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Published on: June 8, 2020
Visible light-triggered fluorescence and pH modulation using metastable-state photoacids and BODIPY
Parth K Patel1, Juan E Arias, Renan S Gongora
1Department of Chemistry, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816-2366, USA. Karin.ChumbimuniTorres@ucf.edu.
Abstract:
Small changes in the pH gradient play a critical role in numerous biological and chemical pathways. Systems capable of monitoring and regulating these changes with high sensitivity and minimum photo-fatigue are in demand. Herein, we propose a visible light-triggered molecular system that allows for reversible regulation of acidity and fluorescence. This robust bi-functional system opens a new horizon towards novel studies that rely on small changes in acid-mediated controlled processes with high sensitivity. The two photosensitive compounds employed, a metastable-state photoacid (mPAH) and a boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivative, allow for consistent modulation of both fluorescence (based on the working principle of the inner filter effect) and pH (around a magnitude) over multiple cycles.
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