The main objective of this research was to develop a two-stage optical imaging platform to improve detection of cancer in Barrett’s esophagus (BE). BE caused by chronic reflux and patients with BE are at a higher risk for developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). However, neoplasia in BE is often unidentifiable under standard endoscopy, and studies have shown nearly half of early cancers can go unidentified by this method. Widefield imaging (resolves ~100 microns) allows efficient surveillance of large BE segments. Two widefield imaging techniques were identified to improve contrast between benign and abnormal lesions during an ex vivo 15 patient feasibility study. Cross-polarized imaging (CPI) reduced specular reflection and improved vascular contrast. Vital-dye fluorescence imaging (VFI) using topically-applied proflavine improved visualization of glandular pattern. Moreover, relevant pathologic features visible during VFI were seen in corresponding histology slides as well as high resolution images of the same sites. Based on these results, a cap-based Multispectral Digital Endoscope (MDE) was designed and built. The MDE can image in three different imaging modes: white light imaging, CPI, and VFI. Modifications to a Pentax EPK-i video processor and a Pentax endoscope were made to incorporate these imaging modes into one system. A 21 patient in vivo pilot study with 65 pathologically correlated sites demonstrated the feasibility of using this system in vivo; image criteria were developed to classify neoplasia with a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 76% respectively. High resolution imaging (resolves ~2-5 micron) may verify the disease presence in suspicious areas identified using widefield techniques. 2-NBDG, a fluorescent metabolic marker, was used as to identify neoplastic biopsies. In a study with 21 patients yielding 38 pathologically correlated biopsies and 158 image sites, 2-NBDG imaging allowed classification of cancerous biopsies with a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 90%. The unique contributions of these results is the development of a multimodal cap-based endoscopic system to identify suspicious areas in BE, and using a metabolic marker to verify the presence of disease. This application extends beyond esophageal cancer detection and may be explored for cancer detection in other organ sites characterized by columnar epithelium.

No / Widefield surface plasmon resonance (WSPR) microscopy provides high resolution imaging of interfacial interactions. We report the application of the WSPR imaging system in the study of the interaction between keratinocytes and liquid crystals (LC). Imaging of fixed keratinocytes cultured on gold coated surface plasmon substrates functionalized with a thin film of liquid crystals was performed in air using a 1.45 NA objective based system. Focal adhesion of the cells adhered to glass and LC were further studied using immunofluorescence staining of the vinculin. The imaging system was also simulated with 2 × 2 scattering matrix to investigate the optical reflection of the resonant plasmonic wave via the glass/gold/cell and glass/gold/LC/cell layers. WSPR imaging indicated that keratinocytes are less spread and formed distinct topography of cell–liquid crystal couplings when cultured on liquid crystal coated substrates. The simulation indicates that glass/LC shifted the surface plasmon excitation angle to 75.39° as compared to glass/air interface at 44°. The WSPR microcopy reveals that the cells remodelled their topography of adhesion at different interfaces.

