved spectroscopic observation of singlet oxygen phosphorescence can provide time constants of its population and depopulation as well as photosensitizer phosphorescence lifetime and relative quantum yields. In our contribution, a study of time and spectral resolved phosphorescence of singlet oxygen photosensitized by meso-tetraphenylporphine in acetone together with the photosensitizer phosphorescence is presented. Time constants of singlet oxygen population and depopulation were determined at wide range of photosensitizer concentrations. The time constant of singlet oxygen generation (0.28 ± 0.01) s is slightly shorter then the lifetime of photosensitizer's triplet state (0.32 ± 0.01) s. It is caused by lower ability of TPP aggregates to transfer excitation energy to oxygen. The lifetime of singlet oxygen (50 s) decreases with increasing photosensitizer concentration. Therefore, the photosensitizer acts also as a quencher of oxygen singlet state, similarly to the effects observed in [A. A. Krasnovsky, P. Cheng, R. E. Blankenship, T. A. Moore, and D. Gust (1993). Photochem. Photobiol. 57, 324–330; H. Küpper, R. Ddic, A. Svoboda, J. Hála, and P. M. H. Kroneck (2002). Biochim. Biophys. Acta Gen. Subj. 1572, 107–113]. Moreover, the increasing concentraion of the photosensitizer causes a slight hypsochromic shift of the singlet oxygen luminescence maximum.     

Color and Luminescence Centers in LuAG and Pr:LuAG Crystals Before and After <Superscript>60</Superscript>Co γ-Irradiation

Entire luminescence spectrum of a commercial photosensitizer Radachlorin in aqueous solution has been recorded under laser excitation at 660 nm and analyzed. The peak of singlet oxygen phosphorescence at 1274 nm has been observed. The results obtained were compared with those recorded with laser excitation at 405 nm and reported earlier. The comparison showed the similarity of relaxation and luminescence processes occurring in both cases. Effective absorption cross sections were determined at each excitation wavelength, it was also shown that the singlet oxygen quantum yield is independent of photosensitizer concentration. The lifetime of the first excited triplet state in Radachlorin was determined. The results obtained can be used for optimization of the conditions of singlet oxygen generation and detection in solutions and biological samples.     

Statics and dynamics of excited states of oxygen-deficient centers in SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The parameters of excited states of oxygen-deficient centers (ODCs) in high-energy-electron irradiated crystalline and glassy SiO₂ have been studied using optical absorption, luminescence, and photoelectron emission spectroscopy. Additional evidence has been gained in support of the model of a neutral oxygen vacancy in ODCs, the diagram of electronic transitions has been refined, and their characteristics have been quantified. The possibility of ionization of the singlet and triplet defect states at a transition to the anomalously relaxed configuration has been demonstrated using the particular example of α-ODCs. Nonradiative excitation transfer from nonbridging oxygen centers to the triplet ODC state has been observed.     

Inorganic phosphors in lead–silicate glass for white LEDs

Using spectrophotometry and stationary and kinetic fluorimetry, we have shown that xanthene dye fluorescein forms complexes with polycationic derivative of fullerene in aqueous solutions mainly due to electrostatic interactions. It is found that efficient quenching of singlet excited states of dye occurs in the structure of these complexes due to the transfer of excitation or electron from dye to fullerene. As a result, the photodynamic activity of the newly formed complex is much higher than that of fluorescein and fullerene derivative. This effect makes it possible to predict the formation of new-generation hybrid photodynamic preparations using dyes excited only into a singlet state; as a result, directed searches for these dyes are significantly facilitated.     

Specific features of the radiative relaxation of excited states of polymethine dyes of different ionicity in films of photoconductive and nonphotoconductive polymers

The spectral and luminescent properties of film composites based on photoconductive poly-N-epoxipropylcarbazole and nonphotoconductive polyvinylbutyral with admixtures of cationic and anionic polymethine dyes, as well as the effect of an external magnetic field on these properties, are studied. It is found that the magnetic field affects the intensity and kinetics of the delayed fluorescence and recombination luminescence of the cationic dye in photoconductive films. This is explained by specific features of photogeneration of charge pairs, namely, by the participation of the singlet and triplet excited states of dye molecules in this process, as well as by the singlet-triplet conversion in dye molecules and photogenerated charge pairs.     

Fluorescence and Time-Resolved Delayed Luminescence of Porphyrins in Organic Solvents and Polymer Matrices

Porphyrin dyes fulfill an essential function in photosynthesis and are important in photodynamic therapy and in a range of electronic devices. Their spectroscopic characteristics may play a crucial role in these processes. The spectral properties of two porphyrin dyes: tetraphenylporphyrin and tetraphenysulfporphyrin in organic solvents (acetone, chloroform, methyl alcohol, and dimethyl-sulfoxide) and in polyvinyl alcohol and poly(methylmethacrylate) films have been investigated. Absorption, fluorescence, and microsecond time-resolved delayed luminescence spectra have been measured at room temperature. The existence of different aggregated dye forms in the ground and excited states has been demonstrated. The manifold of dye species depends on the solvent/polymer. In the case of the polymers, it also depends on the solvent used to coat the polymer film. Delayed luminescence spectra and decay times of the two porphyrins in the different solutions and in polymeric matrices suggest that different mechanisms of deexcitation of the singlet excited states may be responsible for their generation in these and other porphyrin dyes.     

Quenching effects in flashlamp-excited polymethine dye lasers

The main action of oxygen dissolved in air-saturated polymethine-dye laser solutions is the quenching of the excited singlet state by enhancing transitions between it and the triplet state. A substantial increase of laser efficiency was observed by outgasing the solutions of five di- and tri-carbocyanine dyes. In one case (DOTC) a specific triplet state quencher (COT) was found.     

Intramolecular energy transfer by singlet and triplet excitons in macromolecules

Absorption, luminescence and photo-oxidation of polyvinylcarbazole (PVCa) and polyvinylbenzocarbazole (PVBCa) in weak solutions have been studied. It is found that fluorescence and phosphorescence spectra, observed at 293, 77 and 4.2 K, depend on the molecular mass M of the polymer and on the experimental conditions. Due to efficient intramolecular energy transfer the fluorescence spectrum includes the emission of excimers, emission of end groups and that of internal structural defects of a macrochain. The relative role of each emission markedly depends on M. Phosphorescence is largely determined by the annihilation effects between triplet excitations, these effects being pronounced in long macrochains. The data show the excitonic nature of the singlet and triplet excitation energy transfer in the polymers studied. The migration of one-dimensional singlet and triplet excitons strongly influences the luminescent properties of PVCa and PVBCa macromolecules, as well as their photochemical reactions. The range of singlet excitons in PVCa and PVBCa macromolecules is determined both at room temperature and at low temperatures.     

Time-resolved luminescence and singlet oxygen formation under illumination of hypericin in acetone

We present time- and spectral-resolved phosphorescence study of hypericin as well as evolution of singlet oxygen formation and elimination under the illumination of hypericin in acetone solution. The obtained time-resolved hypericin phosphorescence can be satisfactorily fitted by using a two-exponential decay curve. The value of shorter component is about 0.29 μs and is independent of the hypericin concentration in the studied range (2–200 μM). The rise time of singlet oxygen production matches this value perfectly. It confirms that singlet oxygen formation represents the significant channel of hypericin triplet state deactivation under aerobic conditions at room temperature. The total phosphorescence intensity of hypericin is linearly proportional to the hypericin concentration within the studied concentration range, but the singlet oxygen phosphorescence intensity exhibits saturation behavior. This observation is a result of at least two effects: quenching of singlet oxygen by hypericin, as well as quenching of singlet oxygen by singlet oxygen.     

Transient optical absorption of excited F -centres in BeO

Time-resolved spectra, decay kinetics and polarization of the transient optical absorption induced by irradiation of additively colored BeO crystals with electron pulses have been studied. It has been established that the two bands at 3.8 and 4.3 v eV of the transient optical absorption are due to the transitions between triplet and singlet excited states of F -centres in BeO. The polarization of excited F -centres absorption is discussed on the basis of analysis of the splitting of singlet and triplet states in crystalline field of the C 3v symmetry.     

硫代碱基与单态氧反应速率常数的时间分辨光谱测定

硫代碱基作为一类免疫抑制性药物被广泛关注,由于硫原子的取代,硫代碱基可以吸收UVA波段紫外光,并通过系间窜越至激发三重态敏化氧气生成广泛应用于光动力学治疗的活性氧物质单态氧(~1O_2).然而,硫代碱基容易与自身敏化产生的~1O_2氧化发生反应,导致光毒性.在已有关于硫代碱基与~1O_2反应机理的研究基础上,本文采用瞬态光谱方法直接测得~1O_2在1270 nm处磷光信号的衰减动力学,得到硫代碱基与单态氧反应的速率常数.通过比较6-硫代鸟嘌呤、4-硫代尿嘧啶、2,4-二硫代尿嘧啶分别在水、乙腈以及二者混合溶剂中与~1O_2的反应,发现硫代碱基与单态氧反应速率常数受溶剂的极性影响.随着溶剂极性增大,反应速率常数则减小.此外,通过对比研究,发现硫代嘧啶类碱基与~1O_2的反应速率小于硫代嘌呤类碱基,说明在光动力学治疗中以硫代嘧啶类药物作为光敏剂是较为合适的选择.     

Red/Near‐Infrared Emissive Metalloporphyrin‐Based Nanodots for Magnetic Resonance Imaging‐Guided Photodynamic Therapy In Vivo

Near‐infrared emissive (NIR) porphyrin‐implanted carbon nanodots (PCNDs or MPCNDs) are prepared by selectively carbonization of free base or metal complexes [M = Zn(II) or Mn(III)] of tetra‐(meso‐aminophenyl)porphyrin in the presence of citric acid. The as‐prepared nanodots exhibit spontaneously NIR emission, small size, good aqueous dispersibility, and favorable biocompatibility characteristic of both porphyrins and pristine carbon nanodots. The subcellular localization experiment of nanodots indicates a lysosome‐targeting feature. And the in vitro photodynamic therapy (PDT) results on HeLa cells indicate the nanodots alone have no adverse effect on tumor cells, but display remarkable photodynamic efficacy upon irradiation. Moreover, MnPCNDs containing paramagnetic Mn(III) ions, which possesses good biocompatibility, NIR luminescence, and magnetic resonance imaging and efficient singlet oxygen production, are further studied in magnetic resonance imaging‐guided photodynamic therapy in vivo.