Selective Detection of Hg2+ Ions with Boron Dipyrromethene‐Based Fluorescent Probes Appended with a Bis(1,2,3‐triazole)amino Receptor

By using a copper‐promoted alkyne–azide cycloaddition reaction, two boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivatives bearing a bis(1,2,3‐triazole)amino receptor at the meso position were prepared and characterized. For the analogue with two terminal triethylene glycol chains, the fluorescence emission at 509 nm responded selectively toward Hg²⁺ ions, which greatly increased the fluorescence quantum yield from 0.003 to 0.25 as a result of inhibition of the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process. By introducing two additional rhodamine moieties at the termini, the resulting conjugate could also detect Hg²⁺ ions in a highly selective manner. Upon excitation at the BODIPY core, the fluorescence emission of rhodamine at 580 nm was observed and the intensity increased substantially upon addition of Hg²⁺ ions due to inhibition of the PET process followed by highly efficient fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the BODIPY core to the rhodamine moieties. The Hg²⁺‐responsive fluorescence change of these two probes could be easily seen with the naked eye. The binding stoichiometry between the probes and Hg²⁺ ions in CH₃CN was determined to be 1:2 by Job′s plot analysis and ¹H NMR titration, and the binding constants were found to be (1.2±0.1)×10¹¹ m ^?2 and (1.3±0.3)×10¹⁰ m ^?2, respectively. The overall results suggest that these two BODIPY derivatives can serve as highly selective fluorescent probes for Hg²⁺ ions. The rhodamine derivative makes use of a combined PET‐FRET sensing mechanism which can greatly increase the sensitivity of detection.     

Photoinduced electron transfer (PET) based Zn2+ fluorescent probe: transformation of turn-on sensors into ratiometric ones with dual emission in acetonitrile

Ratiometric sensors for the detection of metal ions have gained increasing attention due to its self-calibration tendency for the environmental effects. In this context, we have synthesized and characterized a dual emitting ratiometric Zn(2+) probe (1) having acridinedione as a fluorophore and N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (BPA) as a receptor unit. Existence of two different conformation of the molecule with photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from amine moiety to the acridinedione fluorophore leads to dual emission, namely locally excited (425 nm) and anomalous charge transfer emission (560 nm) in aprotic solvents. In the presence of one equivalent of Zn(2+), a 15-fold fluorescence enhancement in the locally excited state together with the quenching of charge transfer emission is observed. The intensity changes at the two emission peaks allow a ratiometric detection of Zn(2+) under PET signaling mechanism. The utilization of PET process for the ratiometric fluorescence change will further signify the importance of PET mechanism in sensing action. Addition of Zn(2+) to 1 in acetonitrile/water mixtures shows a single emission peak with fluorescence enhancement.     

Fluorescent Detection of Hypochlorous Acid from Turn‐On to FRET‐Based Ratiometry by a HOCl‐Mediated Cyclization Reaction

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a reactive oxygen species (ROS), plays a significant biological role in living systems. However, abnormal levels of HOCl are implicated in many inflammation‐associated diseases. Therefore, the detection of HOCl is of great importance. In this work, we describe the HOCl‐promoted cyclization of rhodamine‐thiosemicarbazides to rhodamine‐oxadiazoles, which is then exploited as a novel design strategy for the development of a new fluorescence turn‐on HOCl probe 2 . On the basis of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) signaling mechanism, 2 was further converted into 1 a and 1 b , which represent the first paradigm of FRET‐based ratiometric fluorescent HOCl probes. The outstanding features of 1 a and 1 b include well‐resolved emission peaks, high sensitivity, high selectivity, good functionality at physiological pH, rapid response, low cytotoxicity, and good cell‐membrane permeability. Furthermore, these excellent attributes enable us to demonstrate, for the first time, the ratiometric imaging of endogenously produced HOCl in living cells by using these novel ratiometric probes. We expect that 1 a and 1 b will be useful molecular tools for studies of HOCl biology. In addition, the HOCl‐promoted cyclization reaction of rhodamine‐thiosemicarbazides to rhodamine‐oxadiazoles should be widely applicable for the development of different types of fluorescent HOCl probes.     

A pinacol boronate caged NIAD-4 derivative as a near-infrared fluorescent probe for fast and selective detection of hypochlorous acid

A pinacol boronate caged NIAD-4 derivative was demonstrated to be a near-infrared fluorescent probe for fast and selective detection of hypochlorite over other ROS species.     

Multilabeled pyrene-functionalized 2'-amino-LNA probes for nucleic acid detection in homogeneous fluorescence assays

Homogeneous fluorescence assays for detection of nucleic acids are widely used in biological sciences. Typically, probes such as molecular beacons that rely on distance-dependent fluorescence quenching are used for such assays. Less attention has been devoted to tethering a single kind of fluorophores to oligonucleotides and exploiting hybridization-induced modulation of fluorescence intensity for nucleic acid detection. Herein, thermal denaturation experiments and fluorescence properties of oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing one or more 2'-N-(pyren-1-yl)carbonyl-2'-amino-LNA monomer(s) X are described. These pyrene-functionalized 2'-amino-LNAs display large increases in thermal stability against DNA/RNA complements with excellent Watson-Crick mismatch discrimination. Upon duplex formation of appropriately designed 2'-N-(pyren-1-yl)carbonyl-2'-amino-LNA probes and complementary DNA/RNA, intensive fluorescence emission with quantum yields between 0.28 and 0.99 are observed. Quantum yields of such magnitudes are unprecedented among pyrene-labeled oligonucleotides. Molecular modeling studies suggest that the dioxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane skeleton and amide linkage of monomer X fix the orientation of the pyrene moiety in the minor groove of a nucleic acid duplex. Interactions between pyrene and nucleobases, which typically lead to quenching of fluorescence, are thereby reduced. Duplexes between multiple modified probes and DNA/RNA complements exhibit additive increases in fluorescence intensity, while the fluorescence of single stranded probes becomes increasingly quenched. Up to 69-fold increase in fluorescence intensity (measured at lambda(em) = 383 nm) is observed upon hybridization to DNA/RNA. The emission from duplexes of multiple modified probes and DNA/RNA at concentrations down to less than 500 nM can easily be seen by the naked eye using standard illumination intensities.     

Substituent Effects in BODIPY in Live Cell Imaging

Small‐molecule organoselenium‐based fluorescent probes possess great capacity in understanding biological processes through the detection of various analytes such as reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), biothiols (cysteine, homocysteine and glutathione), lipid droplets, etc. Herein, we present how substituents on the BODIPY system play a significant part in the detection of biologically important analytes for in vitro conditions and live cell imaging studies. The fluorescence of the probe was quenched by 2‐chloro and 6‐phenyl selenium groups; the probe shows high selectivity with NaOCl among other ROS/RNS, and gives a turn‐on response. The maximum fluorescence intensity is attained within ≈1–2 min with a low detection limit (19.6 nm ), and shows a ≈110‐fold fluorescence enhancement compared to signals generated for other ROS/RNS. Surprisingly, in live cell experiments, the probe specifically located and accumulated in lipid droplets, and showed a fluorescence turn‐on response. We believe this turn‐on response occurred because of aggregation‐induced emission (AIE), which surprisingly occurred only by introducing one lipophilic mesityl group at the meso position of the BODIPY.     

