Coupling of Luminescent Terbium Complexes to Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Imaging Applications

Synthesis and surface modification of magnetic Fe3O4@SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles and its application in uptake of scandium (III) ions from aqueous media

The main objective of this work is to produce an eco-friendly and economically nano-adsorbent which can separate scandium metal ions Sc from a model aqueous phase prior to applying these adsorbents in industrial filed. The magnetic core-shell structure Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by modified Stöber method and functionalized with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane APTES as a coupling agent and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a ligand. Magnetic nano support adsorbents exhibit many attractive opportunities due to their easy removal and possibility of reusing. The ligand grafting was chemically robust and does not appreciably influence the morphology or the structure of the substrate. To evaluate the potential, the prepared hybrid nanoparticles were used as nano-adsorbent for Sc ions from model aqueous solutions due to the fact that rare earth elements (REEs) have a strong affinity for oxygen and nitrogen donors. The iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation method at pH 10 and pH 11 to get the best morphology and nanoscale dimensions of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles. The particle size, morphology, specific surface area, and surface modification were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the Fe3O4 nanoparticles with average particle size of 15 ± 3 nm were successfully synthesized at pH 11, and 25 °C. Moreover, the prepared Fe3O4 nanoparticles were coated with amorphous SiO2 and functionalized with amino and carboxyl groups. The adsorption study conditions of Sc are as follows: the initial concentrations of the Sc model solution varied 10-50 mg/L, 20 mL volume, 20-80 mg of the Fe3O4@SiO2-COO adsorbent, pH range of 1-5, and 5 h contact time at 25 °C temperature. The adsorption equilibrium was represented with Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models. Langmuir model was found to have the correlation coefficient value in good agreement with experimental results. However, the adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics.

Luminescent magnetic nanoparticles encapsulated in MOFs for highly selective and sensitive detection of ClO-/SCN- and anti-counterfeiting

It is well-known that ClO- and SCN- can cause adverse effects on the environment and organisms; therefore, development of new strategies for detecting ClO- and SCN-, especially in water, are highly desirable. Here, we present luminous Eu(iii) complex-functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles encapsulated into zeolitic imidazolate framework materials (nano-ZIF-8) and successfully employ this nano-MOF as a fluorescence probe for selective and sensitive detection of ClO- and SCN-. The introduction of ClO- into nano-ZIF-8 solution induced a significant decrease in the characteristic fluorescence emission of Eu3+ at 613 nm. However, strong fluorescence emission was again observed when SCN- was successively injected into the prepared nano-ZIF-8-ClO-. Thus, a novel fluorescence system for simultaneous detection of free ClO- and SCN- was established. On the basis of the superior adsorption performance of nano-MOF materials, free residual ClO- and SCN- in water was rapidly, sensitively and selectively detected with a detection limit of 0.133 nM and 0.204 nM, respectively. Moreover, nano-ZIF-8 was successfully used for monitoring the concentration levels of ClO- and SCN- in specimens of tap water and Yellow River water. Furthermore, the reversibility and regeneration of nano-ZIF-8 in sensing ClO- and SCN- is advantageous for applications of nano-ZIF-8 in solid-state sensing and anti-counterfeiting. As far as we know, this is the first time that nano-MOFs have been used as a selective fluorescence probe for ClO-/SCN- detection and anti-counterfeiting.

Encapsulation of Dual-Emitting Fluorescent Magnetic Nanoprobe in Metal-Organic Frameworks for Ultrasensitive Ratiometric Detection of Cu2

An effective dual-emission fluorescent metal-organic framework (MOF)-based nanoprobe has been established for ultrasensitive and rapid ratiometric detection of Cu²⁺ . Such a nanoprobe was prepared by encapsulating fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), and Eu(III) complex-functionalized Fe₃ O₄ into the zeolitic imidazolate framework material (ZIF-8). In this nanoprobe, FITC was used as a reference signal, thus improving the influence of external uncertainties. The Eu-complex signal could be quenched after adding an amount of Cu²⁺ . The ZIF-8 could enrich the target analytes, which can amplify the fluorescence signal due to the good adsorption properties of the ZIF-8. Based on above structural and compositional features, the detection limit of the nanoprobe is 0.1 nm for Cu²⁺ , almost 2×10⁴ times lower than the maximum allowable amount of Cu²⁺ in drinking water, which constructed a platform for effective detection of Cu²⁺ . Using the nanoprobe to detect Cu²⁺ in aqueous solution is rapid and the probe still remained stable. Additionally, this sensor for the ratiometric fluorescence imaging of copper ions was also certified in real samples and live cells.

White emission magnetic nanoparticles as chemosensors for sensitive colorimetric and ratiometric detection, and degradation of ClO⁻ and SCN⁻ in aqueous solutions based on a logic gate approach

Fluorescent chemosensors for detecting single anions have been largely synthesized. However, the simultaneous detection and degradation of multiple anions remain a major challenge. Herein we report the synthesis of a white emission nanoprobe on the basis of a Coumarin-Rhodamine CR1-Eu complex coordinated to dipicolinic acid (dpa)-PEG-Fe3O4 nanoparticles for the selective detection of ClO(-) and SCN(-) ions on controlling by a logic gate. The obtained nanoprobe exhibits three individual primary colors (blue, green, and red) as well as white emission at different excitation energies. Interestingly, this nanoprobe shows a marked rose red to violet emission color change in response to ClO(-), a reversible violet to rose red emission color change in response to SCN(-), and high ClO(-) and SCN(-) selectivity and sensitivity with a detection limit of 0.037 and 0.250 nM, respectively. Furthermore, the SCN(-) and ClO(-) can degrade simultaneously through the redox reaction between ClO(-) and SCN(-).

Highly efficient and selective degradation of methylene blue from mixed aqueous solution by using monodisperse CuFe2O4 nanoparticles

We present the design and synthesis of a monodisperse CuFe₂O₄ nanocatalyst for selective and rapid degradation of methylene blue (MB).

Multifunctional Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles for highly sensitive detection and removal of Al(III) in aqueous solution

Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles (NPs) decorated with rhodamine 6G Schiff base, which exhibit high selectivity and sensitivity toward Al(3+) over other common metal ions in aqueous media under a physiological pH window via a 1:1 binding mode, have been synthesized and characterized. The resulting conjugate renders the rhodamine 6G Schiff base unit more water soluble, and the detection limit reaches 0.3 ppb in water. Moreover, can detect Al(3+) in a wide pH span (5.0-11.0) and enrich/remove excess Al(3+) in water via an external magnetic field, which indicates that it has more potential and further practical applications for biology and toxicology. Furthermore, provides good fluorescent imaging of Al(3+) in living cells.