Selected Papers from Optical Materials: Synthesis and Biological Applications Symposium (XXXVIII Biennial Meeting RSEQ)

A special issue of Chemosensors (ISSN 2227-9040). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical Chemical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 24863

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
Interests: fluorescence; optoacoustic; chemical and biological sensors; molecular recognition; imaging; organic electronic materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The symposium “Optical Materials: Synthesis and Biological Applications” will be held on 29 June 2021 in Granada (Spain) within the “XXXVIII Biennial Meeting of the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry (RSEQ)”. The RSEQ Biennial meeting is the largest Chemistry conference in Spain and will be structured according to the successful layout of previous editions, in the form of specialized symposia that will provide a fresh view of the most cutting-edge research lines of current chemistry. 

The symposium “Optical Materials: Synthesis and Biological Applications” will provide an opportunity for academic and industry professionals to discuss the latest progress in the field of optical materials, covering their synthesis and characterization of new materials, as well as their use in biological application and molecular optics. 

Authors of conference papers falling within the scope of Chemosensors at this symposium are invited to submit an extended version to this Special Issue for publication. Moreover, new papers strictly related to the conference themes are also welcome. 

Topics include but are not limited to the following: 

  • Optical chemical sensors;
  • Chemical assay and validation;
  • Fluorescence Imaging;
  • Optoacoustic Imaging;
  • Theranostic;
  • Drug release;
  • Spectroscopy;
  • Optical probe development;
  • Biolomuniscence;
  • SPECT/CT.

Dr. Antonio Fernandez
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 5104 KiB  
Article
Luminescence Tracking and In Vivo Toxicity Evaluation of TiO2 and Europium Doped TiO2 Nanocrystals during Drosophila Development
by Jerusa Maria de Oliveira, Kellen Talita Romão da Silva, Francisco Rubens Alves dos Santos, Felipe Berti Valer, Ricardo Kenji Ohno Takaki, João Paulo Santos de Carvalho, Olagide Wagner de Castro, Thiago Lopes Rocha, Noelio Oliveira Dantas, Anielle Christine Almeida Silva and Lucas Anhezini
Chemosensors 2023, 11(1), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11010055 - 9 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2533
Abstract
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in industry and commercial products. Thus, their potential risks to the environment and human health must be evaluated. Doping NPs with certain ions makes it possible to mix properties or generate new ones. [...] Read more.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in industry and commercial products. Thus, their potential risks to the environment and human health must be evaluated. Doping NPs with certain ions makes it possible to mix properties or generate new ones. Thus, in order to track TiO2 NPs in biological assays, doping with europium (Eu3+) ions was performed, which luminesce in red. Here, we synthesized TiO2 and Eu3+-doped TiO2 nanocrystals (NCs) in anatase phase to verify the toxicity at different concentrations in Drosophila melanogaster and track the distribution of these NCs in vivo. We verified that the incorporation of europium improved the biocompatibility in relation to the pure samples. The presence of Eu3+-doped TiO2 NCs in the gut, brain, and fat body of larvae and intestinal cells of adult animals was detected. Eu3+-doped TiO2 NCs caused significant larval and pupal mortality rates, in addition to leading to the formation of reactive species, especially at high concentrations. Therefore, our data demonstrated it was possible to trace the Eu3+-doped TiO2 NCs, but TiO2 and Eu3+-doped TiO2 NCs in anatase phase were toxic to fruit flies at the tested concentrations, and should be used with caution to minimize health risks. Full article
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12 pages, 3364 KiB  
Article
Paper-Based Analytical Device for One-Step Detection of Bisphenol-A Using Functionalized Chitosan
by Abdelhafid Karrat and Aziz Amine
Chemosensors 2022, 10(11), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors10110450 - 31 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2294
Abstract
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is defined as one of the endocrine disrupting compounds. The accurate and inexpensive colorimetric paper-based analytical devices (PADs) are of crucial importance for BPA analysis. In this context, we developed for the first time a new PAD modified with chitosan and [...] Read more.
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is defined as one of the endocrine disrupting compounds. The accurate and inexpensive colorimetric paper-based analytical devices (PADs) are of crucial importance for BPA analysis. In this context, we developed for the first time a new PAD modified with chitosan and sulfamethoxazole (Chitosan-PAD) for the visual detection of BPA in water. The PAD was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, which confirmed its modification by the functionalized chitosan. A yellow coloration was developed when a small volume of BPA was added to the Chitosan-PAD, allowing for visual and smartphone detection. This new strategy is based on a specific combination of BPA with chitosan and sulfamethoxazole that provides a hight selectivity to the Chitosan-PAD. The proposed PAD was successfully employed in combination with a pre-concentration step for the detection of 0.01 µg mL−1 of PBA with the naked eye using a 10-fold preconcentration factor. The PAD was effectively applied for BPA quantification in water samples with good recoveries. The developed PAD provides a green and cost-effective strategy for the on-site and one-step detection of BPA in water samples. Full article
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17 pages, 26842 KiB  
Article
Carbon Dots from Coffee Grounds: Synthesis, Characterization, and Detection of Noxious Nitroanilines
by Alexandra I. Costa, Patrícia D. Barata, Bianca Moraes and José V. Prata
Chemosensors 2022, 10(3), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors10030113 - 15 Mar 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4830
Abstract
Coffee ground (CG) waste is generated in huge amounts all over the world, constituting a serious environmental issue owing to its low biodegradability. Therefore, processes that simultaneously aim for its valorization while reducing its environmental impact are in great demand. In the current [...] Read more.
Coffee ground (CG) waste is generated in huge amounts all over the world, constituting a serious environmental issue owing to its low biodegradability. Therefore, processes that simultaneously aim for its valorization while reducing its environmental impact are in great demand. In the current approach, blue luminescent carbon dots (C-dots) were produced in good chemical yields from CGs following hydrothermal carbonization methods under an extended set of reaction parameters. The remarkable fluorescent properties of the synthesized C-dots (quantum yields up to 0.18) allied to their excellent water dispersibility and photostability prompted their use for the first time as sensing elements for detection of noxious nitroanilines (NAs) in aqueous media. Very high levels of NA detection were achieved (e.g., limit of detection of 68 ppb for p-nitroaniline), being the regioisomeric selectivity attributed to its higher hyperpolarizability and dipole moment. Through ground–state and time-resolved fluorescence assays, a static fluorescence quenching mechanism was established. 1H NMR titration data also strongly suggested the formation of ground–state complexes between C-dots and NAs. Full article
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14 pages, 2095 KiB  
Article
Rational Design and Synthesis of Large Stokes Shift 2,6-Sulphur-Disubstituted BODIPYs for Cell Imaging
by Abigail E. Reese, Charles Lochenie, Ailsa Geddis, Luana A. Machado, Marcos C. de Souza, Flávia F. C. Marques, Carlos A. de Simone, Marcos M. Gouvêa, Leandro F. Pedrosa, Eufrânio N. da Silva Júnior and Marc Vendrell
Chemosensors 2022, 10(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors10010019 - 4 Jan 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2916
Abstract
Five new disubstituted 2,6-thioaryl-BODIPY dyes were synthesized via selective aromatic electrophilic substitution from commercially available thiophenols. The analysis of the photophysical properties via absorption and emission spectroscopy showed unusually large Stokes shifts for BODIPY fluorophores (70–100 nm), which makes them suitable probes for [...] Read more.
Five new disubstituted 2,6-thioaryl-BODIPY dyes were synthesized via selective aromatic electrophilic substitution from commercially available thiophenols. The analysis of the photophysical properties via absorption and emission spectroscopy showed unusually large Stokes shifts for BODIPY fluorophores (70–100 nm), which makes them suitable probes for bioimaging. Selected compounds were evaluated for labelling primary immune cells as well as different cancer cell lines using confocal fluorescence microscopy. Full article
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15 pages, 7648 KiB  
Article
A Preliminary Study for Tunable Optical Assessment of Exhaled Breath Ammonia Based on Ultrathin Tetrakis(4-sulfophenyl)porphine Nanoassembled Films
by Sergiy Korposh and Seung-Woo Lee
Chemosensors 2021, 9(9), 269; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors9090269 - 18 Sep 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2424
Abstract
The detection of chemical substances excreted from the human body offers an attractive approach for non-invasive, early diagnostics of certain diseases. In this preliminary study, we proposed a susceptible optical sensor capable of quantitatively detecting ammonia from exhaled breath. The proposed sensor consists [...] Read more.
The detection of chemical substances excreted from the human body offers an attractive approach for non-invasive, early diagnostics of certain diseases. In this preliminary study, we proposed a susceptible optical sensor capable of quantitatively detecting ammonia from exhaled breath. The proposed sensor consists of nanoassembled ultrathin films composed of tetrakis(4-sulfophenyl)porphine (TSPP) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) deposited on quartz substrates using a layer-by-layer method. Measurement principles are based on the ammonia-induced absorbance changes at 489 (Soret band) and 702 nm (Q band), associated with the deprotonation of the J-aggregated TSPPs inside the film. Before exposure to breath, the PDDA/TSPP thin film was calibrated using known concentrations of ammonia gases with a projected detection limit of 102 ± 12 parts per billion (ppb). Calibrated sensor films were then exposed to human breath and urine samples to determine the ammonia concentration. Concentrations of exhaled ammonia are influenced significantly by the consumption of food or the amount of urea. Sensor response and maximum sensitivity, obtained from the absorbance changes induced by ammonia, were achieved by initial sensor exposure to HCl vapor. Previously reported procedures for the Helicobacter pylori (HELIC Ammonia Breath) test based on urea reaction with urease were reproduced using the proposed sensor. The observed behavior corresponded very well with the kinetics of the interactions between urea and urease, i.e., ammonia reached a maximum concentration approximately 5 min after the start of the reaction. A large-scale study involving 41 healthy volunteers in their 20s to 60s was successfully conducted to test the capabilities of the sensor to determine the concentration of exhaled ammonia. The concentration of ammonia for the healthy volunteers ranged between 0.3 and 1.5 ppm, with a mean value of ca. 520 ppb in the morning (before eating) and ca. 420 ppb in the afternoon (immediately after eating). These real-test mean values are meaningful when considered against the projected LOD. Full article
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Review

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32 pages, 6494 KiB  
Review
Fluorescence Modulation by Amines: Mechanistic Insights into Twisted Intramolecular Charge Transfer (TICT) and Beyond
by Cheng Chen and Chong Fang
Chemosensors 2023, 11(2), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11020087 - 23 Jan 2023
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4216
Abstract
Amine groups are common constituents of organic dyes and play important roles in tuning fluorescence properties. In particular, intensive research works have demonstrated the tendency and capabilities of amines in influencing chromophore brightness. Such properties have been explained by multiple mechanisms spanning from [...] Read more.
Amine groups are common constituents of organic dyes and play important roles in tuning fluorescence properties. In particular, intensive research works have demonstrated the tendency and capabilities of amines in influencing chromophore brightness. Such properties have been explained by multiple mechanisms spanning from twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) to the energy gap law and beyond, which introduce additional nonradiative energy dissipation pathways. In this review, we aim to provide a focused overview of the mechanistic insights mainly for the TICT mechanism, accompanied by a few other less common or influential fluorescence quenching mechanisms in the amine-containing fluorescent molecules. Various aspects of current scientific findings including the rational design and synthesis of organic chromophores, theoretical calculations, steady-state and time-resolved electronic and vibrational spectroscopies are reviewed. These in-depth understandings of how the amine groups with diverse chemical structures at various atomic sites affect excited-state nonradiative decay pathways will facilitate the strategic and targeted development of fluorophores with desired emission properties as versatile chemosensors for broad applications. Full article
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22 pages, 1969 KiB  
Review
Progress of Near-Infrared-Based Medical Imaging and Cancer Cell Suppressors
by Vicky Mudeng, Gelan Ayana, Sung-Uk Zhang and Se-woon Choe
Chemosensors 2022, 10(11), 471; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors10110471 - 11 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2258
Abstract
Diffuse optical tomography, an imaging modality that utilizes near-infrared light, is a new way to assess soft tissue. It provides a non-invasive screening of soft tissue, such as the breast in females and prostate in males, to inspect the existence of cancer. This [...] Read more.
Diffuse optical tomography, an imaging modality that utilizes near-infrared light, is a new way to assess soft tissue. It provides a non-invasive screening of soft tissue, such as the breast in females and prostate in males, to inspect the existence of cancer. This new imaging method is considered cost-effective and preferred because the implementation is simply through the application of a laser or light-emitting diode as a light source. Near-infrared technology does not only offer cancer screening modality, but also acts as a cancer treatment method, called near-infrared photoimmunotherapy. Despite plentiful studies in the area of near-infrared technology for cancer imaging and cancer cell suppression, there is no consolidated review that provides an overview of near-infrared application in cancer cell imaging and therapy. The objective of this study is to review near-infrared-based medical imaging and novel approaches to eradicate cancer cells. Additionally, we have discussed prospective instrumentation to establish cancer therapeutics apparatuses based on near-infrared technology. This review is expected to guide researchers implementing near-infrared for a medical imaging modality and cancer suppression in vitro, in vivo, and in clinical settings. Full article
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20 pages, 3936 KiB  
Review
New Organic Materials Based on Multitask 2H-benzo[d]1,2,3-triazole Moiety
by Iván Torres-Moya, José Ramón Carrillo, Ángel Díaz-Ortiz and Pilar Prieto
Chemosensors 2021, 9(9), 267; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors9090267 - 17 Sep 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2218
Abstract
Multifunctionality is a desirable aspect in materials science. Indeed, the development of multifunctional compounds is crucial for sustainable chemistry by saving resources and time. In this sense, 2H-benzo[d]1,2,3-triazole (BTz) is an excellent candidate with promising characteristics, including its ability [...] Read more.
Multifunctionality is a desirable aspect in materials science. Indeed, the development of multifunctional compounds is crucial for sustainable chemistry by saving resources and time. In this sense, 2H-benzo[d]1,2,3-triazole (BTz) is an excellent candidate with promising characteristics, including its ability to self-assemble; its acceptor character, which enables the synthesis of donor-acceptor structures; and its facile modulation using standard chemical methods. Thus, due to its interesting properties, it is possible to produce different derivatives with applications in different fields, as summarized in this article, with the correct substitution at the BTz cores. Optoelectronic or biomedical applications, amongst others, are highlighted. Full article
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