Aggregation induced emission from α-napthoflavone microstructures and its cyto-toxicity

Aggregation induced emission from α-napthoflavone microstructures and its cyto-toxicity

    Aggregation induced emission from α-napthoflavone microstructures and its cyto-toxicity Debasish Das, Prativa Mazumdar, Ashim Maity, ...

2MB Sizes 0 Downloads 5 Views

    Aggregation induced emission from α-napthoflavone microstructures and its cyto-toxicity Debasish Das, Prativa Mazumdar, Ashim Maity, Satyajit Tripathy, Somenath Roy, Dipankar Chattopadhyay, Ajay Misra PII: DOI: Reference:

S1011-1344(15)30165-2 doi: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2016.01.003 JPB 10221

To appear in: Received date: Revised date: Accepted date:

20 November 2015 31 December 2015 5 January 2016

Please cite this article as: Debasish Das, Prativa Mazumdar, Ashim Maity, Satyajit Tripathy, Somenath Roy, Dipankar Chattopadhyay, Ajay Misra, Aggregation induced emission from α-napthoflavone microstructures and its cyto-toxicity, (2016), doi: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2016.01.003

This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

Aggregation induced emission from α-Napthoflavone microstructures and its Cyto-toxicity a,*

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore

SC

a

RI

Chattopadhyayc, Ajay Misra

PT

Debasish Dasa, Prativa Mazumdara, Ashim Maitya, Satyajit Tripathyb, Somenath Royb,, Dipankar

721102, W.B, India

Immunology and Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Human Physiology with Community

NU

b

c

MA

Health, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore 721102, W.B, India Department of Polymer Science and Technology, University College of Science and

TE

Abstract

D

Technology, 92 APC Road, Kolkata 700009, West Bengal, India

AC CE P

α-Napthoflavone (ANF) microstructures of various morphologies were synthesized using reprecipitation method. Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS) was used as morphology directing agent. The morphologies of the particles were characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Single crystal data of ANF suggests that the aromatic units of ANF are in parallel slipped conformation in its aggregated form. Photophysical properties of aggregated ANF hydrosol were studied using UV-Vis absorption, steady state and time resolved spectroscopy. Red shift and broadening of UV-Vis spectra of ANF hydrosol are explained due to strong π-π and H-π interactions among the neighboring ANF molecules within the aggregated microstructures. Though ANF is non-luminescent in good solvent, a strong emission is observed in its aggregated state. This aggregation induced emission (AIE) has been explained due to restriction of intramoleculer rotation and large amplitude vibrational modes of ANF in its 1

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT aggregated state. Our Photophysical study also reveals that AIE effect decreases after an optimum concentration of ANF and this has been explained due to softening of crystal lattice.

PT

Cytotoxicity of ANF hydrosol was examined to get an idea of the toxic level of this hydrosol

RI

towards cultured normal human cells. It is observed that ANF hydrosol may draw beneficial

SC

effect in biological application as it has no higher toxic activity but has antioxidant property. Key words: α-Napthoflavone, aggregation induce emission (AIE), restricted intramolecular

NU

rotation (RIR), XRD, Fluorescence, Cytotoxicity.

MA

1. Introduction

In comparison with the inorganic analogues, nanometer and micrometer-sized crystals of

D

functional organic molecules offer large variability in their composition and physical properties.

TE

Most of the organic chromospheres which are highly fluorescent in solution at low concentration

AC CE P

show a drastic decrease of their emission efficiency in the solid state. This behavior is generally attributed to interactions that provide non-radiative decay routes, intermolecular π–π* stacking interactions of fluorophore etc. This well known phenomenon is known as the aggregation caused quenching (ACQ) effect [1]. This ACQ effect is responsible for unsatisfactory PL efficiency of organic luminescent materials in the solid state and is a great obstacle towards the development of efficient optoelectronic devices using organic luminescent materials. This has driven researchers to synthesize anti-ACQ type materials to improve the emission efficiency of organic luminescent materials in their aggregated or solid form. This major problem was solved by Tang [2] and Park [3] et al. by developing new organic luminescent materials that exhibit stronger emission properties in the solid state than in their solution phase. These molecules are classified into two different groups. In the first group, the molecules are non-emissive in a good 2

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT solvent but become highly luminescent in their aggregated form, thus behaving exactly opposite to the conventional ACQ effect. This emission is induced by aggregation and the term

PT

aggregation induced emission (AIE) has been coined to describe it [4-6]. In the second group, the

RI

molecules are feebly luminescent in the solution state but their efficiency increases in the solid form. This is known as aggregation induced emission enhancement (AIEE) [7-10].

SC

The size dependence of organic crystals has not been investigated much as that of

NU

inorganic crystals. The strong effect of electron confinement on electron-hole pairs in all three directions result in the size-tunable optoelectronic properties of semiconducting quantum dots

MA

[11]. But this is not expected in organic molecular crystals (OMCs), because of small radius of the Frenkel exciton [12]. The primary differences between inorganic and organic semi-

TE

D

conductors are in the band width, or the degree of orbital overlap. In the case of OMCs, the electronic [13] and optical properties such as phototransistors [14,15], memory devices [16] are

AC CE P

fundamentally different from those of inorganic semi-conductors, because of weak van der Waals intermolecular forces [17,18]. The controlling of size, shape and hence the properties of OMCs is still a challenge and an important aspect in the development of material science. Much effort has been devoted to synthesize organic nano/micro particles having various size and shapes. These include zero dimensional (0-D) spherical or tetrahedral quantum dots [19, 20], one-dimensional (1-D) nano rods and wires from small organic compound [21-23] and twodimensional (2-D) nanoplates [24], nanoribbons and nanotubes [25], nanowires [26] microcapsule [27], organic nano flower [28], sub-microtube [29] etc. Various techniques were developed to prepare organic nano/micro particle, such as reprecipitation [30,31], physical vapor deposition [32], microemultion [33], ultra-sonication [34], template method [35], selforganization [36,37], postchemistry [38-41] etc. Among the above methods, reprecipitation is 3

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT one of the most favored routes towards the cost-effective large-scale production of nano/micro building blocks. Reprecipitation is rapidly injecting micro amounts of the solution in a good

PT

solvent, into macro amounts of poor solvent. In this process, sudden changes of environment for organic molecules induce precipitation.

RI

Here we report the synthesis of various shaped α-Napthoflavone microstructures using

SC

SDS as morphology directing agent. The morphology of the as prepared microstructures was

NU

studied by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM). Photo physical properties of the aqueous dispersion of α-Napthoflavone microstructures were investigated using UV-Vis

MA

absorption and steady state as well as time resolved fluorescence emission measurements. Our extensive photoluminescence study reveals that though the molecule ANF is non-emissive in its

TE

D

dilute solution in THF, it become highly emissive in its aggregated microcrystalline form. Again flavones are one of the major classes of natural products with wide spread distribution and broad

AC CE P

pharmacological profile [42]. From the perspective of biological application, we screened the cyto-toxicity against peripheral blood lymphocytes and followed its‟ oxidized glutathione level and reduced glutathione level after exposure with the aggregated hydrosol of α-napthoflavone. It has been observed that ANF hydrosol may draw important biological application as it has no higher toxic activity but at the same time have antioxidant property.

2. Materials and methods 2.1. Materials α-Napthoflavone(ANF) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were purchased from SigmaAldrich Chemical Corp. THF and ehanol were obtained from E-Mark India Ltd. All the chemicals were of analytical grade. SDS was recrystallized from 1:1 water methanol mixtures. 4

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT THF was distilled from sodium/benzophenone under argon atmosphere to make it free from moisture, oxygen, and peroxide. Ethanol was double distilled prior to use in the experiment.

PT

Triply distilled deionized water was used throughout the experiments.

RI

2.2. Synthesis of α-Napthoflavone Microparticles

SC

α-Napthoflavone microstructures were synthesized by reprecipitation method where SDS was used as soft template. In a typical preparation, small volume of α-Napthoflavone (100mM)

NU

in THF was injected into 5 mL of continuously stirred aqueous SDS (10mM) at room

MA

temperature (25°C). Volume of α-Napthoflavone and concentration of SDS were varied to synthesize different shaped α-Napthoflavone microstructures.

D

Sample-a, b & c were prepared by injecting 0.05mL 0.1mL and 0.2mL α-Napthoflavone

TE

(100mM) into 5ml 10mM aqueous SDS solution respectively with vigorous stirring. After 5 min of vigorous stirring, each solution was kept undisturbed for 30 min at room temperature before

AC CE P

characterization and subsequent analysis. Sample-d was prepared by injecting 0.05ml 100mM ANF into 5 mL of continuously stirred water. We have used this hydrosol (sample-d) for cytotoxicity study.

2.3. In vitro cyto-toxicity on normal lymphocytes by MTT assay The toxicity of the sample-d was seen in primary human blood lymphocytes purified by density gradient centrifugation, and the cells were maintained in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% FBS, 50µg/mL gentamicin, 50 µg/mL penicillin, and 50µg/mL streptomycin at 37˚C in a 95 % air and 5 % CO2 atmosphere in a CO2 incubator. Sample-d were added to the cells (2 X 106) at different concentrations (1, 5, 10 25, 50, 100, 500 µL/mL), and were incubated for 24 h at 37˚C in a humidified incubator (NBS). The cell viability was estimated by the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol)-2-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. 5

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 2.4. Determination of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) by DCFH2-DA study Measurements of intracellular ROS levels in isolated cell were made using 2, 7-

PT

dichlorodihydrofluoroscein diacetate (DCFH2-DA). Samples were incubated in the presence of

RI

10 mM DCFH2-DA in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at 37°C for 30 min. It was then washed two times with PBS and centrifuged at 1200 rpm to remove the extracellular DCFH2-DA. The

SC

trapped fluorescent dye (DCF) inside the cells was used to evaluate and detect intracellular ROS.

NU

The fluorescence intensity values at different conditions were monitored by excitation at 498 nm

MA

and emission at 530 nm. 2.5. Estimation of reduced glutathione (GSH)

D

Reduced Glutathione (GSH) level estimation was performed by the method of Moron et

TE

al. [43]. The required amount of sample was mixed with 25% of tri-chloroacetic acid (TCA) and centrifuged at 2,000 rms for 15 min to settle down the precipitated proteins. The levels of GSH

AC CE P

were expressed as μg of GSH/mg protein. 2.6. Determination of Oxidized Glutathione (GSSG) Level The GSSG level in sample-d treated cells were measured after derivatization of GSH with 2-vinylpyridine according to the method of Griffith [44]. In brief, with 0.5 mL sample, 2μL of 2-vinylpyridine was added and incubated for 1 hr at 37°C. Then the mixture was deprotenized with 4% sulfosalicylic acid and centrifuged at 1,000 rms for 10 min to settle down the precipitated proteins. The supernatant was aspirated and GSSG level was estimated with the reaction of 5,5-dithio (bis)-2-nitrobenzoic acid (DTNB) at 412 nm in a spectrophotometer and calculated with standard GSSG curve. The levels of GSSG were expressed as μg of GSSG /mg protein. 6

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 2.7. Protein Estimation Protein was determined using bovine serum albumin as standard according to Lowry et.

PT

al. [45].