A Long-wavelength Emissive Phenothiazine Derived Fluorescent Probe for Detecting HOCl Upregulation in 5-FU Stimulated Living Cells

The endogenous hypochlorous acid(HOCl) has been evidenced in a variety of cellular courses. However, the role of HOCl in most pathophysiological processes still keeps unclear because of the limited detecting tools. In this work, we presented the pre- paration of a phenothiazine-derived fluorescent probe ClO-1 for HOCl detection with a cyanopyridinium moiety to improve its water solubility and lengthen its emission wavelength. The HOCl-promoted oxidation of sulfur atom in the probe resulted in a 460-fold emission intensity enhancement at 635 nm with high selectivity and sensitivity(detection limit: 1.12 nmol/L). The rapid response(5 s) also endowed the probe with real-time detection ability. Successfully, ClO-1 was devoted to the bioimaging of endogenous HOCl in inflamed RAW 264.7 cells and 5-fluorouracil-treated MCF-7 cells.     

Synthesis and Properties of Novel Fluorescence Probe Based on 1,8-Naphthalimide for Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide

Two fluorescence-enhanced probes,4-(2,4-dinitrophenoxy)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,8-naphthalimide(NTE-1)and 4-(2,4-dinitrophenoxy)-N-[4-(2,4-dinitrophenoxy)phenyl]-1,8-naphthalimide(NTE-2),have been designed and synthesized for detection of H2S.4-Hydroxy-1,8-naphthalimide as fluorophore in combination with 2,4-dinitrophenyl ether as H2S response site constructed the fluorescence probes.The consequences showed that both NTE-1 and NTE-2 displayed large red-shift(excess 100nm)in absorption spectra and more than 30-fold fluorescence enhancement in response to H2S.Moreover,the dual site probe,NTE-2,displayed wider linear range between fluorescence intensity and concentration of H2S(0-40μmol/L)compared with single site probe,which can be applied to quantita-tive detection of high concentration of H2S.The photomduced electron transfer(PET)response mechanism of probe was further studied by analyzing the distributions of molecular orbital.Importantly,the probes have potential practical applications in the detection of H2S.     

Highly selective fluorescent OFF-ON thiol probes based on dyads of BODIPY and potent intramolecular electron sink 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonyl subunits

Two highly selective OFF-ON green emitting fluorescent thiol probes (1 and 2) with intense absorption in the visible spectrum (molar extinction coefficient ε is up to 73?800 M(-1) cm(-1) at 509 nm) based on dyads of BODIPY (as electron donor of the photo-induced electron transfer, i.e.PET) and 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonyl (DNBS) (as electron acceptor of the PET process) were devised. The single crystal structures of the two probes were determined. The distance between the electron donor (BODIPY fluorophore) and the electron acceptor (DNBS) of probe 2 is larger than that of probe 1, as a result the contrast ratio (or the PET efficiency) of probe 2 is smaller than that of probe 1. However, fluorescence OFF-ON switching effects were observed for both probe 1 and probe 2 in the presence of cysteine (the emission enhancement is 300-fold for probe 1 and 54-fold for probe 2). The fluorescence OFF-ON sensing mechanism is rationalized by DFT/TDDFT calculations. We demonstrated with DFT calculations that DNBS is ca. 0.76 eV more potent to accept electrons than the maleimide moiety. The probes were used for fluorescent imaging of cellular thiols.     

Fluorescent detection of hypochlorous acid from turn-on to FRET-based ratiometry by a HOCl-mediated cyclization reaction

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a reactive oxygen species (ROS), plays a significant biological role in living systems. However, abnormal levels of HOCl are implicated in many inflammation-associated diseases. Therefore, the detection of HOCl is of great importance. In this work, we describe the HOCl-promoted cyclization of rhodamine-thiosemicarbazides to rhodamine-oxadiazoles, which is then exploited as a novel design strategy for the development of a new fluorescence turn-on HOCl probe 2. On the basis of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) signaling mechanism, 2 was further converted into 1a and 1b, which represent the first paradigm of FRET-based ratiometric fluorescent HOCl probes. The outstanding features of 1a and 1b include well-resolved emission peaks, high sensitivity, high selectivity, good functionality at physiological pH, rapid response, low cytotoxicity, and good cell-membrane permeability. Furthermore, these excellent attributes enable us to demonstrate, for the first time, the ratiometric imaging of endogenously produced HOCl in living cells by using these novel ratiometric probes. We expect that 1a and 1b will be useful molecular tools for studies of HOCl biology. In addition, the HOCl-promoted cyclization reaction of rhodamine-thiosemicarbazides to rhodamine-oxadiazoles should be widely applicable for the development of different types of fluorescent HOCl probes.     

Hypochlorous acid turn-on boron dipyrromethene probe based on oxidation of methyl phenyl sulfide

A boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-based fluorometric probe, HCS, has been successfully developed for the highly sensitive and selective detection of hypochlorous acid (HOCl). The probe is based on the specific HOCl-promoted oxidation of methyl phenyl sulfide. The reaction is accompanied by a 160-fold increase in the fluorescent quantum yield (from 0.003 to 0.480). The fluorescent turn-on mechanism is accomplished by suppression of photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from the methyl phenyl sulfide group to BODIPY. The fluorescence intensity of the reaction between HOCl and HCS shows a good linearity in the HOCl concentration range 1–10 μM. The detection limit is 23.7 nM (S/N = 3). In addition, confocal fluorescence microscopy imaging using RAW264.7 macrophages demonstrates that the HCS probe could be an efficient fluorescent detector for HOCl in living cells.     

Release of Amino‐ or Carboxy‐Containing Compounds Triggered by HOCl: Application for Imaging and Drug Design

The overproduction of HOCl is highly correlated with diseases such as atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. Whilst acting as a marker of these diseases, HOCl might also be used as an activator of prodrugs or drug delivery systems for the treatment of the corresponding disease. In this work, a new platform of HOCl probes has been developed that integrates detection, imaging, and therapeutic functions. The probes can detect HOCl, using both NIR emission and the naked eye in vitro, with high sensitivity and selectivity at ultralow concentrations (the detection limit is at the nanomolar level). Basal levels of HOCl can be imaged in HL‐60 cells without special stimulation. Moreover, the probes provided by this platform can rapidly release either amino‐ or carboxy‐containing compounds from prodrugs, during HOCl detection and imaging, to realize a therapeutic effect.     

Na+ Selective Fluorescent Tools Based on Fluorescence Intensity Enhancements,Lifetime Changes,and on a Ratiometric Response

Over the years, we developed highly selective fluorescent probes for K⁺ in water, which show K⁺-induced fluorescence intensity enhancements, lifetime changes, or a ratiometric behavior at two emission wavelengths (cf. Scheme 1, K1 – K4 ). In this paper, we introduce selective fluorescent probes for Na⁺ in water, which also show Na⁺ induced signal changes, which are analyzed by diverse fluorescence techniques. Initially, we synthesized the fluorescent probes 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 and 10 for a fluorescence analysis by intensity enhancements at one wavelength by varying the Na⁺ responsive ionophore unit and the fluorophore moiety to adjust different K_d values for an intra- or extracellular Na⁺ analysis. Thus, we found that 2 , 4 and 5 are Na⁺ selective fluorescent tools, which are able to measure physiologically important Na⁺ levels at wavelengths higher than 500 nm. Secondly, we developed the fluorescent probes 7 and 8 to analyze precise Na⁺ levels by fluorescence lifetime changes. Herein, only 8 (K_d=106 mm ) is a capable fluorescent tool to measure Na⁺ levels in blood samples by lifetime changes. Finally, the fluorescent probe 9 was designed to show a Na⁺ induced ratiometric fluorescence behavior at two emission wavelengths. As desired, 9 (K_d=78 mm ) showed a ratiometric fluorescence response towards Na⁺ ions and is a suitable tool to measure physiologically relevant Na⁺ levels by the intensity change of two emission wavelengths at 404 nm and 492 nm.     

