Fluorescence sensing techniques for quality evaluation of traditional Chinese medicines: a review

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) are highly valued and widely used worldwide. However, their complex compositions and various preparation processes have brought considerable challenges to the quality evaluation of Chinese medicines. The traditional methods for TCM quality evaluation suffer from the problems of cumbersome sample preparation, a long detection time, low sensitivity, etc. A more efficient and accurate evaluation method is urgently needed to ensure the stability and reliability of the quality of TCMs. As an emerging analytical technology, a fluorescent probe has the advantages of high sensitivity, high selectivity, easy operation, etc. It is capable of generating a specific fluorescent signal response to specific components in traditional Chinese medicines, realizing rapid and accurate detection of target components, which effectively solves the many difficulties of traditional methods. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the application of fluorescent probes in the quality evaluation of traditional Chinese medicines and the challenges they face. By introducing the principles, advantages and specific application cases of fluorescent probe technology in the quality evaluation of traditional Chinese medicines, we hope to provide new and efficient analytical ideas for the quality evaluation of traditional Chinese medicines.

Fluorescent chemosensors facilitate the visualization of plant health and their living environment in sustainable agriculture

Globally, 91% of plant production encounters diverse environmental stresses that adversely affect their growth, leading to severe yield losses of 50-60%. In this case, monitoring the connection between the environment and plant health can balance population demands with environmental protection and resource distribution. Fluorescent chemosensors have shown great progress in monitoring the health and environment of plants due to their high sensitivity and biocompatibility. However, to date, no comprehensive analysis and systematic summary of fluorescent chemosensors used in monitoring the correlation between plant health and their environment have been reported. Thus, herein, we summarize the current fluorescent chemosensors ranging from their design strategies to applications in monitoring plant-environment interaction processes. First, we highlight the types of fluorescent chemosensors with design strategies to resolve the bottlenecks encountered in monitoring the health and living environment of plants. In addition, the applications of fluorescent small-molecule, nano and supramolecular chemosensors in the visualization of the health and living environment of plants are discussed. Finally, the major challenges and perspectives in this field are presented. This work will provide guidance for the design of efficient fluorescent chemosensors to monitor plant health, and then promote sustainable agricultural development.

A dual-mode sensor platform with adjustable electrochemiluminescence-fluorescence for selective detection of paraquat pesticide

This study presents functionalized metal-organic frameworks nanosheets (RuMOFNSs) with strong electrochemiluminescence (ECL) and fluorescence (FL) properties and a novel signal marker-tetraferrocene. Based on the efficient quenching effect of the tetraferrocene on RuMOFNSs, a "signal switch" ECL-FL dual-mode sensor is constructed for sensitive detection of paraquat (PQ). ECL and FL signals are annihilated after adding paraquat-aptamer DNA (PQ-Apt DNA) labeled with tetraferrocene since it is close to RuMOFNSs. PQ is added, and the strong binding and intermolecular interaction between PQ-Apt DNA and PQ induces spatial separation, with tetraferrocene groups far away from RuMOFNSs. At this point, ECL and FL signals are restored. The change in ECL and FL signals realized the quantitative determination of the PQ solution. In addition, the dual-mode sensor exhibits high sensitivity and specificity with detection limits as low as 0.008 ng/mL and 0.059 ng/mL. The proposed sensor is successfully applied to determine PQ, indicating its great application potential in the food industry.

Colorimetric and ratiometric supramolecular AIE fluorescent probe for the on-site monitoring of fipronil

The overuse of fipronil (FPN, a broad-spectrum insecticide) in agriculture has brought great concerns for environmental pollution and food safety. The development of a rapid, reliable, and portable analytical method for the on-site monitoring of FPN is therefore of great significance but is full of challenge. Herein, a novel supramolecular probe using human serum albumin (HSA) as the host and an aggregation-induced emission-active fluorescence probe LIQ-TPA-TZ as the guest was developed for the colorimetric and ratiometric detection of FPN, displaying fast response (30 s), high sensitivity (LOD ∼ 0.05 μM), and good selectivity and anti-interference performance. Moreover, portable paper-based test strips could be facilely obtained and utilized for the determination of FPN, showing colorimetric changes from yellow to orange. This supramolecular probe also demonstrated great potential in real applications for choosing the best cleaning method to reduce the residue rate of FPN on apples. This study provides a versatile tool for the fast and real-time analysis of FPN, which greatly benefits the on-site determination of pesticides with the use of simple testing apparatus.

Magnetofluid-integrated biosensors based on DNase-dead Cas12a for visual point-of-care testing of HIV-1 by an up and down chip

The CRISPR Cas system, as a novel nucleic acid detection tool, is often hindered by cumbersome experimental procedures, complicated reagent transfer processes, and associated aerosol pollution risks. In this study, an integrated nucleic acid detection platform named "up and down chip" was developed, which combined RT-RAA technology for nucleic acid amplification, DNase-dead Cas12a-modified magnetic beads for specific recognition of target nucleic acid, and HRP-TMB chromogenic reaction for signal output in different chambers of a single microfluidic chip. The magnetic beads were migrated in an up-and-down manner between different chambers through magnetic driving, achieving a "sample-in, result-out" detection mode. By introducing a homemade heating box for temperature control during the reaction and using the naked eye or a smartphone APP for color-based signal reading, no professional or precise instruments were required in this platform. Using this platform, highly sensitive detection of the HIV-1 genome as low as 250 copies (CPs) per mL was achieved within 100 min while maintaining good detection performance against common variants as well as excellent specificity and anti-interference ability. In addition, compared with qRT-PCR, it also exhibited good accuracy for 56 spiked plasma samples, indicating its promising potential for clinical application.