Visible Light‐Triggered Photoswitchable Diarylethene‐Based Iridium(III) Complexes for Imaging Living Cells

A novel diarylethene‐based iridium(III) complex was synthesized as a phosphorescence probe for monitoring living cells. The switchable phosphorescence complex in solution and within living cells was controlled by two distinguishable visible‐light irradiations, which suggests that this complex can be developed as a promising probe with weak photodamage for biological samples.     

Reversible Multistimuli‐Response Fluorescent Switch Based on Tetraphenylethene–Spiropyran Molecules

Two tetraphenylethene (TPE)‐functionalized spiropyran (SP) molecules with very similar structure were designed and synthesized. The two molecules exhibit aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) properties, as well as multistimuli‐responsive color‐changing properties, such as photochromism and acidchromism. The investigation of their different photochromic and acidchromic characteristics and dual‐response fluorescent switch during isomerization indicated that the different link position between TPE and SP will significantly affect the extended π‐conjugated system, resulting in completely different photochromic and acidchromic properties.     

Water‐Soluble Fluorescent Probes Based on Dendronized Polyfluorenes for Cell Imaging

Novel water‐soluble dendronized fluorescent polyfluorenes (DFPFs) are prepared from hydrophilic monomers and hydrophobic comonomers. Incomplete energy transfer is found to result in a two‐color emission of the DFPFs at around 410 and 650 nm. The incomplete energy transfer can be attributed to the poor compatibility between the fluorene and benzothiadiazole units. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) encapsulation of the DFPFs shows over 90% cell viability, indicating good biocompatibility. These DFPFs show differential cellular uptake. P1 with fewer PEO chains exhibits limited cellular membrane uptake and low brightness in cells. By contrast, P3 with more PEO chains is efficiently internalized by cells and accumulated in the cytoplasm. A strong fluorescence from whole cells is also observed.     

Mussel‐Inspired One‐Pot Synthesis of a Fluorescent and Water‐Soluble Polydopamine–Polyethyleneimine Copolymer

Inspired by the molecular mechanics of mussel adhesive formation, a novel water‐soluble fluorescent macromolecule (polydopamine–polyethyleneimine (PDA–PEI)) is prepared by one‐pot copolymerization of dopamine (DA) and PEI. In this method, DA is polymerized to form PDA, which is then coupled with PEI mainly through Michael addition. The fluorescence property of PDA–PEI is mainly attributed to the Michael addition of PEI on the 5,6‐dihydroxyindole (DHI) units of PDA, where PEI can form hydrogen bonds with oxidative products such as DHI and force the DHI units to twist out of plane, resulting in a decrease in the intra‐ and intermolecular coupling of PDA. In addition, the influence of various metal cations on the fluorescence of the PDA–PEI copolymer is investigated. This work may facilitate the development of new strategies for controlling the emission characteristics of PDA.

     

Fluorescent Linear Supramolecular Polymer Based on Host‐Guest Interactions

Construction of supramolecular polymers, in which functional monomer components are held together by noncovalent interactions, is considered as a promising design principle for functional materials. Linear fluorescent supramolecular polymer assembled on account of electrostatic attractions based host‐guest interaction is synthesized and illustrated here. ¹H NMR was involved to ensure the structure of guest and polymer, UV –vis and fluorescent spectra were recorded to be a readout signal to investigate the assemble process of polymer. TEM and AFM measurements were carried out to confirm the homogeneous nanometer‐sized molecular assembly. It shows the way to be used as remote readout fluorescent functional material in the future.     

Plasmonic Activation of a Fluorescent Carbazole–Oxazine Switch

The covalent attachment of a carbazole fluorophore to an oxazine photochrome permits the reversible activation of fluorescence under optical control. Ultraviolet irradiation with a pulsed laser opens the oxazine ring to shift bathochromically the absorption of the carbazole component. Concomitant visible illumination excites selectively the carbazole fluorophore of the photochemical product to produce fluorescence. The photogenerated and fluorescent species reverts spontaneously on a submicrosecond timescale to the initial nonemissive state of the carbazole–oxazine dyad. The photochemical and photophysical properties engineered into this particular molecular switch allow the convenient monitoring of plasmonic effects on photochemical reactions with fluorescence measurements. In close proximity to silver nanoparticles, visible illumination with a continuous‐wave laser also results in fluorescence activation. The metallic nanostructures enable the two‐photon excitation of the oxazine component to induce the photochromic transformation and then facilitate the one‐photon excitation of the photochemical product to generate fluorescence. Thus, these operating principles offer the opportunity to avoid altogether the need of pulsed ultraviolet irradiation to trigger the photochromic transformation and, instead, allow fluorescence activation with a single visible source operating at low illumination power.     

Electrochemiluminescence Bioassays with a Water‐Soluble Luminol Derivative Can Outperform Fluorescence Assays

The most efficient and commonly used electrochemiluminescence (ECL) emitters are luminol, [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺, and derivatives thereof. Luminol stands out due to its low excitation potential, but applications are limited by its insolubility under physiological conditions. The water‐soluble m‐carboxy luminol was synthesized in 15 % yield and exhibited high solubility under physiological conditions and afforded a four‐fold ECL signal increase (vs. luminol). Entrapment in DNA‐tagged liposomes enabled a DNA assay with a detection limit of 3.2 pmol L^?1, which is 150 times lower than the corresponding fluorescence approach. This remarkable sensitivity gain and the low excitation potential establish m‐carboxy luminol as a superior ECL probe with direct relevance to chemiluminescence and enzymatic bioanalytical approaches.     

Highly Fluorescent and Water‐Soluble Diketopyrrolopyrrole Dyes for Bioconjugation

The preparation of highly water‐soluble and strongly fluorescent diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) dyes using an unusual taurine‐like sulfonated linker has been achieved. Exchanging a phenyl for a thienyl substituent shifts the emission wavelength to near λ=600 nm. The free carboxylic acid group present in these new derivatives was readily activated and the dyes were subsequently covalently linked to a model protein (bovine serum albumin; BSA). The bioconjugates were characterized by electronic absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy and MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry, thus enabling precise determination of the labeling density (ratio DPP/BSA about 3 to 8). Outstanding values of fluorescence quantum yield (30 % to 59 %) for these bioconjugates are obtained. The photostability of these DPP dyes is considerably greater than that of fluorescein under the same irradiation conditions. Remarkably low detection limits between 80 and 300 molecules/μm² were found for the BSA bioconjugates by fluorescence imaging with a epifluorescence microscope.     

Supramolecular Drug Delivery Systems Based on Water‐Soluble Pillar[n]arenes

Supramolecular drug delivery systems (SDDSs), including various kinds of nanostructures that are assembled by reversible noncovalent interactions, have attracted considerable attention as ideal drug carriers owing to their fascinating ability to undergo dynamic switching of structure, morphology, and function in response to various external stimuli, which provides a flexible and robust platform for designing and developing functional and smart supramolecular nano‐drug carriers. Pillar[n]arenes represent a new generation of macrocyclic hosts, which have unique structures and excellent properties in host–guest chemistry. This account describes recent progress in our group to develop pillararene‐based stimuli‐responsive supramolecular nanostructures constructed by reversible host–guest interactions for controllable anticancer drug delivery. The potential applications of these supramolecular drug carriers in cancer treatment and the fundamental questions facing SDDSs are also discussed.

     

Fluorescent H‐Aggregates Hosted by a Charged Cyclodextrin Cavity

Most macrocyclic host molecules, including cyclodextrins, usually prevent self‐aggregation of the guest organic molecules, by exploiting inclusion complexation of the guest with the host. In this work, it was found that a negatively charged β‐cylcodextrin derivative induces aggregation of a well‐known amyloid sensing dye, Thioflavin‐T, and leads to an unprecedented formation of the rarely observed emissive H‐type aggregates of the dye.     

Controlled Release of a Sparingly Water‐Soluble Anticancer Drug through pH‐Responsive Functionalized Gold‐Nanoparticle‐Decorated Liposomes

The binding and detachment of carboxyl‐modified gold nanoparticles from liposomes is used for controlled drug delivery. This study reveals that the binding and detachment of nanoparticles from liposomes depends on the degree of hydration of the liposomes. Liposomes with a lower hydration level undergo stronger electrostatic interactions with negatively charged gold nanoparticles, thus leading to a slower detachment of the carboxyl‐modified gold nanoparticles under gastric conditions. Therefore, under gastric conditions, gold‐nanoparticle‐decorated dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes exhibit an at least ten‐times‐slower drug release compared to gold‐nanoparticle‐decorated 1,2‐dimyristoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine (DMPC) liposomes, although both liposomes in the bare state fail to pursue controlled release. Our study also reveals that one can modulate the drug‐release rate by simply varying the concentration of nanoparticles. This study highlights a novel strategy for the controlled release of drug molecules from liposomes.     

Multicharged and/or Water‐Soluble Fluorescent Dendrimers: Properties and Uses

The fluorescence of water‐soluble dendritic compounds can be due to the whole structure or to fluorophores used as core, as peripheral groups, or as branches. Highly sophisticated precisely defined structures with other functional groups usable for material or biological purposes have been synthesised, but many recent examples have shown that dendrimers can be used as versatile platforms for statistically linking various types of functional groups.     

Water‐Soluble Molecular Capsules: Self‐Assembly and Binding Properties

The self‐assembly and characterization of water‐soluble calix[4]arene‐based molecular capsules ( 1?2 ) is reported. The assemblies are the result of ionic interactions between negatively charged calix[4]arenes 1 a and 1 b , functionalized at the upper rim with amino acid moieties, and a positively charged tetraamidiniumcalix[4]arene 2 . The formation of the molecular capsules is studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, ESI mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS), and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). A molecular docking protocol was used to identify potential guest molecules for the self‐assembled capsule 1 a?2 . Experimental guest encapsulation studies indicate that capsule 1 a?2 is an effective host for both charged (N‐methylquinuclidinium cation) and neutral molecules (6‐amino‐2‐methylquinoline) in water.     

Thermoresponsive Synergistic Hydrogen Bonding Switched by Several Guest Units in a Water‐Soluble Polymer

Thermoresponsive synergistic hydrogen bonding (H‐bonding) switched by several guest units in a water‐soluble polymer is reported. Adjusting the distribution of guest units can effectively change the synergistic H‐bonding inside polymer chains, thus widely switch the preorganization and thermoresponsive behavior of a water‐soluble polymer. The synergistic H‐bonding is also evidenced by converting less polar aldehyde groups into water‐soluble oxime groups, which bring about the lowering‐down of cloud point and an amplified hysteresis effect. This is a general approach toward the wide tunability of thermosensitivity of a water‐soluble polymer simply by adjusting the distribution of several guest H‐bonding units.