Preparation of a [Ru(bpy)2(dppz)]2+-intercalated DNA cast film using a self-standing method and its luminescence tuning by Cu2+ ions and EDTA

In this correspondence, we report on the first preparation of [Ru(bpy)(2)(dppz)](2+)-intercalated (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine) DNA films on an indium-tin oxide surface via a solution-based self-standing strategy, carried out by the direct mixing of aqueous solutions of both anionic DNA and cationic metallointercalator at a molar ratio of 5:6. The luminescence of a [Ru(bpy)(2)(dppz)](2+)-intercalated DNA cast film is studied and found to show excellent tunable characteristics by Cu(2+) ions and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid addition.     

Chemical control of the DNA light switch: cycling the switch ON and OFF

The emission of the DNA light-switch complex [Ru(bpy)2(tpphz)]2+ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, tpphz = tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c:3' ',2' '-h:2' ',3' '-j]phenazine) can be reversibly turned ON and OFF over several cycles. The tpphz and taptp (taptp = 4,5,9,18-tetraazaphenanthreno[9,10-b] triphenylene) ligands in [Ru(bpy)2(tpphz)]2+ and [Ru(bpy)2(taptp)]2+, respectively, intercalate between the DNA bases, and a 50-fold increase in emission intensity of [Ru(bpy)2(tpphz)]2+ is observed upon DNA intercalation. The [Ru(bpy)2(tpphz)]2+ DNA light switch can be turned OFF statically in the presence of Co2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+, and the emission can be fully restored by the addition of EDTA. Cycling of the DNA light switch OFF and ON can be accomplished through the successive introduction of Co2+ and EDTA, respectively, to solutions of DNA-bound [Ru(bpy)2(tpphz)]2+. Owing to the absence of additional coordination sites, the emission of DNA-intercalated [Ru(bpy)2(taptp)]2+ is not quenched by transition metal ions in solution. To our knowledge, this work presents the first example of a reversible DNA light switch.     

Dual molecular light switches for pH and DNA based on a novel Ru(II) complex. A non-intercalating Ru(II) complex for DNA molecular light switch

A new Ru(II) complex of [Ru(phen)(2)(Hcdpq)](ClO(4))(2) {phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, Hcdpq = 2-carboxyldipyrido[3,2-f:2',3'-h]quinoxaline} was synthesized and characterized. The spectrophotometric pH and calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) titrations showed that the complex acted as a dual molecular light switch for pH and ct-DNA with emission enhancement factors of 17 and 26, respectively. It was shown to be capable of distinguishing ct-DNA from yeast RNA with this binding selectivity being superior to two well-known DNA molecular light switches of [Ru(bpy)(2)(dppz)](2+) {bpy =2,2'-bipyridine, and dppz = dipyrido-[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine}and ethidium bromide. The complex bond to ct-DNA probably in groove mode with a binding constant of (4.67 ± 0.06) × 10(3) M(-1) in 5 mM Tris-HCl, 50 mM NaCl (pH = 7.10) buffer solution, as evidenced by UV-visible absorption and luminescence titrations, the dependence of DNA binding constants on NaCl concentrations, DNA competitive binding with ethidium bromide, and emission lifetime and viscosity measurements. To get insight into the light-switch mechanism, theoretical calculations were also performed by applying density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT.     

