Gemcitabine-induced Gli-dependent activation of hedgehog pathway resists to the treatment of urothelial carcinoma cells.

Patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC) experience gemcitabine resistance is a critical issue. The role of hedgehog pathway in the problem was explored. The expressions of phospho-AKTser473, phospho-GSK3ßser9 and Gli2 were up-regulated in gemcitabine-resistant NTUB1 (NGR) cells. Without hedgehog ligands, Gli proteins can be phosphorylated by GSK3ß kinase to inhibit their downstream regulations. Furthermore, the GSK3ß kinase can be phosphorylated by AKT at its Ser9 residue to become an inactive kinase. Therefore, overexpression of AKT1, Flag-GSKS9D (constitutively inactive form) or active Gli2 (GLI2ΔN) in NTUB1 cells could activate Gli2 pathway to enhance migration/invasion ability and increase gemcitabine resistance, respectively. Conversely, overexpression of Flag-GSKS9A (constitutively active form) or knockdown of Gli2 could suppress Gli2 pathway, and then reduce gemcitabine resistance in NGR cells. Therefore, we suggest gemcitabine-activated AKT/GSK3ß pathway can elicit Gli2 activity, which leads to enhanced migration/invasion ability and resistance to gemcitabine therapy in UC patients. The non-canonical hedgehog pathway should be evaluated in the therapy to benefit UC patients.

Frequency-Upconverted Stimulated Emission by Up to Six-Photon Excitation from Highly Extended Spiro-Fused Ladder-Type Oligo(p-phenylene)s.

Frequency-upconverted fluorescence and stimulated emission induced by multiphoton absorption (MPA) have attracted much interest. As compared with low-order MPA processes, the construction of high-order MPA processes is highly desirable and rather attractive, yet remains a formidable challenge due to its inherent low transition probability. We report the observation of the first experimental frequency-upconverted fluorescence and stimulated emission by simultaneous six-photon excitation in an organic molecular system. The well-designed organic conjugated system based on cross-shaped spiro-fused ladder-type oligo(p-phenylene)s (SpL-z, z=1-3) manifests reasonably high MPA cross-sections and brilliant luminescence emission simultaneously. The six-photon absorption cross-section of SpL-3 with an extended π-conjugation was evaluated as 8.67×10-169  cm12 s5 photon-5 . Exceptionally efficient 2- to 6-photon excited stimulated emission was achieved under near-infrared laser excitation.

Efficient Organic Light-Emitting Diode through Triplet Exciton Reharvesting by Employing Blended Electron Donor and Acceptor as the Emissive Layer.

A blended bimolecular exciplex formation was demonstrated between two individual donor and acceptor molecules, which are tris(4-carbazoyl-9-ylphenyl)amine (TCTA) and 2,4,6-tris(3'-(pyridin-3-yl)biphenyl-3-yl)-1,3,5-triazine (Tm3PyBPZ). The photoluminescence spectrum of the exciplex in the solid state showed an emission with a peak around 514 nm (∼2.49 eV). By applying this exciplex as an emitting layer, a highly efficient all-fluorescent organic lighting emitting diode with maximum efficiencies of 13.1% and 53.4 lm/W can be realized under an extremely low turn-on voltage of only 2.4 V. The thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) process is believed to be responsible for the excellent device performance.

Remanagement of Singlet and Triplet Excitons in Single-Emissive-Layer Hybrid White Organic Light-Emitting Devices Using Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescent Blue Exciplex.

A high-performance hybrid white organic light-emitting device (WOLED) is demonstrated based on an efficient novel thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) blue exciplex system. This device shows a low turn-on voltage of 2.5 V and maximum forward-viewing external quantum efficiency of 25.5%, which opens a new avenue for achieving high-performance hybrid WOLEDs with simple structures.

Emission behavior of dual-side emissive transparent white organic light-emitting diodes.

White organic light-emitting diodes (WOLEDs) resemble light more naturally, with emission spectrum that is comfortable to the human eye. The transparent WOLEDs can be almost invisible by day and can emit a pleasant diffused light at night, allowing the surface light source to shine in both directions, an exciting new lighting technology that could bring new device concepts. However, undesirable angular-dependent emission in transparent WOLEDs is often observed, due to the microcavity effect. In this work, the emission behavior of dual-side emissive transparent WOLEDs was studied experimentally and theoretically. It is found that avoidance of the overlap between the peak wavelengths of the emitters and the resonant wavelength of the organic microcavity moderates the angular-dependent electroluminescence emission behavior, thereby improving the color stability of the transparent white WOLEDs over a broad range of the viewing angle.

Light-harvesting ytterbium(III)-porphyrinate-BODIPY conjugates: synthesis, excitation-energy transfer, and two-photon-induced near-infrared-emission studies.

Based on a donor-acceptor framework, several conjugates have been designed and prepared in which an electron-donor moiety, ytterbium(III) porphyrinate (YbPor), was linked through an ethynyl bridge to an electron-acceptor moiety, boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY). Photoluminescence studies demonstrated efficient energy transfer from the BODIPY moiety to the YbPor counterpart. When conjugated with the YbPor moiety, the BODIPY moiety served as an antenna to harvest the lower-energy visible light, subsequently transferring its energy to the YbPor counterpart, and, consequently, sensitizing the Yb(III) emission in the near-infrared (NIR) region with a quantum efficiency of up to 0.73% and a lifetime of around 40 µs. Moreover, these conjugates exhibited large two-photon-absorption cross-sections that ranged from 1048-2226 GM and strong two-photon-induced NIR emission.

Comparative studies of the cellular uptake, subcellular localization, and cytotoxic and phototoxic antitumor properties of ruthenium(II)-porphyrin conjugates with different linkers.

Six water-soluble free-base porphyrin-Ru(II) conjugates, 1-3, and Zn(II) porphyrin-Ru(II) conjugates, 4-6, with different linkers between the hydrophobic porphyrin moiety and the hydrophilic Ru(II)-polypyridyl complex, have been synthesized. The linear and two-photon-induced photophysical properties of these conjugates were measured and evaluated for their potential application as dual in vitro imaging and photodynamic therapeutic (PDT) agents. Conjugates 1-3, with their high luminescence and singlet oxygen quantum yields, were selected for further study of their cellular uptake, subcellular localization, and cytotoxic and photocytotoxic (under linear and two-photon excitation) properties using HeLa cells. Conjugate 2, with its hydrophobic phenylethynyl linker, was shown to be highly promising for further development as a bifunctional probe for two-photon (NIR) induced PDT and in vitro imaging. Cellular uptake and subcellular localization properties were shown to be crucial to its PDT efficacy.

Acetylene bridged porphyrin-monophthalocyaninato ytterbium(III) hybrids with strong two-photon absorption and high singlet oxygen quantum yield.

Several acetylene bridged porphyrin-monophthalocyaninato ytterbium(III) hybrids, PZn-PcYb, PH(2)-PcYb and PPd-PcYb, have been prepared and characterized by (1)H and (31)P NMR, mass spectrometry, and UV-vis spectroscopy. Their photophysical and photochemical properties, especially the relative singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) quantum yields and the two-photon absorption cross-section (σ(2)), were investigated. These three newly synthesized compounds exhibited very large σ(2) values and substantial (1)O(2) quantum yields upon photo-excitation, making them potential candidates as one- and two-photon photodynamic therapeutic agents.

Highly selective mitochondria-targeting amphiphilic silicon(IV) phthalocyanines with axially ligated rhodamine B for photodynamic therapy.

Two axially ligated rhodamine-Si(IV)-phthalocyanine (Rh-SiPc) conjugates, bearing one and two rhodamine B, were synthesized and their linear and two-photon photophysical, subcellular localization and photocytotoxic properties were studied. These Rh-SiPc conjugates exhibited an almost exclusive mitochondrial localizing property in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (HK-1) cells and human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells. Strong photocytotoxic but low dark cytotoxic properties were also observed for the two Rh-SiPc conjugates toward the HK-1 cells. Using nuclei staining method and flow cytometric DNA content analysis, apoptotic cell death was induced by these conjugates upon photoactivation. This observation is consistent with their mitochondrial localization property. The observed properties of these conjugates qualify them as promising PDT agents.

Water-soluble mitochondria-specific ytterbium complex with impressive NIR emission.

A water-soluble porphyrinato ytterbium complex linked with rhodamine B (Yb-2) showed mitochondria-specific subcellular localization and strong two-photon-induced NIR emissions (λ(em) = 650 nm, porphyrinate ligand π → π* transition; λ(em) = 1060 nm, Yb(III) (5)F(5/2) → (5)F(7/2) transitions; σ(2) = 375 GM in DMSO) with an impressive Yb(III) NIR emission quantum yield (1% at λ(ex) = 340 nm; 2.5% at λ(ex) = 430 nm) in aqueous solution.

Two-photon induced luminescence, singlet oxygen generation, cellular uptake and photocytotoxic properties of amphiphilic Ru(II) polypyridyl-porphyrin conjugates as potential bifunctional photodynamic therapeutic agents.

Two Ru(II) polypyridyl-porphyrin and Zn(II) porphyrin conjugates (Ru-L and Ru-Zn-L) have been synthesized and their photophysical properties studied. The two conjugates, which contained a hydrophobic tetraphenylporphyrin L conjugated via an acetylide linker at its ß-position with a hydrophilic Ru(II) polypyridyl complex, showed high singlet oxygen quantum yields (>70%) and substantial two-photon absorption cross-sections (~500 GM). Ru-L gave strong emissions at ~660 and ~733 nm through linear or two-photon excitation. Solvatochromism was observed in the fluorescence spectra of Ru-L and Ru-Zn-L, where in less polar solvents (i.e., toluene and dichloromethane) their fluorescence emissions became slightly blue-shifted with a 3-fold reduction in intensity relative to those observed in polar solvents (i.e., acetonitrile and methanol). Cell-based studies of these complex conjugates were conducted using human nasopharyngeal carcinoma HK-1 and cervical carcinoma HeLa cells on which Ru-L showed rapid cellular uptake, low dark-cytotoxicity, and high photo-cytotoxicity. Furthermore, Ru-L can be excited and emits in the "biological window"in vitro, making it a potential potent new generation photodynamic therapeutic agent capable of singlet oxygen generation and in vitro near-infrared emission.

Two-photon induced responsive f-f emissive detection of Cyclin A with a europium-chelating peptide.

Responsive linear and two-photon induced europium emissive probes have been synthesised with a tailor made peptide for the detection of Cyclin A, the hypersensitive Eu emission (Eu-2) gave the real time signalling and also enhanced the two-photon absorption cross section from 12 GM to 68 GM after Cyclin A binding.

Responsive and mitochondria-specific ruthenium(II) complex for dual in vitro applications: two-photon (near-infrared) induced imaging and regioselective cell killing.

A mitochondria-permeable ruthenium(II) complex has been designed as a responsive probe which may be used to sensitize the formation of singlet oxygen (Phi(Delta) = 0.93) and cause local damage in cellulo when exposed to UV and near-infrared laser excitation.

White OLED with a single-component europium complex.

A new direction for white organic light-emitting devices is shown, fabricated from a novel europium complex; this single component contains a double emission center of bluish-green and red, combined to a give a pure white emission (CIE x = 0.34 and y = 0.35).

Two-photon plasma membrane imaging in live cells by an amphiphilic, water-soluble cyctometalated platinum(II) complex.

An amphiphilic, water-soluble cyclometalated Pt(II) complex with two-photon emission properties has been developed as a molecular marker specific for in vitro plasma membrane staining.

Non-coplanar 9,9-diphenyl-substituted oligofluorenes with large two-photon absorption enhancement.

The non-coplanar substituted phenyl rings at the 9-position of a fluorenyl unit can be involved in pi-electron delocalization in which the resulting oligofluorenes exhibit a very large enhancement of two-photon absorption cross sections up to 2559 GM at 710 nm.

Fluorene-based pi-conjugated oligomers for efficient three-photon excited photoluminescence and lasing.

A novel series of diphenylamino- and 1,2,4-triazole-end-capped, fluorene-based, pi-conjugated oligomers that includes extended oligofluorenes and oligothienylfluorenes has been synthesized by means of the palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling of 9,9-dibutyl-7-(diphenylamino)-2-fluorenylboronic acid and the corresponding 1,2,4,-triazole-based aryl halide as a key step. It was demonstrated that efficient two- and three-photon excited photoluminescence and lasing in the blue region are obtained by pumping near-infrared femtosecond lasers on these materials. Although the absorption and emission maxima of the highly fluorescent and extended oligofluorenes reach a saturation limit, there exists an effective conjugation length for an optimum three-photon absorption cross section in the homologous oligofluorene series. On the other hand, the multiphoton excited emission spectrum and lasing wavelength can easily be modified or tuned by an incorporation of thienyl unit(s) into the fluorene-based pi-conjugated core with which exceptionally large three-photon absorption cross sections up to 3.59 x 10(-77) cm6 s2 in the femtosecond regime have been obtained, thereby highlighting the potential of this series of photonic materials. The optimized full width at half-maximum of the cavityless three-photon upconverted blue lasing spectra are sharply narrowed to approximately 6 nm with an efficiency of up to 0.013%.

Synthesis, characterization, luminescence, and non-linear optical properties of oxadiazole- and truxene-containing platinum(II) alkynyl complexes with donor-acceptor functionalities.

A series of luminescent platinum(II) alkynyl complexes containing 2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (oxa-2,5) and 10,15-dihydro-5H-diindeno[1,2-a;1',2'-c]fluorene (truxene) as the cores and different electron donors at the periphery has been synthesized and characterized. These complexes showed long-lived emissions in both solution and in the solid state at room temperature and have been found to exhibit two-photon absorption (2PA) and two-photon induced luminescence. Their 2PA cross-sections (sigma(2)) have also been determined.

A bioaccumulative cyclometalated platinum(II) complex with two-photon-induced emission for live cell imaging.

The cyclometalated platinum(II) complex [Pt(L)Cl], where HL is a new cyclometalating ligand 2-phenyl-6-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine containing C(phenyl), N(pyridyl), and N(pyrazolyl) donor moieties, was found to possess two-photon-induced luminescent properties. The two-photon-absorption cross section of the complex in N,N-dimethylformamide at room temperature was measured to be 20.8 GM. Upon two-photon excitation at 730 nm from a Ti:sapphire laser, bright-green emission was observed. Besides its two-photon-induced luminescent properties, [Pt(L)Cl] was able to be rapidly accumulated in live HeLa and NIH3T3 cells. The two-photon-induced luminescence of the complex was retained after live cell internalization and can be observed by two-photon confocal microscopy. Its bioaccumulation properties enabled time-lapse imaging of the internalization process of the dye into living cells. Cytotoxicity of [Pt(L)Cl] to both tested cell lines was low, according to MTT assays, even at loadings as high as 20 times the dose concentration for imaging for 6 h.

Efficient three-photon excited deep blue photoluminescence and lasing of diphenylamino and 1,2,4-triazole endcapped oligofluorenes.

A novel homologues series of diphenylamino and 1,2,4-triazole endcapped pi-conjugated oligofluorenes has been synthesized using palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling of 9,9-dibutyl-7-(diphenylamino)-2-fluorenylboronic acid, and 1,2,4,-triazole-substituted oligofluorenyl halide was used as a key step. Efficient two- and three-photon excited photoluminescence and lasing were obtained by pumping with near-infrared femto-second lasers. The three-photon absorption cross-section enhances significantly up to 2.48 x 10(-78) cm(6) s(2) in the femtosecond regime with the length of the conjugation system. The emission is in the deep blue region and the best full width half-maximum (fwhm) of the three-photon lasing is narrower than 6 nm which is the narrowest ever reported. It was also shown that the nonlinear optics (NLO) effect increased parabolically with the conjugation length but without changing the emission wavelength. This demonstrates that varying the conjugation length is a very effective way to tailor an OF-based NLO device for deep blue application. Our findings open a new avenue to design highly efficient multiphoton absorption molecules for photoluminescence and lasing as well as provide a novel series of organic molecules that can be used in NLO applications and fundamental study.