The 1:1 Host−Guest Complexation between Cucurbit[7]uril and Styryl Dye

In house synthesized novel distyryl-BODIPY dye and polymer assembly as deep-red emitting probe for protamine detection

In this contribution, we designed and synthesized a deep-red emitting distyryl-BODIPY dye (dye 3) which is non-fluorescent in aqueous solution due to the formation of non-emissive aggregates. However, in presence of an amphiphilic polymer (polystyrene sulfonate, PSS), the aggregated dye molecules de-aggregate and form dye 3-PSS complex, which significantly modulates the optical features of the bound dye. Interestingly, the dye 3-PSS complex shows turn-on fluorescence response in deep-red region in presence of protamine (Pr) due to the formation of dye 3-PSS-Pr ternary complex. Such enhancement follows a linear trend in the dynamic range of 0-8.75 μM of Pr which has been utilized to determine Pr with limit of detection (LOD) of 15.04(±0.5) nM in phosphate buffer. Furthermore, excellent selectivity of the dye 3-PSS system towards Pr allows us to determine Pr even in complex biological matrix like 1% human serum. Thus, dye 3-PSS system can be applied as a very effective tool for the detection and quantification of Pr in deep-red region, overcoming several limitations encountered with the probes in the shorter wavelength region. This is the first report on BODIPY dye based supramolecular assembly for sensing and quantification of protamine.

Red emitting fluorogenic dye as an efficient turn-on probe for milk allergen

Development of simple, fast and non-destructive technique such as fluorescence based method for the quantification of milk allergens in various dairy products is a highly rewarding task. In this contribution, a red emitting fluorogenic dye, quinaldine red (QR) is reported for the detection and quantification of a milk allergen, beta lactoglobulin (β-LG) in milk and whey matrices, utilizing its high selectivity and sensitivity towards β-LG. Detail spectroscopic investigation reveals that binding of QR to the hydrophobic calyx site of β-LG protein substantially reduces the torsional agility and propensity of TICT state formation of QR, rendering the dye highly fluorescent in nature. This enables estimation of β-LG with LOD 52.1(±0.9) nM in buffer solution and 0.21(±0.01) μM in 5 % bovine milk matrix respectively. Additionally, high selectivity and sensitivity, excellent repeatability, quick response, and emission in the biologically favorable red spectral region make QR based fluorometric quantification of β-LG a highly attractive choice. Finally, the estimated β-LG concentrations in milk and whey matrices from fluorometric titration and densitometry methods are found to match excellently with each other, suggesting potential of QR as an efficient turn-on fluorescent probe for the quantification of β-LG (milk allergen) in various dairy products.

Effect of Cucurbit[7]uril on Adsorption of Aniline Derivatives at Quartz

The adsorption behavior of small molecules at solid–liquid interfaces have become an important research topic in recent years. For example, small molecules of aniline pollutants will adsorb on solid surfaces with a massive discharge of industrial wastewater and are difficult to separate. Therefore, their adsorption and desorption on solid surfaces have become an important scientific problem. In this study, the interactions of cucurbit[7]uril (Q[7]) with 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (MDA) and benzidine (AN) are studied using 1H NMR, UV-Vis spectrometry and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results show that Q[7] forms an inclusion complex with MDA and AN. According to the results of Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D), MDA adsorbs onto a quartz surface and forms a viscous adsorption layer on it. The AN adsorbs on the quartz surface and forms a rigid adsorption film on it. Q[7] can reduce the adsorption of MDA on the quartz surface and increases the adsorption of AN on it. Through the dynamic adsorption experiments, we find that Q[7] has a desorption effect on MDA molecules adsorbed on the quartz surface. An Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) is used to measure the morphological changes in the adsorption film before and after Q[7] makes contact with the quartz surface, and it proves that Q[7] has a desorption effect on MDA molecules adsorbed on the surface.

Stimuli Responsive Confinement of a Molecular Rotor Based BODIPY Dye inside a Cucurbit[7]uril Nanocavity

Present study reports the interaction of a molecular rotor based BODIPY dye, 8-anilino-BODIPY (ABP), with a versatile macrocyclic molecule, cucurbit[7]uril (CB7), investigated through various techniques such as ground-state absorption, steady-state fluorescence, time-resolve emission, proton NMR, and quantum chemical studies. Although BODIPY dyes have widespread applications due to their intriguing photochemical properties, studies on their noncovalent interactions with different macrocyclic hosts, especially regarding their supramolecularly induced modulations in photophysical properties are very limited. The investigated BODIPY dye, especially its protonated ABPH⁺ form (pH ∼ 1), shows a large fluorescence enhancement on its interaction with the CB7 host, due to large reduction in the structural flexibility for the bound dye, causing a suppression in its nonradiative de-excitation process in the excited state. Unlike ABPH⁺, the neutral ABP form (pH ∼ 7) shows considerably weaker interaction with CB7. For ABPH⁺-CB7 system, observed photophysical results indicate formation of both 1:1 and 1:2 dye-to-host complexes. Plausible geometries of these complexes are obtained from quantum chemical studies which are substantiated nicely from ¹H NMR results. The response of the ABPH⁺-CB7 system toward changing temperature of the solution have also been investigated elaborately to understand the potential of the system in different stimuli-responsive sensor applications.

ESR, STESR, DFT, and MD Study of the Dynamical Structure of Cucurbituril[7]-Spin Probe Guest-Host Complexes

We study the molecular dynamics and structures of the guest-host complexes of cucurbituril, CB[7], with spin probes through the conventional electron spin resonance (ESR), saturation transfer ESR (STESR), density functional theory (DFT), and molecular dynamics (MD) computations. Protonated TEMPOamine (I), a derivative of TEMPO having a positive charge and an octyl group on the quaternary nitrogen atom (II), and the neutral spin-labeled indole (III) are used as guests. To eliminate the overall complex rotation, the solutions of complexes in a solid CB[7] matrix were prepared. Resultantly, for all of the spin probes, the combined study of the conventional ESR and STESR spectra indicates the librational character of the rotational motion within the CB[7] cavity as opposed to the diffusional rotation over the whole solid angle. The kinetic accessibilities of the reporter NO groups to the paramagnetic complexes in aqueous solutions, determined by Heisenberg exchange broadening of the ESR spectra, together with the environment polarities from the hyperfine interaction values, as well as DFT computation results and MD simulations, were used to estimate the spin probe location relative to CB[7]. Utilizing the concept of the aqueous clusters surrounding the spin probes and CB[7] molecules and MD simulations has allowed the application of DFT to estimate the aqueous environment effects on the complexation energy and spatial structure of the guest-host complexes.

Ultrafast Dynamics of Electronically Excited Host-Guest Complexes of Cucurbiturils with Styryl Dyes

The relaxation mechanism of electronically excited states of host-guest complexes between cucurbiturils (CB) and pyridinium styryl dyes is considered in detail on the basis of the recent results obtained by the up-conversion fluorescence technique. The addition of CB to aqueous dye solutions increases the longest fluorescence decay times from about 50 ps for the free dyes to 100-150 ps for the bound ones. This is attributed to the braking of intramolecular rotations around the single bonds of the styryl moiety that is provided by guest's displacement inside the cavity, whose driving force is a Coulombic interaction of the styryl dye cation and negatively charged CB portals. This displacement, a translational movement along the CB axis, is associated with the observed decay time of about 1 ps. There is also a characteristic time of about 100 fs, attributed to vibrational relaxation. In fact, such complexes can operate as a molecular machine, the molecular switch.

Self-assembly of cucurbiturils and cyclodextrins to supramolecular millstones with naphthalene derivatives capable of translocations in the host cavities

Naphthylpyridine derivatives and cavitands form inclusive complexes of different structure and stoichiometry; the guests are capable of translocations within cucurbit[7,8]uril cavities.

Ramachandran A, Mohamed AP, Pillai S. Photonic band gap effect and dye-encapsulated cucurbituril-triggered enhanced fluorescence using monolithic colloidal photonic crystals

Enhanced fluorescence was achieved by tuning the photonic band gaps in colloidal photonic crystals and host–guest chemistry.

A styryl based fluorogenic probe with high affinity for a cyclodextrin derivative

A styryl-based fluorogenic near-IR probe registers a very high association constant with sulfobutylether substituted β-cyclodextrin host, having prospects as biological marker and improved pH and temperature sensor.

pH-responsive molecular assemblies of pyridylbutadiene derivative with cucurbit[7]uril

pH-responsive emission behavior of supramolecular complexes between pyridylbutadiene with CB7 and formation of molecular assemblies is described.

Switching of emission of a styryl dye in cucurbit[7]uril: a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study

Intriguing colour change and change in fluorescence band of 2-(4-(dimethylamino)styryl)-1-methylpyridinium iodide from nonpolar to polar protic solvent, and also from molecular container cucurbit[7]uril environment to polar protic solvent has been reported here. This interesting colour change of this dye with respect to the medium makes this dye useful as a sensor. Change in spectral characteristics of DASPMI along with change of colour from orange to yellow with increasing polarity of medium is interpreted as due to negative solvatochromatism. Complexations of probe-cucurbit[7]uril (1:1 and 2:1) cause structural change of the probe molecule due to hydrogen bond interaction of cationic part of the dye with CO group of cucurbit[7]uril and the colour change of the solution ensued. On addition of sodium chloride to the inclusion complex the dye is released from cucurbit[7]uril interior with colour of the solution reverted back. Theoretical results show that one carbon atom in the styryl part containing the positive charge gets too close to a carbon atom of cucurbit[7]uril to cause a phenomenal increase of dipole moment by 10X.

Interaction of a hemicyanine dye and its derivative with DNA and cucurbit[7]uril

A ternary complex among D2, DNA and CB[7] can be formed.