no / This study aimed at determining the role of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) isomers and their combinations in bone cell behaviour using MG63 cells. The work examined how TGF-β1, 2 and 3 and their solvent and carrier (HCl and BSA, respectively) effected cell morphology, cell proliferation and integrin expression. This study also aimed at examining how the TGF-βs and their solvent and carrier influenced wound closure in an in vitro wound closure model and how TGF-βs influence extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion and integrin expression. The wound healing response in terms of healing rate to the TGF-βs and their solvent/carrier was investigated in 300 μm ± 10–30 μm SD wide model wounds induced in fully confluent monolayers of MG63 bone cells. The effect of different TGF-β isomers and their combinations on proliferation rate and cell length of human bone cells were also assessed. Immunostaining was used to determine if TGF-βs modifies integrin expression and ECM secretion by the bone cells. Imaging with WSPR allowed observation of the focal contacts without the need for immunostaining. The wound healing results indicated that TGF-β3 has a significant effect on the wound healing process and its healing rate was found to be higher than the control (p < 0.001), TGF-β1 (p < 0.001), TGF-β2 (p < 0.001), BSA/HCl (p < 0.001) and HCl (p < 0.001) in ascending order. It was also found that TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 treatment significantly improved wound closure rate in comparison to the controls (p < 0.001). All TGF-β combinations induced a faster healing rate than the control (p < 0.001). It was expected that the healing rate following treatment with TGF-β combinations would be greater than those healing rates following treatments with TGF-β isomers alone, but this was not the case. The results also suggest that cell morphological changes were observed significantly more in cells treated with TGF-β(2 + 3) and TGF-β(1 + 3) (p < 0.001). Any cell treated with TGF-β1, TGF-β(1 + 2) and TGF-β(1 + 2 + 3) showed significantly less elongation compared to the control and other TGF-β isomers. In terms of proliferation rate, TGF-β3 and TGF-β(2 + 3) increased cell numbers more than TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and other combinations. TGF-β1 and its combinations did not show significant proliferation and attachment compared to the control. Immunostaining indicated that treatment with TGF-β3 significantly enhanced the secretion of collagen type I, fibronectin and integrins α3 and β1. The WSPR experiments also indicated that TGF-βs influenced the distribution of focal contacts. In conclusion, combining TGF-β3 with any other TGF-β isomer resulted in a faster model wound closure rate (p < 0.001), while treatment with TGF-β1 in any TGF-β combination reduced the healing rate (p < 0.001). It can therefore be concluded that the presence of TGF-β1 has an inhibitory effect on bone wound healing while TGF-β3 had the opposite effect and increased the rate of wound closure in a 2 dimensional cell culture environment. / Emailed Mansour for final draft 27/06/2016

The present work introduces a new method that is used to explore the connection between molecular order and molecular dynamics in liquid crystals. In liquid crystals, the building blocks show a liquid like disorder in at least one dimension of space with an otherwise crystalline like positional or orientational long range order. A new microscope is introduced that combines polarization measurements with the ability to track single fluorescent probe molecules in a thin sample of ordered liquid crystal. A new method for the analysis of orientation dependent diffusion is also introduced. It can be used to spatially resolve the anisotropic diffusion of the probe molecules. With this setup, molecular structure and molecular dynamics can be directly compared on a μm scale. Three different kinds of liquid crystal samples are analyzed with the new experimental method. First, twisted nematic liquid crystal cells are used to verify a proposed model for the connection between molecular structure and the dynamics in twisted nematic cells. Second, the liquid crystal structure and probe mobility are analyzed in homogeneous samples in a temperature regulated environment. The third experiment focuses on the combination of both of these scenarios. Different domains in a heterogeneous section of a sample are analyzed with different methodical approaches at various temperatures. The results display the close connection between molecular order and molecular dynamics in the samples. It is also found that the probe molecules introduce local distortions in the director field of the host material. Despite this realization, only the absolute value of the probes mobility seems to be effected. The anisotropy of the translational diffusion of the probe molecules resembles the results found in the literature on the self-diffusion of the liquid crystal molecules. The anisotropy also follows the same temperature dependence as the order of the host molecules. Using these results and the new method of analyzing single molecule tracking data, it is shown that the structure of a heterogeneous sample can be spatially resolved, only by means of single probe molecule tracking.

A terapia fotodinâmica (TFD) utilizando ácido 5-aminolevulinico (ALA) e derivados em aplicação tópica e, como precursor da protoporfirina IX (PPIX) apresenta alguns limitantes relativos a baixa permeação das substâncias na pele. Comportamento este que afeta a produção e homogeneidade da distribuição da PPIX na superfície e camadas mais profundas da pele. Para resolver essa limitação muitos autores propõem alternativas modificando a molécula do ALA e derivados, bem como modificando as propriedades químicas da fase externa da emulsão (mais hidrofílica ou hidrofóbica) ou então o sistema de entrega para a emulsão. O objetivo desse estudo é avaliar qual a proporção de ALA e metil-5-aminolevulinato (MAL) que quando misturados levam ao aumento da quantidade e uniformidade da formação da PPIX na superfície e em profundidade na pele. Para esse estudo foi realizada análises de fluorescência e histologia. O estudo foi conduzido in vivo e ex vivo usando biópsias de pele de porco cultivadas in vitro. A produção de PPIX foi monitorada utilizando espectroscopia de fluorescência, imagem de fluorescência de campo amplo e microscopia confocal de fluorescência. E para a aplicação da TFD os parâmetros usados foram de 125 mW/cm2 de intensidade e 150 J/cm2 de dose. A análise do dano causado pela irradiação foi realizada por meio de histologia da pele após 24 e 48 horas da aplicação da TFD. O ALA e MAL na concentração de 20% foram misturados nas seguintes proporções: ALA ou M, M2 (80% ALA - 20% MAL), M3 (60% ALA 40% MAL), M4 (50% ALA MAL), M5 (40% ALA 60% MAL), M6 (20% ALA 80% MAL) e MAL como M7. As diferentes proporções foram incorporadas em emulsões óleo em água (O/A) e água em óleo (A/O). De acordo com os resultados, as misturas M3, M4 e M5 mostraram maior produção de PPIX na superfície da pele segundo as medidas de fluorescência em 3h de incubação e, no estudo da cinética mostraram produzir PPIX em menor tempo. No estudo de permeação do creme in vitro em pele ex vivo, por microscopia confocal de fluorescência, observou-se que as misturas M3, M4 e M5 produziram mais PPIX nas camadas da pele do que ALA e MAL. As análises histológicas das misturas apresentaram maior dano fotodinâmico na superfície e profundidade das camadas da pele após a TFD, independente da emulsão. A análise em até 48h observou-se predominantemente a fase do processo de reparo referente à fase inflamatória, mas existem indícios ao longo das análises tanto macroscópicas e histológicas que o processo de reparo referente as fases subsequentes de proliferação e remodelamento estão iniciando-se em paralelo. A mistura M4 em ambas as emulsões apresentou elevada quantidade de formação de PPIX em menor tempo de incubação. M4 em emulsão O/A apresentou menor dano fotodinâmico já que a evolução do processo reparo foi mais rápida sugerindo-se potencial de aplicação em TFD voltado para área cosmética-estética. Já M4 em emulsão A/O levou a um maior dano fotodinâmico já que a evolução do processo de reparo foi mais lenta sugerindo-se potencial de aplicação em TFD voltado para área oncológica e de doenças de pele. De modo geral o estudo proposto apresentou impacto positivo para a otimização da terapia fotodinâmica em aplicação tópica. / Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using 5-aminolevulinic acid and derivatives on topical application and as a precursor of protoporphyrin (PPIX) has some limitations for low permeation of substances into the skin. This behavior affects PPIX production and homogeneous distribution on the surface and deeper layers of the skin. To resolve this limitation, many authors propose alternatives such as modifying the molecule of ALA and its derivatives, as well as changing the chemical properties of the external phase of the emulsion (more hydrophilic or hydrophobic) or the delivery system to the emulsion. The aim of this study is to assess the proportion of ALA and methyl-5-aminolevulinate (MAL) that when mixed leads to an increase in the amount and uniformity of the PPIX formation on surface and deep skin. For this study we performed fluorescence analysis and histology. The studies were conducted in vivo and also using pig skin biopsies (ex vivo) cultured in vitro. The PPIX production was monitored using fluorescence spectroscopy, widefield fluorescence imaging, and fluorescence confocal microscopy. For the application of PDT an intensity of 125 mW/cm2 and a dose 150 J/cm2 were used. Analysis of the damage caused by irradiation was performed through skin histology after 24 and 48 hours after PDT application. ALA and MAL in concentration of 20% were mixed in the following proportions: ALA or M, M2 (80% ALA - 20% MAL), M3 (60% ALA - 40% MAL), M4 (50% ALA - MAL) M5 (40% ALA - 60% MAL), M6 (20% ALA - 80% MAL) MAL and as M7. Different proportions were incorporated in oil-in-water emulsions (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O). The fluorescence measurements for 3h of incubation showed better PPIX production in the skin surface for mixtures M3, M4 and M5. Moreover, the kinetics study showed PPIX production in less time for these mixtures. In the study of cream permeation of ex vivo skin in vitro by confocal fluorescence microscopy, we observed that the mixtures M3, M4 and M5 produced more PPIX in the skin layers than ALA and MAL. The histological analyses of the mixtures showed higher photodynamic damage on the surface and deeper layers of the skin after PDT, independent of the emulsion. The analysis in 48 hours predominantly observed the phase of the healing process regarding the inflammatory phase but there are signs along both macroscopic and histological analysis that the healing process concerning the subsequent stages of proliferation and remodeling are initiating in parallel. The mixture M4 in both emulsions had high amounts of PPIX formation in shorter incubation time. M4 emulsion O/A showed a lower photodynamic damage since the evolution of the healing process was faster suggesting to potential application in PDT facing cosmetic-aesthetic area. M4 already in W/O emulsion led to a greater photodynamic damage since the evolution of the healing process was slower suggesting to potential application in PDT facing oncology and skin diseases. Overall the proposed study had a positive impact on the optimization of photodynamic therapy for topical application.

A terapia fotodinâmica (TFD) utilizando ácido 5-aminolevulinico (ALA) e derivados em aplicação tópica e, como precursor da protoporfirina IX (PPIX) apresenta alguns limitantes relativos a baixa permeação das substâncias na pele. Comportamento este que afeta a produção e homogeneidade da distribuição da PPIX na superfície e camadas mais profundas da pele. Para resolver essa limitação muitos autores propõem alternativas modificando a molécula do ALA e derivados, bem como modificando as propriedades químicas da fase externa da emulsão (mais hidrofílica ou hidrofóbica) ou então o sistema de entrega para a emulsão. O objetivo desse estudo é avaliar qual a proporção de ALA e metil-5-aminolevulinato (MAL) que quando misturados levam ao aumento da quantidade e uniformidade da formação da PPIX na superfície e em profundidade na pele. Para esse estudo foi realizada análises de fluorescência e histologia. O estudo foi conduzido in vivo e ex vivo usando biópsias de pele de porco cultivadas in vitro. A produção de PPIX foi monitorada utilizando espectroscopia de fluorescência, imagem de fluorescência de campo amplo e microscopia confocal de fluorescência. E para a aplicação da TFD os parâmetros usados foram de 125 mW/cm2 de intensidade e 150 J/cm2 de dose. A análise do dano causado pela irradiação foi realizada por meio de histologia da pele após 24 e 48 horas da aplicação da TFD. O ALA e MAL na concentração de 20% foram misturados nas seguintes proporções: ALA ou M, M2 (80% ALA - 20% MAL), M3 (60% ALA 40% MAL), M4 (50% ALA MAL), M5 (40% ALA 60% MAL), M6 (20% ALA 80% MAL) e MAL como M7. As diferentes proporções foram incorporadas em emulsões óleo em água (O/A) e água em óleo (A/O). De acordo com os resultados, as misturas M3, M4 e M5 mostraram maior produção de PPIX na superfície da pele segundo as medidas de fluorescência em 3h de incubação e, no estudo da cinética mostraram produzir PPIX em menor tempo. No estudo de permeação do creme in vitro em pele ex vivo, por microscopia confocal de fluorescência, observou-se que as misturas M3, M4 e M5 produziram mais PPIX nas camadas da pele do que ALA e MAL. As análises histológicas das misturas apresentaram maior dano fotodinâmico na superfície e profundidade das camadas da pele após a TFD, independente da emulsão. A análise em até 48h observou-se predominantemente a fase do processo de reparo referente à fase inflamatória, mas existem indícios ao longo das análises tanto macroscópicas e histológicas que o processo de reparo referente as fases subsequentes de proliferação e remodelamento estão iniciando-se em paralelo. A mistura M4 em ambas as emulsões apresentou elevada quantidade de formação de PPIX em menor tempo de incubação. M4 em emulsão O/A apresentou menor dano fotodinâmico já que a evolução do processo reparo foi mais rápida sugerindo-se potencial de aplicação em TFD voltado para área cosmética-estética. Já M4 em emulsão A/O levou a um maior dano fotodinâmico já que a evolução do processo de reparo foi mais lenta sugerindo-se potencial de aplicação em TFD voltado para área oncológica e de doenças de pele. De modo geral o estudo proposto apresentou impacto positivo para a otimização da terapia fotodinâmica em aplicação tópica. / Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using 5-aminolevulinic acid and derivatives on topical application and as a precursor of protoporphyrin (PPIX) has some limitations for low permeation of substances into the skin. This behavior affects PPIX production and homogeneous distribution on the surface and deeper layers of the skin. To resolve this limitation, many authors propose alternatives such as modifying the molecule of ALA and its derivatives, as well as changing the chemical properties of the external phase of the emulsion (more hydrophilic or hydrophobic) or the delivery system to the emulsion. The aim of this study is to assess the proportion of ALA and methyl-5-aminolevulinate (MAL) that when mixed leads to an increase in the amount and uniformity of the PPIX formation on surface and deep skin. For this study we performed fluorescence analysis and histology. The studies were conducted in vivo and also using pig skin biopsies (ex vivo) cultured in vitro. The PPIX production was monitored using fluorescence spectroscopy, widefield fluorescence imaging, and fluorescence confocal microscopy. For the application of PDT an intensity of 125 mW/cm2 and a dose 150 J/cm2 were used. Analysis of the damage caused by irradiation was performed through skin histology after 24 and 48 hours after PDT application. ALA and MAL in concentration of 20% were mixed in the following proportions: ALA or M, M2 (80% ALA - 20% MAL), M3 (60% ALA - 40% MAL), M4 (50% ALA - MAL) M5 (40% ALA - 60% MAL), M6 (20% ALA - 80% MAL) MAL and as M7. Different proportions were incorporated in oil-in-water emulsions (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O). The fluorescence measurements for 3h of incubation showed better PPIX production in the skin surface for mixtures M3, M4 and M5. Moreover, the kinetics study showed PPIX production in less time for these mixtures. In the study of cream permeation of ex vivo skin in vitro by confocal fluorescence microscopy, we observed that the mixtures M3, M4 and M5 produced more PPIX in the skin layers than ALA and MAL. The histological analyses of the mixtures showed higher photodynamic damage on the surface and deeper layers of the skin after PDT, independent of the emulsion. The analysis in 48 hours predominantly observed the phase of the healing process regarding the inflammatory phase but there are signs along both macroscopic and histological analysis that the healing process concerning the subsequent stages of proliferation and remodeling are initiating in parallel. The mixture M4 in both emulsions had high amounts of PPIX formation in shorter incubation time. M4 emulsion O/A showed a lower photodynamic damage since the evolution of the healing process was faster suggesting to potential application in PDT facing cosmetic-aesthetic area. M4 already in W/O emulsion led to a greater photodynamic damage since the evolution of the healing process was slower suggesting to potential application in PDT facing oncology and skin diseases. Overall the proposed study had a positive impact on the optimization of photodynamic therapy for topical application.

The present work introduces a new method that is used to explore the connection between molecular order and molecular dynamics in liquid crystals. In liquid crystals, the building blocks show a liquid like disorder in at least one dimension of space with an otherwise crystalline like positional or orientational long range order. A new microscope is introduced that combines polarization measurements with the ability to track single fluorescent probe molecules in a thin sample of ordered liquid crystal. A new method for the analysis of orientation dependent diffusion is also introduced. It can be used to spatially resolve the anisotropic diffusion of the probe molecules. With this setup, molecular structure and molecular dynamics can be directly compared on a μm scale. Three different kinds of liquid crystal samples are analyzed with the new experimental method. First, twisted nematic liquid crystal cells are used to verify a proposed model for the connection between molecular structure and the dynamics in twisted nematic cells. Second, the liquid crystal structure and probe mobility are analyzed in homogeneous samples in a temperature regulated environment. The third experiment focuses on the combination of both of these scenarios. Different domains in a heterogeneous section of a sample are analyzed with different methodical approaches at various temperatures. The results display the close connection between molecular order and molecular dynamics in the samples. It is also found that the probe molecules introduce local distortions in the director field of the host material. Despite this realization, only the absolute value of the probes mobility seems to be effected. The anisotropy of the translational diffusion of the probe molecules resembles the results found in the literature on the self-diffusion of the liquid crystal molecules. The anisotropy also follows the same temperature dependence as the order of the host molecules. Using these results and the new method of analyzing single molecule tracking data, it is shown that the structure of a heterogeneous sample can be spatially resolved, only by means of single probe molecule tracking.

In dieser Arbeit wird die Abhängigkeit der Photolumineszenz (PL) von CdSe/ZnS-Nanokristallen von der Umgebung und der Einfluss der Filmdicke und -morphologie auf die optische Absorption von Farbstofffilmen untersucht sowie die Oberfläche von Hybridstrukturen durch Funktionalisierung mit Farbstoff analysiert. Untersuchungen von CdSe/ZnS-Nanokristallen in Toluol-Lösung zeigen, dass die PL-Intensität der Nanopartikel durch Zugabe des organischen Halbleiters TPD gequencht wird. Die zusätzliche Auswertung der PL-Lebensdauer verdeutlicht, dass die Abnahme (fast) vollständig durch statisches Quenchen, infolge der Abnahme der Anzahl der mittierenden Nanokristalle verursacht wird, bei einem Anstieg der langlebigsten Lebensdauerkomponente. Die Analyse der PL-Unterbrechung einzelner Nanokristalle auf PVA und Siliziumoxid sowie eingebettet in PS und TPD zeigt eine Ab- bzw. Zunahme der Häufigkeit langer An- bzw. Aus-Zeiten und somit eine deutliche Abhängigkeit der PL-Unterbrechung von den dielektrischen Eigenschaften der Umgebung. Bei Variation der Anregungsleistung zeigt sich für einzelne Nanokristalle auf Siliziumoxid und eingebettet in TPD eine lineare Zunahme der Blinkaktivität und eine Abnahme des An-Zeit-Anteils. Die Änderung der Verteilungen der An- und Aus-Zeiten zeigen eine deutliche Abhängigkeit von der Matrix. Die Untersuchung der optischen Absorption von aufgedampften MePTCDI- und Cl4MePTCDI-Filmen zeigt eine Verschiebung des energieärmsten optischen Überganges mit wachsender mittlere Filmdicke. Es wird ein (geometrisches) Schicht-Modell vorgestellt, das die energetische Verschiebung mit der mittleren Filmdicke korreliert und dabei die kristalline, nadelförmige Morphologie von MePTCDIFilmen und die amorphe Kugelkappen-Struktur von Cl4MePTCDI-Filmen berücksichtigt. Die Oberfläche von Hybridfilmen aus PMMA mit Siliziumoxid-Partikeln wird durch Anbindung von R6G an die Oxid-Partikel gezielt funktionalisiert. Die Ergebnisse von fluoreszenzmikroskopischen Untersuchungen zeigen, dass dadurch der Anteil der freien Oxid-Oberfläche bestimmt werden kann.

Diese Arbeit untersucht die Photo-Lumineszenz (PL)-Unterbrechung (Blinken) einzelner in Polymer-Nanopartikeln eingebetteter CdSe/CdS Halbleiter-Nanokristalle (Quantenpunkte) im Einfluss elektrischer Gleich- und Wechselfelder mittels Weitfeld-Mikroskopie. Hierbei emittieren die einzelnen Quantenpunkte trotz kontinuierlicher Anregung mit einer zwischen hellen An- und dunklen Aus-Zuständen variierenden PL-Intensität. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Dynamik dieses Blinkens durch Wechselfelder stark beeinflusst wird und von deren Feldstärke, teilweise auch deren Feldfrequenz abhängt. Für zunehmende Feldstärken lässt sich ein schnellerer Wechsel zwischen An- und Aus-Zuständen (erhöhte Blinkfrequenz) beobachten, der von einer reduzierten Häufigkeit langer An- und Aus-Ereignisse begleitet wird. Der Verlauf der An-Zeit-Verteilungen bei kleinen Zeiten wird zunehmend (monoton) flacher, während die Verteilungen der Aus-Zeiten zunächst ebenfalls einem analogen Trend folgen, ab einer bestimmten und von der Feldfrequenz abhängenden Feldstärke jedoch wieder steiler verlaufen. Ein solcher Monotonie-Wechsel in der Blinkdynamik im Fall einer gleichbleibenden Variation einer äußeren Bedingung wurde bei Halbleiter-Nanokristallen so erstmalig beobachtet. Für Gleichfelder zeigen sich hingegen nahezu keine Auswirkungen. Lediglich die An-Zeit-Verteilungen sowie die Blinkfrequenz im Fall hoher Feldstärken werden modifiziert. Die Ergebnisse werden im Kontext verschiedener aktueller Modelle zur PL-Unterbrechung wie dem trapping-Modell, dem self-trapping-Mechanismus oder dem Modell multipler Rekombinationszentren diskutiert und diese entsprechend erweitert. Dabei stehen die dielektrischen Eigenschaften und die Relaxationsdynamik der lokalen Quantenpunkt-Umgebung im Mittelpunkt, deren Reaktion auf die externen Felder durch eine zeitabhängige Ausrichtung permanenter Dipole beschrieben werden kann.

Diese Arbeit untersucht die Photo-Lumineszenz (PL)-Unterbrechung (Blinken) einzelner in Polymer-Nanopartikeln eingebetteter CdSe/CdS Halbleiter-Nanokristalle (Quantenpunkte) im Einfluss elektrischer Gleich- und Wechselfelder mittels Weitfeld-Mikroskopie. Hierbei emittieren die einzelnen Quantenpunkte trotz kontinuierlicher Anregung mit einer zwischen hellen An- und dunklen Aus-Zuständen variierenden PL-Intensität. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Dynamik dieses Blinkens durch Wechselfelder stark beeinflusst wird und von deren Feldstärke, teilweise auch deren Feldfrequenz abhängt. Für zunehmende Feldstärken lässt sich ein schnellerer Wechsel zwischen An- und Aus-Zuständen (erhöhte Blinkfrequenz) beobachten, der von einer reduzierten Häufigkeit langer An- und Aus-Ereignisse begleitet wird. Der Verlauf der An-Zeit-Verteilungen bei kleinen Zeiten wird zunehmend (monoton) flacher, während die Verteilungen der Aus-Zeiten zunächst ebenfalls einem analogen Trend folgen, ab einer bestimmten und von der Feldfrequenz abhängenden Feldstärke jedoch wieder steiler verlaufen. Ein solcher Monotonie-Wechsel in der Blinkdynamik im Fall einer gleichbleibenden Variation einer äußeren Bedingung wurde bei Halbleiter-Nanokristallen so erstmalig beobachtet. Für Gleichfelder zeigen sich hingegen nahezu keine Auswirkungen. Lediglich die An-Zeit-Verteilungen sowie die Blinkfrequenz im Fall hoher Feldstärken werden modifiziert. Die Ergebnisse werden im Kontext verschiedener aktueller Modelle zur PL-Unterbrechung wie dem trapping-Modell, dem self-trapping-Mechanismus oder dem Modell multipler Rekombinationszentren diskutiert und diese entsprechend erweitert. Dabei stehen die dielektrischen Eigenschaften und die Relaxationsdynamik der lokalen Quantenpunkt-Umgebung im Mittelpunkt, deren Reaktion auf die externen Felder durch eine zeitabhängige Ausrichtung permanenter Dipole beschrieben werden kann.