TY - JOUR A1 - Kärcher, Victor A1 - Reiker, Tobias A1 - da Costa, Pedro F.G.M. A1 - de Camargo, Andrea S.S. A1 - Zacharias, Helmut T1 - Quantum control in size selected semiconductor quantum dot thin films N2 - We introduce a novel technique for coherent control that employs resonant internally generated fields in CdTe quantum dot (QD) thin films at the L-point. The bulk band gap of CdTe at the L-point amounts to 3.6 eV, with the transition marked by strong Coulomb coupling. Third harmonic generation (λ3 = 343 nm, hν = 3.61 eV) for a fundamental wavelength of λ 1 = 1,030 nm is used to control quantum interference of three-photon resonant paths between the valence and conduction bands. Different thicknesses of the CdTe QDs are used to manipulate the phase relationship between the external fundamental and the internally generated third harmonic, resulting in either suppression or strong enhancement of the resonant third harmonic, while the nonresonant components remain nearly constant. This development could pave the way for new quantum interference–based applications in ultrafast switching of nanophotonic devices. KW - Nonlinear nanophotonics KW - Quantum interference KW - Third harmonic KW - Coherent control KW - Thin films KW - Quantum dots PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-625859 DO - https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2024-0529 VL - 14 IS - 2 SP - 229 EP - 239 PB - Walter de Gruyter GmbH AN - OPUS4-62585 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stiegler, L. M. S. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Weigert, Florian A1 - Peukert, W. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Walter, J. T1 - Analysis of Giant-Shell CdSe/CdS Quantum Dots via Analytical Ultracentrifugation Combined with Spectrally Resolved Photoluminescence N2 - Knowledge of the structure–property relationships of functional nanomaterials, including, for example, their size- and composition-dependent photoluminescence (PL) and particle-to-particle variations, is crucial for their design and reproducibility. Herein, the Angstrom-resolution capability of an analytical ultracentrifuge combined with an in-line multiwavelength emission detection system (MWE-AUC) for measuring the sedimentation coefficient-resolved spectrally corrected PL spectra of dispersed nanoparticles is demonstrated. The capabilities of this technique are shown for giant-shell CdSe/CdS quantum dots (g-QDs) with a PL quantum yield (PL QY) close to unity capped with oleic acid and oleylamine ligands. The MWE-AUC PL measurements are calibrated and validated with certified fluorescence standards. The spectrally corrected and size-dependent PL spectra of the g-QDs derived from a single MWE-AUC experiment are then analyzed and compared with the results of single-particle spectroscopic studies, yielding the PL spectra, decay kinetics, and blinking behavior of individual g-QDs. This study underlines the vast potential of MWE-AUC with in-line optical detection for the characterization of advanced nanomaterials with a complex structure. KW - Quantum dots KW - Analytical ultracentrifugation KW - Photoluminescence KW - Advanced nanomaterial characterization KW - Calibrated fluorescence measurements KW - Reference materials PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-624357 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202401700 SN - 2366-9608 SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - Wiley VHC-Verlag AN - OPUS4-62435 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Wegner, Karl David T1 - Advancing Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) Emission N2 - There is a growing interest in the exploitation of the short-wave infrared (SWIR), which refers to the wavelength band of light between 900 nm and 2500 nm. Luminophores that emit in the SWIR are used in various areas of telecommunications, photovoltaics, security systems (night vision), and in biomedicine. In particular for biomedical applications, the SWIR range is highly promising because light scattering, absorption, and autofluorescence of tissue and biological compounds are strongly reduced compared to the visible (400–700 nm) and NIR (~700–900 nm). The benefits of SWIR-emissive QDs have been demonstrated for a variety of applications, such as in thermal sensing, as photoelectrochemical biosensor, in in vivo vascular imaging, and for fluorescence-guided surgery.