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14 pages, 3142 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Colorimetric Detection and Killing of Bacteria by Enzyme-Instructed Self-Aggregation of Peptide-Modified Gold Nanoparticles

by Dan Yin, Xiao Li, Xin Wang, Jin-Zhou Liu, Wen-Zhi She, Jiahui Liu, Jian Ling, Rong Sheng Li and Qiue Cao

Chemosensors 2023, 11(9), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11090484 - 01 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1162

Abstract

Bacterial infections seriously threaten human safety. Therefore, it is very important to develop a method for bacterial detection and treatment with rapid response, high sensitivity, and simple operation. A peptide CF₄KY^P (C, cysteine; F₄, phenylalanine tetrapeptide; K, lysine; [...] Read more.

Bacterial infections seriously threaten human safety. Therefore, it is very important to develop a method for bacterial detection and treatment with rapid response, high sensitivity, and simple operation. A peptide CF₄KY^P (C, cysteine; F₄, phenylalanine tetrapeptide; K, lysine; Y^P, phosphorylated tyrosine) functionalized gold nanoparticle (AuNPs-CF₄KY^P) was synthesized for simultaneous detection and treatment of bacteria based on bacterial alkaline phosphatase (ALP). In solution, ALP can induce AuNPs-CF₄KY^P aggregation and produce significant color changes. After encountering bacteria, monodisperse AuNPs-CF₄KY^P can aggregate/assemble in situ on the surface of the bacterial membrane, change the color of the solution from wine red to grey, destroy the bacterial membrane structure, and induce the production of a large number of reactive oxygen species within the bacteria. The absorption change of AuNPs-CF₄KY^P solution has a good linear relationship with the number of bacteria. Furthermore, the aggregation of AuNPs-CF₄KY^P kills approximately 80% of Salmonella typhimurium. By combining enzyme-instructed peptide self-assembly technology and colorimetric analysis technology, we achieve rapid and sensitive colorimetric detection and killing of bacteria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles in Chemical and Biological Sensing)

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13 pages, 2046 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ratio-Metric Fluorescence/Colorimetric and Smartphone-Assisted Visualization for the Detection of Dopamine Based on Cu-MOF with Catecholase-like Activity

by Yushuang Guo, Mingli Chen, Ting Yang and Jianhua Wang

Chemosensors 2023, 11(8), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11080431 - 03 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1420

Abstract

As the most abundant catecholamine neurotransmitter in the brain, dopamine plays an important role in the normal physiological process, and its level in urine also changes during human pathological processes. In clinic, the detection of dopamine in urine is a potential marker for [...] Read more.

As the most abundant catecholamine neurotransmitter in the brain, dopamine plays an important role in the normal physiological process, and its level in urine also changes during human pathological processes. In clinic, the detection of dopamine in urine is a potential marker for the diagnosis and the treatment of endocrine-related diseases. In this work, a copper metal organic framework with catecholase-like activity was prepared via the precipitation of Cu²⁺ and imidazole, simulating the N-Cu coordination environment in the active site of catecholase. Cu-MOF (the copper–metal organic framework) can catalyze the oxidation of DA (dopamine) to dopaquinone using O₂ in the air. The oxidation product can further react with 1,3-dihydroxynaphthalene to produce a fluorophore product. Based on the above reaction, a multimodal sensing platform with three signal outputs, including ratio-metric fluorescence, absorbance and digital information extracted from smartphone images for simple and sensitive determination of DA, was proposed, with detection limits of 0.0679, 0.3206, and 0.3718 μM, respectively. This multimodal sensing platform was able to detect DA in body fluid in a self-correcting way, as demonstrated by the successful determination of DA in normal human urine samples, and samples with a high level of interference. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles in Chemical and Biological Sensing)

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12 pages, 2896 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bi₂WO₆@g-C₃N₄ Heterostructure for Cathodic Photoelectrochemical Dopamine Sensor

by Zhifang Wu, Ying Su, Fangjie Han, Zhishan Liang, Dongxue Han, Dongdong Qin and Li Niu

Chemosensors 2023, 11(7), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11070404 - 19 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 945

Abstract

A simple and low-cost cathodic photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor based on Bi₂WO₆@g-C₃N₄ was designed for dopamine (DA) detection. The Bi₂WO₆ nanoflower was first prepared using a simple hydrothermal method followed by the combination with [...] Read more.

A simple and low-cost cathodic photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor based on Bi₂WO₆@g-C₃N₄ was designed for dopamine (DA) detection. The Bi₂WO₆ nanoflower was first prepared using a simple hydrothermal method followed by the combination with g-C₃N₄ nanosheet to form the Bi₂WO₆@g-C₃N₄ heterostructure. The heterostructure can extend the absorbance to the visible region and accelerate the transfer of charge carriers. Furthermore, DA easily coordinates with exposed Bi³⁺ on the Bi₂WO₆ surface and forms the charge-transfer complex to further enhance the cathodic photocurrent. Under optimal conditions, there are two linear relationships between the concentration of DA and photocurrent intensity. The linear ranges are 0.1–10 µM and 10–250 µM, with a sensitive detection limit (LOD) of 28 nM. Notably, the real sample of human blood serum analysis further revealed the accuracy and feasibility of the Bi₂WO₆@g-C₃N₄-based PEC platform. Convincingly, the heterostructure of Bi₂WO₆ and g-C₃N₄ opened up a new avenue for the construction of DA analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles in Chemical and Biological Sensing)

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15 pages, 4058 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nickel Tetrasulfonated Phthalocyanine Decorated with AuNP as a Double Sensorial Platform: SERS and Electrochemical

by Cibely Silva Martin, Henry Seitiro Kavazoi, Celina Massumi Miyazaki, Priscila Alessio and Carlos José Leopoldo Constantino

Chemosensors 2023, 11(7), 372; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11070372 - 03 Jul 2023

Viewed by 952

Abstract

The development of materials for multiple applications is a challenge in the fields of technology and materials science. In this work, screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) were modified with an electropolymerized nickel tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine film (polymeric-NiTsPc = p-NiTsPc) decorated with gold nanoparticles (AuNP). The [...] Read more.

The development of materials for multiple applications is a challenge in the fields of technology and materials science. In this work, screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) were modified with an electropolymerized nickel tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine film (polymeric-NiTsPc = p-NiTsPc) decorated with gold nanoparticles (AuNP). The modified SPCEs were applied as a sensing platform for analysis via electrochemical and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. The SPCEs modification was based on the potential cycling firstly in a NiTsPc solution and then in an AuHCl4 solution, with the fast formation of spherical AuNP through the p-NiTsPc film surface. The modified electrode based on SPCE/p-NiTsPc/AuNP showed a synergetic effect in voltammetric measurements in [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻/[Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ probe as well as an electrocatalytic effect in the presence of dopamine. The calibration curve towards dopamine detection presented a linear range from 1 to 10 μmol/L with a limit of detection of 0.73 μmol/L. The spectroelectrochemistry measurements combining SERS and the applied potential of −60 mV showed that the SPCE/p-NiTsPc/AuNP and SPCE/AuNP can be powerfully used as a dual sensing platform for dopamine detection. In the case of SPCE/p-NiTsPc/AuNP, p-NiTsPc plays an important role in facilitating electron transfer during the electrochemical reaction, while AuNP is crucial for obtaining SERS signals for dopamine detection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles in Chemical and Biological Sensing)

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13 pages, 1508 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Electrochemical Sensor for Trimethoprim Based on a Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Carbon Paste Electrode

by Peng Liu, Ruiying Zhang, Liyan Zheng and Qiue Cao

Chemosensors 2023, 11(6), 339; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11060339 - 08 Jun 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1245

Abstract

In order to achieve simple, rapid, and highly sensitive detection of trimethoprim (TMP), a magnetic molecularly imprinted carbon paste electrode (MCPE) was prepared by drop-coating magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP@Fe₃O₄@MWNTs) on the surface of reduction graphene oxide (rGO)/MCPE doped [...] Read more.

In order to achieve simple, rapid, and highly sensitive detection of trimethoprim (TMP), a magnetic molecularly imprinted carbon paste electrode (MCPE) was prepared by drop-coating magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP@Fe₃O₄@MWNTs) on the surface of reduction graphene oxide (rGO)/MCPE doped with Fe₃O₄@MWNTs. The introduction of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and rGO served as dual signal-amplification materials, which can improve the response sensitivity of the sensor. In addition, the magnetic interaction between the substrate electrode and the molecularly imprinted material was beneficial to increasing the stability of the sensor. As expected, the electrochemical sensor not only showed sensitivity and selectivity for the detection of TMP, but it also possessed good stability. The detection range for TMP was 4.0 × 10⁻⁹~5.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol/L, and the detection limit was 1.2 × 10⁻⁹ mol/L. The response performance varied within 10% when the sensor was placed for more than 2 months and used more than 60 times. The spiked recoveries of TMP in environmental water samples, urine samples, and pharmaceuticals (drugs) were between 91% and 110%, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was within 5%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles in Chemical and Biological Sensing)

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13 pages, 2747 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electrochemical Sensitivity Improvement by the Cooperation between Pt and Ru for Total Antioxidant Evaluation in Natural Extracts

by Gustavo Carvalho Diniz, Vinicius Tribuzi Rodrigues Pinheiro Gomes, Marcelo de Assis, Santiago José Alejandro Figueroa, Igor Ferreira Torquato, Luiz Gustavo de Freitas Borges, Hector Aguilar Vitorino, Roberto Batista de Lima, Marco Aurélio Suller Garcia and Isaíde de Araujo Rodrigues

Chemosensors 2023, 11(6), 314; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11060314 - 23 May 2023

Viewed by 1312

Abstract

Herein, a straightforward electrochemical method was used to evaluate the total phenolic antioxidant capacity in natural extracts prepared from pomegranate, hibiscus, and pitaya. In light of this, the well-known electrochemical index (EI), a screening protocol for natural antioxidant properties evaluation, was determined using [...] Read more.

Herein, a straightforward electrochemical method was used to evaluate the total phenolic antioxidant capacity in natural extracts prepared from pomegranate, hibiscus, and pitaya. In light of this, the well-known electrochemical index (EI), a screening protocol for natural antioxidant properties evaluation, was determined using differential pulse voltammetry. Initially considering rutin and catechin as standards, we found that the system’s sensitivity greatly increased by using platinum (Pt) and platinum/ruthenium (Pt/Ru) nanoparticles (NPs) immobilized on Vulcan XC-72 to modify screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs). When such modifications were applied to natural fruit/plant extracts, their electrochemical ability proved highly superior to the bare SPCE, even considering a very small amount of materials for electrode preparation. However, with an optimized ratio, the bimetallic counterpart was more sensitive to detection. When the pomegranate extract was used, for example, EI values of 52.51 ± 6.00 and 104.79 ± 6.89 µA/V were obtained using Pt and Pt/Ru (with an optimized ratio) electrocatalysts, showing the remarkable sensitivity increase obtained in our bimetallic protocol. Thus, based on physicochemical and electrochemical characterizations, we found that the ruthenium content was essential for the achievements. In due course, XPS analysis suggested that the Pt²⁺/Pt⁰ species ratio could have improved the system’s sensitivity, which significantly changed when ruthenium was used in the material. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles in Chemical and Biological Sensing)

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17 pages, 9523 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Rare Earth and Covalent Organic Framework Composite for Rapid and Highly Sensitive Electrochemical Analysis of Sulfadiazine in Fish Muscle

by Jiajia Han, Zicong Liao, Guosheng Chen, Junlang Qiu and Fang Zhu

Chemosensors 2023, 11(5), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11050277 - 05 May 2023

Viewed by 1471

Abstract

The misuse of sulfadiazine (SFZ) has led to great hazard to the environment and human safety; therefore, a simple, rapid, and sensitive method to detect sulfadiazine is urgently needed. Herein, we report a simple fabrication method for rare earth vanadate samarium (SmV)-doped covalent [...] Read more.

The misuse of sulfadiazine (SFZ) has led to great hazard to the environment and human safety; therefore, a simple, rapid, and sensitive method to detect sulfadiazine is urgently needed. Herein, we report a simple fabrication method for rare earth vanadate samarium (SmV)-doped covalent organic framework COF_TDBA-TTL nanocomposites (SmV/COF_TDBA-TTL), which were used to construct a sulfadiazine (SFZ) electrochemical sensor. The synergistic effect arising from the combination of SmV and COF_TDBA-TTL accelerates the charge transfer kinetics, along with the creation of more surface-active sites that benefit effective detection. Compared with other electrochemical sensors, this electrochemical sensor exhibits low detection limit (2.40 nM), wide linear range (7.32–12.0 μM), good reproducibility (RSD = 0.823%), and stability (RSD = 3.60%). It provides a novel method and theoretical basis for the application of rare earth COF-based electrochemical sensors to detect environmentally destructive pollutants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles in Chemical and Biological Sensing)

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18 pages, 3954 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Silver Nanoparticles-Based Selective and Sensitive Colorimetric Assay for Ciprofloxacin in Biological, Environmental, and Commercial Samples

by Aqsa Aijaz, Daim Asif Raja, Farooq-Ahmad Khan, Jiri Barek and Muhammad Imran Malik

Chemosensors 2023, 11(2), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11020091 - 25 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1656

Abstract

The wide-spread usage of ciprofloxacin (CIP) resulted in its presence in different parts of the ecosystem. Thus, a simple, reliable, on-spot detection method for CIP is required in environmental context. Herein, a colorimetric assay is developed for the detection of CIP based on [...] Read more.

The wide-spread usage of ciprofloxacin (CIP) resulted in its presence in different parts of the ecosystem. Thus, a simple, reliable, on-spot detection method for CIP is required in environmental context. Herein, a colorimetric assay is developed for the detection of CIP based on the branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) conjugated silver nanoparticles (PEI-AgNPs). AgNPs are prepared using PEI as stabilizing agent following a simple one-pot two-phase procedure. The prepared PEI-AgNPs are subsequently used for an efficient and selective detection of CIP. The characteristic yellow colour of PEI-AgNPs changed to colourless when CIP was added which was further confirmed by quenching in the intensity of the SPR (surface plasmon resonance) band (hypochromic shift). The proposed method is efficient for the quantitation of CIP in a linear dynamic range (LDR) of 0.1–200 µM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.038 µM, and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.12 µM. The developed method is selective, efficient, and sensitive to CIP in the presence of numerous interfering species and in real biological, environmental, and commercial pharmaceutical samples. Excellent performance of the proposed method compared to UV-Vis spectroscopy and UPLC in environmental, biological, and commercial pharmaceutical samples is demonstrated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles in Chemical and Biological Sensing)

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14 pages, 4557 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selective Detection of Folic Acid Using a Water-Stable Fluorescent CsPbBr₃/Cs₄PbBr₆ Perovskite Nanocrystal Probe

by Wen-Zhi She, Rui-Xian Zhao, Jin-Zhou Liu, Hai-Chi Zhang, Rong Sheng Li, Meng-Ting Liu, Chuan-Hua Zhou, Jian Ling and Qiue Cao

Chemosensors 2023, 11(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11010019 - 26 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1670

Abstract

A water-stable cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr₃/Cs₄PbBr₆) perovskite nanocrystal (PNC) was synthesized and studied as a fluorescence probe for the selective detection of folic acid (FA). The as-prepared PNCs emitted strong green fluorescence at 525 nm, and their [...] Read more.

A water-stable cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr₃/Cs₄PbBr₆) perovskite nanocrystal (PNC) was synthesized and studied as a fluorescence probe for the selective detection of folic acid (FA). The as-prepared PNCs emitted strong green fluorescence at 525 nm, and their structure was systematically characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The interaction between the PNCs and small biological molecules was investigated and the results indicated that the fluorescence of the PNCs could be selectively quenched by FA. The quenching rate has a linear relationship with the concentration of FA in the concentration range from 10 to 800 μM, with a correlation coefficient R² of 0.9841, and a limit of detection (LOD, 3σ) of 1.69 μM. The mechanism of the interaction between the PNCs and FA was discussed, and the reliability of the method for real sample detection was also verified by the standard addition method. The method proposed here, using a fluorescence PNCs probe, provided a simple alternative strategy for detecting FA that will play an important role in biochemical analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles in Chemical and Biological Sensing)

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8 pages, 1618 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Interference Free HPLC-SERS for the Trace Analysis of Residual Furazolidones in the Aquaculture Sediment

by Boming Zeng, Yuting Huang and Meikun Fan

Chemosensors 2022, 10(12), 508; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors10120508 - 30 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1252

Abstract

Furazolidone (FZD), a typical highly effective nitrofuran antibiotic, has been banned in aquaculture for its carcinogenicity and other adverse health effects, but it is still wildly used for its low cost and significant efficacy. Since FZD will be rapidly metabolized in living organisms, [...] Read more.

Furazolidone (FZD), a typical highly effective nitrofuran antibiotic, has been banned in aquaculture for its carcinogenicity and other adverse health effects, but it is still wildly used for its low cost and significant efficacy. Since FZD will be rapidly metabolized in living organisms, the traditional standard mass spectrometry method can quantitatively analyze trace amount of FZD by detecting its derivative. However, a rapid qualitative analysis method is more consistent with market demand in regular monitoring. In this study, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to separate and purify FZD from the sea cucumber culture sediment, and the purified effluent was combined with a substrate of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection. The absolute detection limit of FZD by SERS is 1 ng, and the detection limit of FZD in actual sediment samples is less than 1 μg/kg. The cost and period of FZD analysis by HPLC-SERS are greatly reduced for the omission of derivatization compared with the traditional mass spectrometry method, which can better meet the requirements of practical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles in Chemical and Biological Sensing)

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11 pages, 1737 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Catalyzed Hairpin Assembly-Assisted DNA Dendrimer Enhanced Fluorescence Anisotropy for MicroRNA Detection

by Tianjin Xie, Yuxin Liu, Jiali Xie, Yujie Luo, Kai Mao, Chengzhi Huang, Yuanfang Li and Shujun Zhen

Chemosensors 2022, 10(12), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors10120501 - 27 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1124

Abstract

Biomacromolecules have been employed successfully as fluorescence anisotropy (FA) amplifiers for biosensing in reported studies. However, the sensitivities of the traditional biomacromolecule amplified FA strategies need to be improved because of the relatively low molecular weight or volume of a single biomacromolecule and [...] Read more.

Biomacromolecules have been employed successfully as fluorescence anisotropy (FA) amplifiers for biosensing in reported studies. However, the sensitivities of the traditional biomacromolecule amplified FA strategies need to be improved because of the relatively low molecular weight or volume of a single biomacromolecule and the 1:1 binding ratio between the fluorophore-linked probe and target. In this work, a DNA dendrimer with a high molecular weight and volume was employed as a new FA amplifier, which was coupled with target-catalyzed hairpin assembly (CHA) for the sensitive detection of miRNA-21. The fluorophore-modified probe DNA (pDNA) was fixed on the DNA dendrimer, resulting in a high FA value. The addition of miRNA-21 triggered the CHA process and produced plenty of H1-H2 hybrids. The complex of H1-H2 bound to the DNA dendrimer and released the pDNA through a toehold-mediated strand exchange reaction. Thus, a low FA value was obtained because of the low mass and volume of free pDNA. Based on the dramatically reduced FA, miRNA-21 was detected in the range of 1.0–19.0 nM and the limit of detection was 52.0 pM. In addition, our method has been successfully utilized for miRNA-21 detection in human serum. This strategy is sensitive and selective and is expected to be used to detect other biomolecules simply by changing the corresponding nucleic acid probe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles in Chemical and Biological Sensing)

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13 pages, 2894 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Facile Preparation of Ag-NP-Deposited HRGB-SERS Substrate for Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Water

by Dongmei Wang, Binyu Hui, Xueqi Zhang, Jingyi Zhu, Zhengjun Gong and Meikun Fan

Chemosensors 2022, 10(10), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors10100406 - 10 Oct 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1757

Abstract

In this study, a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate based on high-refractive-index reflective glass beads (HRGBs) was prepared by a facile method and successfully applied to the detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The HRGB-SERS substrate was prepared by depositing silver nanoparticles (Ag [...] Read more.

In this study, a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate based on high-refractive-index reflective glass beads (HRGBs) was prepared by a facile method and successfully applied to the detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The HRGB-SERS substrate was prepared by depositing silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) onto the surface of HRGBs. The preparation procedure of the substrate was simplified by accelerating the hydrolysis of (3-Aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APTMS) and increasing the concentration of Ag NPs. Compared with previous methods, the HRGB-SERS substrate prepared with one round of deposition has the same detection performance, a simpler preparation process, and lower cost. Additionally, halide ions were used to modify the substrate to increase the detection sensitivity of PAHs. Adding 10 mM KBr solution to the HRGB-SERS substrate was found to achieve the best modification effect. Under the optimal modification conditions, the detection sensitivity of pyrene was improved by 3 orders of magnitude (10⁻⁷ M). Due to the HRGB-SERS substrate’s excellent performance, the rapid identification and trace detection of spiked water samples mixed with anthracene, phenanthrene, and pyrene was realized using a Raman spectrometer with only a volume of 10 μL of the water samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles in Chemical and Biological Sensing)

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Review

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23 pages, 8928 KiB

Open AccessReview

Rational Design Copper Nanocluster-Based Fluorescent Sensors towards Heavy Metal Ions: A Review

by Lili Yuan, Mengna Liang, Matthew Hummel, Congying Shao and Shun Lu

Chemosensors 2023, 11(3), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11030159 - 25 Feb 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2087

Abstract

Recently, copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) have attracted great research interest for their low synthesis cost, wide application, and easy functionalization. Until now, CuNCs have been developed and applied in multi-fields such as sensing, catalysis, light-emitting diode manufacturing, and cell imaging. Furthermore, the application of [...] Read more.

Recently, copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) have attracted great research interest for their low synthesis cost, wide application, and easy functionalization. Until now, CuNCs have been developed and applied in multi-fields such as sensing, catalysis, light-emitting diode manufacturing, and cell imaging. Furthermore, the application of heavy metal ions (HMIs) detection is also regarded as a major part of fluorescence sensing and the necessity of detecting the makeup of HMIs (Ag⁺, Te³⁺, Co²⁺, Se⁶⁺, Hg²⁺, Mn²⁺, etc.) in organisms and the environment. This has promoted the development of CuNCs in fluorescence sensing. This paper reviews the research progress of CuNCs detection in HMIs, which can be divided into four parts. The synthesis and characterization of CuNCs are first described. Then, the synthesis methods making the types of CuNCs more varied are also summarized. Furthermore, mechanisms of fluorescence changes induced by HMIs are explained. After that, the relevant reports of CuNCs in several typical HMI detection are further listed. In addition, combined with the above content, the challenges and prospects of CuNCs in HMIs detection are also proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles in Chemical and Biological Sensing)

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