Imaging fiber microarray fluorescent ion sensors based on bulk optode microspheres

Optical imaging fibers with micrometer-sized wells were used as a sensing platform for the development of microarray optical ion sensors based on selective bulk extraction principles established earlier for optodes. Uniform 10 μm sized microspheres based on plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) containing various combinations of ionophores, fluoroionophores and lipophilic ion-exchangers were prepared for the detection of sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride, and deposited onto the wells of etched fiber bundles. Specifically, sodium sensing particles were based on tert-butylcalix[4]arene tetraacetic acid tetraethylester, potassium particles on 2-dodecyl-2-methyl-1,3-propanediyl bis[N-[5′-nitro(benzo-15-crown-5)-4′-yl]carbamate] (BME-44), calcium particles on an acrylic derivative of ETH 129 (AU-1) covalently attached to a methacrylic polymer, and chloride particles based on the anticrown ionophore [9]mercuracarborand-3 (MC-3). The fluorescence emission characteristics of individual microspheres were observed from the backside of the fibers and were found to selectively and rapidly change as a function of the sample composition. The optical characteristics of the particles were found to be comparable to that of corresponding thin optode films and particles deposited onto microscope glass slides. The measuring ranges (logarithmic molar concentrations) at pH 7.0 were found as −3 to 0 for sodium, −3.5 to −0.5 for potassium, −7 to −2 for calcium, and −5 to 0.5 for chloride. Selectivities were determined over other common electrolytes and found to be sufficient for physiological applications. The simultaneous deposition of sodium and chloride sensing particles was successfully performed, demonstrating that such microarray sensors are capable of simultaneously sensing multiple analytes. This technology is compatible with other microsphere-based fluorescent sensing principles, forming a promising total analysis platform for a variety of applications.     

蚕丝基智能纤维及织物：潜力、现状与未来展望

纤维及织物因具有良好的柔性、透气性以及适宜的力学性能而成为人们日常生活必不可少的材料。随着柔性电子器件的快速发展,纤维及织物在其自身优势的基础上,开始被人们赋予智能化特征,使得智能纤维和织物逐渐在可穿戴领域占据一席之地。天然蚕丝具有产量大、机械性能优异和生物可降解的优势。近年来,面向智能应用的蚕丝基纤维与织物逐渐发展,被用于传感、致动、光学器件、能量收集和储能等领域。本文将首先介绍天然蚕丝的层级结构和性能,并介绍各种形貌结构的再生蚕丝材料;然后根据其在智能纤维及织物中应用领域的不同,详细阐述蚕丝基智能纤维及织物的制备方法、性能及工作机制;最后讨论进一步发展所面临的挑战与机会,并对未来前景进行展望。     

基于MXenes的功能纤维的制备及其在智能可穿戴领域的应用

在电子信息和物联网技术的推动下,人类对可穿戴电子器件和智能织物的需求愈发突出,功能纤维作为智能可穿戴设备的重要载体,近年来获得快速发展。功能纤维的性能很大程度上取决于纤维的基础构筑单元。过渡金属碳/氮化物(MXenes)作为一种新兴的二维材料,凭借其高电导率、优异的可加工性能、可调节的表面特性以及出色的机械强度等优点,受到了极大的关注,也逐渐成为构筑功能纤维的重要单元。本文将主要综述MXenes的湿化学、熔融盐、无氟试剂刻蚀等方法和力学、电学、光学和化学稳定性等性能,阐述基于该材料制备的功能纤维在传感、储能以及其他智能领域的应用,最后讨论了基于MXenes材料的功能纤维的未来应用前景和技术挑战。     

New Insights on Potentiometric Immunosensor at Carbon Fiber Microelectrode for Alpha-Fetoprotein in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Herein, we investigated the analytical features of potentiometric immunosensors for detection of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in hepatocellular carcinoma at different electrodes, such as carbon fiber microelectrode (CFME) and carbon-disk electrode (CDE), respectively. To construct such an immunosensor, anti-AFP capture antibodies were first conjugated covalently onto the activated electrodes through typical carbodiimide coupling. Thereafter, one-step immunoreaction protocol was successfully introduced to develop a new potentiometric immunoassay upon addition of AFP. Accompanying the antigen-antibody reaction, the surface charges of the modified electrodes were changed for the readout of electric potential. Results indicated that the linear range of CDE-based immunosensor was 0.1–100 ng mL⁻¹ AFP, whereas the assay sensitivity by using CFME could be further increased to 3.2 pg mL⁻¹ with the linear range from 0.01 to 500 ng mL⁻¹ AFP. Meanwhile, CFME-based immunosensor showed high sensitivity, good reproducibility and specificity, and could be utilized for the analysis of human serum specimens with consistent results relative to commercialized ELISA kit.     

Chiral Fibers Formation Upon Assembly of Tetraphenylalanine Peptide Conjugated to a PNA Dimer

Self-assembly of biomolecules such as peptides, nucleic acids or their analogues affords supramolecular objects, exhibiting structures and physical properties dependent on the amino-acid or nucleobase composition. Conjugation of the peptide diphenylalanine (FF) to peptide nucleic acids triggers formation of self-assembled structures, mainly stabilized by interactions between FF. In this work we report formation of homogeneous chiral fibers upon self-assembly of the hybrid composed of the tetraphenylalanine peptide (4F) conjugated to the PNA dimer adenine-thymine (at). In this case nucleobases seem to play a key role in determining the morphology and chirality of the fibers. When the PNA “at” is replaced by guanine-cytosine dimer “gc”, disordered structures are observed. Spectroscopic characterization of the self-assembled hybrids, along with AFM and SEM studies is reported. Finally, a structural model consistent with the experimental evidence has also been obtained, showing how the building blocks of 4Fat arrange to give helical fibers.     

石墨烯纤维材料的化学气相沉积生长方法

石墨烯纤维材料是以石墨烯为主要结构基元沿某一特定方向组装而成或由石墨烯包覆纤维状基元形成的宏观一维材料。根据组成基元的不同可将石墨烯纤维材料分为石墨烯纤维和石墨烯包覆复合纤维。石墨烯纤维材料在一维方向上充分发挥了石墨烯高强度、高导电、高导热等特点,在智能纤维与织物、柔性储能器件、便携式电子器件等领域具有广阔的应用前景。随着化学气相沉积(Chemical Vapor Deposition,CVD)制备石墨烯薄膜技术的发展,CVD技术也逐渐应用于石墨烯纤维材料的制备。利用CVD法制备石墨烯纤维可避免传统纺丝工艺中繁琐的氧化石墨烯(Graphene Oxide,GO)还原过程。同时,通过CVD法直接将石墨烯沉积至纤维表面可以保证石墨烯与纤维基底之间强的粘附作用,提高复合纤维的稳定性,同时可实现对石墨烯质量的有效调控。本文综述了石墨烯纤维材料的CVD制备方法,石墨烯纤维材料优异的力学、电学、光学性质及其在智能传感、光电器件、柔性电极等领域的应用,并展望了CVD法制备石墨烯纤维材料未来的发展方向。     

碳纤维微电极负载金纳米粒子用于绿茶中儿茶素的检测

本文开发了基于纳米金修饰的碳纤维超微电极(CFME)用于儿茶素的定量检测。通过使用柠檬酸三钠还原氯金酸制得纳米金粒子(AuNPs),采用恒电位电沉积法将纳米金修饰在CFME表面。在pH 2.00的Tris-HCl缓冲溶液中,采用差分脉冲法和循环伏安法考察了修饰前后电极对儿茶素的电催化性能。结果表明,纳米金修饰电极对儿茶素具有明显的电催化效果。在优化实验条件下,纳米金修饰的碳纤维超微电极(AuNPs/CFME)与儿茶素浓度在1.00×10^-3~10.0μmol/L范围内呈良好的线性关系,且AuNPs/CFME的电化学性能非常稳定,具有良好的重现性。该方法操作简单,准确性高,可用于对儿茶素进行定量检测。     

Graphene‐Functionalized 3D‐Carbon Fiber Electrodes – Preparation and Electrochemical Characterization

Graphene nanosheets were produced on the surface of carbon fibers by in situ electrochemical procedure including oxidative and reductive steps to yield first graphene oxide, later converted to graphene. The electrode material composed of graphene‐functionalized carbon fibers was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cyclic voltammery demonstrating superior electrochemical kinetics comparing with the original carbon paper. The interfacial electron transfer rate for the reversible redox process of [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? was found ca. 4.5‐fold higher after the electrode modification with the graphene nanosheets. The novel electrode material is suggested as a promising conducting interface for bioelectrocatalytic electrodes used in various electrochemical biosensors and biofuel cells, particularly operating in vivo.     

Capillary electrophoresis coupled with in‐column fiber‐optic laser‐induced fluorescence detection for the rapid separation of neodymium

In this study, in‐column fiber‐optic (ICFO) laser‐induced fluorescence (LIF) detection technique is coupled with capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the rapid separation of neodymium for the first time. The effects of buffer concentration, buffer pH, and separation voltage on the CE behaviors, including electrophoretic efficiency and detection sensitivity, are investigated in detail. Under the optimal condition determined in this study (15 mM borate buffer, pH 10.50, separation voltage 24 kV), neodymium could be separated effectively from the neighboring lanthanides (praseodymium and samarium) within several minutes, and the limit of detection for neodymium is estimated to be at the ppt level. The ICFO‐LIF‐CE system assembled in this study exhibits unique performance characteristics such as low cost and flexibility. Meanwhile, the separation efficiency and detection sensitivity of the assembled CE system are comparable to or somewhat better than those obtained in the previous traditional CE systems, indicating the potential of the assembled CE system for practical applications in the fields of spent nuclear fuel analysis, nuclear waste disposal/treatment, and nuclear forensics.     

Automated hollow‐fiber liquid‐phase microextraction followed by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry for the determination of benzodiazepine drugs in biological samples

In this study, two‐phase hollow‐fiber liquid‐phase microextraction and three‐phase hollow‐fiber liquid‐phase microextraction based on two immiscible organic solvents were compared for extraction of oxazepam and Lorazepam. Separations were performed on a liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry instrument. Under optimal conditions, three‐phase hollow‐fiber liquid‐phase microextraction based on two immiscible organic solvents has a better extraction efficiency. In a urine sample, for three‐phase hollow fiber liquid‐phase microextraction based on two immiscible organic solvents, the calibration curves were found to be linear in the range of 0.6–200 and 0.9–200 μg L^?1 and the limits of detection were 0.2 and 0.3 μg L^?1 for oxazepam and lorazepam, respectively. For two‐phase hollow fiber liquid‐phase microextraction, the calibration curves were found to be linear in the range of 1–200 and 1.5–200 μg L^?1 and the limits of detection were 0.3 and 0.5 μg L^?1 for oxazepam and lorazepam, respectively. In a urine sample, for three‐phase hollow‐fiber‐based liquid‐phase microextraction based on two immiscible organic solvents, relative standard deviations in the range of 4.2–4.5% and preconcentration factors in the range of 70–180 were obtained for oxazepam and lorazepam, respectively. Also for the two‐phase hollow‐fiber liquid‐phase microextraction, preconcentration factors in the range of 101–257 were obtained for oxazepam and lorazepam, respectively.