Deciphering the sensing of α-amyrin acetate with hs-DNA: a multipronged biological probe

In this study, we focus on the biomimetic development of small molecules and their biological sensing with DNA.

Positively Charged Polystyrene-co-Poly (ar-vinylbenzyl) Trimethylammonium Nanoparticles as Bioprobe for Various Cell Imaging Based on Aggregation Induced Emission

In this study, positively charged polystyrene-co-poly (ar-vinylbenzyl) trimethylammonium nanoparticles loading with Aggregation Induced Emission (AIE) fluorescent molecule sulfonated 9,10-distyrylanthracene derivatives (SDSA) by coulomb force denoted as SDSA/PS-co-PVBTAC have been prepared. The size, size distribution and morphology of nanoparticles have been tested by Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM). The synthesized nanoparticles possess uniform size, good monodispersity and low biological toxicity. The AIE-type SDSA/PS-co-PVBTAC showed good fluorescence stability at pH from 3 to 10. It has been proved that the biological macromolecules including Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), DNA and RNA can amplify the cell imaging signals. Moreover, the AIE-type nanoparticles have been shown to perform fluorescent imaging of various cells. It suggests that the prepared SDSA/PS-co-PVBTAC can be used as a new biological probe in the field of cell imaging and detection, as well as expanding the application of AIE fluorescent molecules in biosensing field.

High-affinity binding with specific peptides endows EuW10a good luminescence probe for HPV E6 detection

EuW10is applied as a sensitive biological probe, which is the first fluorescence detector of HPV E6in vitro.

Highly Photoluminescent Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dots Prepared by Hydrothermal Decomposition of Piperazine Citrate

Highly photoluminescent C-Dots are prepared by hydrothermal reaction of citric acid and piperazine as dual reason in both hydrolysis and surface passivation agent along with the N-doping agent. The resulting C-Dots without external passivation showed PL enhancement by electron transfer from C-Dots-donor to piperazine-acceptor with the maximum emission yields of more than 84%. After mixing the prepared C-Dots with the mixture of EtOH and acetone (1:1 vol %), a novel washing process was performed by centrifugation to remove the precursors and by-products. The resulting C-Dots showed much better stability than dialysis. For evaluating the possible application of the C-Dots as a fluorescent biological probe which possess the wide dosing window and multicolor properties. The C-Dots were localized in perinuclear vacuole-like structures with granular pattern in cytoplasm sparing the nucleus. No signs of any morphological deterioration like nuclear shrinkage were observed.

Spaser as a biological probe

Understanding cell biology greatly benefits from the development of advanced diagnostic probes. Here we introduce a 22-nm spaser (plasmonic nanolaser) with the ability to serve as a super-bright, water-soluble, biocompatible probe capable of generating stimulated emission directly inside living cells and animal tissues. We have demonstrated a lasing regime associated with the formation of a dynamic vapour nanobubble around the spaser that leads to giant spasing with emission intensity and spectral width >100 times brighter and 30-fold narrower, respectively, than for quantum dots. The absorption losses in the spaser enhance its multifunctionality, allowing for nanobubble-amplified photothermal and photoacoustic imaging and therapy. Furthermore, the silica spaser surface has been covalently functionalized with folic acid for molecular targeting of cancer cells. All these properties make a nanobubble spaser a promising multimodal, super-contrast, ultrafast cellular probe with a single-pulse nanosecond excitation for a variety of in vitro and in vivo biomedical applications.