Self-Assembled Near-Infrared Dye Nanoparticles as a Selective Protein Sensor by Activation of a Dormant Fluorophore

A-D-A type fluorescent probe with dual quaternary-ammonium-salt anchors for turn on detection of HSA in wide emission gamut

Human serum albumin (HSA) is a key protein implicates in various physiological and pathological conditions such as renal injury, diabetes mellitus. Herein, we report an AIE-active fluorescent probe (DNI-4) for detection of HSA with a "turn on" response covering visible and near-infrared region (500 - 800 nm). Combining with a triphenylamine and two 1,8-naphthalimide moieties, the chromophore segment of DNI-4 forms a "A-D-A" type molecular architecture with the twisted intramolecular charge transfer property. Two quaternary ammonium salt moieties are introduced into the chromophore to give the probe (DNI-4), which has good hydrophilicity and can interact with HSA to form the dye-HSA aggregates with "turn-on" signal. DNI-4 demonstrates a good linear correlation over a low concentration range of HSA from 0 to 0.2 μM (R2 = 0.9995), with a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 15 nM. We tested the diameters and potential values of DNI-4 and HSA to disclose the variation in microstructure before and after the recognition event. Furthermore, we test and compare the sensitivity and association constants of DNI-4 and two control compounds, neutral DNI-1 and mono-quaternary-ammonium-salt-substituted DNI-5. The results indicate the electronic interaction is a key factor for recognition and DNI-4 with the most positive groups is the best probe for HSA. At last, DNI-4 is successfully applied to probe HSA in the Hela cells indicating the potential application in fluorescent sensing and bioimaging.

Distinguishing the Bimodal Interaction of a Squaraine Dye with a Protein by a Functional Group Photodeprotection Strategy

In this study, we present a protecting group photocleavage method to investigate both covalent and noncovalent interactions between a squaraine dye (PSq) and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA). This approach allows for the photoinduced activation and deactivation of PSq fluorescence, providing valuable insights into the dual-mode interaction of the dye with the protein.

A self-assembled fluorescent nanoprobe recognized by FA1 site for specifically selecting HSA: Its applications in hemin detection, cell imaging and fluorescent tracing drug delivery

As naturally essential biomacromolecule, HSA has become diagnostic indicators for various diseases and universal carriers for anticancer drug delivery, therefore, fluorescence detection and labeling for HSA possess significant application value in the biomedical field. In this paper, hydrazide Schiff base fluorescent probe NDQC was designed and synthesized, which self-assembled into nanoparticles in aqueous solution system and demonstrated excellent selectivity and sensitivity towards HSA. Through displacement assay and molecular docking simulation, the binding of NDQC with HSA in FA1 site was demonstrated, thereby no obvious fluorescence signal presented for homologous protein BSA due to their structural differences in binding site. Non-toxic probe NDQC is suitable for the fluorescence imaging of HSA in cells, and colocalization fluorescence images showed that NDQC-HSA could illuminate mitochondria. Based on the pH sensitivity of fluorescence emission for NDQC-HSA, discrimination of cancer cells and normal cells could be achieved. For practical applications, NDQC-HSA can be employed to measure the content of hemin. More importantly, NDQC could fluorescently label HSA and therefore NDQC-HSA complex act as the carrier for loading cisplatin. The present findings demonstrate that the probe NDQC has potential in exploring HSA at cellular levels and hold great promise in application of tracking drug-loading nanoparticles.

Design and synthesis of a TICT-based red-emissive fluorescent probe for the rapid and selective detection of HSA in human biofluids and live cell imaging

Here, we report the design and synthesis of a D⋯π⋯A-based fluorescent probe, (E)-4-(4-(dibutylamine)-2-hydroxystyryl)-1-methylquinolin-1-ium (DHMQ), which is nonfluorescent in ∼100% PBS buffer medium due to a twisted intra molecular charge transfer (TICT) phenomenon and it becomes highly fluorescent (∼149 fold) in the presence of human serum albumin (HSA), owing to the restriction of its intramolecular free rotation inside the hydrophobic binding cavity of HSA. The site-selective fluorescence displacement assay and molecular docking studies clearly reveal that DHMQ selectively binds at subdomain IB of HSA. The 3σ/slope method was adopted to determine the limit of detection (LOD) value, which was as low as 2.39 nM in ∼100% PBS medium, indicating its high sensitivity towards HSA. The low dissociation constant value [Kd = (1.066 ± 0.017) μM] suggests a strong complexation between the DHMQ and HSA. Importantly, it has been demonstrated that DHMQ is capable of detecting HSA in real human serum and urine samples and was found to be suitable for live cell imaging of HSA.

Advancements in molecular disassembly of optical probes: a paradigm shift in sensing, bioimaging, and therapeutics

The majority of self-assembled fluorescent dyes suffer from aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ), which detrimentally affects their diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness. While aggregation-induced emission (AIE) active dyes offer a promising solution to overcome this limitation, they may face significant challenges as the intracellular environment often prevents aggregation, leading to disassembly and posing challenges for AIE fluorogens. Recent progress in signal amplification through the disassembly of ACQ dyes has opened new avenues for creating ultrasensitive optical sensors and enhancing phototherapeutic outcomes. These advances are well-aligned with cutting-edge technologies such as single-molecule microscopy and targeted molecular therapies. This work explores the concept of disaggregation-induced emission (DIE), showcasing the revolutionary capabilities of DIE-based dyes from their design to their application in sensing, bioimaging, disease monitoring, and treatment in both cellular and animal models. Our objective is to provide an in-depth comparison of aggregation versus disaggregation mechanisms, aiming to stimulate further advancements in the design and utilization of ACQ fluorescent dyes through DIE technology. This initiative is poised to catalyze scientific progress across a broad spectrum of disciplines.

Cucurbit[8]uril-based supramolecular theranostics

Different from most of the conventional platforms with dissatisfactory theranostic capabilities, supramolecular nanotheranostic systems have unparalleled advantages via the artful combination of supramolecular chemistry and nanotechnology. Benefiting from the tunable stimuli-responsiveness and compatible hierarchical organization, host-guest interactions have developed into the most popular mainstay for constructing supramolecular nanoplatforms. Characterized by the strong and diverse complexation property, cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) shows great potential as important building blocks for supramolecular theranostic systems. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of CB[8]-based supramolecular theranostics regarding the design, manufacture and theranostic mechanism. Meanwhile, the current limitations and corresponding reasonable solutions as well as the potential future development are also discussed.

A Rationally Designed Prodrug for the Fluorogenic Labeling of Albumin and Theranostic Effects on Drug-Induced Liver Injury

The development of small-molecular fluorogenic tools for the chemo-selective labeling of proteins in live cells is important for the evaluation of intracellular redox homeostasis. Dynamic imaging of human serum albumin (HSA), an antioxidant protein under oxidative stress with concomitant release of antioxidant drugs to maintain redox homeostasis, affords potential opportunities for disease diagnosis and treatment. In this work, we developed a nonfluorogenic prodrug named TPA-NAC, by introducing N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) into a conjugated acceptor skeleton. Through combined thiol and amino addition, coupling with HSA results in fluorescence turn-on and drug release. It was reasoned that the restricted intramolecular motion of the probe under an HSA microenvironment after covalent bonding inhibited the nonradiative transitions. Furthermore, the biocompatibility and photochemical properties of TPA-NAC enabled it to image exogenous and endogenous HSA in living cells in a wash-free manner. Additionally, the released drug evoked upregulation of superoxide dismutase (SOD), which synergistically eliminated reactive oxygen species in a drug-induced liver injury model. This study provides insights into the design of new theranostic fluorescent prodrugs for chemo-selective protein labeling and disease treatments.

Development of Human Serum Albumin Fluorescent Probes in Detection, Imaging, and Disease Therapy

Human serum albumin (HSA) acts as a repository and transporter of substances in the blood. An abnormal concentration may indicate the occurrence of liver- and kidney-related diseases, which has attracted people to investigate the precise quantification of HSA in body fluids. Fluorescent probes can combine with HSA covalently or noncovalently to quantify HSA in urine and plasma. Moreover, probes combined with HSA can improve its photophysical properties; probe-HSA has been applied in real-time monitoring and photothermal and photodynamic therapy in vivo. This Review will introduce fluorescent probes for quantitative HSA according to the three reaction mechanisms of spatial structure, enzymatic reaction, and self-assembly and systematically introduce the application of probes combined with HSA in disease imaging and phototherapy. It will help develop multifunctional applications for HSA probes and provide assistance in the early diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Precise and rapid point-of-care quantification of albumin levels in unspiked blood using organic field-effect transistors

Nanowire-based field-effect transistors (FETs) are widely used to detect biomolecules precisely. However, the fabrication of such devices involves complex integration procedures of nanowires into the device and most are not easily scalable. In this work, we report a straightforward fabrication approach that utilizes the grain boundaries of the semiconducting film of organic FETs to fabricate biosensors for the detection of human serum albumin (HSA) with an enhanced sensitivity and detection range. We used trichromophoric pentapeptide (TPyAlaDo-Leu-ArTAA-Leu-TPyAlaDo, TPP) as a receptor molecule to precisely estimate the concentration of HSA protein in human blood. Bi-layer semiconductors (pentacene and TPP) were used to fabricate the OFET, where the pentacene molecule acted as a conducting channel and TPP acted as a receptor molecule. This approach of engineering the diffusion of receptor molecules into the grain boundaries is crucial in developing OFET-based HSA protein sensors, which cover a considerable detection range from 1 pM to 1 mM in a single device. The point-of-care detection in unspiked blood samples was confirmed at 4.2 g dL-1, which is similar to 4.1 g dL-1 measured using a pathological procedure.

Therapeutic targeting of CPSF3-dependent transcriptional termination in ovarian cancer

Transcriptional dysregulation is a recurring pathogenic hallmark and an emerging therapeutic vulnerability in ovarian cancer. Here, we demonstrated that ovarian cancer exhibited a unique dependency on the regulatory machinery of transcriptional termination, particularly, cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF) complex. Genetic abrogation of multiple CPSF subunits substantially hampered neoplastic cell viability, and we presented evidence that their indispensable roles converged on the endonuclease CPSF3. Mechanistically, CPSF perturbation resulted in lengthened 3'-untranslated regions, diminished intronic polyadenylation and widespread transcriptional readthrough, and consequently suppressed oncogenic pathways. Furthermore, we reported the development of specific CPSF3 inhibitors building upon the benzoxaborole scaffold, which exerted potent antitumor activity. Notably, CPSF3 blockade effectively exacerbated genomic instability by down-regulating DNA damage repair genes and thus acted in synergy with poly(adenosine 5'-diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibition. These findings establish CPSF3-dependent transcriptional termination as an exploitable driving mechanism of ovarian cancer and provide a promising class of boron-containing compounds for targeting transcription-addicted human malignancies.

New "Destruction Seek to Survive" Strategy Based on a Serum Albumin Assembly with a Squaraine Molecule for the Detection of Peroxynitrite

Peroxynitrite (ONOO^-), a kind of active nitrogen species, plays an important role in biological systems. Overproduction of ONOO^- is closely related to the pathogenesis of many diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to quantify intracellular ONOO^- for differentiating health and disease states. Fluorescent probes with near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence can detect ONOO^- with high sensitivity and selectivity. However, there is an inevitable problem that many NIR fluorophores are easily oxidized by ONOO^- to give a false-negative result. To avoid this problem, herein, we ingeniously propose a "destruction to seek to survive" strategy to detect ONOO^-. Two NIR squaraine (SQ) dyes were connected together to form a fluorescent probe (SQDC). This method utilizes the destructive effect of peroxynitrite on one of the SQ moieties of SQDC to eliminate the steric hindrance, enabling the other "survived" SQ segment to enter the hydrophobic cavity of bovine serum albumin (BSA) via the well-known host-guest interactions. The encapsulation of albumin protects the "survived" SQ from further attack of ONOO^-. As a result, a NIR fluorescence turn-on response coming from the host-guest interaction between BSA and the "survived" SQ escaped from SQDC was found, which can be used for the detection of ONOO^-. The assembly of SQDC mixed with BSA can be located in mitochondria to detect endogenous and exogenous ONOO^- sensitively in living cells. As a proof-of-concept method, it is envisioned that this novel detection strategy with a simple assembly would become a powerful means for the detection of ONOO^- when employing NIR fluorophores.

Serum Albumin Inspired Self-Assembly/Disassembly of a Fluorogenic Nanoprobe for Real-Time Monitoring and Quantification of Urinary Albumin with Live Cell Imaging Application

Abnormal levels (high/low) of urinary human serum albumin (HSA) are associated with a number of diseases and thus act as an essential biomarker for quick therapeutic monitoring and biomedical diagnosis, entailing the urgent development of an effective chemosensor to quantify the albumin levels. Herein, we have rationally designed and developed a small fluorogenic molecular probe, (Z)-2-(5-((8-hydroxy-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H,5H-pyrido[3,2,1-ij]quinolin-9-yl) methylene)-4-oxo-2-thioxothiazolidin-3-yl) acetic acid (HJRA) with a twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) property, which can easily self-assemble into nonfluorescent nanoaggregates in aqueous solution. However, HJRA nanoaggregates can selectively bind with serum albumin proteins (HSA/BSA) in ∼100% PBS medium, thereby facilitating the disassembly of nanoaggregates into monomers, exhibiting a clear turn-on red fluorescent response toward HSA and BSA. Analysis of the specific binding mechanism between HJRA and HSA using a site-selective fluorescence displacement assay and molecular docking simulations indicates that a variety of noncovalent interactions are responsible for the disassembly of nanoaggregates with the concomitant trapping of the HJRA monomer at site I in HSA, yielding a substantial red emission caused by the inhibition of intramolecular rotation of HJRA probe inside the hydrophobic cavity of HSA. The limit of detection (LOD) determined by the 3σ/slope method was found to be 1.13 nM, which is substantially below the normal HSA concentration level in healthy urine, signifying the very high sensitivity of the probe toward HSA. The comparable results and quick response toward quantification of HSA in urine by HJRA with respect to the Bradford method clearly point toward the superiority of this method compared to the existing ones and may lead to biomedical applications for HSA quantification in urine. It may also find potential application in live-cell imaging of HSA.

Fluorescent turn-on sensing of albumin proteins (BSA and ovalbumin) using vitamin B6 cofactor derived Schiff base

The detection of albumin proteins with high accuracy by facile analytical approaches is important for the diagnosis of various diseases. This manuscript introduced an easy-to-prepare Schiff base L by condensing vitamin B₆ cofactor pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) with 2-aminothiophenol for the fluorescence turn-on sensing of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and ovalbumin (OVA). The weakly emissive L showed a significant fluorescence enhancement at 485 and 490 nm in the presence of OVA and BSA with an estimated sensitivity limit of 1.7 µM and 0.3 µM, respectively. The formation of protein-ligand complex restricted the free intramolecular rotation of L is expected to show the selective fluorescence enhancement. The molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to examine the binding affinity and modes between BSA/OVA and L. The practical utility of L as a fluorescent turn-on sensor was validated by quantifying BSA and OVA in various real biological samples of milk, serum, egg white and urine with good recovery percentages.

Design and Synthesis of RhodIndolizine Dyes with Improved Stability and Shortwave Infrared Emission up to 1250 nm

The design of shortwave infrared (SWIR) emissive small molecules with good stability in water remains an important challenge for fluorescence biological imaging applications. A series of four SWIR emissive rhodindolizine (RI) dyes were rationally designed and synthesized to probe the effects of nonconjugated substituents, conjugated donor groups, and nanoencapsulation in a water-soluble polymer on the stability and optical properties of the dyes. Steric protecting groups were added at the site of a significant LUMO presence to probe the effects on stability. Indolizine donor groups with added dimethylaniline groups were added to reduce the electrophilicity of the dyes toward nucleophiles such as water. All of the dyes were found to absorb (920-1096 nm peak values) and emit (1082-1256 nm peak values) within the SWIR region. Among xanthene-based emissive dyes, emission values >1200 nm are exceptional with 1256 nm peak emission being a longer emission than the recent record setting VIX-4 xanthene-based dye. Half-lives were improved from ∼5 to >24 h through the incorporation of either steric-based core protection groups or donors with increased donation strength. Importantly, the nanoencapsulation of the dyes in a water-soluble surfactant (Triton-X) allows for the use of these dyes in biological imaging applications.

Rationally designed far-red emitting styryl chromones and a magnetic nanoconjugate for strip-based 'on-site' detection of metabolic markers

The global burden of liver damage and renal failure necessitates technology-aided evolution towards point-of-care (POC) testing of metabolic markers. Hence in the prevalence of current health conditions, achieving on-site detection and quantifying serum albumin (SA) can contribute significantly to halting the increased mortality and morbidity rate. Herein, we have rationally designed and synthesized far-red emitting, solvatofluorochromic styryl chromone (SC) derivatives SC1 and SC2, and SC2-conjugated fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles (SCNPs) for sensing SA with a fluorogenic response via interacting at an atypical drug binding site. In solution, the highly sensitive and selective fluorogenic response was evaluated by the prominent amplification and blue-shift in the emission maxima of the probes from deep red to dark yellow through an intermediate orange emission. The transformation of the fluorogen into a fluorophore was manifested through spectroscopic measurements. The stabilization of the probes at protein pockets was ascribed to the non-covalent interactions, such as H-bonding, cation-π, and hydrophobic interactions, as unveiled by docking studies. The practical applications revealed the novelty of SC derivatives through (a) the capability to detect SA isolated from real blood samples via a turn-on fluorescence response; (b) the design of a simple, cheap, and portable test-strip using a glass-slide loaded with solid-state emissive SC2, which provided differential emission color of the SC2-HSA complex in solution and the solid-state with increasing concentration of HSA. Moreover, a smartphone-based color analysis application was employed to obtain the ratio of green and red (G/R) channels, which was utilized for quantitative detection of HSA; (c) the biocompatibility of the SC1 was ascertained through confocal laser scanning microscopic imaging (CLSM). Detailed investigation showed that SC1 could entirely localize in the mitochondria and evolve as a promising biomarker for distinguishing cancer cells from normal cells. Additionally, the validation of uncommon binding of SC1 and SC2 between domains I and III was determined using competition experiments with a known site-specific binder and molecular docking studies. This unique property of the probes can be further exploited to understand the cellular intake of HSA-drug complexes in the multifaceted biological system. These results find the utility of SC derivatives as small molecule-based chemosensors for at-home SA detection and as a biomarker for cancer.

Chalcogen-based ratiometric reversible BODIPY redox sensors for the determination of enantioselective methionine sulfoxide reductase activity

Many serious diseases are associated with degenerative changes caused by oxidative stress triggered by elevated concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells. Therefore, the development of suitable probes for monitoring such processes is of great importance. Here, we introduce a series of sulfur- and selenium-substituted BODIPY derivatives as reversible redox sensors for ROS and enzymatic redox processes. Significant differences in emission maxima and fluorescence quantum yields between the reduced and oxidized forms make them excellent ratiometric turn-on/off probes. Installation of polar sulfonate groups improved their aqueous solubility while retaining their sensing properties, which allowed the probes to monitor the enzymatic activity of enantioselective methionine sulfoxide reductase.

Synthesis, Photophysical and Electrochemical Properties of Bis-Squaraine Dyes Fused on Isomeric Benzodipyrrole Central Units

Exciton interactions are not only observed in assembled molecules but also in compounds with multiple chromophores referred to as superchromophores. We have developed isomeric bis-squaraine dyes as superchromophores in which two squaraine chromophores are fused onto the isomeric benzodipyrrole skeleton so as to regulate conformations and to reduce distances between two chromophores. The dyes with benzo[1,2-b:3,4-b']dipyrrole and benzo[1,2-b:5,4-b']dipyrrole moieties exhibited split electronic absorption originated from the intramolecular exciton interaction. The intensity of the split absorption bands varies in correlation with the orientation of chromophores. The isomeric dye with benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dipyrrole moiety exhibited a near-infrared absorption associated with the resonance throughout two chromophores. Their electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties are distinct from those of monomeric dyes owing to electronic interactions between the two chromophores. Thus, the structural isomerism of the central skeleton significantly affects their optical properties as well as their electrochemical properties.

