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Here, we propose a stripping voltammetric method for Ag + ion determination in distilled water utilizing screen-printed Au electrodes coated with Nafion (Nafion/Au screen-printed electrodes). The concentration of Ag + in pure water was determined by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) after silver deposition on the Nafion/Au electrode. The anodic stripping peak current increased linearly with the concentration of Ag +  ion in the range from 1 ppm to 22 ppm. The LSV oxidative peak current was increased by extending the silver deposition time from 300 s to 500 s. Repetitive LSV measurements revealed satisfactory reproducibility of the Nafion/Au screen-printed electrodes. The detection mechanism was elucidated by recording mass changes of the Nafion/Au electrode with a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), and by determining changes in the low-frequency capacitance of the Nafion/Au electrode by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The observed changes in mass and capacitance confirmed Ag + accumulation and release processes at the Nafion/Au electrodes, in good agreement with stripping voltammetry. The combination of stripping voltammetry, QCM and EIS allowed a detailed characterization of the ion transfer, deposition and stripping processes at the Nafion/Au electrodes in presence of Ag + ions. The Nafion/Au screen-printed electrode enabled voltammetric determination of low Ag + concentrations in distilled water, without any sample pretreatment nor addition of supporting electrolyte., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) is a reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can be used as a marker for the occurrence of oxidative stress in the organism. Lysosomes serve as intracellular digestive sites, and when the concentration of H 2 O 2 in them is abnormal, lysosomal function is often impaired, leading to the development of diseases. Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) acts as a gaseous signaling molecule that scavenges H 2 O 2 from cells and tissues, thereby maintaining the redox environment of the body. However, most of the reported hydrogen peroxide fluorescent probes so far can only detect H 2 O 2 , but cannot maintain the intracellular redox environment. In this paper, an H 2 O 2 fluorescent probe LN-HOD with lysosomal targeting properties was designed and synthesized by combining the H 2 O 2 recognition site with a naphthylamine fluorophore via a thiocarbamate moiety. The probe has the advantages of large Stokes shift (110 nm), high sensitivity and good H 2 S release capability. The probe LN-HOD can be used to detect H 2 O 2 in cells, zebrafish and plant roots. In addition, LN-HOD detects changes in the concentration of H 2 O 2 in plant roots when Arabidopsis is stressed by cadmium ion (Cd 2+ ). And through its ability to release H 2 S, it can help to remove excess H 2 O 2 and maintain the redox environment in cells, zebrafish and plant roots. The present work provides new ideas for the detection and assisted removal of H 2 O 2 , which contributes to the in-depth study of the cellular microenvironment in organisms., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Hydrazine (N 2 H 4 ) plays an important role in industrial production, but it is highly toxic, leaking or exposing it will pollute the environment and cause serious harm to human beings. Therefore, it is necessary to use a simple and effective method to detect N 2 H 4 in environmental systems and organisms. Herein, a novel water-soluble fluorescent probe based on coumarin fluorophore, 2-(7-(diethylamino)-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)isoindoline-1,3-dione (C-Z1), is reported. The fluorescence intensity of the probe at 530 nm was enhanced gradually with the addition of N 2 H 4 , and the maximum enhancement was about 28 times. The probe has good selectivity and sensitivity, the detection limit of hydrazine hydrate is 1.48 × 10 -7  M, and the response mechanism of the probe is proved by theoretical calculation and experiment. C-Z1 has been shown to detect N 2 H 4 in a variety of environmental samples, including water, soil, air, cells, zebrafish and plants. In addition, C-Z1 can be made into test strips for easy portability and used for rapid quantitative detection of N 2 H 4 in the field by its distinct change in fluorescence color. Thus, C-Z1 has great potential for the analysis and detection of environmental contaminants., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Here, we propose a fast and sensitive coulometric signal transduction method for ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) by utilizing a two-compartment cell. A potassium ion-selective electrode (K + -ISE) was connected as reference electrode (RE) and placed in the sample compartment. A glassy carbon (GC) electrode coated with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (GC/PEDOT), or reduced graphene oxide (GC/RGO), was connected as working electrode (WE) and placed in the detection compartment together with a counter electrode (CE). The two compartments were connected with an Ag/AgCl wire. The measured cumulated charge was amplified by increasing the capacitance of the WE. The observed slope of the cumulated charge with respect to the change of the logarithm of the K + ion activity was linearly proportional to the capacitance of the GC/PEDOT and GC/RGO, estimated from impedance spectra. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the coulometric signal transduction using a commercial K + -ISE with internal filling solution as RE and GC/RGO as WE allowed to decrease the response time while still being able to detect a 0.2% change in K + concentration. The coulometric method utilizing a two-compartment cell was found to be feasible for the determination of K + concentrations in serum. The advantage of this two-compartment approach, compared to the coulometric transduction described earlier, was that no current passed through the K + -ISE that was connected as RE. Therefore, current-induced polarization of the K + -ISE was avoided. Furthermore, since the GCE/PEDOT and GCE/RGO (used as WE) had a low impedance, the response time of the coulometric response decreased from minutes to seconds., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ultrasensitive SERS substrates allowed us to detect complex mixtures of coloring components from Meiji Japanese woodblock prints (1868-1912). In museum settings, compositional analyses have limitations due to restrictions to sampling advised by conservators and curators for the adequate preservation of the objects. An additional layer of complexity is brought by the high heterogeneity of heritage materials, usually not resolved with commercial portable instruments. High-performance instruments for in situ analyses are seldom available in museums. Furthermore, the chambers of most instruments for morphological or chemical characterization accommodate small samples rather than large or medium-sized objects. The innovative sampling strategy herein proposed comprises the gentle touch-dry removal of small coloring molecules weakly bound to the surface of heritage objects, transferred through a silicone sampler to planar SERS substrates with selected solvents in a one-step procedure. The analytical protocol reduces the amount of sample necessary for reliable identification of color components down to nanograms. The selectivity of the solvents combined with the geometry of the planar SERS sensing devices produces reliable signals for molecular identification, with no need for incision or wetting of the printed material. Further, 3D Raman imaging allowed us to reach an unprecedented degree of molecular discrimination, advancing previously available minimally-invasive instrumental methods used in heritage science research. The validation with historical inks from Meiji woodblock prints led to the identification of soluble synthetic azo β-naphthols, barium sulfonic lakes, purple anilines, Prussian blue, glass arsenic sulfides and other traditional coloring media., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Carbon monoxide (CO) is one of the most significant signal molecules and plays an important role in regulating human physiological and pathological processes. In this study, a novel Pd-based complex (Pd-BNP-OH) was developed for endogenous CO detection. The structure and morphology of Pd-BNP-OH was characterized by SEM, XPS, and NMR analyses. When Pd-BNP-OH was reacted with CO, a strong fluorescence enhancement at 510 nm was observed. In addition, Pd-BNP-OH exhibited high stability and selectivity toward CO in PBS buffer. In biological experiments, Pd-BNP-OH exhibited little cytotoxicity in cellular environment, and a bright fluorescence turn on was observed in the presence of exogenous CO and endogenous generated CO. The probe was then applied for CO detection in live zebrafish by both one-photon and two-photon excitation. Significantly, Pd-BNP-OH has excellent two-photon property, controllable structure and high biocompatibility. These features enable the probe to detect endogenously generated carbon monoxide in live organisms successfully., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Gas sensors have aroused much attention in recent years for the important effect in modern society. Graphene, with unique structure and characteristic properties, has been considered as a promising candidate for fabricating high-performance gas sensor. Great efforts in current research are directed towards exploiting various graphene-based gas sensors, but the core of gas sensing study is how to enhance the gas sensing performance. Herein, we propose a perspective that focuses on the strategies for sensing performance enhancement of graphene-based gas sensors. Several strategies are reviewed such as the modification of graphene with organic molecules, functionalization by metal oxide or noble metals, and nanostructural engineering. Particular emphasis is also provided to clarify the mechanism for the gas sensing enhancement. Further, the sensor device design is also concerned for the significant effect on reaching full potential of the gas sensing materials and realizing multifunctional integration. Finally, the opportunities and challenges for the development of gas sensors are pointed out., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) plays a vital role in organism due to its strong oxidizability, especially in resisting the invasion of pathogens. Cancer cells have abnormal concentrations of hydrogen peroxide due to their disordered reproduction. In complex biological systems, however, conventional fluorescent probes based solely on their fluorescent response to abnormal H 2 O 2 overexpression in cancer cells are not enough to distinguish cancer cells from other unhealthy or immune cells. Therefore, it is necessary to develop other methods to allow the probe to selectively enter the cancer cells and perform fluorescence imaging of the hydrogen peroxide in the cancer cells. Herein, we developed a biotin-guided, two-photon fluorescent probe (BT-HP) for sensitive detection of H 2 O 2 in cancer cells. Through the study on the properties of the probe, it was found that the probe can selectively enter cancer cells. The depth penetration imaging of H 2 O 2 in cancer cells and tumor tissues by two-photon microscope proves the potential of the probe BT-HP as a tumor targeting H 2 O 2 biosensor. The probe was further applied to detect hydrogen peroxide in cancer cells during the ferroptosis process., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The annual amount of food waste or loss is about one-third of the total edible food globally produced for human consumption. Continuous and real-time monitoring by spoilage detectors can significantly reduce food waste. A novel paper-based pH-sensitive meat spoilage detector was developed. A mixture of soybean hulls (SBHs) (hydrothermally-treated in an acidic environment), bentonite, and bromocresol purple (BCP) was coated on paper to produce the detector. The resultant meat spoilage detector was evaluated as a real-time freshness and spoilage indicator of catfish fillets (Ictalurus punctatus). Freshness and spoilage of fish meat with varying weights and headspace were determined by tailoring the detector's pH. Elemental, structural, and functional analysis verified the formation of a packed SBH-bentonite matrix with enhanced gas adsorption capacity and effective BCP-immobilization. Binder nanofibrillation increased the overall visual color vibrancy and decreased the binder demand in the coating formulation. Headspace volume in the studied range (40 and 160 cm 3 ) did not affect the activation time of the detectors. However, increasing fish weight decreased the detectors' optimum activation time and pH. The findings of this study show that the developed detectors can be tailored for a wide range of sample and packaging sizes by simply adjusting the pH of the detector., (Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Collecting sweat sample for onsite testing is a sophisticated process as the analysis process must be completed in a real-time with a highly absorptive and sensitive device in order to gain a useful assessment of its content. Thus, we developed a chemical probe incorporated into microfibrillated cellulose to introduce a novel, simple, robust and flexible aerogel. This chromogenic sponge-like aerogel assay demonstrated a color change from yellow to orange, red and blue depending on the sweat biochemical changes. Novel pH sensitive tricyanofuran hydrazone probe was prepared, characterized and encapsulated in-situ within microfibrillated cellulose to follow up sweat pH changes. The solvatochromic performance in several solvents of different polarities and the reversible pH correlated color change of this tricyanofuran hydrazone probe in an acetonitrile solution was explored by UV-Vis absorption spectra. The microporous and microfibrillated sponge-like cellulose substrate was fabricated by activation of wood pulp using phosphoric acid followed by freeze-drying process. Morphological characterization, thermal stability and fiber crystallinity of the prepared aerogel were explored using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The visual color change was explored by studying the CIE LAB color space coordinates and color strength values. The cytotoxicity of the sponge-like aerogel sensor was also evaluated., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

An integrated immunodetection platform employing a simple, reusable, centrifugal microchannel array chip and a smartphone as detection unit was developed. The applicability of the platform to the detection of HIV p24 antigen was demonstrated. The microchip was made of polycarbonate and contained 4 × 8 zigzag microchannels. After the monoclonal antibody of HIV p24 was adsorbed onto the channel surfaces, HIV p24 was introduced into the microchannel to react with the antibody. A biotin linked polyclonal antibody was then brought in to react with HIV p24, and SP80 (containing streptavidin and horseradish peroxidase) was introduced to react with the biotin. Finally, a solution containing 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine and other reagents was passed through the above channels, horseradish peroxidase catalyzed the oxidation of tetramethylbenzidine (to 3,3',5,5'- tetramethylbenzidine diamine) forming a dark color. The color intensity, indicating HIV p24 antigen quantity, was then photographed via a smartphone, and the color of each microchannel was processed via a computer to determine the HIV p24 antigen concentration. Under the optimized conditions, limits of detection (LODs) of 0.17 ng/ml and 0.11 ng/ml were obtained for p24 antigen in a buffer solution and human serum, respectively. Channel washing/rinsing was implemented via a centrifugal force. An economic portable centrifugal device that could accommodate up to 4 microchips was assembled, and multi-step solution loading and rinsing involved in this sandwich immunoassay were performed conveniently. The microchip could be reused after a simple regeneration process. The low-cost polycarbonate microchip and centrifugal device together with the simple but efficient operation make the method a promising tool for HIV screening in resource limited areas., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Patterned paper sensors such as letter- and barcode-shaped sensors have become a subject of growing interest due to the potential in information embedding and data interpretation, which brings a requirement on easily fabricating these paper-based analytical devices. The answer, in part, may lie in the influence of paper structure on the performance of paper-based analytical devices. After investigating the effect of physical properties of paper on precipitation and non-precipitation assays for detecting Fe(II), here we propose a simple and promising approach for barrier-free paper patterning. Without building hydrophobic boundaries, the precipitates of sensing reactions on low-bulk and medium-thick paper substrates allow patterned signal readout directly. As a proof of concept, barrier-free patterned paper sensors for detecting heavy metals were fabricated, with detection limits of 0.25 ppm for Fe(II), 0.4 ppm for Ni(II), and 0.5 ppm for Cu(II). Our work provides a valuable perspective on fabrication of patterned paper sensors., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A simple, portable and highly sensitive naked-eye test strip is successfully prepared for optical detection of gaseous and aqueous alkaline analytes. Novel pH-sensory tricyanofuran-hydrazone (TCFH) disperse colorant containing a hydrazone recognition functional moiety is successfully synthesized via azo-coupling reaction between active methyl-containing tricyanofuran (TCF) heterocycle and diazonium salt of 4-aminobenzaldehyde followed by Knoevenagel condensation with malononitrile. UV-vis absorption spectra display solvatochromism and reversible color changes of the TCFH solution in dimethyl sulfoxide in response to pH variations. We investigate the preparation of hydrophobic cellulose/polyethylene terephthalate composites characterized by their high affinity for disperse dyes. Composite films made from CA, Cell/CA, PET/CA, and Cell/PET-CA are produced via solvent-casting procedure using 10-30% modified cellulose or modified polyethylene terephthalate. The mechanical properties and morphologies of these composite films are investigated. The prepared pH-sensory hydrazone-based disperse dye is then applied to dye the produced cellulose-based composite films employing the high temperature pressure dyeing procedure. The produced halochromic PET-CA-TCFH test strip provide an instant visible signal from orange to purple upon exposure to alkaline conditions as proved by the coloration measurements. The sensor strip exhibits high sensitivity and quick detection toward ammonia in both of aqueous and vapor phases by naked-eye observations at room temperature and atmospheric pressure., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Combining template immobilization with surface imprinting technology is an effective strategy to overcome the difficulties associated with macromolecular template removal and to achieve high specific recognition ability. In this work, ionic liquid functionalized Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles were prepared via a simple two-step modification process and were used as substrate to immobilize bovine serum albumin (BSA). The zeta potential study revealed immobilization of BSA on the nanoparticles through multiple interactions, and the immobilization capacity was about nine times higher compared with that of bare Fe 3 O 4 . Subsequently, dopamine was utilized as functional monomer to prepare BSA surface imprinted nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis and transmission electron microscopy verified the successful preparation of BSA imprinted nanoparticles with core-shell structure. The influence of imprinted layer thickness on recognition ability of imprinted nanoparticles was investigated, and the results suggested that 20nm was an optimum thickness to achieve the best recognition ability. The adsorption isotherm studies showed that the imprinted nanoparticles had a significantly higher adsorption capacity and stronger binding affinity than the non-imprinted ones. Furthermore, the selective as well as the competitive adsorption studies revealed higher selectivity and recognition ability of the imprinted nanoparticles for BSA. Therefore, the proposed strategy is an effective way to obtain protein imprinted polymers with high adsorption capacity and good recognition ability, thus would be beneficial for the further development and application of protein imprinting technology., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Interest in low-cost analytical devices (especially for diagnostics) has recently increased; however, concomitant translation to the field has been slow, in part due to personnel and supply-chain challenges in resource-limited settings. Overcoming some of these challenges require the development of a method that takes advantage of locally available resources and/or skills. We report a Melt-and-mold fabrication (MnM Fab) approach to low-cost and simple devices that has the potential to be adapted locally since it requires a single material that is recyclable and simple skills to access multiple devices. We demonstrated this potential by fabricating entry level bio-analytical devices using an affordable low-melting metal alloy, Field's metal, with molds produced from known materials such as plastic (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)), glass, and paper. We fabricated optical gratings then 4×4 well plates using the same recycled piece of metal. We then reconfigured the well plates into rapid prototype microfluidic devices with which we demonstrated laminar flow, droplet generation, and bubble formation from T-shaped channels. We conclude that this MnM-Fab method is capable of addressing some challenges typically encountered with device translation, such as technical know-how or material supply, and that it can be applied to other devices, as needed in the field, using a single moldable material., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Interest in low-cost diagnostic devices has recently gained attention, in part due to the rising cost of healthcare and the need to serve populations in resource-limited settings. A major challenge in the development of such devices is the need for hydrophobic barriers to contain polar bio-fluid analytes. Key approaches in lowering the cost in diagnostics have centered on (i) development of low-cost fabrication techniques/processes, (ii) use of affordable materials, or, (iii) minimizing the need for high-tech tools. This communication describes a simple, low-cost, adaptable, and portable method for patterning paper and subsequent use of the patterned paper in diagnostic tests. Our approach generates hydrophobic regions using a ball-point pen filled with a hydrophobizing molecule suspended in a solvent carrier. An empty ball-point pen was filled with a solution of trichloro perfluoroalkyl silane in hexanes (or hexadecane), and the pen used to draw lines on Whatman® chromatography 1 paper. The drawn regions defined the test zones since the trichloro silane reacts with the paper to give a hydrophobic barrier. The formation of the hydrophobic barriers is reaction kinetic and diffusion-limited, ensuring well defined narrow barriers. We performed colorimetric glucose assays and enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) using the created test zones. To demonstrate the versatility of this approach, we fabricated multiple devices on a single piece of paper and demonstrated the reproducibility of assays on these devices. The overall cost of devices fabricated by drawing are relatively lower (

Interest in low-cost diagnostic devices has recently gained attention, in part due to the rising cost of healthcare and the need to serve populations in resource-limited settings. A major challenge in the development of such devices is the need for hydrophobic barriers to contain polar bio-fluid analytes. Key approaches in lowering the cost in diagnostics have centered on (i) development of low-cost fabrication techniques/processes, (ii) use of affordable materials, or, (iii) minimizing the need for high-tech tools. This communication describes a simple, low-cost, adaptable, and portable method for patterning paper and subsequent use of the patterned paper in diagnostic tests. Our approach generates hydrophobic regions using a ball-point pen filled with a hydrophobizing molecule suspended in a solvent carrier. An empty ball-point pen was filled with a solution of trichloro perfluoroalkyl silane in hexanes (or hexadecane), and the pen used to draw lines on Whatman® chromatography 1 paper. The drawn regions defined the test zones since the trichloro silane reacts with the paper to give a hydrophobic barrier. The formation of the hydrophobic barriers is reaction kinetic and diffusion-limited, ensuring well defined narrow barriers. We performed colorimetric glucose assays and enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) using the created test zones. To demonstrate the versatility of this approach, we fabricated multiple devices on a single piece of paper and demonstrated the reproducibility of assays on these devices. The overall cost of devices fabricated by drawing are relatively lower (

The gas chromatographic detection and quantitative determination of various chlorophenolics as well as resin and fatty acids have been carried out in the chlorination and caustic extraction stage effluents generated in the laboratory by bleaching a bamboo pulp. A number of chlorinated phenols, catechols, guaiacols, syringaldehydes and resin acids as well as non-chlorinated saturated and unsaturated fatty acids together with resin acids have been detected. The concentration of various compounds detected have also been compared with the reported (96)LC(50) values.