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Eingeladener Vortrag
- nein (64)
Faecal contaminants in water are considered serious threats for human health, due to the presence of viruses, bacteria and other harmful microorganisms.1 Urobilin (UB) is a well-known faecal pigment and can be used as a marker for faecal matter in water.2 UB is commonly present in the urine of all mammals as the catabolic end product of bilirubin degradation.2 As the only simple chemical approach to its detection, Schlesinger’s test is usually used to enhance the weak fluorescence of UB in alcoholic media by complexation with Zinc.2, 3 The major limitation of this method is the only weak enhancement of the intrinsically weak UB fluorescence in aqueous media.3 This work presents an approach to introduce different Zn salts for improved fluorescence response, where we found a clear dependence of the fluorescence yield of UB-Zn(II) complexes on the counterion of the salt in water. By employing a combination of fluorescence parameters like transition energy, fluorescence intensity, and fluorescence lifetime, a photophysical understanding of the structure and conformation of the UB-Zn(II) complexes responsible for the fluorescence enhancement in water could be gained. The possibilities of developing a sensitive analytical method based on the acquired understanding are also discussed.
SWIR luminescent nanomaterials – key chemical parameters for bright probes for in vivo bioimaging
(2024)
A current challenge for studying physio-pathological phenomena and diseaserelated processes in living organisms with non-invasive optical bioimaging is the development of bright optical reporters that enable deep tissue penetration, a high detection sensitivity, and a high spatial and temporal resolution. The focus of this project are nanomaterials, which absorb and emit in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) between ~900–2500 nm where scattering, absorption, and autofluorescence of the tissue are strongly reduced compared to the visible and NIR.
Surface functionalized silica nanoparticles (SiO2-NP) gained great interest in the life and material sciences, as they can be used e.g. as drug carriers, fluorescent sensors, and multimodal labels in bioanalytical assays and imaging applications. They are highly stable, are easily produced and modified on a large scale at low cost and can be labeled or stained with a multitude of sensor dyes. These dye modified particle conjugates have several advantages as compared to conventional molecular probes like enhanced brightness, ease of designing ratiometric systems by combining analyte-sensitive and inert reference dyes, and increased photostability. Moreover, stained nanoparticles can enable the use of hydrophobic dyes in aqueous environments.
Here we present our work on multicolored sensors for the measurement of pH, oxygen and saccharides utilizing amorphous SiO2 NPs.
In the focus of division Biophotonics are the design, preparation, analytical and spectroscopic characterization, and application of molecular and nanoscale
functional materials, particularly materials with a photoluminescence in the visible, near infrared (NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR). This includes optical reporters for bioimaging and sensing, security and authentication barcodes, and materials for solid state lighting, energy conversion, and photovoltaics. For the identification of optimum particle structures quantitative spectroscopic studies are performed under application-relevant conditions, focusing on the key performance parameter photoluminescence quantum yield. In addition, simple, cost-efficient, and standardizable strategies for quantifying functional groups on the surface of nano- and microparticles are developed, here with a focus on optical assays and electrochemical titration methods, cross-validated by more advanced methods such as quantitative NMR. In addition, reference materials and reference products are developed for optical methods, particularly luminescence techniques, and for analytical methods utilized for the characterization of nanomaterials.
The development of a Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC) is presented, which can detect reactive phosphorous compounds in the gas phase in combination with an optochemical hand-held sensor. The LoC prototype contains three pairs of sensing materials containing fluorescent indicator dyes in various carrier materials. By measuring the fluorescence response to phosphoryl chloride, a surrogate compound, the detection of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) in gas phase becomes possible within seconds, introducing a novel approach to CWA detection.
PFAS Sensors
(2023)
This contribution provides an introduction to the development of sensors for PFAS analysis, presents the most common approaches, and describes the opto-microfluidic strategy in combination with polymerizable indicators and detection matrices currently being pursued by the Chemical and Optical Sensing Division at BAM.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of man-made organo-fluorine chemicals that have become environmental contaminants of emerging concern, originating from a variety of materials such as adhesive, stain- and oil-resistant coatings, firefighting foams, etc. The high strength of this C-F bond makes PFAS thermodynamically stable and resistant to (bio)degradation, thus retaining them in the environment over time. Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), one category of the most used PFAS, consist of a fully fluorinated carbon backbone and a charged carboxylic acid headgroup, and have been classified as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) and added to the REACH Candidate List due to their persistence in the environment, non-biodegradability and toxicological effects.[1-2] Traditional techniques for the analysis of PFCAs include GC-MS, HRMS and HPLC-based approaches, which are laborious, not portable, costly and require trained personnel. In contrast, fluorescence assays can be designed as easy-to-operate, portable and cost-effective methods with high sensitivity and fast response. Integration of fluorescent probes with an adequately miniaturized assay enables a promising alternative for PFCAs analysis.
Here, a novel guanidine fluorescent probe has been synthesized and fully characterized for the detection of PFCAs in a biphasic extract-&-detect assay. The fluorescent probe was then incorporated into polymeric matrices supported by a red dye-doped SiO2 nanoparticle to construct a dual-emission sensing platform. Such a system allows precise and selective detection of PFCAs, reducing the interference of competitors, matrix effects and other factors except for the PFCAs. The system was then employed in a droplet-based microfluidic setup which offers a portable and easy to operate detection platform.
