# US 2025/0085201 A1 · Substituted quadrupolar fluorescent dyes for live cell imaging

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- Number: US 2025/0085201 A1
- Document ID: US20250085201A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/828,883
- Filed: 2024-09-09
- Published: 2025-03-13
- Earliest claimed: 2023-09-07
- Applicants: Northwestern University
- Inventors: Yuanning Feng; James Fraser Stoddart
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250085201A1

## CPC

- G01N 1/30: Staining; Impregnating {; Fixation; Dehydration; Multistep processes for preparing samples of tissue, cell or nucleic acid material and the like for analysis}
- C09K 11/06: containing organic luminescent materials
- G01N 2001/302: {Stain compositions}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

Described herein are methods, compositions, and cyclophanes for live cell imaging. The method comprises irradiating a cell in contact with a composition for live cell imaging and detecting an emission signal, wherein the composition for live cell imaging comprises a cyclophane having an alternating cyclic arrangement of two A subunits and two B subunits.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for live cell imaging, the method comprising irradiating a cell in contact with a composition for live cell imaging and detecting an emission signal, wherein the composition for live cell imaging comprises a cyclophane having an alternating cyclic arrangement of two quadrupolar subunits and two bridging subunits, wherein the quadrupolar subunit has a formula of
and wherein R is an electron-donating group (EDG).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the composition for live cell imaging comprises between 1-50 μM of the cyclophane.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the composition for live cell imaging comprises between 1-10 μM of the cyclophane.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein R is an alkoxy.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein R is methoxy.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the bridging subunit comprises a para-xylylene linker of formula

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the cyclophane has a formula of
wherein R is an alkoxy.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the cyclophane has a formula of

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the emission signal comprises detecting radiation emitted from the cyclophane internalized within the cell.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the cell is contacted with the composition for live cell imaging for a period of time prior to irradiating the cell.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the emission signal is in the visible spectrum.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the cell is irradiated with visible or near-UV radiation.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the cells are cancer cells.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A composition for live cell imaging comprising the cyclophane according to claim 1, wherein the composition for live cell imaging emits a detectible signal when the composition for live cell imaging comprises between 1-10 μM of the cyclophane.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The composition of claim 14, wherein the composition for live cell imaging is non-cytotoxic.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The composition of claim 14, wherein R is an alkoxy.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The composition of claim 16, wherein R is methoxy.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The composition of claim 14, wherein the bridging subunit comprises a para-xylylene linker of formula

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The composition of claim 14, wherein the cyclophane has a formula of
wherein R is an alkoxy.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The composition of claim 14, wherein the cyclophane has a formula of

### Claim 21 (depends on 14)

The composition of claim 14 wherein the composition for live cell imaging further comprises a counter anion.

### Claim 22 (depends on 14)

The composition of claim 14, wherein the composition for live cell imaging further comprises a non-cytotoxic carrier.

### Claim 23 (depends on 14)

A kit for live cell imaging comprising a first container containing the composition for live cell imaging according to claim 14 and a second container containing a cell.