Thesis (Ph. D.)-- State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of Chemistry, 2009.

As moléculas AHBA (2-Amino-N-hexadecil-benzamida) e DPH (1,6-Difenil-1,3,5- hexatrieno) são sondas fluorescentes com características particulares, comumente utilizadas para monitorar diferentes regiões das bicamadas lipídicas, no entanto, pouco se sabe sobre a mobilidade e dinâmica destas sondas em membranas e quais os principais fatores que influenciam as suas interações com solventes polares e apolares. Esta tese teve por objetivo estudar essas sondas em diferentes ambientes, para ampliar o entendimento de suas estruturas, mobilidade e dinâmicas rotacionais em diferentes solventes e em bicamadas lipídicas. Utilizou-se a técnica de Dinâmica Molecular (DM) para obter as trajetórias das sondas em caixas com diferentes proporções de água e 1,4-dioxano e também nas membranas de POPC (1-palmitoil-2-oleoil-sn-glicerol-3-fosfocolina) e DMPC (1,2-dimiristoil-sn-glicerol-3-fosfocolina). Com as trajetórias geradas, foram analisadas a estrutura, a solvatação e a dinâmica rotacional das sondas em misturas de solventes e membranas modelo. Para as DM em solventes, os resultados indicaram um comportamento atípico das duas moléculas, com a diminuição da interação com a água a medida que diminuía-se a proporção de 1,4-dioxano na caixa. Em membranas, a localização e mobilidade da sonda AHBA apresentaram comportamento semelhante em POPC e DMPC, com os tempos obtidos a partir da curva de autocorrelação rotacional do seu dipolo comparáveis aos medidos pelo experimento de anisotropia de fluorescência resolvida no tempo. Já para o DPH, os resultados em POPC indicaram que a sonda alinha-se paralelamente à superfície da membrana e apresenta muito mais liberdade para se movimentar quando comparada às aos resultados de DM em DMPC, onde a sonda se alinhou paralelamente às caudas dos fosfolipídios e teve uma restrição bem maior para seus movimentos. Os tempos de correlação rotacional do seu dipolo em POPC apresentaram boa concordância com os obtidos experimentalmente. Em contrapartida, os resultados em DMPC mostraram que é preciso mais tempo de DM para comparação entre a correlação rotacional teórica e a experimental, por ser um sistema mais compactado. De qualquer forma, os resultados indicam que a DM é uma técnica promissora para modelagem da dinâmica rotacional de moléculas em membranas. / AHBA (2-Amino-N-hexadecyl benzamide) and DPH (1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene) molecules are fluorescent probes with particular characteristics commonly used to monitor different regions of the lipid bilayers, however, little is known about the mobility and dynamics of these probes in membranes and the main factors that influence their interactions with polar and non-polar solvents. This thesis aimed to study these probes in different environments, to extend the understanding of their structures, mobility and rotational dynamics in different solvents and in lipid bilayers. It was used the Molecular Dynamic (MD) technique to obtain the trajectories of the probes in boxes with different proportions of water and 1,4-dioxane, and also in membranes of POPC (1-palmitoyl-2- oleoy l-sn-glycerol-3 -phosphocholine) and DMPC (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine). With the trajectories generated, the structure, solvation and rotational dynamics of the probes were analyzed in solvent mixtures and model membranes. For simulations in solvents, the results indicate an atypical behavior of the two molecules with the decrease of the interaction with water, when decreased the proportion of 1,4-dioxane in the box. In membranes, the location and mobility of AHBA showed similar behavior for on DMPC and POPC, with the decay times obtained from the dipole rotational autocorrelation curve comparable to experimental time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy data. For the DPH in POPC, the results indicated that the probe is aligned parallel to the membrane surface and is much more free to move when compared to simulations in DMPC, where the probe is aligned parallel to the tails of the phospholipids, and had a greater restriction for their movement. The rotational correlation times of their dipole in POPC showed good agreement with those obtained experimentally. On the other hand, the results in DMPC, showed that it needs more time of simulation for comparison between the theoretical and experimental rotational correlation, because it a more compressed system. In any way, the results indicate that MD is a promising technique for modeling the rotational dynamics of molecules in membranes.

