The interfacial interactions of Tb-doped silica nanoparticles with surfactants and phospholipids revealed through the fluorescent response.

The quenching effect of dyes (phenol red and bromothymol blue) on Tb(III)-centered luminescence enables to sense the aggregation of cationic and anionic surfactants near the silica surface of Tb-doped silica nanoparticles (SN) in aqueous solutions. The Tb-centered luminescence of non-decorated SNs is diminished by the inner filter effect of both dyes. The decoration of the silica surface by cationic surfactants induces the quenching through the energy transfer between silica coated Tb(III) complexes and dye anions inserted into surfactant aggregates. Thus the distribution of surfactants aggregates at the silica/water interface and in the bulk of solution greatly affects dynamic quenching efficiency. The displacement of dye anions from the interfacial surfactant adlayer by anionic surfactants and phospholipids is accompanied by the "off-on" switching of Tb(III)-centered luminescence.

Outer-sphere association of p-sulfonatothiacalix[4]arene and tetrasulfonatomethylated calix[4]resorcinarene with cobalt(III) tris(dipyridyl): the effect on the spectral and electrochemical properties of the latter.

According to the 1H NMR and X-ray data, the outer-sphere association of [Co(dipy)3]3+ with cyclophanic anions p-sulfonatothiacalix[4]arene and tetrasulfonatomethylated calix[4]resorcinarene is accompanied by the inclusion of the dipyridyl moiety of the former into the cavities of the cyclophanic anions in aqueous and aqueous-DMSO solutions and in the solid state. The first-step dissociation of p-sulfonatothiacalix[4]arene does not change the inclusion mode, but the increase in DMSO content leads to a shallower inclusion of [Co(dipy)3]3+. The electrochemical property changes of [Co(dipy)3]3+ with both receptors undergoing ion pairing indicate the stabilization of the tris(dipyridyl) cobalt complexes in lower oxidation states. The effect of the cyclophanic anions on the cyclic voltammograms of [Co(dipy)3]3+ correlates with the efficiency of binding of the latter with tetrasulfonatomethylated calix[4]resorcinarene and p-sulfonatothiacalix[4]arene.