Substitution Pattern-Controlled Fluorescence Lifetimes of Fluoranthene Dyes

Abstract

The absorption and emission properties of organic dyes are generally tuned by altering the substitution pattern. However, tuning the fluorescence lifetimes over a range of several 10 ns while barely affecting the spectral features and maintaining a moderate fluorescence quantum yield is challenging. Such properties are required for lifetime multiplexing and barcoding applications. Here, we show how this can be achieved for the class of fluoranthene dyes, which have substitution-dependent lifetimes between 6 and 33 ns for single wavelength excitation and emission. We explore the substitution-dependent emissive properties in the crystalline solid state that would prevent applications. Furthermore, by analyzing dye mixtures and embedding the dyes in carboxyfunctionalized 8 μm-sized polystyrene particles, the unprecedented potential of these dyes as labels and encoding fluorophores for time-resolved fluorescence detection techniques is demonstrated.

Tracking Plasma Membrane Damage Using a Ruthenium(II) Complex Phosphorescent Indicator Paired with Cholesterol

“…Electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy techniques, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy have been employed to investigate membrane penetration, − but these techniques are not capable of real-time imaging plasma membrane. The fluorescence imaging technique is a useful tool for facilely monitoring the plasma membrane behavior because of its high sensitivity, selectivity, and capacity for real-time in situ detection. − Although the plasma membrane indicators using organic dyes as the fluorescence cores have the advantages of high fluorescence quantum yields, large molar extinction coefficients, and adjustable emission wavelengths, their some performances still need to be improved including the following: (1) poor photostability and easy to be photobleached, (2) small Stokes shifts and easy to be interfered by excitation light, and (3) short fluorescence lifetimes and easy to be interfered by self-luminescence biological backgrounds and scattered lights of nearby optical systems . In contrast, transition metal complexes as a kind of excellent luminophores have been widely used in the field of luminescence probes due to their unique properties and versatility. − In our previous studies, we have successfully developed some luminescent probes based on Ru­(II)/Ir­(III) complexes, − which exhibited excellent features including good biocompatibility, larger Stokes shifts, high photophysicochemical stabilities, and long luminescence lifetimes.…”

Fluoranthene dyes for the detection of water content in methanol

“…31–34 Moreover, fluoranthenes can be fluorinated, which is a common strategy to improve dye photostability for imaging applications. 35 Synthesis and derivatization of fluoranthenes have received much attention in the recent years. Diels–Alder reaction and transition metal-catalyzed reactions are the most commonly used methods for their synthesis.…”