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Biomembrane Interactions of Functionalized Cryptophane‐A: Combined Fluorescence and 129 Xe NMR Studies of a Bimodal Contrast Agent
Author(s) -
Sloniec Jagoda,
Schnurr Matthias,
Witte Christopher,
ReschGenger Ute,
Schröder Leif,
Hennig Andreas
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201203773
Subject(s) - fluorescence , contrast (vision) , biological membrane , chemistry , membrane , physics , biochemistry , quantum mechanics , optics
Fluorescent derivatives of the 129 Xe NMR contrast agent cryptophane‐A were obtained by functionalization with near infrared fluorescent dyes DY680 and DY682. The resulting conjugates were spectrally characterized, and their interaction with giant and large unilamellar vesicles of varying phospholipid composition was analyzed by fluorescence and NMR spectroscopy. In the latter, a chemical exchange saturation transfer with hyperpolarized 129 Xe (Hyper‐CEST) was used to obtain sufficient sensitivity. To determine the partitioning coefficients, we developed a method based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer from Nile Red to the membrane‐bound conjugates. This indicated that not only the hydrophobicity of the conjugates, but also the phospholipid composition, largely determines the membrane incorporation. Thereby, partitioning into the liquid‐crystalline phase of 1,2‐dipalmitoyl‐ sn ‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine was most efficient. Fluorescence depth quenching and flip‐flop assays suggest a perpendicular orientation of the conjugates to the membrane surface with negligible transversal diffusion, and that the fluorescent dyes reside in the interfacial area. The results serve as a basis to differentiate biomembranes by analyzing the Hyper‐CEST signatures that are related to membrane fluidity, and pave the way for dissecting different contributions to the Hyper‐CEST signal.