Interactions of Amino Group Functionalized Tetraphenylvinyl and DNA: A Label-Free "On-Off-On" Fluorescent Aptamer Sensor toward Ampicillin.

As a type of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescent probe, tetraphenylvinyl (TPE) or its derivatives are widely used in chemical imaging, biosensing and medical diagnosis. However, most studies have focused on molecular modification and functionalization of AIE to enhance the fluorescence emission intensity. There are few studies on the interaction between aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) and nucleic acids, which was investigated in this paper. Experimental results showed the formation of a complex of AIE/DNA, leading to the quenching of the fluorescence of AIE molecules. Fluorescent test experiments with different temperatures proved that the quenching type was static quenching. The quenching constants, binding constants and thermodynamic parameters demonstrated that electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions promoted the binding process. Then, a label-free "on-off-on" fluorescent aptamer sensor for the detection of ampicillin (AMP) was constructed based on the interaction between the AIE probe and the aptamer of AMP. Linear range of the sensor is 0.2-10 nM with a limit of detection 0.06 nM. This fluorescent sensor was applied to detect AMP in real samples.

Colorimetric and Fluorescence Dual-Mode Biosensors Based on Peroxidase-Like Activity of the Co3O4 Nanosheets.

The mimic enzyme has become a research hotspot in recent years because of its advantages of high stability, convenient preparation, and low price. In this article, Co3O4 nanosheets synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method possess the characteristics of a peroxidase-like activity. The results demonstrated that 3,3',5,5'-Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) could be oxidized by H2O2 to produce a typical blue product (oxTMB) which has a strong absorption at 650 nm wavelength with the help of the Co3O4 nanosheets. Thus, a simple and sensitive colorimetric detection method for H2O2 was established with a good linear relationship (2-200 µM) and a low limit of detection (0.4 µM). Meanwhile, the colorimetric product can effectively quench the fluorescence emitted by Ru(bpy)3 2+. Therefore, a colorimetric and fluorescence dual detection mode photochemical sensor for H2O2 detection is constructed based on the principle of the inner filter effect (IFE) between the colorimetric product (oxTMB) and Ru(bpy)3 2+. It can effectively avoid the false positive problem of a single detection mode. In the presence of glucose oxidase, glucose can be catalyzed to produce gluconic acid and H2O2; therefore, the sensor can also be used for the determination of glucose with a good linear relationship (0.02-2 µM) and a low limit of detection (5 nM). Experimental results showed that the sensor has a high sensitivity and strong anti-interference ability which can be used for the detection of actual samples.