Functional monomers fluorophores

Covalent and non-covalent imprinting using fluorophores as functional monomers... 

A first generation poly(amido amine) dendrimer has been functionalized with three calyx[4]arenes, each carrying a pyrene fluorophore (4) [30]. In acetonitrile solution the emission spectrum shows both the monomer and the excimer emission band, typical of the pyrene chromophore. Upon addition of Al3+ as perchlorate salt, a decrease in the excimer emission and a consequent revival of the monomer emission is observed. This can be interpreted as a change in the dendrimer structure and flexibility upon metal ion complexation that inhibits close proximity of pyrenyl units, thus decreasing the excimer formation probability. 1H NMR studies of dendrimer 4 revealed marked differences upon Al3+ addition only in the chemical shifts of the CH2 protons linked to the central amine group, demonstrating that the metal ion is coordinated by the dendrimer core. MALDI-TOF experiments gave evidence of a 1 1 complex. Similar results have been obtained for In3+, while other cations such as Ag+, Cd2+, and Zn2+ do not affect the luminescence properties of... 

Fluorescence quantum yield and emission maximum determinations as a function of peptide concentration may also permit the detection of peptide self-aggregation at concentrations below 10-4 M, because the peptide fluorophore is likely to be located in a different environment in the peptide aggregate. For example, the concentration-dependent changes in the tryptophan fluorescence emission maximum of mellitin were monitored to determine the equilibrium dissociation constant and thermodynamic parameters of the monomer-tetramer self-association reaction of this peptide. 25 Similarly, measurement of the changes in the tryptophan fluorescence intensity of gramicidin A as a function of its concentration permitted the determination of an average monomer-dimer equilibrium con-stant. 26 ... 

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