Time- and Concentration-Dependent Reactivity of Cys, Hcy, and GSH on the Diels–Alder-Grafted 1,3,5-Tris Conjugate of Calix[6]arene To Bring Selectivity for Cys: Spectroscopy, Microscopy, and Its Reactivity in Cells

Calixarene-mediated host-guest interactions leading to supramolecular assemblies: visualization by microscopy

Host-guest chemistry, particularly of supramolecules, has been an intriguing topic for researchers for a long time due to its multiplicative applications ranging from chemical to biological to materials science. Supramolecules, such as calixarenes, are excellent host molecular systems due to their controllable cavity along with the ease of functionalization both at the lower and upper rims. The host-guest interactions involving calixarenes have been primarily studied using physical methods, such as absorption, fluorescence and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry and mass spectrometry. The corresponding literature as disseminated through review articles triggered broadening of the spectrum of research. Depending upon the nature of the derivatization, the supramolecular conjugates of calixarenes have been shown to form different morphologies of micro and nanometric size as reported in the literature. Pertinent research performed in our own group was based on atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy studies. The literature reveals that such morphologies are modified in the presence of guest species. Thus, the supramolecular host-guest complexation of calixarenes leading to the formation of various architectures has been studied using both spectroscopy and microscopy techniques to obtain complimentary data. However, there are no review articles that provide discussions on this exciting area of supramolecular science involving microscopy. Therefore, in the present article, for the first time, we have brought together the research reported in the literature during the past decade, including ours, in demonstrating the supramolecular architectures formed from the host-guest interactions extended by the conjugates of calixarenes, and their applications using microscopy. The scope of this article spans across various features of interaction in these systems: (i) in solution, (ii) at the air-water interface and (iii) on solid surfaces. The application domain includes sensing of organic explosives and drugs, exhibiting antibacterial activity, supramolecular self-assembly or co-assembly resulting in gels, micelles and vesicles, and the consequent aggregation-induced emission and a few others.

HBT-based turn-on fluorescent probe for discrimination of homocysteine from glutathione/cysteine and its bioimaging applications

In this work, we firstly reported a new type of turn-on fluorescent probe HBTI for Hcy over GSH/Cys based on ESIPT and heavy atom effect strategy.

Functionalized calix[4]arene as a colorimetric dual sensor for Cu(ii) and cysteine in aqueous media: experimental and computational study

The sensors developed detect Cu²⁺and the metal complex recognizes cysteine, detectable by the naked eye, and DFT calculations corroborate the experimental results.

A fast-response two-photon fluorescent probe for the detection of Cys over GSH/Hcy with a large turn-on signal and its application in living tissues

Cysteine (Cys), a small-molecule aminothiol, plays important roles in various physiological processes in connection with various diseases, such as skin lesions, edema, hair depigmentation and liver damage. We developed a novel two-photon fluorescent probe for sensing Cys in presence of GSH and Hcy in vivo. The two-photon fluorescent probe exhibited favorable properties, including fast response (about 20 min), good selectivity, and low cytotoxicity. Furthermore, it was successfully applied for imaging Cys in living cells and tissues.

A 1,3-Capped Calix[4] Conjugate Possessing an Amine Moiety as an Anion Receptor: Reversible Anion Sensing Detected by Spectroscopy and Characterization of the Supramolecular Features by Microscopy

A phenylenediamine-capped conjugate of calix[4]arene (Lamino ) was synthesized by reducing its precursor, Limino , with sodium borohydride in methanol. The Lamino sample binds to anions due to the more flexible and bent conformation of the capped aminophenolic binding core, compared to the precursor Limino . The Lamino sample showed selectivity towards H2 PO4 (-) by exhibiting a ratiometric increase in emission by about 11-fold with a detection limit of (1.2±0.2) μm ((116±20) ppb) over 15 anions studied, including other phosphates, such as P2 O7 (4-) , adenosine monophosphate (AMP(2-) ), adenosine diphosphate (ADP(2-) ), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP(2-) ). The Lamino sample shows an increase in the absorbance at λ=315 nm in the presence of H2 PO4 (-) , CO3 (2-) , HCO3 (-) , CH3 CO2 (-) , and F(-) . The (1) H NMR spectroscopic titration of Lamino with H2 PO4 (-) , F(-) , and CH3 CO2 (-) showed major changes in the phenylene-capped and salicyl moieties, and thereby, confirming the aminophenolic region as the binding core. However, the binding strength of these anions followed the trend H2 PO4 (-) >F(-) ≫CH3 CO2 (-) >HSO4 (-) . The heat changes observed by isothermal titration calorimetry support this trend. The Lamino sample showed reversible sensing towards H2 PO4 (-) and F(-) in the presence of Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) , respectively. NOESY studies of Lamino , in comparison with its anionic complexes, revealed that major conformational changes occurred in the capping region to facilitate the binding of anion. ESI-MS and the Job's method revealed 1:1 stoichiometry between Lamino and H2 PO4 (-) or F(-) . In the SEM micrographs of Lamino , the spherical particles are converted into spherical aggregates and further form large agglomerates and even branched sheets in the presence of anions, depending upon their binding strength.

Single fluorescent probe for reversibly detecting copper ions and cysteine in a pure water system

In this work, we have engineered a novel fluorescent probe PI, which remarkably can reversible detect copper ion and cysteine in pure water system for the first time.