A New Binary Matrix for Specific Detection of Mercury(II) Using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Controllable detection threshold achieved through the toehold switch system in a mercury ion whole-cell biosensor

Due to the toxicity of mercury and its harmful effects on human health, it is essential to establish a low-cost, highly sensitive and highly specific monitoring method with a wide detection range, ideally with a simple visual readout. In this study, a whole-cell biosensor with adjustable detection limits was developed for the detection of mercury ions in water samples, allowing controllable threshold detection with an expanded detection range. Gene circuits were constructed by combining the toehold switch system with lactose operon, mercury-ion-specific operon, and inducible red fluorescent protein gene. Using MATLAB for design and selection, a total of eleven dual-input single-output sensing logic circuits were obtained based on the basic logic of gene circuit construction. Then, biosensor DTS-3 was selected based on its fluorescence response at different isopropyl β-D-Thiogalactoside (IPTG) concentrations, exhibiting the controllable detection threshold. At 5-20 μM IPTG, DTS-3 can achieve variable threshold detection in the range of 0.005-0.0075, 0.06-0.08, 1-2, and 4-6 μM mercury ion concentrations, respectively. Specificity experiments demonstrated that DTS-3 exhibits good specificity, not showing fluorescence response changes compared with other metal ions. Furthermore spiked sample experiments demonstrated its good resistance to interference, allowing it to distinguish mercury ion concentrations as low as 7.5 nM by the naked eye and 5 nM using a microplate reader. This study confirms the feasibility and performance of biosensor with controllable detection threshold, providing a new detection method and new ideas for expanding the detection range of biosensors while ensuring rapid and convenient measurements without compromising sensitivity.

An introductory review on advanced multifunctional materials

This review summarizes the applications of some of the advanced materials. It included the synthesis of several nanoparticles such as metal oxide nanoparticles (e.g., Fe₃O₄, ZnO, ZrOSO₄, MoO_3-x, CuO, AgFeO₂, Co₃O₄, CeO₂, SiO₂, and CuFeO₂); metal hydroxide nanosheets (e.g., Zn₅(OH)₈(NO₃)₂·2H₂O, Zn(OH)(NO₃)·H₂O, and Zn₅(OH)₈(NO₃)₂); metallic nanoparticles (Ag, Au, Pd, and Pt); carbon-based nanomaterials (graphene, graphene oxide (GO), graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄), and carbon dots (CDs)); biopolymers (cellulose, nanocellulose, TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNFs), and chitosan); organic polymers (e.g. covalent-organic frameworks (COFs)); and hybrid materials (e.g. metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)). Most of these materials were applied in several fields such as environmental-based technologies (e.g., water remediation, air purification, gas storage), energy (production of hydrogen, dimethyl ether, solar cells, and supercapacitors), and biomedical sectors (sensing, biosensing, cancer therapy, and drug delivery). They can be used as efficient adsorbents and catalysts to remove emerging contaminants e.g., inorganic (i.e., heavy metals) and organic (e.g., dyes, antibiotics, pesticides, and oils in water via adsorption. They can be also used as catalysts for catalytic degradation reactions such as redox reactions of pollutants. They can be used as filters for air purification by capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They can be used for hydrogen production via water splitting, alcohol oxidation, and hydrolysis of NaBH₄. Nanomedicine for some of these materials was also included being an effective agent as an antibacterial, nanocarrier for drug delivery, and probe for biosensing.

Plasmonic Nano Silver: An Efficient Colorimetric Sensor for the Selective Detection of Hg2+ Ions in Real Samples

Environmental pollution caused by heavy metal ions has become a major health problem across the world. In this study, a selective colorimetric sensor based on starch functionalized silver nanoparticles (St-Ag NPs) for rapid detection of Hg2+ in real samples was developed. The environmentally friendly green approach was utilized to synthesize starch functionalized silver nanoparticles (St-AgNPs). A multi-technique approach involving UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used for the characterization of St-Ag NPs. These starch functionalized AgNPs were tested for the detection of heavy metals at 25 °C. The screening process revealed clear changes in the AgNPs color and absorption intensity only in the presence of Hg2+ due to the redox reaction between Ag0 and Hg2+. The color and absorption intensity of nanoparticles remain unchanged in the presence of all the other tested metals ion. The proposed method has strong selectivity and sensitivity to Hg2+ ions, with a detection limit of 1 ppm revealed by UV-visible spectrophotometry. The proposed procedure was found to be successful for the detection of Hg2+ in real samples of tap water.

AuNPs/NiFe-LDHs-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry for efficient analysis of metronidazole and its metabolites in water samples

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been widely used as laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) nanomaterials for the analysis of low-molecular-weight samples. Nickel/iron-layered double hydroxides (NiFe-LDHs) nanosheets can support the anchoring of AuNPs and enhance the ability of desorption/ionization. Their hybrid nanocomposites are expected to produce synergistic effects to improve the performance of LDI-MS. In this work, a novel AuNPs/NiFe-LDHs nanomaterial was synthesized by self-assembly method and characterized based on TEM, SEM, XPS, UV-vis and FTIR-ATR. AuNPs/NiFe-LDHs assisted LDI-TOF MS exhibited higher peak intensity and lower background noise compared with conventional organic matrices. Furthermore, excellent salt and protein tolerance, good repeatability and quantification were observed when MNZ and its metabolites were detected in the range of 1-50 ng·μL^-1 (R² > 0.98), with LODs and LOQs of 0.5 ng·μL^-1 and 1 ng·μL^-1, respectively. This nanocomposite could also be used for the analysis of some other small molecules, such as antibiotics, sugars, amino acids and pesticides, demonstrating the potential to detect a variety of environmental chemicals. Taken together, the developed method combined the advantages of two nanomaterials and can provide rapid and accurate analysis of MNZ and its metabolites in water samples, as well as some other small molecules.

Nanobiotechnology as a platform for the diagnosis of COVID-19: a review

A sensitive method for diagnosing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is highly required to fight the current and future global health threats due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV 2). However, most of the current methods exhibited high false‐negative rates, resulting in patient misdiagnosis and impeding early treatment. Nanoparticles show promising performance and great potential to serve as a platform for diagnosing viral infection in a short time and with high sensitivity. This review highlighted the potential of nanoparticles as platforms for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Nanoparticles such as gold nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, and graphene (G) were applied to detect SARS-CoV 2. They have been used for molecular-based diagnosis methods and serological methods. Nanoparticles improved specificity and shorten the time required for the diagnosis. They may be implemented into small devices that facilitate the self-diagnosis at home or in places such as airports and shops. Nanoparticles-based methods can be used for the analysis of virus-contaminated samples from a patient, surface, and air. The advantages and challenges were discussed to introduce useful information for designing a sensitive, fast, and low-cost diagnostic method. This review aims to present a helpful survey for the lesson learned from handling this outbreak to prepare ourself for future  pandemic.

Challenges and Strategies of Chemical Analysis of Drugs of Abuse and Explosives by Mass Spectrometry

In analytical science, mass spectrometry (MS) is known as a "gold analytical tool" because of its unique character of providing the direct molecular structural information of the relevant analyte molecules. Therefore, MS technique has widely been used in all branches of chemistry along with in proteomics, metabolomics, genomics, lipidomics, environmental monitoring etc. Mass spectrometry-based methods are very much needed for fast and reliable detection and quantification of drugs of abuse and explosives in order to provide fingerprint information for criminal investigation as well as for public security and safety at public places, respectively. Most of the compounds exist as their neutral form in nature except proteins, peptides, nucleic acids that are in ionic forms intrinsically. In MS, ion source is the heart of the MS that is used for ionizing the electrically neutral molecules. Performance of MS in terms of sensitivity and selectivity depends mainly on the efficiency of the ionization source. Accordingly, much attention has been paid to develop efficient ion sources for a wide range of compounds. Unfortunately, none of the commercial ion sources can be used for ionization of different types of compounds. Moreover, in MS, analyte molecules must be released into the gaseous phase and then ionize by using a suitable ion source for detection/quantification. Under these circumstances, fabrication of new ambient ion source and ultrasonic cutter blade-based non-thermal and thermal desorption methods have been taken into account. In this paper, challenges and strategies of mass spectrometry analysis of the drugs of abuse and explosives through fabrication of ambient ionization sources and new desorption methods for non-volatile compounds have been described. We will focus the literature progress mostly in the last decade and present our views for the future study.

