Showing papers in "Analyst in 2013"

Antibody orientation on biosensor surfaces: a minireview

Abstract: Detection elements play a key role in analyte recognition in biosensors. Therefore, detection elements with high analyte specificity and binding strength are required. While antibodies (Abs) have been increasingly used as detection elements in biosensors, a key challenge remains – the immobilization on the biosensor surface. This minireview highlights recent approaches to immobilize and study Abs on surfaces. We first introduce Ab species used as detection elements, and discuss techniques recently used to elucidate Ab orientation by determination of layer thickness or surface topology. Then, several immobilization methods will be presented: non-covalent and covalent surface attachment, yielding oriented or random coupled Abs. Finally, protein modification methods applicable for oriented Ab immobilization are reviewed with an eye to future application.

ATR-FTIR spectroscopic imaging: recent advances and applications to biological systems

Abstract: Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic imaging is a highly versatile, label free and non-destructive chemical imaging method which can be applied to study a wide range of samples and systems. This review summarises some of the recent advances and applications of this imaging method in the area of biomedical studies, including examples of section of aorta, skin tissue and live cells. Two of the major advantages of measuring in ATR mode are the opportunity to measure samples that absorb strongly in the IR spectrum, such as aqueous systems, without significant sample preparation and the ability to increase the spatial resolution of the measured image. The implications of these advantages as well as some limitations of this imaging approach are discussed and a brief outlook at some of the possible future developments in this area is provided.

Quantum dots for fluorescent biosensing and bio-imaging applications

Abstract: Quantum dots (QDs) have been facilitating the development of sensitive fluorescence biosensors over the past two decades due to their high quantum yield, narrow and tunable emission spectrum and good photostability. The new emerging QDs with improved biocompatibility further promote their biological applications. In this review, we first briefly introduce the prevalently used QDs and their preparation and bioconjugation approaches. Then we summarize QDs-based fluorescent biosensing for proteins and nucleic acids, and QDs-based applications in cellular and in vivo targeting and imaging. Last but not the least, we envision the potential QDs-based applications in future perspectives.

Tattoo-based potentiometric ion-selective sensors for epidermal pH monitoring

Abstract: This article presents the fabrication and characterization of novel tattoo-based solid-contact ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) for non-invasive potentiometric monitoring of epidermal pH levels. The new fabrication approach combines commercially available temporary transfer tattoo paper with conventional screen printing and solid-contact polymer ISE methodologies. The resulting tattoo-based potentiometric sensors exhibit rapid and sensitive response to a wide range of pH changes with no carry-over effects. Furthermore, the tattoo ISE sensors endure repetitive mechanical deformation, which is a key requirement of wearable and epidermal sensors. The flexible and conformal nature of the tattoo sensors enable them to be mounted on nearly any exposed skin surface for real-time pH monitoring of the human perspiration, as illustrated from the response during a strenuous physical activity. The resulting tattoo-based ISE sensors offer considerable promise as wearable potentiometric sensors suitable for diverse applications.

A potentiometric tattoo sensor for monitoring ammonium in sweat

Abstract: The development and analytical characterization of a novel ion-selective potentiometric cell in a temporary-transfer tattoo platform for monitoring ammonium levels in sweat is presented. The fabrication of this skin-worn sensor, which is based on a screen-printed design, incorporates all-solid-state potentiometric sensor technology for both the working and reference electrodes, in connection to ammonium-selective polymeric membrane based on the nonactin ionophore. The resulting tattooed potentiometric sensor exhibits a working range between 10−4 M to 0.1 M, well within the physiological levels of ammonium in sweat. Testing under stringent mechanical stress expected on the epidermis shows that the analytical performance is not affected by factors such as stretching or bending. Since the levels of ammonium are related to the breakdown of proteins, the new wearable potentiometric tattoo sensor offers considerable promise for monitoring sport performance or detecting metabolic disorders in healthcare. Such combination of the epidermal integration, screen-printed technology and potentiometric sensing represents an attractive path towards non-invasive monitoring of a variety of electrolytes in human perspiration.

