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Two carbon dots (CDs) (λ Em  = 525 nm, G-CDs and λ Em  = 640 nm, R-CDs) were synthesized from citric acid and urea. The bovine serum albumin (BSA) responsiveness of the R-CDs was used to develop a "fluorescence-wavelength" label-free point of care testing (POCT) for the detection of the milk quality marker BSA with the detection limit (LOD) of 4.89 μg/mL for fluorescence mode and 3.38 μg/mL for wavelength mode. In addition, R-CDs were found to have hydroxyl radical (·OH)-dependent fluorescence quenching properties, and a "fluorescence-photothermal" immunosensor based on nanobodies was constructed by introducing the fluorescence signal of R-CDs@BSA and the photothermal signal of oxTMB for the detection of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) with the LOD of 0.034 ng/mL for fluorescence mode and 0.075 ng/mL for photothermal mode. The tandem detection of POCT and immunosensor enables the simultaneous and highly sensitive detection of BSA and β-LG after only simple dilution of less than 5 µL of sample., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study, a novel fluorescent "turn-on" aptasensor was developed for sensitive and rapid detection of tetracycline (TC) in animal-derived food. It is based on aptamer-functionalized nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs-aptamer) coupled with cobalt oxyhydroxide (CoOOH) nanoflakes. The CoOOH nanoflakes are efficient fluorescence quenchers in homogeneous solutions, and this is due to their advantages of excellent optical properties, superior flexibility, and water dispersibility. The proposed method's mechanism is driven by quenching based on the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the donor (N-GQDs) and the acceptor (CoOOH nanoflakes). On the other hand, fluorescence recovery is caused by the structure switching behavior of the aptamer. Compared with previous methods, our developed method exhibits better behavior in terms of being easy to fabricate and being simple in detection procedure and maintains the detection limit low enough in TC determination: a linear range from 1 to 100 ng mL -1 and a detection limit of 0.95 ng mL -1 (S/N = 3). Furthermore, the proposed method was applied to five animal-derived food samples (milk, honey, fish, eggs, and chicken muscle) and demonstrated practical applicability. As well, the method has the advantages of simplicity in pre-treatment and convenience in instruments, saves times, and is cost-effective. Finally, the proposed method demonstrates significant potential for sensitive and rapid detection of specific components in real samples. Graphical abstract.

Folic acid (FA) is an essential vitamin in humans, and thus, rapid, accurate, and sensitive methods for its quantification in different biological samples are needed. This work describes a novel, simple, and effective dual-emission fluorescence nanoprobe for FA detection and quantification. The probe was covalently linked to amino-modified orange quantum dots (QDs) and carboxyl-modified blue graphene quantum dots (GQDs). The resulting material exhibited two emission peaks at 401 and 605 nm upon excitation at 310 nm. The probe had good selectivity and sensitivity toward FA with an exceptionally low detection limit (LOD = 0.09 nM). This probe was effectively used to quantify FA in animal serum samples. The method has potential utility for FA analysis in different types of biological samples. Graphical abstract.

In order to develop a sensitive immunoassay for Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) monitoring, a hybridoma secreting anti-AFB1 monoclonal antibody with high binding affinity was screened. A new type of CdTe/CdS/ZnS quantum dot was synthesized and conjugated with an artificial antigen for use as a fluorescent probe in a simple one-step fluorescence immunoassay (FLISA). The developed FLISA allowed a sensitive determination of AFB1 in cereal samples in a wide linear range, from 0.08 to 1.97 ng mL -1 , with a detection limit of 0.01 ng mL -1 in cereal samples. The corresponding immunoglobulin genes of the Fab fragment were cloned and sequenced, and expression of Fab was successfully verified in HEK293 cells, with a K D value of 1.09 × 10 -7  mol L -1 for AFB1. To investigate the interactions between the antibody and AFB1, molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulation, and quantum-chemical computation were performed on AFB1 and a homology model of the Fab fragment. Our results showed that residues Ser32, Trp93, and Trp98 played the most important roles in the binding through hydrogen bonds formation, Pi-Pi stacked/Pi-alkyl interactions, and van der Waals interactions. In addition, the electrostatic potential study of AFB1 demonstrated that electrostatic interactions also played an important role in the recognition process. Results from theoretical studies provide guidance for hapten design and antibody improvement through genetic engineering., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

It is found that the fluorescence of carbon dots (CD) with an emission peak at 459 nm is strongly quenched by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with their absorption peak at 430 nm. The finding was applied in a fluorescence quenchometric lateral flow immunochromatographic assay for detection of zearalenone (ZEN) with CDs conjugated to ovalbumin (OVA) as donor signal probe and AgNP-Ab as acceptor signal probe. The assay has an LOD of 0.1 μg·L -1 for ZEN. This is 10 times better than the respective "turn-off" AgNP-based LFIA. In case of cereal samples and their products, the LODs range from 1 to 2.5 μg·kg -1 . Only minor cross reactivity is found for fusarium toxins, and no cross-sensitivity for aflatoxin B1, T-2 mycotoxin, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, and fumonisin B1. The assay represents a simple, sensitive, and rapid tool for determination of ZEN in cereal samples and their products. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of fluorescence quenching lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (FLFIA) based on carbon dots (CD) and silver nanoparticle (AgNP) fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) system for the rapid high sensitive detection of zearalenone (ZEN) in cereal samples.

In this study, two novel fluorescence quenching immune chromatographic strips (FQICS) were developed to detect sulfaquinoxaline (SQX) in foods of animal origin. These proposed FQICSs were based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from fluorescence donors (quantum dots or upconversion nanoparticles) to fluorescence acceptors (colloidal gold nanoparticles). Compared with traditional colloidal gold-based immune chromatographic strips (ICS), these FQICSs showed positive correlation between the fluorescent signals and the targets, and allowed user to get test results from weak fluorescent signals. The visual detection limits of these two FQICSs were both 1 ng mL -1 in standard solution and 8 μg kg -1 in samples, while the visual detection limit of the colloidal gold-based ICS was 10 ng mL -1 in standard solution and 80 μg kg -1 in samples. Besides, the results we obtained by the use of FQICS showed high agreement with those obtained by the use of commercial ELISA kits, indicating the good accuracy of these strips. As a conclusion, these proposed FQICS based on quantum dots and upconversion nanoparticles can be applied in sensitive, rapid and on-site detection of SQX in foods of animal origin., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Additives and antibiotic abuse during food production and processing are among the key factors affecting food safety. The efficient and rapid detection of hazardous substances in food is of crucial relevance to ensure food safety. In this study, a water-soluble quantum dot with glutathione as a ligand was synthesized as a fluorescent probe by hydrothermal method to achieve the detection and analysis of H2O2. The detection limits were 0.61 μM in water and 68 μM in milk. Meanwhile, it was used as a fluorescent donor probe and manganese dioxide nanosheets were used as a fluorescent acceptor probe in combination with an immunoassay platform to achieve the rapid detection and analysis of enrofloxacin (ENR) in a variety of foods with detection limits of 0.05–0.25 ng/mL in foods. The proposed systems provided new ideas for the construction of fluorescence sensors with high sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel, highly sensitive and selective fluorescent sensor based on water‐soluble nitrogen‐doped graphene quantum dots (N‐GQDs) coupled with molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) was developed to detect tetracycline (TC). Unique N‐GQDs@MIPs nanomaterials were synthesized via the simple sol‐gel method due to its advantages of saving time and costs. The prepared N‐GQDs were fairly uniform and the fluorescence quantum yield (QY) was up to 58.2%. Results of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) confirmed that the N‐GQDs@MIPs nanomaterial was prepared successfully. The imprinted factor (IF) of the synthesized N‐GQDs@MIPs was 3.42. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the fluorescence intensity and concentration of TC maintained a good linear range. The recovery experiment indicated this method can be applied to detecting TC in animal‐derived food. In summary, the proposed method provided a new and effective way for simple and rapid analysis of specific components in complex matrix samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors describe two kinds of immunochromatographic assays. The first is based on the use of dyed polymer microspheres (MICA), the another on the use of quantum dots (QICA). Both enable visual detection of enrofloxacin (ENR) in animal tissue and milk. Both the MICA and the QICA have visual limits of detection of 1 μg·L when working in buffer, of 5 μg·kg in case of animal tissue, and of 10 μg·L in case of milk. Other quinolones do not interfere. The MICA and QICA described here are convenient and fairly rapid in that the detection process (including sample pretreatment and assay) takes 20 min only which is far less than the commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test kit which requires 120 min. The MICA and QICA are more sensitive than the immunochromatographic assay using colloidal gold labels and the same polyclonal antibody. The results of analysis of spiked samples via MICA and QICA are in good agreement with those obtained by the commercial ELISA test kit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) with water-soluble CdTe quantum dots (QDs) was synthesized by oil-in-water Pickering emulsion polymerization using whole Listeria monocytogenes as the template. Listeria monocytogenes was first treated by acryloyl-functionalized chitosan with QDs to form a bacteria–chitosan network as the water phase. This was then stabilized in an oil-in-water emulsion comprising a cross-linker, monomer, and initiator, causing recognition sites on the surface of microspheres embedded with CdTe QDs. The resulting MIP microspheres enabled selective capture of the target bacteria via recognition cavities. The target bacteria Listeria monocytogenes was detected. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization showed that the MIPs had a rough spherical shape. There was visual fluorescence detection via quenching in the presence of the target molecule, which offered qualitative detection of Listeria monocytogenes in milk and pork samples. The developed method simplified the analysis process and did not require any sample pretreatment. In addition, the fluorescence sensor provided an effective, fast, and convenient method for Listeria monocytogenes detection in food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luminescent down-shifting (LDS) is a spectral conversion method for improving the short-wavelength response of Si-based solar cell by transforming shorter wavelength (200 nm-400 nm) into longer wavelength (>400 nm). In this paper, LDS efficiency was enhanced through incorporating Ag nanoparticles into ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs), as demonstrated by photoluminescence (PL) spectra and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation results. The mixed Ag/ZnSe/ZnS QDs were spin-coated on the surface of manufactured Si-solar cell so as to efficiently utilize LDS properties. The external quantum efficiency (EQE) and short-circuit current density (Jsc) of Ag/ZnSe/ZnS QDs–Si hybrid solar cell were respectively increased by 30% and 7.5% compared to those of ZnSe/ZnS–Si hybrid solar cell. These improvements were mainly ascribed to localized surface plasmonic (LSP) enhancement effect of Ag nanoparticles. Such small but distinct improvements are expected to provide the theoretical basis and technical support for the development of photovoltaic devices in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An universal fluorescent encoding strategy was presented. • The encoding process was compatible for different polarity of quantum dots. • Five single-color and 10 dual-color fluorescent systems were obtained. • The fluorescent MIPs performed excellent specific adsorption for dopamine in PBS. • Dual mode fluorescent sensors were successful applied for dopamine detection. As the promising analytical strategy, multi-mode quantum dots (QDs) encoded molecularly imprinted fluorescent sensors have attracted considerable attention. Here, a novel encoding strategy for water-dispersed QDs molecularly imprinted polymers microspheres (MIPMs) with a high-performance fluorescence intensity and multi-color signal was established. The water-compatible MIPMs were firstly synthesized via integrating the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer and precipitation polymerization (RAFT-PP), which could improve the water compatibility by grafting the hydrophilic groups of poly(2-hydroxyrthyl methacrylate) (PHEMA). Then the water-compatible MIPMs were used as embedding matrix to separately incorporate with five different QDs, and a series of multi-color QDs encoded MIPs (five single-color and 10 dual-color fluorescent systems) were obtained. The fluorescent characterization of encoded MIPMs was studied in detail. Further, dual-mode fluorescence systems were fabricated as fluorescence sensors for the quantitative detection of dopamine; good linear response in the range of 5-300 μg L-1 and 1-100 μg L-1 and the limit of detection (LOD) with 2 μg L-1 and 0.5 μg L-1 were obtained for monochromatic and ratiometric sensor, respectively. It is the first time to introduce the optical encoding strategy into the fabrication of fluorescent MIPs, which not only greatly simplifies the preparation process of fluorescent imprinted sensor, but also provides more alternatives for the detection method of analyte and the potential of high-throughput multiple analytes at one time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]