TY - CONF A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Functional polymeric coatings for sensory applications N2 - The growing demand for the detection of relevant chemical compounds as close as possible to their point of origin—whether in industrial processes, for (civilian or military) security, or for environmental monitoring—has increased the importance of functional polymers with molecular recognition capabilities. These materials must meet practical requirements arising from very different real-world scenarios in which simple, robust, and field-deployable approaches are needed and in which bioanalytical binders often suffer significant performance losses. Polymer recognition matrices therefore serve as an essential complement to established laboratory-based analytical technologies. The realization of rapid and reliable onsite detection places specific demands on material design: polymeric recognition layers must be produced with minimal thickness, integrated onto suitable carrier media, and designed for both selectivity and operational robustness. This presentation will introduce our work on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) that have been specifically developed for the detection of relevant contaminants such as pesticides and perfluorinated compounds. Beyond these target analytes, the presentation will show how such polymer layers can support robust, sustainable diagnostic concepts, and it will outline generalizable design principles that enable their extension to a broad spectrum of analytical challenges. T2 - Institutskolloquium des Instituts für Chemie, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 28.01.2026 KW - Functional organic materials KW - Responsive polymers KW - Sensing KW - Molecularly imprinted polymers PY - 2026 AN - OPUS4-65435 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Biyikal, Mustafa T1 - Handgerät für den mobilen Einsatz zur Detektion von Sprengstoffspuren N2 - Mithilfe des EXIST-Forschungstransfers wird ein tragbares und leicht zu bedienendes Handgerät auf der Basis von chemisch-optischen Sensoren entwickelt, welches kleinste Spuren von verschiedensten Sprengstoffen und Markern (z.B. TNT, C4, ANFO, TATP, DMDNB etc.) und reine Salze (z. B. Kaliumnitrat) sicher und ohne größere Querempfindlichkeiten detektieren kann. Das Gerät wurde in den letzten 10 Jahren bei der Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) entwickelt und wird von der 2024 ausgegründeten Firma Noxoon GmbH in ein kommerzielles Gerät überführt. Die Vorteile des Handgeräts sind die hohe Selektivität, die hohe Sensitivität, die schnelle Detektion in wenigen Sekunden bis zur Ergebnisanzeige sowie der schnelle und das geringe Gewicht des Gerätes von 900 g. Neben den Vorteilen findet sich auch zahlreiche Alleinstellungsmerkmale in der Benutzung des Gerätes. So können z.B. - reine Salze - Sprengstoffe in Gegenwart von Wasser - Sprengstoffe und Drogen in versiegelten Briefumschlägen detektiert werden. Ein besonderes Alleinstellungsmerkmal ist, dass eine Reinigung des Handgeräts nach Messungen von stark kontaminierten Proben nicht notwendig ist. Für den deutschsprachigen bzw. europäischen Raum existiert noch kein vergleichbares Gerät. Das kommerzielle Gerät soll ab 2025 auf den Markt gebracht werden und wird einen wichtigen Beitrag zur öffentlichen Sicherheit und zum Umweltschutz leisten. T2 - BBK Fachkongress "Forschung für den Bevölkerungsschutz" CY - Bonn, Germany DA - 05.02.2025 KW - Explosivstoffe KW - Detektion KW - Handgerät PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-65031 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Prakash, Swayam T1 - Development of a Rapid and Sensitive Fluorometric Detection Method for Urobilin Analysis for On-site Water Quality Assessment N2 - The W.H.O. estimated that globally at least 2 billion people use drinking water sources contaminated with faeces and according to UNICEF, most of these faecal contaminants detection methods are expensive, time-consuming (18–24 h time to result), and, with few exceptions, not suited for on-site analysis. Hence, there is an urgent need for the development of rapid analytical methods that allow to unequivocally assess drinking water quality directly on-site. Our approach exploits the weak fluorescence of faecal biomarkers such as urobilin (UB), which is enhanced through complexation with Zn2+ in alcoholic media and is the basis of their detection/estimation, known as Schlesinger’s test.3 However, this method is associated with limitations, as the fluorescence of Zn2+ complexes of UB in water is weak, shows time dependent loss of emission intensity and has strong interference from humic substances that naturally present in surface waters. , To circumvent these issues and achieve the rapid and sensitive on-site detection of FPs, silane-functionalized glass fibre paper test strips were developed following the ‘drop-&-detect’ concept. Drop casting of water samples containing faecal contaminants like UB on specifically functionalized test strips allowed the sensitive detection with a smartphone coupled to a 3D printed optical setup. A series of silanes were used to functionalize glass fibre paper and tune its hydrophobicity, exploiting the influence of matrix tailoring to enhance binding of the Zn2+ salt used as co-reagent to bind UB for optimal fluorometric response. A detection spot was designed by the combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic silanes with ZnCl2-impregnated test strips. This developed analytical method showed sensitive (nano- and sub-nanomolar concentration) response for UB detection. Furthermore, it can be successfully applied to the analysis of real water samples, allowing for the first time to test for faecal contamination in fresh water directly on-site using a smartphone in only a few minutes, instead of >10 h required for the current standard, i.e., lab-based bacterial tests. T2 - 14th International Conference on Instrumental Methods of Analysis: Modern Trends and Applications CY - Kefalonia, Greece DA - 14.09.2025 KW - Faecal contamination KW - Fluorescence KW - Metal complexes KW - Water analysis KW - Optical and chemical sensing KW - Spectroscopy KW - Onsite analysis KW - Rapid testing PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64270 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Vinot, Romane T1 - A terpyridine-based fluorescent chemosensor for the selective detection of glyphosate and AMPA in water N2 - Detection of pesticide residues, anthropogenic and persistent environmental contaminants is a public health concern due to their association with various pathologies. Studies have shown a correlation between exposure to these residues in drinking water or food and neurodegenerative disorders, autoimmune conditions, and cancers. In this context, detecting organic molecules such as glyphosate and its primary degradation product: AMPA, presents a significant challenge in sensor development. This is due to factors such as the molecules’ small size, pronounced polarity, and their variable ionic charge. However, fluorescent molecular sensors offer several advantages in terms of versatility, sensitivity, selectivity, response time and low cost. Terpyridine zinc complex derivatives show promise as selective detectors of glyphosate and AMPA due to their inherent specificity towards phosphate moieties4. These complexes are designed to modulate intramolecular charge transfer processes upon interaction with the phosphate moiety of AMPA or glyphosate. A novel series of terpyridine derivatives incorporating complexing moieties for both the phosphate and amine groups of AMPA and carboxylate group of Glyphosate were synthesised to target AMPA and Glyphosate (Figure 1). The absorbance and fluorescence signatures of the probe were investigated upon complexation with the analytes in MeOH/HEPES buffer (10 mM, pH 7.4, 9/1 v/v). The fluorescent sensor displayed high selectivity and sensitivity for glyphosate and AMPA, thanks to two measurements taken a few minutes apart. The detection limit of the sensor for Glyphosate in fluorescence was calculated at 0.14 μM. T2 - Journées Annuelles 2025 de la Subdivision Photochimie, Photophysique et Photosciences (SP2P) CY - Toulouse, France DA - 19.05.2025 KW - Glyphosate KW - AMPA KW - Sensor PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63262 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Scharek, Vera T1 - A new elemental analytical approach for microplastic sum parameter analysis in environmental samples – ETV/ICP-MS with CO2 N2 - Plastics are indispensable in our daily lives. Due to their easy processability, durability, and lightweight properties, they are the base material of many consumer and industry products. However, with reported amounts of millions of tons per year, plastic pollution has become a globally emerging problem. In the environment, plastic waste undergoes degradation, leading to the formation of persistent, synthetic particles smaller than 5 mm, known as microplastics (MPs). Toxicological concerns mainly arise from MP uptake by various organisms, including humans. MPs act as transport vectors for hazardous chemicals, e.g., polymer additives, bacteria, and other environmental pollutants. Existing approaches for MP analysis focus on particle size, number, and information on the polymer types. However, there is a lack of analytical tools for a fast and comprehensive assessment of the pollution situation based on the MP mass without limitations to size and polymer types. In this context, a new mass balance approach for the MPs analysis in environmental samples via electrothermal vaporization coupled with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ETV/ICP-MS) has been developed as a complementary screening tool to existing methods. With ETV/ICP-MS, the bulk detection of MPs via the 13C isotope as a sum parameter of common polymer types was achievable relatively unaffected by the respective size across the nano-to-micrometer scale. A new mass-based approach through an external gas calibration with carbon dioxide enabled the fast quantification of the MP content in MP-soil mixtures of different portions. By this, the analysis was achievable within a few minutes of analysis time per sample. Furthermore, the potential of polymer heteroatoms and contaminants for the sensitive detection in carbon-rich matrices was investigated. T2 - ANAKON 2025 CY - Leipzig, Germany DA - 10.03.2025 KW - Microplastics KW - Soil KW - Electrothermal Vaporization KW - Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry KW - Sum parameter analysis PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62828 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Scharek, Vera T1 - A new elemental analytical approach for microplastic sum parameter analysis in environmental samples – ETV/ICP-MS with CO2 N2 - Plastics are indispensable in our daily lives. Due to their easy processability, durability, and lightweight properties, they are the base material of many consumer and industry products. However, with reported amounts of millions of tons per year, plastic pollution has become a globally emerging problem. In the environment, plastic