PHOTOOXIDATION OF CHLOROPHYLL AND PHEOPHYTIN. QUENCHING OF SINGLET OXYGEN AND INFLUENCE OF THE MICELLAR STRUCTURE

Abstract— When chlorophyll(Chl) and pheophytin(Phn) are irradiated in Triton X-100 water binary solvents, singlet oxygen is formed in the medium in a higher yield for Phn than for Chi. Chlorophyll shows an irreversible photooxidation reaction and a chemical oxidation reaction when 1,3-diphenyliso-benzofuran (DPBF) is added to the solution. During the chemical oxidation, Chi is destroyed by an oxidizing agent that is a reaction product of the endoperoxide formed in the medium by the addition of singlet oxygen to DPBF. This reaction depends on the structure of the medium and has some characteristics of an oxidation by hydroxyl radicals. The highest yield is obtained with the micellar structure. Chlorophyll and Phn are readily oxidized by hydroxyl radicals generated using the Fenton reagent. This suggests that in the presence of Triton X-100, the Mg²⁺ ion of a Chi molecule plays a key role in the irreversible oxidation of the pigment.     

THE PHOTODEGRADATION OF PORPHYRINS IN CELLS CAN BE USED TO ESTIMATE THE LIFETIME OF SINGLET OXYGEN

NHIK 3025 cells were incubated with Photofrin II (PII) and/or tetra (3-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin (3THPP) and exposed to light at either 400 or 420 nm, i.e. at the wavelengths of the maxima of the fluorescence excitation spectra of the two dyes. The kinetics of the photodegradation of the dyes were studied. When present separately in the cells the two dyes are photodegraded with a similar quantum yield. 3THPP is degraded 3-6 times more efficiently by light quanta absorbed by the fluorescent fraction of 3THPP than by light quanta absorbed by the fluorescent fraction of PII present in the same cells. The distance diffused by the reactive intermediate, supposedly mainly 1O2, causing the photodegradation was estimated to be on the order of 0.01-0.02 micron, which corresponds to a lifetime of 0.01-0.04 microsecond of the intermediate in the cells. PII has binding sites at proteins in the cells as shown by an energy transfer band in the fluorescence excitation spectrum at 290 nm. During light exposure this band decays faster than the Soret band of PII under the present conditions. Photoproducts (1O2 etc.) generated at one binding site contribute significantly in the destruction of remote binding sites.     

Influence of alcohols on the lower consolute behavior and thermodynamic approach of Triton X-114 aqueous two-phase systems

The addition of foreign material to surfactants shows the change in temperature at which the clouding process occurs. This work evaluates the impact of n-alcohols on Cloud Point (CP) of nonionic surfactant Triton X-114 at variable concentrations. It was found that the CP of pure Triton X-114 shows concentration-dependent variation. The presence of lower alcohols improves CP value whereas the addition of higher alcohols brings down CP with variation as concentration increases. These effects can be clarified in view of the site of the impact of molecular design of added substances on the stability of micelle organization. The foaming ability and foam stability data are also used to discuss the stability of micellar accumulation. Considering CP as a threshold temperature of the solubility, the thermodynamic parameters of the clouding process ΔG⁰_cl, ΔH⁰_cl, and ΔS⁰_cl, have been assessed, using the “Phase Separation Model”. The outcomes of the work demonstrate that the clouding phenomenon of Triton X-114 is an exothermic and non-spontaneous process.     

A cloud point extraction approach using Triton X-100 for the separation and preconcentration of Sudan dyes in chilli powder

A CPE-HPLC (UV) method was developed for the determination of Sudan (I-IV) dyes, non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 was used to extract and preconcentrate Sudan dyes from chilli powder prior to their determination by HPLC-UV. The separation and determination of Sudan dyes was then carried out in the HPLC-UV system with isocratic elution, and the detector was set at 500 nm. The parameters and variables that affect the extraction were investigated. Under optimum conditions: 3% of Triton X-100 (W/V), 10% of Na₂CO₃ (W/V), heat-assisted at 70 °C for 30 min. Recoveries of the Sudan dyes ranged from 80.70% to 85.45% in chilli powder by CPE method, with all the relative standard deviations of less than 3%. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were in the range of 2.0-4.0 and 7.0-12.0 μg kg⁻¹ in chilli powder, respectively.     

Multivariate optimization of the determination of zinc in diesel oil employing a novel extraction strategy based on emulsion breaking

This paper describes the extraction/pre-concentration of Zn from diesel oil and its determination by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS), proposed as a novel approach for these kinds of analyses and the multivariate optimization of the proposed procedure. The extraction of Zn is based on the emulsification of an aqueous solution containing Triton X-114 and HNO₃ with diesel oil samples followed by breaking of the emulsion by heating. The aqueous phase obtained after the emulsion breaking was collected and used for Zn quantification by FAAS. The methodology was optimized using a Doehlert design and the system variables were the concentrations of surfactant and HNO₃ in the solution employed in the emulsification and the temperature used in the emulsion breaking. The ratio between absorbance and the time required to break the emulsions was taken as response. Two sets of experiments, using different emulsifier agents, were run: the first one using Triton X-100 and the second one using Triton X-114. At optimized conditions, the emulsions were prepared by mixing 10 mL of diesel oil with 2 mL of a solution containing 5% w/v of Triton X-114 and 15% v/v of HNO₃ and broken by heating at 80 °C. The proposed analytical procedure was applied in the analysis of six real samples of diesel oil and a recovery test was carried out by spiking the samples with known amounts of Zn (25 and 50 μg L⁻¹), added as organometallic oiled standard. Recovery percentages achieved in this test were between 92 and 109%.     

PHOTOPHYSICAL AND PHOTOSENSITIZING PROPERTIES OF BENZOPORPHYRIN DERIVATIVE MONOACID RING A (BPD-MA)*

The photophysical properties of benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring A (BPD-MA), a second-generation photosensitizer currently in phase II clinical trials, were investigated in homogeneous solution. Absorption, fluorescence, triplet-state, singlet oxygen (O₂(¹Δ_g)) sensitization studies and photobleaching experiments are reported. The ground state of this chlorin-type molecule shows a strong absorbance in the red (λ≈ 688 nm, ?≈ 33 000 M^?1 cm^?1 in organic solvents). For the singlet excited state the following data were determined in methanol: energy level, E_s= 42.1 kcal mol^?1, lifetime, Φ_f= 5.2 ns and fluorescence quantum yield, Φ_f= 0.05 in air-saturated solution. The triplet state of BPD-MA has a lifetime, τ_f >. 25 ns, an energy level, E_T= 26.9 kcal mol^?1 and the molar absorption coefficient is ?_T= 26 650 M^?1 cm^?1 at 720 nm. A dramatic effect of oxygen on the fluorescence (φ_f) and intersystem crossing (φ_T) quantum yields has been observed. The BPD-MA presents rather high triplet (φ_T= 0.68 under N₂-saturated conditions) and singlet oxygen (φ_Δ= 0.78) quantum yields. On the other hand, the presence of oxygen does not significantly modify the photobleaching of this photostable compound, the photodegradation quantum yield (φ_Pb) of which was found to be on the order of 5 × 10^?5 in organic solvents.     

TIME-RESOLVED SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES ON PHOTOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF BENOXAPROFEN IN MICELLAR SOLUTIONS: AN INTRAMICELLAR FLUORESCENCE QUENCHING

The micellar dependencies of the photophysical properties of benoxaprofen (BXP), a 2-phenyl benzoxazole derivative, have been investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy and laser flash photolysis techniques. The fluorescence of BXP in aqueous solution has been observed to be remarkably quenched upon addition of a surfactant, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) or Triton X-100, in contrast to its enhancement in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micellar solution. Time-resolved fluorescence measurements show that the fluorescence decays biexponentially in the micellar solution, indicating the relaxation of micellar environments surrounding the excited BXP. The major component of fluorescence lifetimes in CTAB or Triton X-100 micellar phase is even shorter (330–427ps) than in SDS micellar phase (731 ps). The nonradiative decay constants are significantly larger (ca 3.0 times 10⁹ s^?1) in the CTAB or Triton X-100 micellar phase than in SDS micelles by a factor of ca 10. The major nonradiative decay is interpreted to be the internal conversion due to nuclear geometric change of BXP in the first excited singlet state. This is consistent with the observation that the quantum yields of intersystem crossing are very low (less than 0.01) in the micellar solutions as determined by the laser flash photolysis technique. The laser-induced transient absorption spectrum of BXP in CTAB or Triton X-100 micellar solution shows that the decay kinetics of the transients in CTAB or Triton X-100 are significantly different from first order kinetics in SDS.     

