Bis- and tris-naphthoimidazolium derivatives for the fluorescent recognition of ATP and GTP in 100% aqueous solution

Naphthoimidazolium groups can form unique ionic hydrogen bonds with anions as imidazolium moieties, and in addition, they are fluorescent, so no further elaborative synthesis is needed to introduce a fluorescent group. In this paper, three naphthoimidazolium derivatives were synthesized and studied for the recognition of nucleotides. Compound 1 composed of a single naphthoimidazolium group and quaternary ammonium group did not show any significant fluorescent changes with various anions and nucleotides, such as ATP, GTP, CTP, TTP, UTP, ADP and AMP. A tripodal compound 3 bearing three naphthoimidazolium groups and three quaternary ammonium groups, respectively, showed large fluorescence enhancements with UTP, CTP and TTP and moderate fluorescence enhancements with ATP and pyrophosphate and a fluorescence quenching effect with GTP. On the other hand, compound 2 bearing two naphthoimidazolium groups and two quaternary ammonium groups displayed a selective fluorescence enhancement with ATP and a selective fluorescence quenching effect with GTP in 100% aqueous solution.

High-efficiency upconversion luminescent sensing and bioimaging of Hg(II) by chromophoric ruthenium complex-assembled nanophosphors

A chromophoric ruthenium complex-assembled nanophosphor (N719-UCNPs) was achieved as a highly selective water-soluble probe for upconversion luminescence sensing and bioimaging of intracellular mercury ions. The prepared nanophosphors were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Further application of N719-UCNPs in sensing Hg(2+) was confirmed by optical titration experiment and upconversion luminescence live cell imaging. Using the ratiometric upconversion luminescence as a detection signal, the detection limit of Hg(2+) for this nanoprobe in water was down to 1.95 ppb, lower than the maximum level (2 ppb) of Hg(2+) in drinking water set by the United States EPA. Importantly, the nanoprobe N719-UCNPs has been shown to be capable of monitoring changes in the distribution of Hg(2+) in living cells by upconversion luminescence bioimaging.

Colorimetric biosensing using smart materials

In recent years, colorimetric biosensing has attracted much attention because of its low cost, simplicity, and practicality. Since color changes can be read out by the naked eye, colorimetric biosensing does not require expensive or sophisticated instrumentation and may be applied to field analysis and point-of-care diagnosis. For transformation of the detection events into color changes, a number of smart materials have been developed, including gold nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, cerium oxide nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, and conjugated polymers. Here, we focus on recent developments in colorimetric biosensing using these smart materials. Along with introducing the mechanisms of color changes based on different smart materials, we concentrate on the design of biosensing assays and their potential applications in biomedical diagnosis and environmental monitoring.

Fluorescent imidazolium-based cyclophane for detection of guanosine-5'-triphosphate and I(-) in aqueous solution of physiological pH

A new water-soluble and fluorescent imidazolium-anthracene cyclophane (1) effectively recognizes the biologically important GTP and I(-) over other anions in a 100% aqueous solution of physiological pH 7.4. Fluorescence and (1)H NMR spectra and ab initio calculations demonstrate that emission arises from the formation of an excimer state and quenching occurs upon GTP/I(-) binding through (C-H)(+)···A(-) hydrogen bond interactions.

Peptide functionalized polydiacetylene liposomes act as a fluorescent turn-on sensor for bacterial lipopolysaccharide

Mixed polydiacetylene (PDA) liposomes functionalized on their surface with a fluorescent pentalysine peptide derivative and histidine in a ratio of 1:9 can identify bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Upon photopolymerization of the self-assembled liposomes the initial fluorescence of the peptide-diacetylene amphiphiles is quenched. Interaction with LPS in aqueous solution or on the surface of E. coli DH5α restores the fluorescence. This increase in fluorescence is selective for LPS relative to other negatively charged analytes including nucleotides and ctDNA. This simple turn-on fluorescent sensor allows detecting LPS even at low micromolar concentrations.

Fluorescent sensing of triphosphate nucleotides via anthracene derivatives

A nucleotide is composed of a nucleobase, a five-carbon sugar, and phosphate groups. Recognition of these three sites can provide useful information for the development of selective fluorescent receptors for a specific nucleotide. In this paper, anthracene derivatives with two imidazolium groups at the 1,8- and 9,10-positions, quaternary ammonium groups, or the boronic acid group were examined for the recognition of nucleotides, such as ATP, GTP, CTP, TTP, UTP, ADP, and AMP, via fluorescence changes. The anthracene group provides the interaction between the bases of the nucleotides. The imidazolium and quaternary ammonium groups induce hydrogen bonding interactions with the phosphate groups of the nucleotides. The boronic acid group can interact with the ribose of the nucleotides.

Working with water insoluble organic molecules in aqueous media: fluorene derivative-containing polymers as sensory materials for the colorimetric sensing of cyanide in water

A strategy followed to achieve a sensing phenomenon in aqueous media using water-insoluble organic molecules: the hydrophilic polymer membrane.