@article{GrinsvenBonStrauvenetal.2012, author = {Grinsven, Bart van and Bon, Natalie vanden and Strauven, Hannelore and Grieten, Lars and Murib, Mohammed and Jim{\´e}nez Monroy, Kathia L. and Janssens, Stoffel D. and Haenen, Ken and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef and Vermeeren, Veronique and Ameloot, Marcel and Michiels, Luc and Thoelen, Ronald and Ceuninck, Ward de and Wagner, Patrick}, title = {Heat-Transfer Resistance at Solid-Liquid Interfaces: A Tool for The Detection of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in DNA.}, series = {ACS Nano}, volume = {6}, journal = {ACS Nano}, number = {3}, publisher = {ACS Publications}, address = {Washington, DC}, issn = {1936-086X}, doi = {10.1021/nn300147e}, pages = {2712 -- 2721}, year = {2012}, abstract = {In this article, we report on the heat-transfer resistance at interfaces as a novel, denaturation-based method to detect single-nucleotide polymorphisms in DNA. We observed that a molecular brush of double-stranded DNA grafted onto synthetic diamond surfaces does not notably affect the heat-transfer resistance at the solid-to-liquid interface. In contrast to this, molecular brushes of single-stranded DNA cause, surprisingly, a substantially higher heat-transfer resistance and behave like a thermally insulating layer. This effect can be utilized to identify ds-DNA melting temperatures via the switching from low- to high heat-transfer resistance. The melting temperatures identified with this method for different DNA duplexes (29 base pairs without and with built-in mutations) correlate nicely with data calculated by modeling. The method is fast, label-free (without the need for fluorescent or radioactive markers), allows for repetitive measurements, and can also be extended toward array formats. Reference measurements by confocal fluorescence microscopy and impedance spectroscopy confirm that the switching of heat-transfer resistance upon denaturation is indeed related to the thermal on-chip denaturation of DNA.}, language = {en} } @article{BorgmeierBongaertsMeinhardt2012, author = {Borgmeier, Claudia and Bongaerts, Johannes and Meinhardt, Friedhelm}, title = {Genetic analysis of the Bacillus licheniformis degSU operon and the impact of regulatory mutations on protease production}, series = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {159}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, number = {1-2}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1873-4863 (E-Journal); 0168-1656 (Print)}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2012.02.011}, pages = {12 -- 20}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Disruption experiments targeted at the Bacillus licheniformis degSU operon and GFP-reporter analysis provided evidence for promoter activity immediately upstream of degU. pMutin mediated concomitant introduction of the degU32 allele - known to cause hypersecretion in Bacillus subtilis - resulted in a marked increase in protease activity. Application of 5-fluorouracil based counterselection through establishment of a phosphoribosyltransferase deficient Δupp strain eventually facilitated the marker-free introduction of degU32 leading to further protease enhancement achieving levels as for hypersecreting wild strains in which degU was overexpressed. Surprisingly, deletion of rapG - known to interfere with DegU DNA-binding in B. subtilis - did not enhance protease production neither in the wild type nor in the degU32 strain. The combination of degU32 and Δupp counterselection in the type strain is not only equally effective as in hypersecreting wild strains with respect to protease production but furthermore facilitates genetic strain improvement aiming at biological containment and effectiveness of biotechnological processes.}, language = {en} } @article{SchoeningBiselliSelmeretal.2012, author = {Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef and Biselli, Manfred and Selmer, Thorsten and {\"O}hlschl{\"a}ger, Peter and Baumann, Marcus and F{\"o}rster, Arnold and Poghossian, Arshak}, title = {Forschung „zwischen" den Disziplinen: das Institut f{\"u}r Nano- und Biotechnologien}, series = {Analytik news : das Online-Labormagazin f{\"u}r Labor und Analytik}, volume = {Publ. online}, journal = {Analytik news : das Online-Labormagazin f{\"u}r Labor und Analytik}, publisher = {Dr. Beyer Internet-Beratung}, address = {Ober-Ramstadt}, pages = {11 Seiten}, year = {2012}, abstract = {"Biologie trifft Mikroelektronik", das Motto des Instituts f{\"u}r Nano- und Biotechnologien (INB) an der FH Aachen, unterstreicht die zunehmende Bedeutung interdisziplin{\"a}r gepr{\"a}gter Forschungsaktivit{\"a}ten. Der thematische Zusammenschluss grundst{\"a}ndiger Disziplinen, wie die Physik, Elektrotechnik, Chemie, Biologie sowie die Materialwissenschaften, l{\"a}sst neue Forschungsgebiete entstehen, ein herausragendes Beispiel hierf{\"u}r ist die Nanotechnologie: Hier werden neue Werkstoffe und Materialien entwickelt, einzelne Nanopartikel oder Molek{\"u}le und deren Wechselwirkung untersucht oder Schichtstrukturen im Nanometerbereich aufgebaut, die neue und vorher nicht bekannte Eigenschaften hervorbringen. Vor diesem Hintergrund b{\"u}ndelt das im Jahre 2006 gegr{\"u}ndete INB die an der FH Aachen vorhandenen Kompetenzen von derzeit insgesamt sieben Laboratorien auf den Gebieten der Halbleitertechnik und Nanoelektronik, Nanostrukturen und DNA-Sensorik, der Chemo- und Biosensorik, der Enzymtechnologie, der Mikrobiologie und Pflanzenbiotechnologie, der Zellkulturtechnik, sowie der Roten Biotechnologie synergetisch. In der Nano- und Biotechnologie steckt außergew{\"o}hnliches Potenzial! Nicht zuletzt deshalb stellen sich die Forscher der Herausforderung, in diesem Bereich gemeinsam zu forschen und Schnittstellen zu nutzen, um so bei der Gestaltung neuartiger Ideen und Produkte mitzuwirken, die zuk{\"u}nftig unser allt{\"a}gliches Leben ver{\"a}ndern werden. Im Folgenden werden die verschiedenen Forschungsbereiche kurz zusammenfassend vorgestellt und vorhandene Interaktionen anhand von exemplarisch ausgew{\"a}hlten, aktuellen Forschungsprojekten skizziert.}, language = {de} } @article{PoghossianWeilBaeckeretal.2012, author = {Poghossian, Arshak and Weil, M. H. and B{\"a}cker, Matthias and Mayer, D. and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {Field-effect Devices Functionalised with Gold-Nanoparticle/Macromolecule Hybrids: New Opportunities for a Label-Free Biosensing}, series = {Procedia Engineering}, journal = {Procedia Engineering}, number = {47}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1877-7058}, doi = {10.1016/j.proeng.2012.09.136}, pages = {273 -- 276}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Field-effect capacitive electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) sensors functionalised with citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNP) have been used for the electrostatic detection of macromolecules by their intrinsic molecular charge. The EIS sensor detects the charge changes in the AuNP/macromolecule hybrids induced by the adsorption or binding events. A feasibility of the proposed detection scheme has been exemplary demonstrated by realising EIS sensors for the detection of poly-D-lysine molecules.}, language = {en} } @article{RibitschHeumannKarletal.2012, author = {Ribitsch, D. and Heumann, S. and Karl, W. and Gerlach, J. and Leber, R. and Birner-Gruenberger, R. and Gruber, K. and Eiteljoerg, I. and Remler, P. and Siegert, Petra and Lange, J. and Maurer, Karl-Heinz and Berg, G. and Guebitz, G. M. and Schwab, H.}, title = {Extracellular serine proteases from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: Screening, isolation and heterologous expression in E. coli}, series = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {157}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, number = {1}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1873-4863 (E-Journal); 0168-1656 (Print)}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2011.09.025}, pages = {140 -- 147}, year = {2012}, abstract = {A large strain collection comprising antagonistic bacteria was screened for novel detergent proteases. Several strains displayed protease activity on agar plates containing skim milk but were inactive in liquid media. Encapsulation of cells in alginate beads induced protease production. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia emerged as best performer under washing conditions. For identification of wash-active proteases, four extracellular serine proteases called StmPr1, StmPr2, StmPr3 and StmPr4 were cloned. StmPr2 and StmPr4 were sufficiently overexpressed in E. coli. Expression of StmPr1 and StmPr3 resulted in unprocessed, insoluble protein. Truncation of most of the C-terminal domain which has been identified by enzyme modeling succeeded in expression of soluble, active StmPr1 but failed in case of StmPr3. From laundry application tests StmPr2 turned out to be a highly wash-active protease at 45 °C. Specific activity of StmPr2 determined with suc-l-Ala-l-Ala-l-Pro-l-Phe-p-nitroanilide as the substrate was 17 ± 2 U/mg. In addition we determined the kinetic parameters and cleavage preferences of protease StmPr2.}, language = {en} } @article{SpelthahnSchubertSchoening2012, author = {Spelthahn, Heiko and Schubert, J{\"u}rgen and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {D{\"u}nnschichtsensoren f{\"u}r die Schwermetallanalytik : Mikroelektroden auf Chalkogenidglasbasis}, series = {GIT Labor-Fachzeitschrift}, journal = {GIT Labor-Fachzeitschrift}, number = {4}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, pages = {285 -- 287}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Die Detektion von Schadstoffen repr{\"a}sentiert in der Umweltanalytik eine wichtige Aufgabenstellung. Gerade die Abwasser- bzw. Brauchwasseranalytik sowie die Prozesskontrolle haben einen hohen Stellenwert. Siliziumbasierte D{\"u}nnschichtsensoren bieten eine kosteng{\"u}nstige M{\"o}glichkeit, „online"-Messungen bzw. Vor-Ort-Messungen zeitnah durchzuf{\"u}hren. In dieser Arbeit wird ein potentiometrisches Sensorarray auf der Basis von Chalkogenidgl{\"a}sern zur Detektion von Schwermetallen in w{\"a}ssrigen Medien vorgestellt.}, language = {de} } @article{SpelthahnSchubertSchoening2012, author = {Spelthahn, Heiko and Schubert, J{\"u}rgen and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {D{\"u}nnschichtsensoren f{\"u}r die Schwermetallanalytik}, series = {GIT : Labor-Fachzeitschrift}, volume = {56}, journal = {GIT : Labor-Fachzeitschrift}, number = {4}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {0016-3538}, pages = {285 -- 287}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Die Detektion von Schadstoffen repr{\"a}sentiert in der Umweltanalytik eine wichtige Aufgabenstellung. Gerade die Abwasser- bzw. Brauchwasseranalytik sowie die Prozesskontrolle haben einen hohen Stellenwert. Siliziumbasierte D{\"u}nnschichtsensoren bieten eine kosteng{\"u}nstige M{\"o}glichkeit, „online"-Messungen bzw. Vor-Ort-Messungen zeitnah durchzuf{\"u}hren. In dieser Arbeit wird ein potentiometrisches Sensorarray auf der Basis von Chalkogenidgl{\"a}sern zur Detektion von Schwermetallen in w{\"a}ssrigen Medien vorgestellt.}, language = {en} } @article{SpelthahnKirsanovLeginetal.2012, author = {Spelthahn, Heiko and Kirsanov, Dmitry and Legin, Andrey and Osterrath, Thomas and Schubert, J{\"u}rgen and Zander, Willi and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {Development of a thin-film sensor array for analytical monitoring of heavy metals in aqueous solutions}, series = {Physica Status Solidi (a)}, volume = {209}, journal = {Physica Status Solidi (a)}, number = {5}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, isbn = {1862-6319}, doi = {10.1002/pssa.201100733}, pages = {885 -- 891}, year = {2012}, abstract = {In industrial processes there is a variety of heavy metals (e.g., copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead) in use for wires, coatings, paints, alloys, batteries, etc. Since the application of these transition metals for industry is inevitable, it is a vital task to develop proper analytical techniques for their monitoring at low activity levels, especially because most of these elements are acutely toxic for biological organisms. The determination of ions in solution by means of a simple and inexpensive sensor array is, therefore, a promising task. In this work, a sensor array with heavy metal-sensitive chalcogenide glass membranes for the simultaneous detection of the four ions Ag⁺, Cu2⁺, Cd2⁺, and Pb2⁺ in solution is realized. The results of the physical characterization by means of microscopy, profilometry, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as the electrochemical characterization by means of potentiometric measurements are presented. Additionally, the possibility to expand the sensor array by polymeric sensor membranes is discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{WagnerWernerMiyamotoetal.2012, author = {Wagner, Torsten and Werner, Frederik and Miyamoto, Ko-Ichiro and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef and Yoshinobu, Tatsuo}, title = {Development and characterisation of a compact light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) based on the digital light processing (DLP) technology for flexible chemical imaging}, series = {Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical}, volume = {170}, journal = {Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0925-4005}, doi = {10.1016/j.snb.2010.12.003}, pages = {34 -- 39}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Chemical imaging systems allow the visualisation of the distribution of chemical species on the sensor surface. This work represents a new flexible approach to read out light-addressable potentiometric sensors (LAPS) with the help of a digital light processing (DLP) set-up. The DLP, known well for video projectors, consists of a mirror-array MEMS device, which allows fast and flexible generation of light patterns. With the help of these light patterns, the sensor surface of the LAPS device can be addressed. The DLP approach has several advantages compared to conventional LAPS set-ups, e.g., the spot size and the shape of the light pointer can be changed easily and no mechanical movement is necessary, which reduces the size of the set-up and increases the stability and speed of the measurement. In addition, the modulation frequency and intensity of the light beam are important parameters of the LAPS set-up. Within this work, the authors will discuss two different ways of light modulation by the DLP set-up, investigate the influence of different modulation frequencies and different light intensities as well as demonstrate the scanning capabilities of the new set-up by pH mapping on the sensor surface.}, language = {en} } @article{HuckPoghossianWagneretal.2012, author = {Huck, Christina and Poghossian, Arshak and Wagner, Patrick and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {Combined amperometric/field-effect sensor for the detection of dissolved hydrogen}, series = {Sensors and actuators B: Chemical}, volume = {187}, journal = {Sensors and actuators B: Chemical}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0925-4005}, doi = {10.1016/j.snb.2012.10.050}, pages = {168 -- 173}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Real-time and reliable monitoring of the biogas process is crucial for a stable and efficient operation of biogas production in order to avoid digester breakdowns. The concentration of dissolved hydrogen (H₂) represents one of the key parameters for biogas process control. In this work, a one-chip integrated combined amperometric/field-effect sensor for monitoring the dissolved H₂ concentration has been developed for biogas applications. The combination of two different transducer principles might allow a more accurate and reliable measurement of dissolved H₂ as an early warning indicator of digester failures. The feasibility of the approach has been demonstrated by simultaneous amperometric/field-effect measurements of dissolved H₂ concentrations in electrolyte solutions. Both, the amperometric and the field-effect transducer show a linear response behaviour in the H₂ concentration range from 0.1 to 3\% (v/v) with a slope of 198.4 ± 13.7 nA/\% (v/v) and 14.9 ± 0.5 mV/\% (v/v), respectively.}, language = {en} }