Control of the orientational order and nonlinear optical response of the "push-pull" chromophore RuPZn via specific incorporation into densely packed monolayer ensembles of an amphiphilic four-helix bundle peptide: characterization of the peptide-chromophore complexes

Anion-enhanced excited state charge separation in a spiro-locked N-heterocycle-fused push-pull zinc porphyrin

A new type of push–pull charge transfer complex, viz., a spiro-locked N-heterocycle-fused zinc porphyrin, ZnP-SQ, is shown to undergo excited state charge separation, which is enhanced by axial F⁻ binding to the Zn center. In this push–pull design, the spiro-quinone group acts as a ‘lock’ promoting charge transfer interactions by constraining mutual coplanarity of the meso-phenol-substituted electron-rich Zn(ii) porphyrin and an electron deficient N-heterocycle, as revealed by electrochemical and computational studies. Spectroelectrochemical studies have been used to identify the spectra of charge separated states, and charge separation upon photoexcitation of ZnP has been unequivocally established by using transient absorption spectroscopic techniques covering wide spatial and temporal regions. Further, global target analysis of the transient data using GloTarAn software is used to obtain the lifetimes of different photochemical events and reveal that fluoride anion complexation stabilizes the charge separated state to an appreciable extent.

A new type of push–pull charge transfer complex, viz., a spiro-locked N-heterocycle-fused zinc porphyrin, ZnP-SQ, is shown to undergo excited state charge separation, which is enhanced by axial F⁻ binding to the Zn center.

Hexagonally Ordered Arrays of α-Helical Bundles Formed from Peptide-Dendron Hybrids

Combining monodisperse building blocks that have distinct folding properties serves as a modular strategy for controlling structural complexity in hierarchically organized materials. We combine an α-helical bundle-forming peptide with self-assembling dendrons to better control the arrangement of functional groups within cylindrical nanostructures. Site-specific grafting of dendrons to amino acid residues on the exterior of the α-helical bundle yields monodisperse macromolecules with programmable folding and self-assembly properties. The resulting hybrid biomaterials form thermotropic columnar hexagonal mesophases in which the peptides adopt an α-helical conformation. Bundling of the α-helical peptides accompanies self-assembly of the peptide-dendron hybrids into cylindrical nanostructures. The bundle stoichiometry in the mesophase agrees well with the size found in solution for α-helical bundles of peptides with a similar amino acid sequence.

Understanding Peptide Oligomeric State in Langmuir Monolayers of Amphiphilic 3-Helix Bundle-Forming Peptide-PEG Conjugates

Coiled-coil peptide-polymer conjugates are an emerging class of biomaterials. Fundamental understanding of the coiled-coil oligomeric state and assembly process of these hybrid building blocks is necessary to exert control over their assembly into well-defined structures. Here, we studied the effect of peptide structure and PEGylation on the self-assembly process and oligomeric state of a Langmuir monolayer of amphiphilic coiled-coil peptide-polymer conjugates using X-ray reflectivity (XR) and grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD). Our results show that the oligomeric state of PEGylated amphiphiles based on 3-helix bundle-forming peptide is surface pressure dependent, a mixture of dimers and trimers was formed at intermediate surface pressure but transitions into trimers completely upon increasing surface pressure. Moreover, the interhelical distance within the coiled-coil bundle of 3-helix peptide-PEG conjugate amphiphiles was not perturbed under high surface pressure. Present studies provide valuable insights into the self-assembly process of hybrid peptide-polymer conjugates and guidance to develop biomaterials with controlled multivalency of ligand presentation.

Design of diethynyl porphyrin derivatives with high near infrared fluorescence quantum yields

A design strategy for (porphinato)zinc-based fluorophores that possess large near infrared fluorescence quantum yields is described. These fluorophores are based on a (5,15-diethynylporphinato)zinc(II) framework and feature symmetric donor or acceptor units appended at the meso-ethynyl positions via benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole moieties. These (5,15-bis(benzo[c][1′,2′,5′]thiadiazol-4′-ylethynyl)-10,20-bis[2′,6′-bis(3″,3″-dimethyl-1″-butyloxy)phenyl]porphinato)zinc(II) (4), (5,15-bis[4′-(N,N-dihexylamino) benzo[c][1′,2′,5′]thiadiazol-7′-ylethynyl]-10,20-bis[2′,6′-bis(3″,3″-dimethyl-1″-butyloxy)phenyl]porphinato)zinc(II) (5), (5,15-bis([7′-(4″-n-dodecyloxyphenylethynyl)benzo[c][1′,2′,5′]thiadiazol-4′-yl]ethynyl)-10,20-bis[2′,6′-bis(3″,3″-dimethyl-1″-butyloxy)phenyl]porphinato)zinc(II) (6), (5,15-bis([7′-([7″-(4″ ′-n-dodecyloxyphenyl)benzo[c][1″,2″,5″]thiadiazol-4″-yl]ethynyl)benzo[c][1′,2′,5′]thiadiazol-4′-yl]ethynyl)-10,20-bis[2′,6′-bis(3″,3″-dimethyl-1″-butyloxy)phenyl]porphinato)zinc(II) (7), 5,15-bis ([7′-(4″-N,N-dihexylaminophenylethynyl)benzo[c][1′,2′,5′]thiadiazol-4′-yl]ethynyl)-10,20-bis[2′,6′-bis(3″,3″-dimethyl-1″-butyloxy)phenyl]porphinato)zinc(II) (8), and (5,15-bis([7′-(4″-N,N-dihexylaminophenylethenyl)benzo[c][1′,2′,5′]thiadiazol-4′-yl]ethynyl)-10,20-bis[2′,6′-bis(3″,3″-dimethyl-1″-butyloxy)phenyl]porphinato)zinc(II) (9) chromophores possess red-shifted absorption and emission bands that range between 650 and 750 nm that bear distinct similarities to those of the chlorophylls and structurally related molecules. Interestingly, the measured radiative decay rate constants for these emitters track with the integrated oscillator strengths of their respective x-polarized Q-band absorptions, and thus define an unusual family of high quantum yield near infrared fluorophores in which emission intensity is governed by a simple Strickler–Berg dependence.

Computational de novo design and characterization of a protein that selectively binds a highly hyperpolarizable abiological chromophore

This work reports the first example of a single-chain protein computationally designed to contain four α-helical segments and fold to form a four-helix bundle encapsulating a supramolecular abiological chromophore that possesses exceptional nonlinear optical properties. The 109-residue protein, designated SCRPZ-1, binds and disperses an insoluble hyperpolarizable chromophore, ruthenium(II) [5-(4'-ethynyl-(2,2';6',2″-terpyridinyl))-10,20-bis(phenyl)porphinato]zinc(II)-(2,2';6',2″-terpyridine)(2+) (RuPZn) in aqueous buffer solution at a 1:1 stoichiometry. A 1:1 binding stoichiometry of the holoprotein is supported by electronic absorption and circular dichroism spectra, as well as equilibrium analytical ultracentrifugation and size exclusion chromatography. SCRPZ-1 readily dimerizes at micromolar concentrations, and an empirical redesign of the protein exterior produced a stable monomeric protein, SCRPZ-2, that also displayed a 1:1 protein:cofactor stoichiometry. For both proteins in aqueous buffer, the encapsulated cofactor displays photophysical properties resembling those exhibited by the dilute RuPZn cofactor in organic solvent: femtosecond, nanosecond, and microsecond time scale pump-probe transient absorption spectroscopic data evince intensely absorbing holoprotein excited states having large spectral bandwidth that penetrate deep in the near-infrared energy regime; the holoprotein electronically excited triplet state exhibits a microsecond time scale lifetime characteristic of the RuPZn chromophore. Hyper-Rayleigh light scattering measurements carried out at an incident irradiation wavelength of 1340 nm for these holoproteins demonstrate an exceptional dynamic hyperpolarizabilty (β1340 = 3100 × 10(-30) esu). X-ray reflectivity measurements establish that this de novo-designed hyperpolarizable protein can be covalently attached with high surface density to a silicon surface without loss of the cofactor, indicating that these assemblies provide a new approach to bioinspired materials that have unique electro-optic functionality.

Polyoligopeptides functionalized zinc(II)porphyrins: Step towards artificial hemes

Two new zinc(II)porphyrin oligopeptide conjugates (zinc(II)-5,10,15,20-bis[4-(peptide)- phenyl]porphyrin (5) and -tetrakis[3,5-di(peptide)phenyl]porphyrin (9; peptide = -CH2(CO)Gly-Phe-Ala-CNH2) were prepared using the click chemistry with azides and ethynyl-containing precursors. The spectroscopic signature (S0→S1 and transient T1→Tn absorption, excitation and emission spectra) are typical for zinc(II)porphyrin and shows no perturbation upon anchoring the oligopeptides, whereas some small decreases in the photophysical parameters (𝜏F and ΦF), and larger decrease in T1 lifetimes are noted, which are attributable to the known "loose bolt" effect. The structure for 9 in solution was addressed qualitatively using computer modeling and the comparison of the bimolecular fluorescence quenching rate constants between 5 and 9 using C60 as a photooxidative agent. While 5 exhibits a totally accessible zinc(II)porphyrin unit for a C60 approach, 9 shows a slower quenching rate constant meaning some steric hindrance must be present.

Acentric 2-D ensembles of D-br-A electron-transfer chromophores via vectorial orientation within amphiphilic n-helix bundle peptides for photovoltaic device applications

We show that simply designed amphiphilic 4-helix bundle peptides can be utilized to vectorially orient a linearly extended donor-bridge-acceptor (D-br-A) electron transfer (ET) chromophore within its core. The bundle's interior is shown to provide a unique solvation environment for the D-br-A assembly not accessible in conventional solvents and thereby control the magnitudes of both light-induced ET and thermal charge recombination rate constants. The amphiphilicity of the bundle's exterior was employed to vectorially orient the peptide-chromophore complex at a liquid-gas interface, and its ends were tailored for subsequent covalent attachment to an inorganic surface, via a "directed assembly" approach. Structural data, combined with evaluation of the excited state dynamics exhibited by these peptide-chromophore complexes, demonstrate that densely packed, acentrically ordered 2-D monolayer ensembles of such complexes at high in-plane chromophore densities approaching 1/200 Å(2) offer unique potential as active layers in binary heterojunction photovoltaic devices.