Small Molecule as Fluorescent Probes for Monitoring Intracellular Enzymatic Transformations.

All cellular processes are the results of synchronized actions of several intracellular biochemical pathways. Recent emphasis is to visualize such pathways using appropriate small molecular reagents, dye-labeled proteins, and genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors that produce a luminescence ON response either on selective binding or on reacting with an analyte that is produced through a specific biochemical/enzymatic transformation. Studying such enzymatic processes by probing the fluorescence response as the read-out signal is expected to provide important insights into crucial biochemical transformations induced by an enzyme in its native form. Many of such studies are extended for monitoring enzymatic transformations under in vitro or in vivo condition. A few of the recent reports reveal that such molecular probes are even capable of quantifying abnormal levels of enzymes in real-time and is linked to the key area of clinical diagnostics and chemical biology. A synchronized analysis of all such reports helps in developing a rationale for designing purpose-built molecular probes or chemodosimeters as well as newer reagents for studying crucial enzymatic process or quantification of the respective enzyme. In this review, an attempt will be there to highlight several recent bioimaging reagents and studies that have provided insights into crucial biochemical or enzymatic transformations.

Mitochondria Targeting Non-Isocyanate-Based Polyurethane Nanocapsules for Enzyme-Triggered Drug Release.

Surface engineering of nanocarriers allows fine-tuning of their interactions with biological organisms, potentially forming the basis of devices for the monitoring of intracellular events or for intracellular drug delivery. In this context, biodegradable nanocarriers or nanocapsules capable of carrying bioactive molecules or drugs into the mitochondrial matrix could offer new capabilities in treating mitochondrial diseases. Nanocapsules with a polymeric backbone that undergoes programmed rupture in response to a specific chemical or enzymatic stimulus with subsequent release of the bioactive molecule or drug at mitochondria would be particularly attractive for this function. With this goal in mind, we have developed biologically benign nanocapsules using polyurethane-based, polymeric backbone that incorporates repetitive ester functionalities. The resulting nanocapsules are found to be highly stable and monodispersed in size. Importantly, a new non-isocyanate route is adapted for the synthesis of these non-isocyanate polyurethane nanocapsules (NIPU). The embedded ester linkages of these capsules' shells have facilitated complete degradation of the polymeric backbone in response to a stimulus provided by an esterase enzyme. Hydrophilic payloads like rhodamine or doxorubicin can be loaded inside these nanocarriers during their synthesis by an interfacial polymerization reaction. The postgrafting of the nanocapsules with phosphonium ion, a mitochondria-targeting receptor functionality, has helped us achieve the site-specific release of the drug. Co-localization experiments with commercial mitotracker green as well as mitotracker deep red confirmed localization of the cargo in mitochondria. Our in vitro studies confirm that specific release of doxorubicin within mitochondria causes higher cytotoxicity and cell death compared to free doxorubicin. Endogenous enzyme triggered nanocapsule rupture and release of the encapsulated dye is also demonstrated in a zebrafish model. The results of this proof-of-concept study illustrate that NIPU nanocarriers can provide a site-specific delivery vehicle and improve the therapeutic efficacy of a drug or be used to produce organelle-specific imaging studies.

Interfacial synthesis of large-area ultrathin polyimine nanofilms as molecular separation membrane.

Thin film membranes of covalent organic frameworks are promising for high-permeance molecular separation. However, their synthesis needs a high temperature or longer reaction time, unsuitable for large-scale fabrication of thin film composite membranes. The ultrathin film of porous organic polymers as a separation layer of the composite membrane could be a close alternative to COF membranes. Here we report transition metal ion-catalyzed room temperature fabrication of the ultrathin (≈12 nm) polyimine nanofilms via interfacial polymerization of melamine and triformylphloroglucinol onto hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile support within a short reaction time. Composite membranes exhibit high water permeance (≈78 L m-2 h-1 bar-1), high rejection (99.6%) of brilliant blue R (825.9 g mol-1), low rejection of NaCl (≈1.8%) and Na2SO4 (≈17%), and enable efficient molecular separation. The role of metal ion catalysts for large-area fabrication of the ultrathin polyimine nanofilm membranes used for molecular separation is demonstrated.

Large Area Self-Assembled Ultrathin Polyimine Nanofilms Formed at the Liquid-Liquid Interface Used for Molecular Separation.

Separation membranes with higher molecular weight cut-offs are needed to separate ions and small molecules from a mixed feed. The molecular sieving phenomenon can be utilized to separate smaller species with well-defined dimensions from a mixture. Here, the formation of freestanding polyimine nanofilms with thicknesses down to ≈14 nm synthesized via self-assembly of pre-synthesized imine oligomers is reported. Nanofilms are fabricated at the water-xylene interface followed by reversible condensation of polymerization according to the Pieranski theory. Polyimine nanofilm composite membranes are made via transferring the freestanding nanofilm onto ultrafiltration supports. High water permeance of 49.5 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 is achieved with a complete rejection of brilliant blue-R (BBR; molecular weight = 825 g mol-1 ) and no more than 10% rejection of monovalent and divalent salts. However, for a mixed feed of BBR dye and monovalent salt, the salt rejection is increased to ≈18%. Membranes are also capable of separating small dyes (e.g., methyl orange; MO; molecular weight = 327 g mol-1 ) from a mixed feed of BBR and MO. Considering a thickness of ≈14 nm and its separation efficiency, the present membrane has significance in separation processes.

Two photon excitable graphene quantum dots for structured illumination microscopy and imaging applications: lysosome specificity and tissue-dependent imaging.

Biocompatible graphene quantum dots (GQDs), obtained from extracts of neem root, are found to be suitable for structured illumination microscopy and two-photon microscopy (TPM). Results of TPM and confocal luminescence microscopy ensure lysosome specificity in live cells and tissue-dependent localization in zebrafish, respectively, of GQDs.

An azine based sensor for selective detection of Cu2+ ions and its copper complex for sensing of phosphate ions in physiological conditions and in living cells.

A simple and cost effective unsymmetrical azine based Schiff base, 5-diethylamino-2-[(2-hydroxy-benzylidene)hydrazonomethyl]-phenol (1) was synthesized which selectively detect Cu2+ ions in the presence of other competitive ions through "naked eye" in physiological conditions (EtOH-buffer (1:1, v/v, HEPES 10mM, pH=7.4)). The presence of Cu2+ induce color change from light yellow green to yellow with the appearance of a new band at 450nm in UV-Vis spectra of Schiff base 1. The fluorescence of Schiff base 1 (10µM) was quenched completely in the presence of 2.7 equiv. of Cu2+ ions. Sub-micromolar limit of detection (LOD=3.4×10-7M), efficient Stern-Volmer quenching constant (KSV=1.8×105Lmol-1) and strong binding constant (log Kb=5.92) has been determined with the help of fluorescence titration profile. Further, 1-Cu2+ complex was employed for the detection of phosphate ions (PO43-, HPO42- and H2PO4-) at micromolar concentrations in EtOH-buffer of pH7.4 based on fluorescence recovery due to the binding of Cu2+ with phosphate ions. Solubility at low concentration in aqueous medium, longer excitation (406nm) and emission wavelength (537nm), and biocompatibility of Schiff base 1 formulates its use in live cell imaging.

Synthesis, structural investigation, DNA and protein binding study of some 3d-metal complexes with N'-(phenyl-pyridin-2-yl-methylene)-thiophene-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide.

The ligand, N'-(phenyl-pyridin-2-yl-methylene)-thiophene-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide (Hpmtc) derived from thiophene-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide and 2-benzoyl pyridine, and its metal complexes with Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) have been synthesized. These compounds are characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility measurements, IR, NMR and UV-Vis spectral studies. The molecular structures of Hpmtc and its Co(II) (1), Ni(II) (2), Cu(II) (3) and Zn(II) (4) complexes are finally determined by X-ray crystallography. Various spectral and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies suggest that Hpmtc coordinates with metal ions as a monobasic tridentate ligand forming mononuclear distorted octahedral complexes of the type [M(pmtc)2]. The molecular structures of the complexes are stabilized by CH⋯N, CH⋯O intermolecular H-bonding, and CH⋯π and π⋯π interactions. The DNA binding experiment of the complexes 1, 3 and 4 by UV-Vis absorption, and EB-DNA displacement by fluorescence spectroscopy, reveal an intercalative mode of binding between CT-DNA (calf-thymus DNA) and the metal complexes. These complexes exhibit a moderate ability to cleave pBR322 plasmid DNA. A comparative bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein binding activity of the complexes 1, 3 and 4 has also been determined by UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The DNA binding and protein binding studies suggest that the complex 3 exhibits more effective binding activity (Kb=5.54×10(5) and Kq=1.26×10(6) M(-1), respectively) than complexes 1 and 4. However, the complex 1 shows better hydrolytic DNA cleavage activity compared to 3 and 4 complexes.