Cyclodextrin-Based Peptide Self-Assemblies (Spds) That Enhance Peptide-Based Fluorescence Imaging and Antimicrobial Efficacy.

As a result of their high specificity for their corresponding biological targets, peptides have shown significant potential in a range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications. However, their widespread use has been limited by their minimal cell permeability and stability in biological milieus. We describe here a hepta-dicyanomethylene-4-pyran appended β-cyclodextrin () that acts as a delivery enhancing "host" for 1-bromonaphthalene-modified peptides, as demonstrated with peptide probes .

An ESIPT Probe for the Ratiometric Imaging of Peroxynitrite Facilitated by Binding to Aβ-Aggregates.

A series of 3-hydroxyflavone (3-HF) ESIPT (excited-state intramolecular proton transfer) boronate-based fluorescent probes have been developed for the detection of peroxynitrite (ONOO). The dyes are environmentally sensitive, and each probe exhibited a ratiometric response toward ONOO in a micellar environment. The probes were used to image different aggregation states of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the presence of ONOO.

Graphene oxide-enhanced cytoskeleton imaging and mitosis tracking.

Here we show that graphene oxide greatly enhances the imaging ability of a peptide probe that selectively targets microtubules of the cytoskeleton, thus enabling the dynamic tracking of mitosis in live cells.