Time-resolved FRET fluorescence spectroscopy of visible fluorescent protein pairs

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a powerful method for obtaining information about small-scale lengths between biomacromolecules. Visible fluorescent proteins (VFPs) are widely used as spectrally different FRET pairs, where one VFP acts as a donor and another VFP as an acceptor. The VFPs are usually fused to the proteins of interest, and this fusion product is genetically encoded in cells. FRET between VFPs can be determined by analysis of either the fluorescence decay properties of the donor molecule or the rise time of acceptor fluorescence. Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy is the technique of choice to perform these measurements. FRET can be measured not only in solution, but also in living cells by the technique of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), where fluorescence lifetimes are determined with the spatial resolution of an optical microscope. Here we focus attention on time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy of purified, selected VFPs (both single VFPs and FRET pairs of VFPs) in cuvette-type experiments. For quantitative interpretation of FRET–FLIM experiments in cellular systems, details of the molecular fluorescence are needed that can be obtained from experiments with isolated VFPs. For analysis of the time-resolved fluorescence experiments of VFPs, we have utilised the maximum entropy method procedure to obtain a distribution of fluorescence lifetimes. Distributed lifetime patterns turn out to have diagnostic value, for instance, in observing populations of VFP pairs that are FRET-inactiv

Self-assembly of rod-coil block copolymers from weakly to moderately segregated regimes

Abstract.: We report on the self-assembly behaviour of two homologue series of rod-coil block copolymers in which, the rod, a π -conjugated polymer, is maintained fixed in size and chemical structure, while the coil is allowed to vary both in molecular weight and chemical nature. This allows maintaining constant the liquid crystalline interactions, expressed by Maier-Saupe interactions, ω , while varying the tendency towards microphase separation, expressed by the product between the Flory-Huggins parameter and the total polymerization degree, χN . Therefore, the systems presented here allow testing directly some of the theoretical predictions for the self-assembly of rod-coil block copolymers in a weakly segregated regime. The two rod-coil block copolymer systems investigated were poly(DEH-p-phenylenevinylene-b-styrene), whose self-assembly takes place in the very weakly segregated regime, and poly(DEH-p-phenylenevinylene-b-4vinylpyridine), for which the self-assembly behaviour occurs under increased tendency towards microphase separation, hereby referred to as moderately segregated regime. Experimental results for both systems are compared with predictions based on Landau expansion theorie

Self-assembly of rod-coil block copolymers from weakly to moderately segregated regimes

We report on the self-assembly behaviour of two homologue series of rod-coil block copolymers in which, the rod, a π -conjugated polymer, is maintained fixed in size and chemical structure, while the coil is allowed to vary both in molecular weight and chemical nature. This allows maintaining constant the liquid crystalline interactions, expressed by Maier-Saupe interactions, ω , while varying the tendency towards microphase separation, expressed by the product between the Flory-Huggins parameter and the total polymerization degree, χN . Therefore, the systems presented here allow testing directly some of the theoretical predictions for the self- assembly of rod-coil block copolymers in a weakly segregated regime. The two rod- coil block copolymer systems investigated were poly(DEH-p-phenylenevinylene-b- styrene), whose self-assembly takes place in the very weakly segregated regime, and poly(DEH-p-phenylenevinylene-b-4vinylpyridine), for which the self-assembly behaviour occurs under increased tendency towards microphase separation, hereby referred to as moderately segregated regime. Experimental results for both systems are compared with predictions based on Landau expansion theories

Synthèse et caractérisation d'encres électrophorétiques pour la réalisation de papier électronique couleur

Cette thèse s intéresse principalement à la réalisation de nouvelles encres électrophorétiques pour les applications de type papier électronique couleur. Une méthode simple et peu contraignante basée sur la polymérisation en dispersion a été développée, permettant de réaliser de manière contrôlée et en milieu peu polaire des particules de polymère chargeables positivement ou négativement. Puis, grâce à ce nouvel outil, des particules électrophorétiques hybrides ont été synthétisées à partir de pigments inorganiques et caractérisées sous champ électrique. Enfin une nouvelle solution pour aller vers des dispositifs couleur a été proposée et la fabrication d un démonstrateur test a été abordée.The effective sharing of information is a key parameter in our actual society. Electronic paper based on the controlled motion of electrophoretic particles appears thus promising since it combines the advantages of the usual paper (flexibility, reflective display) and the capacity to refresh information on the same support like the more common LCD or OLED technologies. Electrophoretic inks are composed of coloured charged particles which migrate under an electrical field between two electrodes. Depending of the position of the particles on the front plane, the colour on the screen can be tuned. The design of electrophoretic particles based on pigment or dyed polymer and their integration in electronic devices were successfully achieved during the last decade but are still limited to a two colour-electrophoretic system. Up to date the majority of these particles were synthesized in aqueous media and the electrophoretic mobility was achieved by a ionic stabilizer or by a polyelectrolyte surfactant. Moreover the final electrophoretic particles incorporated in the electronic devices have to be dispersed in an organic media (paraffin oil) in order to achieve the desired stability of the display and thus leads to a large variety of problems during the phase exchange process.In this work our goals were to rationalize and improve the ink synthesis as well as to design electrophoretic inks with the full colour panel in order to realize the next generation of electrophoretic displays. We performed the particle synthesis by using an organic dispersion technique in aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents leading to chargeable electrophoretic particles with a good size control over a large range (from 75nm to 20 m) and a good stability. In order to obtain the full color panel, the encapsulation of several inorganic pigments was achieved by using the same technique and the electrophoretic behaviour of the resulting inks was characterized in a cell specially designed for electrophoretic measurements in organic media.BORDEAUX1-Bib.electronique (335229901) / SudocSudocFranceF

Synthesis and Optical Characterization of Dye Doped in Ormosil Nanospheres for Bioapplications

Dye-doped ORMOSIL (organically modified silicate) nanoparticles (NPs) have significant advantages over single-dye labeling in signal amplification, photostability and surface modification for various biological applications. The dyes: Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and Rhodamine B (RB) were successfully incorporated into ORMOSIL nanoparticles fabricated by micellar nanochemistry from Trimethoxysilane CH$_3$Si(OCH$_3$)$_3$ precursor. The optical characterization of dye-doped ORMOSIL NPs was studied in comparison with it’s of free dye in solution. The results shown that the photostability of ORMOSIL dye doped nanospheres is much improved in comparison with it’s of dye in solution. Other studies of the photophysical properties such as anisotropy, fluorescence lifetime and energy transfer were also done

Influence of Surface Plasmon Resonance on Fluorescence Emission of Dye-doped Nanoparticles

The influence of the surface plasmon of gold nanoparticles on the optical properties of the fluorescent nanoparticles in aqueous solution have been investigated. The fluorescence of nanoparticles can be enhanced or quenched in the presence of gold nanoparticles depending on the domination of energy transfer mechanisms: radiating surface plasmon coupling emission or F\"{o}rster energy transfer from fluorescent particles to gold particles, which exciting absorbing plasmon. The fluorescence enhancement or quenching is attributed to the increase or decrease of radiative recombination rates, respectively. The parameters of the energy transfer between fluorescent nanoparticles (dye molecules encapsulated in silica nanoparticles) and nano golds have been estimated. The results show that the interactions between nanoparticles depend on the size of both fluorophores (as donors) and gold nanoparticles (as acceptors)

Chitosan-Modified Polyethyleneimine Nanoparticles for Enhancing the Carboxylation Reaction and Plants' CO2 Uptake

Increasing plants' photosynthetic efficienc y is a major challenge that must be addressed in order to cover the food demands of the growing population in the changing climate. Photosynthes i s is greatly limited at the initial carboxylation reaction, where CO2 is converted to the organic acid 3-PGA, catalyzed by the RuBisCO enzyme. RuBisCO has poor affinity for CO2, but also the CO2 concentration at the RuBisCO site is limited by the diffusion of atmospheric CO2 through the various leaf compartments to the reaction site. Beyond genetic engineer-ing, nanotechnology can offer a materials-based approach for enhancing photosynthesis, and yet, it has mostly been explored for the light-dependent reactions. In this work, we developed polyethyleneimine-based nanoparticl e s for enhancing the carbox-ylation reaction. We demonstrate that the nanoparticles can capture CO2 in the form of bicarbonate and increase the CO2 that reacts with the RuBisCO enzyme, enhancing the 3-PGA production in in vitro assays by 20%. The nanoparticles can be introduced to the plant via leaf infiltration and, because of the functionalization with chitosan oligomers, they do not induce any toxic effect to the plant. In the leaves, the nanoparticles localize in the apoplastic space but also spontaneously reach the chloroplasts where photosynthetic activity takes place. Their CO2 loading-dependent fluorescence verifies that, in vivo, they maintain their abi l i t y to capture CO2 and can be therefore reloaded with atmospheric CO2 while in planta. Our results contribute to the development of a nanomaterials-based CO2-concentrating mechanism in plants t h a t can potentially increase photosynthetic efficiency and overall plants' CO2 storage

CASPワークショップ参加記

The nanostructure of the active layer in polymer/fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells is known to have a strong impact on the device performances. Controlling the polymer/fullerene blend morphology is therefore particularly important. In this work, a rod-coil block copolymer, based on a regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) electron-donor rod block and a C-60-grafted coil block, is used as compatibilizer and its influences on the thin film morphology as well as the photovoltaic performances are investigated. It is shown that a small fraction of compatibilizer can enhance the device performances in an otherwise non-optimized process. At higher fractions or long annealing times however, the fullerene-grafted copolymer is found to behave as a nucleation center and triggers the formation of fullerene crystals

Enhanced Electrocaloric Response of Vinylidene Fluoride–Based Polymers via One‐Step Molecular Engineering

Electrocaloric refrigeration is one of the most promising environmentally-friendly technologies to replace current cooling platforms—if a notable electrocaloric effect (ECE) is realized around room temperature where the highest need is. Here, a straight-forward, one-pot chemical modification of P(VDF-ter-TrFE-ter-CTFE) is reported through the controlled introduction of small fractions of double bonds within the backbone that, very uniquely, decreases the lamellar crystalline thickness while, simultaneously, enlarging the crystalline coherence along the a-b plane. This increases the polarizability and polarization without affecting the degree of crystallinity or amending the crystal unit cell—undesirable effects observed with other approaches. Specifically, the permittivity increases by >35%, from 52 to 71 at 1 kHz, and ECE improves by >60% at moderate electric fields. At 40 °C, an adiabatic temperature change >2 K is realized at 60 MV m−1 (>5.5 K at 192 MV m−1), compared to ≈1.3 K for pristine P(VDF-ter-TrFE-ter-CTFE), highlighting the promise of a simple, versatile approach that allows direct film deposition without requiring any post-treatment such as mechanical stretching or high-temperature annealing for achieving the desired performance