Engineering emissive europium and terbium complexes for molecular imaging and sensing

Emissive f-block coordination complexes constitute an important class of optical probes, with applications ranging from sensing of bioactive species, high throughput assays and screening protocols in vitro, to time-resolved imaging studies in cellulo or in vivo. The key chemistry issues to be addressed in complex design and characterisation are defined, with an emphasis on the use of emissive europium and terbium complexes and their conjugates in molecular imaging. Both luminescent 'tags' useful in energy transfer studies and 'responsive' systems for sensing are discussed.     

Synthesis and properties of coumarin derivatives and their terbium complexes

A series of coumarin derivatives obtained from salicylaldehyde and phenol were synthesized. Their corresponding terbium complexes were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, EDTA titrations, molar conductivity, UV–vis spectra, IR spectra, and thermal analysis. The luminescent properties and electrochemical properties of the terbium complexes were also investigated. The results showed that all the terbium complexes exhibited characteristic emissions of terbium ions. The introduction of electron-donating groups can improve the luminescent properties, decrease the HOMO and LUMO energy levels of the terbium complex, while electron-withdrawing groups can weaken the luminescent properties, and increase the HOMO and LUMO energy levels of terbium complex.     

TACN-amino acid conjugates and their copperII complexes

Triazacyclononane (TACN) was coupled to glycine (L(Gly)), alanine (L(Ala)), and phenylalanine (L(Phe)) via standard solution phase peptide coupling techniques. Copper(II) complexes of these new ligand-amino acid conjugates, [(CuL(Gly))(2)](ClO(4))(4) (1), [(CuL(Ala))(2)Cl](ClO(4))(3) (2), and [Cu(2)L(Phe)Cl(4)] (3), were synthesized and characterized. The X-ray crystal structures of 2 and 3 were determined. Complex 2 is a dimeric species where L(Ala) bridges between copper ions via its two TACN amine nitrogen atoms to one copper while the Ala terminal amine and carbonyl oxygen bind to the other copper. Complex 3 is bimetallic but only contains one L(Phe) ligand that bridges between the copper ions.     

Two-photon absorption and photoluminescence of europium based emissive probes for bioactive systems

Observation of two-photon excitation (760 nm) and emission of two responsive water soluble europium complexes is reported with cross-sections of up to 2 GM. Two-photon excitation spectra have also been measured, acquisition being achieved by the use of a cavity-dumped mode locked Ti-sapphire laser. Time-gated detection is used to differentiate the ligand fluorescence and metal centred emission in these europium complexes.     

Preparation of phosphorylated bis-pyrazolyl-pyridine nonadendate ligands and their terbium complexes. Part 2

A series of ligands has been constructed from a central bis-pyrazolyl-pyridine core and various deprotonable chelating pockets based on mixed carboxylate/phosphate or phosphate anionic functions and a central flexible pendent arm for subsequent grafting to biomaterials. For some of these ligands, the sequence of reactions incorporates an additional step introducing a substituted diethynylphenyl residue to increase significantly their solubility in polar organic solvents. The terbium(III) complexes of some of these ligands display outstanding spectroscopic properties with lifetimes ranging from 2.7 to 3.2 ms and quantum yields from 16% to 26% in water.     

铽荧光纳米配合物的制备及其潜血手印显现应用

以铽离子为发光中心、对苯二甲酸为第一配体、菲咯啉为第二配体,采用化学方法一步制备出表面羧基修饰的铽荧光纳米配合物。使用活化剂1-(3-二甲氨基丙基)-3-乙基碳二亚胺盐酸盐配合稳定剂N-羟基琥珀酰亚胺对配合物表面的羧基进行活化,促使活化羧基与潜血手印中的胺基在温和条件下迅速发生酰胺反应,成功实现了潜血手印的靶向显现。优化了潜血手印显现的最佳条件,显现悬浮液中配合物与水的质量比推荐为1∶35,显现浸泡时间推荐为20 s。并深入探究了手印显现的对比度、灵敏度、选择性、适用性。实验结果表明,制备的表面活化羧基修饰的铽荧光纳米配合物适用于光滑非渗透性及半渗透性客体表面潜血手印的高质量与高效率显现。     

Two-photon microscopy and spectroscopy of lanthanide bioprobes.

The linear and non-linear photophysical properties of tris-dipicolinate europium and terbium complexes (absorption, emission, lifetime, luminescence induced by two-photon absorption) are studied in the crystalline state as well as in protein derivative crystals and compared to those in solution. Upon laser irradiation at 532 nm, luminescence of terbium is induced by a two-photon antenna effect, whereas luminescence of europium results from one-photon absorption in forbidden f-f transitions. Finally, linear and two-photon microscopy imaging experiments on biological and bio-inspired crystals are performed. These first proof-of-concept experiments open the way for the development of time-resolved non-linear microscopy that should combine the advantages of lanthanide luminescence (long lifetime, sharp emission bands, insensitivity to oxygen) with those of confocal biphotonic excitation (near-IR excitation, 3D resolution and reduced photodamage).     

Thermodynamic characteristics of neodymium and terbium pyrazolonate complexes

The sublimation of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-isobutyryl-5-pyrazolonate complexes of neodymium and terbium was studied by the Knudsen effusion method with mass spectrometric gas phase monitoring. The gas phase was shown to contain only monomeric molecular species. The sublimation enthalpy (kJ/mol) for Nd complex is 205.9 ± 2.7 and that for the Tb complex is 208.0 ± 4.0.     

Method for determination of fluoroquinolones based on the plasmonic interaction between their fluorescent terbium complexes and silver nanoparticles

We report on a fluorometric method for the determination of the fluoroquinolones levofloxacin (LEV) and moxifloxacin (MOXI). It is based on the Tb(III)-sensitized luminescence that is plasmonically enhanced by silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The emission of the Tb(III) complexes has maximum at 545?nm after excitation at 284?nm and is strongly enhanced in the presence of the colloidal Ag NPs. Under optimum experimental conditions, luminescence intensity increases linearly with the concentration in the range from 4.16?×?10^-17-3.59?×?10^-15?M of LEV, and from 4.98?×?10^-17-2.49?×?10^-15?M for MOXI with correlation coefficients of 0.9996 and 0.9996, respectively. The limits of detection are 7.19?×?10^-18?M and 8.47?×?10^-18?M, respectively, and the relative standard deviations are 1.3 and 1.5% for 5 replicate measurements at 6.08?×?10^-14?M of LEV and 5.48?×?10^-14?M of MOXI. The method was successfully applied to the determination of LEV and MOXI in pharmaceutical samples, in urine and in serum.

Spectral-luminescent study of the porphyrin-diketones and their complexes

Syntheses of octaethylporphine-diketone (OEPDK) and its platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes (PtOEPDK, PdOEPDK) were optimized, and the dyes were isolated in a pure form in preparative quantities. They were characterized by the NMR, UV-VIS absorption and emission spectroscopy. Electronic spectra of these dyes (absorption and luminescence) were investigated in detail, and compared to corresponding porphyrins and porphyrin-monoketones. OEPDK showed a strong fluorescence at about 700 nm, while PtOEPDK and PdOEPDK showed very weak room-temperature phosphorescence in the region of 850-1100 nm and practically no fluorescence. Protonation mechanisms were studied for these dyes. Protonation at sites other than pyrrole nitrogen atoms was shown to occur, corresponding protomeric spectral forms are presented. The possibilities of the use of porphyrin-diketones as longwave fluorescent and phosphorescent probes are discussed.     

