Development of an Organic Dye-Conjugated β-Diketonate-Europium Complex Luminescence Probe for Discrimination and Detection of Intracellular Biothiols

Small molecular biothiols, cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy) and glutathione (GSH), play important roles in organisms, and their concentration levels are indicative of some human diseases. Herein we report an organic dye-conjugated β-diketonate-Eu³⁺ complex, [Eu(NBD-keto)₃(DPBT)] (NBD-keto: 7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD)-conjugated to 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoro-5-phenyl-3,5-pentanedionate through a “O” ether bond; DPBT: 2-(N,N-diethylanilin-4-yl)-4,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazine), which acts as a unique luminescent probe for detecting and discriminating biothiols. [Eu(NBD-keto)₃(DPBT)] itself is not luminescent due to intramolecular interactions between NBD and β-diketonate-Eu³⁺ moieties. Upon reaction with biothiols, the β-diketonate-Eu³⁺ complex [Eu(keto)₃(DPBT)] is generated, which emits long-lived red emission at 610 nm. Meanwhile, three biothiol-substituted NBD derivatives that exhibit different luminescence behaviors, green emissive (short-lived) NBD-NR (R=Cys or Hcy) at 540 nm and non-luminescent NBD-SR (R=GSH), are also generated. These luminescence response behaviors allow time-gated and steady-state luminescence modes to be combined for detecting total biothiols and discriminating GSH and Cys/Hcy. Using this probe, the quantitative detection and discrimination of GSH and Cys/Hcy in lysis solutions of HeLa cells were realized, which revealed the potential of the probe for biomedical applications.     

On solubility of europium monoxide in melts of (NaBr + NaI) system at T = 973 K

Equilibria of EuO dissolution and dissociation in molten (NaBr + NaI) mixtures of 0.77:0.23 and 0.31:0.69 compositions at T = 973 K were studied by potentiometric titration method using Pt(O₂)|ZrO₂(Y₂O₃) indicator electrode. The solubility product indices of EuO are (7.81 ± 0.08) and (8.43 ± 0.16) in the melts of 0.77:0.23 and 0.31:0.69 compositions. The corresponding dissociation constant indices are (4.96 ± 0.04) and (5.54 ± 0.06), respectively (all the parameters are in molality). Non-dissociated EuO is the prevailing form in all the saturated solutions of europium monoxide. The decrease of the iodide ion concentration in the melts results in strengthening of EuO dissociation that is explained by introduction of harder Pearson’s base (Br⁻) in sodium iodide melt. In its turn this increases the fixation degree of Eu²⁺ in mixed halide complexes. The total solubility of EuO decreases going from NaI melt to the (bromide + iodide) mixtures that is caused by the decrease of ‘physical’ solubility of non-dissociated oxide which occupies hollow spaces of enough large size in the ionic solvents. The quantity of these hollow spaces diminishes at the sequential Br⁻ → I⁻ substitution.     

Lanthanide Shift Reagents. Paper 18. Equilibrium Binding Constants for Europium Shift Reagent with Nitrogen Heterocycles

Paper 16 in this series^{1, 2, 3} was concerned with the equilibrium binding constants (K) of the shift reagent Europium tris (2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylheptane-3, 5-dionate), Eu(thd)₃, with primary, secondary and tertiary amines. One nitrogen heterocycle, pyridine, and two of its derivatives (see Table) were included. In the present paper we describe the binding constants for a further 9 nitrogen containing heterocycles and relate these to basicity and steric effects.     

Magnetic ordering of divalent europium in double perovskites Eu2LnTaO6 (Ln=rare earths): Magnetic interactions of Eu ions determined by magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and Eu Mössbauer spectrum measurements

Structures and magnetic properties of double perovskite-type oxides Eu₂LnTaO₆ (Ln=Eu, Dy-Lu) were investigated. These compounds adopt a distorted double perovskite structure with space group P2₁/n. Magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and ¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectrum measurements show that the Eu²⁺ ions at the 12-coordinate sites of the perovskite structure are antiferromagnetically ordered at ∼4 K, and that Ln³⁺ ions at the 6-coordinate site are in the paramagnetic state down to 1.8 K.     

草酸铕颗粒微米层状颗粒的合成及其光学性能

在室温条件下, 以柠檬酸钠为辅助剂, 通过简单沉淀法合成了草酸铕Eu₂(C₂O₄)₃·10H₂O微米层状颗粒. 应用X射线衍射、X射线电子能谱、场发射扫描电子显微镜、光致发光光谱对Eu₂(C₂O₄)₃·10H₂O结构与性能进行了表征. 讨论了草酸铕微米层状颗粒可能的形成机理.     

An analysis of Y2O3:Eu thin films for thermographic phosphor applications

A comparative study of the luminescent properties of Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ phosphor powders and thin films sputtered from targets prepared from combustion synthesized powders is reported. Thin films of (Y_0.96Eu_0.04)₂O₃ were deposited on silicon substrates. Films deposited at 600 °C had both monoclinic and cubic phases of Y₂O₃, which developed to an oriented cubic phase after annealing. Films and powders showed a linear dependence of the intensity of the ⁵D₇→⁷F₂ (611 nm) transition with temperature in the range 26-660 °C with an average rate of change of 1.8×10⁻⁴ °C⁻¹. The rate of change appears to be dependent on the Eu³⁺ concentration. This work shows that these thin films can be used as thermographic phosphors for remote temperature measurements.     

Emissive and Cell‐Permeable 3‐Pyridyl‐ and 3‐Pyrazolyl‐4‐azaxanthone Lanthanide Complexes and Their Behaviour in cellulo

A series of seven emissive europium(III) and terbium(III) complexes was prepared, incorporating a 3‐pyridyl‐4‐azaxanthone or 3‐pyrazolyl‐4‐azaxanthone sensitising moiety within a polydentate macrocyclic ligand. High overall emission quantum yields in aqueous media are attenuated in the presence of protein or certain oxy anions due to displacement of the N,N′‐chelated sensitiser. Nevertheless, these complexes are taken into cells and tend to localise over the first few hours in mitochondria before being trafficked to endosomal compartments. Cell uptake studies, in the presence of competitive inhibitors or promoters of well‐defined uptake pathways, reveal a common uptake mechanism involving macropinocytosis.     

Sol-gel technique for the generation of europium-doped mesoporous and dense thin films: A luminescent study

In this paper, a series of europium-activated titania mesoporous and dense thin films were prepared by sol-gel process. Structural characterizations show that high europium ion loadings can be incorporated into titanium dioxide walls without destroying the mesoporous arrangement. However, high europium content locks the titanium dioxide crystallization process. Upon 10% europium ions loading, mesoporous thin films are mainly amorphous, whereas dense ones are still partially crystallized. Eu³⁺ ion luminescence has been investigated by exciting through the semiconductor host lattice. Emission features reveal that europium ions adopt similar environments (nanocrystalline and glassy-like ones) in both dense and mesoporous thin films. Fluctuations of europium emission under continuous UV excitation have been observed. One observes that the effect strongly depends on the thin films’ crystalline character which is strongly related with the texturation and existence at the mesoscopic length scale.