Kinetic aspects of iron(III)-chelation therapy with deferasirox (DFX) revealed by the solvolytic dissociation rate of the Fe(III)-DFX complex estimated with capillary electrophoretic reactor.

Capillary electrophoresis was used to estimate the solvolytic dissociation rate (kd) of metal complexes of deferasirox (DFX, H3L), a drug used to treat iron overload. Inert CoIIIL23- did not dissociate. The estimated kd value for FeIIIL23- was (2.7 ± 0.3) × 10-4 s-1 (298 K, pH 7.4). The kd values of other complexes (AlIIIL23-, NiIIL24-, and MnIIL-) were in the range 10-3-10-4 s-1. In contrast, ZnIIL- and CuIIL- were too labile to allow kd estimation. The fact that the half-life of FeIIIL23- (43.3 min) is shorter than the blood half-life of DFX (8-16 h) implies that the blood concentration of DFX should be high enough to prevent dissociation of FeIIIL23-. The possibility of a safer iron-chelation therapy that avoids excretion of other essential metal ions such as ZnII is discussed, highlighting the importance of selectivity in terms of kinetic stability.

MRI Contrasting Agent Based on Mn-MOF-74 Nanoparticles with Coordinatively Unsaturated Sites.

PURPOSE: The development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrasting agents (CAs) that are safer and have a higher relaxivity than Gd(III)-based agents is a significant research topic. Herein, we propose the use of a Mn-based metal organic framework (MOF), Mn-MOF-74, characterized by a safe paramagnetic center, a coordinatively unsaturated site (CUS) for aquation, and a long rotational correlation time, endowing high relaxivity. Furthermore, biocompatibility and delivery to the tumor are generally expected for MOFs that are obtainable in the nanometer size range. PROCEDURE: Drop-wise mixing of 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid (DHTP) and Mn(II) acetate yielded Mn-MOF-74 with a diameter of < 150 nm, which was then modified with 1-fivefold higher amounts of poly(ethylene glycol) (M.W. = 5000) to afford MOFs stably dispersed in water for at least 24 h. RESULTS: The longitudinal and transverse relaxivity of the PEG-modified MOF was in the range of r1 = 8.08-13.5 and r2 = 32.7-46.8 mM-1 s-1, respectively (1.0 T, 23.7-23.9 °C), being larger than those of typical Gd(III)- and Mn(II)-based CAs of single-nuclear metal complexes. The in vivo imaging of a tumor-bearing mouse clearly showed that the tumor could be readily recognized due to signal enhancement (117%) in T1-weighted images, whereas other tissues showed small signal changes. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that PEG-Mn-MOF-74 can be passively delivered to tumors and can act as a high-relaxivity T1 agent.

Emergence of the super antenna effect in mixed crystals of ytterbium and lutetium complexes showing near-infrared luminescence.

The synthesis of luminescent molecular crystalline materials requires a good understanding of the luminescence properties of crystals in which many molecules are densely packed. Previously, we studied the near-infrared (NIR) luminescence of a trivalent ytterbium (Yb(iii)) complex with a Schiff base ligand, tris[2-(5-methylsalicylideneimino)ethyl]amine (H3L). Herein, we extended our study on the Yb complex (YbL) to enhance and understand its solid-state luminescence via mixed crystallization with the lutetium complex (LuL). We prepared (YbL) x (LuL)1-x mixed crystals (x = 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7) and studied their NIR luminescence properties. The NIR luminescence intensity per Yb(iii) ion for (YbL)0.01(LuL)0.99 was determined to be two orders of magnitude larger than that for YbL. The excitation spectral shape of (YbL)0.01(LuL)0.99 was different from the absorption spectral shape of YbL but similar to that of LuL. We attribute this observation to the emergence of an intermolecular energy-migration path. In the mixed crystals, LuL molecules acted as a light-harvesting super antenna for Yb(iii) luminescence. Decay measurements of the NIR luminescence for (YbL) x (LuL)1-x with x > 0.2 showed mono-exponential decay, while (YbL) x (LuL)1-x with x < 0.1 showed a grow-in component, which reflected the lifetime of the intermediate state for energy migration. The decay lifetime values tended to increase with decreasing x, suggesting that Yb(iii) isolation resulted in a reduction in concentration quenching. We propose that the luminescence enhancement in the highly Yb-diluted conditions was mainly caused by an increase in the super antenna effect.

Selective crystallization of dysprosium complex from neodymium/dysprosium mixture enabled by cooperation of coordination and crystallization.

