Molecular beacon mediated circular strand displacement strategy for constructing a ratiometric electrochemical deoxyribonucleic acid sensor

A novel ratiometric electrochemical sensor for sensitive and selective determination of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) had been developed based on signal-on and signal-off strategy. The target DNA hybridized with the loop portion of ferrocene (Fc) labeled hairpin probe immobilized on the gold electrode (GE), the Fc away from the surface of GE and the methylene blue (MB) was attached to an electrode surface by hybridization between hairpin probe and MB labeled primer. Such conformational changes resulted in the oxidation peak current of Fc decreased and that of MB increased, and the changes of dual signals are linear with the concentration of DNA. Furthermore, with the help of strand-displacement polymerization, polymerase catalyzed the extension of the primer and the sequential displacement of the target DNA, which led to the release of target and another polymerization cycle. Thus the circular strand displacement produced the multiplication of the MB confined near the GE surface and Fc got away from the GE surface. Therefore, the recognition of target DNA resulted in both the “signal-off” of Fc and the “signal-on” of MB for dual-signal electrochemical ratiometric readout. The dual signal strategy offered a dramatic enhancement of the stripping response. The dynamic range of the target DNA detection was from 10⁻¹³ to 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ with a detection limit down to 28 fM level. Compared with the single signaling electrochemical sensor, the dual-signaling electrochemical sensing strategy developed in this paper was more selective. It would have important applications in the sensitive and selective electrochemical determination of other small molecules and proteins.     

Sensing behavior of BN nanosheet toward nitrous oxide: A DFT study

In order to develop a sensor for the detection of toxic N₂O molecules, the interaction of pristine and Aldoped BN nanosheets with an N₂O molecule was investigated using density functional theory calculations. It was found that unlike the pristine sheet, the Al-doped sheet can effectively interact with the N₂O molecule so that its electronic properties and conductivity are dramatically changed. Webelieve that replacing a B atom of the BN sheet with an Al atom may be a good strategy for improving the sensitivity of these nanosheets toward N₂O, which cannot be trapped and detected by the pristine sheet.     

A Rhodamine-based fluorescent sensor for chromium ions and its application in bioimaging

A rhodamine-based sensor (1) has been developed for the detection of chromium ions. Cr³⁺-induced opening of the rhodamine spirocycle in sensor (1) led to the distinct colorimetric and fluorescence responses. Among all the tested ions, only Cr³⁺ generated a significant fluorescence enhancement of up to 13-fold, which indicated the high selectivity of 1. Sensor (1) was successfully applied in the in vivo fluorescence imaging of Cr³⁺ in C. elegans. The results provided solid evidences for the future estimation of Cr³⁺ in environmental applications and tobacco samples.     

基于Ru(bpy)32+/AuNPs/Nafion电化学发光传感器检测已烯雌酚

利用柠檬酸钠还原氯金酸制得金纳米粒子(AuNPs),基于AuNPs/Nafion与Ru(bpy)32+之间的静电引力,制备了Ru (bpy) 32+/AuNPs/Nafion电化学发光传感器.采用循环伏安法和电化学发光法对该传感器进行了表征,结果表明该传感器具有良好的稳定性和重现性,可实现对已烯雌酚的检测.在pH=7.0的0.1 mol/L磷酸盐缓冲溶液(PBS,含0.05 mol/L三正丙胺)中,当已烯雌酚与修饰电极作用15 min时,电化学发光强度减少值与已烯雌酚浓度的负对数在1.0×10-10～5.0×10-7 mol/L范围内呈良好的线性关系,检出限为6.0 X 10-11 mol/L.对1.0×10-8 mol/L已烯雌酚平行测定11次,相对标准偏差为2.7％.测定已烯雌酚实际样品的加标回收率在98.0％～104.5％之间.     

基于共轭聚合物的近红外光传感器

近红外光(NIR)传感器在军事警戒、空间勘探、科研检测、医疗诊断等领域有着极为重要的应用价值。传统的NIR传感材料主要是基于半金属的无机材料,借助窄带隙来吸收低能量的NIR而改变材料自身的电导率,继而实现检测。无机传感材料由于加工繁琐、不具备柔性、成本高昂以及难降解等因素致其进一步发展受到限制。新兴的共轭聚合物材料通过光热转换或者能级可调的光电效应实现对NIR的高灵敏传感,同时能够实现快速响应。该类聚合物材料具有π电子离域的共轭结构,同样具有较窄的带隙,在NIR照射下能够通过自身电导率的改变或光热转换作用将热量传递至其他超热敏材料来实现对光的检测。借助柔性、环境友好、制备简单、便于掺杂、灵敏度高等优势,共轭聚合物材料为新一代NIR传感器的应用与普及开辟了新的前景。     

一种裸眼识别Cu~(2+)和Hg~(2+)传感器的合成与性质研究

设计合成了一种香豆素修饰的罗丹明类衍生物L,用作程序型Cu2+与Hg2+检测传感器。采用核磁共振谱、高分辨质谱、红外光谱对其结构进行了表征。利用紫外光谱考察L对不同金属离子的识别作用,研究发现L可以高选择性和高灵敏度识别Cu2+。向L溶液中加入不同的金属离子时(Zn2+,Hg2+,Cu2+,Fe3+,Cd2+,Co2+,Ni 2+,Mg2+,Ca2+,Al 3+,La3+,K+,Na+,Mn2+,Pb2+和Ag+),只有Cu2+的加入会使溶液由无色变为粉色,并且在534nm出现一个新的吸收峰,说明传感器L可以裸眼识别Cu2+。通过紫外滴定得到L可以识别Cu2+的最低检测限为1.9×10-8 mol·L-1。制备了基于L的Cu2+检测试纸,该试纸可以方便快捷的检测水中的Cu2+。通过Job’s曲线和高分辨质谱确定了配合物L-Cu2+之间的结合比为1∶1。另外,若向L-Cu2+的DMSO溶液中加入1equiv.EDTA,溶液瞬间由粉色变为无色,说明EDTA可以取代L并与Cu2+结合,因此传感器L识别Cu2+是可逆的。另外,向L-Cu2+的配合物中加入Hg2+,溶液会由粉色变为无色(而加入其他阳离子没有明显变化),这可顺序实现对Hg2+的裸眼识别。通过紫外滴定计算出L-Cu2+识别Hg2+的最低检测限为2.9×10-7 mol·L-1。因此该程序型传感器L可以有序的裸眼识别Cu2+和Hg2+。     

Solid-state gas sensors for breath analysis: A review

The analysis of volatile compounds is an efficient method to appraise information about the chemical composition of liquids and solids. This principle is applied to several practical applications, such as food analysis where many important features (e.g. freshness) can be directly inferred from the analysis of volatile compounds.     

Ratiometric and simultaneous estimation of Fe and Cu ions: 1,3,5-substituted triethylbenzene derivatives coupled with benzimidazole

We synthesized a novel 1,3,5-substituted triethylbenzene derivative with a benzimidazole moiety as a binding and signalling subunit. The triethylbenzene platform was judiciously incorporated into the receptor design such that all the fluorophores are in close proximity to each other in order to facilitate stacking. The advantage of this approach lies in the fact that the receptor will offer a dual channel emission for the multiple ratiometric determination of metal ions. The sensor was tested in a CH₃CN/H₂O (7:3, v/v, pH 7.1) HEPES buffered solution and successfully developed for the ratiometric and simultaneous estimation of Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions in aqueous samples.     

Fluorescence ‘turn-on’ detection of Cu ions with aggregation-induced emission-active tetraphenylethene based on click chemistry

A fluorometric sensor for detection of Cu²⁺ ions in aqueous solution with aggregation-induced emission-active tetraphenylethene based on click chemistry is reported. Upon addition of Cu²⁺, a reaction of azide-modified tetraphenylethene and diethylene glycol dipropiolate in the presence of sodium ascorbate proceeded to yield covalently cross-linked networks, resulting in a dramatic enhancement of fluorescence. This assay showed high selectivity for Cu²⁺ ions even in the presence of other metal ions in a mixture.     

Fine tuning of a solvatochromic fluorophore for selective determination of Fe: a new type of benzimidazole-based anthracene-coupled receptor

We synthesized a novel benzimidazole-based, anthracene-coupled fluorescent receptor capable of recognizing and estimating the concentrations of Fe³⁺ in semi-aqueous solution by ratiometric estimation. Our sensor can be made highly selective for Fe³⁺ over other metal ions by changing the solvent composition.