Nitrogen and Sulfur Co-doped Carbon Dots for Ratiometric Fluorometric Determination of Mercury Ions.

Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon dots (N, S-CDs) were prepared for dual-channel ratiometric fluorescence determination of mercury ions (Hg). The dual-emission N, S-CDs were synthesized using a simple one-pot hydrothermal treatment. When excited with visible light, N,S-CDs exhibited two emission peaks at 390 and 500 nm.

Methylene Blue-Stained Single-Stranded DNA Aptamers as a Highly Efficient Electronic Switch for Quasi-Reagentless Exosomes Detection: An Old Dog with New Tricks.

Improving the convenience, sensitivity, and cost-effectiveness of electrochemical biosensors is crucial for advancing their clinical diagnostic applications. Herein, we presented an elegant approach to construct electrochemical aptasensors for tumor-derived exosome detection by harnessing the alterable interaction between methylene blue (MB) and DNA aptamer. In detail, the anti-EpCAM aptamer, named SYL3C, was found to exhibit a strong affinity toward MB due to the specific interaction between MB and unbound guanine bases.

B7H3 targeting gold nanocage pH-sensitive conjugates for precise and synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy against NSCLC.

Background: The combination of drug delivery with immune checkpoint targeting has been extensively studied in cancer therapy. However, the clinical benefit for patients from this strategy is still limited. B7 homolog 3 protein (B7-H3), also known as CD276 (B7-H3/CD276), is a promising therapeutic target for anti-cancer treatment.

Exploiting the size exclusion effect of protein adsorption layers for electrochemical detection of microRNA: A new mechanism for design of E-DNA sensor.

The assay performance of electrochemical DNA (E-DNA) sensors is deeply influenced by the state of DNA probes immobilized on electrode. Moreover, the immobilization procedures for DNA probes are tedious and vary according to the probes and analytes. In this work, we find that the adsorption layers of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on gold electrode (AuE) possess a size exclusion effect to distinguish between single-stranded (-ss) DNA probes and the DNA fragments generated from enzymatic digestion of ssDNA probes.

Co-Delivery of Dihydroartemisinin and Indocyanine Green by Metal-Organic Framework-Based Vehicles for Combination Treatment of Hepatic Carcinoma.

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a widely used antimalarial agent, has clinical potential for the treatment of hepatic carcinoma. Although chemotherapy is indispensable for tumor therapy, it is generally limited by poor solubility, low efficiency, rapid clearance, and side effects. As an emerging treatment method, photothermal therapy (PTT) has many outstanding properties, but suffers from poor photostability of photosensitizer and incomplete ablation.

Colorimetric and photothermal dual-mode immunoassay of aflatoxin B based on peroxidase-like activity of Pt supported on nitrogen-doped carbon.

In this work, a split-type dual-mode (colorimetric/photothermal) immunoassay method was designed for point-of-care testing (POCT) detection of mycotoxins (aflatoxin B, AFB as the model analyte) in foodstuffs based on Pt supported on nitrogen-doped carbon amorphous (Pt-CN). The as-synthesized Pt-CN exhibits excellent peroxidase-mimicking activity, which can catalyze the oxidization of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) into TMB with sensitive colorimetric readout in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (HO). Moreover, the TMB also serves as a near-infrared (NIR) photothermal agent to convert the colorimetric readout into heat under the irradiation of an 808 nm laser.

Enzyme-controllable just-in-time production system of copper hexacyanoferrate nanoparticles with oxidase-mimicking activity for highly sensitive colorimetric immunoassay.

Nanozymes are a series of elaborately designed nanomaterials that can mimic the catalytic sites of natural enzymes for reactions. Bypassing the tedious design and preparation of nanomaterial, in this work, we report on a novel just-in-time production system of copper hexacyanoferrate nanoparticles (CHNPs), which act as an oxidase-mimicking nanozyme. This system can rapidly produce CHNPs nanozyme on demand by simply mixing Cu(II) with potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) (K[Fe(CN)]).

Biocatalysis-mediated MOF-to-prussian blue transformation enabling sensitive detection of NSCLC-associated miRNAs with dual-readout signals.

Sensitive and accurate miRNAs assay is critical for early diagnosis of non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). Herein, we demonstrate a photothermal and electrochemical dual-readout assay method for miRNA detection based on a novel biocatalysis-mediated MOF-to-prussian blue (PB) transformation (BMMPT) strategy and the catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) amplification strategy. It is found that the Fe-based MOF (MOF-Fe) can act as the Fe source to react with K[Fe(CN)], leading to the in-situ formation of prussian blue (PB) on MOF-Fe.

Dual biomineralized metal-organic frameworks-mediated conversion of chemical energy to electricity enabling portable PEC sensing of telomerase activity in bladder cancer tissues.

In this work, we report on a portable photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing system for telomerase activity detection based on dual biomineralized ZIF-8 nanoparticles (NPs)-medicated conversion of chemical energy to electricity and terminal deoxynucleoside transferase (TdTase)-catalyzed elongation of Y-junction DNA structure. Two kinds of biomineralized ZIF-8 NPs including glucose oxidase (GOx)-encapsulated ZIF-8 (GZIF) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-encapsulated ZIF-8 (HZIF) are involved in this assay system. The recognition of telomerase is started with telomerase-catalyzed elongation of a telomerase substrate (TS) primer, which generates a longer elongation chain to trigger the formation of a Y-junction DNA structure.

Nanoscale assembly line composed of dual DNA-machines enabling sensitive microRNA detection using upconversion nanoparticles probes.

DNA machines are smart artificial devices that perform well-organized DNA hybridization reactions or nanoscale mechanical movements. Herein, a nanoscale assembly line composing of dual DNA machines is meticulously designed by coupling a catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA)-based machine with a 3D DNA walker machine. Equipped with upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as signal tags, the dual DNA machines-based assembly line (DDMAL) can efficiently amplify the fluorescent signal of target recognition event, enabling sensitive detection of microRNA (miRNA).

Polymerization-driven successive collapse of DNA dominoes enabling highly sensitive cancer gene diagnosis.

We propose a novel fluorescence assay method by designing a polymerization-driven DNA dominoes collapse (PDDC) strategy, enabling highly sensitive detection of p53 gene (as a model analyte) and single nucleotide polymorphism analysis.

A three-dimensional DNA walker amplified FRET sensor for detection of telomerase activity based on the MnO nanosheet-upconversion nanoparticle sensing platform.

A novel fluorescent sensing platform for telomerase activity assay was developed by coupling a three-dimensional (3D) DNA walker with the MnO nanosheet-upconversion nanoparticle (UCNPs) complex-based fluorescence resonance energy-transfer (FRET) system.

Nonenzymatic sensing of hydrogen peroxide using a glassy carbon electrode modified with graphene oxide, a polyamidoamine dendrimer, and with polyaniline deposited by the Fenton reaction.

A highly sensitive electrochemical sensor is described for the determination of HO. It is based on based on the use of polyaniline that was generated in-situ and within 1 min on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with the aid of the Fe(II)/HO system. Initially, a 2-dimensional composite was prepared from graphene oxide and polyamidoamine dendrimer through covalent interaction.

Protein-templated FeO microspheres for highly sensitive amperometric detection of dopamine.

The authors describe an amperometric sensor for dopamine (DA) by employing olive-like FeO microspheres (OFMs) as the electrocatalyst for DA oxidization. The OFMs were prepared by using a protein templated method. The structure and properties of the OFMs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Two-dimensional MoS as a nano-binder for ssDNA: Ultrasensitive aptamer based amperometric detection of Ochratoxin A.

Two-dimensional (2D) MoS is found to possess different affinities for ssDNA and dsDNA. This finding is exploited in an amperometric aptamer-based method for the determination of the mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA). Initially, a dsDNA probe (formatted through the hybridization of OTA-aptamer with an auxiliary DNA) is self-assembled on a gold electrode.

Strong Near-Infrared Absorbing and Biocompatible CuS Nanoparticles for Rapid and Efficient Photothermal Ablation of Gram-Positive and -Negative Bacteria.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) are the most common infectious bacteria in our daily life, and seriously affect human's health.

Liposome-amplified photoelectrochemical immunoassay for highly sensitive monitoring of disease biomarkers based on a split-type strategy.

Liposomes are an excellent candidate component for biosensors to transduce and amplify detection signals due to their outstanding ability in encapsulating signal marker compounds. However, the use of liposomes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) signal transduction has not yet been achieved due the lack of appropriate sensing strategy. Herein, we report on a novel liposomes-amplified PEC immunoassay (LAPIA) method for sensitive HIV-p24 antigen (p24) detection based on a split-type strategy.

Protein-directed gold nanoparticles with excellent catalytic activity for 4-nitrophenol reduction.

To explore high-performance noble metal nanomaterials for the reduction of the biotoxin 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in medicine, we developed a green synthesis strategy of bovine serum albumin-stabilized Au nanoparticles (Au@BSA NPs). The as-synthesized Au@BSA NPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrum, fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The functional bio-nanocomposites showed Au-protein core-shell structure and uniform distribution, and their sizes were dependent on the additive amount of HAuCl.

Eggshell membrane-templated synthesis of 3D hierarchical porous Au networks for electrochemical nonenzymatic glucose sensor.

Sensitive and accurate test of blood glucose levels is necessary to monitor and prevent diabetic complications. Herein, we developed a novel and sensitive non-enzymatic glucose sensing platform by employing 3D hierarchical porous Au networks (HPANs) as electrocatalyst for glucose oxidization. The HPANs were prepared through a bio-inspired synthesis method, in which the natural eggshell membrane (ESM) was introduced as template.

Meditation and blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Objectives: We meta-analyzed the effect of meditation on blood pressure (BP), including both transcendental meditation and non-transcendental meditation interventions.

Methods: We identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the BP responses to meditation interventions through a systematic literature search of the PubMed, ABI/INFORM, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases (from January 1980 to October 2015). We meta-analyzed the change in SBP and DBP, stratified by type of meditation (transcendental meditation vs.

Fenton reaction-based colorimetric immunoassay for sensitive detection of brevetoxin B.

We designed a new colorimetric immunoassay for sensitive monitoring of brevetoxin B (BTB) using enzyme-controlled Fenton reaction with a high-resolution 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB)-based visual colored system. Upon addition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the equivalent iron(II) could be first converted into iron(III) and free hydroxyl radical (•OH) via the classical Fenton reaction. Then the as-produced iron(III) and •OH could cause a perceptible change from colorless to blue with the increasing H2O2 concentration in the presence of TMB.

Enzyme-controlled dissolution of MnO nanoflakes with enzyme cascade amplification for colorimetric immunoassay.

A new colorimetric immunosensing platform accompanying enzyme cascade amplification strategy was fabricated for quantitative screening of small-molecular mycotoxins (aflatoxin B, AFB used in this case) coupling with enzyme-controlled dissolution of MnO nanoflakes. The visual colored assay was executed by high-efficient MnO-3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) system (blue). In the presence of ascorbic acid, MnO nanoflakes were dissolved into Mn ions, thus resulting in a perceptible color change from blue to colorless.