Black carbon (BC) pollution particles result from incomplete fossil fuel combustion and are formed by clusters of primary nanoparticles (NPs) with diameters around 50 nm. The impact of BC particles on the environment and climate rise depends on accurately determining optical properties, such as absorption and scattering. The shape and the internal molecular structure of primary NPs influence their optical behavior. In this study, we characterized NPs of genuine soot from direct air filtration, determining their optical properties in water droplets through two-photon microscopy. They are monodispersed in aqueous media, presenting 2P optical features associated with stable molecular aggregates of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The single-photon (1P) spectroscopic features of stable suspensions of pollution NPs in aqueous solution (pH=13) are represented by an optical depth (OD) spectrum relative to the average scattering and absorption in the 300 - 900 nm wavelength range, proportional to λ-n. The broad 1P absorption spectrum is fitted with three Gaussians. The first, between 500 and 700 nm, is associated with optical transitions between π states in J-type molecular arrangements. The second, between 350 and 450 nm, relates to H-type aggregates. The third could be attributed to optical transitions below 350 nm in weakly perturbed molecular aggregates. Two-photon absorption (2PA) measurements were conducted in the transmission mode of the two-photon microscopy with a tunable laser between 700 and 1050 nm in the infrared. Unlike 1P transitions, these 2P transitions are highly selective to the nature of the aggregates, confined to the spectral region associated with H-aggregated states.
Escherichia coli is responsible for infections in the community and in hospital settings. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is an alternative for the treatment of E. coli infections. However, the internalization of photosensitizers (PS), a key element for PDI efficient performance, is still not fully understood. Here, we evaluated thermal and temporal effects on PS uptake in E. coli suspensions. PS internalization estimates were performed by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and showed influences of temperature and time in PS internalization. We believe that finding ideal conditions for PS uptake in E. coli can improve the PDI process.
In every field of science, new techniques for target molecule detection are increasingly required. This work presents itself as a method for developing new sensors that can detect target molecules even in samples with low concentrations. The aim of the current research project is to create an optical sensor substrate that is precise and specific for fluorescent or fluorescently marked targets. We produced nanostructured surfaces on bulk silver substrates using a femtosecond pulsed laser (Laser Libra Ti:Saphira from Coherent). These surfaces have a larger superficial area, which increases the fluorescence of molecules nearby by due to the surface plasmon resonance, in the effect of metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF). The COVID virus spike antibody (SARS-CoV-2(2019-nCoV)) and a secondary fluorescently marked antibody (Alexa Fluor™ 633 goat anti-human IgG (H+L)) was used to functionalize the nanostructures. Initial results indicated that the functionalization process was successful in achieving our initial goals, presenting the proposal's methods as an effective route for the development of biosensors. The primary antibody was initially detected in a very low concentration (0.0525 ng/uL), and the fluorescent signal was enhanced on the nanostructured portion of the surface by 6.3 times more than it was on the surface without modification.
Curcumin is a natural compound used for medical and food-industrial applications due to its antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antifungal, antiviral, and antiseptic properties. In addition to these applications, curcumin can be used for fluorescence labeling in disease diagnostics/theranostics and monitoring photodynamic antimicrobial inactivation. In terms of fluorescence-based applications, the sensitivity to detect curcumin depends on the curcumin bioavailability or the formulation concentration. In this study, we used 375 nm and 445 nm laser excitation to characterize the wavelength dependent fluorescence spectra for curcumin in ethanol solutions of 10, 20, 50 and 75 μg/ml (i.e., 27.15, 54.30, 135.75 and 203.625 μM, respectively). Our results suggested the fluorescence intensity as a function of concentration saturates around 135.75 μM. Fluorescence intensity increase as a function of concentration was observed between 650 nm and 800 nm for the 445 nm excitation. Increase in the same wavelength range was obtained for the difference between the fluorescence spectra generated between the 375 nm and 445 nm excitation wavelengths. The spectral features reported in our study can be used on the design of curcumin formulations using Sigma Aldrich curcumin C7727 for fluorescencebased applications, determination of bioavailability of curcumin formulations and photodynamic dosimetry.
Metal enhanced fluorescence is a phenomenon that occurs when a fluorophore is positioned near a conductive structure. Structures can be formed by the interaction of high-energy laser with a sample, on which the femtosecond laser pulses interact with the surface without heat effects. This work aims to study nanostructure formation in polished bulk silver, in order to amplify signals of fluorescence. A Titanium-sapphire femtosecond laser was used to mark silver surfaces. SEM images shows nanostructures formed in chaotic agglomerate of nanospheres with size of 50-800nm. Using Protoporphyrin-IX, the fluorescence amplification was around 300 times compared to a surface without the nanostructures.
Curcumin is a natural and biocompatible compound that has been used for a variety of medical applications. These applications include treatment of several tumor cells, skin diseases, wound healing, and inflammation. Moreover, curcumin has potential to be used for theranostic of neurodegenerative diseases involving formation of Aβ plaques, as it can stain amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and slightly improve the cognitive function in elderly. However, the diagnosis contrast and the treatment efficiency curcumin can provide are dependent on its molecular microenvironment, as it can change curcumin physical and chemical properties. In this paper, we characterize these properties for two types of curcumin formulations and suggest a quantum yield approach to enhance the detection of Aβ plaques with one of these formulations. The first formulation is synthetic curcumin (100% curcumin) and the second is Sigma Aldrich curcumin has 94% of curcuminoid content and 80% curcumin. Our measurements show that solutions containing only curcumin provided highest fluorescence signal with relatively lower optical densities, i.e., an increase of 73.2% (375 nm excitation) and 55% (445 nm excitation) in the quantum yield for the concentration of 20 μg/ml (54.30 μM). This suggests the synthetic curcumin formulation may be more efficient when used as a biomarker for diagnostics purposes or monitoring the efficiency of curcumin treatments using fluorescence spectroscopy.
We show that partial solubility of a photosensitizer is not necessarily a bad property when dealing with microbiological control. The presence of curcumin aggregates in solution may present advantages with respect the photoand chemical stability.
A new PDI protocol is presented in this study. C. albicans cells pre-illuminated with a low dose light demonstrated an increase of curcumin uptake when compared to dark incubation, leading to a higher PDI efficacy.
This study clearly demonstrates that multispectral confocal microscopy images analyzed by artificial neural networks
provides a powerful tool to real-time monitoring photosensitizer uptake, as well as photochemical transformations
occurred.
Pulchellin is a type 2 of ribosome-inactivating proteins isolated from some seeds significantly growing in Brazil. It is a potent agent to inhibit the protein synthesis in cancer cells and also HIV-infected cells. Pulchellin can be conjugated to HIV monoclonal antibodies to specifically target the HIV-infected cells. To analyze the protein synthesis inhibition by Pulchellin, the intracellular localization of the immunoconjugate should be compared to Pulchellin. In this case, the intracellular trafficking of this protein in cells can be determined by confocal microscopy. In our study, we utilized Pulchellin to construct HIV monoclonal antibody-conjugated Pulchellin A chain in order to target HIV-infected lymphocyte cells. Afterward the conjugation was labeled with the superior Alexa Fluor 488 dye. As a subsequent step, we are interested in studying the intracellular trafficking pathway of this novel conjugation in HIV-infected cells by confocal microscopy. Moreover, possible quantitative methods for fluorescent labeling of the immunoconjugate during confocal microscopy will be investigated.
Recently a few demonstration on the use of Photodynamic Reaction as possibility to eliminate larvae that transmit diseases for men has been successfully demonstrated. This promising tool cannot be vastly used due to many problems, including the lake of investigation concerning the mechanisms of larvae killing as well as security concerning the use of photosensitizers in open environment. In this study, we investigate some of the mechanisms in which porphyrin (Photogem) is incorporated on the Aedes aegypti larvae previously to illumination and killing. Larvae at second instar were exposed to the photosensitizer and after 30 minutes imaged by a confocal fluorescence microscope. It was observed the presence of photosensitizer in the gut and at the digestive tract of the larva. Fluorescence-Lifetime Imaging showed greater photosensitizer concentration in the intestinal wall of the samples, which produces a strong decrease of the Photogem fluorescence lifetime. For Photodynamic Therapy exposition to different light doses and concentrations of porphyrin were employed. Three different light sources (LED, Fluorescent lamp, Sun light) also were tested. Sun light and fluorescent lamp shows close to 100% of mortality after 24 hrs. of illumination. These results indicate the potential use of photodynamic effect against the LARVAE of Aedes aegypti.
Polycrystalline films were grown by physical vapor deposition using lead iodide purified by evaporation as starting material. Purity and stoichiometry of starting material were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma and wet procedures. Palladium film was thermal deposited as rear contact onto glass and alumina substrates 5x5 cm2 in size. Onto it, lead iodide films were grown by evaporation with source temperatures from 430 to 450 degree(s)C in a 500 mmHg Argon atmosphere. Substrate temperature were from 200 to 250 degree(s)C and deposition times from 2 to 10 days. Film thickness was measured by 59.5 keV (241Am) emission absorption, resulting values up to 50micrometers . The films were characterized by optical and atomic force microscopy, giving an average grain size up to 2micrometers . Film's low temperature photoluminescence confirmed the purity of the starting material. X-ray diffraction measurements of film's reflections show an intensity relation [(Sigma) I(0 0 l)] / [(Sigma) I(h k l)] from 0.2 to 0.9 that correlates to the film deposition temperature. For determining electrical and spectrometric properties, front palladium thermal deposition contacts and acrylic encapsulation were done onto the lead iodide films. Apparent resistivities from 1012 to 1015 (Omega) .cm and current densities in the order of 6 pA/cm2 (50 V) were determined. X-ray film response and uniformity was checked by irradiating with an X-ray medical equipment. Film properties and performance were correlated with starting material and substrate temperature, with previous results for lead iodide films grew by other methods and with similar results for mercuric iodide films.
KEYWORDS: Multimedia, Video, Networks, Standards development, Asynchronous transfer mode, Telecommunications, Video compression, Control systems, Data communications, Databases
ATM network will support new multimedia services that will require new protocols, those services and protocols will need different test strategies and tools. In this paper, the concepts of functional and non-functional testers of ATM networks are discussed, a multimedia service and its requirements are presented and finally, a summary description of an ATM network and of the test tool that will be used to validate it are presented.
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