Population analysis to increase the robustness of molecular computational identification and its extension into the near-infrared for substantial numbers of small objects

Multimorphological Remoldable Silver Nanomaterials from Multimode and Multianalyte Colorimetric Sensing to Molecular Information Technology

Inspired by life's interaction networks, ongoing efforts are to increase complexity and responsiveness of multicomponent interactions in the system for sensing, programmable control, or information processing. Although exquisite preparation of single uniform-morphology nanomaterials has been extremely explored, the potential value of facile and one-pot preparation of multimorphology nanomaterials has been seriously ignored. Here, multimorphological silver nanomaterials (M-AgN) prepared by one pot can form interaction networks with various analytes, which can be successfully realized from multimode and multianalyte colorimetric sensing to molecular information technology (logic computing and security). The interaction of M-AgN with multianalytes not only induces multisignal responses (including color, absorbance, and wavelength shift) for sensing metal ions (Cr3+, Hg2+, and Ni2+) but also can controllably reshape its four morphologies (nanodots, nanoparticles, nanorods, and nanotriangles). By abstracting binary relationships between analytes and response signals, multicoding parallel logic operations (including simple logic gates and cascaded circuits) can be performed. In addition, taking advantage of natural concealment and molecular response characteristics of M-AgN nanosystems can also realize molecular information encoding, encryption, and hiding. This research not only promotes the construction and application of multinano interaction systems based on multimorphology and multicomponent nanoset but also provides a new imagination for the integration of sensing, logic, and informatization.

Solvent-polarity reconfigurable fluorescent 4-piperazino-N-aryl-1,8-naphthalimide crown ether logic gates

Four compounds 1-4 were designed and synthesised, comprising a 4-amino-N-aryl-1,8-naphthalimide fluorophore, a piperazine receptor, and an aryl group, as fluorescent logic gates. At the imide position, the substituent is phenyl (1), 1,2-dimethoxyphenyl (2), benzo-15-crown-5 (3), or benzo-18-crown-6 (4). Molecules 1 and 2 are constructed according to a fluorophore-spacer-receptor format, while 3 and 4 are engineered according to a receptor1-spacer1-fluorophore-spacer2-receptor2 format based on photoinduced electron transfer and internal charge transfer mechanisms. The compounds were studied in water, water/methanol mixtures of different ratios, and methanol by UV-visible absorption and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, as a function of pH, metal ions and solvent polarity. The excited state of 1-4 is 8.4 ± 0.2 in water, 7.6 ± 0.1 in 1 : 1 (v/v) water/methanol, and 7.1 ± 0.3 in methanol. The of 3 in water is 0.92 and the and of 4 in water are 2.3 and 2.9. 1H NMR data in D2O and CD3OD confirm H+ interaction at the piperazine moiety, and Na+ and Ba2+ binding at the benzo-15-crown-5 and benzo-18-crown-6 moieties of 3 and 4. By altering the solvent polarity, the fluorescent logic gates can be reconfigured between TRANSFER logic and AND logic. Molecules with polarity reconfigurable logic could be useful tools for probing the microenvironment of cellular membranes and protein interfaces.

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles for Multimode Colorimetric Sensing of Multiplex Metal Ions and Molecular Informatization Applications

Plasmonic materials have been widely used in chemo/biosensing and biomedicine. However, little attention has been paid to the application of plasmonic materials in terms of the transition from molecular sensing to molecular informatization. Herein, we demonstrated that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) prepared through facile and rapid microwave heating have multimode colorimetric sensing capabilities to different metal ions (Cr³⁺, Hg²⁺, and Ni²⁺), which can be further transformed into interesting and powerful molecular information technology (massively parallel molecular logic computing and molecular information protection). The prepared AgNPs can quantitatively and sensitively detect Cr³⁺ and Hg²⁺ in actual water samples. The AgNPs' multimode-guided multianalyte sensing processing was further investigated to construct a series of basic logic gates and advanced cascaded logic circuits by considering the analytes as the inputs and the colorimetric signals (like color, absorbance, wavelength shift) as the outputs. Moreover, the selective responses and molecular logic computing ability of AgNPs were also utilized to develop molecular cryptosteganography for encrypting and hiding some specific information, which proves that the molecular world and the information world are interconnected and use each other. This research not only opens the door for the transition from molecular sensing to molecular informatization but also provides an excellent opportunity for the construction of the "metaverse" of the molecular world.

Molecular engineering of fluorescent bichromophore 1,3,5-triaryl-Δ2-pyrazoline and 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide molecular logic gates

Emissive bichromophoric solvatochromatic molecules are introduced as a new platform for the development of fluorescent molecular logic gates.

Fluorescent Molecular Logic Gates Driven by Temperature and by Protons in Solution and on Solid

Temperature-driven fluorescent NOT logic is demonstrated by exploiting predissociation in a 1,3,5-trisubstituted Δ² -pyrazoline on its own and when grafted onto silica microparticles. Related Δ² -pyrazolines become proton-driven YES and NOT logic gates on the basis of fluorescent photoinduced electron transfer (PET) switches. Additional PASS 1 and YES+PASS 1 logic gates on silica are also demonstrated within the same family. Beside these small-molecule systems, a polymeric molecular thermometer based on a benzofurazan-derivatized N-isopropylacrylamide copolymer is attached to silica to produce temperature-driven fluorescent YES logic.

Fluorescent molecular logic gates based on photoinduced electron transfer (PET) driven by a combination of atomic and biomolecular inputs

A meeting point for entities from chemistry, enzymology and computer science.

A Personal Journey across Fluorescent Sensing and Logic Associated with Polymers of Various Kinds

Our experiences concerning fluorescent molecular sensing and logic devices and their intersections with polymer science are the foci of this brief review. Proton-, metal ion- and polarity-responsive cases of these devices are placed in polymeric micro- or nano-environments, some of which involve phase separation. This leads to mapping of chemical species on the nanoscale. These devices also take advantage of thermal properties of some polymers in water in order to reincarnate themselves as thermometers. When the phase separation leads to particles, the latter can be labelled with identification tags based on molecular logic. Such particles also give rise to reusable sensors, although molecular-scale resolution is sacrificed in the process. Polymeric nano-environments also help to organize rather complex molecular logic systems from their simple components. Overall, our little experiences suggest that researchers in sensing and logic would benefit if they assimilate polymer concepts.