Squaramide-Naphthalimide Conjugates as "Turn-On" Fluorescent Sensors for Bromide Through an Aggregation-Disaggregation Approach.

The syntheses of two new squaramide-naphthalimide conjugates ( and ) are reported where both compounds have been shown to act as selective fluorescence "turn on" probes for bromide in aqueous DMSO solution through a disaggregation induced response. and displayed a large degree of self-aggregation in aqueous solution that is disrupted at increased temperature as studied by H NMR and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Moreover, the fluorescence behavior of both receptors was shown to be highly dependent upon the aggregation state and increasing temperature gave rise to a significant increase in fluorescence intensity.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) protein, p7, suppresses inflammatory responses to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-mediated induction of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)3.

Viruses use a spectrum of immune evasion strategies that enable infection and replication. The acute phase of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is characterized by nonspecific and often mild clinical symptoms, suggesting an immunosuppressive mechanism that, unless symptomatic liver disease presents, allows the virus to remain largely undetected. We previously reported that HCV induced the regulatory protein suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)3, which inhibited TNF-α-mediated inflammatory responses.