Methods and compositions for altering photophysical properties of fluorophores via proximal quenching
AssigneeCornell University
InventorsScott Blanchard, Roger Altman, J. David Warren
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Abstract
The invention is directed to fluorophore-containing compositions and configurations wherein proximity between the fluorophore and one or more protective agents (PAs) modifies the lifetime of fluorescent and/or dark states, their frequency of occurrence, and the total lifetime of fluorescence in order to appropriately modify the photophysical characteristics of the fluorophore. The invention is also directed to methods that utilize these compositions and configurations.
Claims8
A composition comprising a fluorophore having attached thereto at least one triplet state quencher, wherein the at least one triplet state quencher is attached covalently to the fluorophore either directly or via a linker, wherein said triplet state quencher has the ability to alter the singlet-triplet occupancy distribution of excited and relaxing electrons of a fluorophore, and the triplet state quencher is selected from:
- (i) chromanol-derived groups having the formula:
- wherein, in Formula (9), R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are independently selected from hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon groups, wherein one of R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 is a bond connecting the chromanol-derived group to said fluorophore;
- (ii) nitro-substituted aromatic groups having the formula:
- wherein, in Formula (12), R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 are independently selected from hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon groups, wherein at least one of R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 is replaced with the —NO2 group, and wherein one of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 is a bond connecting the nitro-substituted aromatic group to said fluorophore;
- and
- (iii) cyclic polyene groups containing more than three conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.