Proper timing for the evaluation of neonatal brain white matter development: a diffusion tensor imaging study.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the timing for assessing birth status of the developing brain (i.e. brain maturity at birth) by exploring the postnatal age-related changes in neonatal brain white matter (WM). METHODS: The institutional review board approved this study and all informed parental consents were obtained. 133 neonates (gestational age, 30-42 weeks) without abnormalities on MRI were studied with regard to WM development by diffusion tensor imaging-derived fractional anisotropy (FA). Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS), locally-weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOESS) and piecewise linear-fitting were used to investigate the relationship between FA and postnatal age. FA along corticospinal tract (CST), optic radiation (OR), auditory radiation (AR) and thalamus-primary somatosensory cortex (thal-PSC) were extracted by automated fibre-tract quantification; their differences and associations with neonatal neurobehavioural scores at various postnatal age ranges were analysed by Wilcoxon's rank-sum test and Pearson's correlation. RESULTS: Using TBSS, postnatal age (days 1-28) positively correlated with FA in multiple WMs, including CST, OR, AR and thal-PSC (p<0.05). On the other hand, when narrowing the postnatal age window to days 1-14, no significant correlation was found, suggesting a biphasic WM development. LOESS and piecewise linear-fitting indicated that FA increased mildly before day 14 and its growth accelerated thereafter. Both FA and correlations with neurobehavioural scores in postnatal age range 2 (days 15-28) were significantly higher than in range 1 (days 1-14) (FA comparison: p<0.05; maximal correlation-coefficient: 0.693 vs. 0.169). CONCLUSION: Brain WM development during the neonatal stage includes two phases, i.e. a close-to-birth period within the first 14 days and a following accelerated maturation period. Therefore, evaluations of birth status should preferably be performed during the first period. KEY POINTS: • Brain white matter development within the first two postnatal weeks resembles a close-to-birth maturation. • Brain white matter development in the audio-visual, sensorimotor regions accelerates after two postnatal weeks. • Postnatal age-related effects should be considered in comparing preterm and term neonates.

A molecularly imprinted fluorescence sensor for sensitive detection of tetracycline using nitrogen-doped carbon dots-embedded zinc-based metal-organic frameworks as signal-amplifying tags.

Tetracycline (TC) residues not only endanger human health, but also are detrimental to the sustainable development of aquaculture and animal husbandry. Herein, a novel fluorescence sensor with high sensitivity and selectivity was developed based on nitrogen-doped carbon dots embedded in zinc-based metal-organic frameworks and incorporating molecularly imprinted polymer (ZIF-8&N-CDs@MIP). The physical and chemical properties of the ZIF-8&N-CDs@MIP had been characterized by SEM, TEM, FTIR, XRD, BET, TGA, etc. Under optimal conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) of the novel sensor was 0.045 µg mL-1 with the concentration of TC in the range of 0.1-4.0 µg mL-1. In addition, the prepared imprinted polymers showed superior adsorption selectivity to tetracycline compared with non-imprinted polymers, and the quenching mechanism of ZIF-8&N-CDs@MIP was demonstrated to be attributed to the inner filter effect (IFE). This work provided an effective and reliable method for the specific detection of tetracycline and was successfully applied in milk and egg samples with satisfactory recoveries (80.67-95.22%).

A Smartphone-Integrated Molecularly Imprinted Fluorescence Sensor for Visual Detection of Chlortetracycline Based on N,P-Codoped Carbon Dots Decorated Iron-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks.

The residue of chlortetracycline is potentially hazardous to human health; it is meaningful to exploit a portable, rapid, sensitive, and selective method for detection of chlortetracycline (CTC). In this study, a novel fluorescence bionic sensing probe (NH2-MIL-53&N,P-CDs@MIP) was successfully prepared based on the nitrogen and phosphorus codoped carbon dots decorated iron-based metal-organic frameworks combining with molecular imprinted polymer for the detection of CTC. A fluorescence intensity-responsive "on-off" detection of CTC on account of the inner-filter effect (IFE) was achieved by NH2-MIL-53&N,P-CDs@MIP. Under the optimal conditions, the fluorescence quenching degree of NH2-MIL-53&N,P-CDs@MIP presented a good linear relationship with the CTC concentration in the range 0.06-30 µg mL-1 and the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.019 µg mL-1. The fluorescent probe was applied to detect CTC in milk samples, and experimental results showed a good recovery rate (88.73%-96.28%). Additionally, a smartphone-integrated fluorescence sensing device based on NH2-MIL-53&N,P-CDs@MIP was exploited to replace the expensive and bulky fluorescence spectrophotometer for quantitative determination of CTC with the LOD of 0.033 µg mL-1. The sensing system showed high selectivity, strong stability, high specificity, and portability, which provide a great strategy for the quantitative detection of antibiotic residue.

A High-Luminescence Biomimetic Nanosensor Based on N, S-GQDs-Embedded Zinc-Based Metal-Organic Framework@Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for Sensitive Detection of Octopamine in Fermented Foods.

In this study, a novel fluorescent molecularly imprinted nanosensor (N, S-GQDs@ZIF-8@MIP) based on the nitrogen and sulfur co-doped graphene quantum dots decorated zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 was constructed for the detection of octopamine (OA). Herein, ZIF-8 with a large surface area was introduced as a supporter of the sensing system, which effectively shortened the response time of the sensor. Meanwhile, high green luminescent N, S-GQDs and a maximum emission wavelength of 520 nm under 460 nm excitation and a 12.5% quantum yield were modified on the surface of ZIF-8 as a signal tag that can convert the interactions between the sensor and OA into detectable fluorescent signals. Finally, N, S-GQDs@ZIF-8@MIP was acquired through the surface molecular imprinting method. Due to the synergy of N, S-GQDs, ZIF-8, and MIP, the obtained sensor not only demonstrated higher selectivity and sensitivity than N, S-GQDs@ZIF-8@NIP, but also displayed faster fluorescence response than N, S-GQDs@MIP. Under optimal conditions, the developed sensor presented a favorable linear relationship in the range of 0.1-10 mg L-1 with a detection limit of 0.062 mg L-1. Additionally, the proposed N, S-GQDs@ZIF-8@MIP strategy was effectively applied to the detection of OA in fermented samples, and the obtained results had a satisfactory correlation with those of HPLC.