Modulating donor of dicyanoisophorone-based fluorophores to detect human serum albumin with NIR fluorescence

It is urgently needed to develop NIR-fluorescent probe for detection of human serum albumin (HSA) since the interference of short-wavelength-fluorescence from endogenous species in real serum and urine. However, most previous reports were located in the short-wavelength region (<600 nm). In this work, a series of dicyanoisophorone (DCO)-based fluorophores 1-4 with different donor groups have been designed and investigated. A systematic study of their photophysical properties has been carried out. Among these probes, 4 exhibited NIR emission with the highest fluorescence brightness and the most sensitive signal response to HSA. Further studies demonstrated that 4 could strongly bind into the DS1 pocket of HSA with a 1:1 ratio. Importantly, the method based on 4 has been proven to be capable of sensing HSA in real serum and urine samples.

Synthesis of α-Aryldiazophosphonates via a Diazo Transfer Reaction

The simple synthetic procedure for preparation of α-aryl-α-diazophosphonates via a diazo transfer reaction is proposed. Benzylphosphonates reacted with tosyl azide (TsN₃) in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide (KO^tBu) to afford diazophosphonates in a yield up to 79%. The proposed method is general. The reaction uses easily available starting materials, tolerates various functional groups, and may be applied for multi-gram scale synthesis.

A fluorescent sensor recognized by the FA1 site for highly sensitive detection of HSA

Human serum albumin (HSA), as the most abundant protein in blood plasma, plays a crucial role in many physiological processes. The abnormal HSA level in serum or in urine is often associated with various diseases. Therefore, to achieve highly sensitive and selective quantification of HSA is of great importance for disease diagnosis and preventive medicine. Herein, an HSA-selective light-up fluorescent sensor, DCM-ML, was successfully developed for quantitative detection of HSA. DCM-ML exhibited good (photo-) stability and strong fluorescence enhancement around 630 nm in the presence of HSA in complex samples containing numerous biological analytes. Upon addition of HSA into DCM-ML containing solution, a good linear relationship (R² > 0.99) between the fluorescence intensity of DCM-ML and HSA concentration from 0 to 0.08 mg/mL was obtained with the detection limit of 0.25 μg/mL. The sensing mechanism of the sensor towards HSA was demonstrated to be via recognition in the fatty acid site 1 (FA1), instead of the most reported binding sites (Sudlow I and II) in HSA, for the first time, by both the displacement experiments and molecular docking simulation. Thus, DCM-ML can also be assumed as a potential FA1 site-binding marker for examining drugs binding to the FA1 site in HSA. At last, the utilization of sensor DCM-ML for quantification and validation of HSA in urine samples and cell culture medium was effectively demonstrated. Therefore, the development of DCM-ML should find great application potentials in the fields of analytical chemistry and clinical medicine as a highly sensitive HSA sensor.

Design, synthesis and mechanistic studies of a TICT based fluorogenic probe for lighting up protein HSA

Human serum albumin (HSA) in blood serves as an important biomarker for clinical diagnosis, and fluorescence sensing method has attracted extensive attention. In this work, a small organic molecule probe, YS8, involving twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) characteristic, was designed and investigated to detect HSA. YS8 kept silent state in fluorescence under physiological conditions, but the encapsulation of YS8 in the hydrophobic subdomain IB region of HSA inhibited the TICT state and produced a clear light-up fluorescent signal. Especially, YS8 was demonstrated to be an efficient fluorogenic probe to discriminate HSA from other proteins including the bovine serum albumin (BSA). Moreover, YS8/HSA complex could be applied in fluorescence imaging in living cells and is also useful in the study of artificial fluorescent protein (AFP).

NIR-II cell endocytosis-activated fluorescent probes for in vivo high-contrast bioimaging diagnostics

Fluorescence probes have great potential to empower bioimaging, precision clinical diagnostics and surgery. However, current probes are limited to in vivo high-contrast diagnostics, due to the substantial background interference from tissue scattering and nonspecific activation in blood and normal tissues. Here, we developed a kind of cell endocytosis-activated fluorescence (CEAF) probe, which consists of a hydrophilic polymer unit and an acid pH-sensitive small-molecule fluorescent moiety that operates in the "tissue-transparent" second near-infrared (NIR-II) window. The CEAF probe stably presents in the form of quenched nanoaggregates in water and blood, and can be selectively activated and retained in lysosomes through cell endocytosis, driven by a synergetic mechanism of disaggregation and protonation. In vivo imaging of tumor and inflammation with a passive-targeting and affinity-tagged CEAF probe, respectively, yields highly specific signals with target-to-background ratios over 15 and prolonged observation time up to 35 hours, enabling positive implications for surgical, diagnostic and fundamental biomedical studies.

Investigation into the Effect of Spinel Pigments on the Photostability and Combustion Properties of Ethylene-Norbornene Copolymer

Multicolor ethylene-norbornene (EN) composites filled with three different spinel pigments (Cobalt Green-PG50, Zinc Iron Yellow-PY 119, Praseodym Yellow-PY159) were prepared by melt mixing and characterized in terms of their stability under destructive environmental conditions. The EN films were subjected to accelerated aging by ultraviolet (UV) photooxidation for 300 h, 600 h, or 900 h. The mechanical performance of the EN composites was investigated in static and dynamic mechanical tests. The morphologies of the EN samples and their color changes during the aging process were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and spectrophotometric measurements. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was applied to determine the amount of carbonyl groups resulting from surface oxidation at different aging times. The effects of the spinel pigments on the thermal stability and combustion properties of the multicolor polymer composites were also assessed, and compared with a sample containing the organic Pigment Yellow 139 (PY139). The results show that the color changes (ΔE) in the spinel pigments were minor in comparison to those in the organic pigment (PY139) and the reference film. The Zinc Yellow (PY119) pigment was the most effective stabilizer of EN copolymer. Moreover, the spinel pigments had a positive effect on the flame retardancy of the EN composites. Microcombustion tests (MCC) showed that the incorporation of both the spinels and the organic pigment PY139 into the EN matrix reduced the heat release rate (HRR) and total heat release (THR) parameters.

Visual pH Sensors: From a Chemical Perspective to New Bioengineered Materials

Many human activities and cellular functions depend upon precise pH values, and pH monitoring is considered a fundamental task. Colorimetric and fluorescence sensors for pH measurements are chemical and biochemical tools able to sense protons and produce a visible signal. These pH sensors are gaining widespread attention as non-destructive tools, visible to the human eye, that are capable of a real-time and in-situ response. Optical “visual” sensors are expanding researchers’ interests in many chemical contexts and are routinely used for biological, environmental, and medical applications. In this review we provide an overview of trending colorimetric, fluorescent, or dual-mode responsive visual pH sensors. These sensors include molecular synthetic organic sensors, metal organic frameworks (MOF), engineered sensing nanomaterials, and bioengineered sensors. We review different typological chemical entities of visual pH sensors, three-dimensional structures, and signaling mechanisms for pH sensing and applications; developed in the past five years. The progression of this review from simple organic molecules to biological macromolecules seeks to benefit beginners and scientists embarking on a project of pH sensing development, who needs background information and a quick update on advances in the field. Lessons learned from these tools will aid pH determination projects and provide new ways of thinking for cell bioimaging or other cutting-edge in vivo applications.

A DS2-specific flavonoid-based probe with a unique dual-emissive response to human serum albumin

The hydroxyl substituent in flavonoids can cause the binding site to change from DS1 to DS2 and restore the ESIPT process of flavonoids, thereby leading to a unique dual-emissive response towards human serum albumin.

A novel hydrazide Schiff base self-assembled nanoprobe for selective detection of human serum albumin and its applications in renal disease surveillance

Human serum albumin (HSA) is considered as a biomarker for the early diagnosis of renal disease, therefore identifying and detecting HSA in biological fluids (especially urine) with an easy method is of great importance. Herein, we report a novel hydrazide Schiff base fluorescent probe N'-((7-(diethylamino)-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)methylene)pyrazine-2-carbohydrazide (NPC), which self-assembled into nanoparticles in aqueous solution. Based on disassembly-induced emission and the site-specific recognition mechanism, the binding of NPC with HSA resulted in a fluorescence "turn-on" response. Probe NPC exhibited superior selectivity and sensitivity toward HSA with a detection limit of 0.59 mg L-1 in PBS and 0.56 mg L-1 in the urine sample. The site-binding mechanism of NPC with HSA was explored by fluorescence quenching study, Job's plot analysis, HSA destruction, site marker displacement and molecular docking. Fluorescence imaging of HSA in MCF-7 cells was achieved by using a non-toxic NPC probe, suggesting that NPC could be applied to visualize the level of HSA in vivo. More importantly, further practical applications of probe NPC in human urine samples were achieved with satisfactory results by using a fluorometer or test paper, which could provide extensive application in clinical diagnosis.

A red emitting fluorescent probe based on TICT for selective detection and imaging of HSA

A red emitting fluorescence probe, TPA-CPO, based on twisted intra-molecular charge transfer (TICT) was designed and synthesized. The spectra results displayed that TPA-CPO could sense HSA with excellent properties including significant fluorescence enhancement, long emission wavelength, large stokes shift, and wide linear range. The recognition mechanism was proved that TPA-CPO could bind to domain IB of HSA and its TICT process was suppressed by utilizing hydrophobic cavity and low polarity of HSA. TPA-CPO bind to domain IB instead of common drug sites of HSA could effectively avoid interference from most drugs. The selective response of TPA-CPO allowed quantitative detection of HSA with sensitivity limit of 13.65 µg/mL. What's more, it successfully achieved HSA imaging in HeLa cells.

Subtle Structural Changes of Dyes Lead to Distinctly Different Fluorescent Behaviors in Cellular Context: The Role of G-Quadruplex DNA Interaction Using Coumarin-Quinazolinone Conjugates as a Case Study

Fluorogenic organic materials have gained tremendous attention due to their unique properties. However, only a few of them are suitable for bioimaging. Their different behaviors in organic and cellular environments hinder their application in bioimaging. Thus understanding the photoluminescent behaviors of organic materials in a cellular context is particularly important for their rational design. Herein, we describe two coumarin-quinazolinone conjugates: CQ and MeCQ. The high structure similarity makes them possess similar physical and photophysical properties, including bright fluorescence ascribed to the monomer forms in organic solvents and aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect due to self-assembly aggregation in aqueous solution. However, they behave quite differently in cellular context: that is, CQ exhibits bright fluorescence in living cells, while the fluorescence of MeCQ is almost undetectable. The different performance between CQ and MeCQ in living cells is attributed to their different scenario in G-quadruplex (G4) DNA interaction. CQ selectively binds with G4 DNA to recover its fluorescence via aggregation-disaggregation switching in living cells, while MeCQ remained in the aggregate form due to its poor interplay with G4 DNA. Furthermore, CQ is applied as a two-photon fluorescent dye, and its photoswitchable fluorescence capability is exploited for super-resolution imaging of the specific mitochondrial structure in living cells via the STORM technique.

Design and Synthesis of Near-Infrared Mechanically Interlocked Molecules for Specific Targeting of Mitochondria

The entrapment of squaraine (SQ) within a molecular container to form rotaxane has been shown to improve the dye stability and the fluorescence proficiency inside the mitochondria. The macrocycle provides shelter and protects the near-infrared (NIR) SQ chromophore from nucleophilic attacks made by the exposed thiol of Cys-containing mitochondrial proteins and mitochondrial glutathione. Herein a microwave-assisted template-directed clipping reaction on low-loading 2-chlorotrityl chloride resin is used to develop an NIR unsymmetrical squaraine rotaxane in high quantum yield.

Detection Methods and Research Progress of Human Serum Albumin

Human serum albumin (HSA) is a biological macromolecule with important physiological functions; abnormal HSA levels are associated with coronary heart disease, multiple myeloma, diabetes, nephropathy, neurometabolic disorders, liver cirrhosis and other diseases. Therefore, accurate and quantitative detection of HAS have extremely important research and application value in biological science, molecular biology, clinical medicine and other fields. As for the detection method of HSA, dye-binding method and immune method are the first to be used, and have been applied in clinical detection. In recent years, many new detection technologies have emerged, such as fluorescent probe detection method, nano-materials for HSA detection, biosensor and so on. Although there are many methods developed recently to detect HSA, comprehensive reviews for HSA detection methods are still rare. Thus, writing this review to fill in the blank is in need. In order to highlight the recent progress in the field of HSA detection, in this review, the methods used to detect HSA are summarized and sorted, the advantages and disadvantages of these detection methods are also listed, then the research progress of small molecular fluorescence probe method is emphatically introduced in this paper. Then, we briefly discussed the challenges and future development directions in this field.

Activatable Nanocomposite Probe for Preoperative Location and Intraoperative Navigation for Orthotopic Hepatic Tumor Resection via MSOT and Aggregation-Induced Near-IR-I/II Fluorescence Imaging

The precise location of tumor and completeness of surgical resection are critical to successful tumor surgery; thus, the method capable of preoperatively locating a tumor site and intraoperatively determining tumor margins would be highly ideal. Herein, an activatable nanocomposite probe was developed for preoperatively locating orthotopic hepatic tumor via multispectral optoacoustic tomography imaging and for intraoperative navigation via near-IR-1 (NIR-I) and NIR-II fluorescence imaging. The molecular probe comprises an electronic donor, an acceptor, and a recognition moiety and forms the nanocomposite probe with bovine serum albumin. The probe specifically responds to nitroreductase overexpressed in tumor cells, which transforms the aromatic nitro group into an electron-donating amino group and thus activates the probe. The activated probe with the aggregation-induced emission feature generates strong NIR-I/NIR-II fluorescence and optoacoustic signals for dual-mode imaging. Owing to the in situ response toward nitroreductase in tumor cells in the hepatic region, the probe is found capable of detecting early stage orthotopic liver tumors. Furthermore, with the nanocomposite probe, we can obtain the 3D MSOT images to accurately locate orthotopic liver tumors preoperatively and the NIR-I/NIR-II fluorescence images to provide intraoperative guidance for tumor resection surgery.

Development of Human Serum Albumin Selective Fluorescent Probe Using Thieno[3,2-b]pyridine-5(4H)-one Fluorophore Derivatives

The level of human serum albumin (HSA) in biological fluids is a key health indicator and its quantitative determination has great clinical importance. In this study, we developed a selective and sensitive fluorescent HSA probe by fluorescence-based high-throughput screening of a set of fluorescent thieno[3,2-b]pyridine-5(4H)-one derivatives against major plasma proteins: HSA, bovine serum albumin (BSA), globulin, fibrinogen, and transferrin. The fluorophore chosen finally (4) showed noticeable fluorescence enhancement in the presence of HSA (160-fold increase), and it exhibited rapid response, high sensitivity (detection limit 8 nM), and the ability to clearly distinguish HSA from BSA in pH 9 buffer condition. Moreover, the probe could be applicable to detect trace amounts of HSA in an artificial urine sample; further, it might be applied to the determination of the HSA concentration in complex biological samples for pre-clinical diagnosis.

