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This paper reflects recent progress in the field of fluorescent polymer optical fiber sensors (F-POF) for partial discharge (PD) detection in high voltage (HV) cable accessories using optical-only PD detection by coincidence single photon counting. In experiments with artificial PD sources these sensors show the ability to detect optical emissions from picocoulomb-level PDs in a real-scale model of a translucent high voltage cable accessory. False positives (caused by detector noise) are efficiently suppressedwhile maintaining sufficient sensitivity,even when the sensor is located in an unfavorable position.
The synthesis of water-soluble dyes, which absorb and emit in the range between 650 and 950 nm and display high extinction coefficients (ε) as well as high fluorescence quantum yields (Φf), is still a demand for optical imaging. We now present a synthetic route for the preparation of a new group of glycerol-substituted cyanine dyes from dendronized indole precursors that have been functionalized as Nhydroxysuccinimide (NHS) esters. High Φf values of up to 0.15 and extinction coefficients of up to 189 000 L mol−1 cm−1 were obtained for the pure dyes. Furthermore, conjugates of the new dendronized dyes with the antibody cetuximab (ctx) that were directed against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) of tumor cells could be prepared with dye to protein ratios between 0.3 and 2.2 to assess their potential as imaging probes. For the first time, ctx conjugates could be achieved without showing a decrease in Φf and with an increasing labeling degree that exceeded the value of the pure dye even at a labeling degree above 2. The incorporation of hydrophilically and sterically demanding dendrimers into cyanines prevented dimer formation after covalent conjugation to the antibody. The binding functionality of the resulting ctx conjugates to the EGFR was successfully demonstrated by cell microscopy studies using EGFR expressing cell lines. In summary, the combination of hydrophilic glycerol dendrons with reactive dye labels has been established for the first time and is a promising Approach toward more powerful fluorescent labels with less dimerization.
Here, we summerize our efforts concerning new design concepts and examples for fluorescence standards that can provide traceability to radiometric units and present a first step towards a toolbox of fluorescence standards, currently consisting of:
i) A first set of liquid fluorescence standards enables the determination of a broad variety of fluorescence parameters was developed and certified by BAM and is distributed by Sigma-Aldrich.
ii) Ready-to-use, glass-based fluorescence standards for instrument performance validation (IPV) and determination instrument-to-instrument variations can also be used as wavelength standard for fluorescence instruments with low requirements on spectral resolution and allow monitoring of temporal changes of the wavelength-dependent spectral responsivity.
iii) Novel calibration tools and validation concepts for microarray-based platforms used in molecular diagnostics and food safety control.
iv) We currently develop reference materials, which can be used as reliable quantum yield standards for relative methods for the determination of QY and can be valuable in the evaluation of the performance and sources of uncertainty of absolute, standard-free methods using e.g. integrating spheres.
Photoluminescence techniques are amongst the most widely used tools in the material and life sciences, with new and exciting applications continuously emerging, due to their many advantages like comparative ease of use, unique sensitivity, non-invasive character, and potential for multiplexing, remote sensing, and miniaturization. Drawbacks are , however, signals, that contain unwanted wavelength- and polarization contributions from instrument-dependent effects, which are time-dependent due to the aging of instrument components, and difficulties to measure absolute fluorescence intensities. Thus, there is a considerable need for standards for intensity, spectral, and temporal fluorescence quantities to meet the increasing need for instrument performance validation and global trends to harmonize physicochemical measurements. In this respect, instrument calibration strategies together with different types of fluorescence standards are presented as well as design concepts for robust, easy-to-use, and format-adaptable fluorescence standards useable for the determination of different fluorescence parameters and a broad variety of fluorescence techniques.
The optical properties of semiconductor nanocrystals (SC NCs) are largely controlled by their size and surface chemistry, i.e., the chemical composition and thickness of inorganic passivation shells and the chemical nature and number of surface ligands as well as the strength of their bonds to surface atoms.
The latter is particularly important for CdTe NCs, which – together with alloyed CdₓHg₁₋ₓTe – are the only SC NCs that can be prepared in water in high quality without the need for an additional inorganic passivation shell. Aiming at a better understanding of the role of stabilizing ligands for the control of the application-relevant fluorescence features of SC NCs, we assessed the influence of two of the most commonly used monodentate thiol ligands, thioglycolic acid (TGA) and mercaptopropionic acid (MPA),
on the colloidal stability, photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY), and PL decay behavior of a set of CdTe NC colloids. As an indirect measure for the strength of the coordinative bond of the ligands to SC NC surface atoms, the influence of the pH (pD) and the concentration on the PL properties of these colloids was examined in water and D₂O and compared to the results from previous dilution studies with a set of thiol-capped Cd₁₋ₓHgₓTe SC NCs in D₂O. As a prerequisite for these studies, the number of surface ligands was determined photometrically at different steps of purification after SC NC synthesis with Ellman’s test.
Our results demonstrate ligand control of the pH-dependent PL of these SC NCs, with MPA-stabilized CdTe NCs being less prone to luminescence quenching than TGA-capped ones. For both types of CdTe colloids, ligand desorption is more pronounced in H₂O compared to D₂O, underlining also the role of hydrogen bonding and solvent molecules.
Test strips that in combination with a portable fluorescence reader or digital camera can rapidly and selectively detect chemical warfare agents (CWAs) such as Tabun (GA), Sarin (GB), and Soman (GD) and their simulants in the gas phase have been developed. The strips contain spots of a hybrid indicator material consisting of a fluorescent BODIPY indicator covalently anchored into the channels of mesoporous SBA silica microparticles. The fluorescence quenching response allows the sensitive detection of CWAs in the μg m−3 range in a few seconds.
The surface chemistry / functionalization of nanomaterials and microparticles largely controls the stability of these materials as well as their solubility and subsequent biofunctionalization and their interactions with biological systems. Moreover, in the case of some nanomaterials like semiconductor quantum dots or lanthanide-based upconversion nanocrystals, the ligand shell strongly affects their optical properties, e.g., via passivation of surface states and traps that favor luminescence quenching or the protection of surface atoms from quenching water molecules. This renders analytical methods for the quantification of surface groups like functionalities very important. Targets of broad interest are here amino, carboxyl, alkine and maleimide groups used for common bioconjugation reactions and typical ligands like thiols and polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules of varying length, used for the tuning of material hydrophilicity and biocompatibility, minimization of unspecific interactions, prevention of biofouling, and enhancement of blood circulation times as well as surface-bound biomolecules like streptavidin or other biomolecules relevant e.g., for diagnostic assays. Here, we focus on simple optical methods relying on standard laboratory instrumentation, validated by method comparison and/or mass balances and present examples for their use for the characterization of different types of nanomaterials and microparticles.
Luminescence-based detection methods, ranging from fluorescence spectroscopy for photophysical and mechanistic studies over sensing applications, chromatographic separation techniques and the microarray technology with fluorescence detection to fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, single molecule spectroscopy, and molecular imaging to integrating sphere spectroscopy, are among the most widely used methods in the life and material sciences. This is due to e.g., their unique sensitivity enabling the detection of single molecules, potential for multiplexing, ease of combination with spatial resolution, and suitability for remote sensing. Many of these advantages are closely linked to the choice of suitable molecular and nanoscale fluorescent reporters, typically required for signal generation. This includes organic dyes without and with sensor function, fluorophore-encoded polymeric and silica nanoparticles as well as nanocrystalline systems like semiconductor quantum dots and upconversion phosphors, emitting in the visible (vis), near-infrared (NIR), and IR (infrared). Current challenges present the environment sensitivity of most fluorophores, rendering fluorescence spectra, measured intensities/fluorescence quantum yields, and fluorescence decay kinetics matrix-dependent, and instrument-specific distortions of measured fluorescence signals that need to be considered for quantification and comparability of data, particularly fluorescence spectra.
Here, current applications of luminescence-based methods and different types of reporters will be presented. In this context, suitable spectroscopic tools for the characteri-zation of the optical properties of fluorescent reporters and fluorophore-encoded microparticles, analytical tools for the determination of the surface chemistry of different types of particles, and different multiplexing strategies will be discussed.
In this study, a new reliable, economic, and environmentally-friendly one-step synthesis is established to obtain carbon nanodots (CNDs) with well-defined and reproducible photoluminescence (PL) properties via the microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment of starch and Tris-acetate-EDTA (TAE) buffer as carbon sources. Three kinds of CNDs are prepared using different sets of above mentioned starting materials. The as-synthesized CNDs: C-CND (starch only), N-CND 1 (starch in TAE) and N-CND 2 (TAE only) exhibit highly homogenous PL and are ready to use without need for further purification.
The CNDs are stable over a long period of time (>1 year) either in solution or as freeze-dried powder. Depending on starting material, CNDs with PL quantum yield (PLQY) ranging from less than 1% up to 28% are obtained. The influence of the precursor concentration, reaction time and type of additives on the optical properties (UV-Vis absorption, PL emission spectrum and PLQY) is carefully investigated, providing insight into the chemical processes that occur during CND formation. Remarkably, upon freeze-drying the initially brown CND-solution turns into a non-fluorescent white/slightly Brown powder which recovers PL in aqueous solution and can potentially be applied as fluorescent marker in bio-imaging, as a reduction agent or as a photocatalyst.
Enzyme-activatable optical probes are important for future advances in cancer imaging, but may easily suffer from low signal-to-background ratios unless not optimized. To address this shortcoming, numerous mechanisms to modulate the fluorescence signal have been explored.
We report herein newly synthesized probes based on selfimmolative linkers containing chiral J-aggregate-forming dyes.
Signal modulation by formation of chiral J-aggregates is yet unexplored in optical enzyme probe design. The comprehensive characterization of the probes by absorption, CD, fluorescence, and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy revealed dye−dye interactions not observed for the free dyes in solution as well as dye−protein interactions with the enzyme. This suggested
that J-aggregate formation is challenging to achieve with current probe design and that interactions of the dyes with the Enzyme may interfere with achieving high signal-to-background ratios. The detailed understanding of the interactions provided herein provides valuable guidelines for the future design of similar probes.
The surface modification of nanometer- and micrometer-sized particles with polyethylene glycol (PEG) ligands of varying length is a very common strategy to tune their hydrophilicity and biocompatibility, minimize unspecific interactions, improve biofunctionalization efficiencies, and enhance blood circulation times. Nevertheless, simple methods for the quantification of PEG ligands are rare. This is similarly true for the spectroscopic characterization of lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs), novel near infrared (NIR)-excitable nonlinear fluorescence reporters for bioanalysis and theranostics, providing background-free multiple narrow emission bands in the visible and NIR, excellent photostability, and long luminescence lifetimes.
We present here a simple method for the determination of the number of PEG ligands on nanomaterials and screening methods for the fast identification of nonradiative deaction pathways in UCNPs.
Fluorescent particles like nm- and m-sized polymeric beads doped or labeled with different types of fluorophores and nanocrystalline systems like quantum dots and upconversion phosphors emitting in the visible (vis), near-infrared (NIR), and IR (infrared) region are of increasing importance as fluorescent reporters for bioanalysis and medical diagnostics. The assessment and comparison of material performance and the development of rational design strategies for improved systems requires suitable spectroscopic tools for the determination of signal-relevant optical properties and analytical tools for the determination of the number of surface groups, ligands, biomolecules and /or fluorophores per bead. In this respect, suitable spectroscopic tools for the characterization of the optical properties of such materials like photoluminescence quantum yields and brightness values and the determination of their surface chemistry are introduced. This includes integrating sphere setups for absolute measurements of fluorescence quantum yields of liquid and solid, transparent and scattering materials in the wavelength region of 350 nm to 1600 nm at varying excitation power densities for the study of multi-photon processes and simple optical assays, validated by comparison with established analytical techniques relying on different detection principles. Here, different examples for the optical and analytical characterization of different types of nanoscale reporters are presented.
There is an increasing interest in optical reporters like semiconductor quantum dots and upconversion nanocrystals with emission > 800 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, and safety barcodes. Prerequisites for the comparison of material performance, the mechanistic understanding of nonradiative decay channels, and the rational design of new nanomaterials with improved properties are reliable fluorescence measurements and validated methods for the assessment of their surface chemistry. The latter is of special relevance for nanocrystalline emitters, where surface states and the accessibility of emissive states by quenchers largely control accomplishable photoluminescence quantum yields and hence, signal sizes and detection sensitivities from the reporter side. Here, we present the design of integrating sphere setups for the excitation power density-dependent absolute measurement of emission spectra and photoluminescence quantum yields in the wavelength region of 350 to 1600 nm and results from spectroscopic studies of semiconductor quantum dots and upconversion nanocrystals of different size and surface chemistries in various environments. Subsequently, examples for simple approaches to surface group and ligand analysis are presented.
FLiMFlow – Recent achievements in flow cytometry with lifetime detection and lifetime-encoded beads
(2016)
Flow cytometry is a widespread technique in biological research and clinical applications. Two different directions are currently of importance in development of new methods in this field. Whereas analyses in research become increasingly complex and require a growing number of simultaneously detectable codes and fluorescent labels, also low-cost methods and portable devices are needed in routine application.
Lifetime encoding could present an alternative to common spectral multiplexing. On the one hand, it addresses the need for additional codes by combining spectral and lifetime multiplexing. On the other hand, using only lifetime encoding could help to reduce instrument costs by keeping the number of excitation sources and detectors low.
Here, we report on our recent progress in employing dye-stained lifetime-encoded polymer microparticles as a model system for lifetime encoding in flow cytometry. The discrimination of two lifetime codes was achieved with two bead sets. Moreover, the simultaneous detection of a spectrally different ligand fluorescence signal could be demonstrated.
Flow cytometry is a common tool in biological research and clinical analyses. In current developments, there are two different tendencies of interest. Firstly, we face the need for analysis methods that are capable of addressing more and more involved analysis tasks, i.e., an increasing number of fluorescent codes and markers is required. Secondly, low-cost diagnostic tests, e.g. in disease recognition, are needed in routine application.
Lifetime encoding could be an attractive alternative to commonly applied color (spectral) encoding. By combining spectral and lifetime multiplexing, the number of simultaneously detectable codes might be increased by adding lifetime codes to the parameter space. Otherwise, instrumentation costs could be lowered using only lifetime encoding and thus avoiding costly excitation light sources and detectors.
Here, we report on our recent progress in time-resolved flow cytometry using dye-stained lifetime-encoded polymer microparticles as a model system. We could show that the discrimination of two lifetime codes is feasible. Moreover, the simultaneous detection of a spectrally different ligand fluorescence signal excited at the same wavelength as the lifetime code fluorescence could be demonstrated.
Biosensors, as defined by Pure and Applied Chemistry, are ‘chemical sensors in which the recognition System utilizes a biochemical mechanism. The biological recognition system translates information from the biochemical domain, usually an analyte concentration, into a chemical or physical output signal with a defined sensitivity’.(1) It is also appointed that chemical or biological sensors contain two basic components connected in series: a chemical or biomolecular recognition System (receptor) and a physicochemical transducer. According to this prerequisite, this overlook is confined to sensor devices that combine a biomolecular recognition element with an optical signal transducer. Homogeneous or intracellular assays using fluorescent molecular probes or nanoparticles are not considered, although they are frequently termed as molecular sensors or nanosensors in the literature.
Fluorescence-based biosensors are generalized as those devices that derive an analytical signal from a photoluminescent (either fluorescence or phosphorescence) emission process. Chemi- or bioluminescent detection systems are only briefly discussed in this review.
Biosensors are used for a wide variety of tasks, including detection of compounds of biomedical, environmental or defense interest; on-line monitoring for process control; quality control of foodstuffs; selective detection of compounds undergoing a chemical separation; and screening of drug compounds. Advantages of such devices include high selectivity, rapid response times, reusability, amenability to remote analysis, and immunity to electrical interferences. The selective nature of complexation between biomolecule and analyte and the small size of sensor devices can be combined with advanced detection techiques such as total internal reflection (TIR) spectroscopy. This results in an ability to measure analytes in complex matrices with unsurpassed sensitivity. Such samples may include highly scattering components such as milk or whole blood,(11) or relatively inaccessible locations such as groundwater wells, or even intracellular environments. The key limitation of such devices mainly centers on the poor stability of biological compounds, which can lead to a substantial drift in instrumental response over time. The so-called Cambridge Definition appoints another characteristic property of sensors. Therein, they are defined as ‘miniaturized devices which can deliver real-time and on-line information on the presence of specific compounds or ions in even complex samples’. Accordingly, a sensor is expected to respond reversibly and continuously. With the exception of some enzymatic sensors, these conditions are not fulfilled in case of most biosensors. Particularly, in devices where immunological reagents or DNA are used as recognition elements, they show a lack of reversibility and operate only as a ‘one-shot’ screen, without the potential for continuous, quantitative analysis. Nevertheless, the designations immunosensors or DNA sensors became accepted for such analytical or diagnostic tools.
Integrating fluorescent probes with sensing matrices presents a major challenge because usually, when confined in a rather rigid matrix, fluorophores tend to behave completely different than for instance in the molecular state in solution. The lecture reviews the major strategies that have been devised recently to circumvent such issues with special focus on the works carried out in this field by BAM’s Chemical and Optical Sensing Division. Moreover, it will be shown that by using certain strategies not only can the response behavior be retained but synergistic effects can even endow the hybrid with a much better performance than the probe molecule alone.
Macrocycle-containing fluorescent probes continue to be one of the most popular classes of indicator molecules for the sensitive optical detection of ionic inorganic analytes, in particular metal ions, since the first integration of crown ether building blocks into chromophoric π systems more than 30 years ago. However, whereas a large multitude of such probes have been described for operation in organic or mixed aqueous environments, the step to realistic analytical media such as water samples, aqueous food extracts or body fluids is still scarce. On one hand, this is due to considerably low complex stability constants for instance for alkali and alkaline-earth metal ions. On the other hand, many classes of organic dyes that show favourable spectroscopic properties and ion-induced responses in organic solvents are not soluble in neat aqueous media and/or exhibit only significantly quenched fluorescence, even if transition metal ions are binding strongly to the receptor unit. A way to circumvent such problems in a rather simple manner is the steric incorporation of fluorescent probes into mesoporous silica nanomaterials. The local polarity in such pores, whether nascent or modified appropriately with functional silanes, resembles much more a quasi-organic environment while at the same time allowing for free diffusion of water and its cargo.
Two examples of powerful hybrid signalling systems will be presented, utilizing charge transfer-type indicator molecules that show inferior sensing properties in their molecular state. One example discusses mercury(II) determination over an extended concentration range and the other discusses silver(I) and mercury(II) discrimination simply on the basis of photophysical effects retained in the hybrid materials.
Since more than 20 years, optical spectroscopic techniques, in particular fluorescence-based methods, are on the rise in many different areas of chemical and biochemical analysis, with no end being in sight.1,2 Advances in miniaturization and remote applications on one hand and ground-breaking developments in microscopy and laser-based high-throughput instrumentation on the other hand have fuelled these developments substantially.3,4 At the core of utmost of these applications however is not only the instrument, but a small entity that is able to absorb and emit photons and thus to report on the actual (bio)chemistry that is going on in a particular sample of interest.5,6 Besides intense research on various types of luminescent particles (e.g., quantum dots and carbon dots) and proteins, dye chemistry has thus seen its revival and the number of publications dealing with the design, synthesis and application of new fluorescent dyes as probes, stains, labels or indicators is still continuing to grow.
Among the various classes of dyes available as bright fluorophores for a wavelength range that is compatible with many (bio)analytical applications and the respective instrumentation, in particular pyrrolic dyes that do not belong to the classical porphyrins or phthalocyanines have received strong attention recently. Starting perhaps with the revival of the traditional boron-dipyrromethene laser dye ca. 15 years ago,7 these so-called BODIPYs have developed into a colourful spectrum of different derivatives.8 However, the interest in expanding the range of pyrrole-containing π-systems beyond BODIPYs has also constantly increased and has brought about several other pyrrole-based ring systems such as diketopyrrolopyrroles9 or dipyrrolonaphthyridinediones which possess a favourable brightness and other interesting properties. The present contribution will give a critical overview of the field, pinpointing advantages and prospects as well as discussing potential aspects of improvement with an emphasis on the chemical sensing and the longer wavelength range.
Fluorophore labeled proteins and antibodies, referred to also as targeted optical probes, present a promising strategy for a variety of applications from fundamental cell-based biological studies to in vivo diagnostics and image guided surgeries in humans. In this respect, design strategies for the preparation of such conjugates from different dyes including analyte-responsive fluorophores are presented as well as their analytical and spectroscopic characterization employing Absorption spectroscopy and steady state and time-resolved fluorometry. Special emphasis is dedicated to the influence of dye hydrophilicity and labeling density on the optical properties and binding behavior of these dye-bioconjugates including their performance in in vitro and in vivo bioimaging studies.
Nowadays, superplasticizers (SPs) are widely used to increase fluidity and reduce water content in concrete; thus, allowing better workability for final applications. The present study will focus on the hydration effect using comb shape polycarboxylates (PCEs), which are known to allow a very low water/cement ratio (w/c of 0.20) or less.Optical methods have been successfully used for the analysis and monitoring of the interactions between a broad variety of nanoscale and molecular systems like nanoparticles of various chemical composition and different types of organic ligands or biomolecules.This encouraged us to assess the potential of these methods, and particularly fluorescence, for the investigation of the interactions that occur at the interface between hydrate surfaces of cement particles and PCE at a very early stage of concrete formation and to differentiate between the impact of PCE’s molecular structures on such interactions.
Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are potent and established recognition phases in separation and enrichment applications. Because of their robustness, versatility and format adaptability, they also constitute very promising sensing phases, especially when the active sensing element is directly integrated into the MIP. Fluorescent MIPs incorporating fluorescent monomers are perhaps the best developed and most successful approach here. This article reviews the state of the art in this field, discussing the pros and cons of the use of fluorescent dye and probe derivatives as such monomers, the different molecular interaction forces for template complexation, signalling modes and a variety of related approaches that have been realized over the years, including Förster resonance energy transfer processes, covalent imprinting, postmodification attachment of fluorescent units and conjugated polymers as MIPs; other measurement schemes and sensing chemistries that use MIPs and fluorescence interrogation to solve analytical problems (fluorescent competitive assays, fluorescent analytes, etc.) are not covered here. Throughout the article, photophysical processes are discussed to facilitate understanding of the effects that can occur when one is planning for a fluorescence response to happen in a constrained polymer matrix. The article concludes with a concise assessment of the suitability of the different formats for sensor realization.
A droplet-based microfluidic sensor was developed for the detection of Hg2+ traces in water. The approach uses gated mesoporous nanoparticles loaded with a fluorescent BODIPY dye. The squaraine-based gating mechanism is highly selective for Hg2+ and the indicator release mechanism ensures sensitive detection. The microfluidic system is modular and was assembled from simple PTFE/PFA tubes, while detection was realized with standard optomechanic, optic, and electronic parts. The sensor shows a stable response without memory effects and allows the detection of Hg2+ in water down to 20 ppt.
Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers were used to produce CdSe core/multi-shell fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) which are colloidally stable in aqueous solutions. The size, charge, and optical properties of QDs functionalized with the 4th (G4) and 5th (G5) generation of PAMAM were compared with amphiphilic polymer-covered QDs and used as criteria for the evaluation of the suitability of both water solubilization methods. As revealed by dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering (DLS and ELS), the hydrodynamic sizes of the QDs varied from 30 to 65 nm depending on QD type and dendrimer generation, with all QDs displaying highly positive surface charges, i.e., zeta potentials of around +50 mV in water. PAMAM functionalization yielded stable core/multi-shell QDs with photoluminescence quantum yields (Φ) of up to 45%. These dendrimer-covered QDs showed a smaller decrease in their Φ upon phase transfer compared with QDs made water soluble via encapsulation with amphiphilic brush polymer bearing polyoxyethylene/ polyoxypropylene chains.
Quality control requirements imposed on assays used in clinical diagnostics and point-of-care-diagnostic testing (POCT), utilizing amplification reactions performed at elevated temperatures of 35 to 95 °C are very stringent. As the temperature of a reaction vessel has a large impact on the specificity and sensitivity of the amplification reaction, simple tools for local in situ temperature sensing and monitoring are required for reaction and assay control. We describe here a platform of stem-and-loop structured DNA hairpins (molecular beacons, MBs), absorbing and emitting in the visible and red spectral region, rationally designed for precise temperature measurements in microfluidic assays for POCT, and their ap-plication for temperature measurements in a common DNA-based molecular biological assay utilizing thermophilic helicase-dependent amplification (tHDA). Spectroscopic studies of these MBs, rationally designed from DNA se-quences of different thermal stabilities, chosen not to interact with the DNA probes applied in the nucleic acid amplification assay, and temperature-dependent fluorescence measurements of MB-assay mixtures revealed the suitability of these MBs for temperature measurements directly in such an assay with a temperature resolution of about 0.5 °C without interferences from assay components. Combining two spectrally distinguishable MBs provides a broader response range and an increase in temperature sensitivity up to 0.1 °C. This approach will find future application for temperature monitoring and quality control in commercialized diagnostics assays using dried reagents and microfluidic chips as well as assays read out with tube and microplate readers and PCR detection systems for temperature measurements in the range of 35 to 95 °C.
Supernatants from a fermentation process of Pichia pastoris were investigated by Raman spectroscopy. Using partial least squares regression, the principal substrates glycerol and methanol could be predicted, however not the expressed protein. To gain further insight, a priori prepared calibration samples were studied by vibrational-, UV/Vis-, and fluorescence spectroscopy. For the quantification of glycerol and methanol, Raman spectroscopy was identified as the most sensitive technique, and superior to near-infrared spectroscopy, but not for protein contents below 1 g L–1. Both UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy are well suited for the quantification of protein, however, best results were obtained with UV/Vis absorption.
An ideal sensor system is a combination of a selective receptor, an effective transducer, and a sensitive detector. To utilize molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as responsive recognition phases in sensors, the employment of fluorescent molecules or nanoparticles (NPs) that show prominent changes in their spectroscopic properties after binding of the target molecule in the MIP’s cavity is particularly attractive. Such fluorescent MIPs (fMIPs) act through target-induced quenching, enhancement, or spectral shifts of the fluorescence. This contribution introduces different strategies of incorporation of fluorescent dyes, probes, and NPs into fMIPs. In addition, various sensing mechanisms are reviewed, and depending on the application of the sensor, the different deployable formats, their advantages, drawbacks, and impact will be presented and discussed.
Lanthanide-doped up-converting nanoparticles (UCNPs) are promising reporters for medical diagnostics and bioimaging, which are excited in the near infrared (NIR) by multiphoton absorption processes, and show multiple narrow emission bands in the visible (vis) and NIR, long luminescence lifetimes in the μs range, and excellent photostability. Current limitations present their relative low absorption cross sections and low fluorescence efficiencies, with the latter being affected by particle size, surface chemistry, and microenvironment, particularly water.
Here, we present results from systematic studies of the excitation power density dependent upconversion luminescence spectra, intensities/intensity ratios of the individual emission bands, slope factors, and quantum yields of UCNPs of varying size, dopant concentration, and surface chemistry in different microenvironments as well as the up- and downconversion luminescence decay kinetics of the different emission bands. Moreover, first studies of the energy transfer from UCNPs to surface-bound organic dyes acting as fluorescence acceptors are shown. Based upon these measurements, fluorescence deactivation channels are identified and spectroscopic parameters for the screening of material performance are derived.
Due to the demand of monitoring the water quality regarding emerging pollutants, such as drug residues, selective, high-throughput and multi-target analytical methods must be established. On the one hand, the influence of sewage on natural surface waters must be routinely monitored. On the other hand, estimation of removal efficiencies of pollutants, such as drug residues, is in the focus of industrial and public wastewater treatment. Immunoassays, such as ELISA, offer the possibility to be highly sensitive and selective due to the high target affine and specific recognition of antibodies to target molecules. Batch-wise processing in microtiter plates allow the necessary high-throughput, but only a single analyte can be determined within one measurement.
To overcome these disadvantages, we developed a four-plex micro-bead based flow cytometric assay, which is adaptable for the microtiter plate format. The modular and self-prepared bead support consists of polystyrene-core-silica-shell particles. While the polystyrene core is used for encoding, by introducing different amounts of fluorescent dyes, the silica-shell creates a solid-support for the immunoassay: The target analytes, three drugs, carbamazepine, diclofenac and caffeine and the f ecal marker isolithocholic acid are covalently coupled to amino-groups on the surface via NHS-chemistry. A competitive immunoassay is subsequently conducted in a simple mix-and-read procedure. Finally, we could use SAFIA to assess the influent of treated and untreated waste water on the Douro river estuary in Portugal. The results of the analysis are comparable to ELISA. However, measurements could be carried out in 25% the time of analysis.
Quantum dot (QD) based nanomaterials are very promising materials for the fabrication of optoelectronic devices like solar cells, light emitting diodes (LEDs), and photodetectors as well as as reporters for chemo- and biosensing and bioimaging. Many of These applications involve the monitoring of changes in photoluminescence intensity and energy transfer processes which can strongly depend on excitation wavelength or energy. In this work, we analyzed the excitation energy dependence (EED) of the photoluminescence quantum yields (PL QYs) and decay kinetics and the circular dichroism (CD) spectra of CdSe/CdS core/shell QDs with different thicknesses of the surface passivation shell. Our results demonstrate a strong correlation between the spectral position of local maxima observed in the EED of PL QY and the zero-crossing points of the CD profiles. Theoretical analysis of the energy band structure of the QDs with effective mass approximation suggests that these structures could correspond to exciton energy levels. This underlines the potential of CD spectroscopy for the study of electronic energy structure of chiroptically active nanocrystals which reveal quantum confinement effects.
Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are of great interest for biomedical applications. Currently, the applicability of UCNP bionanotechnology is hampered by the generally low luminescence intensity of UCNPs and inefficient energy Transfer from UCNPs to surface-bound chromophores used e.g. for photodynamic therapy or analyte sensing. In this work, we address the low-Efficiency issue by developing versatile core-Shell nanostructures, where high-concentration sensitizers and activators are confined in the core and Shell Region of representative hexagonal NaYF2:Yb,Er UCNPs. After Doping concentration optimization, the sensitizer-rich core is able to harvest/accumulate more excitation energy and generate almost one order of Magnitude higher luminescence intesity than conventional homogeneously doped nanostructures. At the same time, the activator Ions located in the Shell enable a ~6 times more efficient resonant energy Transfer from UCNPs to surface-bound acceptor dye molecules due to the short distance between donor-acceptor pairs. Our work provides new insights into the rational design of UCNPs and will greatly encrease the General applicability of upconversion nanotechnologies.
Micelles are of increasing importance as versatile carriers for hydrophobic substances and nanoprobes for a wide range of pharmaceutical, diagnostic, medical, and therapeutic applications. A key Parameter indicating the Formation and stability of micelles is the critical micelle concentration (CMC). In this respect, we determined the CMC of common anionic, cationic, and non-ionic surfactants fluorometrically using different fluorescent probes and fluorescence Parameters for Signal detection and ompared the results with conductometric and surface Tension measurements. Based upon These results, requirements, Advantages, and pitfalls of each methods are discussed. Our study underlines the versatility of fluorometric methods that do not impose specific requirements on surfactants and are especially suited for the quantification of very low CMC values. Conductivity and surface Tension measurements yield smaller uncertainties particularly for high CMC values, yet are more time- and substance consuming and not suitable for every surfactant.
The implementation of fluorescent methods is of outstanding importance in the field of optical chemical sensor Technology and biosciences. Their bioanalytical applications are manifold including fluorescence microscopy, fluorescence in situ hybridization, DNA sequencing, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, immunoassays, analysis of DNA and Protein microarrays, and quantitative PCR, just to name a few examples. Particularly, fluorescence microscopy is a valuable method in the versatile field of biomedical imaging methods which nowadays utilizes different fluorescence Parameters like emission wavelength/Color and lifetime for the discrimination between different targets. Sectional Images are available with confocal microscopes. Tissue, cells or single cellular compartments can be stained and visualized with fluorescent dyes and biomolecules can be selectively labeled with fluorescent dyes to Monitor biomolecular interactions inside cells or at Membrane bound receptors.
On the other hand , fluorophores can act as indicator (or "molecular probe") to visualize intrinsically colorless and non-fluorescent ionic and neutral analytes such as pH, Oxygen (pO2), metal ions, anions, hydrogen peroxide or bioactive small organic molecules such as Sugars or nucleotides. Thereby, their photoluminescent properties (fluorescence or phoporescence intensity, exitation and/or Emission wavelength, emission lifetime or anisotropy) respond to the presence of these species in their immediate Environment. In general, the use of luminescent probes has the advantage that they can be delivered directly into the sample, and detected in a contactless remote mode. By now, these probes are often encapsulated in different types of nanoparticles (NPs) made from (biodegradable) organic polymers, biopolymers or inorganic materials like silica or bound to their surface.
Semiconductor nanocrystals with a spherical (QDs) core and a spherical or a rod-shaped Shell, u.a., so-called Quantum dot-Quantum rods (QDQRs) are increasingly used as fluorescent Reporters or optically active components in the life and material science, e.g., in solid state lightening including Plasma Displays. (1,2) Morever, there is an increasing interest in materials with emission >800 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, and safety barcodes. Prerequisites for the mechanistic understanding of nonradiativ decay channels needed for the rational design of improved nanomaterials and the comparison of material Performance are reliable fluorescence measurements and validated methods for the assessment of their surface chemistry. (3,4) The latter is of particular importance for nanocrystalline Emitters, where surface states and the accessibility of emissive states by quenchers largely control photoluminescence properties. (5) Here, we present results from systematic spectroscopic studies including absolutely measured photolumunescence Quantum yields of different vissible and NIR emisisve QD and QDQRs Systems of varying particle architecture size and surface chemistries in Dispersion and embedded in salt crystals. (6,7)
A 2,3-diaminophenazine bis-urea fluorescent probe monomer (1) was developed. It responds to phenylphosphate and phosphorylated amino acids in a ratiometric fashion with enhanced fluorescence accompanied by the development of a redshifted emission band arising from an excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) process in the hydrogen-bonded probe/analyte complex. The two urea groups of 1 form a cleft-like binding pocket (Kb>10^10 L^2 mol^-2 for 1:2 complex). Imprinting of 1 in presence of ethyl ester- and fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-protected phosphorylated tyrosine (Fmoc-pTyr-OEt) as the template, methacrylamide as co-monomer, and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate as crosslinker gave few-nanometer-thick molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) shells on silica core microparticles with excellent selectivity for the template in a buffered biphasic assay. The supramolecular recognition Features were established by spectroscopic and NMR studies. Rational screening of comonomers and cross-linkers allowed to single out the best performing MIP components, giving significant imprinting factors (IF>3.5) while retaining ESPT emission and the ratiometric response in the thin polymer shell. Combination of the bead-based detection scheme with the phase-transfer assay dramatically improved the IF to 15.9, allowing sensitive determination of the analyte directly in aqueous media.
The fluorescence properties of three molecular rotors, related to 4-dimethylamino-4-nitrostilbene (4-DNS), are studied versus different diesel/kerosene blends. In nonviscous solvents, these compounds can populate a twisted intramolecular charge transfer state which deactivates nonradiatively, successfully suppressing fluorescence emission. Solution experiments with diesel/kerosene blends showed a good linear correlation between the fluorescence intensity of the probe molecules and the diesel fraction of the blend. The dyes have been immobilized on paper, retaining their fluorescence behavior, i.e., negligible emission in the presence of nonviscous organic solvents and increasing fluorescence when the environment is increasingly viscous. When the impregnated paper is devised as a test strip, the latter is compatible with a newly designed smartphone reader system, which allows in-the-field measurements. The method can safely detect the presence of kerosene in diesel at ≥7%, which competes favorably with current standard methods for the detection of diesel adulteration.
Ammonia and its reaction products can cause considerable damage of human health and ecosystems, increasing the necessity for reliable and reversible sensors to monitor traces of gaseous ammonia in ambient air directly on-site or in the field. Although various types of gas sensors are available, fluorescence sensors have gained importance due to advantages such as high sensitivity and facile miniaturization.
Here, we present the development of a sensor material for the detection of gaseous ammonia in the lower ppm to ppb range by incorporation of a fluorescent dye, which shows reversible fluorescence modulations as a function of analyte concentration, into a polymer matrix to ensure the accumulation of ammonia. A gas standard generator producing standard gas mixtures, which comply with the metrological traceability in the desired environmentally relevant measurement range, was used to calibrate the optical sensor system. To integrate the sensor material into a mobile device, a prototype of a hand-held instrument was developed, enabling straightforward data acquisition over a long period.
At the core of luminescence color and lifetime Tuning of rare earth doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs), is the understanding of the Impact of the particle architecture for commonly used sensitizer (S) and activator (A) Ions. In this respect, a series of core@Shell NaYF4 UCNPs doped with Yb3+ and Ho3+ ions are presented here, where the same dopant concentrations are distributed in different particle architectures following the scheme: YbHo core and YbHo@..., ...@YbHo, Yb@Ho, Ho@Yb, YbHo@Yb, and Yb@YbHo core-Shell NPs. As refealed by quantitative steady-state and time-resolved luminescence studies, the relative spatial Distribution of the A and S ions in the UCNPs and their protection from surface quenching has a critical Impact on ther luminescence characteristics. Although the increased amount of Yb3+ Ions boosts UCNP Performance by amplifying the Absorption, the Yb3+ ions can also efficiently dissipate the energy stored in the material through energy Migration to the surface, thereby reducing the Overall energy Transfer Efficiency to the activator ions. The results provide yet another proof that UC Phosphor chemistry combined with materials Engineering through intentional core@shell structures may help to fine-tune the luminescence Features of UCNPs for their specific future applications in biosensing, bioimaging, photovoltaics, and Display technologies.
Due to their unique physical properties, particularly their electronic and luminescent properties, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are expected to be suitable for a wide range of applications in bioimaging, electro-optical and photonic materials or energy harvesting among others.1 Tuning the surface chemistry provides an efficient approach to modulate the fluorescence and distinct electronic properties of GQDs.2 Nevertheless, the role of surface chemistry on the electronic structure of GQDs remains poorly understood. In this presentation, we will compare systematically the electronic and chemical structures of GQDs functionalized with carboxylic and aminated groups to those of non-functionalized GQDs, combining theoretical and experimental approaches, here various photon-based spectroscopies. First, the electronic structure of GQDs was characterized by soft X-ray absorption (XA) and X-ray emission (XE) spectroscopies, probing unoccupied and occupied electronic states, respectively, at the carbon K edge for the first time. The interpretation of the XA/XE spectra was done based on theoretical calculations. Then, the chemical structure of the GQDs was characterized in situ by ATR-FTIR in water, thereby accounting for the importance of the interface between GQDs and water believed to play a central role in the chemical reactivity and the optical properties. We previously demonstrated that monitoring the OH vibrations of water molecules during exposure to humid air was a powerful method to probe H-bonding environment around carbon nanomaterials.3 For GQDs, clear surface-dependent water adsorption profiles are observed and discussed. Finally, UV/Vis absorption and photoluminescence measurements were done to characterize the optical properties of these GQDs. Our results suggest that the surface chemistry of the GQDs affects significantly their electronic structure and optical properties. These findings will contribute to an improved understanding of the structure–activity relationship of GQDs and other carbon nanomaterials with surface modifications.
Pollution through emission of toxic gases is of utmost environmental concern, raising the interest in developing reliable gas sensors. Exemplarily, ammonia and its conversion products can provoke considerable damage on human health and ecosystems. Hence, there is a need for reliable and reversible sensor materials to monitor traces of gaseous ammonia in ambient air, which at best can be used on-site for field measurements. Although various types of sensors such as potentiometric, amperometric, and biological sensors are available for detecting trace amounts of gases, fluorescent sensors have gained importance due to several advantages such as high sensitivity, possible miniaturization, as well as potential multiplexing. Herein, we present the development of a sensor material for gaseous ammonia in the lower ppm or even ppb range using optical fluorescence as transduction mechanism due to its intrinsically high sensitivity and high spatial resolution.[1] Therefore, a fluorescent dye, which shows reversible fluorescence enhancement in the presence of the analyte was incorporated into a polymer matrix, the latter to ensure the accumulation of ammonia. To calibrate the designed optical sensor system a gas standard generator was used, producing standard gas mixtures, which comply with the metrological traceability for ammonia gas standards in the desired environmentally relevant measurement range.[2] Beside the development of a highly sensitive, selective, and reversible sensor, the integration of such systems into mobile sensor devices is addressed. Therefore, a prototype of a miniaturized hand-held instrument was developed enabling a straightforward and long-term read-out of the measurement signal.
Because ammonia and its reaction products can cause considerable damage to human health and ecosystems, there is a need for reliably operating and reversibly interacting sensor materials to monitor traces of gaseous ammonia in ambient air, which at best can be used on-site for in-the-field measurements. Herein, the development of a sensor material for gaseous ammonia in the lower ppm to ppb range using optical fluorescence as transduction mechanism is presented. A fluorescent dye, which shows reversible fluorescence enhancement in the presence of ammonia is incorporated into a polymer matrix, the latter to ensure the accumulation of ammonia. The sensor material is integrated into a prototype of a miniaturized sensor device, facilitating long-term operation. To calibrate the optical sensor system a gas standard generator, producing standard gas mixtures, is used, leading to a sensitivity down to lower ppm concentrations of ammonia.
We report on a novel and simple approach to surface ligand design of CdSe-based nanocrystals (NCs) with biocompatible, heterobifunctional polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules. This method provides high transfer yields of the NCs into aqueous media with preservation of the narrow and symmetric emission bands of the initial organic-capped NCs regardless of their interior crystal structure and surface chemistry. The PEG-functionalized NCs show small sizes, high photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 75%, as well as impressive optical and colloidal stability. This universal approach is applied to different fluorescent nanomaterials (CdSe/CdS, CdSe/CdSCdxZn1-xS, and CdSe/CdS/ZnS), extending the great potential of organic-capped NCs for biological applications.
In this review we present new concepts and recent progress in the application of semiconductur quantum dots (QD) as labels in two important areas of biology, bioimaging and biosensing. We analyze the biologically relevant properties of QDs focusing on the following topics: QD surface treatment and stability labeling of cellular structures and receptors with QDs, incorporation of QDs in living cells, cytotoxicity of QDs and influence of the biolocical environment on the biological and optical properties of QDs. Initially, we consider utilization of QDs as agants in high-resolution bioimaging techniques that can provide information at the molecular levels. The deverse range of modern live-cell QD-based imaging techniques with resolution far beyond the diffraction limit of light is examined. In each technique, we discuss the pros and cons of QD use and deliberate how QDs can be further engineered to facilitate their application in the respective imaging techniques and to produce significant improvements in resolution. Then we review QD-based point-of-care bioassays, bioprobes, and biosensors designed in different formats ranging from analytic biochemistry assays and ELISA, to novel point-of-care smartphone integrated QD-based biotests. Here, a wide range of QD-based fluorescence bioassays with optical transduction, electrochemiluminescence and photoelectrochemical assays are discussedc. Finally, this review provides an analysis of the prospects of application of QDs in selected important Areas of biology.
There is an increasing interest in optical reporters like semiconductor and lanthanide-based nanocrystals with emission > 800 nm and recently also > 1000 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, and safety barcodes. Mandatory for the comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of reporters for the short wavelength infrared (SWIR) region are reliable and quantitative photoluminescence measurements in this challenging wavelength region. This is of special relevance for nanocrystalline emitters like semiconductor quantum dots and rods as well as for upconversion and downconversion nanocrystals, where surface states and the accessibility of emissive states by quenchers largely control accomplishable quantum yields and hence, signal sizes and detection sensitivities from the reporter side. Such measurements are currently hampered by the lack of suitable methods and standards for instrument calibration and validation as well as by the lack of quantum yield standards with emission > 800 nm and especially > 1000 nm.
In this respect, we present the design of integrating sphere setups for absolute and excitation power densitydependent measurements of emission spectra and quantum yields in the wavelength region of 650 to 1650 nm
including calibration strategies and first candidates for potential fluorescence standards. Subsequently, the photoluminescence properties of different types of nanocrystals are presented and discussed including absolute photoluminescence measurements of upconversion and down conversion emission in different solvents.
There is an increasing interest in molecular and nanoscale with emission > 800 nm and recently also > 1000 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, bioimaging, and safety barcodes. Mandatory for the comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of reporters for the short wavelength infrared (SWIR) Region are reliable and quantitative photoluminescence measurements in this challenging wavelength region. This is of special relevance for nanocrystalline emitters like semiconductor quantum dots and rods as well as lanthanide-based upconversion and downconversion nanocrystals, where surface states and the accessibility of emissive states by quenchers largely control accomplishable photoluminescence quantum yields and hence, signal sizes and detection sensitivities from the reporter side. Such measurements are currently hampered by the lack of suitable methods and standards for instrument calibration and validation and quantum yield standards with emission > 800 nm and especially > 1000 nm.
In this respect, we present the design of integrating sphere setups for absolute and excitation power density-dependent measurements of emission spectra and photoluminescence quantum yields in the wavelength Region of 650 to 1650 nm including calibration strategies and first candidates for potential fluorescence standards.
Subsequently, the photoluminescence properties of different types of nanocrystals are presented including the upconversion and downconversion emission of differently sized and surface functionalized lanthanide-doped nanoparticles and photoluminescence quenching effects are quantified.
Fluorescence based sensing is a versatile approach for the trace analysis outside of the laboratory, requiring suitable sensor materials and their integration into sensing devices. The versatility of fluorophores as probes, especially in terms of the possibility to tailor their optical as well as their recognition properties by synthetic modifications in a wide range, renders them a superior active component for the preparation of optical sensor devices. Recent works at BAM in this field include, for example, the detection of nerve gas agents, illustrating impressively the aforementioned benefits of fluorophores in optical sensing applications.
In the interdisciplinary approach presented here, we target hazardous gases such as ammonia, benzene, and hydrogen sulfide, next to others, which pose a major threat to human health and environmental safety and for which the availability of a sensitive and reliable detection method is highly desirable.
The dyes presented follow a “turn-on” fluorescence schematic which allows for the selective and sensitive detection of the respective gaseous analyte. The immobilization of the probe in polymeric matrices is then the next step toward the fabrication of a prototype device for molecular sensing.
Comparison of fluorescence measurements performed on different fluorescence instruments, analyte quantification from fluorescence intensities as well as the determination of fluorescence quantum yields require instrument calibration and consideration of the wavelength-dependent instrument-specific quantities spectral photon flux reaching the sample and spectral responsivity. Here, we present guidelines and recommendations for the qualification of fluorescence instruments and introduce suitable chromophore-based reference materials. Moreover, the design concepts of the different BAM fluorescence standards are discussed.
Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) offer new strategies for luminescence-based sensing and imaging. One of the best studied materials are ..-NaYF4 UCNPs doped with 20 % Yb3+ and 2 % Er3+, which efficiently convert 976 nm light to photons emitted at 540 nm, 655 nm, and 845 nm, respectively, reveal long luminescence lifetimes (> 100 µs), are photostable and chemically inert. Their upconversion (UC) luminescence (UCL) properties are, however, strongly influenced by particle size, surface chemistry, and microenvironment. In addition, the multiphotonic absorption processes responsible for UCL render UCL excitation power density (..) dependent. This makes quantitative UCL measurements as well as the determination of UC quantum yields (.UC) very challenging.
The rational design of brighter UCNPs particle architectures and the interest in identifying optimum particle architectures for FRET-based sensing and imaging schemes, which often rely on core-only UCNPs to minimize donor-acceptor distances, encouraged us to assess the influence of particle size and P on UCL. Here, we present the photophysical properties of a series of hexagonal NaYF4 UCNPs with sizes from 10 to 43 nm with different surface ligands dispersed in organic solvents and water studied by steady state and time-resolved fluorometry as well as quantitatively by integrating sphere spectrometry with P varied over about three orders of magnitude. Our results underline the need for really quantitative luminescence studies for mechanistic insights and the potential of high P to compensate for UCL quenching due to high energy phonons and surface effects.
For the application of time-resolved detection in the framework of flow cytometry, suitable luminescence lifetime code carriers are required. Here we report on our achievements concerning strategies to increase the accessible range of lifetime values and to realize continuously tunable lifetimes.
To that end, we investigated polymer (PMMA) microbeads stained with mixtures of dyes exhibiting different fluorescence decay kinetics. At the expense of spectrally varying decay kinetics, it is possible to modify the lifetime by changing the dye concentration ratio.
Moreover, semiconductor quantum dots incorporated into polymer beads were studied as alternative luminophores outperforming organic dyes with respect to long luminescence lifetimes, flexible choice of excitation wavelength and narrow spectral emission width.
Our experiments demonstrate that lifetime adaption with dye mixing is basically feasible and semiconductor quantum dots represent promising candidates for long-lifetime codes.
Multiparametric analyses involving optical techniques like flow cytometry are at the core of studying complex systems in biological research and diagnostic applications. However, for fluorescence-based techniques, the number of reporters distinguishable in spectral multiplexing is limited by spectral overlap and requires a multitude of excitation light sources and detection Systems. Intensity encoding often used for bead assays suffers from problems regarding dye concentration control and excitation light intensity fluctuations. An alternative is luminescence lifetime encoding, particularly to minimize instrument costs.
Here, we report on dye-stained polymer microparticles for lifetime encoding in flow cytometry with different organic dyes. This ranges from studies of the impact of parameters like dye loading concentration and particle diameter on fluorescence decay behavior to the demonstration of lifetime code reading and simultaneous ligand fluorescence signal detection with single-wavelength excitation in a flow.
Flow cytometry is a widely used method in biological research and medical diagnostics. Depending on the respective application, two opposing directions of development are currently of interest. On the one hand, there is a need for analyses of growing complexity employing more and more fluorescent labels and codes. On the other hand, cost-effective methods and portable, miniaturized, and robust instruments are desired.
Commonly performed spectral multiplexing utilizing a color code suffers from several problems, such as the sensitivity of fluorescence intensity measurements to fluctuations in excitation light intensity and dye concentration and hence, photobleaching, dye leaking for certain encoding procedures, and spectral crosstalk, limiting the achievable number of detection channels. Moreover, it typically requires several costly excitation light sources. An innovative alternative can be lifetime multiplexing and the discrimination between different encoding fluorophores and carrier beads based on their fluorescence decay kinetics. In order to examine the potential of this approach, dye encoded beads (lifetime encoded surface chemistry) were prepared using several fluorophores from different dye classes and their suitability for lifetime discrimination in a flow was tested in conjunction with a custom designed flow cytometer equipped with a pulsed light source and a fast detector.
In a first step, the spectroscopic properties of micrometer-sized dye-stained PMMA beads were studied by means of steady state and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements. For the performance of studies on the practical use of these microbeads in flow cytometry applications, a custom-built demonstrator model for a flow system was employed.
Our results demonstrated that lifetime discrimination and simultaneous readout of a ligand fluorescence signal for analyte quantification with a set of dye-stained polymer microbeads at single wavelength excitation is feasible. These studies are expected to pave the road for new applications of fluorescence lifetime multiplexing within the framework of time-domain flow cytometry and bead-based assays.
Dye-stained lifetime-encoded polymer microbeads for application in time-resolved flow cytometry
(2017)
Flow cytometry is a standard analytical tool for biological research and in medical applications. There are different requirements triggering recent device and method development depending on the desired field of application. One trend is governed by the need for an increasing number of simultaneously detectable codes, i.e., fluorescent labels. The other one focuses on cost-effective methods and development of miniaturized, portable devices.
Fluorophore encoding is usually based on spectral encoding. However, this approach is hampered by, e.g., spectral crosstalk. Additionally, the sensitivity of fluorescence intensity measurements to fluctuations in excitation light intensity and dye concentration limits the achievable number of detection channels. Moreover, spectral multiplexing typically requires several costly excitation light sources. Lifetime multiplexing and the discrimination between different encoding fluorophores and carrier beads based on their fluorescence decay kinetics could present an innovative alternative. Encoded beads, i.e., beads with lifetime codes corresponding to the surface chemistry, have been employed to evaluate the feasibility of this approach with a custom designed flow cytometer equipped with a pulsed light source and a fast detector for time-resolved measurements in a flow.
In a first step, we used steady state and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements for the spectroscopic characterization of micrometer-sized dye-stained PMMA beads. Subsequently, the potential use of these microbeads for flow cytometry applications was analyzed with a prototype flow cytometer with lifetime detection.
With our proof-of-concept studies, we could demonstrate that lifetime discrimination and simultaneous readout of a ligand fluorescence signal for analyte quantification is feasible with a set of dye-stained polymer microbeads at single wavelength excitation. These studies are expected to pave the road for new applications of fluorescence lifetime multiplexing in time-domain flow cytometry and bead-based assays in general.
The quantum yield is a critically important parameter in the development of lanthanide-based upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) for use as novel contrast agents in biological imaging and optical reporters in assays. The present work focuses on the influence of the beam Profile in measuring the quantum yield (f) of nonscattering dispersions of nonlinear upconverting probes, by establishing a relation between f and excitation light power density from a rate equation analysis. A resulting 60% correction in the measured f due to the beam profile utilized for excitation underlines the significance of the beam profile in such measurements, and its impact when comparing results from different Setups and groups across the world.
Coumarin-rhodamine hybrids-novel probes for the optical measurements of viscosity and polarity
(2017)
A comprehensive systematic study of Absorption and fluorescence properties in solvents of varying viscosity and polarity of three novel and red-emitting coumarin-rhodamine hybrid derivatives with differences in the rigidity of their substituents is presented. This includes ethanol-polyethylene glycol, toluene-polyethylene glycol, and tolueneparaffin mixtures. Moreover, protonation-induced effects on the spectroscopic properties are studied. A viscosity-induced emission enhancement was observed for all coumarin-rhodamine hybrid derivatives. MCR2 bearing a julolidine donor showed the expected low sensitivity to viscosity whereas MCR3 with its freely rotatable diphenylamino Substituent revealed a particularly pronounced sensitivity to this parameter.
Moreover, MCR2 shows an enhancement in Emission in the open, i.e., protonated form in conjunction with a largely Stokes shift fluorescence in the deep red spectral region. This enables the application of these dyes as viscosity sensors and as far red emitting pH-sensitive probes.
The unparalleled excited-state potential-energy landscape of the chromium(III)-based dye [1]3+ ([Cr(ddpd)2]3+; ddpd=N,N’-dimethyl-N,N’-dipyridin-2-ylpyridin-2,6-diamine) enables a strong dual emission in the near infrared region. The temperature dependence of this dual emission allows the use of [1]3+ as an unprecedented molecular ratiometric thermometer in the 210–373 K temperature range in organic and in aqueous media. Incorporation of [1]3+ in biocompatible nanocarriers, such as 100 nm-sized polystyrene nanoparticles and solutol micelles, provides nanodimensional thermometers operating under physiological conditions.
In this work, a family of pH-responsive fluorescent probes has been designed in a rational manner with the aid of quantum chemistry tools, covering the entire pH range from 0−14. Relying on the boron−dipyrromethene (BODIPY) core, all the probes as well as selected reference dyes display very similar spectroscopic properties with ON−OFF fluorescence switching responses, facilitating optical readout in simple devices used for detection and analysis. Embedding of the probes and reference dyes into hydrogel spots on a plastic strip yielded a test strip that reversibly indicates pH with a considerably small uncertainty of ~0.1 pH units. These strips are not only reusable but, combined with a 3D-printed case that can be attached to a smartphone, the USB port of which drives the integrated LED used for excitation, allows for autonomous operation in on-site or in-the-field applications; the developed Android application software (“app”) further simplifies operation for unskilled users.
Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are an established and powerful matrix for the selective enrichment and separation of chemical species, especially of small organic molecules. Because MIPs contain cavities in their matrix that are complementary in size, shape and electronic/electrostatic or hydrogen bonding demand to the imprinted target molecule or template, they are frequently termed “artificial antibodies”. Compared to natural antibodies, they are chemically and physically much more robust. MIP formation proceeds through the polymerization of a mixture of functional monomers and cross-linkers in the presence of the template with subsequent extraction of the latter. While this strategy has been successfully employed for separation MIPs since decades, the development of sensory MIPs has long been limited to the combination of a MIP as enrichment phase with a separate signalling element in a discontinuous fashion, being unsuitable for many sensing applications. Only very recently, the implementation of specifically designed fluorescent probes into MIPs has been successfully accomplished, fluorescence being one of the most versatile, sensitive and easily miniaturizable techniques. This presentation will introduce basic design considerations, challenges, limitations and the potential that lies with such sensor materials on the background of the work carried out in our group.
A set of highly fluorescent, pH-responsive boron dipyrromethene dyes covering the pH range of 5-12 is presented for broad range pH measurements in mixed aqueous-organic median and polymer matrices. Readout in the intensity Domain with low cost and miniaturized Instrumentation utilizes reversible protonation induced switching ON of their initially completely quenched flourescence mediated by photoinduced electron Transfer. All dyes, rationally designed to reveal closely matching Absorption and Emission properties, are accessible via facile two-step reactions in Overall yields of up to 20%. By modifying the Substitution pattern of the meso-Aryl substiuent, the pKa values could be fine-tuned from 6 to 11. Integration of these molecules into polymeric films by a simple mixing procedure yielded reversible and longterm stable pH sensors for naked eye detection.
Photoluminescence techniques are amongst the most widely used Tools in the life sciences, with new and exciting applications in medical diagnostics and molecular Imaging continuously emerging. Advantages include their comparative ease of use, unique sensitivity, non-invasive character, and potential for Multiplexing, remote sensing, and miniaturization. General drawbacks are, however, signals, that contain unwanted wavelength- and polarization contributions from Instrument-dependent effects, which are also time-dependent due to aging of Instrument-components, and difficulties to measure absolute flourescence entensities. Moreover, scattering Systems require Special measurement geometries and the interest in new optical Reporters with Emission > 1000 nm strategies for reliable measurements in the second diagnostic for the comparison of material Performance and the rational designg of new flourophores with improved properties.
Here, we present strategies to versatile method-adaptable liquid and solid flourescence Standards for different flourescence paramters including traceable Instrument calibration procedures and the design of integrating spere setups for the absolute measurements of emission spectra and Quantum yields in the wavelength Region of 350 to 1600 nm. Examples are multi-Emitter glasses, spectral flourescence Standards, and quantum yield Standards for the UV/vis/NIR.
Fluorescent sensory MIP (molecularly imprinted polymer) particles were combined with a droplet-based 3D microfluidic system for the sensitive and selective determination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in water samples. 2,4-D being an important and widely used herbicide to regulate plant growth, its extensive use leads to food or ground water contamination. Analytical assays based on MIP have emerged as a valuable tool in the field of environmental analysis thanks to low production costs, stability, format adaptability and their ability to recognize a wide variety of targets, such as the critical neutral organic molecules present in water: herbicides, pesticides, antibiotics, etc.
To accomplish this, a tailor-made fluorescent indicator cross-linker was designed that translates directly the binding event into an enhanced fluorescence signal. This phenoxazinone-type cross-linker was co-polymerized into a thin MIP layer grafted from the surface of silica microparticles. The latter was achieved by integration of the fluorescent core-shell MIP sensor particles into a modular microfluidic platform that allows for an in-line phase-transfer assay, extracting the analyte from aqueous sample droplets into organic phase droplets that contain the sensor particles.
This tool offering a novel simple and rapid way for the detection of herbicides, real-time fluorescence determination of 2,4-D down to 20 nM was realized with the system and applied for the analysis of worlwide surface water samples.
The identification and quantification of phosphorylated amino acids, peptides and proteins is one of the key challenges in contemporary bioanalytical research, noteworthy to diagnose and treat diseases at an early stage. Small sensing devices like microfluidic chips combined with “smart” detection chemistry and simple data assessment, processing and presentation are attractive in this regard. We developed novel synthetic probes, targeting phosphorylated amino acids, based on core-shell microparticles consisting of a silica core coated with a molecularly imprinted polymer shell (MIP). These “plastic antibodies” which are extremely robust, resist denaturing solvents and high temperatures, can be reproducibly produced at low cost, can potentially overcome many of the problems in the current detection strategies. The MIP layer, containing a fluorescent probe monomer, responds to phosphorylated amino acids such as phosphorylated tyrosine (pTyr) with a significant imprinting factor, i.e. selectivity, higher than 3.5, and a “lighting-up” of its fluorescence accompanied by the development of a strongly red-shifted emission band. The bead-based ratiometric detection scheme has also been successfully transferred to a microfluidic chip format to demonstrate its applicability to rapid assays. Such a device could yield an automated pTyr measurement system in the future. The setup was built by coupling a PDMS/Teflon/glass microfluidic chip with an optical setup for fluorescence measurements able to extract and monitor pTyr concentration from 0.5–200 μM.
The rational design of functional nanomaterials for optical applications in the material and life sciences requires optical-spectroscopic methods for the quantitative characterization of their signal-relevant optical properties. Additionally, methods for the simple and quantitative analysis of the surface chemistry are desired as the chemical nature and number of the surface groups and ligands can affect the optical features and controls the interaction of these nanomaterials with their environment. Here, we present quantitative photoluminescenvce studies of different types of vis/NIR-emissive nanomaterials like semiconductor quantum dots and upconversion nanocrystals will be presented and their relevance for the mechanistic understanding of nonradiative decay channels and the rational design of new nanomaterials will be underpinned. In this respect, also validation concepts for such measurements and absolute fluorometry will be introduced. In addition, the potential of optical spectroscopy for surface group and ligand analysis surface chemistry will be demonstrated exemplarily for semiconductor quantum dots
Lanthanide-doped photon-upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have been in the focus of many research activities in the material and life sciences over the last 15 years because of their potential to convert light between different spectral regions and their unique photophysical properties. In order to fully exploit the application potential of these fascinating nanomaterials, a number of challenges has to be overcome such as the low brightness particularly of small UCNPs and the reliable quantification of the excitation power density (P)-dependent upconversion luminescence (UCL). Here, the need and requirements on the characterization of the optical properties of UCNPs are discussed with special focus on the reliabiliy and comparability of relative and quantitative luminescence measurements and prerequisites for their standardization.
Lanthanide-doped photon-upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have been the Focus of many Research activities in materials and life sciences in the last 15 years because of their potential to convert light between different spectral regions and their unique photophysical properties. To fully exploit the application potential of These facinating nanomaterials, a number of challenges have to be overcome, such as the low brightness, particularly of small UCNPs, and the reliable quantification of the excitation-power-density-dependent upconversion luminescence. In this series of critical Reviews, recent developments in the design, Synthesis, optical-spectroscopic characterization, and application of UCNPs are presented with Special Focus on bioanalysis and the life sciences. Here we guide the reader from the Synthesis of UCNPs to different concepts to enhance their luminescence, including the required optical-spectroscopic assessment to quantify material Performance; surface modification strategies and bioanalytical applications as well as selected examples of the use of UCNPs as reporters in different Assay formats are addressed in part II. Future Trends and challenges in the field of upconversion are discussed with Special emphasis on UCNP Synthesis and material characterization, particularly quantitative luminescence studies.
In Part II of this Review series on lanthanide-doped photon-upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), we present and critically discuss the Performance and suitability of UCNPs as background-free luminescent Reporters in bioimaging and bioanalytical applications. The preparation of a biocompatible nanoparticle surface is an integral step for all life - science-related applications. UCNPs have found their way into a large number of diagnostic platforms, homogeneous and heterogeneous assay formats, and sensor applications. Many bioanalytical detection schemes involve Förster resonance energy transfert (FRET), which is still debated for UCNPs and Needs to be much improved. The Need for dedicated and standardized instruments as well as recent studies on the Dissolution and potential toxicity of UCNPs are addressed. Finally we outline future Trends and challenges in the field of upconversion.
We designed and synthesized triphenylamine based and coumarin fused rhodamine hybrid dyes and characterized using 1H, 13C NMR and HR-LCMS analysis. Both the newly synthesized hybrid dyes were found to show red shifted absorption as well as emissions and large Stokes shift (40e68 nm) as compared to the small Stokes shift (25e30 nm) of reported dyes Rhodamine B and 101. Photophysical properties of these dyes were studied in different solvents and according to the solvents acidity or basicity they preferred to remain in their spirocyclic or open form in different ratio. We studied the spirocyclic as well as open form derivatives of these dyes for their viscosity sensitivity in three different mixture of solvents i.e. polar-protic [EtOH-PEG 400], polar-aprotic [toluene-PEG 400] and non-polaraprotic [toluene-paraffin]. They are found to show very high viscosity sensitivity in polar-protic mixture of solvents [EtOH-PEG 400] and hence concluded that both polarity as well as viscosity factor worked together for the higher emission enhancement rather than only viscosity factor. As these dyes showed very high viscosity sensitivity in their spirocyclic as well as open form, they can be utilized as viscosity sensors in visible as well as deep red region. We also correlated our experimental finding theoretically by using Density Functional theory computations.
The overall interest in nanotoxicity, triggered by the increasing use of nanomaterials in the material and life sciences, and the synthesis of an ever increasing number of new functional nanoparticles calls for standardized test procedures1,2 and for efficient approaches to screen the potential genotoxicity of these materials. Aiming at the development of fast and easy to use, automated microscopic methods for the determination of the genotoxicity of different types of nanoparticles, we assess the potential of the fluorometric γH2AX assay for this purpose. This assay, which can be run on an automated microscopic detection system, relies on the detection of DNA double strand breaks as a sign for genotoxicity3. Here, we provide first results obtained with broadly used nanomaterials like CdSe/CdS and InP/ZnS quantum dots as well as iron oxide, gold, and polymer particles of different surface chemistry with previously tested colloidal stability and different cell lines like Hep-2 and 8E11 cells, which reveal a dependence of the genotoxicity on the chemical composition as well as the surface chemistry of these nanomaterials. These studies will be also used to establish nanomaterials as positive and negative genotoxicity controls or standards for assay performance validation for users of this fluorometric genotoxicity assay. In the future, after proper validation, this microscopic platform technology will be expanded to other typical toxicity assays.
Der kürzlich publizierte Chrom(III)-Komplex 13+([Cr(ddpd)2]3+) zeigt in wässriger Lösung unter Umgebungsbedingungen eine bemerkenswert starke Emission im nahen Infrarot-Bereich mit einer Emissionswellenlänge von 775 nm.
Geschicktes Ligandendesign verhindert strahlungslose Desaktivierungsprozesse wie Photosubstitution, Rück-Intersystem-Crossing und trigonale Verzerrungen und führt damit zu einer Phosphoreszenzlebensdauer im Bereich von Mikrosekunden.
In Abwesenheit von Energieakzeptoren wie molekularem Sauerstoff verbleibt nur Energietransfer zu hochenergetischen Oszillatoren der Liganden und Lösungsmittelmoleküle wie beispielsweise OH- und CH-Streckschwingungen als Desaktivierungspfad. Selektive Deuterierung der ddpd-Liganden und der Lösungsmittel l-sst die Effizienz dieser Oszillatoren bei der Desaktivierung angeregter Zustände erkennbar werden. Gezieltes Ausschalten dieser Relaxationspfade führt zu einer Quantenausbeute von 30% und einer Lebensdauer von 2.3 Millisekunden bei Raumtemperatur in Lösung – Rekordwerte für einen Komplex, der auf dem Element Chrom basiert. Diese fundamentalen Erkenntnisse ebnen den Weg für gezieltes Ligandendesign zur Synthese lumineszierender Komplexe mit gut verfügbaren Übergangsmetallen.
The recently reported luminescent chromium(III) complex 13+ ([Cr(ddpd)2]3+; ddpd=N,N’-dimethyl-N,N’-dipyridine-2-yl-pyridine-2,6-diamine) shows exceptionally strong near-IR emission at 775 nm in water under ambient conditions (F=11%) with a microsecond lifetime as the ligand design in 13+ effectively eliminates non-radiative decay pathways, such as photosubstitution, back-intersystem crossing, and trigonal twists. In the absence of energy acceptors, such as dioxygen, the remaining decay pathways are energy transfer to high energy solvent and ligand oscillators, namely OH and CH stretching vibrations. Selective deuteration of the solvents and the ddpd ligands probes the efficiency of these oscillators in the excited state deactivation. Addressing these energytransfer pathways in the first and second coordination sphere furnishes a record 30% quantum yield and a 2.3 millisecond lifetime for a metal complex with an earth-abundant metal ion in solution at room temperature.
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and its early detection and resultant treatment contributes significantly to patient recovery and survival. Detection is currently based on magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, methods that are expensive, while processing of the results is time consuming. There is a need for low-cost cancer-detection techniques that give conclusive results in the shortest time possible. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) targeting tumor markers on cancerous cells may provide a cheaper solution for cancer detection. Thin MIP layers immobilized on particle platforms are known to give faster response times and increased selectivity in comparison to bulk MIPs. It has been reported that a fluorescent monomer can be incorporated into the MIP layer, allowing for faster detection of the target group, thus significantly shortening the turn-around time for biopsies.
Changes in sialylation patterns of cell surface glycoproteins indicate malignancy. Here, we present the development of MIPs that target sialic acid-terminated glycoproteins (SA MIPs), prepared as a thin layer on a silica nanoparticle platform. A fluorescent monomer is incorporated into the MIP layer, and upon binding of the target group to the specific binding pockets in the MIP, the fluorescence signal is enhanced. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are used for structural characterization. To validate the specificity, fluorescence changes of MIPs in the presence and absence of template are compared to their corresponding non-imprinted polymer particles (NIP). Initial binding experiments with tumor cells using fluorescence microscopy demonstrate that the presented technique shows promise as a cheaper alternative to current detection methods, while allowing for relatively shorter analysis of biopsy results.
Fluorescent carbon nanodots (CNDs) are very promising nanomaterials for a broad range of applications because of their high photostability, presumed selective luminescence, and low cost at which they can be produced. In this respect, CNDs are superior to well-established semiconductor quantum dots and organic dyes. However, reported synthesis protocols for CNDs typically lead to low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and low reproducibility, resulting in a poor understanding of the CND chemistry and photophysics. Here, we report a one-step synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon nanodots (N-CNDs) from various carboxylic acids, Tris, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid resulting in high PLQY of up to 90%. The reaction conditions in terms of starting materials, temperature, and reaction time are carefully optimized and their influence on the photophysical properties is characterized. We find that citric acid-derived N-CNDs can result in a very high PLQY of 90%, but they do not Show selective luminescence. By contrast, acetic acid-derived N-CNDs show selective luminescence but a PLQY of 50%. The chemical
composition of the surface and core of these two selected N-CND types is characterized among others by high-Resolution synchrotron X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy using single isolated N-CND clusters. The results indicate that photoexcitation occurs in the N-CND core, whereas the emission properties are determined by the N-CND surface groups.
Phage display is used to find specific target binding peptides for polypropylene (PP) surfaces. PP is one of the most commonly used plastics in the world. Millions of tons are produced every year. PP binders are of particular interest because so far gluing or printing on PP is challenging due to its low surface energy. A phage display protocol for PP was developed followed by Next Generation DNA Sequencing of the whole phage library. Data analysis of millions of sequences yields promising peptide candidates which were synthesized as PEG conjugates. Fluorescence-based adsorption-elution-experiments show high adsorption on PP for several sequences.
An immunohistochemical method is described to visualize the distribution of metallothioneins 1/2 (MT 1/2) and metallothionein 3 (MT 3) in human ocular tissue. It is making use of (a) antibodies conjugated to gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) acting as labels, and (b) laser ablation (LA) coupled to inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).Water-soluble fluorescent AuNCs (with an average size of 2.7 nm) were synthesized and then conjugated to antibody by carbodiimide coupling. The surface of the modified AuNCs was then blocked with hydroxylamine to avoid nonspecific interactions with biological tissue. Immunoassays for MT 1/2 and MT 3 in ocular tissue sections (5 μm thick) from two post mortem human donors were performed. Imaging studies were then performed by fluorescence using confocal microscopy, and LA-ICP-MS was performed in the retina to measure the signal for gold. Signal amplification by the >500 gold atoms in each nanocluster allowed the antigens (MT 1/2 and MT 3) to be imaged by LA-ICP-MS using a laser spot size as small as 4 μm. The image patterns found in retina are in good agreement with those obtained by conventional fluorescence immunohistochemistry which was used as an established reference method.
A vast number of emerging pollutants has been detected in the environment over the last decades. Analytical methods suitable for trace analysis are needed that are desirably also fast, inexpensive and, if possible, robust and portable. Immunoanalytical methods which are available in a broad range of formats, can be profitably used here to analyze for the distribution and the trends of concentration levels of contaminants in the environment. Some of these formats are single-analyte but high-throughput methods. In order to use them wisely, indicator substances, sometimes called anthropogenic markers, should be selected and used in screening approaches. Other methods are suitable to be performed on portable instrumentation in the field (on-site) or in facilities such as wastewater treatment plants for on-line monitoring. Furthermore, there are the socalled array technologies that allow for parallel analysis of several analytes of interest (multiplexing). The microtiter-plate based ELISA (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay) is the method of choice for the analysis of a large number of samples [1]. ELISA screening data for anthropogenic markers such as the antiepileptic carbamazepine, the analgesic diclofenac, the anti-histaminic cetirizine, the steroid hormone estrone, the antimicrobial sulfamethoxazole, the stimulants caffeine and cocaine, the priority pollutant bisphenol A, and the bile acid isolithocholic acid [2] are presented. For on-site screening and monitoring, simpler formats, like mix-and-read assays, e.g. the Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay (FPIA) or Lateral-flow Immunoassays (LFIA) are more suitable tools. Electrochemical formats run on portable devices provide additional advantages as no light source is required. Some examples are presented and discussed. The suitability of multi-analyte formats such as immunomicroarrays depends on the choice of a signal-producing system that provides small uncertainties and good reproducibility of the measurements. Biochip (“flat”) arrays read out on slide scanners and bead-based (“suspension”) arrays read out in flow cytometers are two options and show their distinct pros and cons. Altogether these approaches show the great potential immunoanalytical methods provide for the screening for environmental contaminants in the aquatic environment.
An immunohistochemical method is described to visualize the distribution of metallothioneins 1/2 (MT 1/2) and metallothionein 3 (MT 3) in human ocular tissue. It is making use of (a) antibodies conjugated to gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) acting as labels, and (b) laser ablation (LA) coupled to inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Water-soluble fluorescent AuNCs (with an average size of 2.7 nm) were synthesized and then conjugated to antibody by carbodiimide coupling. The surface of the modified AuNCs was then blocked with hydroxylamine to avoid nonspecific interactions with biological tissue. Immunoassays for MT 1/2 and MT 3 in ocular tissue sections (5 μm thick) from two post mortem human donors were performed. Imaging studies were then performed by fluorescence using confocal microscopy, and LA-ICP-MS was performed in the retina to measure the signal for gold. Signal amplification by the >500 gold atoms in each nanocluster allowed the antigens (MT 1/2 and MT 3) to be imaged by LA-ICP-MS using a laser spot size as small as 4 μm. The image patterns found in retina are in good agreement with those obtained by conventional fluorescence immunohistochemistry which was used as an established reference method.
Application of pesticides is ubiquitous to better manage agricultural production. However, most of these compounds are harmful or toxic for humans and highly persistent in the environment, even in the crops themselves. Therefore, the rapid and reliable monitoring of pesticide residues is a very important area of environmental analysis. If conducted directly in the field, the use of fluorescence sensing methods is particularly attractive, because they allow for sensitive and rapid analyses while being very versatile. Recently, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have emerged as promising candidates for the primary sensing phase. Their robustness, low price and tunability render them an attractive alternative to more conventional biosensors based on antibodies.
At present, a number of MIP formats are available besides the initial bulk polymer monoliths. Core/shell micro- and nanoparticles are especially suitable for sensor applications. A thin shell provides many advantages compared to a bulk polymer, such as fast diffusion of analyte, homogeneity of binding cavities and a higher number of binding sites closer to the surface. A strategy for sensory MIP synthesis is to introduce the fluorophore covalently into the polymer layer. The fluorescent probe monomer may thus consist of a fluorophore unit, a polymerizable unit and a recognition unit.
One of the issues in targeting acidic pesticides such as 2,4-D is the fact that usually their deprotonated form is used for imprinting in organic solvents, commonly as the tetraalkylammonium salt. This approach harbours drawbacks when it comes to analytical rebinding, because real samples seldom contain such counterions. In our group, we have thus developed a new fluorescent probe monomer containing the 2-aminopyridine moiety, which forms strong enough intermolecular hydrogen bonds with the carboxylic acid group of neat 2,4-D. During a titration of the probe monomer with the analyte, hydrogen bond formation is indicated by spectral shifts and fluorescence enhancement. Crystallography studies verified complex formation. The higher fluorometric response of the core-shell MIP compared to a non-imprinted control polymer proved successful imprinting.
Here, we will discuss the pros and cons of neutral molecule vs. salt imprinting, potentially expanding the possibilities of fluorescent sensory MIPs.
Contamination of natural bodies of water with oil and lubricants (or generally, hydrocarbon derivatives such as petrol, fuel and others) is a commonly found phenomenon around the world due to the extensive production, transfer and use of fossil fuels. In this work, we develop a simple system for the on-field detection of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in water and soil. The test is based on fluorescence emission of a 4-dimethylamino-4′-nitrostilbene derivative (4-DNS-OH). This fluorescent molecular rotor is embedded in a hydrophobic polymeric matrix (PVDF), avoiding interactions with water and providing a robust support for use in test-strip fashion. For the fluorescence detection a portable sensor device was developed, featuring two excitation LEDs, a micro-spectrometer and Bluetooth control. A limit of detection of at least 6 ppm of TPH in water was demonstrated.
Contamination of natural bodies of water with oil and lubricants (or generally, hydrocarbon derivatives such as petrol, fuel and others) is a commonly found phenomenon around the world due to the extensive production, transfer and use of fossil fuels. The timely identification of these contaminants is of utmost importance, since they directly affect water quality and represent a risk for wildlife and human health even in trace amounts.
In this work, we develop a simple system for the on-field detection of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in water and soil, the "Spectrocube". The test is based on the measurement of the fluorescence signal emitted by the molecular rotor 4-DNS-OH dye. This dye is embedded in a hydrophobic polymeric matrix (PVDF), avoiding interactions of water with the dye and providing a robust support for use in test-strip fashion. The test-strip’s fluorescence intensity increases linearly at low concentrations of TPH, reaching a saturation value at higher concentrations.
For excitation and evaluation of the test-strip fluorescence, a simple miniature optical system was designed. The system works semi-quantitatively as solvent-free TPH detection kit, as well as quantitatively when using a simple cyclopentane extraction step. To simplify the fluorescence read-out, the device is coupled to a tablet computer via Bluetooth, running a self-programmed software ("app").
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.
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.
Highly emissive phenanthrene-fused boron–dipyrromethene (PBDP) dyes have been spectroscopically characterized in a series of solvents. The influence of different substituents (-H,
-I, -CN, -DMA or a 15C5-crown ether) in the para-position of a phenyl ring attached to the meso-position of the BODIPY core is discussed. This family of dyes has an intense emission at lambda > 630 nm, with fluorescence quantum yields between 0.7 and 1.0 in all solvents studied, except in the case of the dimethylamino-substituted
derivative, PBDP-DMA, which undergoes excited-state intramolecular charge transfer (CT), leading to broadband dual fluorescence in highly polar solvents. Introduction of a weaker electron donor such as a benzocrown to the meso-position is not able to trigger a second (charge or electron transfer) process and, interestingly, heavy atom (iodine, PBDP-I derivative) substitution at that moiety does also not have a relevant influence on the photophysics, i.e., enhanced intersystem crossing was not observed.
Electrochemical studies of PBDP-DMA complement the data reported and stress the fact that the decrease in fluorescence of PBDP-DMA in highly polar solvents is due to an excited-state CT process
rather than to a photoinduced electron transfer (PET).
Because of the globally increasing prevalence of diabetes, the need for accurate, efficient and at best miniaturized automated analytical systems for sugar detection in medical diagnostics and the food industry is still urgent. The development of molecular probes for sugars based on boronic acid receptors offers an excellent alternative to the kinetically slow enzyme-based sugar sensors. Moreover, by coupling such chelating units with dye scaffolds like BODIPYs (boron–dipyrromethenes), highly fluorescent sugar sensing schemes can be realized. In this work, a boronic acid-functionalized BODIPY probe was developed, which binds selectively to fructose’s adjacent diols to form cyclic boronate esters. Placement of an amino group in direct neighborhood of the boronic acid moiety allowed us to obtain a broad working range at neutral pH, which distinguishes the probe from the majority of systems working only at pH > 8, while still meeting the desired sensitivity in the micro-molar range due to a pronounced analyte-induced fluorescence increase. To enhance the applicability of the test in the sense described above, integration with a microfluidic chip was achieved. Here, fructose was selectively detected by fluorescence with similar sensitivity in real time on chip, and an assay for the straightforward detection of sugar in (colored) sodas without sample clean-up was established.
Chemical functionalization for quantitative spectroscopic labeling on macroscopically flat surfaces
(2018)
This chapter highlights the application of chemical derivatization (CD) to facilitate the quantification of surface functional groups being an important issue for a wide field of applications. The selective attachment of a chemical label to a surface functional group being afterwards exclusively detectable by a highly sensitive technique overcomes the problem of characterizing low amounts of functional groups on macroscopically flat surfaces. The most frequently employed methods include CD X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet/visible absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopy, as well as time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. Herein, the basic conditions for the different techniques regarding the specific surface functional group which need to be quantified are discussed. Additionally, the substrate highly influences the compatibility of the corresponding method. Because not just the quantification but also the preparation of the desired application is important, a summary of different preparation methods for glass, polymer and gold substrates is presented.
Cyanide is known to be a very hazardous and toxic substance. Through the binding to cytochrome oxidase it inhibits the oxygen utilization in cells. The LD50 of cyanide is as low as 1.0 mg/kg. Therefore it is inalienable to develop sensing methods to detect cyanide with a very high selectivity and sensitivity.
In our group we developed a non-fluorescent monomer which is able to detect cyanide-anions with very high selectivity and sensitivity based on a “turn-on” fluorescence method. As cyanide-source we used tetrabutylammoniumcyanide (TBAC). Using an excitation wavelength of 600 nm the increase in fluorescence at 642 nm is strictly selective with cyanide-anions. Different anions like fluoride, hydroxide or acetate show no increase at all. With this new detection system, concentrations as low as 1.6 nM can be detected.
We introduce herein boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes as a new class of fluorophores for the design of reporter dyes for supramolecular host–guest complex formation with cucurbit[7]uril (CB7). The BODIPYs contain a protonatable aniline nitrogen in the meso-position of the BODIPY chromophore, which was functionalized with known binding motifs for CB7. The unprotonated dyes show low fluorescence due to photoinduced electron transfer (PET), whereas the protonated dyes are highly fluorescent. Encapsulation of the binding motif inside CB7 positions the aniline nitrogen at the carbonyl rim of CB7, which affects the pKa value, and leads to a host-induced protonation and thus to a fluorescence increase. The possibility to tune binding affinities and pKa values
is demonstrated and it is shown that, in combination with the beneficial photophysical properties of BODIPYs, several new applications of host–dye reporter pairs can be implemented. This includes indicator displacement assays with favourable absorption and
emission wavelengths in the visible spectral region, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, and noncovalent surface functionalization
with fluorophores.
Supramolecular chemistry, fluorescence detection, hybrid (nano)materials and device miniaturization are in themselves highly interesting areas of research, yet especially their combination paves the way to (bio)chemical analysis systems that show outstanding performance. The lecture gives an overview of the toolbox of single components developed in BAM’s Chemical and Optical Sensing Division over the years, and how their combination can result in powerful sensors, quick tests and assays. While at the core of a development is the analytical problem, that is, the determination of a certain analyte in a sample of interest with the required sensitivity and selectivity by a specific end user in a given setting, signaling mechanisms, recognition elements, signal transduction modes, materials functionalization, device design and system integration are adequately chosen, tailored and adapted. Examples including molecularly imprinted polymers, hybrid mesoporous nanomaterials, gated indicator release systems, microfluidic devices, test strips and smartphone-based analysis will be presented.
Molecularly Imprinted Polymers with Integrated Fluorescence as Versatile Biomimetic Sensing Matrices
(2018)
Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are an established, versatile and high-performance matrix for the selective separation or enrichment of (bio)chemical species, especially small molecules of biochemical or environmental relevance. MIPs are prepared through the polymerization of a mixture of functional monomers and cross-linkers in the presence of the template with subsequent extraction of the latter. Conceptionally, this process can be seen as mimicking in a strongly accelerated, though single-step manner a biological process such as antibody formation. Because the resulting MIPs contain cavities in their matrix that are complementary in size, shape and electronic/ electrostatic or hydrogen bonding demand to the imprinted target molecule or template, these polymers are frequently termed “artificial antibodies”. Compared to natural antibodies, they are chemically and physically much more robust. Regarding sensitivity and selectivity, however, there is still a gap to bridge before MIPs can fully compete with antibodies.
Another favorable aspect that distinguishes MIPs from antibodies is that they can be endowed with an explicit function, allowing the use of MIPs in applications that require more than only an efficient binder. For instance, if specifically designed and polymerizable fluorescent indicators are integrated as functional monomers into a MIP, direct fluorescence sensing can be accomplished. Because MIPs can be prepared in a variety of different formats, their combination with miniaturized or other specific analytical techniques or sensory devices is possible, especially when the transduction mode is light. This presentation will introduce basic design considerations, challenges, limitations and the potential that lies with such sensor materials with some recent examples of our group, targeting various organic oxoanions as analytes.
Time-resolved flow cytometry represents an alternative to commonly applied spectral or intensity multiplexing in bioanalytics. At present, the vast majority of the reports on this topic focuses on phase-domain techniques and specific applications. In this report, we present a flow cytometry platform with time-resolved detection based on a compact setup and straightforward time-Domain measurements utilizing lifetime-encoded beads with lifetimes in the nanosecond range. We provide general assessment of time-domain flow cytometry and discuss the concept of this platform to address achievable resolution limits, data analysis, and requirements on suitable encoding dyes. Experimental data are complemented by numerical calculations on photon count numbers and impact of noise and measurement time on the obtained lifetime values.
Biophotonics and analytics - Photoluminescence properties of nanocrystals and surface group analysis
(2018)
Correlating the photoluminescence (PL) properties of nanomaterials like semiconductor nanocrystals (QDs) and upconversion nanocrystals (UCNPs) assessed in ensemble studies and at the single particle level and studying their surface chemistry is increasingly relevant for applications of these nanomaterials in the life and material sciences. Here we present a comparison of the spectroscopic properties of ensembles and single nanocrystalline emitters and simple methods for the quantification of functional groups and ligands on particle surfaces. The overall goal of this study was to derive particle architectures and surface chemistries well suited for spectroscopic and microscopic applications.
The sensitive detection of the mycotoxin citrinin (CIT) utilizing ist fluorescence requires approaches to enhance the emission. In this respect, we studied the complexation of CIT and ochratoxin A (OTA) with Al3+ in methanol using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. In this context, an isocratic high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using a polymer column and a fluorescence detector was also developed that enables the separation of the metal ion complexes from the free ligands and non-complexed Al3+. CIT and OTA showed distinct changes in their absorption and fluorescence properties upon Al3+-coordination, and the fluorescence of CIT was considerably enhanced. Analysis of the photometrically assessed titration of CIT and OTA with Al3+ using the Job plot method revealed 1:2 and 1:1 stoichiometries for the Al3+ complexes of CIT (Al:CIT) and OTA (Al:OTA), respectively. In the case of CIT, only one -diketone moiety participates in Al3+ coordination. These findings can be elegantly exploited for signal amplification and provide the base to reduce the limit of detection for CIT quantification by about an order of magnitude, as revealed by HPLC measurements using a fluorescence detector.
Invited for this month’s cover picture is the group of Dr. Knut Rurack at the Department of Analytical Chemistry; Reference Materials at the Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM) in Berlin (Germany). The cover picture shows how differences in color and fluorescence on a test strip can be easily read out with a mobile device. Two reference spots Frame the sensitive spot that indicates the presence of trace amounts of HgII below the threshold in a natural water sample. This dipstick contains a hybrid material that combines boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) probes sterically loaded into specifically tailored mesoporous silica particles, allowing for ultrasensitive HgII detection through enhanced fluorescence in a few seconds. The applicability in real water samples and fish extracts are also studied.
Fluorescent sensory MIP (molecularly imprinted polymer) particles were combined with a droplet-based 3D microfluidic system for the selective determination of a prototype small-molecule analyte of environmental concern, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid or 2,4-D, at nanomolar concentration directly in water samples. A tailor-made fluorescent indicator cross-linker was thus designed that translates the binding event directly into an enhanced fluorescence signal. The phenoxazinone-type cross-linker was co-polymerized into a thin MIP layer grafted from the surface of silica microparticles following a RAFT (reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer) polymerization protocol. While the indicator cross-linker outperformed its corresponding monomer twin, establishment of a phase-transfer protocol was essential to guarantee that the hydrogen bond-mediated signalling mechanism between the urea binding site on the indicator cross-linker and the carboxylate group of the analyte was still operative upon real sample analysis. The latter was achieved by integration of the fluorescent core-shell MIP sensor particles into a modular microfluidic platform that allows for an in-line phasetransfer assay, extracting the analyte from aqueous sample droplets into the organic phase that contains the sensor particles. Real-time fluorescence determination of 2,4-D down to 20 nM was realized with the system and applied for the analysis of various surface water samples collected from different parts of the world.
The synthesis, characterization, and application of mesoporous materials containing boron–dipyrromethene (BODIPY) moieties that allow the sensitive and selective detection of HgII in aqueous environments by fluorescence enhancement is reported. For this purpose, BODIPY dye I containing a thia‐aza crown ether receptor as the fluorescent probe for the detection of HgII in aqueous environments is encapsulated into mesoporous materials to avoid self‐quenching or aggregation in water. Determination of HgII is accomplished within a few seconds with high selectivity and sensitivity, reaching a limit of detection of 12 ppt. The determination of trace amounts of HgII in natural waters and in fish extracts is demonstrated by using our sensing material. The incorporation of the material into several μ‐PAD strips yields a portable, cheap, quick, and easy‐to‐handle tool for trace HgII analysis in water.
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.
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.
Biomedical applications, including functional biomaterials, carbohydrate-arrays, and glycan-based biosensors.
The chemistry of glycan immobilization plays an essential role in the bioavailability and function of surface bound carbohydrate moieties. For biomedical applications the stability over time (shelf life) of glycan arrays is a crucial factor. Herein we report on approaches for surface and interface characterization relevant to the needs of production of glycan microarrays which were tested using model carbohydrate surfaces. For detailed characterization of glycan model surfaces we used a combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS) and ToF SIMS which are complementary techniques of surface chemical analysis. Links to fluorescence spectroscopy often used for characterization in the microarray community were established as well. In detail, amine-reactive silicon oxide and glass surfaces were used for anchoring oligosaccharides with an amino linker. The amount of surface bound carbohydrates was estimated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Glycan immobilization was investigated using lectins, which are glycan-binding molecules. A shelf life study of model glycan microarrays on epoxy-coated glass surfaces was done over a period of 160 days under different storage conditions utilizing fluorescence, ToF-SIMS and XPS analysis. It was shown that glycan activity of the models used can be maintained at least for half a year of storage at 4 °C.
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.