Plasmonics nanorod biosensor for in situ intracellular detection of gene expression biomarkers in intact plant systems.

The intracellular developmental processes in plants, particularly concerning lignin polymer formation and biomass production are regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs). MiRNAs including miR397b are important for developing efficient and cost-effective biofuels. However, traditional methods of monitoring miRNA expression, like PCR, are time-consuming, require sample extraction, and lack spatial and temporal resolution, especially in real-world conditions. We present a novel approach using plasmonics nanosensing to monitor miRNA activity within living plant cells without sample extraction. Plasmonic biosensors using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection offer high sensitivity and precise molecular information. We used the Inverse Molecular Sentinel (iMS) biosensor on unique silver-coated gold nanorods (AuNR@Ag) with a high-aspect ratio to penetrate plant cell walls for detecting miR397b within intact living plant cells. MiR397b overexpression has shown promise in reducing lignin content. Thus, monitoring miR397b is essential for cost-effective biofuel generation. This study demonstrates the infiltration of nanorod iMS biosensors and detection of non-native miRNA 397b within plant cells for the first time. The investigation successfully demonstrates the localization of nanorod iMS biosensors through TEM and XRF-based elemental mapping for miRNA detection within plant cells of Nicotiana benthamiana. The study integrates shifted-excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) to decrease background interference and enhance target signal extraction. In vivo SERDS testing confirms the dynamic detection of miR397b in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves after infiltration with iMS nanorods and miR397b target. This proof-of-concept study is an important stepping stone towards spatially resolved, intracellular miRNA mapping to monitor biomarkers and biological pathways for developing efficient renewable biofuel sources.

Evaluation of Modern Approaches for the Assessment of Dietary Carotenoids as Markers for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption.

The assessment of dietary carotenoids via blood measurements has been widely used as a marker for fruit and vegetable consumption. In the present study, modern, non-invasive approaches to assess dietary carotenoids, such as skin measurements and an app-based short dietary record (ASDR), were compared with conventional methods such as plasma status and handwritten 3-day dietary records. In an 8-week observational study, 21 healthy participants aged 50-65 years recorded their daily consumption of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables via a specially developed ASDR. Anthropometry, blood samplings and assessment of skin carotenoids via Raman and reflection spectroscopy were performed at baseline, after four weeks and at the end of the study. App-based intake data showed good correlations with plasma α-carotene (r = 0.74, p < 0.0001), ß-carotene (r = 0.71, p < 0.0001), and total plasma carotenoids (r = 0.65, p < 0.0001); weak correlations with plasma lutein/zeaxanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin (both r = 0.34, p < 0.05); and no correlation with plasma lycopene. Skin measurements via reflection and Raman spectroscopy correlated well with total plasma carotenoids (r = 0.81 and 0.72, respectively; both p < 0.0001), α-carotene (r = 0.75-0.62, p < 0.0001), and ß-carotene (r = 0.79-0.71, p < 0.0001); moderately with plasma lutein/zeaxanthin (both r = 0.51, p < 0.0001); weakly with plasma ß-cryptoxanthin (r = 0.40-0.31, p < 0.05); and showed no correlation with plasma lycopene. Skin measurements could provide a more convenient and noninvasive approach of estimating a person's fruit and vegetable consumption compared to traditional methods, especially in studies that do not intend blood sampling. ASDR records might function as a suitable, convenient tool for dietary assessment in nutritional intervention studies.

Comparison of individual and common wavelength-operation for 785 nm Y-branch DBR ridge waveguide diode lasers with adjustable spectral distance.

An experimental comparison between individual and common wavelength-operation of a Y-branch distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) ridge waveguide (RW) laser at 785 nm with an electrically adjustable spectral distance is presented. The dual-wavelength Y-branch laser combines two laser cavities via a Y-section to a common output section. DBR gratings with different grating periods are associated with the two cavities, which set the emission wavelengths of the two branches. Implemented resistive heater elements allow separate wavelength tuning of the two branches, which can be operated individually for alternating emission wavelengths in applications such as differential absorption spectroscopy or shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy. Common wavelength operation simultaneously generates two emission lines suitable for the generation of THz radiation using difference frequency mixing. Hereby, the devices could potentially be used as single-chip light sources for a combination of Raman and THz applications. For the wavelength-operation comparison presented, the devices were operated up to optical output powers of about 105 and 185 mW in individual and common wavelength-operation mode, respectively. In individual operation mode, the devices show spectral single-mode emission over the whole operation range. In common operation mode, the spectral emission is predominantly single mode up to an optical output power of 65 mW. In both operation modes, mode hops typical for DBR lasers occur. At an optical output power of 50 mW, tuning of the spectral distance between the two wavelengths using the implemented resistor heaters is demonstrated. In both modes of wavelength operation, a flexible frequency difference between 0 and 0.8 THz (0 and 1.6 nm) with predominantly single-mode spectral emission is obtained.

A Holistic Approach for the Identification of Success Factors in Secondary Cleft Osteoplasty.

Cleft lip and palate belong to the most frequent craniofacial anomalies. Secondary osteoplasty is usually performed between 7 and 11 years with the closure of the osseus defect by autologous bone. Due to widespread occurrence of the defect in conjunction with its social significance due to possible esthetic impairments, the outcome of treatment is of substantial interest. The success of the treatment is determined by the precise rebuilding of the dental arch using autologous bone from the iliac crest. A detailed analysis of retrospective data disclosed a lack of essential and structured information to identify success factors for fast regeneration and specify the treatment. Moreover, according to the current status, no comparable process monitoring is possible during osteoplasty due to the lack of sensory systems. Therefore, a holistic approach was developed to determine the parameters for a successful treatment via the incorporation of patient data, the treatment sequences and sensor data gained by an attachable sensor module into a developed Dental Tech Space (DTS). This approach enables heterogeneous data sets to be linked inside of DTS, archiving and analysis, and is also for future considerations of respective patient-specific treatment plans.

Determination of Soil Constituents Using Shifted Excitation Raman Difference Spectroscopy.

Soil analysis to estimate soil fertility parameters is of great importance for precision agriculture but nowadays it still relies mainly on complex and time-consuming laboratory methods. Optical measurement techniques can provide a suitable alternative. Raman spectroscopy is of particular interest due to its ability to provide a molecular fingerprint of individual soil components. To overcome the major issue of strong fluorescence interference inherent to soil, we applied shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) using an in-house-developed dual-wavelength diode laser emitting at 785.2 and 784.6 nm. To account for the intrinsic heterogeneity of soil components at the millimeter scale, a raster scan with 100 individual measurement positions has been applied. Characteristic Raman signals of inorganic (quartz, feldspar, anatase, and calcite) and organic (amorphous carbon) constituents within the soil could be recovered from intense background interference. For the first time, the molecule-specific information derived by SERDS combined with partial least squares regression was demonstrated for the prediction of the soil organic matter content (coefficient of determination R2 = 0.82 and root mean square error of cross validation RMSECV = 0.41%) as important soil fertility parameter within a set of 33 soil specimens collected from an agricultural field in northeast Germany.

Complexation of Np(V) with the Dicarboxylates, Malonate, and Succinate: Complex Stoichiometry, Thermodynamic Data, and Structural Information.

