Single-atom nanocatalysts for biosensing application

Single-atom (SA) catalysts, as a rising star in catalytic field, have many advantages over traditional nanocatalysts. The enhanced catalytic activity, variable and simple structure as well as clear active sites of SA catalysts advance the innovation of biosensing techniques. In this review, we will provide the latest research progress of SA catalysts in biosensing field, and systematically summarize their sensing applications, especially emphasing on the biosensing strategies on the determination of disease-related biological matrices (H2O2, biological enzyme, NO, etc) and environmental pollutants (organophosphorus pesticides, heavy metal ions and volatile organic compounds). Finally, we will provide the challenges that SA catalysts still faced.

Electrochemical DNA biosensor based on platinum-gold bimetal decorated graphene modified electrode for the detection of Vibrio Parahaemolyticus specific tlh gene sequence

Background: By using bimetal nanocomposite modified electrode, the electrochemical DNA biosensor showed the advantages of high sensitivity, low cost, rapid response and convenient operation, which was applied for disease diagnosis, food safety, and biological monitoring. Objective: A nanocomposite consisting of platinum (Pt)-gold (Au) bimetal and two-dimensional graphene (GR) was synthesized by hydrothermal method, which was modified on the surface of carbon ionic liquid electrode and further used for the immobilization of probe ssDNA related to Vibrio Parahaemolyticus tlh gene to construct an electrochemical DNA sensor. Method: Potassium ferricyanide was selected as electrochemical indicator, cyclic voltammetry was used to study the electrochemical behaviours of different modified electrodes and differential pulse voltammetry was employed to test the analytical performance of this biosensor for the detection of target gene sequence. Results: This electrochemical DNA biosensor could detect the Vibrio Parahaemolyticus tlh gene sequence as the linear concentration in the range from 1.0×10-13 mol L-1 to 1.0×10-6 mol L-1 with the detection limit as 2.91×10-14 mol L-1 (3σ). Conclusion: This proposed electrochemical DNA biosensor could be used to identify the special gene sequence with good selectivity, low detection limit and wide detection range.

Aptamer-based Cell Recognition and Detection

: Cells, regarded as the structural and functional units of organisms, have become one of the most important objects in many research areas. Specific recognition and detection of malignant cells are critical for disease diagnosis, therapy and prognosis. Aptamers are short; single-stranded oligonucleotides screened from a random library by an in vitro technology termed “Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment” (SELEX) on the basis of their specific binding to target cargos. With the advantages of small size, easy synthesis, convenient modification, high chemical stability and low immunogenicity, aptamers have attracted broad attention in bioanalysis. Using intact living cells as the selection target, the cell-SELEX technology enables the generation of many aptamers that can specifically recognize molecular signatures of target cells. These aptamers have been extensively utilized in various cell-based research. In this mini-review, we focus on recent advances in aptamer-based recognition and detection of cells, particularly circulating tumor cells (CTCs).

Recent Applications of Derivatization Techniques for Pharmaceutical and Bioanalytical Analysis through High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Background: Derivatization of analytes is a quite convenient practice from an analytical perspective. Its vast prevalence is accounted by the availability of distinct reagents, primarily pragmatic for obtaining desired modifications in an analyte structure. Another reason for its handiness is typically to overcome limitations such as lack of sensitive methodology or instrumentation.The past decades have witnessed various new derivatization techniques including in-situ, enzymatic, ultrasound-assisted, microwave-assisted, and photochemical derivatization which have gain popularity recently. Methods: The online literature available on the utilization of derivatization as prominent analytical tools in recent years with typical advancements is reviewed. The illustrations of the analytical condition together with the structures of different derivatizing reagents (DRs) are provided to acknowledge the vast capability of derivatization to resolve analytical problems. Results: The derivatization techniques have enabled analytical chemists throughout the globe to develop an enhanced sensitivity method with the simplest of the instrument like High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The HPLC, compared to more sensitive Liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometer, is readily available and can be readily utilized for routine analysis in fields of pharmaceuticals, bioanalysis, food safety, and environmental contamination. A troublesome aspect of these fields is the presence of a complex matrix with trace concentrations for analyses. Liquid chromatographic methods devoid of MS detectors do not have the desired sensitivity for this. A possible solution for overcoming this is to couple HPLC with derivatization to enable the possibility of detecting trace analytes with a less expensive instrument. Running cost, enhanced sensitivity, low time consumption, and overcoming the inherent problems of analyte are critical parameters for which HPLC is quite useful in high throughput analysis. Conclusion: The review critically highlights various kinds of derivatization applications in different fields of analytical chemistry. The information primarily focuses on pharmaceutical and bioanalytical applications in recent years. The various modes, types, and derivatizing reagents with brief mechanisms have been ascribed briefly Additionally, the importance of HPLC coupled to fluorescence and UV detection is presented as an overview through examples accompanied by their analytical conditions.

Corrigendum to: Water Pollution Monitoring through Remote Sensing

We apologize for the error that occurred in the online version of the article. Incorrect name of 5th author was published in the article entitled “Water Pollution Monitoring through Remote Sensing” in “Curr. Anal. Chem., 2021, 17(6), 802-814 [1]. The original article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.2174/1573411016666200206095055 Original: Gadug Sudhamsu Corrected: Gurijala Sudhamsu

Interaction Influence of Contact Time and pH on Cobalt Retention by Carbon Nanotubes Bearing Various Loads of TiO2 and Fe3O4

Background: Nano-materials have facilitated remarkable advances in the remediation of many environmental problems. A few studies have tackled the removal of Co(II) from aqueous solutions using nano-materials. Herein, we recently studied the retention kinetics of cobalt species on carbon nanotubes (CNT) bearing different amounts of TiO2 and Fe3O4 nano-materials individually. c Method: CNT and their TiO2/Fe3O4-modified nano-material forms were well characterized. Cobalt retention by these adsorbents was investigated at different influencing factors: Co(II) content, solution pH, and time. The kinetic data were fitted with pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order rate models and intra-particle diffusion models for better elucidation of the mechanism of Co retention. Results: XRD evidenced the formation of TiO2 and Fe3O4. High loads of both oxides were needed for higher and faster Co retention by CNT. Co retention capacity increased with increasing the solution pH. The pseudo-second-order model presented the kinetics of Co retention at 30 oC, and 48% of available capacity was attained within the first hour of interaction by CNT-TiO2 and with a moderate S/L ratio of 0.5 g/L. Co retention was increased with the amount of oxide to reach a maximum value of 16. 40 mg/g (90.2% TiO2) and 13.60 mg/g (48.2% Fe3O4). The Jovanović equilibrium model predicted the maximum retention values as the nearest to the experimental ones. Conclusion: The potential of CNT-Fe3O4 /TiO2 nano-materials has been successfully demonstrated for the removal of cobalt, which makes them highly attractive and cost-effective adsorbents for wastewater treatment. The reported retention and removal rate values were relatively better than those seen in the literature. Loading different active oxides by CNT is an interesting research area as selective adsorbents can be fabricated with affordable experimental costs.

Imprinted electrochemical sensor of tyrosine based on chitosan/β-cyclodextrin/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composite film

Background: As a vital amino acid in the human body, tyrosine is indispensable in various biological processes, and therefore its accurate and simple determination is of crucial importance. In this work, a facile approach was developed to construct a molecularly imprinted sensor for tyrosine via co-electrodeposition of chitosan, β-cyclodextrin and tyrosine on the surface of indium tin oxide that was pre-coated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). Methods: Benefitting from the excellent film-forming ability and the rich functional groups to form a hydrogen bond with target molecules, chitosan was utilized to form a recognition matrix. MWNTs and β-cyclodextrin were then introduced to enhance the selectivity and sensitivity to tyrosine, due to the subtle electronic, catalytic properties and possible π-π interaction of MWNTs with tyrosine, as well as recognition ability of β-cyclodextrin. The morphology of the imprinted films was characterized by a scanning electron microscope. The electrochemistry and tyrosine sensing performance were investigated in detail by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Results: Amperometry results showed that the imprinted sensor exhibited a linear range of 1.0×10−6 to 1.0×10−4 M and 1.0×10−4 to 1.0×10−3 M for tyrosine determination, with a detection limit of 6.0 × 10−7 M (S/N=3). Moreover, a satisfactory recovery in the range of 99.0% to 105.1% was obtained with the application of the imprinted sensor in artificial urine samples analysis. Conclusion: The imprinted electrode is reusable with satisfactory reproducibility and stability in tyrosine determination.