Precursor-oriented design of nano-alumina for efficient removal of antibiotics.

Rapid and efficient removal of environmental antibiotics is vital to curb bacterial resistance. Through rational precursors-oriented design, we attain the best AlO absorbent by 500 °C calcination of ammonium aluminium carbonate hydroxide (AACH) precursor from NHHCO route (AACH-NHHCO-500) for fast and efficient removal of tetracycline (TC) and other antibiotics from environmental waters including high-salinity wastewater. AACH-NHHCO-500 (0.

Surface engineering of AlO nanotubes by ureasolysis method for activating persulfate degradation of antibiotics.

Though ecofriendly, pure AlO has never been used for activation of peroxodisulfate (PDS) to degrade pollutants. We report the fabrication of AlO nanotubes by ureasolysis method for efficient activating PDS degradation of antibiotics. The fast ureasolysis in aqueous AlCl solution produces NHAl(OH)CO nanotubes, which are calcined to porous AlO nanotubes, and the release of ammonia and carbon dioxide engineers the surface features of large surface area, numerous acidic-basic sites and suitable Zeta potentials.

Cr-ZnGaO@Pt for Light-Triggered Dark Catalytic Regeneration of Nicotinamide Coenzymes without Other Electron Mediators.

Photocatalysts for regeneration of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) usually work with continuous lighting and electron mediators, which causes impracticability under dark conditions, risk of NADH reoxidation, and complex separation. To solve these problems, we present a new catalyst of tiny Pt nanoparticles photodeposited on chromium-doped zinc gallate (CZGO@Pt). Upon being light-triggered, the photogenerated electrons are stored in the traps of CZGO and then gradually released and transferred by Pt to directly reduce NAD after stoppage of illumination.

Porous Ga O Nanotubes Derived from Urease-Mediated Interfacially-Grown NH Ga(OH) CO for High-Efficient Hydrogen Evolution.

The authors proposed a novel template-free strategy, urease-mediated interfacial growth of NH Ga(OH) CO nanotubes at 20-50 °C, to fabricate the porous Ga O nanotubes. The subtlety of the proposed strategy is all the products from urea enzymolysis are utilized in formation of NH Ga(OH) CO precipitates, and the key for interfacial growth of NH Ga(OH) CO nanotubes is the dynamic match between the rate of CO bubble fusion and NH Ga(OH) CO precipitation. The proposed strategy works well for the doped porous Ga O nanotubes.

EDTA etching: a simple way for regulating the traps, size and aqueous-dispersibility of Cr-doped zinc gallate.

Traps, size and aqueous-dispersibility are the most important parameters that affect the features and applications of persistent luminescent nanoparticles (PLNPs). However, simultaneous controlling of these parameters is rather difficult and has not been reported yet. We present the first exploration on adjusting the traps, size and aqueous-dispersibility of PLNPs simple ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) etching.

Afterglow Resonance Energy Transfer Inhibition for Fibroblast Activation Protein-α Assay.

Traditional photoluminescence resonance energy transfer (PRET)-based sensors are widely applied, but still suffer from the severe background interference from in situ excitation. The afterglow nature of the persistent luminescence nanoparticles (PLNPs) allows optosensing after the stoppage of in situ illumination, and thus subtly overcomes that interference. We proposed a simple strategy for functionalizing PLNPs for bioanalytical applications and the new afterglow resonance energy transfer (ARET)-based assay for quantitative determination and imaging of fibroblast activation protein-alpha (FAPα) in live cells using Au-decorated Cr:ZnGaO as donor and Cy5.

Engineering Persistent Luminescence Nanoparticles for Biological Applications: From Biosensing/Bioimaging to Theranostics.

Persistent luminescence nanoparticles (PLNPs) are unique optical materials emitting long-lasting luminescence after ceasing excitation. Such a unique optical feature allows luminescence detection without constant external illumination to avoid the interferences of autofluorescence and scattering light from biological fluids and tissues. Besides, near-infrared (NIR) PLNPs have advantages of deep penetration and the reactivation of the persistent luminescence (PL) by red or NIR light.

Fluorescence Anisotropy as a Reliable Discrimination of Ligand-Asymmetric and Symmetric Mn-Doped ZnS Quantum Dots.

We presented a novel fluorescence anisotropy (FA) method for the noninvasive, effective, simple, and convenient discrimination of the symmetric and asymmetric distribution of the ligands on Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots (QDs). The symmetric or asymmetric distribution of mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) and NH-polyethylene glycol-CH (PEG-m, MW 2000) was controlled by the condensation reaction of the carboxyl of MPA and the amino of PEG-m with or without the masking by the amino-functionalized silica nanoparticles. The ligand-asymmetric Janus-QDs were obtained with the masking, whereas the ligand-symmetric PEG-QDs were gained without masking.

Magnetic Separation-Assistant Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Inhibition for Highly Sensitive Probing of Nucleolin.

For the widely used "off-on" fluorescence (or phosphorescence) resonance energy transfer (FRET or PRET) system, the separation of donors and acceptors species was vital for enhancing the sensitivity. To date, separation of free donors from FRET/PRET inhibition systems was somewhat not convenient, whereas separation of the target-induced far-between acceptors has hardly been reported yet. We presented here a novel magnetic separation-assistant fluorescence resonance energy transfer (MS-FRET) inhibition strategy for highly sensitive detection of nucleolin using Cy5.

Ionic strength assay via polyacrylate-ferriferrous oxide magnetic photonic crystals.

Convenient reading out and/or determination of ionic strength (IS) is of great significance for both scientific research and real life applications. We presented here a novel method for the rapid and sensitive IS assay based on the electrolyte-induced sensitive wavelength blueshifts of the reflection spectra of polyacrylate capped Fe3O4 magnetic photonic crystals (PA-Fe3O4-MPCs). For HCl, MgSO4 and the common electrolytes corresponding to the salinity of seawater (including NaCl, KCl, MgCl2, CaCl2, Na2SO4 and their mixtures), the PA-Fe3O4-MPCs displayed wavelength blueshifts identical to the total IS of the aqueous solutions, regardless of the kind of above-mentioned electrolytes in the solutions.

Bioinspired nanocomplex for spatiotemporal imaging of sequential mRNA expression in differentiating neural stem cells.

Messenger RNA plays a pivotal role in regulating cellular activities. The expression dynamics of specific mRNA contains substantial information on the intracellular milieu. Unlike the imaging of stationary mRNAs, real-time intracellular imaging of the dynamics of mRNA expression is of great value for investigating mRNA biology and exploring specific cellular cascades.

Glucose oxidase-catalyzed growth of gold nanoparticles enables quantitative detection of attomolar cancer biomarkers.

Ultrasensitive and quantitative detection of cancer biomarkers is an unmet challenge because of their ultralow concentrations in clinical samples. Although gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based immunoassays offer high sensitivity, they were unable to quantitatively detect targets of interest most likely due to their very narrow linear ranges. This article describes a quantitative colorimetric immunoassay based on glucose oxidase (GOx)-catalyzed growth of 5 nm AuNPs that can detect cancer biomarkers from attomolar to picomolar levels.

Aminophenylboronic-acid-conjugated polyacrylic acid-Mn-doped ZnS quantum dot for highly sensitive discrimination of glycoproteins.

Discrimination of glycoproteins with different glycans is a significant but difficult issue. We presented here a new strategy for strengthening the discrimination of glycoproteins by introducing a new signaling channel, fluorescence polarization (FP), into a "single probe with three signaling channels" sensor array. The single probe was aminophenylboronic-acid-conjugated poly(acrylic acid)-Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots, and the three signaling channels were FP, room temperature phosphorescence and light scattering.

Ultrathin-yttrium phosphate-shelled polyacrylate-ferriferrous oxide magnetic microspheres for rapid and selective enrichment of phosphopeptides.

Rapid and selective enrichment of phosphopeptides from complex biological samples is essential and challenging in phosphorylated proteomics. We present the direct growth of the ultrathin YPO4 shell on the surface of polyacrylate capped secondary Fe3O4 microspheres (PA-Fe3O4@YPO4) for the rapid and selective trapping phosphopeptides from complex samples. The prepared PA-Fe3O4@YPO4 could be rapidly harvested in the presence of an applied magnetic field and easily re-dispersed in solutions after removing the external magnet.

Metal-organic framework polymethyl methacrylate composites for open-tubular capillary electrochromatography.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are attractive as novel separation medium due to their distinguished properties including large surface area, accessible tunnels and diverse structures. Here, we report the incorporation of MOF CAU-1 (CAU=Christian-Albrechts-University) into polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) to produce a new composite (CAU-1@PMMA), and the fabrication of CAU-1@PMMA coated capillary for open tubular capillary electrochromatography (CEC). CAU-1 contains unprecedented [Al8(OH)4(OCH3)8](12+) clusters connected by twelve aminoterephthalic acid linkers, and is highly porous and stable in a variety of buffer solutions.

Heparin-mediated fluorescence anisotropy assay of antithrombin based on polyethyleneimine capped Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots.

We presented a homogeneous heparin-mediated fluorescence anisotropy (FA) assay of antithrombin (AT) based on long-lived luminescent polyethyleneimine capped Mn-doped ZnS (PEI-Mn-ZnS) QDs. The PEI-Mn-ZnS QDs with long lifetime luminescence at 585 nm displayed a very low background of FA value, which was very helpful for FA assaying of large molecules. The medium heparin was crucial for AT determination, and different heparin amounts resulted in different linear range of detection and sensitivity.

Mn-doped ZnS quantum dot imbedded two-fragment imprinting silica for enhanced room temperature phosphorescence probing of domoic acid.

A novel strategy was presented to construct the enhanced molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) probe by combining the RTP of Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots (Mn-ZnS QDs) and two-fragment imprinting. Two fragments or structurally similar parts of the target analytes were used as the dummy templates. Polyethyleneimine capped Mn-ZnS (PEI-Mn-ZnS) QDs, offering the binding sites to interact with the carboxyl groups of templates, were imbedded into MIPs by the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane.

Room-temperature phosphorescent discrimination of catechol from resorcinol and hydroquinone based on sodium tripolyphosphate capped Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots.

A room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) strategy was developed for direct, additive-free discrimination of catechol from resorcinol and hydroquinone based on sodium tripolyphosphate capped Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots (STPP-Mn-ZnS QDs). The RTP response of STPP-Mn-ZnS QDs to the three isomers was pH-dependent, and the greatest difference in the RTP response to the isomers was observed at pH 8.0: catechol enhanced the RTP intensity of the QDs, while resorcinol and hydroquinone had little effect on the RTP intensity of the QDs.

Metal-organic framework ZIF-8 nanocrystals as pseudostationary phase for capillary electrokinetic chromatography.

The outstanding properties such as large surface area, diverse structure, and accessible tunnels and cages make metal organic frameworks (MOFs) attractive as novel separation media in separation sciences. However, the utilization of MOFs in EKC has not been reported before. Here we show the exploration of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), one of famous MOFs, as the pseudostationary phase (PSP) in EKC.

The stable and water-soluble neodymium-doped lanthanide fluoride nanoparticles for near infrared probing of copper ion.

Neodymium (Nd(3+)) doped nanomaterials exhibited the unique near infrared (NIR) luminescence properties. However, the application of Nd-doped nanomaterials to chemosensors was rarely explored. Herein, the water-soluble 2-aminoethyl dihydrogen phosphate stabilized Nd-doped LaF(3) (ADP-Nd-LaF(3)) nanoparticles were explored as the NIR probe for chemosensors.

High-performance liquid chromatographic separation of position isomers using metal-organic framework MIL-53(Al) as the stationary phase.

Metal-organic framework MIL-53(Al) was explored as the stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of position isomers using a binary and/or polar mobile phase. Baseline separations of xylene, dichlorobenzene, chlorotoluene and nitrophenol isomers were achieved on the slurry-packed MIL-53(Al) column with high resolution and good precision. The effects of mobile phase composition, injected sample mass and temperature were investigated.

Turn-on room temperature phosphorescence assay of heparin with tunable sensitivity and detection window based on target-induced self-assembly of polyethyleneimine capped Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots.

Room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) turn-on assay of heparin with tunable sensitivity and detection window was demonstrated on the basis of the target induced self-assembly of polyethyleneimine capped Mn-doped ZnS (PEI-Mn-ZnS) QDs. The proposed method can cover the whole therapeutic dosing concentration range in postoperation and long-term therapy (0.2-1.

A gold nanorod based colorimetric probe for the rapid and selective detection of Cu2+ ions.

A gold nanorod (AuNR) based colorimetric probe was reported for the rapid and selective detection of Cu(2+) ions. The probe was fabricated by functionalizing cysteine (Cys) onto AuNR (Cys-AuNR) with an aspect ratio of 2.3.