Effect of polyion conformation on dye binding. II. Fluorescence of 2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonic acid (TNS) in the presence of synthetic polyacid and polybase

The interaction between 2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonic acid (TNS), a hydrophobic fluorescent probe, and poly(2-vinylpyridinium) polyions (PVP) has been investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. Both the effect of the charge and the concentration of PVP on the fluorescence behavior of TNS indicate that interaction between TNS and hydrophobic sites present in the PVP chain is responsible for the observed phenomena. It is shown that PVP which exists with predominant hydrophobic regions leads to TNS fluorescence, but some residual charge must be present to facilitate the penetration of the dye into the hydrophobic regions. Various situations existing in some polyelectrolyte systems are discussed.     

Binding of methyl orange and the hydrophobic fluorescent probe, 2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate,by 2-dialkylaminoethyl methacrylate-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and related copolymers

The copolymers of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and 2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, 2-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate, 2-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate, or 2-dimethylaminopropyl acrylamide have been prepared. Studies were made of the binding of a “binding probe,” methyl orange, by the copolymers in aqueous solution. The first binding constants accompanying the binding were evaluated. Furthermore, the intensity of fluorescence of a hydrophobic fluorescent probe, 2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate, in the presence of these polymers was investigated. The nature and phenomena of dye binding and hydrophobic fluorescent probe binding with the polymers are discussed.     

Spectral and thermodynamic studies of the interaction of binding site probes with poly(vinylpyrrolidone)

The binding of two ionic azo dyes (4-phenylazo-1-naphthol mono-and disulfonate) and a fluorescent probe (2-p-toluidinonaphthalene-6-sulfonic acid, TNS) to poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) was studied to obtain information on the nature of the interaction, binding isotherm, and binding site. Sorption of the dyes followed a Langmuir isotherm only at low polymer saturation. Apparent cooperativity in binding was seen at higher saturation. The polymer had a higher intrinsic binding constant but lower binding capacity for the doubly charged dye than for the structurally similar singly charged dye. Both dyes consisted of tautomeric mixtures of hydrazone and azonaphthol forms in equilibrium in the bound and unbound state. The preferential binding of the azonaphthol tautomer of the disulfonate was highly exothermic and accompanied by an entropy decrease. The binding of the hydrazone form was less favored by 1.8 kcal/mol, was weakly exothermic, and accompained by an entropy increase. Increased preference for the azonaphthol tautomer accompanied chain extension from charging the polymer. Chain extension had no effect on the emission frequency of bound TNS. Large differences in binding capacities for similarly charged dyes indicated the existence of specific dye-site interactions. Arguments are presented against nonspecific hydrophobic interactions as predominant forces responsible for binding.     

Binding methyl orange and hydrophobic fluorescent probes by poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) and copolymers of 2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone: pH dependence of the binding and fluorescence intensity

The pH dependence of the interaction of poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) and copolymers of 2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone with methyl orange, 2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate (TNS), and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DHT) was studied by equilibrium dialysis and fluorescence measurements at pH's 7–10. The first binding constant accompanying the binding of methyl orange and TNS by the polymers, in particular the homopolymer, shows a maximum around pH 8 and maximal fluorescence intensity of TNS is obtained around pH 8.5 in the presence of the polymers. To elucidate these observations the pH-induced conformational changes of the homopolymer were examined by potentiometric titration and viscosity measurements and the thermodynamic parameters that accompany the binding were calculated. The polymer was found to change from an extended coil at lower pH to a compact coil at higher pH. The electrostatic attraction between the sulfonate group of the small molecule and the protonated nitrogen atoms on the polymer is increased at lower pH and the hydrophobic interaction between the hydrophobic moieties of the polymer and the small molecule is enhanced at higher pH. The results obtained for the dye binding and fluorescence intensity were discussed in terms of the electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions.     

Amphiphilic copolymers with increased affinity for substrates

The copolymers of methyl quaternized 2-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate and styrene, 2-vinyl naphthalene, acrylic acid iso-octyl ester, or acrylic acid n-butyl ester have been prepared. Studies were made of the binding of a “binding probe,” methyl orange, by the copolymers in aqueous solution. The first binding constants and the thermodynamic parameters in the course of the binding were evaluated. Furthermore, the intensity of fluorescence of a hydrophobic fluorescent probe, 2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate, in the presence of these polymers was investigated. In addition, the fluorescence spectra of monomer and excimer emissions of the polymers with aromatic residues were measured. The excimer/monomer fluorescence intensity ratio was studied in the presence of various additives such as methyl orange, urea, methanol, and NaCl to gain an insight into the nature of microdomains in the polymer. The nature and phenomena of dye binding and hydrophobic fluorescent probe binding with the polymers are discussed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Novel fluorescent amphiphilic poly(allylamine) and their supramacromolecular self‐assemblies in aqueous media

Fluorescent amphiphilic polymers were produced by grafting different types and levels of hydrophobic pendant groups with intrinsic fluorescent properties (fluorenylmethoxy carbonyl (Fmoc), dimethylamino‐1‐naphthalenesulfonyl (Dansyl), and naphthalene (Naphth) to a water soluble homopolymer backbone, polyallylamine (PAA). Non‐fluorescent hydrophobic pendant group (cholesteryl moieties) were also grafted onto PAA. The polymers were characterized with elemental analysis, NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. All polymers formed self‐assemblies by probe sonication in water with sizes ranging from 120 to 199 nm and TEM images showed the presence of spherical particles. The critical aggregation concentration (CAC) varied from 0.093 to 1.5 mg ml^?1 depending on the type of hydrophobic pendant groups. The Cholesteryl and Dansyl polymers showed the presence of one CAC while the Fmoc and Naphth grafted polymers revealed the presence of two CACs. The first CAC observed was possibly due to intermolecular aggregation while the second CAC at the higher polymer concentration was the result of excimer formation revealed by their fluorescent spectra. We reasoned that Naphth and Fmoc aromatic pendant groups possess a flat stereochemistry, thus allowing π–π stacking at higher concentrations. The presence of the N‐dimethylamino group in the Dansyl moiety gives rise to a 3D structure, thus hindering any stacking. The understanding of the supramolecular assemblies formed by these fluorescent amphiphilic polymers will aid in the engineering of advanced materials with superior functionality for biomedical applications. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

2-(p-toluidino)-6-naphthalene sulfonate as a fluorescent probe for flocculation studies of cationic potato amylopectin and nanosized silica particles 1. 2-p-(toluidino)-6-naphthalene sulfonate binding to cationic amylopectin

2-(p-toluidino)-6-naphthalene sulfonate (TNS) is a probe that fluoresces strongly when bound to certain proteins and polymers, but weakly in aqueous solution. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to study the interaction of TNS with native amylopectin potato starch (NApS) and cationized amylopectin potato starch (CApS) in aqueous solution. The anionic TNS binds to CApS at a single type of binding site, with an affinity which has both electrostatic and nonelectrostatic contributions (including hydrogen bonding), whereas binding to NApS occurs at the same type of site but only by nonelectrostatic means. The affinity to CApS decreases strongly with increasing salt concentration, due to screening of the electrostatic attraction, whereas with NApS increasing salt concentration slightly enhances the binding affinity, most likely due to screening of a weak repulsive interaction between TNS and phosphate residues on NApS. The association constant for binding of TNS to CApS in 5 mM NaCl is 110 ± 20 M⁻¹. This comparatively weak binding makes TNS a useful probe in kinetic investigations of the flocculation of anionic silica particles by CApS. Received: 14 August 1998 Accepted in revised form: 4 December 1998     

Investigation on the binding of TNS to centrin, an EF-hand protein

The interaction between 2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate (TNS) and ciliate Euplotes Octocarinatus centrin (Cen) has been studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. The binding constants of TNS with Cen were measured at different temperature in the 0.01M Hepes, pH 7.4. The binding process is exothermic and involves a positive entropy change. The negative value of enthalpy predominately contributes to the negative free energy of binding between TNS and Cen. The salt (KCl) increases the association constant of TNS and Cen. These results and resonance light scattering experiment suggest that the binding force between TNS and Cen is hydrophobic. The distance (r) between TNS and tryptophan of mutant G115W, which sheds more insight into the binding of TNS to Cen, was determined as 4.85nm based on F?rster non-radiative energy transfer theory.     

2-(p -toluidino)-6-naphthalene sulfonate as a fluorescent probe for flocculation studies of cationic potato amylopectin and nanosized silica particles. 2. Flocculation by binding of nanosized silica particles

2-(p-toluidino)-6-naphthalene sulfonate (TNS) is a probe that fluoresces strongly when bound to certain proteins and polymers, but weakly in aqueous solutions. The reversible association of TNS is used to monitor the binding of anionic nanosized silica particles (NSP) to cationic potato amylopectin starch (CApS) through the decreasing fluorescence emission as TNS is competitively released by the particle binding. Steady-state fluorescence measurements at different mixing ratios of CApS and NSP provide data on the equilibrium binding. The isotherm derived is used to establish the fact that the most efficient flocculation between CApS and NSP occurs when the polymer coils are nearly saturated by NSP, but still have positively charged parts left. This supports a patch-flocculation mechanism. Stopped-flow experiments show that NSP binding to CApS occurs within a few milli seconds. This observation allows turbidity changes which occur on longer timescales to be ascribed to particle-decorated polymers undergoing changes in the conformation or aggregation. Received: 14 August 1998 Accepted in revised form: 4 December 1998     

Influence of Alkyl Chains of Modified Polysuccinimide‐Based Polycationic Polymers on Polyplex Formation and Transfection

The development of polymers with low toxicity and efficient gene delivery remains a significant barrier of nonviral gene therapy. Modification and tuning of chemical structures of carriers is an attractive strategy for efficient nucleic acid delivery. Here, polyplexes consisting of plasmid DNA (pDNA) and dodecylated or non‐dodecylated polysuccinimide (PSI)‐based polycations are designed, and their transfection ability into HeLa cells is investigated by green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing cells quantification. All cationic polymers show lower cytotoxicity than those of branched polyethyleneimine (bPEI). PSI and bPEI‐based polyplexes have comparable physicochemical properties such as size and charge. Interestingly, a strong interaction between dodecylated polycations and pDNA caused by the hydrophobic moiety is observed in dodecylated PSI derivatives. Moreover, the decrease of GFP expression is associated with lower dissociation of pDNA from polyplexes according to the heparin displacement assay. Besides, a hydrophobization of PSI cationic derivatives with dodecyl side chains can modulate the integrity of polyplexes by hydrophobic interactions, increasing the binding between the polymer and the DNA. These results provide useful information for designing polyplexes with lower toxicity and greater stability and transfection performance.     

INTERACTION BETWEEN HUMAN α1ACID GLYCOPROTEIN (OROSOMUCOID) AND 2-p-TOLUIDINYLNAPHTHALENE-6-SULFONATE

Abstract—
The interaction between human α₁-acid glycoprotein (orosomucoid) and the fluorescent probe, 2- p -toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate (TNS) has been studied. An association constant of 16.7 (±3) X 10³ M ^-1 was obtained for the complex at 20°C with a stoichiometry of 1:1. From the effect of temperature on the binding process, the standard enthalpy change for the binding is calculated to be ΔH⁰= -18 ± 3 kJ mol^-1 and the standard entropy change ΔS⁰= 19 ± 12 J K^-1 mol^-1. The tryptophan fluorescence of the protein can be described by a sum of three exponentials. Upon TNS binding, the average fluorescence lifetime of the protein in the complex changes much less than the fluorescence intensity. The bound TNS is therefore a very efficient acceptor for the protein fluorescence. The TNS bound to orosomucoid presents two fluorescence lifetimes 1 1 and 4.3 ns. The possible origins of the two lifetimes are discussed.     

荧光聚合物研究进展

本文总结了近年来荧光聚合物的研究进展,主要介绍了荧光聚合物的分类：按其溶解性能可分为非水溶性、水溶性和两亲荧光聚合物三大类;荧光聚合物的合成：荧光化合物为引发剂、荧光化合物为链转移剂、荧光功能单体聚合、荧光化合物与聚合物的化学键合、非荧光功能单体聚合等五种制备荧光聚合物的设计合成方法;荧光聚合物的应用：荧光聚合物在荧光化学传感器、荧光分子温度计、荧光造影、药物载体、荧光探针等方面的应用研究。     

Binding of methyl orange and its homologs by polycations containing apolar pendant groups

The binding of methyl orange, ethyl orange, and propyl orange by polycations involving various apolar pendant groups such as methyl, ethyl, benzyl, or dodecylbenzyl groups has been examined quantitatively by an equilibrium dialysis method at 5, 15, 25, and 35°C. The first binding constants and the thermodynamic parameters in the course of the binding have been calculated. The favorable free energy of the binding is accompanied by an entropy gain and an exothermic enthalpy change. The shorter the alkyl chain of the dyes or the polymers, the more negative is the enthalpy change and hence the smaller is the entropy change. Furthermore, an increase in binding affinity can be created in the polycation upon introduction of hydrophobic groups. In particular, the binding ability of the polycation containing a dodecylbenzyl group for methyl orange is almost 300-fold that of bovine serum albumin. Therefore it is clear that hydrophobic interactions, as well as electrostatic ones, are involved in the binding.     

Spectroscopic studies on ligand-enzyme interactions: complexation of alpha-chymotrypsin with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI).

In the present study, the interaction of two structurally related proteolytic enzymes trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin (CHT) with 4',6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) has been addressed. The binding of DAPI to CHT has been characterized by steady-state and picosecond time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. Enzymatic activity of CHT and simultaneous binding of the well-known inhibitor proflavin (PF) in the presence of DAPI clearly rule out the possibility of DAPI binding at the catalytic site of the enzyme. The spectral overlap between the emission of DAPI and absorption of PF offers the opportunity to explore the binding site of DAPI using F?rster resonance energy transfer (FRET). FRET studies between DAPI and PF indicate that DAPI is bound to CHT with its transition dipole nearly perpendicular to that of PF. Competitive binding of DAPI with another fluorescent probe 2,6-p-toluidinonaphthalene sulfonate (TNS), having a well-defined binding site, indicates that DAPI and TNS bind at the same hydrophobic site of the enzyme CHT. The difference in the interactions of two well-studied, structurally similar enzymes with the same molecule may find its application in the design of specific substrate mimics or inhibitors of the enzymes.     

Fluorescent probes for detection of amphiphilic polymer hydrophobic microdomains: A comparative study between pyrene and molecular rotors

 Cationic amphiphilic polymers (e.g. polyvinylpyridinium bromides and polyvinylimidazo-lium bromides) adopt a compact coiled form in aqueous solutions. In the case of former polymers, the resulting hydrophobic microdomains are evidenced only by fluorescence spectroscopy if a molecular rotor (DMAC) is used as a fluorescent probe, while the behaviour of the latter can be studied in aqueous solution by using both types of fluorescent probes, i.e., pyrene and the molecular rotor. The purpose of the present investigation deals with a comparative study between the magnitude of the local viscosity and the polarity of the hydrophobic microdomains generated by poly(3-hexadecyl-1-vinylimidazolium bromide) in an aqueous medium using pyrene and DMAC as fluorescent probes. Moreover, the results are compared with the data obtained with micelles of conventional surfactants such as the homopolymer repetitive unit model and CTAB. Received: 3 June 1996 Accepted: 29 September 1996     

Molecular Recognition by Cyclophane/Guanidinium Supramolecular Receptor Embedded at the Air-Water Interface

In order to develop a supramolecular receptor through a self-assembling process, a site-specific host and an inclusion-type host were mixed as a Langmuir monolayer, and guest binding and pressure-induced fluorescence emission were investigated. A guanidinium amphiphile and several cyclophanes carrying hydrophobic moieties were used as the host molecules; molecular recognition of an aqueous fluorescent guest, 6-p-toluidino-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid (TNS) by binary mixed receptor monolayers was evaluated by a surface pressure-molecular area (π-A) isotherm and a surface fluorescence measurement. An apparent increase in fluorescence intensity was observed when the mixed monolayers of the guanidinium and cyclophane amphiphiles were compressed on an aqueous TNS solution. In contrast, single-component monolayers of the guanidinium or the cyclophane did not show a significant increase in fluorescence emission. In the mixed monolayers, the guest TNS would be bound to the interface by strong electrostatic interaction with the guanidinium, and inclusion of the formed complex probably suppresses the quenching effect in polar medium and/or self-quenching. Experiments with various mixing ratios of these components suggest selective formation of an equimolar cooperative receptor of the guanidinium and the cyclophane. Investigation of the cyclophane structures by fluorescence emission and a competitive binding experiment with another guest were also carried out.     

Evidence for lipids-calcium ions interactions using fluorescent probing in paediatric nutrition admixtures

The aim of this work was to envisage a new analytical fluorescent method to study the molecular interactions between cations and negatively charged lipid droplets contained in total parenteral nutrition (TPN) admixtures. For this purpose, two fluorescent probes were tested: 9-diethylamino-5H-benzo[alpha]phenoxazine-5-one, commonly named nile red (NR), and 2-(p-toluidinyl)-naphthalene-6-sulfonate (TNS). NR, a neutral molecule, and TNS, an anionic one, are both polarity probes. Their fluorescence emission was enhanced in an apolar environment. They were used at 1 and 2.5 muM, respectively. Results showed that scattered light was very intense in weak aqueous dilution (1/10 vv(-1)) of fat emulsion and appeared as an experimental constraint. The sensitivity of fluorescence measurement in fat emulsion samples was constantly higher for NR than for TNS. When calcium addition occurs, as in pharmaceutical practice, a dramatic increase of fluorescence emission signal was showed for TNS, but no effect was observed for NR. As a conclusion, it was pointed out that the interactions between lipid droplets and calcium ions were likely to take place at the interface of the droplet and that TNS was a more appropriate probe than NR to prove it. Thus, fluorescent probing appeared to be a convenient new analytical tool for the investigation of lipid-cations interactions in TPN mixtures.     

Novel Color-Shifting Mobility Sensitive Fluorescent Probes for Polymer Characterization

1-Methyl-7-dimethylamino quinolinium tetrafluoroborate, a highly stable, highly fluorescent color-shifting mobility sensitive fluorescent probe was employed for detecting the glass transition and phase transitions, notably crystallization, in polymers and polymer blends. Glass transitions in amorphous and semi-crystalline polymers were detected by a change in gradient in emission wavelength λ_max versus T plots. Crystallization resulted in discrete blue shifts in λ_max versus T plots. Selective probing of PMMA in a PS/PMMA blend, down to a PMMA content of 1%, was demonstrated. Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy has established a clear link between the mobility of dipoles in PMMA and the emission wavelength of the fluorescent probe.     

Alternative approach to the design of thermosensitive polymers: The addition of hydrophobic groups to the ends of hydrophilic polyether

We synthesized thermosensitive polymers by adding hydrophobic groups to the ends of a hydrophilic polyether, poly(ethylene oxide‐co‐propylene oxide). The cloud points of the polymers were controlled by the molecular weight of the polyether and the kind of hydrophobic end group. The polymers showed relatively sharp phase transitions, as observed by turbidimetry. The order of the cloud points of the polymers with various end groups did not follow that of the critical micelle concentrations of the polymers determined with fluorescence measurements with pyrene as a probe. The cloud points of the polymers linearly decreased with increasing concentrations of salts (Na₂SO₄ and Na₃PO₄). The slopes of the linear lines were almost constant, regardless of the kind of hydrophobic group and the molecular weight of the polyether. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1007–1013, 2005     

A fluorescent method based on the competitive displacement of intercalated dyes for the study of DNA polyelectrolyte complexes: Advantages and prospects

The interaction of cationic (bio)polymers with DNA may cause the transfer of the intercalated cationic dye ethidium bromide from the double helix to solution. This effect is accompanied by probe fluorescence quenching. The effective displacement of ethidium from nucleic acid that has been discovered in the study of the cooperative electrostatic binding of DNA to salts of polymeric bases forms the basis of the fluorescent method useful for the investigation of polyelectrolyte complexes of DNA. By the example of a wide range of model polycations, this approach is shown to be fruitful for estimation of the cooperative character of interactions, construction of pH-dependent profiles of complexation reactions and competitive binding, and creation of systems with desired and controlled stability in aqueous-saline solutions. This evidence is of special importance for the design of polyelectrolyte means effective for delivery of genetic materials to the cell.