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Eingeladener Vortrag
- nein (14)
A systematic study of the luminescence properties of monodisperse β-NaYF4: 20% Yb3+, 2% Er3+ upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with sizes ranging from 12–43 nm is presented utilizing steady-state and time-resolved fluorometry.
Special emphasis was dedicated to the absolute quantification of size- and environment-induced quenching of upconversion luminescence (UCL) by highenergy O–H and C–H vibrations from solvent and ligand molecules at different excitation power densities (P). In this context, the still-debated Population pathways of the 4F9/2 energy level of Er3+ were examined. Our results highlight the potential of particle size and P value for color tuning based on the pronounced near-infrared emission of 12 nm UCNPs, which outweighs the red Er3+ emission under “strongly quenched” conditions and accounts for over 50% of total UCL in water. Because current rate equation models do not include such emissions, the suitability of these models for accurately simulating all (de)population pathways of small UCNPs must be critically assessed. Furthermore, we postulate population pathways for the 4F9/2 energy level of Er3+, which correlate with the size-, environment-, and P-dependent quenching states of the higher Er3+ energy levels.
Nanomaterials are used in many different applications in the material and life sciences. Examples are optical reporters, barcodes, and nanosensors, magnetic and optical contrast agents, and catalysts. Due to their small size and large surface area, there are also concerns about their interaction with and uptake by biological systems. This has initiated an ever increasing number of cyctoxicity studies of nanomaterials of different chemical composition and surface chemistry, but until now, the toxicological results presented by different research groups often do not address or differ regarding a potential genotoxicity of these nanomaterials. This underlines the need for a standardized test procedure to detect genotoxicity.1,2
Aiming at the development of fast, easy to use, and automatable microscopic methods for the determination of the genotoxicity of different types of nanoparticles, we assess the potential of the fluorometric γH2AX assay for this purpose. This assay, which can be run on an automated microscopic detection system, relies on the determination of DNA double strand breaks as a sign for genotoxicity.3 Here, we present first results obtained with broadly used nanomaterials like CdSe/CdS and InP/ZnS quantum dots as well as iron oxide, gold, and polymer particles of different surface chemistry with previously tested colloidal stability. These studies will be also used to establish nanomaterials as positive and negative genotoxicity controls or standards for assay performance validation for users of this fluorometric genotoxicity assay. In the future, after proper validation, this microscopic platform technology will be expanded to other typical toxicity assays.
References. (1) Landsiedel, R.; Kapp, M. D.; Schulz, M.; Wiench, K.; Oesch, F., Reviews in Mutation Research 2009, 681, 241-258. (2) Henriksen-Lacey, M.; Carregal-Romero, S.; Liz-Marzán, L. M., Bioconjugate Chem. 2016, 28, 212-221. (3) Willitzki, A.; Lorenz, S.; Hiemann, R.; Guttek, K.; Goihl, A.; Hartig, R.; Conrad, K.; Feist, E.; Sack, U.; Schierack, P., Cytometry Part A 2013, 83, 1017-1026.
Invited for this month’s cover picture is the group of Dr. Knut Rurack at the Department of Analytical Chemistry; Reference Materials at the Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM) in Berlin (Germany). The cover picture shows how differences in color and fluorescence on a test strip can be easily read out with a mobile device. Two reference spots Frame the sensitive spot that indicates the presence of trace amounts of HgII below the threshold in a natural water sample. This dipstick contains a hybrid material that combines boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) probes sterically loaded into specifically tailored mesoporous silica particles, allowing for ultrasensitive HgII detection through enhanced fluorescence in a few seconds. The applicability in real water samples and fish extracts are also studied.
The sensitive detection of the mycotoxin citrinin (CIT) utilizing ist fluorescence requires approaches to enhance the emission. In this respect, we studied the complexation of CIT and ochratoxin A (OTA) with Al3+ in methanol using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. In this context, an isocratic high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using a polymer column and a fluorescence detector was also developed that enables the separation of the metal ion complexes from the free ligands and non-complexed Al3+. CIT and OTA showed distinct changes in their absorption and fluorescence properties upon Al3+-coordination, and the fluorescence of CIT was considerably enhanced. Analysis of the photometrically assessed titration of CIT and OTA with Al3+ using the Job plot method revealed 1:2 and 1:1 stoichiometries for the Al3+ complexes of CIT (Al:CIT) and OTA (Al:OTA), respectively. In the case of CIT, only one -diketone moiety participates in Al3+ coordination. These findings can be elegantly exploited for signal amplification and provide the base to reduce the limit of detection for CIT quantification by about an order of magnitude, as revealed by HPLC measurements using a fluorescence detector.
Surface functionalization of nanomaterials is nowadays at the core of many applications of functional materials in the life and material sciences. Examples range from membranes and microarrays over bead-based assays, and next generation sequencing to nanometer-sized optical reporters, nanosensors, and magnetic and optical contrast agents. Typical function-nalization steps include silanization and grafting reactions with reactive monomers to introduce functional groups like amino or carboxylic acid groups or the attachment of ligands like polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules and biomolecules. [1-3] This enables to tune e.g., dis-persibility, hydrophilicity and biocompatibility, minimize unspecific interactions, improve biofunctionalization efficiencies, and enhance blood circulation times and allows for the use of nanomaterials as reporters in assays or the design of targeted probes for bioimaging.
At the core of all functionalization strategies are reliable and validated methods for surface group and ligand quantification that can be preferably performed with routine laboratory instrumentation, require only small amounts of substances, and are suitable for many different types of nanomaterials. [3] There is meanwhile a considerable need to make these methods traceable. We present here versatile and simple concepts for the quantification of common functional groups, ligands, and biomolecules on different types of organic and inorganic nanomaterials, using conventional and newly developed cleavable and multimodal reporters, that can be detected with optical spectroscopy. [4-7] These reporters are chosen to enable method validation with the aid of method comparisons and mass balances. Also, strategies how to make these simple assays traceable to SI units using quantitative nuclear resonance spectroscopy (qNMR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are derived.
Time-resolved flow cytometry represents an alternative to commonly applied spectral or intensity multiplexing in bioanalytics. At present, the vast majority of the reports on this topic focuses on phase-domain techniques and specific applications. In this report, we present a flow cytometry platform with time-resolved detection based on a compact setup and straightforward time-Domain measurements utilizing lifetime-encoded beads with lifetimes in the nanosecond range. We provide general assessment of time-domain flow cytometry and discuss the concept of this platform to address achievable resolution limits, data analysis, and requirements on suitable encoding dyes. Experimental data are complemented by numerical calculations on photon count numbers and impact of noise and measurement time on the obtained lifetime values.
Biophotonics and analytics - Photoluminescence properties of nanocrystals and surface group analysis
(2018)
Correlating the photoluminescence (PL) properties of nanomaterials like semiconductor nanocrystals (QDs) and upconversion nanocrystals (UCNPs) assessed in ensemble studies and at the single particle level and studying their surface chemistry is increasingly relevant for applications of these nanomaterials in the life and material sciences. Here we present a comparison of the spectroscopic properties of ensembles and single nanocrystalline emitters and simple methods for the quantification of functional groups and ligands on particle surfaces. The overall goal of this study was to derive particle architectures and surface chemistries well suited for spectroscopic and microscopic applications.
Lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) like hexagonal Beta-NaYF4 UCNPs doped with Yb3+ and Er3+, which efficiently convert 976 nm light to ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared photons, offer new strategies for luminescence-based sensing, barcoding, and imaging. The properties of their upconversion (UC) luminescence (UCL) are, however, strongly influenced by particle size, the concentration and spatial arrangement of the dopant ions, surface chemistry including presence and thickness of surface passivation and shielding shells, microenvironment/presence of quenchers with high energy vibrations, and excitation power density (P). We present here a comprehensive study of the influence of UCNP size and particle architecture for Yb3+ and Er3+ co-doped NaYF4 core-only and core-shell nanostructures in the size range of about 5 nm to 50 nm, which underlines the importance of particle synthesis, surface chemistry, and quantitative luminescence measurements for mechanistic insights and the determination of application-relevant matrix- and P-dependent optimum dopand concentrations.
Photoluminescence techniques are amongst the most widely used tools in the life sciences, with new and exciting applications in medical diagnostics and molecular imaging continuously emerging. Advantages include their comparative ease of use, unique sensitivity, non-invasive character, and potential for multiplexing, remote sensing, and miniaturization. General drawbacks are, however, signals, that contain unwanted wavelength- and polarization contributions from instrument-dependent effects, which are also time-dependent due to aging of instrument-components, and difficulties to measure absolute fluorescence intensities. Moreover, scattering samples require special measurement geometries and emerging optical Reporters with emission > 1000 nm strategies for reliable measurements in the second
diagnostic window or short wavelength infrared (SWIR) for the comparison of material performance and the rational design of new fluorophores with improved properties.
Here, we provide a brief overview over different types of fluorescence standards for instrument calibration and performance control. Also, strategies to versatile method-adaptable liquid and solid fluorescence standards for different fluorescence parameters and applications are presented. This includes spectral emission standards for the traceable determination of the wavelengthdependent spectral responsivity (emission correction curve) of fluorescence measuring devices in the UV/vis/NIR, solid multi-emitter systems for daily instrument performance control, and new standards for the relative determination of the fluorescence quantum yield, the key performance parameter of all emitters. The latter standards enable also performance Control of increasingly used integrating sphere setups.
Biomedical applications, including functional biomaterials, carbohydrate-arrays, and glycan-based biosensors.
The chemistry of glycan immobilization plays an essential role in the bioavailability and function of surface bound carbohydrate moieties. For biomedical applications the stability over time (shelf life) of glycan arrays is a crucial factor. Herein we report on approaches for surface and interface characterization relevant to the needs of production of glycan microarrays which were tested using model carbohydrate surfaces. For detailed characterization of glycan model surfaces we used a combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS) and ToF SIMS which are complementary techniques of surface chemical analysis. Links to fluorescence spectroscopy often used for characterization in the microarray community were established as well. In detail, amine-reactive silicon oxide and glass surfaces were used for anchoring oligosaccharides with an amino linker. The amount of surface bound carbohydrates was estimated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Glycan immobilization was investigated using lectins, which are glycan-binding molecules. A shelf life study of model glycan microarrays on epoxy-coated glass surfaces was done over a period of 160 days under different storage conditions utilizing fluorescence, ToF-SIMS and XPS analysis. It was shown that glycan activity of the models used can be maintained at least for half a year of storage at 4 °C.
During the last years, there has been a rapid rise in the use of nanomaterials in consumer products. Especially silver nanoparticles are frequently used because of their well-known optical and antimicrobial properties. However, the toxicological studies focusing on silver nanoparticles are controversial, either claiming or denying a specific nano-efffect. To contribute to localizing nanoparticles in toxicological studies and to investigate the interaction of particles with cells, a fluorescent marker is often used to monitor their transport and possible degradation. A major problem, in this context is the issue of binding stability of a fluorescent marker which is attached to the particle.
