Nanoconjugates of ferrocene and carbon-encapsulated iron nanoparticles as sensing platforms for voltammetric determination of ceruloplasmin in blood

Magnetic Fe/Fe3C@C Nanoadsorbents for Efficient Cr (VI) Removal

Magnetic carbon nanocomposites (α-Fe/Fe₃C@C) synthesized employing fructose and Fe₃O₄ magnetite nanoparticles as the carbon and iron precursors, respectively, are analyzed and applied for the removal of Cr (VI). Initial citric acid-coated magnetite nanoparticles, obtained through the co-precipitation method, were mixed with fructose (weight ratio 1:2) and thermally treated at different annealing temperatures (T_ann = 400, 600, 800, and 1000 °C). The thermal decomposition of the carbon matrix and the Fe₃O₄ reduction was followed by thermogravimetry (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, SQUID magnetometry, and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms. A high annealing temperature (T_ann = 800 °C) leads to optimum magnetic adsorbents (high magnetization enabling the magnetic separation of the adsorbent from the aqueous media and large specific surface area to enhance the pollutant adsorption process). Cr (VI) adsorption tests, performed under weak acid environments (pH = 6) and low pollutant concentrations (1 mg/L), confirm the Cr removal ability and reusability after consecutive adsorption cycles. Physical adsorption (pseudo-first-order kinetics model) and multilayer adsorption (Freundlich isotherm model) characterize the Cr (VI) absorption phenomena and support the enhanced adsorption capability of the synthesized nanostructures.

Synthesis of (E)-Quinoxalinone Oximes through a Multicomponent Reaction under Mild Conditions

Herein, a novel method for the gram-scale synthesis of (E)-quinoxalinone oximes through a multicomponent reaction under mild conditions is described. Such a transformation was performed under transition-metal-free conditions, affording (E)-oximes in a moderate-to-good yield through recrystallization. Our methodology demonstrates a successful combination of a Mannich-type reaction and radical coupling, providing a green and practical approach for the synthesis of potentially bioactive quinoxalinone-containing molecules.

Nanomaterial based aptasensors for clinical and environmental diagnostic applications

Nanomaterials have been exploited extensively to fabricate various biosensors for clinical diagnostics and food & environmental monitoring. These materials in conjugation with highly specific aptamers (next-gen antibody mimics) have enhanced the selectivity, sensitivity and rapidness of the developed aptasensors for numerous targets ranging from small molecules such as heavy metal ions to complex matrices containing large entities like cells. In this review, we highlight the recent advancements in nanomaterial based aptasensors from the past five years also including the basics of conventionally used detection methodologies that paved the way for futuristic sensing techniques. The aptasensors have been categorised based upon these detection techniques and their modifications viz., colorimetric, fluorometric, Raman spectroscopy, electro-chemiluminescence, voltammetric, impedimetric and mechanical force-based sensing of a multitude of targets are discussed in detail. The bio-interaction of these numerous nanomaterials with the aptameric component and that of the complete aptasensor with the target have been studied in great depth. This review thus acts as a compendium for nanomaterial based aptasensors and their applications in the field of clinical and environmental diagnosis.

Synthesis of α-trifluoromethyl ethanone oximes via the three-component reaction of aryl-substituted ethylenes, tert-butyl nitrite, and the Langlois reagent

A three-component reaction of aryl-substituted ethylenes, tert-butyl nitrite, and the Langlois reagent to synthesize a-trifluoromethyl ethanone oximes was developed.

Highly Stable Conjugates of Carbon Nanoparticles with DNA Aptamers

Conjugates of carbon nanoparticles and aptamers have great potential in many areas of biomedicine. In order to be implemented in practice, such conjugates should keep their properties throughout long storage period in commonly available conditions. In this work, we prepared conjugates of carbon nanoparticles (CNP) with DNA aptamers using streptavidin-biotin reaction. Obtained conjugates possess superior stability and kept their physical-chemical and functional properties during 30 days at +4 °C and -20 °C. Proposed approach to conjugation allows loading of about 100-120 pM of biotinylated aptamer per 1 mg of streptavidin-coated CNP (CNP-Str). Aptamer-functionalized CNP-Str have zeta potential of -34 mV at pH 7, mean diameter of 168-177 nm, and polydispersity index of 0.080-0.140. High reproducibility of functionalization was confirmed by preparation of several batches of CNP-aptamer with the same size distribution and aptamer loading using independently synthesized parent CNP-Str nanoparticles. Stability of CNP-aptamer conjugates was significantly enhanced by postsynthesis addition of EDTA that prevents nuclease degradation of immobilized aptamers. Obtained nanoparticles were stable at pH ranging from 6 to 10. Optical properties of CNP-aptamer nanoparticles were also studied and their ability to quench fluorescence via Förster resonance energy transfer was shown. Taking into account properties of CNP-aptamer conjugates, we suppose they may be used in both homo- and heterogeneous colorimetric, fluorescent, and aggregation-based assays.

Covalent mechanochemical functionalization of carbon-encapsulated iron nanoparticles towards the improvement of their colloidal stability

The mechanochemical covalent functionalization of carbon-encapsulated iron nanoparticles (CEINs) is reported. Unprotected sugars (mannose, galactose, β-cyclodextrin) and amino sugars (glucosamine and chitosan) were successfully conjugated to the surface of CEINs. The developed grinding-induced methods employ (i) the 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of nitrile oxides or azomethine ylides and (ii) amidation-type reactions with the inclusion of carboxyl-functionalized CEINs and amino sugars. All the developed mechanochemical processes are fast (reaction time 10 min) and result in high degrees of coverage (7.3-31.5 wt%). The presented functionalization routes also constitute easy to perform and environmentally improved protocols. Moreover, the use of toxic organic solvents is not required. A comprehensive study on the colloidal stability of the sugar-functionalized CEINs is also included in this work. The results of the turbidimetric analyses reveal that both grinding-induced formation of amide bonds and the cycloadditions of sugar moieties to the surface of CEINs result in the significant improvement of their colloidal stability. The highest stability of the aqueous dispersion was found for CEINs functionalized with β-cyclodextrin. The comparative studies between the classical wet approach and the grinding-induced functionalization of CEINs show that the herein developed environmentally improved method increases the colloidal stability three times. The crucial role of the mechanochemical approach in the covalent functionalization of CEINs and the improvement of their colloidal stability is discussed in this work.

Recent developments in the synthesis and applications of graphene-family materials functionalized with cyclodextrins

The introduction of cyclodextrin species to graphene-family materials (GFMs) constitutes an important area of research, especially in terms of the development of applied nanoscience. The chemistry of cyclodextrins is the so-called host-guest chemistry, which has impacted on many fields of research, including catalysis, electrochemistry and nanomedicine. Cyclodextrins are water-soluble and biocompatible supramolecules, and therefore they may introduce new interesting properties to GFMs and may enhance the physicochemical/biological features of native GFMs. The reported methods for the conjugation of cyclodextrins to GFMs utilize either covalent or non-covalent approaches. The recent progress in the applications of GFMs functionalized with cyclodextrins, with the respect to the chemistry and features of these conjugates, is discussed. Special consideration is also given to the recent developments in (i) nanomedicine, (ii) electrochemistry, (iii) adsorption and (iv) catalysis. Examples of these materials are discussed in this work, together with the future outlook on the impact of GFM-cyclodextrin conjugates in the development of applied nanoscience.