Diamond Surfaces with Clickable Antifouling Polymer Coating for Microarray‐Based Biosensing

Diamond enables the construction of various (bio)sensors, including those with quantum-based detection. However, bare diamond interfaces are susceptible to unspecific adhesion of proteins and other macromolecules from biological media or complex samples. This impairs selectivity in biosensing, leads to low signal-to-noise ratio in fluorescence-based applications, and introduces the need for blocking steps in incubation protocols. Here, a stable, protein-repellent, and clickable reactive polymer coating is introduced, abolishing unspecific protein adhesion while concurrently enabling covalent immobilization of functional compounds as recognition elements. The polymer coating has two segments, an antifouling poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide) and an alkyne-terminated poly(propargyl methacrylamide) providing the click functionality. The antifouling properties and click-reactivity of the polymers are demonstrated by selective protein binding assays on micropatterns written by microchannel cantilever spotting (µCS). The assays demonstrated the successful functionalization of both diamond and glass surfaces and the excellent antifouling properties of the polymer coating. The coating procedure is compatible with oxidized diamond surfaces thus well-suitable for diamond-based quantum technology. The results can directly impact applications of diamond materials in optically detected quantum sensing or fluorescence sensing in general. The polymer functionalization can also be used for any case where highly specific interaction with low fouling is desired

“Dominus creavit ex Terra Medicamenta”: Knowledge on Medicinal Plants in Johannes Gessner’s Phytographia Sacra

This paper examines the bodies of knowledge discussed by the Zurich naturalist Johannes Gessner (1709–1790) in his dissertation on medicinal plants published in 1762. It explores how Gessner linked the latest insights on plant classification and debates on the functioning of human bodies with existing knowledge on plant-based remedies. Published as a part of Gessner’s Phytographia Sacra (sacred description of plants), the dissertation combinedthe praise of God with the imparting of knowledge on exotic and local plants. Through his teaching as a professor of physics and mathematics and with the publication of dissertations composed for the examinations at the local Collegium Carolinum, Gessner provided future clergymen, physicians and merchants with knowledge about the numerous useful qualities of plants. The paper argues that by adapting the dissertations’ topics to local interests andhabits, Gessner tried to win over supporters and allies for his own botanical studies. Thereby, this paper contributes to a history of knowledge that takes into account the interrelated and manifold ‘ways of knowing’ that exceed scholarly circles and combine different approaches.This paper examines the bodies of knowledge discussed by the Zurich naturalist Johannes Gessner (1709–1790) in his dissertation on medicinal plants published in 1762. It explores how Gessner linked the latest insights on plant classification and debates on the functioning of human bodies with existing knowledge on plant-based remedies. Published as a part of Gessner’s Phytographia Sacra (sacred description of plants), the dissertation combinedthe praise of God with the imparting of knowledge on exotic and local plants. Through his teaching as a professor of physics and mathematics and with the publication of dissertations composed for the examinations at the local Collegium Carolinum, Gessner provided future clergymen, physicians and merchants with knowledge about the numerous useful qualities of plants. The paper argues that by adapting the dissertations’ topics to local interests andhabits, Gessner tried to win over supporters and allies for his own botanical studies. Thereby, this paper contributes to a history of knowledge that takes into account the interrelated and manifold ‘ways of knowing’ that exceed scholarly circles and combine different approaches

Netzwerke der Botanik: Johannes Gessner (1709–1790) und die botanische Forschung im 18. Jahrhundert

Ausgehend von Johannes Gessner (1709-1790) untersucht die Arbeit Zürich und die Schweiz als Knotenpunkte in weitreichenden botanischen Netzwerken. Der Blick wird dabei besonders auf den Umgang mit den Pflanzen selbst und die Praktiken rund um diese Objekte gerichtet, um zu analysieren, welche Themen diskutiert und wie der Austausch der Pflanzen und ihrer Untersuchung organisiert wurden