Themed collection Recent HOT articles

Biological cells are versatile in both metal remediation and metal preconcentration and speciation.

This article reviews the progress in the development of electrochemical nucleic acid biosensors with an emphasis on biosensor fabrication, the sensing mechanism, performance and applications with some discussion on challenges and perspectives.

Glutathione, a low molecular mass thiol compound, is considered a vital biomarker for various disease and cancers owing to the variation in the level of GSH from its normal level in the micromolar to millimolar range in biological fluids and cells.

The application of different carbon materials such as graphite, glassy carbon, boron-doped diamond, carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotubes and graphene for the electrooxidation of DNA-related molecules toward cytosine methylation electroanalytical monitoring is reviewed.

The risks posed by viral diseases have been recognised as critical threats to mankind.

Improved design of sampling microplastic waste is necessary. Important problems are identified and suggestions for improvements are made.

Nanoparticles, chemical imaging and immunodetection applied to fingermarks are critically reviewed in this paper. For each topic, forensic and analytical considerations are assessed in regards with two main purposes: detection and metadetection. Expectations in terms of research are also proposed.

Schematic of a Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer (TIMS) Instrument.

Direct and indirect techniques for studying stress and acclimation responses related to pro- and anti-oxidants in plants. The larger the distance from the bull's eye, the less direct is the acquired information.

As a viable alternative with respect to carbon-based materials prepared by vapor deposition, the pyrolysis of non-volatile organic precursors has allowed the fabrication of substrates with advantageous properties towards the development of analytical methodologies.

The advances which have taken place during the last four decades in the instrumentation and applications of thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) particularly of relevance to nuclear science and technology are highlighted.

A novel pyrene-based fluorescent probe (3-methyl-2-(pyren-1-yl)benzo[d]thiazol-3-ium iodide) (PBT) was found to be a fast-responsive and highly selective towards G-quadruplexes. PBT exhibited an opposite fluorescent variation tendency on binding with G-quadruplexes and ds-DNAs.

A sensitive and selective strategy for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) detection was developed based on an aptamer/GO fluorescent biosensor.

DNA-templated copper nanoclusters were used as a fluorescent nano-dye for the uracil–DNA glycosylase (UDG) assay. The proposed method is simple and sensitive.

Derivatisation with a labelled reagent allows for isotope dilution calibration of algal toxins for which no labelled standard is available.

Nonspecific protein adsorption can interfere with blood diagnostics, especially in point-of-care tests for which minimal sample processing is required.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) has emerged as a major public health problem worldwide. An untargeted lipidomics approach was used to profile the lipid changes and discover potential biomarkers in CHD patients.

Subcritical water extraction (SWE), a ‘green’ and efficient extraction technology, was applied to extract phenolic antioxidants from pomegranate peel in this study.

This work describes two novel validated HPLC methods for the separation and determination of potent antioxidant formulation.

In this study, third generation dendrimers covalently bonded to magnetic graphene oxide nanosheets (DMGO) were prepared.

A new sensor using a glassy carbon electrode modified with graphene and Au nanoparticles (Gr/Au/GCE) was designed to investigate the electrochemical behavior of furazolidone (FZD).

An FTIR-based multivariate approach is developed for monitoring molecular weight distribution during enzymatic protein hydrolysis of byproducts.

MIR microscopic imaging with subsequent PCA clustering is a very promising tool for the detection and identification of mucormycetes in pathology routine laboratories.

A novel near-infrared ratiometric fluorescent probe for detecting SO₂ derivatives was developed and used for fluorescence imaging in living cells.

An ultra-sensitive and selective 2D electrochemical sensor based on a PtNPs@GRP/NFN nanocomposite was developed for routine detection of α₁-AR antagonists such as silodosin in human plasma.

A novel enzyme mediated AuNP assembly based colorimetric method for ultrasensitive detection of hepatitis C virus antibody.

A GMI sensor integrated with a microcavity was fabricated by micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) technology.

The physical adsorption behaviour of nanobodies to gold nanoparticles is described for the first time in an extensive manner including parameters such as pI, ionic strength and several protein engineering strategies. The generated nanobody-gold conjugates are functional.

Inkjet printing is used to produce arrays of explosives on non-stick substrates that are transferred to test surfaces for quantitative wipe sampling studies.

Based on a competition assay approach, a new highly sensitive method for real-time detection of PPase activity using Li⁺-doped NaYF₄:Yb,Er upconversion red luminescent nanoparticles was developed.

Herein, a simple fluorescent probe, (E)-1,3,3-trimethyl-2-(4-morpholinostyryl)-3H-indol-1-ium iodide (Mi), based on intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) was synthesized.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a highly promising tool for the analysis of blood.

CVD-grown monolayer graphene-encapsulated Ag nanoparticles are used as an effective SERS substrate for selective and sensitive detection of TNT.

Elimination of the inner filling electrolyte of classical ISEs to overcome their associated drawbacks is the major driving force for the evolution of solid contact ISEs.

In this study, a facile colorimetric assay for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in aqueous solution is developed based on the intrinsic peroxidase-like activity of cysteine protected molybdenum disulfide nanosheets (Cys-MoS₂ NSs).

Nitrilotriacetate (NTA) has been reported to behave as both a reductant and a stabilizer for gold nanoparticle (AuNP) preparation in a one-pot synthesis and colorimetric assay.

Au nanoparticles supported on nickel hydroxide nanowires with multiple cavities (Au/m-Ni(OH)₂) were synthesized and used for the enhanced electrochemical sensing of dopamine (DA).

A chemiluminescent immunochromatographic assay strip for rapid detection of Hg²⁺ was developed by using an anti-Hg²⁺ monoclonal antibody that could directly recognize Hg²⁺.

Resistivity of optical carbon dioxide chemosensors towards poisoning by acidic gases is significantly improved by using an additional perfluorinated polymer coating making the sensors suitable for long-term measurements.

Checkpoints in processing of metabolomics data are essential to reliably define preliminary identifications of metabolomic studies.

Near-infrared diffuse reflectance imaging spectroscopy (NIR-RIS, 1000 to 2500 nm) was used to map the use of alkyd and oil paints in Jackson Pollock's Number 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist), one of his most important ‘drip’ or ‘poured’ paintings.

Carrier solution recirculation in an amperometric FIA system allows ATN quantification with very low reagent consumption and waste generation.

SERS offers a fast and reliable method for human fungal pathogens detection.

This work presents the optimization and validation of a new environmentally friendly method for zinc quantification in new and used lubricating oil samples, using, for the first time, the extracting agent diphenylthiocarbazone (dithizone) associated with the aqueous two-phase system (ATPS).

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analysis provides a great deal of analytical information as a detection mode when coupled with liquid chromatography (LC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) separations of proteins.

A ratiometric fluorescent probe for hydrogen sulfide based on a coumarin–pyronine FRET dyad with a large emission shift and high energy-transfer efficiency was engineered for bio-applications.

Fifteen soil samples can be treated simultaneously in 20 min with low cost and less solvent by the proposed method.

Metal–organic framework coated paper substrates have been used for paper spray mass spectrometry in high sensitivity analysis of drugs.

We have developed a method for the analysis of the main metabolic products of utilization of glucose by isolated adipocytes.

An automatic and sensitive method for simultaneous determination of 16 PAHs and 4 derivatives by online SPE-UHPLC with online solvent filtration.

A novel molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensor based on a Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/MWCNTs/nano-TiO₂-Nafion electrode was successfully designed for ultrasensitive and ultraselective detection of BPA.

A simple fluorescence based biosensor for label-free detection of uracil DNA glycosylase activity based on G-quadruplex formation using a thioflavin T probe is reported.

A simple and rapid gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocopherols and α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocotrienols in vegetable oils.

A single-molecule nanopore technique combined with a highly specific DNAzyme catalysis reaction has been employed to detect Pb²⁺.

A label-free, exonuclease III assisted Hg²⁺ fluorometric assay based on strand displacement amplification was developed with high sensitivity and selectivity.

This work proposes a simple, rapid and low-cost method for the determination of total furanic aldehyde compounds in Brazilian cachaça samples.

A signal-on homogeneous electrochemical biosensor for sequence-specific microRNA (miRNA) based on duplex-specific nuclease (DSN) assisted target recycling amplification has been developed.

In this work, a selective turn-on fluorescent probe 1 for detecting biological thiols was designed and synthesized based on modulation of the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process of 2-(2′-hydroxy-4′-diethylaminophenyl)benzothiazole.

Micro-laser Raman spectroscopy is a non-destructive technique to quantitatively determine the carbon isotopic compositions of CO₂ in individual fluid inclusions.

ANOVA used to determine uncertainty associated with the way in which deep, open ocean seawater samples were collected and conditioned (filtered).

Comparison of matrix-matched and internal standard calibration methods in the analysis of selected antibiotics and antiretroviral drugs in urban waters by SPE-LC-MS/MS.

The sensitivity of the formation of plasmonic silver nanoprisms to hydrogen peroxide is explored for the colorimetric detection of catalase activity in bacteria.

Using portable single-quadrupole DART-MS technology, suspect pharmaceuticals can be rapidly and efficiently analyzed providing detailed information on their true origin.

In 2012, the FDA Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee published a list of 93 harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) of tobacco products and tobacco smoke.

A sensitive fluorescence detection assay for phytic acid (PA) in real samples was developed based on Fe³⁺-modulated GSH@AgNCs, with high detection selectivity, repeatability, and stability.

A droplet-based surface sampling system coupled to UPLC-HRMS/MS permitted the identification of acetogenins in situ from various organs of the plant Asimina triloba.

An assay relying on the distance-dependent optical properties of AgNPs and the different inclusion binding strengths of aromatic α-amino acids to the β-CD host was developed.

This study is the first report of simultaneous determination of cysteamine, guanine and adenine using an electrochemical sensor in pharmaceutical and biological samples.

Solvent-saving analytical protocols are a valid alternative to quantify siloxanes in environmental matrices.

The ability to detect antibodies that are generated during an immune response is integral to the diagnosis and monitoring of infections.