Selective nano-sensing approach for the determination of inorganic phosphate in human urine samples.

A novel sensing approach is presented for the analysis of phosphate ions in human urine samples. The new sensor is based on the fluorescence energy transfer between a luminescent probe ([Tb-EDTA]) and gold nanoparticles capped with a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (Au NPs-CTAB). The strong affinity between CTAB receptors and phosphate ions results in a highly selective assay with minimum sample preparation steps.

Pegylated and nanoparticle-conjugated sulfonium salt photo triggers necrotic cell death.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) processes involving the production of singlet oxygen face the issue of oxygen concentration dependency. Despite high oxygen delivery, a variety of properties related to metabolism and vascular morphology in cancer cells result in hypoxic environments, resulting in limited effectiveness of such therapies. An alternative oxygen-independent agent whose cell cytotoxicity can be remotely controlled by light may allow access to treatment of hypoxic tumors.