TY - JOUR A1 - Gotor, Raúl A1 - Costero, A. M. A1 - Gil, S. A1 - Parra, M. A1 - Gavina, P. A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Boolean operations mediated by an ion-pair receptor of a multi-readout molecular logic gate N2 - A heteroditopic BODIPY dye that performs all basic Boolean operations with a cation (K+) and an anion (F-) as inputs and absorption, transmission and fluorescence as outputs is described. The molecular logic gate can also act as a digital comparator between the inputs. KW - Farbstoffe KW - Molekulare Gatter KW - Ionenpaare KW - Fluoreszenz KW - Boolsche Operationen PY - 2013 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/c3cc45377d SN - 0022-4936 SN - 1359-7345 VL - 49 IS - 94 SP - 11056 EP - 11058 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge AN - OPUS4-29507 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gotor, Raúl A1 - Costero, A. M. A1 - Gil, S. A1 - Gavina, P. A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - On the ion-pair recognition and indication features of a fluorescent heteroditopic host based on a BODIPY core N2 - A fluorescent heteroditopic host for ion pairs and zwitterionic species has been synthesized. Its affinity towards a series of anions, cations and ion pairs in acetonitrile has been assessed, and the spectroscopic response has been evaluated. Solid–liquid extraction experiments of inorganic salts, α-amino acids and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) into acetonitrile solutions were performed, and the resulting complexes were analyzed by UV/Vis absorption, fluorescence and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The discrimination patterns observed have been rationalized in terms of the molecular topologies of the host and guests. KW - Sensors KW - Receptors KW - Ion-pair recognition KW - Zwitterion recognition KW - Fluorescence KW - Ionenpaar-Erkennung KW - Alkalimetallhalogenide KW - BODIPY KW - Zwitterionen-Erkennung KW - Fluoreszenz PY - 2014 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.201402214 SN - 1434-193X SN - 1099-0690 VL - 2014 IS - 19 SP - 4005 EP - 4013 PB - Wiley-VCH Verl. CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-30610 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 - Gotor, Raúl A1 - Tiebe, Carlo A1 - Schlischka, Jörg A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Detection of adulterated diesel using fluorescent test strips and smartphone readout N2 - The fluorescence properties of three molecular rotors, related to 4-dimethylamino-4-nitrostilbene (4-DNS), are studied versus different diesel/kerosene blends. In nonviscous solvents, these compounds can populate a twisted intramolecular charge transfer state which deactivates nonradiatively, successfully suppressing fluorescence emission. Solution experiments with diesel/kerosene blends showed a good linear correlation between the fluorescence intensity of the probe molecules and the diesel fraction of the blend. The dyes have been immobilized on paper, retaining their fluorescence behavior, i.e., negligible emission in the presence of nonviscous organic solvents and increasing fluorescence when the environment is increasingly viscous. When the impregnated paper is devised as a test strip, the latter is compatible with a newly designed smartphone reader system, which allows in-the-field measurements. The method can safely detect the presence of kerosene in diesel at ≥7%, which competes favorably with current standard methods for the detection of diesel adulteration. KW - Fuel adulteration KW - Diesel KW - Fluorescence KW - Test strip KW - Molecular rotor KW - Smartphone PY - 2017 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b01538 SN - 0887-0624 VL - 31 IS - 11 SP - 11594 EP - 11600 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, D.C. AN - OPUS4-43103 LA - eng 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 - JOUR A1 - Gotor, Raul A1 - Ashokkumar, Pichandi A1 - Hecht, Mandy A1 - Keil, Karin A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Optical pH Sensor Covering the Range from pH 0−14 Compatible with Mobile-Device Readout and Based on a Set of Rationally Designed Indicator Dyes N2 - In this work, a family of pH-responsive fluorescent probes has been designed in a rational manner with the aid of quantum chemistry tools, covering the entire pH range from 0−14. Relying on the boron−dipyrromethene (BODIPY) core, all the probes as well as selected reference dyes display very similar spectroscopic properties with ON−OFF fluorescence switching responses, facilitating optical readout in simple devices used for detection and analysis. Embedding of the probes and reference dyes into hydrogel spots