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Suitable photoactive materials play an important role in the construction of photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensors. In this work, a novel photoactive material, lead-free double perovskite Cs2AgInCl6 nanocrystals supported on graphene (Cs2AgInCl6/G), with superior phototo-electric conversion efficiency was prepared by a simple thermal injection method. The morphology, structure, and PEC properties were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and PEC methods. The results show that the obtained Cs2AgInCl6/G reveals better PEC performance than pure Cs2AgInCl6 in aqueous media with dissolved oxygen and the DNA oxidative stress damage biomarker of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), which inspired us to develop an electron donor–acceptor codriven PEC sensing platform for highly sensitive biosensing of 8-OH-dG. 8-OH-dG and dissolved oxygen can be used as an electron donor and acceptor to efficiently reduce electron–hole pair recombination and thus enhance the cathodic photocurrent response. The resulting PEC sensing platform presents efficient PEC performance for 8-OH-dG with a detection limit down to 3.3 nM and a broad linear range from 0.005 to 1000 μM. Moreover, the designed PEC sensor has been successfully applied to measure the amount of 8-OH-dG in a biological matrix such as urine samples with satisfactory results. The wonderful cooperation of Cs2AgInCl6/G with the electron donor–acceptor synergy concept for simple and accurate PEC sensing of 8-OH-dG provides a new perspective to design and develop advanced PEC sensing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the pathophysiological mechanism of carotid artery dissection and its clinical translation is limited due to the lack of effective animal models to simulate the occurrence of this condition. Assuming that intimal injury is an important factor in the formation of carotid dissection, we established a novel method for inducing carotid dissection models by scraping the carotid intima using a fine needle. Scraping the carotid intima with fine needles can induce the rapid formation of carotid dissection. Magnetic resonance imaging and hematoxylin-eosin staining suggest the presence of false lumens and mural hematomas in the vessels. Our model-induction technique, inspired by iatrogenic catheter-induced artery dissections (carotid, coronary, aortic), significantly mimics the pathological process of clinical carotid dissection. The results suggest that mechanical injury may be a significant cause of carotid dissection and that intimal injury is a major factor in the formation of arterial dissections. This approach will provide assistance in the understanding of medically induced arterial dissection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a biomarker of high expression in cancer cells. Highly sensitive and selective detection of CEA holds significant clinical value in the diagnosis, monitoring and efficacy evaluation of malignant tumors. In this work, a smartphone-based electrochemical point-of-care testing (POCT) platform for the detection of CEA was developed based on a Zr6MOF signal amplification strategy. Ferrocene labeled DNA strands (Fc-DNA) were immobilized on Zr6MOFs to form a Fc-DNA/Zr6MOF signal probe. Double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) formed by complementary DNA (cDNA) and CEA aptamer was assembled on a screen-printed electrode via an Au–S bond. When CEA was added, the aptamer specifically bound with CEA, resulting in the exposure of cDNA. Then, Fc-DNA/Zr6MOF signal probes were introduced on the electrode surface through hybridization between Fc-DNA and cDNA. The detection of CEA was realized by measuring the electrochemical response of Fc. The POCT device was made by connecting a modified electrode with a smartphone through a Sensit Smart USB flash disk. Due to the signal amplification of Zr6MOFs, this POCT platform exhibited high sensitivity, wide linear range, and low detection limit for CEA detection. The developed POCT platform has been used for the detection of CEA in actual human serum samples with satisfactory results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]