Sensitive turn-on fluorescent detection of tartrazine based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer

We introduce a sensitive, rapid, label-free and general fluorescent method for the determination of tartrazine by competitive binding to reduced graphene oxide (rGO) against fluorescein, and the fluorescence recovery upon fluorescein desorption from rGO provides a quantitative readout for tartrazine, giving a detection limit of 0.53 ng mL(-1).     

Competitive Host-guest Electrochemical Detection of Ivermectin Drug Using a β-Cyclodextrin/Graphene-based Electrode

The present study describes the novel development and application of an ivermectin (IVM) sensing electrochemical platform based on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and the macrocyclic host β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) molecule. The sensing method was based in the host-guest characteristics of β-CD and competitive interaction between the target analyte and the methylene blue (MB) redox probe. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was employed for the detection of IVM and a linear response between 0.5 and 40.0 μmol L⁻¹ with a limit of detection of 0.25 μmol L⁻¹ was obtained using the glassy carbon (GC)/rGO/β-CD electrode. The sensing platform was successfully applied for the detection of IVM in tap water samples, which may expand the applications of β-CD towards the analysis of other chemical species.     

Simultaneous determination of malachite green, brilliant green and crystal violet in grass carp tissues by a broad-specificity indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

An immunizing hapten (4-(carboxymethoxy)phenyl)bis(4-(diethylamino)phenyl)methylium for brilliant green (BG), a triphenylmethane dye with a potential illegal use in fish feeding, was synthesized and used to produce polyclonal antibody (PcAb) against BG. Unexpectedly, the obtained PcAb showed high cross-reactivity (CR) to malachite green (MG) and crystal violet (CV) in an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA). After screening against three heterologous coating antigens, the icELISA exhibited good sensitivity and uniform response to BG (IC(50) of 1.98 ng mL(-1) and CR of 100%), MG (IC(50) of 1.61 ng mL(-1) and CR of 105%) and CV (IC(50) of 1.34 ng mL(-1) and CR of 142%) when using (4-(carboxymethoxy)phenyl)bis(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)methylium as the coating hapten. Therefore, a broad-specificity icELISA for simultaneous determination of BG, MG and CV was developed. The recoveries of single analyte and mixture of three analytes from spiked grass carp tissues were estimated ranging from 74.94% to 110.39%. A statistically significant correlation of results was obtained between the developed icELISA and previously established HPLC approaches with the food-relevant three triphenylmethane dyes concentration range 1.83-200 ng mL(-1) (R(2)=0.9224), indicating good accuracy of the icELISA and suitability for the broad-specific detection of the three triphenylmethane dyes in grass carp tissues.     

Adsorption and kinetic studies of cationic and anionic dyes on pyrophyllite from aqueous solutions

The adsorption of cationic Methylene Blue (MB) and anionic Procion Crimson H-EXL (PC) dyes from aqueous medium on pyrophyllite was studied. Changes in the electrokinetics of pyrophyllite as a function of pH were investigated in the absence and presence of multivalent cations. The results show that pyrophyllite in water exhibits a negative surface charge within the range pH 2-12. Pyrophyllite is found to be a novel adsorbent for versatile removal of cationic and anionic dyes. The negative hydrophilic surface sites of pyrophyllite are responsible for the adsorption of cationic MB molecules. The adsorption of anionic PC dye is possible after a charge reversal by the addition of trivalent cation of Al. Nearly 2 min of contact time are found to be sufficient for the adsorption of both dyes to reach equilibrium. The experimental data follow a Langmuir isotherm with adsorption capacities of 70.42 and 71.43 mg dye per gram of pyrophyllite for MB and PC, respectively. For the adsorption of both MB and PC dyes, the pseudo-second-order chemical reaction kinetics provides the best correlation of the experimental data.     

Non-functionalized oil palm waste-derived reduced graphene oxide for methylene blue removal: Isotherm,kinetics, thermodynamics,and mass transfer mechanism

The discharge of colored effluents from industries is one of the significant sources of water pollution. Therefore, there is a growing demand for efficient and low-cost treatment methods. An adsorption process with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) synthesized using a novel double carbonization and oxidation method from the natural precursor of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) as adsorbent is a promising approach for addressing the problem. In this study, OPEFB biochar was mixed with ferrocene with a ratio of 5:1 (m/m) and oxidized under nitrogen flow at a temperature of 300 °C for 20 min, which resulted in 75.8 wt% of yield. The potential of the synthesized rGO as an effective adsorbent for dye removal from water and wastewater was explored using methylene blue (MB) as a model. Several factors were investigated, including adsorbent dosage, initial concentration, contact time, and pH, to obtain the optimum adsorption condition through batch studies. The physical and chemical characteristics of the rGO in terms of functional groups, surface morphology, elemental composition, and crystallinity phase were determined through characterization. The nonlinear isotherms were appropriated using several error functions to describe the adsorption isotherm with a maximum adsorption capacity of 50.07 mg/g. The kinetic study demonstrates that MB’s adsorption fits the PFO kinetic model and agrees with Bangham’s interpretation of pore diffusion. The adsorption mechanism was found to be physisorption on the multilayer heterogeneous surface of the rGO involving π-π interaction, hydrophobic association, and electrostatic interaction. The thermodynamics study showed that the process was spontaneous and exothermic. The mass transfer mechanism study shows that the adsorption is controlled by intraparticle diffusion and involves complex pathways. The study found that the novel non- functionalized rGO could remove cationic dyes from water and wastewater.     

A reversible fluorescence nanoswitch based on bifunctional reduced graphene oxide: use for detection of Hg2+ and molecular logic gate operation

Herein, we demonstrate the first use of a reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-organic dye nanoswitch for the label-free, sensitive and selective detection of Hg(2+) using bifunctional rGO as an effective nanoquencher and highly selective nanosorbent. Moreover, a reversible on-off INHIBIT rGO logic gate based on a cysteine-Hg(2+) system has also been designed.     

A label-free, direct and noncompetitive FRET immunoassay for ochratoxin A based on intrinsic fluorescence of an antigen and antibody complex

A label-free, direct and noncompetitive homogeneous immunoassay, in which ochratoxin A (OTA) coupled with the anti-OTA antibody participates in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), was developed for the detection of OTA with great specificity and a detection limit of 1 ng mL(-1).     

A label-free fluorescence immunoassay system for the sensitive detection of the mycotoxin, ochratoxin A

A label-free fluorescence immunoassay system relying on fluorescence from the dianionic form of ochratoxin A (OTA) in the OTA/anti-OTA complex was developed. With an optimized system, the fluorescence immunoassay can be used to detect OTA in a highly specific manner with a detection limit of 0.5 ng mL(-1).     

Label-Free Fluorescence Molecular Beacon Probes Based on G-Triplex DNA and Thioflavin T for Protein Detection

Protein detection plays an important role in biological and biomedical sciences. The immunoassay based on fluorescence labeling has good specificity but a high labeling cost. Herein, on the basis of G-triplex molecular beacon (G3MB) and thioflavin T (ThT), we developed a simple and label-free biosensor for protein detection. The biotin and streptavidin were used as model enzymes. In the presence of target streptavidin (SA), the streptavidin hybridized with G3MB-b (biotin-linked-G-triplex molecular beacon) perfectly and formed larger steric hindrance, which hindered the hydrolysis of probes by exonuclease III (Exo III). In the absence of target streptavidin, the exonuclease III successively cleaved the stem of G3MB-b and released the G-rich sequences which self-assembled into a G-triplex and subsequently activated the fluorescence signal of thioflavin T. Compared with the traditional G-quadruplex molecular beacon (G4MB), the G3MB only needed a lower dosage of exonuclease III and a shorter reaction time to reach the optimal detection performance, because the concise sequence of G-triplex was good for the molecular beacon design. Moreover, fluorescence experiment results exhibited that the G3MB-b had good sensitivity and specificity for streptavidin detection. The developed label-free biosensor provides a valuable and general platform for protein detection.     

Dual-signal immuno-competitive determination of brain natriuretic peptide based on magnetic nanozyme

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been a disease marker in the diagnosis of heart failure. In this study, gold nanoparticles modified with Hemin (H-AuNPs) as nanozymes were used to oxidize ABST and MB to amplified colorimetric and electrochemical redox signals respectively. BNP was combined with H-AuNPs (BNP-H-AuNPs) through electrostatic adsorption to construct competitive nanozyme probes. Target BNP in the sample compete with BNP-H-AuNPs to bind the antibody-modified magnetic nanoparticles (AntiBNP-MNPs). Due to the excellent catalytic performance of the nanozyme, BNP can be observed well by colorimetric and electrochemical assays. Electrochemical method ensured more accurate detection of BNP with a wide detection range (1–200 pg/mL) and a low detection of limit (0.03 pg/mL). Meanwhile, the results of the experiment can be easily observed with the naked eye by simple colorimetric method with a range from 5 ng/mL to 25 ng/mL and a limit of detection down to 80.3 pg/mL. Thus, based on the important role of H-AuNPs, this assay has exhibited potential value of detection the other small proteins through this competitive nanozyme method.     

Adsorption of dyes on activated carbon and graphitic thermal carbon black

The adsorption of a basic dye (Methylene Blue; MB) and an acidic dye (Acid Orange; AO) has been studied on three activated carbons (ACs; FAS, SKD, and BAU) significantly differing in their porous structures and surface concentrations of ion-exchange groups and on graphitic thermal carbon black (GTCB). The effective specific surface area of FAS, SKD, and BAU determined by dye adsorption is, respectively, 60, 50, and 40% of the BET nitrogen adsorption surface area. The MB uptake on ACs and GTCB increases with rising pH, while the AO uptake decreases. Addition of an electrolyte (0.3 M NaCl) virtually does not effect the adsorption of dyes on ACs and GTCB. It is suggested that hydrophobic interactions, and not ionic ones, are the major contributors to the adsorption of dyes on ACs.     

Characterization and Mechanism Elucidation of Dye Adsorption Using Cuprous Selenide Nanoparticles from Aqueous Solutions

The removal of cationic dyes, methylene blue(MB) and rhodamine B(RB), and anionic dyes, methyl or-ange(MO) and eosin Y(EY), from aqueous solutions by adsorption using Cu₂Se nanoparticles(Cu₂SeNPs) was studied. The effects of the initial pH values, adsorbent doses, contact time, initial dye concentrations, salt concentrations, and operation temperatures on the adsorption capacities were investigated. The adsorption process was better fitted the Langmuir equation and pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and was spontaneous and endothermic as well. The adsorption mechanism was probably based on the electrostatic interactions and π-π interactions between Cu₂SeNPs and dyes. For an adsorbent of 0.4 g/L of Cu₂SeNPs, the adsorption capacities of 23.1(MB), 22.9(RB) and 23.9(EY) mg/g were achieved, respectively, with an initial dye concentration of 10 mg/g(pH=8 for MB and pH=4 for RB and EY) and a contact time of 120 min. The removal rate of MB was still 70.4% for Cu₂SeNPs being reused in the 5th cycle. Furthermore, the recycled Cu₂SeNPs produced from selenium nanoparticles adsorbing copper were also an effective adsorbent for the removal of dyes. Cu₂SeNPs showed great potential as a new adsorbent for dyes removal due to its good stability, functionalization and reusability.     

Single and Binary Dye Adsorption of Methylene Blue and Methyl Orange in Alcohol Aqueous Solution via Rice Husk Based Activated Carbon: Kinetics and Equilibrium Studies

The present work was mainly focused on the single and binary adsorption of methylene blue(MB) and methyl orange(MO) from alcohol aqueous solution over rice husk based activated carbon(RHAC). The study of single dye adsorption equilibrium experiments found that the Langmuir adsorption model was consistent with the adsorption behavior of RHAC on MB and MO, indicating that it was a single layer adsorption. The adsorption behavior conformed to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The binary dye adsorption experiments showed that the Langmuir-Freundlich model could be applied to describe the adsorption behavior of RHAC on MB and MO. Comparation with the single dye system, the adsorption capacity on the binary dye system was larger, and there was "competitive adsorption" and "synergistic adsorption" effects existed. Meanwhile, the pseudo-second-order kinetic model also fit for the binary dye adsorption behavior.     

Removal of dyes from water by conducting polymeric adsorbent

Chemically synthesized conducting polyaniline (PANI) was investigated as adsorbent for its possible application in the removal of organic dyes, such as methylene blue (MB) and procion red (PR) from their aqueous solution. PANI adsorbent behaves as a charged surface upon post‐synthesis treatment of the polymer with acid and base. The adsorbent thus treated shows a high selectivity for the removal of dyes in the adsorption process. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm was used to represent the experimental adsorption data. The cationic dye, MB can be preferentially removed by the base‐treated PANI while the anionic dye, PR is predominately removed by the acid‐treated one. These observations were further evidenced from the measurements of molar conductance and pH of the dye solutions employed for adsorption. The finding can be explained considering the electrostatic nature of adsorption coupled with the morphology of the PANI surface thus treated. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Carboxyl-Functionalized Covalent Organic Framework Synthesized in a Deep Eutectic Solvent for Dye Adsorption

Instead of using organic solvents, a deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of tetrabutylammonium bromide and imidazole (Bu₄NBr/Im) was employed as a solvent for the first time to synthesize covalent organic frameworks (COFs). Due to the low vapor pressure of the Bu₄NBr/Im-based DES, a new carboxyl-functionalized COF (TpPa-COOH) was synthesized under environmental pressure. The as-synthesized TpPa-COOH has open channels, and the DES can be removed completely from the pores. The dye adsorption performance of TpPa-COOH was examined for three organic dyes with similar molecular sizes: one anionic dye (eosin B, EB) and two cationic dyes (methylene blue, MB and safranine T, ST). TpPa-COOH showed an excellent selective adsorption effect on MB and ST. The electronegative keto form in TpPa-COOH might help to form electrostatic and π–π interactions between the π-stacking frameworks of TpPa-COOH and the positive plane MB and ST molecules. The adsorption isotherms of MB and ST on TpPa-COOH were further investigated in detail, and the equilibrium adsorption was well modeled by using a Langmuir isotherm model. Together with hydrogen bonding, TpPa-COOH showed higher adsorption capacity for ST than for MB (1135 vs. 410 mg g⁻¹). These results could provide a guidance for the green synthesis of adsorbents in removing organic dyes from wastewater.     

Sensitive, label-free protein assay using 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate-supported microchip electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

Based on the dimer-monomer equilibrium movement of the fluorescent dye Pyronin Y (PY), a rapid, simple, highly sensitive, label-free method for protein detection was developed by microchip electrophoresis with LIF detection. PY formed a nonfluorescent dimer induced by the premicellar aggregation of an anionic surfactant, SDS, however, the fluorescence intensity of the system increased dramatically when proteins such as BSA, bovine hemoglobin, cytochrome c, and trypsin were added to the solution due to the transition of dimer to fluorescent monomer. Furthermore, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMImBF4) instead of PBS was applied as running buffers in microchip electrophoresis. Due to the excellent properties of EMImBF4, not only nonspecific protein adsorption was more efficiently suppressed, but also approximately ten-fold higher fluorescence intensity enhancement was obtained than that using PBS. Under the optimal conditions, detection limits for BSA, bovine hemoglobin, cytochrome c, and trypsin were 1.00x10(-6), 2x10(-6), 7x10(-7), and 5x10(-7) mg/mL, respectively. Thus, without covalent modification of the protein, a protein assay method with high sensitivity was achieved on microchips.     

[MeCl4]-型配阴离子-亚甲蓝离子缔合物的溶剂萃取和荧光法测定痕量亚甲蓝

研究了离子缔合物溶剂萃取的适宜条件、有机相中荧光和共振荧光光谱特征, 讨论了离子缔合物的组成和结构, 考察了有关的分析化学性质. 建立了测定痕量亚甲蓝的高灵敏度的方法, 其检出限分别为0.2和0.6 ng/mL(荧光法)以及1.1和2.8 ng/mL(共振荧光法), 荧光法具有更高的灵敏度, 更宜于痕量亚甲蓝的测定. 将该方法用于人血清和尿样中痕量亚甲蓝的测定, 结果较好.     

Fluorescence immunosensor based on p-acid-encapsulated silica nanoparticles for tumor marker detection

A novel, simple and highly sensitive amplified fluorescence label-free immunosensor by using p-acid-encapsulated silica nanomaterials has been developed for the first time. 4,4'-(2,5-Dimethoxy-1,4-phenylene)bis(ethyne-2,1-diyl)dibenzoic acid (p-acid) and p-acid-encapsulated silica were prepared, and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) and fluorescence spectroscopy. In layer-by-layer self-assembling processes using (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane, p-acid@SiO(2) was assembled on the glass substrate. Antibody was immobilized on the surface of p-acid@SiO(2) with N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole. The functional nanomaterials present good analytical properties with a calibration range of 0.1-100 ng mL(-1), and allow the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) at a concentration as low as 0.04 ng mL(-1). What is important is that the as-synthesized p-acid@SiO(2) nanomaterials could be further extended for the detection of other biomarkers or biocompounds.     

Polypyrrole-coated cotton textile as adsorbent of methylene blue dye

Pollution caused by organic dyes is of serious environmental and health concern to the population. Dyes are widely used in textile coloring applications. In the present work, cotton textile was coated with a conducting polymer, polypyrrole (PPy), in situ during the oxidative polymerization of pyrrole. The resulting materials were utilized as easily separated and recyclable adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue (MB) as a model of cationic dyes in alkaline solutions. It showed also some affinity to remove Acid Green 25 as an anionic dye in acidic medium. The adsorption was assessed by monitoring the decrease in dye concentration by UV–Visible absorption spectroscopy. The influence of various parameters such as initial dye concentration, contact time, pH, temperature, and adsorbent dose on the adsorption process was studied. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm model were found to describe the adsorption process. The thermodynamic study revealed that the adsorption of MB by PPy was feasible, spontaneous, and exothermic process. Investigation of the substrate regeneration revealed that PPy deposited on cotton textile can be reused for dye adsorption several times with good efficiency and it allows for the recovery of MB for recycling purposes.     

Density functional theory modeling of the adsorption of small analyte and indicator dye 9-(diphenylamino)acridine molecules on the surface of amorphous silica nanoparticles

The adsorption of small analyte molecules (H(2)O, NH(3), C(2)H(5)OH, and (CH(3))(2)CO) and an indicator dye, 9-(diphenylamino)acridine (DPAA), on the surface of amorphous silica particles is studied using electronic structure calculations at the DFT-D level of theory taking into account explicit corrections for van der Waals forces. Cluster models of three different types are used; two of them have been constructed using classical MD methods. The effect of particle size, local environment, and the choice of the exchange-correlation functional and basis set on the adsorption energies is studied, and adsorption energies are extrapolated to nanosized clusters. It is shown that the dye is more strongly bound to amorphous silica particles than the studied analyte molecules and that the energy of DPAA adsorption increases with the particle size, being at least twice as high as the energy of analyte adsorption for nanosized clusters. Electrostatic interactions play an important role in the adsorption of acridine dyes on the surface of silica nanoparticles.