on a plastic strip yielded a test strip that reversibly indicates pH with a considerably small uncertainty of ~0.1 pH units. These strips are not only reusable but, combined with a 3D-printed case that can be attached to a smartphone, the USB port of which drives the integrated LED used for excitation, allows for autonomous operation in on-site or in-the-field applications; the developed Android application software (“app”) further simplifies operation for unskilled users. KW - Fluorescence KW - pH measurement KW - BODIPY KW - Smartphone KW - Test strip PY - 2017 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-422571 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.7b01903 SN - 0003-2700 SN - 1520-6882 VL - 89 IS - 16 SP - 8437 EP - 8444 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, D.C., USA AN - OPUS4-42257 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gotor, Raúl A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Tailored fluorescent solvatochromic test strips for quantitative on-site detection of gasoline fuel adulteration N2 - Gasoline adulteration is a frequent problem world-wide, because of the chance of quick, maximized profits. However, addition of cheaper ethanol or hydrocarbons like kerosene does not only result in economic damage but also poses problems for vehicles and the environment. To enable law enforcement forces, customers or enterprises to uncover such a fraudulent activity directly upon suspicion and without the need to organize for sampling and laboratory analysis, we developed a simple strip-based chemical test. Key to the favorable performance was the dedicated materials tailoring, which led to test strips that consisted of a cellulose support coated with silica, passivated with hexamethyldisilazane and functionalized covalently with a molecular probe. The probe fluoresces brightly across a broad solvent polarity range, enabling reliable quantitative measurements and data analysis with a conventional smartphone. The assays showed high reproducibility and accuracy, allowing not only for the detection of gasoline adulteration but also for the on-site monitoring of the quality of commercial E10 gasoline. KW - Gasoline KW - Adulteration KW - Test strips KW - Benzin KW - Teststreifen KW - Fluorescence KW - Cellulose KW - Zellulose KW - Fluoreszenz PY - 2019 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-479231 UR - https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2019/tc/c8tc04818e DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/C8TC04818E SN - 2050-7526 VL - 7 IS - 8 SP - 2250 EP - 2256 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - London, UK AN - OPUS4-47923 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mansurova, Maria A1 - Gotor, Raúl A1 - Johann, Sergej A1 - Neumann, Patrick P. A1 - Bartholmai, Matthias A1 - Rurack, Knut A1 - Bell, Jérémy T1 - Fluorescent Hydrophobic Test Strips with Sterically Integrated Molecular Rotors for the Detection of Hydrocarbons in Water and Soil with an Embedded Optical Read-Out N2 - Contamination of natural bodies of water or soil with oils and lubricants (or generally, hydrocarbon derivatives such as petrol, fuels, and others) is a commonly found phenomenon around the world due to the extensive production, transfer, and use of fossil fuels. In this work, we develop a simple system for the on-field detection of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in water and soil. The test is based on the measurement of the fluorescence signal emitted by the molecular rotor 2-[ethyl[4-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethenyl]phenyl]amino]ethanol (4-DNS-OH). This dye is embedded in a hydrophobic polymeric matrix (polyvinylidene fluoride), avoiding interactions with water and providing a robust support for use in a test strip fashion. Together with the strips, an embedded optical system was designed for fluorescence signal read-out, featuring a Bluetooth low-energy connection to a commercial tablet device for data processing and analysis. This system works for the detection and quantification of TPHs in water and soil through a simple extraction protocol using a cycloalkane solvent with a limit of detection of 6 ppm. Assays in surface and sea waters were conclusive, proving the feasibility of the method for in-the-field operation. KW - Test strip KW - Sensor KW - Smartphone KW - Fluorescence KW - Test Streifen KW - Sensoren KW - Fluoreszenz KW - Petrol KW - Öl PY - 2023 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.3c01175 SN - 0887-0624 SP - 1 EP - 6 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, United States AN - OPUS4-57892 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 -