Silver-gold alloy nanoclusters as a fluorescence-enhanced probe for aluminum ion sensing.

In this paper, the development of a simple method is described for preparing highly red fluorescent mercaptosuccinic acid stabilized AgAu alloy nanoclusters (MSA-AgAu NCs) through the core etching of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) and a galvanic exchange reaction using nonorganic solvent and no multistep centrifuge washing. The as-prepared MSA-AgAu NCs were characterized using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. After covalently attaching methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-NH2 (m-PEG-NH2), PEGylated MSA-AgAu NCs were still stable even in 1 M NaCl. Probably based on the deposition of Al(3+)-enhanced fluorescence, the PEGylated MSA-AgAu NCs offered highly selective and sensitive sensing of Al(3+) in aqueous solution with a detection limit of 0.8 µM.

A colorimetric agarose gel for formaldehyde measurement based on nanotechnology involving Tollens reaction.

Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) coupled with Tollens reagent were used for measuring formaldehyde. Au@Ag core-shell NPs were formed along with distinct color changes from pink to deep yellow. This colorimetric system was further immobilized into an agarose gel, which was used for monitoring of gaseous formaldehyde.

Optical colorimetric sensor strip for direct readout glucose measurement.

A novel direct readout colorimetric optical glucose sensor strip was constructed based on a three-layer film, including a green-emitted CdTe/CdS quantum dots (QDs) layer as a stable color background, a red-fluorescent platinum-porphyrin oxygen-sensing layer and a glucose oxidase layer. The sensor achieved high resolution (up to 0.2 mmol L(-1)) glucose determination with a detection range from 0 to 3.0 mmol L(-1). A "glucose ruler" which acts as a glucose standard colorimetric card was obtained. Glucose concentration could easily be directly readout using the "glucose ruler", which made the glucose determination rapid, convenient and easy. The effects of pH, salinity and temperature were systematically investigated. The prepared sensor was finally applied for glucose sample analysis, compared with the "glucose ruler", accurate results could be directly readout.