Development of a ruthenium(II) complex-based luminescent probe for hypochlorous acid in living cells

White emission magnetic nanoparticles as chemosensors for sensitive colorimetric and ratiometric detection, and degradation of ClO⁻ and SCN⁻ in aqueous solutions based on a logic gate approach

Fluorescent chemosensors for detecting single anions have been largely synthesized. However, the simultaneous detection and degradation of multiple anions remain a major challenge. Herein we report the synthesis of a white emission nanoprobe on the basis of a Coumarin-Rhodamine CR1-Eu complex coordinated to dipicolinic acid (dpa)-PEG-Fe3O4 nanoparticles for the selective detection of ClO(-) and SCN(-) ions on controlling by a logic gate. The obtained nanoprobe exhibits three individual primary colors (blue, green, and red) as well as white emission at different excitation energies. Interestingly, this nanoprobe shows a marked rose red to violet emission color change in response to ClO(-), a reversible violet to rose red emission color change in response to SCN(-), and high ClO(-) and SCN(-) selectivity and sensitivity with a detection limit of 0.037 and 0.250 nM, respectively. Furthermore, the SCN(-) and ClO(-) can degrade simultaneously through the redox reaction between ClO(-) and SCN(-).

A reversible fluorescence chemosensor for sequentially quantitative monitoring copper and sulfide in living cells

We report a novel, selective and sensitive strategy for the sequentially "ON-OFF-ON" fluorescent detection of Cu(2+) and S(2-) based on a fluorescein derivative, FL. The specific binding of FL towards Cu(2+) in aqueous and biological media led to the intensive green fluorescence quenching and a notable increase of the absorbance maximum at 480 nm. In the presence of S(2-), the intensity and overall pattern of the fluorescence emission and UV-vis spectra of FL-Cu(2+) ensemble were recovered since the abolishment of paramagnetic Cu(2+). This displacement approach exhibited highly specificity, and sensitivity with detection limits of 3 nM for Cu(2+) and 150 nM for S(2-). The fluorescence "ON-OFF-ON" circle can be repeated to a minimum of 5 times by the alternative addition of Cu(2+) and S(2-), implying that FL is a renewable dual-functional chemosensor. The biocompatibility of FL toward breast carcinoma cells, MDA-MB-231 was confirmed by MTT assay. The reversible "ON-OFF-ON" fluorescent response of FL to Cu(2+) and S(2-) in living system was further confirmed by confocal fluorescence imaging of living cells. The quantification of Cu(2+) and S(2-) in single intact cell was realized by the flow cytometry analysis.

Exploitation and application of a highly sensitive Ru(II) complex-based phosphorescent chemodosimeter for Hg2+ in aqueous solutions and living cells

A novel Ru(II) complex-based phosphorescent probe Rubpy-1 was designed and synthesized conveniently by incorporating of chemodosimeter into the luminophor, which exhibits good water solubility, longer excitation wavelength, and rapid turn-on phosphorescent response only toward Hg(2+) in aqueous system under physiological pH. The spectral response mechanism and Hg(2+)-promoted structure change of the chemodosimeter were analyzed in detail by theoretical calculations and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. When time-resolved photoluminescence techniques were used, the Rubpy-1 could eliminate effectively the signal interference from the short-lived background fluorescence in complicated media, accompanied by the significant improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio and the accuracy of the detection. Furthermore, Rubpy-1 showed low cytotoxicity and excellent membrane permeability toward living cells, which was successfully applied to monitor intracellular Hg(2+) effectively by confocal luminescence imaging.

The kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of pyruvate ion by hypochlorous acid

Kinetic experiments and DFT calculations confirm a concerted oxygen atom transfer mechanism for the oxidation of pyruvic acid by HOCl.

A functional ruthenium(ii) complex for imaging biothiols in living bodies

A functional ruthenium(ii) complex that can act as a luminescent probe for imaging biothiols in living bodies has been successfully developed.

Core-shell structured phosphorescent nanoparticles for detection of exogenous and endogenous hypochlorite in live cells via ratiometric imaging and photoluminescence lifetime imaging microscopy

Core-shell phosphorescent nanoparticles were used to detect intracellular ClO^– via ratiometric and photoluminescence lifetime imaging.

We report a ratiometric phosphorescence sensory system for hypochlorite (ClO^–) based on core–shell structured silica nanoparticles. Two phosphorescent iridium(iii) complexes were immobilised in the inner solid core and outer mesoporous layer of the nanoparticles, respectively. The former is insensitive to ClO^– and thus serves as an internal standard to increase the accuracy and precision, while the latter exhibits a specific and significant luminogenic response to ClO^–, providing high selectivity and sensitivity. Upon exposure to ClO^–, the nanoparticles display a sharp luminescence colour change from blue to red. Additionally, intracellular detection of exogenous and endogenous ClO^– has been demonstrated via ratiometric imaging and photoluminescence lifetime imaging microscopy. Compared to intensity-based sensing, ratiometric and lifetime-based measurements are independent of the probe concentration and are thus less affected by external influences, especially in intracellular applications.

Labeling phospholipid membranes with lipid mimetic luminescent metal complexes

Lipid-mimetic metallosurfactant based luminophores are promising candidates for labeling phospholipid membranes without altering their biophysical characteristics. The metallosurfactants studied exhibit high structural and physicochemical similarity to phospholipid molecules, designed to incorporate into the membrane structure without the need for covalent attachment to a lipid molecule. In this work, two lipid-mimetic phosphorescent metal complexes are described: [Ru(bpy)2(dn-bpy)](2+) and [Ir(ppy)2(dn-bpy)](+) where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine, dn-bpy is 4,4'-dinonyl-2,2'-bipyridine and ppy is 2-phenylpyridine. Apart from being lipid-mimetic in size, shape and physical properties, both complexes exhibit intense photoluminescence and enhanced photostability compared with conventional organic fluorophores, allowing for prolonged observation. Moreover, the large Stokes shift and long luminescence lifetime associated with these complexes make them more suitable for spectroscopic studies. The complexes are easily incorporated into dimyristoil-phosphatidyl-choline (DMPC) liposomes by mixing in the organic solvent phase. DLS reveals the labeled membranes form liposomes of similar size to that of neat DMPC membrane. Synchrotron Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) measurements confirmed that up to 5% of either complex could be incorporated into DMPC membranes without producing any structural changes in the membrane. Fluorescence microscopy reveals that 0.5% label content is sufficient for imaging. Atomic Force Microscopic imaging confirms that liposomes of the labeled bilayers on a mica surface can fuse into a flat lamellar membrane that is morphologically identical to neat lipid membranes. These results demonstrate the potential of such lipid-mimetic luminescent metal complexes as a new class of labels for imaging lipid membranes.

A highly selective fluorescent probe for hypochlorite and its endogenous imaging in living cells

An oxime based fluorescent probe has been designed and synthesized, which detects free as well as enzymatically generated hypochlorite. Further, the probe was successfully utilized for the monitoring endogenously produced hypochlorite.

Colorimetric and luminescent bifunctional Ru(ii) complexes for rapid and highly sensitive recognition of cyanide

Four novel ruthenium(ii) complexes have been characterized for the colorimetric and luminescent bi-functional sensing of cyanide ions. The structure of one complex is also determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.