Infectious diseases are worldwide a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Fast and specific detection of pathogens such as bacteria is needed to combat these diseases. Optimal methods would be non-invasive and without extensive sample-taking/processing. Here, we developed a set of near infrared (NIR) fluorescent nanosensors and used them for remote fingerprinting of clinically important bacteria. The nanosensors are based on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) that fluoresce in the NIR optical tissue transparency window, which offers ultra-low background and high tissue penetration. They are chemically tailored to detect released metabolites as well as specific virulence factors (lipopolysaccharides, siderophores, DNases, proteases) and integrated into functional hydrogel arrays with 9 different sensors. These hydrogels are exposed to clinical isolates of 6 important bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli,…) and remote (≥25 cm) NIR imaging allows to identify and distinguish bacteria. Sensors are also spectrally encoded (900 nm, 1000 nm, 1250 nm) to differentiate the two major pathogens P. aeruginosa as well as S. aureus and penetrate tissue (>5 mm). This type of multiplexing with NIR fluorescent nanosensors enables remote detection and differentiation of important pathogens and the potential for smart surfaces.

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) fluoresce in the nearinfrared (NIR) region and have been assembled with biopolymers such as DNA to form highly sensitive molecular (bio)sensors. They change their fluorescence when they interact with analytes. Despite the progress in engineering these sensors, the underlying mechanisms are still not understood. Here, we identify processes and rate constants that explain the photophysical signal transduction by exploiting sp 3 quantum defects in the sp 2 carbon lattice of SWCNTs. As a model system, we use ssDNA-coated (6,5)-SWCNTs, which increase their NIR emission (E 11 , 990 nm) up to +250% in response to the important neurotransmitter dopamine. In contrast, SWCNTs coated with DNA but with a low number of NO 2 -aryl sp 3 quantum defects decrease both their E 11 (−35%) and defect-related E 11 * emission (−50%) at 1130 nm. Consequently, the interaction with the analyte does not change the radiative exciton decay pathway alone. Furthermore, the fluorescence response of pristine SWCNTs increases with SWCNT length, suggesting that exciton diffusion is affected. The quantum yield of pristine (6,5)-SWCNTs increases in response to the analyte from 0.6 to 1.3% and points to a change in non-radiative rate constants. These experimental results for dopamine and other analytes are explained by a Monte Carlo simulation of exciton diffusion, which supports a change in two non-radiative decay pathways together with an increase in exciton diffusion (three-rate constant model). The combination of such SWCNTs with defects and without defects enables the assembly of ratiometric biosensors with opposing responses at different wavelengths. In summary, we demonstrate how perturbation of a nanomaterial with quantum defects reveals the photophysical mechanism and reverses optical responses of biosensors.

<div><div><div><p>Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) fluoresce in the near infrared (NIR) and have been assembled with biopolymers such as DNA to form highly sensitive molecular sensors. They change their fluorescence when they interact with analytes. Despite the progress in engineering of these sensors the underlying mechanisms are still not understood. Here, we identify processes and rate constants that explain the photophysical signal transduction by exploiting sp3 quantum defects in the sp2 carbon lattice of SWCNTs. As a model system we use ssDNA coated (6,5)-SWCNTs, which increase their NIR emission (E11, 990 nm) up to + 250 % in response to the important neurotransmitter dopamine. In contrast, SWCNTs coated with DNA but with a low number of NO2-Aryl sp3 quantum defects decrease both their E11 (-35%) and defect related E11* emission (- 50%) at 1130 nm. Consequently, the interaction with the analyte does not change the radiative exciton decay pathway alone. Furthermore, the fluorescence response of pristine SWCNTs increases with SWCNT length, suggesting that exciton diffusion is affected. The quantum yield of pristine (6,5)-SWCNTs increases in response to the analyte from 0.6 % to 1.3 % and points to a change in non-radiative rate constants. These experimental results are explained by a Monte Carlo simulation of exciton diffusion, which supports a change of two non-radiative decay pathways together with an increase of exciton diffusion (3 rate constant model). The combination of such SWCNTs with defects and without defects enables the assembly of ratiometric sensors with opposing responses at different wavelengths. In summary, we demonstrate how perturbation of a system with quantum defects reveals the photophysical mechanism and reverses optical responses.</p></div></div></div>

The coupling of the quadrupolar moment of a nucleus to the molecular rotation causes hyperfine splitting of the rotational transitions, which provides important information about electronic environment and therefore chemical properties. It occurs when the molecular rotation couples with the nuclear spin. Since the coupling is highly sensitive to the electric field gradient, it is useful for structure determination and cross-validation of predicted electric field gradients by quantum chemical calculations.The series of mono-halogenated benzaldehydes containing fluorine has already been studied a,b . We expand on the series by replacing fluorine with a quadrupolar halogen atom (I(Cl) = 32 ), presenting broadband c and cavity microwave spectroscopy results of ortho-, meta-, and para-chlorobenzaldehyde. The quadrupolar coupling of the chlorine nucleus acts as a local probe for changes of the electric field gradient between the different isomers. The quadrupolar coupling constants are used to benchmark the description of the electric field gradient through dispersion corrected quantum chemical calculations. These studies serve as a baseline for future gas-phase complex studies involving chlorobenzaldehyde and analogue molecules with the heavier halogens, which have more complex spectra.

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