Molecular logic gates in the activity modulation of potential PDT agents & rational design of selective chloride sensors

Abstract

Considering the time arrow of science, things are getting smaller and smarter as the information grows immensely. More is known about the molecular and genetic basis of diseases, and therapies become more personalized accordingly. In parallel, organic devices are becoming progressively intelligent. Molecular logic gates increase the flexibility in functionality of the Boolean logic operations, and allow the creation of demanding complex functionalities for different purposes. The missing link between the design of any kind of complex logic operation and assignment of a real function is addressed by our work. A dual-activatable photosensitizer acting as an AND logic gate enables a more selective photodynamic therapy with the use of biologically relavant concentrations of acid and glutathione. Additionally, with a combinatorial therapy and imaging approach, a proof of principle theranostic device with DEMUX logic behaviour is developed to select between singlet oxygen generation and emission in response to an address input (acid) in organic solvent. In another project, relay of information between two independent logic gates embedded into a physically constraining microenvironment was successfully demonstrated to report the activity of a pH-activatable photosensitizer as an enhanced emission. Independently, a series of highly selective fluorescent chloride anion sensors based on BODIPY-triazolophane conjugate are introduced with a surprisingly large dynamic response range.