Latest ArticlesDevelopment of sensitive and accurate methods for sialic acid (SA) determination is of great significance in early cancer diagnosis. Here, a colorimetric-assisted Photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor was constructed for SA detection based on the two pairs of cis-diol groups in SA molecule. With the specific recognition of SA via the two pairs of cis-diol groups, the prepared gold-modified Bi2S3 (Au NPs@Bi2S3) and metal organic framework (Au@PCN-224) were introduced to the electrode and formed a sandwich structure. Based on the properties of inert electroconductivity and nanozyme of the PCN-224, dual-readout of photocurrent and visualization was achieved with the presence of 3, 3′, 5, 5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). Moreover, to intensify the visualization signal, Ce3+ was employed as the mediator to boost the catalysis capability by transferring energy from PCN-224 surface to the whole system. With the unique SA recognition and the mediation of Ce3+, both the photocurrent and the visualization signals sensitively responded with the SA concentration linearly. The present method showed greatly high sensitivity, selectivity and accuracy for SA detection with a limit of detection of 1.44 µmol/L and a wide linear range of 5–1000 µmol/L. This method provided a new promising platform for SA detection and a potential strategy for design of novel biosensors with dual-model readout.
Developing a high-quality photoelectrode for photoelectrochemical applications is still an ongoing challenge. In this study, we prepared the g-C3N4 film on the indium tin oxide (ITO) glass through conventional coating, liquid-based growth, in-situ calcination, and vapor deposition methods, respectively. These electrodes were characterized and used as photoanodes to degrade methylene blue (MB) in water. Among these methods, the in-situ calcination method was most appropriate for preparing the continuous and organized g-C3N4 film electrodes with uniform g-C3N4 coverage and strong adhesion to the ITO substrate. It also had the highest activity in the photocatalytic (PC), electrochemical (EC), and photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) degradation processes of MB. In the PEC reaction, at an applied potential of 1.0 V and a light intensity of 0.96 W/cm2, the removal rate of MB was 62.5%, which was much higher than those in the PC and EC reactions. The high degradation rate was due to the synergistic effect of PEC degradation, wherein the PC and EC reactions promote and optimize each other. In the PC reaction, MB was degraded by −CH3 elimination, while the EC degradation pathway mainly included the conversion of sulfhydryl into sulfoxide and the opening of the central aromatic ring. Both methyl loss and aromatic ring opening occurred in the PEC reaction. Moreover, some monocyclic compounds were formed, and MB showed more complete degradation in the PEC reaction.
In this paper, we designed a three-dimensional cell co-cultured microfluidic chip, which generated interstitial flow and oxygen gradient to simulate the complex tumor microenvironment. It consisted of five parallel cell culture channels and one hypoxic channel. These channels were constructed for the culture of mouse liver tumor cells (Hepa1-6), mouse liver stellate cells (JS-1), the simulation of extracellular matrix, complex biochemical factors (hypoxia and interstitial flow), and the supply of cellular nutrients. The 3D-interstitial flow-hypoxia model was used to study the behavior of JS-1 cells under the effect of tumor microenvironment (TME). The results showed that by co-cultured with Hepa1-6 cells, hypoxia of Hepa1-6 cells, and adding TGF-β1 by interstitial flow, the migration of JS-1 cells could be promoted. Similarly, activated JS-1 cells could led to the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation in co-cultured Hepa1-6 cells, which secreted more TGF-β1.
Accurate detection and imaging of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) expression levels in living cells is of great value for understanding cell metabolism, physiological activities, and pathologic mechanisms. Here, we developed a DNA tetrahedron-based split aptamer probe (TD probe) for ratiometric fluorescence imaging of ATP in living cells. The TD probe is constructed by hybridizing two split ATP aptamer probes (Apt-a and Apt-b) to a DNA tetrahedron assembled by four DNA oligonucleotides (T1, T2, T3 and T4). In the presence of ATP, the TD probe will alter its structure from the open to closed state, thus bringing the separated donor and acceptor fluorophores into close proximity for high fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) signals. The TD probe exhibits low cytotoxicity, efficient cell internalization and good biological stability. Moreover, based on the FRET "off" to "on" signal output mode, the TD probe can effectively avoid false-positive signals from complex biological matrices, which is significant for long-term reliable imaging in living cells. In addition, by changing the split aptamers attached to DNA tetrahedron, the proposed strategy may be extended for detecting various intracellular targets. Collectively, this strategy provides a valuable sensing platform for biomarkers analysis in living cells, thus having great potential for early clinical diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation.
Three sandwich-like [Ln2Fe2(B-α-FeW9O34)2]10− clusters (Ln2Fe4, Ln = Dy (1), Ho (2), and Y (3)) were obtained by reacting Na9[B-α-SbW9O33], Ln2O3, FeCl3·6H2O and KH2PO4. The [B-α-FeW9O34]11− units were formed via the in situ conversion of lacunary polyoxometalates (POM) [B-α-SbW9O33]9− and the Ln3+ ions were generated from the slow dissolution of Ln2O3, both of which play important roles in the synthesis of Ln2Fe4. Ln2Fe4 is the first 3d-4f cluster assembled from d-metal heteroatom-containing POM. The Dy2Fe4 cluster exhibits single-molecule magnet properties with an 80 K energy barrier in an optimal DC field. Cyclic voltammetry tests and controlled-potential coulometry experiments show that the polyoxometalate Fe heteroatom in clusters 1–3 is also electrochemically active.
Understanding phase transitions in multi-component crystals is of importance for regulating specified functional materials. Herein, we present two new organic-inorganic hybrid crystals, (Me3NCH2CH2X)4[Ni(NCS)6] (X = Cl and Br), revealing distinct phase transitions. Specifically, the Cl-substituted cations weakly interact with discrete inorganic part hence reveal step-wise dynamic changes upon heating, which result in multi-step solid-solid phase transitions (P1-P21/n–A2/a–Cmce) including a ferroelastic one with a spontaneous strain of 0.0475. Whereas the Br-substituted cations with larger steric effect prevent the solid-solid phase transition but give a solid-liquid phase transition at above 419 K. The present instances well demonstrate the complicity for multi-component crystals arising from the delicate balance established by abundant weak intermolecular interactions, and inspire the design of novel phase-transition materials by judiciously assembling multi-component crystals.
Many evolved biomolecular functions such as ion pumping or redox catalysis rely on controlled charge transport through the polypeptide matrix, which can be regulated by shifts in molecular protonation states and dependent supramolecular packing modes in response to environmental cues. However, the exact roles of such dynamic, non-covalent interactions in peptide charge transport have remained elusive. To tackle this challenge, here we report the modulation of charge transport in a series of lysine (Lys)-substituted hepta-glycine (Gly) peptide self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on template-striped gold (AuTS) bottom electrodes with eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) liquid metal top electrodes. We demonstrate systematic modulation of hydrogen bonding and more general electrostatic interactions by shifting the position of the charged Lys-residue and creating different protonation patterns by changing the environmental pH in the AuTS/peptide//GaOx/EGaIn junctions. The effective modulation is evidenced by current density–voltage (J-V) measurements combined with SAM characterization using ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS), polarization modulation–infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Decreasing the hydrogen bonding inside the peptide SAMs and increasing the electrostatic interactions by environmental counterions amplifies the charge transport differently with Lys-position, which means that the sensitive electrical response of peptide SAMs can be tuned by the peptide sequence. Our results provide insights into the relationship between molecular design and in situ modulation of charge transport properties for the development of bionanoelectronics.
In-situ monitoring of neurochemicals is of vital importance for the understanding of brain functions. Microelectrode-based photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing has emerged as a promising tool for in vivo analysis since it inherits the merits of both optical and electrochemical methods. However, the in-situ excitation of photoactive materials on the photoelectrode in living body is still a challenge because of limited tissue penetration depth of light. To circumvent this problem, we herein developed an implantable optical fiber (OF)-based microelectrode for in vivo PEC analysis. The working electrode was constructed by coating Au film as conducting layer and CdS@ZnO as photoactive material on a micron-sized OF, which was free of the limitation of light penetration in biological tissues. Further decoration of an anti-biofouling layer on the surface made the sensor robust in biosamples. It was successfully applied for monitoring Cu2+ level in three different brain regions in the rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.
Herein, we report a new metal-organic framework with an AIE ligand (H4TCPP = 2,3,5,6-tetra-(4-carboxyphenyl)pyrazine) and Mg2+ ions, that is, [Mg2(H2O)4TCPP]·DMF·5CH3CN (Mg-TCPP, TCPP = tetra-(4-carboxyphenyl)pyrazine) for detection of nitroaromatic explosives. Due to the coordination effect and restricted intramolecular rotation, Mg-TCPP exhibits bright blue light. As a fluorescent sensor, Mg-TCPP exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity for sensing 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) by quenching behaviors with the Stern-Volmer quenching constant (KSV) of 3.63×105 L/mol and achieves the low limit of detection of 25.6 ppb, which is beyond most of the previously reported fluorescent materials. Notably, the portable Mg-TCPP films are prepared and it can be used for rapid and sensitive TNP detection in a variety of environments including organic solvent and aqueous solution. Moreover, TNP vapor can be detected within 3 min by naked eye and the film could be regenerated under simple solvent cleaning.
Compared with noble metals, improving the sensitivity of semiconducting surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates is of great significance to their fundamental research and practical application of Raman spectroscopy. Herein, a simple chemical method is developed to synthesize a rhenium trioxide (ReO3) microtubes assembled with highly crystalline nanoparticles. The ReO3 microtubes show a strong and well-defined surface plasmon resonance (SPR) behavior in visible region, which is rare for non-noble metals. As a low-cost SERS substrate, the plasmonic ReO3 microtubes exhibit a Raman enhancement factor of 8.9 × 105 and a lowest detection limit of 1.0 × 10−9 mol/L for phenolic pollutants. Moreover, these ReO3 microtubule SERS substrates show excellent chemical stability and can resist the corrosion of strong acids and bases.
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