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Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs) have been extensively employed in various fields of science such as sensing, catalysis, and drug delivery. In this work, ionic liquid coated CQDs (IL@CQDs) have been used as catalysts for the rearrangement of a 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) amide coupling intermediate. The rearranged product was confirmed by single crystal structure analysis and it was processed into organic nanoparticles (ONPs). An optical detection method was used to scrutinize the anion sensing properties. The ONPs were found to be sensitive and selective for the recognition of highly toxic cyanide ions through enhancement in the fluorescence intensity. The cyanide ion co-ordinates with the –NH groups of the product and restricts the rotation of molecules around the single bond. The ONPs coated over silica-beads were also showing CN− recognition in the solid state. The detection limit for CN− sensing was found to be 3.8 nM, and real sample analysis depicts more than 90% accuracy in detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The labelling and imaging of mitochondria and nucleolus have attracted great attention because of the involvement of these cellular organelles in critical cellular activities. Therefore, a large number of mitochondria- or nucleolus-labelling probes have been developed throughout the world. However, in the current study, we successfully developed two pyrazole-based, copper-linked triphenylphosphine-coupled emissive metallo-complexes (C1 and C2) for the simultaneous visualization of mitochondria and nucleolus in a single run. These complexes were very inexpensive and could be synthesized by a simple one-pot multicomponent reaction scheme. The complexes were very specific, and only a small concentration of 5 μM was found to be sufficient to probe both the organelles efficiently. Additionally, even under a shorter incubation period (half hour), the fluorescence intensity from the cells was appreciable. Also, both the compounds were found to be photostable when torched with 10% of a 100 mW laser for up to 10 min. All these results indicate that both the complexes may contribute towards the future development of cell imaging tools. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the development of multifunctional live cell imaging tools for simultaneous mitochondria and nucleolus imaging and within the shortest incubation time of about 30 minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tyrosinase is polyphenolic oxidase enzyme associated with the progression of various diseases. Therefore, for the recognition of tyrosinase, naphthalimide-based ratiometric fluorescent sensor probe was designed and synthesized. 3-Hydroxyphenyl, as the substrate unit for the enzyme, is an important feature of this design, which avoids the interference of other bio-analytes for the recognition of tyrosinase. When the sensor probe was excited at 425 nm, an intense blue emission band emerged at 467 nm. However, upon the addition of tyrosinase to the probe solution, the monophenolic unit oxidized to o-dihydroxy and consequently released the 4-aminonaphthalimide unit. As the oxidation reaction proceeded, the fluorescence emission at 535 nm started to increase gradually with an increase in the concentration of enzyme. Therefore, the sensor probe gives the ratiometric changes via fluorescence spectroscopy. The probe affords high selectivity and sensitivity to tyrosinase with a detection limit of 0.2 U mL−1. Furthermore, live cell images were recorded to assay the endogenous enzyme in A375 cells, which also show a dual color change in the presence of the L3 probe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-covalent bonding viaπ–π stacking is in demand these days because it does not affect the structure of the carbon nanotube (CNT). Herein, a hybrid material was fabricated viaπ–π stacking between the aromatic rings of carbon nanotubes and a dihydropyrimidone-based pyrene derivative. The developed CNT@pyrene hybrid material was fully characterized using SEM, EDX, TEM, XRD, and FTIR techniques. The hybrid was developed to improve the heat transport in the hybrid solution by anion addition. The emission profile of the developed hybrid was screened against TBA salts of different anions in EtOH–H2O (10–90% v/v) solvent system to identify the anion that can interact with the hybrid. The hybrid exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity towards NO3− ions with 1.5-fold enhancement in fluorescence intensity, while other anions neither showed significant responses nor interfered in the sensor's response. The limit of NO3− ions detection was found to be 8.1 nM, calculated using the 3-sigma method. It was observed that the proposed hybrid sensor showed stable response at different pH and diverse salt concentrations. The binding mechanism was elucidated by DFT-based theoretical calculations. Real sample analysis was performed for the detection of NO3− concentrations in local water bodies with accuracy as high as 95%. Viscosity and thermal conductivity experiments were performed to measure the effect of concentration, temperature, and pH on the NO3− response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thioredoxin Reductase (TrxR) is a redox regulating enzyme which is predestined for the maintenance of redox homeostasis of mammalian cells. However, the elevated level of TrxR is associated with the progress of various types of tumors and therefore, this is a significant target for the detection of cancer cells. Herein, an easily engineered ‘Turn ON’ fluorescent sensor probe has been synthesized for the detection of TrxR and cell imaging using carbon dots. The emission intensity of fCDs on complexation with Cu2+ ions was drastically quenched. Subsequently, the addition of TrxR to the solution of the fCDs-Cu2+ complex leads to the cleavage of the disulfide bond of the fCDs, which acclaim the release of 3-mercaptopropionic acid. 3-Mercaptopropionic acid, being a strong bi-dentate chelating agent for Cu2+ ions, extracted Cu2+ from the coordination sphere of fCDs and restored the original fluorescence intensity of fCDs. Thus, the probe is operating with a simple process of “ON–OFF” emission switching due to Cu2+ and “OFF–ON” switching with TrxR. The probe has been successfully used for real-time application to monitor TrxR activities in the complex biological system. The fluorescence images of MCF-7 and HeLa cells after incubation with the fCDs-Cu2+ complex were recorded under a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) as a function of time. Enhancement in the emission intensity of cancer cells after 2 h of treatment demonstrates the potential application of the sensor probe for the bioimaging of endogenous TrxR in living cells and screening of cancer cells. Such fluorescent probes will open the door for the development of promising clinical devices for the diagnosis of cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a novel isonicotiamide-based fluorescent “turn-on” chemosensor 1 for the selective detection of Zn2+ and HSO4−. The sensor 1 can detect Zn2+ and HSO4− with a detection limit down to the nanomolar level by forming a complex in 1 : 1 stoichiometry in the presence of other anions and 2 : 1 in presence of cations in aqueous solution. Density functional theory calculations on 1 and the 1-Zn2+/HSO4− complexes are consistent with the experimental results. We have successfully utilized the above cation and anion for the fabrication of INHIBIT molecular logic gates. Furthermore the receptor 1 successfully detected the Zn2+ and HSO4− ions in HeLa cells cultured in Zn2+ and HSO4− enriched medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The labelling and imaging of mitochondria and nucleolus have attracted great attention because of the involvement of these cellular organelles in critical cellular activities. Therefore, a large number of mitochondria- or nucleolus-labelling probes have been developed throughout the world. However, in the current study, we successfully developed two pyrazole-based, copper-linked triphenylphosphine-coupled emissive metallo-complexes (C1 and C2) for the simultaneous visualization of mitochondria and nucleolus in a single run. These complexes were very inexpensive and could be synthesized by a simple one-pot multicomponent reaction scheme. The complexes were very specific, and only a small concentration of 5 μM was found to be sufficient to probe both the organelles efficiently. Additionally, even under a shorter incubation period (half hour), the fluorescence intensity from the cells was appreciable. Also, both the compounds were found to be photostable when torched with 10% of a 100 mW laser for up to 10 min. All these results indicate that both the complexes may contribute towards the future development of cell imaging tools. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the development of multifunctional live cell imaging tools for simultaneous mitochondria and nucleolus imaging and within the shortest incubation time of about 30 minutes.

Non-covalent bonding via π-π stacking is in demand these days because it does not affect the structure of the carbon nanotube (CNT). Herein, a hybrid material was fabricated via π-π stacking between the aromatic rings of carbon nanotubes and a dihydropyrimidone-based pyrene derivative. The developed CNT@pyrene hybrid material was fully characterized using SEM, EDX, TEM, XRD, and FTIR techniques. The hybrid was developed to improve the heat transport in the hybrid solution by anion addition. The emission profile of the developed hybrid was screened against TBA salts of different anions in EtOH-H2O (10-90% v/v) solvent system to identify the anion that can interact with the hybrid. The hybrid exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity towards NO3- ions with 1.5-fold enhancement in fluorescence intensity, while other anions neither showed significant responses nor interfered in the sensor's response. The limit of NO3- ions detection was found to be 8.1 nM, calculated using the 3-sigma method. It was observed that the proposed hybrid sensor showed stable response at different pH and diverse salt concentrations. The binding mechanism was elucidated by DFT-based theoretical calculations. Real sample analysis was performed for the detection of NO3- concentrations in local water bodies with accuracy as high as 95%. Viscosity and thermal conductivity experiments were performed to measure the effect of concentration, temperature, and pH on the NO3- response.