High-sensitivity, disposable lab-on-a-chip with thin-film organic electronics for fluorescence detection

We report a high-sensitivity, disposable lab-on-a-chip with a thin-film organic light-emitting diode (OLED) excitation source and an organic photodiode (OPD) detector for on-chip fluorescence analysis. A NPB/Alq3 thin-film green OLED with an active area of 0.1 cm(2) was used as the excitation source, while a CuPC/C(60) thin-film OPD with 0.6 cm(2) active area was used as a photodetector. A novel cost-effective, cross-polarization scheme was used to filter out excitation light from a fluorescent dye emission spectrum. The excitation light from the OLED was linearly polarized and used to illuminate a microfluidic device containing a 1 microL volume of dye dissolved in ethanol. The detector was shielded by a second polarizer, oriented orthogonally to the excitation light, thus reducing the photocurrent due to excitation light leakage on the detector by approximately 25 dB. The fluorescence emission light, which is randomly polarized, is only attenuated by approximately 3 dB. Fluorescence signals from Rhodamine 6G (peak emission wavelength of 570 nm) and fluorescein (peak emission wavelength of 494 nm) dyes were measured in a dilution series in the microfluidic device with emission signals detected by the OPD. A limit-of-detection of 100 nM was demonstrated for Rhodamine 6G, and 10 microM for fluorescein. This suggests that an integrated microfluidic device, with an organic photodiode and LED excitation source and integrated polarizers, can be fabricated to realize a compact and economical lab-on-a-chip for point-of-care fluorescence assays.     

Effect of silver nano particles on the fluorescence quantum yield of Rhodamine 6G determined using dual beam thermal lens method

Nano structured noble metals have very important applications in diverse fields as photovoltaics, catalysis, electronic and magnetic devices, etc. Here, we report the application of dual beam thermal lens technique for the determination of the effect of silver sol on the absolute fluorescence quantum yield (FQY) of the laser dye rhodamine 6G. A 532 nm radiation from a diode pumped solid state laser was used as the excitation source. It has been observed that the presence of silver sol decreases the fluorescence quantum efficiency. This is expected to have a very important consequence in enhancing Raman scattering which is an important spectrochemical tool that provides information on molecular structures. We have also observed that the presence of silver sol can enhance the thermal lens signal which makes the detection of the signal easier at any concentration.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic quantitation of rhodamines 123 and 110 from tissues and cultured cells

Rhodamine 123 is a fluorescent vital dye which has potential for therapeutic use in cancer treatment. The dye concentrates in mitochondria of normal and neoplastic cells but accumulates in and is toxic to neoplastic cells. When dye-treated cells are irradiated with blue laser light at 514 nm, mitochondrial injury or cell death results. Rhodamine concentration in cultured cells and tumor tissue was quantitated to correlate cell or tumor death with drug dose. A reversed-phase separation of rhodamine 123 was accomplished using a gradient of 0.05 M phosphate buffer pH 2.85 (mobile phase A) and acetonitrile (mobile phase B), 10-80% B in 15 min with a DuPont Golden Series C8 column. Effluent was monitored with a fluorescence detector at 295 nm excitation and 520 nm emission. Stock rhodamine 123 contained approximately 6-8% of rhodamine 110, the parent compound, which eluted at 9.8 min whereas rhodamine 123 eluted at 11.7 min. Structural verification of both compounds by field desorption mass spectrometry was performed. This is the first report of the chemical separation and quantitation of rhodamine 123 from cultured tumor cells or tumor tissue.     

Photodynamic Imaging of a Rat Pancreatic Cancer with Pheophorbide a

Laser-induced fluorescence of pheophorbide a (Ph- a ) was used for in vitro photodynamic imaging (PDI) of a rat pancreatic acinar tumor. A 400 nm excitation induced a 470 nm autofluorescence and a 678 nm dye fluorescence in tumors and their surrounding pancreas 24 h after a 9 mg kg⁻¹ body weight Ph- a intravenous administration. With lower intensities in these blood-rich tumors than in pancreas, Ph- a fluorescence signals are unable to provide tumor images. A dimensionless function (the ratio of Ph- a fluorescence by autofluorescence, called R_t for the tumor and R_p for the pancreas) was used for fluorescence contrast calculation (C = R_t/R_p) between six tumors and their paired pancreas. Among five available laser excitation wavelengths, only the 355 nm excitation gave a distinctive contrast (C = 1.5). The PDI of six intrapancreatic tumors and their intraperitoneal metastasis and of two control normal pancreas was thus performed ex vivo using a 355 nm excitation source delivered by a tripled Nd: YAG laser and a charged-coupled device camera. Fluorescence images were recorded at 680 nm (dye), 640 nm (background) and 470 nm (autofluorescence) through three corresponding 10 nm width bandpass filters. Computed division for each pixel of Ph- a fluorescence values by autofluorescence generated false color image. In this way, contrasted tumor images were obtained. But in five out of six animals false-positive images were present due to an autofluorescence decrease in some normal pancreatic areas. A 470 nm autofluorescence imaging on the same tumors gave in all cases false-positive image and false-negative in half of the cases. These observations suggest that autofluorescence alone is unable to achieve accurate PDI of pancreatic carcinoma and that using Ph- a as a PDI dye needs strong improvements.     

Sub-picogram detection of lead by non-flame atomic fluorescence spectrometry with dye laser excitation

The frequency-doubled radiation of flashlamp-pumped dye laser has been compared with the radiation of an eleotrodeless discharge lamp (EDL) and a hollow cathode lamp (HCL) as excitation light sources in non-flame atomic fluorescence spectrometric (AFS) measurements. Detection limits and linear ranges of the analytical working curves have been studied. The aqueous Pb sample solutions used in this study were atomized in an electrically heated graphite rod. Direct line fluorescence at 405.8 nm has been observed. The limit of detection obtained with the laser as excitation source is about one order of magnitude lower than the detection limits obtained with the EDL and HCL. The absolute limit of detection of 0.2 pg is the lowest reported value to date attained in any atomic spectrometric method. The ultraviolet laser irradiance was found to be high enough to approach saturation conditions. As a result selfabsorption of the exciting laser beam is reduced and the linear range of the analytical working curve is extended to higher analyte concentrations.     

实用型简易激光诱导荧光检测器的研制及性能测试

基于正交型结构,研制了一种简易实用的高效液相色谱激光诱导荧光检测器。以930荧光光度计为骨架,用岛津RF-535荧光检测池,配以自制可调稳压电源,分别以波长532am和405nm的自制激光器为激发光源,以罗丹明B和荧光素为荧光试剂评价体系的性能。罗丹明B的检出限为2．0×10^-8mol／L（S／N〉10）,荧光素的检出限为3．0×10^-10mol／L（S／N〉10）。测试结果表明该检测器达到了设计要求,具有足够的实用灵敏度和较宽的线性范围。     

532 nm激光诱导荧光毛细管阵列电泳仪的研制

基于共聚焦激光诱导荧光检测技术,研制了一台旋转扫描高效毛细管阵列电泳装置.以波长为532nm的半导体二极管激光器作为激发光源,多根毛细管阵列采用圆形布局,微型高速直流电机带动旋转反射镜进行激光扫描,加快了数据采集的速度;采用旋转编码器实现了毛细管的定位与位置读出,并触发数据采集系统进行荧光信号采集.以罗丹明6G和罗丹明B为分析样品,考察了16通道毛细管阵列电泳仪的基本性能.     

超细荧光聚合物纳米微球的制备

合成了具有较高荧光量子产率(0.69)和良好光稳定性的可聚合荧光染料单体,该荧光染料的光稳定性高于商品化的染料罗丹明B。 通过氧化还原引发剂引发乳液聚合制备了超细荧光聚合物纳米微球,将染料分子共价连接在聚合物链上。 使用非离子表面活性剂Triton X-100作为乳化剂、甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)作为单体和助乳化剂,制备的超细纳米微球平均粒径为22 nm,而不加MMA时制备出的纳米微球平均粒径在150 nm左右。 由于微球表面带有苄氯基团,为进一步的微球功能化提供了途径。     

532nm激光诱导荧光毛细管阵列电泳仪的研制

基于共聚焦激光诱导荧光检测技术,研制了一台旋转扫描高效毛细管阵列电泳装置。以波长为532nm的半导体二极管激光器作为激发光源,多根毛细管阵列采用圆形布局,微型高速直流电机带动旋转反射镜进行激光扫描,加快了数据采集的速度;采用旋转编码器实现了毛细管的定位与位置读出,并触发数据采集系统进行荧光信号采集。以罗丹明6G和罗丹明B为分析样品,考察了16通道毛细管阵列电泳仪的基本性能。     

Excitation Energy Transfer from Semi‐Conducting Polymer Nanoparticles to Surface‐Bound Fluorescent Dyes

Summary: The first examples of the dye‐coated semi‐conducting polymer nanoparticles as well as experiments to demonstrate the excitation energy transfer from the excited chromophor of the nanoparticle to the fluorescent dye are described. We have demonstrated that the blue fluorescence of the dye‐coated polyfluorene nanoparticles is only slightly quenched after dye deposition. However, a new emission band of the surface‐bound dye (Rhodamine 6G or Rhodamine TM) appears in the wavelength region of 530–600 nm. These results clearly indicate an effective excitation energy transfer from the excited PF chromophores to the fluorescent dye.

