Molecular fluorescence, phosphorescence, and chemiluminescence spectrometry

Calculating absorption and fluorescence spectra for chromophores in solution with ensemble Franck-Condon methods

Accurately modeling absorption and fluorescence spectra for molecules in solution poses a challenge due to the need to incorporate both vibronic and environmental effects, as well as the necessity of accurate excited state electronic structure calculations. Nuclear ensemble approaches capture explicit environmental effects, Franck-Condon methods capture vibronic effects, and recently introduced ensemble-Franck-Condon approaches combine the advantages of both methods. In this study, we present and analyze simulated absorption and fluorescence spectra generated with combined ensemble-Franck-Condon approaches for three chromophore-solvent systems and compare them to standard ensemble and Franck-Condon spectra, as well as to the experiment. Employing configurations obtained from ground and excited state ab initio molecular dynamics, three combined ensemble-Franck-Condon approaches are directly compared to each other to assess the accuracy and relative computational time. We find that the approach employing an average finite-temperature Franck-Condon line shape generates spectra nearly identical to the direct summation of an ensemble of Franck-Condon spectra at one-fourth of the computational cost. We analyze how the spectral simulation method, as well as the level of electronic structure theory, affects spectral line shapes and associated Stokes shifts for 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl and Nile red in dimethyl sulfoxide and 7-methoxy coumarin-4-acetic acid in methanol. For the first time, our studies show the capability of combined ensemble-Franck-Condon methods for both absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy and provide a powerful tool for simulating linear optical spectra.

Synthesis and Study of Chemical, Thermal, Mesomorphic, and Optical Properties of Terphenyls Modified with Nitrile Groups

We report the synthesis, characterization, and the thermotropic and photoluminescence properties of dialkoxyterphenyls with (T12-CN and T12-2CN) and without (T12) nitrile groups. These terphenyls were prepared through the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction using a palladium-based catalyst. The products obtained were analyzed as powders or after being drop-casted or spin-coated on glass. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy techniques confirmed the structure and purity of the synthesized terphenyls. The mesomorphic behavior was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). T12 developed various mesophases, whereas T12-CN and T12-2CN displayed one single mesophase of low order over a wide temperature range. The films topology was studied by AFM and the optical properties were determined by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and spectrofluorometry. Higher roughness was found for the films prepared with the asymmetric terphenyl (T12-CN). The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum obtained for the asymmetric terphenyl (T12-CN) exhibited the expected characteristics with an emission band centered at 381 nm and an overtone around 760 nm.

Chemiluminescence determination of human serum albumin based on Co2+-catalyzed 2-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-4,5-di(2-furyl) imidazole/H2O2system

Co²⁺could effectively enhance the sensitivity of the 2-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-4,5-di(2-furyl) imidazole/H₂O₂chemiluminescence reaction.

Accurate sequential detection of primary tumor and metastatic lymphatics using a temperature-induced phase transition nanoparticulate system

Primary tumor and tumor-associated metastatic lymphatics have emerged as new targets for anticancer therapy, given that these are difficult to treat using traditional chemotherapy. In this study, docetaxel-loaded Pluronic nanoparticles with Flamma™ (FPR-675, fluorescence molecular imaging dye; DTX/FPR-675 Pluronic NPs) were prepared using a temperature-induced phase transition for accurate detection of metastatic lymphatics. Significant accumulation was seen at the primary tumor and in metastatic lymph nodes within a short time. Particle size, maximum drug loading capacity, and drug encapsulation efficiency of the docetaxel-loaded Pluronic NPs were approximately 10.34±4.28 nm, 3.84 wt%, and 94±2.67 wt%, respectively. Lymphatic tracking after local and systemic delivery showed that DTX/FPR-675 Pluronic NPs were more potent in tumor-bearing mice than in normal mice, and excised mouse lymphatics showed stronger near-infrared fluorescence intensity on the tumor-bearing side than on the non-tumor-bearing side at 60 minutes post-injection. In vivo cytotoxicity and efficacy data for the NPs demonstrated that the systemically administered NPs caused little tissue damage and had minimal side effects in terms of slow renal excretion and prolonged circulation in tumor-bearing mice, and rapid renal excretion in non-tumor-bearing mice using an in vivo real-time near-infrared fluorescence imaging system. These results clearly indicate that docetaxel-loaded Pluronic NPs could provide a strategy to achieve effective cancer therapy by simultaneous delivery to primary tumors, tumor lymphatics, and tumor-associated metastatic lymphatics.

[Determination of phenobarbital in human urine and serum using flow injection chemiluminescence]

A sensitive chemiluminescence method, based on the enhancive effect of phenobarbital on the chemiluminescence reaction between luminol and dissolved oxygen in a flow injection system, was proposed for the determination of phenobarbital. The chemiluminescence intensity responded to the concentration of phenobarbital linearly ranging from 0.05 to 10 ng x ml(-1) with the detection limit of 0.02 ng x ml(-1) (3 sigma). At a flow rate of 2.0 ml x min(-1), a complete determination of phenobarbital, including sampling and washing, could be accomplished in 0.5 min, offering the sampling efficiency of 120 h(-1) accordingly. The method was applied successfully in an assay of PB for pharmaceutical preparations, human urine and serum without any pretreatment with recovery from 95.7 to 106.7% and RSDs of less than 3.0%.

Luminescence sensors applied to water analysis of organic pollutants--an update

The development of chemical sensors for environmental analysis based on fluorescence, phosphorescence and chemiluminescence signals continues to be a dynamic topic within the sensor field. This review covers the fundamentals of this type of sensors, and an update on recent works devoted to quantifying organic pollutants in environmental waters, focusing on advances since about 2005. Among the wide variety of these contaminants, special attention has been paid polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, explosives and emerging organic pollutants. The potential of coupling optical sensors with multivariate calibration methods in order to improve the selectivity is also discussed.

Label-free fluorescent detection of thrombin using G-quadruplex-based DNAzyme as sensing platform

We report herein a label-free and sensitive fluorescent method for detection of thrombin using a G-quadruplex-based DNAzyme as the sensing platform. The thrombin-binding aptamer (TBA) is able to bind hemin to form the G-quadruplex-based DNAzyme, and thrombin can significantly enhance the activity of the G-quadruplex-based DNAzyme. The G-quadruplex-based DNAzyme is found to effectively catalyze the H(2)O(2)-mediated oxidation of thiamine, giving rise to fluorescence emission. This allows us to utilize the H(2)O(2)-thiamine fluorescent system for the quantitative analysis of thrombin. The assay shows a linear toward thrombin concentration in the range of 0.01-0.12 nM. The present limit of detection for thrombin is 1 pM, and the sensitivity for analyzing thrombin is improved by about 10,000-fold as compared with the reported colorimetric counterpart. The work also demonstrates that thiamine is an excellent substrate for the fluorescence assay using the G-quadruplex-based DNAzyme as the sensing platform.

Metal ion analysis using microchip CE with chemiluminescence detection based on 1,10-phenanthroline-hydrogen peroxide reaction

We developed a microchip CE method with chemiluminescence (CL) detection using the reaction of 1,10-phenanthroline and hydrogen peroxide for separation and determination of metal ions, where the metal ions acted as catalysts for the CL reaction. The microchip consisted of two microchannels that crossed at the intersection and four reservoirs that accessed the ends of the channels. The metal ions in the sample solution migrated in the channel along with 1,10-phenanthroline included in a running solution, and then mixed with hydrogen peroxide in one of the reservoirs to emit CL. The light was detected with a photomultiplier tube located just above the reservoir. Two metal ion groups, the platinum metal group (Ru(III), Rh(III), Pd(II), Os(VIII), Ir(III), and Pt(IV)) and the fourth periodic transition metal group (Cu(II), Fe(II), Co(II), and Ni(II)) were examined using the present system. The lowest detection limit was observed for Os(VIII); Os(VIII) responded over the range of 7.5x10(-12)-1.0x10(-8 )M with the detection limit of 7.5x10(-12 )M (about 38 zmol) (S/N = 3). The mixed solution of Ru(III), Rh(III), Pd(II), Os(VIII), Ir(III), and Pt(IV) could be analyzed using this system within about 2.5 min. In addition, the system was applied to the determination of Cu(II) concentration in a city water supply.

