Ultrasensitive Multiplex Imaging of Cell Surface Proteins via Core-Shell Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Nanoprobes

Diagnosis and classification of kidney transplant rejection using machine learning-assisted surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy using a single drop of serum

The quest to reduce kidney transplant rejection has emphasized the urgent requirement for the development of non-invasive, precise diagnostic technologies. These technologies aim to detect antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) and T-cell-mediated rejection (TCMR), which are asymptomatic and pose a risk of potential kidney damage. The protocols for managing rejection caused by ABMR and TCMR differ, and diagnosis has traditionally relied on invasive biopsy procedures. Therefore, a convergence system using a nano-sensing chip, Raman spectroscopy, and AI technology was introduced to facilitate diagnosis using serum samples obtained from patients with no major abnormality, ABMR, and TCMR after kidney transplantation. Tissue biopsy and Banff score analysis were performed across the groups for validation, and 5 μL of serum obtained at the same time was added onto the Au-ZnO nanorod-based Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering sensing chip to obtain Raman spectroscopy signals. The accuracy of machine learning algorithms for principal component-linear discriminant analysis and principal component-partial least squares discriminant analysis was 93.53% and 98.82%, respectively. The collagen (an indicative of kidney injury), creatinine, and amino acid-derived signals (markers of kidney function) contributed to this accuracy; however, the high accuracy was primarily due to the ability of the system to analyze a broad spectrum of various biomarkers.

Ratiometric electrochemical immunosensor for simultaneous detection of C-myc and Bcl-2 based on multi-role alloy composites

A ratiometric electrochemical immunosensor is proposed for simultaneous detection of cellular-myelocytomatosis oncoprotein (C-myc) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) via the potential-resolved strategy. It relied on multi-role co-loaded alloy composites (CLACs) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-graphene oxide (GO)-multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) (PGM) modified electrodes. CLACs with good catalytic and enzyme-like properties were synthesized in one step by loading tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) or methylene blue (MB) into Pt-Pd alloy and used as label materials. After immunological reactions, CLACs showed distinguishable dual differential pulse voltammetry signals at  - 0.26 V and 0.38 V, corresponding to C-myc and Bcl-2, and the PGM had an electrochemical signal at 1.2 V, which could be used as a reference signal to construct a ratiometric sensor. CLACs had a satisfactory synergistic effect with the PGM, and eventually achieved quadruple signal amplification. Thus, benefiting from multiple magnification and ratiometric self-calibration functions, sensitive detections of C-myc and Bcl-2 were achieved, with detection limits as low as 0.5 and 2.5 pg mL-1, respectively. Additionally, when the designed method was applied to blood samples from lymphoma patients, results consistent with the ELISA kit were obtained. This will open avenues for constructing multiple protein detection sensors.

Mg-Containing Zn3O3 Structures for Detection of CO2: A DFT Study on CHEM Effects of SERS and Electronic Properties

Surface-enhanced Raman spectra (SERS) and electronic-structure-based properties are important tools for investigation of the molecular sensing ability of nanoparticles. The present computational study is intended to explore the sensing ability of Zn3O3 and Mg-containing Zn3O3 structures for CO2 molecules by CHEM effects of the SERS technique. Geometries of CO2-adsorbed Zn3O3, Zn2MgO3 (Mg as a substitutional impurity), and Zn3O3Mg (Mg as an interstitial impurity) structures are modeled using the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of density functional theory. The Mg site of the Zn2MgO3 and Zn3O3Mg structures is preferential for the adsorption of CO2. The observed energy trends are supported by geometrical analysis, molecular orbital interactions, redshifts in CO2 vibrational modes, and topological properties. Raman activity enhancement of the CO2 symmetric vibrational mode is significant when the molecule is adsorbed at the Mg site of Zn3O3Mg. The observed Raman activity enhancement is supported by SERS spectra obtained from anharmonic calculations carried out on B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) geometries and substantiated by a larger change in the polarizability with energy corresponding to the symmetric vibrational mode of CO2. The TDDFT calculations, frequency-dependent polarizabilities, and charge transfer interactions show that Zn3O3Mg is a good substrate for sensing of CO2, with visible wavelengths, by resonance Raman effect. The trends with adsorption energy, Raman activity, and excited state properties are also substantiated by B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) calculations.