Silicon nanowires as field-effect transducers for biosensor development: A review

The unique electronic properties and miniaturized dimensions of silicon nanowires (SiNWs) are attractive for label-free, real-time and sensitive detection of biomolecules. Sensors based on SiNWs operate as field effect transistors (FETs) and can be fabricated either by top–down or bottom–up approaches. Advances in fabrication methods have allowed for the control of physicochemical and electronic properties of SiNWs, providing opportunity for interfacing of SiNW-FET probes with intracellular environments. The Debye screening length is an important consideration that determines the performance and detection limits of SiNW-FET sensors, especially at physiologically relevant conditions of ionic strength (>100 mM). In this review, we discuss the construction and application of SiNW-FET sensors for detection of ions, nucleic acids and protein markers. Advantages and disadvantages of the top–down and bottom–up approaches for synthesis of SiNWs are discussed. An overview of various methods for surface functionalization of SiNWs for immobilization of selective chemistry is provided in the context of impact on the analytical performance of SiNW-FET sensors. In addition to in vitro examples, an overview of the progress of use of SiNW-FET sensors for ex vivo studies is also presented. This review concludes with a discussion of the future prospects of SiNW-FET sensors.     

Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Fe(III) complexes containing a N2O2 donor ligand: Synthesis, characterization, DNA cleavage studies and crystal structure of [Cu(HL)Cl]

A polydentate ligand, H₂L “[1-(5-isopropyl-2-methyl phenoxy)-3-(N-2-hydroxy benzyl-N-((pyridine-2-yl)amino) propan-2-ol]”, containing a N₂O₂ donor moiety was synthesized by refluxing 2-((5-isopropyl-2-methylphenoxy)methyl)oxirane and HBPA (N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine). This synthesized ligand was used for the preparation of complexes with different metal ions, viz. [Cu(HL)Cl] (1), [Ni(HL)Cl] (2), [Zn(HL)Cl] (3) and [Fe(HL)Cl₂] (4). The ligand and metal complexes were characterized by ¹H NMR, mass, ESI-MS, elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The crystal structure for one of the complexes, [Cu(HL)Cl], was solved from the X-ray crystallography data. The structure of the complex, based on the trigonality index tau, suggests an intermediate geometry between square pyramidal (sp) and trigonal bipyramidal (tb). Both the ligand and the metal complexes show oxidative cleavage of plasmid DNA (pBR322) without addition of any exogenous agent, even at a concentration of 5 μM. The binding constants for these compounds were found to be in the range 5.33-0.065 × 10⁵ M⁻¹.     

A perspective on novel sources of ultrashort electron and X-ray pulses

Recently, much attention has been devoted to the development of new pulsed sources of radiation for investigating matter with atomic scale temporal and spatial resolution. While much has been achieved thanks to modern ultrafast laser technology, the ultimate coherent light source, the X-ray free electron laser (X-FEL), promises to deliver the highest X-ray photon flux in the shortest pulses at energies unreachable by conventional solid-state lasers. In parallel, other approaches that utilize electrons in table-top setups as a probe have been developed demonstrating the potential for a valid complement to X-ray based techniques. Here, we consider yet another possible avenue in which the technology of electron diffraction and imaging is pushed further; we estimate the interest and performances of a femtosecond high energy electron microscope and propose a hybrid experiment with relativistic electrons as a probe and fs X-ray pulses as a pump taking advantage of both technologies.     

Applications of polydimethylsiloxane in analytical chemistry: A review

Silicones have innumerable applications in many areas of life. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which belongs to the class of silicones, has been extensively used in the field of analytical chemistry owing to its favourable physicochemical properties. The use of PDMS in analytical chemistry gained importance with its application as a stationary phase in gas chromatographic separations. Since then it has been used in many sample preparation techniques such as solid phase microextraction (SPME), stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), thin-film extraction, permeation passive sampling, etc. Further, it is gaining importance in the manufacturing of lab-on-a-chip devices, which have revolutionized bio-analysis. Applications of devices containing PDMS and used in the field of analytical chemistry are reviewed in this paper.     

Carbon nanotubes as solid-phase extraction sorbents prior to atomic spectrometric determination of metal species: A review

New materials have significant impact on the development of new methods and instrumentation for chemical analysis. From the discovery of carbon nanotubes in 1991, single and multi-walled carbon nanotubes – due to their high adsorption and desorption capacities – have been employed as sorption substrates in solid-phase extraction for the preconcentration of metal species from diverse matrices. Looking for successive improvements in sensitivity and selectivity, in the past few years, carbon nanotubes have been utilized as sorbents for solid phase extraction in three different ways: like as-grown, oxidized and functionalized nanotubes. In the present paper, an overview of the recent trends in the use of carbon nanotubes for solid phase extraction of metal species in environmental, biological and food samples is presented. The determination procedures involved the adsorption of metals on the nanotube surface, their quantitative desorption and subsequent measurement by means of atomic spectrometric techniques such as flame atomic absorption spectrometry, electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry or inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry/mass spectrometry, among others. Synthesis, purification and types of carbon nanotubes, as well as the diverse chemical and physical strategies for their functionalization are described. Based on 140 references, the performance and general properties of the applications of solid phase extraction based on carbon nanotubes for metal species atomic spectrometric determination are discussed.     

Investigation of plasma-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube film and its application of DNA sensor for Legionella pneumophila detection

A novel multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) electrode functionalized with oxygen plasma treatment was prepared and characterized, and its DNA sensing ability for Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) detection was examined using electrochemical measurement. A well-patterned MWCNT working electrode (WE) on a Pt track was fabricated using photolithography, transfer methods and an etching technique. The MWCNT WE was functionalized by oxygen plasma treatment prior to applying for DNA sensor. The surface morphology of the plasma-functionalized MWCNT (pf-MWCNT) WEs were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the change of chemical composition was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical measurements were performed using CV with ferricyanide/ferrocyanide redox couple. Effective areas of working electrodes were calculated to be 0.00453 cm² for pristine MWCNT electrode and 0.00747-0.00874 cm² for pf-MWCNT electrodes with different plasma treatment times. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was carried out in methylene blue solution for DNA sensing. The pf-MWCNT based DNA sensor was successfully operated in a target concentration range of 10 pM to 100 nM and had a lower detection limit than a pristine MWCNT based DNA sensor.