Sensing in biological systems
type: CreativeWork
description: Metal ions are critical to a range of mammalian cell functions, including cell signalling, proliferation, differentiation and death. As such, changes in metal ion homeostasis can have a significant effect on cell health. Fluorescent chemosensors, in combination with specialised imaging technologies, provide a useful tool to study the role of metal ions in cellular processes as they enable detection in and around cells with spatial and temporal resolution. Commercially available and literature fluorescent probes, with core structures based on traditional fluorophores (e.g. fluorescein, coumarin and rhodamine) have been used extensively to study the relationship between cellular metal ion dynamics and disease. However, one drawback of current sensors is the lack of reusability. Photoswitchable molecules present as an alternative core unit for the development of fluorescent metal ion sensors, with the potential for reversible analyte binding. The photochromic spiropyran molecule is of particular interest in our research group, as the core structure can be readily functionalised for analyte selectivity, surface attachment, and tuning of the photochromic properties. Photo-controlled switching between the weakly fluorescent spiropyran (SP) and highly fluorescent merocyanine (MC) isomers occurs on irradiation with UV light or in the presence of the target metal ion, while visible light reverses the isomerisation (see Figure 1). This thesis describes the functionalisation of the spiropyran molecule in order to improve fluorescence intensity (Chapter 2), develop selective metal ion sensors for Mg²⁺ (Chapter 3) and investigate structure-metal ion selectivity relationships (Chapter 4). Chapter 1: Chapter 1 gives a broad introduction to fluorescent sensors and presents a literature review highlighting the use of photoswitchable spiropyrans as effective sensors for biologically relevant metal ions relevant such as calcium (Ca²⁺) and zinc (Zn²⁺), as well as the alkali metals sodi…
abstract: Metal ions are critical to a range of mammalian cell functions, including cell signalling, proliferation, differentiation and death. As such, changes in metal ion homeostasis can have a significant effect on cell health. Fluorescent chemosensors, in combination with specialised imaging technologies, provide a useful tool to study the role of metal ions in cellular processes as they enable detection in and around cells with spatial and temporal resolution. Commercially available and literature fluorescent probes, with core structures based on traditional fluorophores (e.g. fluorescein, coumarin and rhodamine) have been used extensively to study the relationship between cellular metal ion dynamics and disease. However, one drawback of current sensors is the lack of reusability. Photoswitchable molecules present as an alternative core unit for the development of fluorescent metal ion sensors, with the potential for reversible analyte binding. The photochromic spiropyran molecule is of particular interest in our research group, as the core structure can be readily functionalised for analyte selectivity, surface attachment, and tuning of the photochromic properties. Photo-controlled switching between the weakly fluorescent spiropyran (SP) and highly fluorescent merocyanine (MC) isomers occurs on irradiation with UV light or in the presence of the target metal ion, while visible light reverses the isomerisation (see Figure 1). This thesis describes the functionalisation of the spiropyran molecule in order to improve fluorescence intensity (Chapter 2), develop selective metal ion sensors for Mg²⁺ (Chapter 3) and investigate structure-metal ion selectivity relationships (Chapter 4). Chapter 1: Chapter 1 gives a broad introduction to fluorescent sensors and presents a literature review highlighting the use of photoswitchable spiropyrans as effective sensors for biologically relevant metal ions relevant such as calcium (Ca²⁺) and zinc (Zn²⁺), as well as the alkali metals sodi…
author: Sylvia, Georgina Maree
keywords: Spiropyran, metal ion sensing, chemosensor, biosensor, photoswitch, fluorophore
date published: 2018
date modified: 2026-07-24T00:50:56Z
provider: University of Adelaide
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Adelaide

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/2440/115214