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Organisationseinheit der BAM
- 1 Analytische Chemie; Referenzmaterialien (31)
- 1.9 Chemische und optische Sensorik (31)
- 8 Zerstörungsfreie Prüfung (4)
- 8.1 Sensorik, mess- und prüftechnische Verfahren (4)
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Eingeladener Vortrag
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Nonporous corundum powder, known as an abrasive material in the industry, was functionalized covalently with protein binders to isolate and enrich specific proteins from complex matrices. The materials based on corundum were characterized by TEM, ESEM, BET, DLS, EDS, and zeta potential measurements. The strong Al-O-P bonds between the corundum surface and amino phosphonic acids were used to introduce functional groups for further conjugations. The common crosslinker glutaraldehyde was compared with a hyperbranched polyglycerol (PG) of around 10 kDa. The latter was oxidized with periodate to generate aldehyde groups that can covalently react with the amines of the surface and the amino groups from the protein via a reductive amination process. The amount of bound protein was quantified via aromatic amino acid analysis (AAAA). This work shows that oxidized polyglycerol can be used as an alternative to glutaraldehyde. With polyglycerol, more of the model protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) could be attached to the surface under the same conditions, and lower non-specific binding (NSB) was observed. As a proof of concept, IgG was extracted with protein A from crude human plasma. The purity of the product was examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). A binding capacity of 1.8 mg IgG per gram of corundum powder was achieved. The advantages of corundum include the very low price, extremely high physical and chemical stability, pressure resistance, favorable binding kinetics, convenient handling, and flexible application.
Glycoproteins are abundant on the cell surface of mammals, providing structural support, modulating cell Membrane properties, and acting as signaling agents. Variation of glycosylation patterns has been found to indicate various disease states, including cell malignancy. Sialic acid (SA) is present as a terminating group on cell-surface glycans, and its overexpression has been linked to several types of cancer. Detection of SA on the cell surface is therefore critical for detection of cancer in its early stages. In this work, a fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer layer targeting SA was synthesized on the surface of silica-coated polystyrene (PS) particles. Compared to previous works, a PS core supplies a lighter, lower-density support for improved suspension stability and scattering properties. Moreover, their smaller size provides a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio for binding. The incorporation of a fluorescent monomer in the MIP shell allowed for simple and rapid determination of binding specificity in polar media due to a deprotonation−reprotonation interaction mechanism between the fluorescent monomer and SA, which led to spectral changes.
Upon titration of the MIP particles with SA in suspension, an increase in fluorescence emission of the particles was observed, with the MIP particles binding SA more selectively compared to the nonimprinted polymer (NIP) control particles. In cell staining experiments performed by flow cytometry, the binding behavior of the MIP particles compared favorably with that of SA-binding lectins. NIPs prepared with a “dummy” template served as a better negative control in cell binding assays due to the favorable inward orientation of template-binding functional groups in the polymer shell, which reduced nonspecific binding. The results show that fluorescent MIPs targeting SA are a promising tool for in vitro fluorescence staining of cancerous cells and for future diagnosis of cancer at early stages.
Besides the traditional areas of application such as separation and enrichment which made molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) very attractive, they have emerged as a valuable detection tool in the field of environmental analysis due to the low production costs, high stability, format adaptability and the possibility to imprint and thus specifically recognize a wide variety of target analytes. Regarding optical sensing, however, MIPs have only been used in considerably few applications, especially in fluorescence sensors, basically because of the challenge to incorporate a fluorescently responding moiety into a polymer matrix. One way to overcome this limitation is the coating of a thin MIP layer onto the surface of silica nanoparticles using tailor-made fluorescent indicator monomers or cross-linkers for direct transfer of the binding event into an optical signal.
Regarding sensors for environmental monitoring, microfluidic devices utilizing optical detection modules are especially appealing because of their versatility in terms of miniaturization and automation. So far, MIPs have only rarely been used in combination with microfluidic sensor devices.
Here, we present the hydrogen bond-mediated optical response of fluorescent MIP sensor particles against a typical small-molecule analyte 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophen¬oxyacetic acid) which is an important herbicide widely used in agriculture and known to cause adverse health effects when ingested by contaminated water. By combining the sensor particles with droplet-based 3D microfluidics, a microfluidic phase-transfer assay was designed which enables the direct analysis of 2,4-D in river and lake water without sample pre-treatment or clean-up.
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.
In the KonSens Project, sensor systems are developed, validated, and operated in form of functional models for the application areas Structure Integrated Sensors and Mobile Multi-gas Sensors. Key aspects are the detection and evaluation of corrosion processes in reinforced concrete structures as well as the detection and quantification of very low concentrations of toxic gases in air. The adaption of sensor principles from the lab into real-life application including appropriate communication techniques is a major task.
In recent years, Structural Health Monitoring have gained in importance, since growing age of buildings and infrastructure as well as increasing load requirements demand for reliable surveillance methods. In this regard, the project follows two strategies: First, the development and implementation of completely embedded sensor systems consisting of RFID-tag and in situ sensors, and their further application potential (e.g. for precast concrete elements, roadways, wind power plants, and maritime structures). Secondly, the development of a long-term stable, miniaturized, fiber optic sensor for a ratiometric and referenced measurement of the pH-value in concrete based on fluorescence detection as an indicator for carbonation and corrosion.
Environmental pollution through emission of toxic gases becomes an increasing problem not only in agriculture (e.g. biogas plants) and industry but also in urban areas. This leads to increasing demand to monitor environmental emissions as well as ambient air and industrial air components in many scenarios and in even lower concentrations than nowadays. The selectivity of luminescence-based sensors is enabled by the combination of the sensing dye and the material, which is used as accumulation medium for concentration of the analyte. This principle allows for developing gas sensors with high selectivity and sensitivity of defined substances. Additional benefits, particularly of fluorescence-based sensors, are their capability for miniaturization and potential multiplex mode. Objective is the development and implementation of sensors based on fluorescence detection for defined toxic gases (ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, ozone, and benzene) with sensitivity in the low ppm or even ppb range. Additionally, the integration of such sensors in mobile sensor devices is addressed.
In the present paper the development of a semi-automated device for long-term monitoring of gaseous ammonia is described. A sensor material was produced that changes its optical properties in the pres-ence of low concentrations of ammonia in air. The implementation into an electronic device enables precise, simple, economic and fast monitoring of low concentrations of harmful gases, like ammonia, and hence can help to improve the climate monitoring in livestock housing, barns or stables.
There is significant contamination of our water resources and an accelerating accumulation of hazardous species in the aquatic biosphere. Whether for instance mercury as a contaminant constantly released from a multitude of industrial processes or chemical warfare agents (CWAs) such as Tabun (GA), Sarin (GB) or Soman (GD) as highly toxic remnants of World War II, released from dumped containers upon their progressive corrosion, are concerned such hazards can cause serious problems to human health even at low concentration and monitoring them becomes increasingly essential. Conclusively, it is necessary to develop sensors for such hazards that combine high sensitivity, good selectivity, fast responses and can dispense with complex instrumentation.
Here, we present SBA-15-type mesoporous silica materials containing boron–dipyrromethene (BODIPY) probes in their pore systems that allow for the sensitive and selective detection of the two target analytes CWAs and Hg2+ in natural waters via a change in the optical properties. In case of Hg2+, the BODIPY dye is directly adsorbed on the (inner and outer) surface of the highly porous material and coordinates the metal ion, leading to an enhancement of fluorescence with a limit of detection (LOD) of 15 ppt. Using the same silica material but incorporating a covalently attached BODIPY dye, the CWAs GA, GD and GB can be detected via fluorescence quenching induced by an intraannular cyclization. The obtained LOD in natural waters is in the pM range and hence below the Maximum Permissible Concentrations for CWAs in drinking water. Aspects of system design as well as application in water and food analysis (fish extracts) will be presented.
There is significant contamination of our water resources and an accelerating accumulation of hazardous species in the aquatic biosphere. Whether for instance mercury as a contaminant constantly released from a multitude of industrial processes or chemical warfare agents (CWAs) such as Tabun (GA), Sarin (GB) or Soman (GD) as highly toxic remnants of World War II, released from dumped containers upon their progressive corrosion, are concerned such hazards can cause serious problems to human health even at low concentration and monitoring them becomes increasingly essential. Conclusively, it is necessary to develop sensors for such hazards that combine high sensitivity, good selectivity, fast responses and can dispense with complex instrumentation.
Here, we present SBA-15-type mesoporous silica materials containing boron–dipyrromethene (BODIPY) probes in their pore systems that allow for the sensitive and selective detection of the two target analytes CWAs and Hg2+ in natural waters via a change in the optical properties. In case of Hg2+, the BODIPY dye is directly adsorbed on the (inner and outer) surface of the highly porous material and coordinates the metal ion, leading to an enhancement of fluorescence with a limit of detection (LOD) of 15 ppt. Using the same silica material but incorporating a covalently attached BODIPY dye, the CWAs GA, GD and GB can be detected via fluorescence quenching induced by an intraannular cyclization. The obtained LOD in natural waters is in the pM range and hence below the Maximum Permissible Concentrations for CWAs in drinking water. Aspects of system design as well as application in water and food analysis (fish extracts) will be presented.
Mit Tröpfchen Spielen
(2018)
Mikrofluidische Systeme sind leistungsstarke analytische Tools mit attraktiven Eigenschaften wie miniaturisierter Größe, geringem Reagenzien und Probenverbrauch, schneller Ansprech- und kurzer Messzeit. Der Bedarf solcher leistungsstarken, miniaturisierten und direkt vor Ort anwendbaren Sensorsysteme steigt kontinuierlich, hauptsächlich durch das Bedürfnis der Gesellschaft, schneller, besser und umfassender über kritische Faktoren im Lebens- und Arbeitsumfeld sowie der Umwelt informiert zu sein.
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.
Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) against sialic acid (SA) have been developed as a detection tool to target cancer cells. Before proceeding to in vivo studies, a better knowledge of the overall effects of MIPs on the innate immune system is needed. The aim of this study thus was to exemplarily assess whether SA-MIPs lead to inflammatory and/or cytotoxic responses when administered to phagocytosing cells in the innate immune system. The response of monocytic/macrophage cell lines to two different reference particles, Alhydrogel and PLGA, was compared to their response to SA-MIPs. In vitro culture showed a cellular association of SA-MIPs and Alhydrogel, as analyzed by flow cytometry. The reference particle Alhydrogel induced secretion of IL-1b from the monocytic cell line THP-1, whereas almost no secretion was provoked for SA-MIPs. A reduced number of both THP-1 and RAW 264.7 cells were observed after incubation with SA-MIPs and this was not caused by cytotoxicity. Digital holographic cytometry showed that SA-MIP treatment affected cell division, with
much fewer cells dividing. Thus, the reduced number of cells after SA-MIP treatment was not linked to SA-MIPs cytotoxicity. In conclusion, SA-MIPs have a low degree of inflammatory properties, are not cytotoxic, and can be applicable for future in vivo studies.
A universal fast and easy access at room temperature to transparent sols of nanoscopic Eu3+ and Tb3+ doped CaF2, SrF2 and BaF2 particles via the fluorolytic sol–gel synthesis route is presented. Monodisperse quasi-spherical nanoparticles with sizes of 3–20 nm are obtained with up to 40% rare earth doping showing red or green luminescence. In the beginning luminescence quenching effects are only observed for the highest content, which demonstrates the unique and outstanding properties of these materials. From CaF2:Eu10 via SrF2:Eu10 to BaF2:Eu10 a steady increase of the luminescence intensity and lifetime occurs by a factor of ≈2; the photoluminescence quantum yield increases by 29 to 35% due to the lower phonon energy of the matrix. The fast formation process of the particles within fractions of seconds is clearly visualized by exploiting appropriate luminescence processes during the synthesis. Multiply doped particles are also available by this method. Fine tuning of the luminescence properties is achieved by variation of the Ca-to-Sr ratio. Co-doping with Ce3+ and Tb3+ results in a huge increase (>50 times) of the green luminescence intensity due to energy transfer Ce3+ → Tb3+. In this case, the luminescence intensity is higher for CaF2 than for SrF2, due to a lower spatial distance of the rare earth ions.
Pollution through emission of toxic gases is of utmost environmental concern, raising the interest in developing reliable gas sensors. Exemplarily, ammonia and its conversion products can provoke considerable damage on human health and ecosystems. Hence, there is a need for reliable and reversible sensor materials to monitor traces of gaseous ammonia in ambient air, which at best can be used on-site for field measurements. Although various types of sensors such as potentiometric, amperometric, and biological sensors are available for detecting trace amounts of gases, fluorescent sensors have gained importance due to several advantages such as high sensitivity, possible miniaturization, as well as potential multiplexing. Herein, we present the development of a sensor material for gaseous ammonia in the lower ppm or even ppb range using optical fluorescence as transduction mechanism due to its intrinsically high sensitivity and high spatial resolution.[1] Therefore, a fluorescent dye, which shows reversible fluorescence enhancement in the presence of the analyte was incorporated into a polymer matrix, the latter to ensure the accumulation of ammonia. To calibrate the designed optical sensor system a gas standard generator was used, producing standard gas mixtures, which comply with the metrological traceability for ammonia gas standards in the desired environmentally relevant measurement range.[2] Beside the development of a highly sensitive, selective, and reversible sensor, the integration of such systems into mobile sensor devices is addressed. Therefore, a prototype of a miniaturized hand-held instrument was developed enabling a straightforward and long-term read-out of the measurement signal.
Because ammonia and its reaction products can cause considerable damage to human health and ecosystems, there is a need for reliably operating and reversibly interacting sensor materials to monitor traces of gaseous ammonia in ambient air, which at best can be used on-site for in-the-field measurements. Herein, the development of a sensor material for gaseous ammonia in the lower ppm to ppb range using optical fluorescence as transduction mechanism is presented. A fluorescent dye, which shows reversible fluorescence enhancement in the presence of ammonia is incorporated into a polymer matrix, the latter to ensure the accumulation of ammonia. The sensor material is integrated into a prototype of a miniaturized sensor device, facilitating long-term operation. To calibrate the optical sensor system a gas standard generator, producing standard gas mixtures, is used, leading to a sensitivity down to lower ppm concentrations of ammonia.
Antibody-gated indicator delivery (gAID) systems based on mesoporous silica nano- and microparticle scaffolds are a promising class of materials for the sensitive chemical detection of small-molecule analytes in simple test formats such as lateral flow assays (LFAs) or microfluidic chips. Their architecture is reminiscent of drug delivery systems, only that reporter molecules instead of drugs are stored in the voids of a porous host particle. In addition, the pores are closed with macromolecular “caps” through a tailored “gatekeeping” recognition chemistry so that the caps are opened when an analyte has reacted with a “gatekeeper”. The subsequent uncapping leads to a release of a large number of indicator molecules, endowing the system with signal amplification features. Particular benefits of such systems are their modularity and adaptability. With the example of the immunochemical detection of type-I pyrethroids by fluorescent dye-releasing gAID systems, the influence of several tuning modes on the optimisation of such hybrid sensory materials is introduced here. In particular, different mesoporous silica supports (from nano- and microparticles to platelets and short fibres), different functionalisation routes and different loading sequences were assessed. The materials’ performances were evaluated by studying their temporal response behaviour and detection sensitivity, including the tightness of pore closure (through the amount of blank release in the absence of analyte) and the release kinetics. Our results indicate that the better the paratope-accommodating Fab region of the antibody “cap” fits into the host material's pore opening, the better the closing/opening mechanism can be controlled. Because such materials are well-suited for LFAs, performance assessment included a test-strip format besides conventional assays in suspension. In combination with dyes as indicators and smartphones for read-out, simple analytical tests for use by untrained personnel directly at a point-of-need such as an aeroplane cabin can be devised, allowing for sensitivities down to the μg kg−1 range in <5 min with case-required selectivities.
Playing with Droplets
(2018)
Microfluidic devices are powerful analytical tools with appealing features such as miniaturized size, low reagent and sample consumption, rapid response and short measurement times. As society wants to be ever better, earlier and more comprehensively informed about critical factors in life, work, and the environment, the demand for powerful measurement devices for use outside of the laboratory constantly increases.
This contribution reports the development of a polymerizable BODIPY-type fluorescent probe targeting small-molecule carboxylates for incorporation into molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). The design of the probe crosslinker includes a urea recognition site p-conjugated to the 3-position of the BODIPY core and two methacrylate moieties. Titration experiments with a carboxylate-expressing antibiotic, levofloxacin (LEVO), showed a blue shift of the absorption band as well as a broadening and decrease in emission, attributed to hydrogen bonding between the probe’s urea group and the carboxylate group of the antibiotic. Using this probe crosslinker, core–shell particles with a silica core and a thin MIP shell were prepared for the detection of LEVO. The MIP exhibited highly selective recognition of LEVO, with an imprinting factor of 18.1 compared to the non-imprinted polymer. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the core–shell structure and spectroscopic studies revealed that the receptor’s positioning leads to a unique perturbation of the polymethinic character of the BODIPY chromophore, entailing the favourable responses. These features are fully preserved in the MIP, whereas no such response was observed for competitors such as ampicillin. The sensory particles allowed to detect LEVO down to submicromolar concentrations in dioxane. We have developed here for the first time a BODIPY probe for organic carboxylates and incorporated it into polymers using the imprinting technique, paving the way for BODIPY-type fluorescent MIP sensors.
The need for rapid and high-throughput screening in analytical laboratories has led to significant growth in interest in suspension array technologies (SATs), especially with regard to cytometric assays targeting a low to medium number of analytes. Such SAT or bead-based assays rely on spherical objects that constitute the analytical platform. Usually, functionalized polymer or silica (SiO2) microbeads are used which each have distinct advantages and drawbacks. In this paper, we present a straightforward synthetic route to highly monodisperse SiO2-coated polystyrene core−shell (CS) beads for SAT with controllable architectures from smooth to raspberry- and multilayer-like shells by varying the molecular weight of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), which was used as the stabilizer of the cores. The combination of both organic polymer core and a structurally controlled inorganic SiO2 shell in one hybrid particle holds great promises for flexible next-generation design of the spherical platform. The particles were characterized by electron microscopy (SEM, T-SEM, and TEM), thermogravimetry, flow cytometry, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption, offering comprehensive information on the composition, size, structure, and surface area. All particles show ideal cytometric detection patterns and facile handling due to the hybrid structure. The beads are endowed with straightforward modification possibilities through the defined SiO2 shells. We successfully implemented the particles in fluorometric SAT model assays, illustrating the benefits of tailored surface area which is readily available for small-molecule anchoring. Very promising assay performance was shown for DNA hybridization assays with quantification limits down to 8 fmol.
Functional core/shell particles are highly sought after in analytical chemistry, especially in methods suitable for single-particle analysis such as flow cytometry because they allow for facile multiplexed detection of several analytes in a single run. Aiming to develop a powerful bead platform of which the core particle can be doped in a straightforward manner while the shell offers the highest possible sensitivity when functionalized with (bio)chemical binders, polystyrene particles were coated with different kinds of mesoporous silica shells in a convergent growth approach. Mesoporous shells allow us to obtain distinctly higher surface areas in comparison with conventional nonporous shells. While assessing the potential of narrow- as well as wide-pore silicas such as Mobil composition of matter no. 41 (MCM-41) and Santa Barbara amorphous material no. 15 (SBA-15), especially the synthesis of the latter shells that are much more suitable for biomolecule anchoring was optimized by altering the pH and both, the amount and type of the mediator salt. Our studies showed that the best performing material resulted from a synthesis using neutral conditions and MgSO4 as an ionic mediator. The analytical potential of the particles was investigated in flow cytometric DNA assays after their respective functionalization for individual and multiplexed detection of short oligonucleotide strands. These experiments revealed that a two-step modification of the silica surface with amino silane and succinic anhydride prior to coupling of an amino-terminated capture DNA (c-DNA) strand is superior to coupling carboxylic acid-terminated c-DNA to aminated core/shell particles, yielding limits of detection (LOD) down to 5 pM for a hybridization assay, using labeled complementary single-stranded target DNA (t-DNA) 15mers. The potential of the use of the particles in multiplexed analysis was shown with the aid of dye-doped core particles carrying a respective SBA-15 shell. Characteristic genomic sequences of human papillomaviruses (HPV) were chosen as the t-DNA analytes here, since their high relevance as carcinogens and the high number of different pathogens is a relevant model case. The title particles showed a promising performance and allowed us to unequivocally detect the different high- and low-risk HPV types in a single experimental run.
The development of methodologies to sense glyphosate has gained momentum due to its toxicological and ecotoxicological effects. In this work, a red-emitting and polymerizable guanidinium benzoxadiazole probe was developed for the fluorescence detection of glyphosate. The interaction of the fluorescent probe and the tetrabutylammonium salt of glyphosate was studied via UV/vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy in chloroform and acetonitrile. The selective recognition of glyphosate was achieved by preparing molecularly imprinted polymers, able to discriminate against other common herbicides such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid (dicamba), as thin layers on submicron silica particles. The limits of detection of 4.8 µM and 0.6 µM were obtained for the sensing of glyphosate in chloroform and acetonitrile, respectively. The reported system shows promise for future application in the sensing of glyphosate through further optimization of the dye and the implementation of a biphasic assay with water/organic solvent mixtures for sensing in aqueous environmental samples.