The study on the effect and mechanism of the second ligands on the luminescence properties of terbium complexes

The binary complex of Tb(III) with N-phenylanthranilic acid (N-HPA) was synthesized, and the ternary complexes were synthesized by introducing 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen), 2,2'-dipyridyl (Bipy), trioctylphosphine oxide (TPPO) as the second ligand, respectively. These complexes were characterized by infrared spectra, UV spectra and fluorescence spectra. The effect and mechanism of different second ligands on the fluorescent intensity of the terbium N-phenylanthranilic acid complexes was discussed. It showed that all the complexes exhibited ligand-sensitized green emission. The luminescence intensity increased in the sequence of Tb(N-PA)(3)Phen相似文献   

Syntheses of three terbium complexes as fluorescent probes and their application on the pH detection of routine urine test

By modifying the salicylic-acid moiety with electron-withdrawing or –donating groups, three new terbium complexes(L~Ⅰ·Tb, L~(Ⅱ)·Tb, L·~(Ⅲ)Tb) based on tripodal carboxylate ligands were synthesized. Due to different pull-push electronic effects of ligands, the fluorescence intensities of these terbium complexes significantly varied, that is: L~(Ⅱ)·Tb L~(Ⅲ)·Tb L~Ⅰ·Tb. Meanwhile, the characteristic peaks at 492 nm(~5D_4→~7F_6) and 547 nm(~5 D_4→~7F_5) showed "Off–On–Off" fluorescence response to various p H conditions,which indicated that all of them can be used as the highly sensitive pH fluorescent probes. Notably, using L~(Ⅱ)·Tb with the best fluorescence performance as a probe, some patients' urine samples can be easily monitored through the response triggered by pH value. Therefore, L~(Ⅱ)·Tb has the potential to auxiliarily diagnose some diseases in clinical practice through p H detection of routine urine test.     

Synthesis of banana-like 1,3-dihydroxybenzene and 2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene esters and luminescence of their terbium(III) complexes

New esters of 1,3-dihydroxybenzene and 2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene with 4-(4-alkoxybenzoyloxy)-2-(or 3-)methoxybenzoic acids were synthesized. The correlation between their structure and liquid crystal properties was examined, and the luminescence characteristics of terbium(III) complexes with these esters were studied.     

The nature of the sensitiser substituent determines quenching sensitivity and protein affinity and influences the design of emissive lanthanide complexes as optical probes for intracellular use

Introduction of different substituents at the 7-position of a sensitising azaxanthone group in a series of emissive Eu and Tb complexes can determine the intracellular uptake and distribution profile and may be linked to modulation of protein affinity.     

Visualizing intracellular particles and precise control of drug release using an emissive hydrazone photochrome

The spatiotemporal control over the structure of nanoparticles while monitoring their localization in tumor cells can improve the precision of controlled drug release, thus enhancing the efficiency of drug delivery. Here, we report on a photochromic nanoparticle system (LSNP), assembled from fluorescent bistable hydrazone photoswitch-modified amphiphilic copolymers. The intrinsic emission of the hydrazone switch allows for the visualization of particle uptake, as well as their intracellular distribution. The Z → E photoswitching of the hydrazone switch within the nanoparticle leads to the expansion of the nanoparticles (i.e., drug release) accompanied by emission quenching, the degree of which can function as an internal indicator for the amount of drug released. The bistability of the switch enables the kinetic trapping of particles of different sizes as a function of irradiation time, and allows for the exhibition of light-dependent cell cytotoxicity in MDA-MB-231 cells using LSNP loaded with doxorubicin.

A light-triggered NP drug delivery system was assembled using amphiphilic copolymers modified with fluorescent and bistable hydrazone photoswitches, where switching results in NP expansion and emission quenching, which was used to assess the amount of drug released.     

Two-photon singlet oxygen microscopy: the challenges of working with single cells

A microscope is described in which singlet molecular oxygen, O2(a1deltag), is produced in a femtoliter focal volume via a nonlinear two-photon photosensitized process, and the 1270 nm phosphorescence from this population of O2(a1deltag) is detected in a photon counting experiment. Although two-photon excitation of a sensitizer is less efficient than excitation by a one-photon process, nonlinear excitation has several distinct advantages with respect to the spatial resolution accessible. Pertinent aspects of this two-photon O2(a1deltag) microscope were characterized using bulk solutions of photosensitizers. These data were compared to those obtained from a single biological cell upon linear one-photon excitation of a sensitizer incorporated in the cell. On the basis of the results obtained, we outline the challenges of using nonlinear optical techniques to create O2(aldeltag) at the single cell level and to then optically detect the O2(aldeltag) thus produced in a time-resolved experiment.     

Synthesis, physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of deferiprone-cyclodextrin conjugates and their iron(III) complexes

3-Hydroxy-1,2-dimethylpyridin-4(1H)-one (deferiprone) is a successful iron chelator, which has been widely investigated for its activity in mitigating iron overload and in protecting against oxidative stress due to Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Herein, we present the synthesis, characterisation, physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of two novel bioconjugates of β-cyclodextrin bearing the deferiprone moiety either on the upper rim (1) or on the lower rim (2) of the cyclodextrin and their iron(III) complexes. Protonation and iron stability constants were measured by spectrophotometric titration for the two systems and antioxidant activity studied for both the ligands and the iron(III) complexes.     

The study of terbium generated bacterirhodopsin

The localization of Terbium (Tb³⁺) cations binding to deionized bacteriorhodopsin (bR) has been studied by using spectroscopic methods. It was found that adding Tb³⁺ cations to deionized bR affects the fluorescence lifetimes of tryptophan (Trp) in bR, the wavelength of fluorescence peak shifts “blue” and the peak value of fluorescence decreases. It was also found that adding one Tb³⁺ cation to deionized bR can restore the purple state from its blue state obviously. The measurements of absorbance, fluorescence and lifetime of fluorescence also show that when more than three Tb³⁺ cations are added, no further changes can be found. It is suggested that one Tb³⁺ specific binding site for the color-controlling is located on the exterior of the bR trimer structure to negatively charged lipids near Trp-10 and Trp-12. Three Tb³⁺ cations binding per bR is needed for the regenerated bR.     

活性铽三元荧光配合物的合成、表征及性能研究

本文以对甲基苯甲酸、对氨基苯甲酸、磺基水杨酸、大茴香酸、间氯苯甲酸为第一配体,丙烯腈为活性配体,合成了五种新的铽芳香羧酸丙烯腈三元配合物。通过元素分析,EDTA配位滴定分析,热分析,红外、紫外、荧光光谱分析对目标配合物的组成、结构进行了表征,并研究了它们的发光性能。结果表明,五种新的活性铽三元配合物均具有良好的发光性能,各芳香羧酸向铽离子传递光能的动力为:大茴香酸>对甲基苯甲酸>间氯苯甲酸>磺基水杨酸>对氨基苯甲酸,将这些含活性配体丙烯腈的发光铽配合物引入高分子化合物中可望合成出键合型铽高分子发光材料。     

Synthesis of some oligopyridine-galactose conjugates and their metal complexes: a simple entry to multivalent sugar ligands

Some galactose-oligopyridine conjugates were readily assembled by combining differently functionalized oligopyridines with peracetylated galactose derivatives. Variation in the structure of the components and of the linkers employed for their connection afforded adducts of different size, shape, and conformational mobility. Complexation of the bipyridine ligands with CuOTf and of the terpyridine ligand with Zn(OTf)₂ afforded the corresponding peracetylated 2:1 and 1:1 complexes, respectively, as single species. Their structures were determined to be tetrahedral (Cu complexes) and trigonal-bipyramidal (Zn complex), on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Removal of the acetyl protecting groups from the ligands afforded the corresponding polyols. The terpyridine-Zn(II) complex, unlike the bipyridine-Cu(I) complexes maintained their structures upon removal of the acetyl protecting groups.