The Bacteriorhodopsin Chromophore Retinal and Derivatives: An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of the Second-Order Optical Properties

Molecular Contrast Optical Coherence Tomography and Its Applications in Medicine

The growing need to understand the molecular mechanisms of diseases has prompted the revolution in molecular imaging techniques along with nanomedicine development. Conventional optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a low-cost in vivo imaging modality that provides unique high spatial and temporal resolution anatomic images but little molecular information. However, given the widespread adoption of OCT in research and clinical practice, its robust molecular imaging extensions are strongly desired to combine with anatomical images. A range of relevant approaches has been reported already. In this article, we review the recent advances of molecular contrast OCT imaging techniques, the corresponding contrast agents, especially the nanoparticle-based ones, and their applications. We also summarize the properties, design criteria, merit, and demerit of those contrast agents. In the end, the prospects and challenges for further research and development in this field are outlined.

Hyper-Rayleigh scattering of adenine, thymine, and cytosine in neat water

The first hyperpolarizabilities of the DNA bases thymine and cytosine were determined by hyper-Rayleigh scattering in neat water despite their low solubility. Due to the low intensity levels collected, count statistics were performed instead of the standard dilution procedure. The first hyperpolarizabilities were found to be β_Thymine = (2.99 ± 0.44) × 10^-30 esu for thymine and β_Cytosine = (3.35 ± 0.21) × 10^-30 esu for cytosine. Due to its weak solubility, only an upper limit β_Adenine < (1.82 ± 0.10) × 10^-30 esu could be set for adenine. The first hyperpolarizability of guanine could not be measured because of its very weak solubility. Theoretical static and 800 nm dynamic first hyperpolarizability tensor elements were also computed with Gaussian 09 for comparison.

In situ reversible redox switching of first hyperpolarizability of bimetallic ruthenium complexes

In this article we report the reversible redox switching of first hyperpolarizability of bimetallic ruthenium complexes bridged by bipyridyl tetrazine (bptz) ligands by second harmonic light scattering experiments (SHLS). We have synthesised [RuII(acac)₂(CH₃CN)₂] and [(acac)₂Ru-bptz-Ru(acac)₂] complexes and measured their first hyperpolarizabilities as a function of in situ electrochemical oxidation/reduction of the metal centres. As a result of the oxidation of ruthenium centre from Ru(ii) to Ru(iii), the molecular hyperpolarizability of the complexes went up. The mixed-valence intermediate bimetallic complex and not the fully oxidized complex exhibit the highest β value of 780 × 10^-30 esu. We also demonstrated that the hyperpolarizability is reversible with the change of the oxidation state of the metal and both the complexes are stable for several cycles of redox switching. The experimental results are also supported by calculations.

Light-Responsive Size of Self-Assembled Spiropyran-Lysozyme Nanoparticles with Enzymatic Function

Novel light-responsive nanoassemblies with switchable size and enzymatic activity are built from a protein and a water-soluble spiropyran. Assemblies are created by electrostatic self-assembly in aqueous solution such that the photochromic property of the spiropyran enables light responsiveness. Upon visible light exposure, the aggregate size increases from 200 to 400 nm. The enzyme retains its activity upon aggregation into the assembly, while it decreases through visible light irradiation. Fundamentally, we show how the two different spiropyran isomers, the open-ring merocyanine form and the closed-ring spiropyran form, bind differently to the protein, which triggers the assembly size and use of thermodynamic data to understand the binding process and the size response. Thus, as a proof of concept, a self-assembly driven light-tunable enzyme activity in conjunction with a triggerable assembly size is demonstrated for a model system. The concept bears future potential for various possible biological applications ranging from genetic control over vaccine applications to the detection of certain proteins.

Directed Evolution of a Bright Near-Infrared Fluorescent Rhodopsin Using a Synthetic Chromophore

By engineering a microbial rhodopsin, Archaerhodopsin-3 (Arch), to bind a synthetic chromophore, merocyanine retinal, in place of the natural chromophore all-trans-retinal (ATR), we generated a protein with exceptionally bright and unprecedentedly red-shifted near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence. We show that chromophore substitution generates a fluorescent Arch complex with a 200-nm bathochromic excitation shift relative to ATR-bound wild-type Arch and an emission maximum at 772 nm. Directed evolution of this complex produced variants with pH-sensitive NIR fluorescence and molecular brightness 8.5-fold greater than the brightest ATR-bound Arch variant. The resulting proteins are well suited to bacterial imaging; expression and stability have not been optimized for mammalian cell imaging. By targeting both the protein and its chromophore, we overcome inherent challenges associated with engineering bright NIR fluorescence into Archaerhodopsin. This work demonstrates an efficient strategy for engineering non-natural, tailored properties into microbial opsins, properties relevant for imaging and interrogating biological systems.

