Fluorescent macrocyclic chemosensor for Zn(II) detection at alkaline pH values

ABSTRACT

The new macrocyclic ligand L (28,29-dimethoxy-27-oxa-8,11,14,17,25,26-hexaazatetracyclo[22.2.1.1(2,6).1(19,23)]nonacosa-2,4,6(28),19,21,23(29),24,26(1)-octaene) has been synthesised. It contains a tetramine chain and the 2,5-bis(2-methoxy-3-metyl-phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PPD-OMe) chromophore, acting as coordinating and sensing units, respectively.

The fluorescent emission of L depends on the pH being highly fluorescent at pH = 2 and not emitting from pH >10. The studies highlighted that L is a PET mediated emitting chemosensor, being the PET effect regulated by the degree of the tetraamine protonation.

L coordinates metal ions (Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II)) in water giving rise to an OFF-ON fluorescent response for the presence of Zn(II) ion thus signalling its presence in the medium. This response is particularly notable at pH = 9 allowing to extend the Zn(II) sensing also in the alkaline pH field.     

Bioinspired fluorescent dihydroxyindoles oligomers

In this paper we report the desgin and synthesis of dihydroxyindoles oligomers based reversible fluorescence sensor.We find dihydroxyindoles-2-carboxylic acid derived oligmer(P-DHICA)has the highest selectivity and sensitivity for Cu^2+detection.This work provide a highly efficient,environmentally friendly biosensor for potential use in medical testing.     

Tween 20-stabilized gold nanoparticles combined with adenosine triphosphate-BODIPY conjugates for the fluorescence detection of adenosine with more than 1000-fold selectivity

This study describes the development of a simple, enzyme-free, label-free, sensitive, and selective system for detecting adenosine based on the use of Tween 20-stabilized gold nanoparticles (Tween 20-AuNPs) as an efficient fluorescence quencher for boron dipyrromethene-conjugated adenosine 5′-triphosphate (BODIPY-ATP) and as a recognition element for adenosine. BODIPY-ATP can interact with Tween 20-AuNPs through the coordination between the adenine group of BODIPY-ATP and Au atoms on the NP surface, thereby causing the fluorescence quenching of BODIPY-ATP through the nanometal surface energy transfer (NSET) effect. When adenosine attaches to the NP surface, the attached adenosine exhibits additional electrostatic attraction to BODIPY-ATP. As a result, the presence of adenosine enhances the efficiency of AuNPs in fluorescence quenching of BODIPY-ATP. The AuNP-induced fluorescence quenching of BODIPY-ATP progressively increased with an increase in the concentration of adenosine; the detection limit at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 for adenosine was determined to be 60 nM. The selectivity of the proposed system was more than 1000-fold for adenosine over any adenosine analogs and other nucleotides. The proposed system combined with a phenylboronic acid-containing column was successfully applied to the determination of adenosine in urine.     

新型双吡啶盐的合成及其作为硝酸根离子荧光增强型探针的性能研究

阴离子普遍存在于生命体和环境中,在化学、生物学、医学和环境领域都具有重要的作用,而硝酸根是其中一种非常重要的无机阴离子,对环境和人体健康都具有极大危害。目前测定硝酸根离子的方法主要有电化学法、离子色谱法和离子选择性电极法等。虽然各方法各具优势,但也存在明显不足。电化学法重现性差,而离子色谱法和离子选择性电极法需要较为复杂、昂贵的仪器及较长的分析时间。荧光光谱由于具有较高的灵敏度和操作简便等优点,近年来成为阴离子识别和检测领域的研究热点。以吡喃盐为起始原料,设计合成了一种新型的双吡啶盐化合物,通过核磁共振1 H谱、13 C谱以及高分辨质谱确定了其分子结构。并研究了其与不同阴离子的荧光识别性能,显示出对硝酸根离子明显的特异性识别。在双吡啶盐溶液中滴加硝酸根离子后,荧光呈现显著增强,而其他竞争性阴离子则淬灭初始荧光。通过荧光滴定实验证实双吡啶盐探针与硝酸根离子形成稳定的1∶1超分子配合物,稳定常数lgK=5±0.02。通过计算机模拟计算以及变温核磁共振波谱表明硝酸根离子与双吡啶盐上活性氢形成稳定的氢键,并诱导整个双吡啶盐分子的共平面性增大,荧光强度增强,从而达到选择性识别的效果。     

Recent developments concerning the investigation of exocytosis with amperometry

In this article, we have summarized the recent important results related to the electrochemical detection of vesicular exocytosis by amperometry with microelectrodes over the past three years. In this fascinating scientific field that began 40 years ago, the historical carbon fiber amperometry method still continues to be used to address biological questions by the pioneered groups of the field but also by other research groups thus showing this has become an indispensable routine technique for analyzing exocytosis. Furthermore, new methodologies (coupling with fluorescence, use of nanoelectrodes, microarrays) have blossomed and demonstrated how new analytical methods could be built to push back the limits of the initial technique.     