Determination of cytochrome c in human serum and pharmaceutical injections using flow injection chemiluminescence

It was found that the complex of cytochrome c (Cyt c) and hydrogen peroxide could significantly catalyze the chemiluminescence (CL) reaction from luminol-hydrogen peroxide, and a sensitive, rapid, and simple CL procedure was proposed for the determination of Cyt c in a flow injection system for the first time. The increment of CL intensity was linear over the concentration of Cyt c ranging from 5 to 700 ng ml(-1), with a detection limit of 2 ng ml(-1) (3sigma). At a flow rate of 2.0 ml min(-1), a complete analytical process could be performed in 30 s with a relative standard deviation of less than 4.0%. The proposed method was applied successfully for the assay of Cyt c in pharmaceutical injections and human serum, and the recoveries were from 98.0% to 108.8% and 92.5% to 109.0%. The possible mechanism of Cyt c enhanced CL reaction was also discussed.

Toward a chemiluminescent molecular device: metal ion-enhanced chemiluminescence of benzylidenacridan with 15-monoazacrown-5

The benzylidenacridans (1a-d) with one or more methoxy groups emit light from the excited N-methylacridone (NMA) when treated with a solution of sodium hypochlorite and alkaline hydrogen peroxide, in which a Hammett relationship with a negative rho value was applied between the chemiluminescence quantum yields and the sigma values. However, the dimethylamino group drastically inhibited the chemiluminescence in spite of its low sigma value. While the compound (2) with 15-monoazacrown-5 also showed a very weak chemiluminescence upon treatment with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide in acetonitrile, the chemiluminescence was enhanced up to 20 times in efficiency when divalent metal cations, such as magnesium and calcium ions, were added. The chemiluminescence inhibition is proved to be due to the shortening of the fluorescence lifetime of NMA due to energy dissipation by the amino substituents, but the incorporation of calcium ion into the cavity of the azacrown significantly prolonged the lifetime. Thus, the possibility of metal ion sensing by a chemiluminescent molecular device is suggested.

Micro-channel chemiluminescence analysis using a peroxyoxalate reaction that works through liquid-liquid interface collapse under laminar-flow conditions

An oxalate reagent-hydrogen peroxide-fluorescent compound chemiluminescence reaction, i.e., peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence, was introduced into micro-channel chemiluminescence analysis (MCCLA) to establish the concept of MCCLA through the direct observation of fluorescence and chemiluminescence using a fluorescence microscope-CCD camera and a microscope-CCD camera. It was confirmed from visual data that chemiluminescence in the MCCLA generated through the liquid-liquid interface collapsed during the course of molecular diffusion in the micro-channel. In addition, the visual data of chemiluminescence were transformed to line drawings on a computer to obtain chemiluminescence profiles. The chemiluminescence profiles were examined in detail at various flow rates and detection points; the relationship between the residence times and the chemiluminescence peak heights, or areas in the profiles, was easily represented as one smoothly changing reaction curve. Furthermore, the fluorescent compounds were detected with high sensitivity and good reproducibility in MCCLA by turning the syringe pumps on and off to produce determinable chemiluminescence signals; a photomultiplier tube was used as a detector. The chemiluminescence intensities in the signals of erythrosine, rhodamine B, Rose Bengal, fluorescein isothiocyanate, and eosin Y were examined; their intensities increased in this order, and eosin Y responded over the range of 1 x 10(-9) - 1 x 10(-6) M with a detection limit of 1 x 10(-9) M (S/N = 3). Introducing of the peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence reaction into MCCLA can extend the analysis system to the analysis of various types of sample and applications incorporating fluorescence labeling techniques.

