Heinrich F. Arlinghaus

Bioimaging TOF‐SIMS: localization of cholesterol in rat kidney sections

Rat kidneys were sectioned by cryoultramicrotomy and dried at room temperature. The samples were covered with a thin silver layer and analyzed in an imaging TOF‐SIMS instrument equipped with a Ga+‐source. The cholesterol signal showed a high concentration in the nuclear areas of the epithelial cells and a lower concentration over areas representing the basal lamina of renal tubules. A more diffuse distribution of cholesterol was also found over areas representing the cytoplasm or plasma membrane of the epithelial cells.

Photochemical microcontact printing by thiol-ene and thiol-yne click chemistry.

This article describes the microstructured immobilization of functional thiols on alkene- and alkyne-terminated self-assembled monolayers on silicon oxide substrates by photochemical microcontact printing. A photochemical thiol-ene or thiol-yne “click” reaction was locally induced in the area of contact between stamp and substrate by irradiation with UV light (365 nm). The immobilization reaction by photochemical microcontact printing was verified by contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. The reaction rate of photochemical microcontact printing by thiol-ene chemistry was studied using time dependent contact angle measurements. The selective binding of lectins to galactoside microarrays prepared by photochemical microcontact printing was also demonstrated. It was found that photochemical microcontact printing results in a high surface coverage of functional thiols within 30 s of printing even for dilute (mM) ink solutions.

Boron analysis and boron imaging in biological materials for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT)

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is based on the ability of the stable isotope 10B to capture neutrons, which leads to a nuclear reaction producing an alpha- and a 7Li-particle, both having a high biological effectiveness and a very short range in tissue, being limited to approximately one cell diameter. This opens the possibility for a highly selective cancer therapy. BNCT strongly depends on the selective uptake of 10B in tumor cells and on its distribution inside the cells. The chemical properties of boron and the need to discriminate different isotopes make the investigation of the concentration and distribution of 10B a challenging task. The most advanced techniques to measure and image boron are described, both invasive and non-invasive. The most promising approach for further investigation will be the complementary use of the different techniques to obtain the information that is mandatory for the future of this innovative treatment modality.

“Sandwich” Microcontact Printing as a Mild Route Towards Monodisperse Janus Particles with Tailored Bifunctionality

A “sandwich” microcontact printing method is reported. A monolayer of porous epoxy polymer microspheres is transformed into Janus particles with distinct functionality on each face by reaction with amine functional fluorescent dyes, carbohydrates, and magnetic nanoparticles.

Application of Laser Postionization Secondary Neutral Mass Spectrometry/Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry in Nanotoxicology: Visualization of Nanosilver in Human Macrophages and Cellular Responses

Silver nanoparticles (SNP) are the subject of worldwide commercialization because of their antimicrobial effects. Yet only little data on their mode of action exist. Further, only few techniques allow for visualization and quantification of unlabeled nanoparticles inside cells. To study SNP of different sizes and coatings within human macrophages, we introduce a novel laser postionization secondary neutral mass spectrometry (Laser-SNMS) approach and prove this method superior to the widely applied confocal Raman and transmission electron microscopy. With time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) we further demonstrate characteristic fingerprints in the lipid pattern of the cellular membrane indicative of oxidative stress and membrane fluidity changes. Increases of protein carbonyl and heme oxygenase-1 levels in treated cells confirm the presence of oxidative stress biochemically. Intriguingly, affected phagocytosis reveals as highly sensitive end point of SNP-mediated adversity in macrophages. The cellular responses monitored are hierarchically linked, but follow individual kinetics and are partially reversible.

Carbohydrate Microarrays by Microcontact Printing

This Article describes the preparation of carbohydrate microarrays by the immobilization of carbohydrates via microcontact printing (microCP) on glass and silicon substrates. To this end, diene-modified carbohydrates (galactose, glucose, mannose, lactose, and maltose) were printed on maleimide-terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). A Diels-Alder reaction occurred exclusively in the contact area between stamp and substrate and resulted in a carbohydrate pattern on the substrate. It was found that cyclopentadiene-functionalized carbohydrates could be printed within minutes at room temperature, whereas furan-functionalized carbohydrates required long printing times and high temperatures. By successive printing, microstructured arrays of up to three different carbohydrates could be produced. Immobilization and patterning of the carbohydrates on the surfaces was investigated with contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), and fluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, the lectins concanavalin A (ConA) and peanut agglutinin (PNA) bind to the microarrays, and the printed carbohydrates retain their characteristic selectivity toward these proteins.

Applications of mass spectrometry to DNA sequencing

The ability of the mass spectrometer to analyze collectively the masses of DNA fragments that are produced in the Sanger procedure for sequencing may allow the gel electrophoresis step to be eliminated. On the other hand, if gel electrophoresis is required, the use of resonance ionization spectroscopy coupled to a mass spectrometer may enable much faster analysis of DNA bands labeled with stable isotopes. Other combinations of labeling of the DNA and its mass spectrometric analysis with or without gel electrophoresis are also considered. Recent advances in these areas of mass spectrometry are reviewed.

Reduction of CdZnTe substrate defects and relation to epitaxial HgCdTe quality

We have conducted annealing experiments on CdZnTe wafers to restore stoichiometry, eliminate or reduce second-phase (Cd or Te) inclusions, and investigate effects on the quality of epitaxial HgCdTe grown on the thermally treated substrates. Two categories of second phase features were revealed in these materials. Category 1 has a star-like shape with sixfold symmetry (as seen by infrared transmission microscopy) and a central core consisting of cadmium. These stars were observed only in the more stoichiometric materials (having good infrared transmission characteristics). Category 2 consists of triangular, hexagonal, and irregular shaped tellurium inclusions which are present in the off-stoichiometry materials (which exhibit strong IR absorption). Substrates were annealed at temperatures ranging from 500 to 700°C for one to seven days, in vapor derived from elemental Cd or Cd1-xZnx alloy (x = 0.005). These anneals were able to eliminate the excess IR absorption and decrease the apparent sizes of both categories of second-phase features. It was found that pinhole-like morphological defects on the surface of a HgCdTe layer grown by liquid phase epitaxy can be caused by Cd and Te inclusions located within the CdZnTe substrate near the interface. Additionally, measurement and spatial mapping of copper concentration by sputter initiated resonance ionization spectroscopy showed 10 to 100 times higher Cu concentration in the inclusions than in the surrounding matrix areas.

Toxicity of silver nanoparticles in human macrophages: uptake, intracellular distribution and cellular responses

Silver nanoparticles (SNP) are among the most commercialized nanoparticles worldwide. They can be found in many diverse products, mostly because of their antibacterial properties. Despite its widespread use only little data on possible adverse health effects exist. It is difficult to compare biological data from different studies due to the great variety in sizes, coatings or shapes of the particles. Here, we applied a novel synthesis approach to obtain SNP, which are covalently stabilized by a small peptide. This enables a tight control of both size and shape. We applied these SNP in two different sizes of 20 or 40 nm (Ag20Pep and Ag40Pep) and analyzed responses of THP-1-derived human macrophages. Similar gold nanoparticles with the same coating (Au20Pep) were used for comparison and found to be non-toxic. We assessed the cytotoxicity of particles and confirmed their cellular uptake via transmission electron microscopy and confocal Raman microscopy. Importantly a majority of the SNP could be detected as individual particles spread throughout the cells. Furthermore we studied several types of oxidative stress related responses such as induction of heme oxygenase I or formation of protein carbonyls. In summary, our data demonstrate that even low doses of SNP exerted adverse effects in human macrophages.

Rewritable Polymer Brush Micropatterns Grafted by Triazolinedione Click Chemistry

Triazolinedione (TAD) click reactions were combined with microcontact chemistry to print, erase, and reprint polymer brushes on surfaces. By patterning substrates with a TAD-tagged atom-transfer radical polymerization initiator (ATRP-TAD) and subsequent surface initiated ATRP, it was possible to graft micropatterned polymer brushes from both alkene- and indole-functionalized substrates. As a result of the dynamic nature of the Alder-ene adduct of TAD and indole at elevated temperatures, the polymer pattern could be erased while the regenerated indole substrate could be reused to print new patterns. To demonstrate the robustness of the methodology, the write-erase cycle was repeated four times.