Inkjet-printed paper-based SERS dipsticks and swabs for trace chemical detection

Abstract: We demonstrate a paper-based surface swab and lateral-flow dipstick that includes an inkjet-printed surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate for analyte detection. Due to capillary-action wicking of cellulose, the paper dipstick enables extremely simple and pump-free loading of liquid samples into the detection device, and in addition provides inherent analyte concentration within the detection volume. Furthermore, the flexible nature of the paper-based SERS device also enables it to act as a swab to collect analyte molecules directly from a large-area surface; the collected analyte molecules can then be focused into a small-volume SERS-active region by lateral-flow concentration. These capabilities are unseen in today's SERS substrates and microfluidic SERS devices. Using these novel lateral-flow paper SERS devices, we achieved detection limits as low as 95 fg of Rhodamine 6G (R6G), 413 pg of the organophosphate malathion, 9 ng of heroin, and 15 ng of cocaine. Moreover, the measurements show that the technique is quantitative and is repeatable across multiple swabs and dipsticks. The results reported here may lead to ultra-low-cost portable applications in trace chemical detection.

A nanosized metal–organic framework of Fe-MIL-88NH2 as a novel peroxidase mimic used for colorimetric detection of glucose

Abstract: In this paper, a nanosized porous metal–organic framework, Fe-MIL-88NH2, was facilely prepared with a uniform octahedral shape by the addition of acetic acid, and for the first time was demonstrated to possess intrinsic peroxidase-like activity. Kinetic analysis and electron spin resonance measurements indicated that the catalytic behavior was consistent with typical Michaelis–Menten kinetics and follows a ping-pong mechanism. As a novel peroxidase mimic material, Fe-MIL-88NH2 shows the advantages of high catalytic efficiency, ultrahigh stability and high biocompatibility in aqueous medium compared with natural enzymes and other peroxidase nanomimetics. Here, Fe-MIL-88NH2 was used to quickly catalyze oxidation of the peroxidase substrate 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H2O2 to produce a colored product, which provided a simple, sensitive and selective method for the colorimetric detection of glucose. Glucose could be linearly detected in the range from 2.0 × 10−6 to 3.0 × 10−4 M with a detection limit of 4.8 × 10−7 M, and the color variation for glucose response was also obvious by visual observation at concentrations as low as 2.0 × 10−6 M. More importantly, the colorimetric method could be successfully applied to the determination of glucose in diluted serum samples.

Green synthesis of carbon dots with down- and up-conversion fluorescent properties for sensitive detection of hypochlorite with a dual-readout assay

Abstract: High quality carbon dots (C-dots) with down- and up-conversion fluorescence have been synthesized through low-temperature carbonization using sweet pepper as the carbon source. The C-dots with a quantum yield (QY) of 19.3% exhibit superior photophysical properties, for example, narrow and symmetric emission spectra, large stock shifts, resistance to photobleaching, and excitation-dependent fluorescence behavior. The excellent C-dots serve as useful fluorescent probes for hypochlorite (ClO−) detection by both down- and up-conversion fluorescence. Two consecutive linear ranges allow a wide determination of ClO− concentrations with a low detection limit of 0.05 μmol L−1 and 0.06 μmol L−1 (S/N = 3) for down- and up-conversion fluorescence measurements, respectively. The proposed detection method is advantageous because it is simple, sensitive, dual-signalling model and low-cost and has potential extensive applications in environmental and biological assays.

