Sensitive and accurate monitoring of urinary albumin and point-of-care testing using a fluorescent probe with anti-interference capacity against exogenous drugs.

Fluorescent probes have been reported for monitoring urinary albumin (u-ALB) to enable early diagnosis of kidney diseases and facilitate regular point-of-care testing (POCT) for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, the albumin can bind hydrophobic drugs through host-guest interactions, which may result in decreased accuracy of probes at regular drug sites and hamper POCT of albuminuria since CKD patients often need to take medications routinely. Herein, we reported a novel fluorescent probe (NC-2) by molecular engineering of a reported AIEgen (NC-1). The introduction of a non-conjugated ring moiety to the molecular rotor granted the NC-2 enhanced sensitivity with a limit of detection in urine of 8.7 mg/L, which is below l the threshold of microalbuminuria (30 mg/L). Moreover, the NC-2 was found to preferentially bind to the FA1 site of ALB, conferring it with excellent anti-interference capacities against exogenous drug molecules and metabolites. Simulation experiments using lab-spiked urine samples containing common drugs taken by CKD patients demonstrated that the probe could provide satisfied detecting accuracy (80-90 %). Furthermore, a paper-based device was constructed and achieved on-site detection of u-ALB in qualitative and semi-quantitative manners. Findings in this work were of great significance to the development of fluorescent probes for accurate detection of ALB in complex urine samples and the further achievement of fluorescence-based POCT for CKD.

Quantitative and qualitative detection of target heavy metals using anti-interference colorimetric sensor Array combined with near-infrared spectroscopy.

An anti-interference colorimetric sensor array (CSA) technique was developed for the qualitative and quantitative detection of target heavy metals in corn oil. This method involves a binding mechanism that triggers changes in atomic energy levels and visible color changes. A custom-built olfactory visualization device was employed to gather spectral data, revealing distinct CSA color difference patterns. Subsequently, three pattern recognition algorithms were used to create an identification model for the target heavy metals. The results showed that the ACO-KNN (Ant Colony Optimization-K-Nearest Neighbor) model outperformed the other models, achieving accuracy rates of 90.28% and 89.58% for the calibration and prediction sets, respectively. The ACO-PLS (Partial Least Square) model was more stable with the lowest root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP), which were 0.1730 and 0.1180, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of Pb and Hg were (0.3, 0.6, 1.1 and 2.2) x 10-3 mg/L, respectively.

Graphene oxide-functionalized molecular beacon for real-time interference-free detection of Ki-67 mRNA in living cells.

Molecular beacons (MBs) based on hairpin-shaped oligonucleotides are captivating owing to their capability to enable effective real-time detection of cytosolic mRNA in living cells. However, DNase in the nucleus and lysosome could induce the degradation of oligonucleotides in MBs, leading to the generation of false-positive signals. Herein, a graphene oxide (GO) nanosheet was applied as a nanocarrier for MBs to greatly enhance the anti-interference of the easily designed nanoprobe. Advantageously, the absorption capacity of GO for MBs increased with the decrease in pH values, providing the MB-GO nanoprobe with the ability to detect the expression of cytosolic Ki-67 mRNA without interference from DNase Ⅱ in lysosomes. Moreover, the size of GO nanosheets was considerably higher than that of the nuclear pore complex (NPC), which prevented nanoprobes from transition through the NPCs, thereby avoiding the generation of false-positive signals in the nucleus. Altogether, the present work affords a convenient approach for the successful detection of Ki-67 mRNA expression in the cytosol without interference from DNase Ⅰ/Ⅱ in the nucleus/lysosome, which may be potentially further applied for the detection of other cytosolic RNAs.

Hydrothermal N-doping, magnetization and ball milling co-functionalized sludge biochar design and its selective adsorption of trace concentration sulfamethoxazole from waters.

This study aimed to design an efficient and easily collected/regenerated adsorbent for trace concentration sulfamethoxazole (SMX) removal to eliminate its negative impacts on human health, reduce the risk of adsorbed SMX release and boost the reusability of adsorbent. Various multiple modified sludge-derived biochars (SBC) were synthesized in this work and applied to adsorb trace level SMX. The results demonstrated that hydrothermal N-doping, magnetization coupled with ball milling co-functionalized SBC (BMNSBC) displayed the greater adsorption ability for SMX. The maximum adsorption capacity of BMNSBC for SMX calculated by Langmuir model was 1.02×105 µg/g, which was 12.9 times of SBC. Characterization combined with adsorption experiments (e.g., models fitting) and DFT calculation confirmed that π-π conjugation, Lewis acid-base, pore filling and Fe3O4 complexation were the primary forces driving SMX binding to BMNSBC. These diversified physicochemical forces contributed to the fine anti-interference of BMNSBC to background substances (e.g., inorganic compounds and organic matter) and its remarkable adsorption ability for SMX in diverse real waters. The great magnetization strength of BMNSBC was advantage for its collection and efficient regeneration by NaOH desorption. Additionally, BMNSBC exhibited a outstanding security in view of its low leaching levels of iron (Fe) and total nitrogen (TN). The multiple superiority of BMNSBC enable it to be a prospective material for emerging contaminants (e.g., SMX) purification, also offering a feasible disposal approach for municipal waste (e.g., sludge).

Fabrication of cobalt-iron Prussian blue analogues functionalized hybrid membranes for efficiently capturing Tl from water: Performance and mechanism.

As trace levels of thallium (Tl) in water are lethal to humans and ecosystems, it is essential to exploit advanced technologies for efficient Tl removal. In response to this concern, an innovative composite membrane was developed, incorporating polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and featuring a dual-support system with polydopamine (PDA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI), along with bimetallic Prussian blue analogues (Co@Fe-PBAs) as co-supports. The composite membrane exhibited an exceptional Tl+-adsorption capacity (qm) of 186.1 mg g-1 when utilized for the treatment of water containing low concentration of Tl+ (0.5 mg⋅L-1). Transmission electron microscopy displayed the obvious Tl+ mapping inside the special hollow Co@Fe-PBAs crystals, demonstrating the deep intercalation of Tl+ via ion exchange and diffusion. The Tl+-adsorption capability of the composite membrane was not greatly affected by coexisting Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ as well as the tricky K+, indicating the excellent anti-interference. Co-doped PBAs enhanced ion exchange and intercalation of the composite membrane with Tl+ leading to excellent Tl+ removal efficiency. The composite membrane could efficiently remove Tl+ from thallium-contaminated river water to meet the USEPA standard. This study provides a cost-effective membrane-based solution for efficient Tl+ removal from Tl+-containing wastewater.

Non-Destructive Testing of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastics (CFRPs) Using a Resonant Eddy Current Sensor.

Eddy current testing (ECT) is commonly used for the detection of defects inside metallic materials. In order to achieve the effective testing of CFRP materials, increasing the operating frequency or improving the coil structure is a common method used by researchers. Higher or wider operating frequencies make the design of the ADC's conditioning circuit complex and difficult to miniaturize. In this paper, an LC resonator based on inductance-to-digital converters (LDCs) is designed to easily detect the resonant frequency response to the state of the material under test. The reasonableness of the coil design is proven by simulation. The high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and detection sensitivity of the LC resonator are demonstrated through comparison experiments involving multiple probes. The anti-interference capability of the LC resonator in CFRP defect detection is demonstrated through various interference experiments.

Highly-Polarized Solar-Blind Ultraviolet Organic Photodetectors.

Developing high-performance polarization-sensitive ultraviolet photodetectors is crucial for their application in military remote sensing, detection, bio-inspired navigation, and machine vision. However, the significant absorption in the visible light range severely limits the application of polarization-sensitive ultraviolet photodetectors, such as high-quality anti-interference imaging. Here, based on a wide-bandgap organic semiconductor single crystal (trans-1,2-bis(5-phenyldithieno[2,3-b:3',2'-d]thiophen-2-yl)ethene, BPTTE), high-performance polarization-sensitive solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors with a dichroic ratio close to 4.26 are demonstrated. The strong anisotropy of 2D grown BPTTE single crystals in molecular vibration and optical absorption is characterized by various techniques. Under voltage modulation, stable and efficient detection of polarized light is demonstrated, attributed to the intrinsic anisotropy of transition dipole moment in the bc crystal plane, rather than other factors. Finally, high-contrast polarimetric imaging and anti-interference imaging are successfully demonstrated based on BPTTE single crystal photodetectors, highlighting the potential of organic semiconductors for polarization-sensitive solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors.

RPCA-based thermoacoustic imaging for microwave ablation monitoring.

Microwave ablation (MWA) is a potent cancer treatment tool, but its effectiveness can be hindered by the lack of visual feedback. This paper validates the feasibility of using microwave-induced thermoacoustic imaging (TAI) technique to monitor the MWA process. A feasibility analysis was conducted at the principle level and a high-performance real-time TAI system was introduced. To address the interference caused by MWA, a robust principal component analysis (RPCA)-based method for TAI was proposed. This method leverages the correlation between multiple signal frames to eliminate interference. RPCA's effectiveness in TAI was demonstrated through three sets of different experiments. Experiments demonstrated that TAI can effectively monitors the MWA process. This work represents the first application of RPCA-related matrix decomposition methods in TAI, paving the way for the application of TAI in more complex clinical scenarios. By providing rapid and accurate visual feedback, this research advances MWA technology.

Development of SPEEK-Coated IrOx Sensor for High-Biomass Aquatic pH Monitoring.

Instability is a key challenge for current pH sensors in practical applications, especially in aquatic environments with high biomass and redox substances. Herein, we present a novel approach that uses a highly stable IrOx sensing layer enveloped in a composite film of SPEEK doped with a silicon-stabilized ionic liquid (SP-IrOx). This design mitigates drift due to sensitive layer variations and minimizes interference from complex external conditions. After exhibiting robustness under moderately reducing conditions caused by S2-, I-, and ascorbic acid, the SP-IrOx sensor's efficacy was validated through real-time pH measurements in demanding aquatic settings. These included laboratory algal culture medium, sediment substrates, and mussel aquaculture areas. The sensor sustained accuracy and stability over extended periods of 6-8 days when compared to calibrated commercial electrodes. The deviations from reference samples were minimal, with a variance of no more than 0.03 pH units in mussel aquaculture areas (n = 17) and 0.07 pH units in an algal culture medium (n = 37). As a potentiometric, this solid-state electrode features a compact structure and low energy consumption, making it an economical and low-maintenance solution for precise pH monitoring in diverse challenging environments with high biomass and turbidity.

MPC motion control of boom descending of unmanned excavator based on regenerative valve.

The control precision of the working device has always been a challenging aspect in unmanned excavator research due to the adoption of a triangular drive mode and a complex hydraulic system in the working mechanism. The article focuses on the research of autonomous control for the downward motion of a robotic arm in an unmanned excavator equipped with a regeneration valve. The study aims to achieve precise tracking of fast movement trajectories during operator manipulation, utilizing Model Predictive Control (MPC). Furthermore, the exceptional disturbance rejection capability of the MPC algorithm is demonstrated through interference application. A comprehensive model considering mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical factors is established for the excavator boom. The MPC algorithm is applied to achieve precise control over the boom descent process, providing a foundation for motion control in unmanned excavators. This article presents a theoretical analysis to elucidate the robustness principle of MPC in the descent control of uncertain dynamic arms. By incorporating real parameters, we successfully track predetermined planned paths at different speeds and validate them on a 20-ton hydraulic excavator. The results demonstrate that the MPC control algorithm accurately manipulates the boom descent motion while exhibiting excellent disturbance rejection performance. Compared to PID control algorithms, MPC offers wider target adaptability range and better disturbance rejection performance, making it suitable for rapid application in controlling working devices of unmanned excavators.

Wavelength-dependent photoelectrochemical response demonstrated by the determination of acetaminophen and rutin in differential molecularly imprinted polymers strategy.

Herein, the excitation wavelength-dependent responses of the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensors were investigated, using acetaminophen (AP), rutin (RT) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) as the model templates, pyrrole as functional monomer, CuInS2@ZnS/TiO2 NTs as the basic photoelectrode. With wavelength λ > 240 nm, the photocurrent of MIPPFOA enhanced at higher concentrations of PFOA. With increasing AP concentration, the photocurrents of MIPAP could decline with λ < 271 nm, not change at λ = 270 nm, or increase with λ > 270 nm. As RT concentration increased, the photocurrents of MIPRT could decrease (λ < 431 nm), not change (λ = 431 nm) or increase (λ > 431 nm). The PEC responses depend on the comprehensive interaction of two contrary mechanisms from the template molecules within the MIP membrane. The photocurrent is enhanced by the role of the electron donor for photo-generated holes but attenuated due to the steric hindrance effect and the excitation light intensity loss via absorption or scattering. The apparent molar absorption coefficient of AP and RT within MIP membranes are 9.1-19.4 folds of those measured from dilute solutions. By using a routine UV lamp as the light source, the photocurrents of MIPRT at 254 nm and MIPAP at 365 nm were used to determine RT and AP, with the detection limits of 5.3 and 16 nM, respectively. The interference from the non-specific adsorption of interferents on the surfaces of MIPAP and MIPRT was reduced by one order of magnitude via a differential strategy.

Nanoconfined catalytic membrane assembled by nitrogen-doped carbon encapsulating Fe-based nanoparticles for rapid removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol in wastewater by peroxymonosulfate activation.

Surface-dependent non-radical oxidation of carbon materials-based persulfate systems show a better application prospect in the removal of pollutants in complex wastewater. However, their potential is severely limited by the restricted liquid-to-solid mass transfer efficiency of conventional suspension systems. In this paper, a nitrogen-doped carbon encapsulating iron-based nanoparticles (Fe@NC) was prepared, and loaded onto a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane to construct a novel catalytic membrane Fe@NC/PVDF. The Fe@NC/PVDF/PMS system could achieve 99.74% of 2,4-dicholophenol (2,4-DCP) removal within a retention time of 0.867 s, the kinetic constant is 840 times higher than that of Fe@NC/PMS system, and 2-5 orders of magnitude higher than that of various reported advanced oxidation processes systems. The system exhibits strong anti-interference to various water matrices, long-time operational stability at high flux (306 L·m-2·h-1), universality to pollutants that do not contain strong electron-withdrawing groups and mitigation of membrane fouling. Mechanism studies indicate that the electron transfer pathway dominates the 2,4-DCP removal, and singlet oxygen (1O2) plays an auxiliary role. The higher mass transfer efficiency of the filtration mode releases the full potential of the non-radical pathway. This paper provides theoretical and technical support for the development and efficient utilization of carbon-based materials with excellent persulfate catalytic properties.

Rational design and synthesis of triazene-amonafide derivatives as novel potential antitumor agents causing oxidative damage towards DNA through intercalation mode.

In this work, we rationally designed and synthesized two novel triazene-amonafide derivatives 2-(2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl)-5-(3,3-dimethyltriaz-1-en-1-yl)-1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3(2H)-dione (D-11) and 5-(3,3-diethyltriaz-1-en-1-yl)-2-(2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl)-1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3(2H)-dione (D-12) as potential antitumor agents. The DNA damage induced by the intercalation mode of D-11 (D-12) towards DNA was electrochemically detected through the construction of efficient biosensors. The consecutive processes of reversible redox of naphthylimide ring and irreversible oxidation of triazene moiety were elucidated on the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by CV, SWV, and DPV methods. Electrochemical biosensors were obtained through the immobilization of ctDNA, G-quadruplexes, poly(dG), and poly(dA), respectively, on the clean surface of GCE. After the incubation of biosensors with D-11 or D-12, the peaks of dGuo and dAdo decreased prominently, and the peak of 8-oxoGua appeared at +0.50 V, suggesting that the interaction between D-11 (D-12) and DNA could result in the oxidative damage of guanine. Unexpected, the as-prepared DNA biosensor possessed satisfactory anti-interference property and good practicability in real samples. UV-vis and fluorescence spectra, and gel electrophoresis assays were employed to further confirm the intercalation mode of D-11 (D-12) towards DNA base pairs. Moreover, D-11 was proved to exhibit stronger anti-proliferation activity than mitionafide and amonafide against both A549 and HeLa cell lines.

θ-Nanopore Ratiometry.

Developing nanoscale ratiometric techniques capable of biochemical response should prove of significance for precise applications with stringent spatial and biological restrictions. Here we present and devise the concept of θ-nanopore ratiometry, which uses ratiometric signals that could well address the serious concerns about device deviation in fabrication and nonspecific adsorption in the detection. As exemplified by a 200 nm θ-nanopore toward miRNA detection, the ±20 nm aperture drift could be mitigated and the issue of nonspecific adsorption could be minimized in the complex cytosolic environment. Practical application of this θ-nanopore ratiometry realizes the measurements of cytosolic miRNA-10b. This work has not only established a nanoscopic ratiometric technique but also enriched the extant armory of nanotools for single-cell studies and beyond.

Rational design of a FA1-targeting anti-interference fluorescent probe for the point-of-care testing of albuminuria.

Albuminuria is a crucial urine biomarker of human unhealthy events such as kidney diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. However, the accurate diagnosis of albuminuria poses a significant challenge owing to the severe interference from urine fluorescence and urine drugs. Here, we report a novel flavone-based fluorescent probe, DMC, by incorporating the FA1-targeting methylquinazoline group into a flavone skeleton with the extend π-conjugation. DMC exhibited a rapid response time, high sensitivity, and selectivity towards human serum albumin (HSA) in urine. Moreover, the red-shifted fluorescence and the FA1-targeted HSA-binding of DMC efficiently mitigated the interference from both urine fluorescence and urine drug metabolites. Furthermore, the establishment of a portable testing system highlighted the potential for point-of-care testing, offering a user-friendly and accurate approach to diagnose A2-level and A3-level albuminuria. We expect that the success of this DMC-based diagnostic platform in real urine samples can signify a significant advancement in early clinical diagnosis of albuminuria and its associated diseases.

A SYBR Green I-based aptasensor for the label-free, fluorometric, and anti-interference detection of MeHg.

Methylmercury (MeHg+) is a common form of organic mercury that is substantially more toxic than inorganic mercury and is more likely to accumulate in organisms through biological enrichment. Therefore, developing a method to enable the specific and rapid detection of MeHg+ in seafood is important and remains challenging to accomplish. Herein, a rapid, label-free fluorescence detection method for MeHg+ determination was developed based on SYBR Green I. The detection system implemented "add and measure" detection mode can be completed in 10 min. Under optimal assay conditions, the detection platform showed a linear relationship with the concentration of MeHg+ within 1-50 nM (Y = 8.573x + 42.89, R2 = 0.9928), with a detection limit of 0.3218 nM. The results obtained for competitive substances, such as inorganic mercury ions and anions, show a high specificity of the method. In addition, this method successfully detected MeHg+ in seawater and marine products, with an accompanying spike recovery rate of 96.45-105.1%.

Performance evaluation of PLT-H (hybrid-channel platelet) under various interferences and application studies for platelet transfusion decisions.

The hybrid-channel platelet counting method (PLT-H) is a new platelet counting technique proposed by Mindray of China. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the accuracy of this technique in various situations and its reliability in platelet transfusion decision-making. A total of 378 venous blood samples were tested. Using the immunological PLT counting method recommended by the International Council for Standardization in Hematology as the reference method (PLT-IRM), Passing-Bablok regression and Bland-Altman analysis were performed on the PLT-H results. The anti-interference performance of PLT-H under different interference levels was explored using intergroup comparisons, and confusion matrices were analyzed at various transfusion cutoff values. In the absence of interference, there was a strong correlation between PLT-H and PLT-IRM (r = 0.993, 95% CI: 0.990-0.996). Under various interference conditions, the correlation between PLT-H and PLT-IRM was between 0.963 and 0.992, with an average deviation of -14.56 to -2.02. The performance of PLT-H against interference did not change significantly with increasing levels of small RBCs, large PLTs, and RBC fragments (P = .5704, 0.0832, 0.9893). In low-value samples (PLT <100 × 109/L), the coefficient of variation (CV) for PLT-H was less than 7.6%, regardless of the presence or absence of interfering substances. In addition, there was a high agreement between PLT-H and PLT-IRM (ICC = 0.972). Confusion matrice analysis at each medical decision level showed similarity to methods using the fluorescence channel (PLT-O) and superiority to the impedance channel (PLT-I). Compared with PLT-I, PLT-H has higher accuracy in PLT counting, stronger anti-interference ability, better performance in low-value samples at no extra economic cost and can be more useful for platelet transfusion decision-making. PLT-H is a novel method for platelet counting that offers higher accuracy, providing physicians with the ability to make better medical decisions, particularly in cases where values are low, or interference is present. As it does not require additional reagents, it is highly likely to replace PLT-I and become the mainstream method for platelet counting in the future.

Cellulose/amylose derivatives bearing bulky substituents as reversible fluorescent sensors for detection of Fe3.

Two novel cellulose and amylose derivatives bearing bulky tris(2-benzothienylformate) pendants (Cel-3 and Amy-3) were expeditiously prepared by one-step esterification. The fluorescent sensing performance of six polysaccharide derivatives, including Cel-3/Amy-3, and other four previously prepared benzothienyl- or benzofuranyl-phenylcarbamates of cellulose and amylose (Cel-1/Amy-1, Cel-2/Amy-2), were carefully evaluated using eight metal ions, including Co2+, K+, Na+, Li+, Hg2+, Ni2+, Ca2+ and Fe3+. All six derivatives exhibited excellent fluorescence quenching property to Fe3+ ions with high sensitivity and selectivity. Especially, the limit of detection of Amy-2 with benzofuranylphenylcarbamates for Fe3+ was 3.0 µM, much lower than the maximum contaminant level for Fe3+ in the drinking water. Additionally, the six bulky derivatives displayed the interesting fluorescence "turn-off" and "turn-on" observation, indicating a desirable reversibility for Fe3+ detection. The high anti-interference ability was also observed for detection of Fe3+ on the benzothienyl/benzofuranyl derivatives of cellulose and amylose in the combined system containing Co2+, K+, Na+, Li+, Hg2+, Ni2+ and Ca2+. It suggested that the obtained polysaccharide derivatives with bulky chromophores possessed good potentials for detection of Fe3+ as high-efficient fluorescent sensors in diverse applications. The sensing mechanism for detection of Fe3+ was further proposed based on the Stern-Volmer plots and fluorescence titration analysis.

A novel strategy for bioaerosol rapid detection based on broad-spectrum high-efficiency magnetic enrichment and separation combined with ATP bioluminescence.

Bioaerosol detection technology represented by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) cannot effectively detect bioaerosols in the presence of interferents such as plant-derived smoke, industrial waste gas, pollen and pollen debris which can produce strong non-biological fluorescence interference. To overcome this drawback, in this study, a novel method based on broad-spectrum high-efficiency magnetic enrichment and separation combined with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence was proposed for Escherichia coli (E. coli) bioaerosols rapid detection. First, E. coli bioaerosols mixed with interferents were collected. Core-shell Fe3O4@Polydopamine@Polyethyleneimine magnetic particles were used as bioaerosol enrichment materials to enrich E. coli bioaerosol sampling solutions. Subsequently, an ATP bioluminescence assay was performed to determine the concentration of E. coli. A linear relationship was observed between ATP bioluminescence intensity after enrichment and the E. coli bioaerosol concentration in the range of 870-49,098 particles per liter; the bioluminescence intensity measured after enrichment was significantly higher than that before enrichment, and this enrichment method provide a 6-fold better sensitivity in bioaerosol detection. More importantly, this method efficiently enriched and detected bioaerosols in plant-derived smoke. This method can effectively improve the sensitivity of ATP bioluminescence detection, and possesses the advantages of convenient operation and strong anti-interference ability. It also provides a foundation for the effective detection of bioaerosols mixed with interfering substances, and a reference for evaluating the sensitivity and anti-interference of LIF-based instruments.