Spectrofluorimetric determination of benzoimidazolic pesticides: effect of p-sulfonatocalix[6]arene and cyclodextrins

The effect of the addition of a macrocyclic host (H) such as p-sulfonatocalix[6]arene (C6S), native and modified cyclodextrins (CDs), on the fluorescence of benzoimidazolic fungicides (P), like Benomyl (BY) and Carbendazim (CZ), has been studied. The fluorescence of BY in water at pH 1.000 and 25.0 degrees C was increased in the presence of C6S, alphaCD and hydroxypropyl-beta-CD (HPCD). The association constants determined by fluorescence enhancement showed weak interactions (K(A) approximately 10(1) to 10(2) M(-1)) between the fungicide with both CDs, whereas they were stronger with C6S (K(A) approximately 10(5) M(-1)). Molecular recognition of BY for C6S was mainly attributed to electrostatic interactions, and for CDs to the hydrophobic effect and hydrogen bond formation. On the other hand, the fluorescent behaviour of CZ in the presence of C6S at pH 6.994 was interpreted as the formation of two complexes with 1:1 (P:H) and 1:2 (P:H(2)) stoichiometry, the latter being less fluorescent than the free analyte. Relative fluorescence quantum yield ratios between the complexed and free BY (phi(P:H)/phi(P)) were 2.00+/-0.05, 1.40+/-0.03 and 2.8+/-0.4 for C6S, alphaCD and HPCD, respectively. The analytical parameters improved in the presence of C6S and CDs. The best limit of detection (L(D), ng mL(-1)) was 17.4+/-0.8 with HPCD. The proposed method with C6S and HPCD was successfully applied to fortified samples of tap water and orange flesh extract with good recoveries (91-106%) and R.S.D. (< or = 2%) by triplicate analysis. The method is rapid, direct and simple and needs no previous degradation or derivatization reaction.

Determination of β-lactam antibiotics in milk using micro-flow chemiluminescence system with on-line solid phase extraction

In this paper, a chemiluminescence (CL) micro-flow system combined with on-line solid phase extraction (SPE) is presented for determination of beta-lactam antibiotics (penicillin, cefradine, cefadroxil, cefalexin) in milk. It is based on the enhancement effect of beta-lactam antibiotics on the luminol-K3Fe(CN)6 CL system. The micro-flow system was fabricated from two polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) plates (50 mm x 40 mm x 5 mm) with the microchannels of 200 microm wide and 150 microm deep. C18-modified silica gel was packed into the microchannel (length: 10 mm; width: 1 mm; depth: 500 microm) to serve as SPE device. Extraction and preconcentration of the analytes were carried out using on-line SPE micro-flow system and the selectivity of CL detection was improved. The detection limits were 0.5 microg mL(-1) of penicillin, 0.04 microg mL(-1) of cefradine, 0.08 microg mL(-1) of cefadroxil and 0.1 microg mL(-1) of cefalexin. The proposed method was also applied to analyze the beta-lactam antibiotics in milk. Experimental results were in good agreement with those obtained by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with UV detection.

Chemiluminescence of the peroxomonosulphate–cobalt(II)–aliphatic monocarboxylic acids system

A weak chemiluminescence (CL) emission was observed due to the production of singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) during the decomposition of peroxomonosulphate (HSO(5)(-)) catalysed by cobalt(II). Low molecular mass aliphatic monocarboxylic acids, such as formic, acetic, propionic, butyric and valeric acids, influenced the CL emission, and the reaction of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids with HSO(5)(-)/Co(2+) solution was further investigated using a flow injection analysis (FIA) CL method. The results indicated that the CL intensities of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids were improved with increase in the carbon chain length in the potassium peroxomonosulphate-cobalt(II) sulphate system. Generation of singlet oxygen was confirmed by the fact that the CL emission of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids with the HSO(5)(-)/Co(2+) solution was quenched by NaN(3), and from the CL spectrum of the reaction system. Additionally, a possible mechanism of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids CL emission enhancement was proposed.