Modification of Nanohoop Fluorophores to Improve Use in Biological Imaging
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Date
2020
Authors
Garrison, Zachary "Zach" Ryan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Biological imaging is an extremely important tool for biological and medical research. It allows researchers and doctors to access a perspective of biological systems not available with the naked eye. However, the quality of the images and the subsequent discoveries that come from those images depends on the quality of the reporter molecule (i.e fluorophore) used. As such, there is a wide variety of commercially available fluorophores that emit light all along the visible spectrum. Unfortunately, many of these commercially available fluorophores suffer from limitations that restrict their imaging applications. This would make the introduction of a new fluorophore that overcomes these limitations a valuable discovery. One molecular structure that does not suffer from those same limitations is a cycloparaphenylene (CPP), which is a symmetrical arrangement of phenyl rings linked at the para-position. These nanohoop structures have unique size dependent fluorescent properties and can be controllably synthesized to possess characteristics desired for a variety of applications. This project was able to make further modifications to the nanohoop structure that unlocked new colors and worked towards improving the conjugation of the molecules to biological entities.
Description
63 pages
Keywords
Biochemistry, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Fluorescence Imaging, Flourophores, Imaging, Nanohoops, Cycloparaphenylene, Fluorescence