Probing the Polarity of Sol-Gels and Ormosils via the Absorption of Nile Red

Conventional sol-gels are rather hydrophilic. A more hydrophobic material is obtained preparing organically modified siloxanes (ormosils). The polarity-sensitive probe Nile Red (NR) was doped in various sol-gels to probe their micro-polarity. The experiments show that the NR is an excellent probe and sensitive to the polarity of its microenvironment. Spectroscopic studies reveal remarkable changes in the absorption band positions and intensities as a function of the polarity of the sol-gel, which depends on the different precursors used. Furthermore, sol aging, gelation and temporal stability as a function of different ormosils have been investigated.     

Optical Study of The Matrix Effect on the ESIPT Mechanism of 3-HF Doped Sol-Gel Glass

In this work we report our preliminary results on the synthesis and characterization of the optical properties of 3-hydroxyflavone (3-HF) doped sol-gel derived glass, to be applied as a wavelength shifting medium in GaAs based near UV-VIS detectors in order to extend the device response down to 350 nm. As already reported by several authors, the intramolecular excited-state proton transfer process (ESIPT) in the 3-HF molecule is strongly affected by the chemical environment. For this reason the evolution of the emission features of the synthesized glasses was investigated by changing the chemical nature of precursor alkoxides used in the sol-gel process. The influence of chemical surroundings on the ESIPT process was studied by analysing the samples with fluorescence spectroscopy. FT-IR spectroscopy was performed in order to study the chemical interactions between the host matrix and the encapsulated dye molecule. The main result of this work is that the Stokes-shifted emission from the 3-HF tautomeric form is enhanced at increasing trifunctional alkoxide amount and at decreasing polarity of the non-hydrolizable groups.     

Light-up lipid droplets for the visualization of lipophagy and atherosclerosis by coumarin-derived bioprobe

Lipid droplets(LDs) are intracellular lipid-metabolism organelles that involved in many physiological processes,metabolic disorders as well as diseases such as atherosclerosis.However,the specific probes that can visually locate abnormal LDs-rich tissues and track LDs-associated behavior to the naked eye with adequate biosafety still are rare.Herein,we develop a new design strategy of LDs-targeted probe based on the solvatochromism of coumarin derivatives.The results revealed that the emission wavelength of coumarin fluorophores gradually red shift in different solvents with increasing polarity,while absorption wavelength almost unchanged.As a result,the enlarged stokes shift of coumarin was emerged from oil to water.Furthermore,properly reducing water solubility and adding electronic donor at the structure of coumarins can enlarge this type of solvatochromism.This discovery was utilized to develop suitable probe for the image of LDs and LDs-rich tissues with high resolution and biosafety.Therefore,LDs-associated behavior was visible to the naked eye during the process of lipophagy and atherosclerosis.We deem that the developed probe here offers a new possibility to accurately diagnosis and analyse LDs-related diseases in clinic and preclinical study.     

Characterization of local polarity and structure of Cys121 domain in beta-lactoglobulin with a new thiol-specific fluorescent probe

The design and synthesis of a new polarity-sensitive fluorescent probe, 3-(4-chloro-6-p-maleimidylphenoxyl-1,3,5-triazinylamino)-7-dimethylamino-2-methylphenazine, is reported for characterizing the local polarity and structure, such as the thiol domain, of a protein. The probe comprises a polarity-sensitive fluorophore (neutral red moiety) and a thiol-specific labeling group (maleimidyl moiety). The probe exhibits a sensitive response of shift of fluorescence maximum emission wavelength to solvent polarity, but not to pH and temperature, which makes the probe suitable for determining the local polarity change of a protein denatured by pH or temperature. The application of this kind has been first demonstrated for the polarity detection of the Cys121 domain of beta-lactoglobulin. It is found that the polarity of the Cys121 domain corresponds to a dielectric constant of 17.3, and this value hardly alters after heat treatment, which may be attributed to the improved thermal reversibility by the Cys121 modification. The simple mixture of the probe and the protein at pH 5.6 is also studied, revealing that the free probe prefers to bind to an outer hydrophobic region. Heat treatment of the mixture causes the modification of Cys121 residues; this modification does not completely destroy the calyx but results in the opening of a channel for the probe to enter the calyx of beta-lactoglobulin. These results show that Cys121 plays an important role not only in the thermal reversibility but also in the accessibility of the calyx to a ligand. The strategy presented here further indicates that the combination of polarity-sensitive fluorescence probe with site-specific labeling may serve as a powerful means for elucidating structures and properties of proteins.     