waste undergoes degradation, leading to the formation of persistent, synthetic particles smaller than 5 mm, known as microplastics (MPs). Toxicological concerns mainly arise from MP uptake by various organisms, including humans. MPs act as transport vectors for hazardous chemicals, e.g., polymer additives, bacteria, and other environmental pollutants. Existing approaches for MP analysis focus on particle size, number, and information on the polymer types. However, there is a lack of analytical tools for a fast and comprehensive assessment of the pollution situation based on the MP mass without limitations to size and polymer types. In this context, a new mass balance approach for the MPs analysis in environmental samples via electrothermal vaporization coupled with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ETV/ICP-MS) has been developed as a complementary screening tool to existing methods. With ETV/ICP-MS, the bulk detection of MPs via the 13C isotope as a sum parameter of common polymer types was achievable relatively unaffected by the respective size across the nano-to-micrometer scale. A new mass-based approach through an external gas calibration with carbon dioxide enabled the fast quantification of the MP content in MP-soil mixtures of different portions. By this, the analysis was achievable within a few minutes of analysis time per sample. Furthermore, the potential of polymer heteroatoms and contaminants for the sensitive detection in carbon-rich matrices was investigated. T2 - European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectroscopy CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 02.03.2025 KW - Microplastics KW - Soil KW - Electrothermal Vaporization KW - Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry KW - Sum parameter analysis PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62824 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hernandez Garcia, Maria Amparo T1 - Optical biosensor using free form prototyped elements for targeted explosives immunodetection N2 - Ensuring the safety and security of citizens necessitates a considerable investment of resources and the development of innovative tools by national and international agencies and governments, particularly in the context of explosives detection [1]. The necessity for the detection of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and homemade explosives (HMEs) at the point of suspicion has increased exponentially due to the simplicity with which the precursors can be obtained, and the reagents synthesised. The restricted availability of immunoanalytical instruments for the detection of homemade explosives (HMEs) offers a valuable opportunity for the development of innovative devices that can rapidly identify and recognise the target analyte with high specificity and sensitivity [2]. In this study, we present the development of an optical biosensor for highly specific and sensitive HME detection. The immunoassay system is situated within a matrix that is permeable to the target analyte and transparent to light, which enables the interrogation via fluorescence. The immunoanalytical system's readout is achieved through the utilisation of supercritical angle fluorescence (SAF), an advanced microscopy technique. To this end, we employed recent, commercially available high-resolution (less than 22 μm) liquid crystal display SLA printers to fabricate a free-form parabolic optical element with a high refractive index (RI greater than 1.5) and transmission values exceeding 90% from commercial photo-resins. The objective is to develop a new generation of sensors that can not only meet the requirements of trace detection but also be used for substance identification. The combination of immunoanalytical recognition with SAF detection offers a modular and versatile solution that is particularly well suited to the measurement of target analytes at trace levels. T2 - ANAKON 2025 CY - Leipzig, Germany DA - 10.03.2025 KW - Biosensor KW - SAF KW - Free-form optics KW - 3D printing KW - Security PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62802 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Prakash, Swayam T1 - Fluorescence Spectroscopy as an Analytical Tool for Rapid and Sensitive Faecal Pigments Detection: From Fundamentals to Onsite Applications N2 - W.H.O estimated that globally at least 2 billion people use drinking water sources contaminated with faeces [1] and according to UNICEF, most of these faecal detection methods are expensive, time-consuming (18–24 h time to result),[2] and, with few exceptions, not suited for on-site analysis.[3] Hence, there is an urgent need for the development of analytical methods that allow to unequivocally test for drinking water quality directly on-site. Today, microbial detection methods primarily targeting E. coli, the major faecal indicator bacteria, are still the prevalent methods for detecting faecal contamination of drinking and recreational waters. As an alternative, Schlesinger proposed the detection of urobilin (UB), a metabolic degradation product of haemoglobin occurring in all mammals, as faecal indicator pigment (FIP) through enhancement of its weak fluorescence by complexation with Zn2+ in alcoholic media already 120 years ago.[4] However, the major limitation of this method is the only weak enhancement of the intrinsically very weak UB fluorescence in aqueous media, requiring either the use of organic solvents or very sensitive instrumentation to reach the relevant detection limits, hampering the method’s use outside of a laboratory environment.