Advances in human papillomavirus detection for cervical cancer screening and diagnosis: challenges of conventional methods and opportunities for emergent tools.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the main cause of cervical cancer and other cancers such as anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. The prevention screening and treatment of cervical cancer has remained one of the top priorities of the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2020, the WHO came up with the 90-70-90 strategy aimed at eliminating cervical cancers as a public health problem by the year 2030.

Thieno[3,2-]thiophene for the Construction of Far-Red Molecular Rotor Hemicyanines as High-Affinity DNA Aptamer Fluorogenic Reporters.

The construction of far-red fluorescent molecular rotors (FMRs) is an imperative task for developing nucleic acid stains that have superior compatibility with cellular systems and complex matrices. A typical strategy relies on the methine extension of asymmetric cyanines, which unfortunately fails to produce sensitive rotor character. To break free from this paradigm, we have synthesized far-red hemicyanines using a dimethylamino thieno[3,2-]thiophene donor.

Ferroelectric hydrogels from amino acids and oleic acid.

Ferroelectric bio-based materials with a high water content (≈90 wt %) were not previously developed. Here, we develop hydrogels containing ≈90 wt % water, amino acids (lysine and arginine) and oleic acid. The NH and CH groups of lysine hydrogen bond water, as shown by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, yielding electrically conductive solutions.

Sensitive electrochemical detection of methimazole based on a unique copper and exfoliated graphene oxide nanocomposite.

Herein, we report the creation of a novel sensitive electrochemical sensing platform based on a copper and exfoliated graphene oxide (Cu-eGO) nanocomposite using a facile synthesis technique, which simultaneously removes the sodium ions that result from the exfoliation process to generate eGO from graphite. This novel Cu-eGO nanocomposite was characterized via SEM, EDX, Raman and XPS. The Cu-eGO/GCE exhibited much greater activity for the electrochemical oxidation of methimazole than the eGO/GCE or bare GCE.

Substrate-Assisted Atomic Dispersion of Cobalt for Alkaline Water Electrolysis.

Atomically dispersed single-atom catalysts have recently attracted broad research interest due to their high atom efficiency and unique catalytic performance. In this study, atomic dispersion of cobalt is achieved using a chemical bath deposition method on a highly stable alkali titanate film (Ti/KTiO). These films were characterized using a variety of techniques, with atomic dispersion confirmed via grazing incidence X-ray absorption spectroscopy and ab initio modeling of single-atom systems.

Effects of Heteroatom Doping on the Electrochemical Hydrogen Uptake and Release of Pd-Decorated Reduced Graphene Oxide.

Heteroatom doping has been widely recognized as a key strategy for improving the electrochemical properties of graphene-based materials for hydrogen storage. However, a precise understanding of how heteroatom doping influences catalytic performance, specifically regarding the intricate effects of doping-induced electron redistribution, has been lacking. Here, we report on a comprehensive exploration of the electrochemical performance enhancement in Pd-decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposites through fluorine (F) or nitrogen (N) doping.

Electrocatalysis of CO Reduction by Immobilized Formate Dehydrogenase without a Metal Redox Center.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent formate dehydrogenase from was immobilized in a 1,2-dimyristoyl--glycero-3-phosphocholine/cholesterol floating lipid bilayer on the gold surface as a biocatalyst for electrochemical CO reduction. We report that, in contrast to common belief, the enzyme can catalyze the electrochemical reduction of CO to formate without the cofactor protonated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. The electrochemical data indicate that the enzyme-catalyzed reduction of CO is diffusion-controlled and is a reversible reaction.

Nanostructured cobalt/copper catalysts for efficient electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction.

The search for an efficient and stable catalyst for the electrochemical reduction of CO to value-added chemicals is especially critical for lowering the atmospheric CO concentration. In this study, self-supported cobalt/copper nanostructured catalysts were designed, where the influences of the elemental composition and acid-etching on their efficiency towards the CO reduction reaction were studied. The developed Co/Cu catalysts showed superb catalytic activity with a low onset potential at -0.

Ultrasensitive electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of C-reactive protein antigen.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide, and the determination of C-reactive protein (CRP) from human serum is of vital importance for the diagnosis of the disease. For this study, we have developed an electrochemical immunosensor based on onion-like carbon@polyacrylonitrile (OLC-PAN) for the detection of CRP antigens. This was accomplished by immobilizing CRP antibodies on a modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE).

In Situ Spectroelectrochemical Study of Acetate Formation by CO Reduction Using Bi Catalyst in Amine-Based Capture Solution.

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) are technologies sought to reduce the level of CO in the atmosphere. Industrial carbon capture is associated with energetic penalty, thus there is an opportunity to research alternatives. In this work, spectroelectrochemistry was used to analyze the electrochemical CO reduction (eCOR) in CO saturated monoethanolamine (MEA)-based capture solutions, in a novel CCU process.

Growth and Electrochemical Study of Bismuth Nanodendrites as an Efficient Catalyst for CO Reduction.

There is a growing interest in creating cost-effective catalysts for efficient electrochemical CO reduction to address pressing environmental issues and produce valuable products. A bimetallic ZnBi catalyst that enhances catalytic activity and stability toward the electrochemical reduction of CO is designed. It is based on bismuth nanodendrites grown using a facile, scalable, and low-cost method.

Electrochemical and Infrared Studies of a Model Bilayer of the Outer Membrane of Gram-Negative Bacteria and its Interaction with polymyxin─the Last-Resort Antibiotic.

A model bilayer of the outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria, composed of lipid A and 1,2-dimyristoyl--glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DMPE), was assembled on the β-Tg modified gold (111) single crystal surface using a combination of Langmuir-Blodgett and Langmuir-Schaefer transfer. Electrochemical and spectroscopic methods were employed to study the properties of the model bilayer and its interaction with polymyxin. The model bilayer is stable on the gold surface in the transmembrane potential region between 0.

Bactericidal Effect and Cytotoxicity of Graphene Oxide/Silver Nanocomposites.

To tackle the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms without relying on antibiotics, innovative materials boasting antimicrobial properties have been engineered. This study focuses on the development of graphene oxide/silver (GO/Ag) nanocomposites, derived from partially reduced graphene oxide adorned with silver nanoparticles. Various nanocomposites with different amounts of silver (GO/Ag-1, GO/Ag-2, GO/Ag-3, and GO/Ag-4) were synthesized, and their antibacterial efficacy was systematically studied.

Mechanical Exfoliation of Expanded Graphite to Graphene-Based Materials and Modification with Palladium Nanoparticles for Hydrogen Storage.

Hydrogen is a promising green fuel carrier that can replace fossil fuels; however, its storage is still a challenge. Carbon-based materials with metal catalysts have recently been the focus of research for solid-state hydrogen storage due to their efficacy and low cost. Here, we report on the exfoliation of expanded graphite (EG) through high shear mixing and probe tip sonication methods to form graphene-based nanomaterial ShEG and sEG, respectively.

Modulating paired Ir-O-Ir electronic perturbations of correlated Ir single atoms to overcome catalytic selectivity.

Single-atom catalysts have been extensively utilized for electrocatalysis, in which electronic metal-support interactions are typically employed to stabilize single atoms. However, this neglects the metal-metal interactions of adjacent atoms, which are essential for the fine-tuning of selective sites. Herein, the high-loading of Ir single atoms (Ir SAs) (8.

Cobalt-Ceria Binary Oxide Nanojunctions for Aqueous-Phase Aerobic Oxidation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid: The Role of Interfaces.

Cobalt-ceria binary oxide nanojunctions were prepared by a sol-gel method with various chelating agents. The formed interfaces among CeO and CoO can promote the generation of nucleophilic O from O and then tune the catalytic oxidizability of the as-prepared CoCe nanojunctions. Given the results of HMF oxidations, malic acid as a complexing agent during the preparation process of the cobalt-ceria binary oxide nanojunctions can lead to a good catalytic performance on HMF oxidations to FDCA, and a remarkable FDCA selectivity of 92.

Spatially Resolved Optical Spectroscopic Measurements with Simultaneous Photoelectrochemical Mapping Using Scanning Electrochemical Probe Microscopy.

A deep understanding of the properties of semiconductor films at the micro-/nanoscale level is fundamental toward designing effective photoelectrocatalysts. Here, we integrated spatially resolved optical spectroscopy (SR-OS) with scanning photoelectrochemical microscopy (SPECM) to collect UV/vis spectra and quantify photocurrents of localized sites on a nanostructured BiVO thin film. Direct measurement of absorbance allowed for the determination of band gap energy at each location.

Synthesis of 3D Porous Cu Nanostructures on Ag Thin Film Using Dynamic Hydrogen Bubble Template for Electrochemical Conversion of CO to Ethanol.

Cu-based nanomaterials have been widely considered to be promising electrocatalysts for the direct conversion of CO to high-value hydrocarbons. However, poor selectivity and slow kinetics have hindered the use of Cu-based catalysts for large-scale industrial applications. In this work, we report on a tunable Cu-based synthesis strategy using a dynamic hydrogen bubble template (DHBT) coupled with a sputtered Ag thin film for the electrochemical reduction of CO to ethanol.

Experimental and computational studies of photoelectrochemical degradation of atrazine by modified nanoporous titanium dioxide.

The presence of herbicides like Atrazine (ATZ) in groundwater from non-target runoff of the agriculture industry becomes a big concern due to its potential negative impacts on the environment and human health. The use of advanced oxidative processes (AOP) to remove harmful contaminants has been shown to be effective for wastewater treatment. Herein, we report on an advanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) approach based on electrochemically modified nanoporous TiO electrode for efficient degradation of ATZ.

Electrochemical Exfoliation of Graphite to Graphene-Based Nanomaterials.

Here, we report on a new automated electrochemical process for the production of graphene oxide (GO) from graphite though electrochemical exfoliation. The effects of the electrolyte and applied voltage were investigated and optimized. The morphology, structure and composition of the electrochemically exfoliated GO (EGO) were probed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), FTIR spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy.

Micro-Sized pH Sensors Based on Scanning Electrochemical Probe Microscopy.

Monitoring pH changes at the micro/nano scale is essential to gain a fundamental understanding of surface processes. Detection of local pH changes at the electrode/electrolyte interface can be achieved through the use of micro-/nano-sized pH sensors. When combined with scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), these sensors can provide measurements with high spatial resolution.

Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide at TiO/Au Nanocomposites.

Herein, we report on the facile synthesis of nanocomposite consisting of TiO and Au nanoparticles (NPs) via a tailored galvanic replacement reaction (GRR). The electrocatalytic activity of the synthesized TiO/Au nanocomposites for CO reduction was investigated in an aqueous solution using various electrochemical methods. Our results demonstrated that the TiO/Au nanocomposites formed through the GRR process exhibited improved catalytic activities for CO reduction, while generating more hydrocarbon molecules than the typical formation of CO in contrast to polycrystalline Au.

Sensitive electrochemical detection of metabisulphite in gastrointestinal fluids.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin that is produced by the genus and is widely found in cereal grains such as wheat and corn. Sodium metabisulphite (SMBS) is a promising feed additive in swine farming to mitigate the negative impact caused by DON on animal growth. Here we report on an advanced electrochemical sensor based on fluorinated reduced graphene oxide modified with gold nanoparticles (Au/F-rGO) for the rapid detection and monitoring of SMBS.

Direct growth of three-dimensional nanoflower-like structures from flat metal surfaces.

Here we report on a facile top-down approach for the direct growth of CoO hierarchical nanoflowers from a bulk Co surface chemical etching and thermal annealing. The effect of the annealing temperature was investigated, showing that amorphous CoO was formed at 250 °C, while crystalline CoO with notable oxygen vacancies was created at 550 °C. The formed 3D nanostructures exhibited excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activities with a low overpotential of 0.

Sodium Hexa-Titanate Nanowires Modified with Cobalt Hydroxide Quantum Dots as an Efficient and Cost-Effective Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution in Alkaline Media.

A novel electrocatalyst with high activity and enhanced durability toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media has been designed and fabricated based on sodium hexa-titanate (NaTiO) nanowires synthesized by a hydrothermal process and modified with Co(OH) quantum dots (QDs) by a facile chemical bath deposition (CBD) method. The current response of the developed Ti/NaTiO/Co(OH) nanocomposite electrode attained 10 mA cm at an overpotential of 159 mV. The nanocomposite electrode exhibited a high stability at an applied current of 100 mA cm.