Sergey M. Borisov

Indicators for optical oxygen sensors

Continuous monitoring of oxygen concentration is of great importance in many different areas of research which range from medical applications to food packaging. In the last three decades, significant progress has been made in the field of optical sensing technology and this review will highlight the one inherent to the development of oxygen indicators. The first section outlines the bioanalytical fields in which optical oxygen sensors have been applied. The second section gives the reader a comprehensive summary of the existing oxygen indicators with a critical highlight on their photophysical and sensing properties. Altogether, this review is meant to give the potential user a guide to select the most suitable oxygen indicator for the particular application of interest.

Intracellular O2 Sensing Probe Based on Cell-Penetrating Phosphorescent Nanoparticles

A new intracellular O(2) (icO(2)) sensing probe is presented, which comprises a nanoparticle (NP) formulation of a cationic polymer Eudragit RL-100 and a hydrophobic phosphorescent dye Pt(II)-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (PtPFPP). Using the time-resolved fluorescence (TR-F) plate reader set-up, cell loading was investigated in detail, particularly the effects of probe concentration, loading time, serum content in the medium, cell type, density, etc. The use of a fluorescent analogue of the probe in conjunction with confocal microscopy and flow cytometry analysis, revealed that cellular uptake of the NPs is driven by nonspecific energy-dependent endocytosis and that the probe localizes inside the cell close to the nucleus. Probe calibration in biological environment was performed, which allowed conversion of measured phosphorescence lifetime signals into icO(2) concentration (μM). Its analytical performance in icO(2) sensing experiments was demonstrated by monitoring metabolic responses of mouse embryonic fibroblast cells under ambient and hypoxic macroenvironment. The NP probe was seen to generate stable and reproducible signals in different types of mammalian cells and robust responses to their metabolic stimulation, thus allowing accurate quantitative analysis. High brightness and photostability allow its use in screening experiments with cell populations on a commercial TR-F reader, and for single cell analysis on a fluorescent microscope.

Highly Photostable Near-Infrared Fluorescent pH Indicators and Sensors Based on BF2-Chelated Tetraarylazadipyrromethene Dyes

In this study, a series of new BF2-chelated tetraarylazadipyrromethane dyes are synthesized and are shown to be suitable for the preparation of on/off photoinduced electron transfer modulated fluorescent sensors. The new indicators are noncovalently entrapped in polyurethane hydrogel D4 and feature absorption maxima in the range 660–710 nm and fluorescence emission maxima at 680–740 nm. Indicators have high molar absorption coefficients of ∼80 000 M–1 cm–1, good quantum yields (up to 20%), excellent photostability and low cross-sensitivity to the ionic strength. pKa values of indicators are determined from absorbance and fluorescence measurements and range from 7 to 11, depending on the substitution pattern of electron-donating and -withdrawing functionalities. Therefore, the new indicators are suitable for exploitation and adaptation in a diverse range of analytical applications. Apparent pKa values in sensor films derived from fluorescence data show 0.5–1 pH units lower values in comparison with those derived from the absorption data due to Förster resonance energy transfer from protonated to deprotonated form. A dual-lifetime referenced sensor is prepared, and application for monitoring of pH in corals is demonstrated.

Red Light-Excitable Oxygen Sensing Materials Based on Platinum(II) and Palladium(II) Benzoporphyrins

New optical oxygen-sensing materials make use of highly luminescent NIR platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes with benzoporphyrins. Bulk optodes based on polystyrene and sensing nanobeads based on poly(styrene-block-vinylpyrrolidone) and polysulfone are prepared and characterized. The versatility of the new materials is demonstrated. The features include excellent compatibility with most common excitation sources, high brightness, and suitability for subcutaneous oxygen monitoring.

Precipitation as a simple and versatile method for preparation of optical nanochemosensors.

Optical nanosensors for such important analytes as oxygen, pH, temperature, etc. are manufactured in a simple way via precipitation. Lipophilic indicators are entrapped into nanobeads based on poly(methyl methacrylate), polystyrene, polyurethanes, ethylcellulose, and other polymers. Charged groups greatly facilitate formation of the small beads and increase their stability. Sensing properties of the beads can be tuned by choosing the appropriate indicator. Nanosensors for carbon dioxide and ammonia are found to be cross-sensitive to pH if dispersed in aqueous media. These nanobeads are successfully employed to design bulk optodes. Nanochemosensors with enhanced brightness via light-harvesting and multi-functional magnetic nanosensors also are prepared.

Multiplex bacterial growth monitoring in 24-well microplates using a dual optical sensor for dissolved oxygen and pH.

Non‐invasive, simultaneous optical monitoring of oxygen and pH during bacterial cultivation in 24‐well microplates is presented using an integrated dual sensor for dissolved oxygen and pH values. The dual sensor is based on oxygen‐sensitive organosilica microparticles and pH‐sensitive microbeads from a polymethacrylate derivative embedded into a polyurethane hydrogel. The readout is based on a phase‐domain fluorescence lifetime‐based method referred to as modified frequency domain dual lifetime referencing using a commercially available detector system for 24‐well microplates. The sensor was used for monitoring the growth of Pseudomonas putida bacterial cultures. The method is suitable for parallelized, miniaturized bioprocessing, and cell‐based high‐throughput screening applications. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;100: 430–438.

Phosphorescent Platinum(II) and Palladium(II) Complexes with Azatetrabenzoporphyrins—New Red Laser Diode-Compatible Indicators for Optical Oxygen Sensing

A new class of oxygen indicators is described. Platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes of azatetrabenzoporphyrins occupy an intermediate position between tetrabenzoporphyrins and phthalocyanines and combine features of both. The new dyes are excitable in the red part of the spectrum and possess strong room-temperature NIR phosphorescence. Other features include excellent spectral compatibility with the red laser diodes and 632.8 nm line of He−Ne laser, excellent photostability, and significantly shorter decay times than for the respective meso-tetraphenyltetrabenzoporphyrins. Applicability of the complexes for optical oxygen sensing is demonstrated.

Novel optical trace oxygen sensors based on platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes with 5,10,15,20-meso-tetrakis-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorphenyl)-porphyrin covalently immobilized on silica-gel particles.

New optical sensors for trace amounts of oxygen are based on platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes of 5,10,15,20-meso-tetrakis-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorphenyl)-porphyrin covalently attached to the surface of amino-modified silica-gel particles. The dye-doped silica-gel particles are dispersed in silicone rubber. The Stern-Volmer plots show linear response and are virtually identical for either luminescence intensity and decay time. Other features include high photostability and rapid response times (∼150 ms in gas phase). The sensors based on the palladium(II) complex show significantly higher sensitivity (K(SV) about 67 kPa(-1) at 25 °C) with the dynamic range from 0.02 to 100 Pa. The sensitivity of the platinum(II) complexes is significantly lower (K(SV)=3.7-4.2 kPa(-1), dynamic range 0.3-1000 Pa). The sensors can be suitable for application in breweries, water boilers and for marine research (monitoring of oxygen minimum zones).

Diketo-Pyrrolo-Pyrrole Dyes as New Colorimetric and Fluorescent pH Indicators for Optical Carbon Dioxide Sensors

New indicators for optical CO2 sensors are synthesized in two steps from the commercially available diketo-pyrrolo-pyrrole (DPP) pigments Irgazin Ruby and Irgazin Scarlet. After introduction of bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfonamide groups via a simple two-step synthesis, the pigments are rendered highly soluble in organic solvents and in polymers and show pH-dependent absorption and emission spectra. The new indicators have molar absorption coefficients in a 20 000-50 000 M(-1) cm(-1) range, possess quantum yields close to unity, and feature good photostability. The indicators along with a quaternary ammonium base are embedded into ethyl cellulose to give optical carbon dioxide sensors. The absorption and emission spectra of the deprotonated form are bathochromically shifted by more than 100 nm compared to the neutral form (λmax absorption 496-550 nm; λmax emission 564-587 nm). This enables colorimetric read-out and self-referenced ratiometric fluorescence intensity measurements. Importantly, the dynamic range of the sensors based on the new indicators is significantly different (0-10 kPa and 1-100 kPa CO2) that enables a broad variety of applications. New DPP dyes are conveniently prepared from commercially available pigments and represent a new class of colorimetric and fluorescent pH indicators for optical carbon dioxide sensors.

Synthesis and properties of new phosphorescent red light-excitable platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes with Schiff bases for oxygen sensing and triplet-triplet annihilation-based upconversion.

New Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes with donor-acceptor Schiff bases are conveniently prepared in only two steps. The complexes efficiently absorb in the red part of the spectrum (ε > 10(5) M(-1) cm(-1)) and show moderate to strong room-temperature phosphorescence in the near-infrared (NIR) region. Particularly, Pt(II) complexes possess phosphorescence quantum yields (Φ) of ~10%, but the emission of the respective Pd(II) complexes is less efficient (Φ ≈ 1%-2%). The complexes exhibit solvatochromic behavior, in which the absorption and emission spectra shift bathochromically in polar solvents. The Pt(II) complexes are embedded in polystyrene to produce oxygen-sensing materials. The Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes are demonstrated to be efficient sensitizers in triplet-triplet annihilation-based upconversion systems.