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Optical Stability Studies of Hexagonal Upconverting Nanocrystals and Development of Monitoring Tools
(2021)
We demonstrate the potential of time-resolved luminesence spectroscopy for the straightforward assessment and in situ monitoring of the stabilty of UCNPs. Different analytical methods were used to assess the dissolution behaviour of UCNPs in varuous media. Potentiometric and optical data were correlated to develop a new non-invasive monitoring tool for particle dissolution
Assessing dissolution of upconverting nanoparticles by TEM, EDXS, potentiometry and fluorometry
(2021)
Inorganic lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) constitute an emerging class of near-infrared (NIR)-excitable luminescent reporters for bioimaging, fluorescence assays, sensors in bioanalysis, and optical thermometry as well as phosphors for photovoltaic and security applications.1 However, the use of UCNPs in bioimaging and cellular studies requires biocompatible particles. One possible cause of UCNP toxicity is the release of potentially harmful fluoride fluoride and lanthanide ions as revealed by dilution studies in aqueous environments, particularly under high dilution conditions.2-5 To address this issue, suitable surface coatings preventing such effects in combination with fast screening methods suited for online in situ analysis are desired.
Here we present a systematic study of differently sized β-NaYF4:Yb,Er nanocrystals stabilized with different surface coatings and different hydrophilic ligands varying in binding strength to the surface atoms in various aqueous environments at different temperatures.
Formation and detection of molecules in laser induced plasmas (LIP) is a hot topic. In analytical plasmas like LIBS, the detection of molecules is important for identification of geological and other materials, analysis of isotopes and difficult elements (Cl, F, etc.) via molecular emission. In chemical plasmas, like PECVD (plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition) or PLD (pulsed laser deposition), molecules formed in the plasma determine a composition and a thickness of deposits. Similarly, molecules play an important role in microstructuring and oxidizing metal surfaces by laser ablation. It is unfortunate that different communities, which utilize plasma methods and seek for solutions of similar problems, do not strongly overlap, and do not fully use knowledge accumulated by each other.
In this presentation, mechanisms of formation of molecules will be analyzed on the example of LIPs used for chemical vapor deposition and metal microstructuring. Theoretical analysis includes equilibrium chemistry calculations combined with plasma hydrodynamics. First, LIP excited in a gas mixture of BCl3 or BF3 with H2 or CH4 will be analyzed; this chemical system is used for obtaining deposits of refractory solid boron and boron carbide. Second, a breakdown in the SiF4 + SiCl4 gas mixtures will be described; this method allows synthesis of fluorochlorosilanes SiFxCl4-x (x = 1, 2, 3), the good etching agents (Figure). Third, solid ablation of Mo in BF3+H2 and Ti in air will be considered aimed at obtaining deposits of high hardness MoxBy and films of TixOy on textured Ti surfaces, correspondingly.
In experiment, reaction gases before and after laser illumination, and solid deposits are analyzed by optical emission spectroscopy (OES), IR and mass spectrometry (MS), SEM, X-ray, and AFM. It will be shown that the hydrodynamic-chemical model adequately predicts the composition of LIPs, zones of molecular formation, dependence on reactant stoichiometry, plasma temperature and pressure.
Rückgebaute Mineralwolledämmstoffe und Baustellenverschnitte werden in der Regel deponiert und damit als Rohstoffe dem Markt entzogen. Ziel dieses Projektes ist es darzulegen, dass das Recycling von Glas- und Steinwolle im großmaßstäblich volumenrelevanten Umfang für das Schmelzwannenverfahren technisch umsetzbar und ökonomisch und ökologisch vorteilhaft ist. Neben verfahrenstechnischen Herausforderungen, gilt es die wirtschaftliche in-situ-Identifikation unbekannter Mineralwolle zu ermöglichen. Dazu wird auf erste erfolgversprechende Tastversuche mit spektroskopischen Methoden weiter aufgebaut.
On the way to a low carbon economy mixtures containing carbon dioxide become increasingly important. Processing of such gas mixtures requires reliable thermodynamic models that can accurately describe the state of matter over an extended range. Mixtures with oxygen for example, are frequently encountered in carbon capture and storage (CCS) processes.
This work reports new experimental (p, rho, T) data at T = (250 to 375 K) and up to a maximum pressure pmax = 20 MPa for five binary (CO2 + O2) mixtures which cover the entire composition range.
Type-I pyrethroids are frequently used for disinfection purposes on airplanes from and to tropical areas. The WHO (Word Health Organization) defines “disinfection” as the procedure whereby health measures are taken to control or kill the insect vectors of human diseases including dengue, yellow fever and malaria.1 Due to this, a new effective and rapid method for pyrethroids analysis directly in the plane is needed.
To detect type-I pyrethroids, gated materials are constructed for the purpose of finely tuning the movement of a cargo from voids of a mesoporous inorganic support to a solution, in response to a predefined stimulus.2 Antibodies are bound to specific functional groups grafted on the support’s surface with the two-fold aim of closing the mesopores and working as biological receptors for the target compounds.2 A specific opening mechanism, activated selectively in presence of pyrethroids as analytes, is able to control the release of an indicator dye previously loaded inside the inorganic support. As only few molecules of pyrethroids are necessary to open a pore and release a large amount of dyes, the system shows an intrinsic signal amplification quantified as a fluorescence emission intensity.3
Different mesoporous silica supports (from nano- and microparticles to platelets and short fibers) were synthetized, characterized and functionalized following different capping strategies. In this contribution, we will compare the temporal response behaviour of the optimized gated materials to verify if the respective delivery systems are properly closed and how fast they can be opened in presence of the analytes. Our results indicate that the trends of the kinetics observed in solution show a better control of the closing/opening mechanism when the epitope region of the antibody (around 10 nm) properly fits the pore size of the carriers.
Because the incorporation of an antibody-gated dye-delivery system with a conventional test-strip-based lateral-flow assay allows for the detection of analytes down to the ppb level in an easy-to-operate manner and an overall assay time of 2–5 min, which is fast for a biochemical test,3 we carried out first model studies for a lateral flow test assay on membranes, using a smartphone setup for read-out.
The microbial contamination of fuels by fungi or bacteria presents risks such as corrosion and fuel system fouling, which can produce critical problems in refineries and distribution systems and has a significant economic impact at every phase of the process. Many factors have been cited as responsible for microbial growth, like the presence of water in the storage tanks. Indeed, only 1 % water in a storage system is enough for the growth of microorganisms like bacteria or yeasts, as well as for the development of fungal biomass at the oil/water interface.1
In this work, a rapid test for the accurate determination of genomic DNA from aqueous fuel extracts is presented. The detection is based on the employment of polystyrene-mesoporous silica core-shell particles, on which modified fluorescent molecular beacons are covalently grafted. Those beacons incorporate in the hairpin loop a target sequence highly conserved in all bacteria, corresponding to a fragment of the 16S ribosomal RNA subunit. The designed single-stranded molecular beacon contained fluorescein as an internal indicator and a quencher in its proximity when not hybridized. Upon hybridization in presence of the target sequence, the indicator and the quencher are spatially separated, resulting in fluorescence enhancement. To perform the assay the designed particles were disposed on different glass fiber strips to try to achieve a portable and sensitive rapid test. Assays showed that presence of genomic DNA extracts from bacteria down to 50–70 μg L-1 induces a fluorescence response. The optical read-out was adapted for on-site monitoring by adapting a 3D-printed case on a conventional smartphone, taking advantages of the CMOS detector sensitivity.2 Such embedded assembly allowed to detect genomic DNA in aqueous extracts down to the mg L-1 range and presents an interesting step toward on-site monitoring of fuel contamination.
The presentation will give a brief overview of the processes occurring in laser-induced plasma and methods of modeling these processes. In particular, a chemical-hydrodynamic model will be considered, which is related to the modification of the surface of metallic titanium by laser pulses. The details and simplifications of this model, its shortcomings and the possibilities of their elimination will be discussed. This model is related to the structuring of the surface of dental implants with a laser and the deposition of an oxide film on it.
The decarbonization of the energy sector is driving the interest in hydrogen as an energy-storage medium. A practical alternative to transport and distribute H2 is using the existing infrastructure for natural gas. The GERG-2008 equation of state currently serves as the ISO standard (ISO 20765-2) for the calculation of thermodynamic properties of natural gas, but H2 appears only as a secondary component.
The availability of consolidated data for mixtures with H2 available at the time of its constitution was very limited. The experimental characterization of the thermodynamic behavior of mixtures of H2 with the main components of natural gas is thus of great relevance to validate and improve the GERG-2008 equation of state for its use with H2-enriched natural gas.
The reversible analyte-induced switching between a colourless leuco form of a dye and its coloured all-π-conjugated form is one of the oldest concepts in probe- or indicator-based optical analysis,1 constituting so-called “one-color indicators”.2 In contrast to colour changes in the visible region, for which usually a bond-forming or a non-covalent interaction between a functional group on an indicator and an analyte is responsible, the extraordinarily large shifts of 150–250 nm seen for leuco-to-all-π-conjugated transformation are only possible when the reaction takes place directly at a site that is an intrinsic part of a dye’s π-system; the classic case are triphenylmethane dyes.3 Despite its obvious potential, this approach has not been a very popular area of scientific research for decades, perhaps because it is much more difficult to implement selectivity than by modifying terminal functional groups. However, in recent years, reaction-based fluorescence probes have attracted increasing attention by virtue of their superior sensitivity.4,5
Nowadays, rhodamines and fluoresceins are by far the most prominent groups of reaction-based indicators.5 They are usually switched between a colourless and non-fluorescent and a greenish-yellowish absorbing and yellowish-reddish emitting form. Typically, the coloured and fluorescent form is ionic, while the colourless form is neutral, reactions having mainly be designed to occur at the end groups of the xanthenoid π-system. BODIPY dyes, with their favourable spectroscopic and chemical properties as well as facile wavelength tunability features have only very recently been explored into this direction.6,7 Reaction at the core dipyrrin framework of these dyes led to strong colour and fluorescence modulations with potential applications in materials sciences6 and cell imaging.7 The present contribution will highlight the mechanisms at play and the sensing performance realized so far, and will compare core-reactive approaches to reaction-based signalling that involves π-extension of BODIPYs.8,9
Analytical assays that can be used outside of a dedicated laboratory environment have received unprecedented attention all around the globe during the last one and a half years, in which the world was struggling with and trying to contain the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, besides their current prominence in the field of medical diagnostics, rapid tests and assays have also become increasingly important in other areas ranging from food and feed via security and forensics to environmental management. The advantage is obvious: taking the assay to the sample instead of bringing the sample to the laboratory minimizes the time between first suspicion and first decision taking. Especially today, where mobile communication devices with powerful computing capabilities and onboard cameras are omnipresent, the majority of the global population possesses the basic skills of operating a powerful detector, ready at their fingertips. The stage is thus set for a much broader use of analytical measurements in terms of prognostics and prevention.
Today, however, tests for single parameters are still prevailing, whether it is a SARS-CoV-2 biomarker, the glucose level in blood or the concentration of lead in a water sample. Also, for industrial use, many mobile analytical systems still target a single parameter, and several separate runs or tests have to be used even if one wants to screen for only a small number of key parameters. Current challenges in the field thus lie with the development of low-number multiplexing strategies while allowing for robust, reliable, fast, and user-friendly operation and while still reaching the required sensitivities.
This lecture will give an overview of various generic approaches developed in BAM’s Chemical and Optical Sensing Division over the years to address these challenges. In particular, it will highlight how the combination of supramolecular (bio)chemistry, luminescence detection, hybrid (nano)materials and device miniaturization can result in powerful (bio)analytical assays that can be used at a point-of-need. Selected examples will introduce key aspects of such systems like tailored signaling mechanisms and recognition elements, materials functionalization and device integration, including hybrid mesoporous nanomaterials, gated indicator release systems, molecularly imprinted polymers, microfluidic devices, test strips and smartphone-based analysis.
Portable, antikörperbasierte Analysenverfahren für die Schadstofferfassung im Wasserkreislauf
(2021)
Die Wasseranalytik wird bestimmt von zwei Hauptbedarfen, einerseits der Erfassung der Gewässergüte und Grundwassergüte als Basis für die Bereitstellung einwandfrei-en Trinkwassers und zum anderen des Monitorings der Wasserqualität in den Prozes-sen der Wasseraufbereitung und der Abwasserreinigung. Für beide Anwendungsbe-reiche ist eine laborbasierte Analytik eher hinderlich, werden die Analysenergebnisse doch eigentlich vor Ort benötigt, um etwa Beprobungskampagnen rasch anpassen zu können. Desweiteren werden die Daten auch schnell benötigt, um zeitnah in die technischen Prozesse einzugreifen. Organische Kontaminanten werden meist über chromatographische Verfahren, häufig gekoppelt mit einer massenspektrometrischen Detektion, in instrumentelle Labormethoden erfasst und die hochauflösende Massen-spektrometrie und die Non-target-Analytik haben viel zum Wissen über das Vorkom-men, insbesondere von sog. „emerging contaminants“, beigetragen, sowie zum Ver-ständnis der beteiligten Eintragspfade und Abbauwege. Moderne, portable Analy-senmethoden und insbesondere Sensoren werden zukünftig aber ihren Platz in der Schadstofferfassung im Wasserkreislauf einnehmen. Dies gilt insbesondere für anti-körperbasierte Analysenverfahren, da erst diese oft die nötige Selektivität und Sensitivität in die Detektionsmethoden einbringen.
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, i.e. antibody-based, methods which are available in a broad range of formats, can be profitably used here to analyse 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 array technologies that allow for parallel (multiplex) analysis of several analytes of interest.
The microtiter-plate based ELISA (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay) is the method of choice for the analysis of a large number of samples [1]. ELISAs are available to monitor for anthropogenic markers such as the antiepileptic carbamazepine, the analgesic diclofenac, the antihistaminic cetirizine, the steroid hormone estrone, the antimicrobial sulfamethoxazole, the stimulants caffeine and cocaine, the priority pollutant bisphenol A, and the bile acid isolithocholic acid. For on-site screening and monitoring, simpler formats, like mix-and-read assays, e.g. the Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay (FPIA) [2] or Lateral-flow Immunoassays (LFIA) [3] are more suitable tools, the latter based on dipsticks or cassettes, that is why they are also called pregnancy test-like assays. 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. Bead-based (“suspension”) arrays read out in flow cytometers are a powerful platform for multiplex assays [4]. Electrochemical formats run on portable devices provide additional advantages as no light source is required. They are most promising for stand-alone analysers and biosensors
A vast number of emerging pollutants is being detected in the environment. Another lingering problem are health-threatening contaminants, such as mycotoxins, that deteriorate food and feed.
Analytical methods, suitable for trace analysis, are needed that are desirably also fast, inexpensive and, if possible, robust, and portable. Immunoanalytical, i.e., anti-body-based technologies, which are available in a broad range of formats, can be profitably used here to analyze for the distribution and the concentration trends of contaminants.
Some of these formats are single-analyte but high-throughput methods. To use them wisely, indicator substances or sum parameters must be established to be used in screening approaches. Other methods are suitable to be performed on portable in-strumentation in the field (on-site), more precisely at the point-of-need. Furthermore, there are array technologies that allow for parallel analysis of several analytes of interest (multiplexing). The talk reports on methods and data for compounds con-sidered as anthropogenic contamination markers (the antiepileptic carbamazepine, the analgesic diclofenac, the anti-histaminic cetirizine, the steroid hormone estrone, the antimicrobial amoxicillin, the stimulants caffeine and cocaine, the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A, and a bile acid). Some work on mycotoxins (ochratoxin A and ergot alkaloids) is also presented. It is demonstrated that antibody-based technolo-gies have a huge potential to gain analytical insights at the point-of-need.
Antibody-based analytical techniques have gained increasing importance in environmental analysis. Rapid assays, portable devices and formats that require a limited number of steps have a high potential for on-site analysis in outdoor environments or in environmentally relevant facilities such as wastewater treatment plants. Many of these methods have become more sensitive and more versatile due to new, advanced materials, such as novel particles, specifically prepared surfaces, new labels, specifically coated electrodes etc. The talk shows some of our works in this context.
A vast number of emerging pollutants is being detected in the environment. Another lingering problem are health-threatening contaminants, such as mycotoxins, that deteriorate food and feed.
Analytical methods, suitable for trace analysis, are needed that are desirably also fast, inexpensive and, if possible, robust, and portable. Immunoanalytical, i.e., antibody-based methods, which are available in a broad range of formats, can be profitably used here to analyze for the distribution and the concen-tration trends of contaminants.
Some of these formats are single-analyte but high-throughput methods. To use them wisely, indicator substances or sum parameters are being established and used in screening approaches. Other methods are suitable to be performed on portable instrumentation in the field (on-site), more precisely at the point-of-need. Furthermore, there are array technologies that allow for parallel analysis of several analytes of interest (multiplexing).
The talk reports on methods and data for compounds considered as anthropogenic contamination markers (the antiepileptic carbamazepine, the analgesic diclofenac, the anti-histaminic cetirizine, the steroid hormone estrone, the antimicrobial amoxicillin, the stimulants caffeine and cocaine, the endo-crine disruptor bisphenol A, and a bile acid). Some work on mycotoxins (ochratoxin A and ergot alka-loids) is also presented. It is demonstrated that antibody-based approaches have a huge potential to gain analytical insights at the point-of-need.
Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Embedded BODIPY Probes for the Fluorescence Detection of Antibiotics
(2021)
Antibiotics are widely used to combat bacterial infections in humans and animals and their use has greatly improved modern healthcare. However, frequent and reckless use of antibiotics can cause antibiotic resistance in bacteria and pollute ecosystems. Therefore, the rapid and reliable detection of antibiotics is crucial. Fluorescence sensing is particularly attractive because of its high sensitivity and low limits of detection. Fluorescence assays can be carried out in a variety of platforms such as strips and particles among others. Recently, core-shell molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have emerged as a promising sensor platform for (bio)chemical detection due to their low-cost, high stability, reusability, high affinity and selectivity.MIPs in combination with fluorescent molecular probes are gorgeous, since the covalently embedded probe allows for direct indication of a rebound template and provides a wealth of information about the binding state of a MIP through the multitude of fluorescence parameters accessible, facilitating MIP optimization.
In the present work, we have developed a novel series of fluorescent functional monomers, which consist of a fluorophore with a π-conjugated urea recognition site and one or two polymerizable units. The fluorescent monomers are covalently embedded into the MIP matrix to generate fluorescence changes upon template binding (Figure 1). Preliminary titrations of the dye monomer with the analytes show a blue shift of the absorption spectrum and a decrease in the fluorescence intensity which confirms the formation of hydrogen bonds between the urea and the carboxylate group of the antibiotic. Compared with the non-imprinted polymers, the MIP shells on core carrier particles have demonstrated an effective imprinting by showing a higher fluorescence response upon analyte binding.
Superhard materials with a Vickers hardness in the range of 30-40 GPa are of great interest, both from a fundamental and a practical viewpoints, since they have outstanding mechanical, thermal and chemical properties. Molybdenum borides belong to this group of materials. A review of publications on synthesis of molybdenum boride indicates a) great interest in this superhard material and b) the need for new effective methods of its synthesis, especially in a nanocrystalline form.
Very promising are the plasma-chemical methods based on laser induced breakdown. The breakdown can be created either in reactive gases containing volatile compounds of boron and molybdenum or on solid samples. For gas breakdown, molybdenum hexafluoride MoF6 and boron trifluoride BF3 were used in the mixture with hydrogen and argon; for solid breakdown, the pure molybdenum sample was ablated into the mixture of H2 and BF3.
The plasma-chemical synthesis of MoxBy structures was carried out in the reactor shown in Figure. Laser breakdown was created by a pulsed Nd: YAG laser operating at 1064 nm with a 15 ns pulse duration, 5 Hz repetition rate, and 800 mJ pulse energy. The laser was focused by a 5 cm focal length lens to produce 26 J/cm3 energy density in the focal point. The ratios H2:BF3: MoF6 = 5:2:1 and H2:BF3 = 3:1 were used in a pressure range 30 - 760 Torr.
After ablation in the mixture H2 + BF3 + MoF6, the deposit contained an amorphous phase with a small impurity of crystalline molybdenum and no boride phase. After ablation of metallic Mo into H2 + BF3, the main phase was MoB2 in the form of nano dispersed powder with an average grain size of 100 nm. The degree of conversion of boron trifluoride and the yield of molybdenum boride were studied as a function of pressure. It was established that 30 Torr is optimal for the formation of MoB2. This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant No. 20-13-00035.
Fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer particles for detection of environmental contaminants
(2021)
Analysis of environmental contaminants such as pesticides is increasing in importance due to frequent detection of residues in water reserves and food stuff, as well as lowering of maximum residue levels (MRLs). Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been developed for preconcentration of these analytes prior to analysis by chromatographic techniques. MIPs are prepared by polymerization of monomers in a matrix containing the analyte, followed by extraction of the analyte to obtain binding sites that are complementary to the analyte of interest. Recently, our group developed MIPs containing fluorescent reporter molecules that can be used for direct detection and quantification of 2,4-D in contaminated water. Core/shell MIP particles were employed, consisting of submicron silica nanoparticles coated with a MIP shell containing a fluorescent reporter whose signal was enhanced upon binding with 2,4-D in water. A limit of detection of 20 nM was attained. We present here a comparable system, composed of fluorescent core-shell MIPs for the direct analysis of pesticides in environmental samples.
Tour de table - BAM
(2021)
Accurate and quantitative photoluminescence measurements are mandatory for the comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of molecular and nanoscale reporters as well as for most applications relying on their luminescence features 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. Special emphasis is dedicated to luminescent nanocrystals.
Lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) like hexagonal 𝛽-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. Their upconversion (UC) luminescence (UCL) features like UCL intensity, quantum yield, relative spectral distribution / UCL luminescence color, and luminescence decay kinetics are, however, strongly influenced by particle size, dopant ion concentration, particle architecture, 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 excitation power density on the UCL features of different types of UCNPs, focusing on Yb3+ and Er3+ co-doped NaYF4 core-only and core-shell nanostructures with different sizes and doping ion concentration, which underlines the importance of P-dependent optimum dopant concentrations for UCNP performance and the potential of P-tuning of UCL.
A brief introduction will be given on modeling chemical reactions in laser induced plasmas using stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric approaches. Several applications will be considered, which can benefit from such modeling. Those include plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), surface modification and surface coating, and molecular analysis by LIBS. Each application will be illustrated by simulations of relevant chemical systems. For PECVD, chemical systems are BCl3/H2/Ar, BF3/H2/Ar, BCl3/BF3, Mo/BF3/H2; for surface modification/coating it is Ti/air; for molecular LIBS they are CaCO3/Ar, Ca(OH)2/Ar, and CaCl2/Ar. Advantages and shortcomings of equilibrium chemical hydrodynamic models of laser induced plasmas will be discussed.
Materials in contact with the environment release e.g., metal-ions, elemental species and/or (nano-)particles. Once these species and/or particles are released, they are ingested by organisms and cells and thus, might have a negative impact on the environment. Thus, identification as well as quantification of potentially harmful substances is of utmost importance and highly needed to assess ecotoxicological impact of (emerging) pollutants.
The oral presentation provides an overview on the power of elemental analytical techniques, in particular ICP-MS as well as HR-CS-GFMAS in environmental research. Current research topics from Division 1.1 @ BAM - Inorganic trace analysis will be highlighted:
i) Elemental Speciation & Isotope analysis - new tools:
Among elemental species separation and quantification, one of the main challenges in environmental elemental speciation analysis is the distinction between anthropogenic and natural elemental species. The on-line combination of elemental speciation and isotope analysis combines “the best from both worlds” - species specific isotopic information becomes available.
As an application example the analysis of current anti-fouling agents via CE/MCICP-MS will be highlighted.
ii) HR-CS-GFMAS for PFC analysis:
Per- and polyfluorinated compounds (PFC) are emerging contaminants in particular in soil and surface water samples. Due to the large number of compounds (>4700), target analytical methods are not sufficient and sum parameter methods for organically bound fluorine are highly needed.
High resolution-continuum source-graphite furnace molecular absorption spectroscopy (HR-CS-GFMAS) based methods for organically bound fluorine analysis will be presented. Application examples (soil and surface water) will be highlighted.
iii) Single cell-ICP-ToF-MS - ecotox. assessment:
Single cell and single organism analysis for e.g. ecotoxicological/medicinal assessment are hot topics in the research field of ICP-MS. In particular ICP-ToF-MS is a powerful, emerging techniques in terms of single cell/particle analysis.
Automated single cell/diatom-ICP-ToF-MS as a potential tool in ecotoxicological testing will be presented.
A particle roughness analysis tool, based on electron microscopy (EM) images. The influence of various parameters on the calculated roughness was also investigated: the setting of the proper threshold, accelerating voltage, etc. The samples were gradually tilted to extend imaging information of more than only one projection. Furthermore, the measurement uncertainty of the profile roughness of particles associated to various orientations was estimated.
With the latest ICP-MS technology - ICP-ToF (time of flight)-MS - it is possible to analyze the multi-element fingerprint of individual cells. The interface between material and environmental analysis thus receives special attention, e.g. when considering corrosion processes. Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is highly unpredictable due to the diversity of microbial communities involved. The development of the MIC-specific ICP-ToF-MS analytical method presented here at the single cell level, in combination with the investigation of steel-MIC interactions, contributes significantly to progress in instrumental MIC analysis and will enable clarification of the processes taking place.
The supplied document shows the basis of a four minutes lightning talk.
Luminescent polymer microbeads are applied in bead-based platforms for biomolecule binding interactions, and the encoding of these beads is important for the realization of optically distinguishable barcodes. While dye- encoded beads often suffer from photobleaching and spectral crosstalk due to the relatively broad dye emission band, quantum dot (QD)-encoded beads absorb in a very broad wavelength range and reveal narrow emission bands, which enables simultaneous excitation of beads stained with differently colored QDs. To address existing limitations of QD encoding, we have explored simple and effective approaches to homogeneously stain polymer particles and identify suitable polymerization reactions and QD surface ligands that tackle these challenges.
The work presents speed of sound data of an 11-component synthetic natural gas as well as of a hydrogen-enriched natural gas measured at temperatures between 260 and 350 K and pressures up to 13 MPa. The results are compared with the corresponding values from two equation-of-state models, namely AGA8-DC92 and GERG-2008.
Welcome to the poster Towards Determination of Surface Roughness from a SEM Image, a contribution from BAM in Berlin, Germany. This work is part of the MamaLoCA project, which aims to develop a biosensor for the detection of mycotoxins in cereals. Biosensors come in a great variety, one of which makes use of microscopic beads produced by homogenous coating of polystyrene microspheres. The beads are functionalized by decorating them with bioreceptors – in our case antibodies – which then specifically react with the analyte – in our case mycotoxins – and emit an electrical or optical signal. The functionalization of the beads depends on the surface roughness because this determines the amount and orientation of binders. In other words, the surface roughness affects the accessibility to the binding sites and influences device sensitivity, hence its quantitative determination is an important step in evaluating the quality of the biosensor in general.
The presented solution to the problem of the estimation of surface roughness relies in the repetitive characteristics on the surface of the beads. A SEM image of the bead shows a raspberry like microparticle with a variation of grayscale values, which arise from the secondary electron yield. The principle of the measurement measures the variation of grayscale values along a circumference of a circle centred in the centre of the particle and with an arbitrary radius. The grayscale value variation along the given circumference gives the so-called z-modulation or the lateral profile. By performing Fast Fourier Transform on this profile we obtain the power spectrum as a function of the spatial frequencies through which the grayscales vary. The maximal value for spatial frequency then reveals the most common feature along one given circumference. Surface roughness then is the feature frequency in the spatial domain. This calculation is repeated for several concentric circles with different radii over the particle.
The results for the same particle but recorded at two different accelerating voltages show that the applied method has a potential to reveal the roughness. Interpretation of results from an SE InLens SEM image obtained using 3 kV shows that surface roughness is about 21 nm, which is in a good agreement with an alternative method given in a different presentation. The results from the 10 kV are underestimated due to the loss of surface sensitivity on the SE InLens detection at high voltages.
In conclusion, this method shows promise in determining quantitatively the surface roughness from a single SEM image and its validation is being sought using 3D SEM images and AFM methods.
Plasma-chemical approach is used for synthesis of various gaseous, liquid, and solid substances since 1960th. Nowadays, the method of plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) is used for production of thin films, protective coatings, carbon-based nanostructures, high purity isotopic materials, biomaterials, and other products. Plasma for PECVD is typically created in various electrical discharges, e.g. DC and AC glow discharges or discharges operated at audio (10-20 kHz), radio (13.56 MHz), and microwave (2.45 GHz) frequencies. Plasma induced by a laser, a laser induced plasma (LIP), is rarely used to deposit materials from the gas phase as in PECVD. This work is aimed at reviving interest to this latter technology and showing its efficiency and potential.
We run several pilot experiments. First, LIP is excited in BCl3 or BF3 plus H2 or CH4 to evaluate the efficiency of deposition of solid boron and boron carbide, the materials, which are largely used for refractory coatings. Second, we investigate a possibility of synthesis of fluorochlorosilanes SiFxCl4-x (x = 1, 2, 3) by LIP induced in SiF4 + SiCl4 gas mixtures. Using fluorochlorosilanes with different combinations of F and Cl in the SiFxCly molecule may add flexibility in processes of silicon deposition and etching. Third, LIP is excited in reactive mixture MoF6+H2+BF3 or on a Mo target ablated into H2/BF3 atmosphere. The goal is obtaining superhard molybdenum borides MoB, Mo2B, or MoB2. The gases used and solid deposits are analyzed by optical emission spectroscopy (OES), IR and mass spectrometry (MS).
We also model the plasma and perform static equilibrium chemistry calculations to see if the desired reaction products are thermodynamically favorable. Dynamic calculations of the expanding plasma plume are performed using a hydrodynamic code combined with the open source chemical software.
The demand for miniaturized analytical devices monitoring important parameters in the food and medical industry has increased strongly in the past decades. With fast progress, smart technologies are finding their way into our everyday life. For the future, it is, therefore, a major goal to also link analytical methods with smart technologies to create user-friendly on-site devices. In food industry the monitoring of harmful substances such as dioxins, heavy metals or mycotoxins plays a key role, since the European Commission prescribes legal limits for various food products and beverages. Therefore, companies often have their own laboratories and trained personnel. For one of the most abundant and toxic mycotoxins, Ochratoxin A (OTA) we want to present an electrochemical detection system in which the read-out can be performed with a smartphone connected via Bluetooth to a miniaturized potentiostat. The recognition of OTA is performed with specific antibodies in a competitive assay format. Anti-OTA-antibodies were captured on magnetic beads on which the competitive binding between OTA and an OTA horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tracer was performed. To quantify OTA, the enzymatic reaction of the tracer with 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and H2O2 is employed. Oxidized TMB, which is enzymatically produced by the reduction of H2O2, is quantified by amperometry with screen-printed electrodes in a custom-made flow system. Since it is well-known that oxidized TMB can precipitate on electrode surfaces, we have studied pitfalls of the electrochemical detection of TMB. By cyclic voltammetry we have compared the stability of the electrochemistry of TMB at different electrode materials (gold and carbon) and pH values (pH 1 and pH 4). It was found that a stable response of the electrode could be achieved at pH 1 on gold electrodes. Thus, we applied these reaction conditions for amperometric detection of TMB in the OTA assay. The results of the electrochemical detection method are in good correlation with the photometric detection of TMB. To demonstrate the applicability, we tested our system with OTA-spiked beer and performed the measurement via smartphone.
The demand for miniaturized analytical devices monitoring important parameters in the food and medical industry has increased strongly in the past decades. With fast progress, smart technologies are finding their way into our everyday life. For the future, it is, therefore, a major goal to also link analytical methods with smart technologies to create user-friendly on-site devices. In food industry the monitoring of harmful substances such as dioxins, heavy metals or mycotoxins plays a key role, since the European Commission prescribes legal limits for various food products and beverages[1]. Therefore, companies often have their own laboratories and trained personnel. For one of the most abundant and toxic mycotoxins, Ochratoxin A (OTA) we want to present an electrochemical detection system in which the read-out can be performed with a smartphone connected via Bluetooth to a miniaturized potentiostat. The recognition of OTA is performed with specific antibodies in a competitive assay format. Anti-OTA-antibodies were captured on magnetic beads on which the competitive binding between OTA and an OTA horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tracer was performed. To quantify OTA, the enzymatic reaction of the tracer with 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and H2O2 is employed. Oxidized TMB, which is enzymatically produced by the reduction of H2O2, is quantified by amperometry with screen-printed electrodes in a custom-made flow system. Since it is well-known that oxidized TMB can precipitate on electrode surfaces[2], we have studied pitfalls of the electrochemical detection of TMB. By cyclic voltammetry we have compared the stability of the electrochemistry of TMB at different electrode materials (gold and carbon) and pH values (pH 1 and pH 4). It was found that a stable response of the electrode could be achieved at pH 1 on gold electrodes. Thus, we applied these reaction conditions for amperometric detection of TMB in the OTA assay. The results of the electrochemical detection method are in good correlation with the photometric detection of TMB. To demonstrate the applicability, we tested our system with OTA-spiked beer and performed the measurement via smartphone.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders worldwide. About 0.3 % of the global population and approximately 2 % of people older than 80 years are affected by PD. Monoamine oxidase B (Mao B) is an enzyme, which is a drug target in Parkinson’s disease (PD), since it is involved in dopamine metabolism. Several Mao B inhibitors are well established as medication for PD patients. However, the medical treatment is only little personalized since the monitoring of the patients Mao B activity is complex and requires sophisticated laboratory equipment. Here a sensorial Mao B activity determination system has been developed which has potential in the personalization of the medical PD treatment. The enzyme activity is quantified by amperometric detection of enzymatically produced H2O2. Therefore, the enzyme is enriched from the solution via cellulose particles which are functionalized with antibodies against human Mao B. The successful capturing of the enzyme can be verified by SDS-PAGE. For activity determination the enzyme is brought in contact with a suitable substrate - here benzylamine. Selectivity of the amperometric hydrogen peroxide detection in the presence of co-reactants has been verified. Within the time span of 30 min, a linear dependency of enzymatically produced H2O2 with the substrate incubation time can be observed. This allows the evaluation of the Mao B activity. The results have been correlated to an optical detection method. Furthermore, the method has been tested for different amounts of enzyme used in the experiments and found to be sensitive enough for Mao B analysis in blood samples.
In this work, Mie resonances in single Si nanoparticles (NPs) of different sizes have been systematically studied, using dark field (DF) and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy. An analytical method has been developed to compare experiment with theory.
Experimental CL spectra are averaged over entire Si NPs, allowing for direct comparison to DF spectra of identical NPs. Theoretical spectra clarify the assignment of Mie resonances within the NP which contribute with different intensity in DF and CL, resulting in an apparent spectral shift. Furthermore, a substrate effect appears. A 100 nm-Si NP on 15 nm SiN results in a broad peak, spectrally in between that of the calculated electric and magnetic dipole, a NP on 50 nm SiN exhibits two separated peaks as theoretically predicted. High spatial resolution of electron beam excitation allows to study the spectral CL changes at varying beam impact parameters. Theory and experiment agree that depending on beam position within a small Si NP, relative intensity of electric and magnetic dipole change; electric dipole vanishing in the center of the NP. Similar results are found for larger (d = 210 nm) Si NPs although the mode assignment is challenging as higher order modes appear and overlap with others.
In conclusion, comparison of CL and DF spectra is not trivial, in fact, excitation/radiation of distinct Mie resonances within a single Si NP are dependent on beam placement. However, substrate effects need to be considered in CL.
In many scientific fields, isotopic analysis can offer valuable information, e.g., for tracing the origin of food products, environmental contaminants, forensic and archaeological samples (provenance determination), for age determination of minerals (geochronological dating) or for elucidating chemical processes. Up to date, typically bulk analysis is aimed at measuring the isotopic composition of the entire elemental content of the sample. However, the analyte element is usually present under the form of different species. Thus, separating species of interest from one another and from matrix components prior to isotope ratio measurements can provide species-specific isotopic information, which could be used for tracing the origin of environmental pollutants and elucidation of (environmental) speciation. Using on-line hyphenations of separation techniques with multicollector-ICP-MS (MC-ICP-MS) can save time and effort and enables the analysis of different species during a single measurement.
In this work, we developed an on-line hyphenation of CE with multicollector-ICP-MS (CE/MC-ICP-MS) for isotopic analysis of sulfur species using a multiple-injection approach for instrumental mass bias correction by standard-sample bracketing. With this method, the isotopic composition of sulfur in sulfate originating from river water could be analyzed without sample preparation. The results were compared to data from off-line analysis of the same samples to ensure accuracy. The precision of the results of the on-line measurements was promising regarding the differentiation of the river systems by the isotopic signature of river water sulfate. The great potential of this method is based on the versatility of the applied separation technique, not only in the environmental field but also for, e.g., biomolecules, as sulfur is the only covalently bound constituent of proteins that can be analyzed by MC-ICP-MS.
The general understanding has been that PEGs are biologically inert, meaning they pass the human body without any relevant reaction with anything. But recent studies have shown that migth not be correct. Here a retrospective analysis of LC-MS data was performed to determine correlations between blood PEG levels in humans and different experimental factors.
Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) are widely used in everyday items such as food additives and in personal care products. In addition, they have multiple medical applications: as laxatives, excipients, and covalently coupled to drug molecules leading to improved pharmacokinetics (PEGylation). While generally regarded as biologically inert, the human body is known to produce antibodies against PEGylated molecules. In addition, PEGs have been shown to be part of a biomarker signature to predict colon cancer outcome, suggesting a more complex and yet unknown behavior of PEGs in the human body.
Here, we introduce PEGomics, a retrospective screening approach of publicly available LC-MS data. Using a custom R script to process entire studies, the presence of PEGs was reveled in most human plasma, serum and whole blood samples investigated. Several PEG species and adducts were identified and their correlation with different diseases and health conditions was investigated further.
Blood PEG levels significantly differed between patient groups in multiple clinical studies related to e.g. pregnancy duration, fasting and smoking. We discuss possible causes for these effects in the light of recent reports of allergies against PEGs and outline our further strategies to identify the source of PEGs in the human body as well as possible metabolic transformations.
ICP-ToF (Flugzeitanalysator, engl. time of flight)-MS ermöglicht den Multielement Fingerabdruck einzelner Zellen (single cell) zu analysieren. Die single cell-ICP-ToF-MS kommt bei dem vorgestellten Poster bei der Analyse von Archaeen, die an mikrobiell beeinflusster Korrosion (engl. microbiologically influenced corrosion, MIC) von Stahl eine Rolle spielen, zum Einsatz. Mittels sc-ICP-ToF-MS wird die mögliche Aufnahme von einzelnen Elementen aus dem jeweiligen Stahl untersucht – die erhaltenen Informationen fließen zukünftig in die Aufklärung zugrunde liegender Mechanismen sowie Entwicklung möglicher Materialschutzkonzepte ein. Die Arbeiten Verknüpfen moderne Methoden der Analytical Sciences mit Materialien.
How to trace the "cereal" killer? Fungal secondary metabolites, aka mycotoxins, pose a severe health risk for humans and animals. Since their occurrence in food, such as cereal products, is inevitable, the detection is of considerable importance. I want to demonstrate how the trace analysis of mycotoxins in foodstuff can be performed outside the laboratory. For this purpose, sensitive, antibody-based methods are combined with electrochemical smartphone-based detection.
Nearly all disease processes are associated with variations of components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that are typically observed during the development of inflammation. This concerns for example proteoglycans and their associated glycosaminoglycans (GAG), which have been shown to bind to cationic metal imaging probes due to their strong complexing activity. The complexing activity largely depends on the degree of GAG sulfation and/or carboxylation as well as on the GAG isomericity. In this central project, we investigate GAG structures from inflammatory disorders (namely cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory intestinal diseases and neuroinflammation) provided by researchers of the Collaborative Research Center at the molecular disaccharidic level using chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods. In parallel, the spatial localization and quantification of metal-based imaging probes are evaluated by LA-ICP-MS imaging.
Herein, we present liquid and gas chromatographic methods coupled with
(high-resolution) mass spectrometry for the analysis of warfarin’s TPs.
Methodologies such as UV-irradiation, ozonation, and chlorination were
utilized to simulate primarily technical water treatment, as well as, abiotic transformation processes. Examination of resulting compounds by numerous analytical methods has provided first insights into a multitude of formed substances. Moreover, the oxidative phase I metabolism was mimicked by an electrochemical flow cell with the aim to synthesize and confirm major metabolic products via a nonbiologically mediated process. The further aim is the toxicological assessment of relevant TPs, as well as, the quantification of warfarin and its TPs under environmentally relevant conditions employing the introduced methodologies.
Monitoring programs should generate high-quality data on the concentrations of substances and other pollutants in the aquatic environment to enable reliable risk assessment. Furthermore, the need for comparability over space and time is critical for analysis of trends and evaluation of restoration of natural environment. Additionally, research work and exercises at the European level have highlighted that reliable measurements of estrogenic substances at the PNEC level are still challenging to achieve.
The project EDC-WFD Metrology for monitoring endocrine disrupting compounds under the EU Water Framework Directive aims to develop traceable analytical methods for determining endocrine disrupting compounds and their effects, with a specific focus on three estrogens of the first watch list (17-beta-estradiol (17βE2), 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2), and estrone (E1)). Estrogens 17-alpha-estradiol (17αE2) and estriol (E3) will be included to demonstrate the reliability of the developed methods and to support the requirements of Directive 2013/39/EC, Directive 2009/90/EC and Commission Implementation Decision (EU) 2018/840, hence improving the comparability and compatibility of measurement results within Europe. During the EDC-WFD project four selected effect-based methods (EBM) will be deeply investigated in order to improve their rationale use and their support in water quality assessment. In particular, the EBM sensitivity, specificity and accuracy on reference materials with single or mixture solutions of the five substances at a concentration of EQS values will be explored.
This project (18NMR01) has received funding from the EMPIR programme co-financed by the Participating States and from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
Metrology for Monitoring of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Under the EU Water Framework Directive
(2021)
Monitoring programs should generate high-quality data on the concentrations of substances and other pollutants in the aquatic environment to enable reliable risk assessment. Furthermore, the need for comparability over space and time is critical for analysis of trends and evaluation of restoration of natural environment. Additionally, research work and exercises at the European level have highlighted that reliable measurements of estrogenic substances especially three estrogens of the first watch list (17-beta-estradiol (17βE2), 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2), and estrone (E1))at the PNEC level are still challenging to achieve.With respects to their physicochemical properties, the 3 substances have the potential to disseminate within aquatic environments, to enter the food chain and to bioaccumulate, Chemical monitoring relies on a succession of actions: sampling, storage and preservation of representative samples; pre-treatment of a sample portion for quantification, calibration, final determination, calculation of results, uncertainty estimation and final expression of results. Throughout this chain of operations, the guarantee of the stability of the analyte is a key issue that has to be addressed to correctly qualify and discuss monitoring data.
The project EDC-WFD aims to develop traceable analytical methods for determining endocrine disrupting compounds and their effects, with a specific focus on three estrogens of the first watch. Environmental quality standards (EQS) for these compounds are at the ultra-trace level (EQS EE2 = 35 pg/L, EQS E2 = 400 pg/L, EQS E1 = 3600 pg/L) and pose a significant challenge to analytical methods. Estrogens 17-alpha-estradiol (17αE2) and estriol (E3) will be included to demonstrate the reliability of the developed methods and to support the requirements of Directive 2013/39/EC, Directive 2009/90/EC and Commission Implementation Decision (EU) 2018/840, hence improving the comparability and compatibility of measurement results within Europe. The project will also evaluate the interaction and partitioning of the 5 estrogenic compounds between water samples and suspended particulate matter (SPM) and the capability of developed methods to address the different fractions of matrix (whole water and dissolved concentrations of estrogens).
This contribution will present the objectives and methods applied within the EDC-WFD project that could support a better comprehension of the biogeochemical cycle of selected estrogenic substances in aquatic system
Funding: This project (18NMR01) has received funding from the EMPIR programme co-financed by the Participating States and from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme
There are significant differences in toxicity of PM components and cellular responses that can be linked to adverse health effects. Soot and copper oxide induced toxicity, reduced metabolic activity, increased ROS and altered immune response. Increased ROS generation and mitochondrial dysfunctions are well known features in COPD pathology. Toxicity of individual airborne particles can be used to better understand adverse health effects and improve air quality guidelines.
Processes of laser induced oxidation of metals are typically studied in the framework of heterogeneous chemical reactions occurring on the irradiated surface, which lead to the formation of dense oxide films deposited on it. Such technology has many applications like color-laser marking technology and laser recording on thin metal films for creation of diffractive optical elements . Under the conditions of strong laser ablation, another oxidation mechanism becomes possible: evaporated atoms react with oxygen in a surrounding atmosphere and the products of such reaction are redeposited back onto the substrate. The chemical and phase composition of such deposited layer, its density, morphology and structure depend on the conditions of laser ablation. By varying these conditions, the main properties of such coating can be controlled that is important for some potential application (for example in biomedicine).
In our report we present the study of the processes of redeposition of oxides structure under the conditions of multipulse nanosecond laser ablation of titanium (Grade 2) in air atmosphere at normal conditions. Our experiments show that titanium-implants with such deposited oxide layer have increased biocompatibility.
Modelling of chemical reaction in laser-induced plasma coupled with experimental methods of plasma optical emission spectroscopy allows us to determine the types of main chemical reactions in laser plasma as well as it influences on the plume dynamics and vapor condensation kinetics. As a result, we propose the general physical picture of reverse deposition of oxides structure under the condition of strong nanosecond laser ablation. The formation of the titanium oxide precipitate is explained not only by collisions in the plasma, but also by the chemical interaction of titanium and oxygen, which leads to the formation of а low pressure area near the substrate and additionally stimulates the reverse deposition of oxides. We expect, similar processes are valid not only for titanium but also for other metals and, possibly, semiconductors.
Laser metal deposition is a rapidly evolving method for additive manufacturing that combines high performance and simplified production routine. Quality of production depends on instrumental design and operational parameters that require constant control during the process. In this work, feasibility of using optical spectroscopy as a control method is studied via modeling and experimentally. A simplified thermal model is developed based on the time-dependent diffusion-conduction heat equation and geometrical light collection into detection optics. Intense light emitted by a laser-heated spot moving across a sample surface is collected and processed to yield the temperature and other temperature-related parameters. In a presence of surface defects the temperature field is distorted in a specific manner that depends on a shape and size of the defect. Optical signals produced by such the distorted temperature fields are simulated and verified experimentally using a 3D metal printer and a sample with artificially carved defects. Three quantities are tested as possible metrics for process monitoring: temperature, integral intensity, and correlation coefficient. The shapes of the simulated signals qualitatively agree with the experimental signals; this allows a cautious inference that optical spectroscopy is capable of detecting a defect and, possibly, predicting its character, e.g. inner or protruding.
Contamination of drinking water with pharmaceuticals is an emerging problem and a potential health threat. Immunochemical methods based on the binding of the analyte to specific antibodies enable fast and cost-effective on-site analyses. Magnetic bead-based immunoassays allow for implementation into an immunosensor for online testing. These particles are prepared by either coupling the analyte molecule (diclofenac) or the respective antibody (amoxicillin) to the surface. For miniaturization, detection is performed electrochemically on a microfluidic chip. The developed immunosensor will enable detection of pharmaceuticals directly in water supply pipes.
Introduction. Comparing different emitter classes and rationally designing the next generation of molecular and nanoscale probes for bioimaging applications require accurate and quantitative methods for the measurement of the key parameter photoluminescence quantum yield f.1 f equals the number of emitted per number of absorbed photons. This is particularly relevant for increasingly used fluorescence imaging in the short wave-infrared region (SWIR) ≥ 900 nm providing deeper penetration depths, a better image resolution, and an improved signal-to-noise or tumor-to-background ratio.2, 3 However, spectroscopic measurements in the SWIR are more challenging and require specific calibrations and standards.