Designing a molecular-level Ln3+ separation system remains a challenge for developing next-generation separation methodologies. Herein, we report crystallization-based Nd3+/Dy3+ separation using a tripodal Schiff base ligand. Highly selective crystallization of the Dy3+ complex was enabled by cooperation between the coordination and crystallization processes.

Short Radiative Lifetime and Non-Triplet Sensitization in Near-Infrared-Luminescent Yb(III) Complex with Tripodal Schiff Base.

We prepared Ln(III) (Ln=Eu, Gd, and Yb) complexes with a tripodal Schiff base, tris[2-(5-methylsalicylideneimino)ethyl]amine (H3 L) and studied their photophysical properties. Upon ligand excitation, YbL showed Yb(III)-centered luminescence in the near-infrared region. While the overall quantum yield (0.60(1)%) of YbL in acetonitrile was moderate among the reported values for Yb(III) complexes, its radiative lifetime (0.33(2) ms) was significantly shorter than those reported previously. We propose that the ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) state mediated the sensitization in YbL. The emission and excitation spectra of EuL indicated the participation of the LMCT state in the sensitization. The radiative lifetime (0.84(7) ms) for EuL in the solid state was rather short compared to those of reported Eu(III) complexes. Our results show that the Yb(III) complex with the Schiff base ligand has two features: the short radiative lifetime and the non-triplet sensitization path.

Photostable near-infrared-absorbing diradical-platinum(ii) complex solubilized by albumin toward a cancer photothermal therapy agent.

A hydrophobic diradical-platinum(ii) complex was solubilized in aqueous solutions by using bovine serum albumin and exhibited photothermal conversion under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation. The complex was introduced into cancer cells and induced cell death upon absorption of NIR. These results imply that the complex can function as a photothermal therapeutic agent.

Capillary electrophoretic reactor for estimation of spontaneous dissociation rate of Trypsin-Aprotinin complex.

A capillary electrophoretic reactor was used to analyze the dissociation kinetics of an enzyme-inhibitor complex in a homogeneous solution without immobilization. The complex consisting of trypsin (Try) and aprotinin (Apr) was used as the model. Capillary electrophoresis provided a reaction field for Try-Apr complex to dissociate through the steady removal of free Try and Apr from the Try-Apr zone. By analyzing the dependence of peak height of Try-Apr on separation time, the dissociation rate kdH was obtained as 2.73 × 10-4 s-1 (298 K) at pH 2.46. The dependence of kdH on the proton concentration (pH = 2.09-3.12) revealed a first-order dependence of kdH on [H+]; kdH = kd + k1[H+], where kd is the spontaneous dissociation rate and was 5.65 × 10-5 s-1, and k1 is the second-order rate constant and was 5.07 × 10-2 M-1 s-1. From the kd value, the half-life of the Try-Apr complex at physiological pH was determined as 3.4 h. The presence of the proton-assisted dissociation can be explained by the protonation of -COO- of the Asp residue in Try, which breaks the salt bridge with the -NH3+ group of Lys in Apr.

Multi-coloration of Calixarene-coated Silver Nanoparticles for the Visual Discrimination of Metal Elements.

Upon mixing with metal ions such as CdII, TbIII, CuII, NiII, PbII, ZnII, and CoII at pH 10.0, solutions of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) coated with calix[4]arene-p-tetrasulfonate (CAS-AgNP) exhibited multi-coloration from yellow to orange, violet, and green, depending on the metal elements present, which allowed for visual discrimination of the ions. This is contrary to the AgNP sensors exhibiting a uniform color change from yellow to red upon binding of a receptor molecules at the surface of AgNPs to an analyte. The TEM images of the samples obtained from the resultant solution showed two regions. First, a region where CAS-AgNPs assembled on the surface of the metal hydroxides. The size of the hydroxide crystals varied from 50 to 200 nm with the type of metal element present, and roughly correlated with the extinction band of the aggregated AgNPs. Second, the amorphous region in which CAS-AgNPs dispersed randomly. The difference in the amount of the crystal region and the area seemed to lead to the multi-coloration.

High kinetic stability of Zn(II) coordinated by the tris(histidine) unit of carbonic anhydrase towards solvolytic dissociation studied by affinity capillary electrophoresis.

Solvolytic dissociation rate constants (kd) of bovine carbonic anhydrase II (CA) and its metallovariants (M-CAs, M=Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II)) were estimated by a ligand substitution reaction, which was monitored by affinity capillary electrophoresis to selectively detect the undissociated CAs in the reaction mixture. Using EDTA as the competing ligand for Zn-CA, the dissociation followed the unimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN1) mechanism with kd=1.0×10(-7)s(-1) (pH7.4, 25°C). The corresponding solvolysis half-life (t1/2) was 80days, showing the exceptionally high kinetic stability of t Zn-CA, in contrast to the highly labile [Zn(II)(H2O)6](2+), where the water exchange rate (kex) is high. This behavior is attributed to the tetrahedral coordination geometry supported by the tris(histidine) unit (His3) of CA. In the case of Co-CA, it showed a somewhat larger kd value (5.7×10(-7)s(-1), pH7.4, 25°C) even though it shares the same tetrahedral coordination environment with Zn-CA, suggesting that the d(7) electronic configuration of Co(II) in the transition state of the dissociation is stabilized by the ligand field. Among M-CAs, only Ni-CA showed a bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2) reaction path in its reaction with EDTA, implying that the large coordination number (6) of Ni(II) in Ni-CA allows EDTA to form an EDTA-Ni-CA intermediate. Overall, kd values roughly correlated with kex values among M-CAs, with the kd value of Zn-CA deviating strongly from the trend and highlighting the exceptionally high kinetic stabilization of Zn-CA by the His3 unit.

Gd3TCAS2: An Aquated Gd(3+)-Thiacalix[4]arene Sandwich Cluster with Extremely Slow Ligand Substitution Kinetics.

In aqueous solution, Gd(3+) and thiacalix[4]arene-p-tetrasulfonate (TCAS) form the complex [Gd3TCAS2](7-), in which a trinuclear Gd(3+) core is sandwiched by two TCAS ligands. Acid-catalyzed dissociation reactions, as well as transmetalation and ligand exchange with physiological concentrations of Zn(2+) and phosphate, showed [Gd3TCAS2](7-) to be extremely inert compared to other Gd complexes. Luminescence lifetime measurements of the Tb analogue Tb3TCAS2 allowed estimation of the mean hydration number q to be 2.4 per Tb ion. The longitudinal relaxivity of [Gd3TCAS2](7-) (per Gd(3+)) was r1 = 5.83 mM(-1) s(-1) at 20 Hz (37 °C, pH 7.4); however, this relaxivity was limited by an extremely slow water exchange rate that was 5 orders of magnitude slower than the Gd(3+) aqua ion. Binding to serum albumin resulted in no relaxivity increase owing to the extremely slow water exchange kinetics. The slow dissociation and water exchange kinetics of [Gd3TCAS2](7-) can be attributed to the very rigid coordination geometry.

Thiacalixarene assembled heterotrinuclear lanthanide clusters comprising Tb(III) and Yb(III) enable f-f communication to enhance Yb(III)-centred luminescence.

A mixture of heterotrinuclear lanthanide cluster complexes, Tb3-xYbxTCAS2 (x = 1, 2), was obtained by mixing thiacalix[4]arene-p-tetrasulfonate (TCAS), Tb(III), and Yb(III), which shows enhanced Yb(III)-centred luminescence and shortened lifetime for Tb(III)-centred luminescence as compared to Yb3TCAS2 and Tb3TCAS2, indicating f-f communication, i.e., energy transfer from Tb(III) to Yb(III).

Thermodynamics of binding of a sulfonamide inhibitor to metal-mutated carbonic anhydrase as studied by affinity capillary electrophoresis.

By affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE), the thermodynamic binding constants of a sulfonamide (SA) inhibitor to bovine carbonic anhydrase II (CA) and metal mutated variants (M-CAs) were evaluated. 1-(4-Aminosulfonylphenylazo)-2-naphthol-6,8-disulfonate was used as the SA in the electrophoretic buffer for ACE. The Scatchard analysis of the dependence of the electrophoretic mobility of native CA on the SA concentration provided the binding constant to be Kb=(2.29±0.05)×10(6) M(-1) (at pH8.4, 25°C). On the other hand, apoCA showed far smaller value [Kb=(3.76±0.14)×10(2) M(-1)], suggesting that the coordination of SA to the Zn(II) center controlled the binding thermodynamics. The ACE of M-CAs showed the same behaviors as native CA but with different Kb values. For example, Co-CA adopting the same tetrahedral coordination geometry as native CA exhibited the largest Kb value [(2.55±0.05)×10(6) M(-1)] among the M-CAs. In contrast, Mn- and Ni-CA, which adopted the octahedral coordination geometry, had Kb values that were about two orders of magnitude lower. Because the hydrophobic cavity of CA around the active center pre-organized the orientation of SA, thereby fixing the ligating NH(-) moiety to the apex of the tetrahedron supported by three basal His3 of CA, metals such as Zn and Co at the center of M-CA gave the most stable CA-SA complex. However, pre-organization was not favored for octahedral geometry. Thus, pre-organization of SA was the key to facilitating the tetrahedral coordination geometry of the Zn(II) active center of CA.

Dissociation kinetic analysis of Ce(III) complex with Quin2 by microchip capillary electrophoretic reactor.

Dissociation kinetic analysis of a complex of Ce(3+) with a polyaminocarboxylic ligand, 8-amino-2-[(2-amino-5-methylphenoxyl)methyl]-6-methoxyquinoline-N,N,N',N',-tetraacetic acid (Quin2), was studied by microchip capillary electrophoretic reactor. Dissociation rate constants, k(d), of Ce(3+)-Quin2 complex in alkaline conditions at pH 8.3 - 9.8 were determined. The linear relationship of k(d) with the concentration of hydroxide ion indicates the existence of a hydroxide ion-assisted path in the dissociation reaction of Ce(3+)-Quin2 complex in alkaline conditions. The solvolytic dissociation rate constant, and the hydroxide ion-assisted dissociation rate constant of Ce(3+)-Quin2 complex were determined to be 1.55 × 10(-3) and 3.24 × 10(2) s(-1) in the analysis of the dependence of k(d) with the concentration of hydroxide ion, respectively.

A molecular probe for recognizing the size of hydrophobic cavities based on near-infrared absorbing diradical-Pt(II) complexes.

A diradical-platinum(II) complex was able to recognize the subtle difference in cavity size between ß- and γ-cyclodextrin with on-off switching of intense near-infrared absorption. This provides a new probe for identifying the size of hydrophobic cavities, which has been successfully applied here to differentiate human serum albumin from α-chymotrypsin.

Highly efficient near-infrared-emitting lanthanide(III) complexes formed by heterogeneous self-assembly of Ag(I), Ln(III), and thiacalix[4]arene-p-tetrasulfonate in aqueous solution (Ln(III) = Nd(III), Yb(III)).

Heterogeneous self-assembly of thiacalix[4]arene-p-tetrasulfonate (TCAS), Ag(I), and Ln(III) (= Nd(III), Yb(III)) in aqueous solutions conveniently afforded ternary complexes emitting Ln(III)-centered luminescence in the near-infrared (NIR) region. A solution-state study revealed that the Ag(I)-Nd(III)-TCAS system gave a complex Ag(I)(4)·Nd(III)·TCAS(2) in a wide pH range of 6-12. In contrast, the Ag(I)-Yb(III)-TCAS system gave Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)(2)·TCAS(2) at a pH of around 6 and Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)·TCAS(2) at a pH of approximately 9.5. The structures of the Yb(III) complexes were proposed based on comparison with known Ag(I)-Tb(III)-TCAS complexes that show the same self-assembly behavior. In Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)(2)·TCAS(2), two TCAS ligands sandwiched a cyclic array of a Ag(I)-Ag(I)-Yb(III)-Yb(III) core. In Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)·TCAS(2), Yb(III) was accommodated in an O(8) cube consisting of eight phenolate O(-) groups from two TCAS ligands linked by two S-Ag-S linkages. Crystallographic analysis of Ag(I)(4)·Nd(III)·TCAS(2) revealed that the structure was similar to Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)·TCAS(2) but that it had four instead of two S-Ag-S linkages. The number of water molecules coordinating to Ln(III) (q) estimated on the basis of the luminescent lifetimes was as follows: Ag(I)(4)·Nd(III)·TCAS(2), 0; Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)(2)·TCAS(2), 2.4; and Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)·TCAS(2), 0. These findings were compatible with the solution-state structures. The luminescent quantum yield (Φ) for Ag(I)(4)·Nd(III)·TCAS(2) was 4.9 × 10(-4), which is the second largest value ever reported in H(2)O. These findings suggest that the O(8) cube is an ideal environment to circumvent deactivation via O-H oscillation of coordinating water. The Φ values for Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)(2)·TCAS(2) and Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)·TCAS(2) were found to be 3.8 × 10(-4) and 3.3 × 10(-3), respectively, reflecting the q value. Overall, these results indicate that the ternary systems have the potential for a noncovalent strategy via self-assembly of the multidentate ligand, Ln(III), and an auxiliary metal ion to obtain a highly efficient NIR-emissive Ln(III) complex that usually relies on elaborate covalent linkage of a chromophore and multidentate ligands to expel coordinating water.

Detection of cationic guest molecules by quenching of luminescence of a self-assembled host molecule consisting of terbium(III) and calix[4]arene-p-tetrasulfonates.

By self-assembly in aqueous solution, calix- (CAS) and thiacalix[4]arene-p-tetrasulfonate (TCAS) formed luminescent complexes Tb(III).(CAS)2 and Tb(III).TCAS, respectively, which were utilized as a host for cationic guests. Addition of 1-ethylpyridinium guest quenched luminescence of Tb(III).(CAS)2 in accordance with the Stern-Volmer (SV) relation with a low detection limit (D.L.) of 5.94 x 10(-8) M (S/N=3, M identical with mol dm(-3)). On the other hand, 1-ethylquinolinium quenched luminescence of Tb(III).TCAS most efficiently, affording a very low D.L. (6.71 x 10(-10) M). The agreement of the SV coefficients obtained with luminescent intensity (K(SV,all)=6.74 x 10(6) M(-1)) and lifetime (K(SV,Tb)=6.50 x 10(6) M(-1)) implied that dynamic quenching of 5D4 excited state of Tb(III) was predominant in the quenching processes. The quenching rate was estimated to be k(q,Tb)=9.94 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1), which was as fast as diffusion-limited rate. Quenching of Tb(III).(CAS)2 was also applied to detection of NAD+, with a D.L. of 2.78 x 10(-7) M.

Expanding the scope of CE reactor to ssDNA-binding protein-ssDNA complexes as exemplified for a tool for direct measurement of dissociation kinetics of biomolecular complexes.

CE reactor (CER), which was developed as a tool for direct measurement of the dissociation kinetics of metal complexes, was successfully applied to the complexes of Escherichia coli ssDNA-binding protein (SSB) with ssDNA. The basic concept of CER is the application of CE separation process as a dissociation kinetic reactor for the complex, and the observation of the on-capillary dissociation reaction profile of the complex as the decrease of the peak height of the complex with increase of the migration time. The peak height of [SSB-ssDNA] decreases as the migration time increases since the degree of the decrease of [SSB-ssDNA] through the on-capillary dissociation reaction is proportional to the degree of the decrease of the peak height of [SSB-ssDNA]. The dissociation degree-time profiles for the complexes are quantitatively described by analyzing a set of electropherograms with different migration times. Dissociation rate constants of [SSB-ssDNA] consisting of 20-mer, 25-mer and 31-mer ssDNA were directly determined to be 3.99x10(-4), 4.82x10(-4) and 1.50x10(-3)/s, respectively. CER is a concise and effective tool for dissociation kinetic analysis of biomolecular complexes.

Ligand-substitution mode capillary electrophoretic reactor: extending capillary electrophoretic reactor toward measurement of slow dissociation kinetics with a half-life of hours.

A method employing capillary electrophoresis (CE) was developed to determine the rate constant of the very slow spontaneous dissociation of a complex species. The method uses a CE reactor (CER) to electrophoretically separate components from a complex zone and, thus, spontaneously dissociate a complex. The dissociation is accelerated by ligand substitution (LS) involving a competing ligand added to the electrophoretic buffer. The LS-CER method is validated using the dissociation of a Ti(IV)-catechin complex and EDTA as a competing ligand. There is good agreement between the spontaneous dissociation rate constant (k(d) = (1.64 +/- 0.63) x 10(-4) s(-1)) and the rate constant obtained by a conventional batchwise LS reaction (k(d) = (1.43 +/- 0.04) x 10(-4) s(-1)). Furthermore, the usefulness of the method is demonstrated using a Ti(IV)-tiron complex, for which k(d) = (0.51 +/- 0.43) x 10(-4) s(-1), corresponding to a half-life (t(1/2)) of 3.8 h. Notably, a single run of LS-CER for the Ti(IV) complex is completed within 40 min, implying that LS-CER requires a considerably shorter measurement time (roughly equal to t(1/2)) than conventional CER. LS-CER can be widely applied to determine the spontaneous dissociation rates of inorganic diagnostic and therapeutic reagents as well as of biomolecular complexes.