Tryptophan / Dextran70 Based - Fluorescent Silver Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Physicochemical Properties.

Nano-size and shape of fluorescent silver nanostructures are important for a wide range of bio-applications, especially as drug delivery systems, imaging and sensing. The aim of the work is to develop a fluorescent silver nano-structured system, synthesized by chemical reduction of aqueous AgNO3 solution by Tryptophan using Dextran 70 as stabilizing agent (SNPsFL). The formed fluorescent nano-system was analyzed by UV-Vis absorption, DLS, SEM, TEM, AFM, steady-state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. TEM analysis showed multi-twined nanoparticle, with the size within 15-40 nm. SNPsFL shows the fluorescence emission at 346 nm, the fluorescence quantum yield, Φ = 0.034 and the integrated fluorescence lifetime, <τ > = 1.82 ns. Riboflavin fluorescence behaviour in the RF/SNPsFL system, has been also studied. The results have relevance in using SNPsFL as a potential marker/emissive system to solve various biological barriers in humans, like drug release and protein structure.

Physicochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Riboflavin in Dextran70/HSA Systems.

Physicochemical properties of Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) (RF), in Dextran 70 (Dx70) (a biological relevant glucidic type macromolecule) and Human Serum Albumin (HSA) (a carrier/transport protein) based system, have been studied by absorption, fluorescence, circular dichroism and electrochemistry. No significant changes on the fluorescence of RF in Dx70/HSA systems with and without the influence of temperature (30-60 °C range) were observed. No changes on the intrinsic Tryptophan fluorescence in Dx70/RF/HSA system, have been evidenced. HSA secondary structure when RF binds in Dx70/RF/HSA systems, with a renaturation effect of Dx70, was found. In Dx70/RF/HSA system the major process which RF undergoes is the proton transfer, Ered = -0.43 V. Using the chemiluminescence method, an improvement of the antioxidant activity of RF into the Dx70/RF/HSA system, was also found. RF concentration in Dx70/RF/HSA systems is important in RF oxidative damages when it reacts with target molecules and thus promotes their oxidation. The results have relevance in the oxidative stress process and in pharmaceutical formulations containing RF.

Spectroscopic study of 3-Hydroxyflavone - protein interaction in lipidic bi-layers immobilized on silver nanoparticles.

The interaction of 3-Hydroxyflavone with serum proteins (BSA and HSA) in lecithin lipidic bi-layers (PC) immobilized on silver nanoparticles (SNPs), was studied by fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy. BSA secondary structure was quantified with a deconvolution algorithm, showing a decrease in α-helix structure when lipids were added to the solution. The effect of temperature on the rate of the excited-state intra-molecular proton transfer and on the dual fluorescence emission of 3-HF in the HSA/PC/SNPs systems was discussed. Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of 3-HF in HSA/PC/SNPs systems was also studied. The antioxidant activity of 3-HF decreased in the presence of SNPs. The results are discussed with relevance to the secondary structure of proteins and of the 3-HF based nano-systems to a topical formulation useful in the oxidative stress process.

Effect of pH on the fluorescence characteristics of some flavones probes.

The photophysical properties such as electronic absorption, molar extinction coefficient, emission spectra, fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime of three different hydroxyflavones (a typical model of flavonols) such as: 3-HF, 3,6-diHF and 3,7-diHF, have been studied in the pH range from 2.5 to 9.2. Both electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra are sensitive to pH. The fluorescence quantum yield at pH 7.4 of the mentioned flavones probes have been determined. The fluorescence lifetime of different emissive species (Normal, Tautomer and Anion forms) as pH dependence have been also estimated. The effect of pH on the intramolecular excited state proton transfer process (ESIPT) has been discussed. The normal and tautomeric forms change as a function of pH, the normal one being more sensitive. The position of the -OH group on the second aromatic ring in the flavonol's structure has been also discussed. The results have relevance to compounds which have photoreactions accompanied by dual fluorescence.

Fluorescence characteristics of some flavones probes in different micellar media.

The fluorescence characteristics of five hydroxiflavones (HFs) (some typical models of flavonols), (3 - HF, 6 - HF, 7-HF, 3, 6 - diHF and 3, 7-diHF) in the micellar media of non-ionic surfactant (Triton X-100), anionic surfactant (SDS) and the block copolymer Pluronic F127, have been investigated by means of UV-Vis and steady-state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopies. Attention is paid to both excited-state intra-molecular proton transfer (ESIPT) as well as ground-state intermolecular proton transfer. The influence of the -OH groups as well as the effect of temperature on the dual fluorescence emission, the Normal and Tautomer emissions, are also investigated. The fluorescence quantum yield of the HFs in mentioned micellar media has been also determined. The results are discussed with relevance to the local environment of HFs as sensitive fluorescence probe in biological membrane systems.

Photophysical properties of some flavones probes in homogeneous media.

Photophysical properties of five hydroxyflavones (HF) (some typical models of flavonols), (3 - HF, 6 - HF, 7-HF, 3, 6 - diHF and 3, 7 - diHF) were studied in homogeneous media by means of UV-vis and steady-state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopies. Their absorption and fluorescence characteristics based on the flavonols structure are presented and discussed. It was found that the fluorescence of the flavonols depends on the nature of the solvent and on their molecular structure, especially on the position and the number of the -OH groups of the substituted phenyl ring. Attention is paid to the number of the -OH groups that influence the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process. The fluorescence quantum yield and the lifetime of the flavonols in heterogeneous media have been also determined. The results are discussed with relevance to the flavonols as sensitive fluorescence probe and to their microenvironments in the systems of biological interest and especially in a typical protein environment.

Theoretical ECD calculations--a useful tool for estimating the conformational change of a ligand in the binding pocket of proteins.

The correlation of experimentally induced circular dichroism (ICD) spectra recorded from (a)chiral ligands during their binding to proteins with simulated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra via time-dependent density functional theory calculations was used for obtaining structural information on the ligands in the protein binding sites. A three step procedure is reported, involving the optimization of the most relevant conformers of the different ligand species presumed to be present in the system, the calculation of their ECD spectra and the comparison of the theoretical spectra with the experimental ones. This approach was exemplified for several model systems that can yield ICD signals through steric hindrance of a degree of freedom in the protein pocket. The method was found to be suitable to identify the bound form(s) for flexible molecular systems in which several species can coexist in solution. The effect of several functional/basis set combinations was tested, aiming to establish which one gives the most reliable results.

On the fluorescence of luminol in a silver nanoparticles complex.

The photophysical properties of luminol in a silver nanoparticles complex have been studied by steady-state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The effect of the serum albumin on the luminol fluorescence in the silver nanoparticles has been also investigated. It was found that the fluorescence quantum yield value of luminol in a silver nanoparticles complex is φ = 0.00407. The decrease of the average fluorescence lifetime value of the luminol in the silver nanoparticles complex was found to be low, <τ> = 1.712 ns. The luminol does not bind to the serum albumins in the presence of silver nanoparticles. The formation of a new species of luminol on silver nanoparticles is discussed. The results have influence regarding the use of luminol as an assay for bio-analytical applications.

New insights on flavonoid-serum albumin interactions from concerted spectroscopic methods and molecular modeling.

The paper offers a survey on literature data on the very wide subject concerning the interaction of a particular class of polyphenols, flavonoids, with plasma proteins. Recent developments in applying fluorescence (steady-state, time-resolved, synchronous techniques), circular dichroism and vibrational (FTIR and Raman) spectroscopies for obtaining relevant parameters (binding constant, K, number of binding sites, thermodynamic effects) are presented. Attention is paid to the modifications occurring upon the interaction process in the secondary and tertiary protein structure, as well as in the ligand conformation. In this case, we underline the significant role played by analyzing the induced dichroic signals of the ligand forced to adopt a restricted conformation in the protein pocket. In order to better understand the molecular aspects of the binding process, the differences in experimental data are discussed in terms of the structural elements of flavonoids, namely the number and position of the OH groups, the presence of methoxy and glycosidic residues and the character of the C2-C3 bond in the A ring. Some correlations of logK with parameters such as the hydrophobicity, hydrogen bond donor and acceptor character, and polar surface are also discussed. In the last section we present the representative theoretical results obtained insofar on both isolated ligands (by DFT and TDDFT methods) and supramolecular ligand-protein systems (by molecular mechanics and dynamics).

Kaempferol-human serum albumin interaction: characterization of the induced chirality upon binding by experimental circular dichroism and TDDFT calculations.

The experimental induced circular dichroism (ICD) and absorption spectra of the achiral flavonoid kaempferol upon binding to human serum albumin (HSA) were correlated to electronic CD and UV-vis spectra theoretically predicted by time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The neutral and four anionic species of kaempferol in various conformations were considered in the calculations. The appearance of the experimental ICD signal was rationalized in terms of kaempferol binding to HSA in a distorted, chiral, rigid conformation. The comparison between the experimental and simulated spectra allowed for the identification of the kaempferol species that binds to HSA, namely the anion generated by deprotonation of the hydroxyl group in position 7. This approach constitutes a convenient method for evidencing the binding species and for determining its conformation in the binding pocket of the protein. Its main advantage over the UV-vis absorption method lays in the fact that only the bound ligand species gives an ICD signal.

Induced chirality in fisetin upon binding to serum albumin: experimental circular dichroism and TDDFT calculations.

Theoretical absorption and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra predicted via time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations on the neutral and four anionic species of fisetin, an achiral flavonoid, were used to rationalize the experimental absorption and induced circular dichroism (ICD) spectra of the ligand upon binding to human serum albumin (HSA). On this basis, the mechanism responsible for the appearance of the ICD signal was ascribed to a distortion of the conformation of bound fisetin. Furthermore, comparison of the simulated and experimental spectra revealed that two fisetin species bind to HSA, namely, the neutral molecule and the anion deprotonated at the hydroxyl group in position 7, in a 1:1 ratio. The coupling of the theoretical results with the experimental absorption and ICD data allows identification of the flavonoid species that bind to the protein and evaluation of their conformation in the binding site.

Study of the interaction between ofloxacin and human serum albumin by spectroscopic methods.

The binding of ofloxacin (OFLX) to human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated by fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) techniques. The binding parameters have been evaluated by a fluorescence quenching method. Competitive binding measurements were performed in the presence of warfarin and ibuprofen and suggest binding to the warfarin site I of HSA. The distance r between donor (HSA) and acceptor (OFLX) was estimated according to the Forster's theory of non-radiatiative energy transfer. CD spectra revealed that the binding of OFLX to HSA induced conformational changes in HSA. Molecular docking was performed and shows that for the lowest energy complex OFLX is located in site I of HSA, which correlate to the competitive binding experiments.

Characterization of a new norfloxacin metabolite monitored during a bioequivalence study by means of mass spectrometry and quantum computation.

A bioequivalence study of two formulations containing norfloxacin was used for identification and assay of the metabolite of norfloxacin in human serum samples. The bioequivalence study was based on an analytical method using liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The plasmatic profile of metabolite was similar to norfloxacin for both formulations. Three plasma fractions of norfloxacin metabolite from a volunteer were isolated by liquid chromatography and investigated by atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization mass-spectrometry. The structure of norfloxacin metabolite (7-aminoethylenamino-6-fluoro-4-hydroxy quinoline-3-carboxylic acid) was identified taking into account also the mass spectrometry investigations achieved for norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin (used as internal standard for the analytical method). A theoretical procedure based on quantum chemical calculations has been also used to explain the mass fragmentation in molecules of norfloxacin metabolite that differ from the molecule of norfloxacin.

2-phenoxathiinyl-5-phenyloxazole and 5-phenoxathiinyl-2-phenyloxazole derivatives: experimental and theoretical study of emission properties.

The absorption and emission spectra in cyclohexane and methanol of the title phenoxathiinyl-phenyloxazole derivatives are presented and discussed. Comparing to the unsubstituted diphenyloxazole (PPO), the experimental results show a bathochromic shift of the emission band, a significant dependence of the maximum on the solvent polarity and a drastic decrease of the fluorescence quantum yield. Semiempirical MO calculations (AM1) in both the ground and excited states support the experimental findings. A charge transfer from the phenoxathiin fragment to the oxazole ring is predicted in the excited state explaining the solvatochromism of the compounds. The values for the singlet-triplet gap, 3500-5000 cm-1 point to an enhanced probability of intersystem crossing (ISC) non-radiative deactivation processes, in agreement with the low fluorescence quantum yields.

Experimental and theoretical study of 2,5-diaryloxazoles whose aryl are para-substituted phenyl groups.

Absorption and emission properties of some phenoxy derivatives of diphenyloxazole (PPO) are presented and discussed. The photophysical properties reflect a dependence on the substituted 2 or 5 position of the oxazole ring. The experimental data were correlated with molecular parameters such as molecular flexibility, electronic structure and the singlet-triplet gap. The substitution with heteroatomic-bridged phenyls maintains the same frontier orbitals (m, m+1) as in the parent compound, but introduces a new molecular orbital, m-1, located on the terminal phenyl. The presence of the so-called band B in the absorption spectra of some diaryloxazoles was attributed to the m-1-->m+1 transition participating to the second excited state wave function. The other main component of this state, the m-->m+2 transition, was found to have a forbidden character, explaining the lack or the low intensity of band B. The decrease of the fluorescence quantum yield subsequent to substitution of PPO with phenoxy fragments was found to be due to the enhanced molecular flexibility comparing to PPO. The differences between the 2- or 5-substituted derivatives were rationalized in terms of a smaller S(1)-T(2) gap for the former, thus increasing the rate of the overall nonradiative intersystem crossing processes.