Nos últimos anos, o desenvolvimento e a aplicação de sondas contendo átomos de calcogênio, expandiu significativamente, devido principalmente à reatividade dos elementos dessa família que são facilmente oxidados aos seus correspondentes calcogenóxidos e calcogenonas, permitindo diversas aplicações, especialmente em sistemas biológicos. A inserção de átomos pesados como os calcogênios, ao núcleo fluorofórico, leva à supressão de fluorescência, processo conhecido por \"efeito do átomo pesado\" também atribuída por Transferência Eletrônica Fotoinduzida (Photoinduced Electron Transfer). A oxidação do calcogênio ao correspondente calcogenóxido ou calcogenona inibe esse processo reestabelecendo a fluorescência. Todavia, moléculas com núcleo fluorofórico contendo, principalmente, os átomos de selênio e telúrio tem suas propriedades fotofísicas pouco investigadas, se comparado com moléculas contendo o átomo de enxofre. Neste trabalho foi tratado do desenvolvimento de metodologias de preparação de sondas contendo os átomos de selênio (II) e telúrio (II), mais especificamente, através da funcionalização da 7-hidróxi-4-metil-cumarina. Foram preparadas 6 calcogeno-cumarinas inéditas em rendimentos que variaram de 27% a 69%. Esses compostos apresentaram comportamento fluorescente condizente com o que havia sido idealizado: suas propriedades fotofísicas foram determinadas em acetonitrila, a 298 K, observando-se máximos de absorção em 290 nm e em 320 nm e máximo de emissão de fluorescência em 380 nm. Demais propriedades fotofísicas como rendimento quântico e tempo de vida do estado excitado também foram obtidas. Também foram realizados estudos com os compostos sintetizados frente a espécies oxidantes endógenas (ClO- e H2O2) permitindo inicializar estudos em sistemas celulares, observando-se que as cumarinas contendo o átomo de telúrio (II) demonstraram resultados promissores para seu uso como sondas fluorescentes. / In the last years, the development and application of chalcogen-containing dyes has expanded significantly, mainly due to the chalcogen elements reactivity that are are easily oxidized to their correspondent chalcogenides and chalcogenones, allowing several applications, especially in biological systems. The insertion of heavy atoms such as chalcogens to the fluorophoric core of the molecule leads to a fluorescence suppression, process known as \"heavy atom effect\", also attributed as Photoinduced Electron Transfer (PeT). The chalcogen oxidation to its correspondent chalcogenoxide or chalcogenone inhibts this process reestablishing the fluorescence of the molecule. However, fluorophoric molecules containing selenium and tellurium are not very investigated towards its photophysical properties if compared to their sulfur analogues. It is discussed in this this work, the development of methodologies for the preparation of probes containing selenium (II) and tellurium (II), more specifically, through the functionalization of the 7-methyl-4-hydroxi-coumarin. Six novel chalcogen-coumarins were prepared presenting yields varying from 27% to 69%. These compounds presented consistent fluorescent behavior for what it was predicted: their photophysical properties were determined observing absorption maxima at 290 nm and 320 nm and fluorescence maxima at 380 nm. Other photophysical properties such as quantum yields and excited state lifetime were also obtained. Studies with the synthetized compounds related to their behavior against endogenous oxidant species (ClO- and H2O2) were also conducted, allowing initial studies in cell systems, which demonstrated that the tellurium (II) derived coumarins presented promising results as fluorescent probes

This thesis describes the development of novel fluorescent and photocaged lipids, and their application as tools to probe the morphological effects of ceramide (Cer)-mediated membrane reorganization in supported lipid bilayers. Cer is a sphingolipid found in eukaryotic cells that plays a key role in regulating biological processes such as apoptosis, cell-to-cell communication, differentiation and some types of pathogenesis. Sphingolipid and cholesterol-rich lipid rafts in the plasma membrane are thought to be the point of origin for many of this lipid second messenger’s effects. Cer is formed in the exoplasmic leaflet of the plasma membrane via the enzymatic hydrolysis of sphingomyelin. The compositional complexity of biological membranes has prompted the adoption of simpler model systems to study the effects of Cer generation. When it is directly incorporated into model membranes, Cer segregates into highly ordered domains with physical properties that are distinct from those of the surrounding fluid environments. However, enzymatic generation of Cer induces complex and dynamic membrane heterogeneity that is difficult to interpret and reconcile with its direct incorporation. Here I describe the synthesis of 4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-7-yl (NBD)-labelled cholesterol (Chol) and Cer analogs, and their use as probes in model membranes exhibiting liquid-disordered (Ld) and liquid-ordered (Lo) phase coexistence. The Chol probes reproduce the modest enrichment of Chol in Lo membrane domains as well as the Cer-induced displacement of cholesterol. One of the NBD Chol probes is used to provide direct visualization of Chol redistribution during enzymatic Cer generation, and assists in identifying new features as Cer-rich regions. The NBD-labelled Cer quantifies membrane order using orientational order parameter measurements derived from polarized total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (pTIRFM) images. The probe reports on changes in membrane order upon enzymatic generation of Cer, and indicates a significant increase in the molecular order of Ld membrane regions that is consistent with the redistribution of Chol into these areas. The probe also identifies de novo Cer-rich domains as areas of particularly high molecular order. In the final project area, 6-Bromo-7-hydroxycoumarin-4-ylmethyl (Bhc)-caged Cers are shown to release Cer rapidly and efficiently upon irradiation with near-visible UV light. The caged lipids are then incorporated into supported membranes and photolyzed to release Cer with a high degree of spatial and temporal control. Controlled Cer generation is then used to drive protein-ganglioside clustering in lipid bilayers.

This diploma thesis deals with the use of fluorescent probes for evaluation of photocatalytic activity of immobilized photocatalyst. To the evaluation of photocatalytic activity of TiO2 were used three different fluorescent probes – terephthalic acid, coumarin and benzoic acid, wherein was monitored the increasing intensity of fluorescence of their oxidation products – hydroxyterephthalic acid, 7-hydroxycoumarin and salicylic acid for the photochemical degradation of various fluorescent probes. To the evaluation of photocatalytic activity was used solid phase (photocatalyst) – liquid phase (probe) system and was used three sources of radiation. Fluorescence of oxidation products was monitored by the fiber spectrometer and a conventional cuvette fluorometer.

No description available.

Sol-gel processing has been demonstrated to produce supported inorganic and hybrid microporous membranes with controlled physical and chemical properties under mild conditions. In preparing asymmetric membranes on mesoporous ceramic supports using traditional sol-gel processes, however, infiltration of the final coating material from smaller nanoparticles into the porous support can lead to unpredictable membrane thicknesses, poor reproducibility and reduced flux for separations.Herein we describe a size exclusion approach to prepare membranes by depositing well-defined relatively monodisperse particles on a mesoporous ceramic support. Ensuring that the particles remain on the surface by size exclusion can reduce or even eliminate infiltration. But if the porosity of the membrane top-layer is going to be finer than that of the support, it must be possible to sinter the particles to eliminate the interstitial porosity. Low temperature sintering is accomplished by preparing relatively compliant polysilsesquioxane particles through the introduction of organic substituents into the network of particles.To prepare membranes by size exclusion, we developed a sol-gel route to synthesize bridged polysilsesquioxane particles by polymerizing a dilute solution of monomers below their gelation concentration. Dynamic light scattering was used to monitor the particle size and size distributions during polymerizations up to the formation of gels. A membrane top-layer was successfully coated on a mesoporous titania-zirconia support through size exclusion of octylene- bridged polysilsesquioxane particles. To assist in determining if infiltration into the support has occurred and if particles are size-excluded from penetrating the support, we have covalently modified polysilsesquioxane particles with a fluorescent dye to provide direct visual evidence of the location of particles in the ceramic membrane. This is the first report of fluorescent diagnostics being used to detect infiltration and verify size exclusion of particles in asymmetric membrane deposition. We further created supported membranes of poly(phenylsilsesquioxane) through size exclusion of particles deposited on the support and then cured to establish a glassy, defect-free membrane coating without infiltration upon thermal exposure. Infiltration was verified with fluorescent dyes covalently bound into the particles. The size exclusion approach combined with fluorescent diagnostics allowed for the simplification of membrane formation and elimination of infiltration.

