TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Design, characterization, and application of fluorescent sensor particles N2 - pH and oxygen are amongst the most important and frequently measured analytes in the life and material sciences, indicating, e.g., diseases and corrosion processes. This includes the optical monitoring of pH in living cells for studying cellular internalization pathways, such as phagocytosis, endocytosis, and receptor ligand internalization with the aid of molecular and nanoscale fluorescent sensors. Nanoparticle (NP)-based sensors, that are labeled or stained with a multitude of sensor dyes, have several advantages as compare to conventional molecular probes like enhanced brightness, i.e., amplified signals, ease of designing ratiometric systems by combining analyte sensitive and inert reference dyes, and increased photostability. Moreover, this can enable the use of hydrophobic dyes in aqueous environments. Versatile templates and carriers for the fabrication of nanosensors by the staining and/or labelling with different fluorophores and sensor molecules or surface functionalized NP like silica (SiO2-NP) and polystyrene (PS-NP) particles provide. Here we present the design of a versatile platform of color emissive nanosensors and stimuli-responsive microparticles for the measurement of pH, oxygen, and other targets utilizing both types of matrices and sets of spectrally distinguishable sensor and reference dyes and their characterization and demonstrate the applicability of representative sensor particle for cellular studies. T2 - Vortrag bei dem Projekttreffen MicraGen CY - Copenhagen, Denmark DA - 18.08.2022 KW - Dye KW - Luminescence KW - Quantitative spectroscopy KW - Photophysics KW - Quality assurance KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Quantum yield KW - Lifetime KW - Standard KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - Sensor KW - pH KW - Oxygen KW - Microfluidics KW - Cancer KW - Cell KW - Life sciences PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-57049 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Abram, Sarah-Luise A1 - Andresen, Elina A1 - Matiushkina, Anna T1 - Quantifying the number of total and accessible functional groups on nanomaterials N2 - Inorganic and organic functional nanomaterials (NM) of different size, shape, chemical composition, and surface chemistry are relevant for many key technologies of the 21st century. Decisive for most applications of NM are their specific surface properties, which are largely controlled by the chemical nature and number of ligands and functional groups (FG on the NM surface. The surface chemistry can strongly affect the physicochemical properties of NM, their charge, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, reactivity, stability, and processability and thereby their impact on the environment and biological species as well as their possible risk for human health. Thus, reliable, validated, and eventually standardized analytical methods for the characterization of NM surface chemistry, i.e., the chemical identification, quantification, and accessibility of FG and surface ligands 1,2] flanked by interlaboratory comparisons, control samples, and reference materials, 2 ,3 are of considerable importance for process and quality control of NM production and function. This is also important for the safe use of NM the design of novel NM, and sustainable concepts for NM fabrication. Here, we provide an overview of analytical methods for FG analysis and quantification and highlight method and material related challenges for selected NM. Analytical techniques address ed include electrochemical titration methods, optical assays, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and vibrational (IR) spectroscopy, and X ray based and thermal analysis methods. Criteria for method classification and evaluation include the need for a signal generating label, provision of either the total or derivatizable number of FG, and suitability for process and production control. T2 - AUC - Analytical Ultracentrifugation CY - Nuremberg, Germany DA - 22.07.2024 KW - Nanoparticle KW - Particle KW - Microparticle KW - Silica KW - Quantum dot KW - Polymer KW - Surface group KW - Luminescence KW - Quality assurance KW - Synthesis KW - Surface modification KW - ILC KW - Optical assay KW - Functional group KW - Ligand KW - qNMR KW - Conductometry KW - Potentiometry KW - Standardization KW - Reference product KW - Reference material PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-60749 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - From molecular and nanoscale chromophores with UV/VIS/NIR/SWIR luminescence to multi method characterization of surface coatings N2 - An overview of the research activities of division Biophotonics is presented covering examples for photophysical studies of different types of molecular and nanocrystalline luminophores, luminescent particles, and sensor systems in solution, in dispersion, and in the solid state and multi-method charactreization workflow for the characterization of surface-functionalized engineered nanomaterials. In addition, the importance of reliable optical measurements, particularly standardized workflows for the determination of the key performance parameter luminescence quantum yield of transparent and scattering luminescent samples with fluorescence and integrating sphere spectroscopy, and validated methods for quantifying surface functional groups and ligands on nanomaterials is highlighted. Thereby, also ongoing standardization activities are presented as well as certified reference materials and reference materials from division Biophotonics. T2 - Chinese-German Chemical Association - Annual Meeting CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 22.08.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Quantum yield KW - Characterization KW - Advanced material KW - Surface KW - Lifetime KW - Sensor KW - Oxygen KW - Ph KW - Standardization KW - Fluorescent probe KW - Reference material PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64181 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Molecular and nanoscale emitters photophysics , photoluminescence quantum yields, and surface chemistry N2 - Inorganic nanocrystals such as spectrally shifting lanthanide-based nanoparticles (LnNCs) like NaYF4: Yb, Er and semiconductor quantum dots, organic and inorganic particles stained with sensor molecules, and organic dyes showing aggregation-induced emission are meanwhile broadly applied in the life and material sciences. The identification of optimum particle architectures and molecular structures for photonic applications requires quantitative spectroscopic studies and methods to control and analyse particle surface chemistry. In the following, photoluminescence studies of different emitter classes are presented, thereby addressing the measurement of particle brightness and photoluminescence quantum yields in different spectral windows parameters required for an in-depth mechanistic understanding. In addition, examples for the quantification of surface functional groups on nanomaterials with optical spectroscopy are given. T2 - GdCH Kolloquium CY - Düsseldorf, Germany DA - 11.11.2025 KW - Dye KW - Fluorescence KW - Quantum yield KW - Lifetime KW - Sensor materials KW - Temperature KW - Cr(III) complex KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Silica KW - Polymer KW - Metrology KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Surface chemistry KW - Size KW - Shape KW - Particle number concentration KW - Method KW - Optical assay KW - qNMR KW - Validation KW - Potentiometry KW - XPS PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64728 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Petrov, Eugene A1 - Würth, Christian A1 - Richter, Maria A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Fluorescence Standards from BAM - Dye Solutions and Polymer systems N2 - For fluorescence microscopy, there is an increasing need for suitable calibration tools and reference materials for microscope calibration, the determination of performance parameters, and the regular control and validation of instrument performance. This is addressed in the BmWk-financed project FluMikal (WIPANO program) by two research groups from academia and two companies, that is coordinated by BAM. Here we present different approaches to liquid and solid fluorescence standards for the determination of the wavelength-dependent spectral sensitivity of fluorescence microscopes and ideas concerning the choice of suitable fluorescence lifetime standard for increasingly utilized fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM). T2 - FluMiKal Projectmeeting CY - Munich, Germany DA - 27.11.2023 KW - Reference material KW - Reference product KW - Fluorescence microscopy KW - Quality assurance KW - Instrument performance validation KW - Lifetime standard PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-59120 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Quantifying functional groups and coatings on nanoobjects N2 - Engineered nanomaterials (NM) of different size, shape, chemical composition, and surface chemistry are increasingly used for many key technologies of the 21st century and consumer products. This includes polymer and silica or silica-coated nanoparticles (NP) with covalently bound surface groups, semiconductor quantum dots (QD), metal and metal oxide NP, and lanthanide NP with coordinatively or electrostatically bound ligands, as well as surface-coated nanostructures like micellar encapsulated NP. Decisive for most applications of NMs are their specific surface properties, which are largely determined by the chemical nature and amounts of ligands and functional groups (FGs) on the NM surface. The surface chemistry can strongly affect the physicochemical properties of NM, their charge, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, reactivity, function, stability, and processability and thereby their impact on human health and environment. Knowledge of NM surface chemistry plays an important role for NM functionality and performance in (bio)applications and the fate, exposure, dissolution, transformation, and accumulation of NM, and thus, the potential risks for human health and the environment. This highlights the importance of reliable, validated, and eventually standardized analytical methods for analyzing and quantifying NM surface chemistry for process and quality control of NM production, safe use of NMs, design of novel NM, and sustainable concepts for NM fabrication.