Highly selective fluorescence 'turn off' sensing of picric acid and efficient cell labelling by water-soluble luminescent anthracene-bridged poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone)

Synthesis of pyridyl functionalized 3-pyrrolyl BODIPY based fluoroprobes and application towards highly selective detection of picric acid

A series of pyridyl-coupled 3-pyrrolyl BODIPY fluoroprobes were synthesized by varying the position of the pyridyl/N-methylated pyridyl group at the α-/meso-position of the 3-pyrrolyl BODIPY scaffold and thoroughly characterized by HRMS and 1D/2D NMR techniques. Our studies indicated that only the water-soluble N-methylated p-pyridyl 3-pyrrolyl BODIPY among various pyridyl-coupled 3-pyrrolyl BODIPYs synthesized here showed an effective and exclusive sensing for picric acid (HPA). The N-methylated p-pyridyl 3-pyrrolyl BODIPY rapidly detects HPA in an aqueous medium with exceptional selectivity, sensitivity (LOD = 7.90 pM), and high binding affinity (Ka = 4·94 × 108 M-1) through both chromogenic and fluorogenic signalling modes. Our studies support the formation of a charge transfer complex between cationic N-methylated p-pyridyl 3-pyrrolyl BODIPY and picrate as verified by absorption, fluorescence, electrochemical, and NMR techniques. DFT and TD-DFT studies further support the structural and experimental observations, including the sensing mechanism of HPA.

Fluorescence lifetime nanothermometer based on the equilibrium formation of anthracene AIE-excimers in living cells

The effective measurement of temperature in living systems at the nano and microscopic scales continues to be a challenge to this day. Here, we study the use of 2-(anthracen-2-yl)-1,3-diisopropylguanidine, 1, as a nanothermometer based on fluorescence lifetime measurements and its bioimaging applications. In aqueous solution, 1 is shown in aggregated form and the equilibrium between the two main aggregate types (T-shaped and π-π) is highly sensitive to the temperature. The heating of the medium shifts the equilibrium toward the formation of highly emissive T-shaped aggregates. This species shows a high fluorescence emission and a long lifetime in comparison with the π-π aggregates and the freé monomer. A linear relationship between the fluorescence lifetime and the temperature both in aqueous solution and in a synthetic intracellular buffer was found. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) also showed a linear relationship between lifetime and temperature with an excellent sensitivity in MCF7 breast cancer cells, which opens the door for its potential use as FLIM nanothermometer in the biomedical field.

Formation of Highly Emissive Anthracene Excimers for Aggregation-Induced Emission/Self-Assembly Directed (Bio)imaging

AIEgens have emerged as a promising alternative to molecular rotors in bioimaging applications. However, transferring the concept of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) from solution to living systems remains a challenge. Given the highly heterogeneous nature and the compartmentalization of the cell, different approaches are needed to control the self-assembly within the crowded intricate cellular environment. Herein, we report for the first time the self-assembly mechanism of an anthracene-guanidine derivative (AG) forming the rare and highly emissive T-shaped dimer in breast cancer cell lines as a proof of concept. This process is highly sensitive to the local environment in terms of polarity, viscosity, and/or water quantity that should enable the use of the AG as a fluorescence lifetime imaging biosensor for intracellular imaging of cellular structures and the monitoring of intracellular state parameters. Different populations of the monomer and T-shaped and π-π dimers were observed in the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleoplasm, related to the local viscosity and presence of water. The T-shaped dimer is formed preferentially in the nucleus because of the higher density and viscosity compared to the cytoplasm. The present results should serve as a precursor for the development of new design strategies for molecular systems for a wide range of applications such as cell viscosity, density, or temperature sensing and imaging.

Amine-decorated Zirconium Based Metal Organic Framework for Ultrafast Detection of 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol in Aqueous Samples

An amine-decorated zirconium based metal organic framework (MOF) UiO-66-NH2 with rod shape morphology was synthesized by solvothermal process using 2-aminoterephthalic acid as an organic linker. Crystallinity of synthesized MOF material was confirmed with PXRD technique. MOF was employed as selective and sensitive sensor for ultra-trace detection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) in aqueous matrix, even in coexistence with other competitive nitroaromatic analytes. High value of Stern-Volmer quenching constant Ksv (1.106 × 105 M- 1), plausible photoluminescent quenching efficiency (97.8%) and lower detection limit (0.95 µM/217ng mL- 1) ascertained extraordinary sensitivity of developed MOF for TNP. Density functional theory calculations and electrostatic interactions (i.e. ionic interaction, H-bonding and π-π interaction) indicated that electron and energy transfer processes play a key role in turn-off quenching response of UiO-66-NH2 sensor. Spiked real samples were analysed to validate the developed method, which satisfactorily established the developed MOF sensor as an efficient tool for analysis.

An Anthracene and Indole-based Fluorescent Probe for the Detection of Chromium(III) Ions in Real Water Samples

A novel fluorescent probe possessing anthracene with an indole unit was designed and synthesized to detect chromium(III) ions (Cr³⁺) with high sensitivity and selectivity. The probe was synthesized in one step by mixing two commercially available chemicals, 2-aminoanthracene and Indole-5-carboxaldehyde. The probe molecule (ANT-In) demonstrates distinct properties, for instance, "turn-on" fluorescence response, high sensitivity and selectivity in less than one minute, and low detection limit (0.2 µM) via hydrolysis of the C = N bond. Additionally, the probe ANT-In was successfully used to identify the presence of chromium(III) ions in real water samples.

Riboflavin based conjugated biomolecule for ultrasensitive detection of nitrophenols

Real time detection of explosive compounds in today's time is of utmost necessity due to security and severe environmental safety issues. Herein, we have synthesized a biobased conjugated molecular system from riboflavin and l-cystine utilized it for detecting picric acid in trace amount using optical sensing technique. The bioconjugate probe showed high quenching efficiency towards picric acid, which is 92.2%. In depth mechanistic study showed that ground state electrostatic interaction and inner filter effect are the factors leading to the diminishing of the probe's fluorescence intensity on addition of trace amount of the nitrophenol, picric acid. The detection limit of the conjugate is 0.37 nM which is extremely low and highly desirable for clinical applications of this system.

Photographs of fluorescent bioconjugate RC which acts as a very simple and highly efficient optical sensor with practical applicability for real-time detection of picric acid.

Sensitive detection of picric acid in an aqueous solution using fluorescent nonconjugated polymer dots as fluorescent probes

Nonconjugated polymer dots (NPDs) were successfully used as fluorescent probes to selectively and sensitively detect picric acid (PA). The NPDs were prepared from polyethylenimine and 1,4-phthalaldehyde under mild conditions and had excitation and emission maxima of 351 and 474 nm, respectively. Fluorescence of the NPDs was efficiently quenched by PA through the inner filter effect because of the overlapping PA absorption band and NPD excitation spectrum. The NPDs allowed PA to be determined with a high degree of sensitivity. The linear range was 0-140μM and the detection limit was 0.5μM. The work involved developing a novel method for synthesizing NPDs and a promising platform for determining PA in environmental media.

An anthracene based fluorescent probe for the selective and sensitive detection of Chromium (III) ions in an aqueous medium and its practical application

An anthracene based fluorescent probe, integrated with thiophene moiety, exhibited selective and sensitive detection of chromium (III) ions over other metal ions. Its synthesis was achieved by simple mixing of two commercially available compounds, 2-aminoanthracene, and 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde, in onestep without the needed complex purification process. The probe molecule ( ANT-Th ) offered exceptional features such as “turn-on” fluorescence response, low detection limit (0.4 μM), and fast response time (<1 min) via C=N bond hydrolysis. Also, a simple test paper system was developed for the rapid detection of chromium (III) ions with the naked eye.

Phenanthroimidazole derivatives as a chemosensor for picric acid: a first realistic approach

A series of phenanthroimidazole (PI) derivatives (M1–M3): 2-phenyl-1H-phenanthro [9,10-d]imidazole (M1), 2-anthryl-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole (M2), and 2-pyrenyl-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole (M3) were synthesized and characterized using various spectroscopic techniques.