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Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can catalyze the decolorization of organic dyes in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4), which can be utilized for sensitive optical signaling. Here, we monitor the catalytic reduction of a fluorescent substrate, exemplarily chosen uranine, by AuNPs serving as nanocatalysts by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Dye reduction is accompanied by dramatic changes in the absorption and fluorescence properties of uranine. As proposed reaction mechanism, we assume electron transfer between uranine and NaBH4 through the AuNPs nanocatalysts which is currently investigated also by time-resolved fluorescence and detailed spectroscopic studies of the influence of pH, NaBH4, and AuNPs on these effects. As ultimate goal, a model reporter platform with colorimetric andfluorometric signaling is anticipated for the detection of different analytes by coating AuNPs with affinity ligands such as antibodies and aptamers and and special separation methods.
This work demonstrates the sub-cellular resolution bio-imaging capabilities of the NWRimage system with Dual Concentric Injector (DCI) technology in a practical application. 3T3 fibroblast cells incubated with gold nanoparticles were imaged, demonstrating the sub-cellular imaging capabilities. A laser ablation system specifically designed for rapid, high resolution imaging was employed. The system´s optical layout is optimized to minimize crater diameters. Sensitivity and speed were achieved using the DCI technology for ultra-fast washout times.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) established the Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN) in 2006. The OECD-WPMN initiated the "Sponsorship Programme for the Testing of Manufactured Nanomaterials", where a defined set of manufactured nanomaterials is tested for their physical/chemical properties, their toxicological potential and their environmental fade. The results of this program have been declassified in June 2015. Having a big set of independent measurements for one endpoint/measurand, has the advantage of really independent comparision of methods. It is surprising what these few data sets already delivered. Nevertheless the amount of data in the OECD-dossiers is still not enough. While we have a lot of data for titanium dioxide, we have only one data set for zinc oxide and very weak data sets for silver nanoparticles. This limits the useablility of the data sets.
Regarding the quality of the data, we have seen a very good agreement of TEM and SMPS. This leads to the advice that we should have results for these two methods for each nanomaterial in the sponsorship programme.
Another outcome of this draft review is, that currently we cannot compare measurements of agglomerates. This also prohibits the use of DLS as a standard method for size determination.
Characterization of silver nanoparticles in cell culture medium containing fetal bovine serum
(2016)
Nanoparticles are being increasingly used in consumer products worldwide, and their toxicological effects are currently being intensely debated. In vitro tests play a significant role in nanoparticle risk assessment, but reliable particle characterization in the cell culture medium with added fetal bovine serum (CCM) used in these tests is not available. As a step toward filling this gap, we report on silver ion release by silver nanoparticles, and changes in the particle radii and in their protein corona when incubated in CCM. Particles of a certified reference material (CRM), p1, and particles of a commercial silver nanoparticle material, p2, were investigated. The colloidal stability of p1 is provided by the surfactants polyethylene glycole-25 glyceryl trioleate and polyethylene glycole-20 sorbitan monolaurate, whereas p2 is stabilized by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Dialysis of p1 and p2 reveal that their silver ion release rates in CCM are much larger than in water. Particle characterization was performed with asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (FFF), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electron microscopy. p1 and p2 have similar hydrodynamic radii of 15 nm and 16 nm, respectively. The silver core radii are 9.2 and 10.2 nm. Gel electrophoresis and subsequent peptide identification reveal that albumin is the main corona component of p1 and p2 after incubation in CCM, which consists of Dulbeccos Modified Eagle Medium with 10% fetal bovine serum added.
Laser ablation with inductively coupled plasma is still more used in life science as biology and biomedicine and the utilization of metals and proteins determination simultaneously is also growing up. We have developed a new strategy of labeling of antibody (it can specific binds to proteins) by nanoparticles and quantum dots which is composed of thousands of atoms and thus increases the sensitivity enormously and of course decreases the Limit of detection, compare to lanthanoids labeling. The ability of successfully tagged antibodies bound to Antigen (protein) was proved by dot blot on membrane imaged by LA-ICP-MS.
Polymer nanoparticles (NPs) are of increasing importance for a wide range of applications in the material and life sciences. This includes their use as carriers for dye molecules and drugs, multichromophoric reporters for signal enhancement strategies in optical assays, targeted probes in bioimaging studies, and nanosensors.[1] Application-relevant properties of such NPs include their size, morphology, colloidal stability, and ease of surface functionalization with e.g., sensor molecules and targeting ligands. Many of these features as well as the interaction of NPs with their microenvironment are closely linked to the knowledge of the chemical nature and total number of surface groups as well as the number of surface functionalities accessible for subsequent coupling reactions of differently sized ligands, biomolecules or reporter molecules. This underlines the importance of simple, robust, reliable, and validated methods, which can be employed for the characterization of a broad variety of particle systems independent of their optical properties, i.e., scattering or the presence of encoding dyes.[2]
In this respect, we assessed a variety of conventional and newly developed colorimetric or fluorometric labels for the optical surface group analysis, utilizing e.g., changes in intensity and/or color for signal generation.[3] Moreover, novel cleavable and multimodal reporters were developed which consist of a reactive group, a cleavable linker, and an optically active moiety, chosen to contain also heteroatoms for straightforward method validation by elemental analysis, ICP-OES, ICP-MS or NMR. In contrast to conventional labels measured bound at the particle surface, which can favor signal distortions by scattering and encoding dyes, cleavable reporters can be detected colorimetrically or fluorometrically both attached at the particle surface and after quantitative cleavage of the linker in the transparent supernatant after particle removal e.g., by centrifugation. Here, we present first results obtained for the optical quantification of carboxylic and amino groups on a series of self-made NPs with different types of labels and compare their potential and drawbacks for surface group analysis.
The traceability and availability of nanoparticles enables their use to enhance a variety of nano-biological and nano-medicinal applications. The particular size and shape of nanoparticles determine the uptake rate and pathway into the cell, and therefore impact specific cell components and processes. Selecting specific particle types allows researchers to target the process or structure of interest, with minimal additional impact. This can be used for drug or DNA delivery, and is being explored for use in oncology. Understanding the different uptake mechanisms and impacted processes requires sub-cellular Imaging resolution to determine, for example, whether or not the nanoparticles are reaching the nucleus.
Sub-cellular imaging has traditionally been challenging to achieve with laser ablation ICP-MS due to a lack of sensitivity at small spots. Bioimaging using LA-ICP-MS is a well-established technique, but usually applied on the tissue scale, which depends on larger spot areas where sensitivity is less problematic. The improved sensitivity and washout from the NWRimage has allowed faster imaging of smaller spots. The NWRimage also provides the possibility of true sub-micron spot sizes. This work compares the capabilities of standard laser Ablation (NWR213 system) with results from the NWRimage platform, which has been optimized for imaging applications.
Lanthanide doped photon upconverting nanophosphors (UCNPs) have the unique capability to produce narrow band, multi-color emission in the UV/vis/NIR upon multiphotonic absorption of infrared light, which makes them promising reporters for diagnostic, bioanalytical, and biological applications. This minimizes background signals, which normally occur due to autofluorescence from auxochromes, in biological matrices and enables deep penetration depths in biological applications. Moreover, UCNPs show long luminescence lifetimes in the μs range favorable for time gated emission in conjunction with a high photostability and chemical inertness and they do not blink. One of the most efficient upconversion (UC) phosphors for conversion of 976 nm to 655 nm and 545 nm light presents the hexagonal NaYF4-host crystal doped with 20 % Yb3+ used as sensitizer to absorb infrared light and 2 % Er3+ acting as activator mainly responsible for light emission. The high transparency in the relevant spectral windows of this host together with its low phonon frequencies ensure relatively high luminescence efficiencies.
Although UCNPs are ideal candidates for many chemical and biological sensing and imaging applications, compared to other well-known chromophores like organic dyes or QDs, they suffer from a comparatively low brightness due to the low absorption cross sections of the parity forbidden f-f-transitions and low photoluminescence quantum yields (QYUC) particularly in the case of small nanoparticles with sizes of < 50 nm. The rational design of more efficient UCNPs requires an improved understanding of the nonradiative decay pathways in these materials that are influenced by particle architecture including dopant ion concentration and homogeneity of dopant distribution within UCNPs, size/surface-to-volume ratio, surface chemistry, and microenvironment. A promising approach to overcome the low efficiency of UCNPs is to use plasmonic interactions between a noble metal (Ag or Au) structure in the proximity of UCNPs and the incident light. This interaction leads to a modification of the spectroscopic properties due
to local field enhancements and can involve an increase of the photoluminescence. In this respect, we study the interactions of UCNPs with metal structures (clusters and shells) by varying shape and size. Here, first results derived from integrating sphere spectroscopy and time-resolved fluorescence measurements are presented.