Parametric investigation of laser-induced fluorescence of solid-state uranyl compounds

The combination of remote/standoff sensing and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy shows potential for detection of uranyl (UO2(2+)) compounds. Uranyl compounds exhibit characteristic emission in the 450-600 nm (22,200 to 16,700 cm(-1)) spectral region when excited by wavelengths in the ultraviolet or in the short-wavelength portion of the visible spectrum. We report a parametric study of the effects of excitation wavelength [including 532 nm (18,797 cm(-1)), 355 nm (28,169 cm(-1)), and 266 nm (37,594 cm(-1))] and excitation laser power on solid-state uranium compounds. The uranium compounds investigated include uranyl nitrate, uranyl sulfate, uranyl oxalate, uranium dioxide, triuranium octaoxide, uranyl acetate, uranyl formate, zinc uranyl acetate, and uranyl phosphate. We observed the characteristic uranyl fluorescence spectrum from the uranium compounds except for uranium oxide compounds (which do not contain the uranyl moiety) and for uranyl formate, which has a low fluorescence quantum yield. Relative uranyl fluorescence intensity is greatest for 355 nm excitation, and the order of decreasing fluorescence intensity with excitation wavelength (relative intensity/laser output) is 355 nm > 266 nm > 532 nm. For 532 nm excitation, the emission spectrum is produced by two-photon excitation. Uranyl fluorescence intensity increases linearly with increasing laser power, but the rate of fluorescence intensity increase is different for different emission bands.     

Chiral donor photoinduced-electron-transfer (d-PET) boronic acid chemosensors for the selective recognition of tartaric acids, disaccharides, and ginsenosides

A modular approach was proposed for the preparation of chiral fluorescent molecular sensors, in which the fluorophore, scaffold, and chirogenic center can be connected by ethynyl groups, and these modules can easily be changed to other structures to optimize the molecular sensing performance of the sensors. This modular strategy to assembly chiral sensors alleviated the previous restrictions of chiral boronic acid sensors, for which the chirogenic center, fluorophore, and scaffold were integrated, thus it was difficult to optimize the molecular structures by chemical modifications. We demonstrated the potential of our new strategy by the preparation of a sensor with a larger scaffold. The photoinduced electron‐transfer (PET) effect is efficient even with a large distance between the N atom and the fluorophore core. Furthermore, the rarely reported donor‐PET (d‐PET) effect, which was previously limited to carbazole, was extended to phenothiazine fluorophore. The contrast ratio, that is, PET efficiency of the new d‐PET sensor, is increased to 8.0, compared to 2.0 with the previous carbazole d‐PET sensors. Furthermore, the ethynylated phenothiazine shows longer excitation wavelength (centered at 380 nm) and emission wavelength (492 nm), a large Stokes shift (142 nm), and high fluorescence quantum yield in aqueous solution (Φ=0.48 in MeOH/water, 3:1 v/v). Enantioselective recognition of tartaric acid was achieved with the new d‐PET boronic acid sensors. The enantioselectivity is up to 10 (ratio of the binding constants toward D ‐ and L ‐tartaric acid, k_D/k_L). A consecutive fluorescence enhancement/decrease was observed, thus we propose a transition of the binding stoichiometry from 1:1 to 1:2 as the analyte concentration increases, which is supported by mass spectra analysis. The boronic acid sensors were used for selective and sensitive recognition of disaccharides and glycosylated steroids (ginsenosides).     