Emission spectra of PF2/6 nanoparticle dispersion and of Rhodamine 6G‐coated nanoparticle dispersion.     

Fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy using single wavelength laser

In this paper, we first introduced the basic principle of fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) and then established an FCCS setup using a single wavelength laser. We systematically optimized the setup, and the detection volume reached about 0.7 fL. The homebuilt setup was successfully applied for the study of the binding reaction of human immunoglobulin G with goat antihuman immunoglobulin G. Using quantum dots (745 nm emission wavelength) and Rhodamine B (580 nm emission wavelength) as labeling probes and 532 nm laser beam as an excitation source, the cross-talk effect was almost completely suppressed. The molecule numbers in a highly focused volume, the concentration, and the diffusion time and hydrodynamic radii of the reaction products can be determined by FCCS system. __________ Translated from Chemical Journal of Chinese Universities, 2008, 29(5) (in Chinese)     

新型以若丹明染料为母体的三发色团化合物的荧光性能

若丹明染料作为一种重要的激光染料,它们具有较高的荧光量子效率。这类染料在紫外区的吸收是相当小的,于是,当它们被使用在横向泵浦激光装置上时,就需要相当高的染料浓度,这样才能有效地吸收紫外泵浦光(如XeCI激光器,308 nm)。问题是,这类染料的发射光谱与其吸收光谱的低能量部分有重叠,亦即它门的Stokes位移较小,并且由于染料的荧光量子效率通常小于100,以致使一部分染料的激发辐射被基态染料分子再吸收,从而导致激发辐射的损失。与此同时,为了有效吸收泵浦光能量,染料的浓度通常很高,这样,激发辐射损失就会相当大。     

Fluorescence emission of disperse Red 1 in solution at room temperature

In this article, we report the fluorescence emission of Disperse Red 1 in solution at room temperature and pumping at 532 nm with a 25 mW diode laser. We have measured its fluorescence quantum yield in methanol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, and phenol obtaining values as high as 10(-3) in the aliphatic alcohols. The excitation spectra of Disperse Red 1 in all four solvents as well as its excitation anisotropy in glycerol are presented. Applying a Gaussian decomposition method to the absorption spectra along with the support from the excitation spectra, the positions of the different transitions in this pseudo-stilbene azobenzene dye were determined. Solvatochromic and isomerization constraint effects are discussed. Calculations using density functional theory at TD-B3LYP/6-31G*//HF/6-31G* level were performed to interpret the experimental observations.     

Photophysical properties and semiempirical calculations of perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic tetramethylester (PTME)

The spectral behavior and fluorescence quantum yield of perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic tetramethylester (PTME) have been measured in different solvents. Both electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra are not sensitive to medium polarity. The dye exhibits high fluorescence quantum yield and high photostable. Crystalline solid of PTME gives excimer-like emission at 530 nm. The laser activity of PTME has been investigated. The dye solution in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) gives laser emission around 480 nm upon excitation by 337.1 nm nitrogen laser pulse. The excitation energy transfer from 7-dimethylamino-4-methylcoumarine (DMC) to PTME has also has been studied and the value of energy transfer rate constant, k(ET), and critical transfer distance, R(0) indicate a F?rster-type mechanism. The photodecomposition of PTME in chloromethane solvents has been also studied. We applied semiempirical MO calculations using (PM3 and ZINDO-CI) calculations to explain the geometric and electronic behaviors of the PTME molecule in both ground and excited states and make a correlation with the experimental observations.     

单波长荧光交叉相关光谱单分子检测系统

基于激光共焦构型建立了一套单波长荧光交叉相关光谱检测系统, 并对检测系统进行了优化, 阐述了荧光交叉(相关)光谱基本理论. 以荧光量子点和有机染料为标记探针, 以人免疫球蛋白与羊抗人免疫球蛋白的结合反应为研究对象, 利用该系统成功地实现了在单分子水平上对免疫结合产物的分子数、浓度、特征扩散时间和动力学半径等参数的表征.     

A microfluidic device using a green organic light emitting diode as an integrated excitation source

A simply fabricated microfluidic device using a green organic light emitting diode (OLED) and thin film interference filter as integrated excitation source is presented and applied to fluorescence detection of proteins. A layer-by-layer compact system consisting of glass/PDMS microchip, pinhole, excitation filter and OLED is designed and equipped with a coaxial optical fiber and for fluorescence detection a 300 microm thick excitation filter is employed for eliminating nearly 80% of the unwanted light emitted by OLEDs which has overlaped with the fluorescence spectrum of the dyes. The distance between OLED illuminant and microchannels is limited to approximately 1 mm for sensitive detection. The achieved fluorescence signal of 300 microM Rhodamine 6G is about 13 times as high as that without the excitation filter and 3.5 times the result of a perpendicular detection structure. This system has been used for fluorescence detection of Rhodamine 6G, Alexa 532 and BSA conjugates in 4% linear polyacrymide (LPA) buffer (in 1 x TBE, pH 8.3) and 1.4 fmol and 35 fmol mass detection limits at 0.7 nl injection volume for Alexa and Rhodamine dye have been obtained, respectively.     

光谱法与共焦荧光成像法研究罗丹明B与ct-DNA的相互作用

采用吸收光谱、荧光光谱以及共焦荧光成像技术研究生理条件下罗丹明B(Rhodamine B,RB)与小牛胸腺DNA(ct-DNA)的相互作用以及相互作用模式。光谱研究结果显示,在450~650 nm的吸收光谱范围内,ct-DNA溶液对罗丹明B有减色作用;在560~660 nm荧光发射光谱范围内,ct-DNA对罗丹明B有荧光猝灭作用。同时,随着ct-DNA的加入,罗丹明B溶液的荧光偏振值发生变化,说明罗丹明B与ct-DNA能发生相互作用。在竞争性实验中,罗丹明B未能将亚甲基蓝(MB)从MB-ct-DNA复合体系中置换出来,说明罗丹明B与ct-DNA通过沟槽结合方式发生相互作用。共焦荧光成像结果显示,ct-DNA加入后,罗丹明B的荧光猝灭十分明显。利用罗丹明B和4',6-二脒基-2-苯基吲哚(DAPI)对He La细胞染色后进行共焦荧光成像,结果进一步证实罗丹明B与ct-DNA是通过沟槽结合作用将细胞核染成红色。     

Spatially inhomogeneous enhancement of fluorescence by a monolayer of silver nanoparticles

Near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) was applied to study the effect of a two-dimensional array of silver nanoparticles on the spatial distribution and magnitude of fluorescence signal enhancement for a monolayer of Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G). Twenty polyelectrolyte monolayers were deposited between the nanoparticles and the dye by a layer-by-layer deposition technique resulting in a 15-20 nm separation cushion, necessary to minimize the fluorescence signal quenching. The fluorescence signal in NSOM images was found to be distributed inhomogeneously as small (100-200 nm in diameter) fluorescent clusters with typically 5-30 times higher fluorescence intensities than a sample without nanoparticles. The position and relative intensity of the clusters was found to be dependent on the excitation wavelength, suggesting that the enhancement originates from the nanoparticle surface plasmon resonance.     

Spectral characterization of a novel near-infrared cyanine dye: a study of its complexation with metal ions

The spectral features of the near-infrared (NIR) dye TG-170 in different solutions and its complexation with several metal ions were investigated. The absorbance maxima of the dye are at λ=819, 805, and 791 nm in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, and a buffer of pH 5.9, respectively. These values match the output of a commercially available laser diode (780 nm), thus making use of such a source practical for excitation. The emission wavelengths of the dye are at λ_em =822, 812, and 803 nm in DMSO, methanol, and the buffer, respectively. The molar absorptivity and fluorescence quantum yield increase accordingly. The addition of either an Al(III) ion or Be(II) ion resulted in fluorescence quenching of the dye. The Stern–Volmer quenching constant, K_SV, was calculated from the Stern–Volmer plot to be K_SV=3.11×10⁵ M⁻¹ for the Al(III) ion and K_SV=1.17×10⁶ M⁻¹ for the Be(II) ion. The molar ratio of the metal to the dye was established to be 1:1 for both metal ions. The stability constant, K_S, of the metal–dye complex was calculated to be 4.37×10⁴ M⁻¹ for the Al–dye complex and 1.94×10⁶ M⁻¹ for the Be–dye complex.     

Ultramicro flow-cell for semiconductor laser fluorimetry

A small flow-cell, consisting of a fused silica capillary (200 mum diameter), was constructed for use in fluorimetry. A near-infrared semiconductor laser was used as an excitation source, and an optical fibre (core diameter 50 mu m) inserted into the capillary tube was used as a waveguide for light introduction or fluorescence collection. The volume of the flow-cell was 3-60 nl. A polymethine dye could be detected in the range 12-90 fg, and the absolute amount of the sample in the detection volume was 140-370 ag.