Recent advances in tumor biomarker detection by lanthanide upconversion nanoparticles

Early tumor diagnosis could reliably predict the behavior of tumors and significantly reduce their mortality. Due to the response to early cancerous changes at the molecular or cellular level, tumor biomarkers, including small molecules, proteins, nucleic acids, exosomes, and circulating tumor cells, have been employed as powerful tools for early cancer diagnosis. Therefore, exploring new approaches to detect tumor biomarkers has attracted a great deal of research interest. Lanthanide upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) provide numerous opportunities for bioanalytical applications. When excited by low-energy near-infrared light, UCNPs exhibit several unique properties, such as large anti-Stoke shifts, sharp emission lines, long luminescence lifetimes, resistance to photobleaching, and the absence of autofluorescence. Based on these excellent properties, UCNPs have demonstrated great sensitivity and selectivity in detecting tumor biomarkers. In this review, an overview of recent advances in tumor biomarker detection using UCNPs has been presented. The key aspects of this review include detection mechanisms, applications in vitro and in vivo, challenges, and perspectives of UCNP-based tumor biomarker detection.

Application of electrochemical sensors based on nanomaterials modifiers in the determination of antipsychotics

At present, the content of antipsychotics in samples is always analyzed by traditional detection methods, including mass spectrometry (MS), spectrophotometry, fluorescence, capillary electrophoresis (CE). However, conventional methods are cumbersome and complex, require a large sample volume, many pre-processing steps, long analysis cycles, expensive instruments, and need well-trained detection capabilities personnel. In addition, patients with schizophrenia require frequent and painful blood collection procedures, which adds additional treatment costs and time burdens. In view of these factors, electrochemical methods have become the most promising candidate technology for timely analysis due to their low cost, simple operation, excellent sensitivity and specificity. As we all know, nanomaterials play an extremely important role in electrochemical sensing applications. As the sensor modifiers, nanomaterials enable electrochemical analysis to overcome the time-consuming and labor-intensive shortcomings of traditional detection methods, and greatly reduce the research cost. Nanomaterials modified electrodes can be used as sensors to determine the concentration of antipsychotics in organisms quickly and accurately, which is a bright spot in the application of nanomaterials. The combination of different nanomaterials can even form a nanocomposite with a synergistic effect. This paper firstly reviews the application of nanomaterials-modified sensors on the basis of research in the past ten years, reviews the use of nanomaterial-modified sensors to quickly and accurately determine the concentration of antipsychotics in biological samples, and demonstrates a new idea of using nanomaterials sensors for drug monitoring and determination. At the end of this review, a brief overview is given of the limitations and the future prospects of nanomaterial sensors for the determination of antipsychotics concentrations.

Synthesis, Applications, and Prospects of Graphene Quantum Dots: A Comprehensive Review

Graphene quantum dot (GQD) is one of the youngest superstars of the carbon family. Since its emergence in 2008, GQD has attracted a great deal of attention due to its unique optoelectrical properties. Non-zero bandgap, the ability to accommodate functional groups and dopants, excellent dispersibility, highly tunable properties, and biocompatibility are among the most important characteristics of GQDs. To date, GQDs have displayed significant momentum in numerous fields such as energy devices, catalysis, sensing, photodynamic and photothermal therapy, drug delivery, and bioimaging. As this field is rapidly evolving, there is a strong need to identify the emerging challenges of GQDs in recent advances, mainly because some novel applications and numerous innovations on the ease of synthesis of GQDs are not systematically reviewed in earlier studies. This feature article provides a comparative and balanced discussion of recent advances in synthesis, properties, and applications of GQDs. Besides, current challenges and future prospects of these emerging carbon-based nanomaterials are also highlighted. The outlook provided in this review points out that the future of GQD research is boundless, particularly if upcoming studies focus on the ease of purification and eco-friendly synthesis along with improving the photoluminescence quantum yield and production yield of GQDs.

Carbon dots: synthesis, properties and biomedical applications

Carbon dots (CDs) are a new type of carbon nanomaterial that have unique physical and chemical properties, good biocompatibility, low toxicity, and easy surface functionalization, making them widely used in biological imaging, environmental monitoring, chemical analysis, targeted drug delivery, disease diagnosis, therapy, etc. In this review, our content is mainly divided into four parts. In the first part, we focused on the preparation methods of CDs, including arc discharge, laser ablation, electrochemical oxidation, chemical oxidation, combustion, hydrothermal/solvent thermal, microwave, template, method etc. Next, we summarized methods of CD modification, including heteroatom doping and surface functionalization. Then, we discussed the optical properties of CDs (ultraviolet absorption, photoluminescence, up-conversion fluorescence, etc.). Lastly, we reviewed the common applications of CDs in biomedicine from the aspects of in vivo and in vitro imaging, sensors, drug delivery, cancer theranostics, etc. Furthermore, we also discussed the existing problems and the future development direction of CDs.

Dual-color graphene quantum dots and carbon nanoparticles biosensing platform combined with Exonuclease III-assisted signal amplification for simultaneous detection of multiple DNA targets

Sensitive and simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers such as target DNA or proteins using biocompatible materials with good analysis performance remains an important challenge. Herein, we successfully developed a signal "off-on" highly sensitive multiplex detection platform based on the combination of dual-color graphene quantum dots (blue GQDs and green GQDs) modified DNA probes with carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), which is a cheap, effective nonfluorescent quencher to simultaneously quench the fluorescence of both GQDs-DNA probes. The Exo III-assisted sequence-independent target recycling and signal amplification strategy was integrated into this sensing platform, which endows it with high sensitivity towards the multiplex detection of targets DNA. The detection limits of 6.6 pM for HIV and 9.5 pM for HBV were achieved respectively, which is about 60-fold lower than that of traditional unamplified homogeneous fluorescent assay methods. Our proposed multiplex detecting platform is advantageous in both respective and simultaneous detection of multiple targets and can also discriminate perfectly matched targets from mismatched targets in both PBS buffer and 1% human serum samples, demonstrating its potential to be a reliable strategy for highly sensitive simultaneous detection of multiple target genes in practical diagnosis applications.

Core-Shell Multifunctional Nanomaterial-Based All-in-One Nanoplatform for Simultaneous Multilayer Imaging of Dual Types of Tumor Biomarkers and Photothermal Therapy

Versatile all-in-one nanoplatforms that inherently possess both diagnostic imaging and therapeutic capabilities are highly desirable for efficient tumor diagnosis and treatment. Herein, we have developed a novel core-shell multifunctional nanomaterial-based all-in-one nanoplatform composed of gold nanobipyramids@polydopamine (Au NBPs@PDA) and gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) for simultaneous in situ multilayer imaging of dual types of tumor biomarkers (using a single-wavelength excitation) with different intracellular spatial distributions and fluorescence-guided photothermal therapy. The competitive combination between target transmembrane glycoprotein mucin1 (MUC1) and its aptamer caused Au NCs (620 nm) labeled with MUC1 aptamer to detach from the surface of Au NBPs@PDA, turning on the red fluorescence. Meanwhile, the hybridization between microRNA-21 (miRNA-21) and its complementary single-stranded DNA triggered the green fluorescence of Au NCs (515 nm). Based on this, simultaneous in situ multilayer imaging of dual types of tumor biomarkers with different intracellular spatial distributions was achieved. In addition, the potential of Au NBPs@PDA/Au NCs was also confirmed by simultaneous multilayer in situ imaging within not only three cell lines (MCF-7, HepG2, and L02 cells) with different expression levels of MUC1 and miRNA-21 but also cancer cells treated with different inhibitors. Moreover, the remarkable photothermal properties of Au NBPs@PDA resulted in the more efficient killing of cancer cells, demonstrating the great promise of the all-in-one nanoplatform for accurate diagnosis and tumor therapy.

A hairpin DNA-fueled nanoflare for simultaneous illumination of two microRNAs in drug-induced nephrotoxic cells with target catalytic recycling amplification

The detection of specific extracellular microRNAs (miRNAs) is beneficial for the prediction of drug-induced kidney injury. Here, a novel hairpin DNA-fueled nanoflare was developed for the simultaneous detection of drug-induced nephrotoxicity-related miRNA-21 and miRNA-200c with target catalytic recycling amplification. The nanoflare utilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as the highly efficient quencher to ensure a low background signal. With the help of the fueled hairpin DNA, the miRNA targets could serve as the catalysts for the assembly of DNA duplexes. Therefore, the nanoflare could respond to the miRNAs to yield signal outputs of 1 : n (target : signal) rather than an equivalent reaction ratio of 1 : 1, achieving the signal amplified detection of low-abundant miRNAs. The targets can be concurrently detected with the detection limit of 18.1 and 21.1 pM for miRNA-21 and miRNA-200c, respectively, which are approximately 2 orders of magnitude lower than that of the non-catalytic probes. In addition, this nanoflare offered a high selectivity for determination between perfectly matched targets and single-base mismatched targets. It should be noted that the nanoflare was successfully employed to predict the drug-induced nephrotoxicity by the detection of miRNAs in culture media excreted from the drug-treated renal cells using a fluorescent microplate reader. Our hairpin DNA-fueled nanoflare could also accurately detect the divergence of miRNA-21 and miRNA-200c between drug-treated nephrotoxic cells and tumor cells, demonstrating a promising potential for exploring the pathogenesis of drugs and auxiliary diagnosis of drug-induced nephrotoxicity.

Dual-colored carbon dots-based ratiometric fluorescent sensor for high-precision detection of alkaline phosphatase activity

Probing the level and activity of alkaline phosphatases (ALP) is of great significance for biomedical research on cellular functions and clinical diagnosis of cancers. Herein, a novel dual-colored carbon dots (CDs)-based ratiometric fluorescent sensor was constructed to accomplish high sensitive and accurate determination of ALP relyed on the difference of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between blue light emitted CDs (B-CDs)-MnO₂ nanohybrid and yellow light emitted CDs (Y-CDs)-MnO₂ nanohybrid. The ratiometric fluorescent sensor enabled sensitive discrimination of ALP against other enzymes in a linear range of 0.1-500 U/L with a limit of detection of 0.02 U/L. The lower error and signal fluctuation, more satisfactory LODs and higher R value (R² = 0.99552) of the ratiometric sensing platform than single signal detection mode (R² = 0.85231; R² = 0.64260) indicated the superiority of the ratiometric fluorescence detection mode.Besides, the excellent analytical performance towards ALP in biological system demonstrated the potential application in clinical diagnosis.

Nanoscale fluorescent metal-organic framework composites as a logic platform for potential diagnosis of asthma

Asthma is a common chronic disorder, and the decreased hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) production in the lung has been considered as an early detection biomarker for asthma. However, the detection of H₂S in biological systems remains a challenge; because it requires the designed sensors to have the following features: nanoscale size, good biocompatibility, real-time detection, high selectivity/sensitivity, and good water stability. Here, we propose the potential of using nanoscale fluorescent metal-organic framework (MOF) composites Eu³⁺/Ag⁺@UiO-66-(COOH)₂ (hereafter denoted as EAUC) as a logic platform for tentative diagnosis of asthma by detecting the biomarker H₂S. This INHIBIT logic gate based on Eu³⁺@UiO-66-(COOH)₂ (EUC) can be produced by choosing Ag⁺ and H₂S as inputs and by monitoring the fluorescent signal (I₆₁₅) as an output. Our fluorescent studies indicate that the EAUC exhibits excellent selectivity, extreme sensitivity (limit of detection: 23.53 μM), and real-time in situ detection of H₂S. Further, MTT analysis in PC12 cells shows that the EAUC possesses low cytotoxicity and favourable biocompatibility that are suitable for the detection of biomarker H₂S in vivo, as demonstrated by the successful detection of spiked H₂S in the diluted serum samples. This work represents the possibility of using MOF-based logic platform for tentative diagnosis of asthma in clinical medicine.

Spectrofluorometric genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms using carbon dots as fluorophores

In the present manuscript, a new spectrofluorometric method for the genotyping of various single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using carbon dots (CDs) is investigated. For the construction of the assay, thiolated probe DNA is self-assembled on a gold surface via sulfur‑gold chemistry and afterward, the probe is partially hybridized with a longer target DNA strand. Subsequently, the unhybridized section of the target DNA is hybridized with a capture DNA to form the DNA double-helix self-assembled monolayer on the gold surface. Finally, CDs surface amine groups are covalently attached to the 5' phosphate groups of various monobases (MB-CDs) using phosphoramidite chemistry. In this method, genotyping of SNPs is based on following the changes in fluorescence intensity of the MB-CDs suspensions before and after incubation with DNA modified gold surface. The assay is straightforward with no need for target labeling and is sensitive and low cost enough to genotype various SNPs independent of their position in a DNA double helix with an acceptable limit of detections in picomolar ranges.

Carbon Nanomaterials in Optical Detection

Owing to their unique optical, electronic, mechanical, and chemical properties, flexible chemical modification, large surface coverage and ready cellular uptake, various carbon nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene and its derivatives, carbon dots (CDs), graphene quantum dots, fullerenes, carbon nanohorns (CNHs) and carbon nano-onions (CNOs), have been widely explored for use in optical detection. Most of them are based on fluorescence changes. In this chapter, we will focus on carbon nanomaterials-based optical detection applications, mainly including fluorescence sensing and bio-imaging. Moreover, perspectives on future exploration of carbon nanomaterials for optical detection are also given.

A novel fluorescent aptasensor for the highly sensitive and selective detection of cardiac troponin I based on a graphene oxide platform

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the leading risks to global health. Thus, the rapid, accurate early diagnosis of AMI is highly critical. Human cardiac troponin I (cTnI) has been regarded as a golden biomarker for AMI due to its excellent selectivity. In this work, a novel fluorescent aptasensor based on a graphene oxide (GO) platform was developed for the highly sensitive and selective detection of cTnI. GO binds to the fluorescent anti-cTnI aptamer and quenches its fluorescence. In the presence of cTnI, the fluorescent anti-cTnI aptamer leaves the surface of GO, combines with cTnI because of the powerful affinity of the fluorescent anti-cTnI aptamer and cTnI, and then restores the fluorescence of the fluorescent anti-cTnI aptamer. Fluorescence-enhanced detection is highly sensitive and selective to cTnI. The method exhibited good analytical performance with a reasonable dynamic linearity at the concentration range of 0.10-6.0 ng/mL and a low detection limit of 0.07 ng/mL (S/N = 3). The fluorescent aptasensor also exhibited high selectivity toward cTnI compared with other interference proteins. The proposed method may be a potentially useful tool for cTnI determination in human serum. Graphical abstract A novel fluorescent aptasensor for the highly sensitive and selective detection of cardiac troponin I based on a graphene oxide platform.

Tuning the optical properties of graphene quantum dots for biosensing and bioimaging

This review highlights new insights into the various strategies used to tune the optical features of graphene quantum dots, and their use as attractive and powerful probes for bio-sensing/imaging.

Ultrasensitive and highly selective FRET aptasensor for Hg2+ measurement in fish samples using carbon dots/AuNPs as donor/acceptor platform

A novel strategy was proposed for the determination of Hg²⁺ in water, foods, and living organisms based on the quenching and recovery of the fluorescence of CDs-ssDNA through the FRET process induced by AuNPs-cDNA. The results showed a wide response range, pM detection limit, and high selectivity.

Functional Carbon Quantum Dots: A Versatile Platform for Chemosensing and Biosensing

Carbon quantum dot has emerged as a new promising fluorescent nanomaterial due to its excellent optical properties, outstanding biocompatibility and accessible fabrication methods, and has shown huge application perspective in a variety of areas, especially in chemosensing and biosensing applications. In this personal account, we give a brief overview of carbon quantum dots from its origin and preparation methods, present some advance on fluorescence origin of carbon quantum dots, and focus on development of chemosensors and biosensors based on functional carbon quantum dots. Comprehensive advances on functional carbon quantum dots as a versatile platform for sensing from our group are included and summarized as well as some typical examples from the other groups. The biosensing applications of functional carbon quantum dots are highlighted from selective assays of enzyme activity to fluorescent identification of cancer cells and bacteria.

Label-free and ratiometric detection of nuclei acids based on graphene quantum dots utilizing cascade amplification by nicking endonuclease and catalytic G-quadruplex DNAzyme

Herein, we report a ratiometric fluorescence assay based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) for the ultrasensitive DNA detection by coupling the nicking endonuclease assisted target recycling and the G-quadruplex/hemin DNAzyme biocatalysis for cascade signal amplifications. With o-phenylenediamine acted as the substrate of G-quadruplex/hemin DNAzyme, whose oxidization product (that is, 2,3-diaminophenazine, DAP) quenched the fluorescence intensity of GQDs (at 460nm) obviously, accompanied with the emergence of a new emission of DAP (at 564nm). The ratiometric signal variations at the emission wavelengths of 564 and 460nm (I564/I460) were utilized for label-free, sensitive, and selective detection of target DNA. Utilizing the nicking endonuclease assisted target recycling and the G-quadruplex/hemin DNAzyme biocatalysis for amplified cascade generation of DAP, the proposed bioassay exhibited high sensitivity toward target DNA with a detection limit of 30fM. The method also had additional advantages such as facile preparation and easy operation.

A novel fluorescence assay for inorganic pyrophosphatase based on modulated aggregation of graphene quantum dots

A simple and highly sensitive fluorometric method has been developed for inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPase) activity detection based on the disaggregation and aggregation of graphene quantum dots (GQDs).

Graphene quantum dots: recent progress in preparation and fluorescence sensing applications

This paper reviews recent activities in the preparation and fluorescence sensing applications of graphene quantum dots.

Functionalized Carbon Quantum Dots with Dopamine for Tyrosinase Activity Monitoring and Inhibitor Screening: In Vitro and Intracellular Investigation

Sensitive assay of tyrosinase (TYR) activity is in urgent demand for both fundamental research and practical application, but the exploration of functional materials with good biocompatibility for its activity evaluation at the intracellular level is still challenging until now. In this work, we develop a convenient and real-time assay with high sensitivity for TYR activity/level monitoring and its inhibitor screening based on biocompatible dopamine functionalized carbon quantum dots (Dopa-CQDs). Dopamine with redox property was functionalized on the surface of carbon quantum dots to construct a Dopa-CQDs conjugate with strong bluish green fluorescence. When the dopamine moiety in Dopa-CQDs conjugate was oxidized to a dopaquinone derivative under specific catalysis of TYR, an intraparticle photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process between CQDs and dopaquinone moiety took place, and then the fluorescence of the conjugate could be quenched simultaneously. Quantitative evaluation of TYR activity was established in terms of the relationship between fluorescence quenching efficiency and TYR activity. The assay covered a broad linear range of up to 800 U/L with a low detection limit of 7.0 U/L. Arbutin, a typical inhibitor of TYR, was chosen as an example to assess its function of inhibitor screening, and positive results were observed that fluorescence quenching extent of the probe was reduced in the presence of arbutin. It is also demonstrated that Dopa-CQD conjugate possesses excellent biocompatibility, and can sensitively monitor intracellular tyrosinase level in melanoma cells and intracellular pH changes in living cells, which provides great potential in application of TYR/pH-associated disease monitoring and medical diagnostics.

DNA-modified graphene quantum dots as a sensing platform for detection of Hg2+in living cells

A facile method for detection of Hg²⁺in living cells based on DNA modified graphene quantum dots.

Ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of dual DNA targets based on G-quadruplex-mediated amplification

Dual DNA targets were ligated to a long strand containing a G-quadruplex forming sequence and detected on a capture probe modified electrode.

Facile synthesis of S, N co-doped carbon dots and investigation of their photoluminescence properties

Carbon dots with stable down and up conversion fluorescence were synthesized and a unique photoluminescence mechanism is proposed.

Interactions of the primers and Mg2+with graphene quantum dots enhance PCR performance

GQDs enhance PCR performance through stacking the primers selectively, tuning the activity of polymeraseviachelating Mg²⁺, and accelerating the PCR reaction by adsorbing PCR reaction components together to increase their proximity.