铝试剂的荧光光谱与荧光量子产率

首次研究了铝试剂的荧光光谱和荧光量子产率,发现pH3至pH12条件下,用紫外光照射铝试剂溶液可以产生荧光,最大激发波长和最大发射波长分别为297nm和409nm,荧光强度与铝试剂浓度之间存在良好的线性关系,线性范围为0.01～3μg/mL,检测下限为0.01μg/mL,以硫酸奎宁为参比,测得铝试剂的荧光量子产率为0.16。     

Substituent effects on monoboronic acid sensors for saccharides based on N-phenyl-1,8-naphthalenedicarboximides

In the course of our investigations on new monoboronic acid saccharide sensors with C(0) spacers, a series of probes 1-6 based on 1,8-naphthalenedicarboximide were synthesized. Sensor 1 displays features typical of PET monoboronic acid sensors and shows high selectivity to fructose. Sensor 2 exhibits a novel dual emission and remarkable sensitivity for glucose relative to fructose and galactose through subtle changes in pH. Sensor 3 displays significantly enhanced fluorescence in the presence of galactose at low pH. Although probes 4-6 exhibit unique properties such as high quantum yield (Phi(F) = 0.407) and excellent solubility in water, they did not show significant change in fluorescence intensity in the presence of monosaccharides. The effects of substituent on all six probes lend support to the proposed photoelectrochemical model.     

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.     

Spectrofluorimetric Determination of Reduced Glutathione Using Organic Nanoparticle Probes

Introduction Reduced glutathione (GSH) is a very important tripeptide.1 GSH widely exists in living tissues. In ani-mal organization, the concentration of free glutathione is in the range 0.5—10.0 mmol/L. Usually over 99% of glutathione is present in the reduced form in all organ-isms.2 Intermediates of GSH biosynthesis such as cys-teine, g-glutamyl-cysteine (g-Glu-Cys) or cysteinyl-gly- cine (Cys-Gly) also occur in the cell but at much lower concentrations.3 GSH plays an important bio…     

Chlorin–Bacteriochlorin Energy‐transfer Dyads as Prototypes for Near‐infrared Molecular Imaging Probes: Controlling Charge‐transfer and Fluorescence Properties in Polar Media

The photophysical properties of two energy‐transfer dyads that are potential candidates for near‐infrared (NIR) imaging probes are investigated as a function of solvent polarity. The dyads ( FbC‐FbB and ZnC‐FbB ) contain either a free base (Fb) or zinc (Zn) chlorin (C) as the energy donor and a free base bacteriochlorin (B) as the energy acceptor. The dyads were studied in toluene, chlorobenzene, 1,2‐dichlorobenzene, acetone, acetonitrile and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). In both dyads, energy transfer from the chlorin to bacteriochlorin occurs with a rate constant of ～(5–10 ps)^?1 and a yield of >99% in nonpolar and polar media. In toluene, the fluorescence yields (Φ _f = 0.19) and singlet excited‐state lifetimes (τ～5.5 ns) are comparable to those of the benchmark bacteriochlorin. The fluorescence yield and excited‐state lifetime decrease as the solvent polarity increases, with quenching by intramolecular electron (or hole) transfer being greater for FbC‐FbB than for ZnC‐FbB in a given solvent. For example, the Φ _f and τ values for FbC‐FbB in acetone are 0.055 and 1.5 ns and in DMSO are 0.019 and 0.28 ns, whereas those for ZnC‐FbB in acetone are 0.12 and 4.5 ns and in DMSO are 0.072 and 2.4 ns. The difference in fluorescence properties of the two dyads in a given polar solvent is due to the relative energies of the lowest energy charge‐transfer states, as assessed by ground‐state redox potentials and supported by molecular‐orbital energies derived from density functional theory calculations. Controlling the extent of excited‐state quenching in polar media will allow the favorable photophysical properties of the chlorin–bacteriochlorin dyads to be exploited in vivo. These properties include very large Stokes shifts (85 nm for FbC‐FbB , 110 nm for ZnC‐FbB ) between the red‐region absorption of the chlorin and the NIR fluorescence of the bacteriochlorin (λ _f = 760 nm), long bacteriochlorin excited‐state lifetime (～5.5 ns), and narrow (≤20 nm) absorption and fluorescence bands. The latter will facilitate selective excitation/detection and multiprobe applications using both intensity‐ and lifetime‐imaging techniques.