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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.
Nano- and microparticles are of increasing importance for a wide range of applications in the material and life sciences. Examples are their use as carriers for dye molecules and drugs, multichromophoric reporters for signal enhancement strategies in optical assays, targeted probes for bioimaging, and biosensors. All these applications require surface functionalization of the particles with e.g., ligands (to tune the dispersibility and prevent unspecific interactions), crosslinkers, sensor dyes, or analyte recognition moieties like biomolecules, and subsequently, the knowledge of the chemical nature and total number of surface groups as well as the number of groups accessible for coupling reactions. Particularly attractive for the latter are sensitive and fast photometric or fluorometric assays, which can be read out with simple, inexpensive instrumentation. Here, we present a novel family of cleavable photometric and multimodal reporters for the quantification of conjugatable amino and carboxyl surface groups on nano- and microparticles. These probes allow for the 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 the particles by photometry and inductively coupled optical emission spectrometry (32S ICP-OES).3 Comparison of the performance of these cleavable reporters with conventional labels, utilizing changes in intensity and/or colour of absorption and/or emission, underlines the analytical potential of this versatile concept which elegantly circumvents signal distortions by light scattering and encoding dyes, and enables straightforward validation by method comparison.
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.
Polymeric nanoparticles (NP) are of increasing importance for a wide range of applications in the material and life sciences, including their use as drug carriers, fluorescent sensors and multimodal reporters in a large variety of bioassays and bioimaging studies. Application-relevant properties of NP include their size (and size distribution), shape, optical properties, and ease of subsequent functionalization, e.g. with linkers, sensor molecules, and bioligands. In this respect, knowledge of the chemical nature, the total number of surface groups and the number of groups accessible for subsequent coupling reactions is mandatory.1 Commercially available polystyrene NP often contain different additives like stabilizers, radical starters and crosslinkers, which can influence the quantification of surface functionalities. Moreover, they often have unknown surface group densities that may vary from batch to batch, which complicates or even hampers their reliable use in many (bio)applications. To circumvent these issues, we synthesized amino- and carboxy-functionalized, monodisperse 100 nm polystyrene NP with three different, well-defined surface group densities. Using a recently developed approach for the quantification of functional groups on nano- and microparticles with cleavable reporters,2 we quantified the assessible functional groups on the self-synthesised PS particles via optical spectroscopy (photometry) and inductively coupled optical emission spectrometry (32S ICP-OES). In addition, we developed a fluorimetric approach for the quantification of surface functional groups on nanoparticles based on the labelling with luminescent lanthanide complexes (LLC). In contrast to common organic dyes, LLC are not prone to photo¬luminescence quenching arising from reabsorption or dye aggregation, and thus, enable a reliable fluorometric quantification of the assessible functional groups on NP surfaces. Moreover, lanthanide tags can be detected with high specificity and sensitivity with analytical techniques such as XPS and ICP-MS, which allow for the multimodal validation of the fluorometric quantification approach.
Solid state multi-band emitters like lanthanide doped up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are promising materials for energy and biotechnologies. These materials are excitable in the near infrared (NIR) and show emission bands from UV to SWIR with excellent photostability, and long luminescence lifetimes in the µs range. The efficiency of these materials, i.e. the multiphoton absorption processes, the excitation power dependent population, and deactivation dynamics are strongly influenced by the particle size, structure, doping concentration, surface chemistry, and microenvironment. For applications UCNPs have to be optimized to meet the application relevant optical properties like the upconversion quantum yield (UC) and downshifting quantum yield (PL), luminescence lifetime and emission spectra.
We investigated ß-NaYF4 NPs co-doped with Yb3+ and Er3+ in aqueous and organic media and as powder. For the later, bulk and nanomaterial is compared. For dispersed particles the influence of surface chemistry (ligands), microenvironment (solvent) and size (10 to 43 nm) was studied. Especially for bioapplications the Förster-Resonance-Energy-Transfer (FRET) efficiency from UCNPs to organic dye molecules (rose bengal and sulforhodamine B) was optimized with respect to the UCNP size.
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.
The aim of this work is to investigate the Synthesis of core-shell upconverting nanoparticles (UCNP).
The UCNP are coated with a Gold Shell to plasmonically enhance the fluorescence emision. The distance between the UCNP core and the plasmonic structure is tuned by the aid of a silica at different Shell thicknesses.
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.
Carboxy, amino, and thiol groups play a critical role in a variety of physiological and biological processes and are frequently used for bioconjugation reactions. Moreover, they enable size control and tuning of the surface during the synthesis of particle systems. Especially, thiols have a high binding affinity to noble metals and semiconductors (SC). Thus, simple, inexpensive, robust, and fast methods for the quantification of surface groups and the monitoring of reactions involving ligands are of considerable importance for the characterization of modified or stabilized nanomaterials including polymers.
We studied the potential of the Ellman’s assay, recently used for the quantification of thiol ligands on SC nanocrystals by us1 and the 4-aldrithiol assay for the determination of thiol groups in molecular systems and on polymeric, noble and SC nanomaterials. The results were validated with ICP-OES and reaction mechanisms of both methods were studied photometrically and with ESI-TOF-MS.
The investigation of the reaction mechanisms of both methods revealed the influence of different thiols on the stoichiometry of the reactions2, yielding different mixed disulfides and the thiol-specific products spectroscopically detected. The used methods can quantify freely accessible surface groups on nanoparticles, e.g., modified polystyrene nanoparticles. For thiol ligands coordinatively bound to surface atoms of, e.g., noble or SC nanomaterials, depending on the strength of the thiol-surface bonds, particle dissolution prior to assay performance can be necessary.
We could demonstrate the reliability of the Ellman’s and aldrithiol assay for the quantification of surface groups on nanomaterials by ICP-OES and derived assay-specific requirements and limitations. Generally, it is strongly recommended to carefully control assay performance for new samples, components, and sample ingredients to timely identify possible interferences distorting quantification.
Thermal sensing using the luminescence intensity ratio of the green Er3+ emissions is affected by the solvent and requires steady-state conditions during the excitation. It is important to keep the excitation power at a moderate level or short exposure times to avoid local heating of aqueous samples. The solvent also determines whether the red emission of Er3+ is excited via a two- or three-photon process.
Functionalisation of UCNPs with analyte-responsive dyes as resonance energy transfer (RET)acceptors, which is in the focus of our work, will yield chemoresponsive nanoprobes with unique features: they can be excited in the NIR range (which minimizes the photo-damage of biological samples, as well as the autofluoresence background) and one of their several sharp UC emission bands can be used as donor for RET sensing applications in combination with analyte-sensitive dyes which serve as indicators, whereas the other UC band(s) can act as internal reference. The first step upon preparation of such nanosensors is the functionalisation of the UCNPs with different surface chemistries for indicator conjugation. Desirable are systems with short distance between the UCNP(donor) and the indicator (acceptor) as a prerequisite for efficient RET. Additionally, dyes with a large spectral overlap between their absorption and one of the UC emission bands are required. Several classes of pH-responsive fluorescent dyes like xanthenes are eligible. Here, we present first studies to optimize the surface functionalization to achieve high RET efficiencies, which would improve the performance of such nanosensors for ratiometric fluorescence measurements of pH in biological matrices.
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.
Ternary semiconductors quantum dots (t-QD) are Cd-free nanocrystals made from I-III-VI group elements like silver or copper, indium and sulfide yielding CIS (CuInS2) or AIS (AgInS2) QDs. They are interesting alternatives to Cd-based QDs for applications as solar concentrators or optically active material for solar cells, light emitting diodes (LED) or reporters for diagnostic assays.
To avoid ligand exchange procedures for high quality QDs, commonly synthesized in high boiling apolar solvents with apolar surface ligands, AIS QDs are synthesized in aqueous solution, required for bioanalytical application, by a microwave-assisted procedure. The surface of these QDs is passivated by a ZnS shell to enhance photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) and prevent material decomposition and oxidation. The resulting AIS/ZnS QDs exhibit broad PL spectra in the visible and near infrared, tunable by size and chemical composition.