化学修饰环糊精在醇/水混合溶剂中的包结行为

环糊精 (ＣＤ)及其衍生物在主客体化学中占有重要位置［１］．在环糊精母体上引入一个荧光发色团,可使ＣＤ变为在光谱上有响应的主体化合物,如引入一个丹酰基,在水溶液中由于疏水相互作用,该荧光团易于进入ＣＤ内腔形成“自包结”配合物［２ -３］．我们曾合成了以氮氧杂 十一烷基链相连接的单个Ｎ,Ｎ二甲氨基查尔酮 (ＤＭＡＣ)修饰的 β ＣＤ衍生物 (ＤＭＡＣ ＣＤ),也表现出良好的自包结特征［４］．前人曾有吖啶／ＣＤ配合物体系与低浓度醇分子形成三元包结物的报导［５,７］,而在醇水混合溶剂中主客体配合物的稳定性研究较少．…     

Fluorescence spectroscopic study of dip coated sol-gel thin film internal environment using fluorescent probes Hoechst33258 and Pyranine

The characterization of physicochemical properties of the internal environment of sol-gel thin films is required for understanding and designing applications in optical biosensors. We have investigated the dip coated tetraethyl-orthosilicate (TEOS) derived sol-gel thin films deposited on microscopic glass cover slips using molar ratio (water or ethanol / TEOS) R=32 using fluorescence spectroscopic measurements (emission, lifetime and anisotropy) on entrapped fluorescent probes. The effect of water and/or ethanol was studied as a function of storage (60 days) using fluorescent probes Hoechst 33258 (H258) and Pyranine (PY). Distribution of fluorescent probes in thin film was studied using confocal microscope. Emission maxima of H258 entrapped thin films from sol prepared using water as solvent showed emission maximum at 503 nm indicating the presence of water like environment which did not change during storage. On the contrary, PY entrapped thin films depicted emission bands at 434 nm and 513 nm, characteristics of ethanol and water respectively, up to the first few weeks and then the band at 434 nm prevailed (60 days), suggesting heterogeneous internal environment. Thin films from sol prepared using ethanol as solvent showed presence of ethanol through out storage. Fluorescence lifetime data of these probes in both sol-gel and thin films also suggested presence of heterogeneous internal environment. Thin films prepared from sol-gel using water as solvent suggested release of ethanol in the pores during hydrolysis and condensation reaction, which were clearly indicated by PY. The effect of sodium phosphate buffer was also studied in sol-gel and thin films. The results of these measurements showed that both the probes H258 and PY could be used effectively in monitoring the physicochemical properties of internal environment of thin films and sol-gel as a function of storage.     

Photophysics and biological applications of the environment-sensitive fluorophore 6-N,N-dimethylamino-2,3-naphthalimide

We have synthesized a new environment-sensitive fluorophore, 6-N,N-dimethylamino-2,3-naphthalimide (6DMN). This chromophore exhibits valuable fluorescent properties as a biological probe with emission in the 500-600 nm range and a marked response to changes in the environment polarity. The 6DMN fluorescence is red-shifted in polar protic environments, with the maximum emission intensity shifting more than 100 nm from 491 nm in toluene to 592 nm in water. Additionally, the fluorescence quantum yield decreases more than 100-fold from chloroform (Phi = 0.225) to water (Phi = 0.002). The scope and applications of the 6DMN probe are expanded with the synthesis of an Fmoc-protected amino acid derivative (5), which contains the fluorophore. This unnatural amino acid has been introduced into several peptides, demonstrating that it can be manipulated under standard solid-phase peptide synthesis conditions. Peptides incorporating the new residue can be implemented for monitoring protein-protein interactions as exemplified in studies with Src homology 2 (SH2) phosphotyrosine binding domains. The designed peptides exhibit a significant increase in the quantum yield of the long wavelength fluorescence emission band (596 nm) upon binding to selected SH2 domains (e.g., Crk SH2, Abl SH2, and PI3K SH2). The peptides can be used as ratiometric sensors, since the short wavelength band (460 nm) was found almost invariable throughout the titrations.     

A bright two-photon fluorescent probe for real-time monitoring autophagy in living cells

A novel donor-acceptor(D-A) type of two-photon(TP) fluorescent probe,i.e.Lyso-OSC,based on the lysosome-targeting morpholine group was developed.The polarity sensing coumarin group was functionalized as the acceptor and the 1-vinyl-4-methoxybenzene group was engineered as the donor.The fluorescence intensity and emission maximum wavelength of Lyso-OSC are highly sensitive to the polarity changes of solvent.The two-photon absorption cross-section and tissue penetration depth are up to 254 GM and 150 μm,respectively.The strong fluorescence,high sensitivity to polarity,low cytotoxicity,and accurate lysosome-targeting ability entail Lyso-OSC the excellent performance in detecting the polarity changes ofcellular environment.To this end,a bright,real-time imaging autophagy of living cells has been achieved.     

