@article{CywinskiPietraszkiewiczMaciejczyketal.2016,
  author    = {Cywinski, Piotr J. and Pietraszkiewicz, Marek and Maciejczyk, Michal and Gorski, Krzysztof and Hammann, Tommy and Liermann, Konstanze and Paulke, Bernd-Reiner and L{\"o}hmannsr{\"o}ben, Hans-Gerd},
  title     = {Total protein concentration quantification using nanobeads with a new highly luminescent terbium(III) complex},
  series = {RSC Advances},
  volume    = {6},
  journal   = {RSC Advances},
  publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry},
  address   = {Cambridge},
  issn      = {2046-2069},
  doi       = {10.1039/c6ra23207h},
  pages     = {115068 -- 115073},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Total protein concentration (TPC) is a key parameter in many biochemical experiments and its quantification is often necessary for isolation, separation, and analysis of proteins. A sensitive and rapid nanobead-based TPC quantification assay based on Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) has been developed. A new, highly luminescent Tb(III) complex has been synthesised and applied as donor in this FRET assay with an organic dye (Cy5) as acceptor. FRET-induced changes in luminescence have been investigated both at donor and acceptor emission wavelength using time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy with time-gated detection. In the assay, the Tb(III) complex and fine-tuned polyglycidyl methacrylate (PGMA) nanobeads ensure that an improvement in sensitivity and background reduction is achieved. Using 40 nm large PGMA nanobeads loaded with the Tb(III) complex, it is possible to determine TPC down to 50 ng mL(-1) in just 10 minutes. Through specific assay components the sensitivity has been improved when compared to existing nanobead-based assays and to currently known commercial methods. Additionally, the assay is relatively insensitive to the presence of contaminants, such as non-ionic detergents commonly found in biological samples. Due to no need for any centrifugal steps, this mix-and-measure bioassay can easily be implemented into routine TPC quantification protocols in biochemical laboratories.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MeilingCywinskiBald2016,
  author    = {Meiling, Till T. and Cywinski, Piotr J. and Bald, Ilko},
  title     = {White carbon: Fluorescent carbon nanoparticles with tunable quantum yield in a reproducible green synthesis},
  series = {Scientific reports},
  volume    = {6},
  journal   = {Scientific reports},
  publisher = {Nature Publ. Group},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {2045-2322},
  doi       = {10.1038/srep28557},
  pages     = {9},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {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.},
  language  = {en}
}