Two-photon Absorption Fluorescence Research Articles

Two-photon nanoprobes based on bioorganic nanoarchitectonics with a photo-oxidation enhanced emission mechanism

Two-photon absorption (TPA) fluorescence imaging holds great promise in diagnostics and biomedicine owing to its unparalleled spatiotemporal resolution. However, the adaptability and applicability of currently available TPA probes, which act as a critical element for determining the imaging contrast effect, is severely challenged by limited photo-luminescence in vivo. This is particularly a result of uncontrollable aggregation that causes fluorescence quenching, and inevitable photo-oxidation in harsh physiological milieu, which normally leads to bleaching of the dye. Herein, we describe the remarkably enhanced TPA fluorescence imaging capacity of self-assembling near-infrared (NIR) cyanine dye-based nanoprobes (NPs), which can be explained by a photo-oxidation enhanced emission mechanism. Singlet oxygen generated during photo-oxidation enables chromophore dimerization to form TPA intermediates responsible for enhanced TPA fluorescence emission. The resulting NPs possess uniform size distribution, excellent stability, more favorable TPA cross-section and anti-bleaching ability than a popular TPA probe rhodamine B (RhB). These properties of cyanine dye-based TPA NPs promote their applications in visualizing blood circulation and tumoral accumulation in real-time, even to cellular imaging in vivo. The photo-oxidation enhanced emission mechanism observed in these near-infrared cyanine dye-based nanoaggregates opens an avenue for design and development of more advanced TPA fluorescence probes.

Two-Photon Absorption and Multiphoton Excited Fluorescence of Acetamide-Chalcone Derivatives: The Role of Dimethylamine Group on the Nonlinear Optical and Photophysical Properties.

This work studied the effect of different electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups on the linear and nonlinear optical properties of acetamide-chalcone derivatives. The results showed that the addition of the dimethylamine group led to a large fluorescence emission (71% of fluorescence quantum yield in DMSO solution) that can be triggered by two and three-photon excitations, which is essential for biological applications. Furthermore, dimethylamine also red-shifts the lower energy state by approximately 90 nm, increasing the two-photon absorption cross-section of the lower energy band by more than 100% compared with the other studied compounds. All compounds presented two-electronic states observed through one and two-photon absorption spectroscopy and confirmed by Quantum Chemistry Calculations (QCCs). QCC results were also used to model the experimental two-photon absorption cross-sectional spectrum by the Sum-Over-States (SOS) approach, revealing a dependence between the coupling of the ground state with the first excited state and the transition dipole moment between these states.

Rational design, facile synthesis, and linear/nonlinear optical properties of novel two-photon absorption stilbene derivatives with different configurations

Four novel two-photon absorption compounds (1MOBI, 2MOHA, 3BrBI, and 4BrHA), which have assembled stilbene π-bridge, different electron acceptors and donors, were synthesized conveniently via the one-step Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction. Their configurations are A-π-D-π-A, D′-π-D-π-D′, A′-π-A-π-A′, and D-π-A-π-D, respectively. Their linear and nonlinear optical properties including linear absorption, one-photon excited fluorescence, two-photon absorption, and two-photon excited fluorescence, were systematically investigated in various solvents. The results demonstrate that the compounds with dihexylamino donors exhibit good optical properties. 2MOHA and 4BrHA exhibit large two-photon absorption cross-sections (2183 and 1737 GM) in DMF, which are larger than those of many known stilbene derivatives. The relationships between the structures and the optical properties were studied aided with the time-dependent density functional theory calculations.

Synthesis and two-photon properties of phenothiazine-based dendrimers with tetraphenylmethane cores

We have synthesized two new two-photon active dendritic molecules with tetraphenylmethane core with four phenothiazine-based arms. They show good solubility in organic solvents, including dichloromethane, chloroform, toluene and tetrahydrofuran. It is found that the two dendrimers display strong two-photon absorption and two-photon excited up-conversion fluorescence at 800 nm. • Two new phenothiazine-based dendrimers with tetraphenylmethane cores have been synthesized. • The dendritic molecules display two-photon absorption activity. • The two-photon absorption cross section increased with the increasing of the conjugation degree.

Novel yellow- to red-emitting fluorophores: Facile synthesis, aggregation-induced emission, two-photon absorption properties, and application in living cell imaging

Four novel yellow-to red-emitting fluorophores with a 1-(2-hydroxyethyl) pyridinium core and different electron-donating terminal moieties (N-methylcarbazole, N,N-dibutylbenzenamine, N-methylpyrrole, and 2-methylfuran) were designed and facilely synthesized via the one-step Knoevenagel condensation. All these compounds (HPs) were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS. Their photophysical properties including linear absorption, one-photon excited fluorescence, two-photon absorption, and two-photon excited fluorescence, were systematically investigated in various solvents. And the density functional theory calculations were conducted to analyze the electronic structures of HPs. The two-photon absorption cross-sections (δ) values of HPs measured by the Z-scan technique were determined to be as large as 1354 (1HP-CZ), 4462 (2HP-BA), 836 (3HP-PR), and 2944 GM (4HP-FU) in DMSO. The two-photon action cross-sections (Φ × δ) values of 1HP-CZ and 2HP-BA in H2O measured by the two-photon induced fluorescence method were about 50 GM. 1HP-CZ, 3HP-PR, and 4HP-FU also exhibited good water solubility. Meanwhile, it was found that 2HP-BA exhibited notable aggregation-induced emission characteristic in DMSO/H2O mixture. The aggregate particle size distribution of 2HP-BA was measured by the dynamic light scattering method, and the aggregation characteristic of 2HP-BA was observed by the transmission electron microscopy. Besides, 2HP-BA also exhibited red emission. Then, HPs with relatively low cytotoxicity were used for one- and two-photon excited fluorescence imaging in living HepG2 cells. The results indicate that HPs are potential candidates in the bioimaging field due to their photophysical properties and biocompatibility.

Squeezed light induced two-photon absorption fluorescence of fluorescein biomarkers

Two-photon absorption (TPA) fluorescence of biomarkers has been decisive in advancing the fields of biosensing and deep-tissue in vivo imaging of live specimens. However, due to the extremely small TPA cross section and the quadratic dependence on the input photon flux, extremely high peak-intensity pulsed lasers are imperative, which can result in significant photo- and thermal damage. Previous works on entangled TPA with spontaneous parametric downconversion light sources found a linear dependence on the input photon-pair flux, but are limited by low optical powers, along with a very broad spectrum. We report that by using a high-flux squeezed light source for TPA, a fluorescence enhancement of ∼47 is achieved in fluorescein biomarkers as compared to classical TPA. Moreover, a polynomial behavior of the TPA rate is observed in the the laser dye 4-dicyanomethylene-2-methyl-6-(p(dimethylamino)styryl)-4H-pyran in dimethyl sulphoxide.

Indole-Based Aza[n]helicenes (n=5, 6) with Violet-Blue Fluorescence and Two-Photon Absorption (TPA).

A series of indole-based helicenes, namely, 15-hexyl-15H-tetraphenyl[1,2-e]indole (HTPI), 14-hexyl-14H-benzo[4',5']thieno [2',3':7,8]naphtha[1,2-e]indole (HBTNI), 7-hexyl-7H-indolo[5,4-k] phenanthridine (HIPD) and 3-hexyl-3H-phenanthro[4,3-e]indole (HPI) were successfully synthesized by three- or four-step reactions. They exhibited good solubility and high thermal stability of Td =247, 388, 294 and 251 °C, respectively. These compounds emit violet-blue light with maximum emission peaks at 415, 397, 397 and 391 nm in hexane. Among them, HBTNI had excellent thermal stability, narrow and sharp emission peaks, and highest photoluminescence quantum yield (0.32). Thus, HBTNI was an ideal candidate for the violet-blue emitters of OLEDs. Furthermore, the four compounds had two-photon absorption and two-photon excited fluorescence. HTPI showed the maximum TPA with the TPA cross-section (δ) of 171.5 GM at 770 nm. They were rare examples of helicenes with both violet-blue emission and TPA.

Synthesis, electronic structure, linear and nonlinear photophysical properties of novel asymmetric branched compounds

A series of novel asymmetric branched compounds that utilize a 1,3,5-triazine core and feature D-π-A-(π-D′-π-A′)0-2 configurations (D = donor, A = acceptor, π = conjugated bridge) were designed, successfully synthesized, and fully characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR, and HRMS. Their photophysical properties including linear absorption, one-photon excited fluorescence, two-photon absorption, and frequency up-converted fluorescence, were systematically investigated in different solvents. With a rise in the polarity of solvents, the peak positions of the one-photon excited fluorescence are red-shifted and the Stokes shifts increase, while the linear absorption wavelengths change slightly. In addition, the target compounds except CZ show the positive solvatokinetic effect. With a rise in the number of branches, the red shifts of the absorption and emission maxima, the hyperchromicity of the molar absorption coefficients, and the decrease of the Stokes shifts are observed. The peripheral electron donors (carbazole, phenothiazine) and acceptors (pyridine, benzimidazole) also exert an important influence on the photophysical properties. Under excitation of 690–930 nm fs laser pulses, all the target compounds emit frequency up-converted fluorescence with the maximal peaks at 471–575 nm, and the two-photon absorption cross-sections in THF are 132 (PTZ), 182 (CZ), 453 (CZ-Py1), 844 (CZ-Py2), 1244 (CZ-BI1), and 2072 (CZ-BI2) GM, respectively. Their two-photon response is found to be nearly additive with respect to the number of branches. The time-dependent density functional theory calculations were conducted to gain an insight into their electronic structures and to better understand the structure-photophysical property relationships. The results clearly indicate the importance of appropriate structural units on the enhancement of two-photon absorption properties.

Polarized Two-Photon Absorption and Heterogeneous Fluorescence Dynamics in NAD(P)H

Two-photon absorption (2PA) finds widespread application in biological systems, which frequently exhibit heterogeneous fluorescence decay dynamics corresponding to multiple species or environments. By combining polarized 2PA with time-resolved fluorescence intensity and anisotropy decay measurements, we show how the two-photon transition tensors for the components of a heterogeneous population can be separately determined, allowing structural differences between the two fluorescent states of the redox cofactor NAD(P)H to be identified. The results support the view that the two states correspond to alternate configurations of the nicotinamide ring, rather than folded and extended conformations of the entire molecule.

Linear and V-shaped carbazole-based molecules functionalized by cyano acceptors and diversified donors: Synthesis, single- and two-photon related photophysical properties

A series of novel linear and V-shaped carbazole-based molecules functionalized by cyano acceptors and diversified donors (carbazole, diphenylamino, dimethylamino, methoxy, and ferrocene) were synthesized and characterized by hydrogen-1 nuclear magnetic resonance, carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Their linear and nonlinear optical properties including UV–visible absorption, single-photon excited fluorescence, two-photon absorption, and frequency up-converted fluorescence, were systematically investigated in various solvents. The time-resolved photoluminescence studies using time-correlated single photon counting revealed their fluorescence lifetimes in THF. The solvent polarity exerts little effect on their absorption properties, while the emission properties (maximum fluorescence wavelength, Stokes shift, fluorescence quantum yield) display solvent polarity dependencies. Donor-acceptor functionalities and molecular dimensionality are considered to be the crucial structural factors that influence their optical properties. Pumped by a femtosecond laser (690–990 nm, 80 MHz, 140 fs), all the target molecules emit intense frequency up-converted fluorescence except FC1 and FC2 which contain one or two ferrocene donors. The two-photon absorption cross-sections in THF are in the range of 631–3014 GM. The density functional theory calculations were also conducted to unravel their electronic structures and to further understand the structure-property relationships. To our knowledge, this study is the first to be concerned with the single- and two-photon related photophysical properties of these D-π-A-π-D′ and D′-π-A-π-D-π-A-π-D′ carbazole-based molecules (D = donor, A = acceptor, π = conjugated bridge).

Synthesis, photophysical properties, and DNA-binding of novel A-π-D-π-A' two-photon absorption chromophores

Three novel two-photon absorption chromophores (1BI, 2TAZ, and 3PyB), which have trans-1,4-divinylbenzene π-bridge, methoxy donors, and different acceptors, were synthesized. Their structures were elucidated by means of hydrogen-1 nuclear magnetic resonance, carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Their photophysical properties, including linear absorption, single-photon excited fluorescence, two-photon absorption, and two-photon excited fluorescence, were systematically investigated in various solvents. The structure-property relationships were studied aided with the density functional theory calculations. In addition, the absorption, single- and two-photon fluorescence spectra of 3PyB-ctDNA were examined to evaluate whether 3PyB could be used as a DNA stain. The possible interaction mechanism of 3PyB-ctDNA was also studied by the NaCl titration and the viscosity experiment. The results indicate that 3PyB may serve as a potential DNA fluorescent probe.

Direct laser writing for micro-optical devices using a negative photoresist.

Direct laser writing (DLW) via two-photon absorption (TPA) has attracted much attention as a new microfabrication technique because it can be applied to fabricate complex, three-dimensional (3D) microstructures. In this study, 3D microstructures and micro-optical devices of micro-lens array on the micrometer scale are fabricated using the negative photoresist SU-8 through TPA with a femtosecond laser pulse under a microscope. The effects of the irradiation conditions on linewidths, such as laser power, writing speed, and writing cycles (a number of times a line is overwritten), are investigated before the fabrication of the 3D microstructures. Various microstructures such as woodpiles, hemisphere and microstructures, 3D micro-lens and micro-lens array for micro-optical devices are fabricated. The shape of the micro-lens is evaluated using the shape analysis mode of a laser microscope to calculate the working distance of the fabricated micro-lenses. The calculated working distance corresponds well to the experimentally measured value. The focusing performance of the fabricated micro-lens is confirmed by the TPA fluorescence of an isopropyl thioxanthone (ITX) ethanol solution excited by a Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser at 800 nm. Micro-lens array (assembled 9 micro-lenses) are fabricated. Nine independent woodpile structures are simultaneously manufactured by DLW via TPA to confirm the multi-focusing ability using the fabricated micro-lens array.

Concentration of atomic hydrogen in a dielectric barrier discharge measured by two-photon absorption fluorescence

Two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence (TALIF) was utilized for measuring the concentration of atomic hydrogen in a volume dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) ignited in mixtures of Ar, H2 and O2 at atmospheric pressure. The method was calibrated by TALIF of krypton diluted in argon at atmospheric pressure, proving that three-body collisions had a negligible effect on quenching of excited krypton atoms. The diagnostic study was complemented with a 3D numerical model of the gas flow and a zero-dimensional model of the chemistry in order to better understand the reaction kinetics and identify the key pathways leading to the production and destruction of atomic hydrogen. It was determined that the density of atomic hydrogen in Ar–H2 mixtures was in the order of 1021 m−3 and decreased when oxygen was added into the gas mixture. Spatially resolved measurements and simulations revealed a sharply bordered region with low atomic hydrogen concentration when oxygen was added to the gas mixture. At substoichiometric oxygen/hydrogen ratios, this H-poor region is confined to an area close to the gas inlet and it is shown that the size of this region is not only influenced by the chemistry but also by the gas flow patterns. Experimentally, it was observed that a decrease in H2 concentration in the feeding Ar–H2 mixture led to an increase in H production in the DBD.

Ultrafast responses of multi-branched compounds based on 1,3,5-triazine: investigation of the reason for enhanced two-photon absorption property

The fluorescence and ultrafast response of several modified tri-branched compounds based on 1,3,5-triazine (T03-1, T03-2, and T03-3) were investigated to study the effects of stronger electron donor substitution or extended conjugated length on two-photon absorption/two-photon fluorescence and excited-state decay properties. After substitution with a stronger terminal electron donor, N,N-dimethylbenzenamine, the two-photon absorption cross section and fluorescence quantum yield of T03-2 were enhanced by 1.9-fold and 1.4-fold, respectively, compared with T03-1. After extending the conjugated length with thiophene groups connected to π-bridge styryl groups, a similar fluorescence quantum yield and larger two-photon absorption (2.3-fold) of T03-3 were obtained. The ultrafast response processes revealed the effects on the intramolecular charge-transfer properties. These results can also assist in the design of new molecular probes with improved two-photon absorption and two-photon fluorescence properties. Moreover, our study also indicates that these 1,3,5-triazine-based tri-branched derivatives can be employed as molecular probes for biological two-photon fluorescence imaging.

Vibrational Spectrum of an Excited State and Huang-Rhys Factors by Coherent Wave Packets in Time-Resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy.

Coherent nuclear wave packet motions in an electronic excited state of a molecule are measured directly by time-resolved spontaneous fluorescence spectroscopy with an unprecedented time resolution by using two-photon absorption excitation and fluorescence upconversion by noncollinear sum frequency generation. With an estimated time resolution of approximately 25 fs, wave packet motions of vibrational modes up to 1600 cm-1 are recorded for coumarin 153 in ethanol. Two-color transient absorption at 13 fs time resolution are measured to confirm the result. Vibrational displacements between the ground and excited states and Huang-Rhys factors (HRFs) are calculated by quantum mechanical methods and are compared with the experimental results. HRFs calculated by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT reproduce the experiment adequately. This fluorescence-based method provides a unique and direct way to obtain the vibrational spectrum of a molecule in an electronic excited state and the HRFs, as well as the dynamics of excited states, and it might provide information on the structure of an excited state through the HRFs.

Preparation and Photophysical Properties of All-trans Acceptor–π-Donor (Acceptor) Compounds Possessing Obvious Solvatochromic Effects

A series of all-trans acceptor–π-donor (acceptor) compounds (BAQ, SFQ, BLQ, and XJQ) were conveniently synthesised and characterised by infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Their photophysical properties, including linear absorption, one-photon excited fluorescence, two-photon absorption, and two-photon excited fluorescence, were systematically investigated. All the compounds show obvious solvatochromic effects, such as significant bathochromic shifts of the emission spectra and larger Stokes shifts in more polar solvents. Under excitation from a femtosecond Ti : sapphire laser with a pulse width of 140 fs, they all exhibit strong two-photon excited fluorescence, and the two-photon absorption cross-sections in THF are 851 (BAQ), 216 (SFQ), 561 (BLQ), and 447 (XJQ) GM respectively. A combination of density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) approaches was used to investigate the relationships between the structures and the photophysical properties of these compounds. The results show that they may have a potential application as polarity-sensitive two-photon fluorescent probes.

Synthesis and two-photon absorption properties of novel 2-substituted-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazoles

Novel 2-substituted-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazoles (M1–M4) were synthesized via a three-component, one-pot reaction under solvent-free conditions. The structures were characterized by infrared, hydrogen-1 nuclear magnetic resonance, carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. Their UV-visible absorption, single-photon excited fluorescence, two-photon absorption, and two-photon excited fluorescence were systematically investigated in different solvents. Pumped by femtosecond laser pulses, M1 and M4 exhibit large two-photon absorption cross-sections (585 and 1193 GM in DMF, respectively). The quantum chemical density functional theory calculations offer complementary information regarding the frontier orbitals and the molecular structures, which confirm that the degree of intramolecular charge transfer plays an important role in enhancing two-photon absorption properties.

Synthesis, optical characterization, and solvatochromism study of new two-photon absorption compounds

The new donor-π-acceptor/acceptor-π-acceptor compounds (FQQ, KZQ, JYQ, and LVQ) were facilely synthesized and characterized by infrared, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Their UV-visible absorption, one-photon excited fluorescence, two-photon absorption, and two-photon excited fluorescence were systematically investigated in different solvents. The experiment results indicate that all these compounds exhibit relatively strong up-converted fluorescence and obvious solvatochromic effects. KZQ shows the largest σ value of 707 GM in THF upon 830 nm excitation. Its excellent optical properties provide a promising alternative as a polarity-sensitive two-photon fluorescent probe. Aided with the quantum chemical density functional theory calculations, the relationships between the structures and the properties were studied.

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel 1,4-Bis(carbazolyl)benzene Derivatives with Blue-Violet Two-Photon-Excited Fluorescence

Novel fluorescent two-photon absorption molecules containing bis(carbazolyl)benzene as the central unit and phenylethynyl moieties as peripheral groups (Cz-Ps) are synthesized and characterized. In these molecules, two carbazolyl moieties are linked with benzene at the 9-position and synthesized by a concise process involving nucleophilic substitution between the cyclopentadienyliron complexes of dichloroarenes and phenylethynyl carbazole, followed by photolysis. The optimal structures of Cz-Ps reveal that two carbazolyl rings linked by a benzene ring are not planar. This feature prevents the electron conjugation of the molecule from extending throughout the whole molecule and allows Cz-Ps to realize blue-violet emissions and high fluorescence quantum yield. With increasing number of conjugated phenylacetylene structures in Cz-Ps, the maximal absorption and emission peaks were red-shifted. The quadrupolar compound DMoCz-P shows strong one-photon and two-photon activities. The resulting molecules are also ...

A new series of two-photon blue/violet fluorescent trans-alkenes: Green synthesis and optical properties

A new series of trans-alkenes (3a–3e) containing different electron-donating groups were synthesized by the solvent-free Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction, and characterized by infrared, hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. Their UV–visible absorption, one-photon excited fluorescence, two-photon absorption, and two-photon excited fluorescence were systematically investigated in different solvents. Experimental results show different trends in linear and nonlinear optical properties with different donor units. 3a with triphenylamine donor exhibits the best optical properties. It emits strong blue up-converted fluorescence, and the two-photon absorption cross-section can be as large as 218 GM in DCM.