TY - JOUR A1 - Ecke, Alexander A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Schneider, Rudolf T1 - A three-dimensional microfluidic flow cell and system integration for improved electrochemical substrate detection in HRP/TMB-based immunoassays N2 - Immunoassays, based on the recognition and capture of analytes by highly selective antibodies, are now used extensively in all areas of diagnostics, but the challenge is to further integrate them into online sensors. To improve the transition from laboratory immunoassays to immunosensors, we have developed a complete flow system, based on a microfluidic core flow cell to enable automated detection of one of the most commonly used immunoassay substrates, TMB, by chronoamperometry. The architecture and fluidic optimisation of the system showed that a specially designed 3D flow cell allows higher flow rates (500 μL min−1) than a standard enlarged microfluidic channel (50 μL min−1) resulting in a significantly shorter detection time of 30 seconds per sample and making the system more robust against interferences due to bubble formation in the chip. The electrochemical measurements showed an improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and thus higher sensitivity for a model immunoassay for diclofenac (SNR = 59), compared to the analytical performance of a conventional laboratory microplate-based assay with optical detection (SNR = 19). In general, this system facilitates the conversion of any conventional immunoassay into an immunosensor with automatic and continuous detection. KW - Microfluidic KW - Immunoassay KW - Electrochemical KW - Mikrofluidik KW - Immunassay KW - Elektrochemie PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-580159 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d3sd00095h VL - 2 SP - 887 EP - 892 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - London, United Kingdom AN - OPUS4-58015 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Johann, Sergej A1 - Mansurova, Maria A1 - Kohlhoff, Harald A1 - Gkertsos, Aris A1 - Neumann, Patrick P. A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Bartholmai, Matthias T1 - Wireless Mobile Sensor Device for in-situ Measurements with Multiple Fluorescent Sensors N2 - This paper describes a wireless mobile prototype able to perform optical measurements by means of a miniatur-ized spectrometer for low light analysis, e.g. fluorescent sensors. Evaluations, calculations, calibration management and result display are performed by a computer or a standard tablet. The device was designed primarily to detect traces of oil in drinking or ground water and for the analyses of crude oils. However, it can also address a wide range of fluorescent sensors. The fast and user-friendly inspection of water quality or oil properties, as well as the adaptability and mobility, make the device attractive for a variety of users. Further application areas could be easily imple-mented by adapting the optics and the software (database, data processing and calibration plots, etc.) T2 - IEEE Sensors 2018 CY - New Delhi, India DA - 28.10.2018 KW - Wireless mobile sensor device KW - Fluorescent sensor KW - Embedded system KW - Water quality KW - Oil PY - 2018 SN - 978-1-5386-4707-3 SP - 1067 EP - 1070 PB - IEEE CY - New Delhi, India AN - OPUS4-46556 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - GEN A1 - Ecke, Alexander A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Schneider, Rudolf T1 - From Laboratory Immunoassays to Immunosensors with an Integrated Microfluidic Flow System N2 - This research summary describe efforts to the development of a three-dimensional microfluidic flow cell for improved electrochemical substrate detection in HRP/TMB-based immunoassays. This work provides a valuable advancement in the sensitivity and integration of immunoassay technologies, aiding in the refinement of diagnostic tools. KW - Antikörper KW - Immunoassay KW - Microfluidics KW - Electrochemical detection KW - Biosensor PY - 2025 UR - https://www.elveflow.com/microfluidics-research-summaries/from-laboratory-immunoassays-to-immunosensors-with-an-integrated-microfluidic-flow-system/ SP - 1 EP - 4 CY - Paris AN - OPUS4-62674 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Burnage, Samual A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Wan, Wei A1 - Kislenko, Evgeniia A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Combining a hybrid chip and tube microfluidic system with fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) core–shell particles for the derivatisation, extraction, and detection of peptides with N-terminating phosphorylated tyrosine N2 - The reliable identification and quantitation of phosphorylated amino acids, peptides and proteins is one of the key challenges in contemporary bioanalytical research, an area of particular interest when attempting to diagnose and treat diseases at an early stage. We have developed a synthetic probe for targeting phosphorylated amino