LN-DENDRI-POLS

Lanthanide Dendrimer-Polymer Hybrids

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Organic complexes of lanthanides are enjoying a renaissance due to their increased commercial usage (eg. in lighting/display devices, as MRI contrast agents, as luminescent markers for bioassay). However, considerable challenges remain to overcome the low absorbance of Ln(III) cations and limited luminescent performance of emitters in the Near-Infra Red (NIR).

This project will characterise lanthanide chelates with unique topologies provided by dendrimers and 'star-shaped' polymer materials, which allow for the incorporation of multiple sensitizing chromophores and shield the luminescent metal from deactivation by its immediate environment. These compounds will have improved luminescent performance at wavelengths desired for biological assays and biomedical imaging.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Organic complexes of lanthanide (Ln) metals are used in lighting and contrast agents in biomedical imaging. European researchers have improved their luminescence rating especially for biological research.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Although used extensively in biological research some lanthanide metal ions have limited luminescence in the near-infra-red range (NIR). Unfortunately, these wavelengths are most often used for biomedical imaging applications.

The 'Lanthanide dendrimer-polymer hybrids' (http://www.ciam.unibo.it/ln-dendri-pols (LN-DENDRI-POLS)) project has synthesised a group of novel molecules to improve their performance. The basis of the chemistry is to attach multiple absorbing chromophores, so-called antenna units, to a core Ln (III) complex.

The whole structure is like a tree due to the extending antennae and is therefore called a dendrimer, from the Greek for tree. A bonus, the dendritic structures or chromophores also protect the metal core from the ravages of any solvent interactions.

Architecture incorporates many light harvesting antennae and therefore maximises photon harvesting. Scientists used the reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) technique to control the addition of the antennae and obtain well defined polymers.

Testing of a series of Ln (III) complexes identified several highly light emissive core complexes. Modifications of the organic addition groups followed by the RAFT process produced a series of polymer systems with increased absorbance and high sensitisation efficiency. Structures using naphthalene chromophores acted as an additional light harvester.

Project research has contributed to an elevated understanding of Ln luminescence. As luminescent labels of biologically relevant compounds, they can be used in many processes including imaging and assays in drug development.