TY - JOUR A1 - Freund, R. A1 - Lächelt, U. A1 - Gruber, T. A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Wuttke, S. T1 - Multifunctional efficiency: Extending the concept of atom economy to functional nanomaterials N2 - Green chemistry, in particular, the principle of atom economy, has defined new criteria for the efficient and sustainable production of synthetic compounds. In complex nanomaterials, the number of embedded functional entities and the energy expenditure of the assembly process represent additional compound-associated parameters that can be evaluated from an economic viewpoint. In this Perspective, we extend the principle of atom economy to the study and characterization of multifunctionality in nanocarriers, which we define as “multifunctional efficiency”. This concept focuses on the design of highly active nanomaterials by maximizing integrated functional building units while minimizing inactive components. Furthermore, synthetic strategies aim to minimize the number of steps and unique reagents required to make multifunctional nanocarriers. The ultimate goal is to synthesize a nanocarrier that is highly specialized but practical and simple to make. Owing to straightforward crystal engineering, metal−organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles are an excellent example to illustrate the idea behind this concept and have the potential to emerge as next-generation drug delivery systems. Here, we highlight examples showing how the combination of the properties of MOFs (e.g., their organic−inorganic hybrid nature, high surface area, and biodegradability) and induced systematic modifications and functionalizations of the MOF’s scaffold itself lead to a nanocarrier with high multifunctional efficiency. KW - Nanomaterial KW - Metal-organic frameworks KW - Nanomedicine KW - Theranostics KW - Multifunctional efficiency PY - 2018 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.8b00932 SN - 1936-0851 SN - 1936-086X VL - 12 IS - 3 SP - 2094 EP - 2105 PB - ACS Publications CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-44737 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Oskoei, P. A1 - Nogueira, J. A1 - Keller, Lisa-Marie A1 - Andresen, Elina A1 - Maturi, F. E. A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Daniel-da-Silva, A. L. A1 - Carlos, L. D. A1 - Oliviera, H. T1 - Effects of doxorubicin-loaded UCNP@MSN core-shell particles with a thermoresponsive nanovalve in melanoma cells N2 - Melanoma, one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer, has an increasingly higher incidence. When detected in advanced stages, tumour eradication is often incomplete, contributing to poor prognosis with conventional treatments. Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) haveunique optical properties that allow their effective use in several biomedical applications. This includes the excitability under near-infrared (NIR) excitation light, which has a relatively high penetration depth in tissue, a multitude of characteristic emission bands in the ultraviolet (UV), visible (Vis), NIR, and short-wave infrared (SWIR), along with long luminescence lifetimes, and high photostability. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) with nanovalves or derived coatings have widely been used for triggered and targeted drug delivery in the past. Anticancer drugs can be loaded into the pores of MSN, enabling spatiotemporally controlled drug release. KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Silica KW - Upconversation KW - Lanthanide KW - Triggered release KW - Temperature KW - Cell studies KW - Drug KW - Toxicity studies PY - 2024 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2024.07.237 SN - 0378-4274 VL - 399 IS - Supplement 2 SP - S89 EP - S90 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-62571 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bastos, V. A1 - Oskoei, P. A1 - Andresen, Elina A1 - Saleh, Maysoon I. A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Oliveira, H. T1 - Stability, dissolution, and cytotoxicity of NaYF4‑upconversion nanoparticles with different coatings N2 - Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their unique photophysical properties. Their utilization in biomedical applications depends on the understanding of their transformations under physiological conditions and their potential toxicity. In this study, NaYF4: Yb,Er UCNPs, widely used for luminescence and photophysical studies, were modified with a set of four different coordinatively bound surface ligands, i.e., citrate, alendronate (AA), ethylendiamine tetra(methylene phosphonate) (EDTMP), and poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene) (PMAO), as well as silica coatings with two different thicknesses. Subsequently, the aging-induced release of fluoride ions in water and cell culture media and their cytotoxic profile to human keratinocytes were assessed in parallel to the cytotoxic evaluation of the ligands, sodium fluoride