RI

2.8. Characterization

SC

Optical microscopy images were taken using a NIKON ECLIPSE LV100POL upright microscope equipped with a 12V-50W halogen lamp. The samples for optical microscopic study

NU

were prepared by placing a drop of colloidal solution onto a clean glass slide. The morphologies

MA

of the synthesized nano/micro structures were studied using ZEISS EVO 18 scanning electron microscope (SEM) operated at an accelerating voltage of 5 kV. Samples were prepared by

D

placing a small drop of aqueous hydrosol on a glass plate and then dried under vacuum. To

TE

minimize sample charging, thin layer of Au were deposited onto the samples for SEM study. The UV–Vis spectroscopic measurements were done in a 1cm quartz cuvette with a Shimadzu UV-

AC CE P

1800 spectrophotometer. Steady state fluorescence spectra were recorded using Hitachi F-7000 Fluorescence Spectrophotometer. Fluorescence lifetime of samples were measured using TCSPC set up from PTI, U.S, equipped with sub-nanosecond pulsed LED source (370 nm) having pulse width 600 ps (FWHM) operating at high repetition rate of 10 MHz driven by PDL 800-B driver, PicoQuant, Germany. Instrumental resolution of the setup is 100 ps. Lamp profiles were measured with a band-pass of 3 nm using Ludox as the scatterer. The decay parameters were recovered using a non-linear iterative fitting procedure based on the Marquardt algorithm [46]. The quality of fit was assessed over the entire decay, and tested with a plot of weighted residuals and other statistical parameters e.g. the reduced χ2 ratio [47]. Powder X-ray diffraction was recorded on a X-PERT-PROP analytical diffractometer using CuKα (λ=1.5406) radiation in the angular range of 5-40° (2θ) with 40kV operating voltage and 30mA current. The scanning rate 7

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT was 1º/min. Single crystal X-ray diffraction data of ANF was collected on a Bruker SMART APEX-II CCD diffractometer using graphite monochromated Mo Kα radiation (λ = 0.71073 Å).

PT

2.9. Fluorescence Quantum Yield in Solution

RI

Fluorescence quantum yield was determined in spectroscopic grade H2O using

SC

optically matching solutions of quinine sulfate (Φr = 0.546 in 1N H2SO4) as standard at an

NU

excitation wavelength of 350 nm. The quantum yield is calculated using the following equation [48].

MA

Φs = Φr (ArFs/AsFr) (ηs2/ηr2)

D

where, As and Ar are the absorbance of the sample and reference solutions, respectively at

TE

the same excitation wavelength, Fs and Fr are the corresponding relative integrated fluorescence

AC CE P

intensities and η is the refractive index of the solvent.

3. Results and discussion

3.1. SEM and Optical microscopic study Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the aggregated hydrosol with increasing concentration of ANF for a fixed concentration of SDS (10mM) are shown as sample-a, b & c in fig. 1. Morphology of the aggregated particle is hexagonal (sample- a) at low concentration of ANF. On the other hand, one parallel pair arm of the hexagon increases with the increasing concentration of ANF, sample b & c. Morphologies of the particles as revealed by fluorescence microscopic images are consistent with its SEM images (fig.2). The regular one dimensional growth of the microcrystals with increasing concentration of ANF are similar to that we obtained in scanning electron 8

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT microscopic study. Fluorescence microscopic images of the microcrystals show sky blue emission upon UV excitation, suggesting that the aggregated ANF has emissive property.

PT

Dark field‟s view of the sample-a, b & c using polarizer and analyzer assembly showed

RI

different colors depending on the direction of incident radiation and it revealed the anisotropic nature of the synthesized microcrystal

SC

3.2. XRD study

NU

In view of the variety of microcrystals observed, a question comes in our mind: does this

MA

variety result from a change in crystal habit or the formation of different polymorphs? We have succeeded in growing single crystal of ANF and collected X-ray single crystal data. Our single

D

crystal (Orthorhombic) data are similar that of reported earlier by M. Sorianogarcía et.al. [49]. It

TE

shows peak at 2θ= 7.35°, 9.50°, 13.79°, 15.85°, 18.45°, 19.86°, 22.87°and 37.45° which correspond to (002), (102), (111), (104), (212), (114), (106) and (132) plane of the crystal. X-

AC CE P

Ray powder diffraction pattern of sample-a, b & c are shown in Fig.3 (ii-iv). Comparing the simulated XRD spectra from single crystal data with that of the powder XRD data of the samplea, b & c, it is concluded that the crystal habitat for the microcrystals (sample a, b & c) are of orthorhombic unit cell structure.

Orientation of the molecular geometry of ANF as deduced from the single crystal data suggests that there is specific H-bonded interaction among the immediate neighbor of ANF molecules (scheme 1).

9

MA

NU

SC

RI

PT

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

AC CE P

viewing along „b‟ axis.

TE

D

Scheme 1: (i) Molecule structure (ii) 2D layer structure through C-H∙∙∙O hydrogen bonding

Scheme 2: Packing diagram of CH… π and π···π interaction of ANF viewing along „a‟ axis. 10

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT Molecular arrangement as obtained from the crystal data are shown in scheme 2 and the arrangement show specific C-H···π and π···π interaction within the neighboring ANF to give

PT

extra stability of the ANF microcrystals of the hydrosol.

RI

3.3. Role of SDS

SC

Concentration of SDS (10mM) used for each sample is higher than the critical micelle concentration of SDS. The micellar core acts as good solvent for ANF as well as

NU

microenvironment to solubilize within the microcavity of SDS micelle. Here with increasing

MA

concentration of ANF in SDS solution, concentration of ANF reaches its super saturation value within the miceller cavity and upon standing without any disturbances; ANF is precipitated out

D

as microcrystals within the micro cavity. A similar experiment without SDS results precipitation

TE

of all the samples from water and the resulting aggregated structures of ANF has no regular

AC CE P

shapes. 3.4. UV-Vis Study

Fig. 4 shows the UV-Vis absorption spectra of the as prepared hydrosol of ANF (sample a, b & c) and the diluted solution of ANF in THF. The UV-Vis absorption spectrum of ANF in THF has three distinct bands at 277, 328 and 342 nm respectively. The absorption band with peak at 277 nm corresponds to the π–π* transition and the two weak bands at 328 & 342nm corresponds to the vibronic bands of n–π* transitions of ANF. On the other hand absorption spectra of hydrosol (sample – a, b, c) are red shifted and broadened compare ANF in THF. This broadening and red shift of absorption spectra indicate strong van der Waals and H-bonded interactions among the neighboring ANF within the microcrystals.

11

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 3.5. Emission study Fig. 5 shows the PL spectra of ANF in THF and its hydrosols with different amount of

PT

ANF. It is observed that the dilute solution (10-5M) of ANF in THF exhibits no detectable

RI

emission. But the aggregated hydrosol of ANF shows intense broad emission, having a maximum at 434 nm. The optimum concentration of ANF for the PL study is achieved by

SC

adding different volumes of 0.01 (M) ANF in THF into 5 mL 10 mM SDS. It has been observed

NU

that the PL intensity increases with increasing concentration of ANF and reaches its maximum value when the concentration of ANF reaches to 3.8 mM. Quantum yield of emission of

MA

aggregated hydrosol at this concentration is found to be, Φ = 0.04. Further increase in ANF concentration results in a gradual decrease in PL intensity, keeping the peak position unaltered.

TE

D

Thus 3.8 mM is the optimum concentration of ANF in solution, below which aggregation of ANF occurs in such a way that it results emissive crystalline structure, but above this

AC CE P

concentration molecules start to aggregate in random fashion that break the regular crystalline structure and make it a less emissive one. A similar PL study using different concentration of ANF for a fixed volume of water is shown in fig. 6. It shows that PL intensity increases with increasing concentration of ANF reaches a maxima at 1.9 mM ANF and then decreases. This increasing PL intensity upto 1.9mM is due to the formation of crystalline aggregate of ANF. At higher ANF concentration, ANF forms amorphous aggregates leading to decreasing PL intensity. Fig. 7 shows the fluorescence emission spectra of ANF at different volume fractions of poor solvent, water. In all the sets, the concentration of ANF is fixed at 100 µM. It is observed that PL intensity increases slowly up to 90% water fraction, but a sudden drop of PL intensity is observed when the water fraction is 99%. This is probably due to the change in the packing mode 12

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT of the molecules in the aggregates. In binary solvent mixture with low water content, ANF molecules steadily assemble in an ordered fashion to form emissive crystalline aggregates and

PT

the concentration of crystalline emissive aggregates becomes optimum at 90:10 volume ratio of

RI

water/ THF. But at higher (>90%) volume fraction of water, ANF quickly agglomerates to form less emissive amorphous aggregates.

SC

In order to understand the nature of aggregates in ANF microcrystals, we have carried out

NU

time resolved fluorescence study of the ANF hydrosols with 370 nm excitation, and the emission was measured at 420 nm for each samples. Decay profile of the hydrosols is shown in figure 8.

MA

Fluorescence lifetime of the samples (table 1) was evaluated by deconvoluting the response function from the decay curves. Our measured fluorescence lifetime of the decay profiles of the

TE

D

ANF hydrosols are fitted with a bi-exponential decay. Measured lifetime at 420nm of each of the samples (a-c) show two component having values in the range ~ 1.1-1.3ns and ~ 2.6-3.2ns

AC CE P

respectively. The longer component is the major contributor of each decay profile. Since the monomer emission tail has significant intensity at 420 nm, the 1.1-1.3ns components come from the excited monomer present within the rigid matrix of SDS micelle and the 2.6-3.2ns components are due to crystal exciton emission from ANF microcrystals. 3.6. Mechanism of AIE effect The non-emissive property of excited α-Napthoflavone (ANF) in THF is due to the free twisting of the phenyl ring in the solution phase and as a consequence the ANF molecules waste major part of its excitation energy through non-radiative pathways. In order to understand the distribution of electron density within the aromatic rings of ANF, we optimized the ground state geometry of ANF using density functional theory (DFT) with the B3LYP/6-311G (d,p) hybrid functional. Our computed HOMO electron density (Fig. 9) illustrates that electron densities are 13

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT localized within Benzo[h] chromen-4-one group. On the other hand, LUMO electron densities are localized to the entire geometry of ANF. This delocalization of excited electronic energy to

PT

the freely rotating phenyl groups is responsible for opening up the nonradiative deactivation

RI

channels of excited ANF in its isolated form in solution.

The above explanation is supported by crystal structure of the compound. We also

SC

observe that the non emissive ANF in THF becomes highly emissive when aggregation takes

NU

place in SDS miceller solution. This observation suggests that ANF in THF-water is an AIE active compound. It may be mentioned here that the crystal structure of the compound also

MA

supports the tendency of ANF to form aggregates via non-covalent interactions [50].

D

3.7. Cytotoxicity of sample-d toward Normal Human Cells

TE

Fig. 10 shows the survival curves of cultured normal human cells, exposed to sample-d at

AC CE P

different concentrations for 24h. Sample-d is considerably cytotoxic toward these human normal cells in a dose dependent manner. It was found slightly toxic at 500 μL/ml concentration compared to control.

