Cyrille Monnereau

Expanding the polymethine paradigm: evidence for the contribution of a bis-dipolar electronic structure.

Although it has been reported in a few instances that the spectroscopic properties of cyanine dyes were strongly dependent on the nature of the chemical substitution of their central carbon atom, there has not been to date any systematic study specifically aimed at rationalizing this behavior. In this article, such a systematic study is carried out on an extended family of 17 polymethine dyes carrying different substituents on their central carbon, some of those being specifically synthesized for this study, some of those similar to previously reported compounds, for the sake of comparison. Their absorption properties, which spread over the whole visible to near-infrared spectral range, are seen to be dramatically dependent on the electron-donating character of this central substituent. By correlating this behavior to NMR spectroscopy and (vibronic) TD-DFT calculations, we show that it results from a profound modification of the ground state electronic configuration, namely, a progressive localization of the cationic charge on the central carbon as the electron-donating nature of the central substituent is increased.

Nanocarriers with ultrahigh chromophore loading for fluorescence bio-imaging and photodynamic therapy

We describe the design of original nanocarriers that allows for ultrahigh chromophore loading while maintaining the photo-activity of each individual molecule. They consist in shells of charged biocompatible polymers grafted on gold nanospheres. The self-organization of extended polymer chains results from repulsive charges and steric interactions that are optimized by tuning the surface curvature of nanoparticles. This type of nano-scaffolds can be used as light-activated theranostic agents for fluorescence imaging and photodynamic therapy. We demonstrate that, labeled with a fluorescent photosensitizer, it can localize therapeutic molecules before triggering the cell death of B16-F10 melanoma with an efficiency that is similar to the efficiency of the polymer conjugate alone, and with the advantage of extremely high local loading of photosensitizers (object concentration in the picomolar range).

Biocompatible well-defined chromophore–polymer conjugates for photodynamic therapy and two-photon imaging

A versatile approach is introduced for the synthesis of well-defined, biocompatible conjugates combining two-photon chromophores and hydrophilic multifunctional polymers synthesized by RAFT controlled radical polymerization. As an illustration, two different classes of conjugates carrying multiple fluorophores (based on an anthracene moiety, Anth) or photosensitizers (based on a dibromobenzene moiety, DBB) along the polymer chain were elaborated for bioimaging and photodynamic therapy (PDT) applications, respectively. In both cases, the polymer greatly improved the solubility in biorelevant media as well as the cell uptake. Anth conjugates provided high quality fluorescence microscopy images using both one- and two-photon excitation. DBB conjugates potently induced the death of cancer cells upon photoactivation.

Photoinduced electron transfer in Zn(II)porphyrin-bridge-Pt(II)acetylide complexes: variation in rate with anchoring group and position of the bridge.

The synthesis and photophysical characterization of two sets of zinc porphyrin platinum acetylide complexes are reported. The two sets of molecules differ in the way the bridging phenyl-ethynyl unit is attached to the porphyrin ring. One set is attached via an ethynyl unit on the β position, while the other set is attached via a phenyl unit on the meso position of the porphyrin. These were compared with previously studied complexes where attachment was made via an ethynyl unit on the meso position. Femtosecond transient absorption measurements showed in all systems a rapid quenching of the porphyrin singlet state. Electron transfer is suggested as the quenching mechanism, followed by an even faster recombination to form both the porphyrin ground and triplet excited states. This is supported by the variation in quenching rate and porphyrin triplet yield with solvent polarity, and the observation of an intermediate state in the meso-phenyl linked systems. The different linking motifs between the dyads resulted in significant variations in electron transfer rates.

Remarkable effect of iridium cyclometalation on the nonlinear absorption properties of a quadrupolar imine ligand.

A new type of dinuclear iridium complex, based on a quadrupolar Schiff base ligand, is synthesized and its structure fully characterized. Its linear and nonlinear spectroscopic properties are investigated, evidencing a strong contribution of the metal-to-ligand transitions not only to the linear absorption but also to the two- and three-photon absorption properties.

Influence of bromine substitution pattern on the singlet oxygen generation efficiency of two-photon absorbing chromophores

A molecular engineering strategy based on rational variations of the bromine substitution pattern in two-photon absorbing singlet oxygen sensitizers allows studying the relations that exist between the positioning of an inter-system crossing promoter on the charge-transfer chromophore and its ability to generate singlet oxygen.

A Fluorescent Polymer Probe with High Selectivity toward Vascular Endothelial Cells for and beyond Noninvasive Two-Photon Intravital Imaging of Brain Vasculature

A chromophore-engineering strategy that relies on the introduction of a ground-state distortion in a quadrupolar chromophore was used to obtain a quasi-quadrupolar chromophore with red emission and large two-photon absorption (2PA) cross-section in polar solvents. This molecule was functionalized with water-solubilizing polymer chains. It constitutes not only a remarkable contrast agent for intravital two-photon microscopy of the functional cerebral vasculature in a minimally invasive configuration but presents intriguing endothelial staining ability that makes it a valuable probe for premortem histological staining.

Mild and efficient bromination of poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) and its use towards ionic-liquid containing polymers

An original and mild bromination protocol allows a poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) polymer synthesized by ATRP to be converted readily and quantitatively into its corresponding poly(bromoethyl acrylate) analogue. We show that the latter can be used as a common precursor towards ionic-liquid containing polymers.

Theoretical and Experimental Study on Boron β‐Diketonate Complexes with Intense Two‐Photon‐Induced Fluorescence in Solution and in the Solid State

Three boron diketonate chromophores with extended π-conjugated backbone were prepared and their spectroscopic features were investigated through a combined theoretical/experimental study. It was shown that these complexes, which undergo very large electronic reorganization upon photoexcitation, combine large two-photon absorption cross section with an emission energy and quantum efficiency in solution that is strongly dependent on solvent polarity. The strong positive influence of boron complexation on the magnitude of the two-photon absorption was clearly established, and it was shown that the two-photon absorption properties were dominated by the quadrupolar term. For one of the synthesized compounds, intense one- and two-photon-induced solid-state emission (fluorescence quantum yield of 0.65 with maximum wavelength of 610 nm) was obtained as a result of antiparallel J-aggregate crystal packing.

Water-soluble chromophores with star-shaped oligomeric arms: synthesis, spectroscopic studies and first results in bio-imaging and cell death induction

A simple polymerisation strategy allows water solubilisation of chromophores for biophotonics, with good conservation of their fluorescence quantum-yield. Preliminary investigations show that the resulting objects are valuable candidates for photodynamic therapy and two-photon fluorescence imaging.