Ternary semiconductors Quantum Dots (t-QDs) like AgInS (AIS) QDs are interesting alternatives to Cd-based QDs for applications as optical active materials in light-emitting diodes (LEDs), solar concentrators and solar cells as well as as biodiagnostic tools, respectively.
AIS QDs exhibit broad photoluminescence (PL) spectra in the visible and near infrared, which are tunable by size and chemical composition (ratio of components or doping).
In order to enhance the PL quantum yield (PL QY or Fpl) and prevent material deterioration and oxidation, these QDs are covered by ZnS shell. Here we show a spectroscopic study of differently colored AIS QDs synthesized in water, evaluating their PL properties, their PL QY and their PL decay.
The simple aqueous synthesis that avoids further ligand exchange steps for bioanalytical applications, the tunable emission color, the high PL QY, the high absorption coefficients and the long lifetime make these t-QDs promising Cd-free materials as biodiagnostic tools or optical active materials.
"The optical properties of semiconductor nanocrystals (SCNC) are controlled by constituent material, particle size, and surface chemistry, specifically the number of dangling bonds favoring nonradiative deactivation. This can lead to a distribution of photoluminescence Quantum yields (PL QY) amongst the SCNC particles, i.e., mixtures of “bright” and “grey” or “dark” SCNCs.
Particularly the number of absorbing, yet not emitting particles can have a significant effect on the PL quantum yield obtained in ensemble measurements, leading to ist underestimation. The “dark fraction” is not assessable in common ensemble measurements; it can be probed only on a single particle level using a confocal laser scanning microscope coupled with an AFM. Such a setup was used to study core‐shell CdSe SCNCs with different shells and surface chemistries. Special emphasis was dedicated to correlate brightness, blinking, dark fraction, and decay kinetics of the single SCNCs with the ensemble PL QY and the PL decay kinetics. The results of this study can help to identify new synthetic routes and surface modifications to colloidally and photochemically stable SCNCs with a PL QY of close to unity."
Nanoparticles (NPs) have potential applications in medical diagnostics, imaging, drug delivery and other kinds of therapy. Furthermore, studies concerning nanoparticle uptake by cells are important for risk assessment. Size, shape and surface modification of the NPs determine the uptake rate and pathway into the cells, and therefore impact specific cell components and processes. Understanding the different uptake mechanisms and involved processes require sub-cellular resolution to determine, for example, whether the nanoparticles are reaching the nucleus. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is an established quantitative multi-elemental analysis and mapping technique. However, sub-cellular imaging has traditionally been challenging to achieve due to a lack of sensitivity at small laser spots. But now novel laser ablation systems with improved sensitivity and washout time allow imaging at high lateral resolution with spot sizes down to 1 µm.
Here LA-ICP-MS was applied for the imaging of individual fibroblast cells to study the uptake and intracellular processing of metal-containing NPs. To indicate cell morphology the local distribution of naturally occurring elements in cells like P and Zn was measured, too. Our results show that LA-ICP-MS can be used to localise nanoparticle aggregates within cellular compartments. The studied NPs accumulate in the perinuclear region in the course of intracellular processing, but do not enter the cell nucleus. The uptake efficiency depends strongly on the physico-chemical properties of the nanostructures as well as on the incubation conditions like concentration and incubation time. The potential of LA-ICP-MS for analysis at single cell level will be demonstrated.
