Highly Fluorescent dye-nanoclay Hybrid Materials Made from Different Dye Classes.

Nanoclays like laponites, which are commercially avaible in large quantities for a very moderate price, provide a facile solubilization strategy for hydrophobic dyes without the need for chemical functionalization and can act as a carrier for a high number of dye molecules. This does not require reactive dyes, amplifies fluorescence signals from individual emitters due to the high number of dyes molecules per laponite disk, and renders hydrophobic emitters applicable in aqueous environments. Aiming at the rational design of bright dye-loaded nanoclays as a new class of fluorescent reporters for bioanalysis and material sciences and the identification of dye structure-property relationships, we screened a series of commercial fluorescent dyes, differing in dye class, charge, and character of the optical transitions involved, and studied the changes of their optical properties caused by clay adsorption at different dye loading concentrations.

[Cr(ddpd)2](3+): A Molecular, Water-Soluble, Highly NIR-Emissive Ruby Analogue.

Bright, long-lived emission from first-row transition-metal complexes is very challenging to achieve. Herein, we present a new strategy relying on the rational tuning of energy levels. With the aid of the large N-Cr-N bite angle of the tridentate ligand ddpd (N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-dipyridine-2-ylpyridine-2,6-diamine) and its strong σ-donating capabilities, a very large ligand-field splitting could be introduced in the chromium(III) complex [Cr(ddpd)2](3+), that shifts the deactivating and photoreactive (4)T2 state well above the emitting (2)E state.

Dual emission and excited-state mixed-valence in a quasi-symmetric dinuclear Ru-Ru complex.

The synthesis and characterization of the new dinuclear dipeptide [(EtOOC-tpy)Ru(tpy-NHCO-tpy)Ru(tpy-NHCOCH3)](4+) 3(4+) of the bis(terpyridine)ruthenium amino acid [(HOOC-tpy)Ru(tpy-NH2)](2+) 1(2+) are described, and the properties of the dipeptide are compared to those of the mononuclear complex [(EtOOC-tpy)Ru(tpy-NHCOCH3)](2+) 4(2+) carrying the same functional groups. 3(4+) is designed to serve a high electronic similarity of the two ruthenium sites despite the intrinsic asymmetry arising from the amide bridge. This is confirmed via UV-vis absorption and NMR spectroscopy as well as cyclic voltammetry.

Nanoparticle-encapsulated vis- and NIR-emissive fluorophores with different fluorescence decay kinetics for lifetime multiplexing.

Bioanalytical, clinical, and security applications increasingly require simple, efficient, and versatile strategies to measure an ever increasing number of analytes or events in parallel in a broad variety of detection formats as well as in conjunction with chromatographic separation techniques or flow cytometry. An attractive alternative to common optical multiplexing and encoding methods utilizing spectral multiplexing/color encoding and intensity encoding is lifetime multiplexing, which relies on the discrimination between different fluorescent reporters based on their fluorescence decay kinetics. Here, we propose a platform of surface-functionalizable polymeric nanoparticles stained with fluorophores differing in their fluorescence lifetimes as a new multiplexing and encoding approach.

Nile-Red-nanoclay hybrids: red emissive optical probes for use in aqueous dispersion.

Water-dispersible and (bio)functionalizable nanoclays have a considerable potential as inexpensive carriers for organic molecules like drugs and fluorophores. Aiming at simple design strategies for red-emissive optical probes for the life sciences from commercial precursors with minimum synthetic effort, we systematically studied the dye loading behavior and stability of differently functionalized laponites. Here, we present a comprehensive study of the absorption and emission properties of the red emissive hydrophobic and neutral dye Nile Red, a well-known polarity probe, which is almost insoluble and nonemissive in water.

Relative and absolute determination of fluorescence quantum yields of transparent samples.

Luminescence techniques are among the most widely used detection methods in the life and material sciences. At the core of these methods is an ever-increasing variety of fluorescent reporters (i.e.

New fluorescent labels with tunable hydrophilicity for the rational design of bright optical probes for molecular imaging.

The rational design of bright optical probes and dye-biomolecule conjugates in the NIR-region requires fluorescent labels that retain their high fluorescence quantum yields when bound to a recognition unit or upon interaction with a target. Because hydrophilicity-controlled dye aggregation in conjunction with homo-FRET presents one of the major fluorescence deactivation pathways in dye-protein conjugates, fluorescent labels are required that enable higher labeling degrees with minimum dye aggregation. Aiming at a better understanding of the factors governing dye-dye interactions, we systematically studied the signal-relevant spectroscopic properties, hydrophilicity, and aggregation behavior of the novel xS-IDCC series of symmetric pentamethines equipped with two, four, and six sulfonic acid groups and selected conjugates of these dyes with IgG and the antibody cetuximab (ctx) directed against the cancer-related epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in comparison to the gold standard Cy5.

An in vivo spectral multiplexing approach for the cooperative imaging of different disease-related biomarkers with near-infrared fluorescent forster resonance energy transfer probes.

Unlabelled: In recent years, much progress has been made in analyzing the molecular origin of many diseases in vivo. For most applications, attention has been devoted to the detection of single molecules only. In this study, we present a proof of concept for the straightforward monitoring of interactions between different molecules via Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) in an in vivo spectral multiplexing approach using conventional small organic dyes covalently attached to antibodies.

Determination of the labeling density of fluorophore-biomolecule conjugates with absorption spectroscopy.

Dye-biomolecule conjugation is frequently accompanied by considerable spectral changes of the dye's absorption spectrum that limit the use of the common photometrical method for the determination of labeling densities. Here, we describe an improvement of this method using the integral absorbance of the dye instead of its absorbance at the long wavelength maximum to determine the concentration of the biomolecule-coupled dye. This approach is illustrated for three different cyanine dyes conjugated to the antibody IgG.

Suitable labels for molecular imaging--influence of dye structure and hydrophilicity on the spectroscopic properties of IgG conjugates.

Aiming at the design of highly brilliant NIR emissive optical probes, e.g., for in vivo near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIRF), we studied the absorption and fluorescence properties of the asymmetric cyanines Dy678, Dy681, Dy682, and Dy676 conjugated to the model antibody IgG.

Controlled modulation of serum protein binding and biodistribution of asymmetric cyanine dyes by variation of the number of sulfonate groups.

To assess the suitability of asymmetric cyanine dyes for in vivo fluoro-optical molecular imaging, a comprehensive study on the influence of the number of negatively charged sulfonate groups governing the hydrophilicity of the DY-67x family of asymmetric cyanines was performed. Special attention was devoted to the plasma protein binding capacity and related pharmacokinetic properties. Four members of the DY-67x cyanine family composed of the same main chromophore, but substituted with a sequentially increasing number of sulfonate groups (n  =  1-4; DY-675, DY-676, DY-677, DY-678, respectively), were incubated with plasma proteins dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline.

Comparison of methods and achievable uncertainties for the relative and absolute measurement of photoluminescence quantum yields.

The photoluminescence quantum yield (Φ(f)) that presents a direct measure for the efficiency of the conversion of absorbed photons into emitted photons is one of the spectroscopic key parameters of functional fluorophores. It determines the suitability of such materials for applications in, for example, (bio)analysis, biosensing, and fluorescence imaging as well as as active components in optical devices. The reborn interest in accurate Φ(f) measurements in conjunction with the controversial reliability of reported Φ(f) values of many common organic dyes encouraged us to compare two relative and one absolute fluorometric method for the determination of the fluorescence quantum yields of quinine sulfate dihydrate, coumarin 153, fluorescein, rhodamine 6G, and rhodamine 101.

Fluorescence lifetime multiplexing with nanocrystals and organic labels.

The potential of semiconducting nanocrystals or so-called quantum dots (QDs) for lifetime multiplexing has not been investigated yet, despite the increasing use of QDs in (bio)analytical detection, biosensing, and fluorescence imaging and the obvious need for simple and cost-effective tools and strategies for the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes or events. This is most likely related to their multiexponential decay behavior as for multiplex chromophores, typically monoexponential decay kinetics are requested. The fluorescence decay kinetics of various mixtures of a long-lived, multiexponentially decaying CdSe QD and a short-lived organic dye were analyzed, and a model was developed for the quantification of these labels from the measured complex decay kinetics as a first proof-of-concept for the huge potential of these labels for lifetime multiplexing.

Quantum dots versus organic dyes as fluorescent labels.

Suitable labels are at the core of Luminescence and fluorescence imaging and sensing. One of the most exciting, yet also controversial, advances in label technology is the emerging development of quantum dots (QDs)--inorganic nanocrystals with unique optical and chemical properties but complicated surface chemistry--as in vitro and in vivo fluorophores. Here we compare and evaluate the differences in physicochemical properties of common fluorescent labels, focusing on traditional organic dyes and QDs.

Stability and fluorescence quantum yield of CdSe-ZnS quantum dots--influence of the thickness of the ZnS shell.

We investigated the correlation between the thickness of the ZnS shell of CdSe-ZnS quantum dots (QDs), the stability of the particles, and the fluorescence quantum yield. As a measure for stability, a new shell quality test was developed. This test is based on the reaction of the QDs with photochemically formed thiophenol radicals and communicates an imperfect ZnS shell by a rapid and complete loss of fluorescence.

Acoustically levitated droplets: a contactless sampling method for fluorescence studies.

Acoustic levitation is used as a new tool to study concentration-dependent processes in fluorescence spectroscopy. With this technique, small amounts of liquid and solid samples can be measured without the need for sample supports or containers, which often limits signal acquisition and can even alter sample properties due to interactions with the support material. We demonstrate that, because of the small sample volume, fluorescence measurements at high concentrations of an organic dye are possible without the limitation of inner-filter effects, which hamper such experiments in conventional, cuvette-based measurements.

Efficiency and role of loss processes in light-driven water oxidation by PSII.

Its superior quantum efficiency renders PSII a model for biomimetic systems. However, also in biological water oxidation by PSII, the efficiency is restricted by recombination losses. By laser-flash illumination, the secondary radical pair, P680(+)Q(-) (A) (where P680 is the primary Chl donor in PSII and Q(A), primary quinone acceptor of PSII), was formed in close to 100% of the PSII.

High-quality ZnS shells for CdSe nanoparticles: rapid microwave synthesis.

Using a domestic microwave oven and new, inexpensive precursors, a rapid and reliable synthesis of highly luminescent CdSe/ZnS NPs was developed. To evaluate the quality of our core/shell particles for varying shell thickness in comparison to that of CdSe/ZnS nanoparticles obtained commercially, the parameter fluorescence quantum yield is been used as well as a new, straightforward, thiophenol-based shell-quality test as a tool to ensure a dense ZnS shell without holes and cracks, which is a prerequisite for high luminescence and stability.

Photosynthetic dioxygen formation studied by time-resolved delayed fluorescence measurements--method, rationale, and results on the activation energy of dioxygen formation.

The analysis of the time-resolved delayed fluorescence (DF) measurements represents an important tool to study quantitatively light-induced electron transfer as well as associated processes, e.g. proton movements, at the donor side of photosystem II (PSII).

Rapid loss of structural motifs in the manganese complex of oxygenic photosynthesis by X-ray irradiation at 10-300 K.

Structural changes upon photoreduction caused by x-ray irradiation of the water-oxidizing tetramanganese complex of photosystem II were investigated by x-ray absorption spectroscopy at the manganese K-edge. Photoreduction was directly proportional to the x-ray dose. It was faster in the higher oxidized S2 state than in S1; seemingly the oxidizing potential of the metal site governs the rate.

Energetics of primary and secondary electron transfer in Photosystem II membrane particles of spinach revisited on basis of recombination-fluorescence measurements.

Photon absorption by one of the roughly 200 chlorophylls of the plant Photosystem II (PSII) results in formation of an equilibrated excited state (Chl200*) and is followed by chlorophyll oxidation (formation of P680+) coupled to reduction of a specific pheophytin (Phe), then electron transfer from Phe- to a firmly bound quinone (QA), and subsequently reduction of P680+ by a redox-active tyrosine residue denoted as Z. The involved free-energy differences (DeltaG) and redox potentials are of prime interest. Oxygen-evolving PSII membrane particles of spinach were studied at 5 degrees C.

First steps towards time-resolved BioXAS at room temperature: state transitions of the manganese complex of oxygenic photosynthesis.

Structural changes and redox transitions at the metal atoms of the active site are essential for the understanding of the catalytic mechanisms of biological metalloenzymes. First steps towards studying these processes by time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy on protein samples (BioXAS) are reported. Photosystem II (PSII) catalyses the light-driven oxidation of bound water molecules at a tetranuclear manganese complex yielding the molecular oxygen of the atmosphere.

The first room-temperature X-ray absorption spectra of higher oxidation states of the tetra-manganese complex of photosystem II.

The manganese (Mn) complex of photosystem II catalyzes water oxidation. For the first time, its advancement through the reaction cycle was monitored by time-resolved X-ray absorption measurements at the Mn K-edge at room temperature. The complex was stepped through its four oxidation states by nano-second-laser flashes applied to samples exposed to the X-ray beam.