ABSTRACT
Graphene-based materials present a high surface area and can present several structural defects or heteroatoms depending on the fabrication method. Such properties facilitate the graphene interaction with biomolecules leading to high electrochemical activity. In this context, we synthesize a high-quality dispersed reduced graphene oxide using Lysozyme as a dispersant (Ly-RGO). In this study, we have investigated the graphite oxidation-reduction fabrication process using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, and Raman Spectroscopy. We have used the Ly-RGO to fabricate an electrode on an electrochemical cell in which voltammograms show significant transduction of electrical signals. Finally, cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry measurements were performed with human saliva and SARS-CoV-2 RNA samples, to calibrate our biosensor. The results indicate that Ly-RGO has great potential in biosensor devices.
ABSTRACT
The development of accurate, reliable, inexpensive and fully recyclable analytical platforms is of utmost relevance to several fields from medical diagnosis to environmental screening. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a compelling detection method with high specificity and sensitivity. In this work, a microwave-assisted synthesis method was used for fast and uniform in situ growth of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto nanocellulose (NC) membranes, through a seed-mediated process. The as-prepared membranes were fully optimized and its application as SERS platforms was demonstrated. A direct comparison with other cellulose-based substrates showed the superior characteristics of NC such as high mechanical strength, high surface area and lower porous content. An Enhancement Factor (EF) up to ~106 was obtained using rhodamine 6G (R6G) 10−6 M as probe molecule and a remarkable shelf life of at least 7 months was achieved, with no special storage requirements. Preliminary results on the label-free detection of spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 virus are shown, through direct measurements on the optimized SERS membrane. We believe that this work evidences the effectiveness of in situ seed-mediated microwave-assisted synthesis as a fabrication method, the high stability of AuNPs and the superior characteristics of NC substrates to be used as SERS platforms. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.
ABSTRACT
This research aimed to analyze the quality of the information conveyed through YouTube videos in Portuguese on the use of two medicines suggested for the treatment of COVID-19: chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. The 'Brief DISCERN' questionnaire was applied to assess the quality of the video content as well as baseline characteristics, such as length, views, likes and dislikes, in a total of 90 videos with almost 4,5 million views. Traditional media accounted for 58,89% of videos. Misleading information was present in most of the videos (63,5%). Despite the ease of access, the videos showed problems in the quality of information.