In vivo monitoring of mercury ions using a rhodamine-based molecular probe

Exposure to mercury causes severe damage to various tissues and organs in humans. Concern over mercury toxicity has encouraged the development of efficient, sensitive, and selective methods for the in vivo detection of mercury. Although a variety of chemosensors have been exploited for this purpose, no in vivo monitoring systems have been described to date. In this report, we describe an irreversible rhodamine chemosensor-based, real-time monitoring system to detect mercury ions in living cells and, in particular, vertebrate organisms. The chemosensor responds rapidly, irreversibly, and stoichiometrically to mercury ions in aqueous media at room temperature. The results of experiments with mammalian cells and zebrafish show that the mercury chemosensor is cell and organism permeable and that it responds selectively to mercury ions over other metal ions. In addition, real-time monitoring of mercury-ion uptake by cells and zebrafish using this chemosensor shows that saturation of mercury-ion uptake occurs within 20-30 min in cells and organisms. Finally, accumulation of mercury ions in zebrafish tissue and organs is readily detected by using this rhodamine-based chemosensor.     

Diabatic molecular states and the shielded diatomic orbital method. Evolution of two-interacting state systems for molecular hydrogen

Within Lichten's method, shielded diatomic orbitals (SDO's) are proposed as a basis for building-up diabatic molecular states in the single configurati approximation. The determination of SDO's i.e. eigenfunctions in prolate spheroidal coordinates of the two-center problem with a parametric shielding potential is extended to mono-excited states of many-electron diatomic systems, the shielding potential being obtained from simple electrostatic considerations. Four diabatic molecular states of H₂ are investigated i.e. ¹Σ_g⁺ (2pσ², 1Σ_g⁺ (1s,σ 2sσ), ¹Σ_u⁺(1sσ,4Pσ), ¹Σ_u⁺ (1sσ, 4fσ) using a minimal basis of SDO'S. The dynamical evolution of the nuclei for the two sets ¹Σ_g and ¹Σ_u⁺ of two interacting states is described in both the diabatic and the corresponding adiabatic representation.     

Calix[4]arene based molecular probe for sensing copper ions

A novel calix[4]arene based molecular probe for metal ions has been designed, synthesized and evaluated. Studies on its binding with different metal ions reveal a noticeable naked eye color change, bathochromic shift in absorption spectrum and remarkable enhancement in fluorescence emission in the presence of Cu²⁺ only. The role of calix[4]arene scaffold for selective recognition of Cu²⁺ has been demonstrated by repeat evaluation and analysis of an appropriate reference molecule. A rational explanation for fluorescence enhancement in 3 on interaction with copper has been suggested.     

Core—Core interaction potentials by alkali diatomic molecular ions. Heteronuclear case

Core—core interaction potentials of alkali diatomic molecular ions are calculated for all the heteronuclear combinations of H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺ and Cs⁺. The Thomas—Fermi—Dirac statistical model is employed to calculate the short-range repulsive interaction potential. The interaction due to core polarization is estimated.     

TiO2 nanoparticles as a soft X-ray molecular probe

This communication reports the development of a TiO2-streptavidin nanoconjugate as a new biological label for X-ray bio-imaging applications; this new probe, used in conjunction with the nanogold probe, will make it possible to obtain quantitative, high-resolution information about the location of proteins using X-ray microscopy.     

Potential energy curves of diatomic molecular ions from high-resolution photoelectron spectra. II. The first six electronic states of Xe2 +

The pulsed-field-ionization zero-kinetic-energy photoelectron spectrum of Xe(2) has been measured between 90 000 and 109 000 cm(-1) following single-photon excitation from the ground neutral state. Transitions to five of the six low-lying electronic states of Xe(2) (+) could be observed. Whereas extensive vibrational progressions were observed for the X0(g) (+)-->I(1/2u), I(3/2g), and II(1/2u) photoelectron transitions, only the lowest vibrational levels of the I(3/2u) and II(1/2g) states could be detected. Unambiguous assignments of the vibrational quantum numbers were derived from the analysis of the isotopic shifts of the vibrational bands and of the intensity distribution and from the modeling of the potential energy curves. Analytical potential energy curves of spectroscopic accuracy (i.e., approximately 1 meV) were determined for all six low-lying electronic states using a global model, which includes the first (charge-induced dipole, proportional to 1/R(4)) member of the long-range interaction series and treats the spin-orbit interaction explicitly. The assumption of an R-independent spin-orbit coupling constant was tested and found to be an excellent approximation.     

