Home > Press > 'Molecular Rollar Coaster' distinguishes between molecules
The 'molecular roller coaster' of two molecules (illustration: Florian Sterl) |
Abstract:
Research that made it to the cover of the authoritative scientific journal Analytical Chemistry this week has shown that the detection method developed by researchers at the University of Twente's research institutes MESA+ and MIRA is even more sensitive than demonstrated earlier. Not only can it detect molecules accurately, it also shows the difference between them very clearly. The research was co-financed by Nanoned (a national nanotechnology R&D initiative that combines the Dutch strengths in nanoscience and technology in a national network), the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM) and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).
The molecules in a solution can be measured with a technology known as Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy (CARS). Molecules that are very similar are, however, difficult to distinguish from one another. University of Twente (UT) researchers had, at an earlier stage, already introduced an improved form of CARS, which is much more sensitive and with which molecules can be tracked down in a very much lower concentration. In the study now published, they show that their method is not only much more sensitive, but that it also enables them to detect up to ten different sorts of molecules simultaneously. In the past, several successive measurements had to be carried out to achieve this, so work of this kind can now be carried out considerably faster. This technology also makes it possible for researchers to 'film' how medicines are released from a tablet or how a living cell burns fats. The researchers envisage applications in the pharmaceutical industry and cell biology research for this technology.
Molecular roller coaster
If you shine laser light on molecules, some of these molecules will absorb photons (light particles) and emit new photons. The emitted photons then have a higher energy level than the original photons. With the aid of Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy, these photons can be caught and used to determine which molecules are present in the solution. The method looks at the amplitude of the vibrations of the light. The UT researchers' new method looks not only at the amplitude of the vibration, but also at the phase. Plotting the amplitude and the phase of the vibration of the light in a graph creates a complicated spiral dubbed the 'molecular roller coaster' by the researchers. As a result of this roller coaster, similar substances can easily be distinguished from one another.
This research was carried out by the research groups Optical Sciences (MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology) and Medical Cell BioPhysics (MIRA) and was co-financed by Nanoned, FOM and NWO. For more information or a digital version of the article 'Visualizing Resonances in the Complex Plane with Vibrational Phase Contrast Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering' by Martin Jurna, Erik Garbacik, Jeroen Korterik, Jennifer Herek, Cees Otto and Herman Offerhaus, please contact the research information officer Joost Bruysters on +31 (0)53 489 2773 / +31 (0)6 1048 8228.
####
For more information, please click here
Contacts:
Joost Bruysters
+31 (0)53 489 2773
+31 (0)6 1048 8228
Copyright © University of Twente
If you have a comment, please Contact us.Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Related News Press |
News and information
Simulating magnetization in a Heisenberg quantum spin chain April 5th, 2024
NRL charters Navy’s quantum inertial navigation path to reduce drift April 5th, 2024
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
Possible Futures
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
With VECSELs towards the quantum internet Fraunhofer: IAF achieves record output power with VECSEL for quantum frequency converters April 5th, 2024
Academic/Education
Rice University launches Rice Synthetic Biology Institute to improve lives January 12th, 2024
Multi-institution, $4.6 million NSF grant to fund nanotechnology training September 9th, 2022
Nanomedicine
New micromaterial releases nanoparticles that selectively destroy cancer cells April 5th, 2024
Good as gold - improving infectious disease testing with gold nanoparticles April 5th, 2024
Researchers develop artificial building blocks of life March 8th, 2024
Announcements
NRL charters Navy’s quantum inertial navigation path to reduce drift April 5th, 2024
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
Tools
Ferroelectrically modulate the Fermi level of graphene oxide to enhance SERS response November 3rd, 2023
The USTC realizes In situ electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy using single nanodiamond sensors November 3rd, 2023
The latest news from around the world, FREE | ||
Premium Products | ||
Only the news you want to read!
Learn More |
||
Full-service, expert consulting
Learn More |
||