Analytic density functional theory calculations of pure vibrational hyperpolarizabilities: the first dipole hyperpolarizability of retinal and related molecules

We present a general approach for the analytic calculation of pure vibrational contributions to the molecular (hyper)polarizabilities at the density functional level of theory. The analytic approach allows us to study large molecules, and we apply the new code to the study of the first dipole hyperpolarizabilities of retinal and related molecules. We investigate the importance of electron correlation as described by the B3LYP exchange-correlation functional on the pure vibrational and electronic hyperpolarizabilities and compare the computed hyperpolarizabilities with available experimental data. The effects of electron correlation on the pure vibrational corrections vary signficantly even between these structurally very similar molecules, making it difficult to estimate these effects without explicit calculations at the density functional theory level. As expected, the frequency-dependent first hyperpolarizability, which determines the experimentally observed second-harmonic generation, is dominated by the electronic term, whereas for the static hyperpolarizability, the vibrational contribution is equally important. As a consequence, frequency extrapolation of the measured optical hyperpolarizabilities can only provide an estimate for the electronic contribution to the static hyperpolarizability, not its total value. The relative values of the hyperpolarizabilities for different molecules, obtained from the calculations, are in reasonable agreement with experimental data.

Second Harmonic Generation, Electrooptical Pockels Effect, and Static First-Order Hyperpolarizabilities of 2,2′-Bithiophene Conformers: An HF, MP2, and DFT Theoretical Investigation

The static and dynamic electronic (hyper)polarizabilities of the equilibrium conformations of 2,2′-bithiophene (anti-gauche and syn-gauche) were computed in the gas phase. The calculations were carried out using Hartree-Fock (HF), Møller-Plesset second-order perturbation theory (MP2), and density functional theory methods. The properties were evaluated for the second harmonic generation (SHG), and electrooptical Pockels effect (EOPE) nonlinear optical processes at the typical λ=1064 nm of the Nd:YAG laser. The anti-gauche form characterized by the S–C2–C2′–S dihedral angle of 137° (MP2/6-311G**) is the global minimum on the potential energy surface, whereas the syn-gauche rotamer (S–C2–C2′–S = 48°, MP2/6-311G**) lies ca. 0.5 kcal/mol above the anti-gauche form. The structural properties of the gauche structures are rather similar to each other. The MP2 electron correlation effects are dramatic for the first-order hyperpolarizabilities of the 2,2′-bithiophenes, decreasing the HF values by ca. a factor of three. When passing from the anti-gauche to the syn-gauche conformer, the static and frequency-dependent first-order hyperpolarizabilities increase by ca. a factor of two. Differently, the electronic polarizabilities and second-order hyperpolarizabilities of these rotamers are rather close to each other. The syn-gauche structure could be discriminated from the anti-gauche one through its much more intense SHG and EOPE signals.

Electron correlation effects and density analysis of the first-order hyperpolarizability of neutral guanine tautomers

Dipole moments (μ), charge distributions, and static electronic first-order hyperpolarizabilities (β(μ)) of the two lowest-energy keto tautomers of guanine (7H and 9H) were determined in the gas phase using Hartree-Fock, Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2 and MP4), and DFT (PBE1PBE, B97-1, B3LYP, CAM-B3LYP) methods with Dunning's correlation-consistent aug-cc-pVDZ and d-aug-cc-pVDZ basis sets. The most stable isomer 7H exhibits a μ value smaller than that of the 9H form by a factor of ca. 3.5. The β μ value of the 9H tautomer is strongly dependent on the computational method employed, as it dramatically influences the β(μ) (9H)/β(μ) (7H) ratio, which at the highest correlated MP4/aug-cc-pVDZ level is predicted to be ca. 5. The Coulomb-attenuating hybrid exchange-correlation CAM-B3LYP method is superior to the conventional PBE1PBE, B3LYP, and B97-1 functionals in predicting the β(μ) values. Differences between the largest diagonal hyperpolarizability components were clarified through hyperpolarizability density analyses. Dipole moment and first-order hyperpolarizability are molecular properties that are potentially useful for distinguishing the 7H from the 9H tautomer.

Second order nonlinear optical properties of corroles: experimental and theoretical investigations

The first hyperpolarizabilities, βHRS, of corrole derivatives have been measured by using Hyper–Rayleigh Scattering technique. The results showed that βHRS of corroles could be greatly enhanced by modifying its periphery with donor–acceptor groups. Maximum value reaches 354 × 10-30 esu at an incident wavelength of 1500 nm. βHRS of investigated corroles were also calculated with the Zerner's intermediate neglect of differential overlap/configuration interaction/sum-over-states method. The calculated and experimental results are in good agreement and conclude that βHRS arises mainly from the charge transfer along molecule's non-symmetrical axis and strong coupling between two different excited states of the Soret band.

Theoretical investigations on electronic spectra and the redox-switchable second-order nonlinear optical responses of rhodium(I)-9,10-phenanthrenediimine complexes

The redox-switchable second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of a series of Rh(I) complexes have been studied based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The analysis of the electronic structure shows that the Rh(I) ion acts as the oxidation center in a one-electron-oxidized process, while both the Rh(I) ion and the 9,10-phenanthrenediimine (phdi) ligand act as reduction centers in a one-electron-reduced process. Different redox centers lead to different charge-transfer (CT) features, which alter the static first hyperpolarizabilities of the neutral complexes. Our DFT calculations indicated that these complexes show large second-order NLO responses and that the redox process can significantly enhance these NLO responses. For complexes 2 and 3, the β(tot) values of the one-electron-reduced species 2(-) and the one-electron-oxidized species 3(+) are ~10.0 and ~8.5 times larger, respectively, than those of the corresponding neutral complexes. Therefore, complexes 2 and 3 are promising candidates for redox-switchable NLO molecular materials. The large NLO responses of the oxidized species are mainly related to ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer (LLCT) transitions when combined with intraligand charge-transfer (ILCT) transitions, while the results for the reduced species are strongly associated with metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transitions.

Second-harmonic generation in GFP-like proteins

The second-order nonlinear optical properties of green fluorescent proteins (GFPs), such as the photoswitchable Dronpa and enhanced GFP (EGFP), have been studied at both the theoretical and experimental levels. In the case of Dronpa, both approaches are consistent in showing the rather counterintuitive result of a larger second-order nonlinear polarizability (or first hyperpolarizability, beta) for the protonated state, which has a higher transition energy, than for the deprotonated, fluorescent state with its absorption at lower energy. Moreover, the value of beta for the protonated form of Dronpa is among the highest reported for proteins. In addition to the pH dependence, we have found a wavelength dependence in the beta values. These properties are essential for the practical use of Dronpa or other GFP-like fluorescent proteins as second-order nonlinear fluorophores for symmetry-sensitive nonlinear microscopy imaging and as nonlinear optical sensors for electrophysiological processes. An accurate value of the first hyperpolarizability is also essential for any qualitative analysis of the nonlinear images.

Quantum chemical study of electronic and structural properties of retinal and some aromatic analogs

The electronic and structural properties of retinal and four analogs were studied using semiempirical, ab initio Hartree-Fock, and density functional theory methods with the aim to evaluate the effects caused by some structural modifications in the ring bound to the polyenic chain and compared with the all-E-trans-retinal molecule. Therefore, some properties such as bond lengths, bond angles, atomic charges derived from electrostatic potential charges from electrostatic potential using grid based method as well as frontier orbitals of the polyenic chain were analyzed. Furthermore, the transition energies of the molecules were also calculated using the Zerner's intermediate neglect of differential overlap-spectroscopic, time-dependent Hartree-Fock, and time-dependent density functional theory methods. The results indicate that in spite of the structural modifications of retinal derivatives in comparison with all-E-trans-retinal, their properties seem similar. Thus, these molecules may behave similarly to all-E-trans-retinal and possibly be attempted in the search of novel molecular devices.

Pentacyanoiron(II) as an Electron Donor Group for Nonlinear Optics: Medium-Responsive Properties and Comparisons with Related Pentaammineruthenium(II) Complexes

In this article, we describe a series of complex salts in which electron-rich {Fe(II)(CN)(5)}(3)(-) centers are coordinated to pyridyl ligands with electron-accepting N-methyl/aryl-pyridinium substituents. These compounds have been characterized by using various techniques including electronic absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Molecular quadratic nonlinear optical (NLO) responses have been determined by using hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) at 1064 nm, and also via Stark (electroabsorption) spectroscopic studies on the intense, visible d --> pi* metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) bands. The relatively large static first hyperpolarizabilities, beta(0), increase markedly on moving from aqueous to methanol solutions, accompanied by large red-shifts in the MLCT transitions. Acidification of aqueous solutions allows reversible switching of the linear and NLO properties, as shown via both HRS and Stark experiments. Time-dependent density functional theory and finite field calculations using a polarizable continuum model yield relatively good agreement with the experimental results and confirm the large decrease in beta(0) on protonation. The Stark-derived beta(0) values are generally larger for related {Ru(II)(NH(3))(5)}(2+) complexes than for their {Fe(II)(CN)(5)}(3)(-) analogues, consistent with the HRS data in water. However, the HRS data in methanol show that the stronger solvatochromism of the Fe(II) complexes causes their NLO responses to surpass those of their Ru(II) counterparts upon changing the solvent medium.

Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and Nonlinear Optical (NLO) Properties of New Schiff-Base Nickel(II) Complexes. Toward a New Type of Molecular Switch?

An H2L Schiff-base ligand that was obtained from the monocondensation of diaminomaleonitrile and 4-(diethylamino)salicylaldehyde is reported together with four related nickel(II) complexes formulated as [Ni(L)(L')] (L' = MePhCHNH2, iPrNH2, Py, and PPh3). Crystal structures have been solved for H2L, [Ni(L)(MePhCHNH2)], and [Ni(L)(iPrNH2)]. Surprisingly, the complexation process leads to the formation of a rather unusual nickel amido (-NH-Ni(II)) bond by deprotonation of the primary amine of H2L. A reduction of the quadratic hyperpolarizability (beta) from 38 x 10(-30) to 17.5 x 10(-30) cm5 esu(-1) is evidenced on H2L upon metal complexation by the electric-field-induced second-harmonic (EFISH) technique. Qualitative ZINDO/SCI quantum chemical calculations indicate that, in [Ni(L)(MePhCHNH2)], the beta orientation strongly depends on the laser wavelength. In particular, a beta rotation strictly equal to 90 degrees could be obtained with 1.022 microm incident light on passing from [Ni(L)(MePhCHNH2] to a hypothetical [Ni(HL)(MePhCHNH2]+ protonated complex, thus raising the possibility for a new type of molecular switch.

Syntheses and Spectroscopic and Quadratic Nonlinear Optical Properties of Extended Dipolar Complexes with Ruthenium(II) Ammine Electron Donor and N-Methylpyridinium Acceptor Groups

In this paper, we describe the extremely unusual optical properties of Ru(II)-based electron donor-acceptor (D-A) polyene and some closely related chromophores. For three different polyene series, the intense, visible d-->pi* metal-to-ligand charge-transfer bands unexpectedly blue-shift as the number of E-ethylene units (n) increases from 1 to 3, and the static first hyperpolarizabilities beta(0) determined via hyper-Rayleigh scattering and Stark spectroscopy maximize at n = 2, in marked contrast to other known D-A polyenes in which beta(0) increases steadily with n. Time-dependent density-functional theory and finite field calculations verify these empirical trends, which arise from the orbital structures of the complexes. This study illustrates that transition metal-based nonlinear optical chromophores can show very different behavior when compared with their more thoroughly studied purely organic counterparts.

Effect of beta-particles on the retinal chromophore in bacteriorhodopsin of Halobacterium salinarium

Bacteriorhodopsin (bR) is an attractive intelligent material. Understanding the mechanism of its light-driven proton pumping outward the cell implicates it in many technical applications, particularly, in what is called optical computers, and the biotechnology is waiting for this promised biological molecule. An ionizing radiation source handling could be computerized in radiation fields. The computer containing such biological material will not be out of reach of the fields of ionizing radiation. So it is interesting to report on the working of such biological computer if it is subjected to ionizing radiation. The functional unit in this molecule is retinal chromophore. In the present work, it is interested to assess the functionality of bR through determining the electronic transition dipole moment of its chromophore. Significant changes in the values of the absorption transition dipole moment were noticed at different doses of beta-particles in the range of 0.1-0.3 kGy. Ionizing radiation-induced changes in bR were followed by intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy. An analysis of the fluorescence data bears on the tertiary structure of bR. The emission spectrum is, however, red shifted with an increase in intensity with the different doses; in the meanwhile, gradual decrease in the visible absorbance has occurred till almost complete loss is attained. This bleaching due to ionizing radiation may offer an alternative way of data processing in such optical devices based on bR. Nevertheless, bR has proofed to be used as a biological indicator of ionizing radiation. However, the potential of bR for use as a biosensor to detect ionizing radiation should be considered.