Calculating Helix-to-Coil Transitions of Duplexes Formed by Phenazine-Conjugated Oligonucleotide, Using Flourescence Melting Data

A novel intercalating phenazine derivative (Pzn) was covalently linked to the 3-end of decathymidylate via a ribose residue of the dye. A fluorescence technique was used to study double helix formation by this conjugate with poly(rA) in aqueous solutions of neutral pH, at the presence of 0.1 and 1 M sodium ions. Proportionality between thermally induced changes in the fluorescence intensity of the free conjugate and bound one was revealed, that made it possible to calculate the helix-to-coil transition from fluorescence melting data using a simple equation. The transition curves were found to be in well conformity with those constructed from absorption measurements. It was shown that the attachment of Pzn significantly enhanced the stability of poly(rA) · (dT)₁₀ duplex due to intercalation of the dye chromophore into the adenine strand. The temperature of half-dissociation was increased by 12°C, and the stabilizing increment of standard free energy was 3.2–3.6 kcal/mol at 37°C.     

Mechanisms of Fluorescence Quenching in Donor—Acceptor Labeled Antibody—Antigen Conjugates

The cyanine dyes Cy5 and Cy5.5 are presented as a new long wavelength-excitable donor-acceptor dye pair for homogeneous fluoroimmunoassays. The deactivation pathways responsible for the quenching of the fluorescence of the antibody-bound donor are elucidated. Upon binding of the donor dye to the antibodies at low dye/protein ratios, its fluorescence quantum yield rises to unity. Higher dye/protein ratios lead to progressive aggregation of the dyes, which results in quenching of monomer fluorescence due to resonance energy transfer (RET) from the monomers to the nonfluorescent dimers. The dependence of the quenching efficiency on the labeling ratio is described quantitatively by assuming a Poisson distribution of the dyes over the antibodies. The maximum fluorescence intensity per antibody is obtained at a labeling ratio of 4. Upon formation of the antibody-antigen complex, electron transfer and RET to the antigen-bound acceptor dye occur. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements reveal that approximately 50% of the donor quenching is due to RET, while the residual quenching effect is caused by the static quenching process.     

SYBR Green I: Fluorescence Properties and Interaction with DNA

In this study, we have investigated the fluorescence properties of SYBR Green I (SG) dye and its interaction with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). SG/dsDNA complexes were studied using various spectroscopic techniques, including fluorescence resonance energy transfer and time-resolved fluorescence techniques. It is shown that SG quenching in the free state has an intrinsic intramolecular origin; thus, the observed >1,000-fold SG fluorescence enhancement in complex with DNA can be explained by a dampening of its intra-molecular motions. Analysis of the obtained SG/DNA binding isotherms in solutions of different ionic strength and of SG/DNA association in the presence of a DNA minor groove binder, Hoechst 33258, revealed multiple modes of interaction of SG inner groups with DNA. In addition to interaction within the DNA minor groove, both intercalation between base pairs and stabilization of the electrostatic SG/DNA complex contributed to increased SG affinity to double-stranded DNA. We show that both fluorescence and the excited state lifetime of SG dramatically increase in viscous solvents, demonstrating an approximate 200-fold enhancement in 100?% glycerol, compared to water, which also makes SG a prospective fluorescent viscosity probe. A proposed structural model of the SG/DNA complex is compared and discussed with results recently reported for the closely related PicoGreen chromophore.     

Determination of the stern-volmer constant in quantum systems with dual fluorescence

The mathematical relations describing the properties of the steady-state spontaneous emission of quantum systems with dual fluorescence under conditions of dynamic quenching of excited states by foreign impurities are analyzed. The direct dependence of the intensity and yield of the photoproduct fluorescence on the quencher concentration is not simple and cannot serve as a convenient base for determining the Stern-Volmer constant. It is shown that, in the case of a kinetic character of product formation, the fluorescence intensity ratio of the initial dye and its photoproduct linearly increases with the quencher concentration. The relation obtained can be used to determine the constant of bimolecular quenching of the excited states of reaction products. This conclusion is based on the analysis of the experimental fluorescence spectra of 3-hydroxyflavone, obtained upon excitation in the region of the S ₁ absorption band under conditions of dynamic quenching by potassium iodide. This analysis can be applied to a wide range of luminophores with photoreactions accompanied by dual fluorescence (charge transfer, proton transfer, phosphorescence, complexation, etc.).     

Photoluminescence properties of poly(thiophene-3yl-acetic acid 8-quinolinyl ester) in solution and in acid medium

The photoluminescence characteristics and quantum yields of poly(thiophene-3-yl-acetic acid 8-quinolinyl ester) have been studied. Fluorescence measurements indicate that fluorescence quantum efficiency increases with decreasing the concentration of polymer solution. The quantum yield of the polymer in the solution is higher than that of the Rhodamine B dye at lower concentration. The behaviour of photoluminescence property is studied under different acidic conditions. The fluorescence quenching is observed in the acid medium without any shift in the wavelength.     

Fluorescence quenching in dyes under an optically thin approximation

Kinetic analysis of the energy level scheme of a dye molecule yields expression for the fluorescence quantum yield. The quantum yield is dependent on molecular parameters and laser pulse characteristics. Calculations show quenching of fluorescence quantum yield due to excited state absorption. Earlier studies on quenching of fluorescence have been discussed quantitatively under an optically thin approximation.     

Enhanced Emission Induced by FRET from a Long-Lifetime, Low Quantum Yield Donor to a Long-Wavelength, High Quantum Yield Acceptor

We report observation of high quantum yield, long-lifetime fluorescence from a red dye BO-PRO-3 excited by resonance energy transfer (RET). The acceptor fluorescence was highly enhanced upon binding to the donor-labeled DNA. A ruthenium complex (Ru) was chosen as a donor in this system because of its long fluorescence lifetime. Both donor and acceptor were non-covalently bound to DNA. Emission from the donor-acceptor system (DA) at wavelengths exceeding 600 nm still preserves the long-lifetime component of the Ru donor, retaining average fluorescence lifetimes in the range of 30–50 ns. Despite the low quantum yield of the Ru donor in the absence of acceptor, its overall quantum yield of the DA pair was increased by energy transfer to the higher quantum yield acceptor BO-PRO-3. The wavelength-integrated intensity of donor and acceptor bound to DNA was many-fold greater than the intensity of the donor and acceptor separately bound to DNA. The origin of this effect is due to an efficient energy transfer from the donor, competing with non-radiative depopulation of the donor excited state. The distinctive features of DA complexes can be used in the development of a new class of engineered luminophores that display both long lifetime and long-wavelength emission. Similar DA complexes can be applied as proximity indicators, exhibiting strong fluorescence of adjacently located donors and acceptors over the relatively weak fluorescence of separated donors and acceptors.     

Dynamic of the Fluorescence of the Complex Zn++/Bis-N-Carbazolyl-Distyrylbenzene

The discrimination between similar concentrations of the different metal ions is one of the important roles of fluorescent sensors. Here we present the study of the fluorescence dynamic of the chromophore bis-N-carbazolyl-distyrylbenzene (BCDSB) in acetonitrile/water (mmol/L), doped with metal ions such as K+; Ca++; Mg++; Zn++(10 micromol/L). BCDSB has the fluorescence with lambda(max) at 448 nm by excitation at lambda(exc) = 378 nm, lifetime 1.089 ns: quantum yield of the fluorescence is 0.68. With continuation of irradiation fluorescence quenching has been registered for all investigated metal ions. However, in the presence of Zn++ oscillation of the intensity was observed. The energy activation of the oscillation as much as 15 kcal/mol was estimated. We believe, that the specificity of the complex Zn++/BCDSB, is in an asymmetrical structure, formed via binding sites of Zn++ with the electron-enriched binding sites of the BCDSB, excited in n(pi)* state. This asymmetrical complex structure can cause the photoinduced structural fluctuation in the complex coordination.     

Polystyrene Microspheres in Tissue-Simulating Phantoms Can Collisionally Quench Fluorescence

Tissue-simulating phantoms that replicate intrinsic optical properties in a controlled manner are useful for quantitative studies of photon transport in turbid biological media. In such phantoms, polystyrene microspheres are often used to simulate tissue optical scattering. Here, we report that using polystyrene microspheres in fluorescent tissue-simulating phantoms can reduce fluorophore quantum yield via collisional quenching. Fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy was employed to characterize quenching in phantoms consisting of a fluorescein dye and polystyrene microspheres (scattering coefficients _s 100-600cm^–1). For this range of tissue-simulating phantoms, analysis using the Stern-Volmer equation revealed that collisional quenching by polystyrene microspheres accounted for a decrease in fluorescence intensity of 6-17% relative to the intrinsic intensity value when no microspheres (quenchers) were present. The intensity decrease from quenching is independent of additional, anticipated losses arising from optical scattering associated with the microspheres. These results suggest that quantitative fluorescence measurements in studies employing such phantoms may be influenced by collisional quenching.     

Influence of interaction of chromophores, linked by the unconjugated chain, on the luminescence properties of biscyanine dyes

Deactivation of electronically excited state of chemically bound dimers – biscyanines with two chromophores linked by unconjugated chains and corresponding monomer dye was investigated. It was found that the quantum yield of dimer fluorescence is lower than that of a monomer dye. The amount of quantum yield of fluorescence decreases with the increase of chromophores interaction degree (the decrease of the isolating polymethylene bridge length). It is shown on the basis of the external heavy-atom effect studies that the decrease of biscyanines fluorescence ability is connected with the enhancment of singlet–triplet intersystem crossing (S₁T₁). It has been established that the probability of the triplet states population in biscyanines with chromophores in parallel arrangement is considerably higher than that in similar compounds with an angular arrangement of chromophores. The delayed fluorescence was observed in the case of dyes with parallel arrangment of chromophores.     

