Solvation dynamics of DCM in a polypeptide-surfactant aggregate: gelatin-sodium dodecyl sulfate

Interrogating the Behaviour of a Styryl Dye Interacting with a Mesoscopic 2D-MOF and Its Luminescent Vapochromic Sensing

In this contribution, we report on the solid-state-photodynamical properties and further applications of a low dimensional composite material composed by the luminescent trans-4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(4-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran (DCM) dye interacting with a two-dimensional-metal organic framework (2D-MOF), Al-ITQ-HB. Three different samples with increasing concentration of DCM are synthesized and characterized. The broad UV-visible absorption spectra of the DCM/Al-ITQ-HB composites reflect the presence of different species of DCM molecules (monomers and aggregates). In contrast, the emission spectra are narrower and exhibit a bathochromic shift upon increasing the DCM concentration, in agreeance with the formation of adsorbed aggregates. Time-resolved picosecond (ps)-experiments reveal multi-exponential behaviors of the excited composites, further confirming the heterogeneous nature of the samples. Remarkably, DCM/Al-ITQ-HB fluorescence is sensitive to vapors of electron donor aromatic amine compounds like aniline, methylaniline, and benzylamine due to a H-bonding-induced electron transfer (ET) process from the analyte to the surface-adsorbed DCM. These findings bring new insights on the photobehavior of a well-known dye when interacting with a 2D-MOF and its possible application in sensing aniline derivatives.

Molecular binding interaction of pyridinium based gemini surfactants with bovine serum albumin: Insights from physicochemical, multispectroscopic, and computational analysis

To study the interaction of the series of pyridinium based gemini surfactants (GS) (referred to as m-Py-m, m = 14, 16); 4,4'-(propane-1,3-diyl)bis(1-(2-(tetradecyloxy)-2-oxoethyl) dipyridinium chloride (14-Py-14), and 4,4'-(propane-1,3-diyl) bis(1-(2-(hexadecyloxy)-2-oxoethyl)dipyridinium chloride (16-Py-16) with bovine serum albumin (BSA), various physicochemical and spectroscopic tools such as tensiometry, steady-state fluorescence, synchronous fluorescence, pyrene fluorescence, UV-visible, far-UV circular dichroism (CD) were utilized at physiological pH (7.4) and 298 K in combination with computational molecular modeling analysis. The tensiometric results show significant modifications in interfacial and thermodynamic parameters for m-Py-m GS upon BSA combination, deciphering the gemini surfactant-BSA interaction. Steady-state fluorescence analysis evaluates the structural alterations of BSA with the addition of m-Py-m GS. The plots of Stern-Volmer, modified Stern-Volmer, and thermodynamic parameters were used to determine the binding type of m-Py-m GS to BSA. The synchronous fluorescence spectra state a mild effect of gemini surfactants on the emission intensity of tyrosine (Tyr) residues, on the other hand, tryptophan (Trp) residues showed a significant effect. Post addition of GS, the plot of pyrene fluorescence reveals the mild micropolarity fluctuations via the probe (pyrene) molecules encapsulated in BSA. UV-visible experiments support the complex formation between the BSA and m-Py-m GS. Far-UV CD measurements revealed the modifications in the secondary structure of protein produced by m-Py-m GS. Furthermore, we also used the computational molecular modeling for attaining deep insight into BSA and m-Py-m GS binding and the results are supported with our experimental results.

Photophysical Properties of 4-Dicyanomethylene-2-methyl-6-(p-dimethylamino-styryl)-4H-pyran Revisited: Fluorescence versus Photoisomerization

Although 4-dicyanomethylene-2-methyl-6-(p-dimethylamino-styryl)-4H-pyran (DCM) has been known for many decades as a bright and photostable fluorophore, used for a wide variety of applications in chemistry, biology and physics, only little attention has been paid so far to the presence of multiple isomers and conformers, namely s-trans-(E), s-cis-(E), s-trans-(Z), and s-cis-(Z). In particular, light-induced E-Z isomerization plays a great role on the overall photophysical properties of DCM. Herein, we give a full description of a photoswitchable DCM derivative by a combination of structural, theoretical and spectroscopic methods. The main s-trans-(E) isomer is responsible for most of the fluorescence features, whereas the s-cis-(E) conformer only contributes marginally. The non-emitting Z isomers are generated in large conversion yields upon illumination with visible light (e.g., 485 or 514 nm) and converted back to the E forms by UV irradiation (e.g., 365 nm). Such photoswitching is efficient and reversible, with high fatigue resistance. The E→Z and Z→E photoisomerization quantum yields were determined in different solvents and at different irradiation wavelengths. Interestingly, the fluorescence and photoisomerization properties are strongly influenced by the solvent polarity: the fluorescence is predominant at higher polarity, whereas photoisomerization becomes more efficient at lower polarity. Intermediate medium (THF) represents an optimized situation with a good balance between these two features.

Confinement Effect of Micro- and Mesoporous Materials on the Spectroscopy and Dynamics of a Stilbene Derivative Dye

Micro- and mesoporous silica-based materials are a class of porous supports that can encapsulate different guest molecules. The formation of these hybrid complexes can be associated with significant alteration of the physico-chemical properties of the guests. Here, we report on a photodynamical study of a push–pull molecule, trans-4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(4-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran (DCM), entrapped within faujasite-type zeolites (HY, NaX, and NaY) and MCM-41 in dichloromethane suspensions. The complex formation gives rise to caged monomers and H- and J-aggregates. Steady-state experiments show that the nanoconfinement provokes net blue shifts of both the absorption and emission spectra, which arise from preferential formation of H-aggregates concomitant with a distortion and/or protonation of the DCM structure. The photodynamics of the hybrid complexes are investigated by nano- to picosecond time-resolved emission experiments. The obtained fluorescence lifetimes are 65–99 ps and 350–400 ps for H- and J-aggregates, respectively, while those of monomers are 2.46–3.87 ns. Evidences for the presence of a charge-transfer (CT) process in trapped DCM molecules (monomers and/or aggregates) are observed. The obtained results are of interest in the interpretation of electron-transfer processes, twisting motions of analogues push–pull systems in confined media and understanding photocatalytic mechanisms using this type of host materials.

Spectroscopic Insight on Ethanol-Induced Aggregation of Papain

In this contribution, the structural and dynamic changes occurring to papain in ethanol-water binary solvent mixtures have been investigated and compared with its denatured state. Steady-state fluorescence, solvation dynamics, time-resolved rotational anisotropy, circular dichroism (CD), and single molecular-level fluorescence correlation spectroscopic (FCS) studies were performed for this purpose. In ethanol-water mixtures with X_EtOH = 0.6, N-(7-dimethylamino-4-methylcoumarin-3-yl)iodoacetamide (DACIA)-tagged papain was found to undergo a blue shift of 12 nm, while in the presence of 5 M GnHCl, a red shift of 5 nm was observed. Solvation dynamics of the system was also found to be different in the presence of these external agents. In ethanol-water mixtures, the average solvation time was found to increase almost 2-fold as compared to that in water, while in the presence of GnHCl, only a marginal increase could be observed. These changes of DACIA-tagged papain in ethanol-water mixtures are attributed to the aggregation of the protein in the presence of ethanol. The residual anisotropy was found to increase 14-fold, and the rotational time component corresponding to the rotation of the probe molecule was found to increase by 4-fold in the ethanol-water mixture which also gives a notion of the papain aggregation. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) confirms this aggregate formation, which is also quantified by the FCS study. The hydrodynamic radius of the protein aggregates in ethanol-water mixtures was calculated to be ∼155 Å as compared to the corresponding value of 18.4 Å in the case of native monomer papain. Also, it confirmed that the aggregate formation takes place even in the nanomolar concentration of papain. Analysis of circular dichroism spectra of papain showed that an increase in the β-sheet content of papain at the expense of α-helix and the random coil with an increase of the ethanol mole fraction may be responsible for this aggregation process.

Aggregation behaviors of gelatin with cationic gemini surfactant at air/water interface

The dilational rheological properties of gelatin with cationic gemini surfactant 1,2-ethane bis(dimethyl dodecyl ammonium bromide) (C(12)C(2)C(12)) at air/water interface were investigated using oscillating barriers method at low frequency (0.005-0.1 Hz), which was compared with single-chain surfactant dodecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB). The results indicate that the maximum dilational modulus and the film stability of gelatin-C(12)C(2)C(12) are higher than those of gelatin-DTAB. At high concentration of C(12)C(2)C(12) or DTAB, the dilational modulus of gelatin-surfactant system becomes close to that corresponding to pure surfactant, suggesting gelatin at interface is replaced by surfactant. This replacement is also observed by surface tension measurement. However, it is found that gelatin-C(12)C(2)C(12) system has two obvious breaks but gelatin-DTAB has not in surface tension isotherms. These phenomena are ascribed to the double charges and strong hydrophobicity of C(12)C(2)C(12). Based on these experimental results, a mechanism of gelatin-surfactant interaction at air/water interface is proposed.

Femtosecond Study of Partially Folded States of Cytochrome C by Solvation Dynamics

Using femtosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, it is shown that the solvation dynamics in the two partially folded states (IS' and IS' ') of a protein, cytochrome C, are very different. In the case of IS' (formed by the addition of 2 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) almost the entire dynamic solvent shift of coumarin 153 (C153) is captured in a picosecond setup and the contribution of the ultrafast component (0.5 ps) is very small (5%). Solvation dynamics of IS' ' (formed by 2 mM SDS and 5 M urea) displays a major component (47%) of 1.3 ps. This indicates that the structure of IS' ' is much more open and exposed compared to that of IS'. The difference in the dynamics of IS' and IS' ' is attributed to differences in their structure, particularly near the heme region, and the presence of urea in IS' '.

Fluorescence Anisotropy Decay and Solvation Dynamics in a Nanocavity: Coumarin 153 in Methyl β-Cyclodextrins

Fluorescence anisotropy decay and solvation dynamics of coumarin 153 (C153) are studied in dimethyl beta-cyclodextrin (DIMEB) and trimethyl beta-cyclodextrin (TRIMEB) nanocavity in water. C153 binds to DIMEB and TRIMEB to form both 1:1 and 1:2 (C153:cyclodextrin) complexes. The anisotropy decays of C153 in DIMEB and TRIMEB are found to be biexponential. The fast component of anisotropy decay (approximately 1000 ps) is attributed to the 1:1 complex and the slower one (approximately 2500 ps) to the 1:2 complex. From the components of the anisotropy decay, the length of the 1:1 and 1:2 complexes are estimated. Solvation dynamics of C153 in DIMEB exhibits a very fast (2.4 ps) component (41%) and two slower components of 50 ps (29%) and 1450 ps (30%). Solvation dynamics in TRIMEB is described by three slow components of 10.3 ps (24%), 240 ps (45%), and 2450 ps (31%). Possible origins of the ultraslow components are discussed.

Temperature Dependence of Anisotropy Decay and Solvation Dynamics of Coumarin 153 in γ-Cyclodextrin Aggregates

Effect of temperature on the fluorescence anisotropy decay and the ultraslow component of solvation dynamics of coumarin 153 (C153) in a gamma-cyclodextrin (gamma-CD) nanocavity are studied using a picosecond set up. The steady-state anisotropy (0.13 +/- 0.01) and residual anisotropy (0.14 +/- 0.01) in fluorescence anisotropy decay in an aqueous solution containing 7 microM C153 and 40 mM gamma-CD are found to be quite large. This indicates formation of large linear nanotube aggregates of gamma-CD linked by C153. It is estimated that >53 gamma-CD units are present in each aggregate. In these aggregates with rise in temperature, the average solvation time (<tau(s)>(obs)) decreases markedly from 680 ps at 278 K to 160 ps at 318 K. The dynamic Stokes shift is found to decrease from 800 cm(-1) at 278 K to 250 cm(-1) at 318 K. The fraction of dynamic Stokes shift (f(d)) detected in a picosecond set up is calculated using the Fee-Maroncelli procedure. The corrected solvation time (<tau(s)>(corr) = f(d)<(tau(s)>(obs)) displays an Arrhenius type temperature dependence. From the temperature variation, the activation energy and entropy of the solvation process are determined to be 12.5 kcal M(-1) and 28 cal M(-1) K(-1), respectively. The ultraslow component and its temperature dependence are ascribed to a dynamic exchange between bound and free water molecules.