[1] Full exploitation of SWIR photoluminescence (PL) imaging and sensing is currently hampered by i.) a lack of suitable advanced nanomaterials with a high PL quantum yield (PL QY) and a high brightness, that can be used safely in vivo and ii.) a lack of quantitative and reliable data on the optical properties of many SWIR emitters. Promising nanomaterials for the SWIR are heavy metal-free Ag2S quantum dots (QDs). Aiming for the development of SWIR advanced nanomaterials with optimum performance, we have dived deeper into the photophysical processes occurring in these nanomaterials, thereby exploring in depth how the environment such as temperature, surface ligand composition, and the incorporation of transition metals influence the optical properties Ag2S QDs. We observed a strong enhancement of the SWIR emission of upon addition of metal ions such as Zn2+, yielding PL quantum yields of about 10% and thus making them highly suitable for non-invasive deep imaging of vascular networks and 3D fluid flow mapping. T2 - Anakon 2025 CY - Leipzig, Germany DA - 10.03.2025 KW - Quantum dots KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - SWIR KW - Fluorescence KW - Temperature KW - Ag2S KW - Quality assuarance KW - Ligand KW - Sensor PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62769 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Tamang, S. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Reiss, P. ED - Alivisatos, P. ED - Jang, E. ED - Ma, R. T1 - Quantum Dot Material Systems, Compositional Families N2 - Following the discovery of the quantum confinement effect in the early 1980s, it took more than 10 years to be able to synthesize monodisperse colloidal quantum dots (QDs) using organometallic chemistry approaches. The researchers behind these pioneering works, Alexey Ekimov, Louis Brus, and Moungi Bawendi, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2023, exactly 30 years after the seminal report on the preparation of cadmium chalcogenide QDs. From the synthetic point of view, this approach, relying on the fast injection of a chalcogenide precursor dissolved in a tertiary phosphine into a hot solution of the cadmium precursor in a coordinating solvent (trioctylphosphine oxide, TOPO) acting at the same time as surface ligand, was revolutionary. It enabled the fast synthesis of wellcrystallized CdS, CdSe, and CdTe QDs of low size dispersion and high colloidal stability, whose size and hence optical and electronic properties could be conveniently tuned with the reaction time. Due to the comparable ease of this method and the later developed shelling procedures with ZnS, ZnSe, CdS, and mixtures or alloys of these materials, CdSe has become the workhorse for the entire QD field, covering the whole visible range of absorption and emission. Meanwhile, several breakthroughs have been achieved, which enabled us to bring QDs to their maturity of today and integrate them in several applications, in particular those relying on their exceptional luminescence properties, such as biological imaging as well as displays and screens. For such real-life applications, the quest for less toxic, safer-to-use, and environmentally friendly materials is of utmost importanceand a highly active research field. The use of cadmium- and lead-based materials is severely restricted by regulations such as the RoHS directive of the European Union: the maximum concentrations of lead and cadmium are 0.1 and 0.01% by weight, respectively, in all homogeneous materials in electrical and electronicequipment. Several families of alternative materials have been explored, with the most important ones for display technologies being indium phosphide (InP)- and ternary chalcopyrite-type QDs. KW - Quantum dots KW - Photoluminescence KW - LED KW - Display technology PY - 2025 SN - 978-1-394-18187-2 SP - 23 EP - 62 PB - John Wiley & Sons Ltd. AN - OPUS4-64675 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - El-Dahshan, O. A1 - Deniaud, A. A1 - Ling, W. L. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Proux, O. A1 - Veronesi, G. A1 - Reiss, P. T1 - Hydrothermal microwave synthesis of water soluble NIR-II emitting Ag2S quantum dots N2 - Hydrothermal-based synthetic methods of quantum dots allow for the exploration of reaction parameters normally inaccessible to typical aqueous-based batch reactions, such as elevated reaction temperatures (>100 °C) and reaction pressures above atmospheric pressure. Coupled with microwave heating, new instantaneously bio-compatible quantum dots (QDs) with enhanced opitcal properties can be yielded. As of today, aqueous-based synthetic methods often lag behind their organic analogues in terms of the photophysical properties of the QDs obtained and the ease of modulation of both the emission wavelength and crystallite size. Using a novel microwave-assisted hydrothermal approach, the synthesis of silver sulphide (Ag2S) QDs exhibiting NIR emission spanning the biological transparency windows via modulation of the reaction parameters has been developed. The intrinsic link between their optical and structural properties is explored via laboratory and synchrotron-based structural analysis techniques. Their toxicity towards a hepatic cell line was assessed, and related back to their structure and size. Overall this work aims to not only further develop the repertoire of synthetic methods for the synthesis of Ag2S QDs, but also paves the way for the development of safer QDs suitable for future clinical applications. KW - Quantum