Effect of dextran molecular weight on resonance light-scattering of quantum dots modified with dextran and concanavalin A

The reversible aggregation between dextran-conjugated CdSe quantum dots(Dex-CdSe-QDs) and concanavalin A(Con A) was explored based on the specific affinity of polysaccharide for Con A by resonance light-scattering technique.In this study,the aggregation of Dex-CdSe-QDs induced by Con A and sequential dissociation by glucose was determined over a wide range of dextran molecular mass(10-500 kDa).The results demonstrate that the sensitivity of lectin-dextran-modified-QDs interactions increase with dextran molecular mass,and an optimum dextran molecular mass is 500 kDa.     

Sensing glucose based on its affinity for concanavalin A on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a C60 fullerene nanocomposite

An ultrasensitive electrochemical glucose biosensor has been developed by depositing C₆₀-fullerene functionalized with tetraoctylammonium bromide (C₆₀-TOAB⁺) on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The glucose-binding protein concanavalin A (Con A) was then linked to the surface. Binding of glucose by Con A affects the electroactivity of the reversible redox couple C₆₀/C₆₀ ⁻, and this finding forms the basis for a quantitative glucose assay over the 10 to 10 mM concentration range and with a lower detection limit of 3.3 nM (at an S/N ratio of 3). The sensitivity of this sensor allowed glucose to be determined in saliva. This biosensor possesses excellent selectivity, outstanding reproducibility and good long-term stability.

An ultrasensitive electrochemical glucose biosensor has been developed by depositing C₆₀-fullerene functionalized with tetraoctylammonium bromide (C₆₀-TOAB⁺) on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The glucose-binding protein concanavalin A (Con A) was then linked to the surface. Binding of glucose by Con A affects the electroactivity of the reversible redox couple C₆₀/C₆₀ ⁻, and this finding forms the basis for a quantitative glucose assay over the 10 to 10 mM concentration range and with a lower detection limit of 3.3 nM (at an S/N ratio of 3). The sensitivity of this sensor allowed glucose to be determined in saliva.

     

Resonance Light Scattering Method for Study on the Interaction Between Fluorinated Surfactant Potassium Perfluorooctanesulfonate and DNA

Resonance light-scattering (RLS) characteristics of the interactions between fluorinated surfactant potassium perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) with calf thymus nucleic acid (ct DNA) were studied. After DNA was added, aggregation of PFOS on the molecular surface of DNA occurred in the pH 3.5 ～6.0, which resulted in an enhanced RLS peak at 370 nm. The RLS intensity was found to be proportional to the concentration of DNA. The determination limit was 20.0 μg · L^?1. UV-visible (UV-vis) spectra and infrared (IR) spectra both proved the binding changed the confromation of DNA.     

Method for determination of microcystin-leucine-arginine in water samples based on the quenching of the fluorescence of bioconjugates between CdSe/CdS quantum dots and microcystin-leucine-arginine antibody

We have developed a method for the determination of microcystin-leucine-arginine (MC-LR) in water samples that is based on the quenching of the fluorescence of bioconjugates between CdSe/CdS quantum dots (QDs) and the respective antibody after binding of MC-LR. The core-shell CdSe/CdS QDs were modified with 2-mercaptoacetic acid to improve water solubility while their high quantum yields were preserved. Monoclonal MC-LR antibody was then covalently bioconjugated to the QDs. It was found that the fluorescence intensity of the bioconjugates was quenched in the presence of MC-LR. A linear relationship exists between the extent of quenching and the concentration of MC-LR. Parameters affecting the quenching were investigated and optimized. The limit of detection is 6.9?×?10^?11 mol L^?1 (3σ). The method was successfully applied to the determination of MC-LR in water samples.

Ultrasensitive determination of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene by exploiting the strongly enhanced electrochemiluminescence of an assembly between CdSe and graphene quantum dots and its quenching by TNT

The authors describe an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) assay for the determination of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in soil. It is based on the finding that graphene quantum dots (GQDs) strongly enhance the ECL of CdSe quantum dots (CdSe QDs), and ECL is strongly quenched by TNT. In order to assemble the GQDs and CdSe QDs, the latter were functionalized with carboxy groups and then coupled to amino-functionalized GQDs (afGQDs). The resulting CdSe-GQDs conjugation was placed as a thin film on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The modified electrode displays an about 8-fold enhanced ECL intensity compared to an GCE with CdSe QDs only, and the onset potential of the ECL reaction is positively shifted by 140 mV. In the presence of TNT, the ECL is quenched due to the formation of the TNT-amine complex. The decrease in ECL intensity is related to the logarithm of the TNT concentration in the range from 0.01 to 100 ppb, with a detection limit as low as 3 ppt. The results of TNT assays in (spiked) soil samples showed recoveries between 99.2 and 105.0 % and relative standard deviations between 3.0 and 8.2 %. This strategy offers a new perspective for developing ECL assays based on the use of semiconductor nanoparticles and graphene-based nanomaterials.

