Themed collection 2012's Top 25 most read Analyst articles

Rapid and specific detection of pathogenic bacteria is important for the proper treatment, containment and prevention of human, animal and plant diseases.

Different methods of ssDNA generation following the PCR amplification step in SELEX are reviewed.

This review focuses on recent advances in the use of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) as an analytical technique for multiplexed detection of biological targets.

This review highlights the importance and benefit of the role of integrated tools in metabolomic research.

We review microfluidic devices for environmental analysis, including recent advances in the technology and the challenges associated with detecting low-abundance analytes in complex sample matrices.

The electrochemical detection of glutathione is reviewed with the state of the art highlighted and issues for future research identified.

The incorporation of novel nanobiotechnological concepts such as aptamers, nanoparticles, nanotubes and magnetic beads, in sensing and transducing strategies is providing with high-performance electrochemical biosensors for toxin detection.

Due to the significance of hydrogen peroxide in biological systems and practical applications, the development of efficient electrochemical H₂O₂ sensors holds a special attraction for researchers. The aim of this review is to summarize the recent advances since 2000 and gain an insight into the materials used in the electrocatalytic sensing of H₂O₂.

A BODIPY-based selective thiophenol probe capable of discriminating aliphatic thiols is reported. The fluorescence off–on effect upon reaction with thiol is elucidated with theoretical calculations. The sensing of thiophenol is associated with a color change from red to yellow and 63-fold enhancement in green fluorescence. Application of the probe for selective thiophenol detection is demonstrated by live cell imaging.

A facile and sensitive analytical method for the detection of Salmonella bacteria using antibody-conjugated magnetic nanoparticles and TiO₂ nanocrystals is reported.

Detection of the influenza virus, using LFIA, for amplified DNA.

We report a cell-phone based Escherichia coli detection platform for screening of liquid samples using quantum dots.

An exceptionally simple and easy to assemble dual-mode source for ambient mass spectrometry is described. The Spartan source is fully portable and disposable, provides efficient desorption/ionization and is able to handle both liquid and solid samples.

An electrochemical-based immunosensor involving the combined use of DNA aptamer functionalized nanoparticles immobilized onto the electrode surface and a surface enzymatic reaction was developed for the femtomolar detection of protein biomarkers.

A gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric sensor for sulfide with remarkably high selectivity was developed, on the basis of a unique anion-for-molecule ligand exchange reaction.

Stable and highly fluorescent gold nanoparticles were developed to detect copper ions in aqueous solution with good sensitivity and selectivity.

A novel and effective procedure for AuNPs aggregation via the special interactions among aptamer, target and cationic surfactant was developed for As(III) detection.

We present applications of an off–on fluorescent probe PyBor for peroxynitrite detection in aqueous solution and living cells.

We develop an efficient method for multiple DNA detection by exploring silver nanoclusters (AgNCs)–graphene oxide (GO) nanohybrid materials.

Lysine acts to decrease surface defects and enhance the fluorescence intensity of a bovine serum albumin modified-carbon dot probe used to detect Cu²⁺ in hair and tap water.

Silver nanoparticles capped with mercaptoacetic acid and 2-aminoethanethiol short-chain alkanethiols were prepared by a one-step method in aqueous solution for monitoring pH and a range of heavy metal ions.

This simple and cost-effective gold nanoparticle layer (GNPL)-based sandwich ELISA holds promise in clinical applications.

Metal ion-modulated bovine serum albumin-Au nanoclusters were used to construct a sensor array for identification of amino acids by the fluorescent fingerprint.

Surface-sensitive electrical detection using chelator-modified field-effect transistor devices designed to capture pyrophosphate generated by polymerase reactions on surface-immobilized DNA colonies.

The influence of nanoparticulate size on a gold nanoparticle-based immunochromatographic assay in biomedicine is presented.