Sandwich-format electrochemiluminescence assay for PDGF-BB using quantum dots-dendrimer nanocomposites as probe.

This work describes a novel electrochemiluminescence aptasensor for highly sensitive detection of platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) using aptamer functionalized CdS quantum dots-polyamidoamine as probe (CdS QDs-PAMAM-Apt). CdS QDs-PAMAM nanocomposites were synthesized by one-pot synthesis in methanol. The prepared nanocomposites were linked with the NH2-aptamer 2 (Apt2) of PDGF-BB to form the CdS QDs-PAMAM-Apt2 probe by glutaraldehyde as coupling reagent. For constructing the aptasensor, MWCNTs-chitosan composites and NH2-aptamer 1 (Apt1) with the same base sequence as Apt2 were immobilized on the electrode by the self-assembled method to recognize the target protein PDGF-BB. In the presence of PDGF-BB, the structure of sandwiched format was formed between the Apt1 and the CdS QDs-PAMAM-Apt2 probe, thereby resulting in a proportional increase of ECL emission. Thanks to the efficient and stable ECL emission of CdS QDs-PAMAM dendrimer and the advantage of MWCNTs for accelerating the electron transfer, the highly sensitive detection of PDGF-BB with a detection limit of 0.13pM was achieved. The linear range is from 0.5pM to 1nM. The present protocol was applied to the analysis of PDGF-BB in human serum samples. The recoveries of PDGF-BB in human serum samples are 87.2-113% and RSD values are less than 3.6%.

A luminol electrochemiluminescence aptasensor based on glucose oxidase modified gold nanoparticles for measurement of platelet-derived growth factor BB.

A sandwich-type luminol electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor for highly sensitive and selective detection of platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) is fabricated. For this proposed ECL aptasensor, a multilayered AuNPs-electrochemically reduced graphene (AuNPs-EG) nanocomposite film was formed on the GCE surface as the base of the aptasensor through a co-electrodeposition method. The AuNPs-EG composites possess high conductivity to promote the electron transfer at the electrode interface and good biocompatibility and large surface area to capture large amounts of primary aptamer (Apt1), thus amplifying the detection response. Moreover, glucose oxidase (GOD) functionalized AuNPs labeled secondary aptamer (GOD-Apt2-AuNPs) was designed as the signal probe for the sandwiched aptasensor. Enhanced sensitivity was obtained by in situ generation of H2O2 from reaction between GOD and glucose and the excellent catalytic behavior of AuNPs to the ECL of the luminol-H2O2 system. Under the optimal conditions, the as-prepared ECL aptasensor exhibited excellent analytical property for the detection of PDGF-BB in the range from 1.0×10(-13) to 5.0×10(-10) mol L(-1) with a detection limit of 1.7×10(-14) mol L(-1) (S/N=3). The application of the present protocol was demonstrated by analyzing PDGF-BB in human serum and human urine samples with the recoveries from 85.0% to 110%.

Aptasensor based on tripetalous cadmium sulfide-graphene electrochemiluminescence for the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen.

A facile label-free electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor, based on the ECL of cadmium sulfide-graphene (CdS-GR) nanocomposites with peroxydisulfate as the coreactant, was designed for the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Tripetalous CdS-GR nanocomposites were synthesized through a simple onepot solvothermal method and immobilized on the glassy carbon electrode surface. L-Cystine (L-cys) could largely promote the electron transfer and enhance the ECL intensity. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were assembled onto the L-cys film modified electrode for aptamer immobilization and ECL signal amplification. The aptamer modified with thiol was adsorbed onto the surface of the AuNPs through a Au-S bond. Upon hybridization of the aptamer with the target protein, the sequence could conjugate CEA to form a Y architecture. With CEA as a model analyte, the decreased ECL intensity is proportional to the CEA concentration in the range of 0.01-10.0 ng mL(-1) with a detection limit of 3.8 pg mL(-1) (S/N = 3). The prepared aptasensor was applied to the determination of CEA in human serum samples. The recoveries of CEA in the human serum samples were between 85.0% and 109.5%, and the RSD values were no more than 3.4%.

A novel label-free electrochemiluminescence aptasensor based on layered flowerlike molybdenum sulfide-graphene nanocomposites as matrix.

A label-free and ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor was constructed for the detection of thrombin. Molybdenum sulfide-graphene nanocomposites with good conductivity and large surface area were immobilized on glassy carbon electrode (GCE), and then Nafion was fixed to chemosorb the Ru(bpy)3(2+) used as luminescence agent. Subsequently, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were modified on the electrode to immobilize the thiol-modified thrombin aptamer for fabrication of the thrombin aptasensor. The proposed ECL aptasensor produced the ultrasensitive detection of thrombin with a low detection limit of 3.6×10(-15)M (S/N=3) and over a wide target concentration range from 1.0×10(-14) to 5.0×10(-9)M. The aptasensor has been successfully applied in the determination of thrombin in human plasma samples of both traumatic and non-traumatic injury patients, indicating its promise in biochemical analysis. The recoveries of thrombin in human plasma samples are between 88.6% and 105.0%, and the RSD values are no more than 3.7%. The results demonstrate that this aptasensor has excellent sensitivity, selectivity and stability.

[Effects of coated controlled release urea combined with conventional urea on winter wheat growth and soil NO3- -N].

Field experiments were conducted to study the effects of different dosages coated controlled release urea (PCU60, 60 d release duration) combined with conventional urea (U) used as basal on the winter wheat grain yield, nitrogen (N) recovery rate, and soil NO3- -N content, etc. Five treatments were installed, i.e., U (CK), 10% PCU60+90% U (PU1), 20% PCU60+80% U (PU2), 30% PCU60+70% U (PU3), and 40% PCU60+60% U (PU4). In the meantime, a comparative analysis was also carried out on the PCU60 N release characteristics under field condition and in 25 "C static water. At the same N dosage, all the test indices in treatment PU4 were significantly higher, with the grain yield, N recovery rate, total N accumulation amount, total tiller number and aboveground biomass at ripening stage, and economic benefit increased by 5.6%, 14.6%, 7.2%, 2.6%, 7.5%, and 984.3 yuan x hm(-2), respectively, compared with those in treatment U. The accumulation amount of NO3- -N in 0-100 cm soil layer in all treatments ranged in 39.70-49.93 kg x hm-2, and was the lowest (39.70 kg x hm(-2)) in treatment PU4. The N release pattern of PCU60 under field condition better fitted the N absorption characteristics of winter wheat.

Anti-ageing effects of protocatechuic acid from Alpinia on spleen and liver antioxidative system of senescent mice.

The effects of Alpinia protocatechuic acid (PCA) on spleen and liver antioxidant system in aged rats have been studied. Alpinia PCA, a phenolic compound, was first isolated from the dried fruits of Alpinia Oxyphylla Miq. in our laboratory. Young and aged rats were injected intraperitoneally with Alpinia PCA at single doses of 5 mg kg(-1) (low dose) or 10 mg kg(-1) (high dose) per day for 7 days. The activities of endogenous antioxidants and the content of lipid peroxide in spleen and liver were assayed. Compared with young group, aged rats had significantly lower splenic weights, lower activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and catalase (CAT), higher level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in spleen and liver. The results proved that Alpinia PCA significantly elevated the splenic weights, increased the activities of GSH-PX and CAT and decreased the MDA level of aged rats. All these suggested that Alpinia PCA was a potential anti-ageing agent, and its effects on spleen and liver were achieved at least partly by promoting endogenous antioxidant enzymatic activities and normalizing age-associated alterations. It may be therapeutically useful to minimize age-associated disorders where oxidative damage is the major cause.

Alpinia protocatechuic acid protects against oxidative damage in vitro and reduces oxidative stress in vivo.

In this study, the neuroprotective effects of Alpinia protocatechuic acid (PCA), a phenolic compound isolated from the dried fruits of Alpinia Oxyphylla Miq. was found. The protective effect of Alpinia PCA against H2O2-induced oxidative damage on PC12 cells was investigated by measuring cell viability via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with Alpinia PCA at a dose of 5mg/kg per day for 7 days, behavioral testing was performed in Y-maze. In order to make clear the neuroprotective mechanism of Alpinia PCA, the activities of endogenous antioxidants and the content of lipid peroxide in brain were assayed. The results proved that Alpinia PCA significantly prevented the H2O2-induced reduction in cell survival, improved the cognition of aged rats, reduced the content of lipid peroxide, increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. All these suggested that Alpinia PCA was a potential neuroprotective agent and its neuroprotective effects were achieved at least partly by promoting endogenous antioxidant enzymatic activities and inhibiting free radical generation.