In situ labeling and imaging of cellular protein via a bi-functional anticancer aptamer and its fluorescent ligand

In this article, we reported a novel approach for in situ labeling and imaging HeLa cancer cells utilizing a bifunctional aptamer (AS1411) and its fluorescent ligand, protoporphyrin IX (PPIX). In the presence of potassium ion, AS1411 folded to G-quadruplex structure, binded fluorescent ligand (PPIX) with fluorescent enhancement, and targeted the nucleolin overexpressed by cancer cells. Consequently, bioimaging of cancer cells specifically were realized by laser scanning confocal microscope. The bioimaging strategy with AS1411–PPIX complex was capable to distinguish HeLa cancer cells from normal cells unambiguously, and fluorescence imaging of cancer cells was also realized in human serum. Moreover, the bioimaging method was very facile, effective and need not any covalent modification. These results illustrated that the useful approach can provide a novel clue for bioimaging based on non-covalent bifunctional aptamer in clinic diagnosis.     

A cation trap for anodic stripping voltammetry: NH3–plasma treated carbon nanotubes for adsorption and detection of metal ions

NH₃–plasma treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (pn-MWCNTs) with cation traps for the detection of ultratrace quantities of Zn(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), and Hg(II) using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) is described. The pn-MWCNTs use their adsorption performance to enhance the sensitivity. It is found that under optimized conditions Zn(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Hg(II) were individually detected at potentials of −1.16, −0.78, −0.268 and 0.108 V, respectively. The detection limit (3σ method) of 0.314, 0.0272, 0.2263, and 0.1439 nM toward Zn(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), and Hg(II) is achievable, respectively. No interference could be seen during the simultaneous detection of Zn(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), and Hg(II). The pn-MWCNTs exhibit excellent selectivity owing to the different ability of adsorption. A study of the ability of pn-MWCNTs in practical application is carried out using a sample of water collected from Dongpu Reservoir in Hefei City, Anhui, China. It is found that the results were favorable when compared against inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) analysis.     

1-芘丁酸/石墨烯复合物的电化学性质及其在葡萄糖传感器上的应用

本文采用一步法制备了1-芘丁酸/石墨烯复合物(PBA/G),研究了其电化学性质. 采用铁氰化钾和亚铁氰化钾电化学探针测定了电化学阻抗滴定曲线,确定了PBA/G的表观pK_a为6.2. 此外,将葡萄糖氧化酶(GOD)共价键合在PBA/G表面构建了葡萄糖电化学传感器,其电化学响应与葡萄糖浓度（5 mmol L^-1浓度范围内）呈线性,检测限为0.085 mmol L^-1. 实验还测定了固定在PBA/G表面的GOD的表观米氏常数为5.40 mmol L^-1,表明固定化的GOD对葡萄糖有较高的催化活性。     

New Bithiazole‐Based Sensitizers for Efficient and Stable Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A series of new push–pull organic dyes ( BT‐I – VI ), incorporating electron‐withdrawing bithiazole with a thiophene, furan, benzene, or cyano moiety, as π spacer have been synthesized, characterized, and used as the sensitizers for dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In comparison with the model compound T1 , these dyes containing a thiophene moiety between triphenylamine and bithiazole display enhanced spectral responses in the red portion of the solar spectrum. Electrochemical measurement data indicate that the HOMO and LUMO energy levels can be tuned by introducing different π spacers between the bithiazole moiety and cyanoacrylic acid acceptor. The incorporation of bithiazole substituted with two hexyl groups is highly beneficial to prevent close π–π aggregation, thus favorably suppressing charge recombination and intermolecular interaction. The overall conversion efficiencies of DSSCs based on bithiazole dyes are in the range of 3.58 to 7.51 %, in which BT‐I ‐based DSSCs showed the best photovoltaic performance: a maximum monochromatic incident photon‐to‐current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 81.1 %, a short‐circuit photocurrent density (J_sc) of 15.69 mA cm^?2, an open‐circuit photovoltage (V_oc) of 778 mV, and a fill factor (ff) of 0.61, which correspond to an overall conversion efficiency of 7.51 % under standard global AM 1.5 solar light conditions. Most importantly, long‐term stability of the BT‐I – III ‐based DSSCs with ionic‐liquid electrolytes under 1000 h of light soaking was demonstrated and BT‐II with a furan moiety exhibited better photovoltaic performance of up to 5.75 % power conversion efficiency.     

Porous Ni@Pt Core‐Shell Nanotube Array Electrocatalyst with High Activity and Stability for Methanol Oxidation

Bimetallic core‐shell nanostructures are emerging as more important materials than monometallic nanostructures, and have much more interesting potential applications in various fields, including catalysis and electronics. In this work, we demonstrate the facile synthesis of core‐shell nanotube array catalysts consisting of Pt thin layers as the shells and Ni nanotubes as the cores. The porous Ni@Pt core‐shell nanotube arrays were fabricated by ZnO nanorod‐array template‐assisted electrodeposition, and they represent a new class of nanostructures with a high electrochemically active surface area of 50.08 m² (g Pt)^?1, which is close to the value of 59.44 m² (g Pt)^?1 for commercial Pt/C catalysts. The porous Ni@Pt core‐shell nanotube arrays also show markedly enhanced electrocatalytic activity and stability for methanol oxidation compared with the commercial Pt/C catalysts. The attractive performances exhibited by these prepared porous Ni@Pt core‐shell nanotube arrays make them promising candidates as future high‐performance catalysts for methanol electrooxidation. The facile method described herein is suitable for large‐scale, low‐cost production, and significantly lowers the Pt loading, and thus, the cost of the catalysts.     

Electrochemical Immunosensor for α‐Fetoprotein Based on Gold Nanoparticles/Graphene‐Prussian Blue

The electrochemical immunosensor for α‐fetoprotein (AFP) was fabricated based on the platform of gold nanoparticles (GNP)/graphene (Gr)‐prussian blue (PB). By electrodeposition, GNP were modified on the surface of the prepared Gr‐PB. The anti‐AFP‐1,1′‐ferrocenedicarboxylic acid (FcDA) as label was directly immobilized on the platform of GNP/Gr‐PB. And after the immunoreactions, the formed complex inhibited the electron transfer and decreased the catalytic current of FcDA toward the reduction of H₂O₂. And in the range of 10–3200 pg·mL^?1, the decreased current is linear with the concentration of AFP, with a detection limit of 3 pg·mL^?1. The developed immunoassay method showed good precision, high sensitivity, acceptable stability and reproducibility, and could be used for the detection of real samples with consistent results in comparison with those obtained by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.     

Dye‐Sensitized TiO2 Nanotube Solar Cells: Rational Structural and Surface Engineering on TiO2 Nanotubes

Owing to well‐defined structural parameters and enhanced electronic properties, highly ordered TiO₂ nanotube arrays have been employed to substitute TiO₂ nanoparticles for use in dye‐sensitized solar cells. To further improve the performance of dye‐sensitized TiO₂ nanotube solar cells, efforts have been directed toward the optimization of TiO₂ photoanodes, dyes, electrolytes, and counter electrodes. Herein, we highlight recent progress in rational structural and surface engineering on anodic TiO₂ nanotube arrays and their effects on improving the power conversion efficiency of dye‐sensitized TiO₂ nanotube solar cells.     

Completely Green Synthesis of Colloid Adams’ Catalyst α‐PtO2 Nanocrystals and Derivative Pt Nanocrystals with High Activity and Stability for Oxygen Reduction

We report a first solution strategy for controlled synthesis of Adams’ catalyst (i.e., α‐PtO₂) by a facile and totally green approach using H₂PtCl₆ and water as reactants. The prepared α‐PtO₂ nanocrystals (NCs) are ultrasmall in size and have very “clean” surfaces, which can be reduced to Pt NCs easily in ethanol under ambient conditions. Such Adams’ catalysts have been applied as electrocatalysts beyond the field of heterogeneous catalysis. Noticeably, the water‐only synthesized α‐PtO₂ NCs and their derivative Pt NCs all exhibit much higher oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activities and stabilities than that of the state‐of‐art Pt/C electrocatalysts. This study provides an example on the organics‐free synthesis of α‐PtO₂ and Pt NCs as promising cathode catalysts for fuel cell applications and, particularly, this simple, straightforward method may open a new way for the synthesis of other “clean” functional nanomaterials.