Styryl Dyes as Two-Photon Excited Fluorescent Probes for DNA Detection and Two-Photon Laser Scanning Fluorescence Microscopy of Living Cells

Spectral-fluorescent properties of benzothiazole styryl monomer (Bos-3) and homodimer (DBos-21) dyes in presence of DNA were studied. The dyes enhance their fluorescence intensity in 2–3 orders of magnitude upon interaction with DNA. Studied styrylcyanines in DNA presence demonstrate rather high values of two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-section, which are comparable with the values of TPA cross section of the rhodamine dyes. An applicability of the styrylcyanines as probes for the fluorescence microscopy of living cells was studied. It was shown that both dyes are cell-permeable but homodimer dye DBos-21 produces noticeably brighter staining of HeLa cells comparing with monomer dye Bos-3. Molecules of DBos-21 initially bind to the nucleic acids- containing cell organelles (presumable mitochondria) and are able to penetrate into the cell nucleus. Thus, homodimer styryl DBos-21 dye is viewed as efficient stain for single-photon and two-photon excitation fluorescence imaging of living cells.     

Thiol-Capped CdTe Quantum Dots with Two-Photon Excitation for Imaging High Autofluorescence Background Living Cells

To effectively image living cells with quantum dots (QDs), particularly for those cells containing high content of native fluorophores, the two-photon excitation (TPE) with a femto-second 800 nm laser was employed and compared with the single-photon excitations (SPE) of 405 nm and 488 nm in BY-2 Tobacco (BY-2-T) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (QGY) cells, respectively. The 405 nm SPE produced the bright photoluminescence (PL) signals of cellular QDs but also induced a strong autofluorescence(AF) from the native fluorophores like flavins in cells. The AF occupied about 30% and 13% of the total signals detected in QD imaging channel in the BY-2-T and QGY cells, respectively. With the excitation of 488 nm SPE, the PL signals were lower than those excited with the 405 nm SPE, although the AF signals were also reduced. The 800 nm TPE generated the best PL images of intracellular QDs with the highest signal ratio of PL to AF, because the two-photon absorption cross section of QDs is much higher than that of the native fluorophores. By means of the TPE, the reliable cellular imaging with QDs, even for the cells having the high AF background, can be achieved.     

双光子吸收材料二苯乙烯衍生物的合成及光谱性质

设计、合成并用红外光谱、1H NMR、元素分析表征了三种用于双光子吸收材料的二苯乙烯衍生物,4,4′-双(二苯氨基-反式-苯乙烯基)联苯(BPSBP),4,4′-双(二乙氨基-反式-苯乙烯基)联苯(BESBP)和4,4′-双(9-咔唑基-反式-苯乙烯基)联苯(BCSBP)。实验结果表明三者最强的单光子吸收出现在350～400 nm之间,且单光子吸收和荧光光谱中表现出明显的溶剂化显色效应,揭示了分子内对称电荷转移的本质,双光子荧光光谱则揭示了单光子和双光子吸收具有相同的发射机理。利用双光子上转换荧光法测试发现,三种双光子吸收材料在800 nm飞秒激光的激发下具有较大的吸收截面,分别为892,617和483 GM,这表明在双光子领域有潜在的应用价值。     

Two-photon Absorption Properties of 9,10-Disubstituted 2,6-Bis(p-dihexylaminostyryl)Anthracene Derivatives. Effect of 9,10-Substituents

A series of 2,6-bis(p-dihexylaminostyryl)anthracence derivatives having phenyl, styryl, and phenylethynyl groups at 9,10-positions (1−4) have been synthesized and their two-photon cross-sections were determined. Overall, the wavelengths of the longest wavelength absorption band and emission spectra increase with increase in the conjugation length and the electron withdrawing ability of the 9,10-substituents. All compounds show two-photon cross sections in the range of 740−3940 GM at 780−960 nm, which increase significantly by the donor and acceptor groups at 9,10-positions. In addition, Ph and phenylethynyl groups are better when compared to the styryl group at the 9,10-positions in terms of the two-photon action cross section. From a practical perspective, 1a, 2a–c, and 4b showed significant two-photon action cross-section and are most useful for applications that use two-photon excited fluorescence.     

Two-Photon Excited Fluorescence Energy Transfer: A Study Based on Oligonucleotide Rulers

The use of two-photon excitation of fluorescence for detection of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was studied for a selected fluorescent donor–acceptor pair. A method based on labeled DNA was developed for controlling the distance between the donor and the acceptor molecules. The method consists of hybridization of fluorescent oligonucleotides to a complementary single-stranded target DNA. As the efficiency of FRET is strongly distance dependent, energy transfer does not occur unless the fluorescent oligonucleotides and the target DNA are hybridized. A high degree of DNA hybridization and an excellent FRET efficiency were verified with one-photon excited fluorescence studies. Excitation spectra of fluorophores are usually wider in case of two-photon excitation than in the case of one-photon excitation [1]. This makes the selective excitation of donor difficult and might cause errors in detection of FRET with two-photon excited fluorescence. Different techniques to analyze the FRET efficiency from two-photon excited fluorescence data are discussed. The quenching of the donor fluorescence intensity turned to be the most consistent way to detect the FRET efficiency. The two-photon excited FRET is shown to give a good response to the distance between the donor and the acceptor molecules.     

Two-Photon Excited Fluorescence and Molecular Reorientations in Liquid Solutions

Theoretical expressions are derived that relate the two-photon excited fluorescence depolarisation experiments to the molecular symmetry and the rotational motions of fluorescent molecules. Diffusive rotational motions in liquid solvents are considered, as well as the influence of fast unresolved motions (e.g. librations). The results obtained are compared with one-photon excited fluorescence depolarisation experiments. The derived theoretical expressions can be applied for detailed analyses of the molecular rotation in solvent. Several of the results are useful for determining and assigning the components of two-photon absorption tensors.     

Hydrophilic Labeling Reagents of Dipyrrylmethene-BF2 Dyes for Two-Photon Excited Fluorometry: Syntheses and Photophysical Characterization

Recently introduced bioaffinity assay technology, ArcDia TPX, is based on two-photon excited fluorescence (TPE) and it enables separation-free ultra-sensitive immunoassays from microvolumes. Here we present syntheses of novel two-photon excitable fluorescent labeling reagents which have been specially designed to be used as label molecules in the ArcDia TPX assay technique. The labeling reagents are based on dipyrrylmetheneboron difluoride (dipyrrylmethene-BF2) chromophore, which have been substituted with aryl, heteroaryl or arylalkenyl chemical groups to extend the pi-electron conjugation. These substitutions results in a series of dipyrrylmethene-BF2 fluorophores with different photophysical properties. Dipyrrylmethene-BF2 fluorophores have been further substituted with a dipeptide linker unit and finally activated as succinimidyl esters to enable specific coupling with primary amino groups. The dipeptide linker serves as a spacer arm between the label and a target, and enhances the solubility of the label in aqueous solutions. Study of the chemical and photophysical performance of the new labeling reagents is described. The new labeling reagents exhibit high fluorescence quantum yields, and molar absorption coefficients. The results show that the new labels with the hydrophilic dipeptide linker unit provide large two-photon excitation cross-sections, high fluorescence quantum efficiency and good solubility in aqueous solutions. The results suggest that the novel dipyrrylmethene-BF2 labels are highly applicable to bioaffinity assays based on two-photon excitation of fluorescence.     

Two-photon—induced fluorescence and electronic structure of substituted dicyanomethylene pyrans in solutions under femtosecond excitation

The method of two-quantum etalon is used to determine the two-photon absorption cross sections of eight dicyanomethylene (DCM) pyran dyes (DCM derivatives). Measurements of two-photon absorption of femtosecond Ti: sapphire-laser (λ = 800 nm, τ = 100 fs, and f = 89 MHz) radiation have been carried out. The nature of nonlinear excitation has been confirmed by the dependence of the fluorescence intensity on the excitation radiation intensity, which is close to a square-law one. Based on the measured two-photon absorption cross sections, the sizes of delocalized π-electronic clouds of DCM dye molecules with different substitutes are estimated in solvents with different polarity parameters. It is demonstrated that an increase in the polarity parameter of the solvent causes the two-photon absorption cross sections and sizes of delocalized π-electronic clouds of DCM, DCM-doa, DCM-17, DCM-5M, and DCM-11 dyes to increase. It is demonstrated that the size of the delocalized π-electronic cloud and the quantum fluorescence yield of the DCM-ul dye decrease with increasing polarity of the solvent despite the growth of the two-photon absorption cross section. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 11, pp. 69–73, November, 2005.     

小鼠卵母细胞染色体三维双光子荧光图像的轴向衰减

双光子荧光显微镜作为一种高分辨光学仪器,已经被广泛应用于生物样品的非侵入式三维光学成像中。相比共聚焦显微镜,双光子荧光显微镜拥有更深的探测深度。然而,即便如此,在对较厚的生物样品进行非侵入式光学三维成像时,样品的成像质量也往往会随着探测深度的增加而下降。在临床和生物学领域对研究母性遗传起重要作用的小鼠卵母细胞拥有较大的直径(80～100 μm),吸收和散射效应较为明显。本文研究小鼠卵母细胞染色体的三维双光子荧光图像随探测深度增加图像质量的衰减程度。通过对所得图像进行轴向衰减矫正,利用体积作为参数,将矫正前后小鼠卵母细胞内染色体三维双光子荧光图像进行对比。结果表明,由于吸收和散射效应,卵母细胞存在较严重的光学轴向衰减问题,因此,对用双光子荧光三维成像手段获得的小鼠卵母细胞图像进行衰减矫正是有必要的。这为进一步精确定量的研究卵母细胞内染色体的三维构像打下良好的基础。     

双光子激发荧光成像技术对小鼠植入前胚胎的实时观测

双光子激发的蓝移效应可使利用同一束超快激光同时激发多种不同荧光特性的生物荧光染料的设想得以实现。选取锁模飞秒掺钛蓝宝石(Ti-sapphire)激光器输出的730nm激光,分别激发Hoechst33342,Fluo-4,PI和Indo-1四种常用生物荧光染料,分别利用(455±15)nm,(540±15)nm,(580±16)nm和(500±15)nm四种滤光片获得特异性荧光图像。结合双光子激发荧光成像技术穿透深,光损伤小,信噪比好等优势,选取合适的荧光染料组,应用单束激光激发、双染双通道成像方法,对小鼠植入前胚胎内细胞中的钙信号和染色体进行三维、四维实时成像,为探究小鼠植入前胚胎发育规律提供一种全新的多参数观测手段。     

A Series of Carbazole Cationic Compounds with Large Two-Photon Absorption Cross Sections for Imaging Mitochondria in Living Cells with Two-Photon Fluorescence Microscopy

A series of carbazole cationic compounds based on donor- Π—acceptor (D-Π-A) structure were synthesized and characterized. They exhibit large two-photon absorption cross sections when excited by a 810 nm a laser beam, and their photophysical properties show that the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) character is predominant. Moreover these compounds can easily pass though the intact cell membrane of living cells, amongst, 3-(1-hydroxyethyl -4-vinylpyridium iodine)-N-butyl carbazole (9B-HVC) has been proven to be capable of accumulating within the mitochondria possessing large membrane potential and imaging this organelle in living cells by means of two-photon fluorescence microscopy. At the same time usable fluorescent photos can be obtained at lower incident excitation power (5 mW) and low-micromolar concentrations (2 μM), which does not result in significant reduction in cell viability over a period of at least 24 h.     

Molecular Dynamics of Biological Probes by Fluorescence Correlation Microscopy with Two-Photon Excitation

We report on the application of fluorescence correlation microscopy under two-photon excitation of fluorophores of biological interest: FITC–dextran (MW, from 20 to 150 kDa), green fluorescent protein (MW, 27 kDa), and fluorescein (MW, 330 Da). Under these experimental conditions, the translational diffusion coefficients of these molecules in aqueous solutions derived from the fluorescence intensity autocorrelation function were determined for the first time and were found to be 24 × 10^–7, 8.2 × 10^–7, and 3 × 10^–7 cm² s^–1 for 150-kDa FITC–dextran, green fluorescent protein, and fluorescein, respectively. These results are discussed in connection with previously reported results obtained by different methods. The great sensibility of the system has been applied to single-molecule detection of the smaller fluorophore, fluorescein.     

On the Formation of Nanostructures from Stilbazolium-like Dyes

Nanostructures with well-defined shape and highly monodisperse size were fabricated from model stilbazolium-like dyes with specific molecular structural and conformational characteristics. With the help of absorption and fluorescence optical spectroscopy, the correlated spectroscopy (COSY) and two- dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (2D NOESY) techniques, along with X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement, distinctively different aggregation processes of the model molecules are demonstrated. For model dye molecule with linear donor–π system–acceptor (D–π–A) structure, strong D–A pair, and planar conformation, specific intermolecular interaction was identified and special crystal structures as well as spectral properties were observed. For model dye molecules bearing nonlinear D–π–A–π–D structure, weak D–A pair but actual amphiphilic characteristics, a special aggregation process was confirmed and a focused size distribution of the produced nanostructures was obtained.     

Singlet Oxygen Quantum Yield Determination for a Fluorene-Based Two-Photon Photosensitizer

The quantum yield, Φ_Δ, of singlet oxygen generation under two-photon excitation has been determined for a fluorene derivative. A photochemical method was developed using 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF), a chemical quencher of ¹O₂, and 2-(9,9-didecyl-7-nitrofluoren-2-yl)benzothiazole (1) as a two-photon photosensitizer (PS). The photochemical kinetics of the quencher was measured by two different fluorescence methods. Fluorene 1 exhibited relatively high singlet oxygen quantum yield, Φ_Δ ≈ 0.4 ± 0.1, and had a two-photon absorption cross-section of 28 ± 5 GM. Thus, 1 may have potential for use as a two-photon PS in the near-IR spectral region for biomedical applications.     

Adaptive synthesis of optical pattern for photonic crystal lithography

The two-photon absorption spectrum and cross-section (δ) for ruby (Cr³⁺:sapphire) have been measured over the 0.8–1.2 μm wavelength range at 25°C. Absolute values of δ were obtained by comparing the fluorescence yield for two-photon excitation with that for single-photon excitation of the same ionic transition under identical illumination conditions. The maximum values of δ are 4.6×10⁻³ GM for o-polarisation and 5.9×10⁻³ GM for e-polarisation at 840 nm. The relevance of these measurements to distributed optical fibre sensing is briefly discussed.     

Two-photon induced optical-power limiting and upconverted superradiance properties of a new organic dye HEASPI

A new organic dye trans-4-[p-(N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethylamino)styryl]-N-methylpyridinium iodide (abbreviated as HEASPI hereafter) with large two-photon absorption (TPA) cross section and excellent upconverted superradiance properties was synthesized in our group recently. The TPA cross section was measured to be σ₂′=7.0×10⁻⁴⁸ cm⁴ s/photon by using an open aperture Z-scan system. Linear absorption, single-photon induced fluorescence, two-photon induced fluorescence and two-photon pumped (TPP) upconverted superradiance properties were systematically studied. The highest net upconversion efficiency from the absorbed pump energy to the output upconverted superradiance energy is as high as 19.6% at the pump energy of 2.07 mJ from a mode-locked Nd : YAG picosecond laser. The dye solution also shows a clear optical power limiting effect.     

以萘为π-中心的双芪类衍生物双光子上转换荧光性能研究

研究了2个新的双光子上转换荧光分子—1,4-双-(9-乙基咔唑基)萘(简称为BECVN)和1,4-双-(4’-N,N-二甲氨基苯乙烯基)萘(简称为BMABN)的单光子、双光子光谱性质。在～375 nm Xe灯光源激发下,两样品的DMF溶液发出很强的蓝、绿色荧光(峰位492～541 nm),视感效果非常明显。BMABN分子的线性吸收/发射光谱的峰位与BECVN分子相比,均发生红移;相对荧光量子产率(Φ_f)比BECVN降低了7.4倍。在飞秒钛宝石激光器泵浦下(760 nm),两样品的DMF溶液发出强的双光子上转换荧光发射,峰位与单光子荧光峰位相比发生红移(500～556 nm)。BMABN的双光子荧光强度和双光子吸收截面分别是BECVN的3倍和30.4倍。     

Dipyrrylmetheneboron Difluorides as Labels in Two-Photon Excited Fluorometry. Part I-Immunometric Assays

Seven different two-photon excitable dipyrrylmetheneboron difluoride labels (dipyrrylmethene-BF₂ labels) and a frequently used TAMRA label were conjugated to mouse IgG against α-fetoprotein in variable substitution degrees. Altogether 40 IgG conjugates were prepared, and studied with respect to one-photon absorption and emission properties, and two-photon fluorescence efficiency using 1064 nm laser as illumination source. Performance of the IgG conjugates as tracers in a separation-free immunometric assay of α-fetoprotein was evaluated using two-photon excitation assay technology, ArcDia^TM TPX. The results show that the dipyrrylmethene-BF₂ labels provide subpicomolar sensitivity, which is an order of magnitude better than that of TAMRA label. The effect of chromophore structure and substitution degree of IgG-label conjugates on the assay performance is discussed.     

Effect of Polystyrene Microsphere Surface to Fluorescence Lifetime Under Two-Photon Excitation

Molecular assays such as immunoassays are often performed using solid carriers and fluorescent labels. In such an assay format a question can be raised on how much the fluorescence of the label is influenced by the bio-affinity binding events and the solid carrier surface. Since changes in fluorescence intensity as labels bind to surfaces are notoriously difficult to quantify other approaches are preferred. A good indicator, independent of the fluorescence intensity of the label, is the fluorescence lifetime of the marker fluorophore. Changes in fluorescence lifetime reliably indicate the presence of dynamic quenching, energy transfer or other de-excitation processes. A microsphere based assay system is studied under two-photon excitation. Changes in fluorescence lifetime are studied as labeled protein conjugates bind on microsphere surfaces – both direct on the surface and with a few nanometer distance from the surface. Fluorescence signal is measured from individual polystyrene microspheres and the fluorescence lifetime histogram is simultaneously recorded. The results indicate that self-quenching and quenching by the polystyrene surface are both present in such a system. However, the effect of the surface can be avoided by increasing the distance between the surface and the label. Typical distances achieved by a standard sandwich type of assay, are already sufficient to overcome the surface induced quenching in fluorescence detection.     

取代效应对脂滴检测NAPBr染料分子的双光子吸收和激发态性质影响的理论探究

双光子荧光染料分子在生物医学成像中具有广阔的应用前景,但取代效应对分子结构以及光物理性质影响的探求相对匮乏. 本文设计并研究了一系列脂滴检测染料分子,分析了分子的光学性质以及无辐射跃迁等. 通过分子内弱相互作用和电子- 空穴布居分析,阐述了其内在机理. 结果表明,所研究的分子均具有优良的光物理性能、高效荧光量子产量、大的斯托克斯位移以及显著的双光子吸收截面等. 本工作合理地解释了实验现象并阐述了取代效应对脂滴检测NAPBr染料分子的双光子吸收和激发态性质的影响,这为设计新型的高效有机分子提供了理论指导.