Dip Sticks Embedding Molecular Beacon-Functionalized Core-Mesoporous Shell Particles for the Rapid On-Site Detection of Microbiological Fuel Contamination.

Microbial contamination of fuels by fungi and bacteria presents risks of corrosion and fuel system fouling. In this work, a rapid test for the determination of microbial genomic DNA from aqueous fuel extracts is presented. It combines test strips coated with polystyrene core/mesoporous silica shell particles, to the surface of which modified fluorescent molecular beacons are covalently grafted, with a smartphone detection system. In the hairpin loop, the beacons incorporate a target sequence highly conserved in all bacteria, corresponding to a fragment of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene, which is also present to a significant extent in the 18S rRNA gene of fungi, allowing for broadband microbial detection. In the developed assay, the presence of genomic DNA extracts from bacteria and fungi down to ca. 20-50 µg L-1 induced a distinct fluorescence response. The optical read-out was adapted for on-site monitoring by combining a 3D-printed case with a conventional smartphone, taking advantage of the sensitivity of contemporary complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) detectors. Such an embedded assembly allowed to detect microbial genomic DNA in aqueous extracts down to ca. 0.2-0.7 mg L-1 and presents an important step toward the on-site uncovering of fuel contamination in a rapid and simple fashion.

Fluorescent Paper Strips for the Detection of Diesel Adulteration with Smartphone Read-out.

Three fluorescent molecular rotors of 4-dimethylamino-4-nitrostilbene (4-DNS) were investigated for their potential use as viscosity probes to indicate the content of kerosene in diesel/kerosene blends, a wide-spread activity to adulterate fuel. In solvents with low viscosity, the dyes rapidly deactivate via a so-called twisted intramolecular charge transfer state, efficiently quenching the fluorescence. Measurements of diesel/kerosene blends revealed a good linear correlation between the decrease in fluorescence and the increase of the fraction of the less viscous kerosene in diesel/kerosene blends. Immobilization of the hydroxy derivative 4-DNS-OH in cellulose paper yielded test strips that preserve the fluorescent indicator's behavior. Combination of the strips with a reader based on a smartphone and a controlling app allowed to create a simple field test. The method can reliably detect the presence of kerosene in diesel from 7 to 100%, outperforming present standard methods for diesel adulteration.

Optical pH Sensor Covering the Range from pH 0-14 Compatible with Mobile-Device Readout and Based on a Set of Rationally Designed Indicator Dyes.

In this work, a family of pH-responsive fluorescent probes has been designed in a rational manner with the aid of quantum chemistry tools, covering the entire pH range from 0-14. Relying on the boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) core, all the probes as well as selected reference dyes display very similar spectroscopic properties with ON-OFF fluorescence switching responses, facilitating optical readout in simple devices used for detection and analysis. Embedding of the probes and reference dyes into hydrogel spots on a plastic strip yielded a test strip that reversibly indicates pH with a considerably small uncertainty of ∼0.1 pH units. These strips are not only reusable but, combined with a 3D-printed case that can be attached to a smartphone, the USB port of which drives the integrated LED used for excitation, allows for autonomous operation in on-site or in-the-field applications; the developed Android application software ("app") further simplifies operation for unskilled users.

Boolean operations mediated by an ion-pair receptor of a multi-readout molecular logic gate.

A heteroditopic BODIPY dye that performs all basic Boolean operations with a cation (K(+)) and an anion (F(-)) as inputs and absorption, transmission and fluorescence as outputs is described. The molecular logic gate can also act as a digital comparator between the inputs.

Selective and sensitive chromogenic detection of cyanide and HCN in solution and in gas phase.

Two triphenylmethane based chemodosimeters for selective and chromogenic sensing of cyanide anions in aqueous environments and of hydrogen cyanide in gas phase were prepared and studied.

Inversion of selectivity in anion recognition with conformationally blocked calix[4]pyrroles.

Two calixpyrrole derivatives were synthesised. A p-dimethylaminobenzoyl group was electronically attached to a pyrrole ring, establishing an intramolecular hydrogen bond in a 1,3-alternate conformation. The formation of the H-bond was corroborated by IR, NMR, and X-ray measurements. NMR titration studies reveal that the H-bond is strong enough to block the conversion to a cone conformation, allowing them to only acquire a partial cone conformation. Affinity constants for several anions were calculated, and a noticeable increase was observed for tridentate tetrahedral anions, while the K(a) of spheric or bidentate anions decreased. In the presence of several acids, the synthesised compounds can act as chemosensors by a double process: protonation of the amino group and coordination of the generated anion. In addition, a displacement approach gives rise to a proof of concept for sulphonate recognition.

Discrimination of nerve gases mimics and other organophosphorous derivatives in gas phase using a colorimetric probe array.

A colorimetric array for the chromogenic discrimination of organophosphorous derivatives in gas phase has been developed.

Chromo-fluorogenic detection of nerve-agent mimics using triggered cyclization reactions in push-pull dyes.

A family of azo and stilbene derivatives (1-9) are synthesized, and their chromo-fluorogenic behavior in the presence of nerve-agent simulants, diethylchlorophosphate (DCP), diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), and diethylcyanophosphate (DCNP) in acetonitrile and mixed solution of water/acetonitrile (3:1 v/v) buffered at pH 5.6 with MES, is investigated. The prepared compounds contain 2-(2-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)ethanol or 2-[(2-N,N-dimethylamino)phenoxy]ethanol reactive groups, which are part of the conjugated pi-system of the dyes and are able to give acylation reactions with phosphonate substrates followed by a rapid intramolecular N-alkylation. The nerve-agent mimic-triggered cyclization reaction transforms a dimethylamino group into a quaternary ammonium, inducing a change of the electronic properties of the delocalized systems that results in a hypsochromic shift of the absorption band of the dyes. Similar reactivity studies are also carried out with other "non-toxic" organophosphorus compounds, but no changes in the UV/Vis spectra were observed. The emission behaviour of the reagents in acetonitrile and water-acetonitrile 3:1 v/v mixtures is also studied in the presence of nerve-agent simulants and other organophosphorous derivatives. The reactivity between 1-9 and DCP, DCNP, or DFP in buffered water-acetonitrile 3:1 v/v solutions under pseudo first-order kinetic conditions, using an excess of the corresponding simulant, are studied in order to determine the rate constants (k) and the half-life times (t(1/2)=ln2/k) for the reaction. The detection limits in water/acetonitrile 3:1 v/v are also determined for 1-9 and DCP, DCNP, and DFP. Finally, the chromogenic detection of nerve agent simulants both in solution and in gas phase are tested using silica gel containing adsorbed compounds 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 with fine results.