TY - JOUR A1 - Pérez-Padilla, Víctor A1 - Burnage, Samual C. A1 - Wittwer, Philipp A1 - Valderrey, Virginia A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Gawlitza, Kornelia A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Detection of Perfluoroalkylic Acids From Water Using a Guanidine-Based Fluorescent Probe and Microfluidic Droplet Extraction N2 - Perfluoroalkylic acids (PFAAs), a subclass of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are stable, widely used industrial compounds posing environmental concerns due to their persistence and toxicity. Regulatory actions and remediation strategies necessitate effective onsite analytical methods for PFAS management. We developed an optical sensing system using a fluorescent probe with a benzoxadiazole core and guanidine receptor in a droplet-based microfluidic assay to detect PFAAs in water samples with low detection limits. The PFAAs binding enhances the probe's fluorescence in organic media through protonation-mediated hydrogen bond-assisted ion pairing, exploiting two complementary supramolecular forces. Direct detection employs a liquid-liquid extraction protocol in the microfluidic device, achieving detection limits for PFOA and PFOS down to ≥0.5 µm, with a dynamic range up to 200 µm for sample volumes <100 µL. HCl/KCl buffering facilitates analyte desalting and phase transfer for quantitation from surface water. Additionally, we developed a method involving a thin polymer layer of the probe and a crosslinker on submicron silica particles for direct detection of PFAAs in water. Our approaches provide sensitive, direct recognition and indication of PFAAs, advancing the field beyond indirect sensing and offering improved background suppression, rapid assay times, and a modular design for targeting other PFAS subclasses. KW - PFAS KW - Fluorescence KW - Microfluidics KW - Droplet Extraction PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-657330 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/adsr.70145 VL - 5 IS - 3 SP - 1 EP - 13 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-65733 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - El Abbassi, Abdelouahad A1 - Krenzer, Julius A1 - Petrov, Eugene P. A1 - Biesen, Lukas A1 - Vasylyeva, Vera A1 - Merzenich, Sarah A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Müller, Thomas J. J. T1 - Aroyl-S,N-ketene acetal-triarylamine bichromophores – intramolecular energy transfer and dual emission upon induced aggregation and encapsulation N2 - Aroyl-S,N-ketene acetal-based bichromophores are synthesized by a catalytic aryl amination and their photophysics are studied in the solid state, in ethanol–water mixtures inducing aggregation, and after encapsulation in polystyrene nanoparticles. The dye substitution pattern controls aggregation-induced emission and intramolecular energy transfer efficiency, resulting in single-band or dual fluorescence and a strong increase in fluorescence quantum yield upon particle encapsulation. KW - Fluorescence KW - Dye KW - Aggregation KW - Photophysics KW - Enhancement KW - White light emission KW - Energy transfer KW - Quantum yield PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-656700 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d5ra09361a SN - 2046-2069 VL - 16 IS - 11 SP - 10255 EP - 10260 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-65670 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - How to get it right with photoluminescence measurements in the UV/VIS/NIR N2 - Optical measurements of transparent solutions of organic dyes and semiconductor quantum dots and scattering materials such as luminescent nanocomposites and microparticles and phosphors dispersed in liquid and solid matrices play an important role in energy conversion, solid-state lighting, medical diagnostics, and security barcoding. A key performance parameter is the photoluminescence quantum yield QY, i.e., the number of emitted per number of absorbed photons. QY of transparent luminophore solutions can be obtained relative to a fluorescence QY standard of known QY. Such relative QY measurements require a calibrated spectrofluorometer. Here, we address typical sources of uncertainty for luminescence measurements and relative and absolute QY measurements from the instrument and material side and provide recommendations to circumvent or at least minimize them for transparent and scattering samples in the UV/vis/NIR/SWIR. T2 - Workshop "Photoluminescence Spectroscopy and its application in Materials Research" CY - Vienna, Austria DA - 19.02.2026 KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Fluorescence KW - Dye KW - Traceability KW - Metrology KW - Calibration KW - Reference data KW - Reference product KW - Digital certificate KW - NIR KW - Instrument performance validation PY - 2026 AN - OPUS4-65575 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hernández-García, María Amparo A1 - Rurack, Knut A1 - Bell, Jérémy T1 - Rapid fabrication of optical elements for sensing applications using a standard SLA printer N2 - The demand for compact, high-performance optical components has driven the development of increasingly sophisticated and miniaturized optical elements, often requiring complex and costly fabrication methods. In this study, we propose a cost-effective and accessible methodology for the fabrication of lenses and free-form optics using a commercially available stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer. A systematic characterisation of six transparent photopolymer resins was conducted in terms of their spectroscopic, optical, and morphological properties, i.e., surface and dimensional properties. The evaluation encompassed parameters such as transmittance, autofluorescence, refractive index, and surface roughness. A straightforward yet resilient printing and post-treatment protocol was formulated, facilitating the fabrication of optical components with over 80% transmittance, minimal intrinsic fluorescence, and surface quality that is compatible with exacting optical applications. The fabricated components demonstrated excellent dimensional fidelity to digital designs and high reproducibility. To demonstrate the versatility of this approach, aspherical, miniaturized, and freeform lenses were designed and integrated into three fluorogenic sensing systems, including oil (strip-based) and chlorine (microfluidic-based) detection platforms, as well as a smartphone-based SARS-CoV-2 biosensor. The integration of customized 3D-printed optics has been demonstrated to enhance signal collection and readout performance, thereby highlighting the potential of this approach to democratize the rapid prototyping and deployment of miniaturized optical systems. This work represents a significant advancement in the field of additive manufacturing, particularly in relation to the development of functional photonic devices. Furthermore, it opens new prospects for sensor applications in biosensing, microfluidics, imaging, and integrated optics. KW - 3D-printing KW - Free-form KW - Prototyping KW - Optical resin KW - Surface finishing KW - Fluorescence KW - Sensor PY - 2026 DO - https://doi.org/10.37188/lam.2026.024 VL - 7 SP - 1 EP - 19 PB - Light Publishing Group CY - Changchun AN - OPUS4-65555 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prakash, Swayam A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Rapid Onsite Detection of Fecal Contamination in Water Using a Portable Fluorometric Assay N2 - Fecal pollution in water poses significant health risks, especially when contaminated sources are used for drinking and food production. Traditional water quality testing methods are expensive, slow, and require skilled personnel, limiting their accessibility. This work addresses these issues by developing a portable fluorometric assay for the detection of the fecal indicator pigment urobilin (UB). The assay uses silane-functionalized glass fiber strips impregnated with zinc chloride, providing a ‘drop-&-detect’ approach with enhanced fluorescence response mediated by the unique complexation properties of ZnCl2 and UB. This approach allows for the detection of UB at sub-nanomolar concentrations in less than 1 min using a 3D-printed setup with miniaturized optical components powered by a smartphone with its camera as a detector. The results validated with a benchtop fluorometer show the effectiveness of this method. The successful application of this userfriendly, rapid, and sensitive assay to real water samples from three rivers and the influx and efflux of a wastewater treatment plant advances field-based water quality monitoring, meets the WHO’s ASSURED criteria, and supports progress toward the global clean water and sanitation goals. KW - Fecal pigment KW - Fluorescence KW - Signal amplification KW - Surface chemistry KW - Water quality testing PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-655543 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.5c03922 SN - 2379-3694 VL - 11 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, D.C. AN - OPUS4-65554 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Shovo, Redoy Gazi A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Katcharava, Zviadi A1 - Marinvo, Anja A1 - Hoppe, Richard A1 - Woltersdorf, Georg A1 - Du, Mengxue A1 - Androsch, Rene A1 - de Souza e Silva, Juliana Martins A1 - Busse, Karste A1 - Binder, Wolfgang H. T1 - Generating Tagged Micro- and Nanoparticles of Poly(ethylene furanoate) and Poly(ethylene terephthalate) as Reference Materials N2 - Detecting nanoplastic particles in environmental samples and biological tissues remains a significant challenge, especially in view of newly emerging polymers, not yet commercially exploited. Fluorescent labeling provides a tagging strategy to overcome this limitation by reducing the detection limit of individual particles, especially for small-sized particles. We present a method for producing labeled nanoparticles (NP/MP) of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF), tagged with Alexa Fluor 633 or Alexa Fluor 647. Our preparations used mechanical grinding or solvent-based approaches (confined impinging jet mixing, ((CIJ, precipitation), generating particles with hydrodynamic diameters of 200–700 nm, displaying long-term stability in water of up to 57 days. Stable suspensions with concentrations of the particles ranging from 10 µg/mL (surfactant-free, by solvent mixing) to 5.88 mg/mL (precipitation, containing surfactant) were generated with zeta-potentials from −5 to −50 mV. Characterization of the nanoparticles by SEC, DSC, and XRD showed no significant changes in molecular weight, thermal behavior, or crystallinity via the solvent-based methods, compared to the pristine polymer, highlighting their suitability for producing standardized nanoparticle dispersions. Fluorescence spectroscopy of the Alexa-dye-labeled particles confirmed the successful incorporation of the Alexa dyes, so improving monitoring of their biological profiles of the PEF-MP/NPs. s-SNOM (near field imaging) could identify individual PEF-particles sized ∼200 nm by direct imaging. KW - Reference Materials KW - Nanoplastics KW - Microplastics KW - Polymer KW - Fluorescence PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-655531 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202500839 SN - 1521-3927 VL - 47 IS - 4 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Wiley VHC-Verlag CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-65553 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rodriguez, Santiago A1 - Kumanski, Sylvain A1 - Ayed, Zeineb A1 - Fournet, Aurélie A1 - Bouanchaud, Charlène A1 - Sagar, Amin A1 - Allemand, Frédéric A1 - Baulin, Vladimir A. A1 - Resch‐Genger, Ute A1 - Cortés, Juan A1 - Sibille, Nathalie A1 - Chirot, Fabien A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Antoine, Rodolphe A1 - Le Guével, Xavier A1 - Bernadó, Pau T1 - Programming the Optoelectronic Properties of Atomically Precise Gold Nanoclusters Using the Conformational Landscape of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins N2 - The rational design of hybrid nanomaterials with precisely controlled properties remains a central challenge in materials science. While atomically precise gold nanoclusters (Au‐NCs) offer molecule‐like control over a metallic core, tuning their optoelectronic behavior via surface engineering is often empirically driven. Here, we establish a design principle by demonstrating that the conformational landscape of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDP) can be used as a programmable scaffold to rationally modulate the photophysical properties of a covalently bound Au‐NC. We synthesized a series of bioconjugates between Au 25 nanoclusters and bioengineered IDPs containing a variable number of cysteine anchoring points. A combination of mass spectrometry, small‐angle X‐ray scattering, and modeling on the conjugates indicates that increasing the number of covalent anchors systematically restricts the conformational ensemble, inducing a progressively more compact protein shell around nanoclusters. This structural rigidification at the interface directly translates into a 15‐fold enhancement of the Au‐NC near‐infrared photoluminescence and a six‐fold increase in its average lifetime. Our findings demonstrate that the conformational plasticity of IDPs and the capacity to engineer them can be harnessed as a molecular tuning knob, moving to a new regime of programmable soft‐matter control over the properties of quantum‐confined nanomaterials for tailored biotechnological applications. KW - Fluorescence KW - Custer KW - Nano KW - Advanced material KW - Characterization KW - Fluorescence quantum yield KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - Thiol ligands KW - Gold KW - Surface chemistry KW - SWIR KW - Mass spectrometry KW - Protein PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-655086 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202502991 SN - 0947-6539 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - Wiley VHC-Verlag AN - OPUS4-65508 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Advanced Onsite Analysis for Point-of-Need Applications: Innovations for Robust, Reliable, and User-Friendly Detection N2 - The advancement of portable analytical assays has transformed onsite analysis in several areas, including food safety, environmental monitoring and forensics. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has fueled a need for rapid, onsite solutions that enable immediate decision making without the need for and use of laboratory infrastructure. The integration of mobile devices with advanced cameras and significant computing power improves the accessibility and usability of these tests. However, many current methods are limited to the detection of single parameters. The next challenge is to develop robust multiplexed assays that can analyze multiple parameters simultaneously with high sensitivity. In this lecture, innovative approaches developed at BAM will be presented with a focus on supramolecular chemistry, luminescence detection, nanomaterials and miniaturization of devices. Examples will include mesoporous nanomaterials, gated indicator systems, imprinted polymers, microfluidic devices, test strips and smartphone-based analytical tools, focusing on two use cases, i.e., the detection of contaminants in surface waters and immunoanalytical explosives detection. T2 - International Conference on Emergin Trends in Materials Chemistry CY - Coimbatore, India DA - 03.04.2025 KW - Onsite analysis KW - Rapid tests KW - Mobile devices KW - Supramolecular chemistry KW - Fluorescence PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-65434 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Oskoei, Párástu A1 - Afonso, Rúben A1 - Bastos, Verónica A1 - Nogueira, João A1 - Keller, Lisa-Marie A1 - Andresen, Elina A1 - Saleh, Maysoon I. A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Daniel-da-Silva, Ana L. A1 - Oliveira, Helena T1 - Upconversion Nanoparticles with Mesoporous Silica Coatings for Doxorubicin Targeted Delivery to Melanoma Cells N2 - Melanoma is one of the most aggressive skin cancers and requires innovative therapeutic strategies to overcome the limitations of conventional therapies. In this work, upconversion nanoparticles coated with mesoporous silica and functionalized with folic acid (UCNP@mSiO2-FA) were developed as a targeted nanocarrier system for the delivery of doxorubicin (DOX). The UCNPs were synthesized via thermal decomposition, coated with mesoporous silica shells, and functionalized with folic acid (FA) to enable receptor-mediated targeting. DOX was then loaded into the mesoporous silica coating by adsorption, yielding UCNP@mSiO2-FA-DOX. The different UCNPs were characterized for size, composition, colloidal stability, and loading and release of DOX. This comprehensive physicochemical characterization confirmed a high DOX loading efficiency and a slightly increased drug release under acidic conditions, mimicking the tumour microenvironment. In vitro assays using four melanoma cell lines (A375, B16-F10, MNT-1, and SK-MEL-28) revealed an excellent biocompatibility of UCNP@mSiO2-FA and a significantly higher cytotoxicity of UCNP@mSiO2-FA-DOX compared to unloaded UCNPs, in a dose-dependent manner. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated G2/M phase arrest after treatment with UCNP@mSiO2-FA-DOX, confirming its antiproliferative effect. Overall, UCNP@mSiO2-FA-DOX represents a promising nanoplatform for targeted melanoma therapy, combining active tumour targeting and enhanced anticancer efficacy. KW - Fluorescence KW - Synthesis KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Silica KW - Cell KW - Uptake KW - Drug KW - Characterization KW - DOX KW - Imaging KW - Toxicity KW - Release KW - pH PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-653596 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31010074 SN - 1420-3049 VL - 31 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 18 PB - MDPI AG AN - OPUS4-65359 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sun, Yijuan A1 - Pérez-Padilla, Víctor A1 - Valderrey, Virginia A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Gawlitza, Kornelia A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Ratiometric detection of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids using dual fluorescent nanoparticles and a miniaturised microfluidic platform N2 - The widespread contamination of soil and water with perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has caused considerable societal and scientific concern. Legislative measures and an increased need for remediation require effective on-site analytical methods for PFAS management. Here we report on the development of a green-fluorescent guanidine-BODIPY indicator monomer incorporated into a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the selective detection of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Complexation of PFOA by the indicator, which is mediated by concerted protonation-induced ion pairing-assisted hydrogen bonding, significantly enhances fluorescence in polar organic solvents. The MIP forms as a thin layer on silica nanoparticles doped with tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) chloride, which provides an orange emission signal as internal reference, resulting in low measurement uncertainties. Using a liquid-liquid extraction protocol, this assay enables the direct detection of PFOA in environmental water samples and achieves a detection limit of 0.11 µM. Integration into an opto-microfluidic system enables a compact and user-friendly system for detecting PFOA in less than 15 minutes. KW - PFAS KW - Molecular imprinting KW - Microfluidics KW - Fluorescence KW - Onsite assay PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-650270 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-66872-9 SN - 2041-1723 VL - 16 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-65027 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -