Liquid exfoliated biocompatible WS2@BSA nanosheets with enhanced theranostic capacity.

Ultrathin transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) seem to have a promising future in the field of theranostic agents due to their excellent near-infrared light absorption capacity and large specific surface area. Plenty of previous studies focused on the therapeutic effects of the materials, but were less concerned with the detailed studies of biocompatibility for clinical transformation. In this work, ultrathin WS2 nanosheets coated with bovine serum protein (BSA) (WS2@BSA NSs) were selected as experimental subjects with favorable biocompatibility to explore their potential as a theranostic agent. Firstly, ultrathin WS2 nanosheets were prepared by ultrasound-assisted exfoliation using n-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) as the liquid phase, followed by coating with bovine serum protein. The physical and chemical properties of WS2@BSA NSs were investigated. Secondly, the biocompatibility experiments that are most relevant to clinical transformation were divided into cell level experiments and in vivo experiments with zebrafish as the model organism. Finally, to explore further applications for the diagnosis and treatment of tumors, the in vitro photothermal effect and the X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging capability of WS2@BSA NSs were investigated. The obtained results were promising in terms of biocompatibility and theranostics, which suggested the potential of WS2@BSA NSs for use as a multifunctional theranostic agent in clinics.

Fluorescent aptasensor for carbendazim detection in aqueous samples based on gold nanoparticles quenching Rhodamine B.

This paper proposes a fluorescent aptasensor for the detection of carbendazim (CBZ) in aqueous solution using CBZ-specific aptamer as sensing probe, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and Rhodamine B (RhoB) as indicator, respectively. In the absence of CBZ, CBZ aptamer could wrap AuNPs and maintained it dispersed in NaCl solution basically. Contrarily, the aptamer could specifically combine with CBZ and form a stable aptamer-CBZ complex, leaving AuNPs exposed to be aggregated by NaCl solution. The dispersed AuNPs could efficiently quench the fluorescence of RhoB, but those aggregated AuNPs have poor capability to impair the fluorescent indicator. Thus, the concentration of CBZ could be detected quantitatively through the distinction of the fluorescence intensity. This convenient fluorescent assay for CBZ had a wide linear range from 2.33 to 800 nM and a 2.33 nM limit of detection (LOD). Furthermore, it had high selectivity over pesticides, antibiotics, metal ions and other disrupting chemicals. As for application, the method could determine CBZ in water samples with recoveries in the range of 96.3-111.2%. This fluorescent aptasensor possessed great potential application for CBZ detection in actual aquatic environment.

Fluorometric determination for ofloxacin by using an aptamer and SYBR Green I.

A fluorometric method is described for the determination of ofloxacin (OFL). It is based on the use of the fluorescent intercalator SYBR Green I (SG-I). The OFL-aptamer has G-quadruplex structures and can be recognized by SG-I. It results in strong fluorescence of SG-I. If OFL is present, OFL will bind to its aptamer to form stable complexes. This induces the despiralization of partial dsDNA regions, leads to changes in the structure of the aptamer. Thus, SG-I is released from the OFL-aptamer into solution. Hence, the fluorescence of SG-I drops. Fluorescence decreases linearly in the 1.1 to 200 nM OFL concentration range, and the limit of detection is 0.34 nM. The method shows good selectivity to much interference including analogues, hormones, pesticides. It is also effortless and fast with the times of measurement of <40 min. In addition, good recoveries of 91.3-119.0% were found for tap water, river water and artificial urine spiked with OFL with relative standard deviation (RSD) of ≤11.6%. Graphical abstract A sensitive fluorometric method is developed for ofloxacin (OFL) detection in aqueous samples based on the fluorescence intensity change of SYBR Green I (SG-I) with or without OFL.

Fluorescent aptasensor for ofloxacin detection based on the aggregation of gold nanoparticles and its effect on quenching the fluorescence of Rhodamine B.

This paper proposes the idea of building a fluorescent biosensor for ofloxacin (OFL) determination in aqueous and milk samples by label-free OFL-specific aptamer, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and Rhodamine B (RB). In the absence of OFL, AuNPs are coated with OFL aptamer and maintain dispersed in the high concentration of NaCl. The dispersed AuNPs could reduce the strong fluorescence intensity of RB efficiently. By contrast, in the presence of OFL, OFL is combined with aptamer to form stable compounds, causing the aptamers separated from the surface of AuNPs, thus AuNPs would be exposed in the solution. And the aggregated AuNPs will not quench the fluorescence intensity of RB. Through the distinction of the fluorescence intensity, the concentration of OFL could be detected in aqueous and milk samples quantitatively. The convenient and specific fluorescent assay for OFL is established with a linear range (R = 0.9907) from 20 to 300 nM and a detection limit of 1.66 nM in aqueous solution, and a linear range (R = 0.9963) from 20 to 300 nM and a detection limit of 4.61 nM (1.66 µg/L) in milk samples. With the good sensitivity and selectivity, this biosensor has good application potential to detect OFL in food and environmental samples.