The use of traditional fluorophores for in vivo imaging applications is limited by poor quantum yield, poor tissue penetration of the excitation light, and excessive tissue autofluorescence, while the use of inorganic fluorescent particles that offer a high quantum yield is frequently limited due to particle toxicity. Rare-earth-doped nanoparticles that utilize near-infrared upconversion overcome the optical limitations of traditional fluorophores, but are not typically suitable for biological application due to their insolubility in aqueous solution, lack of functional surface groups for conjugation of biomolecules, and potential cytotoxicity. A new approach to establish highly biocompatible and biologically targetable nanoshell complexes of luminescent rare-earth-doped NaYF(4) nanoparticles (REs) excitable with 920-980 nm near-infrared light for biomedical imaging applications is reported. The approach involves the encapsulation of NaYF(4) nanoparticles doped with Yb and Er within human serum albumin nanoshells to create water-dispersible, biologically functionalizable composite particles. These particles exhibit narrow size distributions around 200 nm and are stable in aqueous solution for over 4 weeks. The albumin shell confers cytoprotection and significantly enhances the biocompatibility of REs even at concentrations above 200 microg REs mL(-1). Composite particles conjugated with cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (cRGD) specifically target both human glioblastoma cell lines and melanoma cells expressing alpha(v)beta(3) integrin receptors. These findings highlight the promise of albumin-encapsulated rare-earth nanoparticles for imaging cancer cells in vitro and the potential for targeted imaging of disease sites in vivo.

Novel enantiopure pyridino-18-crown-6 ether-based sensor molecules containing an anthracene fluorophore unit were synthesized. Their enantiomeric recognition abilities toward the enantiomers of 1-phenylethylamine hydrogen perchlorate (PhEt), 1-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine hydrogen perchlorate (NapEt), phenylglycine methyl ester hydrogen perchlorate (PhgOMe), and phenylalanine methyl ester hydrogen perchlorate (PheOMe) were examined in acetonitrile using fluorescence spectroscopy. The sensor molecules showed appreciable enantiomeric recognition toward the enantiomers of NapEt, PhEt, and PhgOMe. The highest enantioselectivity was found in the case of crown ether containing isobutyl groups in the macroring and the enantiomers of NapEt. Chirality 28:562-568, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Achiral [2]catenanes composed of rings with inequivalent sides may adopt chiral co-conformations. Their stereochemistry depends on the relative orientation of the interlocked rings and can be controlled by sterics or an external stimulus (e.g., a chemical stimulus). Herein, we have exploited this stereodynamic property to amplify a mechanically chiral ( P )-catenane upon binding to ( R )-1,1′-binaphthyl 2,2′-disulfonate, with a diastereomeric excess of 85%. The chirality of the [2]catenane was ascertained in the solid state by single crystal X-ray diffraction and in solution by NMR and CD spectroscopies. This study establishes a robust basis for the development of a new synthetic approach to access enantioenriched mechanically chiral [2]catenanes.

No abstract

No abstract