Supramolecular control of photophysical properties of cyanine dyes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(98)00597-3

We present the results of our studies on the intramolecular complexation of cyanine dyes and cyclodextrins with the objective of modifying the photophysical behaviour of the dyes. We demonstrate that dye inclusion complex formation with cyclodextrins serves to inhibit dimer formation as well as enhance photostability of cyanines. We also show that the modification of the physicochemical properties of cyanine dyes by cyclodextrin complexation is a highly selective, structure dependent phenomenon.