[3] In the present work, we addressed the shortcomings relying on interfacial and supramolecular chemistry as well as materials functionalization, transforming Schlesinger’s approach into a fluorometric ‘drop and detect’ assay using a smartphone coupled to a 3D-printed optical setup as a simple and portable device. A series of silanes were used to functionalize glass fibre paper and tune its hydrophobicity, exploiting the influence of matrix tailoring to enhance binding of the Zn salt used as co-reagent to UB for optimal fluorescence response. Combination of bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and N-octyltrimethoxysilane with ZnCl2-impregnated test strips showed the best response for sensitive (nano- and sub-nanomolar concentration) smartphone-based FIP detection. The obtained fluorescence sensing results were validated with a benchtop fluorometer. Furthermore, the developed analytical method was successfully applied to the analysis of real water samples, allowing for the first time to test for faecal water contamination directly on site in a very short time of few minutes. T2 - Anakon 2025 CY - Leipzig, Germany DA - 10.03.2025 KW - Faecal contamination KW - Fluorescence KW - Metal complexes KW - Water analysis KW - Optical and chemical sensing PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62795 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Bell, Jérémy T1 - Embedded sensor for the detection of TNT in surface and marine waters N2 - In 1945, the Potsdam Conference led to the decision to destroy a significant amount of ammunition from the warring parties of WWII. Dumping was considered the cheapest, quickest, and safest solution to dispose of unused ammunition. However, thin barrels or containers often leak after 50 years, allowing explosives to escape into the marine environment. As the effects of weapons chemicals on ecosystems are well-documented, it is becoming increasingly important to detect, recover and dispose of old ammunition. Physical techniques such as magnetometry and sonar are used to detect ammunition in the sea, but they do not provide chemical information. Detecting leaking organic contaminants like TNT or other explosives in water or soil requires high-end laboratory equipment like HPLC or GC-MS, making remote water testing virtually impossible. As an alternative, a miniaturized method for the selective and sensitive indication of TNT using fluorescence light-up sensing was developed. The visual identification of TNT with a nucleophile that forms a strongly absorbing charge transfer complex (CTC) is a well-known method. This CTC is formed by the attraction of an electron from the donor molecule by the electron-deficient aromatic ring. In this work, a TNT-based CTC was selectively formed by the addition of tetraoctylammonium acetate in N,N-diethylformamide and, as expected, showed strong absorption. Surprisingly, at room temperature, the CTC can be converted into a fluorescent product with an emission band centred at 577 nm. For the detection of TNT in water, a microfluidic chip made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is used for both the extraction and reaction steps. In addition to miniaturising the experimental steps, the optical system (fluorometer) has been integrated into an autonomous smartphone assembly capable of catalysing the photoreaction and analysing the fluorescence response. Taking advantage of the light-up response, TNT was still easily detectable down to 9.4 ng with the CMOS camera. Further evaluation of this analytical tool consisted of analyses of unfiltered and untreated surface water samples spiked directly with increasing concentrations of TNT to reflect different levels of contamination. LODs of 21 and 40 ng were found for samples from the Teltow Canal in Berlin (DEU) and the Baltic Sea near Greifswald (DEU). Such an analytical tool could be used to monitor water quality in the field, as the release of organic pollutants from munitions into surface and marine waters will become increasingly problematic and concentrations will continue to rise over the coming decades. T2 - ANAKON 2025 CY - Leipzig, Germany DA - 10.03.2025 KW - Explosives KW - Microfluidics KW - Smartphone KW - Sprengstoffe KW - Mikrofluidik KW - Sensor PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62767 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Gawlitza, Kornelia T1 - Using Dual Fluorescent Molecularly Imprinted Particles Coupled with a Miniaturized Opto-Microfluidic Platform for On-Site Detection of Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids N2 - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic organofluorine chemicals widely used in the production of various materials, including firefighting foams, adhesives, and coatings that resist stains and oil. In recent years, PFAS have gained attention as emerging environmental contaminants, with particular emphasis on perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), the most common type of PFAS. PFCAs are defined by a fully fluorinated carbon chain and a charged carboxylic acid group. They have been classified as Substances of Very High Concern and included in the REACH Candidate List due to their persistence, resistance to biodegradation, and toxicological impacts. Traditional methods for analyzing PFCAs, like GC-MS, HRMS, and HPLC-based techniques, are time-consuming, non-portable, expensive, and require specialized expertise. On the other hand, fluorescence assays offer a user-friendly, portable, and cost-effective alternative with high sensitivity and quick results, particularly