Die Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) ist eine forschende Bundesoberbehörde und Einrichtung der Ressortforschung der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Unter ihrer Leitlinie „Sicherheit in Technik und Chemie“ ist sie zuständig für die öffentliche technische Sicherheit und für metrologische Aufgaben in der Chemie. Das Aufgabenspektrum der BAM, das sich an aktuellen Fragestellungen aus Wissenschaft, Wirtschaft, Politik und Normung orientiert, bietet sehr viele interessante Tätigkeitsfelder für Naturwissenschaftler*Innen und Ingenieur*Innen.
Photoluminescence Quantum Yields of Luminescent Nanocrystals and Particles in the UV/vis/NIR/SWIR
(2023)
The rational design of functional luminescent materials such as semiconductor quantum dots and lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles, all photophysical and mechanistic studies, and the comparison of different emitters require accurate and quantitative photoluminescence measurements. Particularly the reliable determination of the key performance parameter photoluminescence quantum yield (f), the number of emitted per absorbed photons, and the brightness are of special importance for luminescence applications in the life and material sciences and nano(bio)photonics.[1] In this context, examples for absolute measurements of the photoluminescence quantum yields of UV/vis/NIR/SWIR emissive semiconductor quantum dots and rods, made from different materials, and spectrally shifting lanthanide upconversion nanocrystals with different surface chemistries in transparent matrices are presented including excitation wavelength and power density dependent studies utilizing integration sphere spectroscopy.[2,3] In addition, procedures for the absolute determination of the photoluminescence quantum yields of scattering dispersions of larger size quantum rods and differently sized inorganic particles have been developed as well as procedures for the characterization of solid luminescent nanomaterials such as different perovskites and YAG:Cer converter materials.[4] Thereby, challenges and pitfalls of f measurements in different wavelength regions including the SWIR and material-specific effects related to certain emitter classes are addressed, achievable uncertainties are quantified, and relative and absolute measurements of photoluminescence quantum yield measurements are compared to underline limitations of the former approach. Finally, a set of novel UV/vis/NIR quantum yield standards is presented including their certification with a complete uncertainty budget.[5]
Current challenges and objectives for non-invasive optical bioimaging are deep tissue penetration, high detection sensitivity, high spatial and temporal resolution, and fast data acquisition. A promising spectral window to tackle these challenges is the short-wave infrared (SWIR) ranging from 900 nm to 1700 nm where scattering, absorption, and autofluorescence of biological components are strongly reduced compared to the visible/NIR. At present, the best performing SWIR contrast agents are based on nanomaterials containing toxic heavy-metal ions like cadmium or lead, which raises great concerns for biological applications. Promising heavy-metal free nanoscale candidates are gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) and Ag2S nanoparticles (NPs). The photoluminescence (PL) of both types of nanomaterials is very sensitive to their size, composition of their surface ligand shell, and element composition, which provides an elegant handle to fine-tune their absorption and emission features and boost thereby the size of the signals recorded in bioimaging studies.
Aiming for the development of SWIR contrast agents with optimum performance, we dived deeper into the photophysical processes occurring in these nanomaterials, thereby exploring in depth how the environment, surface ligand composition, and the incorporation of transition metals influence the optical properties of AuNCs and Ag2S NPs. We observed a strong enhancement of the SWIR emission of AuNCs upon exposure to different local environments (in solution, polymer, and in the solid state). Addition of metal ions such as Zn2+ to Ag2S based NPs led to a strong PL enhancement, yielding PL quantum yields of about 10% and thus making them highly suitable for non-invasive deep imaging of vascular networks and 3D fluid flow mapping.
In recent years, the demand for reliable, versatile, fluorescent pH and oxygen sensors has increased rapidly in many biomedical applications since these analytes are important indicators of cell function or certain diseases. Therefore, sensor particles are needed that are small enough to penetrate cells, non-toxic, and allow for close-up optical monitoring. When developing such sensor systems, one must consider the pH and oxygen range detectable by the sensor dye and the matrix material of the used carrier particles. Here, we present the development of pH- and oxygen-responsive polymeric beads functionalized with fluorescent dyad molecules that consist of an analyte-responsive fluorophore and an analyte-inert dye.
New Reference Materials for Quantification and Standardization of Fluorescence-based Measurements
(2022)
Luminescence techniques are amongst the most commonly used analytical methods in the life and material sciences due to their high sensitivity and non-destructive and multiparametric character. Photoluminescence signals are, however, affected by wavelength-, polarization-, and time-dependent instrument specific effects and the compound-specific photoluminescence quantum yield. The former hamper the comparability of fluorescence measurements, while the relative determination of the latter requires suitable quantum yield standards with well-known photoluminescence quantum yields. For the simple correction of instrument specific effects in the wavelength region of 300 nm to 950 nm, the set of the five certified spectral fluorescence standards (CRM) BAM-F001 – BAM-F005, has been extended to the NIR range by including two new fluorescence standards currently under certification.
Fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals, also known as quantum dots (QDs), enabled many advancements in biotechnology, photovoltaics, photocatalysis, quantum computing and display devices. The high versatility of this nanomaterial is based on their unique size-tunable photoluminescence properties, which can be adjusted from the visible to the near-infrared range. In contrast to other nanomaterials, QDs made the transition from a laboratory curiosity to the utilization in commercial products, like the QLED television screen or in smartphone displays. The best investigated QDs are composed of heavy metals like cadmium or lead, which is not the best choice in terms of toxicity and environmental pollution. A more promising material is Indium Phosphide (InP), which is also currently used by Samsung, Sony and co. in the QLED displays.
In this contribution, I would like to give you a sneak peek behind the curtains of nanomaterial synthesis and show how this material is produced, how to stabilize their structural properties, and assess their toxicity in environmentally relevant conditions. Furthermore, I would like to present a synthesis method to accomplish the last open challenge in display technology of a blue luminescent LED based on QDs by introducing a new element to the InP QDs.
Luminescence techniques are amongst the most commonly used analytical methods in the life and material sciences due to their high sensitivity and non-destructive and multiparametric character. Photoluminescence signals are, however, affected by wavelength-, polarization-, and time-dependent instrument specific effect and the compound-specific photoluminescence quantum yield. The former hamper the comparability of fluorescence measurements, while the relative determination of the latter requires suitable quantum yield standards with well-known photoluminescence quantum yields (QY). For the simple correction of instrument specific effects in the wavelength region of 300 nm to 950 nm, the set of the five certified spectral fluorescence standards BAM-F001 – BAM-F005, has been extended to the NIR range by including two new fluorescence standards currently under certification. For the reliable and accurate determination of QY which is the key performance parameter for the comparison of different luminophores, we certified a set of 12 quantum yield standards, which absorb and emit in the wavelength range from 300 nm to 1000 nm.
Current trends in materials and life sciences are flanked by the need to push detection limits to single molecules or single cells, enable the characterization of increasingly complex matrices or sophisticated nanostructures, speed up the time of analysis, reduce instrument complexity and costs, and improve the reliability of data. This requires suitable analytical tools such as spectroscopic, separation and imaging techniques, mass spectrometry, and hyphenated techniques as well as sensors and their adaptation to application-specific challenges in the environmental, food, consumer product, health sector, nanotechnology, and bioanalysis. Increasing concerns about health threatening known or emerging pollutants in drinking water, consumer products, and food and about the safety of nanomaterials led to a new awareness of the importance of analytical sciences. Another important driver in this direction is the increasing demand by legislation, particularly in view of the 17 sustainable development goals by the United Nations addressing clean energy, industry, and innovation, sustainable cities, clean water, and responsible consumption and production. In this respect, also the development of analytical methods that enable the characterization of material flows in production processes and support recycling concepts of precious raw materials becomes more and more relevant. In the future, this will provide the basis for greener production in the chemical industry utilizing recycled or sustainable starting materials.
This makes analytical chemistry an essential player in terms of the circular economy helping to increase the sustainability of production processes. In the life sciences sector, products based on proteins, such as therapeutic and diagnostic antibodies, increase in importance. These increasingly biotechnologically produced functional biomolecules pose a high level of complexity of matrix and structural features that can be met only by highly advanced methods for separation, characterization, and detection. In addition, metrological traceability and target definition are still significant challenges for the future, particularly in the life sciences.
However, innovative reference materials as required for the health and food sector and the characterization of advanced materials can only be developed when suitable analytical protocols are available. The so-called reproducibility crisis in sciences underlines the importance of improved measures of quality control for all kinds of measurements and material characterization. This calls for thorough method validation concepts, suitable reference materials, and regular interlaboratory comparisons of measurements as well as better training of scientists in analytical sciences.
The important contribution of analytical sciences to these developments is highlighted by a broad collection of research papers, trend articles, and critical reviews from these different application fields. Special emphasis is dedicated to often-overlooked quality assurance and reference materials.
pH presents one of the most important analytes in the life and material sciences, indicating, e.g., diseases and corrosion processes. This includes the optical monitoring of pH in living cells for studying cellular internalization pathways, such as phagocytosis, endocytosis, and receptor mediated internalization with the aid of molecular and nanoscale fluorescent sensors. Nanoparticle (NP)-based sensors, that are labelled or stained with a multitude of sensor dyes, have several advantages as compared to conventional molecular probes like enhanced brightness, i.e., amplified signals, ease of designing ratiometric systems by combining analyte-sensitive and inert reference dyes, and increased photostability. Moreover, this can enable the use of hydrophobic dyes in aqueous environments. Versatile templates and carriers for the fabrication of nanosensors by staining and/or labelling with different fluorophores and sensor molecules are surface-functionalized particles like silica (SiO2) and polystyrene (PS) particles. Here we present a platform of blue-red-green fluorescent pH nanosensors for the measurement of acidic, neutral, and basic pH utilizing both types of matrices and two spectrally distinguishable sensor dyes with an integrated reference dye and demonstrate its applicability for cellular studies.
Functionalized nanomaterials (NM) with their unique size-dependent properties are of increasing relevance for current and future developments in various fields such as medical and pharmaceutical industry, computing, electronics or food and consumer products. The performance and safety of NM are determined by the sum of their intrinsic physicochemical properties.1 Besides other key parameters, the particle surface chemistry, which is largely controlled by the chemical nature and density of functional groups and ligands, must be considered for a better performance, stability, and processibility of NM, as well as their interaction with the environment. Thus, particle standards with well-designed surfaces and methods for functional group quantification can foster the sustainable development of functional and safe(r) NM.2 Here we provide a brief overview of the ongoing research in division Biophotonics to design tailored amorphous silica reference particles with bioanalytically relevant functional groups and ligands, for the development of standardized and validated surface functional group quantification methods.
Reported here is the production of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) films, integrating a fluorescent moiety that serves as both an element for template interaction and signalling, for the thermal and optical detection of the beta-lactam antibiotic nafcillin. Fluorescein methacrylate (FluMa) was synthesized and introduced during the molecular imprinting process as the sole monomer and in a 1 : 1 mixture with methacrylic acid (MAA), allowing to draw first conclusions on the MIP formation potential of such a rather large and rigid monomer. At first, MIP microparticles containing FluMa were prepared by free radical polymerisation. Optical batch rebinding experiments revealed that FluMa can act as a functional monomer for selective detection of nafcillin; however, the addition of MAA as co-monomer significantly improved performance. Subsequently, thin MIP films containing FluMa were deposited onto functionalised glass slides and the influence of porogen, drying time, and monomer composition was studied. These MIP-functionalised glass electrodes were mounted into a customised 3D-printed flow cell, where changes in the liquid were either evaluated with a thermal device or using fluorescence bright field microscopy. Thermal analysis demonstrated that multiple MIP layers enhanced sensor specificity, with detection in the environmentally relevant range. The fluorescence bright field microscope investigations validated these results, showing an increase in the fluorescence intensity upon exposure of the MIP-functionalised glass slides to nafcillin solutions. These are promising results for developing a portable sensor device that can be deployed for antibiotics outside of a dedicated laboratory environment, especially if sensor design and fluorophore architecture are optimised.
The reversible analyte-induced switching between a colourless leuco form of a dye and its coloured all-π-conjugated form is one of the oldest concepts in probe- or indicator-based optical analysis,1 constituting so-called “one-color indicators”.2 In contrast to colour changes in the visible region, for which usually a bond-forming or a non-covalent interaction between a functional group on an indicator and an analyte is responsible, the extraordinarily large shifts of 150–250 nm seen for leuco-to-all-π-conjugated transformation are only possible when the reaction takes place directly at a site that is an intrinsic part of a dye’s π-system; the classic case are triphenylmethane dyes.3 Despite its obvious potential, this approach has not been a very popular area of scientific research for decades, perhaps because it is much more difficult to implement selectivity than by modifying terminal functional groups. However, in recent years, reaction-based fluorescence probes have attracted increasing attention by virtue of their superior sensitivity.4,5
Nowadays, rhodamines and fluoresceins are by far the most prominent groups of reaction-based indicators.5 They are usually switched between a colourless and non-fluorescent and a greenish-yellowish absorbing and yellowish-reddish emitting form. Typically, the coloured and fluorescent form is ionic, while the colourless form is neutral, reactions having mainly be designed to occur at the end groups of the xanthenoid π-system. BODIPY dyes, with their favourable spectroscopic and chemical properties as well as facile wavelength tunability features have only very recently been explored into this direction.6,7 Reaction at the core dipyrrin framework of these dyes led to strong colour and fluorescence modulations with potential applications in materials sciences6 and cell imaging.7 The present contribution will highlight the mechanisms at play and the sensing performance realized so far, and will compare core-reactive approaches to reaction-based signalling that involves π-extension of BODIPYs.8,9
The microbial contamination of fuels by fungi or bacteria presents risks such as corrosion and fuel system fouling, which can produce critical problems in refineries and distribution systems and has a significant economic impact at every phase of the process. Many factors have been cited as responsible for microbial growth, like the presence of water in the storage tanks. Indeed, only 1 % water in a storage system is enough for the growth of microorganisms like bacteria or yeasts, as well as for the development of fungal biomass at the oil/water interface.1
In this work, a rapid test for the accurate determination of genomic DNA from aqueous fuel extracts is presented. The detection is based on the employment of polystyrene-mesoporous silica core-shell particles, on which modified fluorescent molecular beacons are covalently grafted. Those beacons incorporate in the hairpin loop a target sequence highly conserved in all bacteria, corresponding to a fragment of the 16S ribosomal RNA subunit. The designed single-stranded molecular beacon contained fluorescein as an internal indicator and a quencher in its proximity when not hybridized. Upon hybridization in presence of the target sequence, the indicator and the quencher are spatially separated, resulting in fluorescence enhancement. To perform the assay the designed particles were disposed on different glass fiber strips to try to achieve a portable and sensitive rapid test. Assays showed that presence of genomic DNA extracts from bacteria down to 50–70 μg L-1 induces a fluorescence response. The optical read-out was adapted for on-site monitoring by adapting a 3D-printed case on a conventional smartphone, taking advantages of the CMOS detector sensitivity.2 Such embedded assembly allowed to detect genomic DNA in aqueous extracts down to the mg L-1 range and presents an interesting step toward on-site monitoring of fuel contamination.
Introduction. Comparing different emitter classes and rationally designing the next generation of molecular and nanoscale probes for bioimaging applications require accurate and quantitative methods for the measurement of the key parameter photoluminescence quantum yield f.1 f equals the number of emitted per number of absorbed photons. This is particularly relevant for increasingly used fluorescence imaging in the short wave-infrared region (SWIR) ≥ 900 nm providing deeper penetration depths, a better image resolution, and an improved signal-to-noise or tumor-to-background ratio.2, 3 However, spectroscopic measurements in the SWIR are more challenging and require specific calibrations and standards.
Lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) like hexagonal 𝛽-NaYF4 UCNPs doped with Yb3+ and Er3+, which efficiently convert 976 nm light to ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared photons, offer new strategies for luminescence-based sensing, barcoding, and Imaging. Their upconversion (UC) luminescence (UCL) features like UCL intensity, quantum yield, relative spectral distribution / UCL luminescence color, and luminescence decay kinetics are, however, strongly influenced by particle size, dopant ion concentration, particle architecture, surface chemistry including presence and thickness of surface passivation and shielding shells, microenvironment/presence of quenchers with high energy vibrations, and excitation power density (P).
We present here a comprehensive study of the influence of excitation power density on the UCL features of different types of UCNPs, focusing on Yb3+ and Er3+ co-doped NaYF4 core-only and core-shell nanostructures with different sizes and doping ion concentration, which underlines the importance of P-dependent optimum dopant concentrations for UCNP performance and the potential of P-tuning of UCL.
A brief perspective of BAM on nanocarriers is presented including examples with special emphasis on the characterization of such materials and underlying challenges. In this respect, also ongoing activities at BAM on different types of core/shell nanomaterials and related systems are briefly summarized.
The use of inorganic lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) in bioimaging and cellular studies requires biocompatible particles. One possible cause of UCNP toxicity is the release of potentially harmful fluoride and lanthanide ions as revealed by dilution studies in aqueous environments, particularly under high dilution conditions. To address this issue, suitable surface coatings preventing such effects in combination with fast screening methods suited for online monitoring and in situ analyses are desired.
Here we present systematic studies of differently sized β-NaYF4:Yb,Er UCNP stabilized with different surface coatings and hydrophilic ligands varying in binding strength to the particle surface in various aqueous environments at different temperatures and UCNP concentrations. The concentration of the fluoride and lanthanide ions released upon particle dissolution was quantified electrochemically with a fluoride ion-sensitive electrode and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and monitored fluorometrically, thereby exploiting the sensitivity of the upconversion luminescence to changes in size and surface chemistry. Moreover, changes in surface chemistry were determined with X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Based upon our results, we could derive optimum screening parameters for UCNP stability studies and determine conditions and coating procedures and ligands for enhancing UCNP stability in aqueous environments.
A brief introduction to fluorescence spectroscopy will be provided, ranging from typically measured fluorescence quantities over instrument-specific contributions to measured fluorescence signals to selected applications. In this context, an overview of the photoluminescence properties of molecular and nanoscale luminescence reporters will be given including a brief insight into their photophysics and fluorescence standards designed by division Biophotonics for the calibration and instrument performance validation of fluorescence measuring devices will be presented.
Research of division Biophotonics at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) covers several topics including photophysics of molecular and nanocrystalline emitters, the development of signal enhancement, multiplexing, and barcoding strategies, surface group quantification, the rational design of different types of stimuli-responsive optical probes, and concepts and reference materials for the validation of optical-spectroscopic measurements. In the following representative examples for each of these topics are given. Also, current developments like single particle spectroscopy and flow cytometry with lifetime detection and newly certified fluorescence quantum yield standards are presented.
The mechanism of this system is based on kinetic competition. This biosensor consists of a monolithic glass column with a vast excess of immobilized hapten, which traps the fluorescently labeled antibody as long as no explosive is present. If the explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is introduced some binding sites of the antibody will be blocked, which leads to an immediate breakthrough of the labeled protein. The fluorescence is detected by highly sensitive laser-induced fluorescence with a conventional CMOS camera. The system achieved limits of detection of approx.1 pM (1 ppt) of the fluorescent label and around 100 pM (20 ppt) of TNT. The total assay time is less than 8 minutes. A cross-reactivity test with 5000 pM solutions of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) showed no cross reactivity.
We report the synthesis and characterization of carbon nanodots (CDs) with high quantum yield (>50%) and tailored optical absorption as well as emission properties. A well-described protocol with polyethyleneimine (PEI) as amine precursor is used as a reference to a new CD system which is stabilized by aromatic 2,3-diaminopyridine (DAP) molecules instead. The DAP stabilizer is installed in order to red-shift the absorption peak of the n-π* electron transition allowing efficient radiative recombination and light emission. Size, shape, and chemical composition of the samples are determined by (HR)TEM, EDX and FTIR-spectroscopy. Optical parameters are investigated using UV-VIS, PL and QY measurements. Several parameters such as concentration, excitation wavelength and pH are studied. Zeta-potential analysis indicate that pH-induced (de-)protonation processes of functional moieties directly affect the n-π* energy bands. This results in unique pH-dependent absorption and emission characteristics which are discussed on the specific chemical composition of each CD system.
Our aim is to develop a new simple and inexpensive method for full field X-ray fluorescence imaging. We combine an energy-dispersive array detector with a coded aperture. To obtain the information from the recorded image, a reconstruction step is necessary. First tests were carried out at the BAMline at BESSY II. This method enables the simultaneous detection of multiple elements, which is important e.g. in the field of catalysis.
We developed a new method for full field X-ray fluorescence imaging at the BAMline @ BESSY II. We combined an energy dispersive array detector for X-rays with a coded aperture to get high resolution images.
In coded aperture imaging, an object is projected through a mask, producing many overlapping images on the detector. To get the information about the investigated object out of the projected image, a decoding step is necessary.
The first part of our project was to develop the decoding algorithms. We tested the reported reconstruction with an antimask and compared the results with the performance of self-written reconstruction programs based on an iterative and a genetic algorithm. First tests were performed with raytracing simulations.
The next step was the collection of experimental data at the BAMline @ BESSY II (HZB). A test objects could be successfully reconstructed with our newly developed algorithm.
Multiplexed encoding schemes of nano- and micrometer sized particles with fluorescent dyes or quantum dots (QDs) and their optical detection, are of increasing interest for applications in the life sciences, for example in flow cytometry. Almost all strategies utilizing fluorescence focus on spectrally distinguishable emission bands or colors and different intensity levels as fluorescence codes. The fluorescence parameter lifetime has been, however, barely exploited. In this work the goal is to perform multiplexing with encoding fluorophores with different fluorescence lifetimes (LTs). In comparison to the spectral multiplexing strategies this has the advantage, that the different fluorescence LT codes can be measured with the excitation and emission wavelength, thus reducing instrument costs. Moreover, LTs should not depend on emitter concentration. Unlike organic dyes, the LTs of which are typically < 10 ns, the fluorescence LTs of ternary semiconductor QDs that represent a “green” alternative to conventional Cd-containing QDs are in the range of several hundred ns, independent of oxygen concentration, and can be tuned to a certain extent by chemical composition and surface chemistry. This present a time region that can be barely covered by other emitters that have either much shorter or longer lifetimes. In this project, different encoding strategies will be assessed and the encoded particles will be then used for fluorescence assays for the analysis of several targets in parallel. Therefor the encoded particles will be functionalized with different target-specific bioligands and read out with a specifically designed flow cytometer enabling time-resolved fluorescence detection. With this instrument, the particles will be discriminated by their fluorescence LTs In one detection channel while the analytes will be quantified by fluorescence labels in a second channel in the intensity domain.
Multiplexed encoding schemes of nano- and micrometer sized polymer particles with fluorescent dyes or quantum dots (QDs) and their optical detection, are of increasing interest for applications in the life sciences, for example in flow cytometry. Almost all strategies utilizing fluorescence focus on spectrally distinguishable emission bands or colors and different intensity levels as fluorescence codes.
In this work the goal is to perform multiplexing with encoding fluorophores with different fluorescence lifetimes (LTs). In comparison to the spectral multiplexing strategies this has the advantage, that the different fluorescence LT codes can be measured with the same excitation and emission wavelength, thus reducing instrumental costs. Moreover, LTs should not depend on emitter concentration. Unlike organic dyes, the LTs of which are typically <10ns, the fluorescence LTs of ternary semiconductor QDs which represent a “green” alternative to conventional Cd-containing QDs are in the range of several hundred ns, independent of oxygen concentration, and can be tuned to a certain extent by chemical composition and surface chemistry. This presents a time region that can barely be covered by other emitters that have either much shorter or longer lifetimes. In this project, different encoding strategies will be assessed, and the encoded particles will then be used for fluorescence assays for the analysis of several targets in parallel. Therefore, the encoded particles will be functionalized with different target-specific bioligands and read out with a specifically designed flow cytometer enabling time-resolved fluorescence detection. With this instrument, the particles will be discriminated by their fluorescence LTs in one detection channel while the analytes will be quantified by fluorescence labels in a second channel in the intensity domain.
In summary, by combining the NIR-emissive [Cr(ddpd)2][BPh4]3 complex CrBPh4 with its extremely large energy gap between the longest wavelength absorption and emission maxima with a pH-responsive fluorescein derivative (FITC) and an inert reference dye like Nile Red (NR) and 5,10,15,20tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) porphyrin (TFPP), we developed nanosensors for simultaneously sensing temperature, O2 partial pressure, and pH. These novel TOP nanosensors (temperature, oxygen, pH) cover the biologically and physiologically relevant concentration ranges of these parameters/analytes with single wavelength excitation in PBS buffer and in a cell culture medium containing bovine serum albumin (BSA). The response of both nanosensors to all parameters is fully reversible and only minimally affected by the presence of BSA, the most common serum albumin. Moreover, comparative studies with nanosensors containing only a single type of stimuli-responsive molecule and with the respective molecular systems revealed that the different sensor components do not interfere with each other. Future research will include the testing of these nanosensors in cellular uptake studies and, after surface modification with targeted bioligands, eventually in in vivo experiments as previously done by some of us with other polystyrene nanoparticle reporters and nanosensors.46,47 Moreover, this concept of multianalyte sensing will be expanded to nanosensors derived from differently sized premanufactured biocompatible polymer particles and different stimuli-responsive dyes like fluorescent indicators for biologically and bioanalytically relevant metal ions.
Luminescence techniques are amongst the most commonly used analytical methods in the life and material sciences due to their high sensitivity and their nondestructive and multiparametric character. Photoluminescence signals are, however, affected by wavelength-, polarization- and time-dependent instrument specific effects. This hampers the comparability of fluorescence measurements and calls for simple tools for instrument characterization and the quantification of measured fluorescence intensities. Well characterized fluorescence standards for instrument calibration and performance validation (IPV) can be used also to reference fluorescence signals. Of special importance is the reliable and accurate determination of photoluminescence quantum yields (Ф f), that equals the number of emitted per absorbed photons and presents the key performance parameter for emitter efficiency and the comparison of different luminophores. The determination of Ф f is typically done with the aid of so-called quantum yield standards with well-known Ф f values. These standards can also be applied to evaluate integrating sphere setups, which are increasingly being used for absolute measurements of Ф f values. In this respect, division biophotonics of BAM has certificated a set of Ф f standards, which absorb and fluorescence in the wavelength range from 350 to 1100 nm. In the following, the route to Ф f standards with reliable and traceable Ф f values with a complete uncertainty budget will be presented.
Our aim is to develop a new simple and inexpensive method for full field X-ray fluorescence imaging . We combine an energy dispersive array detector with a coded aperture to obtain high resolution images . To obtain the information from the recorded image a reconstruction step is necessary . The reconstruction methods we have developed , were tested on simulated data and then applied to experimental data . The first tests were carried out at the BAM line @ BESSY II. This method enables the simultaneous detection of multiple elements , which is important e.g. in the field of catalysis.
This paper describes the development of a semi-automatic gas measurement device presenting potentially a broad range of applications, noteworthy in the agricultural sector. Non-reversible fluorescent molecular sensors were designed and syn-thesized. Upon, integration into a hydrogel matrix with an optimal ratio of co-solvents, the sensors reacting selectively to ammonia were illuminated by excitation light to produce a concentration-correlated fluorescence emission. An automated mechanical-elec-trical device initiates a given gas mixture and thus simulates con-centrations similar to a threshold value. The aim of this project is to develop a sensor or a low-cost method which can monitor low concentrations of harmful gases and aid in their elimination or regulation in livestock housing, barns or stables.
In all fluorescence-based techniques, the measured signals contain not only sample-related but also instrument-specific contributions, which limit the direct comparison of fluorescence data obtained e.g. on different devices or at different times and often hamper quantification. To rule out instrumentation as major source of variability of emission data, accepted fluorescence standards and procedures for the control of instrument specifications and long-term performance are required. For flow cytometry (FCM), a broad variety of fluorophore-stained polymer beads differing in emission wavelength and intensity is available for the testing of the alignment, sensitivity, and other parameters of FCM. These calibration tools are intended to facilitate the assessment of instrument performance to ensure reliable measurements and to improve the comparability of FCM experiments.
As a step towards an improved comparability of fluorescence data, with special emphasis on spectroscopic methods measuring nano- and micrometer-sized fluorescent objects, we are currently developing a set of fluorescent polystyrene (PS) beads loaded with luminophores from the certified BAM-Kit “Spectral fluorescent standards”, initially developed for the calibration of fluorescence spectrometers. Here, we present first results from studies of these fluorophore-loaded polymer beads. Moreover, new beads are made to supplement this kit by encapsulating near-infrared (NIR)-emissive luminophores in PS beads to cover the UV/VIS, and NIR wavelength range.
These beads are designed for calibration of flow cytometers and other fluorescence imaging systems to meet the increasing demand for reliable and comparable fluorescence data especially in strongly regulated areas like e.g. medical diagnostics.
Spectral encoding of cells or particles and the discrimination of multiple spectral codes are a critical process in flow cytometry (FCM). Typical issues in spectral encoding are, e.g., the spectral overlap of codes, or the increasing complexity of instruments . The exploitation of the photoluminescence lifetime (LT) as an encoding parameter could be used to circumvent both of these issues, as it adds another dimension to the parameter space, or, when used as a stand-alone parameter, requiring only one excitation light source and one detector. While LT encoding was considered already decades ago it is still not implemented as a routine technique in FCM yet, mainly due to the challenge of very few photons being available within the limited transition time of a cell or particle through the laser spot.
Recently, we demonstrated LT-FCM based on luminophores with ns LTs in a compact and low-cost flow cytometer. Measurements on polymer microbeads containing luminophores with distinctly different excited state LTs enabled the complete discrimination of three LT codes and five codes in total could be identified.
Now, we have extended our approach towards considerably longer LTs by custom-made polymer microbeads loaded with different ratios of InP/ZnS and AgInS2 quantum dots. The use of these materials significantly expands the usable time range for LT encoding to up to several hundred ns. Our studies demonstrate the possibility to further increase the number of viable LT codes for multiplexing in LT-FCM without the need for extensive hardware modifications.
The comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of molecular and nanoscale reporters require accurate and quantitative photo-luminescence measurements. This is of special importance for all photoluminescence applications in the life and material sciences and nanobiophotonics. In the following, procedures for the determination of the spectroscopic key parameter photoluminescence quantum yield, i.e., the number of emitted per absorbed photons, in the UV/vis/NIR/SWIR are presented including pitfalls and achievable uncertainties and material-specific effects related to certain emitter classes are addressed.
Luminescent nanocrystals like core/shell semiconductor quantum dots and lanthanide doped nanophosphors as well as gold nanoclusters with emission in the visible (vis) and particularly in the near infrared (NIR) and short wavelength infrared (SWIR) region have been increasingly used as reporters in the life sciences and for bioimaging studies in the last years. This has led to sophisticated core-shell particle architectures of different chemical composition utilizing semiconductor quantum dots and lanthanide-based nanocrystals and initiated the design of gold nanoclusters with different ligands. In addition, this led to an increasing number of quantitative spectroscopic studies focusing on the key performance parameter photoluminescence quantum yield to identify optimum particle structures. In the following, an overview of different classes of nanocrystalline emitters and their photophysics is provided and examples for the absolute characterization of the photoluminescence properties of these different vis/NIR/SWIR emitters are shown including excitation power density-dependent studies on the ensemble and single particle level. Also, the impact of such measurements on a profound mechanistic understanding of the underlying nonradiative deactivation pathways is highlighted as required for reporter design.
The reliable 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 developmental stage1. Miniaturised sensing devices like microfluidic chips combined with “smart” detection chemistry, simple data assessment, processing and presentation are very attractive for benchtop use in clinical environments.
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 (MIP) shell. These “plastic antibodies” are extremely robust, resist denaturing solvents and elevated temperatures, can be reproducibly produced at low cost, and potentially overcome many of the practical problems in current bioanalytical detection strategies. The MIP layer contains a fluorescent probe monomer, binds selectively to phosphorylated tyrosine (pY) with a significant imprinting factor higher than 3.5 and responds with a “lighting-up” of its fluorescence accompanied by the development of a strongly red-shifted emission band toward the analyte. In analogy to our previous work4, 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 miniaturised device could yield an automated pY measurement system in the future. The setup was built by coupling a modular microfluidic system5 for amino acid functionalisation (Fmoc protection) and, as shown in Figure 1, a multi-layer PDMS/Teflon/glass microfluidic chip6 for buffering, extraction (micropillars co-flow extraction) and selective adsorption on the MIP core-shell particles.
A miniaturised optical assembly for low-light fluorescence measurements was also developed. Based on small opto-electronic parts and optical fibres, the emission from the MIP particles upon addition of pY concentrations from 0.5-200 μM could be monitored in real-time.
The reliable 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 developmental stage. Miniaturised sensing devices like microfluidic chips combined with “smart” detection chemistry, simple data assessment, processing and presentation are very attractive for benchtop use in clinical environments.
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 (MIP) shell. These “plastic antibodies” are extremely robust, resist denaturing solvents and elevated temperatures, can be reproducibly produced at low cost, and potentially overcome many of the practical problems in current bioanalytical detection strategies. The MIP layer contains a fluorescent probe monomer, binds selectively to phosphorylated tyrosine (pTyr) with a significant imprinting factor higher than 3.5 and responds with a “lighting-up” of its fluorescence accompanied by the development of a strongly red-shifted emission band toward the analyte.
In analogy to our previous work [4], 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 miniaturised device could yield an automated pTyr measurement system in the future. The setup was built by coupling a modular microfluidic system [5] for amino acid functionalisation (Fmoc protection) and a multi-layer PDMS/Teflon/glass microfluidic chip [6] for buffering, extraction (micropillars co-flow extraction) and selective adsorption on the MIP core-shell particles.
A miniaturised optical assembly for low-light fluorescence measurements was also developed. Based on small opto-electronic parts and optical fibres, the emission from the MIP particles upon addition of pTyr concentrations from 0.5 – 200 μM could be monitored in real-time.
Chlorination of pool water and wastewater, in food and pharmaceutical production, as well as in pesticide and paper manufacturing is a routinely used technique. However, the amount of chlorine in water must be strictly adjusted, to ensure enough concentration to kill pathogenic bacteria and viruses, while preventing too high concentrations inducing negative effects on human health. As an indicator, a molecular fluorescent probe based on a BODIPY structure was designed. This indicator exhibits a sensitive and selective fluorescence response upon increasing concentrations of hypochlorite in aqueous solvent mixtures. Real-time analyses became possible after the integration of this fluorescent indicator into newly designed 2D & 3D microfluidic chips incorporating a passive sinusoidal mixer and a micro-hydrocyclone, respectively. A comparison of the two microfluidic systems, including their ability to prevent accumulation or circulation of microbubbles, has shown excellent fluidic behaviour for the micro-hydrocyclone device. This system was distinctly more robust against gas bubbles, showed a higher signal gain and allowed to halve the limit of detection to 0.02 mg L–1. The use of the 3D system to quantify the chlorine content of pool water samples for sensitive and quantitative chlorine monitoring has been demonstrated.
Bioanalytical, diagnostic, and security applications require the fast and sensitive determination of a steadily increasing number of analytes or events in parallel in a broad variety of detection formats.[1,2] Ideal candidates for spectral encoding and multiplexing schemes are luminescent nanocrystals like semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), particularly Cd-containing II/VI QDs with their narrow and symmetric emission bands. With the availability of relatively simple and inexpensive instrumentation for time-resolved fluorescence measurements, similar strategies utilizing the compound-specific parameter fluorescence lifetime or fluorescence decay kinetics become increasingly attractive.[3-5] The potential of different types of QDs like II/VI, III/V and Cd-free ternary QDs such as AgInS (AIS) QDs for lifetime-based encoding and multiplexing has been, however, barely utilized, although the lifetimes of these nanocrystals cover a time windows which is barely accessible with other fluorophores. Here we present a brief insight into the photophysics of AIS QDs and show the potential of dye- and QD-encoded beads for lifetime-based encoding and detection schemes in conjunction with flow cytometry and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy