L’objectif de cette thèse est l’élaboration de sondes organiques pour la microscopie optique non-linéaire par fluorescence excitée à deux photons (F2P) et génération de seconde harmonique (GSH). Dans une première partie, cette thèse décrit la synthèse de sondes pour l’imagerie de potentiels de membrane par GSH, comportant un ou plusieurs motifs sucres ainsi que leurs caractérisations spectroscopiques. Les premiers essais en imagerie biologique ont permis de démontrer une bonne affinité des sondes sucres pour la membrane cellulaire et un signal de GSH sur cellule neuronale a pu être observé sur une période de temps allant jusqu'à près de trois heures. La seconde approche a consisté à synthétiser et étudier des chromophores possédant des propriétés de fluorescence à l’état solide pour des applications dans la synthèse de nanoparticules fluorescentes pour l’imagerie biologique. 18 des 21 composés synthétisés ont pu être cristallisés et leur structure résolue par diffraction des rayons X et les propriétés spectroscopique en solution et à l’état solide ont été réalisées. Cette étude a permis de montrer que l’arrangement des molécules les unes par rapport aux autres avait une grande influence sur la fluorescence à l’état solide et donc que les substituants avaient une grande importance. Enfin, cette partie se termine sur les premiers essais effectués pour synthétiser des nanoparticules fluorescentes. / The objective of this thesis is the design of new organic probes for nonlinear optical microscopy by two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) and second harmonic generation (SHG). In the first part, we describe the synthesis of probes for voltage sensitive imaging by SHG, bearing one or more sugar units and their spectroscopic characterization. The first biological imaging tests have shown good affinity of the probes to the cell membrane and the SHG signal of neuronal cell was observed over a period of nearly three hours. The second part comprises the synthesis and the study of chromophores with solid state fluorescence properties for use in fluorescent nanoparticles for biological imaging. 18 of the 21 compounds synthesized have been crystallized, their crystal structures determined by X-ray diffraction and their spectroscopic properties studied in solution and in the solid state. These studies showed that the arrangement of molecules relative to each had a great influence on the solid state fluorescence and therefore that the substitution was very important. The chapter ends with the first tests of fluorescent nanoparticles synthesis.

Ce projet de thèse consistait à synthétiser de nouveaux bio-conjugués Lipide-Polymère fluorescents émettant dans le rouge lointain, composés d’une chaîne polymère portant à la fois de nombreux chromophores en position latérale et un lipide en extrémité de chaîne. La structure de ces bio-conjugués est basée sur des copolymères poly(N-acryloylmorpholine-co-N-acryloxysuccinimide), hydrophiles, réactifs, modulables et d’architecture contrôlée obtenus par le procédé RAFT. Les copolymères réactifs ont ensuite été utilisés pour le couplage, en position latérale, de chromophores émettant dans le rouge lointain. La stratégie utilisée pour la synthèse des bio-conjugués se divise en trois étapes : la synthèse d’Agents de Transfert de Chaîne (ATC) fonctionnalisés avec un lipide suivant un protocole déjà décrit suite à des travaux de notre équipe, et dont les étapes de purification ont été améliorées afin d’obtenir des ATC les plus purs possible (90% de pureté molaire) ; l’utilisation de ces ATC fonctionnels pour la synthèse de polymères α fonctionnels, et enfin, le couplage covalent, rapide et efficace, de chromophores en position latérale. Il a été mis en évidence que les ATC lipidiques permettent un très bon contrôle de la copolymérisation des monomères NAM et NAS. L’utilisation de la composition azéotropique pour ce couple de monomère permet également d’obtenir des chaînes polymère de microstructure très contrôlée et présentant des valeurs de Mn comprises entre 5 900 et 33 200 g.mol-1. Les propriétés optiques des bio-conjugués ont été déterminées, ce qui a permis de mettre en évidence que ces propriétés, et notamment le rendement quantique de fluorescence, sont très sensibles à la structure des bio-conjugués synthétisés. Tous les bio-conjugués présentent des brillances améliorées (jusqu’à 13 000 M-1.cm-1 dans l’eau et 50 0000 M-1.cm-1 dans CHCl3) par rapport à celle du chromophore. La capacité des bio-conjugués à interagir avec les bicouches lipidiques a été mise en évidence à travers l’utilisation de systèmes modèles (SUVs, LUVs et GUVs). Enfin, les évaluations biologiques réalisées ont montré à la fois une absence de cytotoxicité des bio-conjugués et une capacité de ces derniers à être internalisés rapidement (< 10 min) au sein de différentes lignées de cellules vivantes. / The aim of this study is to synthesize new far-red emitting fluorescent Lipid-Polymer conjugates, consisting of a polymer chain bearing both multiple fluorophores in lateral position and a lipid at one chain-end. These conjugates are based on an hydrophilic, reactive, flexible and controlled poly(N-acryloylmorpholine-co-N-acryloxysuccinimide) copolymer synthesized by the RAFT process. Multiple far-red emitting fluorophores were bound on the reactive copolymer in lateral position. The strategy used in this study consists of three different steps: Chain Transfer Agents (CTA) functionalized with a lipid were synthesized following a protocol already described in our team, the purity of these CTA was improved (90% molar purity); the use of these CTA for the synthesis of α functional polymers, and finally, the very efficient covalent binding of fluorophores in lateral position. We showed that the lipid-CTA enable a very good control of the NAM/NAS copolymerization. The azeotropic composition enables the synthesis of polymer chains with a controlled composition and with Mn values varying from 5 900 to 33 200 g.mol-1. The optical properties of the bio-conjugates were determined, and we showed that these properties (the fluorescence quantum yield especially) are structure sensitive. All of them show an improved brightness (13 000 M-1.cm-1 in water and 50 000 M-1.cm-1 in CHCl3) compared to the brightness of the free fluorophore. The ability of the bio-conjugates to interact with lipid bilayers was proved using model systems (SUVs, LUVs and GUVs). Finally, biological evaluations showed both an absence of cytotoxicity and an ability of the conjugates to be quickly internalized in leaving cells (< 10 min).

This thesis deals with development and synthesis of organic chromophores for dye sensitized solar cells. The chromophores are divided into three components; donor, linker and acceptor. The development of efficient organic chromophores for dye sensitized solar cells starts off with one new organic chromophore, D5. This chromophore consists of a triphenylamine moiety as an electron donor, a conjugated linker with a thiophene moiety and cyanoacrylic acid as an electron acceptor and anchoring group. Alternating the donor, linker or acceptor moieties independently, would give us the tool to tune the HOMO and LUMO energy levels of the chromophores. The following parts of this thesis regard this development strategy. The contributions to the HOMO and LUMO energy levels were investigated when alternating the linker moiety. Unexpected effects of the solar cell performances when increasing the linker length were revealed, however. In addition, the effect of an alternative acceptor group, rhodanine-3-acetic acid, in combination with different linker lengths was investigated. The HOMO and LUMO energy level tuning was once again successful. Electron recombination from the semiconductor to the electrolyte is probably the cause of the poor efficiencies obtained for this series of dyes. Finally, the development of functionalized triphenylamine based donors and the contributions from different substituents to the HOMO and LUMO energy levels and as insulating layers were investigated. This strategy has so far been the most successful in terms of reaching high efficiencies in the solar cell. A top overall efficiency of 7.79 % was achieved. / QC 20100716

Kvantinės fizikos Hartre – Foko – Ruthano metodu atlikti teoriniai elektrinio krūvio tankio pasiskirstymo ant atomų skaičiavimai, nustatyta anglies nanovamzdelių, polimetininio dažo katijonų elektroninės sandaros priklausomybė nuo jų geometrinių parametrų ir nuo polimetininio dažo katijono padėties nanovamzdelyje. Nustatyta anglies nanovamzdelio kompozitų spektro kitimo priklausomybė. / Hartre – Fock – Ruthaan method of quantum mechanics, realized in GAMESS operating system, was applied in this research. Theoretical calculations of the distribution of electric charge density over atoms was carried out, the dependence of carbon nanotubes, polymethyne dye cations electron composition on geometrical parameters and the position of polymethyne dye cation (C11H19 N2+) in a tube . The analysis of energy levels of research subjects was carried out.

A new synthetic methodology for the combinatorial preparation of C-terminus-modified Green and Red Fluorescent Protein chromophores is described. This method involves the modification of the previously reported [2+3] cycloaddition reaction scheme to incorporate new R2 groups in the imidate used in the final step. This is achieved through two primary routes: (a) the imidation of nitriles using hydrochloric acid gas and (b) the O-alkylation of amides using a variant of Meerwein's Salt to provide conjugated imidates. The preparation of fluorescent microcrystals and nanofibers from Green Fluorescent Protein chromophore derivatives via the reprecipitation method is also demonstrated. The properties of these microcrystals and nanofibers, especially in relation to the powder obtained from organic solvents, are also explored. Additionally, it is demonstrated that the size and shape of the microcrystals and nanofibers can be modulated with varying experimental conditions for RP. A new class of AIE-active GFP chromophores is reported. These chromophores contain a benzoxazole group on the phenyl ring and varying lengths of alkyl chains on the imidazolidinone nitrogen. These benzoxazole-based chromophores exhibit unique properties in the solid state not previously observed for GFP chromophore derivatives, namely, a broadening of the excitation spectrum and red-shifting of the emission, likely caused by excimer formation. The crystal structure also reveals a unique "hot-dog" stacking motif. Additionally, some projects which require further work are discussed at the end of the thesis. These include a stress-responsive GFP-based polymer and DNA-binding fluorophores.

We have synthesized dimethyl derivatives of the GFP chromophore (p-HOBDI) and several of its derivatives, and their photochemistry and photophysics were investigated using various steady-state and time-resolved techniques as follows. We first consider the effect of the £]-barrel on the optical properties of the GFP chromophore (p-HOBDI) experimentally by selective variation of the protonation state of chromophores and different solvents. Each of these forms shows a complex solvatochromic behavior and is governed by both polar and acid/base properties of the solvents. In contrast to their solution behavior, some O-alkyl GFP chromophore (alkoxy-BDI) derivatives exhibit large fluorescent enhancement in the solid state. The color of the crystalline BDI is tuned by substituent-mediated crystal packing, showing the potential applications in optoelectronic devices. Using femtosecond polarization-sensitive infrared (IR) spectrosceopy of the C=O stretching mode of the HOBDI, we have then discovered a near complete twisting around the ethylenic bridge between the phenolate and imidazolidinone groups upon electronic excitation. Cis/trans isomerization induced by the rotation around the bridge is thought to be responsible for the behavior of blinking in fluorescent protein; however, the mechanism of the thermal reverse isomerization is more problematic. Thus we synthesized BDI derivatives with decreasing para-donating ability, HO, CH3O, CH3, H, and Cl, and used a Hammett plot for the rate study. With a positive â value, we conceived, for the first time, a novel nucleophilic addition/elimination mechanism. Finally, the GFP chromophore falls into the general category of hydroxyarene photoacids, which exhibit high excited-state acidities but neutral ground states. A hydroxyl substituent at the meta position shows enhanced charge transfer and greater acidity in the excited state. As a result, we have demonstrated that the fast quenching of the excited state by internal conversion to the ground state is much slower in meta- than in para-HOBDI derivatives. This allows studies of this ultrafast intermolecular ESPT that competes with isomerization. The photoinduced dynamics of the meta isomer of GFP chromophore was further investigated using femtosecond transient absorption and fluorescence upconversion spectroscopies.

Les travaux décrits dans cette thèse portent sur la synthèse ainsi que l’étude physico-chimique et photo-chimique de plusieurs séries de nitroxydes et d’alcoxyamines photosensibles fonctionnalisées par des chromophores de type benzophénone, fluorènone, anthraquinone, phényle, naphtyle et anthracényle. En particulier, nous avons focalisé notre effort sur l’introduction de ces chromophores sur un nitroxyde dérivé d’un noyau isoindoline connu pour sa stabilité photo-chimique. L’étude de la photo-dissociation des alcoxyamines préparées a ensuite été conduite par résonance paramagnétique électronique. Les résultats obtenus mettent en évidence deux nouvelles classes d’alcoxyamines photosensibles qui présentent une efficacité remarquable de photo-dissociation homolytique pour donner les radicaux nitroxyle et alkyle correspondant sous UV et irradiation de lumière visible. En effet, les alcoxyamines de type naphtyle et anthraquinone ont donné des rendements de dissociation homolytique quantitatifs sous irradiation UV et visible, et ce, quel que soit le fragment alkyle libéré (i.e. styryle, méthacrylyle, acrylyle). De plus, nous avons également montré que les nitroxydes portant les chromophores naphtyle et anthraquinone présentent une stabilité photochimique élevée. Ainsi, l’analyse de ces résultats suggère que les alcoxyamines dérivées de ces deux nitroxydes présentent toutes les caractéristiques requises pour être des candidats performants en photopolymérisation radicalaire contrôlée en présence de nitroxydes. / The work reported herein details the synthesis, as well as the photophysical and photochemical analysis, of novel unsubstituted benzophenone-, methoxy substituted benzophenone-, pyrrolidine substituted benzophenone-, fluorenone-, anthraquinone-, phenyl-, naphthyl- and anthracenyl-based photosensitive alkoxyamines for potential application in nitroxide-mediated photopolymerization.The high photochemical stability of the isoindoline class of nitroxide was exploited within the structural design. Fusion of the isoindoline motif into the examined chromophores facilitated efficient energy transfer between chromophore and alkoxyamine motifs, whilst exerting minimal influence on the photophysical properties of the investigated chromophores. Photochemical investigation of the examined alkoxyamines highlighted two new classes of photosensitive alkoxyamines which displayed highly desirable photo-dissociation efficiencies to afford nitroxide and alkyl radicals under UV and visible light irradiation. Specifically, styrenic, methacrylic and acrylic naphthyl-based alkoxyamines, as well as, styrenic and methacrylic anthraquinone-based alkoxyamines demonstrated near quantitative yields of photo-dissociation under UV and visible light irradiation respectively. The high yields of photo-dissociation obtained for the naphthyl- and anthraquinone-based systems, as well as the high photochemical stability of their corresponding nitroxides, indicate these new classes of photosensitive alkoxyamines are highly relevant candidates for further investigation within a photopolymerization context.

Fluorescent proteins are valuable tools as biochemical markers for studying cellular processes. Red fluorescent proteins (RFPs) are highly desirable for in vivo applications because they absorb and emit light in the red region of the spectrum where cellular autofluorescence is low. The naturally occurring fluorescent proteins with emission peaks in this region of the spectrum occur in dimeric or tetrameric forms. The development of mutant monomeric variants of RFPs has resulted in several novel FPs known as mFruits. Though oxygen is required for maturation of the chromophore, it is known that photobleaching of FPs is oxygen sensitive, and oxygen-free conditions result in improved photostabilities. Therefore, understanding oxygen diffusion pathways in FPs is important for both photostabilites and maturation of the chromophores. We used molecular dynamics calculations to investigate the protein barrel fluctuations in mCherry, which is one of the most useful monomeric mFruit variants, and its GFP homolog citrine. We employed implicit ligand sampling and locally enhanced sampling to determine oxygen pathways from the bulk solvent into the mCherry chromophore in the interior of the protein. The pathway contains several oxygen hosting pockets, which were identified by the amino acid residues that form the pocket. We calculated the free-energy of an oxygen molecule at points along the path. We also investigated an RFP variant known to be significantly less photostable than mCherry and find much easier oxygen access in this variant. We showed that oxygen pathways can be blocked or altered, and barrel fluctuations can be reduced by strategic amino acid substitutions. The results provide a better understanding of the mechanism of molecular oxygen access into the fully folded mCherry protein barrel and provide insight into the photobleaching process in these proteins.

No description available.

This dissertation focuses on the design, synthesis, and characterization of a variety of organic dyes, semiconducting materials, and surface redox-active modifiers of potential interest to organic-based emerging photovoltaics. A discussion of the materials’ optoelectronic properties, their ability to modify and promote electron transfer through an organic/transparent conducting-oxide interface, and finally their effect on the photovoltaic properties of devices utilizing them as light-harvesters is provided where relevant. The first two research chapters discuss mono-chromophoric asymmetric squaraine-based sensitizers and covalently linked, dual-chromophoric, porphyrin-squaraine sensitizers as light absorbers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), in an attempt to address two problems often encountered with DSSCs utilizing this class of near infra-red sensitizers; The lack of panchromatic absorption and aggregation on the surface. Also, this dissertation discusses the design and synthesis of asymmetric perylene diimide phosphonic acid (PDI-PA) redox-active surface modifiers, and reports on the electron-transfer rates and efficiencies across the interface of an ITO electrode (widely used in organic-electronic devices) modified with these perylene diimides. Finally two series of hole-transport materials based on oligothiophenes and benzodithiophenes are reported: optoelectronic properties and preliminary performance of organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices fabricated with them is discussed.