Computational-Chemistry-Based Prediction of Near-Infrared Rhodamine Fluorescence Peaks with Sub-12 nm Accuracy

Near-infrared (NIR) rhodamine dyes are pivotal for bioimaging due to the minimal tissue interference. Yet, their rational design is hindered by unreliable computational methods for excited-state property prediction. We benchmarked the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) with the linear-...

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Main Authors: Qinlin Yuan, Hanwei Wang, Pingping Sun, Chaoyuan Zeng, Weijie Chi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Photochem
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7256/5/2/15
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author Qinlin Yuan
Hanwei Wang
Pingping Sun
Chaoyuan Zeng
Weijie Chi
author_facet Qinlin Yuan
Hanwei Wang
Pingping Sun
Chaoyuan Zeng
Weijie Chi
author_sort Qinlin Yuan
collection DOAJ
description Near-infrared (NIR) rhodamine dyes are pivotal for bioimaging due to the minimal tissue interference. Yet, their rational design is hindered by unreliable computational methods for excited-state property prediction. We benchmarked the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) with the linear-response (LR) and state-specific (SS) solvation models across five functionals (CAM-B3LYP, M06-2X, ωB97X-D, B3LYP, MN15) and optimized the ground/excited states for 42 rhodamine derivatives. A robust linear calibration framework was established by connecting the computed and experimental wavelengths, which was rigorously validated through six-fold cross-validation. The key metrics included the mean absolute error (MAE) and R<sup>2</sup> to assess the prediction robustness. CAM-B3LYP combined with LR solvation achieved the highest accuracy (absorption: MAE = 6 nm, R<sup>2</sup> = 0.94; emission: MAE = 12 nm, R<sup>2</sup> = 0.72). By integrating the TDDFT with a calibrated linear-response solvation model, we achieved sub-12 nm accuracy in predicting the NIR fluorescence peaks. This framework enabled the rational design of nine novel rhodamine derivatives with emissions beyond 700 nm, offering a paradigm shift in bioimaging probe development.
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publisher MDPI AG
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series Photochem
spelling doaj-art-7b2b30e84c644d81862fe93da52fe8f82025-08-20T03:27:36ZengMDPI AGPhotochem2673-72562025-06-01521510.3390/photochem5020015Computational-Chemistry-Based Prediction of Near-Infrared Rhodamine Fluorescence Peaks with Sub-12 nm AccuracyQinlin Yuan0Hanwei Wang1Pingping Sun2Chaoyuan Zeng3Weijie Chi4School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaNear-infrared (NIR) rhodamine dyes are pivotal for bioimaging due to the minimal tissue interference. Yet, their rational design is hindered by unreliable computational methods for excited-state property prediction. We benchmarked the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) with the linear-response (LR) and state-specific (SS) solvation models across five functionals (CAM-B3LYP, M06-2X, ωB97X-D, B3LYP, MN15) and optimized the ground/excited states for 42 rhodamine derivatives. A robust linear calibration framework was established by connecting the computed and experimental wavelengths, which was rigorously validated through six-fold cross-validation. The key metrics included the mean absolute error (MAE) and R<sup>2</sup> to assess the prediction robustness. CAM-B3LYP combined with LR solvation achieved the highest accuracy (absorption: MAE = 6 nm, R<sup>2</sup> = 0.94; emission: MAE = 12 nm, R<sup>2</sup> = 0.72). By integrating the TDDFT with a calibrated linear-response solvation model, we achieved sub-12 nm accuracy in predicting the NIR fluorescence peaks. This framework enabled the rational design of nine novel rhodamine derivatives with emissions beyond 700 nm, offering a paradigm shift in bioimaging probe development.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7256/5/2/15rhodaminecomputational chemistrynear-infrared IIfluorescence wavelength
spellingShingle Qinlin Yuan
Hanwei Wang
Pingping Sun
Chaoyuan Zeng
Weijie Chi
Computational-Chemistry-Based Prediction of Near-Infrared Rhodamine Fluorescence Peaks with Sub-12 nm Accuracy
Photochem
rhodamine
computational chemistry
near-infrared II
fluorescence wavelength
title Computational-Chemistry-Based Prediction of Near-Infrared Rhodamine Fluorescence Peaks with Sub-12 nm Accuracy
title_full Computational-Chemistry-Based Prediction of Near-Infrared Rhodamine Fluorescence Peaks with Sub-12 nm Accuracy
title_fullStr Computational-Chemistry-Based Prediction of Near-Infrared Rhodamine Fluorescence Peaks with Sub-12 nm Accuracy
title_full_unstemmed Computational-Chemistry-Based Prediction of Near-Infrared Rhodamine Fluorescence Peaks with Sub-12 nm Accuracy
title_short Computational-Chemistry-Based Prediction of Near-Infrared Rhodamine Fluorescence Peaks with Sub-12 nm Accuracy
title_sort computational chemistry based prediction of near infrared rhodamine fluorescence peaks with sub 12 nm accuracy
topic rhodamine
computational chemistry
near-infrared II
fluorescence wavelength
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7256/5/2/15
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AT hanweiwang computationalchemistrybasedpredictionofnearinfraredrhodaminefluorescencepeakswithsub12nmaccuracy
AT pingpingsun computationalchemistrybasedpredictionofnearinfraredrhodaminefluorescencepeakswithsub12nmaccuracy
AT chaoyuanzeng computationalchemistrybasedpredictionofnearinfraredrhodaminefluorescencepeakswithsub12nmaccuracy
AT weijiechi computationalchemistrybasedpredictionofnearinfraredrhodaminefluorescencepeakswithsub12nmaccuracy