Broadband Light-Harvesting Molecular Triads with High FRET Efficiency Based on the Coumarin-Rhodamine-BODIPY Platform

Rational Design and Biological Application of Hybrid Fluorophores

Fluorophores are considered powerful tools for not only enabling the visualization of cell structures, substructures, and biological processes, but also making for the quantitative and qualitative measurement of various analytes in living systems. However, most fluorophores do not meet the diverse requirements for biological applications in terms of their photophysical and biological properties. Hybridization is an important strategy in molecular engineering that provides fluorophores with complementarity and multifunctionality. This review summarizes the basic strategies of hybridization with four classes of fluorophores, including xanthene, cyanine, coumarin, and BODIPY with a focus on their structure-property relationship (SPR) and biological applications. This review aims to provide rational hybrid ideas for expanding the reservoir of knowledge regarding fluorophores and promoting the development of newly produced fluorophores for applications in the field of life sciences.

A luminescent boron difluoride derivative of the YELLOW 101 dye

Inspired on the outstanding behavior of the BODIPY dye, a new fluorescent boron fluoride derivative of the classical 2,2'-dihydroxy-1,1'-naphtalazine or YELLOW 101 dye has been synthesized and investigated in this work. Analogously to YELLOW 101 (λ_emission = 510 nm), the new species, here denoted BYELLOW 101, exhibits strong fluorescence around 570 and 535 nm in the solid form and in organic solvents, respectively. The observed red shift of the luminescence emission can be explored in the superparamagnetic fluorescent materials employed in MPI (magnetic particle inspection) technology, decreasing the influence of the FRET mechanism, - a critical limitation in this type of system. BYELLOW 101 is stable in solid form, but in organic solvents, it hydrolyses very slowly regenerating the initial dye, keeping the fluorescence emission but exhibiting a small blue shift along the time.

Reversible Patterning Cross-Linked, Humidity-Responsive Polymer Films with Programmatically and Accurately Controlled Deformation

A series of novel humidity-responsive and photosensitive polymer films (PCA-PAA-PEG) are prepared. These films can be patterning cross-linked by the photodimerization of coumarin pendant groups. The humidity-induced deformation can be well controlled by the pattern because of the different modulus and hydrophilicity between cross-linked and un-cross-linked segments. In addition, the pattern can be erased and the deformation direction can be changed programmatically by the de-cross-linking-re-cross-linking approach due to the reversible photodimerization of coumarin groups. The cross-linking degree also affects the humidity responsiveness of the film. The deformation of the gradient patterning cross-linked film can be more accurately controlled. Moreover, the length and width ratio (L/W_s/W_h) of the un-cross-linked segment to the cross-linked segment affects the deformation of the films as well. When L/W_s/W_h is 5/2/1 or 5/3/1, the deformation is controllable, and when L/W_s/W_h is 5/1/1 or 5/4/1, the deformation is random at the initial stage, but the whole film will bend along the short axis in the end.

Ready Access to Molecular Rotors Based on Boron Dipyrromethene Dyes-Coumarin Dyads Featuring Broadband Absorption

Herein we report on a straightforward access method for boron dipyrromethene dyes (BODIPYs)-coumarin hybrids linked through their respective 8- and 6- positions, with wide functionalization of the coumarin fragment, using salicylaldehyde as a versatile building block. The computationally-assisted photophysical study unveils broadband absorption upon proper functionalization of the coumarin, as well as the key role of the conformational freedom of the coumarin appended at the meso position of the BODIPY. Such free motion almost suppresses the fluorescence signal, but enables us to apply these dyads as molecular rotors to monitor the surrounding microviscosity.

A highly selective colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe for instantaneous sensing of Hg2+ in water, soil and seafood and its application on test strips

A new simple and efficient oligothiophene-based colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe has been developed for highly sensitive and fast detection of Hg2+ in water, soil and seafood. The probe 5-(1,3-dithiolan-2-yl)-2,2':5',2″-terthiophene 3 TS can selectively detect Hg2+ via the Hg2+-promoted deprotection reaction of thioacetals, which caused a remarkable color change from colorless to yellow and a strong fluorescence enhancement with emission color varying from blue to yellow, enabling naked-eye detection of Hg2+. The probe shows high sensitivity with the detection limit down to 1.03 × 10-8 M. Visual color changes of 3 TS were observed on filter paper and TLC testing strips when they were impregnated on testing strips and immersed in Hg2+ solution. Moreover, the probe 3 TS has been successfully used to rapidly detect trace amounts of hazardous Hg2+ ions in tap, distilled, river and lake water, cropland soil, fish, shrimp and kelp samples with acceptable results and good recoveries.

An indolizine–rhodamine based FRET fluorescence sensor for highly sensitive and selective detection of Hg2+ in living cells

An indolizine–rhodamine-based ratiometric fluorescent probe was designed and successfully synthesized.

A new type of triphenylamine based coumarin–rhodamine hybrid compound: synthesis, photophysical properties, viscosity sensitivity and energy transfer

A series of novel core modified triphenylamine coumarin–rhodamine systems (compounds MCMR, MCDR and DCMR) was designed and synthesized by incorporating a coumarin moiety on one and a rhodamine moiety on the other phenyl ring of the triphenylamine molecular skeleton.

A ratiometric fluorescence sensor for HOCl based on a FRET platform and application in living cells

A ratiometric fluorescent probe CRSH based on a FRET platform for detecting HOCl. CRSH showed high selectivity, excellent sensitivity and a fast response toward HOCl.