dots KW - Microwave synthesis KW - Quality assurance KW - NIR-II emission KW - PL quantum yield KW - Ag2S PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-634825 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d5nr00052a SN - 2040-3372 VL - 17 IS - 24 SP - 14637 EP - 14646 PB - RSC AN - OPUS4-63482 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Wegner, Karl David T1 - Ag₂S nanocrystals as next-generation, heavy-metal free SWIR emitter for biomedical imaging and sensing applications N2 - There is a growing interest in the exploitation of the short-wave infrared (SWIR), which refers to the wavelength band of light between 900 nm and 2500 nm. Luminophores that emit in the SWIR are used in various areas of telecommunications, photovoltaics, security systems (night vision), and in biomedicine. In particular for biomedical applications, the SWIR range is highly promising because light scattering, absorption, and autofluorescence of tissue and biological compounds are strongly reduced compared to the visible (400–700 nm) and NIR (~700–900 nm). The benefits of SWIR-emissive QDs have been demonstrated for a variety of applications, such as in thermal sensing, as photoelectrochemical biosensor, in in vivo vascular imaging, and for fluorescence-guided surgery. Full exploitation of SWIR photoluminescence (PL) imaging and sensing is currently hampered by i.) a lack of suitable advanced nanomaterials with a high PL quantum yield (PL QY) and a high brightness, that can be used safely in vivo and ii.) a lack of quantitative and reliable data on the optical properties of many SWIR emitters. Promising nanomaterials for the SWIR are heavy metal-free Ag2S quantum dots (QDs). Aiming for the development of SWIR advanced nanomaterials with optimum performance, we have dived deeper into the photophysical processes occurring in these nanomaterials, thereby exploring in depth how the environment such as temperature, surface ligand composition, and the incorporation of transition metals influence the optical properties Ag2S QDs. We observed a strong enhancement of the SWIR emission of upon addition of metal ions such as Zn2+, yielding PL quantum yields of about 10% and thus making them highly suitable for non-invasive deep imaging of vascular networks and 3D fluid flow mapping. T2 - Shining a light on biomedical and energy applications (Shift) CY - Tenerife, Spain DA - 13.10.2025 KW - Quantum dots KW - Short-wave infrared KW - SWIR KW - Spectroscopy KW - Photoluminescence KW - Quantum yield PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64673 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Hildebrandt, N. T1 - Near infrared quantum dots for biosensing and bioimaging N2 - Quantum dots (QDs) possess unique optoelectronic properties, which make them very attractive to be used as optical probes in biosensing and bioimaging applications. The strong absorbance and light scattering of biological compounds like tissue and blood in the visible range pose a problem. However, if optical probes emitting in the near-infrared (NIR) range are used, scattering, absorption, and autofluorescence of biological components are strongly reduced. This allows for an increased light penetration depth and higher spatial and temporal resolution for the investigation of biological processes. The synthesis and application of NIR emitting QDs is a fast-growing research field and the benefits of using QDs were demonstrated for a variety of applications, such as photoelectrochemical biosensor, in vivo vascular imaging, and fluorescence-guided surgery. This article reviews the state-of-the-art developments in the preparation of NIR/IR QDs and highlights the latest research about their utilization in biosensing and bioimaging applications. KW - Quantum dots KW - Near-infrared KW - Biosensing KW - Bioimaging KW - NIR-II / SWIR KW - Advanced nanomaterials PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-609708 SN - 0165-9936 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2024.117922 VL - 180 SP - 1 EP - 19 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-60970 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Montazerian, Maziar A1 - Mauro, John C. A1 - de Camargo, Andrea S. S. T1 - Richard Adolf Zsigmondy: Nobel laureate and pioneer in optical glasses N2 - Austrian chemist Richard A. Zsigmondy was known for his work in colloid chemistry, but his research inspired advancements in optical glasses as well. KW - Quantum dots KW - Glass KW - Richard Zsigmondy PY - 2024 VL - 103 IS - 9 SP - 38 EP - 40 AN - OPUS4-62590 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wang, P. A1 - Morales-Marquez, R. A1 - Cervas, G. A1 - Hernandez Medel, A. A1 - Ogayar, M. P. A1 - Jimenez de Aberasturi, D. A1 - de Isidro-Gomez, A. I. A1 - Torres-Padro, A. A1 - Palomares, F. J. A1 - Garcia-Orrit, S. A1 - Sousa, C. T. A1 - Espinosa, A. A1 - Telle, H. H. A1 - Ortgies, D. H. A1 - Vega-Mayoral, V. A1 - Cabanillas-Gonzalez, J. A1 - Rodriguez, E. M. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Juarez, B. H. T1 - The role of temperature in the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of Ag2S-based nanocrystals N2 - Highly emissive Ag2S nanocrystals (NCs) passivated with a gradated shell incorporating Se and Zn were synthesized in air, and the temperature dependence of their photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) was quantified in both organic and aqueous media at B1200 nm. The relevance of this parameter, measured at physiological temperatures, is highlighted for applications that rely on the near infrared (NIR) photoluminescence of NCs, such as deep NIR imaging or luminescence nanothermometry. Hyperspectral NIR imaging shows that Ag2S-based NCs with a PLQY in organic media of about 10% are inefficient for imaging at 40 8C through 20 mm thick tissue with low laser irradiation power densities. In contrast, water-transferred Ag2S-based NCs with an initial PLQY of 2% in water exhibit improved robustness against temperature changes, enabling improved imaging performance. KW - Quantum dots KW - Ag2S KW - Fluorescence KW - Nanomaterial design KW - Advanced nanomaterials KW - Shortwave infrared (SWIR) KW - Temperature sensing PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-613877 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MH01016G SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-61387 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Quantum dots N2 - The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Aleksey I. Ekimov (prize share 1/3), Louis E. Brus (prize share 1/3), and Moungi G. Bawendi (prize share 1/3) for groundbreaking inventions in the field of nanotechnology, i.e., for the discovery and synthesis of semiconductor nanocrystals, also termed quantum dots, that exhibit size-dependent physicochemical properties enabled by quantum size effects. This feature article summarizes the main milestones of the discoveries and developments of quantum dots that paved the road to their versatile applications in solid-state lighting, display technology, energy conversion, medical diagnostics, bioimaging, and image-guided surgery. KW - Quantum dots KW - Semiconductor nanocrystals KW - Luminescence KW - Quantitative spectroscopy KW - Quantum yield KW - Advanced nanomaterials KW - Quality assurance KW - Energy transfer PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-597843 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-024-05225-9 VL - 2024 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Springer CY - Cham AN - OPUS4-59784 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Walter, J. T1 - Size-resolved emission properties of core/shell CdSe/CdS quantum dots via multiwavelength emission analytical ultracentrifugation N2 - Colloids provide manifold opportunities for targeted product design due to their tunable properties with respect to size, shape, composition, surface, and spectral characteristics. However, the determination of structure-property relationships is quite challenging as most particulate samples exhibit polydispersity of their disperse properties. Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) is a fractionating technique and highly accurate method for the multidimensional analysis of nanoparticles as it permits the differentiation of spectral information linked to hydro- and thermodynamic properties of the particles. So far, characterization capabilities for fluorescent nanoparticles by AUC were limited, as the formerly commercially available fluorescence detector could not provide any spectral information. Using a multiwavelength emission detector developed in our group, it is possible to extract spectra of fluorescent particles and biomolecules alongside their sedimentation and diffusion coefficients within a single centrifugation experiment. In our contribution, we will highlight that even narrowly distributed core/shell CdSe/CdS quantum dots still show size- and structure-dependent shifts of their fluorescence spectra, which can be resolved with our AUC system in an ensemble measurement. Thereby, we can link spectral changes of only a few nanometers to particle sizes retrieved with Angstrom size resolution. Single-particle measurements not only supported the results obtained with the AUC system but also provided deeper insights into the photophysical processes of individual QDs, clearly demonstrating the complementary nature of the techniques used. With our novel multiwavelength emission detector and the established extinction-based detector for AUC, a comprehensive platform for the holistic characterization of fluorescent colloids is now available. T2 - 26th International Analytical Ultracentrifugation Symposium CY - Bad Staffelstein, Germany DA - 24.07.2024 KW - Quantum dots KW - Analytical ultracentrifugation KW - Reference materials KW - Calibrated fluorescence measurements KW - Size-resolved emission PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-60814 