Fast and Sensitive Bacteria Detection by Boronic Acid Modified Fluorescent Dendrimer

This study reports a novel, fast, easy, and sensitive detection method for bacteria which is urgently needed to diagnose infections in their early stages. Our work presents a complex of poly(amidoamine) dendrimer modified by phenylboronic acid and labeled by a fluorescent dansyl group (Dan-B8.5-PAMAM). Our system detects bacteria in 20 min with a sensitivity of approximately 104 colony-forming units (CFU)·mL−1. Moreover, it does not require any peculiar technical skills or expensive materials. The driving force for bacteria recognition is the binding between terminal phenylboronic acids on the probe and bacteria’s surface glycolipids, rather than electrostatic interactions. The aggregation caused by such binding reduces fluorescence. Even though our recognition method does not distinguish between live or dead bacteria, it shows selective antibacterial activity towards Gram-negative bacteria. This study may potentially contribute a new method for the convenient detection and killing of bacteria.

Dansyl-Labelled Ag@SiO2 Core-Shell Nanostructures—Synthesis, Characterization, and Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence

The present work describes synthesis, characterization, and use of a new dansyl-labelled Ag@SiO2 nanocomposite as an element of a new plasmonic platform to enhance the fluorescence intensity. Keeping in mind that typical surface plasmon resonance (SPR) characteristics of silver nanoparticles coincide well enough with the absorption of dansyl molecules, we used them to build the core of the nanocomposite. Moreover, we utilized 10 nm amino-functionalized silica shell as a separator between silver nanoparticles and the dansyl dye to prevent the dye-to-metal energy transfer. The dansyl group was incorporated into Ag@SiO2 core-shell nanostructures by the reaction of aminopropyltrimethoxysilane with dansyl chloride and we characterized the new dansyl-labelled Ag@SiO2 nanocomposite using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Additionally, water wettability measurements (WWM) were carried out to assess the hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity of the studied surface. We found that the nanocomposite deposited on a semitransparent silver mirror strongly increased the fluorescence intensity of dansyl dye (about 87-fold) compared with the control sample on the glass, proving that the system is a perfect candidate for a sensitive plasmonic platform.

Molecular Dissection of dH3w, A Fluorescent Peptidyl Sensor for Zinc and Mercury

Previously, we reported that fluorescent peptide dansyl-HPHGHW-NH2 (dH3w), designed on the repeats of the human histidine-rich glycoprotein, shows a turn-on response to Zn(II) and a complex response to Hg(II) characterized by a turn-off phase at low Hg(II) concentrations and a turn-on phase at high concentrations. As Hg(II) easily displaces Zn(II), dH3w is a useful probe for the environmental monitoring of Hg(II). In order to investigate the molecular basis of the metal selectivity and fluorescence response, we characterized three variants, dH3w(H1A), dH3w(H3A), and dH3w(H5A), in which each of the three histidine residues was changed to alanine, and two variants with a single fluorescent moiety, namely dH3w(W6A), in which the tryptophan residue at the C-terminus was changed to alanine, and AcH3w, in which the N-terminal dansyl moiety was substituted by an acetyl group. These variants allowed us to demonstrate that all the histidine residues are essential for a strong interaction with Zn(II), whereas two histidine residues (in particular His5) and the dansyl group are necessary to bind Hg(II). The data reported herein shed light on the molecular behavior of dH3w, thus paving the way to the rational designing of further and more efficient fluorescent peptidyl probes for Hg(II).

5-Methyl-1,3-phenylene bis[5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonate]: crystal structure and DFT calculations

The title compound, C31H30N2S2O6, possesses crystallographically imposed twofold symmetry with the two C atoms of the central benzene ring and the C atom of its methyl substituent lying on the twofold rotation axis. The two dansyl groups are twisted away from the plane of methylphenyl bridging unit in opposite directions. The three-dimensional arrangement in the crystal is mainly stabilized by weak hydrogen bonds between the sulfonyl oxygen atoms and the hydrogen atoms from the N-methyl groups. Stacking of the dansyl group is not observed. From the DFT calculations, the HOMO–LUMO energy gap was found to be 2.99 eV and indicates n→π* and π→π* transitions within the molecule.

Synthesis and Study in Solution of a New Dansyl-Modified Azacryptand

We report the synthesis of a new asymmetric azacryptand (L1), characterized by three p-xylyl spacers, one of which carries a dansyl side arm. The fluorescent sensor has been studied by potentiometric, UV-Vis, and emission studies in MeOH : water 3 : 2 mixture (0.07 M NaNO3), determining, in particular, the protonation constants of the free ligand and metal ion complexation equilibria. Interestingly, the obtained results revealed that the new receptor is fluorescent at neutral pH with a typical emission band of the dansyl group. Metal addition induced a partial quenching of the dansyl emission band; this behavior is more pronounced with Cu(II) that reduces the receptor’s emission by 60%. With all the studied cations, quenching follows the formation of a dimetallic complex. Similar studies on the model compound L2 confirmed that fluorescence quenching is mainly driven by a static mechanism, attributable to the formation of the inclusion dicopper complex [L1Cu2]4+. In order to test the stability of copper complexes under physiological conditions, spectrofluorimetric titrations with Cu(II) were performed in water buffered at pH = 8 (HEPES 0.07 M) and the values of binding constants, K11 and K12, were determined.

Fluorescent Ethenyl- and Ethynyl-dimesitylboranes Derived from 5-(Dimethylamino)-N-(prop-2-ynyl)naphthalene-1-sulfonamide

Two new fluorescent ethenyl- and ethynyl-dimesitylboranes functionalized with a dansyl group 1 and 2 have been synthesized in good yields. Compound 1 was prepared by the hydroboration of 5-(dimethylamino)-N-(prop-2-ynyl)naphthalene-1-sulfonamide I with dimesitylborane (HB(Mes)2) in dry tetrahydrofuran at room temperature, and compound 2 was synthesized by Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling of I with 4-I-C6H4B(Mes)2. Both organoborane compounds 1 and 2 have been characterized by infrared spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The molecular structures of I and 1 were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The electronic absorption and redox properties of 1 and 2 were investigated. They both exhibit large positive solvatochromism and their emission spectra have been recorded in a range of organic solvents with the fluorescence maxima exhibiting large bathochromic shifts in highly polar solvents, indicative of charge transfer which leads to large dipole moments in the excited state. The application of 1 as a blue fluorescent dopant in doped guest–host organic light-emitting diodes is also described.