The complexation of Np(V) with malonate and succinate is studied by different spectroscopic techniques, namely, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) and extended X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, as well as by quantum chemistry to determine the speciation, thermodynamic data, and structural information of the formed complexes. For complex stoichiometries and the thermodynamic functions (log ßn°(Θ), ΔrHn°, ΔrSn°), near infrared absorption spectroscopy (vis/NIR) is applied. The complexation reactions are investigated as a function of the total concentration of malonate ([Mal2-]total) and succinate ([Succ2-]total), ionic strength [Im = 0.5-4.0 mol kg-1 Na+(Cl-/ClO4-)], and temperature (Θ = 20-85 °C). Besides the solvated NpO2+ ion, the formation of two Np(V) species with the stoichiometry NpO2(L)n1-2n (n = 1, 2, L = Mal2-, Succ2-) is observed. With increasing temperature, the molar fractions of both complex species increase and the temperature-dependent conditional stability constants log ßn'(Θ) at given ionic strengths are determined by the law of mass action. The log ßn'(Θ) are extrapolated to IUPAC reference-state conditions (Im = 0) according to the specific ion interaction theory (SIT), revealing thermodynamic log ßn°(Θ) values. For all formed complexes, [NpO2(Mal)-: log ß1°(25 °C) = 3.36 ± 0.11, NpO2(Mal)23-: log ß2°(25 °C) = 3.95 ± 0.19, NpO2(Succ)-: log ß1°(25 °C) = 2.05 ± 0.45, NpO2(Succ)23-: log ß2°(25 °C) = 0.75 ± 1.22], an increase of the stability constants with increasing temperature was observed. This confirmed an endothermic complexation reaction. The temperature dependence of the log ßn°(T) values is described by the integrated Van't Hoff equation, and the standard reaction enthalpies and entropies for the complexation reactions are determined. Furthermore, the sum of the specific binary ion-ion interaction coefficients Δεn°(Θ) for the complexation reactions are obtained as a function of the t from the respective SIT modeling as a function of the temperature. In addition to the thermodynamic data, the structures of the complexes and the coordination modes of malonate and succinate are investigated using EXAFS spectroscopy, ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy, and quantum chemical calculations. The results show that in the case of malonate, six-membered chelate complexes are formed, whereas for succinate, seven-membered rings form. The latter ones are energetically unfavorable due to the limited space in the equatorial plane of the Np(V) ion (as NpO2+ cation).

783 nm wavelength stabilized DBR tapered diode lasers with a 7 W output power.

Wavelength stabilized distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) tapered diode lasers at 783 nm will be presented. The devices are based on GaAsP single quantum wells embedded in a large optical cavity leading to a vertical far field angle of about 29° (full width at half maximum). The 3-inch (7.62 cm) wafers are grown using metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. In a full wafer process, 4 mm long DBR tapered lasers are manufactured. The devices consist of a 500 µm long 10th order surface DBR grating that acts as rear side mirror. After that, a 1 mm long ridge waveguide section is realized for lateral confinement, which is connected to a 2.5 mm long flared section having a full taper angle of 6°. At an injection current of 8 A, a maximum output power of about 7 W is measured. At output powers up to 6 W, the measured emission width limited by the resolution of the spectrometer is smaller than 19 pm. Measured at 1/e2 level at this output power, the lateral beam waist width is 11.5 µm, the lateral far field angle 12.5°, and the lateral beam parameter M2 2.5. The respective parameters measured using the second moments are 31 µm, 15.2°, and 8.3. 70% of the emitted power is originated from the central lobe.

Accurate in vivo tumor detection using plasmonic-enhanced shifted-excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS).

For the majority of cancer patients, surgery is the primary method of treatment. In these cases, accurately removing the entire tumor without harming surrounding tissue is critical; however, due to the lack of intraoperative imaging techniques, surgeons rely on visual and physical inspection to identify tumors. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is emerging as a non-invasive optical alternative for intraoperative tumor identification, with high accuracy and stability. However, Raman detection requires dark rooms to work, which is not consistent with surgical settings. Methods: Herein, we used SERS nanoprobes combined with shifted-excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) detection, to accurately detect tumors in xenograft murine model. Results: We demonstrate for the first time the use of SERDS for in vivo tumor detection in a murine model under ambient light conditions. We compare traditional Raman detection with SERDS, showing that our method can improve sensitivity and accuracy for this task. Conclusion: Our results show that this method can be used to improve the accuracy and robustness of in vivo Raman/SERS biomedical application, aiding the process of clinical translation of these technologies.

Wide Field Spectral Imaging with Shifted Excitation Raman Difference Spectroscopy Using the Nod and Shuffle Technique.

Wide field Raman imaging using the integral field spectroscopy approach was used as a fast, one shot imaging method for the simultaneous collection of all spectra composing a Raman image. For the suppression of autofluorescence and background signals such as room light, shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) was applied to remove background artifacts in Raman spectra. To reduce acquisition times in wide field SERDS imaging, we adapted the nod and shuffle technique from astrophysics and implemented it into a wide field SERDS imaging setup. In our adapted version, the nod corresponds to the change in excitation wavelength, whereas the shuffle corresponds to the shifting of charges up and down on a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) chip synchronous to the change in excitation wavelength. We coupled this improved wide field SERDS imaging setup to diode lasers with 784.4/785.5 and 457.7/458.9 nm excitation and applied it to samples such as paracetamol and aspirin tablets, polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate beads, as well as pork meat using multiple accumulations with acquisition times in the range of 50 to 200 ms. The results tackle two main challenges of SERDS imaging: gradual photobleaching changes the autofluorescence background, and multiple readouts of CCD detector prolong the acquisition time.

Spectroscopic characterisation and thermodynamics of the complexation of Np(V) with sulfate up to 200 °C.

In the present work the complexation of Np(V) with sulfate in aqueous solution is studied in a temperature range up to 200 °C by absorption spectroscopy. For this purpose, a new spectroscopic setup is implemented and tested for its suitability for Vis/NIR absorption spectroscopy at elevated temperatures. The complexation of Np(V) with sulfate is studied as a function of the total ligand concentration at various temperatures (T = 25-200 °C) and ionic strengths (Im(NaClO4) = 1.0-4.0 mol kg-1 NaClO4). The exclusive formation of NpO2(SO4)- up to 200 °C is confirmed by peak deconvolution and slope analyses. The thermodynamic stability constants log ß01(T) are obtained from linear regressions according to the specific ion interaction theory (SIT). A systematic increase of the log ß01(T) is observed with increasing temperature, resulting in a linear correlation of log ß01(T) with T-1. The magnitude of the increase is 1.9 logarithmic units at 200 °C in comparison to log ß01(25 °C) = 1.05 ± 0.16. Thus, the standard reaction enthalpy and entropy (ΔrH0m, ΔrS0m) are determined with the integrated Van't Hoff equation revealing ΔrH0m = 31.0 ± 1.0 kJ mol-1 and ΔrS0m = 123 ± 9 J mol-1 K-1. In addition, the stoichiometric sum of the specific binary ion-ion interaction coefficient (Δε01(T)) is determined up to 200 °C showing an insignificant temperature dependence. Thus, a temperature-independent ε(Na+, NpO2(SO4)-) = 0.07 ± 0.11 is calculated for the temperature range up to 200 °C. Comparison of the present results with literature data confirms the excellent applicability of the new high-temperature absorption spectroscopic setup for complexation studies up to 200 °C.

Thermodynamics and Structure of Neptunium(V) Complexes with Formate. Spectroscopic and Theoretical Study.

The temperature and ionic strength dependences of the complex formation of NpO2+ with formate in aqueous solution are studied by absorption spectroscopy (Im = 0.5-4.0 mol kg-1, T = 20-85 °C, [Form-]total = 0-0.65 mol kg-1), extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS) and quantum chemical methods. The complex stoichiometry and the thermodynamic functions of the complexation reactions are determined by peak deconvolution of the absorption spectra and slope analyses. Besides the solvated NpO2+ ion, two NpO2+ formate species (NpO2(Form)n1-n; n = 1, 2) are identified. Application of the law of mass action yields the temperature dependent conditional stability constants log ß'n(T) at a given ionic strength. These data are extrapolated to IUPAC reference state conditions (Im = 0) using the specific ion interaction theory (SIT). The results show, that log ß01(20 °C) = 0.67 ± 0.04 decreases by approximately 0.1 logarithmic units with increasing temperature, log ß02(20 °C) = 0.11 ± 0.11 increases by about 0.2 logarithmic units. The temperature dependence of the log ß0n(T) values is modeled with the integrated Van't Hoff equation yielding the standard reaction enthalpy ΔrH0 and entropy ΔrS0 of the complexation reactions. The results show that the formation of NpO2(Form) is exothermic (ΔrH01 = -2.8 ± 0.9 kJ mol-1) whereas the formation of NpO2(Form)2- is endothermic (ΔrH02 = 6.7 ± 4.1 kJ mol-1). Furthermore, the binary ion-ion interaction coefficients εT(i,k) of the formed complexes are determined in NaClO4 and NaCl media as a function of the temperature. The coordination mode of formate toward the metal ion is investigated by EXAFS spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. A coordination of the ligand via only one O atom of formate to the metal ion is identified.

Direct SERDS sensing of molecular biomarkers in plants under field conditions.

Molecular biomarkers such as microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in regulating various developmental processes in plants. Understanding these pathways will help bioengineer designing organisms for efficient biomass accumulation. Current methods for RNA analysis require sample extraction and multi-step sample analysis, hindering work in field studies. Recent work in the incorporation of nanomaterials for plant bioengineering research is leading the way of an agri-tech revolution. As an example, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based sensors can be used to monitor RNA in vivo. However, the use of SERS in the field has been limited due to issues with observing Raman signal over complex background. To this end, shifted-excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) offers an effective solution to extract the SERS signal from high background based on a physical approach. In this manuscript, we report the first application of SERDS on SERS sensors. We investigated this technique on SERS sensor developed for the detection of a microRNA biomarker, miR858. We tested the technique on in vitro samples and validated the technique by detecting the presence of exogenous miR858 in plants directly under ambient light in a growth chamber. The possibility of moving the detection of nucleic acid targets outside the constraints of laboratory setting enables numerous important bioengineering applications. Such applications can revolutionize biofuel production and agri-tech through the use of nanotechnology-based monitoring of plant growth, plant health, and exposure to pollution and pathogens.

In vivo detection of changes in cutaneous carotenoids after chemotherapy using shifted excitation resonance Raman difference and fluorescence spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Various cutaneous toxicities under chemotherapy indicate a local effect of chemotherapy by secretion after systemic application. Here, changes in the fluorescence and Raman spectral properties of the stratum corneum subsequent to intravenous chemotherapy were assessed. METHODS: Twenty healthy subjects and 20 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were included. Measurement time points in cancer patients were before the first cycle of chemotherapy (Tbase ) and immediately after intravenous application of the chemotherapy (T1 ). Healthy subjects were measured once without any further intervention. Measurements were conducted using an individually manufactured system consisting of a handheld probe and a wavelength-tunable diode laser-based 488 nm SHG light source. Hereby, changes in both skin fluorescence and shifted excitation resonance Raman difference spectroscopy (SERRDS) carotenoid signals were assessed. RESULTS: Healthy subjects showed significantly (P < .001) higher mean concentrations of carotenoids compared to cancer subjects at Tbase . An increase in fluorescence intensity was detected in almost all patients after chemotherapy, especially after doxorubicin infusion. Furthermore, a decrease in the carotenoid concentration in the skin after chemotherapy was found. CONCLUSION: The SERRDS based noninvasive detection can be used as an indirect quantitative assessment of fluorescent chemotherapeutics. The lower carotenoid SERRDS intensities at Tbase might be due to cancerous diseases and co-medication.

Shifted Excitation Raman Difference Spectroscopy with Charge-Shifting Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) Lock-In Detection.

Shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) can provide effective, chemically specific information on fluorescent samples. However, the restricted ability for fast alternating detection (usually < 10 Hz) of spectra excited at two shifted laser wavelengths can limit its effectiveness when rapidly varying emission backgrounds are present. This paper presents a novel charge-shifting lock-in approach permitting fast SERDS operation (exemplarily demonstrated at 1000 Hz) using a specialized dual-wavelength diode laser (emitting at 829.40 nm and 828.85 nm) and a custom-built charge-coupled device (CCD) enabling charge retention and shifting back and forth on the CCD chip. For six selected mineral samples (moved irregularly during spectral acquisition), results demonstrate superior reproducibility of the fast charge-shifting read-out over the conventional read-out (operated at 5.4 Hz). Partial least squares discriminant analysis revealed improved classification performance of charge-shifting (four latent variables, sensitivity: 99%, specificity: 94%) versus conventional read-out (six latent variables, sensitivity: 90%, specificity: 92%). The charge-shifting concept was also successfully translated to sub-surface analysis using spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS). Charge-shifting SERDS-SORS spectra recorded from a polytetrafluoroethylene layer, concealed behind a 0.25 mm thick, opaque, heterogeneous layer, matched reference spectra much more closely and exhibited a signal-to-background-noise (S/NB) ratio two times higher than that achieved with conventional CCD read-out SERDS-SORS. The novel approach overcomes fundamental limitations of conventional CCDs. In conjunction with the inherent capability of the charge-shifting lock-in technique to suppress rapidly varying ambient light interference demonstrated by us earlier it is expected to be particularly beneficial with heterogeneous fluorescent samples in field applications.

A spectroscopic study of the complexation reaction of trivalent lanthanides with a synthetic acrylate based PCE-superplasticizer.

The interaction between different trivalent lanthanides and a synthetic acrylate based PCE-superplasticizer (52IPEG4.5) is investigated by using a combination of laser- and synchrotron based spectroscopic techniques. Time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) is used to obtain thermodynamic data (stability constants (log ß'(T)), reaction enthalpy (ΔrH) and entropy(ΔrS)) of the complexation reaction of Eu(III) and 52IPEG4.5 as a function of the temperature (20-80 °C) and ligand concentration (<2 g/kg) in 0.1 mol/kg NaCl solution. Under the chosen experimental conditions, the increase in temperature mainly affects the complexation properties (loading capacity) of the macromolecule itself rather than the stability constant of the formed complex (log ß'(T) ranging between 6.5 and 5.9). The thermodynamic results are complemented by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopic measurements to resolve the molecular structure of 52IPEG4.5 complexes with Eu(III), Gd(III), and Tb(III). The results show, that each metal ion is coordinated by three carboxylic groups within the 52IPEG4.5 complexes. Furthermore, the determined interatomic distances exhibit that the functional groups are attached in a bidentate end-on fashion.

4,4'-Di-tert-butyl-6-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine: modification of a highly selective N-donor ligand for the separation of trivalent actinides from lanthanides.

In the present work, the complexation and extraction behaviour of 4,4'di-tert-butyl-6-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine (HN4tbubipy) towards trivalent actinides (An(iii)) and lanthanides (Ln(iii)) is studied by spectroscopic methods, liquid-liquid extraction, and quantum chemical calculations. The ligand synthesis of HN4tbubipy as well as its application in coordination chemistry of the 4f elements is described. Reaction of HN4tbubipy with [Ln(NO3)3·6H2O] (Ln = Sm, Eu) results in [H2N4tbubipy]+[Ln(N4tbubipy)(NO3)3(H2O)]-. Both compounds have been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The solubility of the ligand in different organic solvents is determined, showing a high solubility in MeOH which decreases with the lipophilicity of the solvent. The pKa = 2.4 ± 0.2 of HN4tbubipy in EtOH (4.4 vol% H2O) is determined by absorption spectrophotometry. The complexation of Cm(iii) and Eu(iii) with HN4tbubipy is studied by time resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). For both metal ions the formation of the complexes [M(N4tbubipy)n]3-n with n = 2, 3 (M = Cm(iii), Eu(iii)) is observed. Slightly higher conditional stability constants for Eu(iii) (log ß'2(Eu(N4tbubipy)2+) = 8.9 ± 0.3, log ß'3(Eu(N4tbubipy)3) = 12.7 ± 0.5), compared to Cm(iii) (log ß'2(Cm(N4tbubipy)2+) = 8.5 ± 0.4 and log ß'3(Cm(N4tbubipy)3) = 12.4 ± 0.6) are determined. Thus, the ligand has no preference for the complexation of An(iii) over Ln(iii). Additionally, no significant extraction of Am(iii) and Eu(iii) is observed in liquid-liquid extraction experiments due to protonation of the ligand at the experimental conditions. The experimental studies are supported by quantum chemical calculations of the free ligand and the [M(N4tbubipy)3] complexes (M = Cm(iii), Gd(iii)). The results are in excellent agreement with the experimental data and provide a deeper understanding of the complexation properties of HN4tbubipy.

A thermodynamical and structural study on the complexation of trivalent lanthanides with a polycarboxylate based concrete superplasticizer.

The complexation of trivalent lanthanides with a commercial polycarboxylate based concrete superplasticizer (Glenium® 51) is investigated using different spectroscopic techniques. Time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) in combination with a charge neutralization model is used to determine temperature dependent conditional stability constants (log ß'(T)) for the complexation of Eu(iii) with Glenium® 51 in 0.1 mol kg-1 NaCl solution in the temperature range of 20-90 °C. Only one complex species is observed, and log ß'(T) (given in kg per mol eq) shows a very slight increase with temperature from 7.5 to 7.9. The related conditional molar reaction enthalpy (ΔrH'm) and entropy (ΔrS'm) obtained using the Van't Hoff equation show that the complexation reaction is slightly endothermic and entropy driven. The thermodynamic investigations are complemented by structural data for complexes formed with Gd(iii) or Tb(iii) and Glenium® 51 using extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The results imply a non-chelate coordination of the trivalent metals through approximately three carboxylic functions of the polycarboxylate comb polymer which are attached predominantly in a bidentate fashion to the lanthanide under the given experimental conditions.

Dual-wavelength diode laser with electrically adjustable wavelength distance at 785 nm.

A spectrally adjustable monolithic dual-wavelength diode laser at 785 nm as an excitation light source for shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) is presented. The spectral distance between the two excitation wavelengths can be electrically adjusted between 0 and 2.0 nm using implemented heater elements above the distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) gratings. Output powers up to 180 mW at a temperature of 25°C were measured. The spectral width is smaller than 13 pm, limited by the spectrum analyzer. The device is well-suited for Raman spectroscopy, and the flexible spectral distance allows a target-specific adjustment of the excitation light source for shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS).

Compact Handheld Probe for Shifted Excitation Raman Difference Spectroscopy with Implemented Dual-Wavelength Diode Laser at 785 Nanometers.

A compact handheld probe for shifted-excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) with an implemented dual-wavelength diode laser with an emission at 785 nm is presented. The probe is milled from aluminum and has dimensions 100 × 28 × 12 mm. The diode laser provides two excitation lines with a spectral distance of 10 cm(-1) (0.62 nm), has a spectral width smaller than 11 pm, and reaches an optical power of 120 mW ex probe. Raman experiments were carried out using polystyrene (PS) as the test sample. During a measurement time of over 1 h, a stable spectral center position of the Raman line at 999 cm(-1) of PS was achieved within a spectral window of 0.1 cm(-1). Here, the Raman intensity of this line was observed with a peak-to-peak variation smaller than ±2%, dominated by shot noise interference. A deviation of the center position of a Raman line with <±1 cm(-1) was observed over the whole excitation power range. Raman investigations of the quartz glass window of the SERDS probe showed minor interference. The results demonstrate the suitability of the developed handheld probe for Raman investigations and the application of in situ SERDS experiments to fields such as food safety control, medical diagnostics, and process control.

Capability of shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy under ambient daylight.

We present the capability of shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) under ambient daylight. A dual-wavelength diode laser emitting at 785 nm is used as the excitation light source. The monolithic diode laser provides more than 110 mW in cw operation. Both excitation lines show an emission width ≤0.2 cm(-1) and a spectral distance of 10 cm(-1) as targeted for SERDS. Polystyrene (PS) is used as the test sample and ambient daylight to generate real-world background interference. Here, a broadband background signal with narrowband absorption lines from water vapor and Fraunhofer lines from singly ionized calcium (Ca II) obscure the Raman lines of PS. SERDS clearly separates the Raman signals from the background signals with a 13-fold improvement in signal-to-background noise.