Synthesis, characterization and photopysical studies of luminescent Ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes incorporated in model membranes systems

• Grant number: 24/06767-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date until: July 01, 2024
• End date until: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Rose Maria Carlos
• Grantee: Pedro Henrique Simões Morete
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In this project, the aim is to prepare Ru(II) polypyridine complexes and assess the feasibility of applying these complexes as luminescent molecular probes for studies related to cell membranes. To achieve this, the complexes [Ru(phen)2NDI]2+ and [Ru(bpy)2NDI]2+ (RuNDI) will be synthesized and characterized, where phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, bpy = 2,2-bipyridine, NDI = naphthalenediimide group derivatized with the chelating ligand phen. The photophysical properties of the complexes in the steady state (emission intensity, quantum yield of emission, and anisotropy), resolved in time (emission lifetime and anisotropy), and by luminescent imaging (fluorescence microscope) will be investigated in the absence and presence of liposomes (or large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) and giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs)). The LUVs and GUVs, which are all fully incorporated into an aqueous phase, allow obtaining important information about the chemical complexity of the interface using interface-sensitive spectroscopic techniques, such as electrostatic interactions and changes in hydration. The studies will be conducted for the phospholipids DPPC (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) and DOPG (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1'-rac-glycerol) (sodium salt)).