Ultrasensitive detection of toxic cations through changes in the tunnelling current across films of striped nanoparticles.

Although multiple methods have been developed to detect metal cations, only a few offer sensitivities below 1 pM, and many require complicated procedures and sophisticated equipment. Here, we describe a class of simple solid-state sensors for the ultrasensitive detection of heavy-metal cations (notably, an unprecedented attomolar limit for the detection of CH(3)Hg(+) in both standardized solutions and environmental samples) through changes in the tunnelling current across films of nanoparticles (NPs) protected with striped monolayers of organic ligands. The sensors are also highly selective because of the ligand-shell organization of the NPs. On binding of metal cations, the electronic structure of the molecular bridges between proximal NPs changes, the tunnelling current increases and highly conductive paths ultimately percolate the entire film. The nanoscale heterogeneity of the structure of the film broadens the range of the cation-binding constants, which leads to wide sensitivity ranges (remarkably, over 18 orders of magnitude in CH(3)Hg(+) concentration).

Molecular tethering or aggregation: is the existence of charge-transfer bands indicative of the formation of blue-box/tetrathiafulvalene inclusion complexes?

The interaction between tetrathiafulvalene and tetracation cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) fragments-the key elements of many rotaxane systems-was investigated theoretically by using ab-initio second-order perturbation methods. In addition to the inclusion complex observed in the solid state, a thermodynamically stable "exterior" complex was identified. Calculation of the UV/Vis spectra for the inclusion and the exterior complexes indicated that the charge-transfer band that is often used to predict the formation of the inclusion complexes in solution is, in reality, due to the exterior mode of complexation. These results suggest that UV/Vis spectroscopy is not a reliable method for assigning the complexation modes in TTF:BB(4+) rotaxanes and related systems.

Bridging interactions and selective nanoparticle aggregation mediated by monovalent cations.

Selective aggregation and precipitation of like-charged nanoparticles (NPs) covered with carboxylate ligands can be induced by different monovalent cations. The ordering of critical concentrations required for NP precipitation is Cs(+) ≫ K(+) > Li(+) > Na(+) > Rb(+) and does not correlate with the size of hydrated cations M(+), nor can it be predicted by the Hofmeister series. On the other hand, different anions have no effect on the precipitation trends. These observations are rationalized by a theoretical model combining the elements of the DLVO theory with molecular-level calculations. The key component of the model is the cation-specific binding of various metal cations to the carboxylate ligands.

Synthesis and characterization of a doxorubicin-Gd(III) contrast agent conjugate: a new approach toward prodrug-procontrast complexes.

We have prepared the first MRI prodrug-procontrast complex by conjugating doxorubicin to a Gd(III) chelate using an acid-labile linker. The relaxometric properties of the adduct and pH activation are reported.