Multifunctional Au nano-bridged nanogap probes as ICP-MS/SERS dual-signal tags and signal amplifiers for bacteria discriminating, quantitative detecting and photothermal bactericidal activity.

Ultra-sensitive detection of pathogenic bacteria is of great significance in the early stage of bacterial infections and treatment. In this work, we report a novel strategy using multifunctional Au nano-bridged nanogap nanoparticles (Au NNPs)-based sandwich nanocomposites, that made of Concanavalin A-conjugated FeO@SiO NPs (ConA-FeO@SiO NPs)/bacteria/aptamer-modified Au NNPs (apt-Au NNPs), for bacteria discrimination and quantitative detection by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and subsequently photothermal antibacterial assay. The sandwich nanocomposite consists of ConA-FeO@SiO NPs to magnetically enrich and photothermal killing bacteria, and dual-signal tags of apt-Au NNPs for both SERS sensing and ICP-MS quantification.

Triple-Function Au-Ag-Stuffed Nanopancakes for SERS Detection, Discrimination, and Inactivation of Multiple Bacteria.

New strategies combining sensitive pathogenic bacterial detection and high antimicrobial efficacy are urgently desirable. Here, we report smart triple-functional Au-Ag-stuffed nanopancakes (AAS-NPs) exhibiting (1) controllably oxidative Ag-etching thickness for simultaneously obtaining the best surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement and high Ag-loading antibacterial drug delivery, (2) expressive Ag-accelerated releasing capability under neutral phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (pH ∼ 7.4) stimulus and robust antibacterial effectiveness involving sustainable Ag release, and (3) three-in-one features combining specific discrimination, sensitive detection, and inactivation of different pathogenic bacteria.

Efficient sample clean-up and online preconcentration for sensitive determination of melamine in milk samples by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection.

Based on an efficient sample clean-up and field-amplified sample injection online preconcentration technique in capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection, a new analytical method for the sensitive determination of melamine in milk samples was established. In order to remove the complex matrix interference, which resulted in a serious problem during field-amplified sample injection, liquid-liquid extraction was utilized. As a result, liquid-liquid extraction provides excellent sample clean-up efficiency when ethyl acetate was used as organic extraction by adjusting the pH of the sample solution to 9.

Integrin-targeted trifunctional probe for cancer cells: a "seeing and counting" approach.

We report the design and synthesis of a trifunctional probe for seeing and counting cancer cells using both fluorescence imaging (FI) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) for the first time. It consisted of a guiding cyclic RGD peptide unit to catch cancer cells via targeting the α(v)β(3) integrin overexpressed on their surface, a 5-amino-fluorescein moiety for FI using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) as well as a 2-aminoethyl-monoamide-DOTA group for loading stable europium ion and subsequent ICPMS quantification of the cancer cells without the use of radioactive isotopes. In addition to FI, the LOD (3σ) of the α(v)β(3) integrin was down to 69.

Europium-labeled activity-based probe through click chemistry: absolute serine protease quantification using (153)Eu isotope dilution ICP/MS.

Click and analyze: the titled probe was synthesized by conjugating a sulfonyl fluoride and azido unit using click chemistry to give SF-Eu, which can react specifically with serine (Ser) in the active site of serine protease (SP). Combination of the method with (153)Eu-isotope dilution ICP/MS enables absolute protein quantification of active SPs in biological samples using only one (153)Eu(NO(3))(3) isotopic standard.