Potential energy curves of diatomic molecular ions from high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy. I. The first six electronic states of Ar2+

High-resolution photoelectron spectroscopic data have been used to determine the potential energy curves of the first six electronic states of Ar2+. The potential energy functions properly include the effects of the long-range interactions and of the spin-orbit interaction and are of spectroscopic accuracy (1-2 cm(-1)) over a wide range of internuclear distances. The total number of adjustable parameters could be reduced to only 12 by truncating the long-range interaction series after the R(-6) term and assuming an R-independent spin-orbit coupling constant. This assumption was verified to be valid to an accuracy of +/-2 cm(-1) over the range of internuclear distances between 3.0 and 4.6 A. The interaction potential proposed by Siska [P. E. Siska, J. Chem. Phys. 85, 7497 (1986)] was generalized to a form that is expected to be sufficiently flexible to describe chemical bonding in other diatomic molecular ions. The potential energy curves are more accurate than the best available ab initio curves by two orders of magnitude and provide quantitative information on dissociation energies and equilibrium internuclear distances. The local maximum between the two potential wells of the I(1/2g) state was determined to lie 62 cm(-1) below the Ar(1S0)+Ar(+)(2P(3/2)) dissociation limit, and the II(1/2g) state is found to be significantly more bound (De=177 cm(-1)) than previously assumed.     

Mismatched pyrrolo-dC-modified duplex DNA as a novel probe for sensitive detection of silver ions

A new technology that enables the highly selective and sensitive detection of silver ions has been developed. The method takes advantage of the unique fluorescence property of a mismatched pyrrolo-dC (PdC)-modified duplex DNA, which serves as the key detection component, and the specific interaction of this duplex with silver ions.     

A rhodamine appended tripodal receptor as a ratiometric probe for Hg2+ ions

A new rhodamine appended tripodal receptor 1 has been designed and synthesized. The receptor selectively recognizes Hg(2+) ions in CH(3)CN-water (4:1, v/v; 10 μM tris HCl buffer, pH 7.0) by displaying a ratiometric change in emission. Additionally, the visual detection is possible by a sharp change in color. The receptor shows in vitro detection of Hg(2+) ions in human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells.     

An extremely stable host-guest complex that functions as a fluorescence probe for calcium ions

Herein, we report a crown ether based molecular cage that forms extremely stable supramolecular complexes with dimethyldiazapyrenium (DMDAP) ions in CD(3)CN through the collaboration of multiple weak C-HO hydrogen bonds. The very strong binding affinity in this host-guest system allows the molecular cage to bleach the fluorescence signal of DMDAP substantially in equimolar solutions at concentrations as low as 1 x 10(-5) M. Remarkably, a 1x10(-5) M equimolar solution of the molecular cage and DMDAP is highly selective toward Ca(2+) ions-relative to other biologically important Li(+), Na(+), K(+), and Mg(2+) ions-and causes a substantial increase in the fluorescence intensity of the solution. As a result, this molecular cage/DMDAP complex behaves as a supramolecular fluorescence probe for the detection of Ca(2+) ions in solution.     

Frequency modulated spectroscopy as a probe of molecular collision dynamics

We describe the application of frequency modulated spectroscopy (FMS) with an external cavity tuneable diode laser to the study of the scalar and vector properties of inelastic collisions. CN X(2)Sigma(+) radicals are produced by polarized photodissociation of ICN at 266 nm, with a sharp velocity and rotational angular momentum distribution. The collisional evolution of the distribution is observed via sub-Doppler FMS on the A(2)Pi-X(2)Sigma(+) (2,0) band. He, Ar, N(2), O(2) and CO(2) were studied as collider gases. Doppler profiles were acquired in different experimental geometries of photolysis and probe laser propagation and polarization, and on different spectroscopic branches. These were combined to give composite Doppler profiles from which the speed distributions and specific speed-dependent vector correlations could be determined. The angular scattering dynamics with species other than He are found to be very similar, dominated by backward scattering which accompanies transfer of energy between rotation and translation. The kinematics of collisions with He are not conducive to the determination of differential scattering and angular momentum polarization correlations. Angular momentum correlations show interesting differences between reactive and non-reactive colliders. We propose that this reflects differences in the potential energy surfaces, in particular, the nature and depth of attractive potential wells.     