利用荧光探针溶致变色效应研究有机改性蒙脱土的层间环境性质

利用荧光探针的溶致变色行为,研究了以不同阳离子表面活性剂处理过的化学修饰蒙脱土内腔的极性.清楚地观察到随所用表面活性剂长链碳原子数目的增多,荧光探针N,N-二甲氨基查尔酮在蒙脱土内的荧光光谱峰值波长移向短波,表明蒙脱土内腔的极性随活性剂疏水链长的增长而不断减小.本工作所得结果将对具体的插层材料(包括不同极性的聚合单体或聚合物分子)在插层时选择合适的表面处理剂有所帮助.     

Evolution of the solvent polarity in an electrospray plume

Solvent polarity plays an important role in electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), one of the most widely used analytical methods for biochemistry. To have a comprehensive understanding of how solvent polarity affects ESI-MS measurements, we systematically investigated the polarity change in the ESI plume formed from an ethanol solution using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy. Two solvatochromic dyes (i.e., dyes whose fluorescence emission is sensitive to solvent polarity), Nile red and DCM (4-dicyanomethylene-2-methyl-6-p-dimethylaminostyryl-4H-pyran), were used as probes. The peak emission wavelengths of these two dyes exhibited significant red shifts (8–12 nm) when the measuring spot was moved away from the spray tip and in radial direction in the plume, indicating a dramatic polarity change during shrinking of the droplets. The emission intensities were also measured with a polarity-insensitive dye as a reference. The results are consistent with the peak wavelength measurements. Two key mechanisms responsible for the change of solvent polarity in the plume were considered, water entrainment from the surrounding air and solvent evaporation. Furthermore, quantitative analysis of the solvent polarity change was performed by using the Lippert-Mataga polarity parameter Δf. The value of Δf reached 0.305–0.307 at the periphery of the ESI plume, which means that the solvent polarity in the smaller droplet is close to that of a mixture of 30% water and 70% ethanol (Δf = 0.307), even though the bulk solvent was ethanol containing less than 1% water as an impurity.     

3,14‐Bis(p‐nitrophenyl)‐17,17‐dipentyltetrabenzo[a,c,g,i]‐fluorene: A New Fluorophore Displaying Both Remarkable Solvatochromism and Crystalline‐Induced Emission

A series of 17,17‐dialkyl‐3,14‐diaryltetrabenzofluorenes were efficiently prepared by using Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reactions of the corresponding 3,14‐dibromo derivatives. Studies of the unique fluorescence properties of these compounds showed that they display intense blue to yellow fluorescence with high quantum yields in the solution state and blue to orange fluorescence with moderate quantum yields in the solid state. In addition, the fluorescence wavelength of the bis(p‐nitrophenyl) derivative is remarkably solvent‐dependent in a manner that correlates with the solvent polarity parameter E_T(30). The results of density function theory calculations suggest that the intramolecular charge‐transfer character of the HOMO–LUMO transition is responsible for the large solvent effect. Moreover, addition of water to a tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution of this compound leads to quenching of the yellow fluorescence owing to an increase in the solvent polarity. However, when the amount of water fraction exceeds 70 %, a new fluorescence band appears at the same orange‐red emission wavelength as that of the solid‐state fluorescence. This observation suggests the occurrence of a crystallization‐induced emission (CIE) phenomenon in highly aqueous THF.     

Solubilization of 5-methoxy tryptamine molecular probes in CTAB and SDS micelles: a cmc and binding constant study

To understand the change in environmental conditions when a probe is incorporated in micelles, an absorption and fluorescence spectral study on the solubilization behaviour of 5-methoxy tryptamine (5-MT) and N,N-dimethyl-5-methoxy tryptamine (5-NMT) has been made in CTAB and SDS for their neutral and cationic forms. The blue shift in emission wavelength is accompanied by increase in intensity with increasing surfactant concentration for almost all the cases except for the cationic probe in CTAB surfactant. This exceptional behaviour can be attributed to the quenching of emission intensity caused by Br(-) ions. Spectral correlations with solvent polarity parameters indicate relatively less polar binding sites in CTAB and SDS as compared to water. The binding constant and cmc values have been determined for CTAB and SDS using both the neutral and the cationic probes, which are in good agreement with the literature values. Higher value of binding constant and lower polarity of the binding sites justify 5-NMT as a better binding probe as the two methyl groups make the molecule more hydrophobic and drag it to the interior of both the micelles.     

OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY OF BILAYER MEMBRANES

Abstract— The absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy of natural and model bilayer lipid membranes is reviewed. Basic structural features of biological membranes and the relative advantages of black lipid membranes (BLM) and of liposomes are discussed. Theoretical considerations show that the wavelengths of absorption maxima are affected by the refractive index and dielectric constant of the medium surrounding the chromophore. Techniques of obtaining photoelectric action spectra, direct absorption spectra, and reflection spectra of BLM are described. Polarized spectra can give information about the orientation of membrane constituents and show, for example, that the porphyrin ring of chlorophyll in BLM is tilted at 45 ± 5° to the membrane surface. Absorption maxima of chlorophyll in BLM are compared with solution spectra of various chlorophyll adducts and aggregates. It is concluded that chlorophyll in BLM exists largely as solvated monomer and dimer (or oligomer), depending on concentration, and is not coordinated with water. From the theory of fluorescence spectroscopy it follows that aggregation and the polarity of the environment affect the fluorescence yield and lifetime of a membrane component, and also the wavelength of its emission maximum. The microviscosity of the membrane matrix affects the anisotropy of fluorescence. Techniques of steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy and of fluorescence lifetime measurements are reviewed. Examples of the use of fluorescent probes in membrane studies are given. Certain probes such as anilinonaphthalene sulfonate (ANS) preferentially bind to membrane proteins. The location of a probe in a particular membrane region can be pinpointed from its fluorescence yield and emission maximum. The orientation of the hydrocarbon chains of membrane lipids has been found, from fluorescence polarization of certain probes, to be normal to the membrane surface as postulated a priori on the basis of the lipid bilayer model. Anisotropy of fluorescence shows that elongated probe molecules rotate rapidly about their long axes when surrounded by phospholipids but become immobilized when bound to proteins. Changes in intensity and anisotropy of fluorescence as function of temperature have demonstrated the existence of phase transitions and phase equilibria of membrane lipids. Excimer fluorescence has been used as a measure of the available lipid core volume of membranes. Mechanisms of energy transfer between membrane components are reviewed. The theoretical dependence of energy transfer on distance and orientation for several rigid and fluid membrane models is discussed in terms of the structural information it can provide. Fluorescence sensitization resulting from energy transfer within and across bilayer membranes has been demonstrated in various systems. Quantitative measurement of energy transfer efficiency in BLM has shown that such transfer is about five times more efficient than in solutions at comparable donor-acceptor distances. Lipid membranes can be viewed as structures which maintain their components at high concentrations, in a reactive state, and at favourable orientations.     

新型近红外试剂的合成及其现场二聚体与DNA作用的研究

合成了一种新型近红外阴离子染料,并对其水溶液及阳离子表面活性剂ＣＴＡＢ存在下的吸收荧光光谱进行了研究。结果表明,低浓度的ＣＴＡＢ与该近红外阴离子染料形成离子缔合物而使阴离子染料的荧光强度降低,当ＣＴＡＢ的浓度进一步加大时,其胶束前预聚集促使该染料形成非荧光二聚体,导致荧光急剧猝灭。     

Sol-Gel Transition and Structural Evolution on Multicomponent Gels Derived from the Alumina-Silica System

The capacity of the sol-gel process of producing highly pure, homogeneous alumina-silica based materials had been demonstrated in the last few years. However, a full understanding on the mechanisms associated to sol formation and sol to gel transition has not yet been achieved and is required for the development of a new generation of nano-structurally tailored materials that will significantly enhance the technological importance of the sol-gel process. In this work, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and aluminum isopropoxide were used to prepare materials within the entire silica-alumina system. Process parameters, such as gelation time, were correlated to variables of the initial stage of the process, such as pH, temperature of hydrolysis and water/alkoxide ratio. The obtained gels were dried at 105°C and subsequently heat treated at 500 and 1100°C for 3 hours. X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the materials and phase transformations. Structural information obtained from phase characterization and phase transformations was correlated to the effects of the process variables on sol formation and gelation, providing insights related to the mechanisms involved. The influence of temperature of aluminum isopropoxide hydrolysis on peptization and gelation of the mixtures was noted. The different behavior of mixtures hydrolyzed at low and high temperatures was suggested to be caused by different mechanisms of surface charge formation on the structurally different aluminum hydroxides. Monophasic and diphasic mullite xerogels were produced by changing temperature of aluminum isopropoxide hydrolysis, and led to formation of mullite and Al−Si spinel phases respectively, when treated at 1100°C.     

1,4-双(4′-N,N-二甲基氨基苯乙烯基)萘的合成及荧光性质

利用Wittig反应合成了一个以萘为π-Center的对称型“D-π-D”有机绿色发光化合物1,4 双(4′-N,N-二甲基氨基苯乙烯基)萘(BDASN),并测试了其在不同环境中的光谱性质.在378nm激发波长的激发下,BDASN显示出很强的荧光发射峰,峰位在521nm(CH₂Cl₂).随着溶剂极性增大,最大发射波长红移且荧光强度降低,与“D-π-A”分子具有相似的分子内电荷转移(TICT)行为.在β-环糊精(β-CD)中BDASN的绿色发光带被猝灭,同时在450nm附近蓝发光带的荧光强度骤增.     

Spectral and photophysical properties of intramolecular charge transfer fluorescence probe: 4'-dimethylamino-2,5-dihydroxychalcone

The spectral and photophysical properties of a new intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) probe, namely 4′-dimethylamino-2,5-dihydroxychalcone (DMADHC) were studied in different solvents by using steady-state absorption and emission spectroscopy. Whereas the absorption spectrum undergoes minor change with increasing polarity of the solvents, the fluorescence spectrum experiences a distinct bathochromic shift in the band position and the fluorescence quantum yield increases reaching a maximum before decrease with increasing the solvent polarity. The magnitude of change in the dipole moment was calculated based on the Lippert–Mataga equation. These results give the evidence about the intramolecular charge transfer character in the emitting singlet state of this compound.     

Novel Heptamethine 3H-Indocyanines and their Spectral Properties

Novel heptamethine 3H-indocyanine dyes are synthesized and embedded into a matrix of silica gel derived from tetraethoxysilicane. The photophysical properties of these near infrared dyes in various solvents and in SiO2 sol gel were investigated. The results show that the dyes containing cyclohexenylene bridge and N-(p-carboxy)benzyl groups have better photostability and longer absorption wavelength than those containing linear heptamethine bridge and/or N-(5-carboxy)pentanyl groups. The absorption maxima of these dyes are in reverse proportion to the polarity of the solvents. The microenvironment of the dyes in SiO2 sol-gel characters medium polarity (between methanol and DMF) according to the absorption maxima.     

Photophysics of aminobenzazole dyes in silica-based hybrid materials

In this work two aminobenzazole derivatives (5-AHBT and 5-AHBI) were dispersed in silica-based hybrid materials with different surface hydrophobicity, which were obtained by the sol?Cgel process using tetraethylorthosilicate as inorganic precursor and dimethyldimethoxysilane as organic precursor, with a molar percent of organic precursor changing from 0 to 50%. The photophysics of the obtained doped silica hybrid materials was investigated by means ultraviolet?Cvisible diffuse reflectance and steady-state fluorescence emission spectroscopy in the solid state. The materials present absorption maxima located around 353 and 318?nm when doped with 5-AHBT and 5-AHBI, respectively. The red shifted absorption maxima of the 5-AHBT can be explained by the better electron delocalization allowed by the sulfur atom in relation to the nitrogen. The fluorescence emission spectra are located in the blue-green regions and the high Stokes shift indicates that the ESIPT mechanism occurs in the excited state for both dyes. The photophysical behavior of 5-AHBT shows that this dye is more affected by the matrix polarity due to specific interactions that take place in the ground state.     

Solvent dependence of the photochemistry of the styrylpyridinium dye RH421

RH421 is a widely used voltage-sensitive fluorescent membrane probe. It is also photochemically reactive and its photochemistry is dependent on its solvent surroundings. The aim of this study is to use the solvent dependence of the dye's photochemistry as an indicator of its environment within a lipid membrane. It was found that the dye actually undergoes two competing photochemical reactions. One photochemical pathway is characterized by an increase in fluorescence, the other by a fluorescence decrease. The pathway followed depends on the light intensity, the excitation wavelength and the solvent. The pathway leading to a fluorescence decrease is very dependent on the polarity of the solvent. It is promoted by solvents of high polarity (e.g., methanol, ethanol and propanol), by high intensity illumination and long wavelength excitation (i.e., 546 or 577 nm). In less polar solvents (butanol, pentanol, hexanol and heptanol) the pathway leading to a fluorescence increase dominates. The photochemical behavior observed when the dye is bound to a lipid membrane was not comparable to its behavior in any of the isotropic solvents studied. This is most likely due to the anisotropic environment of the membrane, which results in a steep gradient in polarity along the length of the dye molecule.