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About us
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Organisation
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Organisation chart
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Analytical Chemistry, Reference Materials
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Biophotonics
The focus of the Biophotonics division's work lies in optical methods for the measurement and characterisation of the interaction of materials and light, for example in applications in materials research, bioanalytics, medicine, environmental chemistry, pharmaceuticals, bioengineering, genetic engineering, agriculture and food technology. The research includes the design, the traceable spectroscopic characterisation and the application of functional organic, inorganic, and hybrid molecular and nanoscale chromophore systems and bioconjugates.
Its overall goals are to use these materials as optical reporters (e.g., in assays) and probes (e.g., for materials research, bioanalytics, bioimaging, and optical imaging) and sensors as well as for methodical applications in functional group, ligand, and biomolecule analysis and quantification on 2D- and 3D-supports, for signal enhancement and multiplexing strategies and for the study of the interaction with biological systems.
For tasks dedicated to the standardisation of fluorescence measurements, we develop and validate innovative opto-spectroscopic methods for bioanalytical and material sciences applications as well as traceable, format-adaptable, certified standards and versatile calibration tools for instrument characterization and the determination of fluorometric parameters. Our research in this area covers the development of validation strategies for different fluorescence methods, measurements of absolute fluorescence, and the development of methods for the characterisation of the optical properties of scattering and fluorescent systems.
further information
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Fields of expertise
- Spectroscopic characterisation of chromophore systems with and without sensor functions in various matrices (liquid, solid, transparent, translucent, surface)
- Design and characterisation of luminescent nanoparticles and microparticles in varied surface chemistry and functional dye-biomolecule conjugates
- Quantification of functional groups, ligands, biomolecules
- Signal enhancement strategies
- Multiplexing strategies (spectral; lifetime)
- Examinations on reciprocity with biological systems
- Standardisation and traceability of optical measurements
- Fluorescence standards for intensity, spectral and time indicators
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Main activities
- Fluorescence spectroscopic and microscopic investigations including the relative and absolute measurement of fluorescence quantum yields of liquid and solid, transparent and translucent materials in the UV/VIS/NIR spectrum range (350–1700 nm)
- Traceable, temperature-dependent and polarisation-dependent measurements of optical properties (absorption, scatter, reflection, luminescence) of chromophore systems
- Quantification of functional groups, ligands, and biomolecules on particle surfaces and 2D substrates
- Traceable calibration strategies and standards
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Range of services/technical equipment
- Absorption spectroscopy (200–2700 nm)
- Fluorescence spectroscopy (250–1700 nm)
- Integrating sphere spectroscopy: Transmission, reflection, emission, photoluminescence quantum yield (350–1650 nm)
- Time-resolved fluorescence measurements (ps-ms)
- Characterisation of upconversion materials: excitation density-dependent fluorescence spectra, luminescence quantum yields, luminescence kinetics
- Spectral confocal laser scanning microscopy (UV-vis excitation, detection 400–800 nm, spectral resolution 2 nm), FLIM-FCS (400 ps-2 µs)
- Microtiter plate reader (absorption, steady state/time-resolved fluorescence, chemoluminescence)
- Laser scanner
- Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA)
- Spin coater
- Photostability setup
- Calibrated light sources, detectors
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Publications of the division