A dual-model SERS and RRS analytical platform for Pb(II) based on Ag-doped carbon dot catalytic amplification and aptamer regulation

Applications of water-stable metal-organic frameworks in the removal of water pollutants: A review

Because the pollutants produced by human activities have destroyed the ecological balance of natural water environment, and caused severe impact on human life safety and environmental security. Hence the task of water environment restoration is imminent. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), structured from organic ligands and inorganic metal ions, are notable for their outstanding crystallinity, diverse structures, large surface areas, adsorption performance, and excellent component tunability. The water stability of MOFs is a key requisite for their possible actual applications in separation, catalysis, adsorption, and other water environment remediation areas because it is necessary to safeguard the integrity of the material structure during utilization. In this article, we comprehensively review state-of-the-art research progress on the promising potential of MOFs as excellent nanomaterials to remove contaminants from the water environment. Firstly, the fundamental characteristics and preparation methods of several typical water-stable MOFs include UiO, MIL, and ZIF are introduced. Then, the removal property and mechanism of heavy metal ions, radionuclide contaminants, drugs, and organic dyes by different MOFs were compared. Finally, the application prospect of MOFs in pollutant remediation prospected. In this review, the synthesis methods and application in water pollutant removal are explored, which provide ways toward the effective use of water-stable MOFs in materials design and environmental remediation.

A review of aptamer-based SERS biosensors: Design strategies and applications

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, due to its high sensitivity, unique vibrational fingerprint identification of molecules and easy operation, has been extensively applied in different fields. Aptamers, being the unique single stranded DNA/RNA sequences that can specifically recognize and seize the target analytes, combined with Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), can offer potent multiplex detection capacity with high specificity and sensitivity. In this review, we summarize and classify the general working strategies of different types of aptamer-based SERS biosensors with diversified protocols which either take aptamer conformational change as intrinsic reporter, or make use of various extrinsic Raman reporters in different sensor designs via on/off approach, sandwich-type and magnetic nanoparticles (NPs)-assisted approach, and catalytic reaction assisted approach with amplification of alternative Raman signals. The advantages, applications and perspectives of these aptamer-based SERS biosensors are also discussed.

Fullerene carbon dot catalytic amplification-aptamer assay platform for ultratrace As+3 utilizing SERS/RRS/Abs trifunctional Au nanoprobes

Under microwave conditions, Au-doped carbon dots (CD_Au) were prepared using fullerene as a precursor, and characterized in details. It is found that CD_Au can strongly catalyze the reaction of HAuCl₄-fructose to generate gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The new nanocatalytic reaction was studied by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) and absorption (Abs) spectrometry. Based on the specific aptamer (Apt_As)-As⁺³ reaction mediated the CD_Au-HAuCl₄-fructose nanoreaction, and the products of AuNPs as SERS/RRS/Abs trifunctional indicator nanoprobes, a new trimode Apt assay strategy was developed for detection of ultratrace As⁺³. A 0.07-0.70, 0.10-0.60 and 0.20-0.70 μg L^-1 were determined by SERS, RRS and Abs, with detection limits (DL) of 0.04, 0.06, 0.10 μg L^-1 respectively. The aptamer-regulation CD_Au catalytic amplification platform can be also used to assay 1.7-13.3 nmol L^-1 Pb²⁺ and 2.0-12 μmol L^-1 Hg²⁺, with DL of 0.80 nmol L^-1 and 0.90 μmol L^-1 respectively.

Highly sensitive detection of cytochrome c in the NSCLC serum using a hydrophobic paper based-gold nanourchin substrate

Cytochrome c (Cyt c) is a biomarker of early apoptosis that plays a critical role in the diagnosis and therapy of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this work, we proposed a novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based biosensor to implement the ultrasensitive detection of Cyt c in the serum of NSCLC patients. The SERS-supporting substrates based on hydrophobic filter paper were composed of gold nanourchins (GNUs) surface-functionalized with the Cyt c aptamer and the cyanine 5-labeled complementary DNA. In the existence of Cyt c, it could specifically bind to its aptamer, which leads to the detachment of complementary strands modified with Cy5 and the great weakness of SERS signal. The finite-difference time domain (FDTD) simulation showed that the excellent SERS performance of GNUs aggregation was strongly dependent on a large number of "hot spots" at the tips and between the nanogaps of aggregated GNUs. Alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) was used to make the filter paper modify its property from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, which consequently increased the density of GNUs and extended the retention time of the analyte. SERS biosensors based on hydrophobic paper exhibited prominent reproducibility and selectivity. The detection limit of Cyt c in PBS was 1.148 pg/mL, while the detection limit in human serum was 1.79 pg/mL. Moreover, the analysis of the serum samples of healthy subjects and NSCLC patients confirmed the feasibility of its clinical application. The results were consistent with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results. This method can be a powerful strategy for quantitative detection of extracellular Cyt c, and it is expected that the SERS-based biosensors could be applied in the practical clinical diagnoses of NSCLC.

A Highly Sensitive SERS and RRS Coupled Di-Mode Method for CO Detection Using Nanogolds as Catalysts and Bifunctional Probes

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a commonly poisonous gas. It is important to detect CO in daily life. Herein, a new and sensitive surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) coupled di-mode method was developed for CO, based on gold nano-enzyme catalysis and gold nanoprobes. CO can react with HAuCl₄ to generate gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in pH 5.2 HAc-NaAc buffer. The generated AuNPs exhibited SERS activity at 1620 cm^-1 in the presence of Vitoria blue B (VBB) molecular probes, and an RRS peak at 290 nm. Based on the AuNP bifunctional probes, the increased SERS and RRS intensities respond linearly with the concentration of CO in the range of 100-1500 ng/mL and 30-5230 ng/mL, respectively. To improve the sensitivity, the produced AuNPs were used as nano-enzyme catalysts for the new indicator reaction of HAuCl₄-ethanol (En) to amplify the signal. The sensitive SERS method was coupled with the accurate RRS method to develop a sensitive and accurate SERS/RRS di-mode method for determination of 3.0-413 ng/mL CO, based on the AuNP-HAuCl₄-En nanocatalytic reaction and its product of AuNPs as SERS and RRS bifunctional probes.