Ultrabright Oxygen Optodes Based on Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Coumarin Complexes

A novel planar optical sensor for simultaneous monitoring of oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH and temperature

The first quadruple luminescent sensor is presented which enables simultaneous detection of three chemical parameters and temperature. A multi-layer material is realized and combines two spectrally independent dually sensing systems. The first layer employs ethylcellulose containing the carbon dioxide sensing chemistry (fluorescent pH indicator 8-hydroxy-pyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate (HPTS) and a lipophilic tetraalkylammonium base). The cross-linked polymeric beads stained with a phosphorescent iridium(III) complex are also dispersed in ethylcellulose and serve both for oxygen sensing and as a reference for HPTS. The second (pH/temperature) dually sensing system relies on the use of a pH-sensitive lipophilic seminaphthorhodafluor derivative and luminescent chromium(III)-activated yttrium aluminum borate particles (simultaneously acting as a temperature probe and as a reference for the pH indicator) which are embedded in polyurethane hydrogel layer. A silicone layer is used to spatially separate both dually sensing systems and to insure permeation selectivity for the CO₂/O₂ layer. The CO₂/O₂ and the pH/temperature layers are excitable with a blue and a red LED, respectively, and the emissions are isolated with help of optical filters. The measurements are performed at two modulation frequencies for each sensing system and the modified Dual Lifetime Referencing method is used to access the analytical information. The feasibility of the simultaneous four-parameter sensing is demonstrated. However, the practical applicability of the material may be compromised by its high complexity and by the performance of individual indicators.

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Influence of Matrices on Oxygen Sensing of Three Sensing Films with Chemically Conjugated Platinum Porphyrin Probes and Preliminary Application for Monitoring of Oxygen Consumption of Escherichia coli (E. coli)

Oxygen sensing films were synthesized by a chemical conjugation of functional platinum porphyrin probes in silica gel, polystyrene (PS), and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) matrices. Responses of the sensing films to gaseous oxygen and dissolved oxygen were studied and the influence of the matrices on the sensing behaviors was investigated. Silica gel films had the highest fluorescence intensity ratio from deoxygenated to oxygenated environments and the fastest response time to oxygen. PHEMA films had no response to gaseous oxygen, but had greater sensitivity and a faster response time for dissolved oxygen than those of PS films. The influence of matrices on oxygen response, sensitivity and response time was discussed. The influence is most likely attributed to the oxygen diffusion abilities of the matrices. Since the probes were chemically immobilized in the matrices, no leaching of the probes was observed from the sensing films when applied in aqueous environment. One sensing film made from the PHEMA matrix was used to preliminarily monitor the oxygen consumption of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. E. coli cell density and antibiotics ampicillin concentration dependent oxygen consumption was observed, indicating the potential application of the oxygen sensing film for biological application.

Multiple fluorescent chemical sensing and imaging

Optical sensors, unlike most others, enable multiple sensing of (bio)chemical species by making use of probes whose signals can be differentiated by spectral and/or temporal resolution. Multiple sensors are of substantial interest for continuous monitoring of chemical parameters in complex samples such as blood, bioreactor fluids, in the chemical industry, aerodynamic research, and when monitoring food quality control, to mention typical examples. Moreover, such sensors enable non-invasive, non-toxic and online detection. We discuss in this critical review the state of the art in terms of spectroscopic principles, materials (mainly indicator probes and polymers), and give selected examples for dual and triple sensors along with a look into the future (109 references).

Magnetically remote-controlled optical sensor spheres for monitoring oxygen or pH

Magnetic sensor macrospheres (MagSeMacs), i.e., stainless steel spheres coated with optical chemical sensors, are presented as an alternative to existing optical sensor patches and fiber-optical dip-probes. Such spheres can either be reversibly attached to the tip of an optical fiber (dip-probe) or trapped inside a vessel for read-out through the side wall. Moving the magnetic separator at the exterior enables measurements at varying positions with a single sensor. Moreover, the sensor's replacement is rapid and contactless. We measured dissolved oxygen or pH in stirred liquids, rotating flasks, and 24-well plates with a SensorDish-reader device for parallel cell culture monitoring. In these applications, MagSeMacs proved to be advantageous over conventional sensor patches and magnetic optical sensor particles because of their magnetism, spherical shape, reflectance, and size. These properties resulted in strong but reversible fixation, magnetic remote-controllability, short response times, high signal intensities, and simplified handling.

