Multiple logic operations based on chemically triggered upconversion fluorescence switching

The development of upconversion nanoparticles based logic systems, especially integrated logic systems is still a challenge until now. In this work, an upconversion nanocomposite system is developed and studied for the sensing abilities toward hydrion, hydroxyl ions, metal ions and anions (S^2-, I^-) by taking the advantages of turn-on and turn-off upconversion fluorescence switching response. Triggering by different kinds of ions, the upconversion system can act as a fluorescence switch due to the specific recognition abilities of Rhodamine 6G functionalized PEI for specific ions and the energy transfer process from upconversion nanoparticles to recognition molecules. Based on these results, multiple molecular logic gates, including single-input logic operation (YES, NOT), double-inputs logic operation (OR, AND, NOR, INHIBIT) and multiple-input integrative logic operation (INHIBIT+OR) are developed by employing hydrion, hydroxyl ions, metal ions and anions as inputs and the changes in the upconversion fluorescence intensity as output. The multiple logic operations are of great significance for the applications in biomedicine and molecular calculation.

Expression of concern: Layer-by-layer aqueous synthesis, characterization and fluorescence properties of type-II CdTe/CdS core/shell quantum dots with near-infrared emission

Expression of concern for ‘Layer-by-layer aqueous synthesis, characterization and fluorescence properties of type-II CdTe/CdS core/shell quantum dots with near-infrared emission’ by Rijun Gui et al., RSC Adv., 2013, 3, 20959–20969. DOI: 1039/C3RA43120G

Retraction: Intracellular fluorescent thermometry and photothermal-triggered drug release developed from gold nanoclusters and doxorubicin dual-loaded liposomes

Retraction of ‘Intracellular fluorescent thermometry and photothermal-triggered drug release developed from gold nanoclusters and doxorubicin dual-loaded liposomes’ by Rijun Gui et al., Chem. Commun., 2014, 50, 1546–1548, DOI: 10.1039/C3CC47981A.

Retraction: Light-triggered nitric oxide release and targeted fluorescence imaging in tumor cells developed from folic acid-graft-carboxymethyl chitosan nanospheres

Retraction of ‘Light-triggered nitric oxide release and targeted fluorescence imaging in tumor cells developed from folic acid-graft-carboxymethyl chitosan nanospheres’ by Rijun Gui et al., RSC Adv., 2014, 4, 30129–30136, DOI: 10.1039/C4RA03034F.

Doping Dopamine in Carbon Nanoparticles: A New Multifunctional Logic-Based Decision-Making Molecule

A dopamine-functionalized carbon nanoparticle (CNP)-based platform is designed to reversibly control the optical signal, leading to a multifunctional logic system regulated by pH and light. pH-regulated unique reversible transformation of oxidized and reduced forms of a neurotransmitter, dopamine, conjugated with CNPs plays a decisive role in capturing the final output of the logic function. Inspired by this phenomenon, herein, we report the use of dopamine-docked CNPs to construct different molecular logic gates with an intention to develop the next-generation molecular logic gates. We could successfully construct two basic molecular logic gates, namely, YES and NOT, using one input; two modular logic gates; an IMPLICATION logic gate using two inputs; and finally a combination of OR and AND gates using three inputs. The optical response of the synthesized NP conjugate provides a fluorescence-based "Erase-Read-Write-Read" function. The proposed phenomenon may open a new concept of biochemical logic gates with fluorescence output for neuronal imaging.

RETRACTED: Facilely self-assembled magnetic nanoparticles/aptamer/carbon dots nanocomposites for highly sensitive up-conversion fluorescence turn-on detection of tetrodotoxin

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor following concerns raised by a reader. The article uses two electron micrographs which have been used in other publications as well, denoting different samples. Fig. 1A is identical to Fig. 3E in RSC Adv., 2013,3, 20959-20969 doi: 10.1039/C3RA43120G despite describing different samples. Fig. 2A is identical to Fig. 1B in Sensors & Actuators B: Chemical, vol 245, pp 386-394 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2017.01.166 and Fig. 1A in Materials Letters vol 195 pp 131-135 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2017.02.119 despite describing different samples. These problems with the data presented cast doubt on all the data, and accordingly also the conclusions based on that data, in this publication. The scientific community takes a very strong view on this matter and apologies are offered to readers of the journal that this was not detected during the submission process., http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2017.08.043.

Integration of G-quadruplex and DNA-templated Ag NCs for nonarithmetic information processing

To create sophisticated molecular logic circuits from scratch, you may not believe how common the building blocks can be and how diverse and powerful such circuits can be when scaled up. Using the two simple building blocks of G-quadruplex and silver nanoclusters (Ag NCs), we experimentally construct a series of multifunctional, label-free, and multi-output logic circuits to perform nonarithmetic functions: a 1-to-2 decoder, a 4-to-2 encoder, an 8-to-3 encoder, dual transfer gates, a 2 : 1 multiplexer, and a 1 : 2 demultiplexer. Moreover, a parity checker which is capable of identifying odd and even numbers from natural numbers is constructed conceptually. Finally, a multi-valued logic gate (ternary inhibit gate) is readily achieved by taking this DNA/Ag NC system as a universal platform. All of the above logic circuits share the same building blocks, indicating the great prospects of the assembly of nanomaterials and DNA for biochemical logic devices. Considering its biocompatibility, the novel prototypes developed here may have potential applications in the fields of biological computers and medical diagnosis and serve as a promising proof of principle in the not-too-distant future.

Smart Luminescent Coordination Polymers toward Multimode Logic Gates: Time-Resolved, Tribochromic and Excitation-Dependent Fluorescence/Phosphorescence Emission

In this work, we propose that lanthanide cations (such as Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺)-doped long-afterglow coordination polymers (CPs) can be an effective tool for designing multimode optical logic gates based on their tunable fluorescence/phosphorescence transformation and state-dependent emission. First, multicolor and white-light luminescence across the blue/green/yellow/red visible regions can be obtained by balancing the co-doping ratio of Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺ cations and suitable excitations. Additionally, a new tribochromic Eu-Cd-CP was developed based on the mechanism of a change in structural symmetry. Benefitting from long-afterglow, tribochromism, and excitation-dependent emission on the same luminescent CP, a new three-input and three-output logic gate was obtained. Therefore, this work not only provides detailed insights into the interesting fields of tribochromism and tunable photoemission, but also confirms that long-afterglow CPs can serve as a new platform for the construction of smart luminescent systems and multimode optical logic gates.

Room-temperature phosphorescence logic gates developed from nucleic acid functionalized carbon dots and graphene oxide

Room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) logic gates were developed using capture ssDNA (cDNA) modified carbon dots and graphene oxide (GO). The experimental results suggested the feasibility of these developed RTP-based "OR", "INHIBIT" and "OR-INHIBIT" logic gate operations, using Hg(2+), target ssDNA (tDNA) and doxorubicin (DOX) as inputs.

Biodegradable and crosslinkable PPF-PLGA-PEG self-assembled nanoparticles dual-decorated with folic acid ligands and rhodamine B fluorescent probes for targeted cancer imaging

Novel biodegradable and crosslinkable copolymers of hydrophobic poly(propylene fumarate)-co-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PPF-PLGA) linked with hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), namely PPF-PLGA-PEG, were developed and fabricated into core-shell nanoparticles through self-assembly and photocrosslinking. A fluorescent probe, rhodamine B (RhB), was conjugated to the end of the copolymer chain (PPF-PLGA-PEG-RhB), which allows tracking of the nanoparticles through visualizing the fluorescence probe. Folic acid (FA) ligand was conjugated to another series of chains (PPF-PLGA-PEG-FA) for targeted delivery of the nanoparticles to the tumor sites by binding to the ubiquitously overexpressed FA receptors on tumor cells. Our results showed that PPF-PLGA-PEG nanoparticles incorporated with RhB fluorescence probes and FA tumor binding ligands have specific cancer cell targeting and imaging abilities. These crosslinkable nanoparticles are potentially useful to serve as a platform for conjugation of fluorescence probes as well as various antibodies and peptides for cancer targeted imaging or drug delivery.

Two-photon excited quantum dots with compact surface coatings of polymer ligands used as an upconversion luminescent probe for dopamine detection in biological fluids

Two-photon excited CdTe quantum dots were developed as a novel upconversion luminescent probe for dopamine detection in biological fluids.

Recent progress in quantum dot based sensors

Recent progress in quantum dot (QD) based chemo- and biosensors for various applications is summarized.

Rapid synthesis of NADPH responsive CdSe quantum dots from selenium nanoparticles

Herein we developed a new approach for CdSe quantum dots (QDs) synthesis.