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Homochirality is an obvious feature of life on Earth. On the other hand, extraterrestrial samples contain largely racemic compounds. The same is true for any common organic synthesis. Therefore, it has been a perplexing puzzle for decades how these racemates could have formed enantiomerically enriched fractions as a basis for the origin of homochiral life forms. Numerous hypotheses have been put forward as to how preferentially homochiral molecules could have formed and accumulated on Earth. In this article, it is shown that homochirality of the abiotic organic pool at the time of formation of the first self-replicating molecules is not necessary and not even probable. It is proposed to abandon the notion of a molecular ensemble and to focus on the level of individual molecules. Although the formation of the first self-replicating, most likely homochiral molecule is a seemingly improbable event, on a closer look, it is almost inevitable that homochiral molecules have formed simply on a statistical basis. In this case, the non-selective leap to homochirality would be one of the first steps in chemical evolution directly out of a racemic “ocean”. Moreover, most studies focus on the chirality of the primordial monomers with respect to an asymmetric carbon atom. However, any polymer with a minimal size that allows folding to a secondary structure, would spontaneously lead to asymmetric higher structures (conformations). Most of the functions of these polymers would be influenced by this inherently asymmetric folding. To summarize, simple and universal mechanisms may have led to homochiral self-replicating systems in the context of chemical evolution. A homochiral monomer pool is deemed unnecessary and probably never existed on primordial Earth.
Organotin compounds (OTCs) have been widely used in anti-fouling paints, pesticide formulations, and as stabilizers in polyvinyl chloride over the past century. In marine ecosystems, OTCs can cause severe damage to biodiversity, leading up to the extinction of vulnerable species. Due to the extensive use of tributyltin (TBT) as a biocide on ship hulls, it has been considered one of the most hazardous substances intentionally introduced into the aquatic environment. This resulted in a global ban on TBT-containing products in the 2000s. However, recent studies indicate the emerging presence of organotin pollutants.
OTCs are known to persist and accumulate in marine sediments, posing a long-term threat to the environment. These harmful substances can be set free and dispersed even after several decades. Therefore, analyzing sediment probes is imperative for a thorough monitoring of pollution. However, species-specific analysis of OTCs at required concentration levels in complex environmental matrices remains challenging. Chromatographic systems are commonly used for their analysis, but the required sample preparation is time-consuming and prone to contamination and analyte loss. The coupling of electrothermal vaporization and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ETV/ICP-MS) demonstrates high potential as a rapid, convenient, and chemical-saving scanning tool for environmental samples.
This method enables the direct on-line fractionation of organic compounds from an inorganic fraction and provides element-specific detection at ultra-trace levels without complex sample preparation. Since OTCs are generally more toxic than ionic or elemental tin, analyzing them as a sum parameter is advantageous. Additionally, the determination of both organic and inorganic tin, rather than just organic tin, reveals valuable information about the fate of OTCs. The main challenge in obtaining accurate quantitative data using direct solid sampling techniques like as ETV/ICP-MS is applying a suitable calibration strategy. Our isotope dilution approach overcomes matrix effects in ETV/ICP-MS analysis and is compatible with commercial systems.
PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a widespread and emerging environmental problem due to their longevity and ubiquitous spread. The common structural motif of this compound class is the fluorine – carbon bond on an alkyl backbone, which are known for their chemical inertness and combination of hydrophobicity and oleophobicity. The downside of those properties is the general lack of usable molecular interactions for adsorption to extract them from the environment. The notable exception to that inertness are fluorine – fluorine interactions, which are stronger, the longer the perfluorinated chain length is. Therefore, in this project we investigated the effect of fluorination, length and presence of a charge on the alkyl chain on an adsorber. Towards that goal, in total 16 different adsorber materials were synthesized (fluorinated/non-fluorinated; C4/ C6/ C8/ C10 ; positive charge/no charge) and tested in regard to their potential to adsorb PFOA and perfluoralkylic acids of differing chain lengths. The PFAS concentration was tested via LC-MS/MS to determine the adsorption rate on the various materials. Further work includes the transition from a target analytics to sum parameter analysis for future evaluation of adsorber materials in PFAS environmental samples like river samples. Therefore a quarterly sampling and extraction of spree surface water samples was planned.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have received global public attention because of their wide distribution in aquatic environments and potential adverse effects to humans and wildlife. Due to the lack of analytical standards and the enormous numbers of these compounds, current target-based methods (e.g., LC-MS/MS) are not suitable for the analysis of new/unknown PFAS and transformation products. Therefore, PFAS sum parameter analysis is becoming increasingly important. For PFAS determination of surface waters, solid phase extraction (SPE) is commonly implemented for clean-up and pre-concentration of samples.
Thus, within this work, single-layer SPE methods (based on Strata™-X, Strata™-X-AW, Strata™-NH2 and Oasis-HLB) were investigated for maximum PFAS coverage utilizing extractable organically bound fluorine (EOF) analysis. Thereby, the optimization procedure relied on the analysis of 3 surface water samples in Berlin, Germany, which were affected by the effluent discharge of wastewater treatment plants. To analyse the SPE elution profiles for EOF and inorganic fluorine, high resolution-continuum source-graphite furnace molecular absorption spectroscopy (HR-CS-GFMAS) and ion chromatography (IC) were used, respectively.
Highest EOF concentrations were achieved by using Strata-X/Strata-XAW as SPE sorbents and methanol as eluent. Furthermore, combinations of the most promising SPE sorbents were selected (X/XAW, XAW/X, HLB/X and WAX/GCB) to extract a wider range of PFASs. By comparing multi-layer SPE methods, lower EOF concentrations were obtained for all investigated combination phases compared to the analysed single phases. For the commercially available combination phase Strata-PFAS (WAX/GCB) for all three river water samples, lower EOF concentrations (1.5 times lower) were determined compared to Strata-X.
The results have shown that single-layer SPE systems are currently superior compared to combination phases for PFAS sum parameter analysis. The multi-layer SPE methods need further optimization regarding appropriate sorbent combinations, loading volumes and elution conditions. The developed single-layer SPE methods can help to elucidate pollutions hotspots and discharge routes.
Optical biosensors often show remarkable performance and can be configured in many ways for sensitive, selective, and rapid measurements. However, the high-quality and advanced optical assemblies required to read out the sensor signals, for example, Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) or Supercritical Angle Fluorescence (SAF) microscopy, which necessitate complex and expensive optical elements. Particularly in optical method development, researchers or developers are often confronted with limitations because conventional manufacturing processes for optical elements can be restrictive in terms of design, material, time, and cost. Modern and high-resolution 3D printing techniques make it possible to overcome these challenges and enable the fabrication of individualized and personalized free-form optical components, which can reduce costs and significantly shorten the prototyping timeline—from months to hours. In this work, we use a modern, high-resolution (< 22 µm) commercial Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)-based 3D printer, for which we spectroscopically and physically characterized commercial photo-resins printable with the LCD technique in the first step (Figure 1). The aim was not only to produce a printed element with a high surface quality that mitigates the inner filter effects caused by attenuation (high optical density (OD) due to reflection and scattering), but also to select a material with a high refractive index (RI>1.5) and high transmission values (>90% transmittance) in the visible to near-infrared spectral range (approx. 450 – 900 nm) that exhibits little or no autofluorescence. Using a selection of suitable resins, lenses and free-form optical elements were manufactured for comparison with standard glass or plastic counterparts.
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.
Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are the fastest-growing group of biological agents which generated a yearly turnover of USD 210 billion in 2022 and whose sales are expected to grow by 10% annually over the next 10 years. With steadily increasing market importance, analytical methods for reliable quantification of therapeutic antibodies also become more and more relevant. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) has become the main technology for antibody quantification. This approach, however, requires enzymatic digestion of the intact protein into peptides, for which a wide range of different protocols exists that often lead to different results depending on the digestion procedure or trypsin variants used. In particular, the amount and type of detergents added for protein unfolding prior to digestion is known to create significant bias in measurement results. The overall goal of the presented project is the application of novel thermostable and surface-functionalized trypsin particles for improved antibody digestion. Specifically, a trypsin-variant described in the literature exhibiting increased activity and thermal stability above 80°C, will be examined. The application of this enzyme should allow to perform digestion at elevated temperatures where the protein is naturally unfolding thereby increasing enzyme accessibility without the need for detergents. Furthermore, we will immobilize the thermostable trypsin onto the surface to further enhance enzyme stability, prevent self-digestion, and enable separation of trypsin from target peptides before LC–MS/MS analysis. As an immobilization platform, cheap and non-porous corundum particles will be used as these show high chemical stability and low levels of interaction of matrix proteins with the functionalized surface. adsorption. In a multidisciplinary collaboration with the SALSA Photonics Lab, we will investigate the characteristics of covalent enzyme binding and unspecific peptide binding using an interface-sensitive analytical tool, vibrational sum-frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy. The insights gained will not only lead to new competencies in peptide and enzyme surface analysis using VSFG spectroscopy in SALSA but will also significantly contribute to optimizing antibody quantification.
In this study, we demonstrate the applicability of nitrogen microwave inductively coupled atmospheric pressure mass spectrometry (MICAP-MS) for Ca, Fe, and Se quantification in human serum using isotope dilution (ID) analysis. The matrix tolerance of MICAP-MS in Na matrix was investigated, uncovering that high Na levels can suppress the signal intensity. This suppression is likely due to the plasma loading and the space charge effect. Moreover, 40Ca and 44Ca isotopic fractionation was noted at elevated Na concentration. Nine certified serum samples were analyzed using both external calibration and ID analysis. Overestimation of Cr, Zn, As, and Se was found in the results of external calibration, which might be resulted from C-induced polyatomic interference and signal enhancement, respectively. Further investigations performed with methanol showed a similar enhancement effect for Zn, As, and Se, potentially supporting this assumption. The mass concentrations determined with ID analysis show metrological compatibility with the reference values, indicating that MICAP-MS combined with ID analysis can be a promising method for precise Ca, Fe, and Se determination. Moreover, this combination reduces the influences of matrix effects, broadening the applicability of MICAP-MS for samples with complex matrix.
Antikörper sind in der medizinischen Welt nicht mehr wegzudenken. Ihr Einsatz-Repertoire als Therapeutika für die Behandlung diverser Krankheiten und Infektionen weitet sich von Jahr zu Jahr mehr aus. Dabei basiert ein Großteil der verwendeten Antikörper zu diesem Zeitpunkt auf monoklonalen Antikörpern auf Basis von Hybridomazellen. Doch hier könnten rekombinante Antikörper aufgrund ihrer Vektor-basierten Expression eine vielversprechende und womöglich sogar revolutionierende Alternative bieten. So ergeben sich neue Optimierungsoptionen für Merkmale wie Affinität, Stabilität und Kompatibilität über Anpassungen auf genetischer oder posttranslationaler Ebene. Allerdings ergibt sich kein Anwendungszweck ohne die vorhergehende detaillierte Charakterisierung der Antikörper. Denn nur mit spezifischem Wissen über die diversen Eigenschaften und Wechselwirkungen kann eine effektive und präzise Verwendung in der Diagnostik und Therapeutik gewährleistet werden und auf diese Weise Leben retten.
