Ultrasensitive non-enzymatic glucose sensing at near-neutral pH values via anodic stripping voltammetry using a glassy carbon electrode modified with Pt3Pd nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide

We describe an anodic stripping voltammetric (ASV) method for glucose sensing that widely expands the typical amperometric i-t response of glucose sensors. The electrode is based on a working electrode consisting of a glassy carbon electrode modified with Pt-Pd nanoparticles (NPs; in an atomic ratio of 3:1) on a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) support. The material was prepared via the spontaneous redox reaction between rGO, PdCl₄ ²⁻ and PtCl₄ ²⁻ without any additional reductant or surfactant. Unlike known Pt-based sensors, the use of Pt₃Pd NPs results in an ultrasensitive ASV approach for sensing glucose even at near-neutral pH values. If operated at a working voltage as low as 0.06 V (vs. SCE), the modified electrode can detect glucose in the 2 nM to 300 μM concentration range. The lowest detectable concentration is 2 nM which is much lower than the LODs obtained with other amperometric i-t type sensing approaches, most of which have LODs at a μM level. The sensor is not interfered by the presence of 0.1 M of NaCl.

We describe an anodic stripping voltammetric method for glucose sensing that widely expands the typical amperometric i-t response of glucose sensors (2 nM to 300 μM). The electrode is based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with Pt-Pd nanoparticles on a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) support.

     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of mitochondrial DNA HVS‐I and HVS‐II in Chinese Bai ethnic group

For forensic and population genetic purposes, a total of 125 unrelated volunteers’ blood samples were collected from Chinese Bai ethnic minority group to analyze sequence variation of two hypervariable segments (HVS‐I and HVS‐II) in the mitochondrial DNA control region. Comparing the HVS‐I and HVS‐II sequences of the 125 Chinese Bais to the Anderson reference sequence, we found 86 polymorphic loci in HVS‐I and 40 in HVS‐II in mitochondrial DNA sequences of the Chinese Bai ethnic minority group, which defined 93 and 53 different haplotypes, respectively. Haplotype diversity and the mean pairwise differences were 0.992 ± 0.003 and 6.553 in HVS‐I, and 0.877 ± 0.027 and 2.407 in HVS‐II, respectively. We defined four macrohaplogroups R, M, N and D with the proportions ranging from 9.6% to 40.0%. With the analysis of the hypervariable domain from nucleotide 16 180–16 193 in HVS‐I, our study revealed new haplotypes of sequence variations. In addition, the Fst metric, phylogenetic tree, and principal component analysis demonstrated a close genetic relationship between the Bai group and Chinese Han populations from South China, Changsha, and Guangdong. The results support that the Bai group is a multiorigin ethnic minority that has merged with the Chinese Han population.     

Solventless Formation of G‐Quartet Complexes Based on Alkali and Alkaline Earth Salts on Au(111)

Template cations have been extensively employed in the formation, stabilization and regulation of structural polymorphism of G‐quadruplex structures in vitro. However, the direct addition of salts onto solid surfaces, especially under ultra‐high‐vacuum (UHV) conditions, to explore the feasibility and universality of the formation of G‐quartet complexes in a solventless environment has not been reported. By combining UHV‐STM imaging and DFT calculations, we have shown that three different G‐quartet‐M (M: Na/K/Ca) complexes can be obtained on Au(111) using alkali and alkaline earth salts as reactants. We have also identified the driving forces (intra‐quartet hydrogen bonding and electrostatic ionic bonding) for the formation of these complexes and quantified the interactions involved. Our results demonstrate a novel route to fabricate G‐quartet‐related complexes on solid surfaces, providing an alternative feasible way to bring metal elements to surfaces for constructing metal–organic systems.     

Separation and purification of five alkaloids from Aconitum duclouxii by counter‐current chromatography

C₁₉‐diterpenoid alkaloids are the main components of Aconitum duclouxii Levl. The process of separation and purification of these compounds in previous studies was tedious and time consuming, requiring multiple chromatographic steps, thus resulted in low recovery and high cost. In the present work, five C₁₉‐diterpenoid alkaloids, namely, benzoylaconine ( 1 ), N‐deethylaconitine ( 2 ), aconitine ( 3 ), deoxyaconitine ( 4 ), and ducloudine A ( 5 ), were efficiently prepared from A. duclouxii Levl (Aconitum L.) by ethyl acetate extraction followed with counter‐current chromatography. In the process of separation, the critical conditions of counter‐current chromatography were optimized. The two‐phase solvent system composed of n‐hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water/NH₃·H₂O (25%) (1:1:1:1:0.1, v/v) was selected and 148.2 mg of 1 , 24.1 mg of 2 , 250.6 mg of 3 , 73.9 mg of 4, and 31.4 mg of 5 were obtained from 1 g total Aconitum alkaloids extract, respectively, in a single run within 4 h. Their purities were found to be 98.4, 97.2, 98.2, 96.8, and 96.6%, respectively, by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography analysis. The presented separation and purification method was simple, fast, and efficient, and the obtained highly pure alkaloids are suitable for biochemical and toxicological investigation.     

Determination of three kinds of banned drugs in milk powder by hybrid solid‐phase extraction purification combined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

A gradient clean‐up method for the quantification of five kinds of banned drugs (two hormones, two sedatives, and one chloramphenicol) in milk powder was developed. We used the combination of solid‐phase extraction purification with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Milk powder was initially hydrolyzed by β‐glucuronidase/arylsulfatase, and then the hydrolyzed solution was concentrated and purified using a C₈ and cation resin solid‐phase extraction column. To isolate hormones and chloramphenicol drugs, products from the previous step were diluted with methanol and further purified using a silica and diatomite solid‐phase extraction column. After derivatization, the drugs were analyzed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, and the hydrolyzed solution was diluted with 5% ammoniated methanol to purify sedatives before gas chromatography with mass spectrometry analysis. Results showed that after adding the banned drugs at concentrations of 0.3–10.0 μg/kg, the average recovery range was 78.2–97.3% with relative standard deviations of 5.3–12.5%. The limit of quantification of the banned drugs (S/N ≥ 10) was 0.3–5.0 μg/kg, whereas the limit of detection (S/N ≥ 3) was 0.1–2.0 μg/kg. The solid‐phase extraction gradient purification system was simple, rapid, and accurate, and could satisfy the detection requirements of hormone, sedatives, and chloramphenicol drugs when used together with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.     

CuS nanodots-loaded biohybrid magnetic helical microrobots with enhanced photothermal performance

Magnetic helical microrobots swimming at low Reynolds numbers have attracted much interest because of their great potentials for biomedical applications. However, to endow them with sophisticated function integration toward targeted disease treatment still remains a major challenge. Here, we proposed a novel strategy of using Spirulina scaffolds to fabricate biohybrid magnetic helical microrobot (BMHM) with enhanced photothermal performance to fight against cancer cells and pathogenic bacteria. For the first time, CuS nanodots were densely and uniformly loaded intracellularly inside Spirulina cells after permeabilization, and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were subsequently deposited on the cell walls for magnetization. The BMHMs could be actuated forward at a high velocity and flexibly steered under rotating magnetic fields. Rapid and great photothermal temperature raise with robust cycling stability was achieved under 808 nm near-infrared laser irradiation. The BMHMs showed good biocompatibility with minor toxicity to HeLa cancer cells and Escherichia coli bacteria. Moreover, significant photothermal performance was further verified via a series of experiments for anticancer therapy and bacteria killing. Because of the remarkable features and facile cost-effective fabrication, the BMHMs demonstrated great potentials as an integrated microrobot platform for future anticancer and antibacteria applications.     

水溶液法原位构建ZnO亲锂层稳定锂-石榴石电解质界面

固态电池以其高安全性和高能量密度而备受关注。石榴石型固体电解质(LLZO)由于具有较高的离子导电性和对锂金属的稳定性,在固态电池中具有应用前景,但陶瓷与锂金属较差的界面接触会导致高的界面阻抗和可能形成的枝晶穿透。我们利用LLZO表层独特的H⁺/Li⁺交换反应,提出了一种简便有效的金属盐类水溶液诱发策略,在电解质表面原位构建ZnO亲锂层,界面处LiZn合金化实现紧密连续的接触。引入改性层后,界面阻抗可显著降低至约10Ω·cm²,对称电池能够在0.1mA·cm^-2的电流密度下实现长达1000h的长循环稳定性。匹配正极LiFePO₄(LFP)或LiNi_0.5Co_0.2Mn_0.3O₂(NCM523)的准固态电池在室温下能够稳定循环100次以上。     

Nanotechnology for diagnosis and therapy of rheumatoid arthritis: Evolution towards theranostic approaches

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA),as a chronic autoimmune disease,damages the bone and cartilage of patients,and even leads to disability.Therefore,the diagnosis and treatment of RA is particularly important.However,due to the complexity of RA,it is difficult to make effective early diagnosis of RA,which is detrimental to RA treatment.Besides,long-term intake of anti-RA drugs can also cause damage to patients' organs.The emergence of nanotechnology provides the new train of thoughts for the diagnosis and treatment of RA.And the combination of diagnosis and therapy is an ideal method to solve the problem of disease management of RA patients.In this review,we summarize the mechanism and microenvironment of RA,discuss the commonly used diagnostic techniques and therapeutic drugs for RA,and review their advantages and disadvantages.New nanotherapy strategies such as drug-carrying nanoparticles,PTT,PDT are listed,and their applications in RA treatment are also summarized.In addition,multimodal imaging,combined therapy and responsive diagnosis and treatment are also summarized as important contents.At last,we also review typical nanocarriers that can be used in the integration of diagnosis and therapy,and discussed their potential applications in RA theranostics.     

Needle-like cobalt phosphide arrays grown on carbon fiber cloth as a binder-free electrode with enhanced lithium storage performance

Cobalt phosphide(CoP) is a promising anode candidate for lithium-ion batteries(LIBs) due to its high specific capacity and low working potential.However,the poor cycling stability and rate performance,caused by low electrical conductivity and huge volume variation,impede the further practical application of CoP anode materials.Herein,we report an integrated binder-free electrode featuring needle-like CoP arrays grown on carbon fiber cloth(CC) for efficient lithium storage.The as-prepared CoP/CC electrode integrates the advantages of 1 D needle-like CoP arrays for efficient electrolyte wettability and fast cha rge transpo rtation,and 3 D CC substrate for superior mechanical stability,flexibility and high conductivity.As a result,the CoP/CC electrode delivers an initial specific capacity of 1283 mAh/g and initial Coulombic effeciencies of 85.4%,which are much higher than that of conventional CoP electrode.Notably,the Co P/CC electrode shows outstanding cycling performance up to 400 cycles at 0.5 A/cm² and excellent rate performance with a discharge capacity of 549 mAh/g even at 5 A/cm².This work demonstrates the great potential of integrated CoP/CC hybrid as efficient bind-free and freestanding electrode for LIBs and future flexible electronic devices.