[1-3] In this context, interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs) are needed to assess method reliability and reference materials with known surface chemistries for establishing surface analytical methods and their performance validation.[2,4] Also, to respond to the increasing number of samples to be analyzed, cost-efficient automation concepts for surface analysis are needed that can be realized with affordable and preferably commercial instrumentation.[5] Here, we provide an overview of analytical methods for FG analysis and quantification used by us for quantifying broadly utilized FGs and ligands on different types of NMs with electrochemical titration methods, optical assays, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and vibrational (IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray based and thermal analysis methods.[1,2] Thereby, method- and material-related challenges are addressed, and the importance of multi-method characterization approaches easing method validation by method cross-validation. Special emphasis is dedicated to simple, versatile, and cost-efficient methods such as optical assays and electrochemical titration methods. T2 - eMRS Fall Meeting 2025 CY - Warsaw, Poland DA - 15.09.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Characterization KW - Advanced material KW - Surface KW - Standardization KW - Reference material KW - Functional group KW - Quantification KW - Coating KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Uncertainty PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64183 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Assessing different types of silica networks for the complete protection of nir luminescent molecular rubies from oxygen quenching in air N2 - The application of emerging luminophores such as near-infrared (NIR) emissive earth-abundant chromium(III) (CrIII) complexes and triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA-UC) systems in air as optical reporters for bioimaging or photonic materials for energy conversion requires simple and efficient strategies for their complete protection from luminescence quenching by oxygen. Therefore, we explored the influence of sol-gel synthesis routes on the oxygen protection efficiency of the resulting core and core/shell silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs), utilizing the molecular ruby-type luminophores CrPF6 ([Cr(ddpd)2](PF6)3; ddpd = N,N’-dimethyl- N,N’-dipyridin-2-ylpyridin-2,6-diamine) and CrBF4 ([Cr(ddpd)2](BF4)3) with their oxygen-dependent, but polarity-, proticity-, viscosity-, and concentration-independent luminescence as optical probes for oxygen permeability. The sol-gel chemistry routes we assessed include the classical Stöber method and the underexplored larginine approach, which relies on the controlled hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in a biphasic cyclohexane/water system with the catalyst l-arginine. As demonstrated by luminescence measurements of air- and argon-saturated dispersions of CrPF6- and CrBF4-stained SiO2 NPs of different size and particle architecture, utilizing the luminescence decay kinetics of argon-saturated solutions of CrPF6 and CrBF4 in acetonitrile (ACN) as benchmarks, only SiO2 NPs or shells synthesized by the l-arginine approach provided complete oxygen protection of the CrIII complexes under ambient conditions. We ascribe the different oxygen shielding efficiencies of the silica networks explored to differences in density and surface chemistry of the resulting nanomaterials and coatings, leading to different oxygen permeabilities. Our l-arginine based silica encapsulation strategy can open the door for the efficient usage of oxygen-sensitive luminophores and TTA-UC systems as optical reporters and spectral shifters in air in the future. T2 - eMRS Strasbourg CY - Strasbourg, France DA - 26.05.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Quantum yield KW - NIR KW - Mechanism KW - Characterization KW - Electron microscopy KW - Silica KW - Oxygen sensing KW - Surface KW - Doping KW - Lifetime KW - Cr(III) complex PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63300 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Getting it right with photoluminescence quantum yields of molecular and nanoscale luminophores and luminescent particles N2 - Photophysical and mechanistic studies, the comparison of different emitter classes, and the rational design of the next generation of molecular and nanoscale reporters require quantitative photoluminescence measurements and the reliable determination of the key performance parameter photoluminescence quantum yield (QY), i.e., the number of emitted per absorbed photons. This is of special importance for all photoluminescence applications in the life and material sciences in the UV/vis/NIR/SWIR. To improve the reliability and comparability of photoluminescence and QY measurements across laboratories, pitfalls, achievable uncertainties, and material-specific effects related to certain emitter classes must be explored. Also, suitable protocols and reference materials are needed which have been validated in interlaboratory comparisons for different wavelength regions and transparent and scattering luminophores.[1] Based on absolute and relative photoluminescence measurements of functional dyes and nanomaterials like semiconductor quantum dots and rods, spectrally shifting lanthanide upconversion nanocrystals, perovskites, and YAG:Cer converter materials, reliable methods for determining QY of transparent and scattering luminophores, nonlinear emitters, and solid luminescent nanomaterials have been developed.[2,3] Thereby, material- and method-related uncertainties of relative and absolute QY measurements and achievable uncertainties could be quantified for linear and nonlinear UV/vis/NIR/SWIR emitters and lately for also luminescent and scattering materials and solid phoshors, here in an interlaboratory comparison of three labs utilizing integrating sphere spectroscopy.[4,5] In addition, to provide simple tools for a better comparability of QY measurements, recently, a first set of UV/vis/NIR quantum yield standards has been developed and certified with complete uncertainty budgets.[6] In the following, the outcome of these studies will be presented, thereby addressing common pitfalls and providing recommendations on the performance of reliable QY measurements of linear and non-linear emitters in transparent, scattering, and solid samples. T2 - 29th Lecture Conference on Photochemistry (LCP 2024) GDCh CY - Mainz, Germany DA - 16.09.2024 KW - Nanoparticle KW - Nano KW - Luminescence KW - Quality assurance KW - Synthesis KW - Standardization KW - Reference material KW - Quantum yield KW - Fluorescence KW - Reference data KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - ILC KW - Converter material KW - YAG:Ce KW - Optoceramic PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-61075 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Kalot, G. A1 - Busser, B. A1 - Pliquett, J. A1 - Köster, U. A1 - Koll, J. C. A1 - Denat, F. A1 - Bodio, E. A1 - Goze, C. A1 - Sacey, L. T1 - NIR aza-BODIPY: a new vector for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) N2 - Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) relies on the activation of 10B by thermal neutrons, which results in small highly energetic particle emission inducing cancer cells damage. However, in order to overcome the limits of the currently used BNCT agents, it is necessary to design new systems, which can specifically accumulate and deliver a sufficient amount of 10B in tumors. In this study, we designed a 10B-BSH-containing aza-BODIPY (aza-SWIR-BSH). It enabled the efficient vectorization of clinically used 10B-BSH to the tumor, resulting in higher therapeutic activity than the 10B-BSH alone. T2 - EMIM 2021 CY - Göttingen, Germany DA - 24.08.2021 KW - Flourescence KW - Optical probe KW - Dye KW - Photophysics KW - Quantum yield KW - Mechanism KW - NIR KW - SWIR KW - Imaging KW - Method KW - Quality assurance KW - BODIPY KW - Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) KW - Medicine KW - Life sciences PY - 2021 AN - OPUS4-53731 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Quantifying the total and accessible amount of surface functionalities and ligands on nanomaterials N2 - Engineered nanomaterials (NMs) of various chemical composition and surface functionalization are routinely fabricated for industrial applications such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, opto-electronics, and information storage. NM dispersibility, stability, processability, and function as well as the interaction with biological species and environmental fate are largely determined by NM surface functionalities, i.e., functional groups (FGs) and ligands. Therefore, reliable, reproducible, and eventually standardized surface characterization methods are vital for quality control of NMs, and mandatory to meet increasing concerns regarding their safety. Suitable methods for determining surface functionalities on ligand-stabilized core and core/shell NPs include advanced techniques such as traceable quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) as well as X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS) and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and simpler optical and electrochemical methods.[1] The latter less costly and fast methods, which can be automated, are often used by NM producers for process and quality control.[1,2] To validate methods, establish measurement uncertain-ties, test reference materials, and produce reference data, multi-method characterization studies are needed.[3,4] as well as interlaboratory comparisons (ILC) on determining NM surface chemistry and well characterized test and reference NMs providing benchmark values.[5,6] Here, we present examples for quantifying common surface FGs such as amino and carboxyl groups on functional NMs of different chemical composition such as silica, polymer, iron oxide, and lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles with optical assays, electrochemical titration methods, qNMR, and chromatographic separation techniques. In addition, ongoing interlaboratory comparisons will be presented. T2 - Yucomat 2025 CY - Herec Novi, Montenegro DA - 01.09.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Characterization KW - Advanced material KW - Surface KW - Standardization KW - Reference material KW - Functional group KW - Quantification KW - Coating KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Uncertainty PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64182 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -