DNA mismatches represent a novel target in developing diagnostics and therapeutics for cancer, since deficiencies in DNA-mismatch repair (MMR) are implicated in many cancers and cells that are MMR-deficient show a high frequency of mismatches. We use metal complexes with bulky intercalating ligands serve as probes for DNA mismatches. Here, we report the high resolution (0.92 Å) crystal structure of the ruthenium ‘light switch’ complex Δ-Ru(bpy)2dppz2+ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine and dppz = dipyridophenazine), known to show luminescence on binding to duplex DNA, bound to both mismatched and well matched sites in the oligonucleotide 5′-(dCGGAAATTACCG)2-3′ (underline denotes AA mismatches). Two crystallographically independent views reveal that the complex binds mismatches through metalloinsertion, where the dppz inserts into the duplex through the minor groove, ejecting both mispaired adenosines. Additional ruthenium complexes are intercalated at well-matched sites, creating an array of complexes in the minor groove stabilized through stacking interactions between bpy ligands and extruded adenosines. This structure attests to the generality of metalloinsertion and metallointercalation as DNA binding modes.

Red emissive carbon dots (CDs) have drawn more and more attention due to their good organ penetration depth and slight biological tissue photodamage. Herein, the fluorescent CDs with red emission were synthesized by the facile one-pot hydrothermal treatment of citric acid and neutral red and they show red fluorescence both in aqueous solution and solid state. The solution of CDs exhibits the quantum yield of 12.1%, good stability against photobleaching, and low cytotoxicity. As-prepared CDs can be used as a fluorescent probe for peculiar detection of Pt, Au, and Pd. Furthermore, the CDs show excellent biocompatibility, which were successfully used as hopeful bioimaging and biosensing of noble metal ions in PC12 cells and zebrafish.

The luminescent characteristics of Ru(bpy) 2 dppz 2+ (dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine), a DNA light switch, were investigated in the presence of oligonucleotides containing single base mismatches or an abasic site. In water, the ruthenium luminescence is quenched, but, bound to well matched duplex DNA, the Ru complex luminesces. Here we show that with DNAs containing a defect, rac-, Δ-and Λ-Ru(bpy) 2 dppz 2+ exhibit significant luminescent enhancements above that with well matched DNA. In the presence of a single base mismatch, large luminescent enhancements are evident for the Δ-Ru isomer; the Λ-isomer shows particularly high luminescence bound to an oligonucleotide containing an abasic site. Similar increases are not evident with two common DNAbinding organic fluorophores, ethidium bromide and TO-PRO-3. Titrations with hairpin oligonucleotides containing a variable mismatch site show correlation between the level of luminescent enhancement and the thermodynamic destabilization associated with the mismatch. This correlation is reminiscent of that found earlier for a bulky rhodium complex that binds mismatched DNA sites through metalloinsertion, where the complex binds the DNA from the minor groove side, ejecting the mismatched bases into the major groove. Differential quenching studies with minor and major groove quenchers and time resolved emission studies support this metalloinsertion mode for the dppz complex at the defect site. Certainly these data underscore the utility of Ru(bpy) 2 dppz 2+ as a sensitive luminescent reporter of DNA and its defects.

Deficiencies in mismatch repair (MMR) are associated with carcinogenesis. Rhodium metalloinsertors bind to DNA base mismatches with high specificity and inhibit cellular proliferation preferentially in MMR-deficient cells versus MMR-proficient cells. A family of chrysenequinone diimine complexes of rhodium with varying ancillary ligands that serve as DNA metalloinsertors has been synthesized, and both DNA mismatch binding affinities and antiproliferative activities against the human colorectal carcinoma cell lines HCT116N and HCT116O, an isogenic model system for MMR deficiency, have been determined. DNA photocleavage experiments reveal that all complexes bind to the mismatch sites with high specificities; DNA binding affinities to oligonucleotides containing single base CA and CC mismatches, obtained through photocleavage titration or competition, vary from 10 4 to 10 8 M −1 for the series of complexes. Significantly, binding affinities are found to be inversely related to ancillary ligand size and directly related to differential inhibition of the HCT116 cell lines. The observed trend in binding affinity is consistent with the metalloinsertion mode where the complex binds from the minor groove with ejection of mismatched base pairs. The correlation between binding affinity and targeting of the MMR-deficient cell line suggests that rhodium metalloinsertors exert their selective biological effects on MMR-deficient cells through mismatch binding in vivo.

A novel thermoresponsive membrane for chiral resolution with high performance has been developed. The membrane exhibits chiral selectivity based on molecular recognition of beta‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) and thermosensitivity based on the phase transition of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM). Linear PNIPAM chains were grafted onto porous nylon‐6 membrane substrates by using a plasma‐graft pore‐filling polymerization method; the chains thus acted as microenvironmental adjustors for β‐CD molecules. β‐CD moieties were introduced into the linear PNIPAM chains by a chemical grafting polymerization method and acted as chiral selectors. The phase transition of grafted PNIPAM chains affects the microenvironment of β‐CD molecules and, thus, the association between β‐CD and guest molecules. The chiral selectivity of the prepared thermoresponsive membranes in chiral resolution operated at temperature below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAM is higher than that of membranes with no thermosensitivity. Furthermore, the decomplexation ratio of enantiomer‐loaded thermoresponsive membranes in decomplexation at temperatures above the LCST is much higher than that of membranes with no thermosensitivity. Thus, by simply changing the operation temperature, high, selective chiral resolution and efficient membrane regeneration are achieved. The proposed membrane provides a new and efficient way to solve the difficult decomplexation problem of chiral solid membranes, which is highly attractive for chiral resolution.

A new family of ruthenium(II) complexes with sterically expansive ligands for targeting DNA defects was prepared, and their luminescent responses to base pair mismatches and/or abasic sites were investigated. The design of the complexes sought to combine the mismatch specificity of sterically expansive metalloinsertors, such as [Rh(bpy)2(chrysi)]3+ (chrysi = chrysene-5,6-quinone diimine), and the light switch behavior of [Ru(bpy)2(dppz)]2+ (dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine). In one approach, complexes bearing analogues of chrysi incorporating hydrogen-bonding functionality similar to dppz were synthesized. While the complexes show luminescence only at low temperatures (77 K), competition experiments with [Ru(bpy)2(dppz)]2+ at ambient temperatures reveal that the chrysi derivatives preferentially bind DNA mismatches. In another approach, various substituents were introduced onto the dppz ligand to increase its steric bulk for mismatch binding while maintaining planarity. Steady state luminescence and luminescence lifetime measurements reveal that these dppz derivative complexes behave as DNA “light switches,” but that the selectivity in binding and in luminescence with mismatched/abasic versus well-matched DNA is not high. In all cases, the luminescence depends sensitively upon structural perturbations to the dppz ligand.

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Two-dimensional monolayer materials, with thicknesses of up to several atoms, can be obtained from almost every layer-structured material. It is believed that the catalogs of known 2D materials are almost complete, with fewer new graphene-like materials being discovered. Here, we report 2D graphene-like monolayers from monoxides such as BeO, MgO, CaO, SrO, BaO, and rock-salt structured monochlorides such as LiCl, and NaCl using first-principle calculations. Two-dimensional materials containing d-orbital atoms such as HfO, CdO, and AgCl are predicted. Adopting the same strategy, 2D graphene-like monolayers from mononitrides such as scandium nitride (ScN) and monoselenides such as cadmium selenide (CdSe) are discovered. Stress engineering is found to help stabilize 2D monolayers, through canceling the imaginary frequency of phonon dispersion relation. These 2D monolayers show high dynamic, thermal, kinetic, and mechanic stabilities due to atomic hybridization, and electronic delocalization.