The most abundant biological thiols, homocysteine (Hcy), cysteine (Cys) and glutathione (GSH) have been the subject of intense research due to their association with a wide range of diseases. They play a key role in maintaining the redox status of biological systems. Selective detection methods for these thiols are challenging due to their similar structures and properties. Current commercially available detection methods use separations, fragile and expensive enzymatic or immunogenic materials and complex instrumentation. This has led to a global effort towards developing simple and inexpensive optical probes and indicators selective for specific biological thiols. Highly selective chemical probes and simple methods for detection and potential quantification of Hcy and GSH in their natural biological media have been developed. These indicators and methods are relatively simple and inexpensive for potential application at point of care. The selective detection of Hcy using novel asymmetric viologen chemical probes at room temperature is described as well as the use of commercially available materials under photochemical conditions. These probes respond linearly proportional to increasing Hcy concentrations, potentially enabling the monitoring of Hcy levels in human plasma. Additionally, new methods for the selective determination of GSH in human plasma, as well as its quantification in whole blood deposited on filter paper (dried blood spots), is also presented herein.

Les techniques de fluorescence sont des outils de choix pour l’étude et la compréhension fine des processus biologiques. Ceci requiert toutefois l’utilisation de sondes fluorescentes parfaitement adaptées au but visé et répondant aux différentes exigences requises pour l’application visée. Dans ce cadre, nous nous sommes plus particulièrement intéressés à l’élaboration de sondes biphotoniques de pH adaptées à une mesure très sensible de faibles variations de pH autour du pH neutre. Les variations et gradients de pH sont en effet impliqués dans un certain nombre de processus biologiques importants et peuvent être associées à des dysfonctionnements liés à certaines maladies. Dans ce cadre, nous avons développé de nouvelles sondes fluorescentes de pH fluorescentes présentant à la fois un comportement ratiométrique, une forte sensibilité autour du pH neutre et facilement excitables dans le proche IR par absorption à deux photons. Ces sondes de structure quadrupolaire et bolamamphiphile permettent ainsi la détection ratiométrique du pH dans des environnements biologiques au moyen d'une excitation biphotonique dans le proche IR. En parallèle, nous nous sommes intéressés à l’élaboration de nanoparticules hyperbrillantes dédiées à l’imagerie biologique par microscopie de fluorescence induite par excitation à deux photons. Nous nous sommes plus particulièrement attachées au design de nanoparticules organiques fluorescentes constituées de molécules organiques de bas poids moléculaire (FONs). Cette approche offre en effet une grande flexibilité et la possibilité d’accéder à des nanosondes ayant des brillances comparables aux très populaires quantum dots mais moins toxiques et plus facilement dégradables. L’ingénierie moléculaire des fluorophores utilisés pour la préparation des FON est cruciale puisqu’elle influence fortement à la fois les propriétés photophysiques (brillance, couleur…) et leur propriétés physico-chimiques (stabilité chimique et structurale, stabilité colloïdale). Dans ce contexte, une librairie de nouveaux chromophores dipolaires a été synthétisée et utilisées pour la préparation de FON par la méthode de nano-précipitation. Leurs propriétés ont été étudiées afin de déterminer la relation entre la structure du chromophore et les propriétés globales des nanoparticules constituées de ces colorants. Ce travail a permis d’identifier les paramètres structuraux permettant d’accéder à des nanoparticules présentant à la fois une brillance exceptionnelle, une émission modulable du vert au rouge et proche IR et une remarquable stabilité colloïdale. Ces nanoparticules présentent des potentialités majeures pour l’imagerie in vivo par excitation et détection dans le proche IR. / Fluorescence-based techniques are popular tools for the study and understanding of biological processes. This has prompted continuous research aimed at the development of a wide range of fluorescent probes specifically designed for specific applications. Among them, fluorescent pH probes are of much interest as pH variations or gradients are involved in many biological events and anomalous alterations are often related to the onset of dysfunctions and diseases. In this framework we have developed a series of promising two-photon pH fluorescent molecular probes. These quadrupolar bolaamphiphilic probes are of great interest, as they combine a steep pH dependence of their optical properties close to neutral pH, ratiometric behavior and large response to two-photon (2P) excitation in the NIR region. As such they offer much promise for ratiometric detection of the pH in biological environments and in situ monitoring of acidification. In parallel, we have been interest in the design of ultrabright nanoparticles for bioimaging purpose (in particular highly sensitive optical imaging). We chose to focus on Fluorescent Organic Nanoparticles made of organic molecules with low molecular weight (FONs) as they offer a flexible route and promising alternatives to toxic quantum dots. In this case the design of the dye used as building blocks of the FONs is of crucial importance and strongly influence the chemical and physical properties of the nanoparticles generated, such as their one and two-photon brightness and both their structural and colloidal stability. In that context a library of novel dipolar chromophores have been synthesized and used to prepare FONs using the nanoprecipitation method. Their properties were thoroughly investigated in order to determine the relationship between the molecular design of the isolated dye and the overall properties of the nanoparticles made of these dyes. As a result, Hyperbright FONs emitting in the green to NIR region and combining giant brightness and remarkable stability have been achieved. They offer major promise for bioimaging based on both excitation and detection in the NIR region.

A hemoglobina de Glossoscolex paulistus (HbGp) é caracterizada por uma massa molecular de 3.600 kDa, alta estabilidade oligomérica, resistência a auto-oxidação, e alta afinidade em ligar oxigênio. A estrutura quaternária desta proteína apresenta 144 cadeias com grupo heme (globinas) e 36 cadeias sem grupo heme (linkers), dispostos em duas camadas hexagonais. No presente trabalho, foi realizado o estudo da estabilidade da oxi-HbGp frente aos processos de dissociação oligomérica e desnaturação, utilizando duas classes de desnaturantes, ou seja, o surfactante brometo de dodeciltrimetilamônio (DTAB), e os agentes caotrópicos cloridrato de guanidina (GuHCl) e ureia. Convém mencionar ainda, que este estudo foi desenvolvido através do uso de duas sondas fluorescentes, 1-Anilino-8-naftaleno-sulfonato (1,8-ANS) e fluoresceína isotiocianato (FITC), usando as técnicas de absorção óptica, fluorescência estática, espalhamento de luz dinâmico (DLS) e fluorescência resolvida no tempo. Os resultados de fluorescência estática mostram que o DTAB induz um aumento na intensidade de emissão de fluorescência da sonda ANS, com o deslocamento do máximo de emissão para o azul de 517 para 493 nm. Duas transições são observadas, em 2,5 e 9,5 mmol/L de DTAB, e estão associadas à interação da sonda ANS com agregados pré-micelares e micelas, respectivamente. Na oxi-HbGp, ANS liga a sítios menos expostos ao solvente, quando comparado às micelas de DTAB, caracterizados pela emissão em 467-472 nm. A adição de DTAB ao sistema oxi-HbGp-ANS, no pH 7,0, induz a agregação da proteína, a dissociação oligomérica e desenovelamento da oxi-HbGp. No pH 5,0, a formação de agregados não foi observada. Além disso, o processo de desenovelamento induzido pelo DTAB apresenta duas transições, a primeira em virtude da dissociação oligomérica, e a segunda, provavelmente, devido à desnaturação das subunidades dissociadas. Por outro lado, GuHCl e ureia com concentrações acima de 1,5 e 4,0 mol/L respectivamente, induzem a desnaturação completa da oxi-HbGp, com redução dos grupos hidrofóbicos na superfície da proteína, e o deslocamento do ANS para o meio aquoso, detectado pela redução de intensidade de fluorescência. A técnica de fluorescência resolvida no tempo permitiu avaliar os valores dos tempos de vida para a sonda 1,8-ANS, bem como, para oxi-HbGp. Por último, a oxi-HbGp foi marcada com a sonda covalente fluoresceína isotiocianato (FITC) em dois valores de pH 7,0 e 9,0, e nas proporções sonda:heme de 1:5 e 2:1. A quantidade de FITC efetivamente ligada a oxi-HbGp por heme foi estimada a partir dos dados de absorção óptica. Supondo que o rendimento quântico de FITC no tampão é 100%, os rendimentos quânticos de FITC ligada a oxi-HbGp também foram encontrados. Além disso, estudos preliminares de dissociação e desnaturação da oxi-HbGp marcada com FITC, na presença do surfactante DTAB, foram realizados. / Glossoscolex paulistus hemoglobin (HbGp) is characterized by a molecular mass of 3,600 kDa, a high oligomeric stability, resistance to oxidation and a high affinity to oxygen. The quaternary structure of this macromolecule consists of 144 globin chains, and 36 additional chains lacking the heme group, named linkers, organized in a double-layered hexagonal structure. In this study, the oxy-HbGp stability, as well as, the oligomeric dissociation and unfolding processes were studied, using two types of denaturants,the surfactant Dodecyl-trimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), and chaotropic agents guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) and urea. Moreover, this study was developed based on 8-anilino-1-naphtalene-sulfonic acid (ANS) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) fluorescence probes, using the techniques of optical absorption, static fluorescence, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and time resolved fluorescence. The results of static fluorescence show that dodecyl-trimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) induces an increase in ANS fluorescence emission intensity, with maximum emission wavelength blue-shifted from 517 to 493 nm. Two transitions are noticed, at 2.50 and 9.50 mmol/L of DTAB, assigned to ANS interaction with pre-micellar aggregates and micelles, respectively. In oxy-HbGp, ANS binds to protein sites less exposed to solvent, as compared to DTAB micelles, characterized by emission at 467 - 472 nm. At pH 7.0, the addition of DTAB to the oxy-HbGp-ANS system induced the protein aggregation, oligomeric dissociation and unfolding of oxy-HbGp. At pH 5.0, no formation of aggregates was observed. Moreover, DTAB-induced unfolding process displays two transitions, one due to oligomeric dissociation and the second one, probably, due to the denaturation of dissociated subunits. On the other hand, guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) and urea, at concentrations above 1.5 and 4.0 mol/L, respectively, induce the full HbGp denaturation, with reduction of ANS-bound oxy-HbGp hydrophobic patches on the surface of the proteins. The shift of ANS to the aqueous medium was detected by the reduction in the fluorescence intensity. Time resolved fluorescence technique allowed to evaluate the lifetimes of ANS, as well as, for oxy-HbGp. Finally, oxy-HbGp was labeled with covalent probe fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), at pH values 7.0 and 9.0, and at probe: heme ratios of 1:5 and 2:1. The quantity of FITC effectively bound to oxy-HbGp, on the heme basis was estimated from the optical absorption data. Assuming a 100% quantum yield for FITC in buffer, the quantum yield of FITC bound to oxy-HpGp was also estimated. In addition, preliminary studies of dissociation and denaturation of oxy-HbGp labeled with FITC, in the presence of DTAB surfactant, were accomplished.