Chemistry Light and Dynamics Seminar

Lanthanide and transition metal complexes are ideal probes for biomolecules based on their photostability, characteristic luminescence with long lifetimes; the latter can be used in detection and imaging. We have developed different molecular designs based on luminescent metal complexes for biomolecular labeling and surface active groups for attachment to gold surfaces. Gold nanoparticles, AuNP, offer a unique opportunity to incorporate multiple molecular luminescent complexes into a single nanoprobe architecture for signal detection without engaging in lengthy synthetic procedures for the incorporation of multiple labels. Nanoprobes are also ideal as spatially localized cellular probes that can be detected with different imaging modalities. We have employed AuNP as a scaffold for luminescent coordination complexes so that the nanoprobes bear the distinct optical signature of the luminescent agent, independent of the properties of the particle. Nanoparticles functionalized with lanthanides, ruthenium or iridium probes have been used in monitoring blood flow, imaging in platelets and cancer cell lines. The attachment of metal complexes on surfaces offers new system designs for detection. Transition metal complexes attached to gold surfaces will be presented and their properties for protein detection will be described.