Oscillator strengths between low-lying ro-vibrational states of hydrogen molecular ions

It is important for experimental design to know the transition oscillator strengths in hydrogen molecular ions. In this work, for HD(+), HT(+), and DT(+), we calculate the ro-vibrational energies and oscillator strengths of dipole transitions between two ro-vibrational states with the vibrational quantum number ν = 0-5 and the total angular momentum L = 0-5. The oscillator strengths of HT(+) and DT(+) are presented as supplementary material.     

Static polarizabilities at large internuclear separations for homonuclear diatomic ions

Certain static polarizabilities for charged diatomic molecules become exceedingly large when the internuclear separation is increased. The reasons for, and implications of, this are discussed.     

脱氢枞酸基芳胺荧光探针探测金属离子的应用

通过脱氢枞酸基芳胺荧光探针a,b,c对不同金属离子(Ca2+、K+、Mg2+、Mn2+、Na+、Ni2+、Pb2+、Fe3+、Cu2+)的识别性、对其他金属离子的抗干扰性、以及金属离子对探针的荧光滴定试验,研究了它们作为金属离子荧光探针的应用。结果表明,a和b对Fe3+、c对Cu2+具有良好识别性,其识别性能受其他金属离子的干扰性不明显;Fe3+浓度分别在1.0×10-7~6.0×10-6mol·L-1和2.0×10-7~7.0×10-6mol·L-1范围内,a和b的荧光强度与Fe3+浓度有较好的线性关系,Cu2+浓度在6.0×10-6~3.0×10-5mol·L-1范围内,c的荧光强度与Cu2+浓度有较好的线性关系,可以定量检测中性水溶液中Fe3+和Cu2+含量。     

Direct observation of rotational states of molecular ions in photoionization processes

Optical transitions from H₂ (X ¹Σ_g⁺) to specific vibration-rotation states of the hydrogen molecular ion (X ²Σ_g⁺) have been directly observed and the spectrum is herein reported. A new method of zero kinetic energy electron analysis has been employed for the detection of the specific states and non-threshold electron peaks are not observed. It is shown that auto-ionization processes that produce threshold electrons will reveal ionic states that otherwise are not detectable.     

Ro-vibrating energy states of a diatomic molecule in an empirical potential

An approximate analytical solution of the Schrödinger equation is obtained to represent the rotational–vibrational (ro-vibrating) motion of a diatomic molecule. The ro-vibrating energy states arise from a systematical solution of the Schrödinger equation for an empirical potential (EP) V _±(r) = D _e {1 ? (?/δ)[coth (ηr)]^±1/1 ? (?/δ)}² are determined by means of a mathematical method so-called the Nikiforov–Uvarov (NU). The effect of the potential parameters on the ro-vibrating energy states is discussed in several values of the vibrational and rotational quantum numbers. Moreover, the validity of the method is tested with previous models called the semiclassical (SC) procedure and the quantum mechanical (QM) method. The obtained results are applied to the molecules H₂ and Ar₂.     

Surface states in deformed and perturbed diatomic crystals

The electronic properties of a one-dimensional diatomic crystal have been analyzed by using the MO-LCAO method in the tight binding approximation, with mathematical techniques involved in setting up and solving difference equations. The approach gives the exact sets of analytic solutions for both localized and nonlocalized states. The theory of surface states is developed as a characteristic value problem. To illustrate the method the surface states for a semiinfinite crystal which contains a local imperfection at the surface were examined. It appears that this method has advantages over previous methods developed to solve surface problems in crystalline lattices.