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Cardia R, Dardenne N, Mula G, Pinna E, Rignanese GM, Charlier JC, Cappellini G. First-Principles Investigation of the Optical Properties of Eumelanin Protomolecules. J Phys Chem A 2023; 127:10797-10806. [PMID: 38109190 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.3c04898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Using first-principles calculations, we investigate the absorption spectra (in the near-infrared, visible, and first UV range) of the two most probable eumelanin tetrameric molecules exhibiting either a linear open-chain or a cyclic porphyrine-like configuration. In order to simulate a realistic molecular system, an implicit solvent model is used in our calculations to mimic the effect of the solvated environment around the eumelanin molecule. Although the presence of solvent is found not to significantly affect the absorption pattern of both molecules, the onset of the spectra are shifted toward higher energies, especially for the linear tetramer. Interestingly, the absorption spectra and optical onsets of the two molecules differ significantly both in a vacuum and in ethanol. However, the two predicted spectra do not allow us to definitely discriminate between the two configurations when comparing the theoretical predictions with the available experimental spectrum. In addition, a mix of the two eumelanin configurations (close to fifty-fifty) leads to a maximum overlap between theoretical and experimental spectra. Consequently, this theoretical research shows that deeper insight can be gained using beyond DFT techniques on the real form of eumelanin protomolecules present in living systems as well as on their possible use in hybrid solar cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Cardia
- Department of Physics, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria I-09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Nicolas Dardenne
- Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Guido Mula
- Department of Physics, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria I-09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Elisa Pinna
- Department of Physics, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria I-09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Gian-Marco Rignanese
- Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- European Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility (ETSF)
| | - Jean-Christophe Charlier
- Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- European Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility (ETSF)
| | - Giancarlo Cappellini
- Department of Physics, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria I-09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
- European Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility (ETSF)
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2
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Yang P, Bai W, Zou Y, Zhang X, Yang Y, Duan G, Wu J, Xu Y, Li Y. A melanin-inspired robust aerogel for multifunctional water remediation. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2023; 10:1020-1029. [PMID: 36692037 DOI: 10.1039/d2mh01474b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Solar-driven vapor generation has emerged as a promising wastewater remediation technology for clean water production. However, the complicated and diversified contaminants in wastewater still restrict its practical applications. Herein, inspired by the melanin in nature, a robust aerogel was facilely fabricated for multifunctional water remediation via a one-pot condensation copolymerization of 5,6-dihydroxyindole and formaldehyde. Benefiting from the superhydrophilicity, underwater superoleophobicity, and synergistic coordination effects, the resulting aerogel not only showed excellent performances in underwater oil resistance and oil-water separation ability, but also removed organic dyes and heavy metal ions contaminants in wastewater simultaneously. Moreover, owing to its admirable light harvesting capacity and porous microstructure for fast water transportation, the aerogel-based evaporator exhibited an excellent evaporation rate of 1.42 kg m-2 h-1 with a 91% evaporation efficiency under 1 sun illumination, which can be reused for long-term water evaporation. Note that such a stable evaporation rate could be maintained even in wastewater containing complex multicomponent contaminants. Outdoor evaporation experiments for lotus pond wastewater under natural sunlight also proved its great potential in practical applications. All those promising features of this all-in-one melanin-inspired aerogel may provide new strategies for the development of robust photothermal devices for multifunctional solar-driven water remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Wanjie Bai
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Yuan Zou
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Xueqian Zhang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Yiyan Yang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Gaigai Duan
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Jinrong Wu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Yuanting Xu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Yiwen Li
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
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3
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Chang XP, Yu L, Zhang TS, Cui G. Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics studies on the mechanistic photophysics of sunscreen oxybenzone in methanol solution. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:13293-13304. [PMID: 35607908 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp01263d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Herein, we have employed the QM(CASPT2//CASSCF)/MM method to explore the photophysical and photochemical mechanism of oxybenzone (OB) in methanol solution. Based on the optimized minima, conical intersections and crossing points, and minimum-energy reaction paths related to excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) and excited-state decay paths in the 1ππ*, 1nπ*, 3ππ*, 3nπ*, and S0 states, we have identified several feasible excited-state relaxation pathways for the initially populated S2(1ππ*) state to decay to the initial enol isomer' S0 state. The major one is the singlet-mediated and stretch-torsion coupled ESIPT pathway, in which the system first undergoes an essentially barrierless 1ππ* ESIPT process to generate the 1ππ* keto species, and finally realizes its ground state recovery through the subsequent carbonyl stretch-torsion facilitating S1 → S0 internal conversion (IC) and the reverse ground-state intramolecular proton transfer (GSIPT) process. The minor ones are related to intersystem crossing (ISC) processes. At the S2(1ππ*) minimum, an S2(1ππ*)/S1(1nπ*)/T2(3nπ*) three-state intersection region helps the S2 system branch into the T1 state through a S2 → S1 → T1 or S2 → T2 → T1 process. Once it has reached the T1 state, the system may relax to the S0 state via direct ISC or via subsequent nearly barrierless 3ππ* ESIPT to yield the T1 keto tautomer and ISC. The resultant S0 keto species significantly undergoes reverse GSIPT and only a small fraction yields the trans-keto form that relaxes back more slowly. However, due to small spin-orbit couplings at T1/S0 crossing points, the ISC to S0 state occurs very slowly. The present work rationalizes not only the ultrafast excited-state decay dynamics of OB but also its phosphorescence emission at low temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Ping Chang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China.
| | - Li Yu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China.
| | - Teng-Shuo Zhang
- College of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Ganglong Cui
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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4
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Soltani S, Sowlati-Hashjin S, Tetsassi Feugmo CG, Karttunen M. Free Energy and Stacking of Eumelanin Nanoaggregates. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:1805-1818. [PMID: 35175060 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c07884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Eumelanin, a member of the melanin family, is a black-brown insoluble pigment. It possesses a broad range of properties such as antioxidation, free radical scavenging, photoprotection, and charge carrier transportation. Surprisingly, the exact molecular structure of eumelanin remains undefined. It is, however, generally considered to consist of two main building blocks, 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) and 5,6- dihydroxyindole carboxylic acid (DHICA). We focus on DHI and report, for the first time, a computational investigation of the structural properties of DHI-eumelanin aggregates in aqueous solutions. First, multimicrosecond molecular dynamics (MD) simulations at different concentrations were performed to investigate the aggregation and ordering of tetrameric DHI-eumelanin protomolecules. This was followed by umbrella sampling (US) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study the physical mechanisms of stacking. Aggregation occurs through formation of nanoscale stacks and was observed in all systems. Further analyses showed that aggregation and coarsening of the domains is due to a decrease in hydrogen bonds between the eumelanins and water; while domains exist, there is no long-range order. The results show noncovalent stacks with the interlayer distance between eumelanin protomolecules being less than 3.5 Å. This is in good agreement with transmission electron microscopy data. Both free energy calculations and DFT revealed strong stacking interactions. The electrostatic potential map provides an explanation and a rationale for the slightly sheared relative orientations and, consequently, for the curved shapes of the nanoscale domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepideh Soltani
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario N6A 3K7, Canada.,The Centre of Advanced Materials and Biomaterials Research, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Shahin Sowlati-Hashjin
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Conrard Giresse Tetsassi Feugmo
- National Research Council Canada, Energy Mining and Environment, Mississauga, Ontario L5K 1B1, Canada.,Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Mikko Karttunen
- The Centre of Advanced Materials and Biomaterials Research, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario N6A 3K7, Canada.,Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
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5
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Assis Oliveira LB, Fonseca TL, Cabral BJC, Coutinho K, Canuto S. Preferential solvation and optical properties of eumelanin building blocks in binary mixture of methanol and water. J Chem Phys 2021; 155:174504. [PMID: 34742206 DOI: 10.1063/5.0065723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Employing a sequential quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical approach for polar protic solvents, we study the absorption spectrum of eumelanin building blocks including monomers, dimers, and tetramers in pure water and methanol and three water-methanol binary mixtures having water molar fractions (Xw = 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75). The binary mixture of solvents is a common situation in experiments, but theoretical studies are limited to the use of continuum models. Here, we use explicit solvent molecules, and specific solute-solvent interaction is analyzed and seen to play an important role. Effects of the electronic polarization of solute by the environment were included using a reliable iterative scheme. The results illustrate that the monomers, dimers, and tetramers are preferably solvated by methanol, but the composition of the mixture in the vicinity of the solute molecules is different from the bulk composition with a preferential microsolvation (hydrogen bonds) in water for most species considered. It is observed that the short-range electrostatic polarization effects of the hydrogen bonds lead to a slight blue shift of the excitation energies when the concentration of water in the mixture is enhanced. For the same species, there is an enhancement of the higher-energy absorption intensity caused by long-range electrostatic interactions with the environment and that the behavior of the experimental spectrum, which is characterized by a nearly monotonic decay from the ultraviolet to the infrared, is qualitatively reproduced by the superposition of the absorption spectra of monomers, dimers, and tetramers in the liquid phase.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tertius L Fonseca
- Instituto de Física da Universidade Federal de Goiás, 74690-900 Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Benedito J C Cabral
- BioISI-Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Kaline Coutinho
- Instituto de Física da Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão 1371, 05508-090 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sylvio Canuto
- Instituto de Física da Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão 1371, 05508-090 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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6
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Wang J, Blancafort L. Stability and Optical Absorption of a Comprehensive Virtual Library of Minimal Eumelanin Oligomer Models**. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202106289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Chemistry of Low-Dimensional Materials Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Environment Functional Materials School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Huaiyin Normal University No.111 West Changjiang Road Huaian 223300 Jiangsu Province P. R. China
- Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi and Departament de Química Universitat de Girona, Facultat de Ciències C/M. A. Capmany 69 17003 Girona Spain
| | - Lluís Blancafort
- Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi and Departament de Química Universitat de Girona, Facultat de Ciències C/M. A. Capmany 69 17003 Girona Spain
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7