Aus diesem Grund beschäftigt sich diese Masterarbeit mit der Vertiefung der rekombinanten Antikörper-Thematik. Dazu soll ein Anti-Tetanus-Antikörper erstmals rekombinant in verschiedenen Zelllinien hergestellt und anschließend über umfangreiche analytische Verfahren mit einem Fokus auf die Einflussanalyse der unterschiedlichen posttranslationalen Glykosylierungen charakterisiert werden. Zu diesem Zweck wurden als Grundlage einerseits zwei P1316-Dual-Expressions-Vektoren mit variierenden Insert-Positionen der schweren und leichten Kette durch Gibson-Assembly sowie individuellen pRK5-Plasmide für eine separiert Expression der Antikkörperketten mithilfe Restriktionsfragment-Ligation generiert. In einer Gegenüberstellung der der Expressionsausbeuten stellte sich die Überlegenheit der P1316-Plasmid-Konfiguration heraus, in der das Leichtketten-Insert an der ersten Expressionsstelle positioniert ist. Deshalb wurde dieser Vektor als Ausgangspunkt für die anschließende hochskalierten Herstellung des Anti-Tetanus-Antikörpers in Expi293F-GnTI- und ExpiCHO-S-Zellen verwendet. Ein ELISA bestätigte die Bindungsaktivität der rekombinanten Antikörper am Tetanus-Toxoid unabhängig vom Expressionssystem. Nach einer folgenden Optimierung der für die Aufreinigung verwendeten Protein-A-Affinitätschromatographie, wurde über weitere Charakterisierungsmethoden wie Größenausschlusschromatographie und dynamische Lichtstreuung eine vergleichbare Aggregation aufgrund der sauren Elution aufgezeigt. In diesem Kontext wurde die Notwendigkeit einer Zweistufen-Präparation mit Affinitäts- und Größenausschlusschromatografie für den Erhalt monodisperser Proben verdeutlicht. Zudem wurden die verschiedenen intakten Massen mitsamt ihrer spezifischen Glykan-abhängigen Streumaßen in Relation zum monoklonalen NISTmAB-Referenzantikörper bestimmt. Dabei konnte den Erwartungen nach sowohl die geringere Masse als auch die uniformere Glykosylierung der in Expi293 GnTI- exprimierten Immunoglobuline in Relation zum ExpiCHO-S-Antikörper nachgewiesen werden. Anschließend wurde das Stabilitätsverhalten mittels thermischer Entfaltung und dynamischer Lichtstreuung über einen ausgeweiteten Zeitraum sowie verschiedenen Temperaturen dokumentiert. Grundlegend wurde eine höhere thermische Stabilität der zweiten konstanten Schwerketten-Domäne des aus ExpiCHO-S-Zellen stammenden Antikörpers nachgewiesen. Außerdem konnte eine problemlose Lagerungsfähigkeit beider unterschiedlich glykosylierter Antikörper bei Raumtemperatur für mindestens 4 Wochen festgestellt werden. Des Weiteren wurde die Langzeitlagerung im Rahmen der Auswirkung von Gefrier-Auftau-Zyklen mit gleichbleibenden Methoden sowie zusätzlicher Größenausschlusschromatographie erprobt. Hierbei stellte sich der Erhalt der strukturellen Integrität nach bis zu 15 Zyklen heraus. Allerdings geht die Monodispersität bereits nach wenigen Zyklen verloren, wobei die geringfügiger glykosylierten Expi293F-GnTI-Anti-Tetanus-Antikörper eine stärkere Beeinträchtigung durch multiple Gefrier-Auftau-Zyklen aufwiesen.
This contribution reports the development of a polymerizable BODIPY-type fluorescent probe targeting small-molecule carboxylates for incorporation into molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). The design of the probe crosslinker includes a urea recognition site p-conjugated to the 3-position of the BODIPY core and two methacrylate moieties. Titration experiments with a carboxylate-expressing antibiotic, levofloxacin (LEVO), showed a blue shift of the absorption band as well as a broadening and decrease in emission, attributed to hydrogen bonding between the probe’s urea group and the carboxylate group of the antibiotic. Using this probe crosslinker, core–shell particles with a silica core and a thin MIP shell were prepared for the detection of LEVO. The MIP exhibited highly selective recognition of LEVO, with an imprinting factor of 18.1 compared to the non-imprinted polymer. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the core–shell structure and spectroscopic studies revealed that the receptor’s positioning leads to a unique perturbation of the polymethinic character of the BODIPY chromophore, entailing the favourable responses. These features are fully preserved in the MIP, whereas no such response was observed for competitors such as ampicillin. The sensory particles allowed to detect LEVO down to submicromolar concentrations in dioxane. We have developed here for the first time a BODIPY probe for organic carboxylates and incorporated it into polymers using the imprinting technique, paving the way for BODIPY-type fluorescent MIP sensors.