Nucleic acids that exhibit a high affinity toward noble and transition metal ions have attracted growing attention in the fields of metal ion sensing, toxic metal ion removal, and the construction of functional metal nanostructures. In this study, fluorescent nanoparticles (biodots) were synthesized from DNA, RNA, and RNA nucleotides (AMP, GMP, UMP, and CMP) using a hydrothermal (HT) method, in order to study their metal ion sensing characteristics. The fluorescent properties of biodots differ markedly between those prepared from purine and pyrimidine nucleobases. All biodots demonstrate a high sensitivity to the presence of mercury cations (Hg), while biodots prepared from DNA, RNA, and guanosine monophosphate (GMP) are also sensitive to Ag and Cu ions, but to a lesser extent. The obtained results show that biodots inherit the metal ion recognition properties of nucleobases, while the nucleobase composition of biodot precursors affects metal ion sensitivity and selectivity. A linear response of biodot fluorescence to Hg concentration in solution was observed for AMP and GMP biodots in the range 0-250 μM, which can be used for the analytic detection of mercury ion concentration. A facile paper strip test was also developed that allows visual detection of mercury ions in solutions.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/bios11090333 | DOI Listing |
Nat Commun
December 2024
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China.
Electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction offers a sustainable and efficient pathway for ammonia synthesis. Maintaining satisfactory Faradaic efficiency for long-term nitrate reduction under ampere-level current density remains challenging due to the inevitable hydrogen evolution, particularly in pure nitrate solutions. Herein, we present the application of electron deficiency of Ru metals to boost the repelling effect of counter K ions via the electric-field-dependent synergy of interfacial water and cations, and thus largely promote nitrate reduction reaction with a high yield and well-maintained Faradaic efficiency under ampere-level current density.
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December 2024
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing National Laboratory of Microstructures, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Functional nanomaterials with enzyme-mimicking activities, termed as nanozymes, have found wide applications in various fields. However, the deviation between the working and optimal pHs of nanozymes has been limiting their practical applications. Here we develop a strategy to modulate the microenvironmental pHs of metal-organic framework (MOF) nanozymes by confining polyacids or polybases (serving as Brønsted acids or bases).
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December 2024
Department of Chemistry G. Ciamician, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy.
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and their biocompatible conjugates find wide use as transducers in (bio)sensors and as Nano-pharmaceutics. The study of the interaction between AuNPs and proteins in representative application media helps to better understand their intrinsic behaviors. A multi-environment, multi-parameter screening strategy is proposed based on asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (AF4)-multidetector.
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December 2024
Xiamen Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Advanced Manufacturing, Institute of Luminescent Materials and Information Displays, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Highly efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs) in the n-i-p structure have demonstrated limited operational lifetimes, primarily due to the layer-to-layer ion diffusion in the perovskite/doped hole-transport layer (HTL) heterojunction, leading to conductivity drop in HTL and component loss in perovskite. Herein, we introduce an ultrathin (~7 nm) p-type polymeric interlayer (D18) with excellent ion-blocking ability between perovskite and HTL to address these issues. The ultrathin D18 interlayer effectively inhibits the layer-to-layer diffusion of lithium, methylammonium, formamidium, and iodide ions.
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December 2024
State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
Heavy metals complexed with organic ligands are among the most critical carcinogens threatening global water safety. The challenge of efficiently and cost-effectively removing and recovering these metals has long eluded existing technologies. Here, we show a strategy of coordinating mediator-based electro-reduction (CMBER) for the single-step recovery of heavy metals from wastewater contaminated with heavy metal-organic complexes.
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