A New Crosslinkable Oxygen Sensor Covalently Bonded into Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-CO-Polyacrylamide Thin Film for Dissolved Oxygen Sensing

A new oxygen sensor, compound 2, was synthesized through a chemical modification of a popularly used oxygen sensor of platinum(II)-5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)-porphyrin (PtTFPP). The new sensor compound 2 possesses four crosslinkable methacrylate functional moieties, enabling it to be polymerized and crosslinked with other monomers for polymer sensing film (also called membrane) preparation. Using this characteristic, compound 2 was covalently bonded to hydrophilic poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-co-polyacrylamide (referred to as PHEMA to simplify) and hydrophobic polystyrene (PS) films. To better understand the advantages and disadvantages of chemical crosslinking approaches and the influence of polymer matrices on sensing performance, PtTFPP was physically incorporated into the same PHEMA and PS matrices to compare. Response to dissolved oxygen (DO), leaching of the sensor molecules from their matrices, photostability of the sensors, and response time to DO changes were studied. It was concluded that the chemical crosslinking of the sensor compound 2 in polymer matrices: (i) alleviated the leaching problem of sensor molecules which usually occurred in the physically doped sensing systems and (ii) significantly improved sensors' photostability. The PHEMA matrix was demonstrated to be more suitable for oxygen sensing than PS, because for the same sensor molecule, the oxygen sensitivity in PHEMA film was higher than that in PS and response time to DO change in the PHEMA film was faster than that in PS. It was the first time oxygen sensing films were successfully prepared using biocompatible hydrophilic PHEMA as a matrix, which does not allow leaching of the sensor molecules from the polymer matrix, has a faster response to DO changes than that of PS, and does not present cytotoxicity to human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cells (A549). It is expected that the new sensor compound 2 and its similar compounds with chemically crosslinking characteristics can be widely applied to generate many interesting oxygen sensing materials for studying biological phenomena.

Phosphorescent platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes with azatetrabenzoporphyrins-new red laser diode-compatible indicators for optical oxygen sensing

A new class of oxygen indicators is described. Platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes of azatetrabenzoporphyrins occupy an intermediate position between tetrabenzoporphyrins and phthalocyanines and combine features of both. The new dyes are excitable in the red part of the spectrum and possess strong room-temperature NIR phosphorescence. Other features include excellent spectral compatibility with the red laser diodes and 632.8 nm line of He-Ne laser, excellent photostability, and significantly shorter decay times than for the respective meso-tetraphenyltetrabenzoporphyrins. Applicability of the complexes for optical oxygen sensing is demonstrated.

Luminescent chemical sensing, biosensing, and screening using upconverting nanoparticles

Upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) display the unique property of converting near-infrared light (with wavelengths of typically 800-1,000 nm) into visible luminescence. Following a short introduction into the mechanisms leading to the effect, the main classes of materials used are discussed. We then review the state of the art of using UCNPs: (1) to label biomolecules such as antibodies and (synthetic) oligomers for use in affinity assay and flow assays; (2) to act as nanolamps whose emission intensity is modulated by chemical indicators, thus leading to a novel kind of chemical sensors; and (3), to act as donors in luminescence resonance energy transfer in chemical sensors and biosensors.

Red light-excitable oxygen sensing materials based on platinum(II) and palladium(II) benzoporphyrins

New optical oxygen-sensing materials make use of highly luminescent NIR platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes with benzoporphyrins. Bulk optodes based on polystyrene and sensing nanobeads based on poly(styrene-block-vinylpyrrolidone) and polysulfone are prepared and characterized. The versatility of the new materials is demonstrated. The features include excellent compatibility with most common excitation sources, high brightness, and suitability for subcutaneous oxygen monitoring.

Analysis of activity and inhibition of oxygen-dependent enzymes by optical respirometry on the LightCycler system

There is currently a need for a method capable of measuring the activity and inhibition of biologically relevant oxygenases in a format that enables the convenient, fast, and cost-efficient generation of dose-response information. Here we describe a low-volume luminescence-based assay for the measurement of such oxygen-dependent enzymes. The assay employs a photoluminescent oxygen-sensitive probe and glass capillary microcuvettes measured on the Roche LightCycler detection platform. Three discrete types of oxygen probe were evaluated for this application: (i) solid-state coatings, (ii) soluble macromolecular MitoXpress probe, both phosphorescent porphyrin-based, and (iii) a luminescent Ir(III)-based nanoparticle probe. Measurement parameters were optimised and subsequently applied to the analysis of three biologically relevant oxygenases, namely cytochrome P450 (CYP), monoamine oxygenase (MAO), and cyclooxygenase (COX). CYP enzymes are central players in drug detoxification while specific inhibitors of MAO and COX are important for therapeutic intervention and treatment of neurological and inflammatory diseases, respectively. To determine assay utility, oxygen consumption catalysed by all three enzyme types was measured and the effect of specific inhibitors determined. The panel included the MAO-A/B inhibitors clorgyline, toloxatone, deprenyl, and the COX-1/2 inhibitors niflumic acid, nimesulide, SC-560, ketoprofen, and phenylbutazone. IC(50) values were then compared with literature values. The measurement methodology described allows the low-volume analysis of biologically relevant oxygenases and displays the requisite sensitivity and throughput to facilitate routine analysis. It is also applicable to other O(2)-dependent enzymes and enzymatic systems.

DFT/TD-DFT investigation on Ir(III) complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands: geometries, electronic structures, absorption, and phosphorescence properties

Iridium(III) complexes with N-heterocyclic (NHC) ligands including fac-Ir(pmb)(3) (1), mer-Ir(pmb)(3) (2), (pmb)(2)Ir(acac) (3), mer-Ir(pypi)(3) (4), and fac-Ir(pypi)(3) (5) [pmb = 1-phenyl-3H-benzimidazolin-2-ylidene, acac = acetoylacetonate, pypi = 1-phenyl-5H-benzimidazolin-2-ylidene; fac = facial, mer = meridional] were investigated theoretically. The geometry structures of 1-5 in the ground and excited state were optimized with restricted and unrestricted DFT (density functional theory) methods, respectively (LANL2DZ for Ir atom and 6-31G for other atoms). The HOMOs (highest occupied molecular orbitals) of 1-3 are composed of d(Ir) and pi(phenyl), while those of 4 and 5 are contributed by d(Ir) and pi(carbene). The LUMOs (lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals) of 1, 2, 4, and 5 are localized on carbene, but that of 3 is localized on acac. The calculated lowest-lying absorptions with TD-DFT method based on Perdew-Burke-Erzenrhof (PBE) functional of 1 (310 nm), 2 (332 nm), and 3 (347 nm) have ML(carbene)CT/IL(phenyl-->carbene)CT (MLCT = metal-to-ligand charge transfer; ILCT = intraligand charge transfer) transition characters, whereas those of 4 (385 nm) and 5 (389 nm) are assigned to ML(carbene)CT/IL(carbene-->carbene)CT transitions. The phosphorescences calculated by TD-DFT method with PBE0 functional of 1 (386 nm) and 2 (388 nm) originate from (3)ML(carbene)CT/(3)IL(phenyl-->carbene)CT excited states, but those of 4 (575 nm) and 5 (578 nm) come from (3)ML(carbene)CT/(3)IL(carbene-->carbene)CT excited states. The calculated results showed that the carbene and phenyl groups act as two independent chromophores in transition processes. Compared with 1 and 2, the absorptions of 4 and 5 are red-shifted by increasing the effective pi-conjugation groups near the C(carbene) atom. We predicated that (pmb)(2)Ir(acac) is nonemissive, because the LUMO of 3 is contributed by the nonemissive acac ligand.

