TY - JOUR
A1 - Ramirez, Alejandra
A1 - Pauli, Jutta
A1 - Crasselt, C.
A1 - Simon, S.
A1 - Schmidt, W.
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
T1 - The effect of a polycarboxylate ether on C3A / CaSO4.2H2O passivation monitored by optical spectroscopy
N2 - Polycarboxylate ethers (PCEs) are widely used in construction, but the exact nature of their interaction with cement is still debated. Aiming at a better understanding of the role of tricalcium Aluminate (C3A) in cement hydration, we assessed the potential of optical spectroscopy in combination with a water-soluble fluorescent organic reporter dye (S0586) to monitor the early hydration of C3A in the presence of 26 wt% CaSO4.2H2O (C3A26G-S) with and without PCE. As optical methods, steady-state fluorescence and diffuse reflectance (UV–VisDR) spectroscopy were employed. Phase characterization and particle size distribution were performed with in-situ X-ray diffraction (in-situ XRD) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Our results show that fluorescence and UV–VisDR spectroscopy can be used to monitor the formation of metastable phases by the disaggregation of the dye S0586 in a cement paste as well as changes in ettringite formation. Addition of PCE slowed down the disaggregation of the dye as reflected by the corresponding changes of the dyes absorption and fluorescence. This prolonged induction period is a well-known side effect of PCEs and agrees with previous reported calorimetric studies and the Inhibition of gypsum dissolution observed by in-situ XRD. This demonstrates that fluorescence and UV–VisDR spectroscopy together with a suitable optical probe can provide deeper insights into the influence of PCE on C3A-gypsum hydration which could be e.g., utilized as screening method for comparing the influences
of different types of PCEs.
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Cement
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Optical spectroscopy
KW - PCE
KW - XRD
KW - Calorimetry
KW - Monitoring
KW - Diffuse
KW - Reflection
KW - Phase
KW - Dye
KW - Optical probe
KW - Cyanine
KW - Sensor
KW - Method
KW - Analysis
PY - 2020
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121856
VL - 270
SP - 121856
PB - Elsevier Ltd.
AN - OPUS4-52118
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Hudson, A.D.
A1 - Jamieson, O.
A1 - Crapnell, R.D.
A1 - Rurack, Knut
A1 - Soares, T.C.C.
A1 - Mecozzi, F.
A1 - Laude, A.
A1 - Gruber, J.
A1 - Novakovic, K.
A1 - Peeters, M.
T1 - Dual detection of nafcillin using a molecularly imprinted polymer-based platform coupled to thermal and fluorescence read-out
N2 - Reported here is the production of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) films, integrating a fluorescent moiety that serves as both an element for template interaction and signalling, for the thermal and optical detection of the beta-lactam antibiotic nafcillin. Fluorescein methacrylate (FluMa) was synthesized and introduced during the molecular imprinting process as the sole monomer and in a 1 : 1 mixture with methacrylic acid (MAA), allowing to draw first conclusions on the MIP formation potential of such a rather large and rigid monomer. At first, MIP microparticles containing FluMa were prepared by free radical polymerisation. Optical batch rebinding experiments revealed that FluMa can act as a functional monomer for selective detection of nafcillin; however, the addition of MAA as co-monomer significantly improved performance. Subsequently, thin MIP films containing FluMa were deposited onto functionalised glass slides and the influence of porogen, drying time, and monomer composition was studied. These MIP-functionalised glass electrodes were mounted into a customised 3D-printed flow cell, where changes in the liquid were either evaluated with a thermal device or using fluorescence bright field microscopy. Thermal analysis demonstrated that multiple MIP layers enhanced sensor specificity, with detection in the environmentally relevant range. The fluorescence bright field microscope investigations validated these results, showing an increase in the fluorescence intensity upon exposure of the MIP-functionalised glass slides to nafcillin solutions. These are promising results for developing a portable sensor device that can be deployed for antibiotics outside of a dedicated laboratory environment, especially if sensor design and fluorophore architecture are optimised.
KW - Molecularly Imprinted Polymers
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Antibiotics
KW - Heat-transfer Measurements
KW - Thin films
PY - 2021
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-540044
DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D1MA00192B
VL - 2
IS - 15
SP - 5105
EP - 5115
PB - Royal Society of Chemistry
CY - Cambridge
AN - OPUS4-54004
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Prakash, Swayam
T1 - Development of a Rapid and Sensitive Fluorometric Detection Method for Urobilin Analysis for On-site Water Quality Assessment
N2 - The W.H.O. estimated that globally at least 2 billion people use drinking water sources contaminated with faeces and according to UNICEF, most of these faecal contaminants detection methods are expensive, time-consuming (18–24 h time to result), and, with few exceptions, not suited for on-site analysis. Hence, there is an urgent need for the development of rapid analytical methods that allow to unequivocally assess drinking water quality directly on-site. Our approach exploits the weak fluorescence of faecal biomarkers such as urobilin (UB), which is enhanced through complexation with Zn2+ in alcoholic media and is the basis of their detection/estimation, known as Schlesinger’s test.3 However, this method is associated with limitations, as the fluorescence of Zn2+ complexes of UB in water is weak, shows time dependent loss of emission intensity and has strong interference from humic substances that naturally present in surface waters. ,
To circumvent these issues and achieve the rapid and sensitive on-site detection of FPs, silane-functionalized glass fibre paper test strips were developed following the ‘drop-&-detect’ concept. Drop casting of water samples containing faecal contaminants like UB on specifically functionalized test strips allowed the sensitive detection with a smartphone coupled to a 3D printed optical setup. A series of silanes were used to functionalize glass fibre paper and tune its hydrophobicity, exploiting the influence of matrix tailoring to enhance binding of the Zn2+ salt used as co-reagent to bind UB for optimal fluorometric response. A detection spot was designed by the combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic silanes with ZnCl2-impregnated test strips. This developed analytical method showed sensitive (nano- and sub-nanomolar concentration) response for UB detection. Furthermore, it can be successfully applied to the analysis of real water samples, allowing for the first time to test for faecal contamination in fresh water directly on-site using a smartphone in only a few minutes, instead of >10 h required for the current standard, i.e., lab-based bacterial tests.
T2 - 14th International Conference on Instrumental Methods of Analysis: Modern Trends and Applications
CY - Kefalonia, Greece
DA - 14.09.2025
KW - Faecal contamination
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Metal complexes
KW - Water analysis
KW - Optical and chemical sensing
KW - Spectroscopy
KW - Onsite analysis
KW - Rapid testing
PY - 2025
AN - OPUS4-64270
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Gawlitza, Kornelia
T1 - Using Dual Fluorescent Molecularly Imprinted Particles Coupled with a Miniaturized Opto-Microfluidic Platform for On-Site Detection of Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids
N2 - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic organofluorine chemicals widely used in the production of various materials, including firefighting foams, adhesives, and coatings that resist stains and oil. In recent years, PFAS have gained attention as emerging environmental contaminants, with particular emphasis on perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), the most common type of PFAS. PFCAs are defined by a fully fluorinated carbon chain and a charged carboxylic acid group. They have been classified as Substances of Very High Concern and included in the REACH Candidate List due to their persistence, resistance to biodegradation, and toxicological impacts.
Traditional methods for analyzing PFCAs, like GC-MS, HRMS, and HPLC-based techniques, are time-consuming, non-portable, expensive, and require specialized expertise. On the other hand, fluorescence assays offer a user-friendly, portable, and cost-effective alternative with high sensitivity and quick results, particularly when the binding of the analyte causes a specific increase in the probe’s fluorescence. Combining these probes with a carrier platform and a miniaturized optofluidic device presents a promising approach for PFCA monitoring.
In this study, a new guanidine BODIPY fluorescent indicator monomer was synthesized, characterized, and incorporated into a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) designed for the specific detection of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The MIP layer was formed on silica core nanoparticles doped with tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) chloride, serving as an optical internal reference for calibration-free assays. In combination with an extraction step prior to sample analysis, this system enables selective and reliable detection of PFCAs in surface water samples, minimizing interference from competing substances, matrix effects, and other factors. When integrated into an opto-microfluidic setup, the assay provided a compact, user-friendly detection system capable of detecting micromolar levels of PFOA in under 15 minutes from surface water samples.
T2 - ANAKON2025
CY - Leipzig, Germany
DA - 10.03.2025
KW - Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
KW - On-site detection
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Microfluidics
KW - Molecularly Imprinted Polymers
PY - 2025
AN - OPUS4-62712
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Prakash, Swayam
T1 - Fluorescence Spectroscopy as an Analytical Tool for Rapid and Sensitive Faecal Pigments Detection: From Fundamentals to Onsite Applications
N2 - W.H.O estimated that globally at least 2 billion people use drinking water sources contaminated with faeces [1] and according to UNICEF, most of these faecal detection methods are expensive, time-consuming (18–24 h time to result),[2] and, with few exceptions, not suited for on-site analysis.[3] Hence, there is an urgent need for the development of analytical methods that allow to unequivocally test for drinking water quality directly on-site.
Today, microbial detection methods primarily targeting E. coli, the major faecal indicator bacteria, are still the prevalent methods for detecting faecal contamination of drinking and recreational waters. As an alternative, Schlesinger proposed the detection of urobilin (UB), a metabolic degradation product of haemoglobin occurring in all mammals, as faecal indicator pigment (FIP) through enhancement of its weak fluorescence by complexation with Zn2+ in alcoholic media already 120 years ago.[4] However, the major limitation of this method is the only weak enhancement of the intrinsically very weak UB fluorescence in aqueous media, requiring either the use of organic solvents or very sensitive instrumentation to reach the relevant detection limits, hampering the method’s use outside of a laboratory environment.[3]
In the present work, we addressed the shortcomings relying on interfacial and supramolecular chemistry as well as materials functionalization, transforming Schlesinger’s approach into a fluorometric ‘drop and detect’ assay using a smartphone coupled to a 3D-printed optical setup as a simple and portable device. A series of silanes were used to functionalize glass fibre paper and tune its hydrophobicity, exploiting the influence of matrix tailoring to enhance binding of the Zn salt used as co-reagent to UB for optimal fluorescence response. Combination of bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and N-octyltrimethoxysilane with ZnCl2-impregnated test strips showed the best response for sensitive (nano- and sub-nanomolar concentration) smartphone-based FIP detection. The obtained fluorescence sensing results were validated with a benchtop fluorometer. Furthermore, the developed analytical method was successfully applied to the analysis of real water samples, allowing for the first time to test for faecal water contamination directly on site in a very short time of few minutes.
T2 - Anakon 2025
CY - Leipzig, Germany
DA - 10.03.2025
KW - Faecal contamination
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Metal complexes
KW - Water analysis
KW - Optical and chemical sensing
PY - 2025
AN - OPUS4-62795
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Prakash, Swayam
T1 - Photophysical Understanding of Urobilin and its Zinc Complexes for Water Quality Testing
N2 - Faecal contaminants in water are considered serious threats for human health, due to the presence of viruses, bacteria and other harmful microorganisms.1 Urobilin (UB) is a well-known faecal pigment and can be used as a marker for faecal matter in water.2 UB is commonly present in the urine of all mammals as the catabolic end product of bilirubin degradation.2 As the only simple chemical approach to its detection, Schlesinger’s test is usually used to enhance the weak fluorescence of UB in alcoholic media by complexation with Zinc.2, 3 The major limitation of this method is the only weak enhancement of the intrinsically weak UB fluorescence in aqueous media.3 This work presents an approach to introduce different Zn salts for improved fluorescence response, where we found a clear dependence of the fluorescence yield of UB-Zn(II) complexes on the counterion of the salt in water. By employing a combination of fluorescence parameters like transition energy, fluorescence intensity, and fluorescence lifetime, a photophysical understanding of the structure and conformation of the UB-Zn(II) complexes responsible for the fluorescence enhancement in water could be gained. The possibilities of developing a sensitive analytical method based on the acquired understanding are also discussed.
T2 - Central European Conference on Photochemistry CECP 2024
CY - Bad Hofgastein, Austria
DA - 18.02.2024
KW - Water analysis
KW - Faecal contamination
KW - Metal complexes
KW - Fluorescence
PY - 2024
AN - OPUS4-59874
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Biyikal, Mustafa
T1 - Development of a handheld device for the trace detection of explosives
N2 - This presentation introduces a new explosives trace detector (ETD), a handheld device developed by True Detection Systems (TDS). Addressing the limitations of current handheld detectors—such as unreliable measurements and cumbersome operation— the new ETD XT-1 integrates advanced sensor technology, including a Lab-on-a-Chip, to deliver high sensitivity and accuracy. Capable of detecting trace levels of substances like TNT, TATP, and ammonium nitrate, the device offers rapid, user-friendly detection through AI/ML-enhanced algorithms. These algorithms enable precise substance identification by analyzing absorption and desorption rates, significantly reducing false positives. The XT-1 has broad applications in security, hazardous material detection, and environmental monitoring.
T2 - Photonics Days Berlin Brandenburg
CY - Berlin, Germany
DA - 09.10.2024
KW - Explosives
KW - Trace detection
KW - Handheld device
KW - Lab-on-a-chip
KW - Fluorescence
PY - 2024
AN - OPUS4-61433
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 - CONF
A1 - Rurack, Knut
T1 - Reaction-based BODIPY dyes as powerful tools in fluorescence sensing applications
N2 - The reversible analyte-induced switching between a colourless leuco form of a dye and its coloured all-π-conjugated form is one of the oldest concepts in probe- or indicator-based optical analysis,1 constituting so-called “one-color indicators”.2 In contrast to colour changes in the visible region, for which usually a bond-forming or a non-covalent interaction between a functional group on an indicator and an analyte is responsible, the extraordinarily large shifts of 150–250 nm seen for leuco-to-all-π-conjugated transformation are only possible when the reaction takes place directly at a site that is an intrinsic part of a dye’s π-system; the classic case are triphenylmethane dyes.3 Despite its obvious potential, this approach has not been a very popular area of scientific research for decades, perhaps because it is much more difficult to implement selectivity than by modifying terminal functional groups. However, in recent years, reaction-based fluorescence probes have attracted increasing attention by virtue of their superior sensitivity.4,5
Nowadays, rhodamines and fluoresceins are by far the most prominent groups of reaction-based indicators.5 They are usually switched between a colourless and non-fluorescent and a greenish-yellowish absorbing and yellowish-reddish emitting form. Typically, the coloured and fluorescent form is ionic, while the colourless form is neutral, reactions having mainly be designed to occur at the end groups of the xanthenoid π-system. BODIPY dyes, with their favourable spectroscopic and chemical properties as well as facile wavelength tunability features have only very recently been explored into this direction.6,7 Reaction at the core dipyrrin framework of these dyes led to strong colour and fluorescence modulations with potential applications in materials sciences6 and cell imaging.7 The present contribution will highlight the mechanisms at play and the sensing performance realized so far, and will compare core-reactive approaches to reaction-based signalling that involves π-extension of BODIPYs.8,9
T2 - 11th International Conference on Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines (ICPP-11)
CY - Online meeting
DA - 26.06.2021
KW - Indicators
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Sensing
KW - BODIPY Dyes
PY - 2021
AN - OPUS4-54001
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Jiang, Shan
A1 - Gawlitza, Kornelia
A1 - Rurack, Knut
T1 - Dual-Fluorescent Nanoparticle Probes Consisting of a Carbon Nanodot Core and a Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Shell
N2 - Dual-fluorescent molecularly imprinted nanoparticles with a red-emissive carbon nanodot-doped silica core and a chlorogenic acid-imprinted fluorescent polymer layer are prepared and their use in ratiometric fluorometric analysis is described. Nanoparticle probes consisting of a shielded and stably emitting core and a shell with embedded binding sites that indicates the presence of an analyte with a change in emission allow for internally referenced measurements potentially accounting for detrimental influences from instrument drifts, light source fluctuations or sensor materials-related inhomogeneities.
KW - Molecular imprinting
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Core-shell particles
KW - Chlorogenic acid
KW - Ratiometric measurement
PY - 2021
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1629-1_17
VL - 2359
SP - 195
EP - 208
PB - Springer
CY - Humana, New York, NY
AN - OPUS4-53336
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -