Nonlinear optical metal-organic frameworks for ratiometric temperature sensing in physiological range

The precise and real-time sensing of the temperature within the physiological range is of great significance in biology and medicine. Here, a Zn-based metal-organic framework (MOF) named Zn-TCOMA is synthesized with good SHG performance due to its unique structure of the ligand and 3D frameworks. By encapsulating the two-photon fluorescent dye DMASE into the pores of Zn-TCOMA, the composite Zn-TCOMA?DMASE is obtained and simultaneously exhibits SHG response and two-photon fluorescence. Utilizing the intensity ratio between two-photon fluorescence of DMASE and SHG signal of Zn-TCOMA, Zn-TCOMA?DMASE exhibits ratiometric temperature sensing property at physiological temperature region of 20～60 °C with high sensitivity. This MOF thermometer also shows excellent repeatability, good biocompatibility, and high temperature resolution of 0.018 °C, opening a new avenue to develop diverse optical thermometric or thermographic applications in biotechnology or other areas.     

Chiral Detection with Coordination Polymers

Coordination polymers and metal-organic frameworks are prime candidates for general chemical sensing, but the use of these porous materials as chiral probes is still an emerging field. In the last decade, they have found application in a range of chiral analysis methods, including liquid- and gas-phase chromatography, circular dichroism spectroscopy, fluorescence sensing, and NMR spectroscopy. In this minireview, we examine recent works on coordination polymers as chiral sensors and their enantioselective host-guest chemistry, while highlighting their potential for application in different settings.     

808 nm-Light-Excited Near-Infrared Luminescent Lanthanide Metal–Organic Frameworks for Highly Sensitive Physiological Temperature Sensing

Ongoing demand for accurate self-calibrated noninvasive thermometers for micro-/nano-scale applications, particular biomedical diagnosis, is driving the development of temperature sensors. Here a new type of lanthanide metal–organic framework having near-infrared absorption and near-infrared emission features is presented, and it is based on efficient Nd³⁺-to-Yb³⁺ energy transfer in 808 nm photoexcitation. The results show that the ratiometric parameter of Nd_0.5Yb_0.5TPTC (TPTC= 1,1′:4′,1′′-terphenyl]-3,3′′,5,5′′-tetracarboxylic acid) can deliver good exponential-type luminescence response to temperature in the physiological regime (293–328 K) with high relative sensitivity and accurate temperature resolution, as well as good biocompatibility and chemical stability. Such lanthanide-based materials are especially useful in biomedical applications.     

Salicylic-acid derivatives as antennae for ratiometric luminescent probes based on lanthanide complexes

Long-lived ratiometric sensors: Luminescent lanthanide complexes are widely used in time-resolved assays of biomolecules, but most of the sensors with these complexes rely on single-point intensity measurements. Herein, we introduce a simple strategy to create ratiometric probes by using salicylic-acid derivatives as the antenna moiety of Tb(3+) complexes. As an example, a probe for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was developed (see scheme).     

双发光MOFs的比率型传感和可视化检测应用*

通过[Cu(NH₃)₄]²⁺和EDTA-Ca配合物,引出金属有机骨架(MOFs),揭示刚性多齿配体使MOFs形成无限延展多孔结构的本质。从单一荧光引出双荧光,到比率型荧光传感和可视化检测应用。MOFs丰富的金属离子和配体组成以及多孔结构,为实现双荧光奠定了基础。镧系金属的电子结构使其可以发出可见光。基于此,通过几个多发光MOFs,特别是镧系金属MOFs的比率型荧光和可视化传感应用,将教学知识点与科学前沿结合到一起,一方面加深学生对知识点的理解和掌握,另一方面激发学生运用知识,探索未知的兴趣。     

Reversible Phase Transition of Porous Coordination Polymers

Porous coordination polymers or metal–organic frameworks with reversible phase-transition behavior possess some attractive properties, and can respond to external stimuli, including physical and chemical stimuli, in a dynamic fashion. Their phase transitions can be triggered by adsorption/desorption of guest molecules, temperature changes, high pressure, light irradiation, and electric fields; these mainly include two types of transitions: crystal–amorphous and crystal–crystal transitions. These types of porous coordination polymers have received much attention because of their interesting properties and potential applications. Herein, reversible phase transition porous coordination polymers are summarized and classified based on different stimuli sources. Corresponding typical examples are then introduced. Finally, examples of their applications in gas separation, chemical sensors, guest molecule encapsulation, and energy storage are also presented.     

Lanthanide-based protease activity sensors for time-resolved fluorescence measurements

Lanthanide-based luminescent sensors are noteworthy because their long-lifetime luminescence enables time-resolved fluorescence measurements. After exploring suitable antenna groups, we designed and synthesized lanthanide-based luminogenic sensors detecting protease activities. This sensor yielded strong luminescence on addition of proteases such as calpain I and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP). Since the luminescence lifetimes of the probes were very long, the sensors could be applied to time-resolved measurements that exclude background fluorescence signals derived from proteins or other impurities. This sensing principle could be applicable to general time-resolved fluorescence assays for other proteases.     

Insulated molecular wires

An astonishing assortment of structures have been described as "insulated molecular wires" (IMWs), thus illustrating the diversity of approaches to molecular-scale insulation. These systems demonstrate the scope of encapsulation in the molecular engineering of optoelectronic materials and organic semiconductors. This Review surveys the synthesis and structural characterization of IMWs, and highlights emerging structure-property relationships to determine how insulation can enhance the behavior of a molecular wire. We focus mainly on three IMW architectures: polyrotaxanes, polymer-wrapped pi systems, and dendronized polymers, and compare the properties of these systems with those of conjugated polymers threaded through mesoporous frameworks and zeolites. Encapsulation of molecular wires can enhance properties as diverse as luminescence, electrical transport, and chemical stability, which points to applications in electroluminescent displays, sensors, and the photochemical generation of hydrogen.     

Synthesis of Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks in Ionic Liquids

Two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks were synthesized in high yields by polycondensation in nonvolatile ionic liquids. The resulting crystallites are highly porous and exhibit exceptional capability of removing bisphenol A from water. The one reported is a general method to synthesize microporous and mesoporous frameworks, it allows to achieve regular macroscopic shapes, and it is effective in a wide range of reaction temperatures.     

Research Progress in Covalent Organic Frameworks for Photoluminescent Materials

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are an emerging kind of crystalline porous polymers that present the precise integration of organic building blocks into extensible structures with regular pores and periodic skeletons. The diversity of organic units and covalent linkages makes COFs a rising materials platform for the design of structure and functionality. Herein, recent research progress in developing COFs for photoluminescent materials is summarised. Structural and functional design strategies are highlighted and fundamental problems that need to be solved are identified, in conjunction with potential applications from perspectives of photoluminescent materials.     

A novel,cell-permeable,fluorescent probe for ratiometric imaging of zinc ion

Zn(2+) plays important roles in various biological systems; as a result, the development of tools that can visualize chelatable Zn(2+) has attracted much attention recently. We report here newly synthesized fluorescent sensors for Zn(2+), ZnAF-Rs, whose excitation maximum is shifted by Zn(2+) under physiological conditions. Thus, these sensors enable ratiometric imaging, which is a technique to reduce artifacts by minimizing the influence of extraneous factors on the fluorescence of a probe. Ratiometric measurement can provide precise data, and some probes allow quantitative detection. ZnAF-Rs are the first ratiometric fluorescent sensors for Zn(2+) that enable quantitative analysis under physiological conditions. ZnAF-Rs also possess suitable K(d) for applications, and high selectivity against other biologically relevant cations, especially Ca(2+). Using these probes, changes of intracellular Zn(2+) concentration in cultured cells were monitored successfully. We believe that these probes will be extremely useful in studies on the biological functions of Zn(2+).     

Recent advances of application of porous molecular cages for enantioselective recognition and separation

Porous materials with well‐defined pore structures have received considerable attention in the past decades due to their unique structures and wide applications. Most porous materials such as zeolites, metal‐organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, and porous organic polymers are extended to infinite frameworks or networks by robust covalent or coordination bonds. Porous molecular cages composed of discrete molecules with permanent cavities are an emerging class of porous material and the discrete molecules assemble into solids by weak intermolecular interaction. In comparison to porous extended solids such as metal‐organic frameworks and covalent organic frameworks, porous molecular cage solids are generally soluble in organic solvents thus allowing solution processing, making them more convenient to apply in many fields. This review mainly focuses on the recent advances of application of porous molecular cages (porous organic cages and metal‐organic cages) for enantioselective recognition and separation from 2010 to present, including gas chromatography, capillary electrochromatography, chiral fluorescent recognition, chiral potentiometric sensing, and enantioselective adsorption. Furthermore, the two important family members of porous molecular cages, porous organic cages and metal‐organic cages, are also discussed.     

Fabrication of Microporous Metal–Organic Frameworks in Uninterrupted Mesoporous Tunnels: Hierarchical Structure for Efficient Trypsin Immobilization and Stabilization

Hierarchically porous metal–organic frameworks (HP-MOFs) are promising in various applications. Most reported HP-MOFs are prepared based on the generation of mesopores in microporous frameworks, and the formed mesopores are connected by microporous channels, limiting the accessibility of mesopores for bulky molecules. A hierarchical structure is formed by constructing microporous MOFs in uninterrupted mesoporous tunnels. Using the confined space in as-prepared mesoporous silica, highly dispersed metal precursors for MOFs are coated on the internal surface of mesoporous tunnels. Ligand vapor-induced crystallization is employed to enable quantitative formation of MOFs in situ, in which sublimated ligands diffuse into mesoporous tunnels and react with metal precursors. The obtained hierarchically porous composites exhibit record-high adsorption capacity for the bulky molecule trypsin. The thermal and storage stability of trypsin is improved upon immobilization on the composites.     

A Luminescent Metal–Organic Framework Thermometer with Intrinsic Dual Emission from Organic Lumophores

A new mixed‐ligand metal–organic framework (MOF), ZnATZ‐BTB, has been constructed as a luminescent ratiometric thermometer by making use of the intrinsic dual emission at cryogenic temperatures. Its twofold interpenetrated network promotes the Dexter energy transfer (DET) between the mixed organic lumophores. The temperature‐dependent luminescent behavior arises from the thermal equilibrium between two separated excited states coupled by DET, which is confirmed by Boltzmann distribution fitting. The small excited‐state energy gap allows ZnATZ‐BTB to measure and visualize cryogenic temperatures (30–130 K) with significantly high relative sensitivity (up to 5.29 % K^?1 at 30 K). Moreover, it is the first example of a ratiometric MOF thermometer the dual emitting sources of which are widely applicable mixed organic ligands, opening up new opportunities for designing such devices.     

Ordered mesoporous materials at the beginning of the third millennium: new strategies to create hybrid and non-siliceous variants

In recent years, research efforts in the field of ordered mesoporous materials are shifting towards either hybrid materials, containing both inorganic (typically silica) and organic functionalities, or towards variants that do not contain silica at all. Promising examples of hybrid materials are periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs); examples of non-siliceous mesoporous materials are carbons, polymers and metal oxides. They can be further tuned to obtain structures with a wide range of functional groups, and are candidates for applications in adsorption, catalysis, sensoring, microelectronics and several other applications.     

Fluorescence Emission from 2,6‐Naphthylene‐Bridged Mesoporous Organosilicas with an Amorphous or Crystal‐Like Framework

We report that 2,6‐naphthylene‐bridged periodic mesoporous organosilicas exhibit unique fluorescence behavior that reflects molecular‐scale periodicities in the framework. Periodic mesoporous organosilicas consisting of naphthalene–silica hybrid frameworks were synthesized by hydrolysis and condensation of a naphthalene‐derived organosilane precursor in the presence of a template surfactant. The morphologies and meso‐ and molecular‐scale periodicities of the organosilica materials strongly depend on the synthetic conditions. The naphthalene moieties embedded within the molecularly ordered framework exhibited a monomer‐band emission, whereas those embedded within the amorphous framework showed a broad emission attributed to an excimer band. These results suggest that the naphthalene moieties fixed within the crystal‐like framework are isolated in spite of their densely packed structure, different from conventional organosilica frameworks in which only excimer emission was observed for both the crystal‐like and amorphous frameworks at room temperature. This key finding suggests a potential to control interactions between organic groups and thus the optical properties of inorganic/organic hybrids.     

Fabrication of Microporous Metal–Organic Frameworks in Uninterrupted Mesoporous Tunnels: Hierarchical Structure for Efficient Trypsin Immobilization and Stabilization

Hierarchically porous metal–organic frameworks (HP‐MOFs) are promising in various applications. Most reported HP‐MOFs are prepared based on the generation of mesopores in microporous frameworks, and the formed mesopores are connected by microporous channels, limiting the accessibility of mesopores for bulky molecules. A hierarchical structure is formed by constructing microporous MOFs in uninterrupted mesoporous tunnels. Using the confined space in as‐prepared mesoporous silica, highly dispersed metal precursors for MOFs are coated on the internal surface of mesoporous tunnels. Ligand vapor‐induced crystallization is employed to enable quantitative formation of MOFs in situ, in which sublimated ligands diffuse into mesoporous tunnels and react with metal precursors. The obtained hierarchically porous composites exhibit record‐high adsorption capacity for the bulky molecule trypsin. The thermal and storage stability of trypsin is improved upon immobilization on the composites.     

A PNIPAM-based fluorescent nanothermometer with ratiometric readout

A novel molecular thermometer with ratiometric fluorescence readout was designed and synthesized. Within a sensing temperature range of 33 to 41 °C, the fluorescence color of the nanothermometer changes from blue to green. The ratiometric change magnitude is about 8.7-fold, rendering the visual differentiation of color by the naked eyes feasible.     

Modulating Triplet Excited States of Organic Semiconductors via Tuning Molecular Conformation for Dual-ratiometric Thermometers

The dual-ratiometric thermometry is one of highly accurate methods for microscopic thermal measurement in biological systems. Herein, a series of chromone derivatives with noncovalently intramolecular interactions (NIIs) were designed and synthesized for ratiometric thermometers. The triplet states of these organic compounds were systematically tuned upon regulating the conformation with NIIs to yield efficient room temperature phosphorescence and large wavelength difference between fluorescence and phosphorescence simultaneously. As a result, an unprecedent organic 3D dual-ratiometric thermometer was established based on the intensity ratio and lifetime ratio of fluorescence/phosphorescence vs temperature, which was used for in vitro and in vivo bio-thermometry with high accuracy. This work provides a novel method to achieve organic dual ratiometric thermometers via tuning the triplet excited states.     

Properties of Water Confined in Periodic Mesoporous Organosilicas: Nanoimprinting the Local Structure

The properties of materials confined in porous media are important in scientific and technological aspects. Topology, size, and surface polarity of the pores play a critical role in the confinement effects, however, knowledge regarding the guest–pore interface structure is still lacking. Herein, we show that the molecular mobility of water confined in periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) is influenced by the polarity of the organic moiety. Multidimensional solid‐state NMR spectroscopy directly probes the spatial arrangement of water inside the pores, showing that water interacts either with only the silicate layer or with both silicate and organic layers depending on the alternating surface polarity. A modulated and a uniform pore filling mode are proposed for different types of PMOs.