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Wegner, Karl David T1 - SWIR luminescent nanomaterials – key chemical parameters for bright probes for in vivo bioimaging N2 - A current challenge for studying physio-pathological phenomena and diseaserelated processes in living organisms with non-invasive optical bioimaging is the development of bright optical reporters that enable deep tissue penetration, a high detection sensitivity, and a high spatial and temporal resolution. The focus of this project are nanomaterials, which absorb and emit in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) between ~900–2500 nm where scattering, absorption, and autofluorescence of the tissue are strongly reduced compared to the visible and NIR. T2 - QD2024 - 12th International Conference on Quantum Dots CY - Munich, Germany DA - 18.03.2024 KW - Quantum dots KW - Advanced nanomaterials KW - Fluorescence KW - Quality assurance KW - Gold nanocluster KW - Shortwave infrared KW - Spectroscopy KW - Bioimaging PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-59783 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Krauss, S. W. A1 - Eckardt, M. A1 - Will, J. A1 - Spiecker, E. A1 - Siegel, R. A1 - Dulle, M. A1 - Schweins, R. A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard A1 - Senker, J. A1 - Zobel, M. T1 - H-D-isotope effect of heavy water affecting ligand-mediated nanoparticle formation in SANS and NMR experiments N2 - An isotopic effect of normal (H2O) vs. heavy water (D2O) is well known to fundamentally affect structure and chemical properties of proteins, for instance. Here we correlate results from small angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS, SANS) with high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy to track the evolution of CdS nanoparticle size and crystallinity from aqeuous solution in presence of the organic ligand ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) at room temperature in both H2O and D2O. We provide evidence via SANS experiments that exchanging H2O by D2O impacts nanoparticle formation by changing the equilibria and dynamics of EDTA clusters in solution as investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance. The colloidal stability of the CdS nanoparticles, covered by a layer of [Cd(EDTA)]2- complexes, is significantly reduced in D2O despite the strong stabilizing effect of EDTA in suspensions of normal water. Hence, conclusions about nanoparticle formation mechanisms from D2O solutions can bare limited transferability to reactions in normal water due to isotopic effects, which thus need to be discussed for contrast match experiments. KW - General Materials Science KW - Quantum dots KW - CdS KW - Deuterium KW - X-ray scattering KW - MOUSE PY - 2023 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NR02419A SN - 2040-3364 VL - 15 IS - 40 SP - 16413 EP - 16424 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-58294 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - de Camargo, Andrea Simone Stucchi T1 - Luminescent multifunctional nanostructures for sensing and theranostics applications N2 - An overview of the work carried out at LEMAF - Laboratory of Spectroscopy of Functional Materials at IFSC/USP was given. The work presented focus on the design, production and functional characterization of multifunctional nanoparticles. T2 - NANOANDES - Latin American School on Nanomaterials and Appllications CY - Araraquara, SP, Brazil DA - 10.10.2023 KW - Multifunctional nanoparticles KW - Upconversion nanoparticles KW - Quantum dots KW - Noble metal nanoparticles PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-60363 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Scholtz, Lena T1 - Luminescent, nanoparticle-loaded polymer microparticles - comparing synthesis routes N2 - Our comparison showed that the route used for the synthesis of luminescent, NP-loaded PSMPs can play a significant role for the luminescence properties, as well as the number of accessible SFGs, and hence subsequent functionalization. This should be considered for future applications. T2 - Bunsen-Tagung 2023 CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 05.06.2023 KW - Fluorescence KW - Polymerization KW - Microbeads KW - Quantum dots KW - Comparison PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-57628 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Wegner, Karl David T1 - Exploring the photoluminescence of gold NCs and Ag2S NPs to boost their SWIR emission N2 - Current challenges and objectives for non-invasive optical bioimaging are deep tissue penetration, high detection sensitivity, high spatial and temporal resolution, and fast data acquisition. A promising spectral window to tackle these challenges is the short-wave infrared (SWIR) ranging from 900 nm to 1700 nm where scattering, absorption, and autofluorescence of biological components are strongly reduced compared to the visible/NIR. At present, the best performing SWIR contrast agents are based on nanomaterials containing toxic heavy-metal ions like cadmium or lead, which raises great concerns for biological applications. Promising heavy-metal free nanoscale candidates are gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) and Ag2S nanoparticles (NPs). The photoluminescence (PL) of both types of nanomaterials is very sensitive to their size, composition of their surface ligand shell, and element composition, which provides an elegant handle to fine-tune their absorption and emission features and boost thereby the size of the signals recorded in bioimaging studies. Aiming for the development of SWIR contrast agents with optimum performance, we dived deeper into the photophysical processes occurring in these nanomaterials, thereby exploring in depth how the environment, surface ligand composition, and the incorporation of transition metals influence the optical properties of AuNCs and Ag2S NPs. We observed a strong enhancement of the SWIR emission of AuNCs upon exposure to different local environments (in solution, polymer, and in the solid state). Addition of metal ions such as Zn2+ to Ag2S based NPs led to a strong PL enhancement, yielding PL quantum yields of about 10% and thus making them highly suitable for non-invasive deep imaging of vascular networks and 3D fluid flow mapping. T2 - NaNaX 10 - Nanoscience with Nanocrystals CY - Klosterneuburg, Austria DA - 03.07.2023 KW - Quantum dots KW - Ag2S KW - Fluorescence KW - SWIR KW - Gold nanocluster KW - Nanomaterial KW - bioimaging PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-58104 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Matiushkina, Anna T1 - Synthesis and physical properties studies of bifunctional nanocomposites N2 - At present, the field of research on nanostructures is actively developing, which is due to their unique physico-chemical properties compared to bulk materials. Many research activities are focused on obtaining nanocomposites, which combine various types of nanostructures with different properties and function. For example, the development of magneto-luminescent nanocomposites makes it possible to use their luminescence for optical imaging, and their magnetic properties for magnetic targeted delivery and as agents of hyperthermia and magnetic resonance imaging. My master studies as part of the project Goszadanie 2019-1080 at ITMO were focused on the investigation of nanocomposites, consisting of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) as luminescent component and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as magnetic one, in solution and during their incubation with HeLa cells. The spectrally resolved analysis of the QD photoluminescence (PL) kinetics of the free QDs and the QDs incorporated in these nanocomposites undergoing energy transfer processes allowed for (1) understanding the reasons for the quenching of QD luminescence in cells, (2) evaluating the average distance between the QDs and, based on this, concluding the degree of QD aggregation in cells, and (3) drawing conclusions about the QD-quencher composites integrity in cells. Overall, the analysis of the PL kinetics confirmed that QDs and SPIONs remain bound in the obtained nanocomposites during incubation with cells. To ensure the successful advancement of nanomaterials in biomedicine and the transition from their laboratory preparation and studies to their use in different applications and in industry, it is crucial to develop reliable measurement methods and reference materials candidates for the characterization of functional nanomaterials and assessing the quality of the obtained nanostructures. My recently started project at BAM, which is part of the EU metrology project MeTrINo, will be devoted to this topic. There we will focus on the development of methodologies for the synthesis and characterization of iron oxide nanoparticles, already used in biomedicine, and multi-element lanthanide-based nanoparticles with attractive upconversion luminescence, as reference materials with high monodispersity and reproducibility. Also, these nanoparticles will be functionalized with organic dyes for optical imaging and, probably, the study of the energy transfer phenomena. T2 - Bad Honnef Summer School CY - Bad Honnef, Germany DA - 30.07.2023 KW - Quantum dots KW - Iron oxide nanoparticles KW - Upconversion nanoparticles PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-58075 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kang, Y. A1 - Nack, L. M. A1 - Liu, Y. A1 - Qi, B. A1 - Huang, Y. A1 - Liu, Z. A1 - Chakraborty, I. A1 - Schulz, F. A1 - Ahmed, A. A. A. A1 - Poveda, M. C. A1 - Hafizi, F. A1 - Roy, S. A1 - Mutas, M. A1 - Holzapfel, M. A1 - Sanchez-Cano, C. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Feliu, N. A1 - Parak, W. J. T1 - Quantitative considerations about the size dependence of cellular entry and excretion of colloidal nanoparticles for different cell types N2 - Most studies about the interaction of nanoparticles (NPs) with cells have focused on how the physicochemical properties of NPs will influence their uptake by cells. However, much less is known about their potential excretion from cells. However, to control and manipulate the number of NPs in a cell, both cellular uptake and excretion must be studied quantitatively. Monitoring the intracellular and extracellular amount of NPs over time (after residual noninternalized NPs have been removed) enables one to disentangle the influences of cell proliferation and exocytosis, the major pathways for the reduction of NPs per cell. Proliferation depends on the type of cells, while exocytosis depends in addition on properties of the NPs, such as their size. Examples are given herein on the role of these two different processes for different cells and NPs. KW - Cell proliferation KW - Exocytosis KW - Gold nanoparticles KW - Quantum dots KW - Fluorescence KW - Uptake studies PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-543476 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s40828-021-00159-6 SN - 2199-3793 VL - 8 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Springer CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-54347 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Scholtz, Lena A1 - Eckert, J. G. A1 - Elahi, T. A1 - Lübkemann, F. A1 - Hübner, Oskar A1 - Bigall, N. C. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Luminescence encoding of polymer microbeads with organic dyes and semiconductor quantum dots during polymerization N2 - Luminescence-encoded microbeads are important tools for many applications in the life and material sciences that utilize luminescence detection as well as multiplexing and barcoding strategies. The preparation of such beads often involves the staining of premanufactured beads with molecular luminophores using simple swelling procedures or surface functionalization with layer-by-layer (LbL) techniques. Alternatively, these luminophores are sterically incorporated during the polymerization reaction yielding the polymer beads. The favorable optical properties of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), which present broadly excitable, size-tunable, narrow emission bands and low photobleaching sensitivity, triggered the preparation of beads stained with QDs. However, the colloidal nature and the surface chemistry of these QDs, which largely controls their luminescence properties, introduce new challenges to bead encoding that have been barely systematically assessed. To establish a straightforward approach for the bead encoding with QDs with minimized loss in luminescence, we systematically assessed the incorporation of oleic acid/oleylamine-stabilized CdSe/CdS-core/shell-QDs into 0.5–2.5 μm-sized polystyrene (PS) microspheres by a simple dispersion polymerization synthesis that was first optimized with the organic dye Nile Red. Parameters addressed for the preparation of luminophore-encoded beads include the use of a polymer-compatible ligand such as benzyldimethyloctadecylammonium chloride (OBDAC) for the QDs, and crosslinking to prevent luminophore leakage. The physico-chemical and optical properties of the resulting beads were investigated with electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, optical spectroscopy, and fluorescence microscopy. Particle size distribution, fluorescence quantum yield of the encapsulated QDs, and QD leaking stability were used as measures for bead quality. The derived optimized bead encoding procedure enables the reproducible preparation of bright PS microbeads encoded with organic dyes as well as with CdSe/CdS-QDs. Although these beads show a reduced photoluminescence quantum yield compared to the initially very strongly luminescent QDs, with values of about 35%, their photoluminescence quantum yield is nevertheless still moderate. KW - Polymerization KW - Quantum dots KW - Microbeads KW - Fluorescence PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-553430 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16065-x SN - 2045-2322 VL - 12 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - Nature Publishing Group CY - London AN - OPUS4-55343 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Scholtz, Lena T1 - Luminescence Encoding of Polymer Microbeads during Polymerization N2 - Differently sized, luminescent polymer beads encoded with QDs were prepared with a simple, optimized procedure. The optical properties of the resulting particles were studied to ensure sufficient fluorescence and to evaluate the influence of the polymerization on QD fluorescence. T2 - 84th Prague Meeting on Macromolecules - Frontiers of Polymer Colloids CY - Prague, Czech Republic DA - 24.07.2022 KW - Polymerization KW - Fluorescence KW - Quantum dots KW - Microbeads PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-55447 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -