Synthesis and modification of carbon dots for advanced biosensing application

Emergence of Quantum Dots as Innovative Tools for Early Diagnosis and Advanced Treatment of Breast Cancer

Quantum dots (QDs) semiconducting nanomaterials, have garnered attention due to their distinctive properties, including small size, high luminescence, and biocompatibility. In the context of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), notorious for its resistance to conventional treatments, QDs exhibit promising potential for enhancing diagnostic imaging and providing targeted therapies. This review underscores recent advancements in the utilization of QDs in imaging techniques, such as fluorescence tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, aiming at the early and precise detection of tumors. Emphasis is placed on the significance of QD design, synthesis and functionalization processes as well as their use in innovative strategies for targeted drug delivery, capitalizing on their ability to selectively deliver therapeutic agents to cancer cells. As the research in this field advances rapidly, this review covers a classification of QDs according to their composition, the characterization techniques than can be used to determine their properties and, subsequently, emphasizes recent findings in the field of TNBC-targeting, highlighting the imperative need to address challenges, like potential toxicity or methodologies standardization. Collectively, the findings explored thus far suggest that QDs could pave the way for early diagnosis and effective therapy of TNBC, representing a significant stride toward precise and personalized strategies in treating TNBC.

Construction of nitrogen-doped carbon dots-based fluorescence probe for rapid, efficient and sensitive detection of chlortetracycline

Antibiotics are widely used in clinical medicine due to their excellent antibacterial abilities. As typical emerging pollutants, their misuse can lead to excess antibiotics entering the environment, causing antimicrobial resistance and leading to serious health problems via food chain. Herein, a nano-fluorescent probe based on nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) was constructed for the sensitive detection of chlortetracycline (CTC). N-CDs with stable fluorescence were synthesized by hydrothermal method using alizarin red and melamine as raw materials. The N-CDs exhibited significant independence to excitation wavelength. The fluorescence of N-CDs was significantly quenched by CTC ascribing to the fluorescence resonance energy transfer mechanism. The concentration of N-CDs, solution pH and incubation time were optimized to obtain the optimal detection parameters. Under optimal conditions, CTC exhibited excellent linearity over the range of 20-1200 μg/L, and the detection limit was 8.74 μg/L. The method was validated with actual water samples and achieved satisfied spiked recoveries of 97.6-102.6%. Therefore, the proposed method has significant application value in the detection of CTC in waters.

Advances in pH Sensing: From Traditional Approaches to Next-Generation Sensors in Biological Contexts

pH has been considered one of the paramount factors in bodily functions because most cellular tasks exclusively rely on precise pH values. In this context, the current techniques for pH sensing provide us with the futuristic insight to further design therapeutic and diagnostic tools. Thus, pH-sensing (electrochemically and optically) is rapidly evolving toward exciting new applications and expanding researchers' interests in many chemical contexts, especially in biomedical applications. The adaptation of cutting-edge technology is subsequently producing the modest form of these biosensors as wearable devices, which are providing us the opportunity to target the real-time collection of vital parameters, including pH for improved healthcare systems. The motif of this review is to provide insight into trending tech-based systems employed in real-time or in-vivo pH-responsive monitoring. Herein, we briefly go through the pH regulation in the human body to help the beginners and scientific community with quick background knowledge, recent advances in the field, and pH detection in real-time biological applications. In the end, we summarize our review by providing an outlook; challenges that need to be addressed, and prospective integration of various pH in vivo platforms with modern electronics that can open new avenues of cutting-edge techniques for disease diagnostics and prevention.

Recent Progress on Second Near-Infrared Emitting Carbon Dots in Biomedicine

Second near-infrared (NIR-II) carbon dots, with absorption or emission between 1000 and 1700 nm, are gaining increasing attention in the biomaterial field due to their distinctive properties, which include straightforward preparation processes, stable photophysical characteristics, excellent biocompatibility, and low cost. As a result, there is a growing focus on the controlled synthesis and modulation of the photochemical and photophysical properties of NIR-II carbon dots, with the aim to further expand their biomedical applications, a current research hotspot. This account aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in NIR-II carbon dots within the biomedical field. The review will cover the following topics: (i) the design, synthesis, and purification of NIR-II carbon dots, (ii) the surface modification strategies, and (iii) the biomedical applications, particularly in the domain of cancer theranostics. Additionally, this account addresses the challenges encountered by NIR-II carbon dots and will outline future directions in the realm of cancer theranostics. By exploring carbon-based NIR-II biomaterials, we can anticipate that this contribution will garner increased attention and contribute to the development of next-generation advanced functional carbon dots, thereby offering enhanced tools and strategies in the biomedical field.

Microwave synthesized novel biomass carbon dots applied in the fluorescent detection of crystal violet

To establish a new method for detecting crystal violet (CV), a harmful dye, herein, a genre of novel biomass carbon dots (CDs) was synthesized via a microwave method and employed as a fluorescent probe, in which water spinach and polyethylene glycol (PEG) performed as raw materials. Based on the inner filter effect (IFE) between the luminescent CDs and CV, the blue emission of this probe at 430 nm could be quenched by CV. Hence, a new strategy was proposed to selectively determine CV in aquaculture ambient. Moreover, under the optimal experiment conditions, this method showed a good linearity between the concentration of CV (c) and fluorescence quenching rate (ΔF/F0) in the concentration range of 4-200 μmol/L with the corresponding correlation coefficient (r) and the detection limit of 0.997 and 710 nmol/L, respectively. With advantages of environmental protectivity, sensitivity, affordability, and user-friendliness, the facilely fabricated CDs could be successfully applied in detecting CV in aquaculture samples, providing a technical foundation for monitoring the pollution of CV and ensuring the quality and safety of aquatic products.

On-Off-On Fluorometric Detection of Hg(II) and L-Cysteine Using Red Emissive Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dots for Environmental and Clinical Sample Analysis

This research introduces a novel fluorescence sensor 'on-off-on' employing nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) with an 'on-off-on' mechanism for the selective and sensitive detection of Hg(II) and L-cysteine (L-Cys). N-CDs was synthesized using citric acid as the carbon precursor and urea as the nitrogen source in dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent, resulting in red emissive characteristics under UV light. Comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, including UV-Vis, fluorescence, FT-IR, XRD, XPS, Raman, and Zeta potential techniques, validated the structural and optical characteristics of the synthesized N-CDs. The maximum excitation and emission of N-CDs were observed at 548 and 622 nm, respectively. The quantum yield of N-CDs was calculated to be 16.1%. The fluorescence of N-CDs effectively quenches upon the addition of Hg(II) due to the strong coordination between Hg(II) and the surface functionalities of N-CDs. Conversely, upon the subsequent addition of L-Cys, the fluorescence of N-CDs was restored. This restoration can be attributed to the stronger affinity of the -SH group in L-Cys towards Hg(II) relative to the surface functionalities of N-CDs. This dual-mode response enabled the detection of Hg(II) and L-Cys with impressive detection limits of 15.1 nM and 8.0 nM, respectively. This sensor methodology effectively detects Hg(II) in lake water samples and L-Cys levels in human urine, with a recovery range between 99 and 101%. Furthermore, the N-CDs demonstrated excellent stability, high sensitivity, and selectivity, making them a promising fluorescence on-off-on probe for both environmental monitoring of Hg(II) and clinical diagnostics of L-Cys.

Advancing glioblastoma imaging: Exploring the potential of organic fluorophore-based red emissive carbon dots

Over time, the interest in developing stable photosensitizers (PS) which both absorb and emit light in the red region (650 and 950 nm) has gained noticeable interest. Recently, carbon dots (CDs) have become the material of focus to act as a PS due to their high extinction coefficient, low cytotoxicity, and both high photo and thermal stability. In this work, a Federal and Drug Association (FDA) approved Near Infra-Red (NIR) organic fluorophore used for photo-imaging, indocyanine green (ICG), has been explored as a precursor to develop water-soluble red emissive CDs which possess red emission at 697 nm. Furthermore, our material was found to yield favorable red-imaging capabilities of glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) meanwhile boasting low toxicity. Additionally with post modifications, our CDs have been found to have selectivity towards tumors over healthy tissue as well as crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in zebrafish models.

Biomass-Derived Core-Shell Carbon Dots with Embedded Tripodal Receptors for the Selective Recognition of Mefenamic Acid in Pharmaceutical Formulations and Urine

A tripodal amine (TPA) with -OH, N, and S donors is synthesized to functionalize a core-shell carbon dot composite (FCDs@SiO2-TPA) for sensing application. The TPA is characterized by spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques, and the composite is characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectra (EDS) techniques. The composite has the ability to recognize mefenamic acid (MFA) selectively even in the presence of other drugs like ibuprofen sodium, acetylsalicylic acid, naproxen sodium, diclofenac sodium, and ketoprofen. It can also be used for the quantification of MFA by recording the emission quenching response of the sample at λexc. = 350 nm and λems. = 460 nm (linear range = 1-8 μM and LOD = 197 nM). The density functional theory calculations and 1H NMR titration suggest quenching of the emission signal due to photoinduced electron transfer via hydrogen bonding between the probe and MFA. The composite FCDs@SiO2-TPA has been demonstrated as a reliable and cost-effective sensing probe for the detection of MFA in pharmaceutical formulations, water samples, and cow urine samples.

Predictable incorporation of nitrogen into carbon dots: insights from pinacol rearrangement and iminium ion cyclization

Nitrogen-doped carbon dots (CDs) have attracted considerable attention across various research areas and applications due to their enhanced optical properties and photostability. However, the mechanism of nitrogen incorporation in CDs remains elusive, hampering the precise control over nitrogen-incorporated structures and the investigation of the effects of nitrogen on the electronic structure and optical properties of CDs. In this study, we employed a rational design approach, utilizing glucosamine and ethylene glycol as the carbon source and co-reagent, respectively, to synthesize N-doped CDs. Our synthesis strategy involved pinacol rearrangement and iminium ion cyclization reactions, enabling the reliable formation of N-doped CDs. Notably, the resulting CDs exhibited distinctive emissive states attributed to heteroatomic defect structures, including oxygenic and nitrogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. To gain further insights into their energy levels and electronic transitions, we conducted comprehensive investigations, employing extended Hückel calculations and pump-probe spectroscopy. The synthesized CDs displayed great promise as bioimaging and photodynamic therapy agents, highlighting their potential for biomedical applications. Moreover, our study significantly contributes valuable insights into the rational design of N-doped CDs with controllable chemical and electronic structures, thereby paving the way for advancements in their diverse range of applications.

Zero-Dimensional Carbon Nanomaterials for Fluorescent Sensing and Imaging

Advances in nanotechnology and nanomaterials have attracted considerable interest and play key roles in scientific innovations in diverse fields. In particular, increased attention has been focused on carbon-based nanomaterials exhibiting diverse extended structures and unique properties. Among these materials, zero-dimensional structures, including fullerenes, carbon nano-onions, carbon nanodiamonds, and carbon dots, possess excellent bioaffinities and superior fluorescence properties that make these structures suitable for application to environmental and biological sensing, imaging, and therapeutics. This review provides a systematic overview of the classification and structural properties, design principles and preparation methods, and optical properties and sensing applications of zero-dimensional carbon nanomaterials. Recent interesting breakthroughs in the sensitive and selective sensing and imaging of heavy metal pollutants, hazardous substances, and bioactive molecules as well as applications in information encryption, super-resolution and photoacoustic imaging, and phototherapy and nanomedicine delivery are the main focus of this review. Finally, future challenges and prospects of these materials are highlighted and envisaged. This review presents a comprehensive basis and directions for designing, developing, and applying fascinating fluorescent sensors fabricated based on zero-dimensional carbon nanomaterials for specific requirements in numerous research fields.

Newly Developed Electrochemiluminescence Based on Bipolar Electrochemistry for Multiplex Biosensing Applications: A Consolidated Review

Recently, there has been an upsurge in the extent to which electrochemiluminescence (ECL) working in synergy with bipolar electrochemistry (BPE) is being applied in simple biosensing devices, especially in a clinical setup. The key objective of this particular write-up is to present a consolidated review of ECL-BPE, providing a three-dimensional perspective incorporating its strengths, weaknesses, limitations, and potential applications as a biosensing technique. The review encapsulates critical insights into the latest and novel developments in the field of ECL-BPE, including innovative electrode designs and newly developed, novel luminophores and co-reactants employed in ECL-BPE systems, along with challenges, such as optimization of the interelectrode distance, electrode miniaturization and electrode surface modification for enhancing sensitivity and selectivity. Moreover, this consolidated review will provide an overview of the latest, novel applications and advances made in this field with a bias toward multiplex biosensing based on the past five years of research. The studies reviewed herein, indicate that the technology is rapidly advancing at an outstanding purse and has an immense potential to revolutionize the general field of biosensing. This perspective aims to stimulate innovative ideas and inspire researchers alike to incorporate some elements of ECL-BPE into their studies, thereby steering this field into previously unexplored domains that may lead to unexpected, interesting discoveries. For instance, the application of ECL-BPE in other challenging and complex sample matrices such as hair for bioanalytical purposes is currently an unexplored area. Of great significance, a substantial fraction of the content in this review article is based on content from research articles published between the years 2018 and 2023.

Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Functionalized Carbon Nanodots from Cashew Nut Skin Waste for Bioimaging

In this study, Anacardium occidentale (A. occidentale) nut skin waste (cashew nut skin waste) was used as a raw material to synthesize functionalized carbon nanodots (F-CNDs). A. occidentale biomass-derived F-CNDs were synthesized at a low temperature (200 °C) using a facile, economical hydrothermal method and subjected to XRD, FESEM, TEM, HRTEM, XPS, Raman Spectroscopy, ATR-FTIR, and Ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy to determine their structures, chemical compositions, and optical properties. The analysis revealed that dispersed, hydrophilic F-CNDs had a mean diameter of 2.5 nm. XPS and ATR-FTIR showed F-CNDs had a crystalline core and an amorphous surface decorated with –NH2, –COOH, and C=O. In addition, F-CNDs had a quantum yield of 15.5% and exhibited fluorescence with maximum emission at 406 nm when excited at 340 nm. Human colon cancer (HCT-116) cell assays showed that F-CNDs readily penetrated into the cells, had outstanding biocompatibility, high photostability, and minimal toxicity. An MTT assay showed that the viability of HCT-116 cells incubated for 24 h in the presence of F-CNDs (200 μg mL–1) exceeded 95%. Furthermore, when stimulated by filters of three different wavelengths (405, 488, and 555 nm) under a laser scanning confocal microscope, HCT-116 cells containing F-CNDs emitted blue, red, and green, respectively, which suggests F-CNDs might be useful in the biomedical field. Thus, we describe the production of a fluorescent nanoprobe from cashew nut waste potentially suitable for bioimaging applications.

Phase transferred and non-coated, water soluble perovskite quantum dots for biocompatibility and sensing

Despite the excellent optoelectronic properties exhibited by CsPbBr₃ QDs (PQDs) for sensing applications, their poor resistance to water does not allow their utilization as probes to detect analytes in aqueous media. The present work provides water soluble PQDs (dispersed in water) prepared by an appropriate phase engineering of the ligand. The dicarboxylate functional ligands at a particular pH allow the protonated state to form solvated carboxyl dimers, which interconnects PQDs, thus avoiding Ostwald ripening and enhancing the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). As a proof of concept, this probe was applied to detect bioamines in water, namely histamine, hexamethylenediamine, phenethylamine, dopamine and thiamine. The probe is highly selective to histamine at concentrations below 500 nM and this selectivity of histamine over dopamine is very interesting and rarely reported. More importantly, this work offers a standard protocol for transferring PQDs from the organic to aqueous phase, for the detection of such biomolecules in water.

