Daniel Collado

OFF-ON-OFF fluorescence switch with T-latch function.

A novel molecular system with characteristics of an OFF-ON-OFF fluorescence switch was designed to integrate the function of a T-latch. In detail, a receptor1-fluorophore-receptor2 architecture was adopted to achieve fluorescence switching upon addition of protons.

Enhanced Functionality for Donor–Acceptor Oligothiophenes by means of Inclusion of BODIPY: Synthesis, Electrochemistry, Photophysics, and Model Chemistry

We have synthesized several new push-pull oligothiophenes based on the boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) moiety as the electron acceptor and the more well-known oligothiophenes substituted with N,N-dialkylamino functions to enhance their electron-donor ability. A complete characterization of the electronic properties has been carried out; it consists of their photophysical, electrochemical, and vibrational properties. The compounds have been studied after chemical treatment with acids and after oxidation. In this regard, they can be termed as NIR dyes and amphoteric redox electroactive molecules. We have described the presence of dual fluorescence in these molecules and fluorescence quenching either by energy transfer or, in the push-pull molecules, by electron exchange. The combination of electrochemical and proton reversibility along with the interesting optical properties of the new species offer an interesting platform for sensor and material applications.

Highly sensitive dendrimer-based nanoplasmonic biosensor for drug allergy diagnosis.

A label-free biosensing strategy for amoxicillin (AX) allergy diagnosis based on the combination of novel dendrimer-based conjugates and a recently developed nanoplasmonic sensor technology is reported. Gold nanodisks were functionalized with a custom-designed thiol-ending-polyamido-based dendron (d-BAPAD) peripherally decorated with amoxicilloyl (AXO) groups (d-BAPAD-AXO) in order to detect specific IgE generated in patients serum against this antibiotic during an allergy outbreak. This innovative strategy, which follows a simple one-step immobilization procedure, shows exceptional results in terms of sensitivity and robustness, leading to a highly-reproducible and long-term stable surface which allows achieving extremely low limits of detection. Moreover, the viability of this biosensor approach to analyze human biological samples has been demonstrated by directly analyzing and quantifying specific anti-AX antibodies in patients serum without any sample pretreatment. An excellent limit of detection (LoD) of 0.6ng/mL (i.e. 0.25kU/L) has been achieved in the evaluation of clinical samples evidencing the potential of our nanoplasmonic biosensor as an advanced diagnostic tool to quickly identify allergic patients. The results have been compared and validated with a conventional clinical immunofluorescence assay (ImmunoCAP test), confirming an excellent correlation between both techniques. The combination of a novel compact nanoplasmonic platform and a dendrimer-based strategy provides a highly sensitive label free biosensor approach with over two times better detectability than conventional SPR. Both the biosensor device and the carrier structure hold great potential in clinical diagnosis for biomarker analysis in whole serum samples and other human biological samples.

PEGylated aza-BODIPY derivatives as NIR probes for cellular imaging

Neutral water-soluble aza-dipyrromethene boron difluoride (aza-BODIPY) derivatives are synthesized for biological imaging applications. Aqueous solubility is increased by optimizing the synthetic conditions to obtain aza-BODIPYs with several tetraethyleneglycol groups. Their spectral properties and assays performed on cultured cells, demonstrate the potential of these compounds as near-infrared (NIR) emitting fluorescent probes.

BODIPY-Labeled DC-SIGN-Targeting Glycodendrons Efficiently Internalize and Route to Lysosomes in Human Dendritic Cells

Glycodendrons bearing nine copies of mannoses or fucoses have been prepared by an efficient convergent strategy based on Cu(I) catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). These glycodendrons present a well-defined structure and have an adequate size and shape to interact efficiently with the C-type lectin DC-SIGN. We have selected a BODIPY derivative to label these glycodendrons due to its interesting physical and chemical properties as chromophore. These BODIPY-labeled glycodendrons were internalized into dendritic cells by mean of DC-SIGN. The internalized mannosylated and fucosylated dendrons are colocalized with LAMP1, which suggests routing to lysosomes. The interaction of these glycodendrons with DC-SIGN at the surface of dendritic cells did not induce maturation of the cells. Signaling analysis by checking different cytokines indicated also the lack of induction the expression of inflammatory and noninflammatory cytokines by these second generation glycodendrons.

Strongly Emissive and Photostable Four‐Coordinate Organoboron N,C Chelates and Their Use in Fluorescence Microscopy

Six strongly fluorescent four-coordinate organoboron N,C chelates containing an aryl isoquinoline skeleton were prepared. Remarkably, the fluorescence quantum yields reach values of up to 0.74 in oxygen-free toluene. The strong B-N interaction was corroborated by the single-crystal X-ray analysis of two dyes. The intramolecular charge-transfer character of the fluorophores was evidenced by solvatochromism studies and time-dependent DFT calculations at the PCM(toluene)/CAM-B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,p)//PCM(toluene)/B3LYP/6-311G(2d,p) level of theory. The compounds combine high chemical stability with high photostability, especially when equipped with electron-donating substituents. The strong fluorescence and the large Stokes shifts predestine these compounds for use in confocal fluorescence microscopy. This was demonstrated for the imaging of the N13 mouse microglial cell line. Moreover, significant two-photon absorption cross sections (up to 61 GM) allow the use of excitation wavelengths in the near-infrared region (>800 nm).

Dendrimer-Modified Solid Supports: Nanostructured Materials with Potential Drug Allergy Diagnostic Applications

Complex functional materials consisting of bioactive molecules immobilized on solid supports present potential applications in biosensoring. Advances in the fabrication of these surface materials are of growing interest for antibody-based diagnosis. This work exploits dendrimers as versatile nanostructures for templating sensor surfaces and the critical role of the immobilization protocol in the solid supports cellulose and zeolites, of organic and inorganic composition respectively. The fabrication and characterization, including the degree of functionalization and reproducibility, of different nanostructured materials are described. To validate the approach, the fabricated supports were further used as a solid phase for developing a radioimmunoassay to detect immunoglobulin E (IgE) specific to penicillin, the antibody involved in immediate allergy responses to this drug. The dendrimer-modified supports provide assays with significantly enhanced sensitivity, as well as increase the availability of biomolecules for specific interaction and minimize nonspecific adsorptions through appropriate functionalization protocols in each case. The manufacturing methodology involved the use of a long, flexible hydrophilic spacer in the cellulose materials, and a higher surface density of the immobilized dendrimers in the zeolite crystals. The ability of hybrid zeolite materials in such biosensing applications was evaluated for the first time. The assays were validated in human serum samples from patients allergic to penicillin and from non-allergic controls. The specificity and improved sensitivity of the dendrimer- modified supports make these strategies versatile for different bioactive molecules and could have significant implications for the quantification of a wide range of specific IgE antibodies and other biomolecules of diagnostic interest.

Energy transfer in aminonaphthalimide-boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyads upon one- and two-photon excitation: applications for cellular imaging.

Aminonaphthalimide-BODIPY energy transfer cassettes were found to show very fast (kEET ≈ 10(10)-10(11) s(-1) and efficient BODIPY fluorescence sensitization. This was observed upon one- and two-photon excitation, which extends the application range of the investigated bichromophoric dyads in terms of accessible excitation wavelengths. In comparison with the direct excitation of the BODIPY chromophore, the two-photon absorption cross-section δ of the dyads is significantly incremented by the presence of the aminonaphthalimide donor [δ ≈ 10 GM for the BODIPY versus 19-26 GM in the dyad at λ(exc)=840 nm; 1 GM (Goeppert-Mayer unit)=10(-50) cm(4) smolecule(-1) photon-(1)]. The electronic decoupling of the donor and acceptor, which is a precondition for the energy transfercassette concept, was demonstrated by time-dependent density functional theory calculations. The applicability of the new probes in the one- and twophoton excitation mode was demonstrated in a proof-of-principle approach in the fluorescence imaging of HeLa cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the merging of multiphoton excitation with the energy transfer cassette concept for a BODIPY-containing dyad.

Study of Protein Haptenation by Amoxicillin Through the Use of a Biotinylated Antibiotic

Allergic reactions towards β-lactam antibiotics pose an important clinical problem. The ability of small molecules, such as a β-lactams, to bind covalently to proteins, in a process known as haptenation, is considered necessary for induction of a specific immunological response. Identification of the proteins modified by β-lactams and elucidation of the relevance of this process in allergic reactions requires sensitive tools. Here we describe the preparation and characterization of a biotinylated amoxicillin analog (AX-B) as a tool for the study of protein haptenation by amoxicillin (AX). AX-B, obtained by the inclusion of a biotin moiety at the lateral chain of AX, showed a chemical reactivity identical to AX. Covalent modification of proteins by AX-B was reduced by excess AX and vice versa, suggesting competition for binding to the same targets. From an immunological point of view, AX and AX-B behaved similarly in RAST inhibition studies with sera of patients with non-selective allergy towards β-lactams, whereas, as expected, competition by AX-B was poorer with sera of AX-selective patients, which recognize AX lateral chain. Use of AX-B followed by biotin detection allowed the observation of human serum albumin (HSA) modification by concentrations 100-fold lower that when using AX followed by immunological detection. Incubation of human serum with AX-B led to the haptenation of all of the previously identified major AX targets. In addition, some new targets could be detected. Interestingly, AX-B allowed the detection of intracellular protein adducts, which showed a cell type-specific pattern. This opens the possibility of following the formation and fate of AX-B adducts in cells. Thus, AX-B may constitute a valuable tool for the identification of AX targets with high sensitivity as well as for the elucidation of the mechanisms involved in allergy towards β-lactams.

Dendrimeric antigen–silica particle composites: an innovative approach for IgE quantification

Dendrimeric antigens (DeAn), which are synthetic antigens where the role of the carrier protein is performed by a dendrimer, were supported on silica particles to assemble DeAn@SiO2 composites. These organic-inorganic hybrid materials were carefully characterized and the preparation methodology was confirmed to be highly reproducible. DeAn@SiO2 containing the allergenic determinant amoxicillin (AXO) proved effective in detecting and quantifying IgE in sera from patients allergic to amoxicillin, in a specific and selective way. This new material is thus a promising candidate for improving in vitro clinical diagnostic practice.