Development and Multicolor Imaging Applications of Lanthanide-Based Luminescent Probes

The study of biological analytes in their native environment is a major challenge for biochemistry and molecular biology.  Luminesce spectroscopy is well suited for this task due to its non-invasiveness, high spatial and temporal resolution, and high signal to noise ratio. This thesis describes the development and applications of Ln-based luminescent probes for detecting small molecules and enzymes.  Specifically the probes presented are based on coumarin sensitizers coupled to a DO3A chelated LnIII center. The 1st generation of these probes employ 7-OH coumarins, caged at the 7-O position (Chapter 2). By use of p-pinacolatoboron benzyl or p-methoxybenzyl cages, this design allowed the construction of ratiometric EuIII-based probes capable of detecting the reactive oxygen species H2O2, NO and ONOO−. The second and third part of the thesis describes a further improvement of the design (Chapters 3 and 4). By employing caged coumarin precursors EuIII and TbIII-based probes were developed for a variety of different analytes (F−, Pd0, H2O2, β-galactosidase, β-glucosidase, α-mannosidase and phosphatase). Most of these probes displayed excellent turn-on responses when treated with their respective analytes. Furthermore they could be used for detecting multiple analytes simultaneously (Chapter 4). By use of one Eu-based and another Tb-based probe, the simultaneous detection of two analytes was possible. This could further be extended to simultaneous three analyte detection by the additional employment of an organic coumarin-based probe. The last part of the thesis (Chapter 5) describes protocols for the rapid and efficient access to triazole-linked lanthanide-antenna complexes by use of the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction. For robust substrates, microwave heating at 100 °C enabled rapid (15-60 min) access to various lanthanide complexes, which could be isolated via simple precipitation. Using these conditions pure bi- and tri-homometallic lanthanide complexes could be prepared. A second protocol, for substrates carrying sensitive functionalities was also developed. The application of catalytic amounts of CuOAc, BimPy2 ligand, and a large excess of NaAsc afforded a variety of lanthanide complexes, among them caged responsive probes, in moderate to good yields.

Development and Multicolor Imaging Applications of Lanthanide-Based Luminescent Probes

The study of biological analytes in their native environment is a major challenge for biochemistry and molecular biology.  Luminesce spectroscopy is well suited for this task due to its non-invasiveness, high spatial and temporal resolution, and high signal to noise ratio. This thesis describes the development and applications of Ln-based luminescent probes for detecting small molecules and enzymes.  Specifically the probes presented are based on coumarin sensitizers coupled to a DO3A chelated LnIII center. The 1st generation of these probes employ 7-OH coumarins, caged at the 7-O position (Chapter 2). By use of p-pinacolatoboron benzyl or p-methoxybenzyl cages, this design allowed the construction of ratiometric EuIII-based probes capable of detecting the reactive oxygen species H2O2, NO and ONOO−. The second and third part of the thesis describes a further improvement of the design (Chapters 3 and 4). By employing caged coumarin precursors EuIII and TbIII-based probes were developed for a variety of different analytes (F−, Pd0, H2O2, β-galactosidase, β-glucosidase, α-mannosidase and phosphatase). Most of these probes displayed excellent turn-on responses when treated with their respective analytes. Furthermore they could be used for detecting multiple analytes simultaneously (Chapter 4). By use of one Eu-based and another Tb-based probe, the simultaneous detection of two analytes was possible. This could further be extended to simultaneous three analyte detection by the additional employment of an organic coumarin-based probe. The last part of the thesis (Chapter 5) describes protocols for the rapid and efficient access to triazole-linked lanthanide-antenna complexes by use of the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction. For robust substrates, microwave heating at 100 °C enabled rapid (15-60 min) access to various lanthanide complexes, which could be isolated via simple precipitation. Using these conditions pure bi- and tri-homometallic lanthanide complexes could be prepared. A second protocol, for substrates carrying sensitive functionalities was also developed. The application of catalytic amounts of CuOAc, BimPy2 ligand, and a large excess of NaAsc afforded a variety of lanthanide complexes, among them caged responsive probes, in moderate to good yields.

Development and Multicolor Imaging Applications of Lanthanide-Based Luminescent Probes

The study of biological analytes in their native environment is a major challenge for biochemistry and molecular biology.  Luminesce spectroscopy is well suited for this task due to its non-invasiveness, high spatial and temporal resolution, and high signal to noise ratio. This thesis describes the development and applications of Ln-based luminescent probes for detecting small molecules and enzymes.  Specifically the probes presented are based on coumarin sensitizers coupled to a DO3A chelated LnIII center. The 1st generation of these probes employ 7-OH coumarins, caged at the 7-O position (Chapter 2). By use of p-pinacolatoboron benzyl or p-methoxybenzyl cages, this design allowed the construction of ratiometric EuIII-based probes capable of detecting the reactive oxygen species H2O2, NO and ONOO−. The second and third part of the thesis describes a further improvement of the design (Chapters 3 and 4). By employing caged coumarin precursors EuIII and TbIII-based probes were developed for a variety of different analytes (F−, Pd0, H2O2, β-galactosidase, β-glucosidase, α-mannosidase and phosphatase). Most of these probes displayed excellent turn-on responses when treated with their respective analytes. Furthermore they could be used for detecting multiple analytes simultaneously (Chapter 4). By use of one Eu-based and another Tb-based probe, the simultaneous detection of two analytes was possible. This could further be extended to simultaneous three analyte detection by the additional employment of an organic coumarin-based probe. The last part of the thesis (Chapter 5) describes protocols for the rapid and efficient access to triazole-linked lanthanide-antenna complexes by use of the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction. For robust substrates, microwave heating at 100 °C enabled rapid (15-60 min) access to various lanthanide complexes, which could be isolated via simple precipitation. Using these conditions pure bi- and tri-homometallic lanthanide complexes could be prepared. A second protocol, for substrates carrying sensitive functionalities was also developed. The application of catalytic amounts of CuOAc, BimPy2 ligand, and a large excess of NaAsc afforded a variety of lanthanide complexes, among them caged responsive probes, in moderate to good yields.

Luminescent Lanthanide Complexes with Analyte-Triggered Antenna Formation

A new strategy for accessing analyte-responsive luminescent probes is presented. The lanthanide luminescence of Eu and Tb centers is switched on by the analyte-triggered formation of a sensitizing antenna from a nonsensitizing caged precursor. As the cage can be freely varied, an array of probes for different analytes (Pd^0/2+, H₂O₂, F^–, β-galactosidase) can be created from the same core structure. The probe design affords nanomolar to micromolar detection limits, provides the capability to detect two analytes in parallel, and can be utilized to monitor enzymatic activity in live cells

Amine-linked diglycosides: Synthesis facilitated by the enhanced reactivity of allylic electrophiles, and glycosidase inhibition assays

Diglycose derivatives, consisting of two monosaccharides linked at non-anomeric positions by a bridging nitrogen atom, have been synthesised. Conversion of one of the precursor monosaccharide coupling components into an unsaturated derivative enhances its electrophilicity at the allylic position, facilitating coupling reactions. Mitsunobu coupling between nosylamides and 2,3-unsaturated-4-alcohols gave the 4-amino-pseudodisaccharides with inversion of configuration as single regio- and diastereoisomers. A palladium-catalysed coupling between an amine and a 2,3-unsaturated 4-trichloroacetimidate gave a 2-amino-pseudodisaccharide as the major product, along with other minor products. Derivatisation of the C=C double bond in pseudodisaccharides allowed the formation of Man(N4–6)Glc and Man(N4–6)Man diglycosides. The amine-linked diglycosides were found to show weak glycosidase inhibitory activity

SiR-Hoechst is a far-red DNA stain for live-cell nanoscopy

Cell-permeable DNA stains are popular markers in live-cell imaging. Currently used DNA stains for live-cell imaging are either toxic, require illumination with blue light or are not compatible with super-resolution microscopy, thereby limiting their utility. Here we describe a far-red DNA stain, SiR-Hoechst, which displays minimal toxicity, is applicable in different cell types and tissues, and is compatible with super-resolution microscopy. The combination of these properties makes this probe a powerful tool for live-cell imaging