Synthesis and Spectral Properties of Novel Singapore Green Analogues for Protease Detection.

Herein we describe the synthesis, characterisation and determination of fluorescence and photophysical properties of various novel analogues of the orphan fluorophore class Singapore Green. We equate the fluorescence properties of these novel fluorophores to their molecular structure and address the mechanisms through which their fluorescence is quenched and the effect this has on their quantum yields of fluorescence. Fluorescence quenching via acylation was also achieved, thereby providing conceptual proof of their utility as cores for future fluorescent probes. Additionally, we have produced and examined a number of unexpected acyl intermediates of variable photolytic stability. Furthermore, we have obtained proof of concept that the use of Singapore Greens for protease probe generation is feasible via demonstration of proteolytic cleavage of one of the acylated analogues.

Synthetic scale-up of a novel fluorescent probe and its biological evaluation for surface detection of Staphylococcus aureus.

This paper reports on the LGX fluorometric test for enzymatic MRSA/MSSA detection. It highlights the reasons rhodamines have been overlooked and also strategies to improve the synthesis of rhodamine-peptide conjugates. Evaluation of the LGX test for detection of MRSA/MSSA on surfaces is undertaken in the presence of potentially confounding E. coli and S. epidermidis for the first time.