Developing New Types of Molecules for Fluorescent Microscopy

SLU ID 19-001 | Functionalized Dibenzothiophene Sulfones as Plasma Membrane Dyes

Background

Microscopy uses microscopes to view objects and areas of objects that otherwise cannot be seen with the naked eye unaided. The three primary branches of the field include optical, electron, and scanning probe microscopy. Fluorescence is one of the techniques used in optical microscopy. This technique is critically important for modern life science because is extremely sensitive and can enable the detection of single molecules. The technique requires the use of fluorescent dyes to stain different structures or chemical compounds. There is a need to develop new types of molecules for fluorescent microscopy because every small molecule used has innate limitations as a function of its photo activity.

Overview

Researchers at Saint Louis University have synthesized Dibenzothiophene 5,5-dioxides (DBTOOs) analogs and incorporated them into the plasma membrane of HeLa cells for fluorescent microscopy. They have vetted the photophysical properties of the molecules. Both have good fluorescent quantum yields and have a visible blue emission. As a function of agreeable wavelengths of excitation and emission a standard DAPI filter set worked well with these dyes. Both localize in the plasma membrane. There is a reasonably strong overlap between he DBTOO dyes and the standard used. The novel dyes also displayed relatively low toxicity to the HeLa cells.

Benefits

The potential benefits of this technology include:

• Increasing ability to visualize biological events under certain experimental constraints

• Increasing the lifetime luminescence

• Minimizing the need for functional groups to achieve long lifetime luminescence

• Increasing the length of incubation times in which the dyes can be used

• Minimizing the time if takes for the dyes to localize in cells

• Increasing ability of dyes to localize in cells

• Increasing capacity of dyes to florescence in cells with reasonably strong exclusivity

• Minimizing the toxicity of the dyes at concentrations required for standard imaging protocols

Applications

Potential applications of this technology include microscopy.

Opportunity

Saint Louis University is seeking partners to further develop and commercialize this technology.