In spite of the wide availability of various near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores as labeling reagents, there are few functional NIR fluorescent probes for which change in the absorption and/or fluorescence spectra upon specific reaction with biomolecules is seen. The widely used photoinduced electron-transfer mechanism is unsuitable for NIR fluorophores, such as tricarbocyanines, because their long excitation wavelength results in a small singlet excitation energy. We have reported the unique spectral properties of amine-substituted tricarbocyanines, which were utilized to develop two design strategies. One approach was based on control of the absorption wavelength by using the difference in electron-donating ability before and after a specific reaction with a biomolecule, and the other approach was based on control of the fluorescence intensity by modulating the Förster resonance energy-transfer efficiency through a change in the overlap integral that arises from the change in absorption under acidic conditions. These strategies were validated by obtaining tricarbocyanine-based ratiometric NIR fluorescent probes for esterase and for pH level.

No abstract

No abstract

Demands for the elimination and replacement of animal experiments for cosmetic safety assessment have increased in recent years. Evaluation of skin sensitization, however, is a critical issue in cosmetic safety assessment. The SH test is an in vitro skin sensitization test method that evaluates protein binding of chemical substances, which is an important event in skin sensitization. We previously verified the technical transferability and between-laboratory reproducibility of the SH test, a domestic test method for which no scientific research has been conducted, and improved the protocol, but also noted some unresolved issues. Therefore, in the present study, we successfully improved the operational efficiency and clarity of the final judgment of the SH test by (i) developing a new decision-making system that can make a final judgment without statistical processing, (ii) changing the statistical method, and (iii) evaluating and determining the maximum number of repetitions necessary for optimal efficiency. The improved SH test was verified by comparing it with existing test methods already adopted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The results of this study demonstrated excellent performance of the improved SH test, with high reproducibility, reliable predictability, and good operational efficiency. The predictive performance of the improved method does not differ significantly from that of the conventional method, although it is clearer and more efficient. Therefore, the results of the present improved method are consistent with those obtained using the conventional method, with higher efficiency.