Silicon nanoparticles as a fluorometric probe for sensitive detection of cyanide ion and its application in C. elegans bio-imaging.

In recent years, silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs) have been explored as a promising alternative to traditional organic fluorophores in optical sensing and bioimaging applications owing to their exceptional optical properties and negligible toxicity. In this study, water-dispersible Si NPs were prepared from a 3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane precursor using a facile one-pot process. The as-prepared Si NPs exhibited excitation-wavelength-dependent fluorescence properties and bright green fluorescence at 530 nm upon excitation at 420 nm. The fluorescence properties of Si NPs remained unperturbed under various physiological conditions, such as varying pH, ionic strength, and incubation time. A sensitive fluorometric turn-off sensor for cyanide ion (CN-) detection was devised based on the unique fluorescence properties of Si NPs. The Si NPs-based detection assay showed a good linear response toward CN- ranging between 0 and 33 µM, with a limit of detection as low as 0.90 nM. Caenorhabditis elegans is used as a model organism to evaluate the in vivo toxicity and molecular imaging capability of Si NPs.

Novel wastewater surveillance strategy for early detection of coronavirus disease 2019 hotspots.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019, a pandemic of global concern, caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has severely revealed the need for public monitoring and efficient screening techniques. Despite the various advancements made in the medical and research field, containment of this virus has proven to be difficult on several levels. As such, it is a necessary requirement to identify possible hotspots in the early stages of any disease. Based on previous studies carried out on coronaviruses, there is a high likelihood that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 may also survive in wastewater. Hence, we propose the use of nanofiber filters as a wastewater pretreatment routine and upgradation of existing wastewater evaluation and treatment systems to serve as a beneficial surveillance tool.