Fractal dimension and phase transition of graphene oxide (GO) doped polyacrylamide

Graphene Oxide (GO)- Polyacrylamide composites prepared between 5 and 50 μl GO were performed by Fluorescence Spectroscopy. The phase transition performed on the composites was measured by calculating the critical exponents, β and γ, respectively. In addition, fractal analysis of the composites was calculated by a fluorescence intensity of 427 nm. The geometrical distribution of GO in the composites was calculated based on the power law exponent values using scaling models. While the gelation proceeded GO plates first organized themselves into a 3D percolation cluster with the fractal dimension (D_f) of the composite, D_f = 2.63, then After it goes to diffusion limited clusters with D_f = 1.4, its dimension lines up to a Von Koch curve with a random interval of D_f = 1.14.     

Aggregation‐Induced and Polymorphism‐Dependent Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence (TADF) Characteristics of an Oligothiophene: Applications in Time‐Dependent Live Cell Multicolour Imaging

Typically, molecules with a twisted donor–acceptor (D‐A) architecture have been exploited for constructing thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials. Herein, we report the first example of a thiophene‐based thermally activated delayed fluorescent molecule without a D‐A architecture. Compound 1 (2,5‐bis(2,2‐di(thiophen‐2‐yl)vinyl)thiophene) is conformationally flexible and shows weak fluorescence in the solution state but displays bright TADFin both condensed and solid states. Compound 1 crystallized in two different polymorphs ( 1 a and 1 b ). Interestingly, both polymorphs show distinctly different TADF features. The broad spectral features and the TADF characteristics of 1 have been explored for the time‐dependent multicolor (green, yellow and red) imaging of living cells.     

Ultrafast Excited State Dynamics of Biliverdin Dimethyl Ester Coordinate with Zinc Ions

As one of the biological endogenous pigments, biliverdin (BV) and its dimethyl ester (BVE) have extremely weak fluorescence in solution with quantum yield less than 0.01%. However, the situation reverses with the addition of zinc ions. The strength for fluorescence of BVE-Zn\begin{document}$ ^{2+} $\end{document} complex is greatly enhanced and fluorescence quantum yield can increase to \begin{document}$ \sim $\end{document}5%. Herein, we studied ultrafast excited state dynamics of BVE-Zn\begin{document}$ ^{2+} $\end{document} complex in ethanol, \begin{document}$ n $\end{document}-propanol, and DMSO solutions in order to reveal the mechanism of fluorescence quantum yield enhancement. The results show that BVE can form a stable coordination complex with zinc with 1:1 stoichiometry in solution. BVE is structurally and energetically more stable in the complex. Using picosecond time-resolve fluorescence and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, we show that smaller non-radiative rate constant of BVE-Zn\begin{document}$ ^{2+} $\end{document} complex in DMSO is the key to increasing its fluorescence quantum yield and the excited state decay mechanism is also revealed. These results provide valuable information about the fluorescence property change after BVE binding to metal ions and may provide a guidance for the study of phytochromes or other fluorescence proteins in which BV/BVE acts as chromophores.     

A Highly Stable (4, 8)-Connected Tb-MOF Exhibiting Efficiently Luminescent Sensing towards Nitroimidazole Antibiotics

A robust 4,8-connected Tb-based metal-organic framework (Tb-MOF) with paddle wheel-shaped {Tb₂(COO)₄} subunits extended by C₃-symmetric 3,3',3''-[1,3,5-benzenetriyltris(carbonylimino)]tris-benzoate connector was hydrothermally synthesized, showing highly environmental stability, good dispersion and intense green emission in water system. Resulting critically from the well suppressed absorption towards the excitation energy, the Tb-MOF exhibits rapid and efficient fluorescent response towards nitroimidazole antibiotics with strong quenching constants and low detection limits of 1.59 × 10⁴ m ^–1 and 2.4 μM for metronidazole as well as 1.62 × 10⁴ m ^–1 and 2.9 μM for dimetridazole. Moreover, the sensitive and selective identification of the Tb-MOF has strong anti-interference and excellent regeneration ability, which endows the promising applications of the Tb-MOF as fluorescent sensing materials.     

Bio-safety assessment of carbon quantum dots,N-doped and folic acid modified carbon quantum dots: A systemic comparison

The carbon quantum dots(CQDs) and their functionalized materials are promising in biomedical field because of their unique properties;meanwhile,a growing concern has been raised about the potential toxicity of these modified materials in biosystem.In this study,we synthesized original CQDs and two common functionalized CQDs including N-doped CQDs(NCQDs) and folic acid-modified CQDs(FACQDs),and compared the toxicity and biocompatibility with each other in vitro and in vivo.L929,C6 and normal cell MDCK were selected to detect the adverse reaction of these materials in vitro.No acute toxicity or obvious changes were noted from in vitro cytotoxicity studies with the dose of these CQD materials increasing to a high concentration at 1 mg/mL.Among these materials,the FA-CQDs show a much lower toxicity.Moreover,in vivo toxicity studies were performed on the nude mice for 15 days.The experimental animals in 10 or 15 mg/kg groups were similar with animals treated by phosphate buffer solution(PBS) after 15 days.The results of the multifa rious biochemical parameters also suggest that the functionalized products of CQDs do not influence the biological indicators at feasible concentration.Our findings in vitro and in vivo through toxicity tests demonstrate that CQDs and their modified materials are safe for future biological applications.