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Excited-State Dynamics in Borylated Arylisoquinoline Complexes in Solution and in cellulo
Tingxiang Yang1,2, Abha Valavalkar1,2, Antonio Romero-Arenas3
1Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Leibniz-IPHT), Albert-Einstein-Straße 9, 07745, Jena, Germany.
Organoboron complexes exhibit altered photophysical properties within cells compared to solutions. Functional group differences on PEG chains significantly impact excited-state dynamics in cellulo, highlighting the need for in-cell evaluation of fluorescent dyes.
Area of Science:
- Photophysics
- Organoboron Chemistry
- Cellular Imaging
Background:
- Four-coordinate organoboron N,C-chelate complexes are potential functional dyes.
- Understanding excited-state properties in biological environments is crucial for applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the photophysical properties of organoboron complexes within human MCF-7 cells.
- To compare cellulo excited-state dynamics with those in solution (DMSO and water).
Main Methods:
- Time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy
- Fluorescence lifetime microscopy
- Cellular uptake studies in human MCF-7 cells
Main Results:
- Complexes showed similar dynamics in DMSO, but aggregation occurred in water for carboxylate-terminated complexes.
- Intramolecular charge-transfer state lifetimes were shorter in cellulo for amino-terminated complexes compared to DMSO.
- Carboxylate-terminated complexes maintained DMSO-like kinetics in cellulo.
- Fluorescent state lifetimes were similar for both complexes within cells.
Conclusions:
- The cellular environment significantly influences the excited-state dynamics of organoboron complexes.
- PEG chain functionalization affects light-driven processes in cellulo.
- Evaluating fluorophores in a biological context is essential for understanding their behavior and optimizing their use.
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