Multiple pathways for lanthanide sensitization in self-assembled aqueous complexes Navarro, Amparo Ruiz-Arias, Alvaro Fueyo-Gonzalez, Francisco Izquierdo-Garcia, Carolina Peña-Ruiz, Tomás Gutierrez-Rodriguez, Marta Herranz, Rosario Cuerva, Juan M. González-Vera, Juan A. Orte Gutiérrez, Ángel Lanthanides Density functional calculations Luminescence Lanthanide photoluminescence (PL) emission has attracted much attention for technological and bioimaging applications because of its particularly interesting features, such as narrow emission bands and very long PL lifetimes. However, this emission process necessitates a preceding step of energy transfer from suitable antennas. While biocompatible applications require luminophores that are stable in aqueous media, most lanthanide-based emitters are quenched by water molecules. Previously, we described a small luminophore, 8-methoxy-2-oxo- 1,2,4,5-tetrahydrocyclopenta[de]quinoline-3-phosphonic acid (PAnt), which is capable of dynamically coordinating with Tb(III) and Eu(III), and its exchangeable behavior improved their performance in PL lifetime imaging microscopy (PLIM) compared with conventional lanthanide cryptate imaging agents. Herein, we report an indepth photophysical and time-dependent density functional theory (TD–DFT) computational study that reveals different sensitization mechanisms for Eu(III) and Tb(III) in stable complexes formed in water. Understanding this unique behavior in aqueous media enables the exploration of different applications in bioimaging or novel emitting materials. 2024-09-03T07:58:35Z 2024-09-03T07:58:35Z 2024-08-03 journal article Navarro, A. et. al. 323 (2024 ) 124926. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2024.124926] https://hdl.handle.net/10481/93805 10.1016/j.saa.2024.124926 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ open access Atribución 4.0 Internacional Elsevier