Boron-Containing Two-Photon-Absorbing Chromophores. 3. One- and Two-Photon Photophysical Properties of p-Carborane-Containing Fluorescent Bioprobes

• Published in: Inorganic chemistry 2011-05, Vol.50 (10), p.4272-4278
• Main Authors: Nicoud, Jean-François, Bolze, Frédéric, Sun, Xiao-Hua, Hayek, Ali, Baldeck, Patrice
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; Biosensing Techniques - methods; Boranes - chemical synthesis; Boranes - metabolism; Boron Neutron Capture Therapy; Cellular Biology; Female; Fluorescence; Fluorescent Dyes - chemical synthesis; Fluorescent Dyes - metabolism; HeLa Cells; Humans; Lasers; Life Sciences; Light; Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton; Photochemical Processes - radiation effects; Photons
• ISSN: 0020-1669; 1520-510X
• DOI: 10.1021/ic102043v

Boron-containing two-photon-absorbing fluorophores have been prepared as new bifunctional molecules, potentially useful in two-photon excited microscopy (TPEM) and boron neutron capture therapy. They are based on a one-dimensional conjugated system containing a p-carborane entity at one end of the molecule and various electron-donating groups containing oxygen or nitrogen atoms at the other end. We investigated their one- and two-photon photophysical properties. They showed efficient fluorescence in an organic solvent, as well as in water for two of them, allowing microscopy on cell cultures. High two-photon absorption cross sections were determined in the 700−900 nm range. TPEM images were obtained with these new p-carborane-containing fluorophores, with laser intensities in the submilliwatt range.