Themed collection Highlighting analytical science in France, Italy and Spain

A review of the use of AFM, SECM and QCM as analytical tools in the characterization of enzyme-based bioanalytical platforms is presented.

This review is the first entirely dedicated to aptamer- and aptazyme-based homogeneous assays carried out in a solution phase.

Recent developments in plasma-based mass spectrometric instrumentation for integrated (elemental and molecular) chemical speciation studies are presented.

We evaluate the improvements provided for metabolomics by different types of FT/MS instruments, together with the ability of these platforms to cover the various analytical requirements of metabolomics.

The state of the art and future developments in intracellular magnesium detection by fluorescent sensors and live imaging are discussed.

Hybridization of the complementary DNA sequence breaks interactions between the redox probe and the DNA probe, which speeds-up electron transfer.

Statistical analysis shows that the CE profile of intact AGP purified by immunoaffinity chromatography from plasma is a potential biomarker of atherothrombosis.

Electrochemical response and morphological characterization by SEM and AFM of a new nanostructured biosensor based on three-dimensional (3-mercaptopropyl)-trimethoxysilane network.

A high-density array of opto-electrochemical nanosensors is presented for remote DNA detection through a nanostructured optical fiber bundle.

A novel approach for selectively encapsulating Cy5 dye molecules via DNA hybridization in cationic phosphorus dendrimers (G₄⁺)/polystyrenesulfonate (PSS) microcapsules has been developed.

The AFM-IR technique using an IR laser and AFM is a tool suited to chemical analysis at the nanometric scale. The identification and imaging of 50–400 nm size polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) granules inside a single Rhodobacter capsulatus bacterium illustrate the exciting potentiality of this new photothermal near-field technique.

Reconstitution of hemin di(N,N′-acetylhydrazide) with apo horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide for the ultra-sensitive detection of H₂O₂ and glucose oxidase.

The novel monolayer architecture allows specific reversible switching between two states using Cu²⁺ ions as input and the absorbance intensity as output. Switching is straightforward and the optical read-out fast.

A novel electrochemical immunosensor using screen-printed carbon electrodes and functionalized magnetic particles was developed for the determination of cortisol.

This paper shows for the first time the effects of cell shape and dimensions on the spectra quality and variability.

Non-linearity correction in voltammetric pH titrations using shape constraints for modelling the shifts in peak potentials.

The fabrication of a low cost, easy to manufacture microsystem and its application to achieve ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of alkaline phosphatase is herein described.

Olfactory mucosa inspired a novel approach to chemical sensors. The concept is demonstrated with two polymer layers embedded with a chemical indicator. Multivariate analysis illustrates the synergy of polymer and indicator properties.

Ion insertion solid state electrochemistry is used to determine the amount of phenethylamine, dopamine, homoveratrylamine, mescaline, (±)-amphetamine, (±)-p-methoxyamphetamine, and (±)-methamphetamine in aqueous media with high selectivity.