Janus Gold Nanostars–Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for NIR-Light-Triggered Drug Delivery

Janus gold nanostar–mesoporous silica nanoparticle ( AuNSt–MSNP ) nanodevices able to release an entrapped payload upon irradiation with near infrared (NIR) light were prepared and characterized. The AuNSt surface was functionalized with a thiolated photolabile molecule ( 5 ), whereas the mesoporous silica face was loaded with a model drug (doxorubicin) and capped with proton-responsive benzimidazole-β-cyclodextrin supramolecular gatekeepers ( N 1 ). Upon irradiation with NIR-light, the photolabile compound 5 photodissociated, resulting in the formation of succinic acid, which induced the opening of the gatekeeper and cargo delivery. In the overall mechanism, the gold surface acts as a photochemical transducer capable of transforming the NIR-light input into a chemical messenger (succinic acid) that opens the supramolecular nanovalve. The prepared hybrid nanoparticles were non-cytotoxic to HeLa cells, until they were irradiated with a NIR laser, which led to intracellular doxorubicin release and hyperthermia. This induced a remarkable reduction in HeLa cells viability.     

Electrodeposition of Silver Nanoparticles on MWCNT Film Electrodes for Hydrogen Peroxide Sensing

Silver （Ag） nanoparticles were directly electrodeposited on multi-walled carbon nanotubes （MWCNT） in AgNO3/LiNO3 containing EDTA （ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid）. The structure and nature of the resulting Ag/MWNT composite were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy （FE-SEM）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）, and the distribution shape of Ag nanoparticles was found to be dependent on the presence of EDTA. The modified electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activity to redox reaction of hydrogen peroxide and the mechanism of hydrogen peroxide was partly reversible procession with oxidation and reduction peaks at 0.77 and -0.83 V, respectively. The oxidation and reduction peak currents were linearly related to hydrogen peroxide concentration in the range of 1×10^-6-3×10^-4 and 1 ×10^-8-7× 10^-4 mol·L^-1 with correlation coefficients of 0.996 and 0.986, and 3s-detection limit of 9 × 10^-7 and 7 × 10^-9 mol·L^-1.     

Microstructural and Potential Dependence Studies of Urease-Immobilized Gold Nanoparticles–Polypyrrole Composite Film for Urea Detection

Gold nanoparticle–polypyrrole nanocomposite film was electrochemically deposited in a single-step polymerization of pyrrole in the presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA)-capped gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and p-toluenesulfonic acid (pTSA) on the surface of an indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass plate. The carboxyl functional groups surrounding the GNPs within the polymer matrix were utilized for the immobilization of urease enzyme through carbodiimide coupling reaction for the construction of a Urs/GNP(MPA)–PPy/ITO-glass bioelectrode for urea detection in Tris–HCl buffer. The resulting bioelectrode film was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), contact angle measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and electrochemical techniques. The potentiometric response of the bioelectrode made of polymer nanocomposite films of two different thicknesses prepared at 100 and 250 mC cm^?2 charge densities, respectively, was studied towards the urea concentration in Tris–HCl buffer (pH 7.4). The thin polymer nanocomposite film-based bioelectrode prepared at 100 mC cm^?2 charge density exhibited a comparatively good potentiometric response than a thick 250 mC cm^?2 charge density film with a linear range of urea detection from 0.01 to 10 mM with a sensitivity of 29.7 mV per decade.     

Flow-injection Chemiluminescence Sensor for Hydrogen Peroxide with Immobilized Reagents

TheestimationofH2O2innaturalwatersanditSenzymaticformationintheassayofoxidoreductasesubstratesisbecomingofgreatimportanceforenvironmentalandclinicalanalysis.Manyanalyticalmethodshavebeenreportedforsuchmeasurements,ircludingfluorimetry',amPerometry'andCL3techniques.Nowadays,chemicalsensorswiththeabilitytocontinuouslysenseanalytesareattractingconsiderableattention,andmanyproposedapplicationsforitsusehaveaPpearedinliterature.ForH2O2analysis,biosensorswithinunobilizedenzymessuchastheperoxidase…     

Three Dimensional Monolayer of 3‐Mercaptopropionic Acid Assembled on Gold Nanoparticles for Electrochemical Determination of Trace Cu(II)

Abstract

The electrochemical behavior of Cu(II) was investigated on three‐dimensional 3‐mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) assembled on gold nanoparticle‐modified glassy carbon (GNP/GC) electrode. The results demonstrated that the MPA monolayer inhibited the charging current while promoted the response of accumulated Cu(II) on GNP/GC electrode. The effects of pH, scan rate, and accumulation time on the voltammetric behavior of Cu(II) on the MPA/GNP/GC electrode were studied. The MPA modified electrode presented a voltammetric response linearly proportional to the Cu(II) concentration from 0.1 µg/l to 100 µg/l, with a detection limit of 3.2 ng/l. Moreover, this electrode was successfully applied to the determination of Cu(II) in tap water.     

M?ssbauer Spectroscopy Study of Alumina-Supported Iron-Containing Catalysts for Hydrogen Sulfide Oxidation

The pillared clay catalyst, which was obtained by exposing activated clay powder to sulfuric acid and aluminium salts and calcining in air at 373 – 673 K, was found to be highly active for the title reaction. The activity is mainly attributed to the Lewis acid sites and also to a small number of Brönsted acid sites, whose number and strength increases with the extent of pillaring. The kinetic equation of surface esterification is y = 2.57x - 1.47.     

Gold Nanoparticles/Biphenol–biphenoquinone for Ultra-trace Voltammetric Determination of Captopril

This study aims to synthesize gold nanoparticles/biphenol–biphenoquinone (AuNPs−BOH−BQ) and to study its application as a novel heterogeneous electron transfer mediator to modify carbon paste electrode (CPE/Au NPs−BOH−BQ) for ultra-trace determination of captopril (CP). Characterization results show well dispersed Au NPs with sizes in the range of 8.0–10.5 nm. Under optimized conditions, the calibration plot was linear from 1 to 5×10⁴ nM (two segments, 1–150 nM and 0.15–50.0 μM) and the detection limit was calculated to be 0.4 nM (S/N=3). Finally, the suggested sensor showed stable and reliable responses to CP in CP pharmaceutical tablet and urine samples.     

Response of Surface‐Plasmon Resonance Sensor Based on Gold Surfaces Modified by Self‐Assembled Monolayer to Nonionic Surfactants

Abstract

A chemical sensor for the determination of nonionic surfactants (NISs) based on surface‐plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon was fabricated using a gold thin film, the surface of which was modified with a self‐assembled monolayer (SAM). Stearylmercaptan was used for the SAM constituent. The magnitude of the angle shift of SPR sensor to NISs increases in this order: Triton X‐100<heptaethyleneglycol dodecyl ether (HEEG)<hexaethyleneglycol dodecyl ether (HEG)<pentaethyleneglycol dodecyl ether (PEG). This order of magnitude of angle shift is in accord with the sequence of the hydrophobicity of the NISs. The linear relationships between Δθ (the change in the resonance angle relative to the baseline value) and the concentration of NISs were obtained in the concentration range from 2×10^?6 M to 1×10^?5 M. The coexistence of common inorganic cations and anions at 100 times excess to the Triton X‐100 gives only a positive error less than ca. +5%. The coexistence of an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate) at 10 times excess to the Triton X‐100 gives a very serious positive error of ca. +320%. This serious positive error was completely eliminated by using the flow system with an anion‐exchange resin column.     

π-Conjugated Copper Phthalocyanine Nanoparticles as Highly Sensitive Sensor for Colorimetric Detection of Biomarkers

Though numerous nanomaterials with enzyme-like activities have been utilized as probes and sensors for detecting biological molecules, it is still challenging to construct highly sensitive detectors for biomarkers using polymeric materials. Benefiting from the π-d delocalization effect of electrons, excellent metal-chelating property, high electron transferability, and good chemical stability of π-conjugated phthalocyanine, the design of the copper phthalocyanine-based conjugated polymer nanoparticles (Cu-PcCP NPs) as a colorimetric sensor for a variety of biomarkers is reported. The Cu-PcCP NPs are synthesized through a simple microwave-assisted polymerization, and their chemical structures are thoroughly characterized. The colorimetric results of Cu-PcCP NPs demonstrate excellent peroxidase-like detecting activity and also great substrate selectivity than most of the reported Cu-based nanomaterials. The Cu-PcCP NPs can achieve a detection limit of 4.88 μM for the H₂O₂, 4.27 μM for the L-cysteine, and 21.10 μM for the glucose via a cascade catalytic system, which shows comparable detecting sensitivity as that of many earlier reported enzyme-like nanomaterials. Moreover, Cu-PcCP NPs present remarkable resistance to harsh conditions, including high temperature, low pH, and excessive salts. These highly specific π-conjugated copper-phthalocyanine nanoparticles not only overcome the current limitation of polymeric material-based sensors but also provide a new direction for designing next-generation enzyme-like nanomaterial-based colorimetric biosensors.     

A Metallosupramolecular Coordination Polymer for the ‘Turn-on’ Fluorescence Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide

A coumarin based probe for the efficient detection of hydrogen sulfide in aqueous medium is reported. The investigated coumarine-based derivative forms spherical nanoparticles in aqueous media. In presence of Pd²⁺, a metallosupramolecular coordination polymer is formed, which is accompanied by quenching of the coumarin emission at 390 nm. Its Pd²⁺ complex could be used as a probe for chemoselective detection of monohydrogensulfide (HS⁻). Presence of HS⁻ leads to a'turn-on' fluorescence signal, resulting from decomplexation of Pd²⁺ from the metallosupramolecular probe. The probe was successfully applied for qualitative and quantitative detection of HS⁻ in different sources of water directly collected from sea, river, tap and laboratory drain water, as well as in growth media for aquatic species.     

Bovine Serum Albumin Nanospheres Synchronously Encapsulating “Gold Selenium/Gold” Nanoparticles and Photosensitizer for High-Efficiency Cancer Phototherapy

Gold nanostructures have generated significant attention in biomedical areas because of their major role in cancer photothermal therapeutics. In order to conveniently combine gold nanostructures and drugs into one nanocomposite, Au₂Se/Au core–shell nanostructures with strong near-infrared-absorbing properties were synthesized using a simple method and embedded inside bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanospheres by using a spray dryer equipped with an ultrasonic atomizer followed by thermal denaturation. The nanospheres with narrow size distribution mainly ranging from 450 to 600 nm were obtained. The Au₂Se/Au-loaded BSA nanospheres (1 mg) adsorbed at least 0.01 mg of water-insoluble zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) photosensitizer. After irradiation with a 655-nm laser (20 min), the temperature of the Au₂Se/Au-loaded BSA nanospheres [200 μL, 2 mg/mL, BSA/Au₂Se/Au 10:1 (w/w)] increased by over 20 °C from the initial temperature of 24.82?±?0.15 °C, and the release of ZnPc was improved compared with a corresponding sample without irradiation. After being incubated with cancer cells (human esophageal carcinoma Eca-109), the nanospheres exhibited photothermal and photodynamic therapy with a synergistic effect upon laser irradiation. This work provides novel Au₂Se/Au-loaded polymer nanospheres prepared by a high-efficiency strategy for incorporating drugs for improving the efficiency in killing cancer cells.     

Double-Layered Plasmonic–Magnetic Vesicles by Self-Assembly of Janus Amphiphilic Gold–Iron(II,III) Oxide Nanoparticles

Janus nanoparticles (JNPs) offer unique features, including the precisely controlled distribution of compositions, surface charges, dipole moments, modular and combined functionalities, which enable excellent applications that are unavailable to their symmetrical counterparts. Assemblies of NPs exhibit coupled optical, electronic and magnetic properties that are different from single NPs. Herein, we report a new class of double-layered plasmonic–magnetic vesicle assembled from Janus amphiphilic Au-Fe₃O₄ NPs grafted with polymer brushes of different hydrophilicity on Au and Fe₃O₄ surfaces separately. Like liposomes, the vesicle shell is composed of two layers of Au-Fe₃O₄ NPs in opposite direction, and the orientation of Au or Fe₃O₄ in the shell can be well controlled by exploiting the amphiphilic property of the two types of polymers.     

Amperometric Biosensor for Hydrogen Peroxide Based on Electrodeposited Sub-micrometer Gold Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

IntroductionAmperometricbiosensorofhydrogenperoxideisofpracticalimportancebecauseofitswideapplicationsinchemical,biological,clinical,environmentalandmanyotherfields.Forimprovementofsensor抯quality,vari-ouskindsofchemicalmodificationmethodshavebeendevelopedforreducingredoxoverpotentialsofH2O2atelectrodesurfaces,increasingthedetectionsensitivity,linearrange,stabilityandlivetime.Ithasbeenshownthattheuseofsub-micrometersizedmetalparticlessuchasPt-blackcansignificantlyimprovethequalityofthebiosens…     

Star-PDMAEMA-β-CD-Stabilized Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles: Synthesis,Characterization and pH-Controlled Assembly

Colloidal gold nanoparticles were prepared through in situ reduction in the presence of water-soluble star homopolymer with β-cyclodextrin core and poly[2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate] arms (star PDMAEMA-β-CD) at ambient temperature. In this process, star PDMAEMA-β-CD acted as both reducing agent and stabilizing agent for gold nanoparticles. More importantly, the optical properties and the morphology of star-PDMAEMA-β-CD-stabilized colloidal gold nanoparticles were sensitive to the solution pH due to structural changes of the polymer. Different assemblies can be formed by tuning the pH of the medium. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic laser light scattering (DLS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the synthetic gold nanoparticles and the pH-controlled assembly of gold nanoparticles.     

Biosensor for Hydrogen Peroxide Based on Chitosan and Nanoparticle Complex Film–Modified Glassy-Carbon Electrodes

Abstract

A biosensor for hydrogen peroxide was fabricated by co-immobilizing cadmium telluride (CdTe) nanoparticles, chitosan, and hemoglobin (Hb) matrix. There was a pair of nearly reversible redox peaks around ?0.360 V, and the electrochemical behavior of Hb was a surface-controlled process, with an electron-transfer rate constant of 1.36 s^?1 and surface coverage of 2.62 × 10^?10 mol cm^?2. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra and ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) spectra indicated that Hb sustained its natural conformation. It was demonstrated that Hb in the matrix kept its bioactivity and exhibited catalytic ability toward H₂O₂, with a response ranging from 7.44 × 10^?6 to 6.95 × 10^?4 M and a detection limit of 2.23 × 10^?6 M.     

Real-time detection of Cu(Ⅱ) with PEDOT:PSS based organic electrochemical transistors

Copper is an essential element in the environment and the human body,but at the same time,exposure to high concentrations of Cu~(2+) ions will potentially lead to acute toxicity and various neurodegenerative diseases.Thus,it is of great significance for the development of highly sensitive and selective strategies for the detection of Cu~(2+) ions.Here,we report a highly efficient poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonic acid)(PEDOT:PSS) based organic electrochemical transistor(OECT)sensor,for real-time Cu~(2+) ions detection.The detection limit of the OECT device is as low as 100 nM,far beyond the sensitivity required for practical uses.The detection mechanism may base on the chemical reactivity of Cu~(2+) ions oxiding the PEDOT:PSS in solution both in absence and presence of the base potential.The OECT devices also exhibit excellent selective response to Cu~(2+)ions rather than other metal ions.Finally,we also demonstrate the determination of Cu~(2+) ions in tap water with the OECT Cu~(2+)sensor.Considering the high sensitivity and selectivity,as well as the real-time and low cost features of our Cu~(2+) OECT sensor,it is ideal for portable and disposable applications for environment monitoring and public health.     

Human Serum Albumin−Gold Nanoparticle Based Impedimetric Sensor for Sensitive Detection of miRNA-200c

Here, human serum albumin conjugated gold nanoparticles (HSA−AuNPs) were synthesized by a simple route to develop an impedimetric sensor for miRNA-200c detection based on a selective oligo-hybridization process without any labeling. The synthetic DNA capture probe for miRNA-200c was decorated onto the HSA−AuNPs modified pencil graphite electrodes. Impedimetric signals were monitored after the hybridization process between the DNA probe and target miRNA-200c. HSA−AuNPs adsorption time, incubation time of the capture probe and hybridization time-temperature were optimized. The proposed miRNA-200c biosensor demonstrated proper sensitivity and selectivity, low detection limit (1.13 fM), good reproducibility and simple direct detection of miRNA-200c in serum.     

Why does the electrical conductivity in PEDOT:PSS decrease with PSS content? A study combining thermoelectric measurements with impedance spectroscopy

We have investigated the electrical transport properties of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophen)/poly(4‐styrene‐sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) with PEDOT‐to‐PSS ratios from 1:1 to 1:30. By combining impedance spectroscopy with thermoelectric measurements, we are able to independently determine the variation of electrical conductivity and charge carrier density with PSS content. We find the charge carrier density to be independent of the PSS content. Using a generalized effective media theory, we show that the electrical conductivity in PEDOT:PSS can be understood as percolation between sites of highly conducting PEDOT:PSS complexes with a conductivity of 2.3 (Ωcm)^?1 in a matrix of excess PSS with a low conductivity of 10^?3 (Ω cm)^?1. In addition to the transport properties, the thermoelectric power factors and Seebeck coefficients have been determined. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

Monolayer 1T and 1T′ MoSO as Promising Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution based on First Principle Calculations

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) has been regarded as one of the most promising candidates for replacing Pt group noble metals as an efficient electrocatalyst to enhance the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in consideration of its relatively high earth abundance. Recent studies show that the catalytic efficiency of MoS₂ for HER can be promoted by the presence of 1T-phase MoS₂. It is hard to precisely control the formation of 1T-MoS₂, however, due to its metastability relative to 2H-MoS₂. Elevating the stability of 1T phase allotrope is therefore of great importance and could be realized by replacing divalent S with monovalent elements or groups according to crystal field theory, which has been demonstrated through our first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculation results. Differential Gibbs free energy analysis for hydrogen adsorption (ΔG_H*) suggest that 1T and 1T′ MoSO (O doped MoS₂) might be taken as potential candidate catalysts for HER process with better performance than 1T and 1T′ MoS₂. We also propose a probable approach to synthesize 1T and 1T′ MoSO under oxidation circumstance environment of graphene oxide.     

Electrochemical Sensor for Detection of p-Nitrophenol Based on Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles/α-Cyclodextrin Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide

p-Nitrophenol (p−NP) is a high priority toxic pollutant and that has harmful effects on human, animals and plants. Thus, the detection and determination of p−NP present in the environment is an urgent as well as highly important requisite. The present article, therefore focused on the construction of a novel electrochemical sensor based on NiO nanoparticles/α-cyclodextrin functionalized reduced graphene oxide modified glassy carbon electrode (NiO−NPs-α-CD-rGO-GCE) for the selective and sensitive detection of p−NP. UV-vis, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), selected area electron diffraction pattern (SAED) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirms the formation of highly pure NiO nanoparticles. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to characterize the step-wise electrode modification process. DPV was carried out to quantify p−NP within the concentration range of 1−10 μM and found the detection limit of 0.12 nM on the basis of the signal-to-noise ratio S/N=3. The electrode can able to detect different isomers of nitrophenols. Interferences of other pollutants such as phenol, p-aminophenol, o- and m- nitrophenol, 4-chlorophenol, 2,6-dichlorophenol and ions like K⁺, Cd²⁺, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻ did not affect the sensing of p−NP. The newly developed sensor exhibited diffusion controlled kinetics and had excellent sensitivity, selectivity and reproducibility for the detection of p−NP. The electrode showed good recoveries in real sample analysis.