Carbon-based biosensors from graphene family to carbon dots: A viewpoint in cancer detection

According to the latest report by International Agency for Research on Cancer, 19.3 million new cancer cases and 10 million cancer deaths were globally reported in 2020. Early diagnosis can reduce these numbers significantly, and biosensors have appeared to be a solution to this problem as, unlike the traditional methods, they have low cost, rapid process, and do not need experts present on site for use. These devices have been incorporated to detect many cancer biomarkers and measure cancer drug delivery. To design these biosensors, a researcher must know about their different types, properties of nanomaterials, and cancer biomarkers. Among all types of biosensors, electrochemical and optical biosensors are the most sensitive and promising sensors for detecting complicated diseases like cancer. The carbon-based nanomaterial family has attracted lots of attention due to their low cost, easy preparation, biocompatibility, and significant electrochemical and optical properties. In this review, we have discussed the application of graphene and its derivatives, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon dots (CDs), and fullerene (C60), for designing different electrochemical and optical cancer-detecting biosensors. Furthermore, the application of these carbon-based biosensors for detecting seven widely studied cancer biomarkers (HER2, CEA, CA125, VEGF, PSA, Alpha-fetoprotein, and miRNA21) is reviewed. Finally, various fabricated carbon-based biosensors for detecting cancer biomarkers and anticancer drugs are comprehensively summarized as well.

Multifunctional AuNPs@HRP@FeMOF immune scaffold with a fully automated saliva analyzer for oral cancer screening

Delayed diagnosis of cancer-causing death is a worldwide concern. General diagnosis methods are invasive, time-consuming, and operation complicated, which are not suitable for preliminary screening. To address these challenges, the sensing platform based on immune scaffold and fully automated saliva analyzer (FASA) was proposed for oral cancer screening for the first time by non-invasive detection of Cyfra21-1 in saliva. Through one-step synthesis method with unique covalent and electrostatic adsorption strategy, AuNPs@HRP@FeMOF immune scaffold features multiple functions including antibody carrier, catalytic activity, and signal amplification. Highly integrated FASA with the immune scaffold provides automatic testing to avoid false-positive results and reduce pretreatment time without any user intervention. Compared with the commercial analyzer, FASA has comparable performance for Cyfra21-1 detection with a detection range of 3.1-50.0 ng/mL and R² of 0.971, and superior features in full automation, high integration, time saving and low cost. Oral cancer patients could be distinguished accurately by the platform with an excellent correlation (R² of 0.904) and average RSD (5.578%) without sample dilution. The proposed platform provides an effective and promising tool for cancer screening in point-of-care applications, which can be further extended for biomarker detection in universal body fluids, disease screening, prognosis review and homecare monitoring.

Glycyrrhizae radix et Rhizoma-Derived Carbon Dots and Their Effect on Menopause Syndrome in Ovariectomized Mice

With the extension of the human life span and the increasing pressure of women's work and life, menopause syndrome (MPS) refers to a problem that puzzles almost all women worldwide. Hormone replacement treatment (HRT) can effectively mitigate the symptoms but can also exert adverse effects to a certain extent. Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizome (GRR) is commonly made into a charcoal processed product, termed GRR Carbonisatas (GRRC), for use in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). GRRC is widely used to treat MPS and other gynecological diseases. In this study, GRRC was prepared through pyrolysis. Subsequently, GRR-derived carbon dots (GRR-CDs) were purified through dialysis and characterized using transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared, ultraviolet, fluorescence, X-ray photoelectron microscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography. The effects of GRR-CDs on MPS were examined and confirmed using ovariectomized female mice models. The GRR-CDs ranged from 1.0 to 3.0 nm in diameter and with multiple surface chemical groups, as indicated by the results. GRR-CDs can elevate the estradiol (E2) level of healthy female mice. Moreover, GRR-CDs can alleviate MPS using the typical ovariectomized mice model, as confirmed by elevating the estradiol (E2) level and reducing the degree of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) and raising the degree of uterine atrophy. The results of this study suggested that GRR-CDs may be a potential clinical candidate for the treatment of MPS, which also provides a possibility for nanodrugs to treat hormonal diseases.

Fabrication of P and N Co-Doped Carbon Dots for Fe3+ Detection in Serum and Lysosomal Tracking in Living Cells

Doping with heteroatoms allows the retention of the general characteristics of carbon dots while allowing their physicochemical and photochemical properties to be effectively modulated. In this work, we report the preparation of ultrastable P and N co-doped carbon dots (PNCDs) that can be used for the highly selective detection of Fe³⁺ and the tracking of lysosomes in living cells. Fluorescent PNCDs were facilely prepared via a hydrothermal treatment of ethylenediamine and phytic acid, and they exhibited a high quantum yield of 22.0%. The strong coordination interaction between the phosphorus groups of PNCDs and Fe³⁺ rendered them efficient probes for use in selective Fe³⁺ detection, with a detection limit of 0.39 μM, and we demonstrated their practicability by accurately detecting the Fe³⁺ contents in bio-samples. At the same time, PNCDs exhibited high lysosomal location specificity in different cell lines due to surface lipophilic amino groups, and real-time tracking of the lysosome morphology in HeLa cells was achieved. The present work suggests that the fabrication of heteroatom-doped CDs might be an effective strategy to provide promising tools for cytology, such as organelle tracking.

Peptide-modified carbon dot aggregates for ultrasensitive detection of lipopolysaccharide through aggregation-induced emission enhancement

This study fabricated yellow-emitting CDs (Y-CDs) by hydrothermal treatment of citric acid and urea and applied them as a fluorescence turn-on platform for sensitive and selective detection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) based on the non-shifted AIEE of peptide-stabilized CD aggregates. The designed peptide (named K3) consisting of aggregation-active and LPS-recognition units triggered the aggregation of Y-CDs, switching on their fluorescence through the blue-shifted AIEE process. The formed K3-stabilized Y-CD aggregates (K3-YCDAs) specifically interacted with LPS at neutral pH, demonstrating that the sequence of the decorated peptide was highly connected with their selectivity and sensitivity. The K3-YCDAs provided a fast response time (within 5 min) to detect LPS with a quantification range of 0.5-100.0 nM and a limit of detection (LOD, signal-to-noise ratio of 3) of 300.0 pM. By integrating ultrafiltration membranes as a concentration device with K3-YCDAs as a sensing probe, the LOD for LPS was further reduced to 3.0 pM. The determination of picomolar levels of plasma LPS by the K3-YCDAs coupled to the centrifugation ultrafiltration was demonstrated to fall within the specificity range of clinical interest for sepsis patients. Also, the K3-YCDAs served as a fluorescent probe to selectively image and quantify E. coli cells. The distinct advantages of the K3-YCDAs for LPS include fast response time, wide linear range, low detection limit, and excellent selectivity compared to previously reported sensors.

A Facile Approach to the Hydrothermal Synthesis of Silica Nanoparticle/Carbon Nanostructure Luminescent Composites

Luminescent carbon nanostructures (CNSs) have been intensively researched, but there is still no consensus on a fundamental understanding of their structure and properties that limits their potential applications. In this study, we developed a facile approach to the synthesis of luminescent composite SiO₂ nanoparticles/CNSs by the targeted formation of a molecular fluorophore, as the significant luminescent component of CNSs, on the surface of a silica matrix during a one-stage hydrothermal synthesis. Silica nanoparticles were synthesized by reverse microemulsion and used as a matrix for luminescent composites. The as-prepared silica nanoparticles had a functional surface, a spherical shape, and a narrow size distribution of about 29 nm. One-stage hydrothermal treatment of citric acid and modified silica nanoparticles made it possible to directly form the luminescent composite. The optical properties of composites could be easily controlled by changing the hydrothermal reaction time and temperature. Thus, we successfully synthesized luminescent composites with an emission maximum of 450 nm, a quantum yield (QY) of 65 ± 4%, and an average size of ~26 nm. The synthesis of fluorophore doped composite, in contrast to CNSs, makes it possible to control the shape, size, and surface functionality of particles and allows for avoiding difficult and time-consuming fractionation steps.

Quantitative and amplification-free detection of SOCS-1 CpG methylation percentage analyses in gastric cancer by fiber optic nanoplasmonic biosensor

A new innovative approach is essential for early and effective diagnosis of gastric cancer, using promoter hypermethylation of the tumor suppressor, SOCS-1, that is frequently inactivated in human cancers. We have developed an amplification-free fiber optic nanoplasmonic biosensor for detecting DNA methylation of the SOCS-1 human genome. The method is based on the fiber optic nanogold-linked sorbent assay of PCR-free DNA from human gastric tumor tissue and cell lines. We designed a specific DNA probe fabricated on the fiber core surface while the other probe is bioconjugated with gold nanoparticles in free form to allow percentage determination and differentiating the methylated and unmethylated cell lines, further demonstrating the SOCS-1 methylation occurs in cancer patients but not in normal cell lines. The observed detection limit is 0.81 fM for methylated DNA, and the detection time is within 15 min. In addition, our data were significantly correlated to the data obtained from PCR-based pyrosequencing, and yet with superior accuracy. Hence our results provide new insight to the quantitative evaluation of methylation status of the human genome and can act as an alternative to PCR with a great potential.

A Fluorescent "Turn-On" Clutch Probe for Plasma Cell-Free DNA Identification from Lung Cancer Patients

Early diagnosis of cancer is of paramount significance for the therapeutic intervention of cancers. Although the detection of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has emerged as a promising, minimally invasive approach for early cancer diagnosis, there is an urgent need to develop a highly sensitive and rapid method to precisely identify plasma cfDNA from clinical samples. Herein, we report a robust fluorescent "turn-on" clutch probe based on non-emissive QDs-Ru complexes to rapidly recognize EGFR gene mutation in plasma cfDNA from lung cancer patients. In this system, the initially quenched emission of QDs is recovered while the red emission of Ru(II) complexes is switched on. This is because the Ru(II) complexes can specifically intercalate into the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) to form Ru-dsDNA complexes and simultaneously liberate free QDs from the QDs-Ru complexes, which leads to the occurrence of an overlaid red fluorescence. In short, the fluorescent "turn-on" clutch probe offers a specific, rapid, and sensitive paradigm for the recognition of plasma cfDNA biomarkers from clinical samples, providing a convenient and low-cost approach for the early diagnosis of cancer and other gene-mutated diseases.

Multiple fluorescence quenching effects mediated fluorescent sensing of captopril Based on amino Acids-Derivative carbon nanodots

Carbon nanodots (CNDs) were facilely synthesized through a pyrolysis procedure with histamine, an amino acid rich in element carbon and nitrogen, being the precursor. Taking advantage of the favorable fluorescence performance of CNDs, a multiple fluorescence quenching effects mediated fluorescent sensor was established for captopril (CAP) detection. MnO₂ NPs were firstly combined with CNDs via electrostatic attraction and subsequently quenched the fluorescence. The quenching mechanisms were concluded to be the combined effects of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and inner filtration effect (IFE). Subsequently CAP triggered a unique redox reaction and decomposed the quencher so that renewed the fluorescence. Hence, the sensitive and selective detection of CAP was achieved through the indication of fluorescence recovery efficiency. A proportional range of 0.4 ∼ 60 μmol L^-1 with the LOD of 0.31 μmol L^-1 was obtained. The sensor was further applied to the real sample detection and the satisfactory results revealed the practical value of CNDs. The facile synthesis of CNDs and brand-new sensing mechanism made it a novel fluorescent method and could improve the analysis of CAP.

Coronavirus and Carbon Nanotubes: Seeking Immunological Relationships to Discover Immunotherapeutic Possibilities

Since December 2019, the world has faced an unprecedented pandemic crisis due to a new coronavirus disease, coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), which has instigated intensive studies on prevention and treatment possibilities. Here, we investigate the relationships between the immune activation induced by three coronaviruses associated with recent outbreaks, with special attention to SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, and the immune activation induced by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to understand the points of convergence in immune induction and modulation. Evidence suggests that CNTs are among the most promising materials for use as immunotherapeutic agents. Therefore, this investigation explores new possibilities of effective immunotherapies for COVID-19. This study aimed to raise interest and knowledge about the use of CNTs as immunotherapeutic agents in coronavirus treatment. Thus, we summarize the most important immunological aspects of various coronavirus infections and describe key advances and challenges in using CNTs as immunotherapeutic agents against viral infections and the activation of the immune response induced by CNTs, which can shed light on the immunotherapeutic possibilities of CNTs.

Carbon dot composites for bioapplications: a review

Recent advancements in the synthesis of carbon dot composites and their applications in biomedical fields (bioimaging, drug delivery and biosensing) have been carefully summarized. The current challenges and future trends of CD composites in this field have also been discussed.

Recent developments on carbon dots-based green analytical methods: New opportunities in fluorescence assay of pesticides, drugs and biomolecules

Fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) grabs huge attention in analytical and bioanalytical applications due to their high selectivity towards target analyte, specificity, photostability, and quantum yield. Cost-effective and biocompatible properties of...

Recent advances in biological detection with rolling circle amplification: design strategy, biosensing mechanism, and practical applications

Rolling circle amplification (RCA) is a simple and isothermal DNA amplification technique that is used to generate thousands of repeating DNA sequences using circular templates under the catalysis of DNA polymerase.

Functional Ionic Liquids Decorated Carbon Hybrid Nanomaterials for the Electrochemical Biosensors

Ionic liquids are gaining high attention due to their extremely unique physiochemical properties and are being utilized in numerous applications in the field of electrochemistry and bio-nanotechnology. The excellent ionic conductivity and the wide electrochemical window open a new avenue in the construction of electrochemical devices. On the other hand, carbon nanomaterials, such as graphene (GR), graphene oxide (GO), carbon dots (CDs), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), are highly utilized in electrochemical applications. Since they have a large surface area, high conductivity, stability, and functionality, they are promising in biosensor applications. Nevertheless, the combination of ionic liquids (ILs) and carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) results in the functional ILs-CNMs hybrid nanocomposites with considerably improved surface chemistry and electrochemical properties. Moreover, the high functionality and biocompatibility of ILs favor the high loading of biomolecules on the electrode surface. They extremely enhance the sensitivity of the biosensor that reaches the ability of ultra-low detection limit. This review aims to provide the studies of the synthesis, properties, and bonding of functional ILs-CNMs. Further, their electrochemical sensors and biosensor applications for the detection of numerous analytes are also discussed.

Anchoring zinc-doped carbon dots on a paper-based chip for highly sensitive fluorescence detection of copper ions

In this work, zinc-doped carbon dots (Zn-CDs) were anchored on a three-dimensional wheel type paper-based microfluidic chip, and were decorated with 6-mercaptonicotinic acid (MNA) and L-cysteine (L-Cys) for highly sensitive and rapid fluorescence detection of Cu²⁺. Zn-CDs were first anchored on paper through the amide bonds between the carboxyl groups of the Zn-CDs and the amino groups of the paper. Afterwards, Zn-CDs were decorated with MNA and L-Cys, effectively preventing the Zn-CDs from aggregation. The nitrogen atom on the pyridine ring and the carboxylic acid groups in MNA and L-Cys coordinated with Cu²⁺ to form a nonfluorescent ground-state complex, causing the fluorescence quenching of the Zn-CDs. The three-dimensional rotary design could simplify the operation process and achieve simultaneous analysis of multiple samples with different concentrations. Under optimal conditions, the fluorescent sensor exhibits linear response for the determination of Cu²⁺ in the range from 0.1 to 60 μg L^-1 with the detection limit (LOD) of 0.018 μg L^-1. The proposed strategy provides a novel way for the highly sensitive detection of Cu²⁺ in a complex water environment.