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Detections of internal substances and morphologies for label-free living cells are crucial for revealing malignant diseases. With the phase serving as a coupling of refractive index (RI) (marker for substances) and thickness (morphology), existing decoupling methods mainly rely on complex integrated systems or extensive optical field information. Developing simple and rapid decoupling methods remains a challenge. This study introduces a refractive index morphology imaging microscope (RIMIM) system utilizing polarization multiplexing for label-free single living cells. By simultaneous degree of circular polarization (DOCP) imaging and noninterferometric quantitative phase imaging (QPI), the intracellular refractive index distribution (IRID) and morphology can be decoupled. The optical thickness calculated from the phase is input into the circular depolarization decay model (CDDM) of degree of circular polarization to retrieve IRID. Subsequently, the thickness can be decoupled from phase result using retrieved IRID. Experiments conducted on mouse forestomach carcinoma (MFC) cells and human kidney-2 cells (HK-2) demonstrated the RIMIM system's ability to retrieve IRID and decouple fine morphology. Additionally, the RIMIM system effectively detected membrane damage and changes in erastin-induced ferroptotic HK-2 cells, with average and root-mean-square of surface folds 65.5% and 70.0% higher than those of normal HK-2 cells. Overall, the RIMIM system provides a simple and rapid method for decoupling RI and fine morphology, showing great potential for label-free live cells' cytopathology detection.

Four biobased phosphate-containing aryl monomers with methoxy, allyl, and vinyl groups as substituents have been successfully synthesized. Copolymerizing these monomers with thiophenol or mercaptans via the photoclick thiol-ene reaction gives the polymers with refractive indices ( n D ) of 1.63-1.70 and Abbe numbers ( v D ) of 12.8-38.5. An investigation of the relationship of the v D values with the substituents on the benzene rings of the monomers indicates that methoxy and vinyl groups can collectively increase the v D values. In comparison with allyl groups, vinyl groups endow the polymers with both higher n D and v D . Moreover, these polymers also display high transmittance, high thermostability, and low haze values in the visible-light region, suggesting that these biobased functional monomers are satisfactory precursors used in the fabrication of optical devices.

Objective. Achieving ultra-precise temporal resolution in ionizing radiation detection is essential, particularly in positron emission tomography, where precise timing enhances signal-to-noise ratios and may enable reconstruction-less imaging. A promising approach involves utilizing ultrafast modulation of the complex refractive index, where sending probe pulses to the detection crystals will result in changes in picoseconds (ps), and thus a sub-10 ps coincidence time resolution can be realized. Towards this goal, here, we aim to first measure the ps changes in probe pulses using an ionizing radiation source with high time resolution . Approach. We used relativistic, ultrafast electrons to induce complex refractive index and use probe pulses in the near-infrared (800 nm) and terahertz (THz, 300 µ m) regimes to test the hypothesized wavelength-squared increase in absorption coefficient in the Drude free-carrier absorption model. We measured BGO, ZnSe, BaF 2 , ZnS, PBG, and PWO with 1 mm thickness to control the deposited energy of the 3 MeV electrons, simulating ionization energy of the 511 keV photons. Main results. Both with the 800 nm and THz probe pulses, transmission decreased across most samples, indicating the free carrier absorption, with an induced signal change of 11% in BaF 2 , but without the predicted Drude modulation increase. To understand this discrepancy, we simulated ionization tracks and examined the geometry of the free carrier distribution, attributing the mismatch in THz modulations to the sub-wavelength diameter of trajectories, despite the lengths reaching 500 µ m to 1 mm. Additionally, thin samples truncated the final segments of the ionization tracks, and the measured initial segments have larger inter-inelastic collision distances due to lower stopping power (d E /d x ) for high-energy electrons, exacerbating diffraction-limited resolution. Significance. Our work offers insights into ultrafast radiation detection using complex refractive index modulation and highlights critical considerations in sample preparation, probe wavelength, and probe-charge carrier coupling scenarios., (© 2024 Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine. All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved.)

In this work, we report on the application of the polarization modulated spectroscopic ellipsometry-based surface plasmon resonance method for sensitive detection of microorganisms in Kretschmann configuration. So far, rotating analyzer and single wavelength polarization modulation methods have widely been investigated for phase sensitive surface plasmon resonance measurement. In this study, a much simpler optical setup relying on fast electro-optic phase modulator crystals is introduced for bacteria detection. A beta barium borate crystal connected to a function generator is adapted for generating phase shifts in the millisecond regime to extract the ellipsometric angles ( Ψ and Δ ) under the surface plasmon resonance condition. For detection, the gold surface was functionalized with anti-Escherichia coli antibodies, and E. coli K12 was attached to them. We show that polarization modulated spectroscopic ellipsometry achieves a refractive index resolution in the order of 10 - 5 RIU, and a limit of detection of 10 2 CFU/mL for E. coli K12 which is compatible with other surface plasmon resonance based phase sensitive methods with more complex detection concepts. As a follow-up step, an optical model can be developed to enhance this biosensor's performance, and applications for sorting and detecting other biological targets will be investigated., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Wheat is an important food crop in the world, and wheat gluten quality is one of the important standards for judging the use of wheat. In this study, a combination of chemometric and machine learning methods based on THz-TDS were used to identify three different gluten wheats (high gluten, medium gluten, and low gluten). After collecting the time-domain spectral information of the samples, the frequency-domain spectra, refractive index spectra and absorption coefficient spectra of the samples were obtained by calculating the optical parameters. The experimental results showed that there were differences in the refractive indices and absorption coefficients of wheat with different gluten levels. More importantly the differences in refractive index spectra were more significant. The Competitive Adaptive Reweighted Sampling (CARS) method was applied to select characteristic frequencies from the refractive index spectra within the frequency range of 0.1 to 1.5 THz, to establish a discrimination model for wheat gluten strength. We analysed and compared four discriminative models of Support Vector Machines (SVM), Back Propagation Neural Networks (BPNN), Improved Convolutional Neural Networks (Improved CNN) and Sparrow Algorithm Optimised Support Vector Machines (SSA-SVM). The final results indicated that the SSA-SVM model demonstrated the optimal discrimination performance, achieving an accuracy rate of 100% as reflected in the confusion matrix. In summary, this study provides an efficient, accurate, and non-destructive discrimination method for wheat gluten strength, offering a theoretical basis for differentiating wheat with varying gluten strengths in production processes. It holds practical significance for industrial production reference., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In recent years, following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in cases of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) and related deaths worldwide. Despite the pandemic nearing its end due to the introduction of mass-produced vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, early detection and diagnosis of the virus remain crucial in preventing disease progression. This article explores the rapid identification of SARS-CoV-2 by implementing a multimode plasmonic refractive index (MMRI) optical sensor, developed based on the split ring resonator (SRR) design. The Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) numerical solution method simulates the sensor. The studied sensor demonstrates three resonance modes within the reflection spectrum ranging from 800 nm to 1400 nm. Its material composition and dimensional parameters are optimized to enhance the sensor's performance. The research indicates that all three resonance modes exhibit strong performance with high sensitivity and figures of merit. Notably, the first mode achieves an exceptional sensitivity of 557 nm/RIU, while the third mode exhibits a commendable sensitivity of 453 nm/RIU and a Figure of Merit (FOM) of 45 RIU -1 . These findings suggest that the developed MMRI optical sensor holds significant potential for the early and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2, contributing to improved disease management and control efforts., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This work discusses label-free biosensing application of a double-layer optical fiber interferometer where the second layer tailors the reflection conditions at the external plain and supports changes in reflected optical spectrum when a bio-layer binds to it. The double-layer nanostructure consists of precisely tailored thin films, i.e., titanium (TiO 2 ) and hafnium oxides (HfO 2 ) deposited on single-mode fiber end-face by magnetron sputtering. It has been shown numerically and experimentally that the approach besides well spectrally defined interference pattern distinguishes refractive index (RI) changes taking place in a volume and on the sensor surface. These are of interest when label-free biosensing applications are considered. The case of myeloperoxidase (MPO) detection-a protein, which concentration rises during inflammation-is reported as an example of application. The response of the sensor to MPO in a concentration range of 1 × 10 -11 -5 × 10 -6  g/mL was tested. An increase in the MPO concentration was followed by a redshift of the interference pattern and a decrease in reflected power. The negative control performed using ferritin proved specificity of the sensor. The results reported in this work indicate capability of the approach for diagnostic label-free biosensing, possibly also at in vivo conditions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The current limitations of single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) in deep tissue imaging, primarily due to depth-dependent aberrations caused by refractive index (RI) mismatch, present a significant challenge in achieving high-resolution images at greater depths. To extend the imaging depth, we optimized the imaging buffer of SMLM with the RI matched to that of the objective immersion medium and systematically evaluated five different RI-matched buffers, focusing on their impact on the blinking behavior of red-absorbing dyes and the quality of reconstructed super-resolution images. Particularly, we found that clear unobstructed brain imaging cocktails-based imaging buffer could match the RI of oil and was able to clear the tissue samples. With the help of the RI-matched imaging buffers, we showed high-quality dual-color 3D SMLM images with imaging depths ranging from a few micrometers to tens of micrometers in both cultured cells and sectioned tissue samples. This advancement offers a practical and accessible method for high-resolution imaging at greater depths without the need for specialized optical equipment or expertise.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of different ratios of Bis-EMA/Bis-GMA resin mixtures on the inherent viscosity and curing-related properties: including degree of cure (DC%), shrinkage strain, Knoop micro-hardness (KH) and flexural strength of resin-impregnated fiber-bundles., Methods: Bis-EMA/Bis-GMA monomers were mixed (by weight) in the following ratios: M1 = 30 %/70 %, M2 = 50 %/50 %, M3 = 70 %/30 %, and M4 = 100 %/0 %. Standard measurements were made of refractive index, viscosity, degree of conversion, shrinkage strain and Knoop hardness (KHN). For 60 % glass fiber-bundles impregnated with 40 % resin, three-point bending test for flexural strength and shrinkage strain were measured. Data were analyzed by One-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests (α = 0.05)., Results: For resin mixtures, increasing Bis-EMA proportion decreased refractive index (p < 0.05), and viscosity (p < 0.05), and increased monomer conversion (DC%), shrinkage strain and KHN (p < 0.05). DC% increased after 1 h for all resin mixtures. The shrinkage strain and flexural strength of resin-impregnated fiber-bundles reduced with increased Bis-EMA., Significance: Monomeric mixtures with highest amounts of Bis-EMA showed enhancement in several clinically-relevant properties and polymerization of respective resin-impregnated glass fibers. This makes them potential candidates for impregnating glass fibers in fiber-reinforced restorations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest This is to confirm there are no interests to declare regarding the above titled manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A minimally invasive needle refractometer is presented for sugar content measurements within produce. A passive sampling cap structure was developed that improves the reliability of the device by avoiding interfering back reflections from the flesh of the produce. It is explained that factory calibration may not be needed for this type of refractometer, potentially reducing production costs. Also demonstrated is an iterative method to correct for temperature variations without the need for an integrated model for how the refractive index changes with temperature for different levels of sugar concentration. The sensor showed a typical standard deviation of 0.4 °Bx for a 10-s-long measurement and was validated against a prism refractometer, showing an average offset of (0.0±0.1) °Bx. In addition, the potential for using the device to investigate sugar distributions within a single fruit sample is demonstrated.

Measurements of cell lineages are central to a variety of fundamental biological questions, ranging from developmental to cancer biology. However, accurate lineage tracing requires nearly perfect cell tracking, which can be challenging due to cell motion during imaging. Here we demonstrate the integration of microfabrication, imaging, and image processing approaches to demonstrate a platform for cell lineage tracing. We use quantitative phase imaging (QPI), a label-free imaging approach that quantifies cell mass. This gives an additional parameter, cell mass, that can be used to improve tracking accuracy. We confine lineages within microwells fabricated to reduce cell adhesion to sidewalls made of a low refractive index polymer. This also allows the microwells themselves to serve as references for QPI, enabling measurement of cell mass even in confluent microwells. We demonstrate application of this approach to immortalized adherent and nonadherent cell lines as well as stimulated primary B cells cultured ex vivo . Overall, our approach enables lineage tracking, or measurement of lineage mass, in a platform that can be customized to varied cell types.

A series of polymers with both high refractive index and high Abbe number have been successfully synthesized through the photoclick thiol-ene reaction between the monomers derived from biobased magnolol (or honokiol) and commercial mercaptans and thiophenols. The polymer films not only exhibit a high refractive index and a high Abbe number but also display a transmittance of up to 90% in a range of wavelengths from 550 to 2000 nm and nearly 0% in the UV region. Moreover, these polymers also display low haze values in the visible-light region as well as exhibit good thermostability. These data indicate that they have potential applications for the fabrication of optical lenses and anti-UV coatings. In particular, this series of polymers are readily used for industrialization due to its excellent optical properties but low expense, simplicity, and efficiency of synthesis.

The refractive index (RI) of biological tissues is a fundamental material parameter that characterizes how light interacts with tissues, making accurate measurement of RI crucial for biomedical diagnostics and environmental monitoring. A Janus sensor (JBS) is designed in this paper, and the photonic spin Hall effect (PSHE) is used to detect subtle changes in RI in biological tissues. The asymmetric arrangement of the dielectric layers breaks spatial parity symmetry, resulting in significantly different PSHE displacements during the forward and backward propagation of electromagnetic waves, thereby realizing the Janus effect. The designed JBS can detect the RI range of 1.3~1.55 RIU when electromagnetic waves are incident along the + z -axis, with a sensitivity of 96.29°/refractive index unit (RIU). In the reverse direction, blood glucose concentrations are identified by the JBS, achieving a sensitivity of 18.30°/RIU. Detecting different RI range from forward and backward scales not only overcomes the limitation that single-scale sensors can only detect a single RI range, but also provides new insights and applications for optical biological detection through high-sensitivity, label-free and non-contact detection.

Optical imaging plays a central role in biology and medicine but is hindered by light scattering in live tissue. We report the counterintuitive observation that strongly absorbing molecules can achieve optical transparency in live animals. We explored the physics behind this observation and found that when strongly absorbing molecules dissolve in water, they can modify the refractive index of the aqueous medium through the Kramers-Kronig relations to match that of high-index tissue components such as lipids. We have demonstrated that our straightforward approach can reversibly render a live mouse body transparent to allow visualization of a wide range of deep-seated structures and activities. This work suggests that the search for high-performance optical clearing agents should focus on strongly absorbing molecules.

Organic crystals are widely used by animals to manipulate light for producing structural colors and for improving vision. To date only seven crystal types are known to be used, and among them β-guanine crystals are by far the most widespread. The fact that almost all these crystals have unusually high refractive indices (RIs) is consistent with their light manipulation function. Here, the physical, structural, and optical principles of how light interacts with the polarizable free-electron-rich environment of these quasiaromatic molecules are addressed. How the organization of these molecules into crystalline arrays introduces optical anisotropy and finally how organisms control crystal morphology and superstructural organization to optimize functions in light reflection and scattering are also discussed. Many open questions remain in this fascinating field, some of which arise out of this in-depth analysis of the interaction of light with crystal arrays. More types of organic crystals will probably be discovered, as well as other organisms that use these crystals to manipulate light. The insights gained from biological systems can also be harnessed for improving synthetic light-manipulating materials., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Materials published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

In order to rapidly identify various species of cancer cells in the tissues of person, a unique diamond shaped hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF)-formed by optical waveform is developed and computationally studied. In this investigation, we found the most prevalent cancers, such as HeLa-derived cervical carcinoma. Since normal and cancer cells differ in their refractive indices (RIs), other significant optical properties can be assessed using this information. With the use of the finite element method, a computational tool for solving simultaneous equations, the defining characteristics the suggested cancer cell sensor are examined using COMSOL-Multiphysics software. Additionally, strict mesh parts are used to preserve the utmost level of modeling realism. At 2.4 THz, the PCF detector attains a Relative Sensitivity of around 97.51% and 96.29%, Confinement Loss of 6.1 × 10 -09 db/m and 4.39 × 10 -07 db/m with respect to cervical carcinoma cell and cervical normal cell. The straightforward PCF structure provides a wide chance of application using the continuing fabrication technique, based on these conventional values of performance indices. This biosensor utilizes the distinctive refractive characteristics of cancer cells, providing a highly accurate and dependable approach for the early identification of cervical cancer. This has the potential to significantly transform the process of cervical cancer screening. The novel method boosts the ability to detect and identify certain conditions, leading to increased diagnostic capabilities for early treatment and better results for patients., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Herein, it is demonstrated that the toxic effect of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) on three different cancer cell lines (U-118 and LN-299 glioblastoma and HCT-116 colon) depends on their absorption dynamics by cells, related to the shapes of the NPs. This hypothesis is confirmed by showing that i) based on refractive index (RI) values, typical for cell components and gold nanoparticles, it is possible to show the absorption dynamics and accumulation locations of the latter ones inside and outside of the cells. Moreover, ii) the saturation of the accumulated Au NPs volume in the cells depends on the nanoparticle shape and is reached in the shortest time for star-shaped Au NPs (AuS NPs) and in the longest time for spherical Au NPs (AuSph NPs) and on the cancer cells, where the longest and the shortest saturation are noticed for HCT-116 and LN-229 cells, respectively. A physical model of Au NPs absorption dynamics is proposed, where the diameter and shape of the Au NPs are used as parameters. The obtained theoretical data are consistent with experimental data in 85-98%., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Particle plasmon resonance (PPR), or localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), utilizes intrinsic resonance in metal nanoparticles for sensor fabrication. While diffraction grating waveguides monitor bioaffinity adsorption with out-of-plane illumination, integrating them with PPR for biomolecular detection schemes remains underexplored. This study introduces a label-free biosensing platform integrating PPR with a diffraction grating waveguide. Gold nanoparticles are immobilized on a glass slide in contact with a sample, while a UV-assisted embossed diffraction grating is positioned opposite. The setup utilizes diffraction in reflection to detect changes in the environment's refractive index, indicating biomolecular binding at the gold nanoparticle surface. The positional shift of the diffracted beam, measured with varying refractive indices of sucrose solutions, shows a sensitivity of 0.97 mm/RIU at 8 cm from a position-sensitive detector, highlighting enhanced sensitivity due to PPR-diffraction coupling near the gold nanoparticle surface. Furthermore, the sensor achieved a resolution of 3.1 × 10 -4 refractive index unit and a detection limit of 4.4 pM for detection of anti-DNP. The sensitivity of the diffracted spot was confirmed using finite element method (FEM) simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics. This study presents a significant advancement in biosensing technology, offering practical solutions for sensitive, rapid, and label-free biomolecule detection.

This paper presents a new biosensor design based on the Kretschmann configuration, for the detection of analytes at different refractive indices. Our studied design consists of a TiO 2 /SiO 2 bi-layer sandwiched between a BK7 prism and a bimetallic layer of Ag/Au plasmonic materials, covered by a layer of black phosphorus placed below the analyte-containing detection medium. The different layers of our structure and analyte detection were optimized using the angular interrogation method. High performance was achieved, with a sensitivity of 240 deg/RIU and a quality factor of 34.7 RIU -1 . This biosensor can detect analytes with a wide refractive index range between 1.330 and 1.347, such as glucose detection in urine samples using a refractive index variation of 10-3. This capability offers a wide range of applications for biomedical and biochemical detection and selectivity.

Latent fingerprints (LFPs) are predominantly used for personal identification, but in recent years research has shown their potential for drug screening. Despite this there is no standardised collection method to allow accurate drug test interpretation. We sought to help address this by characterising different variables related to sweat deposition in LFPs as the knowledge is limited. A series of experiments were conducted firstly to validate a novel tool called the Ridgeway (Intelligent Fingerprint Ltd. UK) to quantify the amount of sweat deposited from a LFP using the refractive index (RI). A significant positive correlation was observed between the Ridgeway score (Rs) and LFP mass [r = 0.868, p < 0.01]. The Rs was used as means to investigate optimal sampling to characterise sample deposition for drug screening purposes. It was found with a consistent disposition pressure (300 - 400 g) and surface (glass slide) no significant difference was observed between the left and right index finger [left: p = 0.938; right: p = 0.838]. Significantly higher Rs [p<0.01] were obtained when 10 cumulative LFPs were deposited compared to a single LFP, suggesting a larger sweat quantity. We also wanted to investigate optimal eccrine sweat sampling to confirm drug ingestion over drug contamination of the fingerprint. We found that wearing gloves did not significantly improve mean difference in Rs when compared to no gloves [p = 0.239]. To produce eccrine only LFPs, external contamination (e.g. sebaceous sweat) needs to be removed. Soap with lint free tissue was significantly better for this compared to antibacterial hand gel [p<0.01]. Our findings showed that the Ridgeway tool effectively quantified LFPs at the point of deposition using a refractive index and enabled us to establish conditions for consistent LFP sampling., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Knowledge of the optical parameters of tumors is important for choosing the correct laser treatment parameters. In this paper, optical properties and refraction indices of breast tissue in healthy mice and a 4T1 model mimicking human breast cancer have been measured. A significant decrease in both the scattering and refractive index of tumor tissue has been observed. The change in tissue morphology has induced the change in the slope of the scattering spectrum. Thus, the light penetration depth into tumor has increased by almost 1.5-2 times in the near infrared "optical windows." Raman spectra have shown lower lipid content and higher protein content in tumor. The difference in the optical parameters of the tissues under study makes it possible to reliably differentiate them. The results may be useful for modeling the distribution of laser radiation in healthy tissues and cancers for deriving optimal irradiation conditions in photodynamic therapy., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

This experiment was motivated by the need to understand the impacts of delaying the first colostrum feeding on the prevalence of failed transfer of passive immunity (FTPI). A cohort of 216 kids was stratified into groups based on the colostrum feeding delay postbirth: 0-4 h, 4-8 h, 8-12 h, and 12-16 h. All kids received a single colostrum meal of 300 mL, and blood samples were collected approximately 36 h after feeding. Serum immunoglobulin G (SIgG) was measured using ELISA, and serum total protein (STP) was assessed using the Bradford method and refractometry (STP b and STP r ). Statistical methods like Pearson correlations, Bland-Altman plots, and Lin's concordance coefficient were employed to assess associations and agreements between SIgG, STP b and STP r . Receiver operator characteristic analysis was employed to determine optimal STP b and STP r thresholds for predicting FTPI (SIgG < 12 g/L). Subsequently, areas under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity were examined to assess the accuracy of these thresholds. Our results showed that for each hour's delay from birth to colostrum intake (up to 16 h), IgG apparent efficiency of absorption (AEA) decreases at an approximate rate of 2.0% per hour, and SIgG decreases at an approximate rate of 1.0 g/L per hour. However, this decline is not constant over time but intensifies progressively with increased feeding delay. Specifically, reductions in IgG AEA were 1.3, 2.9, and 5.9% per hour, and decreases in SIgG were 0.2, 0.3, and 0.7 g per hour for SIgG across the time intervals of 0-4 to 4-8 h, 4-8 to 8-12 h, and 8-12 to 12-16 h, respectively. Additionally, there was an increase in SIgG of 1.2 g/dL but a decrease in IgG AEA of 1.9% for each gram per kg of BW increase in IgG intake. The correlations between SIgG and STP r and STP b were 0.62, and 0.36, respectively. Optimal STP r and STP b thresholds predicting FTPI were determined to be 4.6 and 6.2 g/dL. The prevalence of FTPI, according to SIgG, STP r , and STP b thresholds were 63, 62, and 45%. Overall, STP r showed higher values for key performance metrics (i.e., sensitivity, likelihood ratio of positive tests, overall accuracy, and Youden's index), indicating better prediction ability than STP b . Our findings corroborate the critical importance of swift colostrum administration, ideally occurring no later than 12 h postbirth. Moreover, our research validates the effectiveness of Brix refractometry as a practical, on-farm method for assessing FTPI in goat kids., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The water-soluble polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is an established ingredient in pharmaceutical and personal care product (PPCP) formulations. Due to its high usage and lack of biodegradability, it has been detected up to 7.0 mg L -1 in wastewater and 0.1 mg L -1 in the receiving freshwaters, with several studies showing detrimental sublethal effects in a range of aquatic species. A lack of simple analytical methods to detect and quantify PVP currently impacts further investigation into the cause of these sublethal effects. In this paper we propose a refractive index gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) method to quantify PVP, which includes the processing of raw chromatograms using line deconvolution to calculate peak area. The method was then applied to Daphnia magna exposed to PVP for 48 h. A limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.05 and 0.2 mg mL -1 respectively was determined, with a recovery of 78 % from spiked Daphnia magna. PVP was detected in the samples above the LOD but below the LOQ. This suggests PVP is ingested by Daphnia magna, which warrants further investigation into whether bioaccumulation of PVP could be causing the sublethal effects seen in other studies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In the detection of biomolecules, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors require high sensitivity. In this study, we propose a sensitivity-enhanced functionalized plasmonic interface based on Ag-TiO 2 -Co(OH) 2 nanosheets structure. Compared to unmodified SPR sensors, the sensitivity of the sensor decorated with TiO 2 and Co(OH) 2 nanosheets is increased by 130.84%, reaching 5764.27 nm/RIU. This enhancement is attributed to the high refractive index of the coating, as well as the high specific surface area and abundant active sites provided by the synthesized Co(OH) 2 nanosheets with a multi-grooved structure. Additionally, employing a double-antibody sandwich method, the antibody-functionalized plasmonic interface enables specific detection of human serum albumin (HSA). The linear response of this sensor was in the wide range of 0.4-150 μM, and the LOD reached 154.89 nM(K D is approximately 1.73 × 10 -6  M). This novel SPR sensor offers a new strategy for biochemical sensing and provides a highly sensitive platform for immunoassays., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The authors would like to acknowledge financial support from the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province, China [grant number 2021-MS-082], (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To examine the polymerization shrinkage of different resin-based composite (RBC) restorations using optical coherence tomography (OCT) image-based digital image correlation (DIC) analysis., Methods: The refractive index (RI) of three RBCs, Filtek Z350XT (Z350), Z350Flowable (Z350F), and BulkFill Posterior (Bulkfill), was measured before and after polymerization to calibrate their axial dimensions under OCT. Class I cavities were prepared in bovine incisors and individually filled with these RBCs under nonbonded and bonded conditions. A series of OCT images of these restorations were captured during 20-s light polymerization and then input into DIC software to analyze their shrinkage behaviors. The interfacial adaptation was also examined using these OCT images., Results: The RI of the three composites ranged from 1.52 to 1.53, and photopolymerization caused neglectable increases in the RI values. For nonbonded restorations, Z350F showed maximal vertical displacements on the top surfaces (-16.75 µm), followed by Bulkfill (-8.81 µm) and Z350 (-5.97 µm). In their bonded conditions, all showed increased displacements. High variations were observed in displacement measurements on the bottom surfaces. In the temporal analysis, the shrinkage of nonbonded Z350F and Bulkfill decelerated after 6-10 s. However, Z350 showed a rebounding upward displacement after 8.2 s. Significant interfacial gaps were found in nonbonded Z350 and Z350F restorations., Significance: The novel OCT image-based DIC analysis provided a comprehensive examination of the shrinkage behaviors and debonding of the composite restorations throughout the polymerization process. The flowable composite showed the highest shrinkage displacements. Changes in the shrinkage direction may occur in nonbonded conventional composite restorations., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and publication of this article., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Surface plasmon (SP) excitation in metal-coated tilted fiber Bragg gratings (TFBGs) has been a focal point for highly sensitive surface biosensing. Previous efforts focused on uniform metal layer deposition around the TFBG cross section and temperature self-compensation with the Bragg mode, requiring both careful control of the core-guided light polarization and interrogation over most of the C + L bands. To circumvent these two important practical limitations, we studied and developed an original platform based on partially coated TFBGs. The partial metal layer enables the generation of dual-comb resonances, encompassing highly sensitive (TM/EH mode families) and highly insensitive (TE/HE mode families) components in unpolarized transmission spectra. The interleaved comb of insensitive modes acts as wavelength and power references within the same spectral region as the SP-active modes. Despite reduced fabrication and measurement complexity, refractometric accuracy is not compromised through statistical averaging over seven individual resonances within a narrowband window of 10 nm. Consequently, measuring spectra over 60 nm is no longer needed to compensate for small temperature or power fluctuations. This sensing platform brings the following important practical assets: (1) a simpler fabrication process, (2) no need for polarization control, (3) limited bandwidth interrogation, and (4) maintained refractometric accuracy, which makes it a true game changer in the ever-growing plasmonic sensing domain.

Plasmonic metamaterials have opened new avenues in medical diagnostics. However, the transfer of the technology to the markets has been delayed due to multiple challenges. The need of bulky optics for signal reading from nanostructures patterned on submillimeter area limits the miniaturization of the devices. The use of objective-free optics can solve this problem, which necessitates large area patterning of the nanostructures. In this work, we utilize laser interference lithography (LIL) to pattern nanodisc-shaped metamaterial absorber nanoantennas over a large area (4 cm 2 ) within minutes. The introduction of a sacrificial layer during the fabrication process enables an inverted hole profile and a well-controlled liftoff, which ensures perfectly defined uniform nanopatterning almost with no defects. Furthermore, we use a macroscopic reflection probe for optical characterization in the near-IR, including the detection of the binding kinematics of immunologically relevant proteins. We show that the photonic quality of the plasmonic nanoantennas commensurates with electron-beam-lithography-fabricated ones over the whole area. The refractive index sensitivity of the LIL-fabricated metasurface is determined as 685 nm per refractive index unit, which demonstrates ultrasensitive detection. Moreover, the fabricated surfaces can be used multiple times for biosensing without losing their optical quality. The combination of rapid and large area nanofabrication with a simple optical reading not only simplifies the detection process but also makes the biosensors more environmentally friendly and cost-effective. Therefore, the improvements provided in this work will empower researchers and industries for accurate and real-time analysis of biological systems.

In this study, we report the successful development of a novel high-sensitivity intensity-based Surface Plasmon Resonance imaging (SPRi) biosensor and its application for detecting molecular interactions. By optimizing the excitation wavelength and employing a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) algorithm, the system can determine the optimal excitation wavelength based on the initial refractive index of the sample without adjusting the incidence angle. The experimental results demonstrate that the refractive index resolution of the system reaches 1.77×10-6 RIU. Moreover, it can obtain the optimal excitation wavelength for samples with an initial refractive index in the range of 1.333 to 1.370 RIU and accurately monitor variations within the range of 0.0037 RIU without adjusting the incidence angle. Additionally, our new SPRi technique realized real-time detection of high-throughput biomolecular binding processes, enabling analysis of kinetic parameters. This research is expected to advance the development of more accurate SPRi technologies for molecular interaction analysis.

Quasi-bound state in the continuum (QBIC) can effectively enhance the interaction of terahertz (THz) wave with matter due to the tunable high-Q property, which has a strong potential application in the detection of low-concentration biological samples in the THz band. In this paper, a novel THz metamaterial sensor with a double-chain-separated resonant cavity structure based on QBIC is designed and fabricated. The process of excitation of the QBIC mode is verified and the structural parameters are optimized after considering the ohmic loss by simulations. The simulated refractive index sensitivity of the sensor is up to 544 GHz/RIU, much higher than those of recently reported THz metamaterial sensors. The sensitivity of the proposed metamaterial sensor is confirmed in an experiment by detecting low-concentration lithium citrate (LC) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) solutions. The limits of detection (LoDs) are obtained to be 0.0025 mg/mL (12 μM) for LC and 0.03125 mg/mL (0.47 μM) for BSA, respectively, both of which excel over most of the reported results in previous studies. These results indicate that the proposed THz metamaterial sensor has excellent sensing performances and can well be applied to the detection of low-concentration biological samples.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based digital image correlation (DIC) analysis and to identify the experimental parameters for measurements of polymerization shrinkage., Methods: Class I cavities were prepared on bovine incisors and filled with Filtek Z350XT Flowable (Z350F). One OCT image of the polymerized restoration was processed to generate virtually displaced images. In addition, the tooth specimen was physically moved under OCT scanning. A DIC software analyzed these virtual and physical transformation sets and assessed the effects of subset sizes on accuracy. The refractive index of unpolymerized and polymerized Z350F was measured via OCT images. Finally, different particles (70-80 µm glass beads, 150-212 µm glass beads, and 75-150 µm zirconia powder) were added to Z350F to inspect the analyzing quality., Results: The analyses revealed a high correlation (>99.99%) for virtual movements within 131 pixels (639 µm) and low errors (<5.21%) within a 10-µm physical movement. A subset size of 51 × 51 pixels demonstrated the convergence of correlation coefficients and calculation time. The refractive index of Z350F did not change significantly after polymerization. Adding glass beads or zirconia particles caused light reflection or shielding in OCT images, whereas blank Z350F produced the best DIC analysis results., Significance: The OCT-based DIC analysis with the experimental conditions is feasible in measuring polymerization shrinkage of RBC restorations. The subset size in the DIC analysis should be identified to optimize the analysis conditions and results. Uses of hyper- or hypo-reflective particles is not recommended in this method., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Emulsion droplets on the colloidal length scale are a model system of frictionless compliant spheres. Direct imaging studies of the microscopic structure and dynamics of emulsions offer valuable insights into fundamental processes, such as gelation, jamming, and self-assembly. A microscope, however, can only resolve the individual droplets in a densely packed emulsion if the droplets are closely index-matched to their fluid medium. Mitigating perturbations due to gravity additionally requires the droplets to be density-matched to the medium. Creating droplets that are simultaneously index-matched and density-matched has been a long-standing challenge for the soft-matter community. The present study introduces a method for synthesizing monodisperse micrometer-sized siloxane droplets whose density and refractive index can be precisely and independently tuned by adjusting the volume fraction of three silane precursors. A systematic optimization protocol yields fluorescently labeled ternary droplets whose densities and refractive indexes match, to the fourth decimal place, those of aqueous solutions of glycerol or dimethylsiloxane. Because all of the materials in this system are biocompatible, we functionalize the droplets with DNA strands to endow them with programmed inter-droplet interactions. Confocal microscopy then reveals both the three-dimensional structure and the network of droplet-droplet contacts in a class of self-assembled droplet gels, free from gravitational effects. This experimental toolbox creates opportunities for studying the microscopic mechanisms that govern viscoelastic properties and self-assembly in soft materials.

In this work, a common-path optical coherence tomography (OCT) system is demonstrated for characterizing the tissue in terms of some optical properties. A negative axicon structure chemically etched inside the fiber tip is employed as optical probe in the OCT. This probe generates a quality Bessel beam owning a large depth-of-field, ∼700 µm and small central spot size, ∼3 µm. The OCT system is probing the sample without using any microscopic lens. For experimental validation, the OCT imaging of chicken tissue has been obtained along with estimation of its refractive index and optical attenuation coefficient. Afterwards, the cancerous tissue is differentiated from the normal tissue based on the OCT imaging, refractive index, and optical attenuation coefficient. The respective tissue samples are collected from the human liver and pancreas. This probe could be a useful tool for endoscopic or minimal-invasive inspection of malignancy inside the tissue either at early-stage or during surgery.

Building on the Fano resonance observation, a new refractive index transducer structure at the nanoscale is proposed in this article, which is a refractive index transducer consisting of a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide structure coupled with a ring cavity internally connected to an h-shaped structure (RCIhS). Using an analytical method based on COMSOL software and finite element method (FEM), the effect of different geometric parameters of the structure on the trans-mission characteristics of the system is simulated and analyzed, which in turn illustrates the effect of the structural parameters on the output Fano curves. As simulation results show, the internally connected h-shaped structure is an influential component in the Fano resonance. By optimizing the geometrical parameters of the structure, the system finally accomplishes a sensitivity (S) of 2400 nm/RIU and a figure of merit (FOM) of 68.57. The sensor has also been demonstrated in the realm of temperature detection, having tremendous potential for utilization in future nano-sensing and optically integrated systems., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Chang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Indolamines (e.g., serotonin and melatonin) are tryptophan-derived class of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators that play crucial roles in mood regulation, sleep-wake cycles, and gastrointestinal functions. These biogenic amines exert their effects by binding to specific receptors in the central nervous system, influencing neuronal activity and signalling cascades. Indolamines are vital in maintaining homeostasis, and imbalances in their levels have been implicated in various neurological and psychiatric disorders. Hence, in the present study, we have investigated the nonlinear properties of indolamines under a continuous wave (CW) and pulsed laser excitation using the closed-aperture (CA) Z-scan technique. The CA Z-scan is a cost-effective and sensitive analytical tool for investigating nonlinear properties. It is observed that indolamines show negative refractive and positive absorptive nonlinearity under in vitro physiological conditions. The origin of nonlinearity is ascribed to the thermo-optical effect governed by the saturated atomic absorption and molecular orientation mechanisms under CW and pulsed laser excitation, respectively. The strength of nonlinearity is found to vary linearly with the concentration of indolamines. Overall, serotonin possesses stronger nonlinearity than melatonin. The maximum nonlinearity (refractive index (n 2 ) & absorption coefficient (β)) for melatonin under CW and pulsed laser excitations are (-1.266 × 10 -12 m 2 W -1 and -1.883 × 10 -17 m 2 W -1 ) & (8.046 × 10 -8  mW -1 and 1.516 × 10 -13  mW -1 ), respectively. Meanwhile, the maximum n 2 and β under pulsed laser excitation for serotonin are obtained as -3.195 × 10 -17 m 2 W -1 and 6.149 × 10 -12  mW -1 , respectively. The outcome of the results may be utilized in understanding processes mediated by indolamines and designing therapeutic interventions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Colloidal semiconductor quantum dots have many potential optical applications, including quantum dot light-emitting diodes, single-photon sources, or biological luminescent markers. The optical properties of colloidal quantum dots can be affected by their dielectric environment. This study investigated the photoluminescence (PL) decay of thick-shell gradient-alloyed colloidal semiconductor quantum dots as a function of solvent refractive index. These measurements were conducted in a wide range of delay times to account for both the initial spontaneous decay of excitons and the delayed emission of excitons that has the form of a power law. It is shown that whereas the initial spontaneous PL decay is very sensitive to the refractive index of the solvent, the power-law delayed emission of excitons is not. Our results seem to exclude the possibility of carrier self-trapping in the considered solvents and suggest the existence of trap states inside the quantum dots. Finally, our data show that the average exciton lifetime significantly decreases as a function of the solvent refractive index. The change in exciton lifetime is qualitatively modeled and discussed., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

A novel fiber optic biosensor was purposed for a new approach to monitor amyloid beta protein fragment 1-42 (A β 42) for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) early detection. The sensor was fabricated by etching a part of fiber from single mode fiber loop in pure hydrofluoric acid solution and utilized as a Local Optical Refractometer (LOR) to monitor the change A β 42 concentration in Artificial Cerebrospinal Fluid (ACSF). The Fiber Loop Ringdown Spectroscopy (FLRDS) technique is an ultra-sensitive measurement technique with low-cost, high sensitivity, real-time measurement, continuous measurement and portability features that was utilized with a fiber optic sensor for the first time for the detection of a biological signature in an ACSF environment. Here, the measurement is based on the total optical loss detection when specially fabricated sensor heads were immersed into ACSF solutions with and without different concentrations of A β 42 biomarkers since the bulk refractive index change was performed. Baseline stability and the reference ring down times of the sensor head were measured in the air as 0.87% and 441.6 μ s ± 3.9 μ s, respectively. Afterward, the total optical loss of the system was measured when the sensor head was immersed in deionized water, ACSF solution, and ACSF solutions with A β 42 in different concentrations. The lowest A β 42 concentration of 2 ppm was detected by LOR. Results showed that LOR fabricated by single-mode fibers for FLRDS system design are promising candidates to be utilized as fiber optic biosensors after sensor head modification and have a high potential for early detection applications of not only AD but possibly also several fatal diseases such as diabetes and cancer., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Resonant photonic refractive index sensors have made major advances based on their high sensitivity and contact-less readout capability, which is advantageous in many areas of science and technology. A major issue for the technological implementation of such sensors is their response to external influences, such as vibrations and temperature variations; the more sensitive a sensor, the more susceptible it also becomes to external influences. Here, we introduce a novel bowtie-shaped sensor that is highly responsive to refractive index variations while compensating for temperature changes and mechanical (linear and angular) vibrations. We exemplify its capability by demonstrating the detection of salinity to a precision of 0.1%, corresponding to 2.3 × 10 -4 refractive index units in the presence of temperature fluctuations and mechanical vibrations. As a second exemplar, we detected bacteria growth in a pilot industrial environment. Our results demonstrate that it is possible to translate high sensitivity resonant photonic refractive index sensors into real-world environments.

Intraocular lens (IOL) implantation is currently the most effective clinical treatment for cataracts. Nevertheless, due to the growth of the eye axis in patients with congenital cataracts during the process of growth and development, the progressive incapacity of an IOL with a fixed focus does not meet the demands of practical usage, leading to the occurrence of ametropia. This work describes an innovative class of an IOL bulk material that offers good biosafety and light-controlled refractive index adjustment. Acrylate materials were synthesized for the preparation of IOLs by free radical polymerization of ethylene glycol phenyl ether methacrylate (EGPEMA), hydrophilic monomer 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy) ethyl acrylate (EA), and functional monomer hydroxymethyl coumarin methacrylate (CMA). Under 365/254 nm ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, the coumarin group could adjust the polymer material's refractive index through reversible photoinduced dimerization/depolymerization. Meanwhile, the potential for the IOL use is enabled by its satisfactory biosafety. Such a light-induced diopter adjustable IOL will be more appropriate for implantation during cataract surgery since it will not require the correction needed for ametropia and will offer more accurate and humane treatment. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE., Competing Interests: Declarations of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The emergence of complex biological modalities in the biopharmaceutical industry entails a significant expansion of the current analytical toolbox to address the need to deploy meaningful and reliable assays at an unprecedented pace. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) is an industry standard technique for protein separation and analysis. Some constraints of traditional SEC stem from its restricted ability to resolve complex mixtures and notoriously long run times while also requiring multiple offline separation conditions on different pore size columns to cover a wider molecular size distribution. Two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) is becoming an important tool not only to increase peak capacity but also to tune selectivity in a single online method. Herein, an online 2D-LC framework in which both dimensions utilize SEC columns with different pore sizes is introduced with a goal to increase throughput for biomolecule separation and characterization. In addition to improving the separation of closely related species, this online 2D SEC-SEC approach also facilitated the rapid analysis of protein-based mixtures of a wide molecular size range in a single online experimental run bypassing time-consuming deployment of different offline SEC methods. By coupling the second dimension with multiangle light scattering (MALS) and differential refractive index (dRI) detectors, absolute molecular weights of the separated species were obtained without the use of calibration curves. As illustrated in this report for protein mixtures and vaccine processes, this workflow can be used in scenarios where rapid development and deployment of SEC assays are warranted, enabling bioprocess monitoring, purity assessment, and characterization.

In this work, the optical imaging based single particle analysis (SPA) and the gold standard shake-flask (SF) solubility methods are compared. We show that to analyze pharmaceutical compounds spanning 7 log units in solubility and a diverse chemical space with limited resources, several analytical techniques are required (HPLC-UV, LC-MS, refractometry and UV-Vis spectrometry), whereas solely the SPA method is able to analyze all the same compounds. SPA experiments take only minutes, while for SF, it may take days to reach thermodynamic equilibration. This decreases the time span needed for the solubility experiment from initial preparations to obtaining the result from roughly three days to less than three hours. The optimal particle size for SPA ranges from approximately one to hundreds of microns. Challenges include measuring large particles, very fast dissolving compounds and handling small sample sizes. Inherent exclusion of density from the SPA measurement is a potential source of error for compounds with very low or high density values. The average relative difference of 37 % between the two methods is very good in the realm of solubility, where 400 % interlaboratory reproducibility can be expected., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Optical imaging and phototherapy in deep tissues face notable challenges due to light scattering. We use encoded acoustic holograms to generate three-dimensional acoustic fields within the target medium, enabling instantaneous and robust modulation of the volumetric refractive index, thereby noninvasively controlling the trajectory of light. Through this approach, we achieved a remarkable 24.3% increase in tissue heating rate in vitro photothermal effect tests on porcine skin. In vivo photoacoustic imaging of mouse brain vasculature exhibits an improved signal-to-noise ratio through the intact scalp and skull. These findings demonstrate that our strategy can effectively suppress light scattering in complex biological tissues by inducing low-angle scattering, achieving an effective depth reaching the millimeter scale. The versatility of this strategy extends its potential applications to neuroscience, lithography, and additive manufacturing.

In this article, we demonstrate an improved efficient fibre sensor with a high sensitivity to measure glucose concentrations in the physiological range of human beings, operating in a broad spectral bandwidth from the near- to mid-infrared. The sensor consists of a dual-peak long period grating (DPLPG) with a period of 150 μm inscribed in an optical fibre with a diameter of 80 μm. The investigation of sensing for refractive index results in a sensitivity of ~-885.7 nm/refractive index unit (RIU) and ~2008.6 nm/RIU in the range of 1.30-1.44. The glucose measurement is achieved by the immobilisation of a layer of enzyme of glucose oxidase (GOD) onto the fibre surface for the selective enhancement of sensitivity for glucose. The sensor can measure glucose concentrations with a maximum sensitivity of -36.25 nm/(mg/mL) in the range of 0.1-3.0 mg/mL. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest sensitivity ever achieved for a measurement of glucose with a long period grating-based sensor, indicating its potential for many applications including pharmaceutical, biomedical and food industries.

Mapping the cellular refractive index (RI) is a central task for research involving the composition of microorganisms and the development of models providing automated medical screenings with accuracy beyond 95%. These models require significantly enhancing the state-of-the-art RI mapping capabilities to provide large amounts of accurate RI data at high throughput. Here, we present a machine-learning-based technique that obtains a biological specimen's real-time RI and thickness maps from a single image acquired with a conventional color camera. This technology leverages a suitably engineered nanostructured membrane that stretches a biological analyte over its surface and absorbs transmitted light, generating complex reflection spectra from each sample point. The technique does not need pre-existing sample knowledge. It achieves 10 -4 RI sensitivity and sub-nanometer thickness resolution on diffraction-limited spatial areas. We illustrate practical application by performing sub-cellular segmentation of HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells, obtaining complete three-dimensional reconstruction of the cellular regions with a characteristic length of 30 μm. These results can facilitate the development of real-time label-free technologies for biomedical studies on microscopic multicellular dynamics., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Worldwide polystyrene (PS) production in 2020 was approximately 27 million metric tons, distributed among many nations, making it one of the most heavily imported and exported chemicals. Commercially produced PS usually possesses a broad molar mass distribution, often with a substantial oligomeric component. The latter can significantly affect processing and end-use, in addition to having potentially hazardous health effects and to impacting the polymer's export classification by regulatory agencies. Quantitation of the oligomeric region of polymers by size-exclusion chromatography with concentration-sensitive and/or static light scattering detection is complicated by the non-constancy of the specific refractive index increment ( ∂ n / ∂ c ) in this region, which affects the calculated amount (mass fraction) of oligomer in a polymer, molar mass averages, and related conclusions regarding macromolecular properties. Here, a multi-detector SEC approach including differential refractometry, multi-angle static light scattering, and differential viscometry has been applied to determining the ∂ n / ∂ c of n -butyl terminated styrene oligomers at each degree of polymerization from monomer to hexamer, and also of a hexadecamer. Large changes in this parameter from one degree of polymerization to the next are observed, including but not restricted to the fact that the ( ∂ n / ∂ c ) of the monomer is less than half that of PS polymer at identical experimental conditions. As part of this study, the individual effects of injection volume, flow rate, and temperature on chromatographic resolution were examined. Incorporation of the on-line viscometer allowed for accurate determination of the intrinsic viscosity and viscometric radius of the monomer and oligomers., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest There is no conflict of interest to report.

Hollow-core microstructured optical waveguides (HC-MOW) have recently emerged in sensing technologies, including the gas and liquid detection for industrial as well as clinical applications. Antiresonant HC-MOW provide capabilities for applications in refractive index (RI) sensing, while the long optical path for analyte-light interaction in HC-MOW leads to increased sensitivity of sensor based on Raman scattering signal measurements. In this study, we developed a two-in-one sensor device using HC-MOW for RI and Raman scattering detection. The performance of the sensor was evaluated by characterizing protein-copolymer multicomponent colloids, specifically, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and poly(N - vinyl-2 -pyrrolidone-co-acrylic acid) P(VP-AA) nano-sized complexes and microbubbles of the corresponding shell. Monocomponent solutions showed linear dependencies of RI and characteristic Raman peak intensities on mass concentration. Multicomponent Raman sensing of BSA@P(VP-AA) complexes and microbubbles revealed that changes in P(VP-AA) characteristic peak intensities can describe interactions between components needed to produce colloid systems. RI sensing of multicomponent colloids demonstrated linear dependence on total mass concentrations for BSA@P(VP-AA) complexes, while corresponding BSA@P(VP-AA) microbubbles can be detected with concentrations as high as 4.0 × 10 8 MB/mL. Therefore, the developed two-in-one sensor of RI and Raman scattering can be used the robust characterization of albumin-based colloids designed for therapeutic and diagnostic needs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are one of the most promising types of fluorescent nanomaterials due to their exceptional water solubility, excellent optical properties, biocompatibility, chemical inertness, excellent refractive index, and photostability. Nitrogen-containing CQDs, which include amino acid based CQDs, are especially attractive due to their high quantum yield, thermal stability, and potential biomedical applications. Recent studies have attempted to improve the preparation of amino acid based CQDs. However, the highest quantum yield obtained for these dots was only 44%. Furthermore, the refractive indices of amino acid derived CQDs were not determined. Here, we systematically explored the performance of CQDs prepared from all 20 coded amino acids using modified hydrothermal techniques allowing more passivation layers on the surface of the dots to optimize their performance. Intriguingly, we obtained the highest refractive indices ever reported for any CQDs. The values differed among the amino acids, with the highest refractive indices found for positively charged amino acids including arginine-CQDs (∼2.1), histidine-CQDs (∼2.0), and lysine-CQDs (∼1.8). Furthermore, the arginine-CQDs reported here showed a nearly 2-fold increase in the quantum yield (∼86%) and a longer decay time (∼8.0 ns) compared to previous reports. In addition, we also demonstrated that all amino acid based CQD materials displayed excitation-dependent emission profiles (from UV to visible) and were photostable, water-soluble, noncytotoxic, and excellent for high contrast live cell imaging or bioimaging. These results indicate that amino acid based CQD materials are high-refractive-index materials applicable for optoelectronic devices, bioimaging, biosensing, and studying cellular organelles in vivo. This extraordinary RI may be highly useful for exploring cellular elements with different densities.

We introduced a label-free sensing system based on an array of microring resonators (MRRs) which was successfully employed for human serum albumin (HSA) detection. The sensing-ring surface was functionalized to immobilize anti-HSA, facilitating HSA binding. Our refractive index sensing system demonstrates high sensitivity at 168 nm/RIU and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 63.54 ng/mL, closely comparable to current HSA detection methods. These findings confirm the potential of MRRs as biocompatible sensors for HSA detection. This system holds great promise as an innovative platform for the detection of HSA, carrying significant importance in medical diagnostics.

Background: Zinc helps with cell division, growth, wound healing, and carbohydrate breakdown. Humanbeings have to obtain zinc from food or supplements because our bodies do not produce it naturally. In view of the greater advantages (such as low cost, time of analysis, and stability-indicating) compared to other quantification methods (titration, ion chromatography, Atomic absorption spectroscopy) proposed in the literature, a refractive index detector coupled with HPLC has been used in quantification of zinc., Objective: The goal of this research is to develop and validate a sensitive, low-cost, high-resolution, and stability- indicating method for detecting and quantifying zinc levels in zinc supplement pharmaceutical products (injectables, tablets, and capsules)., Methods: A novel isocratic reverse-phase HPLC method with a refractive index detector (with sensitivity 64, detector temperature 35°C, and positive polarity) was developed using a carboxyl functional group packed column and 0.8% (v/v) formic acid as the mobile phase to detect and quantify zinc content., Results: The reported method has a good optimal sensitivity (LOQ: 0.006 mg/mL and LOD: 0.002 mg/mL). The correlation coefficient (r) obtained from the zinc calibration plot was greater than 0.998, indicating that the method was linear and that there was a strong correlation between zinc concentration (0.006 mg/mL to 0.375 mg/mL) and peak response. The accuracy at LOQ level was found to be 95-105% and 97-103% at the remaining levels (50, 100, and 150%)., Conclusion: The proposed method was successfully developed and validated as per International council for harmonisation (ICH) guidelines. Therefore, this method can be used for the quantitative testing of zinc in the QC laboratory., Highlights: A novel method was developed for zinc levels determination in pharmaceutical products using HPLC with a refractive index detector. The present approach has a quick run time of 10 min and is inexpensive., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of AOAC INTERNATIONAL. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Nanomaterials are inherently polydisperse. Traditional techniques, such as the widely used batch-mode dynamic light-scattering (DLS) analysis, are not ideal nor thoroughly descriptive enough to define the full complexity of these materials. Asymmetric-flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) with various in-line detectors, such as ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), multi-angle light scattering (MALS), refractive index (RI), and DLS, is an alternative technique that can provide flow-mode analysis of not only size distribution but also shape, drug release/stability, and protein binding., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Nonlinear optical (NLO) switchable materials play a crucial role in the fields of electronics and optoelectronics. The selection of an appropriate switching approach is vital in designing such materials to enhance their NLO response. Among various approaches, thermos-switching materials have shown a 4-fold increase in NLO response compared to other photo-switching materials. In this study, we computationally investigated the geometric, electronic, and nonlinear optical properties of reversible lactone-based thermochromic compounds using the ωB97XD/6-311+G (d,p) level of theory. Molecular orbital studies are employed to analyze the electronic properties of the close and open isomers of these compounds, while time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) analysis is utilized to evaluate their molecular absorption. Our findings reveal that the π-electronic conjugation-induced delocalization significantly influences the ON-OFF switchable nonlinear optical response of the lactone-based thermochromic compounds. Notably, among all compounds, the open isomer of lactone 2 exhibits the highest hyperpolarizability value (6596.69 au). Furthermore, we extended our analysis to investigate the frequency-dependent second and third-order hyperpolarizabilities. The most pronounced frequency-dependent NLO response is observed at 532 nm. Additionally, we calculated the refractive index of these thermochromic compounds to further assess their nonlinear optical response. The open isomer of lactone 1 demonstrates the highest refractive index value (3.99 × 10 -14  cm 2 /W). Overall, our study highlights the excellent potential of reversible thermochromic compounds as NLO molecular thermos-switches for future applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)