Determination of DNA based on localized surface plasmon resonance light scattering using unmodified gold bipyramids

A sensitive resonance Rayleigh light scattering method for alpinetin using gold nanorods probes

A sensitive resonance Rayleigh light scattering (RLS) assay for alpinetin was developed based on alpinetin-modified gold nanorods (AuNRs). Alpinetin could interact with AuNRs and formed a new assembly by electrostatic attraction. In pH 7.4 Tris-HCl buffer solution, the assembly of alpinetin-AuNRs showed a sensitive RLS signal. Under optimum conditions, the magnitude of enhanced RLS intensity (ΔI_RLS ) was proportional to the concentration of alpinetin over the range 0.027-3.24 μg ml^-1 , with a detection limit of 1.79 ng ml^-1 (by 3σ). The developed RLS method was successfully applied to the detection of alpinetin in real or synthesized samples. Alpinetin recoveries were 90.4-108.7% with an RSD of 0.82-2.9% (n = 5) for Alpinia katsumadai samples, and 95.1-103.7% with an RSD of 0.28-3.9% (n = 5) for synthesized samples. The results showed that this new approach was convenient, reliable and sensitive.

Growing gold nanostructures for shape-selective cellular uptake

With development in the synthesis of shape- and size-dependent gold (Au) nanostructures (NSs) and their applications in nanomedicine, one of the biggest challenges is to understand the interaction of these shapes with cancer cells. Herein, we study the interaction of Au NSs of five different shapes with glioblastoma-astrocytoma cells. Three different shapes (nanorods, tetrahexahedra, and bipyramids), possessing tunable optical properties, have been synthesized by a single-step seed-mediated growth approach employing binary surfactant mixtures of CTAB and a secondary surfactant. By the use of two-step seed-mediated approach, we obtained new NSs, named nanomakura (Makura is a Japanese word used for pillow) which is reported for the first time here. Spherical Au nanoparticles were prepared by the Turkevich method. To study NS-cell interactions, we functionalized the NSs using thiolated PEG followed by 11-Mercaptoundecanoic acid. The influence of shape and concentration of NSs on the cytotoxicity were assessed with a LIVE/DEAD assay in glioblastoma-astrocytoma cells. Furthermore, the time-dependent uptake of nanomakura was studied with TEM. Our results indicate that unlike the other shapes studied here, the nanomakura were taken up both via receptor-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis. Thus, from our library of different NSs with similar surface functionality, the shape is found to be an important parameter for cellular uptake.

A new resonance Rayleigh scattering spectral method for determination of O3 with victoria blue B

Ozone (O3) could be absorbed by boric acid-potassium iodide (BKI) absorbent solution to produce tri-iodine ion (I3(-)) that react with victoria blue B (VBB) to form the associated particle (VBB-I3)n and exhibited a strong resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) peak at 722 nm. Under the chosen conditions, the RRS peak intensity was linear with O3 concentration in the range of 0.2-50 μmol/L, with a linear regression equation of ΔI722=17.9c-45.4 and detection limit of 0.057 μmol/L. Accordingly, a simple, rapid and sensitive RRS spectral method was set up for determination of trace O3 in air, with satisfactory results.

Size-controlled synthesis of gold bipyramids using an aqueous mixture of CTAC and salicylate anions as the soft template

One-dimensional (1D) gold (Au) bipyramids are successfully synthesized through a facile seed-mediated method using cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), Au seed nanoparticles, Ag(+) ions, and ascorbic acid. The length and optical properties of the synthesized Au bipyramids are controlled with precision by varying the amount of salicylate anions (Sal(-)) added during the synthesis. The micelles formed from CTA(+)-Sal(-) mixtures in aqueous solutions act as effective templates for the size-controlled synthesis of 1D nanocrystals.

Study of the interaction of salmon sperm DNA with myricitrin-CPB based on the enhanced resonance light scattering signal and its potential application

A new assay of salmon sperm DNA at nanogram level was established based on enhanced resonance light scattering (RLS) signals of DNA with myricitrin and cetylpyridinium bromide dihydrate (CPB). The RLS spectral characteristics of DNA with myricitrin-CPB and the optimum conditions for determination of DNA samples have been studied. At pH 7.4, myricitrin-CPB could enhance the intensity of RLS signal of DNA at 468 nm. The enhanced RLS intensity was directly proportional to DNA concentration in the range of 0.076-4.2 μg mL(-1) with a good linear relationship (r=0.9944). The detection limit was 4.1 ng mL(-1). The synthetic samples were analyzed with satisfactory results that the recovery was 100.9-102.6% and RSD was 1.4-2.1%, which proved that the new method was reliable and applicable.

Resonance light scattering determination of uranyl based on labeled DNAzyme-gold nanoparticle system

A resonance light scattering (RLS) method has been developed using a uranyl (UO2(2+)) specific DNAzyme and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). In this strategy, the cleavage of the substrate strand (SDNA) of DNAzyme results in releasing a shorter duplex in the presence of UO2(2+), leading to the aggregation of AuNPs and the increase of RLS intensity. The response signals linearly correlated with the concentration of UO2(2+) over the range of 1.36×10(-8)-1.50×10(-7) mol L(-1). The limit of detection (LOD) is 4.09×10(-9) mol L(-1). The method has excellent selectivity and higher sensitivity. It could provide a promising potential for the detection of metal ions, and be benefit to extend the application of RLS method.

The analytical application and spectral investigation of DNA-CPB-emodin and sensitive determination of DNA by resonance Rayleigh light scattering technique

A new sensitive DNA probe containing cetylpyridinium bromide (CPB) and emodin (an effective component of Chinese herbal medicine) was developed using the resonance Rayleigh light scattering (RLS) technique. A novel assay was first developed to detect DNA at nanogram level based on the ternary system of DNA-CPB-emodin. The RLS signal of DNA was enhanced remarkably in the presence of emodin-CPB, and the enhanced RLS intensity at 340.0 nm was in direct proportion to DNA concentration in the range of 0.01-2.72 μg mL(-1) with a good linear relationship. The detection limit was 1.5 ng mL(-1). Three synthetic DNA samples were measured obtaining satisfactory results, the recovery was 97.6-107.3%.

An investigation on the interaction of DNA with hesperetin/apigenin in the presence of CTAB by resonance Rayleigh light scattering technique and its analytical application

Two new systems for measuring DNA at nanogram levels by a resonance Rayleigh light scattering (RLS) technique with a common spectrofluorometer were proposed. In the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), the interaction of DNA with hesperetin and apigenin (two effective components of Chinese herbal medicine) could enhance RLS signals with the maximum peak at 363 and 433 nm respectively. The enhanced intensity of RLS was directly proportional to the concentration of DNA in the range of 0.022-4.4 μg mL(-1) for DNA-CTAB-hesperetin system and 0.013-4.4 μg mL(-1) for DNA-CTAB-apigenin system. The detection limit was 2.34 ng mL(-1) and 2.97 ng mL(-1) respectively. Synthetic samples were measured satisfactorily. The recovery of DNA-CTAB-hesperetin system was 97.3-101.9% and that of DNA-CTAB-apigenin system was 101.2-109.5%.