and the lanthanide ions. The cytotoxicity studies of UCNPs with different surface modifications demonstrated the good biocompatibility of EDTMP-UCNPs and PMAO-UCNPs, which is in line with the low amount of fluoride ions released from these samples. An efficient prevention of UCNP dissolution and release of cytotoxic ions, as well as low cytotoxicity was also observed for UCNPs with a sufficiently thick silica shell. Overall, our results provide new insights into the understanding of the contribution of surface chemistry to the stability, dissolution behavior, and cytotoxicity of UCNPs. Altogether, the results obtained are highly important for future applications of UCNPs in the life sciences and bioimaging studies. KW - Nano KW - Nanomaterial KW - Upconversion nanoparticle KW - Lanthanide KW - Photoluminescence KW - Quantum yield KW - Photophysics KW - Excitation power density KW - Surface chemistry KW - Coating PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-544681 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07630-5 SN - 2045-2322 VL - 12 SP - 1 EP - 13 PB - Springer Nature CY - London AN - OPUS4-54468 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Daly, H.C A1 - Matikonda, S.S A1 - Steffens, H.C A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Ivanic, J. A1 - Schermann, M.J T1 - Daly_Photochem Photobiol 2021_Ketone Incorporation Extends the Emission Properties of the Xanthene Scaffold N2 - Imaging in the shortwave-infrared region (SWIR, λ = 1000–2500 nm) has the potential to enable deep tissue imaging with high resolution. Critical to the development of these Methods is the identification of low molecular weight, biologically compatible fluorescent probes that emit beyond 1000 nm. Exchanging the bridging oxygen atom on the xanthene scaffold (C10’ position) with electron withdrawing groups has been shown to lead to significant redshifts in absorbance and emission. Guided by quantum chemistry computational modeling studies, we investigated the installation of a Ketone bridge at the C10’ position. This simple modification extends the absorbance maxima to 860 nm and the emission beyond 1000 nm, albeit with reduced photon output. Overall, These studies demonstrate that broadly applied xanthene dyes can be extended into the SWIR range. KW - Flourescence KW - Optical probe KW - Dye KW - Photophysics KW - Quantum yield KW - Mechanism KW - NIR KW - SWIR KW - Imaging KW - Reliability KW - Method KW - Quality assurance PY - 2021 DO - https://doi.org/10.1111/php.13544 SN - 1751-1097 VL - 98 IS - 2 SP - 325 EP - 333 PB - Wiley Online Library AN - OPUS4-54080 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kunc, F. A1 - Nirmalananthan-Budau, Nithiya A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Sung, Y. A1 - Johnston, L.J. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Interlaboratory Comparison on the Quantification of Total and Accessible Amine Groups on Silica Nanoparticles with qNMR and Optical Assays N2 - Risk assessment of nanomaterials requires not only standardized toxicity studies but also validated methods for nanomaterial surface characterization with known uncertainties. In this context, a first bilateral interlaboratory comparison on Surface group quantification of nanomaterials is presented that assesses different reporter-free and labeling methods for the quantification of the total and accessible number of amine functionalities on commercially available silica nanoparticles that are widely used in the life sciences. The overall goal of this comparison is the identification of optimum methods as well as achievable measurement uncertainties and the comparability of the results across laboratories. We also examined the robustness and ease of implementation of the applied analytical methods and discussed method-inherent limitations. In summary, this comparison presents a first step toward the eventually required standardization of methods for surface group quantification. KW - Nano KW - Nanomaterial KW - Surface KW - Method KW - QNMR KW - Quantification KW - Comparison KW - Quality assurance KW - Optical probe KW - Sensor KW - Interlabority comparison KW - Standardization KW - Optical assay KW - Functional group analysis KW - Silica KW - Particle KW - Safety KW - Environment PY - 2021 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.1c02162 SN - 1520-6882 VL - 93 IS - 46 SP - 15271 EP - 15278 PB - ASC Publications AN - OPUS4-53818 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Oskoei, Párástu A1 - Afonso, Rúben A1 - Bastos, Verónica A1 - Nogueira, João A1 - Keller, Lisa-Marie A1 - Andresen, Elina A1 - Saleh, Maysoon I. A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Daniel-da-Silva, Ana L. A1 - Oliveira, Helena T1 - Upconversion Nanoparticles with Mesoporous Silica Coatings for Doxorubicin Targeted Delivery to Melanoma Cells N2 - Melanoma is one of the most aggressive skin cancers and requires innovative therapeutic strategies to overcome the limitations of conventional therapies. In this work, upconversion nanoparticles coated with mesoporous silica and functionalized with folic acid (UCNP@mSiO2-FA) were developed as a targeted nanocarrier system for the delivery of doxorubicin (DOX). The UCNPs were synthesized via thermal decomposition, coated with mesoporous silica shells, and functionalized with folic acid (FA) to enable receptor-mediated targeting. DOX was then loaded into the mesoporous silica coating by adsorption, yielding UCNP@mSiO2-FA-DOX. The different UCNPs were characterized for size, composition, colloidal stability, and loading and release of DOX. This comprehensive physicochemical characterization confirmed a high DOX loading efficiency and a slightly increased drug release under acidic conditions, mimicking the tumour microenvironment. In vitro assays using four melanoma cell lines (A375, B16-F10, MNT-1, and SK-MEL-28) revealed an excellent biocompatibility of UCNP@mSiO2-FA and a significantly higher cytotoxicity of UCNP@mSiO2-FA-DOX compared to unloaded UCNPs, in a dose-dependent manner. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated G2/M phase arrest after treatment with UCNP@mSiO2-FA-DOX, confirming its antiproliferative effect. Overall, UCNP@mSiO2-FA-DOX represents a promising nanoplatform for targeted melanoma therapy, combining active tumour targeting and enhanced anticancer efficacy. KW - Fluorescence KW - Synthesis KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Silica KW - Cell KW - Uptake KW - Drug KW - Characterization KW - DOX KW - Imaging KW - Toxicity KW - Release KW - pH PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-653596 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31010074 SN - 1420-3049 VL - 31 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 18 PB - MDPI AG AN - OPUS4-65359 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kembuan, C. A1 - Saleh, Maysoon I. A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Graf, C. T1 - Coating of upconversion nanoparticles with silica nanoshells of 5–250 nm thickness N2 - A concept for the growth of silica shells with a thickness of 5–250 nm onto oleate-coated NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) is presented. The concept enables the precise adjustment of shell thicknesses for the preparation of thick-shelled nanoparticles for applications in plasmonics and sensing. First, an initial 5–11 nm thick shell is grown onto the UCNPs in a reverse microemulsion. This is followed by a stepwise growth of these particles without a purification step, where in each step equal volumes of tetraethyl orthosilicate and ammonia water are added, while the volumes of cyclohexane and the surfactant Igepal® CO-520 are increased so that the ammonia water and surfactant concentrations remain constant. Hence, the number of micelles stays constant, and their size is increased to accommodate the growing core–shell particles. Consequently, the formation of core-free silica particles is suppressed. When the negative zeta potential of the particles, which continuously decreased during the stepwise growth, falls below −40 mV, the particles can be dispersed in an ammoniacal ethanol solution and grown further by the continuous addition of tetraethyl orthosilicate to a diameter larger than 500 nm. Due to the high colloidal stability, a coalescence of the particles can be suppressed, and single-core particles are obtained. This strategy can be easily transferred to other nanomaterials for the design of plasmonic nanoconstructs and sensor systems. KW - Reverse microemulsion KW - Silica coating KW - Stepwise growth KW - Thick shells KW - Upconversion nanoparticles PY - 2019 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-502769 DO - https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.10.231 SN - 2190-4286 VL - 10 SP - 2410 EP - 2421 PB - Beilstein-Institut zur Förderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften CY - Frankfurt, M. AN - OPUS4-50276 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mrkwitschka, Paul A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Kuchenbecker, Petra A1 - Löhmann, Oliver A1 - Lindemann, Franziska A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Embedding and cross-sectioning as a sample preparation procedure for accurate and representative size and shape measurement of nanopowders N2 - Reliable measurement of the size of polydisperse, complex-shaped commercial nanopowders is a difficult but necessary task, e.g., for regulatory requirements and toxicity risk assessment. Suitable methods exist for the accurate characterization of the size of non-aggregated, stabilized, spherical and monodisperse nanoparticles. In contrast, industrial nanoscale powders usually require dedicated sample preparation procedures developed for the analysis method of choice. These nano-powders tend to agglomerate and/or aggregate, a behavior which in combination with an innate broad particle size distribution and irregular shape often significantly alters the achievable accuracy of the measured size parameters. The present study systematically tests two commercially available nanoscale powders using different sample preparation methods for correlative analysis by scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Brunauer–Emmet–Teller method and differential mobility analysis. One focus was set on the sample preparation by embedding nanoparticles in carbon-based hot-mounting resin. Literature on this topic is scarce and the accuracy of the data extracted from cross sections of these particles is unclearly stated. In this paper systematic simulations on the deviation of the size parameters of well-defined series of nanoparticles with different shapes from the nominal value were carried out and the contributing factors are discussed. KW - Nanopowder KW - Electron microscopy KW - Sample preparation KW - Cross-sectioning KW - Cerium oxide KW - Zinc oxide PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-593289 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-51094-0 SN - 2045-2322 VL - 14 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Springer Nature CY - London AN - OPUS4-59328 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Krumrey, Julian Frederic A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Workflow towards automated segmentation of agglomerated, non‑spherical particles from electron microscopy images using artificial neural networks N2 - We present a workflow for obtaining fully trained artificial neural networks that can perform automatic particle segmentations of agglomerated, non-spherical nanoparticles from scanning electron microscopy images “from scratch”, without the need for large training data sets of manually annotated images. The whole process only requires about 15 minutes of hands-on time by a user and can typically be finished within less than 12 hours when training on a single graphics card (GPU). After training, SEM image analysis can be carried out by the artificial neural network within seconds. This is achieved by using unsupervised learning for most of the training dataset generation, making heavy use of generative adversarial networks and especially unpaired image-to-image translation via cycle-consistent adversarial networks. We compare the segmentation masks obtained with our suggested workflow qualitatively and quantitatively to state-of-the-art methods using various metrics. Finally, we used the segmentation masks for automatically extracting particle size distributions from the SEM images of TiO2 particles, which were in excellent agreement with particle size distributions obtained manually but could be obtained in a fraction of the time. KW - Electron microscopy KW - Neural networks KW - Artificial intelligence KW - Image segmentation KW - Automated image analysis PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-522454 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84287-6 VL - 11 IS - 1 SP - 4942 PB - Springer Nature AN - OPUS4-52245 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Saleh, Maysoon I. A1 - Panas, I. A1 - Frenzel, Florian A1 - Würth, Christian A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Slominskii, Y. A1 - Demchenko, A. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Sensitization of upconverting nanoparticles with a NIR-emissive cyanine dye using a micellar encapsulation approach N2 - Photon upconversion nanomaterials have a wide range of applications, including biosensing and deep-tissue imaging. Their typically very weak and narrow absorption bands together with their size dependent luminescence efficiency can limit their application potential. This has been addressed by increasingly sophisticated core-shell particle architectures including the sensitization with organic dyes that strongly absorb in the near infrared (NIR). In this work, we present a simple water-dispersible micellar system that features energy transfer from the novel NIR excitable dye, 1859 SL with a high molar absorption coefficient and a moderate fluorescence quantum yield to oleate-capped NaYF4:20%Yb(III), 2%Er(III) upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) upon 808 nm excitation. The micelles were formed using the surfactants Pluronic F-127 and Tween 80 to produce a hydrophilic dye-UCNP system. Successful energy transfer from the dye to the UCNP could be confirmed by emission measurements that revealed the occurrence of upconversion emission upon excitation at 808 nm and an enhancement of the green Er(III) emission compared to direct Er(III) excitation at 808 nm. KW - Upconversion nanoparticles KW - Sensitization KW - NIR dyes KW - Energy transfer PY - 2019 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-472300 DO - https://doi.org/10.1088/2050-6120/aafe1f SN - 2050-6120 VL - 7 IS - 1 (Special issue: Upconversion Methods, Applications and Materials) SP - 014003-1 EP - 014003-9 PB - IOP AN - OPUS4-47230 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -