Halogenated Squaraine Dyes as Potential Photochemotherapeutic Agents. Synthesis and Study of Photophysical Properties and Quantum Efficiencies of Singlet Oxygen Generation*

Abstract— We describe the synthesis and photophysical studies, including measurements of quantum yields of triplet excited states and singlet oxygen generation of bis(3,5-dibromo-2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)squaraine (2) and bis(3,5-diiodo-2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)squaraine (3). These dyes exist in solution in the protonated, neutral, single and double depro-tonated forms, depending on pH. The pK_a values of these dyes were found to be relatively lower than those of the parent bis(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)squaraine (1). Only the single deprotonated forms (Sq) of 2 and 3 showed measurable fluorescence. In microheterogeneous media such as in the presence of β-cyclodextrin, cetyltrunethylammonium bromide and polyvinylpyrrolidone), bathochromic shifts in the absorption and emission spectra of Sq were observed with a substantial enhancement in their fluorescence yields. Triplet excited states are the main transient intermediates obtained upon 532 nm laser excitation of the various forms of 2 and 3 in methanol. These triplets have lifetimes in the range from 0.061 to 132 μs. The triplet quantum yields of double deprotonated forms are low (φT = <0.01), whereas the neutral and Sq^?forms of 2 (φr = 0.12 and 0.22) and 3 (φ_T= 0.24 and 0.5), respectively, exhibited significant triplet yields. Quantum yields of singlet oxygen generation by Sq^?forms of 2 and 3 were determined in methanol and were found to be 0.13 and 0.47, respectively, which are in good agreement with the triplet yields obtained in these systems.     

Interaction of semiconductor colloids with J-aggregates of a squaraine dye and its role in sensitizing nanocrystalline semiconductor films

The role of bis(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)squaraine, Sq, in sensitizing large bandgap semiconductors has been investigated in the present study. The dye in its aggregate form readily interacts with the TiO₂ colloids giving rise to a new charge transfer band in the red region. The apparent association constant for the dye aggregate and TiO₂ colloid as determined from a Benesi-Hildebrand plot is 1600 M^-1. Nanocrystalline semiconductor films prepared from TiO₂, ZnO, and SnO₂ colloids have been modified with Sq to probe the photosensitization effects. Both dye monomers and aggregates were found to participate in the charge injection process. An incident photon-to-photocurrent efficiency up to 0.7% has been observed.     

Adsorption morphology,light absorption,and sensitization yields for squaraine dyes on SnS2 surfaces

The sensitization properties of two squaraine dyes adsorbed onto the van der Waals surface of n-doped tin disulfide single crystals were studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM), vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy, and photoelectrochemical techniques. Quantum yield per absorbed photon (QYAP) values of near unity were observed for submonolayer coverages of 2,4-bis(4-(N-methyl-N-hexylamino)phenyl)squaraine (1-6SQ) in aqueous electrolyte when a sufficiently positive bias was applied, demonstrating the advantages of SnS(2) as a photoanode for fundamental studies of dye sensitization. Islandlike and microcrystalline morphologies, associated with aggregate formation and revealed by AFM, could be correlated with spectral shifts in both the absorbance and photoaction spectra. A related dye, 2,4-bis(4-(N,N-dimethyl)-2-hydroxyphenyl)squaraine (1-1OHSQ), at similar coverages showed slightly lower QYAP, ascribed to a recombination path due to the different aggregate structures.     

Chiral supramolecular assemblies of a squaraine dye in solution and thin films: concentration-, temperature-, and solvent-induced chirality inversion

We prepared novel cholesterol-appended squaraine dye 1 and model squaraine dye 2 and investigated their aggregation behavior in solution and thin films using photophysical, chiroptical, and microscopic techniques. Investigations on the dependence of aggregation on solvent composition (good/poor, CHCl3/CH3CN) demonstrated that squaraine dye 1 forms two novel H-type chiral supramolecular assemblies with opposite chirality at different good/poor solvent compositions. Model compound 2 formed J-type achiral assemblies under similar conditions. The supramolecular assembly of 1 observed at lower fractions of the poor solvent could be assigned to the thermodynamically stable form, while a kinetically controlled assembly is formed at higher fractions of the poor solvent. This assignment is evidenced by temperature- and concentration-dependent experiments. With increasing temperature, the chirality of the kinetically controlled aggregate was lost and, on cooling, the aggregate with the opposite chirality was formed. On further heating and cooling the aggregates thus formed resulted in no significant changes in chirality, that is they are thermodynamically stable. Similarly, at lower concentrations, the thermodynamically stable form exists, but at higher concentration aggregation was found to proceed with kinetic control. Based on these observations it can be assumed that formation of the kinetically controlled assembly might be largely dependent on the presence of the nonpolar cholesterol moiety as well as the amount of poor solvent present. However, under solvent-free conditions, structurally different aggregates were observed when drop cast from solutions containing monomer, whereas a left-handed CD signal corresponding to the thermodynamically controlled assemblies was observed from pre-aggregated solutions.     

Study of assembly of arachidic acid/LDHs hybrid films containing photoactive dyes

Hybrid monolayers formed with an floating arachidic acid (AA) anions monolayer binding with a densely packed layered double hydroxides (LDHs) monolayer at an air/LDHs suspension interface has been studied by pi-A isotherms and TEM images. An ordered multilayer film of AA/LDHs has been fabricated by Langmuir-Blodgett technique on various substrates. The photoactive dyes (methyl orange, MO, and Congo red, CR) can be incorporated into the galleries of LDHs in the AA/LDHs hybrid LB film by an ion intercalation method. The results of FTIR and UV-vis absorption spectra can approve the formation of AA/LDHs/dyes composite films. In addition, UV-vis absorption spectra and LAXRD analyses also provide evidence for the good vertical uniformity and stable layered periodic structure of AA/LDHs/dyes films. More interestingly, it was found that the dye molecules intercalated can be induced by a positively charged LDHs sheet to align in a special orientation and form different aggregates: MO molecules form sandwich H-type aggregates, while CR molecules form head-to-tail J-type aggregates. On the basis of these data, a possible model of the AA/LDHs/dyes composite films was proposed. Also, the dye molecules incorporated into AA/LDHs films exhibit excellent configuration stability under the irradiation of UV light because the LDHs matrix offers a more rigid and constrained environment for them.     

Bis(3,5-diiodo-2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)squaraine: a novel candidate in photodynamic therapy for skin cancer models in vivo

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is based on the light-induced activation of a photosensitizer generating highly reactive oxygen species that induce tissue destruction in malignant tissues. The present study was carried out to assess the photosensitizing potential of bis(3,5-diiodo-2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)squaraine in PDT trials in vivo. Male Swiss albino mice were divided into five groups. Skin tumor was induced using 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene - DMBA in the animals of Groups II, III, IV and V, while animals of Group I served as the control. At the completion of 20 weeks of induction, the tumor bearing mice from Group III, IV and V were given an intraperitoneal injection with the squaraine dye (12.5mg/kg body weight). After 24h, in the Group IV and V animals, the tumor area was exposed to visible light from a 1000W halogen lamp. The mice from groups I to IV were sacrificed two weeks after the PDT treatment and the marker enzymes (myeloperoxidase [MPO], beta-d-glucuronidase, rhodanese, lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], hexokinase, sialic acid and caspase) were assayed in tumor and normal tissues. Animals from Group V were sacrificed after 90 days of PDT treatment and the above parameters were recorded. Reduction in tumor volume and reversal of biochemical markers to near normal levels were observed in the treatment groups. The study assumes importance as it is the first report on PDT-a novel modality, using a squaraine dye for skin cancer therapy in vivo. The uniqueness of the mode of treatment lies in the selective uptake of squaraine dye by the cancer cells and their selective destruction using PDT without affecting the neighbouring normal cells, which is much advantageous over radiation therapy now frequently used. Also in skin cancer models, the progression/cure can be visualized by the naked eye which is another point of advantage, while seeking new modalities for the treatment of cancer.     

Synthesis of new cholesterol- and sugar-anchored squaraine dyes: further evidence of how electronic factors influence dye formation

[reaction: see text] Synthesis of new quinaldine-based squaraine dyes linked to cellular recognition elements that exhibit near-infrared absorption (>740 nm) are described. Both product analysis and theoretical calculations substantiate the interesting electronic effects of various substituents in the dye formation reaction. These results are useful in the synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical squaraine dyes that can have potential biological and photodynamic therapeutical applications.     

Fiber optic sodium and potassium sensing by using a newly synthesized squaraine dye in PVC matrix

In recent years squarines received attention as fluorescent labels. Their very promising spectral properties such as long wavelength absorption and emission, high extinction coefficients and quantum yields could lead novel sensing technologies. In this work newly synthesized fluoroinophores named bis[4-N-(1-aza-4,7,10,13-tetraoxacyclopentadecyl)-3,5-dihydroxyphenyl]squaraine, azacrown-1 and 2 bis[4-N-(1-aza-4,7,10,13,16-pentaoxacyclooctadecyl)-3,5-dihydroxyphenyl]squaraine, azacrown-2 have been used for sodium and potassium sensing in plasticized PVC matrix. The squaraine derivatives exhibited fluorescence emission based optical responses to sodium and potassium with a detection limit of 1.10(-9) M. The sensor compositions exhibited wide response ranges between 10(-9) and 10(-5) M Na(+)or K(+), and, therefore, may be an alternative method to flame emission spectroscopy. The sensor is fully reversible within the dynamic range and the response time is 3 min under batch conditions. Cross sensitivity to pH is negligible in the pH range of 6.2-7.3. Throughout fiber optic based studies a relative signal change of 54-56% has been achieved. The azacrown dyes have the advantage that they can be excited with long wavelength light and, are, therefore, LED compatible. The cross sensitivity of azacrown-1 and -2 to Ba(2+), Ca(2+) and NH(4)(+)were also tested in separate solutions.     

A structural model for cyanine dyes templated into the minor groove of DNA

3,3-Diethylthiadicarbocyanine (DiSC₂(5)) is a monocationic dye which forms cofacial dimers that insert into the minor groove of DNA [J. Seifert, R. Conner, S. Kushon, M. Wang, B. Armitage, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 121 (1999) 2987]. These dyes self-assemble into long helical aggregates in AT-rich regions with the dimers aligned in an end-to-end fashion. A model is presented that allows for the construction of large helical aggregates with continuously variable structural parameters. The spectra or excited states are computed using a direct intermediate neglect of differential overlap (INDO) single configuration interaction (SCI) method. Results are reported for both H- and J-type aggregates ranging in size from 2 to 6 dimers. A more approximate model based on transition charge densities enables calculations of larger aggregates. These models are used to derive structural parameters of both H- and J-type aggregates from the available spectral data, resulting in a new structural model for J-type aggregation in these systems.     

Growth of Merocyanine Dye J-Aggregate Nanosheets by Living Supramolecular Polymerization

J-aggregates are highly desired dye aggregates but so far there has been no general concept how to accomplish the required slip-stacked packing arrangement for dipolar merocyanine (MC) dyes whose aggregation commonly affords one-dimensional aggregates composed of antiparallel, co-facially stacked MCs with H-type coupling. Herein we describe a strategy for MC J-aggregates based on our results for an amphiphilic MC dye bearing alkyl and oligo(ethylene glycol) side chains. In an aqueous solvent mixture, we observe the formation of two supramolecular polymorphs for this MC dye, a metastable off-pathway nanoparticle showing H-type coupling and a thermodynamically favored nanosheet showing J-type coupling. Detailed studies concerning the self-assembly mechanism by UV-Vis spectroscopy and the packing structure by atomic force microscopy and wide-angle X-ray scattering show how the packing arrangement of such amphiphilic MC dyes can afford slip-stacked two-dimensional nanosheets whose macrodipole is compensated by the formation of a bilayer structure. As an additional feature we demonstrate how the size of the nanosheets can be controlled by seeded living supramolecular polymerization.     

Fluorescence of acridinic dyes in anionic surfactant solution

The interaction of the cationic dyes acridine, 9-aminoacridine (9AA), and proflavine, with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was studied by electronic absorption, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopies. The dyes interact with SDS in the pre-micellar region leading in two cases to dimerization in dye-surfactant aggregates, but with distinct molecular arrangements. For proflavine, the observed red shift of the electronic absorption band indicates the presence of J-aggregate, which are nonfluorescent. In the case of 9AA, the aggregates were characterized as nonspecific (neither J- nor H-type is spectroscopically observed). The time-resolved emission spectra gives evidences of the presence of weakly bound dimers by the recovery of three defined decay times by global analysis: dye monomer (tau1 = 16.4 ns), dimer (tau2 = 7.1 ns), and a faster component (tau3 = 2.1 ns) ascribed to intracluster energy migration between monomer and dimer. Acridine has a weak interaction with SDS forming only an ion pair without further self-aggregation of the dye.     

Photocrosslinking Probes Proximity of Thymine Modifiers Tethering Excitonically Coupled Dye Aggregates to DNA Holliday Junction

A DNA Holliday junction (HJ) has been used as a versatile scaffold to create a variety of covalently templated molecular dye aggregates exhibiting strong excitonic coupling. In these dye-DNA constructs, one way to attach dyes to DNA is to tether them via single long linkers to thymine modifiers incorporated in the core of the HJ. Here, using photoinduced [2 + 2] cycloaddition (photocrosslinking) between thymines, we investigated the relative positions of squaraine-labeled thymine modifiers in the core of the HJ, and whether the proximity of thymine modifiers correlated with the excitonic coupling strength in squaraine dimers. Photocrosslinking between squaraine-labeled thymine modifiers was carried out in two distinct types of configurations: adjacent dimer and transverse dimer. The outcomes of the reactions in terms of relative photocrosslinking yields were evaluated by denaturing polyacrylamide electrophoresis. We found that for photocrosslinking to occur at a high yield, a synergetic combination of three parameters was necessary: adjacent dimer configuration, strong attractive dye–dye interactions that led to excitonic coupling, and an A-T neighboring base pair. The insight into the proximity of dye-labeled thymines in adjacent and transverse configurations correlated with the strength of excitonic coupling in the corresponding dimers. To demonstrate a utility of photocrosslinking, we created a squaraine tetramer templated by a doubly crosslinked HJ with increased thermal stability. These findings provide guidance for the design of HJ-templated dye aggregates exhibiting strong excitonic coupling for exciton-based applications such as organic optoelectronics and quantum computing.     

Supramolecular p-n-heterojunctions by co-self-organization of oligo(p-phenylene vinylene) and perylene bisimide dyes

Comparative studies on hydrogen-bonded versus covalently linked donor-acceptor-donor dye arrays obtained from oligo(p-phenylene vinylene)s (OPVs) as donor and bay-substituted perylene bisimides (PERYs) as acceptor dyes are presented. Both systems form well-ordered J-type aggregates in methylcyclohexane, but only hydrogen-bonded arrays afford hierarchically assembled chiral OPV-PERY dye superstructures consisting of left-handed helical pi-pi co-aggregates (CD spectroscopy) of the two dyes that further assemble into right-handed nanometer-scale supercoils in the solid state (AFM study). In the case of hydrogen-bonded arrays, the stability of the aggregates in solution increases with increasing conjugation length of the OPV unit. The well-defined co-aggregated dyes presented here exhibit photoinduced electron transfer on subpicosecond time scale, and thus, these supramolecular entities might serve as valuable nanoscopic functional units.     

Spectrophotometric Studies on the Aggregation of Some Acid Dyes

The electronic absorption spectra of different acid dyes, mainly C. I. Acid Red 13, 18, 27, 88 and 141, have been investigated in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions. As the concentration of the dye increases the absorption spectrum shifts to shorter wavelengths; this behaviour has been attributed to the formation of higher aggregates. The longer wavelength band, most marked in dilute solutions, is typical of the monomeric dye. The aggregation of these dyes were studied quantitatively using the Maximum Slope Method. The monosulfonic acid dyes Red 141 and 88 and the disulfonic acid dye 13 are aggregated at room temperature with an average aggregation number of 2.0, 2.2 and 1.5, respectively. The trisulfonic acid dyes Red 18 and 27 show very little aggregation at this temperature.     

PHTHALOCYANINE FLUORESCENCE AT HIGH CONCENTRATION: DIMERS OR REABSORPTION EFFECT?

Abstract— For tetrasulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine (AlPcS₄), dimer formation is characterized in the absorption spectrum by a broadening of the Q-band and the appearance of a new band at the red edge of the spectrum. The high concentrations required to produce dimers, however, often leads to anomalous observations in fluorescence spectroscopy. In the present study, we have examined the photophysical characteristics of two dye systems; AlPcS₄ in a 66% ethanol/water mixture and disulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine in methanol. Using absorption spectroscopy, the formation of dimers is shown to be prevalent only in the case of AlPcS₄. The fluorescence emission spectra in both cases, however, exhibit similar spectral changes with increasing dye concentration. The measured fluorescence decay profiles for both dyes also show similar trends: They are monoexponential, invariant with emission wavelength and have decay times that increase with dye concentration. These distortions are sometimes incorrectly attributed to dimer fluorescence. We find no evidence for the existence of dimer fluorescence and demonstrate that these data can be readily explained, by taking into consideration the effects of reabsorption of fluorescence.     

Squaraine dyes in PDT: from basic design to in vivo demonstration

The design and development of novel squaraine dyes as sensitisers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) applications has grown tremendously in the last decade from the time when a squaraine dye was proposed to be a potential candidate, to-date when the use of such dyes have been demonstrated in animal models for skin cancer. This perspective article highlights the basic design, tuning of absorption, triplet excited state and two-photon absorption properties and recent developments of the squaraines as PDT sensitisers.     

Molecular organization in binary mixtures of derivatives of naphthalenebicarboxylic acid and naphthoylenebenzimidazole with a liquid crystal in two-dimensional layers II. Langmuir-Blodgett films

Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of some dichroic dyes, namely derivatives of naphthalenebicarboxylic acid and derivatives of naphthoylenebenzimidazole, and of their mixtures with mesogens: 4-octyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl or 4-pentyl-4'-cyano-p-terphenyl were prepared. Absorption and fluorescence studies using unpolarized and linearly polarized light were carried out. Both absorption and fluorescence spectra indicated the formation of aggregates of dye molecules in monomolecular layers. Moreover, it was found that dye molecules are more tilted to the quartz surface in LB films than to the plane of the air-water interface in Langmuir films.     

Intriguing H-aggregate and H-dimer formation of coumarin-481 dye in aqueous solution as evidenced from photophysical studies

Photophysical properties of coumarin-481 (C481) dye in aqueous solution show intriguing presence of multiple emitting species. Concentration and wavelength dependent fluorescence decays and time-resolved emission spectra and area-normalized emission spectra suggest the coexistence of dye monomers, dimers, and higher aggregates (mostly trimers) in the solution. Because of the efficient intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state to twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state conversion, the dye monomers show very short fluorescence lifetime of ~0.2 ns. Fluorescence lifetimes of dimers (~4.1 ns) and higher aggregates (~1.4 ns) are relatively longer due to steric constrain toward ICT to TICT conversion. Observed results indicate that the emission spectra of the aggregates are substantially blue-shifted compared to monomers, suggesting H-aggregation of the dye in the solution. Temperature-dependent fluorescence decays in water and time-resolved fluorescence results in water-acetonitrile solvent mixtures are also in support of the dye aggregation in the solution. Though dynamic light scattering studies could not recognize the dye aggregates in the solution due to their small size and low concentration, fluorescence up-conversion measurements show a relatively higher decay tail in water than in water-acetonitrile solvent mixture, in agreement with higher dye aggregation in aqueous solution. Time-resolved fluorescence results with structurally related non-TICT dyes, especially those of coumarin-153 dye, are also in accordance with the aggregation behavior of these dyes in aqueous solution. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the aggregation of coumarin dyes in aqueous solution. Present results are important because coumarin dyes are widely used as fluorescent probes in various microheterogeneous systems where water is always a solvent component, and the dye aggregation in these systems, if overlooked, can easily lead to a misinterpretation of the observed results.     

Interactions of cyanine dyes with nucleic acids. XXIV. Aggregation of monomethine cyanine dyes in presence of DNA and its manifestation in absorption and fluorescence spectra.

Absorption, fluorescence emission and excitation spectra of benzothiazole cyanine dyes--thiazole orange (TO) and 7-methyl-6-(3-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3-benzothiazol-2-ylidenmethyl) [1,3] dioxolo [4',5':4,5] benzo [d] [1,3] thiazolium methylmethosulfate (Cyan 13)--were investigated over a wide concentration range. The dyes form aggregates with a 'sandwich'-like structure in water solution. At low dye to DNA concentrations ratios, Cyan 13 and TO monomers appear to interact with the DNA. On increasing the dye to DNA concentrations ratio, free dye molecules aggregate with the DNA-bound ones. The spectra of the free dye aggregates and the aggregates formed on the DNA, are characterized by an anomalously large (more than 100 nm) Stokes shift. This suggests, that the pi-electron systems of the aggregates undergo substantial changes in excited state, compared to those of the monomers. The formation of aggregates consisting of the free and DNA-bound dye molecules can be explained using the half-intercalation model of the interaction of the cyanine dye monomers with the DNA.     

Solvent Induced Helix Folding of Defined Indolenine Squaraine Oligomers

A protecting group strategy was employed to synthesise a series of indolenine squaraine dye oligomers up to the nonamer. The longer oligomers show a distinct solvent dependence of the absorption spectra, that is, either a strong blue shift or a strong red shift of the lowest energy bands in the near infrared spectral region. This behaviour is explained by exciton coupling theory as being due to H- or J-type coupling of transition moments. The H-type coupling is a consequence of a helix folding in solvents with a small Hansen dispersity index. DOSY NMR, small angle neutron scattering (SANS), quantum chemical and force field calculations agree upon a helix structure with an unusually large pitch and open voids that are filled with solvent molecules, thereby forming a kind of clathrate. The thermodynamic parameters of the folding process were determined by temperature dependent optical absorption spectra.