Advanced biological labels based on triphenylamine derivatives: probes for ultrafast imaging

Abstract

One of the major catalysts for advances in biomedicine has been the development of fluorescent probes for the specific labeling of cells and tissues. This development has revolutionized optical microscopy and found significant clinical applications. As biomedical demands evolved, fluorescence microscopy progressed into more sophisticated techniques, integrating technologies such as ultrashort pulse lasers. This process culminated in nonlinear optical microscopy with two-photon absorption fluorescence microscopy (TPEF), which can address the shortcomings of previous-generation instrumentation. This new possibility paved the way for novel labels designed to make the most of the potential of TPEF microscopy, as most of the available labels were synthesized for conventional microscopy. With novel triphenylamine (3FA) derivatives as a promising platform, we propose the concept of advanced labels: probes that simultaneously address three aspects-fundamental, technical, and applied. These 3FA derivatives were designed to exhibit increased nonlinearities and optical properties conducive to acting as specific biological labels for TPEF microscopy. Consequently, our objective is to validate the use of these probes as advanced labels in biological cells and tissues. Our investigation involves an integrative approach between physical chemistry, nonlinear optics, and biology, expanding the local scope of the Photonics Group from research- oriented to problems of fundamental relevance to research- oriented to biomedical applications. In this regard, the project describes the primary and current challenges that new compounds must overcome and the desirable novelty elements to be present. It introduces new 3FA derivatives as promising candidates in this multidisciplinary approach. (AU)