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy coupled with a classification machine for the analysis of blood plasma or serum: a novel diagnostic approach for ovarian cancer

Abstract: Currently available screening tests do not deliver the required sensitivity and specificity for accurate diagnosis of ovarian or endometrial cancer. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy of blood plasma or serum is a rapid, versatile, and relatively non-invasive approach which could characterize biomolecular alterations due to cancer and has potential to be utilized as a screening or diagnostic tool. In the past, no such approach has been investigated for its applicability in screening and/or diagnosis of gynaecological cancers. We set out to determine whether attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform IR (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy coupled with a proposed classification machine could be applied to IR spectra obtained from plasma and serum for accurate class prediction (cancer vs. normal). Plasma and serum samples were obtained from ovarian cancer cases (n = 30), endometrial cancer cases (n = 30) and non-cancer controls (n = 30), and subjected to ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Four derived datasets were processed to estimate the real-world diagnosis of ovarian and endometrial cancer. Classification results for ovarian cancer were remarkable (up to 96.7%), whereas endometrial cancer was classified with a relatively high accuracy (up to 81.7%). The results from different combinations of feature extraction and classification methods, and also classifier ensembles, were compared. No single classification system performed best for all different datasets. This demonstrates the need for a framework that can accommodate a diverse set of analytical methods in order to be adaptable to different datasets. This pilot study suggests that ATR-FTIR spectroscopy of blood is a robust tool for accurate diagnosis, and carries the potential to be utilized as a screening test for ovarian cancer in primary care settings. The proposed classification machine is a powerful tool which could be applied to classify the vibrational spectroscopy data of different biological systems (e.g., tissue, urine, saliva), with their potential application in clinical practice.

Lipid imaging by mass spectrometry – a review

Abstract: Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has proven to be extremely useful for applications such as the spatial analysis of peptides and proteins in biological tissue, the performance assessment of drugs in vivo or the measurement of protein or metabolite expression as tissue classifiers or biomarkers from disease versus control tissue comparisons. The most popular MSI technique is MALDI mass spectrometry. First invented by Richard Caprioli in the mid-1990s, it is the highest performing MSI technique in terms of spatial resolution, sensitivity for intact biomolecules and application range today. The unique ability to identify and spatially resolve numerous compounds simultaneously, based on m/z values has inter alia been applied to untargeted and targeted chemical mapping of biological compartments, revealing changes of physiological states, disease pathologies and metabolic faith and distribution of xenobiotics. Many MSI applications focus on lipid species because of the lipids' diverse roles as structural components of cell membranes, their function in the surfactant cycle, and their involvement as second messengers in signalling cascades of tissues and cells. This article gives a comprehensive overview of lipid imaging techniques and applications using established MALDI and SIMS methods but also other promising MSI techniques such as DESI.

Cell electrospinning: a novel tool for functionalising fibres, scaffolds and membranes with living cells and other advanced materials for regenerative biology and medicine

Abstract: Recent years have seen interest in approaches for directly generating fibers and scaffolds following a rising trend for their exploration in the health sciences. In this review the author wishes to briefly highlight the many approaches explored to date for generating such structures, while underlining their advantages and disadvantages, and their contribution in particular to the biomedical sciences. Such structures have been demonstrated as having implications in both the laboratory and the clinic, as they mimic the native extra cellular matrix. Interestingly the only materials investigated until very recently for generating fibrous architectures employed either natural or synthetic polymers with or without the addition of functional molecule(s). Arguably although such constructs have been demonstrated to have many applications, they lack the one unit most important for carrying out the ability to directly reconstruct a three-dimensional functional tissue, namely living cells. Therefore recent findings have demonstrated the ability to directly form cell-laden fibers and scaffolds in useful quantities from which functional three-dimensional living tissues can be conceived. These recent developments have far-reaching ramifications to many areas of research and development, a few of which range from tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, a novel approach to analyzing cell behavior and function in real time in three-dimensions, to the advanced controlled and targeted delivery of experimental and/or medical cells and/or genes for localized treatment. At present these developments have passed all in vitro and in vivo mouse model based challenge trials and are now spearheading their journey towards initiating human clinical trials.

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence of nanomaterials for bioanalysis

Abstract: Since the electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of silicon nanoparticles (NPs) was reported in 2002, miscellaneous nanomaterials with various sizes and shapes have been employed as ECL nanoemitters for bioanalysis Elucidation of the ECL derivation from these nanoemitters and pertinent biofunctionalization with multitudinous biomolecules can offer excellent ECL signal-transduction platforms for fabricating novel biosensing devices In this review, we comprehensively describe retrospective and recent advances in NPs-based ECL and related biosensing methodologies, and review their analytical applications in the detection of small biological molecules, enzymatic sensing, immunoassay, DNA analysis and cytosensing

Protein amyloids develop an intrinsic fluorescence signature during aggregation

Abstract: We report observations of an intrinsic fluorescence in the visible range, which develops during the aggregation of a range of polypeptides, including the disease-related human peptides amyloid-β(1–40) and (1–42), lysozyme and tau. Characteristic fluorescence properties such as the emission lifetime and spectra were determined experimentally. This intrinsic fluorescence is independent of the presence of aromatic side-chain residues within the polypeptide structure. Rather, it appears to result from electronic levels that become available when the polypeptide chain folds into a cross-β sheet scaffold similar to what has been reported to take place in crystals. We use these findings to quantify protein aggregation in vitro by fluorescence imaging in a label-free manner.

Illuminating disease and enlightening biomedicine: Raman spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool

Abstract: The discovery of the Raman effect in 1928 not only aided fundamental understanding about the quantum nature of light and matter but also opened up a completely novel area of optics and spectroscopic research that is accelerating at a greater rate during the last decade than at any time since its inception. This introductory overview focuses on some of the most recent developments within this exciting field and how this has enabled and enhanced disease diagnosis and biomedical applications. We highlight a small number of stimulating high-impact studies in imaging, endoscopy, stem cell research, and other recent developments such as spatially offset Raman scattering amongst others. We hope this stimulates further interest in this already exciting field, by ‘illuminating’ some of the current research being undertaken by the latest in a very long line of dedicated experimentalists interested in the properties and potential beneficial applications of light.

Potentiometric sensors using cotton yarns, carbon nanotubes and polymeric membranes

Abstract: A simple and generalized approach to build electrochemical sensors for wearable devices is presented. Commercial cotton yarns are first turned into electrical conductors through a simple dyeing process using a carbon nanotube ink. These conductive yarns are then partially coated with a suitable polymeric membrane to build ion-selective electrodes. Potentiometric measurements using these yarn-potentiometric sensors are demonstrated. Examples of yarns that can sense pH, K+ and NH4+ are presented. In all cases, these sensing yarns show limits of detection and linear ranges that are similar to those obtained with lab-made solid-state ion-selective electrodes. Through the immobilization of these sensors in a band-aid, it is shown that this approach could be easily implemented in a wearable device. Factors affecting the performance of the sensors and future potential applications are discussed.

Blood plasma surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for non-invasive optical detection of cervical cancer

Abstract: Based on blood plasma surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) analysis, a simple and label-free blood test for non-invasive cervical cancer detection is presented in this paper. SERS measurements were performed on blood plasma samples from 60 cervical cancer patients and 50 healthy volunteers. Both the empirical approach and multivariate statistical techniques, including principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA), were employed to analyze and differentiate the obtained blood plasma SERS spectra. The empirical diagnostic algorithm based on the integration area of the SERS spectral bands (1310–1430 and 1560–1700 cm−1) achieved a diagnostic sensitivity of 70% and 83.3%, and a specificity of 76% and 78%, respectively, whereas the diagnostic algorithms based on PCA-LDA yielded a better diagnostic sensitivity of 96.7% and a specificity of 92% for separating cancerous samples from normal samples. This exploratory work demonstrates that a silver nanoparticle based SERS plasma analysis technique in conjunction with PCA-LDA has potential for improving cervical cancer detection and screening.

A highly specific BODIPY-based probe localized in mitochondria for HClO imaging.

Abstract: An oxime containing fluorescent probe based on a BODIPY scaffold was successfully designed and used for HClO determination with rapid response, low detection limits and high selectivity. Confocal fluorescence microscopy demonstrated that the probe could permeate the mitochondria and made possible the fast fluorescent imaging of endogenous HClO.