Determinaton of trace amounts of titanium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after cloud point extraction

In this work a cloud-point extraction has been used for the preconcentration of the trace amounts of titanium after complex formation with morin (2′,3,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) using Triton X-114 as surfactant. The chemical variables affecting the phase separation and the viscosity affecting the detection by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) were optimized. At pH 4.5, preconcentration of 50 mL of sample in the presence of 0.08% Triton X-114 and 1.0 × 10^?4 M morin enabled the detection limit (c _L = 3S _b/m) of 2.9 ng/mL titanium and linear range 0.02–2.0 μg/mL to be achived. The preconcentration factor was 61, and the relative standard deviation was 3.8% for 0.1 μg/mL solution of Ti(IV) by repeated assays (n = 9). The proposed method has been applied to the determination of titanium in well water, spiked water and plant (Haloxylon).     

Subcellular Localization of Sulfonated Tetraphenyl Porphines in Colon Carcinoma Cells by Spectrally Resolved Imaging

Subcellular localization of the dye, 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-sul-fonatophenyl)porphine (TPPS₄) and the more hydrophobic dye, 5,10,15,20-tetra(1-sulfonatophenyl)porphine (TPPS₁), in murine colon carcinoma cells was studied by spectrally resolved imaging (SRI) combined with image processing techniques. Spectrally resolved imaging enabled the acquisition of multipixel fluorescence spectra (>10⁴) from a single cell. Demarcation of specific localization sites and segregation of the irrelevant fluorescence were based on the pixel spectra and by operating the functions of spectral similarity mapping (SSM), principal component analysis (PCA) and spectral classification. The SRI revealed the fine details of the photochemical process that clarify some aspects of subcellular damage. The SRI depicted the differences between TPPS₄ and TPPS, with respect to their initial localization and their fate at the end of the photochemical effect. The dye TPPS₄ was localized initially in lysosomal vesicles, and upon irradiation fluorescence was seen in the nucleus as well as in vesicles. Some of the vesicles were closely related to the nucleus, as resolved by SSM, PCA and spectral classification. Additional light exposure stimulated relocalization of TPPS₄ into the nucleus as well as into the nucleolus, which was clearly depicted by SSM and PCA. Spectral classification showed a third, weak residual cytoplasmic array around the nucleus. The dye TPPS, concentrated in a Golgi-like complex and was resolved in the nuclear envelope and in small vesicles: it was not redistributed into other compartments upon photosensitization. Serum supplementation to the incubation media of colon carcinoma cells treated with TPPS₄ or TPPS, did not change the localization patterns. Pixel spectra of the two dyes in the cells showed spectral shifts and expanded shoulders due to microenvironmental effects. Thus, the chemical nature of the sulfonated phenyl porphines, and not their interaction with serum proteins, was the main determinant of their binding to the lysosomes, nucleus, nucleolus, nuclear envelope or Golgi.     

CHLOROPHYLL b: AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF PHOTOSYSTEM I OF HIGHER PLANT CHLOROPLASTS

Abstract— An undissociated photosystem I complex may be isolated from spinach thylakoids by mild gel electrophoresis (CP1a) or Triton X-100. CP1a has a Chl a / b ratio of 11 and a Chl/P700 ratio of 120. while the Triton X-100 PS I complex (Chl a / b ratio of 5.9) has a larger antenna unit size (Chl/P700 ratio of 180). None of the Chl a / b -proteins of the main light-harvesting complex (apoproteins of 30–27 kD) are present in CP1a, and they account for less than 10% of the total chlorophyll in the Triton X-100 PS I complex. Instead, these PS I complexes have specific, but as yet little characterized, Chi a / b -proteins (apoproteins in the 26–21 kD range). With both PS I complexes, Chi b transfers light excitation to the 735 nm low temperature fluorescence band characteristic of photosystem I. We suggest that Chi b is an integral but minor component of photosystem I.     

Evaluation of a cloud point extraction method for the preconcentration and quantification of silver nanoparticles in water samples by ETAAS

ABSTRACT

A simple and reliable analytical method using instrumentation available in most of the laboratories has been developed for the separation and determination of silver nanoparticles in water samples. Cloud point extraction (CPE) was used for the separation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from the sample and these nanoparticles were then determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). Parameters related to the cloud point extraction procedure (Triton X-114 concentration, type of complexing agent (EDTA or Na₂S₂O₃), pH, incubation temperature, incubation and centrifugation time) were selected using a multivariate approach (designs of experiments); 8.6% (v/v) Triton X-114, 750 µL saturated EDTA and pH 7 were selected as the optimum conditions. Calibration standards in a concentration range from 0 to 10 µg L^?1 of AgNPs were subjected to the CPE procedure to obtain quantitative recoveries. The LOD and LOQ were 0.04 and 0.13 µg L^?1, respectively. The method is selective for the extraction of AgNPs, and ionic Ag remains in the aqueous phase. Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) was used to evaluate the effect of the CPE procedure in particle size, and no changes were observed. Finally, the procedure was applied to wastewater samples spiked with nanoparticles with quantitative recoveries.     