Intercalation is not required for DNA light-switch behavior

The DNA light-switch complex [Ru(bpy)2(tpphz)]2+ (1, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, tpphz = tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c:3',2'-h:2',3'-j]phenazine) is luminescent when bound to DNA and in organic solvents and weakly emissive in water. To date, light-switch behavior by transition metal complexes has generally been regarded as confirmation of DNA intercalation. In contrast, the present work demonstrates that the nonintercalating bimetallic complex [(bpy)2Ru(tpphz)Ru(bpy)2]4+ (2) behaves as a DNA light-switch. Weak emission from the 3MLCT excited state of 2 is observed in water with lambda(em) = 623 nm (phi(em) = 1.4 x 10(-4)), and a red shift (lambda(em) = 702 nm) and 40-fold increase in intensity are observed upon addition of 100 microM calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA). Addition of increasing concentrations of 2 to 1 mM herring sperm DNA does not result in an increase in the viscosity of the solution, indicating that the complex is not an intercalator. Additionally, experiments were conducted to ensure that the emission enhancement did not arise from threading intercalation of the complex. The in situ generation of 2 intercalated between the base pairs of ct-DNA in a threading fashion, however, exhibits emission maximum at 685 nm, which is blue-shifted from that of surface-bound 2. DFT calculations show low-lying orbitals in 2 that are expected to exhibit nonemissive character when contributing to the MLCT state, in accord with the lower emission intensity observed for 2 relative to that for 1. To our knowledge, the present work is the first example of a nonintercalating light-switch metal complex, thus showing that light-switch behavior cannot be used exclusively as confirmation of intercalation.     

Fused donor-acceptor ligands in RuII chemistry: synthesis, electrochemistry and spectroscopy of [Ru(bpy)3-n(TTF-dppz)n](PF6)2.

Three ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes of general formula [Ru(bpy)(3-n)(TTF-dppz)n](PF6)2 (n=1-3, bpy=2,2'-bipyridine), with one, two or three redox-active TTF-dppz (4',5'-bis(propylthio)tetrathiafulvenyl[i]dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine) ligands, were synthesised and fully characterised. Their electrochemical and photophysical properties are reported together with those of the reference compounds [Ru(bpy)3](PF6)2, [Ru(dppz)3](PF6)2 and [Ru(bpy)2(dppz)](PF6)2 and the free TTF-dppz ligand. All three complexes show intraligand charge-transfer (ILCT) fluorescence of the TTF-dppz ligand. Remarkably, the complex with n=1 exhibits luminescence from the Ru(2+)-->dppz metal-to-ligand charge-transfer ((3)MLCT) state, whereas for the other two complexes, a radiationless pathway via electron transfer from a second TTF-dppz ligand quenches the (3)MLCT luminescence. The TTF fragments as electron donors thus induce a ligand-to-ligand charge-separated (LLCS) state of the form TTF-dppz- -Ru(2+)-dppz-TTF(+). The lifetime of this LLCS state is approximately 2.3 micros, which is four orders of magnitude longer than that of 0.4 ns for the ILCT state, because recombination of charges on two different ligands is substantially slower.     

Rapid assessment of DNA damage induced by polystyrene nanosphere suspension using a photoelectrochemical DNA sensor

Nanomaterials have been used increasingly in a wide variety of applications, and some of them have shown toxic effects on experimental animals and cells. In this study, a previously established photoelectrochemical DNA sensor was employed to rapidly detect DNA damage induced by polystyrene nanosphere (PSNS) suspensions. In the sensor, a double-stranded DNA film was assembled on a semiconductor electrode, and a DNA intercalator, Ru(bpy)2(dppz)2+ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine...     

Complexes of functionalized dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]-phenazine: a synthetic, spectroscopic, structural, and density functional theory study

