The Development and Application of Nanohoops as Novel Fluorescent Probes for Biological Applications

Fluorescent molecules are imperative for the detection of diseases and observation of complex biological processes in living systems. A wide variety of small molecule fluorophores are available, however they each come with their limitations. An entirely new scaffold with enhanced photophysical properties, tunability, and chemical stability would be advantageous. Herein, we present our efforts in designing and applying nanohoops as novel fluorophores for biological applications. Chapter I reviews commonly used small molecule fluorophores and how to tune their photophysical properties using physical organic chemistry concepts. Chapter II describes how to enhance the brightness of nanohoops to make them suitable for biological imaging. Chapter III demonstrates how to shift the fluorescence of nanohoops further red, which is desirable for cellular imaging. Chapter IV reports the first intracellular targeted nanohoop for live cell imaging. Lastly, Chapter V describes our efforts to broadly apply nanohoops as novel fluorophores for protein and DNA labelling. This dissertation describes the pronounced strides made towards developing nanohoops as novel fluorophores for biotechnology. This dissertation includes previously published and unpublished co-authored material.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Oregon

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Lovell, Terri

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Jasti, Ramesh

Statement dc:rights

• All Rights Reserved.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1794/25884

OAI record oai:identifier

https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/server/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Ascholarsbank.uoregon.edu%3A1794%2F25884