Functional Hybrid Molecules for the Visualization of Cancer: PESIN-Homodimers Combined with Multimodal Molecular Imaging Probes for Positron Emission Tomography and Optical Imaging: Suited for Tracking of GRPR-Positive Malignant Tissue**

We describe multimodal imaging probes for gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR)-specific targeting suited for positron emission tomography and optical imaging (PET/OI), consisting of PESIN (PEG₃-BBN_7-14) dimers connected to multimodal imaging subunits. These multimodal agents comprise a fluorescent dye for OI and the chelator ((1,4,7-triazacyclononane-4,7-diyl)diacetic acid-1-glutaric acid) (NODA-GA) for PET radiometal isotope labelling. Special focus was put on the influence of the used dyes on the properties of the whole bioconjugates. For this, several compounds with different fluorescent dyes and non-dye carrying subunits were synthesized and investigated. As fluorescent dyes, dansyl, NBD, derivatives of fluorescein, coumarin and rhodamine as well as three pyrilium-based dyes were employed. Considerable influence of the charge of the colored unit on hydrophilicity as well as in vitro target receptor binding was observed and classified. High radiochemical yields and purities were found during radiolabeling of the multimodal imaging subunits as well as their GRPR-specific bioconjugates with ⁶⁸Ga. Examinations of the photophysical properties of both molecule species displayed no loss or alteration of fluorescence characteristics.     

Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry assay for the absolute quantification of the expected circulating apelin peptides in human plasma

Apelin peptides are of great interest owing to their involvement in physiological and pathological processes and they have been proposed as novel biomarkers for heart failure. The plasma concentrations of bioactive peptides of 12 (apelin‐12), 13 (apelin‐13) and pyroglutamyl apelin‐13 (apelin‐p13), 17 (apelin‐17) and 36 (apelin‐36) amino acids are reported to range from 20 to 4000 pg/mL in healthy subjects. As standard immunoassays cannot specifically quantify each apelin peptide, we have developed a sensitive and targeted multiplexed liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method for each plasma apelin fragment. The approach was based on a cation‐exchange extraction step of apelin forms present in human plasma. Apelin‐12, ‐13, ‐p13, ‐17 and ‐36 were quantified using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. Stable isotope‐labeled internal standards were used for quantification. Following assay validation, apelin peptide stability in plasma was investigated. Ten plasma samples from healthy donors were analyzed both with a standard immunoassay and with our LC/MS/MS method. The immunoassay results for the ten healthy donors showed immunoreactive plasma apelin concentrations ranging from 208 to 466 pg/mL. The lower limits of detection of our LC/MS/MS assay ranged from 10 to 50 pg/mL for apelin‐12, ‐13, ‐p13, ‐17, and ‐36. Surprisingly, none of the five expected circulating forms of apelin was detected. These results question the nature and/or the concentration of circulating apelin peptides as well as the specificity of the immunoassays that have hitherto been used for clinical applications. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stable,Wavelength‐Tunable Fluorescent Dyes in the NIR‐II Region for In Vivo High‐Contrast Bioimaging and Multiplexed Biosensing

Small‐molecule organic fluorophores, spectrally active in the 900–1700 nm region, with tunable wavelength and sensing properties are sought‐after for in vivo optical imaging and biosensing. A panel of fluorescent dyes ( CX ) has been developed to meet this challenge. CX dyes exhibit the wavelength tunability of cyanine dyes and have a rigidified polymethine chain to guarantee their stability. They are chemo‐ and photo‐stable in an aqueous environment and have tunable optical properties with maximal absorbing/emitting wavelength at 1089/1140 nm. They show great potential in high‐contrast in vivo bioimaging and multicolor detection with negligible optical cross talk. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between CX dyes was demonstrated in deep tissue, providing an approach for monitoring drug‐induced hepatotoxicity by detection of OONO^?. This report presents a series of NIR‐II dyes with promising spectroscopic properties for high‐contrast bioimaging and multiplexed biosensing.     

Stable,Wavelength‐Tunable Fluorescent Dyes in the NIR‐II Region for In Vivo High‐Contrast Bioimaging and Multiplexed Biosensing

Small‐molecule organic fluorophores, spectrally active in the 900–1700 nm region, with tunable wavelength and sensing properties are sought‐after for in vivo optical imaging and biosensing. A panel of fluorescent dyes ( CX ) has been developed to meet this challenge. CX dyes exhibit the wavelength tunability of cyanine dyes and have a rigidified polymethine chain to guarantee their stability. They are chemo‐ and photo‐stable in an aqueous environment and have tunable optical properties with maximal absorbing/emitting wavelength at 1089/1140 nm. They show great potential in high‐contrast in vivo bioimaging and multicolor detection with negligible optical cross talk. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between CX dyes was demonstrated in deep tissue, providing an approach for monitoring drug‐induced hepatotoxicity by detection of OONO^?. This report presents a series of NIR‐II dyes with promising spectroscopic properties for high‐contrast bioimaging and multiplexed biosensing.     

Photophysics of New Water‐Soluble Terrylenediimide Derivatives and Applications in Biology

The photophysical properties of three new water‐soluble terrylenediimide (WS‐TDI) derivatives are investigated and their utilization in biological experiments is demonstrated. Each of these dyes can be excited in the far red region of the visible spectrum, making them good candidates for in‐vivo studies. Single‐molecule techniques characterize their photophysics that is, the number of emitted photons, blinking characteristics and survival times until photobleaching takes place. All three dyes exhibit bright fluorescence, as well as an extremely high resistance against photodegradation compared to other well‐known fluorophores. Due to their different characteristics the three new WS‐TDI derivatives are suitable for specialized biological applications. WS‐TDI dodecyl forms non‐fluorescent aggregates in water which can be disrupted in a hydrophobic environment leading to a monomeric fluorescent form. Due to its high lipophilicity WS‐TDI dodecyl anchors efficiently in lipid bilayers with its alkyl chain and hence can be ideally used to image membranes and membrane‐containing compartments in living cells. In contrast, the positively charged WS‐TDI pyridoxy is a new type of chromophore in the WS‐TDI family. It is fully solubilized in water forming fluorescent monomers and is successfully used to label the envelope of herpes simplex viruses. Finally, it is shown that a WS‐TDI derivative functionalized with N‐hydroxysuccinimide ester moiety (WS‐TDI/NHS ester) provides a versatile reactive dye molecule for the specific labelling of amino groups in biomolecules such as DNA.     

Transmission of binding information across lipid bilayers

A synthetic transmembrane receptor that is capable of transmitting binding information across a lipid bilayer membrane is reported. The binding event is based on aggregation of the receptor triggered by copper(II) complexation to ethylenediamine functionalities. By labelling the receptor with fluorescent dansyl groups, the copper(II) binding event could be monitored by measuring the extent of fluorescence quenching. Comparing the receptor with a control receptor lacking the transmembrane linkage revealed that the transmembrane receptor binds copper(II) ions more tightly than the non-spanning control receptor at low copper(II) concentrations. Since the intrinsic binding to copper(II) is the same for both receptors, this effect was attributed to synergy between the connected interior and exterior binding sides of the transmembrane receptor. Thus, this is the first reported artificial signalling event in which binding of a messenger on one side of the membrane leads to a cooperative binding event on the opposite side of the membrane, resembling biological signalling systems and helping us to get a better understanding of the requirements for more effective artificial signalling systems.     

Supramolecular Translation of Enzymatically Triggered Disassembly of Micelles into Tunable Fluorescent Responses

The need for advanced fluorescent imaging and delivery platforms has motivated the development of smart probes that change their fluorescence in response to external stimuli. Here a new molecular design of fluorescently labeled PEG–dendron hybrids that self‐assemble into enzyme‐responsive micelles with tunable fluorescent responses is reported. In the assembled state, the fluorescence of the dyes is quenched or shifted due to intermolecular interactions. Upon enzymatic cleavage of the hydrophobic end‐groups, the labeled polymeric hybrids become hydrophilic, and the micelles disassemble. This supramolecular change is translated into a spectral response as the dye–dye interactions are eliminated and the intrinsic fluorescence is regained. We demonstrate the utilization of this molecular design to generate both Turn‐On and spectral shift responses by adjusting the type of the labeling dye. This approach enables transformation of non‐responsive labeling dyes into smart fluorescent probes.     

Sensing Protein Surfaces with Targeted Fluorescent Receptors

A methodology for creating fluorescent molecular sensors that respond to changes that occur on the surfaces of specific proteins is presented. This approach, which relies on binding cooperatively between a specific His‐tag binder and a nonspecific protein‐surface receptor, enabled the development of a sensor that can track changes on the surface of a His‐tag‐labeled calmodulin (His‐CaM) upon interacting with metal ions, small molecules, and protein binding partners. The way this approach was used to detect dephosphorylation of an unlabeled calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), and the binding of Bax BH3 to His‐tagged B‐cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‐2) protein is also presented.     

PAMAM structure-based multifunctional fluorescent conjugates for improved fluorescent labelling of biomacromolecules

Fluorescent probes are of increasing interest in medicinal and biological applications for the elucidation of the structures and functions of healthy as well as tumour cells. The quality of these investigations is determined by the intensity of the fluorescence signal. High dye/carrier ratios give strong signals. However, these are achieved by the occupation of a high number of derivatisation sites and therefore are accompanied by strong structural alterations of the carrier. Hence, polyvalent substances containing a high number of fluorescent dyes would be favourable because they would allow the introduction of many dyes at one position of the compound to be labelled.A large number of different dyes have been investigated to determine the efficiency of coupling to a dendrimer scaffold and the fluorescence properties of the oligomeric dyes, but compounds that fulfil the requirements of both strong fluorescence signals and reactivities are rare. Herein we describe the synthesis and characterisation of dye oligomers containing dansyl-, 7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl- (NBD), coumarin-343, 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein and sulforhodamine B2 moieties based on polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers. The PAMAM dendrimers were synthesised by an improved protocol that yielded highly homogeneous scaffolds with up to 128 conjugation sites. When comparing the fluorescent properties of the dye oligomers it was found that only the dansylated dendrimers met the requirements of enhanced fluorescence signals. The dendrimer containing 16 fluorescent dyes was conjugated to the anti-epidermal-growth-factor receptor (EGFR) antibody hMAb425 as a model compound to show the applicability of the dye multimer compounds. This conjugate revealed a preserved immunoreactivity of 54%.We demonstrate the applicability of the dye oligomers to the efficient and applicable labelling of proteins and other large molecules that enables high dye concentrations and therefore high contrasts in fluorescence applications.     

“Stainomics”: Identification of mitotracker labeled proteins in mammalian cells

Organelle‐specific cell‐permeable fluorescent dyes are invaluable tools in cell biology as they reveal intracellular dynamics in living cells. Mitrotracker is a family of dyes that strongly label the mitochondrion, a key organelle associated with many crucial cellular functions. Despite the popularity of these dyes, little is known about the molecular mechanism behind their staining specificity. Here, we aimed to identify the protein targets of one member of this dye family, mitotracker red (MTR), by 2DE and MS. MTR bound to cellular proteins covalently, and its fluorescence persisted even after cell lysis, protein solubilization, denaturation, and electrophoresis. This enabled us to display MTR‐labeled proteins by 2DE. The MTR‐specific fluorescent signals on the gel revealed the spots that contained MTR‐conjugated proteins. These spots were analyzed by MS, resulting into the identification of ten proteins. We discovered that one major target is the mitochondrial protein HSP60 and that MTR staining could induce production of HSP60, predisposing cells to heat shock‐like responses. The identification of the molecular targets of biological dyes, or “stainomics,” can help correlate their intracellular staining properties with biochemical affinities. We believe this approach can be applied to a wide range of fluorescent probes.     

嵌合异硫氰酸罗丹明B核壳荧光纳米颗粒制备的新方法研究

随着纳米技术的发展,结合了纳米技术与材料制备技术而发展起来的荧光染料嵌合的核壳荧光纳米颗粒的制备为生物医学领域的研究提供了新的材料、技术和方法。何晓晓等以联钉吡啶配合物为核材料,制备了嵌合无机金属配合物的核壳荧光纳米颗粒,段菁华等用异硫氰酸荧光素FITC与蛋白质IgG相结合,     

Versatile synthetic strategies for PBCA-based hybrid fluorescent microbubbles and their potential theranostic applications to cell labelling and imaging

This research reports the versatile synthetic strategies for hybrid PBCA microbubbles as contrast agents and drug carriers loaded with fluorescent dyes and magnetic nanoparticles serving in vitro cell labelling and in vivo target imaging. These multifunctional probes therefore prove their potential biomedical applications in cancer diagnostics and treatment.     

Interrogating surface versus intracellular transmembrane receptor populations using cell-impermeable SNAP-tag substrates

Employing self-labelling protein tags for the attachment of fluorescent dyes has become a routine and powerful technique in optical microscopy to visualize and track fused proteins. However, membrane permeability of the dyes and the associated background signals can interfere with the analysis of extracellular labelling sites. Here we describe a novel approach to improve extracellular labelling by functionalizing the SNAP-tag substrate benzyl guanine (“BG”) with a charged sulfonate (“SBG”). This chemical manipulation can be applied to any SNAP-tag substrate, improves solubility, reduces non-specific staining and renders the bioconjugation handle impermeable while leaving its cargo untouched. We report SBG-conjugated fluorophores across the visible spectrum, which cleanly label SNAP-fused proteins in the plasma membrane of living cells. We demonstrate the utility of SBG-conjugated fluorophores to interrogate class A, B and C G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) using a range of imaging approaches including nanoscopic superresolution imaging, analysis of GPCR trafficking from intra- and extracellular pools, in vivo labelling in mouse brain and analysis of receptor stoichiometry using single molecule pull down.

Impermeable SNAP-tag substrates allow exclusive labelling of receptors on the cell membrane for nanoscopy, SiMPull and in vivo use.     

A Versatile Approach for the Site‐Specific Modification of Recombinant Antibodies Using a Combination of Enzyme‐Mediated Bioconjugation and Click Chemistry

A unique two‐step modular system for site‐specific antibody modification and conjugation is reported. The first step of this approach uses enzymatic bioconjugation with the transpeptidase Sortase A for incorporation of strained cyclooctyne functional groups. The second step of this modular approach involves the azide–alkyne cycloaddition click reaction. The versatility of the two‐step approach has been exemplified by the selective incorporation of fluorescent dyes and a positron‐emitting copper‐64 radiotracer for fluorescence and positron‐emission tomography imaging of activated platelets, platelet aggregates, and thrombi, respectively. This flexible and versatile approach could be readily adapted to incorporate a large array of tailor‐made functional groups using reliable click chemistry whilst preserving the activity of the antibody or other sensitive biological macromolecules.     

Multicolor Caged dSTORM Resolves the Ultrastructure of Synaptic Vesicles in the Brain

The precision of single‐molecule localization‐based super‐resolution microscopy, including dSTORM, critically depends on the number of detected photons per localization. Recently, reductive caging of fluorescent dyes followed by UV‐induced recovery in oxidative buffer systems was used to increase the photon yield and thereby the localization precision in single‐color dSTORM. By screening 39 dyes for their fluorescence caging and recovery kinetics, we identify novel dyes that are suitable for multicolor caged dSTORM. Using a dye pair suited for registration error‐free multicolor dSTORM based on spectral demixing (SD), a multicolor localization precision below 15 nm was achieved. Caged SD‐dSTORM can resolve the ultrastructure of single 40 nm synaptic vesicles in brain sections similar to images obtained by immuno‐electron microscopy, yet with much improved label density in two independent channels.     

A General Strategy for Development of Near‐Infrared Fluorescent Probes for Bioimaging

Near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescent dyes with favorable photophysical properties are highly useful for bioimaging, but such dyes are still rare. The development of a unique class of NIR dyes via modifying the rhodol scaffold with fused tetrahydroquinoxaline rings is described. These new dyes showed large Stokes shifts (>110 nm). Among them, WR3, WR4, WR5, and WR6 displayed high fluorescence quantum yields and excellent photostability in aqueous solutions. Moreover, their fluorescence properties were tunable by easy modifications on the phenolic hydroxy group. Based on WR6, two NIR fluorescent turn‐on probes, WSP‐NIR and SeSP‐NIR, were devised for the detection of H₂S. The probe SeSP‐NIR was applied in visualizing intracellular H₂S. These dyes are expected to be useful fluorophore scaffolds in the development of new NIR probes for bioimaging.     

Induction of Strong and Tunable Circularly Polarized Luminescence of Nonchiral,Nonmetal, Low‐Molecular‐Weight Fluorophores Using Chiral Nanotemplates

A new strategy is described for generating strong circularly polarized luminescence with highly tunable emission bands through chiral induction in nonchiral, totally organic, low‐molecular‐weight fluorescent dyes by chiral nanotemplate systems. Our approach allows the first systematic investigation to clarify the correlation between the circular dichroism and circularly polarized luminescence intensities. As a result, a dilute solution system with the highest circularly polarized luminescence intensity achieved to date and a dissymmetry factor of over 0.1 was identified.     

Induction of Strong and Tunable Circularly Polarized Luminescence of Nonchiral,Nonmetal, Low‐Molecular‐Weight Fluorophores Using Chiral Nanotemplates

A new strategy is described for generating strong circularly polarized luminescence with highly tunable emission bands through chiral induction in nonchiral, totally organic, low‐molecular‐weight fluorescent dyes by chiral nanotemplate systems. Our approach allows the first systematic investigation to clarify the correlation between the circular dichroism and circularly polarized luminescence intensities. As a result, a dilute solution system with the highest circularly polarized luminescence intensity achieved to date and a dissymmetry factor of over 0.1 was identified.     

Hybridization‐Sensitive On–Off DNA Probe: Application of the Exciton Coupling Effect to Effective Fluorescence Quenching

The design of dyes that emit fluorescence only when they recognize the target molecule, that is, chemistry for the effective quenching of free dyes, must play a significant role in the development of the next generation of functional fluorescent dyes. On the basis of this concept, we designed a doubly fluorescence‐labeled nucleoside. Two thiazole orange dyes were covalently linked to a single nucleotide in a DNA probe. An absorption band at approximately 480 nm appeared strongly when the probe was in a single‐stranded state, whereas an absorption band at approximately 510 nm became predominant when the probe was hybridized with the complementary strand. The shift in the absorption bands shows the existence of an excitonic interaction caused by the formation of an H aggregate between dyes, and as a result, emission from the probe before hybridization was suppressed. Dissociation of aggregates by hybridization with the complementary strand resulted in the disruption of the excitonic interaction and strong emission from the hybrid. This clear change in fluorescence intensity that is dependent on hybridization is useful for visible gene analysis.     

Rational Design of Fluorescent Bioimaging Probes by Controlling the Aggregation Behavior of Squaraines: A Special Effect of Ionic Liquid Pendants

We herein present an effective strategy to create water‐soluble fluorescent bioimaging dyes by introducing the imidazolium‐based ionic liquid (IL) pendants into a fluorescent skeleton. A new type of water‐soluble imidazolium‐anchored squaraine dye was synthesized accordingly. The relationship between the aggregate of squaraines and their fluorescent cell imaging application was elucidated in detail. Firstly, the aggregation behavior of squaraines in water solutions could be suppressed by varying the alkyl chain attached to the imidazolium unit. Secondly, the capability of cellular uptake and staining of dyes was also dramatically enhanced upon increasing the length of the paraffinic chain. These squaraine dyes displayed an excellent photostability that could permit real‐time fluorescence bioimaging experiments to be monitored over a long time period with constant sample irradiation. Additionally, we designed for the first time an Fe^II‐ion probe on the basis of an attack of the hydroxyl radical to the four‐membered ring of squaraine. The results demonstrated that the imidazolium‐anchored squaraines could perform “naked‐eye” detection of the Fe²⁺ ion over a wide range of other interfering metals in aqueous media. More surprisingly, this process showed a fluorescence “turn‐off” and “‐on” response through the regeneration of squaraines in cells.