Cu/Cu2O heterojunctions in carbon framework for highly sensitive detection of glucose

Direct visualization and 3D reconstruction of conductive filaments in aSiO2 material-based memristive device

Observation of conductive filaments has greatly aided the development of theoretical models of memristive devices. In this work, we visualized and reconstructed the conductive filaments in a Cu/Cu-doped SiO2/W device employing a focused ion beam (FIB) as a milling technique. The SEM images taken from the device after 150 DC sweep cycles showed that Joule heat played a vital role in determining the morphology of a conductive filament, where the vaporization of the conductive filament resulted in the creation of defects, including particles, voids, and cavities. The competition between the formation and vaporization of conductive filaments generally induces a remarkable current fluctuation. Since Cu-doped SiO2 was utilized as the electrolyte, the vapors exfoliated adjacent single layers. FIB milling proceeded in top-down and front-back modes; thus, a 3D model of conductive filaments and defects was constructed according to a series of FIB-SEM images. This methodology is promising for a future failure analysis of memristive devices.

In-situ integrated electrodes of FeM-MIL-88/CP for simultaneous ultra-sensitive detection of dopamine and acetaminophen based on crystal engineering strategy

Designing and exploiting integrated electrodes is the current inevitable trend to realize the sustainable development of electrochemical sensors. In this work, a series of integrated electrodes prepared by in situ growing the second metal ion-modulated FeM-MIL-88 (M = Mn, Co and Ni) on carbon paper (CP) (FeM-MIL-88/CP) were constructed as the electrochemical sensing platforms for the simultaneous detection of dopamine (DA) and acetaminophen (AC). Among them, FeMn-MIL-88/CP exhibited the best sensing behaviors and achieved the trace detection for DA and AC owing to synergistic catalysis between Fe3+, Mn2+ and CP. The electrochemical sensor based on FeMn-MIL-88/CP showed ultra-high sensitivities of 2.85 and 7.46 μA μM-1 cm-2 and extremely low detection limits of 0.082 and 0.015 μM for DA and AC, respectively. The FeMn-MIL-88/CP also exhibited outstanding anti-interference ability, repeatability and stability, and satisfactory results were also obtained in the detection of actual samples. The mechanism of Mn2+ modulation on the electrocatalytic activity of FeMn-MIL-88/CP towards DA and AC was revealed for the first time through the density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Good adsorption energy and rapid electron transfer worked synergistically to improve the sensing performances of DA and AC. This work not only provided a high-performance integrated electrode for the sensing field, but also demonstrated the influencing factors of electrochemical sensing at the molecular levels, laying a theoretical foundation for the sustainable development of subsequent electrochemical sensing.

Free-standing hybrid material of Cu/Cu2O/CuO modified by graphene with commercial Cu foil using for non-enzymatic glucose detection

Free-standing Cu/Cu₂O/CuO modified by graphene was formed through two steps: Firstly, the commercial Cu foil was thermal annealed to form Cu/Cu₂O/CuO; Secondly, the Cu/Cu₂O/CuO was modified by graphene through electrochemical exfoliated method. The SEM, XRD, TEM and XPS have been used to characterize the morphology, the crystalline phase, and the surface composition of the hybrid electrode as-prepared. The effects of Cu and its oxides on graphene has been uncovered by the Raman results. The sensitivity of the glucose sensor in 0.1 M NaOH by using the as-prepared hybrid material reaches 3102μA·mM^-1cm^-2within a linear range of 0.002-2.88 mM, which is better than that of the Cu/graphene and the Cu/Cu₂O/CuO prepared at the same conditions. The sensor also shows excellent anti-interference ability, good cycling stability and time stability. The advantage of the sensor is caused by the strengthened synergistic effects between the graphene and the Cu/Cu₂O/CuO due to the alleviated detrimental effects of the metal on the property of the graphene through using oxides middle layer as well as the large active area that obtained. This work provides a new way to study the effects of graphene in improving the property of the metal oxide especially in using for glucose sensor.

Copper-based metal-organic frameworks for biomedical applications

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of important porous, crystalline materials composed of metal ions (clusters) and organic ligands. Owing to the unique redox chemistry, photochemical and electrical property, and catalytic activity of Cu^2+/+, copper-based MOFs (Cu-MOFs) have been recently and extensively explored in various biomedical fields. In this review, we first make a brief introduction to the synthesis of Cu-MOFs and their composites, and highlight the recent synthetic strategies of two most studied representatives, three-dimensional HKUST-1 and two-dimensional Cu-TCPP. The recent advances of Cu-MOFs in the applications of cancer treatment, bacterial inhibition, biosensing, biocatalysis, and wound healing are summarized and discussed. Furthermore, we propose a prospect of the future development of Cu-MOFs in biomedical fields and beyond.

Dual-mode sensing of biomarkers based on nano 3D Cu-Flo.@AuNPs-electrocatalyzed oxidation of glucose inducing in-situ H2O2-generation system

A bimodal 3D-electrochemiluminescence (ECL) analysis method was developed, which integrated simpleness, label-free, high-throughput and real time detection together. Firstly, a novel 3D copper-based nanosheet micro-material (Cu-Flo. NMs) coupled with gold nanoparticles/Cysteine (Cu-Flo.@AuNPs-Cys) was prepared to use as the versatile label for both colorimetric and ECL techniques. The 3D-Cu-Flo.@AuNPs-Cys having glucose oxidase-like activity could catalyze glucose to produce H₂O₂ in situ, which was further found to be capable of exhibiting a 30.95-fold higher ECL-intensity for luminol than bare glassy carbon electrodes (GCE). Taking advantages of the 3D-Cu-Flo.@AuNPs-Cys above, a colorimetric and ECL-channel sensor (GCE/3D-Cu-Flo.@AuNPs-Cys) were constructed simultaneously for glucose detection. The fabricated sensor displayed a wide linear range (Glucose: 0.001-50 mmol L^-1, AFP: 2.25 × 10^-7-225 ng mL^-1), impressive low limit of detection (Glucose: 1.27 × 10^-7 mol L^-1, AFP: 1.92 × 10^-8 ng mL^-1, S/N = 3) and acceptable recovery (Glucose: 94% ∼ 104%, AFP: 96.04% ∼ 102.29%) in practical sample. Furthermore, the biosensor showed ultrafast (0.5 min) analysis efficiency, high stability for 6 cyclic potential scans and satisfactory reproducibility for 7 repeated tests. These results demonstrated the proposed 3D dual-modal ECL-biosensor for biomarkers detection had a great potential in clinical diagnostics, promoting the application in biomedical researching and POCT.

Bimetallic Nanomaterials-Based Electrochemical Biosensor Platforms for Clinical Applications

Diabetes is a foremost health issue that results in ~4 million deaths every year and ~170 million people suffering globally. Though there is no treatment for diabetes yet, the blood glucose level of diabetic patients should be checked closely to avoid further problems. Screening glucose in blood has become a vital requirement, and thus the fabrication of advanced and sensitive blood sugar detection methodologies for clinical analysis and individual care. Bimetallic nanoparticles (BMNPs) are nanosized structures that are of rising interest in many clinical applications. Although their fabrication shares characteristics with physicochemical methodologies for the synthesis of corresponding mono-metallic counterparts, they can display several interesting new properties and applications as a significance of the synergetic effect between their two components. These applications can be as diverse as clinical diagnostics, anti-bacterial/anti-cancer treatments or biological imaging analyses, and drug delivery. However, the exploitation of BMNPs in such fields has received a small amount of attention predominantly due to the vital lack of understanding and concerns mainly on the usage of other nanostructured materials, such as stability and bio-degradability over extended-time, ability to form clusters, chemical reactivity, and biocompatibility. In this review article, a close look at bimetallic nanomaterial based glucose biosensing approaches is discussed, concentrating on their clinical applications as detection of glucose in various real sample sources, showing substantial development of their features related to corresponding monometallic counterparts and other existing used nanomaterials for clinical applications.

Non-enzymatic electrochemical detection of glucose using Ni-Cu bimetallic alloy nanoparticles loaded on reduced graphene oxide through a one-step synthesis strategy

In this work, Ni-Cu bimetallic alloy nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide (Ni-Cu ANPs/RGO) was successfully fabricated through a one-step hydrothermal synthesis method, where simultaneous reduction of graphene oxide, nickel salt and copper salt was performed, and relevant characterization studies were executed. This synthetic method does not require surfactants and high temperature treatment, and is recommended as a green, convenient and effective way to produce composites. The unique two-dimensional architecture of the RGO provides a large specific surface area, contributing to loading more Ni-Cu ANPs, while the uniformly distributed Ni-Cu bimetallic alloy nanoparticles enhance the electrocatalytic performance of glucose oxidation. The non-enzymatic glucose biosensor based on Ni-Cu ANPs/RGO showed a wide linear range (from 0.01 μM to 30 μM), low detection limit (0.005 μM), and excellent sensitivity (1754.72 μA mM^-1 cm^-2). More importantly, the high reliability and the excellent selectivity in actual sample detection will broaden its practical application in electrochemical sensing.