Application of commercially available fluorophores as triplet spin probes in EPR spectroscopy

ABSTRACT

In recent years, photoexcited molecular triplet states became increasingly popular in magnetic resonance, e.g. as spin probes to measure distances relative to other electron-paramagnetic species or as moieties that transfer light-generated electron–spin polarisation of the triplet state to surrounding magnetic nuclei. In this study, the triplet states of three commercially available dyes, Erythrosin B, Rose Bengal and Atto Thio 12, all typically utilised as fluorophores in optical spectroscopies and microscopies, are investigated in aqueous solutions by using transient absorption spectroscopy and transient electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). From these methods, the triplet-state lifetimes as well as their zero-field splitting parameters, D and E, which reflect the electronic structures of the triplet state wavefunctions, were obtained. Atto Thio 12 exhibits much smaller D and E values as compared to Rose Bengal and Erythrosin B. On the basis of density functional theory calculations of the triplets’ energy splittings at zero magnetic field, these findings were rationalised. As a proof of concept for applications, the triplet-state properties of Atto Thio 12 bound to an aptamer were also determined and the results are discussed.     

沢吨染料的光化漂白动力学及全息特性研究

研究了以三乙醇胺作为引发剂,五种沢吨染料的光化漂白过程.实验结果表明五种染料的光化漂白速率大小顺序是藻红B(ErB)＞曙红Y(EY)＞孟加拉玫瑰红B(RsB)＞罗丹明B(RoB)＞荧光素(F).并研究了曝光强度及染料浓度对漂白过程的影响,以及这五种染料的全息记录性能.     

Photophysical studies of xanthene dye in alkanols and in presence of inorganic ions

Eosin Y belongs to a xanthene group. It is an anionic fluorescent dye. The absorbance and fluorescence of Eosin Y have been investigated in a series of alkanols (methanol to propanol). When the solvents are added to the aqueous solution of Eosin Y (EY) the absorbance and fluorescence intensity are enhanced. The alkanols are found to affect the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the dye. On the basis of solvent adsorption model the binding constants of the dye with alkanols have been estimated. The interaction of solvent molecule with dye in aqueous solution is specific in nature. The fluorescence quenching of Eosin Y by the inorganic ions [Fe(CN)₆]⁻³, [Fe(CN)₆]⁻⁴ and Cl⁻ was also observed. The ions influenced the quenching process to different extents. The rate constants of quenching were calculated using the Stern-Volmer equation. The equilibrium constant of dye in presence of inorganic ions are determined by Scott equation.     

Photobleaching of xanthene dyes in a poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix

Photobleaching of three different xanthene dyes namely, Erythrosin B (ERB), Eosin Y (EOY) and Rose Bengal (ROB) in Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) (PVA) matrix has been studied. Quantum yield values of photobleaching using an argon-ion laser (514.5 nm) were determined in presence of an electron donor (TriEthAnolamine, TEA) and/or Cr(VI). Evaluated quantum yield values suggest that erythrosin B undergoes faster photobleaching than eosin Y or rose bengal in presence of TEA. Presence of Cr(VI) in addition to TEA drastically decreases the quantum yield. Possible reaction pathways of photobleaching are discussed.     

The fluorescence characteristics and the molecular association of the Rose Bengal nanomarker in human serum albumin solutions

The decrease in the degree of molecular association of the Rose Bengal nanomarker in solutions with the addition of human serum albumin (HSA) has been revealed. It has been observed that in solutions with the addition of HSA the fluorescence quenching and the shifting of the fluorescence spectrum peaks of Rose Bengal to the red take place. It has been shown that the dependence of the effective binding constant of binding Rose Bengal to HSA steadily decreases with an increase in the pH value. It has been established that the values of the molecular association degree of Rose Bengal and the values of the effective constant of its binding to HSA depend on the magnitude of the electronegativity of the atoms in its structural formula, as well as on the pK values of its ionizable groups.     

CIDEP Created by the Quenching of Photo-Excited Tryptophan at Protein Surface: A Challenge to CIDEP Probing of Protein Structural Changes

Quenching of the triplet excited state of molecular tryptophan by nitroxide radical in 1,4-dioxane and water solutions was investigated by means of time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and Fourier-transform (FT)-EPR. The chemically induced dynamic electron polarization (CIDEP) signals with net emissive phase were recorded at these quenching events and were analyzed through radical-triplet pair mechanism. The CIDEP time profiles were well reproduced by Bloch and kinetic equations, assuming radical-triplet pair mechanism with the appropriate quenching rate constants. From a comparison of the simulation and the experiment, CIDEP enhancement factor in 1,4-dioxane was determined to be −30 × P _eq, where P _eq is the spin polarization of nitroxide at thermal equilibrium. Net emissive CIDEP was also observed by FT-EPR measurements on the nitroxide quenching of the triplet excited state of tryptophan residue in α-lactalbumin. Magnitude of CIDEP created in α-lactalbumin/nitroxide system depends on the pH condition of α-lactalbumin solution, which is related to protein folding dynamics. We argue the CIDEP mechanism at the α-lactalbumin surface and propose a possibility of a novel CIDEP method to probe a protein surface and structural changes.     

Fluorescence and absorption spectra of Rose-Bengal dye in the presence of surfactants

The fluorescence and absorption spectra of Rose Bengal dye in aqueous solution have been studied in the presence of various nonionic, anionic and cationic surfactants. With cationic and nonionic surfactants, shifts occur in the absorption and emission peaks of the dye solution, with a large enhancement in the absorption and fluorescence intensity at the shifted λ_max. No appreciable change in the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the dye has been observed on the addition of anionic surfactants.All the changes observed in the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the dye solution with surfactants may be attributed, to binding of the surfactant with dye molecules and the disaggregation of the dye multimer forms into the monomeric form.     

Evidence against singlet oxygen formation by sonolysis of aqueous oxygen-saturated solutions of Hematoporphyrin and rose bengal. The mechanism of sonodynamic therapy

The possible role of singlet oxygen in the mechanism of sonodynamic therapy, the synergistic effect of ultrasound and certain sonosensitizers, was investigated. We used 4,4'-bis(1-p-carboxyphenyl-3- methyl-5-hydroxyl)-pyrazole (DRD 156), a sensitive new reagent which reacts specifically with singlet oxygen (1O2) but not with OH radicals, superoxide anion radicals or H2O2, to produce an EPR detectable signal. Sonolysis (48 kHz) of 90% D2O oxygen-saturated PBS solutions of Hematoporphyrin or Rose Bengal did not lead to the formation of detectable EPR signals of the semiquinone radical of DRD156. In contrast, the EPR signal of the semiquinone radical of DRD156 was observed during photoirradiation of Hematoporphyrin at 505 nm or of Rose Bengal at 544 nm. These results are inconsistent with a major role for singlet oxygen formation in the sonolysis of aqueous solutions of these compounds. An alternative mechanism for sonodynamic therapy involving peroxyl and alkoxyl radicals is discussed.     

Molecular association processes and fluorescent characteristics of nanomarkers of the fluorescein family in solutions of bovine serum albumin

An analysis of the molecular association and fluorescent characteristics of nanomarkers of the fluorescein family, viz., fluorescein, erythrosine, eosine, and Rose Bengal, in BSA solutions was conducted. For all the markers a decreasing degree of molecular association was observed in the BSA solutions as compared with the solutions without protein. In the solutions with BSA, fluorescence quenching and red shifting of the fluorescence spectrum maximum occurred for the solutions with BAS compared with solutions without protein for the markers of the fluorescein family. The dependences of the degree of molecular association on pH differed for fluorescein and its halogen derivatives. The efficiency dependences of nanomarker binding with BSA on pH differed for fluorescein and its halogen derivatives.     

Photophysical Processes in Molecules of Halogenated Fluorescein Derivatives in Anionic Reverse Micelles

Optics and Spectroscopy - We studied the photophysical processes of halogenated fluorescein derivatives (eosin (E), erythrosine (ER), and Rose Bengal (RB)) in aqueous micellar solutions using...     

FT-EPR study of photoionization in micellar solutions

Fourier Transform EPR (FT-EPR) was used to study the formation and decay of free radicals produced by photoionization of phenothiazine (PTH) solubilized in aqueous SDS and Triton X-100 micellar solutions in the absence and presence of electron acceptors. CIDEP spectra produced by PTH photoionization in micellar solution differ from those found in homogeneous solution. The effect is attributed to changes in relative importance of single-photon, singlet excited state, and biphotonic, triplet excited state, photoionization. With quinone acceptors present in the bulk aqueous phase, photoionization of PTH in SDS, results in instantaneous formation of quinone anion radicals that carry the spin polarization of the precursor hydrated electrons. If the acceptor is anchored in the micelle, electron capture cannot compete with electron escape into the aqueous phase. Instead, anion radicals are formed primarily by reductive quenching of³PTH*. This process gives rise to a spectrum that is attributed to long-lived spin-correlated radical pairs, [PTH⁺…Q^?].     

An EPR and DFT study on the primary radical formed in hydroxylation reactions of 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone

The quinone compound 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone is hydroxylated in alkaline aqueous solution with pH above 12. Electron paramagnetic resonance experiments showed that two transient radicals are formed in this reaction. The radical appearing first is assigned to a one electron reduced 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone, receiving the electron from an intermediate anionic hydroxylated species. For this primary radical, all proton couplings were determined (quinoid ring protons: 1.453?G, methyl protons: 0.795?G). The density functional theory method was applied to obtain electronic and structural information of the primary radical and a solution structure is suggested. For approaching the experimental hyperfine couplings in theoretical models, it was necessary to consider effects of external polarisation arising from water molecules near one carbonyl group, and the orientation of methoxy groups towards the quinone ring. With this approach, the secondary radical formed in the hydroxylation reaction, and the transient radicals found for other biologically important quinones (including coenzymes Q) and their hydroxylated species may become accessible.     

Effect of temperature on the photobehavior of Rose Bengal associated with dipalmitoylphosphatidyl choline liposomes

The association and photobehavior of Rose Bengal (RB) in the presence of dipalmitoylphosphatidyl choline (DPPC) small unilamellar liposomes is determined by the temperature. At temperatures above the main phase transition of the bilayer, the incorporation of the dye is ca. 2.5 times more efficient than that taking place when the bilayer is in the gel state. In both temperature ranges, adsorption isotherms show a noticeable anti-cooperativity that can be related to electrostatic repulsion between bound molecules. The photophysics and the photochemistry of the bound dye molecules also depend on the bilayer status. In particular, in the liquid crystalline state the surrounding of the dye is more polar and production of singlet oxygen is less efficient (Φ∼0.1). This reduced singlet oxygen production is partially due to a low triplet yield (Φ_T=0.35) and triplet self-quenching due to a high local RB concentration. In spite of these, tryptophan is efficiently photobleached when RB is associated to liposomes in the liquid crystalline state, probably due to a Type I mechanism favored by its high local concentration in the sensitized surroundings.     

Time-Resolved and Pulse EPR Study of Triplet States of Alkylketones in β-Cyclodextrin

The triplet states of deoxybenzoin (DOB) and benzophenone (BP) molecules in randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin (CD) cavity are studied by time-resolved (TR) and pulse electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The observed TR EPR spectrum of DOB in β-CD at 30 K is close to the spectrum measured in polar solvent trifluoroethanol, revealing strong hydration by water molecules. At the same time, TR EPR spectrum of BP in β-CD corresponds to nonpolar surrounding of the CO-group. The electron spin relaxation times T ₁ and T ₂ of triplet BP at 30 K measured by pulse EPR are found to be different in β-CD compared to nonpolar toluene glass. The observed increase of T ₂ by up to a factor of four in β-CD is caused by the lower vibration amplitude of CO-bond of BP due to the confinement in β-CD. The influence of β-CD with covalently attached nitroxide on the triplet states of DOB and BP is principally different: the excited triplet states could not be observed by TR EPR due to the efficient quenching of the excited states by nitroxide.     

Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Calix[4]arene-Based Nitroxide Monoradical and Biradical as Studied by CW-ESR and Pulse-ESR HYSCORE Spectroscopy

A calix[4]arene-based biradical with two tert-butyl nitroxide radicals and a monoradical derived from the biradical have been studied by continuous-wave electron spin resonance (CW-ESR) and pulse-ESR-based hyperfine sublevel correlation (HYSCORE) spectroscopy. The two nitroxide radical sites antiferromagnetically interact with each other, generating a thermally accessible triplet state located 4?cm^?1 above the singlet ground state. The present fine-structure and hyperfine spectral simulation for the spin Hamiltonian parameters of the biradical is sensitive to the local molecular structure at the spin-bearing site, illustrating a salient electronic structure of the radical sites with the ??-orbitals on the nitrogen (and oxygen) atoms cross-facing each other. The derived structure contrasts with the molecular structure determined by an X-ray crystal analysis for the hydroxylamine precursor of the biradical. The distance between the two midpoints of the nitrogen?Coxygen bonds at the radical sites is by 0.234?nm longer than the one (=0.314?nm) of the two hydroxyl groups of the precursor determined by the X-ray analysis. The lack of intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the nitrogen and hydrogen of the hydroxyl groups, caused by the oxidation of the hydroxyamino precursor, gives rise to such a sizable increase in the distance between the radical sites. The HYSCORE experiments gave a direct evidence of the local molecular structure of the radical site of the partially oxidized monoradical. The experimentally derived molecular structures of both the bi-, monoradicals and the precursor are in good agreement with those obtained by density functional theory calculations.     

Determination of absolute concentration of nitroxide radical by radio-frequency EPR imaging

The absolute concentrations of a nitroxide radical in samples in a loop-gap resonator (LGR) were determined by using a radio-frequency (about 720 MHz) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) imaging system. EPR imaging of phantoms containing a nitroxide radical, 3-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidin-1-yloxy (carbamoyl-PROXYL), dissolved in various concentrations of an aqueous sodium chloride solution was made to investigate the influence of dielectric losses and sample position within the LGR. As it was found that these influences on the signal intensity were sufficiently small (less than 6%), it is possible to use identical radical solutions in which the radical is dissolved in a known concentration as an internal marker. Two phantoms containing aqueous solutions of 3 mM (as a marker) and 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 mM (as a sample) carbamoyl-PROXYL were placed together in the LGR. From EPR images of these phantoms, the absolute concentration of the sample could be calculated by using the gray-scale value (i.e., the signal intensity) of the marker and sample within a small margin of error (about 4%).     

Investigation on the pH-dependent binding of Eosin Y and bovine serum albumin by spectral methods

In this paper, the pH-dependent binding of Eosin Y and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated by spectral methods, including resonance light scattering (RLS), absorption and fluorescence spectrometry. Due to the pH-dependent structure of Eosin Y and BSA, the interaction of BSA and Eosin Y depended on the solution pH value. Especially at pH 2.6 and 9.2, the RLS intensity of BSA was obviously enhanced in the presence of Eosin Y. However, the fluorescence intensity of BSA was quenched in the presence of Eosin Y. To fully understand the pH-dependent binding of BSA and Eosin Y, fluorescence quenching technique was introduced. Based on the fluorescence data obtained, the style of binding, the binding constant, the binding site number and the thermodynamic parameters for the interaction of BSA and Eosin Y were studied. Based on Förster non-radiation energy transfer theory, the distance between donor BSA and acceptor Eosin Y was obtained.     

Multifrequency TREPR Investigation of Excited-State ZnTPP/Nitroxide Radical Complexes

Multiple-frequency (X-band and W-band) time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of Zn-tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP) triplet states coordinated to two different stable nitroxide moieties are presented and discussed. The position of the pyrimidyl nitroxide relative to the ZnTPP plane is the only structural change made between the two complexes, from ortho to para. This changes the angle between the interacting orbitals of the three-spin system with only a minor change in the distance between the unpaired electron of the nitroxide and the TPP ring system. Changes in the electron spin polarization patterns at the two different frequencies of observation are discussed in terms of a radical?Ctriplet pair spin-state mixing model, including the intersystem crossing processes. It is determined that the inclusion of an additional spin-selective relaxation process to the computational model for the spectral shapes gives adequate reproduction of the experimental results using the same parameters at each frequency.     

光诱导呫吨酮电子转移和氢转移反应的激光闪光光解研究

用时间分辨激光闪光光解的方法研究了在乙腈溶剂中呫吨酮的激发三重态的性质，并得到了呫吨酮激发三重态和胺类、醇类以及酚类反应的瞬态吸收光谱和猝灭速率常数(kq)．除了苯胺和3-硝基苯胺被认为是能量转移外，呫吨酮和其余胺类的反应随着自由能变的减校lgkq逐渐增大，由此认为发生了电子转移反应．而对于二甲基-对甲苯胺、3,5,N,N-四甲基苯胺、N,N-二甲基苯胺、三乙胺来说，通过瞬态吸收光谱的变化可以知道既有电子转移反应又有氢转移反应发生．呫吨酮和醇类只发生氢转移反应，其猝灭速率常数和醇的?-C?H的键能有关．由     

Spectroscopic investigations on the interaction of an anionic probe with nonionic micelles of Igepal surfactants in aqueous media

The behaviour of the anionic dye 8-anilino-1-napthalenesulfonic acid ammonium salt, or ANS, in aqueous solutions containing the Igepal series of polyoxyethylene nonionic surfactants was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopic technique. The interactions of the dye with the nonionic surfactants were examined in micellar media, to prevent dye aggregate formation and to ensure maximum dye and surfactant interaction. From the relative fluorescence enhancements, binding constants of the dye to the surfactant micelles and aggregation numbers of the micelles were determined. The aggregation numbers were also separately determined by static fluorescence quenching of pyrene by cetylpyridinium chloride in aqueous surfactant mixtures at a fixed concentration of surfactant, and compared with the value obtained from the present investigation of the interaction of the micelles with the ANS probe. The values of binding constants, micropolarity values sensed by pyrene and the Stern–Volmer constants for quenching of pyrene fluorescence by cetylpyridinium chloride were correlated with the number of ethylene oxide groups in the Igepal series.