Lanthanide-based luminescent sensors for detection of target molecules in biological systems

• Grant number: 25/03447-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Hermi Felinto de Brito
• Grantee: Beatriz dos Santos Cugnasca
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/08111-2 - Development of rare earth based light converters: luminescent markers, optical sensors, and amplifiers, AP.TEM

Abstract

This project consists of preparing new luminescent complexes based on lanthanide ions (Ln3+) using borodipyrrometene derivatives (BODIPYs) as organic ligands to be used as luminescent sensors for biomedical applications. The project includes molecular design, synthesis of new ligands derived from BODIPYs containing substituents (beta-diketones, carboxylated residues, etc.) responsible for subsequent complexation with lanthanide ions, synthesis of co-ligands, preparation of complexes with lanthanide ions and the photophysical characterization of the new coordination compounds. In addition, applications of new complexes, such as luminescent sensors in the visible and near-infrared region for detecting analytes of biological interest, will also be discussed. In vitro studies will also be conducted to apply them to detect and label target molecules in biological systems. In addition, this project seeks to associate the intrinsic optical properties of Ln3+ ions, such as the presence of narrow emission bands in specific spectral regions (UV, visible, or NIR), with the excellent properties of BODIPYs derivatives (high values of molar absorptivity, low toxicity and high versatility of core functionalization), for the development of new luminescent markers and sensors. The central idea of the project is to study the process of intramolecular energy transfer from the organic ligands to the Ln3+ ion through the phenomenon called antenna effect to enable applications as luminescent markers. Finally, studies in cellular systems will be carried out to demonstrate the applicability of the new luminescence sensors for target molecule detection in biological systems.