@article{MeilingCywinskiLoehmannsroeben2018, author = {Meiling, Till Thomas and Cywinski, Piotr J. and L{\"o}hmannsr{\"o}ben, Hans-Gerd}, title = {Two-Photon excitation fluorescence spectroscopy of quantum dots}, series = {The journal of physical chemistry : C, Nanomaterials and interfaces}, volume = {122}, journal = {The journal of physical chemistry : C, Nanomaterials and interfaces}, number = {17}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1932-7447}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b12345}, pages = {9641 -- 9647}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The applications of quantum dots (QDs) in two-photon (2P) excitation applications demand reliable data about their 2P absorption (2PA) cross sections (sigma(2PA)). In the present study, sigma(2PA) values have been determined for a series of commercial colloidal CdSe/ZnS QDs and CdSeTe/ZnS QDs in aqueous media. For the first time for these QDs, the sigma(2PA) values have been determined over a wide spectral range, that is, between 720 and 900 nm, and are compared to the extinction coefficient (epsilon) values obtained under one-photon (1P) excitation. Furthermore, we present a QD in combination with an organic dye in a biotin-streptavidin Forster resonance energy transfer bioassay under 1P and 2P excitation. The results for the bioassay under 2P excitation are compared to those obtained under 1P excitation. The results demonstrate that in the case of the 2P excitation, higher sensitivity can be achieved because of an improved signal-to-noise ratio.}, language = {en} } @article{MorgnerBennemannCywińskietal.2017, author = {Morgner, Frank and Bennemann, Mark and Cywiński, Piotr J. and Kollosche, Matthias and G{\´o}rski, Krzysztof and Pietraszkiewicz, Marek and Geßner, Andr{\´e} and L{\"o}hmannsr{\"o}ben, Hans-Gerd}, title = {Elastic FRET sensors for contactless pressure measurement}, series = {RSC Advances : an international journal to further the chemical sciences}, volume = {7}, journal = {RSC Advances : an international journal to further the chemical sciences}, publisher = {RSC Publishing}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {2046-2069}, doi = {10.1039/c7ra06379b}, pages = {50578 -- 50583}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Contactless pressure monitoring based on Forster resonance energy transfer between donor/acceptor pairs immobilized within elastomers is demonstrated. The donor/acceptor energy transfer is employed by dispersing terbium(III) tris[(2-hydroxybenzoyl)-2-aminoethyl] amine complex (LLC, donor) and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QD655, acceptor) in styrene-ethylene/buthylene-styrene (SEBS) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). The continuous monitoring of QD luminescence showed a reversible intensity change as the pressure signal is alternated between two stable states indicating a pressure sensitivity of 6350 cps kPa(-1). Time-resolved measurements show the pressure impact on the FRET signal due to an increase of decay time (270 ms up to 420 ms) for the donor signal and parallel drop of decay time (170 mu s to 155 mu s) for the acceptor signal as the net pressure applied. The LLC/QD655 sensors enable a contactless readout as well as space resolved monitoring to enable miniaturization towards smaller integrated stretchable opto-electronics. Elastic FRET sensors can potentially lead to developing profitable analysis systems capable to outdo conventional wired electronic systems (inductive, capacitive, ultrasonic and photoelectric sensors) especially for point-of-care diagnostics, biological monitoring required for wearable electronics.}, language = {en} } @misc{MeilingCywińskiBald2016, author = {Meiling, Till Thomas and Cywiński, Piotr J. and Bald, Ilko}, title = {White carbon: Fluorescent carbon nanoparticles with tunable quantum yield in a reproducible green synthesis}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-97087}, 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} } @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} } @article{MeilingCywińskiBald2016, author = {Meiling, Till Thomas and Cywiński, 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 Publishing Group}, address = {London}, 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} } @article{OlejkoCywińskiBald2016, author = {Olejko, Lydia and Cywiński, Piotr J. and Bald, Ilko}, title = {An ion-controlled four-color fluorescent telomeric switch on DNA origami structures}, series = {Nanoscale}, volume = {8}, journal = {Nanoscale}, publisher = {RSC Publ.}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {2040-3372}, doi = {10.1039/C6NR00119J}, pages = {10339 -- 10347}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The folding of single-stranded telomeric DNA into guanine (G) quadruplexes is a conformational change that plays a major role in sensing and drug targeting. The telomeric DNA can be placed on DNA origami nanostructures to make the folding process extremely selective for K+ ions even in the presence of high Na+ concentrations. Here, we demonstrate that the K+-selective G-quadruplex formation is reversible when using a cryptand to remove K+ from the G-quadruplex. We present a full characterization of the reversible switching between single-stranded telomeric DNA and G-quadruplex structures using F{\"o}rster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the dyes fluorescein (FAM) and cyanine3 (Cy3). When attached to the DNA origami platform, the G-quadruplex switch can be incorporated into more complex photonic networks, which is demonstrated for a three-color and a four-color FRET cascade from FAM over Cy3 and Cy5 to IRDye700 with G-quadruplex-Cy3 acting as a switchable transmitter.}, language = {en} } @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} } @misc{TasiorBaldDeperasińskaetal.2015, author = {Tasior, Mariusz and Bald, Ilko and Deperasińska, Irena and Cywiński, Piotr J. and Gryko, Daniel T.}, title = {An internal charge transfer-dependent solvent effect in V-shaped azacyanines}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-102704}, pages = {11714 -- 11720}, year = {2015}, abstract = {New V-shaped non-centrosymmetric dyes, possessing a strongly electron-deficient azacyanine core, have been synthesized based on a straightforward two-step approach. The key step in this synthesis involves palladium-catalysed cross-coupling of dibromo-N,N′-methylene-2,2′-azapyridinocyanines with arylacetylenes. The resulting strongly polarized π-expanded heterocycles exhibit green to orange fluorescence and they strongly respond to changes in solvent polarity. We demonstrate that differently electron-donating peripheral groups have a significant influence on the internal charge transfer, hence on the solvent effect and fluorescence quantum yield. TD-DFT calculations confirm that, in contrast to the previously studied bis(styryl)azacyanines, the proximity of S1 and T2 states calculated for compounds bearing two 4-N,N-dimethylaminophenylethynyl moieties establishes good conditions for efficient intersystem crossing and is responsible for its low fluorescence quantum yield. Non-linear properties have also been determined for new azacyanines and the results show that depending on peripheral groups, the synthesized dyes exhibit small to large two-photon absorption cross sections reaching 4000 GM.}, language = {en} } @article{OlejkoCywinskiBald2015, author = {Olejko, Lydia and Cywinski, Piotr J. and Bald, Ilko}, title = {Ion-Selective formation of a guanine quadruplex on DNA origami structures}, series = {Angewandte Chemie : a journal of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker ; International edition}, volume = {54}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie : a journal of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker ; International edition}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1433-7851}, doi = {10.1002/anie.201409278}, pages = {673 -- 677}, year = {2015}, abstract = {DNA origami nanostructures are a versatile tool that can be used to arrange functionalities with high local control to study molecular processes at a single-molecule level. Here, we demonstrate that DNA origami substrates can be used to suppress the formation of specific guanine (G) quadruplex structures from telomeric DNA. The folding of telomeres into G-quadruplex structures in the presence of monovalent cations (e.g. Na+ and K+) is currently used for the detection of K+ ions, however, with insufficient selectivity towards Na+. By means of FRET between two suitable dyes attached to the 3- and 5-ends of telomeric DNA we demonstrate that the formation of G-quadruplexes on DNA origami templates in the presence of sodium ions is suppressed due to steric hindrance. Hence, telomeric DNA attached to DNA origami structures represents a highly sensitive and selective detection tool for potassium ions even in the presence of high concentrations of sodium ions.}, language = {en} } @article{TasiorBaldDeperasinskaetal.2015, author = {Tasior, Mariusz and Bald, Ilko and Deperasinska, Irena and Cywinski, Piotr J. and Gryko, Daniel T.}, title = {An internal charge transfer-dependent solvent effect in V-shaped azacyanines}, series = {Organic \& biomolecular chemistry : an international journal of synthetic, physical and biomolecular organic chemistry}, volume = {13}, journal = {Organic \& biomolecular chemistry : an international journal of synthetic, physical and biomolecular organic chemistry}, number = {48}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1477-0520}, doi = {10.1039/c5ob01633a}, pages = {11714 -- 11720}, year = {2015}, language = {en} }