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Wang J, Blancafort L. Stability and Optical Absorption of a Comprehensive Virtual Library of Minimal Eumelanin Oligomer Models*. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:18800-18809. [PMID: 34114313 PMCID: PMC8457142 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202106289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Eumelanin is responsible for photoprotection in living organisms. It is made of 5,6‐dihydroxyindole (DHI) oligomers. However, lack of detailed structural knowledge limits understanding its function and exploiting its potential in material science. To uncover the relationship between structural stability and optical properties, we have studied a virtual library of 830 DHI dimers. We find a preference for oxidized, polycyclic structures which speaks in favor of graphite‐like structures for the larger oligomers, and propose an electrocyclic formation mechanism. Besides widely considered quinone oxidation patterns, also structures with interfragment double bonds and zwitterionic resonance structures are stable. Future theoretical melanine models will have to cover this diversity, and we introduce a new representative set of 49 stable dimers. Some stable oxidized dimers have absorption energies as low as 1.3 eV. They may be present as substructures in the naturally found oligomers and contribute to the absorption spectrum of the biopolymer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Chemistry of Low-Dimensional Materials, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Environment Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huaiyin Normal University, No.111 West Changjiang Road, Huaian, 223300, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China.,Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi and Departament de Química, Universitat de Girona, Facultat de Ciències, C/M. A. Capmany 69, 17003, Girona, Spain
| | - Lluís Blancafort
- Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi and Departament de Química, Universitat de Girona, Facultat de Ciències, C/M. A. Capmany 69, 17003, Girona, Spain
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8
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Leupold D, Pfeifer L, Hofmann M, Forschner A, Wessler G, Haenssle H. From Melanocytes to Melanoma Cells: Characterization of the Malignant Transformation by Four Distinctly Different Melanin Fluorescence Spectra (Review). Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105265. [PMID: 34067690 PMCID: PMC8156265 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The melanin fluorescence emitted by pigment cells of the human skin has been a central research topic for decades, because melanin, on the one hand, protects against (solar) radiation in the near-UV range, whereas on the other hand, melanocytes are the starting point for the malignant transformation into melanoma. Until recently, however, melanin fluorescence was not accessible in the context of conventional spectroscopy, because it is ultraweak and is overshadowed by the more intense so-called autofluorescence of endogenous fluorophores. The advent of a new method of laser spectroscopy has made this melanin fluorescence measurable in vivo. A stepwise two-photon absorption with 800 nm photons is used, which more selectively excites melanin (dermatofluoroscopy). Our review summarizes the experimental results on melanin fluorescence of the four types of cutaneous pigment cells from healthy and malignant tissues. Outstanding is the finding that different types of melanocytes (i.e., melanocytes of common nevi, versus dysplastic nevi or versus melanoma cells) show characteristically different fluorescence spectra. The possibilities of using this melanin fluorescence for melanoma diagnosis are shown. Moreover, the uniform fluorescence spectra emitted by different melanoma subtypes are essential. Conclusions are drawn about the molecular processes in the melanosomes that determine fluorescence. Finally, experimental suggestions for further investigations are given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieter Leupold
- LTB Lasertechnik Berlin, Am Studio 2c, 12483 Berlin, Germany;
- Correspondence:
| | - Lutz Pfeifer
- LTB Lasertechnik Berlin, Am Studio 2c, 12483 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Maja Hofmann
- Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Charitéplatz 1, 10115 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Andrea Forschner
- Hautklinik, Universitäts-Klinikum Tübingen, Liebermeisterstraße 25, 72076 Tübingen, Germany;
| | - Gerd Wessler
- Hautarztpraxis Berlin, Linderhofstrasse 20, 12623 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Holger Haenssle
- Hautklinik, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
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9
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Ghosh P, Ghosh D. Effect of Dimerization on the Nonradiative Processes of Eumelanin Monomer. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:547-556. [PMID: 33410319 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c10555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Eumelanin is a polymeric structure made of dihydroxyindole (DHI) as the basic motif. Since the oxidative polymerization of DHI forms the core of eumelanin, understanding the effect of polymerization on its optical and photoprotective properties is crucial to elucidate the structure-function relationship of eumelanin. In this work, we investigate the effect of dimerization of DHI on the photoprocesses of eumelanin. We observe that there are several low-energy conical intersections and energetically favorable pathways for deactivation of photoexcited dimeric DHI species. While the original deactivation modes of the monomers are still important, in dimers the intermonomer dihedral angles seem to play a central role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulami Ghosh
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Debashree Ghosh
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata 700032, India
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10
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Yang P, Zhu F, Zhang Z, Cheng Y, Wang Z, Li Y. Stimuli-responsive polydopamine-based smart materials. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:8319-8343. [DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00374g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
This review provides in-depth insight into the structural engineering of PDA-based materials to enhance their responsive feature and the use of them in construction of PDA-based stimuli-responsive smart materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering
- Sichuan University
- Chengdu 610065
- China
| | - Fang Zhu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering
- Sichuan University
- Chengdu 610065
- China
| | - Zhengbiao Zhang
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology
- Soochow University
| | - Yiyun Cheng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology
- School of Life Sciences
- East China Normal University
- Shanghai 200241
- P. R. China
| | - Zhao Wang
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology
- Soochow University
| | - Yiwen Li
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering
- Sichuan University
- Chengdu 610065
- China
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11
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Ghosh D. Computational aspects towards understanding the photoprocesses in eumelanin. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Debashree Ghosh
- School of Chemical Sciences Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science Kolkata India
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12
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Grieco C, Kohl FR, Hanes AT, Kohler B. Probing the heterogeneous structure of eumelanin using ultrafast vibrational fingerprinting. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4569. [PMID: 32917892 PMCID: PMC7486937 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18393-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Eumelanin is a brown-black biological pigment with sunscreen and radical scavenging functions important to numerous organisms. Eumelanin is also a promising redox-active material for energy conversion and storage, but the chemical structures present in this heterogeneous pigment remain unknown, limiting understanding of the properties of its light-responsive subunits. Here, we introduce an ultrafast vibrational fingerprinting approach for probing the structure and interactions of chromophores in heterogeneous materials like eumelanin. Specifically, transient vibrational spectra in the double-bond stretching region are recorded for subsets of electronic chromophores photoselected by an ultrafast excitation pulse tuned through the UV-visible spectrum. All subsets show a common vibrational fingerprint, indicating that the diverse electronic absorbers in eumelanin, regardless of transition energy, contain the same distribution of IR-active functional groups. Aggregation of chromophores diverse in oxidation state is the key structural property underlying the universal, ultrafast deactivation behavior of eumelanin in response to photoexcitation with any wavelength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Grieco
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - Forrest R Kohl
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - Alex T Hanes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - Bern Kohler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA.
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13
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Kohl FR, Grieco C, Kohler B. Ultrafast spectral hole burning reveals the distinct chromophores in eumelanin and their common photoresponse. Chem Sci 2019; 11:1248-1259. [PMID: 34123249 PMCID: PMC8148383 DOI: 10.1039/c9sc04527a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Eumelanin, the brown-black pigment found in organisms from bacteria to humans, dissipates solar energy and prevents photochemical damage. While the structure of eumelanin is unclear, it is thought to consist of an extremely heterogeneous collection of chromophores that absorb from the UV to the infrared, additively producing its remarkably broad absorption spectrum. However, the chromophores responsible for absorption by eumelanin and their excited state decay pathways remain highly uncertain. Using femtosecond broadband transient absorption spectroscopy, we address the excited state behavior of chromophore subsets that make up a synthetic eumelanin, DOPA melanin, and probe the heterogeneity of its chromophores. Tuning the excitation light over more than an octave from the UV to the visible and probing with the broadest spectral window used to study any form of melanin to date enable the detection of spectral holes with a linewidth of 0.6 eV that track the excitation wavelength. Transient spectral hole burning is a manifestation of extreme chemical heterogeneity, yet exciting these diverse chromophores unexpectedly produces a common photoinduced absorption spectrum and similar kinetics. This common photoresponse is assigned to the ultrafast formation of immobile charge transfer excitons that decay locally and that are formed among graphene-like chromophores in less than 200 fs. Raman spectroscopy reveals that chromophore heterogeneity in DOPA melanin arises from different sized domains of sp2-hybridized carbon and nitrogen atoms. Furthermore, we identify for the first time striking parallels between the excited state dynamics of eumelanin and disordered carbon nanomaterials, suggesting that they share common structural attributes. Seeing the colors in black: ultrafast transient hole burning spectroscopy reveals the absorption properties of discrete chromophores and their interactions in the skin pigment eumelanin.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Forrest R Kohl
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University 100 West 18th Avenue Columbus Ohio 43210 USA +1-614-688-2635
| | - Christopher Grieco
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University 100 West 18th Avenue Columbus Ohio 43210 USA +1-614-688-2635
| | - Bern Kohler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University 100 West 18th Avenue Columbus Ohio 43210 USA +1-614-688-2635
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14
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Träg J, Duchstein P, Hennemann M, Clark T, Guldi DM, Zahn D. Size-Dependent Local Ordering in Melanin Aggregates and Its Implication on Optical Properties. J Phys Chem A 2019; 123:9403-9412. [PMID: 31600441 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.9b08722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We present atomic scale models of differently sized eumelanin nanoaggregates from molecular dynamics simulations combined with a simulated annealing procedure. The analysis reveals the formation of secondary structures due to π-stacking on one hand, but on the other hand a broad distribution of stack geometries in terms of stack size, horizontal displacement angles, and relative torsion angles. The displacement angle distribution, which is a measure of the occurrence of zigzag and linear stacking motives, respectively, strongly depends on the aggregate size-and is hence controlled by the interplay of surface and bulk energy terms. Semiempirical spectra calculations of small stacks (up to five protomolecules) reveal a strong dependence on the precise stack structure and allow for a direct structure-property correlation. The observed spectral shifts result in an overall spectral broadening and, hence, further support the geometric disorder model, which complements the chemical disorder model in the interpretation of eumelanin's monotonically increasing broad-band absorption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Träg
- Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Chemie/Computer Chemie Centrum Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Nägelsbachstraße 25 , 91052 Erlangen , Germany.,Lehrstuhl für Physikalische Chemie 1 Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Egerlandstraße 3 , 91058 Erlangen , Germany
| | - Patrick Duchstein
- Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Chemie/Computer Chemie Centrum Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Nägelsbachstraße 25 , 91052 Erlangen , Germany
| | - Matthias Hennemann
- Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Chemie/Computer Chemie Centrum Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Nägelsbachstraße 25 , 91052 Erlangen , Germany
| | - Timothy Clark
- Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Chemie/Computer Chemie Centrum Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Nägelsbachstraße 25 , 91052 Erlangen , Germany
| | - Dirk M Guldi
- Lehrstuhl für Physikalische Chemie 1 Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Egerlandstraße 3 , 91058 Erlangen , Germany
| | - Dirk Zahn
- Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Chemie/Computer Chemie Centrum Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Nägelsbachstraße 25 , 91052 Erlangen , Germany
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15
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Extensive stacking of DHI-like monomers as a model of out-of-plane complexity in eumelanin protomolecules: Chemical and structural sensitivity of optical absorption spectra. Chem Phys 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphys.2019.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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16
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Xiao M, Chen W, Li W, Zhao J, Hong YL, Nishiyama Y, Miyoshi T, Shawkey MD, Dhinojwala A. Elucidation of the hierarchical structure of natural eumelanins. J R Soc Interface 2019. [PMID: 29514988 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Eumelanin is one of the most ubiquitous pigments in living organisms and plays an important role in coloration and UV protection. Because eumelanin is highly cross-linked and insoluble in solvents, the chemical structure is still not completely known. In this study, we used atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to compare intact eumelanosomes (pigment granules mostly made of eumelanin) from four phylogentically distant species: cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) inks, black fish crow (Corvus ossifragus) feathers, iridescent wild turkey (Melleagris gallopavo) feathers and black human hair. We found that eumelanosomes from all four species are composed of subunit nanoparticles with a length of 10-60 nm, consistent with earlier observations in eumelanosomes from the sepia ink and human hair. The solid-state NMR results indicate the presence of quinone methide tautomers in all four eumelanins. We also found clear differences in the UV absorbance, the ratio of 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid/5,6-dihydroxyindole and protonated aryl carbon ratios in sepia eumelanin relative to the other three. This comparison of natural eumelanin across a phylogenetically broad group of organisms provides insights into the change in the eumelanin structure over the evolutionary history and enables the production of synthetic eumelanin with properties that are similar to natural eumelanin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Xiao
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Lab of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse Study, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiyao Li
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Jiuzhou Zhao
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - You-Lee Hong
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA.,RIKEN CLST-JEOL Collaboration Center, RIKEN, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Yusuke Nishiyama
- RIKEN CLST-JEOL Collaboration Center, RIKEN, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan.,JEOL RESONANCE Inc., Tokyo 196-8558, Japan
| | - Toshikazu Miyoshi
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Matthew D Shawkey
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, University of Ghent, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Ali Dhinojwala
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
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17
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Intermolecular association of some selected melanin monomers and their optical absorption. COMPUT THEOR CHEM 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.comptc.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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18
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Ghosh P, Ghosh D. Non-radiative decay of an eumelanin monomer: to be or not to be planar. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:6635-6642. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cp00246d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The planar and nonplanar non-radiative decay channels of eumelanin monomer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulami Ghosh
- School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences
- Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science
- Kolkata 700032
- India
| | - Debashree Ghosh
- School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences
- Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science
- Kolkata 700032
- India
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19
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Ghosh P, Ghosh D. Effect of microsolvation on the non-radiative decay of the eumelanin monomer. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:26123-26132. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cp05166j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
A plethora of various low energy accessible deactivation modes of DHI were explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulami Ghosh
- School of Chemical Sciences
- Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science
- Kolkata 700032
- India
| | - Debashree Ghosh
- School of Chemical Sciences
- Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science
- Kolkata 700032
- India
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20
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Ju KY, Fischer MC, Warren WS. Understanding the Role of Aggregation in the Broad Absorption Bands of Eumelanin. ACS NANO 2018; 12:12050-12061. [PMID: 30500158 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b04905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we investigate the relationship between the complex hierarchical assembly structure of eumelanin, its characteristic broad absorption band, and the highly unusual nonlinear dynamics revealed by pump-probe or transient absorption microscopy. Melanin-like nanoparticles (MelNPs), generated by spontaneous oxidation of dopamine, were created with uniform but adjustable size distributions, and kinetically controlled oxidation was probed with a wide range of characterization methods. This lets us explore the broad absorption bands of eumelanin models at different assembly levels, such as small subunit fractions (single monomeric and oligomeric units and small oligomer stacks), stacked oligomer fractions (protomolecules), and large-scale aggregates of protomolecules (parental particles). Both the absorption and pump-probe dynamics are very sensitive to these structural differences or to the size of intact particles (a surprising result for an organic polymer). We show that the geometric packing order of protomolecules in long-range aggregation is key secondary interactions to extend the absorption band of eumelanin to the low energy spectrum and produce drastic changes in the transient absorption spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuk-Youn Ju
- Department of Chemistry , Duke University , Durham , North Carolina 27708 , United States
| | - Martin C Fischer
- Department of Chemistry , Duke University , Durham , North Carolina 27708 , United States
- Department of Physics , Duke University , Durham , North Carolina 27708 , United States
| | - Warren S Warren
- Department of Chemistry , Duke University , Durham , North Carolina 27708 , United States
- Department of Physics , Duke University , Durham , North Carolina 27708 , United States
- Department of Radiology , Duke University , Durham , North Carolina 27710 , United States
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21
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Grieco C, Kohl FR, Zhang Y, Natarajan S, Blancafort L, Kohler B. Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding Modulates O-H Photodissociation in Molecular Aggregates of a Catechol Derivative. Photochem Photobiol 2018; 95:163-175. [PMID: 30317633 DOI: 10.1111/php.13035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The catechol functional group plays a major role in the chemistry of a wide variety of molecules important in biology and technology. In eumelanin, intermolecular hydrogen bonding between these functional groups is thought to contribute to UV photoprotective and radical buffering properties, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, aggregates of 4-t-butylcatechol are used as model systems to study how intermolecular hydrogen bonding influences photochemical pathways that may occur in eumelanin. Ultrafast UV-visible and mid-IR transient absorption measurements are used to identify the photochemical processes of 4-t-butylcatechol monomers and their hydrogen-bonded aggregates in cyclohexane solution. Monomer photoexcitation results in hydrogen atom ejection to the solvent via homolytic O-H bond dissociation with a time constant of 12 ps, producing a neutral semiquinone radical with a lifetime greater than 1 ns. In contrast, intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions within aggregates retard O-H bond photodissociation by over an order of magnitude in time. Excited state structural relaxation is proposed to slow O-H dissociation, allowing internal conversion to the ground state to occur in hundreds of picoseconds in competition with this channel. The semiquinone radicals formed in the aggregates exhibit spectral broadening of both their electronic and vibrational transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Grieco
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Forrest R Kohl
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Yuyuan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Sangeetha Natarajan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Lluís Blancafort
- Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi and Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Bern Kohler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
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22
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Baker LA, Marchetti B, Karsili TNV, Stavros VG, Ashfold MNR. Photoprotection: extending lessons learned from studying natural sunscreens to the design of artificial sunscreen constituents. Chem Soc Rev 2018; 46:3770-3791. [PMID: 28580469 DOI: 10.1039/c7cs00102a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Evolution has ensured that plants and animals have developed effective protection mechanisms against the potentially harmful effects of incident ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Tanning is one such mechanism in humans, but tanning only occurs post-exposure to UVR. Hence, there is ever growing use of commercial sunscreens to pre-empt overexposure to UVR. Key requirements for any chemical filter molecule used in such a photoprotective capacity include a large absorption cross-section in the UV-A and UV-B spectral regions and the availability of one or more mechanisms whereby the absorbed photon energy can be dissipated without loss of the molecular integrity of the chemical filter. Here we summarise recent experimental (mostly ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy studies) and computational progress towards unravelling various excited state decay mechanisms that afford the necessary photostability in chemical filters found in nature and those used in commercial sunscreens. We also outline ways in which a better understanding of the photophysics and photochemistry of sunscreen molecules selected by nature could aid the design of new and improved commercial sunscreen formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis A Baker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
| | - Barbara Marchetti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | | | - Vasilios G Stavros
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
| | - Michael N R Ashfold
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.
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23
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Karsili TNV, Marchetti B, Matsika S. Origins of Photodamage in Pheomelanin Constituents: Photochemistry of 4-Hydroxybenzothiazole. J Phys Chem A 2018; 122:1986-1993. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.7b09690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tolga N. V. Karsili
- Department
of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Barbara Marchetti
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Spiridoula Matsika
- Department
of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
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24
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Crescenzi O, D'Ischia M, Napolitano A. Kaxiras's Porphyrin: DFT Modeling of Redox-Tuned Optical and Electronic Properties in a Theoretically Designed Catechol-Based Bioinspired Platform. Biomimetics (Basel) 2017; 2:biomimetics2040021. [PMID: 31105182 PMCID: PMC6352670 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics2040021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2017] [Revised: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A detailed computational investigation of the 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI)-based porphyrin-type tetramer first described by Kaxiras as a theoretical structural model for eumelanin biopolymers is reported herein, with a view to predicting the technological potential of this unique bioinspired tetracatechol system. All possible tautomers/conformers, as well as alternative protonation states, were explored for the species at various degrees of oxidation and all structures were geometry optimized at the density functional theory (DFT) level. Comparison of energy levels for each oxidized species indicated a marked instability of most oxidation states except the six-electron level, and an unexpected resilience to disproportionation of the one-electron oxidation free radical species. Changes in the highest energy occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)–lowest energy unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) gaps with oxidation state and tautomerism were determined along with the main electronic transitions: more or less intense absorption in the visible region is predicted for most oxidized species. Data indicated that the peculiar symmetry of the oxygenation pattern pertaining to the four catechol/quinone/quinone methide moieties, in concert with the NH centers, fine-tunes the optical and electronic properties of the porphyrin system. For several oxidation levels, conjugated systems extending over two or more indole units play a major role in determining the preferred tautomeric state: thus, the highest stability of the six-electron oxidation state reflects porphyrin-type aromaticity. These results provide new clues for the design of innovative bioinspired optoelectronic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orlando Crescenzi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, I-80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Marco D'Ischia
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, I-80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Napolitano
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, I-80126 Naples, Italy.
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25
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Solano F. Melanin and Melanin-Related Polymers as Materials with Biomedical and Biotechnological Applications-Cuttlefish Ink and Mussel Foot Proteins as Inspired Biomolecules. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:E1561. [PMID: 28718807 PMCID: PMC5536049 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18071561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Revised: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The huge development of bioengineering during the last years has boosted the search for new bioinspired materials, with tunable chemical, mechanical, and optoelectronic properties for the design of semiconductors, batteries, biosensors, imaging and therapy probes, adhesive hydrogels, tissue restoration, photoprotectors, etc. These new materials should complement or replace metallic or organic polymers that cause cytotoxicity and some adverse health effects. One of the most interesting biomaterials is melanin and synthetic melanin-related molecules. Melanin has a controversial molecular structure, dependent on the conditions of polymerization, and therefore tunable. It is found in animal hair and skin, although one of the common sources is cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) ink. On the other hand, mussels synthesize adhesive proteins to anchor these marine animals to wet surfaces. Both melanin and mussel foot proteins contain a high number of catecholic residues, and their properties are related to these groups. Dopamine (DA) can easily polymerize to get polydopamine melanin (PDAM), that somehow shares properties with melanin and mussel proteins. Furthermore, PDAM can easily be conjugated with other components. This review accounts for the main aspects of melanin, as well as DA-based melanin-like materials, related to their biomedical and biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Solano
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology B and Immunology, School of Medicine and LAIB-IMIB, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
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26
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Ghosh P, Ghosh D. Elucidating the Photoprotection Mechanism of Eumelanin Monomers. J Phys Chem B 2017; 121:5988-5994. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b05123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paulami Ghosh
- Physical and Materials Chemistry
Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
| | - Debashree Ghosh
- Physical and Materials Chemistry
Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
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27
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Datar A, Hazra A. Pathways for Excited-State Nonradiative Decay of 5,6-Dihydroxyindole, a Building Block of Eumelanin. J Phys Chem A 2017; 121:2790-2797. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.7b01110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Avdhoot Datar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, Maharashtra, India
| | - Anirban Hazra
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, Maharashtra, India
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28
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Micillo R, Panzella L, Iacomino M, Prampolini G, Cacelli I, Ferretti A, Crescenzi O, Koike K, Napolitano A, d'Ischia M. Eumelanin broadband absorption develops from aggregation-modulated chromophore interactions under structural and redox control. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41532. [PMID: 28150707 PMCID: PMC5288692 DOI: 10.1038/srep41532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Eumelanins, the chief photoprotective pigments in man and mammals, owe their black color to an unusual broadband absorption spectrum whose origin is still a conundrum. Excitonic effects from the interplay of geometric order and disorder in 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI)-based oligomeric/polymeric structures play a central role, however the contributions of structural (scaffold-controlled) and redox (π-electron-controlled) disorder have remained uncharted. Herein, we report an integrated experimental-theoretical entry to eumelanin chromophore dynamics based on poly(vinyl alcohol)-controlled polymerization of a large set of 5,6-dihydroxyindoles and related dimers. The results a) uncover the impact of the structural scaffold on eumelanin optical properties, disproving the widespread assumption of a universal monotonic chromophore; b) delineate eumelanin chromophore buildup as a three-step dynamic process involving the rapid generation of oxidized oligomers, termed melanochromes (phase I), followed by a slow oxidant-independent band broadening (phase II) leading eventually to scattering (phase III); c) point to a slow reorganization-stabilization of melanochromes via intermolecular redox interactions as the main determinant of visible broadband absorption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Micillo
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, I-80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Lucia Panzella
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, I-80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Iacomino
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, I-80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Giacomo Prampolini
- Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (ICCOM-CNR), Area della Ricerca, I-56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Ivo Cacelli
- Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (ICCOM-CNR), Area della Ricerca, I-56124 Pisa, Italy.,Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, Università di Pisa, I-56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Ferretti
- Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici (ICCOM-CNR), Area della Ricerca, I-56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Orlando Crescenzi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, I-80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Kenzo Koike
- Hair care Products Research Laboratories, Kao Corporation, Tokyo 131-8501, Japan
| | - Alessandra Napolitano
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, I-80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Marco d'Ischia
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, I-80126 Naples, Italy
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29
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Assis Oliveira LB, L. Fonseca T, Costa Cabral BJ, Coutinho K, Canuto S. Hydration effects on the electronic properties of eumelanin building blocks. J Chem Phys 2016; 145:084501. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4961147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Bruno Assis Oliveira
- Instituto de Física da Universidade Federal de Goiás, 74690-900 Goiânia, GO, Brazil
- Departamento de Física - CEPAE, Universidade Federal de Goiás, 74690-900 Goiânia, GO, Brazil
- Escola de Ciências Exatas e da Computação, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás, 74605-010 Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Tertius L. Fonseca
- Instituto de Física da Universidade Federal de Goiás, 74690-900 Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Benedito J. Costa Cabral
- Grupo de Física Matemática da Universidade de Lisboa and Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Kaline Coutinho
- Instituto de Física da Universidade de São Paulo, CP 66318, 05314-970 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sylvio Canuto
- Instituto de Física da Universidade de São Paulo, CP 66318, 05314-970 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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30
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Ali M, Shah SK, Abbas M, Gunnella R. Control of heteropolymeric to oligomeric character in electrospray deposited melanin films. POLYM INT 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/pi.5201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mushtaq Ali
- Department of Physics, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology; Park Road Chak Shahzad Islamabad 44000 Pakistan
| | - Said Karim Shah
- Department of Physics Abdul Wali Khan University; Mardan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 23200 Pakistan
| | - Mamatimin Abbas
- Laboratoire IMS, Universite Bordeaux1; UMR 5218 CNRS, ENSCBP, 16 Avenue Pey-Berland 33607 Pessac Cedex France
| | - Roberto Gunnella
- School of Science and Technology and CNISM; University of Camerino; Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino (MC)-Italy, ISM-CNR via del Fosso del Cavaliere Tor Vergata Italy
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31
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Jin Z, Fan H. The modulation of melanin-like materials: methods, characterization and applications. POLYM INT 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/pi.5187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoxia Jin
- Department of Chemistry; Renmin University of China; Beijing 100872 People's Republic of China
| | - Hailong Fan
- Department of Chemistry; Renmin University of China; Beijing 100872 People's Republic of China
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