A two-dimensional coordination compound as a zinc ion selective luminescent probe for biological applications

An efficient turn-on fluorescence chemosensor system for Zn(II) ions detection and imaging in mitochondria

Mitochondria-targetable fluorescent chemosensors, Rhodamine-B and rhodamine 6G bearing syringaldehyde based receptors were designed and synthesized for efficient chemosensing of Zinc(II) ions. The probes showed the very selective naked eye color change to pink from colorless upon addition of Zinc(II) ions, further these probes showing turn-on fluorescence enhancement with Zn(II) ions by opening of rhodamine spirolactam. The probes are very sensitive towards Zn(II) ions among other ions. These probes RBS and R6S will be applicable to detect zinc ions upto the low level concentration 0.18 and 0.19 nano molar respectively. The affinity of these sensors RBS and R6S for Zinc (II) ions was found to be in the range of 1.12 × 10⁴ M^-1 and 7.28 × 10⁴ M^-1 respectively. ¹H-nmr titrations of the probes with Zn(II) ions clearly indicating the spiroring opening of the spirolactam. DFT calculations supporting that the perceived photophysical changes of the probes on appendage of the zinc ions. Probes RBS and R6S are useable for selective staining mitochondria. Both of the probes are applicable to reveal labile Zn(II) in live Hela and MCF-7 cells via fluorescence imaging. RBS and R6S are also finding application on quantification of Zinc(II) ions inside mitochondria via fluorescence imaging.

Anion directed structural diversity in zinc complexes with conformationally flexible quinazoline ligand: structural, spectral and theoretical studies

In this paper, we report the synthesis, and structure of four new complexes of conformationally flexible 6-chloro-4-phenyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)quinazoline ligand (L) with Zn(ii). Significance of ring twisting on supramolecular assembly and photophysical properties have also been highlighted.

Influence of para substituents in controlling photophysical behavior and different non-covalent weak interactions in zinc complexes of a phenol based "end-off" compartmental ligand

Three dinuclear zinc(II) complexes with "end-off" compartmental ligands, namely 2,6-bis(N-ethylmorpholine-iminomethyl)-4-R-phenol (R = -CH3, Cl, (t)Bu) have been synthesized with the aim of exploring the role of the para substituent present in the ligand backbone in controlling the structural diversity, photophysical properties and different weak interactions of the complexes. All three species, with the general formula {2[Zn2L(CH3COO)2][Zn(NCS)4]}, show the complex anion Zn(NCS)4(2-) as a common structural feature decisive for crystallization. Interestingly, all of them possess several non-covalent weak interactions where the nature of the "R" group plays an essential role as exposed by DFT study. Besides exhibiting fluorescence behavior, the complexes also show para substitution controlled phosphorescence both at room and low temperature. Anisotropy studies suggest the existence of complexes 2 and 3 as dimers in solution. The origins of the unusual room temperature phosphorescence and fluorescence behavior of the complexes have been rationalized in the light of theoretical calculations.

Zinc complexes as fluorescent chemosensors for nucleic acids: new perspectives for a "boring" element

Zinc(II) complexes are effective and selective nucleic acid-binders and strongly fluorescent molecules in the low energy range, from the visible to the near infrared. These two properties have often been exploited to quantitatively detect nucleic acids in biological samples, in both in vitro and in vivo models. In particular, the fluorescent emission of several zinc(II) complexes is drastically enhanced or quenched by the binding to nucleic acids and/or upon visible light exposure, in a different fashion in bulk solution and when bound to DNA. The twofold objective of this perspective is (1) to review recent utilisations of zinc(II) complexes as selective fluorescent probes for nucleic acids and (2) to highlight their novel potential applications as diagnostic tools based on their photophysical properties.

Visualization of Zn²⁺ ions in live zebrafish using a luminescent iridium(III) chemosensor

A novel luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III) complex-based chemosensor (1) bearing a zinc-specific receptor, tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, and the 3-phenyl-1H-pyrazole ligand has been designed and synthesized. Upon the addition of Zn(2+) ions to a solution of iridium(III) complex 1, a pronounced luminescence color change from blue to green can be observed, which may be attributed to the suppression of photoinduced electron transfer upon complexation of complex 1 with Zn(2+) ions. The interaction of iridium(III) complex 1 with Zn(2+) ions was investigated by UV-vis absorption titration, emission titration, and (1)H NMR titration. Furthermore, the iridium(III) complex 1 exhibited good selectivity for Zn(2+) over 13 other common metal ions, including K(+), Ag(+), Na(+), Ni(2+), Fe(3+), Hg(2+), Cd(2+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Cu(2+), Mn(2+), Co(2+), and Pb(2+) ions. The practical application of the iridium(III) complex 1 in visualizing intracellular Zn(2+) distribution in live zebrafish was also demonstrated.

Phosphorescent sensor for biological mobile zinc

A new phosphorescent zinc sensor (ZIrF) was constructed, based on an Ir(III) complex bearing two 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine (dfppy) cyclometalating ligands and a neutral 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) ligand. A zinc-specific di(2-picolyl)amine (DPA) receptor was introduced at the 4-position of the phen ligand via a methylene linker. The cationic Ir(III) complex exhibited dual phosphorescence bands in CH(3)CN solutions originating from blue and yellow emission of the dfppy and phen ligands, respectively. Zinc coordination selectively enhanced the latter, affording a phosphorescence ratiometric response. Electrochemical techniques, quantum chemical calculations, and steady-state and femtosecond spectroscopy were employed to establish a photophysical mechanism for this phosphorescence response. The studies revealed that zinc coordination perturbs nonemissive processes of photoinduced electron transfer and intraligand charge-transfer transition occurring between DPA and phen. ZIrF can detect zinc ions in a reversible and selective manner in buffered solution (pH 7.0, 25 mM PIPES) with K(d) = 11 nM and pK(a) = 4.16. Enhanced signal-to-noise ratios were achieved by time-gated acquisition of long-lived phosphorescence signals. The sensor was applied to image biological free zinc ions in live A549 cells by confocal laser scanning microscopy. A fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope detected an increase in photoluminescence lifetime for zinc-treated A549 cells as compared to controls. ZIrF is the first successful phosphorescent sensor that detects zinc ions in biological samples.

Synthesis of thiol capped CdS nanocrystallites using microwave irradiation and studies on their steady state and time resolved photoluminescence

Synthesis of cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanocrystallites has been performed through the microwave (MW) assisted reaction of cadmium acetate with thiourea in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) in the presence of two capping agents, 1-butanethiol and 2-mercaptoethanol. Attempts were made to control the size and size distribution of the thiol capped CdS nanocrystallites by controlling the number of MW irradiations/exposures for a fixed time (duration). The prepared nanocrystallites have been characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, FESEM and TEM. The peak position of the absorption band of the 1-butanethiol caped CdS nanocrystals in DMF solution shifted towards longer wavelength with the increasing number of MW exposures indicating the growth of particle size. In contrast, the peak position of absorption band for the 2-mercaptoethanol capped CdS nanocrystals remained nearly at the same wavelength and only the intensity of the absorption band increased with the increasing number of MW exposures. The observed steady state photoluminescence (visible range) of the 1-butanethiol capped CdS nanocrystals in DMF solution shifted towards higher wavelength, showing a decrease in intensity, with the increase in the number of MW exposures. Whereas in the case of 2-mercaptoethanol capped CdS nanocrystals in DMF solution, the photoluminescence peak remained nearly at the same position showing a decrease in intensity with increase in the number of MW exposures. The interesting results on the size-dependent steady state and time resolved photoluminescence (PL) of the CdS nanocrystallites are discussed in the present article. Possible application of such studies in the area of biotechnology has been mentioned.

Zn2+-triggered amide tautomerization produces a highly Zn2+-selective, cell-permeable, and ratiometric fluorescent sensor

It is still a significant challenge to develop a Zn(2+)-selective fluorescent sensor with the ability to exclude the interference of some heavy and transition metal (HTM) ions such as Fe(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Cd(2+), and Hg(2+). Herein, we report a novel amide-containing receptor for Zn(2+), combined with a naphthalimide fluorophore, termed ZTRS. The fluorescence, absorption detection, NMR, and IR studies indicated that ZTRS bound Zn(2+) in an imidic acid tautomeric form of the amide/di-2-picolylamine receptor in aqueous solution, while most other HTM ions were bound to the sensor in an amide tautomeric form. Due to this differential binding mode, ZTRS showed excellent selectivity for Zn(2+) over most competitive HTM ions with an enhanced fluorescence (22-fold) as well as a red-shift in emission from 483 to 514 nm. Interestingly, the ZTRS/Cd(2+) complex showed an enhanced (21-fold) blue-shift in emission from 483 to 446 nm. Therefore, ZTRS discriminated in vitro and in vivo Zn(2+) and Cd(2+) with green and blue fluorescence, respectively. Due to the stronger affinity, Zn(2+) could be ratiometrically detected in vitro and in vivo with a large emission wavelength shift from 446 to 514 nm via a Cd(2+) displacement approach. ZTRS was also successfully used to image intracellular Zn(2+) ions in the presence of iron ions. Finally, we applied ZTRS to detect zinc ions during the development of living zebrafish embryos.

Imaging mobile zinc in biology

Trafficking and regulation of mobile zinc pools influence cellular functions and pathological conditions in multiple organs, including brain, pancreas, and prostate. The quest for a dynamic description of zinc distribution and mobilization in live cells fuels the development of increasingly sophisticated probes. Detection systems that respond to zinc binding with changes of their fluorescence emission properties have provided sensitive tools for mobile zinc imaging, and fluorescence microscopy experiments have afforded depictions of zinc distribution within live cells and tissues. Both small-molecule and protein-based fluorescent probes can address complex imaging challenges, such as analyte quantification, site-specific sensor localization, and real-time detection.