In order to understand the mechanism of sample-d cytotoxicity, we examined the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in sample-d treated peripheral blood lymphocytes cells using DCF-DA. Cells were exposed to sample-d for 24h at different concentrations and then incubated with 10 mM DCF-DA for 30min. The fluorescence intensity of DCF (the deesterified, oxidized product of DCF-DA) in the cells was determined by fluorescence spectroscopy. The results showed that the fluorescent intensity increased significantly at higher concentration i.e. 500 μL/ml (Fig. 11). 3.8. Effects of sample-d on reduced and oxidized glutathione level in human cells 14

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT In fig. 12 it has been found that there is no significant change of GSH level in human cell upon addition of sample- d upto 100 μL/ml. The GSH level has decreased significantly (P<0.05)

PT

at higher concentration i.e. 500 μL/ml. Similarly the oxidized glutathione level has been

RI

increased significantly (P<0.05) at 500μL/ml.

From the viewpoint of screening of the cytotoxicity of sample-d, its cytotoxicity has

SC

attracted attention. Since oxidative stress is suggested to cause many diseases including

NU

cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, sample-d may have the possible dietary preventives against these diseases. If sample-d is used as dietary factors for health maintenance,

MA

relatively large amounts may be ingested. As a prerequisite for the application of sample-d to dietary preventives, its‟ toxicity should be examined [51-53]. We examined the cytotoxicity at

normal human cells.

TE

D

different concentration of sample- d by gradually increasing the concentration toward cultured

AC CE P

Sample-d shows considerable cytotoxic effects when human normal cells are incubated with the sample-d at relatively high concentrations in culture medium for 24 h (Fig. 10). But sample-d has protective effects on cells under oxidative stress at relatively low concentration (Fig. 12). These results suggest that sample-d exerts beneficial effects on human normal cells at relatively low concentrations, but toxic effects at relatively high concentrations.

4. Conclusion Our present synthesis of aggregated ANF hydrosol is very interesting so far as its photophysical properties are concerned. ANF has almost no emission in its diluted solution. But 15

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT the aggregated hydrosol of ANF shows strong emission and it is termed as aggregation induced emission (AIE). ANF has freely rotating phenyl group, which after excitation transfer its energy

PT

through free rotation of phenyl group to the environment and it is responsible for quenching of ANF emission in its diluted solution in THF. But in the aggregated hydrosol of ANF, phenyl

SC

RI

group are no longer free to rotate and again due to strong -, CH···π and CH···O interactions among the neighboring ANF molecules, strong AIE effect is observed. Stacking pattern of ANF

NU

in studied by analyzing the simple crystal data of ANF. Additionally, the ANF hydrosol may draw beneficial effects in biological application as it has no higher toxic activity and has

MA

antioxidant property.

AC CE P

Fax: +91 3222 275329

TE

E-mail: [email protected]

D

Corresponding Author:

Acknowledgment

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support received from CSIR (Ref. No. 01(2443)/10/EMR-II), New Delhi for carrying out this research work. P.M thanks CSIR, New Delhi for her fellowship. We gratefully acknowledge the help render by USIC, Vidyasagar University for doing fluorescence measurements. We are also thankful to nano centre, Calcutta University and Presidency University, Kolkata for their help in doing XRD and fluorescence lifetime measurement study.

16

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT References [1] J.B. Birks, Photophysics of Aromatic Molecules, Wiley, London, 1970.

PT

[2] J. Luo, Z. Xie, J.W.Y. Lam, L. Cheng, H. Chen, C. Qiu, H.S. Kwok, X. Zhan, Y. Liu, D. Zhu, B.Z. Tang, Aggregation-induced emission of 1-methyl-1,2,3,4,5-pentaphenylsilole, Chem.

RI

Commun. (2001), 1740-1741.

SC

[3] B.K. An, S.K. Kwon, S.D. Jung, S.Y. Park, Enhanced Emission and Its Switching in Fluorescent Organic Nanoparticles, J. Am. Chem.Soc. 124 (2002) 14410-14415.

NU

[4] Y. Hong, J.W.Y. Lam, B.Z. Tang, Aggregation-induced emission, Chem. Soc. Rev. 40

MA

(2011) 5361-5388.

[5] W.Z. Yuan, Y. Gong, S. Chen, X.Y. Shen, J.W.Y. Lam, P. Lu, Y. Lu, Z. Wang, R. Hu, N. Xie, H.S. Kwok, Y. Zhang, J.Z. Sun, B.Z. Tang, Efficient Solid Emitters with Aggregation-

D

Induced Emission and Intramolecular Charge Transfer Characteristics: Molecular Design,

TE

Synthesis, Photophysical Behaviors, and OLED Application, Chem. Mater. 24 (2012)

AC CE P

1518−1528.

[6] H. Li, Y. Guo, G. Li, H. Xiao, Y. Lei, X. Huang, J. Chen, H. Wu, J. Ding, Y. Cheng, Aggregation-Induced

Fluorescence

Emission

Properties

of

Dicyanomethylene-1,4-

dihydropyridine Derivatives, J. Phys. Chem. C 119 (2015) 6737−6748. [7] H. Li, Z. Chi, B. Xu, X. Zhang, X. Li, S. Liu, Y. Zhang, J. Xu, Aggregation-induced emission enhancement compounds containing triphenylamine-anthrylenevinylene and tetraphenylethene moieties, J. Mater. Chem. 21 (2011) 3760-3767. [8] P. Mazumdar, D. Das, G.P. Sahoo, G. Salgado-Morán, A. Misra, Aggregation induced emission enhancement from Bathophenanthroline microstructures and its potential use as sensor of mercury ions in water, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 16 (2014) 6283-6293. [9] P. Mazumdar, D. Das, G.P. Sahoo, G. Salgado-Morán, A. Misra, Aggregation induced emission enhancement of 4,4'-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone with an exceptionally large blue shift and its potential use as glucose sensor, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 17 (2015) 3343-3354. 17

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT [10] P. Mazumdar, S. Maity, M. Shyamal, D. Das, G.P. Sahoo, A. Misra, Proton triggered emission and selective sensing of picric acid by the fluorescent aggregates of 6,7-dimethyl-2,3-

PT

bis-(2-pyridyl)-quinoxaline, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. DOI: 10.1039/c5cp05827a. [11] R.H. Friend, R.W. Gymer, A.B. Holmes, J.H. Burroughes, R.N. Marks, C. Taliani, D.D.C.

RI

Bradley, D.A. Dos Santos, J.L. Bredas, M. Logdlund, W.R. Salaneck, Electroluminescence in

SC

conjugated polymers, Nature 397 (1999) 121-128.

[12] E.I. Haskal, Z. Shen, P.E. Burrows, S.R. Forrest, Excitons and exciton confinement in

NU

crystalline organic thin films grown by organic molecular-beam deposition, Phy. Rev. B 51 (1995) 4449-4462.

MA

[13] P.Y. Gu, F. Zhou, J. Gao, G. Li, C. Wang, Q.F. Xu, Q. Zhang, J.M. Lu, Synthesis, Characterization, and Nonvolatile Ternary Memory Behavior of a Larger Heteroacene with Nine Linearly Fused Rings and Two Different Heteroatoms, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 135 (2013) 14086-

TE

D

14089.

[14] Y. Wu, Z. Yin, J. Xiao, Y. Liu, F. Wei, K.J. Tan, C. Kloc, L. Huang, Q. Yan, F. Hu, H.

AC CE P

Zhang, Q. Zhang, Crystal Structure and Phototransistor Behavior of N-Substituted Heptacence, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 4 (2012) 1883-1886. [15] J. Xiao1, C.D. Malliakas, Y. Liu, F. Zhou, G. Li, H. Su, M.G. Kanatzidis, F. Wudl, Q. Zhang, “Clean Reaction” Strategy to Approach a Stable, Green Heptatwistacene Containing a Single Terminal Pyrene Unit, Chem. Asian J. 7 (2012) 672-675. [16] J. Li, Q. Zhang, Mono- and Oligocyclic Aromatic Ynes and Diynes as Building Blocks to Approach Larger Acenes, Heteroacenes, and Twistacenes, Synlett 24 (2013) 686-696. [17] D. Small, V. Zaitsev, Y. Jung, S.V. Rosokha, M. Head-Gordon, J.K. Kochi, Intermolecular -to- Bonding between Stacked Aromatic Dyads. Experimental and Theoretical Binding Energies and Near-IR Optical Transitions for Phenalenyl Radical/Radical versus Radical/Cation Dimerizations, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 126 (2004) 13850-13858

18

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT [18] M. Kastler, W. Pisula, D. Wasserfallen, T. Pakula, K. Mullen, Influence of Alkyl Substituents on the Solution- and Surface-Organization of Hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronenes, J.

PT

Am. Chem. Soc. 127 (2005) 4286-4296. [19] B.K. An, S.K. Kwon, S.D. Jung, S.Y. Park, Enhanced Emission and Its Switching in

RI

Fluorescent Organic Nanoparticles, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 124 (2002) 14410-14415.

SC

[20] D. Xiao, L. Xi, W. Yang, H. Fu, Z. Shuai, Y. Fang, J. Yao, Size-Tunable Emission from 1,3-Diphenyl-5-(2-anthryl)-2-pyrazoline Nanoparticles, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125 (2003) 6740-

NU

6745.

MA

[21] H. Yu, L. Qi, Polymer-Assisted Crystallization and Optical Properties of Uniform Microrods of Organic Dye Sudan II, Langmuir 25 (2009) 6781-6786. [22] Z.Y. Xiao, X. Zhao, X.K. Jiang, Z.T. Li, Construction of Microbelts through the

D

Coassembly of a Disclike Molecule and Primary Alkyl Ammoniums: A Noncovalent Strategy to

TE

Mimic Covalently Bonded π-Core Alkyl Chain Structure, Langmuir 26 (2010) 13048-13051.

AC CE P

[23] B.K. An, J. Gierschner, S.Y. Park, Methodological Features of the Emulsion and Reprecipitation Methods for Organic Nanocrystal Fabrication. Acc. Chem. Res. 45 (2012) 544554.

[24] D. Das, G.P. Sahoo, P. Mazumdar, A. Maity, D. Chattopadhyay, G. Salgado-Morán, A. Misra, Morphology directing synthesis of benzo[a]pyrene microstructures and their photo physical properties, J Mol Liq. 206 (2015) 47-55. [25] X. Zhang, X. Zhang, K. Zou, C.S. Lee, S.T. Lee, Single-Crystal Nanoribbons, Nanotubes, and Nanowires from Intramolecular Charge-Transfer Organic Molecules, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 129 (2007) 3527-3532. [26] J. Xiao, H. Yang, Z. Yin, J. Guo, F. Boey, H. Zhang, Q. Zhang, Preparation, characterization, and photoswitching/light-emitting behaviors of coronene nanowires, J. Mater. Chem. 21 (2011) 1423-1427.

19

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT [27] Z. Wang, H. Mohwald, C. Gao, Nanotubes Protruding from Poly(allylamine hydrochloride)Graft-Pyrene Microcapsules, ACS Nano 5 (2011) 3930-3936.

PT

[28] Y.S. Zhao, W. Yang, G. Zhang, Y. Ma, J. Yao, A hierarchical self-assembly of 4,5diphenylimidazole on copper, Colloids Surf. A 277 (2006) 111-118.

RI

[29] Y.S. Zhao, W. Yang, D. Xiao, X. Sheng, X. Yang, Z. Shuai, Y. Luo, J. Yao, Single

SC

Crystalline Submicrotubes from Small Organic Molecules, Chem. Mater 17 (2005) 6430-6435. [30] G.P. Sahoo, D. Das, P.S. Sheet, H. Beg, G. Salgado-Morán, A. Misra, Morphology directing

NU

synthesis of 1-pyrene carboxaldehyde microstructures and their photo physical properties, RSC

MA

Advances 4 (2014) 10903-10911.

[31] B. Yang, J. Xiao, J.I. Wong, J. Guo, Y. Wu, L. Ong, L.L. Lao, F. Boey, H. Zhang, H.Y. Yang, Q. Zhang, Shape-Controlled Micro/Nanostructures of 9,10-Diphenylanthracene (DPA)

D

and Their Application in Light-Emitting Devices, J. Phys. Chem.C 115 (2011), 7924–7927.

TE

[32] Y.S. Zhao, H. Fu, F. Hu, A. Peng, W. Yang, Tunable Emission from Binary Organic OneDimensional Nanomaterials: An Alternative Approach to White-Light Emission, J. Yao, Adv.

AC CE P

Mater 20 (2008) 79-83.

[33] J. Jang, J.H. Oh, Facile Fabrication of Photochromic Dye-Conducting Polymer Core-Shell Nanomaterials and their Photoluminiscence, Adv. Mater 15 (2003) 977-980. [34] Y.S. Zhao, W. Yang, J. Yao, Organic nanocrystals with tunable morphologies and optical properties prepared through a sonication technique, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys 8 (2006) 3300– 3303. [35] X. Zhang, X. Zhang, W. Shi, X. Meng, C. Lee, S. Lee, Morphology-Controllable Synthesis of Pyrene Nanostructures and Its Morphology Dependence of Optical Properties, J. Phys. Chem. B 109 (2005) 18777-18780. [36] R. Iwaura, H. Yui, Y. Someya, M.O. Kameyama, Construction of energy transfer pathways self-assembled from DNA-templated stacks of anthracene, J Photochem Photobiol B 130 (2014) 199-204. 20

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT [37] Z.Q. Lin, P.J. Sun, Y.Y. Tay, J. Liang, Y. Liu, N.E. Shi, L. H. Xie, M.D. Yi, Y. Qian, Q.L. Fan, H. Zhang, H.H. Hng, J. Ma, Q. Zhang, W. Huang, Kinetically Controlled Assembly of a Spirocyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon into Polyhedral Micro/Nanocrystals, ACS Nano 6 (2012)

PT

5309–5319.

RI

[38] J. Xiao, Z. Yin, H. Li, Q. Zhang, F. Boey, H. Zhang, Q. Zhang, Postchemistry of organic particles: when TTF microparticles meet TCNQ microstructures in aqueous solution, J. Am.

SC

Chem. Soc. 132 (2010) 6926–6928.

NU

[39] Y. Liu, F. Boey, L.L. Lao, H. Zhang, X. Liu, Q. Zhang, Postchemistry of inorganic–organic hybrid particles in aqueous solution: metal–cation exchange, Chem. Asian. J. 6 (2011) 1004–

MA

1006.

[40] J. Xiao, Z. Yin, Y. Wu, J. Guo, Y. Cheng, H. Li, Y. Huang, Q. Zhang, J. Ma, F. Boey, H. Zhang, Q. Zhang, Chemical reaction between Ag nanoparticles and TCNQ microparticles in

TE

D

aqueous solution, Small 7 (2011) 1242–1246. [41] J. Xiao, D.Y. Kusuma, Y. Wu, F. Boey, H. Zhang, P.S. Lee, Q. Zhang, Postchemistry of

803.

AC CE P

organic microrods: thermopolymerization in aqueous solution, Chem. Asian. J. 6 (2011) 801–

[42] M. Cushman, D. Nagarathnam, Cytotoxicities of some flavonoid analogues, J. Nat. Prod. 54 (1991) 1656-1660.

[43] M.S. Moron, J.W. Kepierre, B. Mannervick, Levels of glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase activities in rat lung and liver, Biochimica. Biophysica. Acta. 582 (1979) 67-68. [44] O.W. Griffith, Determination of glutathione and glutathione sulfide using glutathione reductase and 2-vinyl pyridine, Analytical Biochemistry 106 (1980) 207-212. 450] O.H. Lowry, N.J. Rosenbrough, A.L. Farr, R.J. Randall, Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent, J. Biol. Chem. 193 (1951) 255-275.

21

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT [46] P.R. Bevington, Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the Physical Sciences. McGraw Hill: New York, 1969, pp. 235-237.

PT

[47] FELIX 32, Operation Manual, Version 1.1; Photon Technology International, Inc.:Birmingham, NJ, 2003.

RI

[48] A.M. Brouwer, Standards for Photoluminescence Quantum Yield Measurements in

SC

Solution. Pure Appl. Chem. 83 (2011) 2213–2228.

NU

[49] K. Panneerselvam, M. Sorinogarcía, α-Napthoflavone, Acta Cryst. C51 (1995) 1418-1420. [50] S. Samanta, S. Goswami, M.N. Hoque, A. Ramesh, G. Das, An aggregation-induced

MA

emission (AIE) active probe renders Al(III) sensing and tracking of subsequent interaction with DNA, Chem Commun 50 (2014) 11833-11836.

[51] T. Kaneko, N. Baba, M. Matsuo, Structure-activity relationship of antioxidants for

D

inhibitors of linoleic acid hydroperoxide-induced toxicity in cultured human umbilical vein

TE

endothelial cells, Cytotechnology 35 (2001) 43-55.

AC CE P

[52] K. Ishige, D. Schubert, Y. Sagara, Flavonoids protect neuronal cells from oxidative stress by three distinct mechanisms, Free Radic Bio. Med. 30 (2001) 433-446. [53] B. Halliwell, J.M.C. Gutteridge, “Free Radicals in Biology and Medi- cine,” 3rd ed., Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1999.

22

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT Legend to the figures: Fig. 1. SEM images of ANF microcrystals, (i) sample-a, (ii) sample-b and (iii) sample-c.

PT

Fig. 2. Optical, fluorescence and polarizing microscopic images of ANF microcrystals, (i)

RI

sample-a, (ii) sample-b and (iii) sample-c.

SC

Fig. 3. Powder XRD patterns of (i) simulated from single crystal data (ii) sample-a (iii) sample-b and (iv) sample-c.

NU

Fig. 4. UV–visible absorption spectra of ANF monomer in THF(m) and aqueous suspensions of its microcrystal; (i) sample-a, (ii) sample-b, and (iii) sample-c in SDS (10 mM).

MA

Fig. 5. Emission spectra of aggregated hydrosol of ANF containing (i) 10 μL (ii) 30 μL (iii) 50 μL (iv) 100 μL (v) 200 μL (vi) 250 μL (vii) 300 μL ; ANF in THF in 5mL aqueous SDS (10

D

mM).

TE

Fig. 6. Emission spectra of aggregated hydrosol of ANF containing (i) 10 μL (ii) 30 μL (iii) 50

AC CE P

μL (iv) 100 μL (v) 200 μL (vi) 250 μL (vii) 300 μL ANF in THF in 5mL water. Fig. 7. (i) Emission spectra of freshly prepared ANF (0.1M) in (i) 0% water (mother), (ii) 20% water, (iii) 30% water, (iv) 40% water, (v) 50% water and (vi) 70% water, (vii) 80% water, (viii) 90% water, (ix) 99% water. λex: 320 nm (ii) Plot of relative variation of PL intensity against percentage volume fraction of water (fw) in THF–water mixture. Fig.8. Fluorescence decay profiles of aqueous suspensions of its microcrystals; (i) sample-a, (ii) sample-b (iii) sample-c in SDS. All samples were excited at 370 nm. Fig. 9. Optimized structure and HOMO and LUMO electron densities of ANF calculated using DFT -B3LYP/6-311G(d,p)) level of theory. Fig. 10. Graphical presentation of in-vitro cyto-toxicity of sample-d against peripheral blood lymphocytes by MTT assay. *indicates the significant difference as compared with the control group.

23

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT Fig. 11. Graphical presentation of intracellular ROS generation in peripheral blood lymphocytes after the exposure of sample-d at different concentration. *indicates the significant difference as

PT

compared with the control group. Fig. 12. Graphical presentation of reduced glutathione and oxidized glutathione level in

RI

peripheral blood lymphocytes after exposures of sample-d at different concentration. *indicates

AC CE P

TE

D

MA

NU

SC

the significant difference as compared with the control group.

24

AC CE P

TE

D

MA

NU

SC

RI

PT

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

Fig. 1

25

AC CE P

TE

D

MA

NU

SC

RI

PT

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

Fig. 2

26

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

RI

PT

(iv) Sample c

NU

SC

(iii) Sample b

(ii) Sample a

Fig. 3

AC CE P

TE

D

MA

(i) Simulated from single crystal data

27

Fig. 4

AC CE P

TE

D

MA

NU

SC

RI

PT

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

28

Fig. 5

AC CE P

TE

D

MA

NU

SC

RI

PT

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

29

MA

NU

SC

RI

PT

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

AC CE P

TE

D

Fig. 6

30

Fig. 7

AC CE P

TE

D

MA

NU

SC

RI

PT

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

31

Fig.8

AC CE P

TE

D

MA

NU

SC

RI

PT

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

32

AC CE P

TE

D

MA

NU

SC

RI

PT

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

Fig. 9

33

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

100

PT *

RI

60

40

SC

% of Cell Viability

80

0 0

20

40

60

NU

20

80

Fig. 10

AC CE P

TE

D

MA

lml

34

100

500

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 6.0

*

PT

5.0

RI

4.5

SC

4.0

3.5

3.0 0

20

40

60

NU

Fluroscence Intencity (A.U.)

5.5

80

MA

l/ml

AC CE P

TE

D

Fig. 11

35

100

120

500

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT Reduced Glutathion Oxidized Glutathione

2.0

1.5

PT

* *

1.0

RI

mM/mg-Protein

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

0.0 0

10

20

30

40

50

NU

SC

0.5

60

70

80

MA

lml

AC CE P

TE

D

Fig. 12

36

90 100 110

500

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

PT

Table 1: Fluorescence life time of different shaped microcrystals of α-Napthoflavone in SDS.

τ1 (% contribution) ns 1.363 (78.05%)

τ2(% contribution) ns 3.187 (21.95%)

Sample -b

1.201 (85.14%)

3.139 (14.86%)

Sample -c

1.127 (85.27%)

SC

RI

Sample Sample -a

AC CE P

TE

D

MA

NU

2.604 (14.73%)

37

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

AC CE P

TE

D

MA

NU

SC

RI

PT

Graphical Abstract:

38

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

PT

Highlights  Morphologically interesting α-Napthoflavone microcrystals are synthesized.

RI

 Crystal induced emission from α-Napthoflavone microcrystals is observed.

AC CE P

TE

D

MA

NU

SC

 Microcrystals have no higher toxic activity and have good antioxidant property.

39