A novel fluorescent surfactant enhances the delivery of the Cas9 ribonucleoprotein and enables the identification of edited cells.

In this report, we designed and synthesized a novel fluorescent single tailed surfactant (termed FEDS), which can disrupt endosomes, complex lipofectamine, and can also identify cells that have been transfected. FEDS was able to increase the gene editing efficiency of lipofectamine/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein by 300% via a combination of fluorescent based enrichment and endosomal disruption.

A peptide-based fluorescent probe images ERAAP activity in cells and in high throughput assays.

ERAAP is an intracellular amino-peptidase that plays a central role in determining the repertoire of peptides displayed by cells by MHC class I molecules, and dysfunctions in ERAAP are linked to a variety of diseases. There is therefore great interest in developing probes that can image ERAAP in cells. In this report we present a fluorescent probe, termed Ep, that can image ERAAP activity in live cells. Ep is composed of a 10 amino acid ERAAP substrate that has a donor quencher pair conjugated to it, composed of BODIPY and dinitro-toluene. Ep undergoes a 20-fold increase in fluorescence after ERAAP cleavage, and was able to image ERAAP activity in cell culture via fluorescence microscopy. In addition, we used Ep to develop a high throughput screen for ERAAP inhibitors, and screened an electrophile library containing 1460 compounds. From this Ep based screen we identified aromatic alkyne-ketone as a lead fragment that can irreversibly inhibit ERAAP activity. We anticipate numerous applications of Ep given its unique ability to image ERAAP within cells.

A Trimethoprim Conjugate of Thiomaltose Has Enhanced Antibacterial Efficacy In Vivo.

Trimethoprim is one of the most widely used antibiotics in the world. However, its efficacy is frequently limited by its poor water solubility and dose limiting toxicity. Prodrug strategies based on conjugation of oligosaccharides to trimethoprim have great potential for increasing the solubility of trimethoprim and lowering its toxicity, but they have been challenging to develop due to the sensitivity of trimethoprim to chemical modifications, and the rapid degradation of oligosaccharides in serum. In this report, we present a trimethoprim conjugate of maltodextrin termed TM-TMP, which increased the water solubility of trimethoprim by over 100 times, was stable to serum enzymes, and was active against urinary tract infections in mice. TM-TMP is composed of thiomaltose conjugated to trimethoprim, via a self-immolative disulfide linkage, and releases 4'-OH-trimethoprim (TMP-OH) after disulfide cleavage, which is a known metabolic product of trimethoprim and is as potent as trimethoprim. TM-TMP also contains a new maltodextrin targeting ligand composed of thiomaltose, which is stable to hydrolysis by serum amylases and therefore has the metabolic stability needed for in vivo use. TM-TMP has the potential to significantly improve the treatment of a wide number of infections given its high water solubility and the widespread use of trimethoprim.

Thiophene bridged hydrocyanine - a new fluorogenic ROS probe.

Hydrocyanines are a class of commonly used reactive oxygen species (ROS) fluorescent imaging probes, which can image ROS in cell culture, organ culture, and in vivo. However, despite their widespread use, hydrocyanines have several drawbacks that limit their effectiveness, such as a high rate of auto-oxidation, a small Stokes shift, and poor water solubility. In addition, the hydrocyanines oxidize into cyanine dyes, which themselves decompose in the presence of ROS, and this further lowers their sensitivity towards detecting ROS. In this report, we present a new hydrocyanine analog, termed as thiophene-bridged hydrocyanine (TBHC), which has its double bonds replaced with a bisthiophene. TBHC is 8.06-fold more stable to auto-oxidation than the hydrocyanine hydro-Cy5 and is significantly better at imaging ROS in cell culture.

A novel near-infrared fluorescent probe for sensitive detection of ß-galactosidase in living cells.

A novel near-infrared fluorescent probe for ß-galactosidase has been developed based on a hemicyanine skeleton, which is conjugated with a d-galactose residue via a glycosidic bond. The probe serves as a substrate of ß-galactosidase and displays rapid and sensitive turn-on fluorescent responses to ß-galactosidase in aqueous solution. A 12.8-fold enhancement of fluorescence intensity at 703 nm was observed after incubation of 10 nM of ß-galactosidase with 5 µM probe for 10 min. The probe can sensitively detect as little as 0.1 nM of ß-galactosidase and shows linear responses to the enzyme concentration below 1.4 nM. The kinetic study showed that the probe has high binding affinity to ß-galactosidase with Km = 3.6 µM. The probe was used to detect ß-galactosidase in living cells by employing the premature cell senescence model. The probe exhibited strong fluorescent signals in senescent cells but not in normal cells, which demonstrates that the probe is able to detect the endogenous senescence-associated ß-galactosidase in living cells.

Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe for Sensitive Detection of Pb(II) Ions in Living Cells.

A new near-infrared fluorescent probe (NIR-PbP) for sensitive detection of Pb(II) ions in solution and living cells has been rationally designed and synthesized. The NIR-PbP is inherently non-fluorescent and gains fluorescence in the presence Pb(II) ions. The ion detection is based on Pb(II)-induced unmasking the fluorophore through the opening of the spyrocycle, with more than 500-fold fluorescence for sub-micromolar Pb(II) concentration. The NIR-PbP has high sensitivity, good photo-stability, low detection limit, and reversible response to Pb(II) ions.

Unusual Fluorescent Responses of Morpholine-functionalized Fluorescent Probes to pH via Manipulation of BODIPY's HOMO and LUMO Energy Orbitals for Intracellular pH Detection.

Three uncommon morpholine-based fluorescent probes (A, B and C) for pH were prepared by introducing morpholine residues to BODIPY dyes at 4,4'- and 2,6-positions, respectively. In contrast to morpholine-based fluorescent probes for pH reported in literature, these fluorescent probes display high fluorescence in a basic condition while they exhibit very weak fluorescence in an acidic condition. The theoretical calculation confirmed that morpholine is unable to function as either an electron donor or an electron acceptor to quench the BODIPY fluorescence in the neutral and basic condition via photo-induced electron transfer (PET) mechanism because the LUMO energy of morpholine is higher than those of the BODIPY dyes while its HOMO energy is lower than those of the BODIPY dyes. However, the protonation of tertiary amines of the morpholine residues in an acidic environment leads to fluorescence quenching of the BODIPY dyes via d-PET mechanism. The fluorescence quenching is because the protonation effectively decreases the LUMO energy which locates between the HOMO and LUMO energies of the BODIPY dyes. Fluorescent probe C with deep-red emission has been successfully used to detect pH changes in mammalian cells.

Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probes with Large Stokes Shifts for Sensing Zn(II) Ions in Living Cells.

We report two new near-infrared fluorescent probes based on Rhodol counterpart fluorophore platforms functionalized with dipicolylamine Zn(II)-binding groups. The combinations of the pendant amines and fluorophores provide the probes with an effective three-nitrogen-atom and one-oxygen-atom binding motif. The fluorescent probes with large Stokes shifts offer sensitive and selective florescent responses to Zn(II) ions over other metal ions, allowing a reversible monitoring of Zn(II) concentration changes in living cells, and detecting intracellular Zn(II) ions released from intracellular metalloproteins.

Pd-Ir Core-Shell Nanocubes: A Type of Highly Efficient and Versatile Peroxidase Mimic.

Peroxidase mimics with dimensions on the nanoscale have received great interest as emerging artificial enzymes for biomedicine and environmental protection. While a variety of peroxidase mimics have been actively developed recently, limited progress has been made toward improving their catalytic efficiency. In this study, we report a type of highly efficient peroxidase mimic that was engineered by depositing Ir atoms as ultrathin skins (a few atomic layers) on Pd nanocubes (i.e., Pd-Ir cubes). The Pd-Ir cubes exhibited significantly enhanced efficiency, with catalytic constants more than 20- and 400-fold higher than those of the initial Pd cubes and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), respectively. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, the Pd-Ir cubes were applied to the colorimetric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of human prostate surface antigen (PSA) with a detection limit of 0.67 pg/mL, which is ∼110-fold lower than that of the conventional HRP-based ELISA using the same set of antibodies and the same procedure.

Glycosylation of quinone-fused polythiophene for reagentless and label-free detection of E. coli.

In this report, a new polythiophene interface is fabricated containing fused quinone moieties which are then glycosylated to form a carbohydrate platform for bacterial detection. Very importantly, this interface can be used for label-free and reagentless detection, both by electrochemical and Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) transducers and by using the direct pili-mannose binding as well as Concanavalin A (Con A) mediated lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-mannose binding. The conductive polymer's unique collective properties are very sensitive to very minor perturbations, which result in significant changes of electrical conductivity and providing amplified sensitivity and improved limits of detection (i.e., 25 cell/mL for electrochemical sensor and 50 cells/mL for QCM sensor), a widened logarithmic range of detection (i.e., 3-7 for pili-mannose binding and 2-8 for Con A mediated binding), high specificity and selectivity, and an extraordinary reliability by a mechanism of internal validation. With these analytical performances, the described biosensor is envisaged for being capable of differentiating Gram-negative bacterial strain and species, for many important applications.

Near-infrared fluorescent probes based on piperazine-functionalized BODIPY dyes for sensitive detection of lysosomal pH.

Three acidotropic, near-infrared fluorescent probes based on piperazine-modified BODIPY dyes (A, B and C) have been developed for the sensitive and selective detection of lysosomal pH in living cells. Probes A and B display low solubilities in aqueous solutions, whereas probe C is highly water-soluble. The fluorescent responsive mechanism of these probes to lysosomal pH is based on intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and potential photo-induced electron transfer from piperazine moieties at 3,5-positions to BODIPY cores in the near-infrared region. The sensitivity and selectivity of the probes to pH over metal ions have been investigated by spectroscopic analysis in aqueous solutions. The probes have low auto-fluorescence at physiological pH conditions, whereas their fluorescence intensities significantly increase when pH is shifted to an acidic condition. Furthermore, these three probes were successfully applied to the in vitro lysosome imaging inside normal endothelial and breast cancer cells.

pH-activatable near-infrared fluorescent probes for detection of lysosomal pH inside living cells.

Four near-infrared fluorescent probes (A, B, C and D) have been synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for detection of lysosomal pH inside living cells. The fluorescent probes display highly sensitive and selective fluorescent response to acidic pH as the acidic pH results in drastic structural changes from spirocyclic (non-fluorescent) forms to ring-opening (fluorescent) forms of the fluorescent probes. The fluorescence intensities of the fluorescent probes (B, C and D) increase significantly by more than 200-fold from pH 7.4 to 4.2. The fluorescent probe D bearing the N-(2-hydroxyethyl) ethylene amide residue possesses the advantages of high sensitivity, excellent photostability, good cell membrane permeability, strong pH dependence, and low auto-fluorescence background. It has been successfully applied to selectively stain lysosomes and detect lysosomal pH changes inside normal endothelial and breast cancer cells.

Highly water-soluble BODIPY-based fluorescent probe for sensitive and selective detection of nitric oxide in living cells.

A highly water-soluble BODIPY dye bearing electron-rich o-diaminophenyl groups at 2,6-positions was prepared as a highly sensitive and selective fluorescent probe for detection of nitric oxide (NO) in living cells. The fluorescent probe displays an extremely weak fluorescence with fluorescence quantum yield of 0.001 in 10 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) in the absence of NO as two electron-rich o-diaminophenyl groups at 2,6-positions significantly quench the fluorescence of the BODIPY dye via photoinduced electron transfer mechanism. The presence of NO in cells enhances the dye fluorescence dramatically. The fluorescent probe demonstrates excellent water solubility, membrane permeability, and compatibility with living cells for sensitive detection of NO.

Highly water-soluble, near-infrared emissive BODIPY polymeric dye bearing RGD peptide residues for cancer imaging.

Near-infrared emissive BODIPY polymeric dye bearing cancer-homing cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide residues (polymer B) was prepared by post-polymerization functionalization of BODIPY polymeric dye bearing bromo groups through tetra(ethylene glycol) tethered spacers (polymer A) with thiol-functionalized RGD cancer-homing peptide through thioether bonds under a mild basic condition. Polymer B possesses excellent water solubility, good photostability, biocompatibility and resistance to nonspecific interactions to normal endothelial cells, and can efficiently detect breast tumor cells through specific cooperative binding of cancer-homing RGD peptides to αvß3 integrins of cancer cells while its parent polymer A without RGD residues fails to target cancer cells.

Highly water-soluble BODIPY-based fluorescent probes for sensitive fluorescent sensing of zinc(ii).

A zinc(ii) chelator bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amine moiety has been incorporated into three different highly water-soluble dyes, 2-formyl-BODIPY, 2,6-diformyl BODIPY, and 2,6-diformyl-1,7-distyryl-BODIPY, at 2-position and 2,6-positions, resulting in three highly water-soluble BODIPY-based fluorescent probes A, B and C for zinc(ii) ions. Fluorescent probes A and B display sensitive fluorescent responses with significant fluorescence enhancement to zinc(ii) ions at pH 7.0 while fluorescent probe C shows two distinct measurable fluorescent signals at 521 nm and 661 nm, and displays ratiometric responses to zinc(ii) ions with fluorescence quenching at 661 nm and fluorescence enhancement at 521 nm. These three fluorescent probes exhibit excellent sensitive and selective responses to zinc(ii) ions. Intracellular zinc(ii) concentration could be monitored in cancer cells with fluorescent probe C.

One-pot efficient synthesis of dimeric, trimeric, and tetrameric BODIPY dyes for panchromatic absorption.

One-pot Knoevenagel self-condensation reaction of ß-formyl BODIPY dye bearing a formyl group at 2-position offered dimeric, trimeric and tetrameric BODIPY dyes containing a formyl capping end group, exhibiting panchromatic absorption.

Highly water-soluble neutral BODIPY dyes with controllable fluorescence quantum yields.

A series of novel highly water-soluble neutral BODIPY dyes have been obtained by functionalization of BODIPY dyes with branched oligo(ethylene glycol)methyl ether groups at positions 8, 2 and 6 or 4 and 4'. Use of an ortho-substituent group of branched oligo(ethylene glycol)methyl ether on the meso-phenyl ring of BODIPY dyes and replacement of the fluorine atoms of BODIPY dyes at positions 4 and 4' with methyloxy or ethynyl subunits significantly enhance fluorescence quantum yields of BODIPY dyes.

Anisotropic ionic conductivities in lyotropic supramolecular liquid crystals.

The designed aromatic amide discotic molecule with sulfonic acid groups at its periphery exhibits a hexagonal supramolecular columnar liquid crystalline phase, which leads to the achievement of anisotropic ionic conductivity through macroscopically aligning the ionic channels.