I will show the simple synthetic procedure and a spectroscopic study of different AIS QDs evaluating their PL properties and stability, PL QY, and PL decay kinetics. The analyzed sample showed long lifetimes, relatively high QY (50%) and good stability. Ligand conjugation is also performed to allow the embedding in polymer matrix, which requires apolar cappng.
The simple aqueous synthesis together with the tunable emission color, the high PL QY, the high absorption coefficients and the long luminescence lifetimes make these t-QDs promising Cd-free materials for many different applications in the material and life sciences.
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.
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 procedures 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 (DSB) as a sign for genotoxicity. 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.
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.
Polymer nanoparticles (NPs) are of increasing importance for a wide range of applications in the material and life sciences. This includes their application as carriers for e.g., analyte-responsive ligands for DNA sequencing platforms, drugs as well as dye molecules for use as multichromophoric reporters for signal enhancement in optical assays or the fabrication of nanosensors and targeted probes in bioimaging studies. All these applications require surface functionalization of the particles with e.g., ligands, sensor dyes, or analyte recognition moieties like biomolecules, and subsequently, the knowledge of the chemical nature and total number of surface groups as well as the number of groups accessible for coupling reactions. Particularly attractive for the latter are optically active reporters together with sensitive and fast optical assays, which can be read out with simple, inexpensive instrumentation.
We assessed a variety of conventional and newly developed colorimetric and fluorometric labels for optical surface group analysis, utilizing e.g., changes in intensity and/or color for signal generation. Moreover, novel cleavable and multimodal reporters were developed which consist of a reactive group, a cleavable linker, and an optically active moiety, chosen to contain also heteroatoms for straightforward method validation by elemental analysis, ICP-OES, ICP-MS or NMR. In contrast to conventional labels measured bound at the particle surface, which can favor signal distortions by scattering and encoding dyes, cleavable reporters can be detected colorimetrically or fluorometrically both attached at the particle surface and after quantitative cleavage of the linker in the transparent supernatant after particle removal e.g., by centrifugation. Here, we present first results obtained for the optical quantification of carboxylic and amino groups on a series of self-made polystyrene NPs with different types of labels and compare their potential and drawbacks for surface group analysis.
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.
In der klinischen Diagnostik werden für zytometrische Messverfahren bereits eine Reihe von Reagenzien eingesetzt zur Markierung von Antikörper eingesetzt, um die Detektion von Biomarkern mittels Fluoreszenz- oder Flugzeitmassenspektrometrie zu ermöglichen.
Seit kurzem ist auch eine Imaging Mass Cytometry Kombination direkt erhältlich, wodurch der Nachweis von Biomarkern in Gewebeschnitten erreicht werden kann. Dazu wird eine Kopplung von Laser Ablation und induktiv gekoppeltem Plasma Massenspektrometrie eingesetzt, wobei ähnlich der Massenzytometrie, zuvor Antikörper mit Metallen markiert, und im Anschluss mit dem Gewebeschnitt inkubiert werden. Durch die hohe Ortsauflösung können die Biomarker lokalisiert, und zukünftig vielleicht auch quantifiziert werden.
Insbesondere Lanthanide eignen sich als Markierungsmetalle, da sie einen niedrigen Untergrund und chemisch ähnliches Verhalten zueinander aufweisen. Allein durch diese Elemente können bereits etwa 15 Parameter unterschieden werden, was durch isotopenreine Standards weiter gesteigert werden kann.
Vom Markierungsgrad abhängig werden unterschiedlich viele Metalle am Antikörper gebunden, und beeinflussen so die Sichtbarkeit im ICP-MS. Nanopartikel könnten daher eine deutliche Steigerung der Sensitivität bewirken. GdVO4 Nanokristalle scheinen bisher sehr vielversprechend und bieten neben multiparametrischen Anwendungen auch Multimodalität.
Die Synthese der Nanokristalle zeigte hohe Homogenität und Reproduzierbarkeit in Partikelgröße in der Zusammensetzung. Ein erstes Experiment mit einer Zellkultur konnte bereits die effiziente Markierung der Zellen unter Beweis stellen, wobei durch hohe Signalstärke auch subzelluläre Auflösung in der LA-ICP-MS erreicht werden konnte.
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.
Most factors acting on concrete rheology work at an extremely small-scale level. Influencing factors in the millimetre or centimetre area are essentially restricted to sand and aggregates. The latter, however, make up 50 to 70% of the total volume of most concretes – a fact often ignored in research on controlling concrete processing properties.
Whereas suitably chosen concrete admixtures and additives can influence rheology in a very targeted manner, sand and aggregates are less suitable for controlling rheology but nonetheless contribute to the rheology of the Overall system. The actions of sand and aggregate can impose themselves upon the actions of admixtures and additives
and, in unfavourable circumstances, even render them redundant. For this reason, any results concerning the processability of binding agent systems can only be transferred to concrete with great care. It is important to better understand the action of sand and aggregates in order to be able to harmonise them in such a way that they complement the action of superplasticisers positively, instead of
working against them. Savings on costs can also be made by this targeted fine-tuning.
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.
The design of anion-sensitive probes with sufficient sensitivity and selectivity is a demanding task in analytical sciences and chemical sensor technology. The reversible binding of Anions to lanthanide centers is a possible approach for the development of molecular anion sensors, as reversibility is a prerequisite for continuous sensing and monitoring of enzymatic reactions. Some anion species lead to a strong increase of luminescence intensities and lifetimes by the replacement of luminescence quenching water molecules, though the selectivity of the luminescence response is still a major problem. We synthesized a series of positively charged pyridyl-based multidentate europium complexes (five-, four- and three dentate) including sensitizing chromophores and studied their luminescence intensity and lifetime responses to different polyphosphates, pyrophosphate, phosphate anions, and carboxyanions.
The results revealed that the number and symmetry of the binding sites have a significant impact on the response. The five-dentate complex was used for the real-time monitoring of the activity of the ATP hydrolyzing enzyme apyrase.
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.
Luminescence techniques are amongst the most commonly used analytical methods in life and material sciences due to their high sensitivity, nondestructive character, and easy instrumentation suitable for miniaturization. Photoluminescence signals are, however, affected by wavelength-, polarization-, and time-dependent instrument-related effects. Thus, at the core of standardization approaches for all fluorescence-based techniques are evaluated fluorescence standards for the consideration of instrument-specific spectral and intensity distortions of measured signals and for instrument performance validation (IPV).
Here, we summarize the research of BAM division 1.2 on development of liquid and solid fluorescence standards for various application-relevant fluorescence parameters and techniques. The portfolio of BAM fluorescence reference materials presently consists of:
i) a Spectral Fluorescence Standard Kit, i.e., a set of liquid fluorescence standards with certified normalized corrected emission spectra, for the determination of a broad variety of fluorescence parameters
ii) a ready-to-use, glass-based multi-emitter fluorescence standard for IPV and the determination of instrument-to-instrument variations
iii) specially adapted calibration tools and validation concepts for microarray-based platforms used in molecular diagnostics and food safety control
iv) quantum yield (Φf) standards for relative determination of the key performance parameter Φf of fluorescent materials, which can be also used for the evaluation of the performance of absolute, standard-free methods utilizing integrating sphere setups or spectrometer accessories. These materials, that will eventually cover the ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared spectral region, are currently under certification.
This toolbox of method-adapted reference materials can perfectly complement existing fluorescence standards. These easy-to-use, reference materials can pave the way to traceable fluorescence measurements to a radiometric scale like the spectral radiance or spectral photon radiance for all users of fluorescence techniques in material sciences and analysis, as well as environmental monitoring and biotechnology. They are particularly useful for customers working in strongly regulated areas like medical diagnostics or pharmaceutical research, where certified standards in conjunction with validated standard operating procedures are mandatory.
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.
DNA origami nanostructures provide a platform where dye molecules can be arranged with nanoscale accuracy allowing to assemble multiple fluorophores without dye−dye aggregation. Aiming to develop a bright and sensitive ratiometric sensor system, we systematically studied the optical properties of nanoarrays of dyes built on DNA Origami platforms using a DNA template that provides a high versatility of label choice at minimum cost. The dyes are arranged at distances, at which they efficiently interact by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). To optimize array brightness, the FRET efficiencies between the donor fluorescein (FAM) and the acceptor cyanine 3 were determined for different sizes of the array and for different arrangements of the dye molecules within the array. By utilizing nanoarrays providing optimum FRET efficiency and brightness, we subsequently designed a ratiometric pH nanosensor using coumarin 343 as a pH-inert FRET donor and FAM as a pHresponsive acceptor. Our results indicate that the sensitivity of a ratiometric sensor can be improved simply by arranging the dyes into a well-defined array. The dyes used here can be easily replaced by other analyte-responsive dyes, demonstrating the huge potential of DNA nanotechnology for light harvesting, signal enhancement, and sensing schemes in life sciences.
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.
Nanomaterials are used in many different applications in the material and life sciences. Examples are optical reporters, barcodes, and nanosensors, magnetic and optical contrast agents, and catalysts. Due to their small size and large surface area, there are also concerns about their interaction with and uptake by biological systems. This has initiated an ever increasing number of cyctoxicity studies of nanomaterials of different chemical composition and surface chemistry, but until now, the toxicological results presented by different research groups often do not address or differ regarding a potential genotoxicity of these nanomaterials. This underlines the need for a standardized test procedure to detect genotoxicity.1,2
Aiming at the development of fast, easy to use, and automatable microscopic methods for the determination of the genotoxicity of different types of nanoparticles, we assess the potential of the fluorometric γH2AX assay for this purpose. This assay, which can be run on an automated microscopic detection system, relies on the determination of DNA double strand breaks as a sign for genotoxicity.3 Here, we present first results obtained with broadly used nanomaterials like CdSe/CdS and InP/ZnS quantum dots as well as iron oxide, gold, and polymer particles of different surface chemistry with previously tested colloidal stability. These studies will be also used to establish nanomaterials as positive and negative genotoxicity controls or standards for assay performance validation for users of this fluorometric genotoxicity assay. In the future, after proper validation, this microscopic platform technology will be expanded to other typical toxicity assays.
References. (1) Landsiedel, R.; Kapp, M. D.; Schulz, M.; Wiench, K.; Oesch, F., Reviews in Mutation Research 2009, 681, 241-258. (2) Henriksen-Lacey, M.; Carregal-Romero, S.; Liz-Marzán, L. M., Bioconjugate Chem. 2016, 28, 212-221. (3) Willitzki, A.; Lorenz, S.; Hiemann, R.; Guttek, K.; Goihl, A.; Hartig, R.; Conrad, K.; Feist, E.; Sack, U.; Schierack, P., Cytometry Part A 2013, 83, 1017-1026.
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.
What to measure? is a key question in nanoscience, and it is not straightforward to address as different physicochemical properties define a nanoparticle sample. Most prominent among these properties are size, shape, surface charge, and porosity. Today researchers have an unprecedented variety of measurement techniques at their disposal to assign precise numerical values to those parameters. However, methods based on different physical principles probe different aspects, not only of the particles themselves, but also of their preparation history and their environment at the time of measurement. Understanding these connections can be of great value for interpreting characterization results and ultimately controlling the nanoparticle structure–function relationship. Here, the current techniques that enable the precise measurement of these fundamental nanoparticle properties are presented and their practical advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Some recommendations of how the physicochemical parameters of nanoparticles should be investigated and how to fully characterize these properties in different environments according to the intended nanoparticle use are proposed. The intention is to improve comparability of nanoparticle properties and performance to ensure the successful transfer of scientific knowledge to industrial real‐world applications.
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
The Effect of Low Charge Polycarboxylate on C3A Passivation Monitored by Optical Spectroscopy
(2019)
Tricalcium aluminate (C3A) is less than 10 wt.% of the total cement composition; however, during hydration, the soluble C3A plays an important role in cement setting when mixed with the appropriate amount of sulfate.1 A good understanding about the balance of these components is therefore crucial to follow with the rapid growth of substitution materials and the rising levels of aluminate clinker. The aim of this investigation is the use of optical spectroscopy and in-situ X-ray diffraction utilizing a water-soluble organic dye (dye-S) to monitor early hydration of calcium aluminate (C3A) in the presence of 26 wt.% CaS04.2H2O (G) and PCE polymers with different charge densities (PCE-LC and PCE-HC). Phase characterization and optical evaluation were performed using in-situ X-ray diffraction and steady-state fluorescence and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Fluorescence spectroscopy of the reference C3A + dye-S revealed a fast decay in fluorescence intensity. However, in the presence of 26 wt.% G (C3A + dye-S + 26 wt.% G), a gradual increase in fluorescence intensity was observed in the first hours of reaction followed by a plateau that subsequently dropped in intensity after eight hours. The addition of PCE-LC and PCE HC to the mixture exhibited changes in the intensity threshold and overall a higher fluorescence intensity. Dye changes during hydration and structural changes will be further discussed.
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.
The fluorescence quantum yield (QY) of CdSe dot/CdS rod (DR) nanoparticle ensembles is dependent on the Shell growth and excitation wavelength. We analyze the origin of this dependency by comparing the optical properties of DR ensembles to the results obtained in single-particle experiments. On the Ensemble level, we find that the QY of DRs with shell lengths shorter than 40 nm exhibits no dependence on the excitation wavelength, whereas for DRs with shell lengths longer than 50 nm, the QY significantly decreases for excitation above the CdS band gap. Upon excitation in the CdSe core, the ensemble QY, the fluorescence wavelength, and the fluorescence blinking behavior of individual particles are only dependent on the radial CdS shell thickness and not on the CDs shell length. If the photogenerated excitons can reach the CdSe core region, the fluorescence properties will be dependent only on the surface passivation in close vicinity to the CdSe core. The change in QY upon excitation above the band gap of CdS for longer DRs cannot be explained by nonradiative particles because the ratio of emitting DRs is found to be independent of the DR length. We propose a model after which the decrease in QY for longer CdS shells is due to an increasing fraction of nonradiative exciton recombination within the elongated shell. This is supported by an effective-mass-approximation-based calculation, which suggests an optimum length of DRs of about 40 nm, to combine the benefit of high CdS absorption cross section with a high fluorescence QY.
In all fluorescence-based techniques, the measured signals contain not only sample-related but also instrument-specific contributions, which limit the direct comparison of fluorescence data obtained e.g. on different devices or at different times and often hamper quantification. To rule out instrumentation as major source of variability of emission data, accepted fluorescence standards and procedures for the control of instrument specifications and long-term performance are required. For flow cytometry (FCM), a broad variety of fluorophore-stained polymer beads differing in emission wavelength and intensity is available for the testing of the alignment, sensitivity, and other parameters of FCM. These calibration tools are intended to facilitate the assessment of instrument performance to ensure reliable measurements and to improve the comparability of FCM experiments.
As a step towards an improved comparability of fluorescence data, with special emphasis on spectroscopic methods measuring nano- and micrometer-sized fluorescent objects, we are currently developing a set of fluorescent polystyrene (PS) beads loaded with luminophores from the certified BAM-Kit “Spectral fluorescent standards”, initially developed for the calibration of fluorescence spectrometers. Here, we present first results from studies of these fluorophore-loaded polymer beads. Moreover, new beads are made to supplement this kit by encapsulating near-infrared (NIR)-emissive luminophores in PS beads to cover the UV/VIS, and NIR wavelength range.
These beads are designed for calibration of flow cytometers and other fluorescence imaging systems to meet the increasing demand for reliable and comparable fluorescence data especially in strongly regulated areas like e.g. medical diagnostics.
The efficient and sensitive detection of pathogenic microorganisms in aqueous environments, such as water used in medical applications, drinking water, and cooling water of industrial plants, requires simple and fast methods suitable for multiplexed detection such as flow cytometry (FCM) with optically encoded carrier beads. For this purpose, we combine fluorescent Cd-free Ag−In−S ternary quantum dots (t-QDs) with fluorescence Lifetimes (LTs) of several hundred nanoseconds and superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (SPIONs) with mesoporous CaCO3 microbeads to a magneto-fluorescent bead platform that can be surface-functionalized with bioligands, such as antibodies. This inorganic bead platform enables immuno-magnetic separation, target enrichment, and target quantification with optical readout. The beads can be detected with steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry (FCM). Moreover, they are suited for readout by time gated emission. In the following, the preparation of these magneto-fluorescent CaCO3 beads, their spectroscopic and analytic characterization, and their conjugation with bacteria-specific antibodies are presented as well as proof-of-concept measurements with Legionella pneumophila including cell cultivation and plating experiments for bacteria quantification. Additionally, the possibility to discriminate between the long-lived emission of the LT-encoded capture and carrier CaCO3 beads and the short-lived Emission of the dye-stained bacteria with time-resolved fluorescence techniques and single wavelength excitation is demonstrated.
Singlet oxygen can severely damage biological tissue, which is exploited in photodynamic therapy (PDT). In PDT, the effective range is limited by the distribution of the photosensitizer (PS) and the illuminated area. However, no distinction is made between healthy and pathological tissue, which can cause undesired damage. This encouraged us to exploit the more acidic pH of cancerous tissue and design pH-controllable singlet oxygen-generating boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes. A pH sensitivity of the dyes is achieved by the introduction of an electronically decoupled, photoinduced electron transfer (PET)-capable subunit in meso-position of the BODIPY core. To favor triplet-state formation as required for singlet Oxygen generation, iodine substituents were introduced at the chromophore core. The resulting pH-controlled singlet oxygen-generating dyes with pKa values in the physiological range were subsequently assessed regarding their potential as pH-controlled PS for PDT.
Using HeLa cells, we could successfully demonstrate markedly different pH-dependent cytotoxicities upon illumination.
Extracellular vesicles (EV) are cell-derived particles in body fluids, which have excellent potential as next-generation biomarkers. The exploitation of EV requires reliable measurements, which is currently very difficult, as most EV are smaller than 200 nm. At present, flow cytometry (FCM) is the most appropriate technique for EV analysis in biological samples, as FCM is readily available in many clinical laboratories and allows to identify cell-specific EV at high throughput. However, due to technical variations between different FCM instruments, EV concentration measurements are currently not well comparable between most laboratories. Therefore, EV reference materials and standardized reference methods are urgently needed to calibrate flow rate, light scattering intensity, and fluorescence intensity of FCM in the sub-micrometer size range. This requires a better matching of the optical properties of calibration beads and EV as can be realized with current polystyrene calibration beads.
The EMPIR project 18HLT01 “MetVes II” aims to develop synthetic reference materials and traceable measurement methods to standardize EV measurements. The reference materials should resemble EV properties, so that calibrations are reliable and do not require a change of acquisition settings. Hence, the reference materials should contain particles with a traceable number concentration in the range of 109–1012 particles/mL to calibrate flow rate, a traceable size with discrete diameters between 50–1000 nm and a refractive index (RI) in the range of 1.37–1.42 to calibrate scattering intensity, and a traceable fluorescence intensity between 100–100,000 molecules of equivalent soluble fluorochromes (MESF). At BAM, various approaches to prepare such low-RI nanometer-sized reference materials will be studied, preliminary results of the primary characterization of these candidate reference particles will be presented, and possible applications besides FCM-based EV detection will be outlined.
BAM provides leading expertise in preparation, characterisation and application of fluorescent reference standards and biomedical relevant nanomaterials, as well as in traceable, absolute, and quantitative fluorometric measurements of transparent and scattering systems in the ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared spectral region. BAM will prepare solid low-RI particles in WP1, will develop reference methods to determine the fluorescence intensity and RI of reference materials in WP2, and will measure the fluorescence intensity of EVs in biological test samples of WP3.
Applications of luminescent nanomaterials like semiconductor nanocrystals (QDs) and lanthanide-based upconversion nanocrystals (UCNPs) in the life sciences such as bioimaging studies or their use as reporter in assays call for a correlation of the photoluminescence (PL) properties of these nanomaterials on ensemble and single particle levels. This is particularly relevant within the context of continuously decreasing detection limits. Aiming at optimum nanomaterials for spectroscopic and microscopic applications, we examine the optical properties of QDs like II/VI QDs and cadmium-free AgInS2/ZnS QDs (AIS/ZnS) and UCNPs of different chemical composition, size, and particle architecture for ensembles and single particles. This includes PL spectra, PL quantum yields (ΦF), brightness values, blinking behavior, and PL decay kinetics. For UCNPs with their nonlinear spectrally converted PL excited by sequential multiphoton absorption, these measurements were also done as a function of excitation power density (P). Special emphasis is dedicated to the performance parameters ΦF and brightness, that determine signal size and provide a measure for nanocrystal quality.[1-5]
Systematic studies of the excitation energy dependence (EED) [6] of the PL properties of II/VI and ternary AgInS2/ZnS QDs reveal the potential of this relatively simple method for providing insights into the electronic energy structure of QDs. The intrinsic nature of the inhomogeneous broadening of the PL bands of AIS/ZnS QDs was confirmed by single particle spectroscopy.[5] By combining P-dependent integration spectroscopy and single particle measurements of UCNPs, using a new custom-made setup, consisting of different lasers, an inverted microscope, different detectors, and an AFM, we could study the P-dependent optical properties of these nonlinear emitters from ~10 W/cm2 up to ~105 W/cm2. These results provide optimum dopant ion concentrations for bioanalytical, spectroscopic, and microscopic applications of UCNP.
Acknowledgement. Financial support by grants RE1203/12-3 and RE1203/20-1 (support of F. Weigert, L. Dhamo, and F. Frenzel) from German Research Council (DFG) is acknowledged.
We assessed the influence of Yb3+ and Er3+ dopant concentration on the relative spectral distribution, quantum yield ( UC), and decay kinetics of the upconversion luminescence (UCL) and particle brightness (BUC) for similarly sized (33 nm) oleate-capped -NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ upconversion (UC) nanoparticles (UCNPs) in toluene at broadly varied excitation power densities (P). This included an Yb3+ series where the Yb3+ concentration was varied between 11%–21% for a constant Er3+ concentration of 3%, and an Er3+ series, where the Er3+ concentration was varied between 1%–4% for a constant Yb3+ concentration of 14%. The results were fitted with a coupled rate equation model utilizing the UCL data and decay kinetics of the green and red Er3+ emission and the Yb3+ luminescence at 980 nm. An increasing Yb3+ concentration favors a pronounced triphotonic population of 4F9/2 at high P by an enhanced back energy transfer (BET) from the 4G11/2 level. Simultaneously, the Yb3+-controlled UCNPs absorption cross section overcompensates for the reduction in UC with increasing Yb3+ concentration at high P, resulting in an increase in BUC. Additionally, our results show that an increase in Yb3+ and a decrease in Er3+ concentration enhance the color tuning range by P. These findings will pave the road to a deeper understanding of the energy transfer processes and their contribution to efficient UCL, as well as still debated trends in green-to-red intensity ratios of UCNPs at different P.
A new fluorescent pentaphene derivative is presented that differs
from hexabenzocoronene (HBC) by one carbon atom in the basal
plane skeleton. A 500% increased fluorescence quantum yield
is measured compared to the HBC derivative. The pentaphene
compound, obtained by a modified Scholl oxidation, is also emissive
in the solid-state, due to the packing motif in the crystal.
The photoluminescence quantum yield characterizes the performance of emitters for applications in optical devices, as reporters or probes in material and analytical sciences, and for sensing applications. Quantum yield measurements are challenging for luminescent molecules and nanocrystals immobilized in thin films for many sensor applications, particularly if spatially resolved quantitative luminescence information is desired. We show here that a Drexhage-type experiment, where a silver-coated millimeter-sized sphere is used to modify the local density of states, can provide an elegant approach to counter this challenge. As a representative example of the potential of this method, we measure the pH-dependent photoluminescence quantum yield of fluorescein isothiocyanate bound to a thin mesoporous silica film. The results were compared with those of the studies on the pH dependence of the same dye in solution. We found that our approach can link single fluorophore studies to ensemble measurements and pave the way for the spatially resolved fluorescence measurements of ultralow concentrations of emitters utilized as optically active elements and reporters in thin sensor films or incorporated into membranes.
Structural modularity of polymer frameworks is a key advantage of covalent organic polymers, however, only C, N, O, Si and S have found their way into their building blocks so far. Here, we expand the toolbox available to polymer and materials chemists by one additional nonmetal, phosphorus. Starting with a building block that contains a λ⁵‐phosphinine (C₅P) moiety, we evaluate a number of polymerisation protocols, finally obtaining a π‐conjugated, covalent phosphinine‐based framework (CPF‐1) via Suzuki‐Miyaura coupling. CPF‐1 is a weakly porous polymer glass (72.4 m2 g‐1 N2 BET at 77 K) with green fluorescence (λmax 546 nm) and extremely high thermal stability. The polymer catalyzes hydrogen evolution from water under UV and visible light irradiation without the need for additional co‐catalyst at a rate of 33.3 μmol h‐¹ g‐¹. Our results demonstrate for the first time the incorporation of the phosphinine motif into a complex polymer framework. Phosphinine‐based frameworks show promising electronic and optical properties that might spark future interest in their applications in light‐emitting devices and heterogeneous catalysis.
The rational synthesis and use of nanomaterials require the characterization of many different properties, ranging from particle size and size distribution over surface chemistry to more applicationrelevant features like optical, electrochemical, and magnetic properties. In the following, several methods for the characterization of functional groups on nanomaterials, like polymer and silica nanoparticles, semiconductor quantum dots, and lanthanide-based upconversion nanocrystals are presented. Additionally, procedures for the measurement of the key spectroscopic performance parameters of nanomaterials with linear and nonlinear photoluminescence, such as the photoluminescence quantum yield, are presented for the UV/vis/NIR/SWIR.
We present the design and fabrication of pH responsive ratiometric dual component sensor systems based on multicolor emissive upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) and pH sensitive BODIPY dyes with tunable pKa values embedded into a polymeric hydrogel matrix. The use of NIR excitable NaYF4:Yb3+,Tm3+ UCNPs enables background free read-out. Furthermore, the spectrally matching optical properties of the UCNPs and the dyes allow the UCNPs to serve as excitation light source for the analyteresponsive BODIPY as well as intrinsic reference. The blue upconversion luminescence (UCL) of NaYF4:Yb3+,Tm3+ UCNPs excited at 980 nm, that overlaps with the absorption of the pH-sensitive fluorophore, provides reabsorption based excitation of the dye, the spectrally distinguishable green fluorescence of which is switched ON upon protonation, preventing photoinduced electron transfer (PET) within the dye moiety, and the pH-inert red UCL act as reference. The intensities ratios of the dye’s fluorescence and the analyte-inert red Tm3+ UCL correlate directly with pH, which was successfully utilized for Monitoring timedependent pH changes of a suspension of quiescent E. coli metabolizing D-glucose.
High photoluminescence of shortwave infrared-emitting anisotropic surface charged gold nanoclusters
(2019)
Incorporating anisotropic surface charges on atomically precise gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) led to a strong absorption in the nearinfrared region and could enable the formation of self-assembled Au NCs xhibiting an intense absorption band at ∼1000 nm. This surface modification showed a striking enhancement of the photoluminescence in the Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) region with a quantum yield as high as 6.1% in water.
The comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of molecular and nanoscale reporters require accurate and quantitative photo-luminescence measurements. This is of special importance for all photoluminescence applications in the life and material sciences and nanobiophotonics. In the following, procedures for the determination of the spectroscopic key parameter photoluminescence quantum yield, i.e., the number of emitted per absorbed photons, in the UV/vis/NIR/SWIR are presented including pitfalls and achievable uncertainties and material-specific effects related to certain emitter classes are addressed.
Spectral encoding of cells or particles and the discrimination of multiple spectral codes are a critical process in flow cytometry (FCM). Typical issues in spectral encoding are, e.g., the spectral overlap of codes, or the increasing complexity of instruments . The exploitation of the photoluminescence lifetime (LT) as an encoding parameter could be used to circumvent both of these issues, as it adds another dimension to the parameter space, or, when used as a stand-alone parameter, requiring only one excitation light source and one detector. While LT encoding was considered already decades ago it is still not implemented as a routine technique in FCM yet, mainly due to the challenge of very few photons being available within the limited transition time of a cell or particle through the laser spot.
Recently, we demonstrated LT-FCM based on luminophores with ns LTs in a compact and low-cost flow cytometer. Measurements on polymer microbeads containing luminophores with distinctly different excited state LTs enabled the complete discrimination of three LT codes and five codes in total could be identified.
Now, we have extended our approach towards considerably longer LTs by custom-made polymer microbeads loaded with different ratios of InP/ZnS and AgInS2 quantum dots. The use of these materials significantly expands the usable time range for LT encoding to up to several hundred ns. Our studies demonstrate the possibility to further increase the number of viable LT codes for multiplexing in LT-FCM without the need for extensive hardware modifications.
Photoactive metal complexes employing Earth‐abundant metal ions are a key to sustainable photophysical and photochemical applications. We exploit the effects of an inversion center and ligand non‐innocence to tune the luminescence and photochemistry of the excited state of the [CrN6] chromophore [Cr(tpe)2]3+ with close to octahedral symmetry (tpe=1,1,1‐tris(pyrid‐2‐yl)ethane). [Cr(tpe)2]3+ exhibits the longest luminescence lifetime (τ=4500 μs) reported up to date for a molecular polypyridyl chromium(III) complex together with a very high luminescence quantum yield of Φ=8.2 % at room temperature in fluid solution. Furthermore, the tpe ligands in [Cr(tpe)2]3+ are redox non‐innocent, leading to reversible reductive chemistry. The excited state redox potential and lifetime of [Cr(tpe)2]3+ surpass those of the classical photosensitizer [Ru(bpy)3]2+ (bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine) enabling energy transfer (to oxygen) and photoredox processes (with azulene and tri(n‐butyl)amine).
Organic and inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly used as drug carriers, fluorescent sensors, and multimodal labels in the life and material sciences. These applications require knowledge of the chemical nature, total number of surface groups, and the number of groups accessible for subsequent coupling of e.g., antifouling ligands, targeting bioligands, or sensor molecules. To establish the concept of catch-and-release assays, cleavable probes were rationally designed from a quantitatively cleavable disulfide moiety and the optically detectable reporter 2-thiopyridone (2-TP). For quantifying surface groups on nanomaterials, first, a set of monodisperse carboxy-and amino-functionalized, 100 nm-sized polymer and silica NPs with different surface group densities was synthesized. Subsequently, the accessible functional groups (FGs) were quantified via optical spectroscopy of the cleaved off reporter after its release in solution. Method validation was done with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) utilizing the sulfur atom of the cleavable probe. This comparison underlined the reliability and versatility of our probes, which can be used for surface group quantification on all types of transparent, scattering, absorbing and/or fluorescent particles. The correlation between the total and accessible number of FGs quantified by conductometric titration, qNMR, and with our cleavable probes, together with the comparison to results of conjugation studies with differently sized biomolecules reveal the potential of catch-and-release reporters for surface analysis. Our findings also underline the importance of quantifying particularly the accessible amount of FGs for many applications of NPs in the life sciences.
We report the synthesis and characterization of carbon nanodots (CDs) with high quantum yield (>50%) and tailored optical absorption as well as emission properties. A well-described protocol with polyethyleneimine (PEI) as amine precursor is used as a reference to a new CD system which is stabilized by aromatic 2,3-diaminopyridine (DAP) molecules instead. The DAP stabilizer is installed in order to red-shift the absorption peak of the n-π* electron transition allowing efficient radiative recombination and light emission. Size, shape, and chemical composition of the samples are determined by (HR)TEM, EDX and FTIR-spectroscopy. Optical parameters are investigated using UV-VIS, PL and QY measurements. Several parameters such as concentration, excitation wavelength and pH are studied. Zeta-potential analysis indicate that pH-induced (de-)protonation processes of functional moieties directly affect the n-π* energy bands. This results in unique pH-dependent absorption and emission characteristics which are discussed on the specific chemical composition of each CD system.
Luminescence techniques are amongst the most commonly used analytical methods in the life and material sciences due to their high sensitivity and their nondestructive and multiparametric character. Photoluminescence signals are, however, affected by wavelength-, polarization- and time-dependent instrument specific effects. This hampers the comparability of fluorescence measurements and calls for simple tools for instrument characterization and the quantification of measured fluorescence intensities. Well characterized fluorescence standards for instrument calibration and performance validation (IPV) can be used also to reference fluorescence signals. Of special importance is the reliable and accurate determination of photoluminescence quantum yields (Ф f), that equals the number of emitted per absorbed photons and presents the key performance parameter for emitter efficiency and the comparison of different luminophores. The determination of Ф f is typically done with the aid of so-called quantum yield standards with well-known Ф f values. These standards can also be applied to evaluate integrating sphere setups, which are increasingly being used for absolute measurements of Ф f values. In this respect, division biophotonics of BAM has certificated a set of Ф f standards, which absorb and fluorescence in the wavelength range from 350 to 1100 nm. In the following, the route to Ф f standards with reliable and traceable Ф f values with a complete uncertainty budget will be presented.
Organic and inorganic micro- and nanoparticles are increasingly used as drug carriers, fluorescent sensors, and multimodal labels in the life and material sciences. Typically, these applications require further functionalization of the particles with, e.g., antifouling ligands, targeting bioligands, stimuli-responjsive caps, or sensor molecules. Besides serving as an anchor point for subsequent functionalization, the surface chemistry of these particles also fundamentally influences their interaction with the surrounding medium and can have a significant effect on colloidal stability, particle uptake, biodistribution, and particle toxicity in biological systems. Moreover, functional groups enable size control and tuning of the surface during the synthesis of particle systems.
For these reasons, a precise knowledge of the chemical nature, the total number of surface groups, and the number of groups on the particle surface that are accessible for further functionalization is highly important. In this contribution, we will will discuss the advantages and limitiations of different approaches to quantify the amount of commonly used surface functional groups such as amino,[1,2] carboxy,[1,2] and aldehyde groups.[3] Preferably, the quantification is carried out using sensitive and fast photometric or fluorometric assays, which can be read out with simple, inexpensive instrumentation and can be validated by complimentary analytic techniques such as ICP-OES and quantitative NMR.
Neuartige Materialien, die bekannte (Werk-)Stoffe mit neuen Funktionalitäten ausstatten, spielen eine zunehmend wichtige Rolle im Bereich der Materialforschung und -prüfung. Das Spektrum neuartiger Materialien reicht von der gezielten Oberflächenfunktionalisierung und -strukturierung makroskopischer Materialien, dünnen Beschichtungen bis hin zu mikro- und nanoskaligen Kompositmaterialien und funktionalen Materialien an der Schnittstelle zur Biologie, Biotechnologie, nachhaltige Energiespeicherung und Sensorik. Dabei bieten neuartige Materialien die Chance, Werkstoffe und Produkte mit erweiterter oder verbesserter Funktionalität zu erhalten und Sicherheit bereits im Designprozess zu berücksichtigen. Durch dieses breite Anwendungsspektrum und die Herausforderungen, die solche Materialien für die Sicherheit in Chemie und Technik mit sich bringen, sind diese in allen Themenfeldern der BAM repräsentiert (Material, Analytical Sciences, Energie, Infrastruktur und Umwelt).
Die Aufgaben der BAM erstrecken sich dabei von der Herstellung von Referenzmaterialien für Industrie, Forschung und Regulation, über die Erstellung von standardisierten Referenzverfahren für nachhaltige Messungen im Umwelt- und Lebenswissenschaftsbereich bis hin zur Bereitstellung von belastbaren und zitierbaren Referenzdaten. Durch die genaue Charakterisierung neuartiger Materialien können potentiell problematische Substanzen identifiziert und deren Risiken besser abgeschätzt werden. In diesem Beitrag werden einige aktuelle Beispiele aus diesen Bereichen vorgestellt.
In summary, by combining the NIR-emissive [Cr(ddpd)2][BPh4]3 complex CrBPh4 with its extremely large energy gap between the longest wavelength absorption and emission maxima with a pH-responsive fluorescein derivative (FITC) and an inert reference dye like Nile Red (NR) and 5,10,15,20tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) porphyrin (TFPP), we developed nanosensors for simultaneously sensing temperature, O2 partial pressure, and pH. These novel TOP nanosensors (temperature, oxygen, pH) cover the biologically and physiologically relevant concentration ranges of these parameters/analytes with single wavelength excitation in PBS buffer and in a cell culture medium containing bovine serum albumin (BSA). The response of both nanosensors to all parameters is fully reversible and only minimally affected by the presence of BSA, the most common serum albumin. Moreover, comparative studies with nanosensors containing only a single type of stimuli-responsive molecule and with the respective molecular systems revealed that the different sensor components do not interfere with each other. Future research will include the testing of these nanosensors in cellular uptake studies and, after surface modification with targeted bioligands, eventually in in vivo experiments as previously done by some of us with other polystyrene nanoparticle reporters and nanosensors.46,47 Moreover, this concept of multianalyte sensing will be expanded to nanosensors derived from differently sized premanufactured biocompatible polymer particles and different stimuli-responsive dyes like fluorescent indicators for biologically and bioanalytically relevant metal ions.
Aldehyde-functionalized materials have found widespread use in bioconjugation applications. For example, coupling of aldehyde surface groups with proteins, peptides or amine-functionalized oligonucleotides can readily produce biomolecule-decorated chip and bead surfaces for multiplex analyses. Furthermore, aldehyde-modified nanoparticles can possess bioadhesive properties that can prolong their retention time in biological compartments. These emerging novel bioanalytical and biomedical applications call for reliable tools and methods to detect and quantify accessible aldehyde functionalities on material surfaces.
We report 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 non-fluorescent 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 quantitatively and allows for their fluorometric detection at low concentration. Importantly, this strategy separates the signal-generating molecule from the bead surface, thereby circumventing common issues associated with light scattering and signal distortions due to binding-induced changes in reporter fluorescence as well as quenching dye-dye interactions on crowded material surfaces. In addition, we demonstrate that the release of a non-fluorescent 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.
Quantification of Aldehydes via Catch and Release of Reporter Chromophores on Polymeric Microbeads
(2019)
Aldehyde-functionalized materials have found widespread use in bioconjugation applications. For example, coupling of aldehyde surface groups with proteins, peptides or amine-functionalized oligonucleotides can readily produce biomolecule-decorated chip and bead surfaces for multiplex analyses. Furthermore, aldehyde-modified nanoparticles can possess bioadhesive properties that can prolong their retention time in biological compartments. These emerging novel bioanalytical and biomedical applications call for reliable tools and methods to detect and quantify accessible aldehyde functionalities on the surface of 2D- and 3D-supports.
We present here a versatile concept to quantify the amount of accessible aldehyde moieties on the surface of PMMA particles through the specific binding and subsequent release of small reporter molecules such as absorbing and fluorescent dyes utilizing acylhydrazone formation as a reversible covalent labeling strategy. Unbound reporter molecules can be easily removed by washing steps, eliminating inaccuracies caused by unspecific adsorption to hydrophobic surfaces. Cleavage of the hydrazones at acidic pH assisted by a carbonyl trap releases the optical reporters rapidly and quantitatively and allows for their optical detection at low concentration. Importantly, this strategy separates the signal-generating molecules from the bead surface, thereby circumventing common pitfalls of optical assays associated with light scattering and signal distortions due to binding-induced changes in reporter fluorescence and quenching dye-dye interactions on crowded material surfaces. The potential of this catch-and-release strategy for surface group quantification is representatively demonstrated for a set of microparticles functionalized with different aldehyde densities. This concept is validated by a colorimetric assay with a different optical probe, which contains a reductively cleavable disulfide bond and a reporter that can be quantified photometrically in solution after its release. The excellent match of the results of both optical assays confirms their suitability for the rapid and sensitive quantification of aldehydes on microbead surfaces. These simple catch-and-release assays are excellent tools for process control during bead fabrication and the comparison of different bead batches. Their potential for predicting biomolecule coupling efficiencies in bioconjugation reactions is currently assessed in reductive amination reactions with streptavidin.
Aldehyde-functionalized materials have found broad use in bioconjugation applications. For example, coupling of aldehyde surface groups with to proteins or amine-functionalized oligonucleotides can readily produce biomolecule-covered chip microarray and bead surfaces for multiplex analyses. Additionally, aldehyde-modified nanoparticles can possess bioadhesive properties that can extend their retention time in biological compartments. These emerging novel bioanalytical applications call for reliable tools and methods to detect and quantify accessible aldehyde functionalities.
We present here a straightforward concept to quantify the amount of accessible aldehyde moieties on the surface of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles through the specific binding and subsequent release of small reporter molecules such as absorbing and fluorescent dyes utilizing hydrazone formation as a reversible covalent labeling strategy. Unbound reporter molecules can be easily removed by washing steps, eliminating inaccuracies caused by unspecific adsorption to hydrophobic surfaces. Cleavage of the hydrazones at acidic pH assisted by a carbonyl trap releases the optical reporters rapidly and quantitatively and allows for their optical detection at low concentration. Importantly, this strategy separates the signal-generating molecules from the bead surface, thereby circumventing light scattering and signal distortions due to binding-induced changes in reporter fluorescence and quenching dye-dye interactions on crowded material surfaces. The potential of this catch-and-release strategy for surface group quantification is representatively demonstrated for a set of microparticles functionalized with different aldehyde densities. This concept is validated by a colorimetric assay with a different optical probe, which contains a reductively cleavable disulfide bond and a reporter that can be quantified photometrically in solution after its cleavage. The excellent match of the results of both optical assays confirms their suitability for the rapid and sensitive quantification of aldehydes on microbead surfaces. These simple catch-and-release assays are excellent tools for process control during bead fabrication and the comparison of different bead batches.
Ternary semiconductors quantum dots (t-QD) are Cd-free core-only or core-shell semiconductor nanocrystals with a core made from I-III-VI group elements like Cu-In-S (CIS) or Ag-In-S (AIS). To enhance the PL quantum yield (PL QY) and prevent material deterioration and oxidation, these QDs are commonly surface-passivated with ay ZnS shell.
CIS and AIS QDs exhibit broad photoluminescence (PL) bands that cover visible spectrum up to the near infrared (NIR), the spectral position of which being tunable by size, chemical composition of the core (ratio of the components), and surface ligand. They show high absorption coefficients, high PL quantum yields (PL QY of up to 70%), and long luminescence lifetimes in the order of a few hundred nanoseconds that make them promising materials for a broad variety of applications. This makes them interesting alternatives for Cd-based QDs for applications as optically active components in solar concentrators or solar cells, light emitting diodes (LED) or as reporter in the life sciences.
Here we present a systematic spectroscopic study of a set of AIS/ZnS QDs synthesized in water, size selected by fractioned precipitation, and after ligand exchange in an apolar organic solvent as well as embedded in a polymer. The latter was achieved by a photochemically initiated polymerization. The PL properties of these AIS/ZnS including PL QY and the PL decay kinetics assessed in different matrices/environments are shown and discussed as well as possible applications in energy conversion.
Ternary semiconductors Quantum Dots (t-QD) are Cd-free semiconductors nanocrystals made from I-III-VI group elements like CIS or AIS. They are interesting alternatives for Cd-based QDs for applications as optically active components in solar concentrators or solar cells, light emitting diodes (LED) or in the life sciences. To enhance the PL quantum yield (PL QY) and prevent material deterioration and oxidation, these QDs are commonly surface-passivated with by ZnS shell.
AIS QDs exhibit broad photoluminescence (PL) spectra in the visible and near infrared, which are tunable by size, chemical composition (ratio of components or doping), and surface ligand. They show a relatively high absorption coefficient, high PL QY (up to 70%), and long luminescence lifetimes in the order of a few hundred nanoseconds that make them promising materials for a broad variety of applications. Moreover, they can be simply prepared even in water in high quality which avoids further ligand exchange steps for all water-based applications know to decrease QY.
Here we present a systematic spectroscopic study of differently colored AIS/ZnS QDs synthesized in water, size selected by precipitation, transferred to organic solvents via ligand exchange, and embedded in different polymers by a photochemically initiated polymerization. The PL properties including PL QY and the PL decay kinetics measured in different matrices are shown and discussed.
Multiplexed encoding schemes of nano- and micrometer sized polymer particles with fluorescent dyes or quantum dots (QDs) and their optical detection, are of increasing interest for applications in the life sciences, for example in flow cytometry. Almost all strategies utilizing fluorescence focus on spectrally distinguishable emission bands or colors and different intensity levels as fluorescence codes.
In this work the goal is to perform multiplexing with encoding fluorophores with different fluorescence lifetimes (LTs). In comparison to the spectral multiplexing strategies this has the advantage, that the different fluorescence LT codes can be measured with the same excitation and emission wavelength, thus reducing instrumental costs. Moreover, LTs should not depend on emitter concentration. Unlike organic dyes, the LTs of which are typically <10ns, the fluorescence LTs of ternary semiconductor QDs which represent a “green” alternative to conventional Cd-containing QDs are in the range of several hundred ns, independent of oxygen concentration, and can be tuned to a certain extent by chemical composition and surface chemistry. This presents a time region that can barely be covered by other emitters that have either much shorter or longer lifetimes. In this project, different encoding strategies will be assessed, and the encoded particles will then be used for fluorescence assays for the analysis of several targets in parallel. Therefore, the encoded particles will be functionalized with different target-specific bioligands and read out with a specifically designed flow cytometer enabling time-resolved fluorescence detection. With this instrument, the particles will be discriminated by their fluorescence LTs in one detection channel while the analytes will be quantified by fluorescence labels in a second channel in the intensity domain.
Multiplexed encoding schemes of nano- and micrometer sized particles with fluorescent dyes or quantum dots (QDs) and their optical detection, are of increasing interest for applications in the life sciences, for example in flow cytometry. Almost all strategies utilizing fluorescence focus on spectrally distinguishable emission bands or colors and different intensity levels as fluorescence codes. The fluorescence parameter lifetime has been, however, barely exploited. In this work the goal is to perform multiplexing with encoding fluorophores with different fluorescence lifetimes (LTs). In comparison to the spectral multiplexing strategies this has the advantage, that the different fluorescence LT codes can be measured with the excitation and emission wavelength, thus reducing instrument costs. Moreover, LTs should not depend on emitter concentration. Unlike organic dyes, the LTs of which are typically < 10 ns, the fluorescence LTs of ternary semiconductor QDs that represent a “green” alternative to conventional Cd-containing QDs are in the range of several hundred ns, independent of oxygen concentration, and can be tuned to a certain extent by chemical composition and surface chemistry. This present a time region that can be barely covered by other emitters that have either much shorter or longer lifetimes. In this project, different encoding strategies will be assessed and the encoded particles will be then used for fluorescence assays for the analysis of several targets in parallel. Therefor the encoded particles will be functionalized with different target-specific bioligands and read out with a specifically designed flow cytometer enabling time-resolved fluorescence detection. With this instrument, the particles will be discriminated by their fluorescence LTs In one detection channel while the analytes will be quantified by fluorescence labels in a second channel in the intensity domain.
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 is increasingly relevant for applications of these nanomaterials in the life sciences like bioimaging studies or their use as reporters in microfluidic assays. Here we present a comparison of the spectroscopic properties of ensembles and single emitters for QDs like II/VI QDs and cadmium-free AIS/ZnS QDs as well as different UCNPs. The overall goal of this study was to derive particle architectures well suited for spectroscopic and microscopic applications.
Relative and Absolute Methods for Measuring Photoluminescence Quantum Yields of UV/vis/NIR Emitters
(2019)
One of the key spectroscopic performance parameters of molecular and particulate emitters is the photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) that provides a direct measure for the number of emitted per absorbed photons. This triggered the interest in methods suitable for measuring this property for emitters in various environments in the UV/vis/NIR and above 1000 nm as well as on the ensemble and single emitter level. Moreover, for nonlinear emitters like lanthanide-based upconversion nanocrystals methods including instrumentation for power density-dependent PL QY studies are required.
An overview of the research activities in Division Biophotonics of BAM is given and suitable relative and absolute methods for the deter-mination of PL QY of organic dyes and different types of application-relevant nanomaterials in dispersion and in the solid state are presen-ted. This covers also the design and calibration of integrating sphere setups, achievable uncertainties, and candidates for PL QY reference materials.
There is an increasing interest in bridging the gap between the photoluminescence (PL) properties of nanomaterials like semiconductor nanocrystals (QDs) commonly assessed in ensemble studies and the PL features of single QDs for life sciences applications such as bioimaging studies or use in microfluidic assays. The fluorescence quantum yield (ΦF) is a key performance parameter for all molecular and nanoscale emitters, increasingly employed in nanoscience, nanotechnology, and medical diagnostics.
ΦF determines not only the signal size together with the reporter´s molar extinction coefficient, yet it is particularly relevant for nanocrystals like QDs with coordinatively bound surface ligands and size- and surface chemistry-dependent PL characteristics.
The importance of ΦF measurements at ultralow concentration encouraged us to explore the potential of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) for the relative determination of ΦF of ligand-stabilized CdTe nanocrystals in comparison to molecular dyes with closely matching spectral properties and known ΦF.
We describe a FCS-based method for the relative determination of ΦF of dispersed QDs at ultralow concentrations, and procedures to overcome QD-inherent challenges like complex and power-dependent blinking behavior as well as ligand- and QD-specific aggregation. We could demonstrate the potential of this approach by comparison with steady state ensemble measurements.
The fast and accurate detection of disease-related biomarkers and potentially harmful analytes in different matrices is one of the main challenges in the life sciences. In order to achieve high signal-to-background ratios with frequently used photoluminescence techniques, luminescent reporters are required that are either excitable in the first diagnostic window or reveal luminescence lifetimes exceeding that of autofluorescent matrix components. Here, we demonstrate a reporter concept relying on broad band emissive ternary quantum dots (QDs) with luminescence lifetimes of a few hundred nanoseconds utilized for prolongating the lifetimes of organic or inorganic emitters with lifetimes in the order of a very few 10 ns or less through fluorescence resonant energy transfer. Using spectrally resolved and time-resolved measurements of the system optical response we demonstrate the potential of lifetime multiplexing with such systems exemplarily for AgInS2/ZnS and CdSe/ZnS QDs.
Two nanosensors for simultaneous optical measurements of the bioanalytically and biologically relevant analytes temperature (“T”), oxygen (“O”), and pH (“P”) have been designed. These “TOP” nanosensors are based on 100 nmsized silica-coated polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) doped with a near-infrared emissive oxygen- and temperature-sensitive chromium(III) complex ([Cr(ddpd)2][BPh4]3, CrBPh4) and an inert reference dye (Nile Red, NR or 5,10,15,20tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) porphyrin, TFPP) and are covalently labeled with pHsensitive fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). These emitters can be excited at the same wavelength and reveal spectrally distinguishable emission bands, allowing for ratiometric intensity-based and time-resolved studies in the visible and near-infrared wavelength region. Studies in PBS buffer solutions and in a model body liquid demonstrate the applicability of these nanosensors for the sensitive luminescence readout of TOP simultaneously at the same spatialposition.
We present a series of results that demonstrate that the broadband photoluminescence (PL) of aqueous glutathione-capped Ag−In−S (AIS) nanocrystals (NCs) is an inherent property of each NC, rather than a collective characteristic of an NC ensemble. By analyzing parameters affecting the PL features such as the postsynthesis annealing and the deposition of a passivating ZnS shell, we found no correlation between the spectral width of the PL band of AIS (AIS/ZnS) NCs and the density of the lattice defects. Analysis of the PL spectra of a series of size-selected AIS/ZnS NCs revealed that the PL width of fractionated NCs does not depend on the NC size and size distribution. The PL measurements in a broad temperature window from 320 to 10 K demonstrated that the PL width does not decrease with decreasing temperature as expected for an emission arising from thermally activated detrapping processes. Also, we show that the model of the self-trapped exciton can be versatilely applied to reconstruct the PL spectra of different AIS NCs and can account for the effects typically attributed to variations in defect state energy. Measurements of the PL properties of single AIS/ZnS NCs highlighted the broadband nature of the emission of individual NCs. The presented results show that the broadband PL of ternary NCs most probably does not originate from lattice defects but involves the NC lattice as a whole, and, therefore, by tailoring the NC structure, PL efficiencies as high as those reported for binary cadmium or lead chalcogenide NCs can be potentially reached.
Wepresent here a systematic analysis of the influence of Tm3+ Doping concentrations (xTm) on the excitation power (P)-dependent upconversion luminescence and -performance of hexagonal-Phase NaYF4: 20% Yb3+, xTm%Tm3+ upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) for xTm of 0.2, 0.5, 0.8, 1.2, and 2.0, respectively. Our results reveal the influence of these differentTm3+ doping concentrations with respect to optimized upconversion quantum yield (ΦUC) values of the variousTm3+ upconversion emission bands, with the highestΦUC values of theTm3+ emission bands above 700 nmresulting for different xTm values as theTm3+ emission bands below 700 nm. This underlines the potential ofTm3+ dopant concentration for colour tuning. Special emphasis was dedicated to the spectroscopic parameters that can be linked to the (de)population pathways of the variousTm3+ energy levels, like the P- and xTm-dependent slope factors and the intensity ratios of selected emission bands. The evaluation of all parameters indicates that not only energy transfer upconversion-, but also crossrelaxation processes between neighbouringTm3+ ions play a vital role in the (de)population of the excited energy levels of Yb3+, Tm3+ codoped nanocrystals.
Different types of optical spectroscopies are introduced with special emphasis on method-inherent limitations and reliable instrument calibration and performance validation. In addition, procedures for the determination of spectroscopic key parameters like the photoluminescence quantum yield are presented including required instrument calibrations and material-specific effects related to certain emitters.
Two nanosensors for simultaneous optical measurements of temperature (“T”), oxygen (“O”), and pH (“P”) have been designed. These “TOP” nanosensors are based on 100 nm-sized silica-coated polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) doped with the near infrared emissive oxygen- and temperature-sensitive chromium(III) complex ([Cr(ddpd)2][BPh4]3 CrBPh4)[1][2] and an inert reference fluorescence dye (Nile Red NR or 5,10,15,20tetrakis-(pentafluorophenyl) porphyrin TFPP) and are covalently labeled with the pHsensitive fluorophore fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). These emitters can be excited at the same wavelength and reveal distinguishable emission spectra suitable for ratiometric intensity-based and time-resolved studies in the visible and near infrared spectral region. The core-shell nanostructure of these sensors reveals high colloidal stability in various aqueous media. Studies in PBS buffer solutions and in a model body liquid demonstrate the applicability of the TOP nanosensors for optically detecting the three bioanalytically and biologically relevant analytes temperature, oxygen and pH simultaneously at the same position.