TY - JOUR A1 - Wang, Cui A1 - Ebel, Kenny A1 - Heinze, Katja A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Bald, Ilko T1 - Quantum Yield of DNA Strand Breaks under Photoexcitation of a Molecular Ruby N2 - Photodynamic therapy (PDT) used for treating cancer relies on the generation of highly reactive oxygen species, for example, singlet oxygen 1O2, by light-induced excitation of a photosensitizer (PS) in the presence of molecular oxygen, inducing DNA damage in close proximity of the PS. Although many precious metal complexes have been explored as PS for PDT and received clinical approval, only recently, the potential of photoactive complexes of nonnoble metals as PS has been discovered. Using the DNA origami technology that can absolutely quantify DNA strand break cross sections, we assessed the potential of the luminescent transition metal complex [Cr(ddpd)2]3+ (ddpd=N,N’-dimethyl-N,N’-dipyridine-2-ylpyridine-2,6-diamine) to damage DNA in an air-saturated aqueous environment upon UV/Vis illumination. The quantum yield for strand breakage, that is, the ratio of DNA strand breaks to the number of absorbed photons, was determined to 1–4%, indicating efficient transformation of photons into DNA strand breaks by [Cr(ddpd)2]3+. KW - Fluorescence KW - Synthesis KW - Production KW - Optical spectroscopy KW - Ligand KW - Photophysics KW - Cr(III) KW - Mechanism KW - NIR KW - PDT KW - Singlet oxygen KW - DNA KW - Origami KW - Quantum yield PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-573631 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202203719 SP - 1 EP - 7 AN - OPUS4-57363 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hernández-García, María Amparo A1 - Rurack, Knut A1 - Bell, Jérémy T1 - Rapid fabrication of optical elements for sensing applications using a standard SLA printer N2 - The demand for compact, high-performance optical components has driven the development of increasingly sophisticated and miniaturized optical elements, often requiring complex and costly fabrication methods. In this study, we propose a cost-effective and accessible methodology for the fabrication of lenses and free-form optics using a commercially available stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer. A systematic characterisation of six transparent photopolymer resins was conducted in terms of their spectroscopic, optical, and morphological properties, i.e., surface and dimensional properties. The evaluation encompassed parameters such as transmittance, autofluorescence, refractive index, and surface roughness. A straightforward yet resilient printing and post-treatment protocol was formulated, facilitating the fabrication of optical components with over 80% transmittance, minimal intrinsic fluorescence, and surface quality that is compatible with exacting optical applications. The fabricated components demonstrated excellent dimensional fidelity to digital designs and high reproducibility. To demonstrate the versatility of this approach, aspherical, miniaturized, and freeform lenses were designed and integrated into three fluorogenic sensing systems, including oil (strip-based) and chlorine (microfluidic-based) detection platforms, as well as a smartphone-based SARS-CoV-2 biosensor. The integration of customized 3D-printed optics has been demonstrated to enhance signal collection and readout performance, thereby highlighting the potential of this approach to democratize the rapid prototyping and deployment of miniaturized optical systems. This work represents a significant advancement in the field of additive manufacturing, particularly in relation to the development of functional photonic devices. Furthermore, it opens new prospects for sensor applications in biosensing, microfluidics, imaging, and integrated optics. KW - 3D-printing KW - Free-form KW - Prototyping KW - Optical resin KW - Surface finishing KW - Fluorescence KW - Sensor PY - 2026 DO - https://doi.org/10.37188/lam.2026.024 VL - 7 SP - 1 EP - 19 PB - Light Publishing Group CY - Changchun AN - OPUS4-65555 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Homann, Christian A1 - Peeters, Régis A1 - Mirmajidi, Hana A1 - Berg, Jessica A1 - Fay, Michael A1 - Rodrigues, Lucas Carvalho Veloso A1 - Radicchi, Eros A1 - Jain, Akhil A1 - Speghini, Adolfo A1 - Hemmer, Eva T1 - Rapid microwave-assisted synthesis of morphology-controlled luminescent lanthanide-doped Gd2O2S nanostructures N2 - Gadolinium oxysulfide (Gd2O2S) is an attractive material of demonstrated suitability for a variety of imaging applications, leveraging its magnetic, scintillating, and luminescent properties, particularly when doped with optically active lanthanide ions (Ln3+). For many of these applications, control over