2D Zn-based metal-organic framework as an efficient electrochemiluminescence emitter: A novel inner filter effect-based ECL biosensor for trace detection of bisphenol A.

The potential hazards of bisphenol A (BPA) to the environment have become a global concern. Herein, 2D Zn-based metal-organic framework nanosheet (2D Zn-MOF) and MnCO nanocomposite (Zn-MOF-MnCO), an efficient electrochemiluminescence (ECL) probe was first synthesized and constructed for trace detection of BPA. Owing to the elimination of the aggregation-induced quenching (ACQ) effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the leaf-like Zn-MOF exhibited a satisfactory ECL signal.

Development of a new spectral database of photo-induced pesticide compounds for an automatic monitoring and identification system.

Background: Due to the widespread use of pesticides, it is necessary to monitor surface water quality for environmental protection, industrial use and tap water production. Many analytical methods based on chromatographic separations and mass spectrometry detection can be used, but they are complex and expensive. They also require sampling and transport to the laboratory, which delays the results.

Nanozymes featuring a mesoporous silica shell for rapid enrichment and ultrasensitive lateral flow immunoassay of influenza A.

Background: Respiratory illnesses stemming from influenza A viruses represent a significant worldwide health concern. There is an immediate need for a rapid and sensitive method to detect influenza A viruses early, without requiring extra equipment.

Results: Here, we established a lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for the detection of influenza A (Flu A) using a "three-in-one" multifunctional mesoporous FeO@SiO@Pt nanozymes (FeO@MSiO@Pt NZs) with excellent magnetic separation properties, colorimetric, and peroxidase-like (POD-like) activities.

Therapeutic drug monitoring of methotrexate by disposable SPCE biosensor for personalized medicine.

Background: Methotrexate (MTX) is widely used in clinical practice for the treatment of malignant tumors and autoimmune diseases. High-dose MTX has been shown to be an effective approach for treating various malignant tumors, but it is accompanied by numerous toxic side effects, necessitating therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for patients and timely "folinic acid rescue." High-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescent immunoassay (FIA) are currently used to detect MTX, but these methods are limited by complex sample preparation, time consumption, and high cost.

Nanobodies' duo facilitates ultrasensitive serum HER-2/neu immunoassays via enhanced avidity interactions.

Background: Existing liquid biopsy assays for protein biomarkers of cancer are mostly based on antibodies (Ab) contributing unfavorably to their high cost. Easy to express and modify in vitro, nanobodies may be a cost-effective alternative to Ab.

Results: We show that serum HER-2/neu, a biomarker and target of aggressive HER-2/neu(+) cancers, can be accurately detected in a 1.

(001) facet-supported TiO facet heterojunction with abundant active sites and high-efficiency carrier separation for ultrasensitive SERS detection of antibiotic residues in foods.

Background: Antibiotic residues in animal-derived foods are seriously threatening human health and have attracted growing public attention. It is very important and valuable to carry out a rapid ultrasensitive detection of antibiotic residues, especially accurate identification based on molecular fingerprints.

Results: Here, a (001) facet-supported TiO facet heterojunction with abundant active sites (SF-TiO) was developed as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate for ultrasensitive detection of antibiotic residues in milk and honey foods.

Polypeptide functionalized gold nanoprobes for SERS-fluorescence detection and imaging of caspase-9 during apoptosis.

Background: Deoxynivalenol is one of the common fungal toxins in processed grain foods. It has the characteristic of high temperature resistance. Dietary intake of DON contaminated food can cause adverse symptoms.

In-situ nucleic acid amplification induced by DNA self-assembly for rapid and ultrasensitive detection of miRNA.

Background: To improve the sensitivity and specificity of nucleic acid detection, coupling two or more signal amplification systems is a feasible pattern, such as nucleic acid isothermal amplification coupling genome-editing technology, and cascaded DNA self-assembly circuits. And representative signal amplification strategies include loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/associated proteins (CRISPR/Cas) systems, and catalyzed hairpin assembly (CHA). However, these detection strategies often require the enrichment of intermediate products, the replacement of reaction conditions and the design of multiple probes, which may seriously affect the reliability of detection results.

Hydrophilic-lipophilic balance copolymer composite nanofiber as an adsorbent for online solid phase extraction of three estrogens from water samples with column-switching prior to high-performance liquid chromatography.

Background: In recent years, the increasing accumulation of estrogen pollutants in the environment has raised concerns about their impact on human health, necessitating the development of highly sensitive detection methods for trace pollutant enrichment and analysis in environmental samples. Online pretreatment detection technology offers significant advantages over conventional offline techniques, including high automation, minimal human intervention, and improved efficiency. However, the key to successful implementation lies in the advancement of novel adsorbent materials.

A novel all-in-one target-powered entropy-driven dynamic DNA networks to regulate the activity of CRISPR/AsCas12a for enhanced DNA detection.

Background: The non-enzyme autonomous DNA nanodevices have been developed to detect various analytes through the programmability of Watson-Crick base pairing. Nevertheless, by comparison with enzymatic biosensors, the usage of enzyme-free DNA networks to create biosensors for testing low amounts of targets is still subject to the finite number of cycles. Besides, these biosensors still require the incorporation of other amplification strategies to improve the sensitivity, which complicates the detection workflow and lacks of a uniform compatible system to respond to the target in one pot.

Measurement of β-nuclides in various solutions using plastic scintillation microspheres.

Background: Scintillation cocktails cannot directly measure samples with extreme acidity or alkalinity in β-nuclide liquid scintillation analysis. Plastic scintillation microspheres (PSm), as a novel scintillation material, offer the potential to overcome these limitations by allowing direct mixing with a variety of solutions for measurement, particularly in challenging chemical environments.

Results: This study evaluated the performance of PSm in various chemical environments, including four acids (nitric, hydrochloric, sulfuric, and phosphoric acids), an alkaline solution (NaOH), a high-salinity solution, and methanol.

Luminol/PtCo@rGO and Au@CNTs-based electrochemiluminescence cytosensor for ultrasensitive detection of breast cancer CTCs.

Background: Breast cancer CTCs have recently been recognized as an emerging biomarker for liquid biopsy of breast cancer. In this work, based on two-dimensional (2D) noble metal PtCo@rGO nanozymes and Au@CNTs bioconjugates, a novel electrochemiluminescence (ECL) cytosensor was developed in order to detect breast cancer CTCs (MCF-7) ultrasensitively.

Results: The PtCo@rGO nanozymes possessed large specific surface area and high efficiency peroxidase-like activity, which can be used as nanocarriers to anchor and catalyze luminol ECL emission efficiently.

Sequencing the monoclonal antibody variable regions using multiple charge integration middle-down strategy and ultraviolet photodissociation.

Background: Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have become essential biopharmaceuticals for clinical targeted therapies due to their high specificity, affinity and low side effects. The specificity and affinity of mAb to targeting antigen are mainly dependent on the three complementarity determining regions (CDRs) with high variations in amino acid sequences. Therefore, mAb CDR sequencing is crucial for the characterization of therapeutic mAbs.

Determination of microcystins and nodularins in ambient freshwater and seawater by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry including toxin screening and identification.

Background: Microcystins (MCs) and nodularins (NODs) produced by cyanobacteria occur in ambient freshwaters and across the freshwater-marine continuum, and pose health threats through drinking and recreational waters, as well as food resources. Approximately 300 MC and NOD toxins have been published, but less than 15 of them are commercially available as toxin standards. Our aim herein was to rapidly identify and quantify all toxin congeners, including those without standards, in water samples even at low abundance by reversed-phase solid phase extraction (SPE)-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to provide insights into toxin levels and potential toxicity.

Photo-controlled cascade DNA hybridization for amplified electrochemical biosensor with tunable sensing performance.

Background: Precise control of the biorecognition process in DNA biosensors, especially for those with signal amplification, remains a challenge. It is of great significance to introduce external stimuli into the DNA system for a controllable trigger of nucleic acid cascade amplification and further for excellent biosensors.

Results: In this study, a photo-initiated hybridization chain reaction (HCR) was designed for controllable and sensitive electrochemical biosensor via the incorporation of azobenzene moiety into the assembly unit.