acids, based on core–shell submicron-sized particles consisting of a silica core, coated with a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) shell. The MIP layer contains a fluorescent probe crosslinker which binds selectively to phosphorylated tyrosine (pY) moieties with a significant imprinting factor (IF) and responds with a "light-up” fluorescence signal. The bead-based ratiometric detection scheme has been successfully transferred to a microfluidic chip format and its applicability to rapid assays has been exemplarily shown by discriminating a pY-terminating oligopeptide against its nonphosphorylated counterpart. Such miniaturised devices could lead to an automated pY or pY N-terminated peptide measurement system in the future. The setup combines a modular microfluidic system for amino acid derivatisation, extraction (by micropillar co-flow) and selective adsorption and detection with the fluorescent MIP core–shell particle probes. A miniaturised optical assembly for low-light fluorescence measurements was also developed, based on miniaturised opto-electronic parts and optical fibres. The emission from the MIP particles upon binding of pY or pY N-terminated peptides could be monitored in real-time. KW - Microfluidics KW - Molecularly imprinted polymers KW - Phosphorylated peptides KW - Fluorescence KW - Core-shell particles PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-569204 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d2lc00955b SN - 1473-0197 VL - 23 IS - 3 SP - 466 EP - 474 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge AN - OPUS4-56920 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lempke, L. A1 - Fischer, Tobias A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Kraus, Werner A1 - Rurack, Knut A1 - Krause, N. T1 - Gold-catalyzed allene cycloisomerization for pyrrole synthesis: towards highly fluorinated BODIPY dyes N2 - A novel synthetic strategy toward highly fluorinated BODIPY dyes with exceptional photostabilities relying on sustainable gold catalysis has been developed. A key to the tailored pyrrole precursors is the gold catalysis performed in ionic liquids as the reaction medium, allowing a facile recycling of the catalysts. The dyes prepared are well-matching with the spectral windows of popular rhodamine dyes and possess high brightness while showing a distinctly higher photostability than the rhodamines especially in aprotic solvents. KW - Gold-Katalyse KW - BODIPY-Farbstoffe KW - Photostabilität KW - Fluor-Substitution KW - Fluoreszenz PY - 2015 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-344692 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/c4ob02671c SN - 1477-0520 SN - 1477-0539 VL - 13 IS - 12 SP - 3787 EP - 3791 PB - RSC CY - Cambridge AN - OPUS4-34469 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mansurova, Maria A1 - Johann, Sergej A1 - Kohlhoff, Harald A1 - Rurack, Knut A1 - Bartholmai, Matthias A1 - Bell, Jérémy T1 - On-Site Analytical Tool Based on Crude Oil Fluorescence and Chemometrics for the Rapid Determination of the Nature and Essential Properties of Oil Spills N2 - With the reduction of large oil spills because of stricter regulations and safety measures, the question of how to manage smaller oil spills arises. Few on-site analytical tools are available for first responders or other law enforcement personnel to rapidly test for crude oil in the early management of localized polluted areas. The approach reported here relies on well-described computer-assisted multivariate data analysis of the intrinsic fluorescence fingerprints of crude oils to build a multivariate model for the rapid classification of crude oils and the prediction of their properties. Thanks to a dedicated robust portable reader, the method allowed classification and accurate prediction of various properties of crude oil samples like density (according to API, the American Petroleum Institute and viscosity as well as composition parameters such as volume fractions of paraffins or aromatics. In this way, autonomous operation in on-site or in-the-field applications becomes possible based on the direct (undiluted and untreated) measurement of samples and a rapid, tablet-operated readout system to yield a robust and simple analytical test with superior performance. Testing in real-life scenarios allowed the successful classification and prediction of a number of oil spill samples as well as weathered samples that closely resemble samples collected by first responders. KW - Oil spills KW - Fluorescence KW - PCA KW - Petroleum KW - Rapid test KW - Portable PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-595442 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.3c00648 VL - 4 IS - 2 SP - 621 EP - 627 PB - American Chemical Society (ACS) AN - OPUS4-59544 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Bell, Jérémy T1 - Microfluidic tubing system for mercury detection utilizing fluorescent sensor nanoparticles N2 - Currently, the development