Visual recognition of melamine in milk via selective metallo-hydrogel formation

A series of novel six-coordinated terpyridine zinc complexes, containing ammonium salts and thymine fragment at the two terminals, have been designed and synthesized, which can function as highly sensitive visualized sensors for melamine detection via selective metallo-hydrogel formation. After fully characterization by various techniques, the complementary triple-hydrogen-bonding between the thymine fragment and melamine, as well as π-π stacking interactions may be responsible for the selective metallo-hydrogel formation. In light of the possible interference aroused by milk ingredients (proteins, peptides and amino acids) and legal/illegal additives (urine, sugars and vitamins), a series of control experiments are therefore involved. To our delight, this visual recognition is highly selective, no gelation was observed with the selected milk ingredients or additives. Remarkably, this new developed protocol enables convenient and highly selective visual recognition of melamine at a concentration as low as 10 ppm in raw milk without any tedious pretreatment.     

Colorimetric recognition of melamine in milk using novel pincer zinc complex stabilized gold nanoparticles

A convenient colorimetric approach for visual detection of melamine in raw milk was realized by using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) stabilized by an unsymmetrical terpyridyl zinc complex with a thymine fragment at one terminal and a quaternary ammonium salt at the other. Even without pre-addition of melamine or relative additives, obvious color change from red to blue was observed by naked eye in the presence of trace amount of melamine, which was attributed to the alternation of aggregation state of AuNPs caused by the selective binding between the thymine fragment and melamine via triple hydrogen-bonding interactions. Remarkably, the detection limit for melamine was as low as 2.4 ppb, providing a highly sensitive and efficient approach for the visual detection of melamine.     

Naked eye sensing of melamine using rationally tailored gold nanoparticles: hydrogen-bonding and charge-transfer recognition

A highly sensitive analytical method based on Au nanoparticles rationally tailored with recognition elements uracil-5-carboxylic acid (UCA) and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) for the visual sensing of melamine at the parts-per-billion (ppb) level is described. The tailored Au nanoparticles function as an excellent color indicating reporter and it recognizes the target analytes by triple hydrogen-bonding or charge-transfer interaction in aqueous solution. The interaction of melamine with UCA- or TNBS-tailored reporters induces a rapid visible color change due to the aggregation of reporters. The color change was spectrally monitored to precisely quantify the amount of melamine. The charge-transfer interaction of melamine with TNBS-tailored reporter brings a remarkable change in the spectral signature even at the ppb level. Such an interaction paves the way for the detection of melamine at the 5 ppb level, which is well below the safety limit set by UN food standard commission. This method is highly selective and the common interfering analytes such as cyanuric acid, cytosine, glucose, thymine, uracil, etc., do not interfere in the sensing of melamine. The practical utility of the method is demonstrated by quantifying the amount melamine in real samples.     

Molecularly imprinted polymer as SPE sorbent for selective extraction of melamine in dairy products

In this paper, a highly selective sample cleanup procedure combining molecular imprinting and solid-phase extraction (MI-SPE) was developed for the isolation of melamine in dairy products. The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was prepared using melamine as the template molecule, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linking monomer. The melamine imprinted polymer was used as selective sorbent for the solid-phase extraction of melamine from dairy products. An off-line MI-SPE method followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection for the detection of melamine was also established. The mean recoveries of melamine from ultra-heat treatment (UHT) milk and milk powders were 92.9-98.0% and 91.6-102.8%, respectively. Good linearity was obtained from 0.5 μM to 10 μM (r > 0.999) with a quantitation limit of 0.5 μmol/L (0.06 ppm) which was sufficient to analyse melamine at the maximum level permitted by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (1 ppm) in dairy products. It was demonstrated that the proposed MI-SPE-HPLC method could be applied to direct determination of melamine in dairy products.     

Self-assembly and molecular recognition of adenine- and thymine-functionalized nucleolipids in the mixed monolayers and thymine-functionalized nucleolipids on aqueous melamine at the air-water interface

Self-assembly and molecular recognition of the monolayers composed of an equimolar mixture of adenine- and thymine-functionalized nucleolipids at the air-water interface have been investigated in detail using surface pressure-molecular area isotherms and in situ infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS). Prior to molecular recognition, the adenine moieties in the monolayer were almost oriented on an end-on mode through π-stacking and hydrogen bonding interactions, and the C-C-C planes of the alkyl chains were preferentially oriented perpendicular to the water surface, while the thymine moieties in the monolayer were involved in hydrogen bonding almost with a flat-on orientation. On aqueous subphases containing complementary bases, no significant molecular recognition was observed for the monolayers of individual nucleolipids. In the monolayer of equimolar mixture, molecular recognition occurred between the adenine and thymine moieties through hydrogen bonding probably with the development of cyclic structures of adenine-thymine-adenine-thymine quartets. Although molecular recognition between the monolayer of thymine-functionalized nucleolipids and aqueous melamine took place through triple hydrogen bonds, no melamine binding to the monolayer of equimolar mixture was observed, which reflects the formation of the quartets in the mixed monolayers at the air-water interface. FTIR and small-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) results of the corresponding Langmuir-Blodgett films support the hydrogen bonding recognition and molecular orientation.     

Optimized Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by Factorial Design with Application for the Determination of Melamine in Milk

A colorimetric method based on silver nanoparticles was developed for the determination of melamine in milk. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized without any stabilizer, using sodium borohydride as the reducing agent. Optimization of the variables for the formation of the nanoparticles was performed by factorial design, resulting in stable colloidal silver nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 14.0?±?2.7?nm. Spectrophotometric measurements performed at 475?nm showed a linear range from 0.033 to 1.50?mg?L^?1 of melamine with limits of detection and quantification of 0.009 and 0.031?mg?L^?1, respectively. The method provided highly sensitive determination of melamine in milk.     

Preparation and characterization of molecularly imprinted microspheres for selective extraction of trace melamine from milk samples

We describe molecularly imprinted microspheres (MIMs) for the selective extraction of melamine from milk. The MIMs were made from melamine as the template molecule, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the linking agent. The MIMs were synthesized by suspension polymerization and characterized by rebinding experiments. They displayed high adsorption capacity, fast rebinding kinetics, and highly specific rebinding of melamine. The imprinting factor is 4.1. Scatchard analysis revealed a one-type rebinding behavior, the dissociation constant and maximum rebinding capacity being 37.59 g L^?1 and 30.85 μmol g^?1, respectively. The MIMs exhibited a 25% cross-reactivity towards atrazine, but less than 3.0% towards prometryn, clenbuterol and metronidazole. In addition, a MIM-based solid phase extraction (MISPE) column for melamine was prepared by packing MIMs into a common SPE cartridge. The MISPE extraction gave recoveries of 89.8 to 100.6% of melamine, with relative standard deviations of 5.9 to 7.5%. There was no significant loss of rebinding capacity after more than 60 repeated uses, thus demonstrating the high stability of the MISPE column. The MSPE column also was applied to the extraction of melamine from spiked liquid and powdered milk with satisfying accuracy and precision.

聚联乙炔囊泡负载的Bola型两亲分子识别三聚氰胺过程中Chaotrope促进型显色机制及热力学

用聚联乙炔囊泡为载体,将bola型两亲分子1,12-二乳清酸十二胺盐(DDO)对三聚氰胺的分子识别作用用肉眼可见的颜色变化显示出来.通过比较不同碳链长度的聚联乙炔囊泡对分子识别过程的反映,发现二十三烷基-2.4-二炔酸(TCDA)囊泡的显色灵敏度较高.研究表明,TCDA肉眼可见的颜色变化来自于DDO与三聚氰胺多重氢键的形成以及溶液环境中水结构的变化.为了更好地理解显色机理,用差示扫描量热(DSC)仪详细研究了分子识别过程中聚联乙炔囊泡的相变行为及热力学参数.结果表明:TCDA囊泡和带有识别分子的DDO/TCDA囊泡在三聚氰胺存在下,相变温度Tm均向高温方向移动,并且,随三聚氰胺浓度的增加,Tm值逐渐增大直至囊泡瓦解;但是Tm值的变化没有与囊泡变色必然关联,仅仅DDO/TCDA囊泡具有变色现象,而且,只有当三聚氰胺的浓度超过分子识别氢键形成所需理论量时,肉眼才能可见明显的由蓝到红的颜色变化.为了理解溶液中过量的三聚氰胺对囊泡变色的作用,选用蔗糖和尿素作为典型的水结构促进剂和水结构破坏剂(chaotrope),详细研究了它们对聚联乙炔囊泡反映分子识别过程中相变温度的影响及显色规律.结果表明,过量的三聚氰胺在溶液中起到类似尿素水结构破坏剂的作用.这种作用和分子识别过程中多重氢键的形成对聚联乙炔囊泡的变色缺一不可.本研究首次揭示了由水结构破坏剂参与的聚联乙炔囊泡变色机理,有助于理解共轭聚合物热相变过程中的Hofmeister效应.     

三聚氰胺分子印迹光子晶体水凝胶膜传感器的制备及应用

该文将光子晶体与分子印迹技术结合，制备了分子印迹光子晶体水凝胶膜（MIPHs）作为光学传感器，用于样品中三聚氰胺的快速识别检测。以三聚氰胺为模板分子，通过垂直沉降自组装、填充聚合、去除模板3个步骤，制备得到了反蛋白石结构的三聚氰胺MIPHs。扫描电子显微镜的形貌表征表明，MIPHs具有高度有序的三维大孔结构。该MIPHs作为光学传感器可以将三聚氰胺的分子特异识别过程转换成光学信号，在对目标分析物分析时具有选择性高、响应快、灵敏度高的优点。此外，可以根据MIPHs的颜色变化利用图像软件分析或裸眼识别的方式实现目标分析物快速识别。实验结果表明，在最优条件下，三聚氰胺浓度为10^-11~10^-6mol/L时，MIPHs的布拉格衍射峰位移从563 nm红移到608 nm，而对三聚氰胺的结构类似物没有明显响应。     

Development of nanofibrillated cellulose coated with gold nanoparticles for measurement of melamine by SERS

The objective of this study was to develop nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC)-based substrate for rapid detection of melamine in milk by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). NFC were served as a highly porous platform to load with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which can be used as a flexible SERS substrate with nanoscale roughness to generate strong electromagnetic field in SERS measurement. The NFC/AuNP substrate was characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy and electron microscopy. Milk samples contaminated by different concentrations of melamine were measured by SERS coupled with NFC/AuNP substrate. The spectral data analysis was conducted by multivariate statistical analysis [i.e. partial least squares (PLS)]. Satisfactory PLS result for quantification of melamine in milk was obtained (R = 0.9464). The detection limit for melamine extracted from liquid milk by SERS is 1 ppm, which meets the World Health Organization’s requirement of melamine in liquid milk. These results demonstrate that NFC/AuNP substrate has improved homogeneity and can be used in SERS analysis for food safety applications.     

三聚氰胺磁性表面分子印迹聚合物的制备及其在牛奶样品中的应用

以三聚氰胺（MEL）为模板分子、α-甲基丙烯酸（MAA）为功能单体、乙二醇二甲基丙烯酸酯（EGDMA）为交联剂、Fe₃O₄@SiO₂磁性材料为载体,制备得到三聚氰胺磁性表面分子印迹聚合物（MEL-MMIPs）。分别使用透射电镜（TEM）、热重分析（TGA）、傅立叶变换红外光谱（FT-IR）和振动样品磁强计（VSM）对制备的MMIPs进行表征。结果表明,印迹聚合物层成功地在Fe₃O₄@SiO₂磁性材料表面包覆,印迹粒子具有良好的磁学性能。将磁性分子印迹聚合物应用于牛奶中三聚氰胺的富集分离,采用高效液相色谱法（HPLC）检测,结果显示该磁性表面分子印迹聚合物对三聚氰胺有特异性吸附。以制备的MMIPs为吸附剂,建立了一种简单、快速和高选择性测定牛奶中三聚氰胺的方法。     

Selective melamine detection in multiple sample matrices with a portable Raman instrument using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy-active gold nanoparticles

Melamine adulteration of food and pharmaceutical products is a major concern and there is a growing need to protect the public from exposure to contaminated or adulterated products. One approach to reduce this threat is to develop a portable method for on-site rapid testing. We describe a universal and selective method for the detection of melamine in a variety of solid matrices at the 100–200 μg L⁻¹ level by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with gold nanoparticles. With minimal sample preparation and the use of a portable Raman spectrometer, this work will lead to field-based screening for melamine adulteration. Citrate coated gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were investigated for both colorimetric and Raman-based responses. Several non-hazardous solvents were evaluated in order to develop a melamine extraction procedure safe for field applications. Au NP agglomerates formed by the addition of isopropanol (IPA) prior to sample introduction enhanced the Raman signal for melamine and eliminated matrix interference for substrate formation. The melamine Raman signal resulted in a 10⁵ enhancement through the use of Au NP agglomerates. To our knowledge, we have developed the first portable SERS method using Au NPs to selectively screen for the presence of melamine adulteration in a variety of food and pharmaceutical matrices, including milk powder, infant formula, lactose, povidone, whey protein, wheat bran and wheat gluten.     

A Sensitive Electrochemical Approach for Melamine Detection Using a Disposable Screen Printed Carbon Electrode

We report here a simple and easy electrochemical approach for sensitive detection of non‐electroactive melamine using a disposable screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE) with uric acid as the recognition element. It is based on the competitive adsorptive behavior of melamine at the preanodized SPCE causing suppression in the oxidation current of uric acid. A linear range up to 126 ppb with a detection limit of 1.6 ppb (S/N=3) is achieved at the preanodized SPCE by differential pulse voltammetry. The electrochemical method is successfully applied to detect the melamine content in tainted milk powder and dog food.     

Recognition-improved monolayer formation on air-water interface

Molecular recognition mechanism was introduced into the monolayer formation of two barbituric derivatives, B1 and B2, on a series of melamine derivatives containing water sub-phase. The recognition pattern was found that each barbituric(or melamine) group forms 3-fold H-bonds on its two edges, respectively, with two of its neighboring melamine(barbituric) cores in the ratio of 1:1 on air-water interface. The area per molecule in this pattern is about 60-65 A2 for both Bl and B2. Such recognition improves the monolayer formation of Bl by increasing the collapse pressure around 20 mN/M and modulates the intermolecular distance of B2 in monolayer. These effects should be quite meaningful for both theoretical research and practical application of Langmuir-Blodgett films, especially.     

亲水作用色谱-电喷雾串联质谱法检测原料奶及奶制品中的三聚氰胺

建立了亲水作用色谱-电喷雾串联质谱测定原料奶及奶制品中三聚氰胺的方法。样品采用1%三氯乙酸水溶液-乙腈（体积比为1∶1）混合溶液提取,混合型阳离子交换反相固相萃取柱（MCX）富集净化,亲水作用色谱柱分离,电喷雾串联四极杆质谱仪进行检测。结果表明,三聚氰胺的质量浓度在0.05～10.0 mg/L范围内具有良好的线性关系。原料奶及奶制品中的三聚氰胺在0.5,2.5和10 mg/kg 3个添加水平下,平均回收率为76.3%～98.7%,相对标准偏差均小于6.8%;定量限（S/N＞10）为0.05 mg/kg。     

Colorimetric and visual determination of melamine by exploiting the conformational change of hemin G-quadruplex-DNAzyme

We report on the detection of trace quantities of melamine (MA) by a colorimetric method that exploits the conformational change of hemin G-quadruplex-DNAzyme. The addition of MA to hemin G-quadruplex-DNAzyme structure containing thymine bases causes the thymine in the DNAzyme to interact with MA via a stable triple H-bond and leads to a conformational change. This, in turn, affects the peroxidase-like activity of hemin which is determined colorimetrically at 450 nm by adding 3,3’,5,5’-tetramethylbenzidine and hydrogen peroxide. The method was applied to the colorimetric determination of MA over a wide range of concentrations (0.2 to 24 μM) with a detection limit of 80 nM. The effect also can be detected with bare eyes. The method was successfully applied to the determination of MA in spiked milk powder.

Discrete assembly of synthetic peptide-DNA triplex structures from polyvalent melamine-thymine bifacial recognition

We have designed a 21-residue α-peptide that simultaneously recognizes two decadeoxyoligothymidine (dT(10)) tracts to form triplexes with a peptide-DNA strand ratio of 1:2. The synthetic peptide side chain displays 10 melamine rings, which provide a bifacial thymine-recognition interface along the length of the 21-residue peptide. Recognition is selective for thymine over other nucleobases and drives the formation of ternary peptide·[dT(10)](2) complexes as well as heterodimeric peptide·[dT(10)C(10)T(10)] hairpin structures with triplex stems.     

Self-assembling 1D core/shell microrods by the introduction of additives: a one-pot and shell-tunable method

Herein, we have developed a one-pot method for the fabrication of one-dimensional core/shell microrods with tunable shell compositions by the introduction of additives. Crystalline dimethyl melamine hydrochloride was utilized as the core, while melamine derivatives with different functional groups, such as pyrene, thiophene and naphthalene diimide, served as additives to regulate the core morphology and were adsorbed as the shell. The length and width of these one-dimensional structures can be tuned by varying the molar ratio of core and shell molecules as well as their total concentration. Through X-ray diffraction, the detailed molecular arrangements within the core of the microrods were revealed, and the selective effect of additives on specific crystal faces was evaluated. It is anticipated that this work may provide a facile approach for the fabrication of one-dimensional functional materials.     

Visual detection of melamine in milk samples based on label-free and labeled gold nanoparticles

Melamine that can cause serious damage to the organs of animal or human beings was found to bind to polythymine via hydrogen bonding. With this novel discovery, colorimetric detection of melamine based on label-free and labeled gold nanoparticles was developed, respectively. Both of the methods revealed good selectivity for melamine over other components that may exist in milk and good anti-influence ability. The raw milk samples were pretreated according to the National standard method combined with a solid phase extraction monolithic column. The accurate quantification of melamine as low as 41.7 nM and 46.5 nM was obtained, respectively. It also guarantees fast and reliable readout with naked eyes, making visual detection possible. Further comparison between label-free and labeled based methods was discussed in this paper.