size and morphology at the nanoscale is crucial. This study demonstrates the rapid microwave-assisted Synthesis of colloidal Ln2O2S (Ln = Gd and dopants Yb, Er, Tb) nanostructures in as little as 20 min. Structural characterization using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, as well as Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), including elemental mapping via energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), unveiled the key role of elemental sulphur (S8) in the reaction mixtures for materials growth. By systematically varying the Ln-to-S ratio from 1 : 0.5 to 1 : 15, controlled morphologies ranging from triangular nanoplatelets to berry- and flower-like shapes were achieved. Doping with Er3+/Yb3+ endowed the nano-triangles with upconverting and near-infrared emitting properties. Tb3+-doped Gd2O2S exhibited the characteristic green Tb3+ emission under UV excitation, while also showing X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL), rendering the material interesting as a potential nano-scintillator. KW - Upconversion KW - Microwave-assisted synthesis KW - Synthesis KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - NIR KW - XRD KW - X-ray fluoressence KW - Morphology control KW - Raman PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-647907 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D5TC01646K SN - 2050-7526 VL - 13 IS - 35 SP - 18492 EP - 18507 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-64790 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prakash, Swayam A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Rapid Onsite Detection of Fecal Contamination in Water Using a Portable Fluorometric Assay N2 - Fecal pollution in water poses significant health risks, especially when contaminated sources are used for drinking and food production. Traditional water quality testing methods are expensive, slow, and require skilled personnel, limiting their accessibility. This work addresses these issues by developing a portable fluorometric assay for the detection of the fecal indicator pigment urobilin (UB). The assay uses silane-functionalized glass fiber strips impregnated with zinc chloride, providing a ‘drop-&-detect’ approach with enhanced fluorescence response mediated by the unique complexation properties of ZnCl2 and UB. This approach allows for the detection of UB at sub-nanomolar concentrations in less than 1 min using a 3D-printed setup with miniaturized optical components powered by a smartphone with its camera as a detector. The results validated with a benchtop fluorometer show the effectiveness of this method. The successful application of this userfriendly, rapid, and sensitive assay to real water samples from three rivers and the influx and efflux of a wastewater treatment plant advances field-based water quality monitoring, meets the WHO’s ASSURED criteria, and supports progress toward the global clean water and sanitation goals. KW - Fecal pigment KW - Fluorescence KW - Signal amplification KW - Surface chemistry KW - Water quality testing PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-655543 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.5c03922 SN - 2379-3694 VL - 11 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, D.C. AN - OPUS4-65554 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sun, Yijuan A1 - Pérez-Padilla, Víctor A1 - Valderrey, Virginia A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Gawlitza, Kornelia A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Ratiometric detection of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids using dual fluorescent nanoparticles and a miniaturised microfluidic platform N2 - The widespread contamination of soil and water with perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has caused considerable societal and scientific concern. Legislative measures and an increased need for remediation require effective on-site analytical methods for PFAS management. Here we report on the development of a green-fluorescent guanidine-BODIPY indicator monomer incorporated into a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the selective detection of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Complexation of PFOA by the indicator, which is mediated by concerted protonation-induced ion pairing-assisted hydrogen bonding, significantly enhances fluorescence in polar organic solvents. The MIP forms as a thin layer on silica nanoparticles doped with tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) chloride, which provides an orange emission signal as internal reference, resulting in low measurement uncertainties. Using a liquid-liquid extraction protocol, this assay enables the direct detection of PFOA in environmental water samples and achieves a detection limit of 0.11 µM. Integration into an opto-microfluidic system enables a compact and user-friendly system for detecting PFOA in less than 15 minutes. KW - PFAS KW - Molecular imprinting KW - Microfluidics KW - Fluorescence KW - Onsite assay PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-650270 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-66872-9 SN - 2041-1723 VL - 16 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-65027 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sun, Yijuan A1 - Gawlitza, Kornelia A1 - Valderrey, Virginia A1 - Bhattacharya, Biswajit A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Ratiometric Molecularly Imprinted Particle Probes for Reliable Fluorescence Signaling of Carboxylate-Containing Molecules N2 - In addition to sensitivity, selectivity, and portability, chemical sensing systems must generate reliable signals and offer modular configurability to address various small molecule targets, particularly in environmental applications. We present a versatile, modular strategy utilizing ratiometric molecularly imprinted particle probes based on BODIPY indicators and dyes for recognition and internal referencing. Our approach employs polystyrene core particles doped with a red fluorescent BODIPY as an internal standard, providing built-in reference for environmental influences. A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) recognition shell, incorporating a green-fluorescent BODIPY indicator monomer with a thiourea binding site for carboxylate containing analytes, is grafted from the core particles in the presence of the analyte as the template. The dual-fluorescent MIP probe detects fexofenadine as the model analyte with a change in green emission signal referenced against a stable red signal, achieving a detection limit of 0.13 μM and a broad dynamic range from 0.16 μM to 1.2 mM, with good discrimination against other antibiotics in acetonitrile. By selecting a versatile dye scaffold and recognition element, this approach can be extended to other carboxylate-containing analytes and/or wavelength combinations, potentially serving as a robust multiplexing platform. KW - Core-shell particles KW - Molecular imprinting KW - Pharmaceutical contaminants KW - Self-referenced measurements KW - Fluorescence PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-609385 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.4c09990 SP - 1 EP - 13 PB - American Chemical Society (ACS) AN - OPUS4-60938 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Zavoiura, O. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Seitz, O. T1 - Reactive Quantum Dot-Based FRET Systems N2 - Oligonucleotide-templated reactions (OTRs) between two reactive hybridization probes allow for the detection of a DNA or RNA of interest by exploiting the target molecule as a catalyst of chemical reactions. The product of such a reaction commonly exhibits distinct fluorescence properties and can be detected by the means of fluorescence spectroscopy. The vast majority of OTR systems utilize organic dyes as fluorescent reporters. However, the use of brighter emitters, such as semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), has potential to improve the sensitivity of detection by providing brighter signals and permitting the use of probes at very low concentrations. Here we report an RNA-templated reaction between two fluorescently labeled peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-based probes, which proceeds on the surface of a QD. The QD-Bound PNA probe bears a cysteine functionality, while the other PNA is functionalized with an organic dye as a thioester. OTR between these probes proceeds through a transfer of the organic dye to the QD and can be conveniently monitored via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the QD to the Cy5. The reaction was performed in a conventional fluorescence microplate reader and permits the detection of RNA in the picomolar range. KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle quantum dot KW - FRET KW - Assay KW - Sensor KW - RNA-templated reactions KW - Bioconjugation KW - Synthesis KW - Dye KW - Click chemistry KW - Peptide nucleic acid KW - Quantum dots KW - RNA KW - Fluorescence spectroscopy PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0243-0_11 VL - 2105 SP - 187 EP - 198 PB - Springer Sience+Business Media AN - OPUS4-50553 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Li, Q. A1 - Shinde, S. A1 - Grasso, G. A1 - Caroli, A. A1 - Abouhany, R. A1 - Lanzillotta, M. A1 - Pan, G. A1 - Wan, Wei A1 - Rurack, Knut A1 - Sellergren, B. T1 - Selective detection of phospholipids using molecularly imprinted fluorescent sensory core-shell particles N2 - Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingo-lipid with a broad range of activities coupled to its role in G-protein coupled receptor signalling. Monitoring of both intra and extra cellular levels of this lipid is challenging due to its low abundance and lack of robust affinity assays or sensors. We here report on fluorescent sensory core-shell molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) particles responsive to near physiologically relevant levels of S1P and the S1P receptor modulator fingolimod phosphate (FP) in spiked human serum samples. Imprinting was achieved using the tetrabutylammonium (TBA) salt of FP or phosphatidic acid (DPPA·Na) as templates in combination with a polymerizable nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD)-urea monomer with the dual role of capturing the phospho-anion and signalling its presence. The monomers were grafted from ca 300 nm RAFT-modified silica core particles using ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinker resulting in 10–20 nm thick shells displaying selective fluorescence response to the targeted lipids S1P and DPPA in aqueous buffered media. Potential use of the sensory particles for monitoring S1P in serum was demonstrated on spiked serum samples, proving a linear range of 18–60 μM and a detection limit of 5.6 μM, a value in the same range as the plasma concentration of the biomarker. KW - Molecularly imprinted polymers KW - Phospholipids KW - Fluorescence KW - Dye monomers PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-509485 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-66802-3 SN - 2045-2322 VL - 10 IS - 1 SP - 9924 PB - Nature Research CY - London AN - OPUS4-50948 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Biesen, L. A1 - Nirmalananthan-Budau, Nithiya A1 - Hoffmann, Katrin A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Müller, T. J. J. T1 - Solid-State Emissive Aroyl-S,N-Ketene Acetals with Tunable N2 - N-Benzyl aroyl-S,N-ketene acetals can be readily synthesized by condensation of aroyl chlorides and N-Benzyl 2-methyl benzothiazolium salts in good to excellent yields, yielding a library of 35 chromophores with bright solid-state emission and aggregation-induced emission characteristics. Varying the substituent from electron-donating to electronwithdrawing enables the tuning of the solid-state emission Color from deep blue to red. KW - Nano KW - Nanoparticle KW - Photoluminescence KW - Fluorescence KW - Quantum yield KW - Photophysics KW - Lifetime KW - Sensor KW - dye KW - Enhancement KW - Particle KW - Polarity KW - AIE KW - Aggregation KW - Aggregation-induced emission KW - Solid state emission PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-509072 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201916396 VL - 59 IS - 25 SP - 10037 EP - 10041 PB - Wiley Online Libary AN - OPUS4-50907 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Auxillos, J. A1 - Crouigneau, R. A1 - Li, Y.-F. A1 - Dai, Y. A1 - Stigliani, A. A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Sandelin, A. A1 - Marie, R. A1 - Pedersen, S. F. T1 - Spatially resolved analysis of microenvironmental gradient impact on cancer cell phenotypes N2 - Despite the physiological and pathophysiological significance of microenvironmental gradients, e.g., for diseases such as cancer, tools for generating such gradients and analyzing their impact are lacking. Here, we present an integrated microfluidic-based workflow that mimics extracellular pH gradients characteristic of solid tumors while enabling high-resolution live imaging of, e.g., cell motility and chemotaxis, and preserving the capacity to capture the spatial transcriptome. Our microfluidic device generates a pH gradient that can be rapidly controlled to mimic spatiotemporal microenvironmental changes over cancer cells embedded in a 3D matrix. The device can be reopened allowing immunofluorescence analysis of selected phenotypes, as well as the transfer of cells and matrix to a Visium slide for spatially resolved analysis of transcriptional changes across the pH gradient. This workflow is easily adaptable to other gradients and multiple cell types and can therefore prove invaluable for integrated analysis of roles of microenvironmental gradients in biology. KW - Bioimaging KW - Fluorescence KW - Cell KW - Cancer KW - Method KW - Microfluids KW - Model KW - Calibration KW - Sensor KW - Ph KW - Probe KW - Workflow PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-604631 DO - https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adn3448 VL - 19 IS - 18 SP - 1 EP - 17 AN - OPUS4-60463 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -