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Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a unique analytical technique with excellent performance in terms of sensitivity, non-destructive detection and resolution. However, due to the randomness and poor repeatability of hot spot distribution, SERS quantitative analysis is still challenging. Meanwhile, snus is a type of tobacco product that can release nicotine and other components in the mouth without burning, and the rapid detection technique based on SERS can reliably evaluate the amount of nicotine released from snus, which is of great significance for understanding its characteristics and regulating its components. Herein, the strategy was proposed to solve the feasibility of SERS quantitative detection based on self-assembled core-shell nanoparticles with embedded internal standards (EIS) due to EIS signal can effectively correct SERS signal fluctuations caused by different aggregation states and measurement conditions, thus allowing reliable quantitative SERS analysis of targets with different surface affinity. By means of process control, after the Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) were modified with 4-Mercaptobenzonitrile (4-MBN) as internal standard molecules, Ag shell with a certain thickness was grown on the surface of the AuNP@4-MBN, and then the Au@4-MBN@Ag NPs were used to regulate and control the assembly of liquid-liquid interface. The high-density nano-arrays assembled at the liquid-liquid interface ensure high reproducibility as SERS substrates, and which could be used for SERS detection of nicotine released from snus products. In addition, time-mapping research shows that this method can also be used to dynamically monitor the release of nicotine. Moreover, such destruction-free evaluation of the release of nicotine from snus products opens up new perspectives for further research about the impact of nicotinoids-related health programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymeric nanocarriers have a broad range of clinical applications in recent years, but an inefficient delivery of polymeric nanocarriers to target tissues has always been a challenge. These results show that tuning the elasticity of hydrogel nanoparticles (HNPs) improves their delivery efficiency to tumors. Herein, a microfluidic system is constructed to evaluate cellular uptake of HNPs of different elasticity under flow conditions. It is found that soft HNPs are more efficiently taken up by cells than hard HNPs under flow conditions, owing to the greater adhesion between soft HNPs and cells. Furthermore, in vivo imaging reveals that soft HNPs have a more efficient tumor delivery than hard HNPs, and the greater targeting potential of soft HNPs is associated with both prolonged blood circulation and a high extent of cellular adhesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has great potential in the early diagnosis of diseases by detecting the changes of volatile biomarkers in exhaled breath, because of its high sensitivity, rich chemical molecular fingerprint information, and immunity to humidity. However, two factors limit the application of SERS: 1) specific enrichment of trace target molecules in SERS hotspots; and 2) stability and reproducibility of SERS signals in multi‐interference environments. In order to accurately detect biomarkers in the complex exhaled breath and to eliminate the interference of other components, hollow ZIF‐8 wrapped on the gold superparticle with a yolk‐shell structure is proposed as a SERS substrate. Similar to the solid ZIF layer, the hollow ZIF‐8 layer is also enriched with gas molecules, and the enriched molecules reacts with functional molecules on the surface of the superparticle, generating a strong response signal. The difference is that the hollow ZIF layer can effectively exclude interfering molecules that are not bound to the modified molecules, and the detection limit is 5 times lower than the detection limit of core‐shell structure substances. A mask‐type sensor is prepared, and the obtained spectra are modeled by PC‐LDA to determine the probability of illness in the actual population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of biomarkers in tears has aroused great interest owing to the advantages of non‐invasive and rapid collection. The combination of ultrasensitivity and label‐free detection of surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensors is expected to achieve real‐time diagnosis in home medical care. However, the surface of SERS sensors is susceptible to biofouling and inactivation by biological impurities in tears, resulting in rapid degradation of sensitivity, limiting the commercialization of point‐of‐care devices. Herein, a binary nanosphere array with dual properties is constructed as a separation‐sensing platform for the diagnosis of target molecules in tears. The upper part of the structure is composed of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) and a sputtering Au layer, which can bind the target molecules that interact with Au and provide high‐strength and high‐density SERS hotspots. The lower half is an inactive SiO2 nanosphere array with periodic large pores that allows biological impurities to penetrate the lower part and be separated from the target analyte. Furthermore, this substrate was integrated into homemade tear kits, enabling simultaneous tear collection, pre‐separation, and detection. Combined with the Raman spectra of tears and LDA analysis, we successfully identified patients with jaundice in clinics. This platform is expected to provide an opportunity for early disease screening based on biological fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecules in confined spaces exhibit unusual behaviors that are not typically observed in bulk systems. Such behavior can provide alternative strategies for exploring new reaction pathways. Cleavage of the C=N bond of Nile red (NR) in solution is an irreversible reaction. Here, we used spatial confinement within a cationic micelle‐confined system to convert this reaction to a reversible process. The fluorescence of NR shifted between red and green for nine cycles. The new chemical pathway based on spatial confinement can be attributed to two factors: increasing the local concentration of reactants and reducing the reaction energy barrier. This effect is supported by both experimental evidence and theoretical calculations. The cross‐linked silica shell comprising the confinement chamber stabilizes the enclosed molecules. This reduces fluorophore leakage and maintains fluorescence intensity in most environments, including in solution, on paper, and in hydrogel films, and expands practical applications in encrypted information and multi‐informational displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The engineering of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) into membranes and films is being investigated, to transform laboratory‐synthesized MOFs into industrially viable products for a range of attractive applications. However, rational design and construction of highly permeable MOF thin films, without trade‐offs in terms of structural mechanical stability, remains a significant challenge. Herein, a simple, general strategy is reported to prepare thin MOF nanosheet (NS)‐assembled frame film via heteroepitaxial growth from metal hydroxide film. As the thin MOF NS‐assembled film significantly enhances the permeability of mass though the film, the resultant gold nanoparticle (Au NP)@MOF film exhibits much higher catalytic efficiency than the Au NP@MOF bulk film. Meanwhile, the unique framework of the MOF NS‐assembled film resists torsion and collapse, so the composite catalyst exhibits long‐term stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To detect biomarkers from human exhalation, air flow dynamics on the nanoparticle surface were explored by a surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor. A hollow Co‐Ni layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocage on Ag nanowires (Ag@LDH) was prepared. Ag nanowires provided amplified Raman signals for trace determination; hollow LDH nanocages served as the gaseous confinement cavity to improve capture and adsorption of gaseous analytes. The Raman intensity and logarithmic analyte concentration exhibit an approximately linear relationship; the detection limit of SERS sensors for aldehyde is 1.9×10−9 v/v (1.9 ppb). Various aldehydes in mixed mimetic gas are distinguished by Raman spectra statistical analysis assisted by multivariate methods, including principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. The information was recorded in a barcode, which can be used for the design and development of a desktop SERS sensor analysis system for large‐scale lung cancer detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple method was adopted in which ultrathin cerium oxide nanoplates (<1.4 nm) were synthesized to increase the surface atomic content, allowing transformation from a face‐centered cubic (fcc) phase to a body‐centered tetragonal (bct) phase. Three types of cerium oxide nanoparticles of different thicknesses (1.2 nm ultrathin nanoplates, 2.2 nm nanoplates, and 5.4 nm nanocubes) were examined using transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. The metastable bct phase was observed only in ultrathin nanoplates. Thermodynamic energy analysis confirmed that the surface energy of the ultrathin nanoplates is the cause of the remarkable stabilization of the metastable bct phase. The mechanism of surface energy regulation can be expanded to other metallic oxides, thus providing a new means for manipulating and stabilizing novel materials under ambient conditions that otherwise would not be recovered. The metastablebctphase was only observed in ultrathin cerium oxide nanoplates. Thermodynamic energy analysis confirmed that the surface energy of the ultrathin nanoplates is the cause of the remarkable stabilization of the metastable bct phase. The mechanism of surface energy regulation can be expanded to other metallic oxides, thus providing a means for manipulating and stabilizing such materials under ambient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ru nanoparticles doped in carbon foam were encapsulated in nitrogen-doped graphite carbon materials (Ru-NGC). The resultant Ru-NGC possesses superior hydrogen evolution activity with a small onset potential of 9.5 mV and excellent durability due to the optimized Ru electronic state in nitrogen-doped graphite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the development in self-assembly of nanoparticles, a main question is directed to whether the supercrystalline structure can facilitate generation of collective properties, such as coupling between adjacent nanocrystals or delocalization of exciton to achieve band-like electronic transport in a 3D assembly. The nanocrystal surfaces are generally passivated by insulating organic ligands, which block electronic communication of neighboring building blocks in nanoparticle assemblies. Ligand removal or exchange is an operable strategy for promoting electron transfer, but usually changes the surface states, resulting in performance alteration or uncontrollable aggregation. Here, 3D, supercompact superparticles with well-defined superlattice domains through a thermally controlled emulsion-based self-assembly method is fabricated. The interparticle spacing in the superparticles shrinks to ≈0.3 nm because organic ligands lie prone on the nanoparticle surface, which are sufficient to overcome the electron transfer barrier. The ordered and compressed superstructures promote coupling and electronic energy transfer between CdSSe quantum dots (QDs). Therefore, the acquired QD superparticles exhibit different optical properties and enhanced photoelectric activity compared to individual QDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disease biomarkers in tears are crucial for clinical diagnosis and health monitoring. However, the limited volume of tear samples, low concentration of tear biomarkers, and complex tear composition present challenges for precise testing. We introduce a spot-on testing platform of metal-organic framework (MOF)-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) capillary column, which is capable of target molecules selective separation and enrichment for tear biomarkers in situ detection. It consists of Au nanostars for effective SERS signal and a porous MOF shell for separating impurities through molecular sieving effect. This platform allows for simultaneous collection and detection of tear, capturing the disease biomarker malondialdehyde in tears with a 9.38 × 10 -9 mol/L limit of detection. Moreover, we designed a hand-held device based on this tubular SERS sensor, successfully diagnosing patients with dry eye disease. This functional capillary column enables noninvasive and rapid diagnosis of biomarkers in biofluids, providing potential for disease diagnosis and healthcare monitoring.

Hierarchical assemblies of functional nanoparticles can have applications exceeding those of individual constituents. Arranging components in a certain order, even at the atomic scale, can result in emergent effects. We demonstrate that printed atomic ordering is achieved in multiscale hierarchical structures, including nanoparticles, superlattices, and macroarrays. The CsPbBr 3 perovskite nanocubes self-assemble into superlattices in ordered arrays controlled across 10 scales. These structures behave as single nanoparticles, with diffraction patterns similar to those of single crystals. The assemblies repeat as two-dimensional planar unit cells, forming crystalline superlattice arrays. The fluorescence intensity of these arrays is 5.2 times higher than those of random aggregate arrays. The multiscale coherent states can be printed on a meter-scale panel as a micropixel light-producing layer of primary-color photon emitters. These hierarchical assemblies can boost the performance of optoelectronic devices and enable the development of high-efficiency, directional quantum light sources.

Redesigning heterogeneous catalysts so that they can simultaneously integrate the efficiency and durability under reaction environments with respect to gas fuel production, such as hydrogen (H 2 ), oxygen (O 2 ), or carbon monoxide (CO), has proven challenging. In this work, we report the successful template-assisted printing-based assembly of platinum (Pt) nanoparticles (NPs) into striped-pattern (SP) superlattices to produce H 2 . In comparison to drop-casting flat Pt NPs films, SP superlattices lead to higher mass transference and smaller bubble stretch force, representing a general strategy to improve the efficiency and durability of pre-existed Pt catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), as well as higher current densities than commercial Pt/C, Pt NP films, and many of the other Pt-based or non-Pt-based HER catalysts reported in the literature. The generic nature of template-assisted printing leads to flexibility in the composition, size, and shape of the constituent NPs or molecules, and thus extends such an accelerated technique for producing the oxygen evolution reaction and electrochemical reduction of CO 2 to CO.

N 6 -methyladenine (m 6 A), one of the most common chemical modifications of eukaryotic RNA, participates in many important biological processes. An effective strategy for the quantitative determination of m 6 A is of great significance. Herein, we used methylated microRNA-21 (miRNA21) as the model target to propose a simple and sensitive electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) biosensing platform to detect a specific m 6 A RNA sequence. This strategy is based on the fact that the anti-m 6 A-antibody can specifically recognize and bind to the m 6 A site in the RNA sequence, resulting in a quenching effect between Ru(bpy) 3 2+ -functionalized metal-organic frameworks and ferrocene. Luminescent metal-organic frameworks (Ru@MOFs) not only act as ECL indicators but also serve as nanoreactors for the relative ECL reactions owing to their porous or multichannel structure, which overcomes the fact that Ru(bpy) 3 2+ is easily released when used for aqueous-phase detection, thus enhancing the ECL efficiency. Moreover, the ECL method has fewer modification steps and uses only one antibody to recognize the target RNA sequence, which simplifies the operation process and reduces the detection time, presenting a wide linear range (0.001-10 nM) for m 6 A RNA determination with a low detection limit (0.0003 nM). Additionally, this developed strategy was validated for m 6 A RNA detection in human serum. Thus, the ECL biosensing method provides a new method for m 6 A RNA determination that is simple, highly specific, and sensitive.

A simple method was adopted in which ultrathin cerium oxide nanoplates (<1.4 nm) were synthesized to increase the surface atomic content, allowing transformation from a face-centered cubic (fcc) phase to a body-centered tetragonal (bct) phase. Three types of cerium oxide nanoparticles of different thicknesses (1.2 nm ultrathin nanoplates, 2.2 nm nanoplates, and 5.4 nm nanocubes) were examined using transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The metastable bct phase was observed only in ultrathin nanoplates. Thermodynamic energy analysis confirmed that the surface energy of the ultrathin nanoplates is the cause of the remarkable stabilization of the metastable bct phase. The mechanism of surface energy regulation can be expanded to other metallic oxides, thus providing a new means for manipulating and stabilizing novel materials under ambient conditions that otherwise would not be recovered., (© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Bacterial infectious diseases, such as sepsis, can lead to impaired function in the lungs, kidneys, and other vital organs. Although established technologies have been designed for the extracorporeal removal of bacteria, a high flow velocity of the true bloodstream might result in low capture efficiency and prevent the realization of their full clinical potential. Here, we develop a dialyzer made by three-dimensional carbon foam pre-grafted with nanowires to isolate bacteria from unprocessed blood. The tip region of polycrystalline nanowires is bent readily to form three-dimensional nanoclaws when dragged by the molecular force of ligand-receptor, because of a decreasing Young's moduli from the bottom to the tip. The bacterial capture efficiency was improved from ~10% on carbon foam and ~40% on unbendable single-crystalline nanowires/carbon foam to 97% on bendable polycrystalline nanowires/carbon foam in a fluid bloodstream of 10 cm s -1 velocity.