Supramolecular Host‐Inhibited Excited‐State Proton Transfer and Fluorescence Switching of the Anti‐Cancer Drug, Topotecan

Controlling anticancer drug mediated G-quadruplex formation and stabilization by a molecular container

Controlling of ligand mediated G-quadruplex DNA (GQ-DNA) formation and stabilization is an important and challenging aspect due to its active involvement in many biologically important processes such as DNA replication, transcription, etc. Here, we have demonstrated that topotecan (TPT), a potential anticancer drug, can instigate the formation and stabilization of GQ-DNA (H24 → GQ-DNA) in the absence of Na⁺/K⁺ ions via circular dichroism, fluorescence, NMR, UV melting and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies. The primary binding mode of TPT to GQ was found to be stacking at the terminal rather than binding to the groove. We have also reverted this conformational transition (GQ-DNA → H24) using a molecular container, cucurbit[7]uril (CB7), by means of the translocation of the drug (TPT) from GQ-DNA to its nanocavity. Importantly, we have carried out the detection of these conformational transitions using the fluorescence color switch of the drug, which is more direct and simple than some of the other methods that involve sophisticated and complex detection techniques.

Photodeamination to quinone methides in cucurbit[n]urils: potential application in drug delivery

A prodrug is encapsulated in CB[7] and is photochemically transformed into an active drug inside this supramolecular complex.

Interactions between photoacidic 3-hydroxynaphtho[1,2-b]quinolizinium and cucurbit[7]uril: Influence on acidity in the ground and excited state

3-Hydroxynaphtho[1,2-b]quinolizinium was synthesized by cyclodehydration route and its optical properties in different media were investigated. The absorption and emission spectra of this compound depend on the pH of the solution. Thus, at higher pH values the deprotonation yields a merocyanine-type dye that exhibits significantly red-shifted absorption bands and causes a dual emisson, i.e., a combination of emission bands of the hydroxyquinolizinium and its deprotonated form. Whereas this compound is a weak acid in the ground state (pK_a = 7.9), it has a strongly increased acidity in the excited state (pK_a^* = 0.4). As a result, the blue-shifted fluorescence of the hydroxyquinolizinium becomes dominant only under strongly acidic conditions. In addition, it is shown that 3-hydroxynaphtho[1,2-b]quinolizinium binds to cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) with moderate affinity (K_b = 1.8 × 10⁴ M^-1, pH 5) and that the pK_a and pK_a^* values of this ligand increase by about two to three orders of magnitude, respectively, when bound to CB[7].

Dynamics of different steps of the photopyrolytic cycle of an eminent anticancer drug topotecan inside biocompatible lyotropic liquid crystalline systems

Dynamics of different steps of photopyrolytic processes of an eminent anticancer drug topotecan have been investigated inside different lyotropic liquid crystalline systems.

New organically templated thiocyanatocadmates and chlorocuprate(II): synthesis and structural characterization

With various organic base molecules as the countercations, five new thiocyanatocadmates [H2(tmen)][Cd(SCN)4] (tmen = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) 1, [H2(tmba)][Cd2(SCN)6] (tmba = N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,4-butanediamine) 2, [H2(teen)][Cd2(SCN)6] (teen = N,N,N',N'-tetra-ethylethylenediamine) 3, [H(amp)][Cd(SCN)2(CH3COO)] (amp = 2-amino-6-methylpyridine) 4 and [H(abp)]4[Cd(SCN)4]SO4·H2O (abp = 2-amino-6-bromopyridine) 5, and one new chlorocuprate(II) [H2(cha)][CuCl4] (cha = 1,4-cyclohexanediamine) 6 were obtained from a series of simple room-temperature self-assemblies at pH = 2 or 6.5. X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis reveals that (i) templated by [(CH3)2NH(CH2)2NH(CH3)2](2+) (H2(tmen)(2+)), the anion [Cd(SCN)4](2-) in 1 shows a 1-D linear single-chain structure, whereas templated by [(CH3)2NH(CH2)4NH(CH3)2](2+) (H2(tmba)(2+)), the anion [Cd2(SCN)6](2-) in 2 shows a 1-D linear double-chain structure. The number of C atoms between the two N atoms in the templating agent controls the width of the anionic chain through the N(amino)-H···N(SCN) interactions; (ii) templated by [(C2H5)2NH(CH2)2NH(C2H5)2](2+) (H2(teen)(2+)), the anion [Cd2(SCN)6](2-) in 3 exhibits a 3-D open-framework structure, which is based on zigzag anionic chains. A direct change of the substituent group from -CH3 to -C2H5 alters indirectly the shape of the anionic chain from a linear shape to a zigzag shape; (iii) 4 shows a 3-D supramolecular network structure, which is built up from the 1-D zigzag anionic structures by the H(amp)(+) molecules via N-H···O interactions. The formation of the zigzag chain derives from the chelation of the CH3COO(-) groups to the Cd(2+) centers; (iv) 5 is indeed a double salt of [H(abp)]2[Cd(SCN)4] and [H(abp)]2SO4. SO4(2-) and H(abp)(+) form a supramolecular aggregation. Surrounded by the aggregations, the anion [Cd(SCN)4](2-) only shows a dinuclear structure; and (v) templated by H2(cha)(2+), the anion [CuCl4](2-) in 6 displays a 2-D perovskite layer structure. The photoluminescence analysis indicates that upon excitation (λ(ex) = 335 nm for 4, λ(ex) = 395 nm for 5), and emit light (λ(em) = 365 nm for 4, λ(em) = 470 nm for 5), which can be seen clearly under the UV lamp.

Excited-state proton transfer in confined medium. 4-methyl-7-hydroxyflavylium and β-naphthol incorporated in cucurbit[7]uril

Excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) was studied by fluorescent emission using a mathematical model recast from the Weller theory. The titration curves can be fitted with three parameters: pK(a) (acidity constant of the ground sate), pK(ap)* (apparent acidity constant of the excited state), and η(A*), the efficiency of excited base formation from the excited acid. β-Naphthol and 4-metyhl-7-hydroxyflavylium were studied in aqueous solution and upon incorporation in cucurbit[7]uril. For all the compounds studied the interaction with the host leads to 1:1 adducts and the ground-state pK(a) increases upon incorporation. Whereas the ESPT of 4-methyl-7-hydroxyflavylium practically does not change in the presence of the host, in the case of β-naphthol it is prevented and the fluorescence emission titration curves are coincident with those taken by absorption. The position of the guest inside the host was investigated by NMR experiments and seems to determine the efficiency of the ESPT. The ESPT decreases for the guest, exhibiting a great protection of the phenol to the bulk water interaction.

Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of 1,8-naphthalimide derived "super" photoacids

The ground- and excited-state acid-base properties of three novel naphthalimide-based “super” photoacids were studied using steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy. The compounds exhibit pKa = 8.8-8.0 and pKa* = -1.2 to -1.9. The decrease in both ground- and excited-state pKa is achieved by attachment of an electron withdrawing group (sulfonate) on the aromatic system. All compounds are deprotonated upon excitation in alcohols and DMSO. Good correlation is established between the pKa* and the ratio of the neutral and anion emission intensities in a certain solvent. The excited-state intermolecular proton transfer to solvent (H2O and DMSO) is explained by a two-step model. In the first step, short-range proton transfer takes place, resulting in the formation of a contact ion pair. Free ion pairs are formed in the diffusion controlled second step.

Supramolecular interaction between a hydrophilic coumarin dye and macrocyclic hosts: spectroscopic and calorimetric study

The photophysics of a hydrophilic molecule, 7-(diethylamino)-coumarin-3-carboxylic acid (7-DCCA), was studied in the presence of two macrocycles, (2-hydroxypropyl)-γ-cyclodextrin and cucurbit[7]uril. We have used steady-state absorption, fluorescence, and time-resolved fluorescence emission spectroscopy; Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy; (1)H NMR spectroscopy; and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) to confirm the supramolecular host-guest complex formation. The spectral properties of 7-DCCA were modulated in the presence of both macrocycles. It was assigned that 7-DCCA forms a 1:2 complex with (2-hydroxypropyl)-γ-cyclodextrin and cucurbit[7]uril. The large modulation of the emission properties of 7-DCCA in the presence of the macrocycles indicates the formation of supramolecular complexes. A significant shift in the bond vibration frequencies in the FTIR studies showed encapsulation of the dyes in the hydrophobic cavity of the macrocycles. This is further substantiated by the (1)H NMR studies, in which the upfield and downfield shifts of the protons were observed in both the aliphatic and aromatic region in the presence of macrocycles. The time-resolved anisotropy measurements further reinforce the conception of host-guest supramolecular complex formation because, in both cases, the rotational relaxation time increases significantly compared to that in water. A deeper understanding between the differences in interaction of an anionic molecule with cucurbit[7]uril and (2-hydroxypropyl)-γ-cyclodextrin will be achieved through this work. From the ITC measurement, we have formulated the forces due to complex formation.

Urea induced unfolding dynamics of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD): spectroscopic and molecular dynamics simulation studies from femto-second to nanosecond regime

Here, we investigate the effect of urea in the unfolding dynamics of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), an important enzymatic cofactor, through steady state, time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopic and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies. Steady state results indicate the possibility of urea induced unfolding of FAD, inferred from increasing emission intensity of FAD with urea. The TCSPC and up-conversion results suggest that the stack-unstack dynamics of FAD severely gets affected in the presence of urea and leads to an increase in the unstack conformation population from 15% in pure water to 40% in 12 M urea. Molecular dynamics simulation was employed to understand the nature of the interaction between FAD and urea at the molecular level. Results depict that urea molecules replace many of the water molecules around adenine and isoalloxazine rings of FAD. However, the major driving force for the stability of this unstack conformations arises from the favorable stacking interaction of a significant fraction of the urea molecules with adenine and isoalloxazine rings of FAD, which overcomes the intramolecular stacking interaction between themselves observed in pure water.