DCDHF Fluorophores for Single‐Molecule Imaging in Cells

There is a persistent need for small‐molecule fluorescent labels optimized for single‐molecule imaging in the cellular environment. Application of these labels comes with a set of strict requirements: strong absorption, efficient and stable emission, water solubility and membrane permeability, low background emission, and red‐shifted absorption to avoid cell autofluorescence. We have designed and characterized several fluorophores, termed “DCDHF” fluorophores, for use in live‐cell imaging based on the push–pull design: an amine donor group and a 2‐dicyanomethylene‐3‐cyano‐2,5‐dihydrofuran (DCDHF) acceptor group, separated by a π‐rich conjugated network. In general, the DCDHF fluorophores are comparatively photostable, sensitive to local environment, and their chemistries and photophysics are tunable to optimize absorption wavelength, membrane affinity, and solubility. Especially valuable are fluorophores with sophisticated photophysics for applications requiring additional facets of control, such as photoactivation. For example, we have reengineered a red‐emitting DCDHF fluorophore so that it is dark until photoactivated with a short burst of low‐intensity violet light. This molecule and its relatives provide a new class of bright photoactivatable small‐molecule fluorophores, which are needed for super‐resolution imaging schemes that require active control (here turning‐on) of single‐molecule emission.     

Push-pull amino succinimidyl ester thiophene-based fluorescent dyes: synthesis and optical characterization

The design and synthesis of new fluorescent dyes with emission range at 490-650 nm are described. Their structural and electronic properties have been characterized by both experimental techniques and quantum-chemical calculations. The chromophores are donor-π-bridge-acceptor push-pull compounds with a π bridge of phenyl and thiophene rings and their combination. Compared with previous thiophene fluorophores, these dyes show significant redshift in the absorption and emission spectra and offer compact, red-emitting fluorophores. The dyes have amino succinimidyl active ester and can be readily conjugated to proteins, polymers and other amino-group-containing materials.     

Heteroaromatic alanine derivatives bearing (oligo)thiophene units: synthesis and photophysical properties

A series of new benzoxazolylalanine derivatives bearing (oligo)thiophene units at the side chain were synthesized in good yields. The photophysical characterization of these amino acids was performed by UV-vis absorption and fluorescence emission studies and revealed that some of the compounds display high fluorescent quantum yields, making them good candidates for application as fluorescent probes.     

Stable Red‐Emissive Cationic Dithienotropylium Dyes

A series of thiophene‐fused tropylium ions, containing various electron‐donating amino groups at the terminal positions, was synthesized. The fusion of the thiophene rings, as well as the presence of the terminal amino groups endows the cationic tropylium ion with excellent stability and high pK_R⁺ values. X‐ray crystallographic analysis of these compounds revealed a pronounced quinoidal character for the amino‐substituted dithienotropylium skeletons. These compounds exhibit attractive photophysical properties such as strong absorption in the visible region combined with red fluorescence. Theoretical calculations suggested that the 3,3′‐bithiophene substructure should be crucial for attaining these photophysical properties.     

发光ZnSalen配合物在分子荧光成像中的应用进展

荧光分子探针的设计、合成以及应用是分子荧光成像领域重要的化学问题.本文从Znsalen配合物的基本性质出发,概述了Znsalen配合物结构与功能的关系,特别是其发光性质与分子结构及分子聚集状态的相关性及应用.针对Znsalen配合物的发光性质,展示了其应用于分子荧光成像和活细胞中分子事件监测的研究进展.这些最新研究表明,Znsalen配合物探针的细胞毒性低(利于活细胞成像)、发光效率高(适用于单、双光子成像)、发光可调(通过配体的修饰和分子聚集状态的调节),有望作为一类重要的发光金属荧光探针实现在分子荧光成像中的应用.     

Ultrafast excited-state dynamics of nanoscale near-infrared emissive polymersomes

Formed through cooperative self-assembly of amphiphilic diblock copolymers and electronically conjugated porphyrinic near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores (NIRFs), NIR-emissive polymersomes (50 nm to 50 microm diameter polymer vesicles) define a family of organic-based, soft-matter structures that are ideally suited for deep-tissue optical imaging and sensitive diagnostic applications. Here, we describe magic angle and polarized pump-probe spectroscopic experiments that: (i) probe polymersome structure and NIRF organization and (ii) connect emitter structural properties and NIRF loading with vesicle emissive output at the nanoscale. Within polymersome membrane environments, long polymer chains constrain ethyne-bridged oligo(porphinato)zinc(II) based supermolecular fluorophore (PZn n ) conformeric populations and disperse these PZn n species within the hydrophobic bilayer. Ultrafast excited-state transient absorption and anisotropy dynamical studies of NIR-emissive polymersomes, in which the PZn n fluorophore loading per nanoscale vesicle is varied between 0.1-10 mol %, enable the exploration of concentration-dependent mechanisms for nonradiative excited-state decay. These experiments correlate fluorophore structure with its gross spatial arrangement within specific nanodomains of these nanoparticles and reveal how compartmentalization of fluorophores within reduced effective dispersion volumes impacts bulk photophysical properties. As these factors play key roles in determining the energy transfer dynamics between dispersed fluorophores, this work underscores that strategies that modulate fluorophore and polymer structure to optimize dispersion volume in bilayered nanoscale vesicular environments will further enhance the emissive properties of these sensitive nanoscale probes.     

Polar Red‐Emitting Rhodamine Dyes with Reactive Groups: Synthesis,Photophysical Properties,and Two‐Color STED Nanoscopy Applications

The synthesis, reactivity, and photophysical properties of new rhodamines with intense red fluorescence, two polar residues (hydroxyls, primary phosphates, or sulfonic acid groups), and improved hydrolytic stability of the amino‐reactive sites (NHS esters or mixed N‐succinimidyl carbonates) are reported. All fluorophores contain an N‐alkyl‐1,2‐dihydro‐2,2,4‐trimethylquinoline fragment, and most of them bear a fully substituted tetrafluoro phenyl ring with a secondary carboxamide group. The absorption and emission maxima in water are in the range of 635–639 and 655–659 nm, respectively. A vastly simplified approach to red‐emitting rhodamines with two phosphate groups that are compatible with diverse functional linkers was developed. As an example, a phosphorylated dye with an azide residue was prepared and was used in a click reaction with a strained alkyne bearing an N‐hydroxysuccinimid (NHS) ester group. This method bypasses the undesired activation of phosphate groups, and gives an amphiphilic amino‐reactive dye, the solubility and distribution of which between aqueous and organic phases can be controlled by varying the pH. The presence of two hydroxyl groups and a phenyl ring with two carboxyl residues in the dyes with another substitution pattern is sufficient for providing the hydrophilic properties. Selective formation of a mono‐N‐hydroxysuccinimidyl ester from 5‐carboxy isomer of this rhodamine is reported. The fluorescence quantum yields varied from 58 to 92 % for free fluorophores, and amounted to 18–64 % for antibody conjugates in aqueous buffers. The brightness and photostability of these fluorophores facilitated two‐color stimulated emission depletion (STED) fluorescence nanoscopy of biological samples with high contrast and minimal background. Selecting a pair of fluorophores with absorption/emission bands at 579/609 and 635/655 nm enabled two‐color channels with low cross‐talk and negligible background at approximately 40 nm resolution.     

Hybrid Rhodamine Fluorophores in the Visible/NIR Region for Biological Imaging

Fluorophores and probes are invaluable for the visualization of the location and dynamics of gene expression, protein expression, and molecular interactions in complex living systems. Rhodamine dyes are often used as scaffolds in biological labeling and turn‐on fluorescence imaging. To date, their absorption and emission spectra have been expanded to cover the entire near‐infrared region (650–950 nm), which provides a more suitable optical window for monitoring biomolecular production, trafficking, and localization in real time. This review summarizes the development of rhodamine fluorophores since their discovery and provides strategies for modulating their absorption and emission spectra to generate specific bathochromic‐shifts. We also explain how larger Stokes shifts and dual‐emissions can be obtained from hybrid rhodamine dyes. These hybrid fluorophores can be classified into various categories based on structural features including the alkylation of amidogens, the substitution of the O atom of xanthene, and hybridization with other fluorophores.     

嘧啶基双光子荧光染料的设计合成与生物成像

生理条件下光学性质稳定的双光子荧光染料在生物成像领域具有广阔的应用前景。我们使用2,4-二甲基-6-羟基嘧啶与4-(N,N-二甲氨基)苯甲醛进行缩合反应,设计合成了具有双光子荧光性质的化合物2-[(1E)-2-[4-(二甲氨基)苯基]乙烯基]-6-甲基-4(3H)-嘧啶(NHP)。通过质谱(MS)、核磁共振波谱(NMR)、紫外可见吸收光谱和荧光发射光谱等技术手段表征了其结构,研究了其光物理性质,以及外部环境改变对其发射光谱的影响。结果表明,化合物NHP的最佳吸收峰位于400 nm,最佳发射峰位于540 nm左右,且荧光发射不受金属离子、氨基酸和pH等环境因素的影响。生物实验结果表明,化合物NHP细胞毒性较小,且具有很好的活细胞和果蝇脑组织成像效果,是一种较为理想的双光子荧光生物成像染料。     

Synthesis and fluorescence properties of dimethylaminonaphthalene-deoxyuridine conjugates as polarity-sensitive probes

The design of probes for monitoring various structures and dynamics of DNA and its surroundings is an important step in understanding biological events accompanying interbiomolecular interaction. We have developed novel fluorescent nucleosides in which the uracil base and the fluorophore are tethered by rigid linkers. They show unique absorption and fluorescence emission spectra. Nucleoside 2 is a fluorophore with high CT character and the fluorescence is very sensitive to solvent polarity. Nucleoside 3 shows absorption and emission maxima with longer wavelength due to extension of the DAN-conjugate system. These fluorophore-deoxyuridine conjugates with unique fluorescence properties would work as reporter probes sensitive to the change in microenvironment around specific sites of DNA.     

A simple and effective “capping” approach to readily tune the fluorescence of near-infrared cyanines

Heptamethine cyanines are favorable for fluorescence imaging applications in biological systems owing to their near-infrared (NIR) absorption and emission. However, it is very difficult to quench the fluorescence of NIR dyes by the classic photoinduced electron transfer mechanism due to their relatively high-lying occupied molecular orbital energy levels. Herein, we present a simple and effective “capping” approach to readily tune the fluorescence of NIR cyanines. The resulting new functional NIR CyBX (X = O, N, or S) dyes not only retain the intact tricarbocyanine scaffold, but also have a built-in switch to regulate the fluorescence by spiro-cyclization. When compared to traditional cyanines, novel CyBX dyes have a superior character in that their NIR optical properties can be readily tuned by the intrinsic spiro-cyclization mechanism. We expect that this “capping” strategy can be extended across not only the visual spectrum but also to structurally distinct fluorophores.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of new conjugated fluorophores designed for two-photon-excited fluorescence

[structure: see text] Novel elongated push-push fluorophores (e.g., 9) were synthesized by 2-fold Sonogashira or Wittigminus signHorner reactions. Modulation of the length and topology of the conjugated connectors allows tuning of their photophysical properties. In addition, their photoluminescence can be adjusted by playing on polarity. Derivatives combining enhanced two-photon absorption cross section (sigma2) in the visible red and high fluorescence quantum yield (Phi) have been obtained. Such fluorophores hold promise for nonlinear imaging of biological systems.     

Modified 6‐Aza Uridines: Highly Emissive pH‐Sensitive Fluorescent Nucleosides

Optimized facile syntheses and highly desirable spectroscopic properties of two isomorphic fluorescent pyrimidines, comprising a 1,2,4‐triazine motif conjugated to a thiophene ( 1 a ) or a furan ( 1 b ), are described. Although structurally related to their 5‐modified uridine counterparts, these modified 6‐aza‐uridines reveal dramatically improved fluorescence properties and a remarkable sensitivity to polarity and pH changes. The thiophene derivative 1 a has an absorption maximum around 335 nm, which upon excitation yields visible emission with a polarity‐sensitive maximum and fluorescence quantum yield ranging from 415 nm (Φ=0.8) to 455 nm (Φ=0.2) in dioxane and water, respectively. Nucleoside 1 a also displays susceptibility to acidity. Correlating emission intensity and solution pH yields a pK_a value of 6.7–6.9, reasonably close to physiological pH values. The results illustrate that highly sought‐after fluorescence features (brightness and responsiveness) are not necessarily the trait of large fluorophores alone, but can be observed with probes that meet stringent isomorphic design criteria.     

Far‐Red Emitting Fluorescent Dyes for Optical Nanoscopy: Fluorinated Silicon–Rhodamines (SiRF Dyes) and Phosphorylated Oxazines

Far‐red emitting fluorescent dyes for optical microscopy, stimulated emission depletion (STED), and ground‐state depletion (GSDIM) super‐resolution microscopy are presented. Fluorinated silicon–rhodamines (SiRF dyes) and phosphorylated oxazines have absorption and emission maxima at about λ≈660 and 680 nm, respectively, possess high photostability, and large fluorescence quantum yields in water. A high‐yielding synthetic path to introduce three aromatic fluorine atoms and unconventional conjugation/solubilization spacers into the scaffold of a silicon–rhodamine is described. The bathochromic shift in SiRF dyes is achieved without additional fused rings or double bonds. As a result, the molecular size and molecular mass stay quite small (<600 Da). The use of the λ=800 nm STED beam instead of the commonly used one at λ=750–775 nm provides excellent imaging performance and suppresses re‐excitation of SiRF and the oxazine dyes. The photophysical properties and immunofluorescence imaging performance of these new far‐red emitting dyes (photobleaching, optical resolution, and switch‐off behavior) are discussed in detail and compared with those of some well‐established fluorophores with similar spectral properties.     

Mesogenic and optical properties of α,α′‐bis(4‐alkoxyphenylethynyl)oligothiophenes

Liquid crystalline α,α′‐bis(4‐alkoxyphenylethynyl)oligothiophenes (bi‐ and ter‐thiophene) have been synthesized and their mesogenic behaviour and optical properties investigated. They all exhibited a nematic mesophase, and compounds with long alkoxy chains also showed lamellar phases. Increasing the number of thiophene units increased both the transition temperatures and the mesophase ranges. As for their optical properties, incorporating more thiophene units results in red‐shifted absorption and emission spectra, slightly enhanced quantum efficiency, and a larger Stoke's shift. Most importantly, in terms of the absorption and emission maxima, the incorporation of one 4‐alkoxyphenylethynyl moiety was found to be equivalent to adding one thiophene ring.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Dipolar Two-Photon Absorption Chromophores

It is a new interest to explore novel organic two-photon absorption (TPA) chromophores with large TPA cross section for their potential applications in various fields, such as three-dimensional optical data storage, micro- and nano-fabrication, biological imaging and optical limiting, and so on. As far as asymmetrical D-π-A type chromophores were concerned, larger TPA cross section can be obtained with the enhancement of electron-donation/electron-acception ability.[1] Recently, we have synthesized a series of new D-π-A type compounds. In these chromophores, stilbene or phenyl cyclo-bridged hexatriene is served as π-bridge, which terminated with a number of amino groups and dicyanomethylene unit (Scheme 1). All the chromophores can be obtained by the condensation reaction of aldehydes and active methyl or methenyl groups in good yields (72%～81%). The chromophores have been characterized by 1H NMR,IR, UV-vis, PL and EA. All these five chromophores in dilute solutions show strong red fluorescence (Table 1). The studies on the TPA properties are in progress.     

N-2-aryl-1,2,3-triazoles: a novel class of UV/blue-light-emitting fluorophores with tunable optical properties

The N-2-aryl-1,2,3-triazole derivatives (NATs) were developed as a new class of UV/blue-light-emitting fluorophores. Though both N-1-aryl-1,2,3-triazoles and N-2-aryl-1,2,3-triazoles gave strong photo absorption under excitation at 330 nm, only the N-2-analogous showed strong fluorescence emission in the UV/blue range with high efficiency in various solvents (quantum yield Φ around 0.3-0.5). Significant substituted group effects were observed, allowing tunable optical properties with emission (λ(max)) from 350-400 nm and Stokes shift from 38-93 nm. The computational studies along with X-ray crystal structures indicated the significance of the effective conjugation between triazole ring and aryl groups on the N-2 position. The planar intramolecular charge transfer (PICT) mechanism was proposed, which was supported by solvent effect studies. Simple derivatizations gave NAT-modified lysine and strong UV/blue emitting bis-NAT (Φ=0.76, λ(max)=390), which suggested the great potential of this new class of fluorophores in biological and material science research.     

Synthesis and structure-linear and structure-nonlinear optical properties of multi-dipolar zigzag oligoaryleneethynylenes

A novel series of monodisperse, multi-dipolar zigzag oligoaryleneethynylenes DA(n) and D-Ar-A(n), bearing electron-donating dibenzothiophene and electron-accepting dibenzothiophene dioxide as arenes, with up to six charge-transfer (dipolar) units have been designed and synthesized by palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling reactions. The linear and nonlinear optical properties of these multi-dipolar oligoaryleneethynylenes can easily be modified or enhanced by incorporating/extending with various central aryleneethynyl moieties such as phenylethynyl, oligo(9,9-dibutylfluorenyl)ethynyl, and oligothienylethynyl within the donor-acceptor units. Interestingly, the absorption and emission of these zigzag oligoaryleneethynylenes are not dependent on the number of covalently linked dipolar chromophores; however, the fluorescence quantum efficiencies consistently decrease with increased number of covalently linked dipolar units. These zigzag oligoaryleneethynylenes exhibit a linear increase in the two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-sections with increased number of covalently linked dipolar units without red-shifting the absorption and emission spectra. In addition, very large TPA cross-sections in the femtosecond regime (sigma(800) = 1306 GM in DMF or sigma(750) = 1522 GM in CH(2)Cl(2)) were obtained for D-TF-A(4) despite the moderate strength of the donor-acceptor pair. Our results suggest that the TPA properties of these zigzag oligoaryleneethynylenes including TPA wavelength and TPA cross-section can easily be tuned by means of modifying the central aryleneethynylene units and increasing the number of dipolar units, respectively. This approach provides an alternative means to tune or enhance the TPA cross-section at a specific wavelength.     

A red emissive donor-acceptor fluorophore as protein sensor: Synthesis,characterization and binding study

The rational design of environmentally sensitive small molecule fluorophores with superior photophysical properties is critical for fluorimetry based biosensing. Herein, we have developed a new donor-acceptor fluorophore for quantitative detection of Human Serum Albumin (HSA) in aqueous samples. The fluorophore was easily prepared by Knoevenagel condensation, and showed excellent photophysical properties and positive solvatochromism. The design of the fluorophore was based on a nitrogen donor—π-conjugation—nitrile acceptors (D—π—A) to preserve efficient intramolecular charge transfer and long-wavelength emission. The fluorophore showed remarkable “turn-on” fluorescence in presence of HSA, which led to quantitative determination of the protein in aqueous buffer samples. Structure and electronic properties of the fluorophore played important roles on the superior HSA sensing ability. The findings indicate that minor changes in design strategy can be advantageous while developing long-wavelength (far red or near infrared) emitting fluorophores for biosensing and bioimaging.     

BODIPYs with Photoactivatable Fluorescence

The borondipyrromethene (BODIPY) chromophore is a versatile platform for the construction of photoresponsive dyes with unique properties. Specifically, its covalent connection to a photocleavable group can be exploited to engineer compounds with photoswitchable fluorescence. The resulting photoactivatable fluorophores can increase their emission intensity or shift their emission wavelengths in response to switching. Such changes permit the spatiotemporal control of fluorescence with optical stimulations and the implementation of imaging strategies that would be impossible to replicate with conventional fluorophores. Indeed, BODIPYs with photoactivatable fluorescence enable the selective highlighting of intracellular targets, the nanoscaled visualization of sub-cellular components, the real-time monitoring of dynamic events and the photochemical writing of optical barcodes.