Polyacrylonitrile-based carbon nanofibers as a matrix for laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis of small molecules under both positive and negative ionization modes

Carbon fiber (CNF), prepared by carbonization of electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers, is systematically investigated as a mediator to replace conventional organic matrices for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). CNF exhibits a high salt tolerance, sensitivity, and resolution for organic matrix-free laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) analysis of various analytes under both positive and negative ionization modes. Especially, saccharides, a neutral molecule having low negative ionization efficiency, are successfully detected with CNF. Taken together, this study clearly demonstrates CNF is a promising material to develop an efficient and universal platform for LDI-MS analysis regardless of preferential ionization modes of analytes. Graphical abstract.

Self-assembled matrix fabricated by Fe-metal organic frameworks and carboxymethyl cellulose for the determination of small molecules by MALDI-TOF MS

A nanoprobe of laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (LDI-TOF MS) for the determination of small molecules was developed that is based on the composition of Fe-metal organic frameworks (Fe-MOFs) and carboxymethyl cellulose-Na (CMC-Na). This material is a good adsorbent for small molecules via hydrogen bonding and π-interactions; we detected three molecules, dopamine, glyphosate, and pyrene. The detection limits for these compounds are 0.01 mg L^-1, 1.50 μg L^-1, and 0.01 μg L^-1, respectively; the recoveries are 85-117%, 81-127%, and 89-115%, respectively. The relative standard deviations (~ 15%) and coefficients of determination of the calibration plot (~ 0.97) are satisfactory. The applicability of the chip for practical samples is demonstrated by quantifying pyrene in domestic water and polluted lake water; the recoveries are about 90~117% and 85~125% (n = 5), respectively; the RSDs are 9.4% and 13.5%, respectively. Graphical abstract.

Zirconium Oxide Sulfate-Carbon (ZrOSO4@C) Derived from Carbonized UiO-66 for Selective Production of Dimethyl Ether

Methanol dehydration process to dimethyl ether (DME) has been considered as one of the main routes to produce clean fuel, that is, DME. Thus, efficient catalysts are highly required for selective production of DME. Herein, UiO-66 was used as a precursor for the synthesis of zirconium oxide sulfate embedded carbon (ZrOSO₄@C). The synthesis method involves a one-step carbonization of UiO-66 in the presence of sulfuric acid (10 wt %). Material characterizations using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and Raman spectroscopy approve the formation of the high crystalline phase of ZrOSO₄@C. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy confirm the mesopore structure of the materials. Acidity analysis using pyridine temperature-programmed desorption and isopropanol dehydration corroborates that ZrOSO₄@C has weak and intermediate acidic sites making ZrOSO₄@C an effective catalyst for methanol dehydration to DME. The materials offered full conversion (100%) with excellent selectivity (100%) at a relatively low temperature (250 °C). The catalyst exhibited a long-term stability for 120 h. Based on these results, DME is produced efficiently in terms of conversion, selectivity, and long-term stability.

Hierarchical porous ZIF-8 for hydrogen production via the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride

Terephthalic acid (TPA) is used for the synthesis of hierarchical porous zeolitic imidazolate framework (HPZIF-8) which shows high catalytic activity for the hydrolysis of NaBH₄ (2333 mL_H2 min⁻¹ g_cat⁻¹).