TiO2-guanine as a new amalgamation compound for fabrication of a disposable biosensor with high sensitivity and rapid detection of H1N1 swine flu virus

A TiO2-guanine nanocomposite (TG NC)-based electrochemical biosensor was immobilized with hemagglutinin (HA) gene specific probe with 5' NH2 group on screen-printed gold electrode (probe(ss)DNA-TG-SPGE). The modified biosensor was examined for H1N1 swine flu virus. TG NCs along with precursors were characterized spectroscopically and morphologically by employing several approaches. Electrochemical investigations were performed with the help of cyclic voltammetric (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 0.1 M phosphate buffer saline (PBS; pH 7.4) with 1 µM methylene blue (MB) redox indicator. For better detection of single-stranded virus DNA, the modified electrode was optimized at various concentrations, pH, and scan rates. The modified biosensor showed high sensitivity (40.32 μA/ng.cm2), low LOD (0.00024 ng/6 µL), and broad linear range 0.0002-20 ng/6µL with coefficient of determination of R2=0.9981 for H1N1 virus detection. The HA gene-modified biosensor presented decent stability and specificity against different infectious pathogens including H3N2 virus and human DNA with negative response. Furthermore, the modified biosensor also responded well for real sample target DNA detection with a recovery of >96%. The simply designed HA gene-modified biosensor transduces decreased current response towards target-specific (ss)DNA binding and could be used as a rapid detection tool for H1N1 swine flu virus diagnosis.

Nucleobases thin films deposited on nanostructured transparent conductive electrodes for optoelectronic applications

Environmentally-friendly bio-organic materials have become the centre of recent developments in organic electronics, while a suitable interfacial modification is a prerequisite for future applications. In the context of researches on low cost and biodegradable resource for optoelectronics applications, the influence of a 2D nanostructured transparent conductive electrode on the morphological, structural, optical and electrical properties of nucleobases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine and uracil) thin films obtained by thermal evaporation was analysed. The 2D array of nanostructures has been developed in a polymeric layer on glass substrate using a high throughput and low cost technique, UV-Nanoimprint Lithography. The indium tin oxide electrode was grown on both nanostructured and flat substrate and the properties of the heterostructures built on these two types of electrodes were analysed by comparison. We report that the organic-electrode interface modification by nano-patterning affects both the optical (transmission and emission) properties by multiple reflections on the walls of nanostructures and the electrical properties by the effect on the organic/electrode contact area and charge carrier pathway through electrodes. These results encourage the potential application of the nucleobases thin films deposited on nanostructured conductive electrode in green optoelectronic devices.

Selective Adsorption and Photocatalytic Degradation of Extracellular Antibiotic Resistance Genes by Molecularly-Imprinted Graphitic Carbon Nitride

There is a growing need to mitigate the discharge of extracellular antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from municipal wastewater treatment systems. Here, molecularly-imprinted graphitic carbon nitride (MIP-C₃N₄) nanosheets were synthesized for selective photocatalytic degradation of a plasmid-encoded ARG (bla_NDM-1, coding for multidrug resistance New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1) in secondary effluent. Molecular imprinting with guanine enhanced ARG adsorption, which improved the utilization of photogenerated oxidizing species to degrade bla_NDM-1 rather than being scavenged by background nontarget constituents. Consequently, photocatalytic removal of bla_NDM-1 in secondary effluent with MIP-C₃N₄ (k = 0.111 ± 0.028 min^-1) was 37 times faster than with bare graphitic carbon nitride (k = 0.003 ± 0.001 min^-1) under UVA irradiation (365 nm, 3.64 × 10^-6 Einstein/L·s). MIP-C₃N₄ can efficiently catalyze the fragmentation of bla_NDM-1, which decreased the potential for ARG repair by transformed bacteria. Molecular imprinting also changed the primary degradation pathway; electron holes (h⁺) were the predominant oxidizing species responsible for bla_NDM-1 removal with MIP-C₃N₄ versus free radicals (i.e., ·OH and O₂^-) for coated but nonimprinted C₃N₄. Overall, MIP-C₃N₄ efficiently removed bla_NDM-1 from secondary effluent, demonstrating the potential for molecular imprinting to enhance the selectivity and efficacy of photocatalytic processes to mitigate dissemination of antibiotic resistance from sewage treatment systems.

Rapid Nucleation of Reduced Graphene Oxide-Supported Palladium Electrocatalysts for Methanol Oxidation Reaction

Small sized electrocatalysts, which can be obtained by rapid nucleation and high supersaturation are imperative for outstanding methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). Conventional microwave synthesis processes of electrocatalysts include ultrasonication, stirring, pH adjustment, and microwave irradiation of the precursor mixture. Ethylene glycol (EG), which serves as a reductant and solvent was added during the ultrasonication or stirring stage. However, this step and pH adjustment resulted in unintended multi-stage gradual nucleation. In this study, the microwave reduction approach was used to induce rapid nucleation and high supersaturation in order to fabricate small-sized reduced graphene oxide-supported palladium (Pd/rGO) electrocatalysts via the delayed addition of EG, elimination of the pH adjustment step, addition of sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), prior microwave irradiation of the EG mixed with Na₂CO₃, and addition of room temperature precursor mixture. Besides its role as a second reducing agent, the addition of Na₂CO₃ was primarily intended to generate an alkaline condition, which is essential for the high-performance of electrocatalysts. Moreover, the microwave irradiation of the EG and Na₂CO₃ mixture generated highly reactive free radicals that facilitate rapid nucleation. Meanwhile, the room temperature precursor mixture increased supersaturation. Results showed improved electrochemically active surface area (78.97 m² g^-1, 23.79% larger), MOR (434.49 mA mg^-1, 37.96% higher) and stability.

Dendrimer-based preparation and luminescence studies of SiO2 fibers doping Eu3+ activator in interstitial sites

The formation mechanism of SiO₂:Eu³⁺ fibers.