of portable devices to detect traces of chemical species by real time monitoring is a highly topical research area in the chemical sciences. Indeed, the lowering of standards for pollutants in drinking water requires the development of new technologies and devices. In this context, gated sensory nanoparticle systems for selective and sensitive recognition of targets such as heavy metal ions, small molecules or oligonucleotides are excellent candidates[1,2]. Provided that such sensory delivery systems are highly porous nanoparticles loaded with indicator dyes and capped with bulky stoppers that can be uncapped only by the designated analyte, an integration with a microfluidic tubing system designed for droplet-assisted liquid-liquid extraction enable separation of released from still particle-confined dye by phase-transfer extraction and subsequent selective detection by fluorescence. The incorporation in a simple microfluidic tubing system is an innovative way towards the realization of a sensor for trace analysis of target molecules in real time. T2 - 9th International Conference on "Instrumental Methods of Analysis-Modern Trends and Applications" (IMA 2015) CY - Kalamata, Grece DA - 2015-09-20 PY - 2015 AN - OPUS4-34774 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gotor, Raúl A1 - Rurack, Knut A1 - Bell, Jérémy T1 - Fluorescent Paper Strips for the Detection of Diesel Adulteration with Smartphone Read-out N2 - Three fluorescent molecular rotors of 4-dimethylamino-4-nitrostilbene (4-DNS) were investigated for their potential use as viscosity probes to indicate the content of kerosene in diesel/kerosene blends, a wide-spread activity to adulterate fuel. In solvents with low viscosity, the dyes rapidly deactivate via a so-called twisted intramolecular charge transfer state, efficiently quenching the fluorescence. Measurements of diesel/kerosene blends revealed a good linear correlation between the decrease in fluorescence and the increase of the fraction of the less viscous kerosene in diesel/kerosene blends. Immobilization of the hydroxy derivative 4-DNS-OH in cellulose paper yielded test strips that preserve the fluorescent indicator's behavior. Combination of the strips with a reader based on a smartphone and a controlling app allowed to create a simple field test. The method can reliably detect the presence of kerosene in diesel from 7 to 100%, outperforming present standard methods for diesel adulteration. KW - Diesel KW - Kerosene KW - Adulteration KW - Fluorescent sensor KW - Smartphone KW - Test strips PY - 2018 UR - https://www.jove.com/video/58019 DO - https://doi.org/10.3791/58019 VL - 141 SP - e58019-1 EP - e58019-6 PB - MyJoVE Corporation CY - Cambridge, MA, USA AN - OPUS4-46567 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Bell, Jérémy T1 - Microfluidic platform and fluorescent sensor particles for the detection of the herbicide 2,4-D in worldwide samples N2 - Fluorescent sensory MIP (molecularly imprinted polymer) particles were combined with a droplet-based 3D microfluidic system for the sensitive and selective determination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in water samples. 2,4-D being an important and widely used herbicide to regulate plant growth, its extensive use leads to food or ground water contamination. Analytical assays based on MIP have emerged as a valuable tool in the field of environmental analysis thanks to low production costs, stability, format adaptability and their ability to recognize a wide variety of targets, such as the critical neutral organic molecules present in water: herbicides, pesticides, antibiotics, etc. To accomplish this, a tailor-made fluorescent indicator cross-linker was designed that translates directly the binding event into an enhanced fluorescence signal. This phenoxazinone-type cross-linker was co-polymerized into a thin MIP layer grafted from the surface of silica microparticles. The latter was achieved by integration of the fluorescent core-shell MIP sensor particles into a modular microfluidic platform that allows for an in-line phase-transfer assay, extracting the analyte from aqueous sample droplets into organic phase droplets that contain the sensor particles. This tool offering a novel simple and rapid way for the detection of herbicides, real-time fluorescence determination of 2,4-D down to 20 nM was realized with the system and applied for the analysis of worlwide surface water samples. T2 - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHEMISTRY AND THE ENVIRONMENT - ICCE 2017 CY - Oslo, Norway DA - 18.06.2017 KW - Microfluidics KW - MIP KW - Fluorescence KW - Pesticide PY - 2017 AN - OPUS4-42454 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Abdelshafi, Nahla A. A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Rurack, Knut A1 - Schneider, Rudolf T1 - Microfluidic electrochemical immunosensor for the trace analysis of cocaine in water and body fluids N2 - Quick but accurate testing and on‐the‐spot monitoring of cocaine in oral fluids and urine continues to be an important toxicological issue. In terms of drug testing, a number of devices have been introduced into the market in recent decades, notably for workplace inspection or roadside testing. However, these systems do not always fulfill the requirements in terms of reliability, especially when low cut‐off levels are required. With respect to surface water, the presence of anthropogenic small organic molecules such as prescription and over‐the‐counter pharmaceuticals as well as illicit drugs like cannabinoids, heroin, or cocaine, has become a challenge for scientists to develop new analytical tools for screening and on‐site analysis because many of them serve as markers for anthropogenic input and consumer behavior. Here, a modular approach for the detection of cocaine is presented, integrating an electrochemical enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) performed on antibody‐grafted magnetic beads in a hybrid microfluidic sensor utilizing flexible tubing, static chip and screen‐printed electrode (SPE) elements for incubation, recognition, and cyclic voltammetry measurements. A linear response of the sensor vs. the logarithm of cocaine concentration was obtained with a limit of detection of 0.15 ng/L. Within an overall assay time of 25 minutes, concentrations down to 1 ng/L could be reliably determined in water, oral fluids, and urine, the system possessing a dynamic working range up to 1 mg/L. KW - Cocaine PY - 2018 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.2515 VL - 11 SP - 492 EP - 500 PB - Wiley CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-48319 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Bell, Jérémy T1 - Sugar detection in sodas utilizing a fluorescent microfluidics sensor N2 - Because of the globally increasing prevalence of diabetes, the need for accurate, efficient and at best miniaturized automated analytical systems for sugar detection is still urgent. The development of molecular probes for sugar based on boronic acid receptors1 offers an excellent alternative to the kinetically slow enzyme-based sugar sensors. Moreover, by coupling such chelating units with rhodamines, fluorescein or BODIPY moieties, colorimetric and/or highly fluorescent sugar sensing schemes can be obtained.2 In this work, a boronic acid-functionalized BODIPY probe is described; it binds selectivity to fructose's adjacent diols to form cyclic boronate esters in partially aqueous solutions, with a broad pH range compatibility and a sensitivity in the micromolar range. To enhance the applicability of the fluorometric test in the sense described above, integration with a microfluidic sensor was achieved. The miniaturization of chemical analysis systems yields many functional and economical benefits such as low cost, ease of use, high stability and good portability. With similar selectivity and sensitivity, fructose was detected by fluorescence in real time in the chip, and an assay for the straightforward detection of sugar in sodas was achieved. T2 - IMA 2015 CY - Kalamata, Grece DA - 2015-09-20 PY - 2015 AN - OPUS4-34776 LA - deu 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 - JOUR A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Climent Terol, Estela A1 - Hecht, Mandy A1 - Buurman, Merwe A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Combining a droplet-based microfluidic tubing system with gated indicator releasing nanoparticles for mercury trace detection N2 - A droplet-based microfluidic sensor was developed for the detection of Hg2+ traces in water. The approach uses gated mesoporous nanoparticles loaded with a fluorescent BODIPY dye. The squaraine-based gating mechanism is highly selective for Hg2+ and the indicator release mechanism ensures sensitive detection. The microfluidic system is modular and was assembled from simple PTFE/PFA tubes, while detection was realized with standard optomechanic, optic, and electronic parts. The sensor shows a stable response without memory effects and allows the detection of Hg2+ in water down to 20 ppt. KW - Microfluidic sensor KW - Gated delivery system KW - Fluorescence KW - Mercury KW - Hybrid nanoparticles PY - 2016 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.5b00303 SN - 2379-3694 VL - 1 IS - 4 SP - 334 EP - 338 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-35831 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 - 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 - JOUR A1 - Climent Terol, Estela A1 - Gotor, Raul A1 - Tobias, Charlie A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Martin-Sanchez, Pedro A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Dip Sticks Embedding Molecular Beacon-Functionalized Core−Mesoporous Shell Particles for the Rapid On-Site Detection of Microbiological Fuel Contamination N2 - Microbial contamination of fuels by fungi and bacteria presents risks of corrosion and fuel system fouling. In this work, a rapid test for the determination of microbial genomic DNA from aqueous fuel extracts is presented. It combines test strips coated with polystyrene core/mesoporous silica shell particles, to the surface of which modified fluorescent molecular beacons are covalently grafted, with a smartphone detection system. In the hairpin loop, the beacons incorporate a target sequence highly conserved in all bacteria, corresponding to a fragment of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene, which is also present to a significant extent in the 18S rRNA gene of fungi, allowing for broadband microbial detection. In the developed assay, the presence of genomic DNA extracts from bacteria and fungi down to ca. 20−50 μg L−1 induced a distinct fluorescence response. The optical read-out was adapted for on-site monitoring by combining a 3D-printed case with a conventional smartphone, taking advantage of the sensitivity of contemporary complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) detectors. Such an embedded assembly allowed to detect microbial genomic DNA in aqueous extracts down to ca. 0.2−0.7 mg L−1 and presents an important step toward the on-site uncovering of fuel contamination in a rapid and simple fashion. KW - Bacteria KW - Fungi KW - Rapid test KW - Fluorescence KW - Smartphone KW - Biofouling PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.0c01178 SN - 2379-3694 VL - 6 IS - 1 SP - 27 EP - 34 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-51956 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - López-Puertollano, Daniel A1 - Tobias, Charlie A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Abad-Somovilla, A. A1 - Abad-Fuentes, A. A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Superparamagnetic Bead-Based Microfluidic Fluoroimmunoassay Platform for Rapid Ochratoxin A Detection in Flour N2 - Simplification and reduction of time and costs are the primary goals in the development and use of onsite methods in diagnostics and food safety. To facilitate the transition from laboratory techniques to simple, miniaturized devices, we have developed a modular microfluidic platform. This platform integrates a competitive fluorescence immunoassay on the surface of superparamagnetic beads, serving as a complementary technique to traditional cytometry assays. In the first chip module, a fast competitive reaction (5 min) occurs, after which the particles are retained in the second module. This module consists of a PDMS chip and a permanent magnet, allowing only the fluorescent competitor to reach the detection module. Ochratoxin A (OTA) was chosen as the model analyte for device development, using fluorescein-labeled OTA as a competitor. The system efficiently separates particles, with OTA concentration directly correlated to the amount of fluorescent competitor remaining in solution after the competitive reaction. This innovative setup allows to perform rapid measurements with small sample volumes in a short time (10 min), achieving a limit of detection for OTA of 1.2 μg L–1. The system was successfully applied to the accurate determination of OTA in wheat flour spiked at regulatorily relevant concentrations. Using this device, conventional cytometry immunoassays can be seamlessly transformed into user-friendly, miniaturized analytical methods at reduced cost for applications outside of a laboratory directly at the point of need. KW - Bead-based assay KW - Fluorescence KW - Immunoassay KW - Microfluidics KW - mycotoxins PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-638472 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.5c01119 SN - 2379-3694 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, D.C. AN - OPUS4-63847 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sun, Yijuan A1 - Gawlitza, Kornelia A1 - Valderrey, Virginia A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Polymerizable BODIPY probe crosslinker for the molecularly imprinted polymer-based detection of organic carboxylates via fluorescence N2 - This contribution reports the development of a polymerizable BODIPY-type fluorescent probe targeting small-molecule carboxylates for incorporation into molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). The design of the probe crosslinker includes a urea recognition site p-conjugated to the 3-position of the BODIPY core and two methacrylate moieties. Titration experiments with a carboxylate-expressing antibiotic, levofloxacin (LEVO), showed a blue shift of the absorption band as well as a broadening and decrease in emission, attributed to hydrogen bonding between the probe’s urea group and the carboxylate group of the antibiotic. Using this probe crosslinker, core–shell particles with a silica core and a thin MIP shell were prepared for the detection of LEVO. The MIP exhibited highly selective recognition of LEVO, with an imprinting factor of 18.1 compared to the non-imprinted polymer. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the core–shell structure and spectroscopic studies revealed that the receptor’s positioning leads to a unique perturbation of the polymethinic character of the BODIPY chromophore, entailing the favourable responses. These features are fully preserved in the MIP, whereas no such response was observed for competitors such as ampicillin. The sensory particles allowed to detect LEVO down to submicromolar concentrations in dioxane. We have developed here for the first time a BODIPY probe for organic carboxylates and incorporated it into polymers using the imprinting technique, paving the way for BODIPY-type fluorescent MIP sensors. KW - Fluorescence KW - BODIPY probe KW - Molecularly Imprinted Polymers KW - Sensor Materials KW - Dyes KW - Water analysis KW - Advanced materials PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-598629 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00476G SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-59862 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Jamieson, O. D. A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Hudson, A. A1 - Saczek, J. A1 - Perez-Padilla, Victor A1 - Kaiya, G. A1 - Novakovic, K. A1 - Davies, M. A1 - Foster, E. A1 - Gruber, J. A1 - Rurack, Knut A1 - Peeters, M. T1 - Design and Application of an Imprinted Polymer Sensor for the Dual Detection of Antibiotic Contaminants in Aqueous Samples and Food Matrices N2 - An innovative polymer-based dual detection microfluidic platform has been developed for the accurate and reliable sensing of trace amounts of antibiotic tetracycline in environmental and food samples. This was achieved through the production of a bespoke polymeric material formed via an imprinting technique using a fluorescent dye. Thus, this enables dual detection of tetracycline, both thermally, via analyzing the heat-transfer resistance at the solid−liquid interface, and optically, through the inner filter effect. The combination of these two methods achieved a nanomolar limit of detection for tetracycline while also providing rapid, selective, and cost-effective sensing. Additionally, this method successfully detected tetracycline levels of 0.56 μM in blank egg samples which was significantly lower than the maximum residual level of 400 μg L−1 (0.9 μM). Our work shows that this approach can be used for the efficient detection of trace antibiotics in complex environmental and food samples, offering enhanced reliability through the integration of two complementary analysis techniques. This sensor has the potential to identify sources of antimicrobial resistance, which is crucial for targeted efforts to combat this pressing global health challenge. KW - Molecularly imprinted polymers KW - Antibiotics monitoring KW - Orthogonal detection KW - Sensors PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-626497 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.4c03218 SN - 2637-6105 VL - 7 IS - 4 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, D.C. AN - OPUS4-62649 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ashokkumar, Pichandi A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Buurman, Merwe A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Analytical platform for sugar sensing in commercial beverages using a fluorescent BODIPY "light-up" probe N2 - Because of the globally increasing prevalence of diabetes, the need for accurate, efficient and at best miniaturized automated analytical systems for sugar detection in medical diagnostics and the food industry is still urgent. The development of molecular probes for sugars based on boronic acid receptors offers an excellent alternative to the kinetically slow enzyme-based sugar sensors. Moreover, by coupling such chelating units with dye scaffolds like BODIPYs (boron–dipyrromethenes), highly fluorescent sugar sensing schemes can be realized. In this work, a boronic acid-functionalized BODIPY probe was developed, which binds selectively to fructose’s adjacent diols to form cyclic boronate esters. Placement of an amino group in direct neighborhood of the boronic acid moiety allowed us to obtain a broad working range at neutral pH, which distinguishes the probe from the majority of systems working only at pH > 8, while still meeting the desired sensitivity in the micro-molar range due to a pronounced analyte-induced fluorescence increase. To enhance the applicability of the test in the sense described above, integration with a microfluidic chip was achieved. Here, fructose was selectively detected by fluorescence with similar sensitivity in real time on chip, and an assay for the straightforward detection of sugar in (colored) sodas without sample clean-up was established. KW - BODIPY dyes KW - Boronic acid KW - Fluorescence KW - Microfluidics KW - Sugars PY - 2018 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2017.09.201 SN - 0925-4005 VL - 256 SP - 609 EP - 615 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-43102 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -