Graphene Quantum Dot Embedded Hydrogel for Dissolved Iron Sensing

Phytic Acid-Functional Cellulose Nanocrystals and Their Application in Self-Healing Nanocomposite Hydrogels

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have garnered significant attention as a modifiable substrate because of their exceptional performances, including remarkable degradability, high tensile strength, high elastic modulus, and biocompatibility. In this article, the successful adsorption of phytic acid (PA) onto the surface of cellulose nanocrystals @polydopamine (CNC@PDA) was achieved. Taking inspiration from mussels, a dopamine self-polymerization reaction was employed to coat the surface of CNCs with PDA. Utilizing Pickering emulsion, the CNC@PDA-PA nanomaterial was obtained by grafting PA onto CNC@PDA. An environmentally friendly hydrogel was prepared through various reversible interactions using poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and Fe3+ as raw materials with the assistance of CNC@PDA-PA. By multiple hydrogen bonding and metal-ligand coordination, nanocomposite hydrogels exhibit remarkable mechanical properties (the tensile strength and strain were 1.82 MPa and 442.1%, respectively) in addition to spectacular healing abilities (96.6% after 5 h). The study aimed to develop an innovative approach for fabricating nanocomposite hydrogels with exceptional self-healing capabilities.

Construction of an ultra-small hydrazone-linked covalent organic polymer for selective fluorescent detection of ferric ion in aqueous solution

A novel ultra-small hydrazone-linked covalent organic polymer (UHCOP) was synthesized based on the Schiff-base reaction between 2,4,6-trihydroxy-1,3,5-benzenetricarbaldehyde and 1,4-benzenedicarbohydrazide at room temperature and utilized as a sensitive fluorescent sensor for rapid (<2 min) and selective detection of Fe³⁺ in aqueous solution. The prepared UHCOP displayed ultra-small size with the diameter of 7.98 ± 0.97 nm and gave a stable fluorescent emission at 510 nm. UHCOP exhibited good sensitivity and highly selectivity towards Fe³⁺. The coordination interaction between UHCOP and Fe³⁺ resulted in the obviously aggregation-caused quenching response of UHCOP. The linear range was from 5.0 μM to 1.4 mM (R² = 0.999) with the detection limit of 2.5 μM. Finally, UHCOP has been successfully applied in the detection of Fe³⁺ in real water samples, proving the fabricated UHCOP is promising as a sensitive fluorescent sensor for selective detection of Fe³⁺ in aqueous solution.

Metal ion sensing with graphene quantum dots: detection of harmful contaminants and biorelevant species

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are attractive materials for use as highly selective and sensitive chemical sensors, owing to their simple preparation and affordability. GQDs have been successfully deployed as sensors for toxic metal ions, which is a significant issue due to the ever-increasing environmental contamination from agricultural and industrial activities. Despite the success of GQDs in this area, the mechanisms which underpin GQD-metal ion specificity are rarely explored. This lack of information can result in difficulties when attempting to replicate published procedures and can limit the judicious design of new highly selective GQD sensors. Furthermore, there is a dearth of GQD examples which selectively detect biologically relevant alkali and alkaline earth metals. This review will present the current state of GQDs as metal ion sensors for harmful contaminants, highlighting and discussing the discrepancies that exist in the proposed mechanisms regarding metal ion selectivity. The emerging field of GQD sensors for biorelevant metal ion species will also be reviewed, with a perspective to the future of this highly versatile material.

A veratraldehyde-appended organosilicon probe and its hybrid silica nanoparticles as a dual chemosensor for colorimetric and fluorimetric detection of Cu2+ and Fe3+ ions

Schiff bases of veratraldehyde based organosilatranes have been synthesized. The colorimetric and fluorimetric detection of 3a and its hybrid silica nanoparticles (V-NPs) revealed significant sensorial ability only towards Cu2+ and Fe3+ ions.

Influence of Fe(III) on the Fluorescence of Lysozyme: a Facile and Direct Method for Sensitive and Selective Sensing of Fe(III)

Lysozyme is widely used for the synthesis of nanomaterials (e.g., gold nanoparticle) to fluorescently sense metal ions. However, the effect of metal ions on the fluorescence of lysozyme is not studied yet. Herein, we have explored the interactions of lysozyme with different metal ions to develop a direct sensing platform for Fe(III). It has been observed that the fluorescence of lysozyme was slightly decreased in the presence of Cu(II), Hg(II), As(V), Co(II), Cd(II), Cr(II), Fe(II), Mn(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II), while a significant decrease in the lysozyme fluorescence was observed for Fe(III). The effect of thermal stability on the fluorescence quenching was also studied from 25 to 60 °C. In the present study, the lysozyme sensing probe was able to selectively and accurately detect 0.5-50 ppm of Fe(III) with a LOD of 0.1 ppm (1.8 µM) at 25 °C.

Stimulus-responsive luminescent hydrogels: Design and applications

Luminescent hydrogels are emerging soft materials with applications in photoelectric, biomedicine, sensors and actuators, which are fabricated via covalently conjugation of luminophors to hydrogelators or physical loading of luminescent organic/inorganic materials into hydrogel matrices. Due to the intrinsic stimulus-responsiveness for hydrogels such as thermo-, pH, ionic strength, light and redox, luminescent hydrogels could respond to external physical or chemical stimuli through varying the luminescent properties such as colors, fluorescent intensity and so on, affording diverse application potential in addition to the pristine individual hydrogels or luminescent materials. Based on the rapid development of such area, here we systematically summarize and discuss the design protocols, properties as well as the applications of stimulus-responsive luminescent hydrogels. Because of the stimuli-responsiveness, biocompatibility, injectable and controllability of luminescent hydrogels, they are widely used as functional smart materials. We illustrate the applications of luminescent hydrogels. The future developments about luminescent hydrogels are also presented.

Hydrogel-Embedded Quantum Dot-Transcription Factor Sensors for Quantitative Progesterone Detection

Immobilization of biosensors in or on a functional material is critical for subsequent device development and translation to wearable technology. Here, we present the development and assessment of an immobilized quantum dot-transcription factor-nucleic acid complex for progesterone detection as a first step toward such device integration. The sensor, composed of a polyhistidine-tagged transcription factor linked to a quantum dot and a fluorophore-modified cognate DNA, is embedded within a hydrogel as an immobilization matrix. The hydrogel is optically transparent, soft, and flexible as well as traps the quantum dot-transcription factor DNA assembly but allows free passage of the analyte, progesterone. Upon progesterone exposure, DNA dissociates from the quantum dot-transcription factor DNA assembly resulting in an attenuated ratiometric fluorescence output via Förster resonance energy transfer. The sensor performs in a dose-dependent manner with a limit of detection of 55 nM. Repeated analyte measurements are similarly successful. Our approach combines a systematically characterized hydrogel as an immobilization matrix and a transcription factor-DNA assembly as a recognition/transduction element, offering a promising framework for future biosensor devices.