when the binding of the analyte causes a specific increase in the probe’s fluorescence. Combining these probes with a carrier platform and a miniaturized optofluidic device presents a promising approach for PFCA monitoring. In this study, a new guanidine BODIPY fluorescent indicator monomer was synthesized, characterized, and incorporated into a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) designed for the specific detection of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The MIP layer was formed on silica core nanoparticles doped with tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) chloride, serving as an optical internal reference for calibration-free assays. In combination with an extraction step prior to sample analysis, this system enables selective and reliable detection of PFCAs in surface water samples, minimizing interference from competing substances, matrix effects, and other factors. When integrated into an opto-microfluidic setup, the assay provided a compact, user-friendly detection system capable of detecting micromolar levels of PFOA in under 15 minutes from surface water samples. T2 - ANAKON2025 CY - Leipzig, Germany DA - 10.03.2025 KW - Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) KW - On-site detection KW - Fluorescence KW - Microfluidics KW - Molecularly Imprinted Polymers PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62712 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Wen, Keqing T1 - In situ analysis of biofilm formation under different flow regimes with the help of a microfluidic platform N2 - Bacteria often live in habitats characterized by fluid flow, which is ubiquitous in a diverse range of environments such as surface waters, wastewater treatment facilities, pipelines, and medical implants. Bacterial adhesion on surfaces may lead to biocorrosion and biodegradation. In comparison to traditional static and macro flow chamber assays for biofilm formation studies, microfluidic chips allow in situ monitoring of biofilm formation and biofilm related gene expression under various flow regimes. We developed a complete microfluidic platform to investigate biofilms under precisely controlled flow conditions. This platform central unit is a single-inlet microfluidic flow cell with a 5 mm wide chamber tested and analyzed by imaging tracking velocimetry (PIV) to achieve ultra-homogenous flow in the central area of the chamber. Additionally, dedicated microstructures were introduced to the chamber’s center to favor and localize bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation pattern. The flows and vortices induced by the structure were analyzed by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and related to shape and dimension of the biofilm formed by Escherichia coli TG1. The major proteinaceous component of E. coli biofilms are extracellular amyloid fibers (curli) consisting of major (CsgA) and minor (CsgB) subunits. We used the promotor probe plasmid pRU1701 to monitor csgB-promotor activity under different flow regimes in complex and minimal medium. For comparison, csgB promotor activity in a batch liquid culture and curli production on LB and M9 agar plates were assessed. The microfluidic platform represents a powerful and versatile tool for studying biofilm in flow. The setup shows great potential for the yet not too much explored in flow monitoring of biofilm formation and related gene expression under hydrodynamic stresses. T2 - International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation Symposium (IBBS) 19 CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 09.09.2024 KW - Microfluidics KW - Biofilm KW - Escherichia coli KW - Curli PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-61911 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hernandez Garcia, Maria Amparo T1 - Fabrication of low-cost free-form optical elements with standard LCD 3D printer for advanced opto-sensing and imaging applications N2 - Nowadays, more and more complex optical elements are used in optical applications, but this can lead to high costs, a time-consuming manufacturing process and limited availability of unconventional elements. Therefore, in this work, we propose LCD 3D printing as alternative cost-effective technique, which is not only user-friendly but also free from design constrains and enables the fabrication of free-form optics. The tested polymeric materials showed promising results for printed optics and optical applications. In addition, 3D printed optical elements were evaluated in terms of their suitability in selected applications with opto-chemical sensors and imaging techniques, with results comparable to those obtained with the corresponding glass optical elements. T2 - 12th European Optical Society Annual Meeting CY - Naples, Italy DA - 09.09.2024 KW - 3D-printing KW - Optics KW - Photopolymerization KW - Rapid prototyping KW - Sensors PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-61442 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Buchholz, Michelle T1 - Dual Fluorescent Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) for Detection of the Prevalent Anti-Inflammatory Drug Diclofenac N2 - Ensuring the purity of air and water is essential for the overall well-being of life on earth and the sustainability of the planet's diverse ecosystems. To achieve the goal of zero pollution, as outlined in the 2020 European Green Deal by the European Commission,[1] significant efforts are in progress. A key aspect of this commitment involves advancing more efficient and economically viable methods for treating wastewater. This includes the systematic monitoring of harmful pollutants such as heavy metals, microplastics, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. One example is the presence of the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac in water systems, primarily originating from its use as a gel or lotion for joint pain treatment. Diclofenac contamination in surface waters has been detected at approximately 10 μg L-1 (0.03 μM)[2] which is not solely due to widespread usage but also because of the drug's resistance to microbial degradation. Conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which rely on biodegradation, sludge sorption, ozone oxidation, and powdered activated carbon treatment, struggle to efficiently remove diclofenac from wastewater.[3],[4] For instance, to enable WWTPs to efficiently monitor and optimize their processes, it would be advantageous to develop on-site detection and extraction methods for persistent pharmaceutical residues in aqueous samples. In this work, a sol-gel process was used to prepare Nile blue-doped silica nanoparticles (dSiO2-NPs) with a diameter of ca. 30 nm that were further functionalized to enable reversible-addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization. To achieve fluorescence detection, a fluorescent monomer was used as a probe for diclofenac in ethyl acetate, generating stable complexes through hydrogen bond formation. The diclofenac/fluorescent monomer complexes were imprinted into thin molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) shells on the surface of the dSiO2-NPs. Thus, the MIP binding behaviour could be easily evaluated by fluorescence titrations to monitor the spectral changes upon addition of the analyte. Doping the core substrate with Nile blue generates effective dual fluorescent signal transduction. This approach does not solely depend on a single fluorescence emission band in response to analyte recognition. Instead, it enables the fluorescent core to function as an internal reference, minimizing analyte-independent factors such as background fluorescence, instrumental fluctuation, and operational parameters.[5] Rebinding studies showed that the MIP particles have excellent selectivity towards the imprinted template and good discrimination against the competitor ibuprofen, with a discrimination factor of 2.5. Additionally, the limit of detection was determined to be 0.6 μM. Thus, with further optimization of the MIP, there is potential for the development of a MIP-based biphasic extract-&-detect fluorescence assay for simple, sensitive and specific sensing of diclofenac in aqueous samples down to the required concentrations of 0.03 μM. T2 - MIP2024: The 12th International Conference on Molecular Imprinting CY - Verona, Italy DA - 18.06.2024 KW - Sensor KW - Diclofenac KW - Molecularly Imprinted Polymers KW - Fluorescence KW - Pollutant PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-60439 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hernandez Garcia, Maria Amparo T1 - Characterization and testing of commercial photo-resins for the fabrication of free-form optical elements with standard LCD 3D printer for advanced opto-biosensing applications N2 - Optical biosensors often show remarkable performance and can be configured in many ways for sensitive, selective, and rapid measurements. However, the high-quality and advanced optical assemblies required to read out the sensor signals, for example, Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) or Supercritical Angle Fluorescence (SAF) microscopy, which necessitate complex and expensive optical elements. Particularly in optical method development, researchers or developers are often confronted with limitations because conventional manufacturing processes for optical elements can be restrictive in terms of design, material, time, and cost. Modern and high-resolution 3D printing techniques make it possible to overcome these challenges and enable the fabrication of individualized and personalized free-form optical components, which can reduce costs and significantly shorten the prototyping timeline—from months to hours. In this work, we use a modern, high-resolution (< 22 µm) commercial Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)-based 3D printer, for which we spectroscopically and physically characterized commercial photo-resins printable with the LCD technique in the first step (Figure 1). The aim was not only to produce a printed element with a high surface quality that mitigates the inner filter effects caused by attenuation (high optical density (OD) due to reflection and scattering), but also to select a material with a high refractive index (RI>1.5) and high transmission values (>90% transmittance) in the visible to near-infrared spectral range (approx. 450 – 900 nm) that exhibits little or no autofluorescence. Using a selection of suitable resins, lenses and free-form optical elements were manufactured for comparison with standard glass or plastic counterparts. T2 - Europt(r)ode XVI CY - Birmingham, England DA - 24.03.2024 KW - 3D-printing KW - Optics KW - Photopolymerization KW - Sensors KW - Rapid prototyping PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-59875 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Development of a Lab-on-a-Chip for the Detection of Nerve Agents with a Handheld Device N2 - The development of a Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC) is presented, which can detect reactive phosphorous compounds in the gas phase in combination with an optochemical hand-held sensor. The LoC prototype contains three pairs of sensing materials containing fluorescent indicator dyes in various carrier materials. By measuring the fluorescence response to phosphoryl chloride, a surrogate compound, the detection of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) in gas phase becomes possible within seconds, introducing a novel approach to CWA detection. T2 - IEEE Sensors Conference CY - Vienna, Austria DA - 29.10.2023 KW - Chemical warfare agents KW - Lab-on-a-chip KW - Handheld sensors KW - Toxic industrial chemicals KW - Fluorescence PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-58815 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Sun, Yijuan A1 - Pérez-Padilla, Víctor A1 - Valderrey, Virginia A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Gawlitza, Kornelia A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Fluorescence Detection of Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids with a Miniaturised Assay N2 - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of man-made organo-fluorine chemicals that have become environmental contaminants of emerging concern, originating from a variety of materials such as adhesive, stain- and oil-resistant coatings, firefighting foams, etc. The high strength of this C-F bond makes PFAS thermodynamically stable and resistant to (bio)degradation, thus retaining them in the environment over time. Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), one category of the most used PFAS, consist of a fully fluorinated carbon backbone and a charged carboxylic acid headgroup, and have been classified as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) and added to the REACH Candidate List due to their persistence in the environment, non-biodegradability and toxicological effects.[1-2] Traditional techniques for the analysis of PFCAs include GC-MS, HRMS and HPLC-based approaches, which are laborious, not portable, costly and require trained personnel. In contrast, fluorescence assays can be designed as easy-to-operate, portable and cost-effective methods with high sensitivity and fast response. Integration of fluorescent probes with an adequately miniaturized assay enables a promising alternative for PFCAs analysis. Here, a novel guanidine fluorescent probe has been synthesized and fully characterized for the detection of PFCAs in a biphasic extract-&-detect assay. The fluorescent probe was then incorporated into polymeric matrices supported by a red dye-doped SiO2 nanoparticle to construct a dual-emission sensing platform. Such a system allows precise and selective detection of PFCAs, reducing the interference of competitors, matrix effects and other factors except for the PFCAs. The system was then employed in a droplet-based microfluidic setup which offers a portable and easy to operate detection platform. T2 - IMA 2023 CY - Chania, Greece DA - 18.09.2023 KW - PFAS KW - MIP KW - Fluorescence KW - Microfluidics KW - Fluorezsenz KW - Mikrofluidik PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-58527 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Climent, Estela A1 - Gotor, Raúl A1 - Tobias, Charlie A1 - Martin-Sanchez, Pedro M. A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Dipstick coated with polystyrene-silica core-shell particles for the detection of microbiological fuel contamination N2 - Microbial contamination of fuels by fungi or bacteria poses risks such as corrosion and fuel system fouling, which can lead to critical problems in refineries and distribution systems and has a significant economic impact at every stage of the process. Many factors have been cited as being responsible for microbial growth, like the presence of water in the storage tanks. In fact, only 1 % water in a storage system is sufficient for the growth of microorganisms like bacteria or yeasts, as well as for the development of fungal biomass at the oil/water interface. This work presents a rapid test for the accurate determination of genomic DNA from aqueous fuel extracts. The detection is based on the use of polystyrene-mesoporous silica core-shell particles onto which modified fluorescent molecular beacons are covalently grafted. These beacons contain in the hairpin loop a target sequence highly conserved in all bacteria, corresponding to a fragment of the 16S ribosomal RNA subunit. The designed single-stranded molecular beacon contained fluorescein as an internal indicator and a quencher in its proximity when not hybridized. Upon hybridization in presence of the target sequence, the indicator and the quencher are spatially separated, resulting in fluorescence enhancement. To perform the assay the developed particles were deposited on different glass fibre strips to obtain a portable and sensitive rapid test. The assays showed that the presence of genomic DNA extracts from bacteria down to 50–70 μg L–1 induced a fluorescence response. The optical read-out was adapted for on-site monitoring by fitting a 3D-printed case to a conventional smartphone, taking advantages of the sensitivity of the CMOS detector. Such embedded assembly enabled the detection of genomic DNA in aqueous extracts down to the mg L–1 range and represents an interesting step toward on-site monitoring of fuel contamination. T2 - IMA 2023 CY - Chania, Greece DA - 18.09.2023 KW - Teststreifen KW - Test strip KW - Microbial KW - Mikrobiell KW - Smartphone KW - Particles KW - Partikeln PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-58526 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hernandez-Sigüenza, G. T1 - Dye-Displacement-Based Test Implemented in Lateral Flow Strips to Prevent GHB Spiking in Alcoholic Beverages N2 - γ-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a natural metabolite, which is currently used as a date rape drug. Particularly, GHB is rapidly eliminated and its detection in realistic environments is only possible within 6-12 h after ingestion. Owing to the increasing use of GHB for criminal purposes, a need has arisen to develop simple and in situ efficient assays for its identification in aqueous and alcoholic drinks. Based on the above, we report herein an indicator displacement assay (IDA) for GHB detection that consists of a Cu2+ complex with a tetradentate ligand and the fluorescent dye coumarin 343 (IDA probe 1). Firstly, the tetradentate ligand was synthesized by reductive amination of a 1,2-cyclohexyl diamine with 2-quinoline carboxaldehyde. Subsequently, this ligand was reacted with Cu(CF3SO3)2 to obtain the corresponding copper complex, which generates the final sensing ensemble by coordinating with coumarin 343 (IDA probe 1). The sensing mechanism relies on a displacement of coumarin 343 from the sensing ensemble 1 thus restoring its fluorescence, as a consequence of the higher binding constant between GHB and complex, showing a high sensitivity in MES buffer (50 mM, pH 6.0) (detection limit of 0.03 μM). Likewise, system design and optimization led to a straightforward integration into a lateral-flow assay without further treatment or conditioning of the test strips while guaranteeing fast overall assay times of 1 min (Figure 1). In this way, IDA probe 1 was incorporated into a coated PEG-glass fibre (PEG-GF) membrane to obtain a highly robust and sensitive lateral flow assay for GHB detection in spiked alcoholic drinks with a detection limit of 0.1 μM in less than 1 min coupled to smartphone readout. T2 - XVI International Workshop on Sensors and Molecular Recognition CY - Valencia, Spain DA - 06.07.2023 KW - Schnelltest KW - Vor-Ort-Analytik KW - Drogen KW - Farbstoffe KW - Lateral Flow Assay PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-57942 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Gawlitza, Kornelia T1 - Fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer particles for direct detection of glyphosate in organic solvents and water N2 - Glyphosate (GPS) is the most widely used pesticide in the world whose use increased dramatically after the introduction of genetically modified crops engineered to resist its herbicidal action during application. In recent years, there have been growing concerns over its toxicity following its classification by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a probable carcinogen as well as reports of its ecotoxicological effects. This resulted in increased efforts to develop quick and sensitive detection methods. In this work, molecular imprinting was combined with direct fluorescence detection of GPS by improving its solubility in organic solvents using tetrabutylammonium (TBA+) and tetrahexylammonium (THA+) as counterions. To achieve fluorescence detection, a fluorescent crosslinker containing urea binding motifs was used as a probe for GPS-TBA and GPS-THA salts in chloroform, generating stable complexes through hydrogen bond formation. The GPS/fluorescent dye complexes were imprinted into 2–3 nm molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) shells on the surface of sub-micron silica particles. Thus, the MIP binding behavior could be easily evaluated by fluorescence titrations in suspension to monitor the spectral changes upon addition of the GPS analytes. While MIPs prepared with GPS-TBA and GPS-THA both displayed satisfactory imprinting following titration with the corresponding analytes in chloroform, GPS-THA MIPs displayed better selectivity against competing molecules. Moreover, the THA+ counterion was found to be a more powerful phase transfer agent than TBA+, enabling the direct fluorescence detection and quantification of GPS in water in a biphasic assay. A limit of detection of 1.45 µM and a linear range of 5–55 µM, which matches well with WHO guidelines for the acceptable daily intake of GPS in water (5.32 µM), have been obtained. The assay can be further optimized to allow miniaturization into microfluidic devices and shows potential for on-field applications by untrained personnel. T2 - 36th European Colloid & Interface Society Conference CY - Chania, Greece DA - 04.09.2022 KW - Glyphosate KW - Molecular Imprinting KW - Core-Shell Particles KW - Fluorescent Urea Receptors PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-56311 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hülagü, Deniz T1 - From 2D and Single Particle to 3D and Batch Analysis as a Routine Quality Check Procedure for the Morphological Characterization of Core-Shell Microparticles N2 - This study presents a practical procedure to give access to more information by tilting the sample holder and hence allowing images of a single particle to be recorded at different orientations under the same view angle. From the analysis of these images, extended information on surface roughness of the particle can be extracted. Thus, instead of obtaining 2D information from a single SEM image, three-dimensional (3D) information is obtained from 2D projections recorded at different particle orientations. T2 - Microscopy & Microanalysis 2022 CY - Online meeting DA - 31.07.2022 KW - Core-shell particles KW - 3D image analysis KW - Roughness KW - SEM tilting KW - Batch analysis PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-55452 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -