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Luminescence techniques are among the most widely used detection methods in the life and material sciences. At the core of these methods is an ever-increasing variety of fluorescent reporters (i.e., simple dyes, fluorescent labels, probes, sensors and switches) from different fluorophore classes ranging from small organic dyes and metal ion complexes, quantum dots and upconversion nanocrystals to differently sized fluorophore-doped or fluorophore-labeled polymeric particles. A key parameter for fluorophore comparison is the fluorescence quantum yield (Φf), which is the direct measure for the efficiency of the conversion of absorbed light into emitted light. In this protocol, we describe procedures for relative and absolute determinations of Φf values of fluorophores in transparent solution using optical methods, and we address typical sources of uncertainty and fluorophore class-specific challenges. For relative determinations of Φf, the sample is analyzed using a conventional fluorescence spectrometer. For absolute determinations of Φf, a calibrated stand-alone integrating sphere setup is used. To reduce standard-related uncertainties for relative measurements, we introduce a series of eight candidate quantum yield standards for the wavelength region of ~350950 nm, which we have assessed with commercial and custom-designed instrumentation. With these protocols and standards, uncertainties of 5–10% can be achieved within 2 h.
We present a systematic study on the effect of surface ligands on the luminescence properties and colloidal stability of β-NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), comparing nine different surface coatings to render these UCNPs water-dispersible and bioconjugatable. A prerequisite for this study was a large-scale synthetic method that yields ~2 g per batch of monodisperse oleate-capped UCNPs providing identical core particles. These ~23 nm sized UCNPs display an upconversion quantum yield of ~0.35% when dispersed in cyclohexane and excited with a power density of 150 W cm-2, underlining their high quality. A comparison of the colloidal stability and luminescence properties of these UCNPs, subsequently surface modified with ligand exchange or encapsulation protocols, revealed that the ratio of the green (545 nm) and red (658 nm) emission bands determined at a constant excitation power density clearly depends on the surface chemistry. Modifications relying on the deposition of additional (amphiphilic) layer coatings, where the initial oleate coating is retained, show reduced non-radiative quenching by water as compared to UCNPs that are rendered water-dispersible via ligand exchange. Moreover, we could demonstrate that the brightness of the upconversion luminescence of the UCNPs is strongly affected by the type of surface modification, i.e., ligand exchange or encapsulation, yet hardly by the chemical nature of the ligand.
The synthesis of water-soluble dyes, which absorb and emit in the range between 650 and 950 nm and display high extinction coefficients (ε) as well as high fluorescence quantum yields (Φf), is still a demand for optical imaging. We now present a synthetic route for the preparation of a new group of glycerol-substituted cyanine dyes from dendronized indole precursors that have been functionalized as Nhydroxysuccinimide (NHS) esters. High Φf values of up to 0.15 and extinction coefficients of up to 189 000 L mol−1 cm−1 were obtained for the pure dyes. Furthermore, conjugates of the new dendronized dyes with the antibody cetuximab (ctx) that were directed against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) of tumor cells could be prepared with dye to protein ratios between 0.3 and 2.2 to assess their potential as imaging probes. For the first time, ctx conjugates could be achieved without showing a decrease in Φf and with an increasing labeling degree that exceeded the value of the pure dye even at a labeling degree above 2. The incorporation of hydrophilically and sterically demanding dendrimers into cyanines prevented dimer formation after covalent conjugation to the antibody. The binding functionality of the resulting ctx conjugates to the EGFR was successfully demonstrated by cell microscopy studies using EGFR expressing cell lines. In summary, the combination of hydrophilic glycerol dendrons with reactive dye labels has been established for the first time and is a promising Approach toward more powerful fluorescent labels with less dimerization.
This paper describes the production and characteristics of the nanoparticle test materials prepared for common use in the collaborative research project NanoChOp (Chemical and optical characterization of nanomaterials in biological systems), in casu suspensions of silica nanoparticles and CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots (QDs). This paper is the first to illustrate how to assess whether nanoparticle test materials meet the requirements of a "reference material" (ISO Guide 30, 2015) or rather those of the recently defined category of "representative test material (RTM)" (ISO/TS 16195, 2013). The NanoChOp test materials were investigated with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and centrifugal liquid sedimentation (CLS) to establish whether they complied with the required monomodal particle size distribution. The presence of impurities, aggregates, agglomerates, and viable microorganisms in the suspensions was investigated with DLS, CLS, optical and electron microscopy and via plating on nutrient agar. Suitability of surface functionalization was investigated with attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (ATR-FTIR) and via the capacity of the nanoparticles to be fluorescently labeled or to bind antibodies. Between-unit homogeneity and stability were investigated in terms of particle size and zeta potential. This paper shows that only based on the outcome of a detailed characterization process one can raise the status of a test material to RTM or reference material, and how this status depends on its intended use.
Photoluminescence techniques are amongst the most widely used tools in the material and life sciences, with new and exciting applications continuously emerging, due to their many advantages like comparative ease of use, unique sensitivity, non-invasive character, and potential for multiplexing, remote sensing, and miniaturization. Drawbacks are , however, signals, that contain unwanted wavelength- and polarization contributions from instrument-dependent effects, which are time-dependent due to the aging of instrument components, and difficulties to measure absolute fluorescence intensities. Thus, there is a considerable need for standards for intensity, spectral, and temporal fluorescence quantities to meet the increasing need for instrument performance validation and global trends to harmonize physicochemical measurements. In this respect, instrument calibration strategies together with different types of fluorescence standards are presented as well as design concepts for robust, easy-to-use, and format-adaptable fluorescence standards useable for the determination of different fluorescence parameters and a broad variety of fluorescence techniques.
The optical properties of semiconductor nanocrystals (SC NCs) are largely controlled by their size and surface chemistry, i.e., the chemical composition and thickness of inorganic passivation shells and the chemical nature and number of surface ligands as well as the strength of their bonds to surface atoms.
The latter is particularly important for CdTe NCs, which – together with alloyed CdₓHg₁₋ₓTe – are the only SC NCs that can be prepared in water in high quality without the need for an additional inorganic passivation shell. Aiming at a better understanding of the role of stabilizing ligands for the control of the application-relevant fluorescence features of SC NCs, we assessed the influence of two of the most commonly used monodentate thiol ligands, thioglycolic acid (TGA) and mercaptopropionic acid (MPA),
on the colloidal stability, photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY), and PL decay behavior of a set of CdTe NC colloids. As an indirect measure for the strength of the coordinative bond of the ligands to SC NC surface atoms, the influence of the pH (pD) and the concentration on the PL properties of these colloids was examined in water and D₂O and compared to the results from previous dilution studies with a set of thiol-capped Cd₁₋ₓHgₓTe SC NCs in D₂O. As a prerequisite for these studies, the number of surface ligands was determined photometrically at different steps of purification after SC NC synthesis with Ellman’s test.
Our results demonstrate ligand control of the pH-dependent PL of these SC NCs, with MPA-stabilized CdTe NCs being less prone to luminescence quenching than TGA-capped ones. For both types of CdTe colloids, ligand desorption is more pronounced in H₂O compared to D₂O, underlining also the role of hydrogen bonding and solvent molecules.
The surface chemistry / functionalization of nanomaterials and microparticles largely controls the stability of these materials as well as their solubility and subsequent biofunctionalization and their interactions with biological systems. Moreover, in the case of some nanomaterials like semiconductor quantum dots or lanthanide-based upconversion nanocrystals, the ligand shell strongly affects their optical properties, e.g., via passivation of surface states and traps that favor luminescence quenching or the protection of surface atoms from quenching water molecules. This renders analytical methods for the quantification of surface groups like functionalities very important. Targets of broad interest are here amino, carboxyl, alkine and maleimide groups used for common bioconjugation reactions and typical ligands like thiols and polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules of varying length, used for the tuning of material hydrophilicity and biocompatibility, minimization of unspecific interactions, prevention of biofouling, and enhancement of blood circulation times as well as surface-bound biomolecules like streptavidin or other biomolecules relevant e.g., for diagnostic assays. Here, we focus on simple optical methods relying on standard laboratory instrumentation, validated by method comparison and/or mass balances and present examples for their use for the characterization of different types of nanomaterials and microparticles.
Luminescence-based detection methods, ranging from fluorescence spectroscopy for photophysical and mechanistic studies over sensing applications, chromatographic separation techniques and the microarray technology with fluorescence detection to fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, single molecule spectroscopy, and molecular imaging to integrating sphere spectroscopy, are among the most widely used methods in the life and material sciences. This is due to e.g., their unique sensitivity enabling the detection of single molecules, potential for multiplexing, ease of combination with spatial resolution, and suitability for remote sensing. Many of these advantages are closely linked to the choice of suitable molecular and nanoscale fluorescent reporters, typically required for signal generation. This includes organic dyes without and with sensor function, fluorophore-encoded polymeric and silica nanoparticles as well as nanocrystalline systems like semiconductor quantum dots and upconversion phosphors, emitting in the visible (vis), near-infrared (NIR), and IR (infrared). Current challenges present the environment sensitivity of most fluorophores, rendering fluorescence spectra, measured intensities/fluorescence quantum yields, and fluorescence decay kinetics matrix-dependent, and instrument-specific distortions of measured fluorescence signals that need to be considered for quantification and comparability of data, particularly fluorescence spectra.
Here, current applications of luminescence-based methods and different types of reporters will be presented. In this context, suitable spectroscopic tools for the characteri-zation of the optical properties of fluorescent reporters and fluorophore-encoded microparticles, analytical tools for the determination of the surface chemistry of different types of particles, and different multiplexing strategies will be discussed.
Enzyme-activatable optical probes are important for future advances in cancer imaging, but may easily suffer from low signal-to-background ratios unless not optimized. To address this shortcoming, numerous mechanisms to modulate the fluorescence signal have been explored.
We report herein newly synthesized probes based on selfimmolative linkers containing chiral J-aggregate-forming dyes.
Signal modulation by formation of chiral J-aggregates is yet unexplored in optical enzyme probe design. The comprehensive characterization of the probes by absorption, CD, fluorescence, and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy revealed dye−dye interactions not observed for the free dyes in solution as well as dye−protein interactions with the enzyme. This suggested
that J-aggregate formation is challenging to achieve with current probe design and that interactions of the dyes with the Enzyme may interfere with achieving high signal-to-background ratios. The detailed understanding of the interactions provided herein provides valuable guidelines for the future design of similar probes.
The surface modification of nanometer- and micrometer-sized particles with polyethylene glycol (PEG) ligands of varying length is a very common strategy to tune their hydrophilicity and biocompatibility, minimize unspecific interactions, improve biofunctionalization efficiencies, and enhance blood circulation times. Nevertheless, simple methods for the quantification of PEG ligands are rare. This is similarly true for the spectroscopic characterization of lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs), novel near infrared (NIR)-excitable nonlinear fluorescence reporters for bioanalysis and theranostics, providing background-free multiple narrow emission bands in the visible and NIR, excellent photostability, and long luminescence lifetimes.
We present here a simple method for the determination of the number of PEG ligands on nanomaterials and screening methods for the fast identification of nonradiative deaction pathways in UCNPs.
Fluorescent particles like nm- and m-sized polymeric beads doped or labeled with different types of fluorophores and nanocrystalline systems like quantum dots and upconversion phosphors emitting in the visible (vis), near-infrared (NIR), and IR (infrared) region are of increasing importance as fluorescent reporters for bioanalysis and medical diagnostics. The assessment and comparison of material performance and the development of rational design strategies for improved systems requires suitable spectroscopic tools for the determination of signal-relevant optical properties and analytical tools for the determination of the number of surface groups, ligands, biomolecules and /or fluorophores per bead. In this respect, suitable spectroscopic tools for the characterization of the optical properties of such materials like photoluminescence quantum yields and brightness values and the determination of their surface chemistry are introduced. This includes integrating sphere setups for absolute measurements of fluorescence quantum yields of liquid and solid, transparent and scattering materials in the wavelength region of 350 nm to 1600 nm at varying excitation power densities for the study of multi-photon processes and simple optical assays, validated by comparison with established analytical techniques relying on different detection principles. Here, different examples for the optical and analytical characterization of different types of nanoscale reporters are presented.
Chemical admixtures like superplasticisers or stabilising agents are of ever increasing importance for modern concrete technology. They liberate the workability of concrete from its dependency on water content, and thus, open the gate towards innovative and future oriented concrete technologies such as selfcompacting concrete. Meanwhile admixtures have become common practice in concrete technology, but the understanding of these highly complex polymers in the entire concrete system lags far behind their application. Due to its complex time-dependent, multi-phase and multi-scale behaviour, flowable concrete systems are highly complicated and cannot be described comprehensively by simple models. It is therefore extremely challenging to identify the relevant parameters that predominantly control flow phenomena on different size scales, since these may occur on any scale between the nano scale (e.g. superplasticizer adsorption) and macro scale (e.g. grading of the aggregates). The present study discusses fundamental mechanisms at the interface between particle or hydrate surfaces and the fluid phase at a very early stage of concrete formation, and links these effects to macroscopic flow phenomena. Methods are discussed that appear promising interdisciplinary tools for enhancement of the understanding of the relevant interactions that are responsible for the macroscopic flow of flowable concrete.
Here, we present an overview of the research activities of division Biophotonics concerning the design and (bio)analytical application of molecular and nanoscale functional chromophores for e.g., biomarker analysis including methods for the reliable determination of their application relevant properties. This includes the absolute determination of their brightness and photoluminescemce quantum yield, determining the signal size from the material side, as well as the development of fluorescence standards for such measurements and instrument calibration strategies, thereby providing important prerequisites for the comparison of material performance, the mechanistic understanding of nonradiative decay channels, and the rational design of new optical reporters. Moreover, for particle-based systems, ranging from nm-sized semiconductor quantum dots to m-sized polymeric and silica beads, simple optical methods and assays for the assessment of their surface chemistry are presented, which enable the quantification of the number of total and derivatizable surface functionalities, ligands per particle and particle-bound biomolecules. In addition, validation concepts for such methods are introduced utilizing method comparisons, multimodal and cleavable probes.
There is an increasing interest in optical reporters like semiconductor quantum dots and upconversion nanocrystals with emission > 800 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, and safety barcodes. Prerequisites for the comparison of material performance, the mechanistic understanding of nonradiative decay channels, and the rational design of new nanomaterials with improved properties are reliable fluorescence measurements and validated methods for the assessment of their surface chemistry. The latter is of special relevance for nanocrystalline emitters, where surface states and the accessibility of emissive states by quenchers largely control accomplishable photoluminescence quantum yields and hence, signal sizes and detection sensitivities from the reporter side. Here, we present the design of integrating sphere setups for the excitation power density-dependent absolute measurement of emission spectra and photoluminescence quantum yields in the wavelength region of 350 to 1600 nm and results from spectroscopic studies of semiconductor quantum dots and upconversion nanocrystals of different size and surface chemistries in various environments. Subsequently, examples for simple approaches to surface group and ligand analysis are presented.
Simple, fast, and versatile methods for the quantification of thiol groups are of considerable interest not only for protein analysis but also for the characterization of the surface chemistry of nanomaterials stabilized with thiol ligands or bearing thiol groups for the subsequent (bio-) functionalization via maleimide−thiol chemistry. Here, we compare two simple colorimetric assays, the widely used Ellman’s assay performed at alkaline pH and the aldrithiol assay executed at acidic and neutral pH, with respect to their potential for the quantification of thiol groups and thiol ligands on different types of nanoparticles like polystyrene nanoparticles, semiconductor nanocrystals (SC NC), and noble metal particles, and we derive criteria for their use. In order to assess the underlying reaction mechanisms and to obtain stoichiometry factors mandatory for reliable thiol quantification, both methods were studied photometrically and with electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS), thereby demonstrating the influence of different thiols on the reaction mechanism. Our results underline the suitability of both methods for the quantification of directly accessible thiol groups or ligands on the surface of 2D- and 3D-supports, here exemplarily polystyrene nanoparticles. Moreover, we could derive strategies for the use of these simple assays for the determination of masked (i.e., not directly accessible) thiol groups like disulfides such as lipoic acid and thiol stabilizing ligands coordinatively bound to Cd and/or Hg surface atoms of II/VI and ternary SC NC and to gold and silver nanoparticles.
Hydrophobic guest molecules like organic dyes and metalion complexes can be introduced into aqueous media via adsorption onto inorganic nanoclay host materials such as nm-sized laponite. Dispersions of these organicinorganic hybrid materials show several advantageous properties like minimum light scattering due to their small size in the nanometer regime, ease of modification, low cost, low toxicity, and long-term stability, making them perfect candidates as signaling units and optically active materials in photonics and biotechnology. In this study, we summarize first findings on the easy-to-make, but chemically and optically fairly complex behavior of nanoclay hybrids for biotechnological applications. The latter includes the preparation of nanomaterials, which are colloidally stable in buffers and in the presence of biomolecules like proteins, and methods to control their surface chemistry. For this purpose, we used two red emitting fluorophores, the small organic dye Nile Red and the rare earth complex Eu(ttfa)3(topo)2, and evaluated the interaction of the red nanoclay hybrids with two model proteins, bovine serum albumin and β-lactoglobulin. We were able to monitor the formation of the protein corona around these hybrids using absorption and luminescence spectroscopy.
Aiming at the development of validated protocols
for protein conjugation of nanomaterials and the determination
of protein labeling densities, we systematically assessed
the conjugation of the model protein streptavidin (SAv) to
100-, 500-, and 1000-nm-sized polystyrene and silica nanoparticles
and dye-encoded polymer particles with two
established conjugation chemistries, based upon achievable
coupling efficiencies and labeling densities. Bioconjugation
reactions compared included EDC/sulfo NHS ester chemistry
for direct binding of the SAv to carboxyl groups at the particle
surface and maleimide-thiol chemistry in conjunction with
heterobifunctional PEG linkers and aminated nanoparticles
(NPs). Quantification of the total and functional amounts of
SAv on these nanomaterials and unreacted SAv in solution
was performed with the BCA assay and the biotin–FITC
(BF) titration, relying on different signal generation principles,
which are thus prone to different interferences. Our results
revealed a clear influence of the conjugation chemistry on
the amount of NP crosslinking, yet under optimized reaction
conditions, EDC/sulfo NHS ester chemistry and the attachment
via heterobifunctional PEG linkers led to comparably
efficient SAv coupling and good labeling densities. Particle
size can obviously affect protein labeling densities and
particularly protein functionality, especially for larger
particles. For unstained nanoparticles, direct bioconjugation
seems to be the most efficient strategy, whereas for dyeencoded
nanoparticles, PEG linkers are to be favored for the
prevention of dye–protein interactions which can affect
protein functionality specifically in the case of direct SAv
binding. Moreover, an influence of particle size on achievable
protein labeling densities and protein functionality could be
demonstrated.
Fluorophore labeled proteins and antibodies, referred to also as targeted optical probes, present a promising strategy for a variety of applications from fundamental cell-based biological studies to in vivo diagnostics and image guided surgeries in humans. In this respect, design strategies for the preparation of such conjugates from different dyes including analyte-responsive fluorophores are presented as well as their analytical and spectroscopic characterization employing Absorption spectroscopy and steady state and time-resolved fluorometry. Special emphasis is dedicated to the influence of dye hydrophilicity and labeling density on the optical properties and binding behavior of these dye-bioconjugates including their performance in in vitro and in vivo bioimaging studies.
The design of bright and functional dye–protein conjugates requires hydrophilic and stable fluorophores with high molar absorption coefficients and high fluorescence quantum yields,which must not be prone to dimerization, as well as conservation of protein function and suppression of protein association. Although many synthetic dyes meet these needs, the influence of dye charge on bioconjugate performance is commonly neglected. This encouraged us to assess the spectroscopic properties, antibody functionality, binding behavior, folding, and association of conjugates of the therapeutic antibodies trastuzumab and cetuximab with the red cyanine dyes S0586, S2381,and 6SIDCC (bearing two, three, and six sulfonate Groups respectively.
Our results demonstrate a negligible effect of dye labeling on antibody folding, yet a strong influence of Label charge and density on antibody isoelectric points and association.Especially 6SIDCC decreased strongly the isoelectric points of both antibodies and their heavy or light chains even at low labeling degrees, thus favoring protein association. Although an increasingly negative dye charge reduces Antigen affinity as shown in a competitive immunoassay, all conjugates still bound to cells overexpressing the target of the respective antibody. Obviously, dyes that cause minimum dimerization with a small number of charged groups are best for conjugate brightness, minimum protein association, and strong target binding. This underlines the need to consider dye Charge for the rational design of conjugates with Optimum performance.
Nowadays, superplasticizers (SPs) are widely used to increase fluidity and reduce water content in concrete; thus, allowing better workability for final applications. The present study will focus on the hydration effect using comb shape polycarboxylates (PCEs), which are known to allow a very low water/cement ratio (w/c of 0.20) or less.Optical methods have been successfully used for the analysis and monitoring of the interactions between a broad variety of nanoscale and molecular systems like nanoparticles of various chemical composition and different types of organic ligands or biomolecules.This encouraged us to assess the potential of these methods, and particularly fluorescence, for the investigation of the interactions that occur at the interface between hydrate surfaces of cement particles and PCE at a very early stage of concrete formation and to differentiate between the impact of PCE’s molecular structures on such interactions.
Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers were used to produce CdSe core/multi-shell fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) which are colloidally stable in aqueous solutions. The size, charge, and optical properties of QDs functionalized with the 4th (G4) and 5th (G5) generation of PAMAM were compared with amphiphilic polymer-covered QDs and used as criteria for the evaluation of the suitability of both water solubilization methods. As revealed by dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering (DLS and ELS), the hydrodynamic sizes of the QDs varied from 30 to 65 nm depending on QD type and dendrimer generation, with all QDs displaying highly positive surface charges, i.e., zeta potentials of around +50 mV in water. PAMAM functionalization yielded stable core/multi-shell QDs with photoluminescence quantum yields (Φ) of up to 45%. These dendrimer-covered QDs showed a smaller decrease in their Φ upon phase transfer compared with QDs made water soluble via encapsulation with amphiphilic brush polymer bearing polyoxyethylene/ polyoxypropylene chains.
We present colloidally stable and highly luminescent ZnxCd1_xS:Mn/ZnS core–shell nanocrystals (NCs) synthesized via a simple non-injection one-pot, two-step synthetic route, which can be easily upscaled. A systematic variation of the reaction component, parameters and thickness of the ZnS shell yielded doped nanocrystals with a very high photoluminescence quantum yield (pl) of 70%, which is the highest value yet reported for these Mn-doped sulfide-semiconductor NCs. These materials can be synthesized with high reproducibility in large quantities of the same high quality, i.e., the same pl using accordingly optimized reaction conditions. The application of these zero-reabsorption high quality NCs in the light conversion layers, deposited on top of a commercial monocrystalline silicon (mono-Si) solar cell, led to a significant enhancement of the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of this device in the ultraviolet spectral region between 300 and 400 nm up to ca. 12%. EQE enhancement is reflected by an increase in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) by nearly 0.5 percentage points and approached the theoretical limit (0.6%) expected from down-shifting for this Si solar cell. The resulting PCE may result in a BoM (bill of materials) cost reduction of app. 3% for mono-Si photovoltaic modules. Such small but distinct improvements are expected to pave the road for an industrial application of doped semiconductor NCs as cost-effective light converters for silicon photovoltaic (PV) and other optoelectronic applications.
Photo-initiated cross-linking of multifunctional acrylic esters in polymeric binders was investigated based on digital imaging using the Computer-to-Plate (CtP) technology applying laser exposure in the near-infrared (NIR). Generation of initiating radicals occurs by electron transfer from the excited state of the NIR-sensitizer to the radical generator, an onium salt. Iodonium salts derived from several borates and those with the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anion resulted in lithographic materials with high sensitivity. Photo-induced electron transfer plays a major function to generate initiating radicals by a sensitized mechanism but thermal events also influence sensitivity of the coating. Internal conversion was the major deactivation pathway while a certain fraction of NIR-dye fluorescence was also available. A line shape focused laser system with emission in the NIR was successfully used to bake the materials.
Quality control requirements imposed on assays used in clinical diagnostics and point-of-care-diagnostic testing (POCT), utilizing amplification reactions performed at elevated temperatures of 35 to 95 °C are very stringent. As the temperature of a reaction vessel has a large impact on the specificity and sensitivity of the amplification reaction, simple tools for local in situ temperature sensing and monitoring are required for reaction and assay control. We describe here a platform of stem-and-loop structured DNA hairpins (molecular beacons, MBs), absorbing and emitting in the visible and red spectral region, rationally designed for precise temperature measurements in microfluidic assays for POCT, and their ap-plication for temperature measurements in a common DNA-based molecular biological assay utilizing thermophilic helicase-dependent amplification (tHDA). Spectroscopic studies of these MBs, rationally designed from DNA se-quences of different thermal stabilities, chosen not to interact with the DNA probes applied in the nucleic acid amplification assay, and temperature-dependent fluorescence measurements of MB-assay mixtures revealed the suitability of these MBs for temperature measurements directly in such an assay with a temperature resolution of about 0.5 °C without interferences from assay components. Combining two spectrally distinguishable MBs provides a broader response range and an increase in temperature sensitivity up to 0.1 °C. This approach will find future application for temperature monitoring and quality control in commercialized diagnostics assays using dried reagents and microfluidic chips as well as assays read out with tube and microplate readers and PCR detection systems for temperature measurements in the range of 35 to 95 °C.
Die Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) ist eine wissenschaftlich technische Bundesoberbehörde im Geschäftsbereich des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi), die über einen gesetzlichen Auftrag für die Sicherheit in Technik und Chemie verfügt und auf nahezu 150 Jahre zurückblicken kann. Vor diesem Hintergrund forscht, entwickelt, und prüft die BAM in den fünf Themenfeldern Energie, Infrastruktur, Umwelt, Material und Analytical Sciences mit einer unikalen Vielfalt an analytischen Methoden.
Lanthanide-doped up-converting nanoparticles (UCNPs) are promising reporters for medical diagnostics and bioimaging, which are excited in the near infrared (NIR) by multiphoton absorption processes, and show multiple narrow emission bands in the visible (vis) and NIR, long luminescence lifetimes in the μs range, and excellent photostability. Current limitations present their relative low absorption cross sections and low fluorescence efficiencies, with the latter being affected by particle size, surface chemistry, and microenvironment, particularly water.
Here, we present results from systematic studies of the excitation power density dependent upconversion luminescence spectra, intensities/intensity ratios of the individual emission bands, slope factors, and quantum yields of UCNPs of varying size, dopant concentration, and surface chemistry in different microenvironments as well as the up- and downconversion luminescence decay kinetics of the different emission bands. Moreover, first studies of the energy transfer from UCNPs to surface-bound organic dyes acting as fluorescence acceptors are shown. Based upon these measurements, fluorescence deactivation channels are identified and spectroscopic parameters for the screening of material performance are derived.
Quantum dot (QD) based nanomaterials are very promising materials for the fabrication of optoelectronic devices like solar cells, light emitting diodes (LEDs), and photodetectors as well as as reporters for chemo- and biosensing and bioimaging. Many of These applications involve the monitoring of changes in photoluminescence intensity and energy transfer processes which can strongly depend on excitation wavelength or energy. In this work, we analyzed the excitation energy dependence (EED) of the photoluminescence quantum yields (PL QYs) and decay kinetics and the circular dichroism (CD) spectra of CdSe/CdS core/shell QDs with different thicknesses of the surface passivation shell. Our results demonstrate a strong correlation between the spectral position of local maxima observed in the EED of PL QY and the zero-crossing points of the CD profiles. Theoretical analysis of the energy band structure of the QDs with effective mass approximation suggests that these structures could correspond to exciton energy levels. This underlines the potential of CD spectroscopy for the study of electronic energy structure of chiroptically active nanocrystals which reveal quantum confinement effects.
Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are of great interest for biomedical applications. Currently, the applicability of UCNP bionanotechnology is hampered by the generally low luminescence intensity of UCNPs and inefficient energy Transfer from UCNPs to surface-bound chromophores used e.g. for photodynamic therapy or analyte sensing. In this work, we address the low-Efficiency issue by developing versatile core-Shell nanostructures, where high-concentration sensitizers and activators are confined in the core and Shell Region of representative hexagonal NaYF2:Yb,Er UCNPs. After Doping concentration optimization, the sensitizer-rich core is able to harvest/accumulate more excitation energy and generate almost one order of Magnitude higher luminescence intesity than conventional homogeneously doped nanostructures. At the same time, the activator Ions located in the Shell enable a ~6 times more efficient resonant energy Transfer from UCNPs to surface-bound acceptor dye molecules due to the short distance between donor-acceptor pairs. Our work provides new insights into the rational design of UCNPs and will greatly encrease the General applicability of upconversion nanotechnologies.
Micelles are of increasing importance as versatile carriers for hydrophobic substances and nanoprobes for a wide range of pharmaceutical, diagnostic, medical, and therapeutic applications. A key Parameter indicating the Formation and stability of micelles is the critical micelle concentration (CMC). In this respect, we determined the CMC of common anionic, cationic, and non-ionic surfactants fluorometrically using different fluorescent probes and fluorescence Parameters for Signal detection and ompared the results with conductometric and surface Tension measurements. Based upon These results, requirements, Advantages, and pitfalls of each methods are discussed. Our study underlines the versatility of fluorometric methods that do not impose specific requirements on surfactants and are especially suited for the quantification of very low CMC values. Conductivity and surface Tension measurements yield smaller uncertainties particularly for high CMC values, yet are more time- and substance consuming and not suitable for every surfactant.
The implementation of fluorescent methods is of outstanding importance in the field of optical chemical sensor Technology and biosciences. Their bioanalytical applications are manifold including fluorescence microscopy, fluorescence in situ hybridization, DNA sequencing, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, immunoassays, analysis of DNA and Protein microarrays, and quantitative PCR, just to name a few examples. Particularly, fluorescence microscopy is a valuable method in the versatile field of biomedical imaging methods which nowadays utilizes different fluorescence Parameters like emission wavelength/Color and lifetime for the discrimination between different targets. Sectional Images are available with confocal microscopes. Tissue, cells or single cellular compartments can be stained and visualized with fluorescent dyes and biomolecules can be selectively labeled with fluorescent dyes to Monitor biomolecular interactions inside cells or at Membrane bound receptors.
On the other hand , fluorophores can act as indicator (or "molecular probe") to visualize intrinsically colorless and non-fluorescent ionic and neutral analytes such as pH, Oxygen (pO2), metal ions, anions, hydrogen peroxide or bioactive small organic molecules such as Sugars or nucleotides. Thereby, their photoluminescent properties (fluorescence or phoporescence intensity, exitation and/or Emission wavelength, emission lifetime or anisotropy) respond to the presence of these species in their immediate Environment. In general, the use of luminescent probes has the advantage that they can be delivered directly into the sample, and detected in a contactless remote mode. By now, these probes are often encapsulated in different types of nanoparticles (NPs) made from (biodegradable) organic polymers, biopolymers or inorganic materials like silica or bound to their surface.
Semiconductor nanocrystals with a spherical (QDs) core and a spherical or a rod-shaped Shell, u.a., so-called Quantum dot-Quantum rods (QDQRs) are increasingly used as fluorescent Reporters or optically active components in the life and material science, e.g., in solid state lightening including Plasma Displays. (1,2) Morever, there is an increasing interest in materials with emission >800 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, and safety barcodes. Prerequisites for the mechanistic understanding of nonradiativ decay channels needed for the rational design of improved nanomaterials and the comparison of material Performance are reliable fluorescence measurements and validated methods for the assessment of their surface chemistry. (3,4) The latter is of particular importance for nanocrystalline Emitters, where surface states and the accessibility of emissive states by quenchers largely control photoluminescence properties. (5) Here, we present results from systematic spectroscopic studies including absolutely measured photolumunescence Quantum yields of different vissible and NIR emisisve QD and QDQRs Systems of varying particle architecture size and surface chemistries in Dispersion and embedded in salt crystals. (6,7)
At the core of luminescence color and lifetime Tuning of rare earth doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs), is the understanding of the Impact of the particle architecture for commonly used sensitizer (S) and activator (A) Ions. In this respect, a series of core@Shell NaYF4 UCNPs doped with Yb3+ and Ho3+ ions are presented here, where the same dopant concentrations are distributed in different particle architectures following the scheme: YbHo core and YbHo@..., ...@YbHo, Yb@Ho, Ho@Yb, YbHo@Yb, and Yb@YbHo core-Shell NPs. As refealed by quantitative steady-state and time-resolved luminescence studies, the relative spatial Distribution of the A and S ions in the UCNPs and their protection from surface quenching has a critical Impact on ther luminescence characteristics. Although the increased amount of Yb3+ Ions boosts UCNP Performance by amplifying the Absorption, the Yb3+ ions can also efficiently dissipate the energy stored in the material through energy Migration to the surface, thereby reducing the Overall energy Transfer Efficiency to the activator ions. The results provide yet another proof that UC Phosphor chemistry combined with materials Engineering through intentional core@shell structures may help to fine-tune the luminescence Features of UCNPs for their specific future applications in biosensing, bioimaging, photovoltaics, and Display technologies.
Due to their unique physical properties, particularly their electronic and luminescent properties, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are expected to be suitable for a wide range of applications in bioimaging, electro-optical and photonic materials or energy harvesting among others.1 Tuning the surface chemistry provides an efficient approach to modulate the fluorescence and distinct electronic properties of GQDs.2 Nevertheless, the role of surface chemistry on the electronic structure of GQDs remains poorly understood. In this presentation, we will compare systematically the electronic and chemical structures of GQDs functionalized with carboxylic and aminated groups to those of non-functionalized GQDs, combining theoretical and experimental approaches, here various photon-based spectroscopies. First, the electronic structure of GQDs was characterized by soft X-ray absorption (XA) and X-ray emission (XE) spectroscopies, probing unoccupied and occupied electronic states, respectively, at the carbon K edge for the first time. The interpretation of the XA/XE spectra was done based on theoretical calculations. Then, the chemical structure of the GQDs was characterized in situ by ATR-FTIR in water, thereby accounting for the importance of the interface between GQDs and water believed to play a central role in the chemical reactivity and the optical properties. We previously demonstrated that monitoring the OH vibrations of water molecules during exposure to humid air was a powerful method to probe H-bonding environment around carbon nanomaterials.3 For GQDs, clear surface-dependent water adsorption profiles are observed and discussed. Finally, UV/Vis absorption and photoluminescence measurements were done to characterize the optical properties of these GQDs. Our results suggest that the surface chemistry of the GQDs affects significantly their electronic structure and optical properties. These findings will contribute to an improved understanding of the structure–activity relationship of GQDs and other carbon nanomaterials with surface modifications.
We report on a novel and simple approach to surface ligand design of CdSe-based nanocrystals (NCs) with biocompatible, heterobifunctional polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules. This method provides high transfer yields of the NCs into aqueous media with preservation of the narrow and symmetric emission bands of the initial organic-capped NCs regardless of their interior crystal structure and surface chemistry. The PEG-functionalized NCs show small sizes, high photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 75%, as well as impressive optical and colloidal stability. This universal approach is applied to different fluorescent nanomaterials (CdSe/CdS, CdSe/CdSCdxZn1-xS, and CdSe/CdS/ZnS), extending the great potential of organic-capped NCs for biological applications.
A series of twelve 3-piperazinyl propenylidene indolone merocyanines was synthesized in a one-pot fashion using a consecutive three-component insertion-coupling-Michael addition sequence. Physicalorganic treatment of the absorption data of a consanguineous series of this library allows semiquantitative Linear Free Energy Relationships (LFERs) to be established and confirmation of the positive Absorption solvatochromicity. All Boc-substituted piperazinyl merocyanines display aggregation induced Emission (AIE), which was corroborated for two solvent systems. In particular, crystallization-induced Emission enhancement (CIEE) induced by ultrasonication could be shown for a model chromophore by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).
The syntheses, structures, and photophysical properties of two new zinc(II) complexes bearing the tridentate N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-dipyridin-2-ylpyridine-2,6-diamine (ddpd) ligand are presented. Structural investigations through single-crystal X-ray diffractometry, NMR spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations revealed a diverse coordination behavior that depends on the counterion. Spectroscopic (UV/Vis and emission spectroscopy) and theoretical techniques (DFT and time-dependent DFT calculations) were employed to explore the photophysical properties of the complexes.
There is an increasing interest in optical reporters like semiconductor and lanthanide-based nanocrystals with emission > 800 nm and recently also > 1000 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, and safety barcodes. Mandatory for the comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of reporters for the short wavelength infrared (SWIR) region are reliable and quantitative photoluminescence measurements in this challenging wavelength region. This is of special relevance for nanocrystalline emitters like semiconductor quantum dots and rods as well as for upconversion and downconversion nanocrystals, where surface states and the accessibility of emissive states by quenchers largely control accomplishable quantum yields and hence, signal sizes and detection sensitivities from the reporter side. Such measurements are currently hampered by the lack of suitable methods and standards for instrument calibration and validation as well as by the lack of quantum yield standards with emission > 800 nm and especially > 1000 nm.
In this respect, we present the design of integrating sphere setups for absolute and excitation power densitydependent measurements of emission spectra and quantum yields in the wavelength region of 650 to 1650 nm
including calibration strategies and first candidates for potential fluorescence standards. Subsequently, the photoluminescence properties of different types of nanocrystals are presented and discussed including absolute photoluminescence measurements of upconversion and down conversion emission in different solvents.
There is an increasing interest in molecular and nanoscale with emission > 800 nm and recently also > 1000 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, bioimaging, and safety barcodes. Mandatory for the comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of reporters for the short wavelength infrared (SWIR) Region are reliable and quantitative photoluminescence measurements in this challenging wavelength region. This is of special relevance for nanocrystalline emitters like semiconductor quantum dots and rods as well as lanthanide-based upconversion and downconversion nanocrystals, where surface states and the accessibility of emissive states by quenchers largely control accomplishable photoluminescence quantum yields and hence, signal sizes and detection sensitivities from the reporter side. Such measurements are currently hampered by the lack of suitable methods and standards for instrument calibration and validation and quantum yield standards with emission > 800 nm and especially > 1000 nm.
In this respect, we present the design of integrating sphere setups for absolute and excitation power density-dependent measurements of emission spectra and photoluminescence quantum yields in the wavelength Region of 650 to 1650 nm including calibration strategies and first candidates for potential fluorescence standards.
Subsequently, the photoluminescence properties of different types of nanocrystals are presented including the upconversion and downconversion emission of differently sized and surface functionalized lanthanide-doped nanoparticles and photoluminescence quenching effects are quantified.
Comparison of fluorescence measurements performed on different fluorescence instruments, analyte quantification from fluorescence intensities as well as the determination of fluorescence quantum yields require instrument calibration and consideration of the wavelength-dependent instrument-specific quantities spectral photon flux reaching the sample and spectral responsivity. Here, we present guidelines and recommendations for the qualification of fluorescence instruments and introduce suitable chromophore-based reference materials. Moreover, the design concepts of the different BAM fluorescence standards are discussed.
Mandatory for the comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of molecular and nanoscale reporters are reliable and quantitative photoluminescence measurements. This is of special relevance for all fluorescence applications in the life and material sciences. In the following, proccedures for the determination of this spectroscopic key parameter are presented including material-specific effects related to certain emitters
Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) offer new strategies for luminescence-based sensing and imaging. One of the best studied materials are ..-NaYF4 UCNPs doped with 20 % Yb3+ and 2 % Er3+, which efficiently convert 976 nm light to photons emitted at 540 nm, 655 nm, and 845 nm, respectively, reveal long luminescence lifetimes (> 100 µs), are photostable and chemically inert. Their upconversion (UC) luminescence (UCL) properties are, however, strongly influenced by particle size, surface chemistry, and microenvironment. In addition, the multiphotonic absorption processes responsible for UCL render UCL excitation power density (..) dependent. This makes quantitative UCL measurements as well as the determination of UC quantum yields (.UC) very challenging.
The rational design of brighter UCNPs particle architectures and the interest in identifying optimum particle architectures for FRET-based sensing and imaging schemes, which often rely on core-only UCNPs to minimize donor-acceptor distances, encouraged us to assess the influence of particle size and P on UCL. Here, we present the photophysical properties of a series of hexagonal NaYF4 UCNPs with sizes from 10 to 43 nm with different surface ligands dispersed in organic solvents and water studied by steady state and time-resolved fluorometry as well as quantitatively by integrating sphere spectrometry with P varied over about three orders of magnitude. Our results underline the need for really quantitative luminescence studies for mechanistic insights and the potential of high P to compensate for UCL quenching due to high energy phonons and surface effects.
Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are attractive candidates for energy transfer-based analytical applications. In contrast to classical donor−acceptor pairs, these particles contain many emitting lanthanide ions together with numerous acceptor dye molecules at different distances to each other, strongly depending on the particle diameter.
UCNPs with precisely controlled sizes between 10 and 43 nm were prepared and functionalized with rose bengal and sulforhodamine B by a ligand-exchange procedure. Timeresolved studies of the upconversion luminescence of the UCNP donor revealed a considerable shortening of the donor lifetime as a clear hint for Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). FRET was most pronounced for 21 nm-sized UCNPs, yielding a FRET efficiency of 60%. At larger surface-to-volume ratios, the FRET efficiency decreased by an increasing competition of nonradiative surface deactivation. Such dye-UCNP architectures can also provide an elegant way to shift the UCNP emission color, since the fluorescence intensity of the organic dyes excited by FRET was comparable to that of the upconversion emission of smaller particles.
In a proof-of-concept study, we assessed different analytical and spectroscopic parameters for stability screening of differently sized β-NaYF4:20 mol % Yb3+, 2 mol % Tm3+ upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) exemplarily in the bioanalytically relevant buffer phosphate buffered saline (PBS; pH 7.4) at 37 and 50 °C. This included the potentiometric determination of the amount of released fluoride ions, surface analysis with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements.
Based on these results, the luminescence lifetime of the 800 nm upconversion emission was identified as an Optimum parameter for stability screening of UCNPs and changes in particle surface chemistry.
The quantum yield is a critically important parameter in the development of lanthanide-based upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) for use as novel contrast agents in biological imaging and optical reporters in assays. The present work focuses on the influence of the beam Profile in measuring the quantum yield (f) of nonscattering dispersions of nonlinear upconverting probes, by establishing a relation between f and excitation light power density from a rate equation analysis. A resulting 60% correction in the measured f due to the beam profile utilized for excitation underlines the significance of the beam profile in such measurements, and its impact when comparing results from different Setups and groups across the world.
Coumarin-rhodamine hybrids-novel probes for the optical measurements of viscosity and polarity
(2017)
A comprehensive systematic study of Absorption and fluorescence properties in solvents of varying viscosity and polarity of three novel and red-emitting coumarin-rhodamine hybrid derivatives with differences in the rigidity of their substituents is presented. This includes ethanol-polyethylene glycol, toluene-polyethylene glycol, and tolueneparaffin mixtures. Moreover, protonation-induced effects on the spectroscopic properties are studied. A viscosity-induced emission enhancement was observed for all coumarin-rhodamine hybrid derivatives. MCR2 bearing a julolidine donor showed the expected low sensitivity to viscosity whereas MCR3 with its freely rotatable diphenylamino Substituent revealed a particularly pronounced sensitivity to this parameter.
Moreover, MCR2 shows an enhancement in Emission in the open, i.e., protonated form in conjunction with a largely Stokes shift fluorescence in the deep red spectral region. This enables the application of these dyes as viscosity sensors and as far red emitting pH-sensitive probes.
The unparalleled excited-state potential-energy landscape of the chromium(III)-based dye [1]3+ ([Cr(ddpd)2]3+; ddpd=N,N’-dimethyl-N,N’-dipyridin-2-ylpyridin-2,6-diamine) enables a strong dual emission in the near infrared region. The temperature dependence of this dual emission allows the use of [1]3+ as an unprecedented molecular ratiometric thermometer in the 210–373 K temperature range in organic and in aqueous media. Incorporation of [1]3+ in biocompatible nanocarriers, such as 100 nm-sized polystyrene nanoparticles and solutol micelles, provides nanodimensional thermometers operating under physiological conditions.
Spectroscopic methods for the absolute characterization of the optical properties of different types of vis/NIR-emissive nanomaterials like semiconductor quantum dots, upconversion nanocrystals, and dye-doped polymer nanoparticles will be presented and their relevance for the mechanistic understanding of nonradiative decay channels and the rational design of new nanomaterials will be underpinned. In this respect, also the potential of optical spectroscopy for surface group and ligand analysis surface chemistry will be demonstrated.
The excitation wavelength (lexc) dependence of the photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (FPL) and decay behavior (tPL) of a series of CdSe/CdS quantum dot/Quantum rods (QDQRs), consisting of the same spherical CdSe core and rod-shaped CdS shells, with aspect ratios ranging from 2 to 20 was characterized. lexc between 400–565 nm were chosen to cover the first excitonic absorption band of the CdSe core material, the onset of absorption of the CDs shell, and the region of predominant shell absorption. A strong lexc dependence of relative and absolutely measured FPL and tPL was found particularly for the longer QDQRs with higher aspect ratios. This is attributed to combined contributions from a length-dependent shell-to-core exciton localization efficiency, an increasing number of defect states within the shell for the longest QDQRs, and probably also the presence of absorbing, yet non-emitting shell material. Although the FPL values of the QDQRs decrease at shorter wavelength, the extremely high extinction coefficients introduced by the shell outweigh this effect, leading to significantly higher brightness values at wavelengths below the absorption onset of the CdS Shell compared with direct excitation of the CdSe cores. Moreover, our results present also an interesting example for the comparability of absolutely measured FPL using an integrating sphere setup and FPL values measured relative to common FPL standards, and underline the Need for a correction for particle scattering for QDQRs with high aspect ratios.
A set of highly fluorescent, pH-responsive boron dipyrromethene dyes covering the pH range of 5-12 is presented for broad range pH measurements in mixed aqueous-organic median and polymer matrices. Readout in the intensity Domain with low cost and miniaturized Instrumentation utilizes reversible protonation induced switching ON of their initially completely quenched flourescence mediated by photoinduced electron Transfer. All dyes, rationally designed to reveal closely matching Absorption and Emission properties, are accessible via facile two-step reactions in Overall yields of up to 20%. By modifying the Substitution pattern of the meso-Aryl substiuent, the pKa values could be fine-tuned from 6 to 11. Integration of these molecules into polymeric films by a simple mixing procedure yielded reversible and longterm stable pH sensors for naked eye detection.
Photoluminescence techniques are amongst the most widely used Tools in the life sciences, with new and exciting applications in medical diagnostics and molecular Imaging continuously emerging. Advantages include their comparative ease of use, unique sensitivity, non-invasive character, and potential for Multiplexing, remote sensing, and miniaturization. General drawbacks are, however, signals, that contain unwanted wavelength- and polarization contributions from Instrument-dependent effects, which are also time-dependent due to aging of Instrument-components, and difficulties to measure absolute flourescence entensities. Moreover, scattering Systems require Special measurement geometries and the interest in new optical Reporters with Emission > 1000 nm strategies for reliable measurements in the second diagnostic for the comparison of material Performance and the rational designg of new flourophores with improved properties.
Here, we present strategies to versatile method-adaptable liquid and solid flourescence Standards for different flourescence paramters including traceable Instrument calibration procedures and the design of integrating spere setups for the absolute measurements of emission spectra and Quantum yields in the wavelength Region of 350 to 1600 nm. Examples are multi-Emitter glasses, spectral flourescence Standards, and quantum yield Standards for the UV/vis/NIR.
The rational design of functional nanomaterials for optical applications in the material and life sciences requires optical-spectroscopic methods for the quantitative characterization of their signal-relevant optical properties. Additionally, methods for the simple and quantitative analysis of the surface chemistry are desired as the chemical nature and number of the surface groups and ligands can affect the optical features and controls the interaction of these nanomaterials with their environment. Here, we present quantitative photoluminescenvce studies of different types of vis/NIR-emissive nanomaterials like semiconductor quantum dots and upconversion nanocrystals will be presented and their relevance for the mechanistic understanding of nonradiative decay channels and the rational design of new nanomaterials will be underpinned. In this respect, also validation concepts for such measurements and absolute fluorometry will be introduced. In addition, the potential of optical spectroscopy for surface group and ligand analysis surface chemistry will be demonstrated exemplarily for semiconductor quantum dots
Lanthanide-doped photon-upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have been in the focus of many research activities in the material and life sciences over the last 15 years because of their potential to convert light between different spectral regions and their unique photophysical properties. In order to fully exploit the application potential of these fascinating nanomaterials, a number of challenges has to be overcome such as the low brightness particularly of small UCNPs and the reliable quantification of the excitation power density (P)-dependent upconversion luminescence (UCL). Here, the need and requirements on the characterization of the optical properties of UCNPs are discussed with special focus on the reliabiliy and comparability of relative and quantitative luminescence measurements and prerequisites for their standardization.
Photophysical studies of nonlinear lanthanide-doped photon upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) increasingly used in biophotonics and photovoltaics require absolute measurements of the excitation power density (P)-dependent upconversion luminescence (UCL) and luminescence quantum yields (ΦUC) for quantifying the material performance, UCL deactivation pathways, and possible enhancement factors. We present here the P-dependence of the UCL spectra, ΦUC, and slope factors of the different emission bands of representative 25 nm-sized oleate-capped β-NaYF4:17% Yb3+, 3% Er3+ UCNPs dispersed in toluene and as powder as well as ΦUC of 3 μm-sized upconversion particles (UCμP), all measured with a newly designed integrating sphere setup, enabling controlled variation of P over four orders of magnitude. This includes quantifying the influence of the beam shape on the measured ΦUC and comparison of experimental ΦUC with simulations utilizing the balancing power density model of the Andersson-Engels group and the simulated ΦUC of UCμP from the Berry group, underpinned by closely matching decay kinetics of our UC material. We obtained a maximum ΦUC of 10.5% for UCμP and a ΦUC of 0.6% and 2.1% for solid and dispersed UCNPs, respectively. Our results suggest an overestimation of the contribution of the purple and an underestimation of that of the red emission of β-NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+: microparticles by the simulations of the Berry group. Moreover, our measurements can be used as a guideline to the absolute determination of UCL and ΦUC
Functional Nanomaterials with VIS/NIR Emission-Spectroscopic Properties And Surface Group Analysis
(2017)
Optical-spectroscopic methods for the quantitative characterization of the optical properties of different types of vis/NIR-emissive nanomaterials like semiconductor quantum dots and upconversion nanocrystals will be presented and their relevance for the mechanistic understanding of nonradiative decay channels and the rational design of new nanomaterials will be underpinned. In this respect, also validation concepts for such measurements and absolute fluorometry will be introduced. In addition, the potential of optical spectroscopy for surface group and ligand analysis surface chemistry will be demonstrated exemplarily for semiconductor quantum dots.
At the core of luminescence color and lifetime tuning of rare earth doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) is the understanding of the impact of the particle architecture for commonly used sensitizer (S) and activator (A) ions. In this respect, we present here a series of core@shell NaYF4 UCNPs doped with Yb3+ and Ho3+ ions, where the same dopant concentrations were distributed in different particle architectures following the scheme: YbHo core and YbHo@..., …@YbHo, Yb@Ho, Ho@Yb, YbHo@Yb, and Yb@YbHo core-shell NPs. As revealed by quantitative steady state and time-resolved luminescence studies, the relative spatial distribution of the A and S ions in the UCNPs and their protection from surface quenching has critical impact on their luminescent characteristics. Interestingly, although the increased amount of Yb3+ ions boosts UCNP performance by increasing the absorption, the Yb3+ ions can also dissipate the energy stored in the material through energy migration to surface, thereby reducing the overall energy transfer efficiency to the activator ions.
Lanthanide-doped photon-upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have been the Focus of many Research activities in materials and life sciences in the last 15 years because of their potential to convert light between different spectral regions and their unique photophysical properties. To fully exploit the application potential of These facinating nanomaterials, a number of challenges have to be overcome, such as the low brightness, particularly of small UCNPs, and the reliable quantification of the excitation-power-density-dependent upconversion luminescence. In this series of critical Reviews, recent developments in the design, Synthesis, optical-spectroscopic characterization, and application of UCNPs are presented with Special Focus on bioanalysis and the life sciences. Here we guide the reader from the Synthesis of UCNPs to different concepts to enhance their luminescence, including the required optical-spectroscopic assessment to quantify material Performance; surface modification strategies and bioanalytical applications as well as selected examples of the use of UCNPs as reporters in different Assay formats are addressed in part II. Future Trends and challenges in the field of upconversion are discussed with Special emphasis on UCNP Synthesis and material characterization, particularly quantitative luminescence studies.
In Part II of this Review series on lanthanide-doped photon-upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), we present and critically discuss the Performance and suitability of UCNPs as background-free luminescent Reporters in bioimaging and bioanalytical applications. The preparation of a biocompatible nanoparticle surface is an integral step for all life - science-related applications. UCNPs have found their way into a large number of diagnostic platforms, homogeneous and heterogeneous assay formats, and sensor applications. Many bioanalytical detection schemes involve Förster resonance energy transfert (FRET), which is still debated for UCNPs and Needs to be much improved. The Need for dedicated and standardized instruments as well as recent studies on the Dissolution and potential toxicity of UCNPs are addressed. Finally we outline future Trends and challenges in the field of upconversion.
We designed and synthesized triphenylamine based and coumarin fused rhodamine hybrid dyes and characterized using 1H, 13C NMR and HR-LCMS analysis. Both the newly synthesized hybrid dyes were found to show red shifted absorption as well as emissions and large Stokes shift (40e68 nm) as compared to the small Stokes shift (25e30 nm) of reported dyes Rhodamine B and 101. Photophysical properties of these dyes were studied in different solvents and according to the solvents acidity or basicity they preferred to remain in their spirocyclic or open form in different ratio. We studied the spirocyclic as well as open form derivatives of these dyes for their viscosity sensitivity in three different mixture of solvents i.e. polar-protic [EtOH-PEG 400], polar-aprotic [toluene-PEG 400] and non-polaraprotic [toluene-paraffin]. They are found to show very high viscosity sensitivity in polar-protic mixture of solvents [EtOH-PEG 400] and hence concluded that both polarity as well as viscosity factor worked together for the higher emission enhancement rather than only viscosity factor. As these dyes showed very high viscosity sensitivity in their spirocyclic as well as open form, they can be utilized as viscosity sensors in visible as well as deep red region. We also correlated our experimental finding theoretically by using Density Functional theory computations.
The overall interest in nanotoxicity, triggered by the increasing use of nanomaterials in the material and life sciences, and the synthesis of an ever increasing number of new functional nanoparticles calls for standardized test procedures1,2 and for efficient approaches to screen the potential genotoxicity of these materials. Aiming at the development of fast and easy to use, automated microscopic methods for the determination of the genotoxicity of different types of nanoparticles, we assess the potential of the fluorometric γH2AX assay for this purpose. This assay, which can be run on an automated microscopic detection system, relies on the detection of DNA double strand breaks as a sign for genotoxicity3. Here, we provide first results obtained with broadly used nanomaterials like CdSe/CdS and InP/ZnS quantum dots as well as iron oxide, gold, and polymer particles of different surface chemistry with previously tested colloidal stability and different cell lines like Hep-2 and 8E11 cells, which reveal a dependence of the genotoxicity on the chemical composition as well as the surface chemistry of these nanomaterials. These studies will be also used to establish nanomaterials as positive and negative genotoxicity controls or standards for assay performance validation for users of this fluorometric genotoxicity assay. In the future, after proper validation, this microscopic platform technology will be expanded to other typical toxicity assays.
Der kürzlich publizierte Chrom(III)-Komplex 13+([Cr(ddpd)2]3+) zeigt in wässriger Lösung unter Umgebungsbedingungen eine bemerkenswert starke Emission im nahen Infrarot-Bereich mit einer Emissionswellenlänge von 775 nm.
Geschicktes Ligandendesign verhindert strahlungslose Desaktivierungsprozesse wie Photosubstitution, Rück-Intersystem-Crossing und trigonale Verzerrungen und führt damit zu einer Phosphoreszenzlebensdauer im Bereich von Mikrosekunden.
In Abwesenheit von Energieakzeptoren wie molekularem Sauerstoff verbleibt nur Energietransfer zu hochenergetischen Oszillatoren der Liganden und Lösungsmittelmoleküle wie beispielsweise OH- und CH-Streckschwingungen als Desaktivierungspfad. Selektive Deuterierung der ddpd-Liganden und der Lösungsmittel l-sst die Effizienz dieser Oszillatoren bei der Desaktivierung angeregter Zustände erkennbar werden. Gezieltes Ausschalten dieser Relaxationspfade führt zu einer Quantenausbeute von 30% und einer Lebensdauer von 2.3 Millisekunden bei Raumtemperatur in Lösung – Rekordwerte für einen Komplex, der auf dem Element Chrom basiert. Diese fundamentalen Erkenntnisse ebnen den Weg für gezieltes Ligandendesign zur Synthese lumineszierender Komplexe mit gut verfügbaren Übergangsmetallen.
The recently reported luminescent chromium(III) complex 13+ ([Cr(ddpd)2]3+; ddpd=N,N’-dimethyl-N,N’-dipyridine-2-yl-pyridine-2,6-diamine) shows exceptionally strong near-IR emission at 775 nm in water under ambient conditions (F=11%) with a microsecond lifetime as the ligand design in 13+ effectively eliminates non-radiative decay pathways, such as photosubstitution, back-intersystem crossing, and trigonal twists. In the absence of energy acceptors, such as dioxygen, the remaining decay pathways are energy transfer to high energy solvent and ligand oscillators, namely OH and CH stretching vibrations. Selective deuteration of the solvents and the ddpd ligands probes the efficiency of these oscillators in the excited state deactivation. Addressing these energytransfer pathways in the first and second coordination sphere furnishes a record 30% quantum yield and a 2.3 millisecond lifetime for a metal complex with an earth-abundant metal ion in solution at room temperature.
Many applications of nanometer- and micrometer-sized particles include their surface functionalization with linkers, sensor molecules, and analyte recognition moieties like (bio)ligands. This requires knowledge of the chemical nature and number of surface groups accessible for subsequent coupling reactions. Particularly attractive for the quantification of these groups are spectrophotometric and fluorometric assays, which can be read out with simple instrumentation. In this respect, we present here a novel Family of cleavable spectrophotometric and multimodal reporters for conjugatable amino and carboxyl surface groups on nano- and microparticles. This allows determination of particle-bound labels, unbound reporters in the supernatant, and reporters cleaved off from the particle surface, as well as the remaining thiol groups on particle, by spectrophotometry and inductively coupled optical emission spectrometry (32S ICP-OES). Comparison of the performance of these cleavable reporters with conductometry and conventional labels, utilizing changes in intensity or Color of absorption or emission, underlines the analytical potential of this versatile concept which elegantly circumvents Signal distortions by scattering and Encoding dyes and enables straightforward validation by method comparison.
We synthesized and characterized a set of ultrasmall hexagonal-phase NaGdF4: 20% Yb3+, 2% Er3+ upconversion nanoparticles with core diameters of 3.7 ± 0.5 nm. In order to assess passivation effects and the influence of possible core−shell intermixing and to identify optimum particle structures for combined imaging in the visible and near-infrared (vis−NIR: 410−850 nm) and short-wave infrared (SWIR: 1520 nm), NaYF4 shells of varying thicknesses (monolayer to 10 nm) were introduced and the influence of this parameter on the upconversion and downshifting photoluminescence of these particles was studied at different excitation power densities. This included excitation power-dependent emission spectra, slope factors, quantum yields, and excited state decay kinetics. These measurements revealed enhancement factors of the upconversion quantum yield of >10 000 in the low power region and an excitation power density-independent quantum yield of the downshifted emission at 1520 nm between 0.1 and 14%. The optimized shell thickness for combined vis and SWIR imaging was identified as 5 nm. Moreover, lifetimes and quantum yields can be continuously tuned by shell thickness which can be exploited for lifetime multiplexing and encoding. The fact that we did not observe a saturation of the upconversion quantum yield or the excited state decay kinetics with increasing shell thickness is ascribed to a strong intermixing of the active core with the inert shell during the shelling procedure. This indicates the potential of spectroscopic tools to detect cation intermixing.
Dye-stained micrometer-sized polymer beads are important tools in the life sciences with applications in biomedical, biochemical, and clinical research. Here, bead-based assays are increasingly used, for example, in DNA sequencing and the detection of autoimmune diseases or pathogenic microorganisms. Moreover, stained beads are employed as calibration tools for fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry methods with increasing complexity. To address the requirements concerning the relevant fluorescence features, the spectroscopic properties of representative polymer beads with diameters ranging from about 1 to 10 μm stained with varying concentrations of rhodamine 6G were systematically assessed. The observed dependence of the spectral properties, fluorescence decay kinetics, and fluorescence quantum yields on bead size and dye loading concentration is attributed to different fluorescence characteristics of fluorophores located in the particle core and near-surface dye molecules. Supported by the fluorescence anisotropy measurements, the origin of the observed alteration of fluorescence features is ascribed to a combination of excitation energy transfer and polarity-related effects that are especially pronounced at the interface of the bead and the surrounding medium. The results of our studies underline the need to carefully control and optimize all Parameters that can affect the fluorescence properties of the dye-stained beads.
Gold-shell coated NaYF4:Er3+, Yb3+ nanoparticles for the enhancement of fluorescence emission
(2018)
In the present work, we aim to explore how far the UCNP emission intensity can be enhanced by the aid of plasmonic interactions using a gold shell. The distance between the UCNP core and the gold shell is varied by adding a silica spacer of different thicknesses.
The synthetic conditions for obtaining UCNP@SiO2@Au core-shell nanoparticles with precisely tuneable silica shell thicknesses were investigated. A gold shell on the UCNP@SiO2 nanoparticles is expected to give rise to a noticeable enhancement of particle brightness and fluorescence, given that the thicknesses of the silica shell and the gold coating can be controlled and fine-tuned. First single particle studies revealing shortening of the Er3+ lifetimes suggest that plasmonic enhancement occurs.
Comparing the photoluminescence (PL) properties of ensembles of nanocrystals like semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) with single particle studies is of increasing interest for many applications of These materials as reporters in bioimaging studies performed under very dilute conditions or even at the single particle level. Particularly relevant is here the PL quantum yield (ΦF), which determines the signal size together with the reporter’s molar extinction coefficient and is a direct measure for nanocrystal quality, especially for the inorganic surface passivation shell and its tightness, which can be correlated also with nanocrystal stability and the possible release of heavy metal ions. Exemplarily for red and green emitting CdTe nanocrystals, we present a method for the determination of ΦF of nanoparticle dispersions at ultralow concentration compared to cuvette measurements using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), a single molecule method, and compared to molecular dyes with closely matching spectral properties and known ΦF. Our results underline the potential of this approach, provided that material-inherent limitations like ligand- and QD-specific aggregation affecting particle diffusion and QD drawbacks such as their complex and power-dependent blinking behavior are properly considered as shown here.
Gold-shell coated NaYF4:Er3+, Yb3+ nanoparticles for the enhancement of fluorescence emission
(2018)
In the present work, we aim to explore how far the UCNP emission intensity can be enhanced by the aid of plasmonic interactions using a gold shell. The distance between the UCNP core and the gold shell is varied by adding a silica spacer of different thicknesses.
The synthetic conditions for obtaining UCNP@SiO2@Au core-shell nanoparticles with precisely tuneable silica shell thicknesses were investigated. A gold shell on the UCNP@SiO2 nanoparticles is expected to give rise to a noticeable enhancement of particle brightness and fluorescence, given that the thicknesses of the silica shell and the gold coating can be controlled and fine-tuned. First single particle studies revealing shortening of the Er3+ lifetimes suggest that plasmonic enhancement occurs.
Many applications of nanomaterials in the life sciences require the controlled functionalization of these materials with ligands like polyethylene glycol (PEG) and/or biomolecules such as peptides, proteins, and DNA. This enables to tune their hydrophilicity and biocompatibility, minimize unspecific interactions, improve biofunction-nalization efficiencies, and enhance blood circulation times and is the ultimate prerequisite for their use as reporters in assays or the design of targeted optial probes for bioimaging.
At the core of these functionalization strategies are reliable and validated methods for surface group and ligand quantification that can be preferably performed with routine laboratory instrumentation, require only small amounts of substances, and are suitable for many different types of nanomaterials.
We present here versatile and simple concepts for the quantification of common functional groups, ligands, and biomolecules on different types of organic and inorganic nano-materials, using different types of optical reporters and method validation with the aid of multimodal reporters and mass balances.
Eine modifizierte Syntheseroute auf der Basis wasserfreier Seltenerdacetate wurde zur Synthese aufwärtskonvertierender Kern/Schale‐Nanokristalle mit mittleren Größen zwischen 15 bis 45 nm eingesetzt. Die nahezu monodispersen Partikel bestehen aus einem NaYF4:Yb,Er‐Kern, dotiert mit 18 % Yb3+ und 2 % Er3+, und einer inerten Schale aus NaYF4, wobei die Dicke der Schale dem jeweiligen Radius des Kernpartikels entspricht. Absolutmessungen der Photolumineszenz‐Quantenausbeuten bei verschiedenen Anregungsleistungsdichten zeigen, dass die Quantenausbeuten von 45 nm Kern/Schale‐Partikeln schon fast an die Quantenausbeute des mikrokristallinen aufwärtskonvertierenden Leuchtstoffs heranreichen. Kleinere Kern/Schale‐Partikel, die nach der gleichen Methode hergestellt wurden, zeigen nur eine moderate Abnahme der Quantenausbeute. Beispielsweise ist die Quantenausbeute von 15 nm großen Kern/Schale‐Partikeln bei hohen Leistungsdichten (100 W cm−2) nur um einen Faktor drei kleiner als die des mikrokristallinen Leuchtstoffpulvers und um ungefähr einen Faktor 10 kleiner bei niedrigen Leistungsdichten (1 W cm−2).
Upconversion core/shell nanocrystals with different mean sizes ranging from 15 to 45 nm were prepared via a modified synthesis procedure based on anhydrous rare‐earth acetates. All particles consist of a core of NaYF4:Yb,Er, doped with 18 % Yb3+ and 2 % Er3+, and an inert shell of NaYF4, with the shell thickness being equal to the radius of the core particle. Absolute measurements of the photoluminescence quantum yield at a series of different excitation power densities show that the quantum yield of 45 nm core/shell particles is already very close to the quantum yield of microcrystalline upconversion phosphor powder. Smaller core/shell particles prepared by the same method show only a moderate decrease in quantum yield. The quantum yield of 15 nm core/shell particles, for instance, is reduced by a factor of three compared to the bulk upconversion phosphor at high power densities (100 W cm−2) and by approximately a factor of 10 at low power densities (1 W cm−2).
Many applications of nanomaterials in the life sciences require the controlled functionalization of these materials with ligands like polyethylene glycol (PEG) and/or biomolecules such as peptides, proteins, and DNA. This enables to tune their hydrophilicity and biocompatibility, minimize unspecific interactions, improve biofunctionalization efficiencies, and enhance blood circulation times. Moreover, it is the ultimate prerequisite for their use as reporters in assays or the design of targeted optial probes for bioimaging. At the core of these functionalization strategies are reliable and validated methods for surface group and ligand quantification that can be preferably performed with routine laboratory instrumentation, require only small amounts of substances, and are suitable for many different types of nanomaterials.
We present here versatile and simple concepts for the quantification of common functional groups, ligands, and biomolecules on different types of organic and inorganic nano-materials, using different types of optical reporters and method validation with the aid of multimodal reporters, method comparisons, and mass balances.
The recently reported luminescent chromium(III) complex 13+ ([Cr(ddpd)2]3+; ddpd=N,N’-dimethyl-N,N’-dipyridine-2-yl-pyridine-2,6-diamine) shows exceptionally strong near-IR emission at 775 nm in water under ambient conditions (F=11%) with a microsecond lifetime as the ligand design in 13+ effectively eliminates non-radiative decay pathways, such as photosubstitution, back-intersystem crossing, and trigonal twists. In the absence of energy acceptors, such as dioxygen, the remaining decay pathways are energy transfer to high energy solvent and ligand oscillators, namely OH and CH stretching vibrations. Selective deuteration of the solvents and the ddpd ligands probes the efficiency of these oscillators in the excited state deactivation. Addressing these energytransfer pathways in the first and second coordination sphere furnishes a record 30% quantum yield and a 2.3 millisecond lifetime for a metal complex with an earth-abundant metal ion in solution at room temperature. The combined fundamental insights will pave the way for selective design strategies in the field of luminescent complexes with earth-abundant metal ions.
Der kürzlich publizierte Chrom(III)-Komplex 13+([Cr(ddpd)2]3+) zeigt in wässriger Lösung unter Umgebungsbedingungen eine bemerkenswert starke Emission im nahen Infrarot-Bereich mit einer Emissionswellenlänge von 775 nm.
Geschicktes Ligandendesign verhindert strahlungslose Desaktivierungsprozesse wie Photosubstitution, Rück-Intersystem-Crossing und trigonale Verzerrungen und führt damit zu einer Phosphoreszenzlebensdauer im Bereich von Mikrosekunden.
In Abwesenheit von Energieakzeptoren wie molekularem Sauerstoff verbleibt nur Energietransfer zu hochenergetischen Oszillatoren der Liganden und Lösungsmittelmoleküle wie beispielsweise OH- und CH-Streckschwingungen als Desaktivierungspfad. Selektive Deuterierung der ddpd-Liganden und der Lösungsmittel l-sst die Effizienz dieser Oszillatoren bei der Desaktivierung angeregter Zustände erkennbar werden. Gezieltes Ausschalten dieser Relaxationspfade führt zu einer Quantenausbeute von 30% und einer Lebensdauer von 2.3 Millisekunden bei Raumtemperatur in Lösung – Rekordwerte für einen Komplex, der auf dem Element Chrom basiert. Diese fundamentalen Erkenntnisse ebnen den Weg für gezieltes Ligandendesign zur Synthese lumineszierender Komplexe mit gut verfügbaren Übergangsmetallen.
Detection of pathogenic nucleic acids remains one of the most reliable approaches for the diagnosis of a broad range of diseases. Current PCR-based methods require experienced personnel and cannot be easily used for point-of care diagnostics, making alternative strategies for the sensitive, reliable, and cost-efficient detection of pathogenic nucleic acids highly desirable. Here, we report an enzyme-free method for the fluorometric detection of RNA that relies on a target-induced fluorophore transfer onto a semiconductor quantum dot (QD), uses PNA probes as selective recognition elements and can be read out with simple and inexpensive equipment. For QD-PNA conjugates with optimized PNA content, limits of detection of dengue RNA in the range of 10 pM to 100 nM can be realized within 5 h in the presence of a high excess of noncomplementary RNA.
Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) has been meanwhile observed for many dye classes and particularly for fluorophores containing propeller-like groups. Herein, we report on the AIE characteristics of a series of four hydrophobic pyrrolidinylvinylquinoxaline (PVQ) derivatives with phenyl, pyrrolyl, indolyl, and methoxythienyl substituents used to systematically vary the torsion angle between this substituent at the quinoxaline C2 position and the planar PVQ moiety. These molecules, which are accessible via four- or five-component one-pot syntheses, were spectroscopically studied in organic solvents and solvent−water mixtures, as dye aggregates, solids, and entrapped in polystyrene particles (PSP). Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements revealed a strong fluorescence enhancement for all dyes in ethanol−water mixtures of high water content, accompanying the formation of dye aggregates with sizes of a few hundred nm, overcoming polarity and H-bonding-induced fluorescence quenching of the chargetransfer-type emission of these PVQ dyes. The size and shape of these dye aggregates and the size of the AIE effect are controlled by the water content and the substituent-dependent torsion angle that influences the nucleation process and the packing of the molecules during aggregation. Staining of 1 μm-sized carboxy-functionalized PSP with the PVQ dyes resulted also in a considerable increase in the fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime, reflecting the combined influence of the restricted molecular motion and the reduced polarity of the dye microenvironment.
Many applications of nanomaterials in the life sciences require the controlled functionalization of these materials with ligands like polyethylene glycol (PEG) and/or biomolecules such as peptides, proteins, and DNA. This enables to tune their hydrophilicity and biocompatibility, minimize unspecific interactions, improve biofunctionalization efficiencies, and enhance blood circulation times. Moreover, it is the ultimate prerequisite for their use as reporters in assays or the design of targeted optial probes for bioimaging. At the core of these functionalization strategies are reliable and validated methods for surface group and ligand quantification that can be preferably performed with routine laboratory instrumentation, require only small amounts of substances, and are suitable for many different types of nanomaterials.
We present here versatile and simple concepts for the quantification of common functional groups, ligands, and biomolecules on different types of organic and inorganic nano-materials, using different types of optical reporters and method validation with the aid of multimodal reporters, method comparisons, and mass balances.
Organic/inorganic mixtures were prepared from ordinary Portland cement (OPC), water (w/c 0.22), a fluorescent dye in aqueous solution (stable at alkaline pH; BAM-I), and two different comb shape polycarboxylates (PCEs), i.e., high charge (PCE-HC) and low charge (PCE-LC), respectively. Rheological and calorimetric measurements were performed prior to optical studies in order to select PCE concentrations. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy of the system OPC + BAM-I (CBAM-I) revealed maxima of dye BAM-I located at 645 nm and 663 nm, respectively. In presence of PCE-HC and PCE-LC, these mixtures displayed a small red shift in reflectance and a faster decrease in intensity compared to studies with CBAM-I; however, only slight differences were observed between the different PCEs. With time, all systems exhibited a decrease in intensity of BAM-I in absorption/reflectance and emission. This could be caused by dye adsorption and possibly decomposition when in contact with cement particles or hydration products.
A systematic study of the luminescence properties of monodisperse β-NaYF4: 20% Yb3+, 2% Er3+ upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with sizes ranging from 12–43 nm is presented utilizing steady-state and time-resolved fluorometry.
Special emphasis was dedicated to the absolute quantification of size- and environment-induced quenching of upconversion luminescence (UCL) by highenergy O–H and C–H vibrations from solvent and ligand molecules at different excitation power densities (P). In this context, the still-debated Population pathways of the 4F9/2 energy level of Er3+ were examined. Our results highlight the potential of particle size and P value for color tuning based on the pronounced near-infrared emission of 12 nm UCNPs, which outweighs the red Er3+ emission under “strongly quenched” conditions and accounts for over 50% of total UCL in water. Because current rate equation models do not include such emissions, the suitability of these models for accurately simulating all (de)population pathways of small UCNPs must be critically assessed. Furthermore, we postulate population pathways for the 4F9/2 energy level of Er3+, which correlate with the size-, environment-, and P-dependent quenching states of the higher Er3+ energy levels.
Time-resolved flow cytometry represents an alternative to commonly applied spectral or intensity multiplexing in bioanalytics. At present, the vast majority of the reports on this topic focuses on phase-domain techniques and specific applications. In this report, we present a flow cytometry platform with time-resolved detection based on a compact setup and straightforward time-Domain measurements utilizing lifetime-encoded beads with lifetimes in the nanosecond range. We provide general assessment of time-domain flow cytometry and discuss the concept of this platform to address achievable resolution limits, data analysis, and requirements on suitable encoding dyes. Experimental data are complemented by numerical calculations on photon count numbers and impact of noise and measurement time on the obtained lifetime values.
Biophotonics and analytics - Photoluminescence properties of nanocrystals and surface group analysis
(2018)
Correlating the photoluminescence (PL) properties of nanomaterials like semiconductor nanocrystals (QDs) and upconversion nanocrystals (UCNPs) assessed in ensemble studies and at the single particle level and studying their surface chemistry is increasingly relevant for applications of these nanomaterials in the life and material sciences. Here we present a comparison of the spectroscopic properties of ensembles and single nanocrystalline emitters and simple methods for the quantification of functional groups and ligands on particle surfaces. The overall goal of this study was to derive particle architectures and surface chemistries well suited for spectroscopic and microscopic applications.
The sensitive detection of the mycotoxin citrinin (CIT) utilizing ist fluorescence requires approaches to enhance the emission. In this respect, we studied the complexation of CIT and ochratoxin A (OTA) with Al3+ in methanol using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. In this context, an isocratic high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using a polymer column and a fluorescence detector was also developed that enables the separation of the metal ion complexes from the free ligands and non-complexed Al3+. CIT and OTA showed distinct changes in their absorption and fluorescence properties upon Al3+-coordination, and the fluorescence of CIT was considerably enhanced. Analysis of the photometrically assessed titration of CIT and OTA with Al3+ using the Job plot method revealed 1:2 and 1:1 stoichiometries for the Al3+ complexes of CIT (Al:CIT) and OTA (Al:OTA), respectively. In the case of CIT, only one -diketone moiety participates in Al3+ coordination. These findings can be elegantly exploited for signal amplification and provide the base to reduce the limit of detection for CIT quantification by about an order of magnitude, as revealed by HPLC measurements using a fluorescence detector.
A systematic study of the luminescence properties of monodisperse β-NaYF4: 20% Yb3+, 2% Er3+ upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with sizes ranging from 12–43 nm is presented utilizing steady-state and time-resolved fluorometry.
Special emphasis was dedicated to the absolute quantification of size- and environment-induced quenching of upconversion luminescence (UCL) by highenergy O–H and C–H vibrations from solvent and ligand molecules at different excitation power densities (P). In this context, the still-debated Population pathways of the 4F9/2 energy level of Er3+ were examined. Our results Highlight the potential of particle size and P value for color tuning based on the pronounced near-infrared emission of 12 nm UCNPs, which outweighs the red Er3+ emission under “strongly quenched” conditions and accounts for over 50% of total UCL in water. Because current rate equation models do not include such emissions, the suitability of these models for accurately simulating all (de)population pathways of small UCNPs must be critically assessed. Furthermore, we postulate population pathways for the 4F9/2 energy level of Er3+, which correlate with the size-, environment-, and P-dependent quenching states of the higher Er3+ energy levels.
The fluorescence lifetime is a key property of fluorophores that can be utilized for microenvironment probing, analyte sensing, and multiplexing as well as barcoding applications. For the rational design of lifetime probes and barcodes, theoretical methods have been developed to enable the ab initio prediction of this parameter, which depends strongly on interactions with solvent molecules and other chemical species in the emitters' immediate environment. In this work, we investigate how a conductor-like screening model (COSMO) can account for variations in fluorescence lifetimes that are caused by such fluorophore−solvent interactions. Therefore, we calculate vibrationally broadened fluorescence spectra using the nuclear ensemble method to obtain distorted molecular geometries to sample the electronic transitions with time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The influence of the solvent on fluorescence lifetimes is accounted for with COSMO. For example, for 4-hydroxythiazole fluorophore containing different heteroatoms and acidic and basic moieties in aprotic and protic solvents of varying polarity, this approach was compared to experimentally determined lifetimes in the same solvents. Our results demonstrate a good correlation between theoretically predicted and experimentally measured fluorescence lifetimes except for the polar solvents Ethanol and acetonitrile that can specifically interact with the heteroatoms and the carboxylic acid of the thiazole derivative.
The synthesis, structure, reactivity,and photophysical properties of anovel acidic,luminescentchromium(III) complex [Cr(H2tpda)2]3+ (23+ +)bearing the tridentate H2tpda (2,6-bis(2-pyridylamino)pyridine) ligand are presented. Excitation of 23+ + at 442 nm results in strong, long-lived NIR luminescence at 782 nm in water and in acetonitrile. X-ray diffraction analysis and IR spectroscopy revealhydrogen-bonding interactions of the counter ions to the NH groups of 23+ + in the solidstate. Deprotonation of the NH groups of 23+ + by using anon-nucleophilic Schwesinger base in CH3CN switches off the luminescence. Re-protonation by using HClO4 restores the emission. In water,the pKa value of 23+ + amountsto8 .8, yet deprotonation is not reversible in the presence of hydroxide ions. Dioxygen quenches the emission of 23+ +,but to aweaker extent than expected. This is possibly due to the strong ion-pairing properties of 23+ + even in solution, reducing the energy transfer efficiency to O2.Deuteration of the NH groups of 23+ + approximately doubles the quantum yield and lifetime in water,demonstrating the importance of multiphoton relaxation in these NIR emitters.
DNA origami nanostructures provide a platform where dye molecules can be arranged with nanoscale accuracy allowing to assemble multiple fluorophores without dye–dye aggregation. Aiming to develop a bright and sensitive ratiometric sensor system, we systematically studied the optical properties of nanoarrays of dyes built on DNA origami platforms using a DNA template that provides a high versatility of label choice at minimum cost. The dyes are arranged at distances, at which they efficiently interact by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). To optimize array brightness, the FRET efficiencies between the donor fluorescein (FAM) and the acceptor cyanine 3 were determined for different sizes of the array and for different arrangements of the dye molecules within the array. By utilizing nanoarrays providing optimum FRET efficiency and brightness, we subsequently designed a ratiometric pH nanosensor using coumarin 343 as a pH-inert FRET donor and FAM as a pH-responsive acceptor. Our results indicate that the sensitivity of a ratiometric sensor can be improved simply by arranging the dyes into a well-defined array. The dyes used here can be easily replaced by other analyte-responsive dyes, demonstrating the huge potential of DNA nanotechnology for light harvesting, signal enhancement, and sensing schemes in life sciences.
An increasing number of (bio)analytical techniques rely on multiparametric analyses and the measurement of a very small number of emitters. While the former implies encoding or labeling by means of easily distinguishable properties like luminescence color or lifetime in conjunction with high-throughput optical-spectroscopic methods such as flow cytometry, the latter requires methods suitable for the characterization of the optical properties of single emitters. Here, we present the use of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) for the relative determination of the key parameter photoluminescence quantum yield [5] and first results from flow cytometry measurements in the time-domain with a custom-designed instrument with luminescence lifetime analysis capability.
Absolute upconversion quantum yields of blue-emitting LiYF4:Yb3+,Tm3+ upconverting nanoparticles
(2018)
The upconversion quantum yield (QY) is an essential parameter for the characterization of the optical performance of lanthanoid-doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs). Despite its nonlinear dependence on excitation power density, it is typically reported only as a single number. Here, we present the first measurement of absolute upconversion quantum yields of the individual emission bands of blue light-emitting LiYF4:Yb3+,Tm3+ UCNPs in toluene. Reporting the quantum yields for the individual emission bands is required for assessing the usability of UCNPs in various applications that require upconverted light of different wavelengths, such as bioimaging, photocatalysis and phototherapy.
Here, the reliability of the QY measurements is demonstrated by studying the same batch of UCNPs in three different research groups. The results show that whereas the total upconversion quantum yield of these UCNPs is quite high - typically 0.02 at a power density of 5 W/cm2 — most of the upconverted photon flux is emitted in the 794 nm upconversion band, while the blue emission band at 480 nm is very weak, with a much lower quantum yield of 6 times 10^5 at 5 W/cm2. Overall, although the total upconversion quantum yield of LiYF4:Yb3+,Tm3+ UCNPs seems satisfying, notably for NIR bioimaging, blue-light demanding phototherapy applications will require better-performing UCNPs with higher blue light
upconversion quantum yields.
Lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) like hexagonal Beta-NaYF4 UCNPs doped with Yb3+ and Er3+, which efficiently convert 976 nm light to ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared photons, offer new strategies for luminescence-based sensing, barcoding, and imaging. The properties of their upconversion (UC) luminescence (UCL) are, however, strongly influenced by particle size, the concentration and spatial arrangement of the dopant ions, surface chemistry including presence and thickness of surface passivation and shielding shells, microenvironment/presence of quenchers with high energy vibrations, and excitation power density (P). We present here a comprehensive study of the influence of UCNP size and particle architecture for Yb3+ and Er3+ co-doped NaYF4 core-only and core-shell nanostructures in the size range of about 5 nm to 50 nm, which underlines the importance of particle synthesis, surface chemistry, and quantitative luminescence measurements for mechanistic insights and the determination of application-relevant matrix- and P-dependent optimum dopand concentrations.
Surface functionalization of nanomaterials is nowadays at the core of many applications of functional materials in the life and material sciences. Examples range from membranes and microarrays over bead-based assays, and next generation sequencing to nanometer-sized optical reporters, nanosensors, and magnetic and optical contrast agents. Typical function-nalization steps include silanization and grafting reactions with reactive monomers to introduce functional groups like amino or carboxylic acid groups or the attachment of ligands like polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules and biomolecules. [1-3] This enables to tune e.g., dis-persibility, hydrophilicity and biocompatibility, minimize unspecific interactions, improve biofunctionalization efficiencies, and enhance blood circulation times and allows for the use of nanomaterials as reporters in assays or the design of targeted probes for bioimaging.
At the core of all functionalization strategies are reliable and validated methods for surface group and ligand quantification that can be preferably performed with routine laboratory instrumentation, require only small amounts of substances, and are suitable for many different types of nanomaterials. [3] There is meanwhile a considerable need to make these methods traceable. We present here versatile and simple concepts for the quantification of common functional groups, ligands, and biomolecules on different types of organic and inorganic nanomaterials, using conventional and newly developed cleavable and multimodal reporters, that can be detected with optical spectroscopy. [4-7] These reporters are chosen to enable method validation with the aid of method comparisons and mass balances. Also, strategies how to make these simple assays traceable to SI units using quantitative nuclear resonance spectroscopy (qNMR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are derived.
Common approaches to improve the optical properties of semiconductor quantum dots and lanthanide doped nanophosphors present core/shell structures as radiationless deactivation at the particle surface is usually the main energy loss mechanism. This has led to increasingly sophisticated particle architectures using multishell systems with shells of different chemical composition and thickness and initiated an increasing number of quantitative spectroscopic studies focusing on the key performance parameter photoluminescence quantum yield to identify optimum particle structures. This is particularly challenging in the long wavelength region > 1000 nm and for nonlinear emitters like upconversion nanocrystals. Here, we present suitable absolute methods to quantify the photoluminescence of these different emitters in the vis/NIR/IR and as function of excitation power density and underline the impact of such measurements on a profound mechanistic understanding of the nonradiative deactivation pathways in semiconductor and upconversion nanocrystals of different size and particle architecture in different environments.
In this work, we describe a simple solvothermal route for the synthesis of Eu3+-doped gadolinium orthovanadate nanocrystals (Eu:GdVO4−PAA) functionalized with poly(acrylic)acid (PAA), that are applicable as cell labeling probes for multimodal cellular imaging. The Eu3+ doping of the vanadate matrix provides optical functionality, due to red photoluminescence after illumination with UV light. The Gd3+ ions of the nanocrystals reduce the T1 relaxation time of surrounding water protons, allowing these nanocrystals to act as a positive MRI contrast agent with a r1 relaxivity of 1.97 mM−1 s−1. Low background levels of Eu3+, Gd3+, and V5+ in biological systems make them an excellent label for elemental microscopy by Laser Ablation (LA)-ICP-MS. Synthesis resulted in polycrystalline nanocrystals with a hydrodynamic diameter of 55 nm and a crystal size of 36.7 nm, which were further characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The multifunctional nanocrystals were subsequently used for intracellular labeling of both human adipose-derived stem cells (MSCs) and A549 (adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial) cells.
Organic/inorganic mixtures were prepared from ordinary Portland cement (OPC), water (w/c 0.22), a fluorescent dye in aqueous solution (stable at alkaline pH; BAM-I), and two different comb shape polycarboxylates (PCEs), i.e., high charge (PCE-HC) and low charge (PCE-LC), respectively. Rheological and calorimetric measurements were performed prior to optical studies in order to select PCE concentrations. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy of the system OPC + BAM-I (CBAM-I) revealed maxima of dye BAM-I located at 645 nm and 663 nm, respectively. In presence of PCE-HC and PCE-LC, these mixtures displayed a small red shift in reflectance and a faster decrease in intensity compared to studies with CBAM-I; however, only slight differences were observed between the different PCEs. With time, all systems exhibited a decrease in intensity of BAM-I in absorption/reflectance and emission. This could be caused by dye adsorption and possibly decomposition when in contact with cement particles or hydration products.
Optical spectroscopy – Techniques, instrumentation, and typical molecular and nanoscale reporters
(2018)
Different types of optical spectroscopies are introduced with special emphasis on method-inherent limitations and reliable instrument calibration and performance validation. In addition, different classes of molecular and nanocrystalline emitters are presented and the underlying photophysical processes are briefly described.
Mandatory for the comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of molecular and nanoscale reporters are reliable and quantitative photoluminescence measurements. This is of special relevance for all fluorescence applications in the life and material sciences. In the following, procedures for the determination of this spectroscopic key parameter are presented including pitfalls and achievable uncertainties and material-specific effects related to certain emitter classes are addressed.
Optical spectroscopic studies of the influence of size, particle architecture, and surface chemistry of different types of photoluminescent nanocrystals with emission in the vis/NIR will be presented including semiconductor quantum dots and lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles. This will include the photophysics of these materials assessed with steady state and time-resolved fluorometry on the ensemble and single particle level and concepts for the quantification of surface groups at nanomaterials with optical methods using cleavable probes and catch-and-release assays.
Aldehyde moieties on 2D-supports or microand nanoparticles can function as anchor groups for the attachment of biomolecules or as reversible binding sites for proteins on cell surfaces. The use of aldehyde-based materials in bioanalytical and medical settings calls for reliable methods to detect and quantify this functionality. We report here on a versatile concept to quantify the accessible aldehyde moieties on particle surfaces through the specific binding and subsequent release of small reporter molecules such as fluorescent dyes and nonfluorescent chromophores utilizing acylhydrazone formation as a reversible covalent labeling strategy. This is representatively demonstrated for a set of polymer microparticles with different aldehyde labeling densities. Excess reporter molecules can be easily removed by washing, eliminating inaccuracies caused by unspecific adsorption to hydrophobic surfaces. Cleavage of hydrazones at acidic pH assisted by a carbonyl trap releases the fluorescent reporters rapidly and quasi-quantitatively and allows for their fluorometric detection at low concentration. Importantly, this strategy separates the signal-generating molecules from the bead surface. This circumvents common issues associated with light scattering and signal distortions that are caused by binding-induced changes in reporter fluorescence as well as quenching dye−
dye interactions on crowded particle surfaces. In addition, we demonstrate that the release of a nonfluorescent chromophore via disulfide cleavage and subsequent quantification by absorption spectroscopy gives comparable results, verifying that both assays
are capable of rapid and sensitive quantification of aldehydes on microbead surfaces. These strategies enable a quantitative
comparison of bead batches with different functionalization densities, and a qualitative prediction of their coupling efficiencies in bioconjugations, as demonstrated in reductive amination reactions with Streptavidin.
An emerging class of inorganic optical reporters are nearinfrared (NIR) excitable lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with multicolor emission and long luminescence lifetimes in the range of several hundred microseconds. For the design of chemical sensors and optical probes that reveal analyte-specific changes in their spectroscopic properties, these nanomaterials must be combined with sensitive indicator dyes that change their absorption and/or fluorescence properties selectively upon interaction with their target analyte, utilizing either resonance energy transfer (RET) processes or reabsorption-related inner filter effects. The rational development of UCNP-based nanoprobes for chemical sensing and imaging in a biological environment requires reliable methods for the Surface functionalization of UCNPs, the analysis and quantification of Surface groups, a high colloidal stability of UCNPs in aqueous media as well as the chemically stable attachment of the indicator molecules, and suitable instrumentation for the spectroscopic characterization of the energy-transfer systems and the derived nanosensors. These topics are highlighted in the following feature article, and examples of functionalized core−shell nanoprobes for the sensing of different biologically relevant analytes in aqueous environments will be presented. Special emphasis is placed on the intracellular sensing of pH.
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
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.