Nano- and microparticles are of increasing importance for a wide range of applications in the material and life sciences. Examples are their use as carriers for dye molecules and drugs, multichromophoric reporters for signal enhancement strategies in optical assays, targeted probes for bioimaging, and biosensors. All these applications require surface functionalization of the particles with e.g., ligands (to tune the dispersibility and prevent unspecific interactions), crosslinkers, sensor dyes, or analyte recognition moieties like biomolecules, and subsequently, the knowledge of the chemical nature and total number of surface groups as well as the number of groups accessible for coupling reactions. Particularly attractive for the latter are sensitive and fast photometric or fluorometric assays, which can be read out with simple, inexpensive instrumentation. Here, we present a novel family of cleavable photometric and multimodal reporters for the quantification of conjugatable amino and carboxyl surface groups on nano- and microparticles. These probes allow for the determination of particle-bound labels, unbound reporters in the supernatant, and reporters cleaved off from the particle surface as well as the remaining thiol groups on the particles by photometry and inductively coupled optical emission spectrometry (32S ICP-OES).3 Comparison of the performance of these cleavable reporters with conventional labels, utilizing changes in intensity and/or colour of absorption and/or emission, underlines the analytical potential of this versatile concept which elegantly circumvents signal distortions by light scattering and encoding dyes, and enables straightforward validation by method comparison.
Polymeric nanoparticles (NP) are of increasing importance for a wide range of applications in the material and life sciences, including their use as drug carriers, fluorescent sensors and multimodal reporters in a large variety of bioassays and bioimaging studies. Application-relevant properties of NP include their size (and size distribution), shape, optical properties, and ease of subsequent functionalization, e.g. with linkers, sensor molecules, and bioligands. In this respect, knowledge of the chemical nature, the total number of surface groups and the number of groups accessible for subsequent coupling reactions is mandatory.1 Commercially available polystyrene NP often contain different additives like stabilizers, radical starters and crosslinkers, which can influence the quantification of surface functionalities. Moreover, they often have unknown surface group densities that may vary from batch to batch, which complicates or even hampers their reliable use in many (bio)applications. To circumvent these issues, we synthesized amino- and carboxy-functionalized, monodisperse 100 nm polystyrene NP with three different, well-defined surface group densities. Using a recently developed approach for the quantification of functional groups on nano- and microparticles with cleavable reporters,2 we quantified the assessible functional groups on the self-synthesised PS particles via optical spectroscopy (photometry) and inductively coupled optical emission spectrometry (32S ICP-OES). In addition, we developed a fluorimetric approach for the quantification of surface functional groups on nanoparticles based on the labelling with luminescent lanthanide complexes (LLC). In contrast to common organic dyes, LLC are not prone to photo¬luminescence quenching arising from reabsorption or dye aggregation, and thus, enable a reliable fluorometric quantification of the assessible functional groups on NP surfaces. Moreover, lanthanide tags can be detected with high specificity and sensitivity with analytical techniques such as XPS and ICP-MS, which allow for the multimodal validation of the fluorometric quantification approach.
Imaging of elemental distributions in single cell assays as well as tissue sections can be performed by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). This powerful technique offers precise spatially resolved measurements at the trace and ultratrace level and has been established as an excellent tool to answer analytical, biological and biomedical questions. To date, imaging mass cytometry is already able to simultaneously detect up to 40 cellular targets due to conjugation of isotopically pure lanthanides to affinity binders, e.g. antibodies.
To further enhance the ability of multiparametric analysis to more than 100 analytes at once, we investigated lanthanide nanocrystals as new, highly sensitive metal tags for identification of targets in clinical cell assays and tissue samples. Multiparametric analysis will be possible by encoding the lanthanide composition of nanocrystals associated to the affinity binders. Nanocrystals showed remarkable potential for sensitive detection in MS due to high stability and signal amplification compared to e.g. polymer tags, carrying fewer metal atoms.
Synthesis of functionalized lanthanide nanocrystals for further bioconjugation was performed with high reproducibility and monodisperse size distribution. For proof of principle, the uptake and distribution of these nanocrystals within the monolayered cell line A549 were investigated by mapping the intensities at subcellular resolution using LA-ICP-MS. It could be shown, that the cells were efficiently labeled with the nanocrystals and mostly accumulate near the nucleus. Additionally, the bioconjugation of the nanocrystals to antibodies and particularly the preservation of the antibody specificity was investigated using Dot Blot experiments. All in all, the results imply high sensitivity and the possibility of multiparametric analysis by doting various lanthanides into the nanocrystals.