The ligands 11-bromodipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine and ethyl dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine-11-carboxylate have been prepared and coordinated to ruthenium(II), rhenium(I), and copper(I) metal centers. The electronic effects of substitution of dipyrido[2,3-a:3',2'-c]phenazine (dppz) have been investigated by spectroscopy and electrochemistry, and some photophysical properties have been studied. The crystal structures of [Re(L)(CO)(3)Cl] (L = ethyl dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine-11-carboxylate or 11-bromodipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine) are presented. Density functional theory calculations on the complexes show only small deviations in bond lengths and angles (most bonds within 0.02 Angstroms, most angles within 2 degrees) from the crystallographic data. Furthermore, the vibrational spectra of the strongest Raman and IR bands are predicted to within an average 6 cm(-1) for the complexes [Re(L)(CO)(3)Cl] and [Cu(L)(triphenylphosphine)(2)]BF(4) (in the 1000-1700 cm(-1) region). Spectroscopic and electrochemical evidence suggest that reduction of the complex causes structural changes across the entire dppz ligand. This is unusual as dppz-based ligands typically have electrochemical properties that suggest charge localization with reduction on the phenazine portion of the ligand. The excited-state lifetimes of the complexes have been measured, and they range from ca. 200 ns for the [Ru(L)(2,2'-bipyridine)(2)](PF(6))(2) complexes to over 2 mus for [Cu(11-bromodipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine)(PPh(3))(2)](BF(4)) at room temperature. The emission spectra suggest that the unusually long-lived excited states of the copper complexes result from metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions as they are completely quenched in methanol. Electroluminescent films may be fabricated from these compounds; they show MLCT state emission even at low doping levels [<0.1% by weight in poly(vinylcarbazole) polymer matrix].     

Nucleic acid intercalators and avidin probes derived from luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III)-dipyridoquinoxaline and -dipyridophenazine complexes

Six luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III)-dipyridoquinoxaline and -dipyridophenazine complexes [Ir(ppy)2(N-N)](PF6) (Hppy = 2-phenylpyridine; N-N = dipyrido[3,2-f:2',3'-h]quinoxaline, dpq (1); 2-n-butylamidodipyrido[3,2-f:2',3'-h]quinoxaline, dpqa (2); 2-((2-biotinamido)ethyl)amidodipyrido[3,2-f:2',3'-h]quinoxaline, dpqB (3); dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, dppz (4); benzo[i]dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, dppn (5); 11-((2-biotinamido)ethyl)amidodipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, dppzB (6)) have been designed as luminescent intercalators for DNA and probes for avidin. The structure of complex 4 has been studied by X-ray crystallography. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of the complexes have also been investigated. The binding of these complexes to double-stranded calf thymus DNA and synthetic double-stranded oligonucleotides poly(dA) x poly(dT) and poly(dG) x poly(dC) has been investigated by spectroscopic titrations. The interactions between the two biotin-containing complexes and avidin have been studied by 4'-hydroxyazobenzene-2-carboxylic acid (HABA) assays and emission titrations.     

DNA interaction of platinum(II) complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline and extended phenanthrolines

The interaction with DNA of the platinum(II) square planar complexes [Pt(N-N)(py)(2)](2+) (N-N = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), dipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (dpq), dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz), benzodipyrido[b:3,2-h:2'3'-f]phenazine (bdppz)) has been investigated by means of absorption, circular and linear dichroism spectroscopy, DNA melting, and viscosity. In the presence of excess [DNA] all the complexes intercalate to the double helix. For those with the most extended phenanthrolines the binding mode depends on the [DNA]/[complex] ratio (q); at low q values the substances bind externally to DNA probably self-aggregating along the double helix. When the DNA concentration is large enough, the aggregate breaks up and the complex intercalates within the nucleobases. The complexes self-aggregate, without added DNA, in the presence of a large salt concentration.     

Ruthenium(II) coordination chemistry of a fused donor-acceptor ligand: synthesis, characterization, and photoinduced electron-transfer reactions of [{Ru(bpy)2}(n)(TTF-ppb)](PF6)(2n) (n = 1, 2)

A pi-extended, redox-active bridging ligand 4',5'-bis(propylthio)tetrathiafulvenyl[i]dipyrido[2,3-a:3',2'-c]phenazine (L) was prepared via direct Schiff-base condensation of the corresponding diamine-tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) precursor with 4,7-phenanthroline-5,6-dione. Reactions of L with [Ru(bpy)(2)Cl(2)] afforded its stable mono- and dinuclear ruthenium(II) complexes 1 and 2. They have been fully characterized, and their photophysical and electrochemical properties are reported together with those of [Ru(bpy)(2)(ppb)](2+) and [Ru(bpy)(2)(mu-ppb)Ru(bpy)(2)](4+) (ppb = dipyrido[2,3-a:3',2'-c]phenazine) for comparison. In all cases, the first excited state corresponds to an intramolecular TTF --> ppb charge-transfer state. Both ruthenium(II) complexes show two strong and well-separated metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) absorption bands, whereas the (3)MLCT luminescence is strongly quenched via electron transfer from the TTF subunit. Clearly, the transient absorption spectra illustrate the role of the TTF fragment as an electron donor, which induces a triplet intraligand charge-transfer state ((3)ILCT) with lifetimes of approximately 200 and 50 ns for mono- and dinuclear ruthenium(II) complexes, respectively.     

Dinuclear monointercalating RuII complexes that display high affinity binding to duplex and quadruplex DNA

The DNA duplex binding properties of previously reported dinuclear Ru(II) complexes based on the ditopic ligands tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c:3',2'-h:2',3'-j]phenazine (tppz) and tetraazatetrapyrido[3,2-a:2'3'-c:3',2'-l:2',3'-n]pentacene (tatpp) are reported. Photophysical and biophysical studies indicate that, even at high ionic strengths, these complexes bind to duplex DNA, through intercalation, with affinities that are higher than any other monointercalating complex and are only equalled by DNA-threaded bisintercalating complexes. Additional studies at high ionic strengths using the 22-mer d(AG(3)[T(2)AG(3)](3)) [G3] human telomeric sequence reveal that the dinuclear tppz-based systems also bind with high affinity to quadruplex DNA. Furthermore, for these complexes, quadruplex binding is accompanied by a distinctive blue-shifted "light-switch" effect, characterized by higher emission enhancements than those observed in the analogous duplex effect. Calorimetry studies reveal that the thermodynamics of duplex and quadruplex binding is distinctly different, with the former being entirely entropically driven and the latter being both enthalpically and entropically favored.     

A new stable and reliable method for labeling nucleic acids of fully replicative viruses

Efficiently labeling nucleic acids of fully replicative viruses is a challenge. In this work, a 'molecular light switch' complex [Ru(phen)(2)(dppz)](2+), where phen = 1,10-phenanthroline and dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, has been exploringly used to label vaccinia virus nucleic acid. The labeled virions exhibited strong and stable fluorescence and could be imaged at the single-virion level. Moreover, they were fully infectious and can be used to study the behaviors of invasion into their host cells. The method is general and suitable for labeling various DNA viruses.     

[Ru(phen)2dppz]2+二聚及对DNA键合性质的影响

研究发现, [Ru(phen)2dppz]2+表现出非常强的自聚合倾向, 并显著影响DNA的键合性质, 有关方面的研究应引起科研工作者的足够重视.     

Ru(ii) sensitized lanthanide luminescence: synthesis, photophysical properties, and near-infrared luminescent determination of alpha-fetal protein (AFP)

A series of dinuclear compounds of [Ru(bpy)(2)(tpphz)Ln(TTA)(3)](PF(6))(2) (tpphz = tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c:3',2'-h:3',4'-j]phenazine; Ln = Er(iii), Nd(iii), Yb(iii) and Gd(iii); TTA = 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone) have been prepared by attachment of a [Ln(TTA)(3)] fragment at the vacant diimine site of the luminescent mononuclear complex [Ru(bpy)(2)(tpphz)](PF(6))(2). In the solid state, in CH(2)Cl(2) solution and in Tris-HCl buffer solution of these dinuclear complexes , sensitized near-infrared (NIR) luminescence is observed from Nd and Yb centres following excitation of the d-block unit, which results from the effective Ru → Ln (Ln = Nd, Yb) energy transfer, but no Er-based NIR luminescence is produced. The (3)MLCT (MLCT = metal to ligand charge transfer) emission is partly quenched in the complex, slightly increased in the complex, and is not changed in the complex. Interestingly, alpha-fetal protein (AFP) tends to decrease the NIR luminescence intensity of the complex in Tris-HCl buffer solution. A novel NIR luminescent method for the determination of AFP was developed with a linear range of 0.5-18 ng mL(-1), and a detection limit of 0.2 ng mL(-1) based on 3 times the ratio of the signal-to-noise. Considering the attractive features, such as good selectivity, stability and rapidity, the proposed NIR luminescent method provides promising potential for AFP detection in clinical diagnosis and biomedical applications.     

Effect of the addition of a fused donor-acceptor ligand on a Ru(II) complex: synthesis, characterization, and photoinduced electron transfer reactions of [Ru(TTF-dppz)2(Aqphen)]2+

The synthesis and the photophysical properties of the complex [Ru(TTF-dppz)(2)(Aqphen)](2+) (TTF = tetrathiafulvalene, dppz = dipyrido-[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, Aqphen = anthraquinone fused to phenanthroline via a pyrazine bridge) are described. In this molecular triad excitation into the metal-ligand charge transfer bands results in the creation of a long-lived charge separated state with TTF acting as electron donor and anthraquinone as terminal acceptor. The lifetime of the charge-separated state is 400 ns in dichloromethane at room temperature. A mechanism for the charge separation involving an intermediate charge-separated state is proposed based on transient absorption spectroscopy.     

DNA对Ru(bpy)_2(dppx)~(2+)-SDS体系共振光散射的猝灭作用及其应用

研究了Ru(bpy)2(dppx)2+-SDS-DNA(bpy=2,2′-联吡啶,dppx=7,8-二甲基-吡啶并[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]吩嗪)体系的共振光散射光谱。结果表明,在阴离子表面活性剂十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)预胶束聚集体存在下,Ru(bpy)2(dppx)2+-SDS体系具有很强的共振光散射,DNA的加入使其共振散射光猝灭。探讨了反应机理。基于DNA对Ru(bpy)2(dppx)2+-SDS体系共振光散射的猝灭作用,建立了共振光散射法测定DNA的新方法。在最佳实验条件下,体系在393nm处的共振光散射猝灭程度与DNA的浓度呈线性关系,线性范围为0.01～1.2mg/L,检出限为1.5μg/L。     

Asymmetric cooperativity in tandem hybridization of enantiomeric metal complex-tethered short fluorescent DNA probes

The complex [Ru(phen)(2)(dppz)](2+)(phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, dppz = dipyrido[3,2-aratio2',3'-c]phenazine) was attached to the 5' end of a short oligonucleotide to form conjugates, the Delta-isomer of which showed a high cooperativity during the recognition of the repetitive sequence, while the Lambda-isomer did not.     

新型双核配合物的形成及荧光性质研究

利用光谱学方法研究了[Ru(bpy)2TPPHZ]2+(TPPHZ=四吡啶[3,2-a: 2',3'-c: 3",2"-h: 2'",3'"-j]吩嗪)和[Ru(bpy)2ODHIP]2+(ODHIP=3,4-二羟基-咪唑并[4,5-f][1,10]邻菲咯啉)与Ni2+的配位情况及配位后的荧光性质变化, 探讨了配合物与Ni2+配位形成双核配合物后与DNA的作用机制变化. 结果表明, [Ru(bpy)2TPPHZ]2+和[Ru(bpy)2ODHIP]2+均可与Ni2+配位, 形成双核配合物[Ru(bpy)2(TPPHZ)Ni]4+和[Ru(bpy)2(ODHIP)Ni]4+, 配合物的荧光强度随着Ni2+浓度的增加而减弱. 与DNA作用后, 配合物仍可与Ni2+配位形成双核配合物, [Ru(bpy)2(TPPHZ)Ni]4+的荧光几乎完全消失, 同时配合物与DNA保持插入模式作用, 而配合物[Ru(bpy)2(ODHIP)Ni]4+与DNA的作用则由沟面结合改为插入结合, 同时配合物的荧光减弱.     

Electrochemiluminescent monomers for solid support syntheses of Ru(II)-PNA bioconjugates: multimodal biosensing tools with enhanced duplex stability

The feasibility of devising a solid support mediated approach to multimodal Ru(II)-peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligomers is explored. Three Ru(II)-PNA-like monomers, [Ru(bpy)(2)(Cpp-L-PNA-OH)](2+) (M1), [Ru(phen)(2)(Cpp-L-PNA-OH)](2+) (M2), and [Ru(dppz)(2)(Cpp-L-PNA-OH)](2+) (M3) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, Cpp-L-PNA-OH = [2-(N-9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)aminoethyl]-N-[6-(2-(pyridin-2yl)pyrimidine-4-carboxamido)hexanoyl]-glycine), have been synthesized as building blocks for Ru(II)-PNA oligomers and characterized by IR and (1)H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, electrochemistry and elemental analysis. As a proof of principle, M1 was incorporated on the solid phase within the PNA sequences H-g-c-a-a-t-a-a-a-a-Lys-NH(2) (PNA1) and H-P-K-K-K-R-K-V-g-c-a-a-t-a-a-a-a-lys-NH(2) (PNA4) to give PNA2 (H-g-c-a-a-t-a-a-a-a-M1-lys-NH(2)) and PNA3 (H-P-K-K-K-R-K-V-g-c-a-a-t-a-a-a-a-M1-lys-NH(2)), respectively. The two Ru(II)-PNA oligomers, PNA2 and PNA3, displayed a metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transition band centered around 445 nm and an emission maximum at about 680 nm following 450 nm excitation in aqueous solutions (10 mM PBS, pH 7.4). The absorption and emission response of the duplexes formed with the cDNA strand (DNA: 5'-T-T-T-T-T-T-T-A-T-T-G-C-T-T-T-3') showed no major variations, suggesting that the electronic properties of the Ru(II) complexes are largely unaffected by hybridization. The thermal stability of the PNA·DNA duplexes, as evaluated from UV melting experiments, is enhanced compared to the corresponding nonmetalated duplexes. The melting temperature (T(m)) was almost 8 °C higher for PNA2·DNA duplex, and 4 °C for PNA3·DNA duplex, with the stabilization attributed to the electrostatic interaction between the cationic residues (Ru(II) unit and positively charged lysine/arginine) and the polyanionic DNA backbone. In presence of tripropylamine (TPA) as co-reactant, PNA2, PNA3, PNA2·DNA and PNA3·DNA displayed strong electrochemiluminescence (ECL) signals even at submicromolar concentrations. Importantly, the combination of spectrochemical, thermal and ECL properties possessed by the Ru(II)-PNA sequences offer an elegant approach for the design of highly sensitive multimodal biosensing tools.     

Water-soluble, luminescent iridium(iii)-ytterbium(iii) complexes using dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine derivatives as bridging units

Amino-substituted dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (L(1)) and dimethyl-dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (L(2)) have been investigated as: (i) chromophores in cyclen-based ligands for lanthanide(iii) ions; (ii) ancillary co-ligands in cyclometalated iridium(iii) complexes; (iii) bridging, linker units in covalently linked, water-soluble bimetallic lanthanide(iii) iridium(iii) hybrid complexes. The dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz) derivatives can act as sensitising chromophores (λ(ex) 400 nm) for Yb(iii), resulting in characteristic near-IR emission at 950-1050 nm. The incorporation of dppz-type ligands into cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes of the general type [Ir(epqc)(2)(L(n))](PF(6)) (where epqc = ethylphenylquinoline carboxylate) gave luminescent species with solvent-sensitive emission properties. Steady state and time-resolved luminescence measurements on the water-soluble d-f hybrid species showed that Yb(III) can be sensitised using visible light.