Iridium(III)-based minor groove binding complexes as DNA photocleavage agents.

Transition metal complexes containing the qtpy ligand (2':4,4'':4',4'''-quaterpyridyl) are known to be DNA intercalators or minor groove binders. In this study, new tricationic iridium(III) complexes of qtpy are reported. Both [Ir(bpy)2(qtpy)]3+1 and [Ir(phen)2(qtpy)]3+2 display good water solubility as chloride salts. The complexes possess high-energy excited states, which are quenched in the presence of duplex DNA and even by the mononucleotides guanosine monophosphate and adenosine monophosphate. Further studies reveal that although the complexes bind to quadruplex DNA, they display a preference for duplex structures, which are bound with an order of magnitude higher affinities than their isostructural dicationic RuII-analogues. Detailed molecular dynamics simulations confirm that the complexes are groove binders through the insertion of, predominantly, the qtpy ligand into the minor groove. Photoirradiation of 1 in the presence of plasmid DNA confirms that this class of complexes can function as synthetic photonucleases by cleaving DNA.

2,2':4,4'':4',4'''-Quaterpyridine: synthesis, crystal-structure description, and Hirshfeld surface analysis.

The title compound, 2,2':4,4'':4',4'''-quaterpyridine (Qtpy), C20H14N4, crystallizes in the triclinic P space group and has half of the mol-ecule in the asymmetric unit, corresponding to 4,4'-bi-pyridine (4,4'-bpy) that serves as the building block for the mol-ecule. C4,4'-bpy-N-C4,4'-bpy and/or N-C4,4'-bpy-C4,4'-bpy bond-angle parameters show that the 4,4'-bpy ligands are highly rigid, displaying values lower than the linear bond angle of 180°. In the crystal, the 4,4'-bpy units are seen to be facing each other in relatively close proximity. The most important inter-actions on the Hirshfeld Surface of the compound are C-H⋯N/H⋯N-C inter-actions (constituting 10.6% and 7.6% of the total surface).

Nanoparticles for super-resolution microscopy: intracellular delivery and molecular targeting.

Following an overview of the approaches and techniques used to acheive super-resolution microscopy, this review presents the advantages supplied by nanoparticle based probes for these applications. The various clases of nanoparticles that have been developed toward these goals are then critically described and these discussions are illustrated with a variety of examples from the recent literature.

A Diverse View of Science to Catalyse Change.

Valuing diversity leads to scientific excellence, the progress of science and most importantly, it is simply the right thing to do. We can value diversity not only in words, but also in actions.