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Synthesis and Calibration of Phosphorescent Nanoprobes for Oxygen Imaging in Biological Systems
Published on: March 3, 2010
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Oxygen Sensing Difluoroboron Dinaphthoylmethane Polylactide.
Christopher A DeRosa1, Jelena Samonina-Kosicka1, Ziyi Fan1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, McCormick Road, Charlottesville, VA 22904.
Macromolecules
|June 10, 2015
Summary
New difluoroboron β-diketonate-poly(lactic acid) materials offer dual emissive properties for advanced biological oxygen sensing. These novel probes enable precise oxygen detection and imaging in vitro and potentially in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Difluoroboron β-diketonate-poly(lactic acid) (BF2bdk-PLA) materials exhibit dual emissive properties suitable for biological oxygen sensing.
- Red-shifted absorption and emission are crucial for multiplexing and in vivo imaging applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize novel hydroxyl-functionalized dinaphthoylmethane initiators and dye-PLA conjugates (BF2dnm(X)PLA) with extended conjugation.
- To investigate the luminescence properties, including fluorescence and phosphorescence, of these new materials for oxygen sensing and imaging.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of hydroxyl-functionalized dinaphthoylmethane initiators and BF2dnm(X)PLA conjugates (X = H, Br, I).
- Characterization of luminescent properties, including absorbance, fluorescence, and room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP).
- Evaluation of BF2dnm(I)PLA nanoparticles for in vitro ratiometric oxygen measurement in T41 mouse mammary cells.
Main Results:
- Synthesized BF2dnm(X)PLA materials exhibit red-shifted absorbance (~435 nm) and tunable fluorescence based on molecular weight (yellow to green).
- Materials display both RTP and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) under nitrogen.
- The iodine-substituted derivative (BF2dnm(I)PLA) shows distinct green fluorescence and orange phosphorescence, ideal for ratiometric oxygen sensing.
- Bromide and hydrogen analogues serve as sensitive, concentration-independent, lifetime-based oxygen sensors.
- BF2dnm(I)PLA nanoparticles were successfully internalized by cells, demonstrating in vitro ratiometric oxygen measurement capabilities.
Conclusions:
- Novel BF2dnm(X)PLA materials offer versatile luminescence properties for advanced oxygen sensing and imaging.
- The iodine-substituted derivative is particularly promising for ratiometric oxygen sensing and in vitro imaging.
- The bromide and hydrogen analogues provide sensitive lifetime-based oxygen detection methods.