Light Harvesting as a Simple and Versatile Way to Enhance Brightness of Luminescent Sensors

The emissive output of indicator dyes in luminescent sensors can be amplified by the addition of antenna dyes with a higher brightness. The highly concentrated antenna dye molecules absorb the excitation light and transfer the energy to an indicator dye. This harvesting of light makes thin sensor layers (thickness <500 nm) and nanometer sized sensor particles with exceptionally high brightness and compatible with the most powerful LEDs available. The performance of sensor layers of ∼250 nm thickness employing light harvesting was investigated and compared with established sensors. The principle is demonstrated for oxygen and ammonia sensors. An overview of possible application of light harvesting to various reagent mediated optical sensing schemes is given.

Dendritic phosphorescent probes for oxygen imaging in biological systems

Oxygen levels in biological systems can be measured by the phosphorescence quenching method using probes with controllable quenching parameters and defined biodistributions. We describe a general approach to the construction of phosphorescent nanosensors with tunable spectral characteristics, variable degrees of quenching, and a high selectivity for oxygen. The probes are based on bright phosphorescent Pt and Pd complexes of porphyrins and symmetrically pi-extended porphyrins (tetrabenzoporphyrins and tetranaphthoporphyrins). pi-Extension of the core macrocycle allows tuning of the spectral parameters of the probes in order to meet the requirements of a particular imaging application (e.g., oxygen tomography versus planar microscopic imaging). Metalloporphyrins are encapsulated into poly(arylglycine) dendrimers, which fold in aqueous environments and create diffusion barriers for oxygen, making it possible to regulate the sensitivity and the dynamic range of the method. The periphery of the dendrimers is modified with poly(ethylene glycol) residues, which enhance the probe's solubility, diminish toxicity, and help prevent interactions of the probes with the biological environment. The probe's parameters were measured under physiological conditions and shown to be unaffected by the presence of biomacromolecules. The performance of the probes was demonstrated in applications, including in vivo microscopy of vascular pO(2) in the rat brain.

A planar waveguide optical sensor employing simple light coupling

The novel optical sensor concept utilizes the sensing layer as light propagating layer and employs a new method to couple light into a planar waveguide.

An optical sensor concept utilizing the sensing layer as the light propagating layer and a new method to couple light into a planar waveguide is presented. The concept enables simple manufacturing by coating or printing techniques and the integration of organic (plastic) opto-electronic components.

Ratiometric single-nanoparticle oxygen sensors for biological imaging

It makes sense: Conjugated polymer nanoparticles doped with a platinum porphyrin dye exhibit bright phosphorescence that is highly sensitive to the concentration of molecular oxygen. The small size, extraordinary brightness, excellent sensitivity, and ratiometric emission, together with the demonstration of single-particle sensing and cellular uptake, indicate the potential of the nanoparticle sensors for quantitative mapping of local molecular oxygen concentration.

Fluorescent microparticles for sensing cell microenvironment oxygen levels within 3D scaffolds

We present the development and characterization of fluorescent oxygen-sensing microparticles designed for measuring oxygen concentration in microenvironments existing within standard cell culture and transparent three-dimensional (3D) cell scaffolds. The microparticle synthesis employs poly(dimethylsiloxane) to encapsulate silica gel particles bound with an oxygen-sensitive luminophore as well as a reference or normalization fluorophore that is insensitive to oxygen. We developed a rapid, automated and non-invasive sensor analysis method based on fluorescence microscopy to measure oxygen concentration in a hydrogel scaffold. We demonstrate that the microparticles are non-cytotoxic and that their response is comparable to that of a traditional dissolved oxygen meter. Microparticle size (5-40 microm) was selected for microscale-mapping of oxygen concentration to allow measurements local to individual cells. Two methods of calibration were evaluated and revealed that the sensor system enables characterization of a range of hypoxic to hyperoxic conditions relevant to cell and tissue biology (i.e., pO(2) 10-160 mmHg). The calibration analysis also revealed that the microparticles have a high fraction of quenched luminophore (0.90+/-0.02), indicating that the reported approach provides significant advantages for sensor performance. This study thus reports a versatile oxygen-sensing technology that enables future correlations of local oxygen concentration with individual cell response in cultured engineered tissues.