Nanoparticles (NPs) have found a wide range of applications in research and industry. Thereby the interaction of NPs with biological systems like cells has become a major field of interest, ranging from medical applications to nanotoxicology. Size, shape and surface modification of the nanomaterials determine the uptake rate and pathway into the cells, and therefore impact specific cell components and processes.
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a well-established analytical method offering high sensitivity and multi-element capability. By coupling a laser ablation (LA) system to an ICP-MS the analysis of different kinds of solid samples is possible. In recent years, it was shown that LA-ICP-MS can provide quantitative as well as distribution information of metal containing nanoparticles (NPs) in cell samples.
Here LA-ICP-MS was applied for the imaging of individual fibroblast cells to study the uptake and intracellular processing of NPs. Our results show that LA-ICP-MS can be used to localize nanoparticle aggregates within cellular compartments. The studied NPs accumulate in the perinuclear region in the course of intracellular processing, but do not enter the cell nucleus. The uptake efficiency depends strongly on the physico-chemical properties of the nanostructures as well as on the incubation conditions like concentration and incubation time.
ICP-MS was used to determine the composition of the nanomaterials as well as the number of NPs in cells after acid digestion of the samples.
Nanoparticles (NPs) have found a wide range of applications in research and industry. Thereby the interaction of NPs with biological systems like cells has become a major field of interest, ranging from medical applications to nanotoxicology. Size, shape and surface modification of the nanomaterials determine the uptake rate and pathway into the cells, and therefore impact specific cell components and processes.
Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is an established quantitative multi-elemental analysis and mapping technique. In recent years, it was shown that LA-ICP-MS can provide quantitative as well as distribution information of metal containing nanoparticles (NPs) in cell samples.
Here LA-ICP-MS was applied for the imaging of individual fibroblast cells to study the uptake and intracellular processing of NPs. Our results show that LA-ICP-MS can be used to localize nanoparticle aggregates within cellular compartments. The studied NPs accumulate in the perinuclear region in the course of intracellular processing, but do not enter the cell nucleus. The uptake efficiency depends strongly on the physico-chemical properties of the nanostructures as well as on the incubation conditions like concentration and incubation time.
ICP-MS was used to determine the composition of the nanomaterials as well as the number of NPs in cells after acid digestion of the samples.
Imaging of elemental distributions in single cell assays as well as tissue sections can be performed by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). This powerful technique offers precise spatially resolved measurements at trace and ultratrace levels and has been established as an excellent tool to answer analytical, biological and biomedical questions. To date, mass cytometry is already able to simultaneously detect up to 40 cellular targets due to conjugation of isotopically pure lanthanides to affinity binders, e.g. antibodies.
To further enhance the ability of multiparametric analysis to more than 100 analytes at once, we investigated lanthanide nanocrystals as new, highly sensitive metal tags for identification of targets in clinical cell assays and tissue samples. Multiparametric analysis will be possible by encoding the lanthanide composition of nanocrystals associated to the affinity binders. Nanocrystals showed remarkable potential for sensitive detection in MS due to high stability and signal amplification compared to e.g. polymer tags, carrying fewer metal atoms. Furthermore, the nanocrystals allow multimodal imaging due fluorescence of Eu3+ as well as contrast enhancing properties of Gd3+ in magnetic resonance imaging.
Synthesis of functionalized lanthanide nanocrystals for further bioconjugation was performed with high reproducibility and monodisperse size distribution. For proof of principle, the uptake and distribution of these nanocrystals within the monolayered cell line A549 were investigated by mapping the intensities at subcellular resolution using LA-ICP-MS. It could be shown, that the cells were efficiently labeled with the nanocrystals. Additionally, the bioconjugation of the nanocrystals to antibodies and particularly the preservation of the antibody specificity was investigated using Dot Blot experiments. All in all, the results imply high sensitivity and the possibility of multiparametric analysis by doting various lanthanides into the nanocrystals.
Imaging of elemental distributions in single cell assays as well as tissue sections can be performed by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). This powerful technique offers precise spatially resolved measurements at trace and ultratrace levels and has been established as an excellent tool to answer analytical, biological and biomedical questions. To date, mass cytometry is already able to simultaneously detect up to 40 cellular targets due to conjugation of isotopically pure lanthanides to affinity binders, e.g. antibodies.
To further enhance the ability of multiparametric analysis to more than 100 analytes at once, we investigated lanthanide nanocrystals as new, highly sensitive metal tags for identification of targets in clinical cell assays and tissue samples. Multiparametric analysis will be possible by encoding the lanthanide composition of nanocrystals associated to the affinity binders. Nanocrystals showed remarkable potential for sensitive detection in MS due to high stability and signal amplification compared to e.g. polymer tags, carrying fewer metal atoms. Furthermore, the nanocrystals allow multimodal imaging due fluorescence of Eu3+ as well as contrast enhancing properties of Gd3+ in magnetic resonance imaging.
Synthesis of functionalized lanthanide nanocrystals for further bioconjugation was performed with high reproducibility and monodisperse size distribution. For proof of principle, the uptake and distribution of these nanocrystals within the monolayered cell line A549 were investigated by mapping the intensities at subcellular resolution using LA-ICP-MS. It could be shown, that the cells were efficiently labeled with the nanocrystals. Additionally, the bioconjugation of the nanocrystals to antibodies and particularly the preservation of the antibody specificity was investigated using Dot Blot experiments. All in all, the results imply high sensitivity and the possibility of multiparametric analysis by doting various lanthanides into the nanocrystals.
Imaging of Eu doped very small iron oxide nanoparticle in atherosclerotic plaques via LA-ICP-MS
(2018)
Atherosclerotic lesions can be visualized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using very small iron oxide nanoparticles (VSOP). VSOP accumulate in atherosclerotic plaques and thus serve as an atherosclerosis probe. The aim of this project was to image the distribution of europium doped VSOP (Eu-VSOP) by laser ablation ICP-MS in histological thin cuts of the aortic root region of ApoE knockout mouse model that is rich in atherosclerotic plaques. In addition, it was investigated whether VSOP accumulation in the plaques correlates with other biomarkers of inflammation for example macrophages and altered endothelium to assess whether it correlates with instability or vulnerability of the plaque regions. For this purpose, antibodies were labeled with various lanthanide elements and correlated with the Eu-VSOP distribution using LA-ICP-MS in a multiplex measurement mode.
Imaging of Eu doped very small iron oxide nanoparticle in atherosclerotic plaques via LA ICP-MS
(2018)
Atherosclerotic lesions can be visualized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using very small iron oxide nanoparticles (VSOP). VSOP accumulate in atherosclerotic plaques and thus serve as an atherosclerosis probe.
The aim of this project was to image the distribution of europium doped VSOP (Eu-VSOP) by laser ablation ICP-MS in histological thin cuts of the aortic root region of ApoE knockout mouse model that is rich in atherosclerotic plaques. In addition, it was investigated whether VSOP accumulation in the plaques correlates with other biomarkers of inflammation for example macrophages and altered endothelium to assess whether it correlates with instability or vulnerability of the plaque regions. For this purpose, antibodies were labeled with various lanthanide elements and correlated with the Eu-VSOP distribution using LA-ICP-MS in a multiplex measurement mode.
A possible correlation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with endogenous iron or Eu-VSOP can also be detected by LA-ICP-MS. For this purpose, ROS-specific antibodies were also labeled with lanthanides.
Imaging of Eu doped very small iron oxide nanoparticle in atherosclerotic plaques via LA-ICP-MS
(2018)
Atherosclerotic lesions can be visualized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using very small iron oxide nanoparticles (VSOP). VSOP accumulate in atherosclerotic plaques and thus serve as an atherosclerosis probe.
The aim of this project was to image the distribution of europium doped VSOP (Eu-VSOP) by laser ablation ICP-MS in histological thin cuts of the aortic root region of ApoE knockout mouse model that is rich in atherosclerotic plaques. In addition, it was investigated whether VSOP accumulation in the plaques correlates with other biomarkers of inflammation for example macrophages and altered endothelium to assess whether it correlates with instability or vulnerability of the plaque regions. For this purpose, antibodies were labeled with various lanthanide elements and correlated with the Eu-VSOP distribution using LA-ICP-MS in a multiplex measurement mode.
A possible correlation of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) with endogenous iron or Eu-VSOP can also be detected by LA-ICP-MS. For this purpose, RNS-specific antibodies were also labeled with lanthanides.
Dose enhancement by gold nanoparticles (AuNP) was shown to increase the biological effectiveness of radiation damage in biomolecules and tissue. Most of the current studies focus on external beam therapy on combination with AuNP. Here we present a Monte-Carlo study (Geant4) to characterise radioactive AuNP. Radioactive ¹⁹⁸Au emits beta and gamma rays and is considered for applications with solid tumours. To effectively apply ¹⁹⁸AuNP their energy deposit characteristics have to be determined in terms of intrinsic and extrinsic properties e.g. AuNP diameter, AuNP density, and their clustering behaviour. After each decay process, the energy deposit, inelastic scattering events, kinetic energy spectrum of secondary particles within the AuNP themselves and in a spherical target volume of water up to 1 μm radius were determined. Simulations were performed for AuNP radii ranging from 2.5 nm to 20 nm radius, different cluster sizes and densities. The results show an increase of the energy deposit in the vicinity of the AuNP up to 150 nm. This effect nearly vanishes for distances up to one micron. For the case of AuNP clusters and the same activity, the enhancement of the energy deposit increases with the relative gold mass percentage and therefore can be adjusted by changing AuNP radius or clustering behaviour.
Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) are currently applied in a variety of consumer products and are also attractive for medical applications. With their widespread use, the potential for human exposure to NPs — either intended or unintended — is increasing. Therefore, many studies have evaluated the toxicity and transport mechanism of NPs. In comparison with two-dimensional cultured cells, multicellular spheroids (MCS) look promising to be used as a three-dimensional cellular model, having unique advantages in nanoparticle studies due to the fact that interactions with excreted extracellular matrix can be investigated. Fibroblast cells are one of the most important cell systems to express a microenvironment by excreting an abundant extracellular matrix. For bioimaging laser ablation inductively coupled-plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is used in this investigation to study the interaction of metallic NPs with MCS for multi-element detection offering a wide dynamic range. As a mass spectrometer we have applied a time-of-flight (TOF) instrument for (quasi-) simultaneous detection of all isotopes of elements of interest.
The aim of this study is to investigate the localization of silver (Ag) NPs exposed to fibroblast MCSs by means of LA-ICP-TOF-MS. In addition, for demonstrating elemental microscopy we chose phosphorous (31P) and iron (56Fe) to visualize regions of enriched extracellular matrix and single cells, respectively. In this presentation, we show that exposed Ag NPs are highly accumulated at the same position of single cells in an outer rim of fibroblast MCSs.
We report the synthesis and characterization of carbon nanodots (CDs) with high quantum yield (>50%) and tailored optical absorption as well as emission properties. A well-described protocol with polyethyleneimine (PEI) as amine precursor is used as a reference to a new CD system which is stabilized by aromatic 2,3-diaminopyridine (DAP) molecules instead. The DAP stabilizer is installed in order to red-shift the absorption peak of the n-π* electron transition allowing efficient radiative recombination and light emission. Size, shape, and chemical composition of the samples are determined by (HR)TEM, EDX and FTIR-spectroscopy. Optical parameters are investigated using UV-VIS, PL and QY measurements. Several parameters such as concentration, excitation wavelength and pH are studied. Zeta-potential analysis indicate that pH-induced (de-)protonation processes of functional moieties directly affect the n-π* energy bands. This results in unique pH-dependent absorption and emission characteristics which are discussed on the specific chemical composition of each CD system.
Non-linear optical emitters are promising materials for energy applications and biotechnologies. Solid-state multi-band emitters like lanthanide doped up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) show excellent photostability, are excitable in the near infrared (NIR), and show emission bands from the UV to SWIR spectral regions. The optical properties of these materials strongly depend on the excitation power density, i.e., the number of photons absorbed per time interval. The upconversion (ΦUC) and downshifting quantum efficiencies (ΦDS) of these materials, the excitation power dependent population, and the deactivation dynamics are influenced by nanoparticle architecture, doping concentration, and the microenvironment. We studied the fundamental changes of the luminescence properties of ß-NaYF4 UCNPs doped with Yb3+ and Er3+ depending on size, different surroundings such as aqueous and organic media, and different surface chemistries. We obtained further insights into shelling procedures, FRET optimization, influence of doping concentration, and advantages of different sensitizer ions.
Two nanosensors for simultaneous optical measurements of temperature (“T”), oxygen (“O”), and pH (“P”) have been designed. These “TOP” nanosensors are based on 100 nm-sized silica-coated polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) doped with the near infrared emissive oxygen- and temperature-sensitive chromium(III) complex ([Cr(ddpd)2][BPh4]3 CrBPh4)[1][2] and an inert reference fluorescence dye (Nile Red NR or 5,10,15,20tetrakis-(pentafluorophenyl) porphyrin TFPP) and are covalently labeled with the pHsensitive fluorophore fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). These emitters can be excited at the same wavelength and reveal distinguishable emission spectra suitable for ratiometric intensity-based and time-resolved studies in the visible and near infrared spectral region. The core-shell nanostructure of these sensors reveals high colloidal stability in various aqueous media. Studies in PBS buffer solutions and in a model body liquid demonstrate the applicability of the TOP nanosensors for optically detecting the three bioanalytically and biologically relevant analytes temperature, oxygen and pH simultaneously at the same position.
Polymeric core-shell particles were synthesized in a semi-batch emulsion polymerization process. The shell of the particles consist of PVDF with a high amount of beta-phase. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to quantify the size of the cores of the particles and the thickness of the shell.
The successful off-line coupling of asymmetrical flow field flow fractionation (AF4) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) for Separation of nanoparticles (NPs) with different surface coatings was shown.
Two mixtures of polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) with comparable core sizes (20 nm and 50 nm) but different coatings (no coating/carboxyl-coated) were studied. Separation in either method resulted in non-baseline resolved or non-separated peaks. In contrast, two-dimensional off-line coupling of AF4 and CE resulted in clearly separated regions in their 2 D plots and can obviouly improve separation resolution.
Functionalized nanomaterials (NM) with their unique size-dependent properties are of increasing relevance for current and future developments in various fields such as medical and pharmaceutical industry, computing, electronics or food and consumer products. The performance and safety of NM are determined by the sum of their intrinsic physicochemical properties.1 Besides other key parameters, the particle surface chemistry, which is largely controlled by the chemical nature and density of functional groups and ligands, must be considered for a better performance, stability, and processibility of NM, as well as their interaction with the environment. Thus, particle standards with well-designed surfaces and methods for functional group quantification can foster the sustainable development of functional and safe(r) NM.2 Here we provide a brief overview of the ongoing research in division Biophotonics to design tailored amorphous silica reference particles with bioanalytically relevant functional groups and ligands, for the development of standardized and validated surface functional group quantification methods.
The unique optoelectronic properties of semiconductor nanocrystals, also termed quantum dots (QDs), have led to many advances in optoelectronic devices, bioimaging, and biosensing. This strong potential in a wide range of applications sparked the interest for a better understanding of the QD formation mechanisms. Recent studies have shown that atomically defined, zero-dimensional magic-size clusters (MSCs) play a crucial role during the nucleation and growth of QDs. Thereby MSCs consist of discrete numbers of ions leading to narrow size distributions and thus narrow absorption peaks, which evolve in discrete steps from one stable size to the next. The formation of MSCs was found in the synthesis of II-VI and III-V QDs but only limited synthesis approaches are available for the synthesis of MSCs in single-ensemble form without coexistence of other-size QDs. These MSCs can further self-assemble into two- and three-dimensional hybrid structures using organic ligands like diamines, leading to enhanced photoluminescence properties and catalytic activities.
In this contribution, we present a synthesis strategy for the preparation of single-sized ZnSe MSCs. With a band gap of 2.7 eV and being an earth-abundant material, ZnSe QDs are interesting for light-emitting devices, blue-green lasers, photocatalysis, and fluorescence probes. In contrast to other studies, our approach is based on a one-pot heat-up synthesis and uses less toxic and dangerous zinc precursors (e.g. zinc stearate). Knowing that thiol-based ligands can alter the formation process of ZnSe QDs, we investigated the influence of 1-dodecanethiol on the ZnSe MSC formation using absorption spectroscopy, TEM, XPS, and XRD. By variation of the thiol ligand concentration and reaction temperature, we were able to synthesize two new ZnSe MSC sizes, the largest so far, by using easy-to-handle precursors.