Spectroscopic probing of location and dynamics of an environment-sensitive intramolecular charge transfer probe within liposome membranes.

The present work demonstrates the interaction of an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) probe 5-(4-dimethylamino-phenyl)-penta-2,4-dienoic acid methyl ester (DPDAME) with liposome membranes of dimyristoyl-L-α-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoyl-L-α-phosphatidylglycerol (DMPG) studied by steady-state absorption, emission and time-resolved emission techniques. A huge hypsochromic shift together with remarkable enhancement of fluorescence quantum yield of the polarity sensitive ICT emission of DPDAME upon interaction with the lipids has been rationalized in terms of incorporation of the probe into hydrophobic interior of the lipids. Compelling evidences for penetration of the probe into the hydrocarbon interior of the lipids have been deduced from intertwining different experimental results e.g., micropolarity in the immediate vicinity of the probe in lipid environments, steady-state anisotropy, red-edge excitation shift (REES), fluorescence quenching experiments and time-resolved measurements. The rotational relaxation dynamics study of the membrane-bound probe unveils the impartation of high degree of motional rigidity. Wavelength-selective emission behaviour paves way for monitoring of solvent-relaxation in the membranes. Overall, the ICT probe DPDAME displays its commendable sensitivity in deciphering the microheterogeneous environments of liposomal membranes of DMPC and DMPG and promises a new membrane-polarity sensitizing probe.