In order to overcome this problem we provide an investigation of the binding properties of fluorescence-labeled BSA to small silver nanoparticles. Therefore, we synthesized small silver nanoparticles which are stabilized by poly(acrylic acid). The particles are available as reference candidate material and were thoroughly characterized in an earlier study. The ligand was exchanged by fluorescence marked albumin (BSA-FITC). The adsorption of the ligands was monitored by dynamic light scattering (DLS). To verify that the observed effects on the hydrodynamic radius originate from the successful ligand exchange and not from agglomeration or aggregation we used small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The fluorescent particles were characterized by UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Afterwards, desorption of the ligand BSA-FITC was monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy and the uptake of particles in different in vitro models was studied.
The particles are spherical and show no sign of aggregation after successful ligand exchange. The fluorescence intensity is quenched significantly by the presence of the silver cores as expected, but the remaining fluorescence intensity was high enough to use these particles in biological investigations. Half-life of fluorescence labeling on the particle was 21 d in a highly concentrated solution of non-labeled BSA. Thus, a very high dilution and long incubation times are needed to remove BSA-FITC from the particles. Finally, the fluorescence-labeled silver nanoparticles were used for uptake studies in human liver and intestinal cells, showing a high uptake for HepG2 liver cells and almost no uptake in differentiated intestinal Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, we showed production of fluorescence-marked silver nanoparticles. The fluorescence marker is strongly adsorbed to the silver surface which is crucial for future investigations in biological matrices. This is necessary for a successful investigation of the toxicological potential of silver nanoparticles.
The synthesis, characterization, and application of mesoporous materials containing boron–dipyrromethene (BODIPY) moieties that allow the sensitive and selective detection of HgII in aqueous environments by fluorescence enhancement is reported. For this purpose, BODIPY dye I containing a thia‐aza crown ether receptor as the fluorescent probe for the detection of HgII in aqueous environments is encapsulated into mesoporous materials to avoid self‐quenching or aggregation in water. Determination of HgII is accomplished within a few seconds with high selectivity and sensitivity, reaching a limit of detection of 12 ppt. The determination of trace amounts of HgII in natural waters and in fish extracts is demonstrated by using our sensing material. The incorporation of the material into several μ‐PAD strips yields a portable, cheap, quick, and easy‐to‐handle tool for trace HgII analysis in water.
DNA origami nanostructures provide a platform where dye molecules can be arranged with nanoscale accuracy allowing to assemble multiple fluorophores without dye–dye aggregation. Aiming to develop a bright and sensitive ratiometric sensor system, we systematically studied the optical properties of nanoarrays of dyes built on DNA origami platforms using a DNA template that provides a high versatility of label choice at minimum cost. The dyes are arranged at distances, at which they efficiently interact by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). To optimize array brightness, the FRET efficiencies between the donor fluorescein (FAM) and the acceptor cyanine 3 were determined for different sizes of the array and for different arrangements of the dye molecules within the array. By utilizing nanoarrays providing optimum FRET efficiency and brightness, we subsequently designed a ratiometric pH nanosensor using coumarin 343 as a pH-inert FRET donor and FAM as a pH-responsive acceptor. Our results indicate that the sensitivity of a ratiometric sensor can be improved simply by arranging the dyes into a well-defined array. The dyes used here can be easily replaced by other analyte-responsive dyes, demonstrating the huge potential of DNA nanotechnology for light harvesting, signal enhancement, and sensing schemes in life sciences.
The increasing interest in molecular and nanoscale emitters with photoluminescence > 800 nm and recently also > 1000 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, bioimaging, and safety Barcodes requires quantitative spectroscopic studies, which are, however still challenging in this long wavelength region. This is of special relevance for nanocrystalline emitters like semiconductor quantum dots and rods as well as lanthanide-based upconversion and downconversion nanocrystals, where surface states and the accessibility of emissive states by quenchers largely control accomplishable photoluminescence quantum yields and hence, signal sizes and detection sensitivities from the reporter side. Moreover, nonlinear emitters like lanthanide-based upconversion nanocrystals require also power density-dependent studies of their luminescence spectra, quantum yields, and decay kinetics. Here, we present suitable absolute methods and underline the impact of such measurements on a profound mechanistic understanding of the nonradiative deactivation pathways in semiconductor and upconversion nanocrystals of different chemical composition and particle architecture.
Common approaches to improve the optical properties of semiconductor quantum dots and lanthanide doped nanophosphors present core/shell structures as radiationless deactivation at the particle surface is usually the main energy loss mechanism. This has led to increasingly sophisticated particle architectures using multishell systems with shells of different chemical composition and thickness and initiated an increasing number of quantitative spectroscopic studies focusing on the key performance parameter photoluminescence quantum yield to identify optimum particle structures. This is particularly challenging in the long wavelength region > 1000 nm and for nonlinear emitters like upconversion nanocrystals. Here, we present suitable absolute methods to quantify the photoluminescence of these different emitters in the vis/NIR/IR and as function of excitation power density and underline the impact of such measurements on a profound mechanistic understanding of the nonradiative deactivation pathways in semiconductor and upconversion nanocrystals of different size and particle architecture in different environments.
DNA origami nanostructures provide a platform where dye molecules can be arranged with nanoscale accuracy allowing to assemble multiple fluorophores without dye−dye aggregation. Aiming to develop a bright and sensitive ratiometric sensor system, we systematically studied the optical properties of nanoarrays of dyes built on DNA Origami platforms using a DNA template that provides a high versatility of label choice at minimum cost. The dyes are arranged at distances, at which they efficiently interact by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). To optimize array brightness, the FRET efficiencies between the donor fluorescein (FAM) and the acceptor cyanine 3 were determined for different sizes of the array and for different arrangements of the dye molecules within the array. By utilizing nanoarrays providing optimum FRET efficiency and brightness, we subsequently designed a ratiometric pH nanosensor using coumarin 343 as a pH-inert FRET donor and FAM as a pHresponsive acceptor. Our results indicate that the sensitivity of a ratiometric sensor can be improved simply by arranging the dyes into a well-defined array. The dyes used here can be easily replaced by other analyte-responsive dyes, demonstrating the huge potential of DNA nanotechnology for light harvesting, signal enhancement, and sensing schemes in life sciences.
Cyanide is known to be a very hazardous and toxic substance. Through the binding to cytochrome oxidase it inhibits the oxygen utilization in cells. The LD50 of cyanide is as low as 1.0 mg/kg. Therefore it is inalienable to develop sensing methods to detect cyanide with a very high selectivity and sensitivity.
In our group we developed a non-fluorescent monomer which is able to detect cyanide-anions with very high selectivity and sensitivity based on a “turn-on” fluorescence method. As cyanide-source we used tetrabutylammoniumcyanide (TBAC). Using an excitation wavelength of 600 nm the increase in fluorescence at 642 nm is strictly selective with cyanide-anions. Different anions like fluoride, hydroxide or acetate show no increase at all. With this new detection system, concentrations as low as 1.6 nM can be detected.
Molecularly Imprinted Polymers with Integrated Fluorescence as Versatile Biomimetic Sensing Matrices
(2018)
Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are an established, versatile and high-performance matrix for the selective separation or enrichment of (bio)chemical species, especially small molecules of biochemical or environmental relevance. MIPs are prepared through the polymerization of a mixture of functional monomers and cross-linkers in the presence of the template with subsequent extraction of the latter. Conceptionally, this process can be seen as mimicking in a strongly accelerated, though single-step manner a biological process such as antibody formation. Because the resulting MIPs contain cavities in their matrix that are complementary in size, shape and electronic/ electrostatic or hydrogen bonding demand to the imprinted target molecule or template, these polymers are frequently termed “artificial antibodies”. Compared to natural antibodies, they are chemically and physically much more robust. Regarding sensitivity and selectivity, however, there is still a gap to bridge before MIPs can fully compete with antibodies.
Another favorable aspect that distinguishes MIPs from antibodies is that they can be endowed with an explicit function, allowing the use of MIPs in applications that require more than only an efficient binder. For instance, if specifically designed and polymerizable fluorescent indicators are integrated as functional monomers into a MIP, direct fluorescence sensing can be accomplished. Because MIPs can be prepared in a variety of different formats, their combination with miniaturized or other specific analytical techniques or sensory devices is possible, especially when the transduction mode is light. This presentation will introduce basic design considerations, challenges, limitations and the potential that lies with such sensor materials with some recent examples of our group, targeting various organic oxoanions as analytes.
Supramolecular chemistry, fluorescence detection, hybrid (nano)materials and device miniaturization are in themselves highly interesting areas of research, yet especially their combination paves the way to (bio)chemical analysis systems that show outstanding performance. The lecture gives an overview of the toolbox of single components developed in BAM’s Chemical and Optical Sensing Division over the years, and how their combination can result in powerful sensors, quick tests and assays. While at the core of a development is the analytical problem, that is, the determination of a certain analyte in a sample of interest with the required sensitivity and selectivity by a specific end user in a given setting, signaling mechanisms, recognition elements, signal transduction modes, materials functionalization, device design and system integration are adequately chosen, tailored and adapted. Examples including molecularly imprinted polymers, hybrid mesoporous nanomaterials, gated indicator release systems, microfluidic devices, test strips and smartphone-based analysis will be presented.
We introduce herein boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes as a new class of fluorophores for the design of reporter dyes for supramolecular host–guest complex formation with cucurbit[7]uril (CB7). The BODIPYs contain a protonatable aniline nitrogen in the meso-position of the BODIPY chromophore, which was functionalized with known binding motifs for CB7. The unprotonated dyes show low fluorescence due to photoinduced electron transfer (PET), whereas the protonated dyes are highly fluorescent. Encapsulation of the binding motif inside CB7 positions the aniline nitrogen at the carbonyl rim of CB7, which affects the pKa value, and leads to a host-induced protonation and thus to a fluorescence increase. The possibility to tune binding affinities and pKa values
is demonstrated and it is shown that, in combination with the beneficial photophysical properties of BODIPYs, several new applications of host–dye reporter pairs can be implemented. This includes indicator displacement assays with favourable absorption and
emission wavelengths in the visible spectral region, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, and noncovalent surface functionalization
with fluorophores.
Contamination of natural bodies of water with oil and lubricants (or generally, hydrocarbon derivatives such as petrol, fuel and others) is a commonly found phenomenon around the world due to the extensive production, transfer and use of fossil fuels. The timely identification of these contaminants is of utmost importance, since they directly affect water quality and represent a risk for wildlife and human health even in trace amounts.
In this work, we develop a simple system for the on-field detection of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in water and soil, the "Spectrocube". The test is based on the measurement of the fluorescence signal emitted by the molecular rotor 4-DNS-OH dye. This dye is embedded in a hydrophobic polymeric matrix (PVDF), avoiding interactions of water with the dye and providing a robust support for use in test-strip fashion. The test-strip’s fluorescence intensity increases linearly at low concentrations of TPH, reaching a saturation value at higher concentrations.
For excitation and evaluation of the test-strip fluorescence, a simple miniature optical system was designed. The system works semi-quantitatively as solvent-free TPH detection kit, as well as quantitatively when using a simple cyclopentane extraction step. To simplify the fluorescence read-out, the device is coupled to a tablet computer via Bluetooth, running a self-programmed software ("app").
Contamination of natural bodies of water with oil and lubricants (or generally, hydrocarbon derivatives such as petrol, fuel and others) is a commonly found phenomenon around the world due to the extensive production, transfer and use of fossil fuels. In this work, we develop a simple system for the on-field detection of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in water and soil. The test is based on fluorescence emission of a 4-dimethylamino-4′-nitrostilbene derivative (4-DNS-OH). This fluorescent molecular rotor is embedded in a hydrophobic polymeric matrix (PVDF), avoiding interactions with water and providing a robust support for use in test-strip fashion. For the fluorescence detection a portable sensor device was developed, featuring two excitation LEDs, a micro-spectrometer and Bluetooth control. A limit of detection of at least 6 ppm of TPH in water was demonstrated.
Application of pesticides is ubiquitous to better manage agricultural production. However, most of these compounds are harmful or toxic for humans and highly persistent in the environment, even in the crops themselves. Therefore, the rapid and reliable monitoring of pesticide residues is a very important area of environmental analysis. If conducted directly in the field, the use of fluorescence sensing methods is particularly attractive, because they allow for sensitive and rapid analyses while being very versatile. Recently, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have emerged as promising candidates for the primary sensing phase. Their robustness, low price and tunability render them an attractive alternative to more conventional biosensors based on antibodies.
At present, a number of MIP formats are available besides the initial bulk polymer monoliths. Core/shell micro- and nanoparticles are especially suitable for sensor applications. A thin shell provides many advantages compared to a bulk polymer, such as fast diffusion of analyte, homogeneity of binding cavities and a higher number of binding sites closer to the surface. A strategy for sensory MIP synthesis is to introduce the fluorophore covalently into the polymer layer. The fluorescent probe monomer may thus consist of a fluorophore unit, a polymerizable unit and a recognition unit.
One of the issues in targeting acidic pesticides such as 2,4-D is the fact that usually their deprotonated form is used for imprinting in organic solvents, commonly as the tetraalkylammonium salt. This approach harbours drawbacks when it comes to analytical rebinding, because real samples seldom contain such counterions. In our group, we have thus developed a new fluorescent probe monomer containing the 2-aminopyridine moiety, which forms strong enough intermolecular hydrogen bonds with the carboxylic acid group of neat 2,4-D. During a titration of the probe monomer with the analyte, hydrogen bond formation is indicated by spectral shifts and fluorescence enhancement. Crystallography studies verified complex formation. The higher fluorometric response of the core-shell MIP compared to a non-imprinted control polymer proved successful imprinting.
Here, we will discuss the pros and cons of neutral molecule vs. salt imprinting, potentially expanding the possibilities of fluorescent sensory MIPs.
Fluorescent carbon nanodots (CNDs) are very promising nanomaterials for a broad range of applications because of their high photostability, presumed selective luminescence, and low cost at which they can be produced. In this respect, CNDs are superior to well-established semiconductor quantum dots and organic dyes. However, reported synthesis protocols for CNDs typically lead to low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and low reproducibility, resulting in a poor understanding of the CND chemistry and photophysics. Here, we report a one-step synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon nanodots (N-CNDs) from various carboxylic acids, Tris, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid resulting in high PLQY of up to 90%. The reaction conditions in terms of starting materials, temperature, and reaction time are carefully optimized and their influence on the photophysical properties is characterized. We find that citric acid-derived N-CNDs can result in a very high PLQY of 90%, but they do not Show selective luminescence. By contrast, acetic acid-derived N-CNDs show selective luminescence but a PLQY of 50%. The chemical
composition of the surface and core of these two selected N-CND types is characterized among others by high-Resolution synchrotron X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy using single isolated N-CND clusters. The results indicate that photoexcitation occurs in the N-CND core, whereas the emission properties are determined by the N-CND surface groups.
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and its early detection and resultant treatment contributes significantly to patient recovery and survival. Detection is currently based on magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, methods that are expensive, while processing of the results is time consuming. There is a need for low-cost cancer-detection techniques that give conclusive results in the shortest time possible. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) targeting tumor markers on cancerous cells may provide a cheaper solution for cancer detection. Thin MIP layers immobilized on particle platforms are known to give faster response times and increased selectivity in comparison to bulk MIPs. It has been reported that a fluorescent monomer can be incorporated into the MIP layer, allowing for faster detection of the target group, thus significantly shortening the turn-around time for biopsies.
Changes in sialylation patterns of cell surface glycoproteins indicate malignancy. Here, we present the development of MIPs that target sialic acid-terminated glycoproteins (SA MIPs), prepared as a thin layer on a silica nanoparticle platform. A fluorescent monomer is incorporated into the MIP layer, and upon binding of the target group to the specific binding pockets in the MIP, the fluorescence signal is enhanced. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are used for structural characterization. To validate the specificity, fluorescence changes of MIPs in the presence and absence of template are compared to their corresponding non-imprinted polymer particles (NIP). Initial binding experiments with tumor cells using fluorescence microscopy demonstrate that the presented technique shows promise as a cheaper alternative to current detection methods, while allowing for relatively shorter analysis of biopsy results.
Detection of pathogenic nucleic acids remains one of the most reliable approaches for the diagnosis of a broad range of diseases. Current PCR-based methods require experienced personnel and cannot be easily used for point-of care diagnostics, making alternative strategies for the sensitive, reliable, and cost-efficient detection of pathogenic nucleic acids highly desirable. Here, we report an enzyme-free method for the fluorometric detection of RNA that relies on a target-induced fluorophore transfer onto a semiconductor quantum dot (QD), uses PNA probes as selective recognition elements and can be read out with simple and inexpensive equipment. For QD-PNA conjugates with optimized PNA content, limits of detection of dengue RNA in the range of 10 pM to 100 nM can be realized within 5 h in the presence of a high excess of noncomplementary RNA.
Phage display is used to find specific target binding peptides for polypropylene (PP) surfaces. PP is one of the most commonly used plastics in the world. Millions of tons are produced every year. PP binders are of particular interest because so far gluing or printing on PP is challenging due to its low surface energy. A phage display protocol for PP was developed followed by Next Generation DNA Sequencing of the whole phage library. Data analysis of millions of sequences yields promising peptide candidates which were synthesized as PEG conjugates. Fluorescence-based adsorption-elution-experiments show high adsorption on PP for several sequences.
Lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs)like hexagonal beta-NaYF4 UCNPs doped with Yb3+ and Er3+, which efficiently convert 976 nm light to ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared photons, offer new strategies for luminescence-based sensing and imaging. The properties of their upconversion (UC) luminescence (UCL) are, however, strongly influenced by particle size, concentration and spatial arrangement of dopant ions, surface chemistry, microenvironment, and excitation power density (P).
We present here comprehensive studies of the influence of UCNP size and particle architecture for Yb3+ and Er3+ co-doped NaYF4 nanoparticles and energy transfer processes in these materials, which underline the importance of quantitative luminescence measurements for mechanistic insights and the determination of application-relevant matrix- and P-dependent optimum dopand concentrations.
A vast number of emerging pollutants has been detected in the environment over the last decades. Analytical methods suitable for trace analysis are needed that are desirably also fast, inexpensive and, if possible, robust and portable. Immunoanalytical methods which are available in a broad range of formats, can be profitably used here to analyze for the distribution and the trends of concentration levels of contaminants in the environment. Some of these formats are single-analyte but high-throughput methods. In order to use them wisely, indicator substances, sometimes called anthropogenic markers, should be selected and used in screening approaches. Other methods are suitable to be performed on portable instrumentation in the field (on-site) or in facilities such as wastewater treatment plants for on-line monitoring. Furthermore, there are the socalled array technologies that allow for parallel analysis of several analytes of interest (multiplexing). The microtiter-plate based ELISA (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay) is the method of choice for the analysis of a large number of samples [1]. ELISA screening data for anthropogenic markers such as the antiepileptic carbamazepine, the analgesic diclofenac, the anti-histaminic cetirizine, the steroid hormone estrone, the antimicrobial sulfamethoxazole, the stimulants caffeine and cocaine, the priority pollutant bisphenol A, and the bile acid isolithocholic acid [2] are presented. For on-site screening and monitoring, simpler formats, like mix-and-read assays, e.g. the Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay (FPIA) or Lateral-flow Immunoassays (LFIA) are more suitable tools. Electrochemical formats run on portable devices provide additional advantages as no light source is required. Some examples are presented and discussed. The suitability of multi-analyte formats such as immunomicroarrays depends on the choice of a signal-producing system that provides small uncertainties and good reproducibility of the measurements. Biochip (“flat”) arrays read out on slide scanners and bead-based (“suspension”) arrays read out in flow cytometers are two options and show their distinct pros and cons. Altogether these approaches show the great potential immunoanalytical methods provide for the screening for environmental contaminants in the aquatic environment.
An immunohistochemical method is described to visualize the distribution of metallothioneins 1/2 (MT 1/2) and metallothionein 3 (MT 3) in human ocular tissue. It is making use of (a) antibodies conjugated to gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) acting as labels, and (b) laser ablation (LA) coupled to inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Water-soluble fluorescent AuNCs (with an average size of 2.7 nm) were synthesized and then conjugated to antibody by carbodiimide coupling. The surface of the modified AuNCs was then blocked with hydroxylamine to avoid nonspecific interactions with biological tissue. Immunoassays for MT 1/2 and MT 3 in ocular tissue sections (5 μm thick) from two post mortem human donors were performed. Imaging studies were then performed by fluorescence using confocal microscopy, and LA-ICP-MS was performed in the retina to measure the signal for gold. Signal amplification by the >500 gold atoms in each nanocluster allowed the antigens (MT 1/2 and MT 3) to be imaged by LA-ICP-MS using a laser spot size as small as 4 μm. The image patterns found in retina are in good agreement with those obtained by conventional fluorescence immunohistochemistry which was used as an established reference method.
The overall interest in nanotoxicity, triggered by the increasing use of nanomaterials in the material and life sciences, and the synthesis of an ever increasing number of new functional nanoparticles calls for standardized test procedures1,2 and for efficient approaches to screen the potential genotoxicity of these materials. Aiming at the development of fast and easy to use, automated microscopic methods for the determination of the genotoxicity of different types of nanoparticles, we assess the potential of the fluorometric γH2AX assay for this purpose. This assay, which can be run on an automated microscopic detection system, relies on the detection of DNA double strand breaks as a sign for genotoxicity3. Here, we provide first results obtained with broadly used nanomaterials like CdSe/CdS and InP/ZnS quantum dots as well as iron oxide, gold, and polymer particles of different surface chemistry with previously tested colloidal stability and different cell lines like Hep-2 and 8E11 cells, which reveal a dependence of the genotoxicity on the chemical composition as well as the surface chemistry of these nanomaterials. These studies will be also used to establish nanomaterials as positive and negative genotoxicity controls or standards for assay performance validation for users of this fluorometric genotoxicity assay. In the future, after proper validation, this microscopic platform technology will be expanded to other typical toxicity assays.
The recently reported luminescent chromium(III) complex 13+ ([Cr(ddpd)2]3+; ddpd=N,N’-dimethyl-N,N’-dipyridine-2-yl-pyridine-2,6-diamine) shows exceptionally strong near-IR emission at 775 nm in water under ambient conditions (F=11%) with a microsecond lifetime as the ligand design in 13+ effectively eliminates non-radiative decay pathways, such as photosubstitution, back-intersystem crossing, and trigonal twists. In the absence of energy acceptors, such as dioxygen, the remaining decay pathways are energy transfer to high energy solvent and ligand oscillators, namely OH and CH stretching vibrations. Selective deuteration of the solvents and the ddpd ligands probes the efficiency of these oscillators in the excited state deactivation. Addressing these energytransfer pathways in the first and second coordination sphere furnishes a record 30% quantum yield and a 2.3 millisecond lifetime for a metal complex with an earth-abundant metal ion in solution at room temperature.
Der kürzlich publizierte Chrom(III)-Komplex 13+([Cr(ddpd)2]3+) zeigt in wässriger Lösung unter Umgebungsbedingungen eine bemerkenswert starke Emission im nahen Infrarot-Bereich mit einer Emissionswellenlänge von 775 nm.
Geschicktes Ligandendesign verhindert strahlungslose Desaktivierungsprozesse wie Photosubstitution, Rück-Intersystem-Crossing und trigonale Verzerrungen und führt damit zu einer Phosphoreszenzlebensdauer im Bereich von Mikrosekunden.
In Abwesenheit von Energieakzeptoren wie molekularem Sauerstoff verbleibt nur Energietransfer zu hochenergetischen Oszillatoren der Liganden und Lösungsmittelmoleküle wie beispielsweise OH- und CH-Streckschwingungen als Desaktivierungspfad. Selektive Deuterierung der ddpd-Liganden und der Lösungsmittel l-sst die Effizienz dieser Oszillatoren bei der Desaktivierung angeregter Zustände erkennbar werden. Gezieltes Ausschalten dieser Relaxationspfade führt zu einer Quantenausbeute von 30% und einer Lebensdauer von 2.3 Millisekunden bei Raumtemperatur in Lösung – Rekordwerte für einen Komplex, der auf dem Element Chrom basiert. Diese fundamentalen Erkenntnisse ebnen den Weg für gezieltes Ligandendesign zur Synthese lumineszierender Komplexe mit gut verfügbaren Übergangsmetallen.
We designed and synthesized triphenylamine based and coumarin fused rhodamine hybrid dyes and characterized using 1H, 13C NMR and HR-LCMS analysis. Both the newly synthesized hybrid dyes were found to show red shifted absorption as well as emissions and large Stokes shift (40e68 nm) as compared to the small Stokes shift (25e30 nm) of reported dyes Rhodamine B and 101. Photophysical properties of these dyes were studied in different solvents and according to the solvents acidity or basicity they preferred to remain in their spirocyclic or open form in different ratio. We studied the spirocyclic as well as open form derivatives of these dyes for their viscosity sensitivity in three different mixture of solvents i.e. polar-protic [EtOH-PEG 400], polar-aprotic [toluene-PEG 400] and non-polaraprotic [toluene-paraffin]. They are found to show very high viscosity sensitivity in polar-protic mixture of solvents [EtOH-PEG 400] and hence concluded that both polarity as well as viscosity factor worked together for the higher emission enhancement rather than only viscosity factor. As these dyes showed very high viscosity sensitivity in their spirocyclic as well as open form, they can be utilized as viscosity sensors in visible as well as deep red region. We also correlated our experimental finding theoretically by using Density Functional theory computations.
An immunohistochemical method is described to visualize the distribution of metallothioneins 1/2 (MT 1/2) and metallothionein 3 (MT 3) in human ocular tissue. It is making use of (a) antibodies conjugated to gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) acting as labels, and (b) laser ablation (LA) coupled to inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).Water-soluble fluorescent AuNCs (with an average size of 2.7 nm) were synthesized and then conjugated to antibody by carbodiimide coupling. The surface of the modified AuNCs was then blocked with hydroxylamine to avoid nonspecific interactions with biological tissue. Immunoassays for MT 1/2 and MT 3 in ocular tissue sections (5 μm thick) from two post mortem human donors were performed. Imaging studies were then performed by fluorescence using confocal microscopy, and LA-ICP-MS was performed in the retina to measure the signal for gold. Signal amplification by the >500 gold atoms in each nanocluster allowed the antigens (MT 1/2 and MT 3) to be imaged by LA-ICP-MS using a laser spot size as small as 4 μm. The image patterns found in retina are in good agreement with those obtained by conventional fluorescence immunohistochemistry which was used as an established reference method.
Lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) offer new strategies for luminescence-based sensing and imaging. One of the best studied materials are hexagonal ß-NaYF4 UCNPs doped with 20% Yb3+ and 2% Er3+, which efficiently convert 976 nm light to photons emitted at 540 nm, 655 nm, and 845 nm, respectively, reveal Long luminescence lifetimes (> 100 µs), and are very photostable and chemically inters.[1,2] The properties of their upconversion (UC) luminescence (UCL) are, however, strongly influenced by particle size, concentration and spatial arrangement of dopant Ions, surface chemistry, and microenvironment.[3,4] In addition, the multiphotonic absorption processes responsible for UCL render UCL dependent on excitation power density (P).
The rational design of brighter UCNPs particle architectures encouraged us to assess systematically the influence of these parameters on UCL for differently doped UCNPs relying on the commonly used ß-NaYf4 matrix using steady state and time resolved fluorometry as well as integrating sphere spectroscopy for P varied over almost three orders of magnitude. This includes comprehensive studies of the influence of size and shell, Yb3+ and Er3+ dopand concentrations, and energy Transfer processes from UCNPs to surface-bound organic dyes or vice versa [5]. Our results underline the need for really quantitative luminescence studies for mechanistic insights, the potential of high p to compensate for UCL surface quenching, and the matrix- and P-dependence of the optimum dopand concentration.
Chemical functionalization for quantitative spectroscopic labeling on macroscopically flat surfaces
(2018)
This chapter highlights the application of chemical derivatization (CD) to facilitate the quantification of surface functional groups being an important issue for a wide field of applications. The selective attachment of a chemical label to a surface functional group being afterwards exclusively detectable by a highly sensitive technique overcomes the problem of characterizing low amounts of functional groups on macroscopically flat surfaces. The most frequently employed methods include CD X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet/visible absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopy, as well as time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. Herein, the basic conditions for the different techniques regarding the specific surface functional group which need to be quantified are discussed. Additionally, the substrate highly influences the compatibility of the corresponding method. Because not just the quantification but also the preparation of the desired application is important, a summary of different preparation methods for glass, polymer and gold substrates is presented.
Because of the globally increasing prevalence of diabetes, the need for accurate, efficient and at best miniaturized automated analytical systems for sugar detection in medical diagnostics and the food industry is still urgent. The development of molecular probes for sugars based on boronic acid receptors offers an excellent alternative to the kinetically slow enzyme-based sugar sensors. Moreover, by coupling such chelating units with dye scaffolds like BODIPYs (boron–dipyrromethenes), highly fluorescent sugar sensing schemes can be realized. In this work, a boronic acid-functionalized BODIPY probe was developed, which binds selectively to fructose’s adjacent diols to form cyclic boronate esters. Placement of an amino group in direct neighborhood of the boronic acid moiety allowed us to obtain a broad working range at neutral pH, which distinguishes the probe from the majority of systems working only at pH > 8, while still meeting the desired sensitivity in the micro-molar range due to a pronounced analyte-induced fluorescence increase. To enhance the applicability of the test in the sense described above, integration with a microfluidic chip was achieved. Here, fructose was selectively detected by fluorescence with similar sensitivity in real time on chip, and an assay for the straightforward detection of sugar in (colored) sodas without sample clean-up was established.
Highly emissive phenanthrene-fused boron–dipyrromethene (PBDP) dyes have been spectroscopically characterized in a series of solvents. The influence of different substituents (-H,
-I, -CN, -DMA or a 15C5-crown ether) in the para-position of a phenyl ring attached to the meso-position of the BODIPY core is discussed. This family of dyes has an intense emission at lambda > 630 nm, with fluorescence quantum yields between 0.7 and 1.0 in all solvents studied, except in the case of the dimethylamino-substituted
derivative, PBDP-DMA, which undergoes excited-state intramolecular charge transfer (CT), leading to broadband dual fluorescence in highly polar solvents. Introduction of a weaker electron donor such as a benzocrown to the meso-position is not able to trigger a second (charge or electron transfer) process and, interestingly, heavy atom (iodine, PBDP-I derivative) substitution at that moiety does also not have a relevant influence on the photophysics, i.e., enhanced intersystem crossing was not observed.
Electrochemical studies of PBDP-DMA complement the data reported and stress the fact that the decrease in fluorescence of PBDP-DMA in highly polar solvents is due to an excited-state CT process
rather than to a photoinduced electron transfer (PET).
Fluorescent sensory MIP (molecularly imprinted polymer) particles were combined with a droplet-based 3D microfluidic system for the selective determination of a prototype small-molecule analyte of environmental concern, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid or 2,4-D, at nanomolar concentration directly in water samples. A tailor-made fluorescent indicator cross-linker was thus designed that translates the binding event directly into an enhanced fluorescence signal. The phenoxazinone-type cross-linker was co-polymerized into a thin MIP layer grafted from the surface of silica microparticles following a RAFT (reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer) polymerization protocol. While the indicator cross-linker outperformed its corresponding monomer twin, establishment of a phase-transfer protocol was essential to guarantee that the hydrogen bond-mediated signalling mechanism between the urea binding site on the indicator cross-linker and the carboxylate group of the analyte was still operative upon real sample analysis. The latter was achieved by integration of the fluorescent core-shell MIP sensor particles into a modular microfluidic platform that allows for an in-line phasetransfer assay, extracting the analyte from aqueous sample droplets into the organic phase that contains the sensor particles. Real-time fluorescence determination of 2,4-D down to 20 nM was realized with the system and applied for the analysis of various surface water samples collected from different parts of the world.