含油岩屑固体粉末荧光的研究

通过对含油岩屑固体粉末荧光的研究,指出了在固体粉末中含油浓度在一定范围内时,其粉末荧光强度与含油的浓度成线性关系,对二者关系进行线性拟合,其相关系数R=0．9936。当样品中的含油的浓度达到一定程度时,其荧光强度保持一个恒定的值。同时,研究了固体粉末荧光猝灭现象以及猝灭机制。指出含油岩屑粉末的荧光猝灭,主要是生荧团分子之间形成络合物以及由于激发光谱和发射光谱重叠所引起的交叉弛豫所致。最后比较了固体粉末中荧光浓度猝灭与溶液中浓度猝灭。这些对于研究和开发对含油岩屑直接进行荧光检测的录井技术具有重要的指导意义。     

Effect of concentration on optical properties of dyes incorporated into polyvinyl alcohol films

The quantum yield, lifetime and anisotropy of fluorescence emitted by molecules of neutral red dye incorporated into polyvinyl polymer films were studied as a function of dye concentration. From the data a mechanism of excitation quenching by dye monomers bound to the polymer matrix is suggested.     

Enhancement of the fluorescence of triphenylmethane dyes caused by their interaction with nanoparticles from β-diketonate complexes

We have studied the absorption and fluorescence spectra of Malachite Green and Crystal Violet in aqueous and alcoholic-aqueous solutions in which nanoparticles from Ln(III) and Sc(III) diketonates are formed at concentrations of complexes in a solution of 5–30 μM. We have shown that, if the concentrations of the dyes in the solution are lower than 0.5 μM, dye molecules are incorporated completely into nanoparticles or are precipitated onto their surface. The fluorescence intensity of these incorporated and adsorbed Malachite Green and Crystal Violet molecules increases by several orders of magnitude compared to the solution, which takes place because of a sharp increase in the fluorescence quantum yields of these dyes and at the expense of the sensitization of their fluorescence upon energy transfer from β-diketonate complexes entering into the composition of nanoparticles. We have shown that, if there is no concentration quenching, the values of the fluorescence quantum yield of the Crystal Violet dye incorporated into nanoparticles and adsorbed on their surface vary from 0.06 to 0.13, i.e., are close to the fluorescence quantum yield of this dye in solid solutions of sucrose acetate at room temperature. The independence of the fluorescence quantum yield of Crystal Violet on the morphology of nanoparticles testifies to a high binding constant of complexes and the dye. The considerable fluorescence quantum yields of triphenylmethane dyes in nanoparticles and sensitization of their fluorescence by nanoparticle-forming complexes make it possible to determine the concentration of these dyes in aqueous solutions by the luminescent method in the range of up to 1 nM.     

氧化石墨烯如何猝灭罗丹明6G的荧光

考察了水相溶液中氧化石墨烯对罗丹明6G的高效荧光猝灭．借助稳态及时间分辨荧光光谱测量,结合对该二元体系线性吸收谱变化的细致分析,澄清了相关荧光猝灭机理,即动态猝灭与静态猝灭的联合猝灭机制．提出在静态猝灭过程中罗丹明6G与氧化石墨烯所形成的可能的基态复合物,并进一步讨论了二者之间的光致电子转移过程．     

Spectral-luminescent properties of chlorin <Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Subscript>6</Subscript> and malate dehydrogenase complexes

Spectral confirmation of the formation of stable equilibrium complexes (association constant K _as = 210⁶ M^–1) of the Krebs cycle enzyme — malate dehydrogenase (MDH) — and one of the promising photodynamic sensitizers — chlorin e ₆ — have been obtained. It is shown that the incorporation of dye molecules into the protein globule of dimeric MDH (each subunit of which contains 4 tryptophan amino acid residues, each binding one molecule of chlorin e ₆) is accompanied by quenching of the tryptophan fluorescence of the enzyme. However, despite the overlapping of the fluorescence spectra of tryptophanyls of MDH and the absorption spectrum of chlorin e ₆, the fluorescence quenching observed is not caused by singlet-singlet inductive-resonant transfer of energy from the donor to the acceptor. The conclusion has been drawn that the reason for the absence of energy transfer from tryptophanyls to the dye is the more effective intertryptophan migration of energy to one of the most longwave amino acid residues, the quenching of the luminescence of which occurs due to the reversible photoinduced transfer of an electron to chlorin e ₆ (formation of a complex with charge transfer). The formation of a complex with charge transfer between chlorin e ₆ (when it is excited) and one of the amino acid residues of the enzyme that contact with the dye at its binding site on the protein molecule is also the most noncontradictory explanation of the observed (when bound with MDH) decrease in the quantum yield of fluorescence of chlorin e ₆ upon increase in the duration of its quenching. The question of the ability of MDH to act as one of the most sensitive targets responsible for the disturbance of mitochondrial functions and initiation of the apoptosis of tumor cells in the process of photodynamic therapy is discussed.Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 71, No. 6, pp. 749–758, November–December, 2004.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Detection of Free Thiols and Fluorescence Response of Phycoerythrin Chromophore after Ultraviolet-B Radiation Stress

The chemistry of thiol-chromophore linkage plays a central role in the nature of fluorescence of phycoerythrin (PE). Interaction of thiol and chromophore is crucial for the energy transfer, redox signal and inhibition of oxidative damage. In the present investigation the effects of ultraviolet-B radiation on an emission fluorescence intensity and wavelength shift in PE due to interaction between thiol and chromophore by remarkable strategy of detection technique was studied. Purification of PE was done by using a gel permeation and ion exchange chromatography that yielded a quite high purity index (6.40) in a monomeric (αβ) form. UV-B radiation accelerated the quenching efficiency (24.9 ± 1.52%) by reducing fluorescence emission intensity of thiol linked chromophore after 240 min of UV-B exposure. However, after blocking of transiently released free thiol by N-ethylmaleimide, quenching efficiency was increased (36.8 ± 2.80%) with marked emission wavelength shift towards shorter wavelengths up to 562 nm as compared to 575 nm in control. Emission fluorescence of free thiol was at maximum after 240 min that was detected specifically by monobromobimane (mBrB) molecular probe. The association/dissociation of bilin chromophore was analyzed by SDS- and Native-PAGE that also indicated a complete reduction in emission fluorescence. Our work clearly shows an early detection of free thiols and relative interaction with chromophore after UV-B radiation which might play a significant role in structural and functional integrity of terminal PE.     

Influence of dipole moments on light-emitting features of cardo-type 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolines

Several 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline derivatives were synthesized from 9,9′-di(p-aminophenyl)fluorene as possible dye chromophore for the organic light-emitting diodes. All the compounds exhibit strong fluorescence in solution and in solid state as well. The maximally achieved brightness was 65 Cd/m² and spectral range of electroluminescence (EL) covers the wavelength ranges from 420 up to 470 nm. The prepared compounds were used as dye luminophores in poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) matrix for single-layer EL light-emitting device. Principal goal of the work consists in an establishment of a possibility to operate by their light-emitting features (spectral positions of emitting lines, efficiency of electroluminescence, brightness, etc.) by appropriate changes of state dipole moments of the particular chromophore determined by semi-empirical quantum chemical calculations. The principal physical mechanism of such effects is explained within dipole-dipole interactions between the dye chromophores and PVK polymer chains.     

Study of concentration-dependent quantum yield of Rhodamine 6G by gold nanoparticles using thermal-lens technique

Tailoring optical properties of the dye molecules using metal nanoparticles is a burgeoning area of research. In this work, we report our results on the studies of how the absorption and emission behavior of Rhodamine 6G dye is tailored using gold nanoparticles. Furthermore, the influence of dye concentration on these properties for a given concentration of nanoparticles in the dye-nanoparticle mixture is investigated. In addition, the difference between the concentration-dependent fluorescence quantum yield of the dye molecules is measured in the absence and presence of nanoparticles using the dual-beam thermal-lens technique. Our absorption spectral studies show additional spectral features due to nanoparticle aggregation on interaction with cationic Rhodamine 6G dye. Dye concentration-dependent steady-state fluorescence studies in the presence of nanoparticles indicate a blue shift in peak fluorescence emission wavelength. The quantum yield value measured using thermal-lens technique exhibit a non-monotonic behavior with dye concentration with substantial quenching for lower dye concentrations. The results are interpreted in terms of dye–nanoparticle interaction and the formation of dye shell around the nanoparticle.     

Excitation Energy Transport in a Concentrated System of Flavomononucleotide in Polyvinyl Alcohol Films

Excitation energy transport mechanism of flavomononucleotide polyvinyl alcohol films is studied. Excitation wavelength and temperature dependences of fluorescence spectra and quantum yields for different concentrations of the dye are investigated. These measurements together with those of absorption reveal that dimers are imperfect traps for excitation energy and that the energy transfer can occur both in the forward and in the reverse direction. It was found that, contrary to liquid solutions, the dimerization constant of flavomononucleotide in polyvinyl alcohol films does not depend on temperature and that the irregularities observed can be explained by the temperature-dependent changes in the quantum yield of the monomer–dimer system and the effect of inhomogeneous orientation broadening of energy levels.