Micellar extraction and high performance liquid chromatography-ultra violet determination of some explosives in water samples

An analytical method based on the cloud point extraction combined with high performance liquid chromatography is used for the extraction, separation and determination of four explosives; octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazine (HMX), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). These compounds are extracted by using of Triton X-114 and cetyl-trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). After extraction, the samples were analyzed using a HPLC-UV system. The parameters affecting extraction efficiency (such as Triton X-114 and CTAB concentrations, amount of Na₂SO₄, temperature, incubation and centrifuge times) were evaluated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the preconcentration factor was 40 and the improvement factors of 34, 29, 61 and 42 with detection limits of 0.09, 0.14, 0.08 and 0.40 (μg L⁻¹) were obtained for HMX, RDX, TNT and PETN, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of these compounds in water samples and showed recovery percentages of 97-102% with RSD values of 2.13-4.92%.     

The Photostabilization of Hemoglobin in Triton X-100 Aqueous Solution and Triton X-100/n-C5H11OH/H2O Microemulsion

The influence of UV-irradiation on the interaction of hemoglobin (Hb) with Triton X-100 is investigated by UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and freeze-fractured transmission electron microscopy. It is found that in Triton X-100/H₂O systems Hb can convert to hemichrome but heme is not present, whereas in Triton X-100/n-C₅H₁₁OH/H₂O microemulsion Hb can convert to hemichrome and then induce the heme monomer to leave the hydrophobic cavity of Hb. UV-irradiation can also convert Hb to hemichrome, and subsequently make heme to be photodegraded, in which the conversion rate depends on the structure of the surfactant aggregates. Furthermore, in order to understand the mechanism of photostabilization of Hb in Triton X-100 systems, the photostabilization of heme in the Triton X-100 aqueous solutions and Triton X-100/n-C₅H₁₁OH/H₂O microemulsions has been studied.     

Surface Property of Nonionic Surfactant Triton X-100 in an Ionic Liquid

A common nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 was dissolved in a commercial ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (bmimBF₄). The surface tension of the bmimBF₄ solution was decreased with increasing the content of surfactant Triton X-100, a similar phenomenon with aqueous solution systems. Dynamic surface properties of Triton X-100 in bmimBF₄ were measured. It was found that pure IL solvents need rearrangement at the air-bmimBF₄ interface during the beginning stage of absorption. Moreover, the adsorption model was found to be in accord with the diffusion-controlled adsorption mechanism, and further, the dilute bmimBF₄ solutions are close to the diffusion-controlled adsorption.     

Absorption, fluorescence and resonance Rayleigh scattering spectra of hydrophobic hydrogen bonding of eosin Y/Triton X-100 nanoparticles and their analytical applications

In a weak acidic medium (pH 2.4–2.8), eosin Y molecules (H₂L) could replace water molecules to associate with Triton X-100 to form hydrophobic hydrogen bonding complexes. These complexes could further aggregate to form nanoparticles through the squeezing action of the water phase and Van Der Waals force, resulting in changes in the absorption spectrum and fluorescence quenching of EY as well as the significant enhancement of resonance Rayleigh scattering. This enables the sensitive determination of Triton X-100 using the fading spectrophotometry, fluorescence quenching method and RRS method. Among them, the RRS method shows the highest sensitivity with a detection limit of 20.6 ng mL^?1 for Triton X-100. The optimum experimental conditions and factors that affect the absorption, fluorescence and RRS spectra were tested. The effects of coexisting substances were investigated and the results showed good selectivity. Based on these results, new spectrophotometric methods, fluorescence quenching method and RRS method for the determination of Triton X-100, were established. The hydrogen bonding association of eosin Y with Triton X-100 and the formation of nanoparticles as well as their effects on related spectral characteristics were discussed utilizing infrared, transmission electron microscope technique and quantum chemical method.     

Cloud point extraction and spectrophotometric determination of Cu(II) in saturated saline solutions using 4-ethyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)thiosemicarbazide

4-Ethyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)thiosemicarbazide (HEPTS) has been used as a new complexing agent in cloud point extraction (CPE) for preconcentration and determination of trace amounts of copper in saturated saline medium. The chemical variables affecting the separation and determination processes were optimized. Copper(II) is preconcentrated using 0.05% (w/v) Triton X-114 and 10⁻⁴ M HEPTS at pH 6. The surfactant rich phase containing the complex was dissolved in 2 mL MeOH and determined spectrophotometrically. The calibration curve is linear in the 0.1–25 ng/mL copper range. The proposed method was applied successfully in the determination of copper in water and saturated saline samples. The reaction between CuSO₄ and HEPTS yields a deep-blue solid complex which is characterized by analytical and spectroscopic analyses.     

Near-infrared fluorescent probes: synthesis and spectroscopic investigations of a few amphiphilic squaraine dyes

With the objective of developing near-infrared fluorescence probes for biological applications, a few squaraine dyes 3a-d, containing amphiphilic substituents, were synthesized and their photophysical properties have been investigated in the presence and absence of the organized media. These dyes exhibited absorption in the range 630-650 nm, with significant absorption coefficients (epsilon = 1-3 x 10(5) M(-1) cm(-1)) in the aqueous medium. The fluorescence spectra of these dyes showed emission maximum from 660 to 675 nm, depending on the nature of substituents. The fluorescence quantum yields were in the range from 0.15 to 0.21 in ethanol, but 10 times lower values were observed (phi(f) = 0.01-0.02) in the aqueous medium. In the presence of micelles such as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and Triton X-100, these dyes showed negligible changes in their absorption properties, whereas a significant enhancement (5-10-folds) in their fluorescence yields was observed. Picosecond time-resolved studies indicated that these dyes show single-exponential decay in ethanol and ethanol-water mixtures; however, they exhibit biexponential decay with longer lifetimes in the presence of the micellar media. The results indicate that these novel amphiphilic squaraine dyes 3a-d, which exhibit favorable photophysical properties, good solubility in the aqueous medium, and interact efficiently with micelles, can have potential biological applications as near-infrared fluorescence sensors.     

Insights into bishemicyanines with long emission wavelengths and high sensitivity in viscous environments

A systematic spectral analysis was presented for bishemicyanine dyes(Hsd and D2) and monohemicyanine dyes(Hs and DSMI).The bishemicyanine dyes displayed long emission wavelengths,large Stokes shifts,low background quantum yields in aqueous solutions and high sensitivity in viscous environments.Better understanding of the structure-property relationships could benefit the design of improved dyes.Computational studies on these dyes revealed the three conjugated forms of bishemicyanines are in equilibrium due to two positive charges and a branched bulk substituent.Bishemicyanines possessed obviously lower rotating energy barrier of C-C bond rotation compared to the monohemicyanine dyes.Moreover,the synergetic effects of the rotation about the φ_4 bond,φ_5 bond and φ_7 bond of the bishemicyanines(Hsd and D2) lead to lower fluorescence quantum yields in a free state and larger fluorescence quantum yield enhancements in viscous environment compared to that of monohemicyanine dyes(Hs and DSMI).The results demonstrate a foundation for interpretation of the behavior of the dyes,thus providing guidelines for future of new bishemicyanine fluorophores with specific applications.     

Spectral and photophysical studies of thiazine dyes in triton X-100

The absorption spectra of several thiazine dyes such as thionine, azure A, azure B, azure C and methylene blue in aqueous solution of Triton X-100 show that dyes as electron acceptors form 11 charge-transfer (CT) or electron-donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes with Triton X-100, which acts as an electron donor. From the thermodynamic and spectrophotometric properties of these complexes, the abilities of dyes to accept an electron are in the order: azure C > thionine > azure A > azure B > methylene blue. The photogalvanic effect in the aqueous solution dye-surfactant has been studied. Generation of photovoltage supports a CT or EDA interaction between thiazine dyes and Triton X-100. There is a good correlation among the photophysical (photovoltage), spectral and thermodynamic properties of these complexes.     

The photoisomerization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-stilbene in Triton X-100/<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-C<Subscript>5</Subscript>H<Subscript>11</Subscript>OH/H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O microemulsions

Different from organic solvent, self-assemblies are environment friendly media, and moreover, if they are used as micro-reactor, many meaningful and exciting results may be obtained. In this paper, we investigated the photoisomerization of trans-stilbene in Triton X-100/n-C₅H₁₁OH/H₂O microemulsions (a kind of self-assemblies) with different compositions and structures to establish the relationship between the reaction yields and the compositions and structures of microemulsions. The results show that the yield of cis-stilbene is increased with the increase of water content or with the decrease of Triton X-100 content, and oil in water (O/W) structure is the best structure for this reaction, which makes it possible to decrease the pollution of environment by organic solvent always used in organic reactions.