Blood and breath levels of selected volatile organic compounds in healthy volunteers.

Abstract: Gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS) was used to identify and quantify volatile organic compounds in the blood and breath of healthy individuals. Blood and breath volatiles were pre-concentrated using headspace solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) and needle trap devices (NTDs), respectively. The study involved a group of 28 healthy test subjects and resulted in the quantification of a total of 74 compounds in both types of samples. The concentrations of the species under study varied between 0.01 and 6700 nmol L−1 in blood and between 0.02 and 2500 ppb in exhaled air. Limits of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.01 to 270 nmol L−1 for blood compounds and from 0.01 to 0.7 ppb for breath species. Relative standard deviations for both measurement regimes varied from 1.5 to 14%. The predominant chemical classes among the compounds quantified were hydrocarbons (24), ketones (10), terpenes (8), heterocyclic compounds (7) and aromatic compounds (7). Twelve analytes were found to be highly present in both blood and exhaled air (with incidence rates higher than 80%) and for 32 species significant differences (Wilcoxon signed-rank test) between room air and exhaled breath were observed. By comparing blood, room air and breath levels in parallel, a tentative classification of volatiles into endogenous and exogenous compounds can be achieved.

Polydopamine-based molecular imprinting on silica-modified magnetic nanoparticles for recognition and separation of bovine hemoglobin

Abstract: Surface molecular imprinting, especially on the surface of silica-modified magnetic nanoparticles, has been proposed as a promising strategy for protein recognition and separation. Inspired by the self-polymerization of dopamine, we synthesized a polydopamine-based molecular imprinted film coating on silica–Fe3O4 nanoparticles for recognition and separation of bovine hemoglobin (BHb). Magnetic molecularly imprinted nanoparticles (about 860 nm) possess a core–shell structure. Magnetic molecularly imprinted nanoparticles (MMIP) show a relatively high adsorption capacity (4.65 ± 0.38 mg g−1) and excellent selectivity towards BHb with a separation factor of 2.19. MMIP with high saturation magnetization (10.33 emu g−1) makes it easy to separate the target protein from solution by an external magnetic field. After three continuous adsorption and elution processes, the adsorption capacity of MMIP remained at 4.30 mg g−1. Our results suggest that MMIPs are suitable for the removal of high abundance of protein and the enrichment of low abundance of protein in proteomics.

Fluorescent probe for highly selective and sensitive detection of hydrogen sulfide in living cells and cardiac tissues

Abstract: A coumarin-based fluorescence chemoprobe was developed and evaluated for the selective and sensitive detection of hydrogen sulfide in degassed PBS buffers and fetal bovine serum. Fluorescence detection of hydrogen sulfide in living cells was also successfully achieved using two-photon confocal fluorescence imaging. Further in situ visualization of endogenous H(2)S was realized in cardiac tissues of normal rats and atherosclerosis (AS) rats.

Resonant light scattering spectroscopy of gold, silver and gold–silver alloy nanoparticles and optical detection in microfluidic channels

Abstract: Dark field resonant light scattering by gold and silver nanoparticles enables the detection and spectroscopy of such particles with high sensitivity, down to the single-particle level, and can be used to implement miniaturised optical detection schemes for chemical and biological analysis. Here, we present a straightforward optical spectroscopic methodology for the quantitative spectrometric study of resonant light scattering (RLS) by nanoparticles. RLS spectroscopy is complementary to UV-visible absorbance measurements, and we apply it to the characterisation and comparison of different types of gold, silver and gold-silver alloy nanoparticles. The potential of gold and silver particles as alternatives for fluorescent probes in certain applications is discussed. RLS spectroscopy is shown to be useful for studying analyte-induced gold nanoparticle assembly and nanoparticle chemistry, which can induce radical changes in the plasmonic resonances responsible for the strong light scattering. Furthermore, the feasibility of dark field RLS detection and quantitation of metal nanoparticles in microfluidic volumes is demonstrated, opening interesting possibilities for the further development of microfluidic detection schemes.

Green synthesized silver nanoparticles for selective colorimetric sensing of Hg2+ in aqueous solution at wide pH range

Abstract: In the present study, the syntheses of crystalline silver and gold nanoparticles (NPs) has been demonstrated in a green and environmentally friendly approach using citrus fruit extracts (lemon, Citrus limon (Cl-1) and sweet orange, Citrus limetta (Cl-2)). In addition, potentially hazardous metal ion sensing properties of these NPs in aqueous solution has been explored. Cl-1 and Cl-2 that predominantly contained citric and ascorbic acid, exhibited different reducing abilities towards silver and gold ions into NPs. Cl-1 reduces silver ions into AgNPs only in the presence of sunlight whereas AuNPs from gold ions were formed without exposure to sunlight. In contrast, Cl-2 converts both silver and gold ions into the corresponding NPs in the absence of sunlight. The colorimetric sensor studies of these green synthesized AgNPs (Cl-1–AgNPs) showed selective sensing of the potentially hazardous Hg2+ ion in water at micromolar concentrations. More importantly, green synthesized Cl-1–AgNPs sensor systems detected Hg2+ ions in water in a wide pH range (3.2 to 8.5).

Ni foam: a novel three-dimensional porous sensing platform for sensitive and selective nonenzymatic glucose detection

Abstract: The present communication reports on the first use of commercially available three-dimensional porous Ni foam (NF) as a novel electrochemical sensing platform for nonenzymatic glucose detection. NF not only acts as a working electrode, but also functions as an effective electrocatalyst for electrooxidation of glucose. The sensor exhibits high selectivity toward glucose. The linear range and limit of detection were 0.05-7.35 mM (R = 0.995) and 2.2 mu M with a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, respectively. The application of this glucose sensor in human blood serum has also been demonstrated successfully.

A real-time colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe for sulfite.

Abstract: A real-time colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe based on modulating the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) of the coumarin platform for selective detection of sulfite is presented. This reaction based probe utilized the Michael addition to the dicyano-vinyl group with the detection limit of 5.8 × 10−5 M. The probe displayed a high selectivity for sulfite over other anions and reactive sulfur especially for biothiols including cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy) and glutathione (GSH), with about 100 nm blue shift and more than 230 times intensity ratios change of the emission spectrum. Meanwhile, it could be easily observed that the probe for sulfite changes from red to pale yellow by the naked eye, and from red to blue under UV lamp immediately after the sulfite is added. To the best of our knowledge, it is the fastest response probe for sulfite ever reported, which could give a colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent response instantly.

Carbon dots and chitosan composite film based biosensor for the sensitive and selective determination of dopamine

Abstract: A simple, sensitive and reliable dopamine (DA) biosensor was developed based on a carbon dots (CDs) and chitosan (CS) composite film modified glassy carbon electrode (CDs-CS/GCE). Under optimal conditions, the CDs-CS/GCE showed a better electrochemical response for the detection of DA than that of the glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The oxidation peak current (Ipa) of DA was linear with the concentration of DA in the range from 0.1 μM to 30.0 μM with the limit of detection as 11.2 nM (3S/N). The CDs-CS/GCE was applied to the detection of DA content in an injection solution of DA with satisfactory results.

One-step patterning of hollow microstructures in paper by laser cutting to create microfluidic analytical devices

Abstract: In this paper, we report a simple, low-cost method for rapid, highly reproductive fabrication of paper-based microfluidics by using a commercially available, minitype CO2 laser cutting/engraving machine. This method involves only one operation of cutting a piece of paper by laser according to a predesigned pattern. The hollow microstructures formed in the paper are used as the ‘hydrophobic barriers’ to define the hydrophilic flowing paths. A typical paper device on a 4 cm × 4 cm piece of paper can be fabricated within ∼7–20 s; it is ready for use once the cutting process is finished. The main fabrication parameters such as the applied current and cutting rate of the laser were optimized. The fabrication resolution and multiplexed analytical capability of the hollow microstructure-patterned paper were also characterized.

Adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of imipramine, trimipramine and desipramine employing titanium dioxide nanoparticles and an Amberlite XAD-2 modified glassy carbon paste electrode

Abstract: An Amberlite XAD-2 (XAD2) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TNPs) modified glassy carbon paste electrode (XAD2-TNP-GCPE) was developed for the determination of imipramine (IMI), trimipramine (TRI) and desipramine (DES). The electrochemical behavior of these molecules was investigated employing cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronocoulometry (CC), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and adsorptive stripping differential pulse voltammetry (AdSDPV). After optimization of analytical conditions using a XAD2-TNP-GCPE electrode at pH 6.0 phosphate buffer (0.1 M), the peak currents were found to vary linearly with its concentration in the range of 1.30 × 10−9 to 6.23 × 10−6 M for IMI, 1.16 × 10−9 to 6.87 × 10−6 M for TRI and 1.43 × 10−9 to 5.68 × 10−6 M for DES. The detection limits (S/N = 3) of 3.93 × 10−10, 3.51 × 10−10 and 4.35 × 10−10 M were obtained for IMI, TRI and DES respectively using AdSDPV. The prepared modified electrode showed several advantages such as a simple preparation method, high sensitivity, very low detection limits and excellent reproducibility. The proposed method was employed for the determination of IMI, TRI and DES in pharmaceutical formulations, blood serum and urine samples.

Controllable synthesis of silver nanoparticle-decorated reduced graphene oxide hybrids for ammonia detection

Abstract: We demonstrate controllable fabrication of Ag nanoparticle (NP)-decorated reduced graphene oxide (RGO/Ag) hybrids and their application for fast and selective detection of ammonia at room temperature. Ag NPs greatly improved the sensitivity of RGO. The response time (6 s) and recovery time (10 s) are comparable with our previous Ag NP-decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT/Ag) NH3 sensors; however, the sensitivity is about twice that of MWCNT/Ag hybrids. We found that the loading density of NPs greatly affects the sensing performance of RGO/Ag hybrids and a proper NP loading leads to maximum sensitivity.

Portable nanoparticle based assay for rapid detection of food antioxidants (NanoCerac)

Abstract: Methods and assay for the portable colorimetric detection of an antioxidant in a food sample. According to one aspect the method comprises the steps of providing a colorimetric reagent comprising a plurality of ceria nanoparticles immobilized to a support, contacting the colorimetric reagent with the food sample, and detecting an optical property of the colorimetric reagent, wherein a change in the optical property of the colorimetric reagent is associated with the presence of antioxidant in the food sample, and further wherein the change in the optical property of the colorimetric reagent is dependent upon the concentration of the antioxidant in said food sample.

Amide I vibrational mode suppression in surface (SERS) and tip (TERS) enhanced Raman spectra of protein specimens

Abstract: Surface- and tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS and TERS) are modern spectroscopic techniques, which are becoming widely used and show a great potential for the structural characterisation of biological systems. Strong enhancement of the Raman signal through localised surface plasmon resonance enables chemical detection at the single-molecule scale. Enhanced Raman spectra collected from biological specimens, such as peptides, proteins or microorganisms, were often observed to lack the amide I band, which is commonly used as a marker for the interpretation of the secondary protein structure. The cause of this phenomenon was unclear for many decades. In this work, we investigated this phenomenon for native insulin and insulin fibrils using both TERS and SERS and compared these spectra to the spectra of well-defined homo peptides. The results indicate that the appearance of the amide I Raman band does not correlate with the protein aggregation state, but is instead determined by the size of the amino acid side chain. For short model peptides, the absence of the amide I band in TERS and SERS spectra correlates with the presence of a bulky side chain. Homo-glycine and -alanine, which are peptides with small side chain groups (H and CH3, respectively), exhibited an intense amide I band in almost 100% of the acquired spectra. Peptides with bulky side chains, such as tyrosine and tryptophan, exhibited the amide I band in 70% and 31% of the acquired spectra, respectively.