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Graphical abstract A electrochemiluminescence (ECL) assay was developed for the detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). The method utilizes a combination of CdSe and graphene quantum dots (GQDs), and a glassy carbon electrode modified with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)-protected graphene. The assay is simple and displays acceptable reproducibility.

     

A feasible method for the sensitive and selective determination of vitamin B1 with CdSe quantum dots

A novel CdSe quantum dots-based technology platform was established in aqueous solution. It can perform accurate and simple determination of vitamin B1 concentration in pharmaceutical samples with satisfactory results. Under optimum conditions, this method demonstrates high sensitivity and selectivity. A linear relationship was observed between 5.00 and 40.0 μg ml^?1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9963 for vitamin B1 determination and a detection limit of 70 ng ml^?1. The citrate-protected CdSe quantum dots showing temperature-sensitive luminescence intensity variation and spectral shift at moderate temperature.     

One-step synthesis of amino-dextran-protected gold and silver nanoparticles and its application in biosensors

A sensitive method for the detection of the lectin protein concanavalin A (Con A) was developed using amino-dextran (AD)-protected gold (AD-Au) and silver nanoparticles (AD-Ag) as sensitive optical probes. The AD-Au and AD-Ag nanoparticles were synthesized by directly applying amino-dextran as a reductive and protective reagent. The size of the nanoparticles could be altered by changing the molar ratio of AD to the metal salt. The amino-dextran bound to Con A by forming a 4:1 Au-Con A complex at neutral pH, and the nanoparticles were induced to aggregate by Con A. The absorption intensity of the nanoparticles decreased linearly with as the Con A concentration was increased from 3.85×10^–8 to 6.15×10^–7 M. The Au-Con A complex was dissociated by the disaccharide isomaltose, which has a higher affinities for Con A than Au; this competitive strategy could also be used to detect similar types of saccharides.     

Effect of CdSe quantum dots doping on the switching time,localised electric field and dielectric parameters of ferroelectric liquid crystal

A systematic study highlighting the effect of cadmium selenide quantum dots (CdSe QDs) with varying concentrations of 0.05, 0.10 and 1.0 wt% doping on the electrooptical and dielectric parameters of ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) is presented. No considerable change is observed in phase transition temperature and tilt angle with CdSe QDs doping at lower and higher dopant level. Substantial enhancement of localised electric field at higher doping level (1.0 wt%) of CdSe QDs manifested the ≈48% reduction in the switching response of FLC nanocolloids at 30°C. Reduction in the spontaneous polarisation, dielectric constant and absorption strength could be attributed to the antiparallel correlation among dopant and matrix molecules, ion capturing in the capping additive layer and enhancement of the rotational viscosity of the nanocolloids, respectively. Goldstone mode relaxation frequency is found to be decreased with doping up to 0.10 wt% concentration and showed reverse effect at higher QDs concentration. QDs doping effect on the photoluminescence intensity is also discussed.     

水溶性CdSe/CdS量子点的合成及其与牛血清蛋白的共轭作用

用巯基乙酸(TGA)作为稳定剂，合成了水溶性的CdSe和核壳结构的CdSe/CdS半导体量子点。吸收光谱和荧光光谱研究表明，核壳结构的CdSe/CdS半导体量子点比单一的CdSe量子点具有更优异的发光特性。用TEM、电子衍射(ED)和XPS分别表征了CdSe和CdSe/CdS纳米微粒的结构、形貌及分散性。红外光谱和核磁共振谱证实了巯基乙酸分子中的硫原子和氧原子与纳米微粒表面的金属离子发生了配位作用。在pH值为7.4的条件下，将合成的CdSe和CdSe/CdS量子点直接与牛血清白蛋白(BSA)相互作用。实验发现，两种量子点均对BSA的荧光产生较强的静态猝灭作用；而BSA对两种量子点的荧光则具有显著的荧光增敏作用，存在BSA时CdSe/CdS量子点的荧光增强是不存在BSA时体系荧光强度的3倍。     

Syntheses of dibenzo-18-crown-6 lariat isomers and their complexation with lanthanoid nitrates

Two constitutional isomers of dibenzo-18-crown-6 derivatives (6 and 7) were synthesised and their binding behaviours towards trivalent lanthanoid cations (La^3 + , Ce^3 + , Pr^3 + , Nd^3 + , Sm^3 + , Eu^3 + , Gd^3 +  and Tb^3 + ) were investigated. Both isomers expressed better binding affinities towards Sm^3 +  and Tb^3 +  than a group of other lanthanoids, as measured by the ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) band intensity at ca. 425 nm using UV–vis spectroscopic method. Additionally, the trans isomer 7 was shown to have a higher binding ability than the cis isomer 6 towards Tb^3 + .

     

A resonance light scattering method for the determination of uranium based on a water-soluble salophen and oxalate

A resonance light scattering (RLS) method for the direct detection of uranium (VI) or uranyl in aqueous solution without separation procedure has been reported in this paper. Sulfo-salophen, a water-soluble tetradentate Schiff base ligand of uranyl, reacted with uranyl to form a complex. The complex reacted further with oxalate to form supramolecular dimer with large molecular volume, resulting in a production of strong RLS signal. The amount of uranium (VI) was detected through measuring the RLS intensity. A linear range was found to be 0.2–30.0 ng/mL under optimal conditions with a detection limit of 0.15 ng/mL. The method has been applied to determine uranium (VI) in environmental water samples with the relative standard deviations of less than 5 % and the recoveries of 98.8–105.8 %. The present technique is suitable for the assay of uranium (VI) in environmental water samples collected from different sources.     

Determination of trace metallothioneins at nanogram levels with Eosin Y by resonance light scattering method

The interactions of metallothioneins with Eosin Y were studied by the absorption spectra and resonance light scattering (RLS) spectra methods. A direct RLS spectra method was applied for the determination of trace metallothioneins. The interaction of Eosin Y and metallothioneins enhanced the RLS intensity of system in Britton-Robinson buffer (pH 3.91), with the help of anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl benzene sulphate). The mechanism was studied and discussed in terms of the RLS and UV-absorption spectra. Under optimal experimental conditions, at 366 nm, there was a linear relationship between the RLS intensity and the concentration of the metallothioneins in the range of 0.04–14.0 μg mL^?1, with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.9985 and detection limit of 11.9 ng mL^?1. The relative standard deviation was 3.1% (n = 11), and the average recovery was 95.2%. The method proposed was reliable, selective and sensitive in determining trace metallothioneins in human urine samples with the results in good agreement with those obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography.     

Double signal enhancement strategy based on rolling circle amplification and photoinduced electron transfer for ultrasensitive fluorometric detection of methylated DNA

The authors describe a novel assay for the detection of methylated DNA site. Rolling circle amplification and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots with high fluorescence efficiency are applied in this method. The CdSe/ZnS quantum dots act as electron donors, and hemin and oxygen (derived from hydrogen peroxide act as acceptors in photoinduced electron transfer. The assay, best performed at excitation/emission peaks of 450/620 nm, is sensitive and specific. Fluorometric response is linear in the 1 pM to 100 nM DNA concentration range, and the lowest detectable concentration of methylated DNA is 142 fM (S/N =?3). The method is capable of recognizing 0.01% methylated DNA in a mixture of methylated/unmethylated DNA.

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Graphical abstract A novel method for methylated sites detection in DNA is established. Rolling circle amplification and photoinduced electron transfer. CdSe/ZnS quantum dots with high fluorescence efficiency act as the electron donor, while G-quadruplex/hemin and hydrogen peroxide derived oxygen act as electron acceptor. It presents a linear response towards 1 pM to 100 nM methylated DNA with a correlation coefficient of 0.9968, and the lowest detectable concentration of methylated DNA was 142 fM, with selectivity significantly superior to other methods.

     

The electrochemical behavior of core-shell CdSe/CdS magic-sized quantum dots linked to cyclodextrin for studies of the encapsulation of bioactive compounds

Semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots have been the subject of extensive investigations in different areas of science and technology in the past years. In particular, there are few studies of magic-sized quantum dots (MSQDs), even though they exhibit features such as extremely small size, fluorescence quantum efficiency, molar absorptivity greater than traditional QDs, and highly stable luminescence in HeLa cell cultures, thereby enabling monitoring of biological or chemical processes. The present study investigated the electrochemical behavior of free CdSe/CdS MSQDs using glassy carbon electrode and CdSe/CdS MSQDs immobilized on a gold electrode modified with a self-assembled cyclodextrin monolayer. The MSQDs showed two peaks in aprotic medium. The functionalized film modifier was prepared and characterized by means of cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy using ferricyanide ions as a redox probe. The prepared modified electrode exhibited a stable behavior. The proposed method was successfully applied to encapsulation studies of mangiferin, a natural antioxidant compound, and cyclodextrin associated with the quantum dot, and the response was compared with that of the modified electrode without QD. The fluorescence study revealed that CdSe/CdS quantum dots emit blue light when excited by an optical source of wavelength of 350 nm and a significant increase in fluorescence and absorbance intensity is observed from the core-shell CdSe/CdS MSQDs when quantities of mangiferin are added to the solution containing thiolated cyclodextrin. CdSe/CdS MSQDs are optically and electrochemically sensitive and can be used for the detection and interaction of compounds encapsulated in cyclodextrin.     

Synthesis of aza-crown ether-modified silver nanoparticles as colorimetric sensors for Ba2+

In this paper, we have demonstrated a facile strategy of preparing aza-crown ether (ACE)-modified silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) by an efficient nano-conjugate technology named dithiocarbamate. This is the first report of using ACE to modify Ag NPs. ACE-modified Ag NPs have a good recognition of Ba²⁺, with the detection limit of 10^? 8 mol/l. It is reasonable to believe that Ba²⁺ induced the self-assembly of Ag NPs by the formation of the sandwich structure with ACE.

     

Discrimination of penicillamine enantiomers using β-cyclodextrin modified CdSe/ZnS quantum dots

The authors describe a method for the differentiation of penicillamine (PA) enantiomers by using CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) modified with β-cylodextrin (β-CD-CdSe/ZnS QDs). Selective enantiorecognition of L-PA and D-PA was accomplished by virtue of selective host-guest interaction between the PAs and the β-CD pockets on the QDs. The fluorescence intensity of the modified QDs decreases in the presence of L-PA. On the contrary, it increases in the presence of D-PA. These findings form the basis for a new method for recognition of PA enantiomers. Under optimized conditions, a linear relationship exists between fluorescence intensity and D-PA concentration in the 0.1 to 5.0 mg L^?1 range, and between 0.8 and 5.0 mg L^?1 for L-PA. Detection limits are 0.06 mg L^?1 for D-PA, and 0.2 mg L^?1 for L-PA. The potential of this method has been demonstrated by the determination of D-PA in pharmaceutical formulations and L-PA in (spiked) environmental samples.

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Graphical abstract Selective and specific enantiorecognition of penicillamine (PA) enantiomers using β-cylodextrin modified CdSe/ZnS quantum dots is described. Fluorescence intensity increases in the presence of D-PA, but it decreases in the presence of L-PA. Results were the basis for analytical applications.

     

Quantum dots co-sensitized solar cells: a new assembly process of CdS/CdSe linked to mesoscopic TiO2-nano-SiO2 hybrid film

A green and simple method was found to prepare CdS/CdSe co-sensitized photoelectrodes for the quantum dots sensitized solar cells application. All the assembly processes of CdS and CdSe quantum dots (QDs) were carried out in aqueous solution. CdS and CdSe QDs were sequentially assembled onto TiO₂-nano-SiO₂ hybrid film by two steps. Firstly, CdS QDs were deposited in situ over TiO₂-nano-SiO₂ hybrid film by the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) process in water. Secondly, using 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA) as a linker molecule, the pre-prepared colloidal CdSe QDs (~3.0 nm) dissolved in water was linked onto the TiO₂-nano-SiO₂ hybrid film by the self-assembled monolayer technique with the mode of dropwise. The mode is simple and advantageous to saving materials and time. The results show that the photovoltaic performance of the cells is enhanced with the increase of SILAR cycles for TiO₂-nano-SiO₂/CdS photoelectrode. The power conversion efficiency of 2.15 % was achieved using the co-sensitization photoelectrode prepared by using 6 SILAR cycles of CdS plus CdSe (TiO₂-nano-SiO₂/CdS(6)/CdSe) under the illumination of one sun (AM1.5, 100 mW/cm²).     

Conjugations between Cysteamine-Stabilized CdTe Quantum Dots and Single Stranded DNA

Abstract

Cysteamine-stabilized CdTe quantum dots were used to directly conjugate with single stranded DNA through electrostatic attraction between positive amino function groups on the surface of CdTe quantum dots and negatively charged DNA. The conjugates exhibited different optical properties from that of CdTe quantum dots, for example, the fluorescence intensity was enhanced obviously with maximum emission peaks gradually red-shifting, and the conjugates were more stable. Under the optimum conditions, the fluorescence intensity was proportional to concentration of DNA over the range 0.16–0.48 µg/mL. This proposed method demonstrated a versatile tool for the fluorescence probing of target DNA and fluorescence labeling.