Specific and Quantitative Detection of Albumin in Biological Fluids by Tetrazolate-Functionalized Water-Soluble AIEgens

The analysis of albumin has clinical significance in diagnostic tests and obvious value to research studies on the albumin-mediated drug delivery and therapeutics. The present immunoassay, instrumental techniques, and colorimetric methods for albumin detection are either expensive, troublesome, or insensitive. Herein, a class of water-soluble tetrazolate-functionalized derivatives with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics is introduced as novel fluorescent probes for albumin detection. They can be selectively lighted up by site-specific binding with albumin. The resulting albumin fluorescent assay exhibits a low detection limit (0.21 nM), high robustness in aqueous buffer (pH = 6-9), and a broad tunable linear dynamic range (0.02-3000 mg/L) for quantification. The tetrazolate functionality endows the probes with a superior water solubility (>0.01 M) and a high binding affinity to albumin (K_D = 0.25 μM). To explore the detection mechanism, three unique polar binding sites on albumin are computationally identified, where the multivalent tetrazolate-lysine interactions contribute to the tight binding and restriction of the molecular motion of the AIE probes. The key role of lysine residues is verified by the detection of poly-l-lysine. Moreover, we applied the fluorogenic method to quantify urinary albumin in clinical samples and found it a feasible and practical strategy for albumin analysis in complex biological fluids.

Facile synthesis of AIEgens with wide color tunability for cellular imaging and therapy

Luminogens with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics are nowadays undergoing explosive development in the fields of imaging, process visualization, diagnosis and therapy. However, exploration of an AIE luminogen (AIEgen) system allowing for extremely wide color tunability remains challenging. In this contribution, the facile synthesis of triphenylamine (TPA)-thiophene building block-based AIEgens having tunable maximum emission wavelengths covering violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, red, deep red and NIR regions is reported. The obtained AIEgens can be utilized as extraordinary fluorescent probes for lipid droplet (LD)-specific cell imaging and cell fusion assessment, showing excellent image contrast to the cell background and high photostability, as well as satisfactory visualization outcomes. Interestingly, quantitative evaluation of the phototherapy effect demonstrates that one of these presented AIEgens, namely TTNIR, performs well as a photosensitizer for photodynamic ablation of cancer cells upon white light irradiation. This study thus provides useful insights into rational design of fluorescence systems for widely tuning emission colors with high brightness, and remarkably extends the applications of AIEgens.

A flavonoid-based fluorescent probe enables the accurate quantification of human serum albumin by minimizing the interference from blood lipids

We herein provide a simple design strategy to improve the sensing specificity towards human serum albumin by incorporating a nitrobenzene quencher into a traditional polarity-sensitive probe in responding to the interference from blood lipids.

Media Dependent Switching of Selectivity and Continuous near Infrared Turn-on Fluorescence Response through Cascade Interactions from Noncovalent to Covalent Binding for Detection of Serum Albumin in Living Cells

Abnormal level of proteins is proved to be associated with diseases. Thus, protein sensing is helpful for clinical diagnosis and therapy. However, there is a great variety of protein species and relatively low concentration of each protein in complicated biological systems including other nonprotein biomolecules. Therefore, it remains challenging to develop an effective method for detecting protein with high selectivity and sensitivity. Herein, a new self-assembly method based on a robust dye SQSS of which two squaraine molecules were conjugated through disulfide bond was developed for highly selective and sensitive detection of serum albumin (SA) in aqueous solution and live cells. SQSS can self-assemble into "compact" aggregates, offering "inert" disulfide group and very low background fluorescence through the combination of aggregation quenching and homogeneous fluorescence resonance energy transfer (homoFRET) quenching. The response of SQSS to SA undergoes two cascade stages. At the first stage, SA drives the compact assemblies of SQSS to form loose ones with fast speed (30 s) through noncovalent interaction, resulting in the enhancement of fluorescence to some extent. In this loose assembly state, the disulfide bond in SQSS is reactive. At the second stage, the Cys34 in SA slowly induced further disassembly through covalent binding with reactive disulfide bond, resulting in fluorescence further increasing and SQSS labeling to SA that cannot be displaced by site binding ligands of SA. The self-assemblies of SQSS can selectively detect SA with continuous near-infrared (NIR) turn-on fluorescence response in 100% aqueous buffer solution. In addition, SQSS showed the potential application of imaging SA in living cells. On the other hand, the loose assembly state of SQSS was also achieved in aqueous solution with 20% CH₃CN. In this media, thiol-containing glutathione (GSH) caused the disassembly of SQSS with turn-on fluorescence response through interaction with disulfide bond. SQSS can selectively recognize GSH over other amino acids even in the presence of other sulfhydryl amino acids. As a proof-of-concept method, the molecular self-assembly through multisteps interactions would provide an ideal strategy for detection and live-cell imaging of biorelated molecules with high selectivity and signal-to-noise ratio.