Videofluorometric Analysis of Aging Human Collagen

Abstract

The development of fluorescent pigments in aging human collagen has been observed, but neither the source of these compounds nor their nature has been described. Recently two distinct fluorophores were isolated from aging insoluble human collagen rich tissue following a sequence of proteolytic digestions and chromatographic separations. Using the videofluormeter, which monitors the fluorescence intensity of a sample as a function of several excitation and emission wavelengths, the fluorescence of the collagen rich tissue at various stages of the separation process was analyzed to determine the number of fluorescent components in each of the samples and estimate their fluorescence spectra. The analysis indicated that the isolated fluorophores were indeed single-component samples and that the insoluble collagen-rich fraction contains two major fluorophores whose spectra are consistent with the spectra of the isolated compounds.     

Selective Monitoring of Stern-Volmer Quenching of Chiral Molecules Via Fluorescence Detected Circular Dichroism

Abstract

The use of fluorescence detected circular dichroism (FDCD) for monitoring the quenching of chiral molecules is described. This technique combines the specificity for chiral centers of circular dichroism (CD), the sensitivity and selectivity of the fluorescence measurement with the additional chemical information provided by fluorescence quenching. Spectra are acquired using a multidimensional FDCD spectrometer which obtains a FDCD matrix of spectral data as a function of multiple excitation wavelengths (CD information) and multiple fluorescence emission wavelengths. This combination of FDCD and fluorescence quenching produces a very selective monitor for chiral fluorophores.     

Dual‐Polarization Imaging of a Dual‐Fluorophore Ion Sensor: A Single‐Molecule Study

The fluorescence emission of the dual‐fluorophore Ca²⁺ ion sensor molecule, calcium‐green 2 (CG‐2), has been characterized using dual‐polarization imaging at the single‐molecule level. By comparing the fluorescence intensity of individual CG‐2 molecules in two mutually orthogonal polarization image channels, information about the relative orientation of the two constituent fluorophores in the molecule is obtained. Experimental results from polarization measurements are compared with those predicted from a geometric model based on coupled‐fluorophores that are randomly distributed in space. The results confirm previous optical spectroscopy‐based predictions of the orientation of CG‐2′s fluorophores, and the general applications of this dual‐polarization imaging approach for characterizing the optical properties of molecules containing multiple fluorophores is discussed.     

Ultraviolet Photolysis and Ortho-Phthalaldehyde-Mercaptoethanol Derivatization of Pharmaceuticals for Enhanced Fluorescence Detection in HPLC

Abstract

Several classes of nitrogenous pharmaceutical were examined for fluorescence after ultraviolet (UV) radiation induced photolysis followed by reaction with o-phthalaldehyde-2-mercaptoethanol (OPA-MERC), and after UV photolysis alone. Photolyses were examined in water, mixtures of methanol/water (1:1), and acetonitrile/water (1:1). Acetone was assessed as a photosensitizer to enhance photolysis and fluorescence response. Flow injection analysis and high-performance liquid chromatographic techniques were used for several pharmaceuticals. The analytes were subjected to UV photolysis and reaction with OPA-MERC reagent for generation of fluorophores that responded to fluorescence detection. During photolysis, solvent type as well as the presence of photosensitizers seem to play a significant role in the formation of primary amines and fluorophores. Photochemical transformation products of some of the pharmaceutical chemicals are proposed. Analytical figures of merit were determined for some analytes. This fluorescence detection approach is applicable for a number of pharmaceuticals at nanogram level.     

A Polyaza Macrocycle Ligand Bearing Anthracenyl Fluorophores for Selective Signaling of Zn(II) in Aqueous Solution

Based on a metal-template synthetic strategy, a new polyaza macrocycle bearing two anthracenyl fluorophores ligand, N,N′-bis[(anthracen-10-yl)methylene]-5,6,8,9,14,15,17,18-octahydrodibenzo[f,m][1,3,5,8,10,12]hexaazacyclotetradecine-7,16-diamine (L), was prepared and fully characterized. In the presence of Zn(II), L displayed remarkable chelation-enhanced fluorescence and can selectively respond to the presence of Zn(II) ion compared with other cations in HEPES-buffered aqueous methanol solutions. Results obtained from UV–Vis and fluorescence titrations indicated that L chelates to Zn(II) by forming a complex with a 1:1 molar ratio.     

铜离子配位调控的TICT荧光化合物的双重荧光发射

设计合成了2个分子内扭转电荷转移(TICT)荧光体(1和2),铜离子的配位作用可开关其双重荧光发射。2在乙腈/水溶液(1∶1,V/V)中的双重荧光发射随着铜离子的加入以类似电子转移机制"开-关"形式猝灭,而1在铜离子与其计量比为1之内的乙腈/水溶液(1∶1,V/V)中,其双重荧光发射随着铜离子的加入逐渐猝灭;在计量比之后其长波长的TICT荧光发射随着铜离子的加入逐渐增强。即1的TICT荧光发射以"开-关-开"的机制被铜离子诱导。同时还获得了铜离子与1形成的配合物的晶体结构以及配合物的荧光性质。1H NMR波谱滴定实验表明荧光体的电荷转移程度是影响TICT发射的主要因素,1是一个新的且其TICT发射可以被铜离子调制为"开-关-开"的TICT荧光体。     

铜离子配位调控的TICT荧光化合物的双重荧光发射

设计合成了2个分子内扭转电荷转移（TICT）荧光体（1和2）,铜离子的配位作用可开关其双重荧光发射。2在乙腈/水溶液（1：1,V/V）中的双重荧光发射随着铜离子的加入以类似电子转移机制“开-关”形式猝灭,而1在铜离子与其计量比为1之内的乙腈/水溶液（1：1,V/V）中,其双重荧光发射随着铜离子的加入逐渐猝灭;在计量比之后其长波长的TICT荧光发射随着铜离子的加入逐渐增强。即1的TICT荧光发射以“开-关-开”的机制被铜离子诱导。同时还获得了铜离子与1形成的配合物的晶体结构以及配合物的荧光性质。¹H NMR波谱滴定实验表明荧光体的电荷转移程度是影响TICT发射的主要因素,1是一个新的且其TICT发射可以被铜离子调制为“开-关-开”的TICT荧光体。     

A Fluorescence Polarization Study of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons Adsorbed on Colloidal Kaolin

Abstract

The adsorption of a number of polyaromatic hydrocarbons onto aqueous colloidal kaolin was studied. The fluorescence polarization and hence the fluorescence anistropy of the hydrocarbons was measured as a function of their concentrations in aqueous solutions containing the colloid. The fluorescence anisotropy was found to be highest for dilute solutions of polyaromatic hydrocarbons, with often sharp decreases at higher concentrations. More concentrated solutions gave an isotropies similar to those of plain aqueous solutions of the fluorophores. The concentration versus fluorescence anisotropy curves and BET surface area data were used to calculate surface coverage of the colloid by the adsorbed hydrocarbons. Coverage in the range of 1% to 14% of the colloid surface was found at surface saturation for the compounds studied. This suggested that colloidal clays have the potential of transporting polyaromatic hydrocarbons through environmental waters.     

Fluorescence anisotropy studies of n-(9-anthroyloxy) fatty acids in Triton X-100 micelles

The molecular motion of a set of n-(9-anthroyloxy) fatty acids (n = 2, 6, 9, 12) solubilized within the non-ionic micelle Triton X-100 has been investigated using fluorescence anisotropy measurements. The anthroyloxy fluorophores occupy a graded series of positions within the micelle and rotational relaxation time data indicate a uniform microviscosity of approximately 215 cP.     

A general strategy for in situ assembly of light-up fluorophores via bioorthogonal Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling

Herein we presented a general strategy for in situ assembly of intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT)-based light-up fluorophores via bioorthogonal Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. By introducing iodo group at the appropriate position, five fluorophores with different scaffolds including naphthalimide, coumarin, naphthalene sulfonate, nitrobenzoxadiazole, and acetonaphthone, were designed as bioorthogonal multicolor fluorogenic probes, which could produce significant fluorescence enhancement and high fluorescence quantum yield after Suzuki-Miyaura reaction with aryl boronic acid or boronate. Manipulating the substituents and π scaffold in the fluorophores allows fine-tuning of their photophysical properties. With this strategy, we succeeded in peptide conjugation, no-wash fluorogenic protein labeling, and mitochondria-selective bioorthogonal imaging in live cells.     

HPLC Measurement of Dansyl-Thyroxine in Femtomole Range

Abstract

The formation of fluorophores by the action of Dansyl Chloride (1-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-Sulfonyl Chloride) with iodoamino acids has provided a highly sensitive method for the detection of these compounds in the femtomole range. A relatively simple system is described for the reaction, chromatographic separation and characterization of individual iodoamino acids.

Dansyl chloride was found to react specifically with the primary amino group. The spectral characteristics of dansyl-thyroxine showed an excitation of 295 nm and an emission of 510 nm. The fluorescence of Dansyl-T4 in the femtomole range was linear with a coefficient of determination of 0.99.     

Novel Lipophilic Fluorophores with Highly Acidity-Dependent Two-Photon Response

Lipophilic fluorophores are widely implemented in nonlinear microscopy; however, few existing membrane-specific probes combine the high brightness of two-photon excited fluorescence (2PEF) with pH sensitivity. Herein we describe four novel two-photon excited fluorophores, based on a coumarin 151 core structure, where lipophilicity is induced by a covalently attached phosphazene moiety. Changing the environmental acidity using trifluoromethanesulfonic (triflic) acid leads to profound changes in the linear fluorescence and 2PEF characteristics, due to chromophores’ switching between neutral- and protonated forms. We characterize this dependence by measuring the two-photon absorption (2PA) spectra over the region λ_2PA=550–1000 nm, observing 2PA cross sections of σ_2PA=10–20 GM, with an associated 2PEF brightness of 10–13 GM, in neutral solutions of both acetonitrile and n-octanol. Although quantum chemical modelling and NMR measurements show that, at high chromophore concentrations, protonation may be accompanied by a dimerization process, these dimers likely do not form at the lower concentrations used in optical spectroscopy.     

Solid-emissive fluorophores constructed by a non-planar heteropolycyclic structure with bulky substituents: synthesis and X-ray crystal structures

Novel solid-emissive indeno[1,2-b]benzo[4,5-e]pyran-11-one-type fluorophores having non-planar structures with sterically hindered substituents (R = butyl, phenyl, and thienyl) have been designed and conveniently synthesized. The fluorescence quantum yields of in 1,4-dioxane were (Phi = 0.053) > (Phi = 0.013) > (Phi = 0.003). On the other hand, the solid-state fluorescence quantum yields of the fluorophores were (Phi = 0.39) > (Phi = 0.15) > (Phi = 0.06). To elucidate the large differences in the quantum yields in solution and in the solid state and among the fluorophores , we performed time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopic measurements, semi-empirical molecular orbital calculations (AM1 and INDO/S), and X-ray crystallographic analyses of . The comparison of the values of the radiative and non-radiative rate constants determined by the time-resolved spectroscopic measurements in solution and in the crystalline state supported that non-radiative decay is reduced by restriction of the rotation of the phenyl and thienyl rings in the solid state. In addition, the X-ray crystal structures demonstrated that, in and , the non-planar structure with sterically hindered substituents prevents the fluorophores from forming short pi-pi contacts and produces strong solid-state fluorescence. On the other hand, in the crystal of , the formation of continuous intermolecular CH[dot dot dot]S bonding between neighboring fluorophores was found to increase short pi-pi contacts and reduce the fluorescence intensity.     

Design and characterization of two-dye and three-dye binary fluorescent probes for mRNA detection

We report the design, synthesis, and characterization of binary oligonucleotide probes for mRNA detection. The probes were designed to avoid common problems found in standard binary probes such as direct excitation of the acceptor fluorophore and overlap between the donor and acceptor emission spectra. Two different probes were constructed that contained an array of either two or three dyes and were characterized using steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, and fluorescence depolarization measurements. The three-dye binary probe (BP-3d) consists of a Fam fluorophore which acts as a donor, collecting light and transferring it as energy to Tamra, which subsequently transfers energy to Cy5 when the two probes are hybridized to mRNA. This design allows the use of 488 nm excitation, which avoids the direct excitation of Cy5 and at the same time provides a good fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiency. The two-dye binary probe system (BP-2d) was constructed with Alexa488 and Cy5 fluorophores. Although the overlap between the fluorescence of Alexa488 and the absorption of Cy5 is relatively low, FRET still occurs due to their close physical proximity when the probes are hybridized to mRNA. This framework also decreases the direct excitation of Cy5 and reduces the fluorescence overlap between the donor and the acceptor. Picosecond time-resolved spectroscopy showed a reduction in the fluorescence lifetime of donor fluorophores after the formation of the hybrid between the probes and target mRNA. Interestingly, BP-2d in the presence of mRNA shows a slow rise in the fluorescence decay of Cy5 due to a relatively slow FRET rate, which together with the reduction in the Alexa488 lifetime provides a way to improve the signal to background ratio using time-resolved fluorescence spectra (TRES). In addition, fluorescence depolarization measurements showed complete depolarization of the acceptor dyes (Cy5) for both BP-3d (due to sequential FRET steps) and BP-2d (due to the relatively low FRET rate) in the presence of the mRNA target.     

An enzyme-responsive metal-enhanced near-infrared fluorescence sensor based on functionalized gold nanoparticles

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging is promising due to the high penetration depths and minimal levels of autofluorescence in living systems. However, it suffers from low fluorescent quantum yield, and metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) is considered to be a promising technique to overcome this. Stimuli-responsive NIR fluorescence enhancement shows remarkable potential for applications in medical imaging and diagnosis. Herein, we successfully fabricated an enzyme-responsive near-infrared sensor based on MEF by functionalizing gold nanoparticles with NIR fluorophores and enzyme-responsive self-aggregation moieties. The NIR fluorescence of fluorophores on the gold nanoparticles was significantly enhanced due to increases both in the light scattering intensity and in the radiative decay rate (k _r) of the NIR fluorophores, along with relatively small variation in the nonradiative decay rate. This novel strategy for NIR fluorescent sensors should be particularly promising for NIR fluorescence imaging of enzyme activities and early diagnosis based on rationally designed nanomaterials.     

Novel naphthalimide–aminobenzamide dyads as OFF/ON fluorescent supramolecular receptors in metal ion binding

A series of novel naphthalimide–aminobenzamide (NAPIM-2ABZ) dyads 3 connected by different length polymethylene chains were synthesized and studied as fluorescent supramolecular receptors in metal ion binding. The photophysical properties were evaluated and compared with separated chromophores. The electronic absorption spectra of dyads 3 showed no interaction between chromophores in the ground state. The fluorescence quantum yields were lower in dyads 3 in comparison with N-propyl-2-aminobenzamide (8). The fluorescence quenching is attributed to a PET mechanism between fluorophores (from 2ABZ to NAPIM), which is dependent on the polymethylene chain length. In metal binding study was found a response towards transition metal ions such as Hg(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Ni(II). Dyad 3b presented selectivity towards Cu(II). The UV-vis, IR and ¹H-NMR studies demonstrated the interaction with 2ABZ moiety in the ground state, and interestingly dyads with shorter polymethylene chains 3a (n = 0), 3b (n = 1) and 3c (n = 2) exhibited an OFF/ON fluorescence behaviour due to the PET inhibition and the quenching of 2ABZ fluorescence. Dyads 3d (n = 4) and 3e (n = 6) presented opposite response ON/OFF in the complex with metal ions evidencing the absence of PET in these dyads.     

Universal quenching of common fluorescent probes by water and alcohols

Although biological imaging is mostly performed in aqueous media, it is hardly ever considered that water acts as a classic fluorescence quencher for organic fluorophores. By investigating the fluorescence properties of 42 common organic fluorophores recommended for biological labelling, we demonstrate that H₂O reduces their fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime by up to threefold and uncover the underlying fluorescence quenching mechanism. We show that the quenching efficiency is significantly larger for red-emitting probes and follows an energy gap law. The fluorescence quenching finds its origin in high-energy vibrations of the solvent (OH groups), as methanol and other linear alcohols are also found to quench the emission, whereas it is restored in deuterated solvents. Our observations are consistent with a mechanism by which the electronic excitation of the fluorophore is resonantly transferred to overtones and combination transitions of high-frequency vibrational stretching modes of the solvent through space and not through hydrogen bonds. Insight into this solvent-assisted quenching mechanism opens the door to the rational design of brighter fluorescent probes by offering a justification for protecting organic fluorophores from the solvent via encapsulation.

Overtones and combinations of O–H vibrations in the solvent efficiently quench red-emitting fluorophores by resonant energy transfer.     

A facile synthesis of solid-emissive fluorescent dyes: dialkylbenzo[b]naphtho[2,1-d]furan-6-one-type fluorophores with strong blue and green fluorescence emission properties

A new type of organic fluorophores, dialkylbenzo[b]naphtho[2,1-d]furan-6-one-type fluorophores, exhibiting strong blue and green emission in the solid state has been easily synthesized by an one-step reaction. The X-ray crystal structure demonstrated that the structural form with a chair-shape with the sterical hindered dialkyl substituents and the 9-dibutylamino group prevents the fluorophores from forming short intermolecular contacts and produces intense solid-state fluorescence emission.     

FRET-induced nanomolar detection of Fe based on cinnamaldehyde-rhodamine derivative

A new dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde linked rhodamine based fluorescence receptor 3 is synthesized which shows fluorescence resonance energy transfer in the presence of Fe²⁺ ions, thus enhancing rational partition in between donor and acceptor emissions and permitting separated measurement of emissions of both fluorophores.     

ON THE SOURCE OF THE OSCILLATIONS OBSERVED DURING in vivo ZINC PHTHALOCYANINE FLUORESCENCE PHARMACOKINETIC MEASUREMENTS IN MICE

Surface-detected fluorescence spectroscopy can be used to monitor the pharmacokinetics of uptake and clearance of red-absorbing fluorophores such as zinc(II) phthalocyanine (ZnPc) in vivo. When this technique is applied to mice that have been fed on a normal chlorophyll-based diet, and particularly when measurements are performed in the abdominal region, oscillations are sometimes observed superimposed on the pharmacokinetic curve of the ZnPc. An oscillatory signal has also been observed arising from the abdominal region of control mice fed a normal diet but not injected with the ZnPc photosensitizer; this oscillatory component to the signal is reduced when mice are fed a chlorophyll-free diet. The oscillatory signal component has been attributed to fluorescence arising from chlorophyll derivatives (pheophorbide/pheophytin) contained in the rodent food, whose concentration in the measured abdominal region changes substantially with time, presumably due to digestive processes. Thus it is important to be aware of the possibility of such artifactual contributions to in vivo fluorescence pharmacokinetic measurements.