New Fluorescent Nanoparticles for Ultrasensitive Detection of Nucleic Acids by Optical Methods.

For decades the detection of nucleic acids and their interactions at low abundances has been a challenging task that has thus far been solved by enzymatic target amplification. In this work we aimed at developing efficient tools for amplification-free nucleic acid detection, which resulted in the synthesis of new fluorescent nanoparticles. Here, the fluorescent nanoparticles were made by simple and inexpensive radical emulsion polymerization of butyl acrylate in the presence of fluorescent dyes and additional functionalization reagents. This provided ultra-bright macrofluorophores of 9-84 nm mean diameter, modified with additional alkyne and amino groups for bioconjugation. By using click and NHS chemistries, the new nanoparticles were attached to target-specific DNA probes that were used in fluorimetry and fluorescence microscopy. Overall, these fluorescent nanoparticles and their oligonucleotide derivatives have higher photostability, brighter fluorescence and hence dramatically lower limits of target detection than the individual organic dyes. These properties make them useful in approaches directed towards ultrasensitive detection of nucleic acids, in particular for imaging and in vitro diagnostics of DNA.

Photodynamic mutagenic action of acridine compounds on yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The photodynamically produced mutagenicity and toxicity of 8 acridine compounds were compared in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under resting and growing conditions. Without irradiation none of the acridines induced respiratory-deficient ('petite') colonies, indicative of mitochondrial DNA damage, in resting cells; and only acriflavine and proflavine induced 'petites' in growing cells. Also, without irradiation none of the acridines were significantly toxic or mutagenic for nuclear DNA under resting or growing conditions. However, with irradiation, acriflavine, proflavine, acridine yellow and rivanol became effective 'petite'-inducing mutagens and highly toxic for resting cells, while acriflavine, proflavine, and acridine orange became effective nuclear mutagens for resting cells. Acridine, quinacrine and 9-aminoacridine were not at all biologically effective with irradiation for resting cells. The results presented here indicate that singlet oxygen is generated by a photodynamic mechanism when acriflavine is irradiated, and further, that acridine, quinacrine and 9-aminoacridine are ineffective photosensitizers, because they are incapable of generating singlet oxygen with irradiation.

Photo-enhancement of the mutagenicity of 9-anilinoacridine derivatives related to the antitumour agent amsacrine.

The frameshift mutagenicity of the DNA intercalating drug proflavine is known to be enhanced by photoirradiation of bacterial cultures. To determine whether this phenomenon was also present in acridine-derived antitumour drugs, cultures of Salmonella typhimurium were exposed to the antileukaemia agent amsacrine and the experimental agent N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]acridine-4-carboxamide dihydrochloride (acridine carboxamide) in the presence or absence of visible light. A small increase in mutagenicity was observed with amsacrine but not with acridine carboxamide. A series of analogues of amsacrine were then tested, and a striking relationship was found between the minimum drug concentration for mutagenicity and DNA binding affinity. In each case, photoirradiation was associated with a small increase in mutagenicity. Each of the compounds showing the photo-enhancement effect was capable of reversible one-electron oxidation. It is suggested that this oxidation occurs in bacteria, and that the DNA binding constant of the resulting acridine radical species will increase because of the extra positive charge. This increased DNA binding would be sufficient to explain the photo-enhancement of mutagenicity of these drugs.

Time-resolved EPR spectra of the triplet excited states of diaminoacridine guests in polar potassium hydrogen phthalate single crystals.

Mixed crystals of potassium hydrogen phthalate containing 3,6-diaminoacridine were photoexcited with visible light and the resulting triplet excited states were analyzed by time resolved EPR spectroscopy. Spectra from discrete growth sectors were compared with powders and polycrystalline glasses prepared at various pHs. The data yield the predominant protonation state and orientation of the triplets in each of a pair of growth sectors bounding the positive and negative ends of the polar crystal.