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Eingeladener Vortrag
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Organic and inorganic micro- and nanoparticles are increasingly used as drug carriers, fluorescent sensors, and multimodal labels in the life and material sciences. Typically, these applications require further functionalization of the particles with, e.g., antifouling ligands, targeting bioligands, stimuli-responjsive caps, or sensor molecules. Besides serving as an anchor point for subsequent functionalization, the surface chemistry of these particles also fundamentally influences their interaction with the surrounding medium and can have a significant effect on colloidal stability, particle uptake, biodistribution, and particle toxicity in biological systems. Moreover, functional groups enable size control and tuning of the surface during the synthesis of particle systems.
For these reasons, a precise knowledge of the chemical nature, the total number of surface groups, and the number of groups on the particle surface that are accessible for further functionalization is highly important. In this contribution, we will will discuss the advantages and limitiations of different approaches to quantify the amount of commonly used surface functional groups such as amino,[1,2] carboxy,[1,2] and aldehyde groups.[3] Preferably, the quantification is carried out using sensitive and fast photometric or fluorometric assays, which can be read out with simple, inexpensive instrumentation and can be validated by complimentary analytic techniques such as ICP-OES and quantitative NMR.
Neuartige Materialien, die bekannte (Werk-)Stoffe mit neuen Funktionalitäten ausstatten, spielen eine zunehmend wichtige Rolle im Bereich der Materialforschung und -prüfung. Das Spektrum neuartiger Materialien reicht von der gezielten Oberflächenfunktionalisierung und -strukturierung makroskopischer Materialien, dünnen Beschichtungen bis hin zu mikro- und nanoskaligen Kompositmaterialien und funktionalen Materialien an der Schnittstelle zur Biologie, Biotechnologie, nachhaltige Energiespeicherung und Sensorik. Dabei bieten neuartige Materialien die Chance, Werkstoffe und Produkte mit erweiterter oder verbesserter Funktionalität zu erhalten und Sicherheit bereits im Designprozess zu berücksichtigen. Durch dieses breite Anwendungsspektrum und die Herausforderungen, die solche Materialien für die Sicherheit in Chemie und Technik mit sich bringen, sind diese in allen Themenfeldern der BAM repräsentiert (Material, Analytical Sciences, Energie, Infrastruktur und Umwelt).
Die Aufgaben der BAM erstrecken sich dabei von der Herstellung von Referenzmaterialien für Industrie, Forschung und Regulation, über die Erstellung von standardisierten Referenzverfahren für nachhaltige Messungen im Umwelt- und Lebenswissenschaftsbereich bis hin zur Bereitstellung von belastbaren und zitierbaren Referenzdaten. Durch die genaue Charakterisierung neuartiger Materialien können potentiell problematische Substanzen identifiziert und deren Risiken besser abgeschätzt werden. In diesem Beitrag werden einige aktuelle Beispiele aus diesen Bereichen vorgestellt.
Die gemeinsame Forschungsstrategie der Bundesoberbehörden zur Nanotechnologie wurde 2016 veröffentlicht. Die darin enthaltenen Aufgaben wurden von den Bundesoberbehörden vielfältig bearbeitet. Diese Präsentation gibt einen Überblick über die Projekte, die von der BAM bis 2019 bearbeitet wurden/werden und sich in den Rahmen der Forschungsstrategie einordnen.
Semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots, QDs) are well known for their superior optoelectronic properties and enabled advancements in several key technologies of the 21st century. II-VI QDs containing the heavy metal element cadmium plaid a central role in this research area. Due to the concerns regarding their toxic potential, the European Union will ban cadmium in 2020 from use in any consumer product.
Due to their comparable optoelectronic properties and a more environmentally friendly character, indium phosphide based QDs (InP-QDs) are a promising alternative. Their large application potential was already shown in their utilization in the newest commercial TV screens. A vital role for highly luminescent QDs for such an application plays the growth of a surface passivating shell around the InP core. The combination of InP/ZnSe/ZnS in so-called core/shell/shell materials exploits the advantages of a small lattice mismatch (3.3%) between InP and ZnSe and the large band gap of ZnS to efficiently confine the excitons in the core and to increase the overall chemical stability. Using a thin ZnSe layer and a thick ZnS shell has shown to improve the optical properties of InP QDs and only recently, the prevention of blinking and mono-exponential decay kinetics could be achieved with a thick ZnSe Shell.
In our contribution, we investigated the influence of the thickness of the intermediate ZnSe layer (1 to 8 monolayers (ML)) on the photophysical properties of InP/ZnSe/ZnS core/shell/shell QDs with a final size of about 10 nm on the ensemble and the single-particle level. By rendering these InP QDs water-soluble, we were able to compare their properties in the organic and aqueous phase and further studied their toxicological potential depending on the chemical composition of their surface shell.
Semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots, QDs) are well known for their superior photophysical properties and enabled advancements in several key technologies of the 21st century and numerous technological applications. However, the most studied II-VI semiconductor nanocrystals contain the toxic heavy metal element cadmium, which is limiting their utilization in commercial applications. This has drawn the interest to alternative materials with less toxicity but having similar photophysical features.
The newest generation of TV screens based on QDs have shown that there is a promising environmentally friendly alternative with similar optoelectronic properties, namely indium phosphide (InP) QDs. InP QDs possess a bulk band gap of 1.35 eV with an exciton Bohr radius of ca. 10 nm and thus allow to tune their photoluminescence (PL) from the visible to the near-infrared. Tuning the size and shape of InP QDs and thus tailor their optoelectronic properties can be achieved by different strategies, which range from different types and concentrations of precursors, synthesis temperature or post-synthetic manipulations like etching. The incorporation of other elements like Gallium within the InP core synthesis is another possibility. Using a GaP intermediate layer before growing a ZnS shell has been shown to increase the PL quantum yield, which has been attributed to reduced lattice strain and the removal of phosphor vacancies. Different Ga precursors were investigated but a thorough investigation in terms of their reactivity, localization in the QD and influence on the photophysical properties is lacking to date.
In this contribution we will present the detailed investigation of the presence of two different Ga precursors within the InP core synthesis. Photophysical characterizations (steady-state and PL life-time measurements), transmission electron microscopy, XRD and EDX gave insights into the reactivity of the Ga precursors, the Ga localization in the InP core and influences on the photophysical properties. The variation of the precursor and surfactant concentration and the utilization of different ligands for the Ga precursor allowed tuning the PL emission towards the blue or the red. Depending on the used precursor type we observed the formation of larger-sized InP/GaP core/shell nanocrystals or the formation of InGaP alloy structures enabling to assess the blue range of emission (475 nm).
In Vivo Biotransformations of Indium Phosphide Quantum Dots Revealed by X‑Ray Microspectroscopy
(2019)
Many attempts have been made to synthesize cadmium-free quantum dots
(QDs), using nontoxic materials, while preserving their unique optical properties. Despite impressive advances, gaps in knowledge of their intracellular fate, persistence, and excretion from the targeted cell or organism still exist, precluding clinical applications. In this study, we used a simple model organism (Hydra vulgaris) presenting a tissue grade of organization to determine the biodistribution of indium phosphide (InP)-based QDs by X-ray fluorescence imaging. By complementing elemental imaging with In L-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure, unique information on in situ chemical speciation was obtained. Unexpectedly, spectral profiles indicated the appearance of In−O species within the first hour post-treatment, suggesting a fast degradation of the InP QD core in vivo, induced mainly by carboxylate groups. Moreover, no significant difference in the behavior of bare core QDs and QDs capped with an inorganic Zn(Se,S) gradient shell was observed. The results paralleled those achieved by treating animals with an equivalent dose of indium salts, confirming the preferred bonding type of In3+ ions in Hydra tissues. In conclusion, by focusing on the chemical identity of indium along a 48 h long journey of QDs in Hydra, we describe a fast degradation process, in the absence of evident toxicity. These data pave the way to new paradigms to be considered in the biocompatibility assessment of QD-based biomedical applications, with greater emphasis on the dynamics of in vivo biotransformations, and suggest strategies to drive the design of future applied materials for nanotechnology-based diagnosis and therapeutics.
With the goal to improve their photostability, InP-based QDs are passivated with three types of inorganic shells, namely (i) a gradient ZnSexS1−x shell, (ii) an additional ZnS shell on top of the gradient shell with two different thicknesses (core/shell/shell, CSS), (iii) an alumina coating on top of ZnS. All three systems have photoluminescence Quantum yields (PLQY) > 50%and similar PL decay times (64–67 ns). To assess their photostability they are incorporated into a transparent poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix and exposed to continuous irradiation with simulated sunlight in a climate chamber. The alumina coated core/shell system exhibits the highest stability in terms of PLQY Retention as well as the lowest shift of the PL maximum and lowest increase of the PL linewidth, followed by the CSS QDs and finally the gradient shell system. By means of XPS studies we identify the degradation of the ZnS outer layer and concomitant xidation of the emissive InZnP core as the main origins of degradation in the gradient structure. These modifications do not occur in the case of the alumina-capped sample, which exhibits excellent chemical stability. The gradient shell and CSS systems could be transferred to the aqueous phase using surface ligand exchange with penicillamine. Cytotoxicity studies on human primary keratinocytes revealed that exposure for 24 h to 6.25–100 nM of QDs did not affect cell viability. However, a trend toward reduced cell proliferation is observed for higher concentrations of gradient shell and CSS QDs with a thin ZnS shell, while CSS QDs with a thicker ZnS shell do not exhibit any impact.
Spectral encoding of cells or particles and the discrimination of multiple spectral codes are a critical process in flow cytometry (FCM). Typical issues in spectral encoding are, e.g., the spectral overlap of codes, or the increasing complexity of instruments . The exploitation of the photoluminescence lifetime (LT) as an encoding parameter could be used to circumvent both of these issues, as it adds another dimension to the parameter space, or, when used as a stand-alone parameter, requiring only one excitation light source and one detector. While LT encoding was considered already decades ago it is still not implemented as a routine technique in FCM yet, mainly due to the challenge of very few photons being available within the limited transition time of a cell or particle through the laser spot.
Recently, we demonstrated LT-FCM based on luminophores with ns LTs in a compact and low-cost flow cytometer. Measurements on polymer microbeads containing luminophores with distinctly different excited state LTs enabled the complete discrimination of three LT codes and five codes in total could be identified.
Now, we have extended our approach towards considerably longer LTs by custom-made polymer microbeads loaded with different ratios of InP/ZnS and AgInS2 quantum dots. The use of these materials significantly expands the usable time range for LT encoding to up to several hundred ns. Our studies demonstrate the possibility to further increase the number of viable LT codes for multiplexing in LT-FCM without the need for extensive hardware modifications.
The comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of molecular and nanoscale reporters require accurate and quantitative photo-luminescence measurements. This is of special importance for all photoluminescence applications in the life and material sciences and nanobiophotonics. In the following, procedures for the determination of the spectroscopic key parameter photoluminescence quantum yield, i.e., the number of emitted per absorbed photons, in the UV/vis/NIR/SWIR are presented including pitfalls and achievable uncertainties and material-specific effects related to certain emitter classes are addressed.
Photoluminescence applications in the life and material sciences require bright molecular and nanocrystalline emitters, stimuli-responsive optical probes, signal enhancement, multiplexing, and barcoding strategies and traceable methods to quantify the signal-relevant optical properties of luminescent materials at the ensemble and single molecule/particle level. In this context, current research at Division Biophotonics of BAM is presented ranging from dye and nanocrystal photophysics, absolute measurements of photoluminescence quantum yields in the UV/vis/NIR/SWIR, lifetime multiplexing, and the development of different types of fluorescence standards for validating optical-spectroscopic measurements.
What to measure? is a key question in nanoscience, and it is not straightforward to address as different physicochemical properties define a nanoparticle sample. Most prominent among these properties are size, shape, surface charge, and porosity. Today researchers have an unprecedented variety of measurement techniques at their disposal to assign precise numerical values to those parameters. However, methods based on different physical principles probe different aspects, not only of the particles themselves, but also of their preparation history and their environment at the time of measurement. Understanding these connections can be of great value for interpreting characterization results and ultimately controlling the nanoparticle structure–function relationship. Here, the current techniques that enable the precise measurement of these fundamental nanoparticle properties are presented and their practical advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Some recommendations of how the physicochemical parameters of nanoparticles should be investigated and how to fully characterize these properties in different environments according to the intended nanoparticle use are proposed. The intention is to improve comparability of nanoparticle properties and performance to ensure the successful transfer of scientific knowledge to industrial real‐world applications.
There have been an increasing number of publications on flow chemistry applications of compact NMR. Despite this, there is so far no comprehensive workflow for the technical design of flow cells. Here, we present an approach that is suitable for the design of an NMR flow cell with an integrated static mixing unit. This design moves the mixing of reactants to the active NMR detection region within the NMR instrument, presenting a feature that analyses chemical reactions faster (5–120 s region) than other common setups. During the design phase, the targeted mixing homogeneity of the components was evaluated for different types of mixing units based on CFD simulation. Subsequently, the flow cell was additively manufactured from ceramic material and metal tubing. Within the targeted working mass flow range, excellent mixing properties as well as narrow line widths were confirmed in validation experiments, comparable to common glass tubes.
Bioanalytical, diagnostic, and security applications require the fast and sensitive determination of a steadily increasing number of analytes or events in parallel in a broad variety of detection formats.[1,2] Ideal candidates for spectral encoding and multiplexing schemes are luminescent nanocrystals like semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), particularly Cd-containing II/VI QDs with their narrow and symmetric emission bands. With the availability of relatively simple and inexpensive instrumentation for time-resolved fluorescence measurements, similar strategies utilizing the compound-specific parameter fluorescence lifetime or fluorescence decay kinetics become increasingly attractive.[3-5] The potential of different types of QDs like II/VI, III/V and Cd-free ternary QDs such as AgInS (AIS) QDs for lifetime-based encoding and multiplexing has been, however, barely utilized, although the lifetimes of these nanocrystals cover a time windows which is barely accessible with other fluorophores. Here we present a brief insight into the photophysics of AIS QDs and show the potential of dye- and QD-encoded beads for lifetime-based encoding and detection schemes in conjunction with flow cytometry and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy
Diaminodicyanoquinones: Fluorescent dyes with high dipole moments and electron-acceptor properties
(2019)
Fluorescent dyes are applied in various fields of research,includingsolarcellsandlight-emittingdevices,andas reporters for assays and bioimaging studies.Fluorescent dyes with an added high dipole moment pave the way to nonlinear optics and polarity sensitivity.Redox activity makes it possible to switch the moleculeQsphotophysical properties.Diaminodicyanoquinone derivatives possess high dipole moments,yet only lowfluorescence quantum yields,and have therefore been neglected as fluorescent dyes.Here we investigate the fluorescencepropertiesofdiaminodicyanoquinonesusingacombined theoretical and experimental approach and derive molecules with afluorescence quantum yield exceeding 90%. The diaminodicyanoquinone core moiety provides chemical versatility and can be integrated into novel molecular architectures with unique photophysical features.
Peptide-polymer bioconjugates combine oligopeptides with synthetic polymer blocks and can be used for various applications in material sciences. In recent years, bioconjugates were applied as compatibilizers and coatings. Biocombinatorial approaches, such as phage display, have been shown to yield strong binding peptides, which exhibit excellent coating properties as peptide-PEO conjugates. Phage display represents a widely exploited strategy to select peptides or proteins that exhibit highly specific affinity to various substrates. Following a phage display experiment, DNA sequencing of binding phage clones is required in order to get the sequence information of the binding peptides. Traditionally, random clone picking followed by Sanger sequencing was applied. However, this method may not necessarily identify the strongest binding clones. Next-generation sequencing made sequencing of whole phage libraries possible, which highly improved the selection of strong binders. Here, we show that the biocombinatorial method of phage display combined with next generation DNA sequencing of whole phage libraries represents a powerful tool for an application in material chemistry. Phage display is used to find specific target binding peptides for polypropylene surfaces (PP). PP binders are of particular interest because thus far gluing or printing on PP is challenging due to its low surface energy. Scripts for sequence data analysis were developed and promising sequences were synthesized as peptide-PEO conjugates. Fluorescence based adsorption experiments on PP surfaces led to the identification of strong binding sequences and a better understanding of the peptide-surface interactions.
BAM provides leading expertise in preparation, characterisation and application of fluorescent reference standards and biomedical relevant nanomaterials, as well as in traceable, absolute, and quantitative fluorometric measurements of transparent and scattering systems in the ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared spectral region. BAM will prepare solid low-RI particles in WP1, will develop reference methods to determine the fluorescence intensity and RI of reference materials in WP2, and will measure the fluorescence intensity of EVs in biological test samples of WP3.
We present a comprehensive investigation of the magnetic and optical properties of an ytterbium complex, which combines two desirable and practical features into a single molecular system. Based upon YbIII Ions that promote near-infrared optical activity and a chemical backbone that is ideal for an in-depth understanding of the magnetic behaviour, we have designed a multifunctional opto-magnetic species that operates as a luminescent thermometer and as a single-molecule magnet (SMM). Our magnetic investigations, in conjunction with ab initio calculations, reveal one of the highest energy barriers reported for an YbIII-based complex. Moreover, we correlate this anisotropic barrier with the Emission spectrum of the compound, wherein we provide a complete assignment of the energetic profile of the complex. Such studies lay the foundation for the design of exciting multi-faceted materials that are able to retain information at the single-molecule level and possess built-in thermal self-monitoring capabilities.
The rational synthesis and use of nanomaterials require the characterization of many different properties, ranging from particle size and size distribution over surface chemistry to more applicationrelevant features like optical, electrochemical, and magnetic properties. In the following, several methods for the characterization of functional groups on nanomaterials, like polymer and silica nanoparticles, semiconductor quantum dots, and lanthanide-based upconversion nanocrystals are presented. Additionally, procedures for the measurement of the key spectroscopic performance parameters of nanomaterials with linear and nonlinear photoluminescence, such as the photoluminescence quantum yield, are presented for the UV/vis/NIR/SWIR.
Polyether and -ester urethanes (PU) were exposed to artificial weathering at 40 °C and artificial UV radiation in a weathering chamber. In 3 parallel exposures, humidity was varied between dry, humid, and wet conditions. Material alteration was investigated by various analytical techniques like size exclusion chromatography
(SEC), liquid chromatography-infrared spectroscopy (LC-FTIR), thermal-desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS), fluorescence mapping and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Our results show that depending on the weathering conditions, different degradation effects can be observed. By means of SEC an initial strong decrease of the molar masses and a broadening of the mass distributions was found. After a material dependent time span this was followed by a plateau where molar mass changes were less significant. A minor moisture-dependent degradation effect was only found for polyester PU. Fluorescence measurements on two materials revealed an increase in the luminescence intensity upon weathering process reaching a saturation level after about 500 h. The changes in the optical properties observed after different exposure conditions and times were very similar. The TD-GC-MS data showed the fate of the stabilizers and antioxidant in the course of weathering. LC-FTIR measurements revealed a change in peak intensities and the ratio of urethane and carbonyl bands.
Yb,Nd,Er-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have attracted considerable interest as luminescent reporters for bioimaging, sensing, energy conversion/shaping, and anticounterfeiting due to their capability to convert multiple near-infrared (NIR) photons into shorter wavelength ultraviolet, visible or NIR luminescence by successive absorption of two or more NIR photons. This enables optical measurements in complex media with very little background and high penetration depths for bioimaging. The use of Nd3+ as substitute for the commonly employed sensitizer Yb3+ or in combination with Yb3+ shifts the excitation wavelength from about 980 nm, where the absorption of water can weaken upconversion luminescence, to about 800 nm, and laser-induced local overheating effects in cells, tissue, and live animal studies can be minimized. To systematically investigate the potential of Nd3+ doping, we assessed the performance of a set of similarly sized Yb3+,Nd3+,Er3+-doped core- and core–shell UCNPs of different particle architecture in water at broadly varied excitation power densities (P) with steady state and time-resolved fluorometry for excitation at 980 nm and 808 nm. As a measure for UCNPs performance, the P-dependent upconversion quantum yield (Φ) and its saturation behavior were used as well as particle brightness (B). Based upon spectroscopic measurements at both excitation wavelengths in water and in a lipid phantom and B-based calculations of signal size at different penetration depths, conditions under which excitation at 808 nm is advantageous are derived and parameters for the further optimization of triple-doped UCNPs are given.