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Accurate-controlled sized graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have been used as an analytical nanoprobe for detecting curcumin as a function of the photoluminescent quenching upon increasing concentrations of the analyte. Regarding the importance of curcumin nanoparticles in nutraceutical food, the analytical method described herein was also proven for the discrimination of curcumin remaining in free solution from that encapsulated into water-soluble nanomicelles of ca. 11 nm. This recognition is based on the displacement of GQD emission when interacting with both curcumin species. Maximum emission wavelength of GQDs suffers a gradual quenching as well as a red-shifting upon increasing concentrations of free curcumin (from 458 to 490 nm, exciting at 356 nm). On the other hand, in the presence of nanocurcumin, GQD photoluminescent response only displays a quenching effect (458/356 nm). The sensitivity of the described method in terms of detection limits was 0.3 and 0.1 µg mL-1 for curcumin and nanocurcumin, respectively. The applicability of the photoluminescent probe for the quantification and discrimination between both curcumin environments was demonstrated in nutraceutical formulations namely functional food capsules and fortified beverages such as ginger tea. Graphical abstract.
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Curcumina/análise , Corantes Fluorescentes/química , Grafite/química , Nanopartículas/química , Pontos Quânticos/química , Espectrometria de Fluorescência/métodos , Curcumina/química , Suplementos Nutricionais/análise , Zingiber officinale/química , Limite de Detecção , Chás de Ervas/análiseRESUMO
LESSONS LEARNED: RAS- or BRAF-mutated metastatic colorectal cancers (mCRCs) progressing after first-line treatment have a poor prognosis.European and U.S. guidelines include the multikinase inhibitor regorafenib as a standard option for second-line therapy and beyond, based on the results of the randomized phase III CORRECT trial demonstrating improvement in survival.Although stopped prematurely for failing to accrue, the PREVIUM trial, the first prospective interventional study exploring regorafenib as second-line treatment for patients with mCRC bearing RAS or BRAF mutations, failed to demonstrate clinical activity in the population analyzed. BACKGROUND: Patients with RAS- or BRAF-mutated (mut) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) progressing on first-line bevacizumab plus 5-FU/irinotecan/oxaliplatin (FOLFOXIRI) have a poor prognosis. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of regorafenib in this population. METHODS: Regorafenib was administered daily for 3 weeks of each 4-week cycle until disease progression or other reason. The primary endpoint was 6-month progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: KRAS, NRAS, or BRAF was mutated in mCRC samples in 60%, 20%, and 13% of patients, respectively. Median time from initial diagnosis of metastases to the start of regorafenib and treatment duration was 13.8 months and 7 weeks, respectively. Reasons for discontinuation included disease progression (80%), investigator decision (13%), and adverse events (AEs; 7%). Seven patients (47%) required dose reduction, mostly for asthenia (43%). The most common regorafenib-related grade 3 AEs were asthenia (33%), dysphonia (13%), and hypertension (13%) (Table 1). There were no grade 4 toxicities. No patient was progression-free at 6 months. Median PFS, time to progression (TTP), and overall survival (OS) were 2.2, 2.0, and 3.3 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although stopped prematurely for failing to accrue, in the population analyzed, regorafenib failed to demonstrate clinical activity in KRAS- or BRAF-mutated mCRC with progression following first-line with FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab, although tolerability was acceptable. Our trial suggests that exploring regorafenib efficacy in an earlier line of therapy should not be undertaken without better population refinement.
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Antineoplásicos Imunológicos/uso terapêutico , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Bevacizumab/uso terapêutico , Camptotecina/análogos & derivados , Neoplasias Colorretais/tratamento farmacológico , Compostos de Fenilureia/uso terapêutico , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas B-raf/genética , Piridinas/uso terapêutico , Proteínas ras/genética , Antineoplásicos Imunológicos/farmacologia , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/farmacologia , Bevacizumab/farmacologia , Camptotecina/farmacologia , Camptotecina/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Fluoruracila/farmacologia , Fluoruracila/uso terapêutico , Humanos , Leucovorina/farmacologia , Leucovorina/uso terapêutico , Masculino , Mutação , Metástase Neoplásica , Compostos Organoplatínicos/farmacologia , Compostos Organoplatínicos/uso terapêutico , Compostos de Fenilureia/farmacologia , Piridinas/farmacologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The BRCA1/2 mutation profile varies in Spain according to the geographical area studied. The mutational profile of BRCA1/2 in families at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer has not so far been reported in Andalusia (southern Spain). METHODS: We analysed BRCA1/2 germline mutations in 562 high-risk cases with breast and/or ovarian cancer from Andalusian families from 2010 to 2015. RESULTS: Among the 562 cases, 120 (21.4%) carried a germline pathogenic mutation in BRCA1/2; 50 in BRCA1 (41.7%) and 70 in BRCA2 (58.3%). We detected 67 distinct mutations (29 in BRCA1 and 38 in BRCA2), of which 3 in BRCA1 (c.845C > A, c.1222_1223delAC, c.2527delA) and 5 in BRCA2 (c.293 T > G, c.5558_5559delGT, c.6034delT, c.6650_6654delAAGAT, c.6652delG) had not been previously described. The most frequent mutations in BRCA1 were c.5078_5080delCTG (10%) and c.5123C > A (10%), and in BRCA2 they were c.9018C > A (14%) and c.5720_5723delCTCT (8%). We identified 5 variants of unknown significance (VUS), all in BRCA2 (c.5836 T > C, c.6323G > T, c.9501 + 3A > T, c.8022_8030delGATAATGGA, c.10186A > C). We detected 76 polymorphisms (31 in BRCA1, 45 in BRCA2) not associated with breast cancer risk. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study reporting the mutational profile of BRCA1/2 in Andalusia. We identified 21.4% of patients harbouring BRCA1/2 mutations, 58.3% of them in BRCA2. We also characterized the clinical data, mutational profile, VUS and haplotype profile.
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Proteína BRCA1/genética , Proteína BRCA2/genética , Síndrome Hereditária de Câncer de Mama e Ovário/genética , Adulto , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Feminino , Predisposição Genética para Doença/genética , Mutação em Linhagem Germinativa , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , EspanhaRESUMO
We propose an alternative approach for the development of analytical methods based on terbium-sensitized luminescence (TSL). TSL is based on the complexation between Tb(III) ions and fluorescent organic compounds that have appropriate functional groups to complex with Tb(III). We report the use of graphene quantum dot (GQDs) nanoparticles to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of TSL detection. GQDs can react with terbium ions through the carboxylic groups present in their structure. These Tb(III)-GQD complexes, formed in situ in aqueous solution, can be used as time-resolved luminescent probes. Ascorbic acid was selected as a target analyte to demonstrate the suitability of the proposed method. The selectivity of the TSL method was highly improved for most of the interferences tested. Under the optimum conditions [Tb(III) concentration 5 × 10-4 mol L-1, GQD concentration 4 mg L-1], a minimum 100% increase in selectivity was observed for several vitamins and common cations that may be present in the samples to be analyzed. In addition, the analytical signal showed a 30% enhancement with the use of GQDs compared with the use of merely Tb(III) ions, with a detection limit of 0.12 µg mL-1. The repeatability and intermediate precision were lower than 3% and 5%, respectively. From the results obtained, the implementation of GQDs in TSL can lead to the development of novel time-resolved luminescent probes with high analytical potential. Graphical abstract Quenching of Tb(III)-graphene quantum dot (GQD) luminescence by ascorbic acid (AA). TBL terbium-sensitized luminescence.
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A voltammetric analytical assay for the selective quantification of vanillin is described. It is based on the use of a gold nanoparticle-modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified with graphene quantum dots (GQD) in a Nafion matrix. The GQD were synthesized by an acidic thermal method and characterized by UV-Vis, photoluminescence, and FTIR spectroscopy. The modified SPCE displays a strongly enhanced response to vanillin. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were applied to optimize the methods. The analytical assay has linear responses in the 13 to 660 µM and 0.66 to 33 µM vanillin concentration ranges. The detection limits are 3.9 µM and 0.32 µM when using LSV and DPV, respectively. The analytical assay is selective and stable. It was applied to the determination of vanillin in several food samples with satisfactory results. Recoveries from spiked samples ranged between 92.1 and 113.0%. Graphical abstract The selective and sensitive quantification of vanillin is carried out by the use of a gold nanoparticle-modified screen-printed carbon electrode modified with graphene quantum dots in a Nafion matrix.
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A one-step approach for the synthesis and integration of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) onto paper-based carbon electrodes is herein reported. The method is based on the pyrolysis (1000 °C under a mixture of 95% Ar / 5% H2 for 1 hour) of paper strips modified with a saturated solution of CuSO4 and yields to the formation of abundant CuNPs on the surface of carbonized cellulose fibers. The resulting substrates were characterized by a combination of scanning electron microscopy, EDX, Raman spectroscopy as well as electrical and electrochemical techniques. Their potential application, as working electrodes for nonenzymatic amperometric determination of glucose, was then demonstrated (linear response up to 3 mM and a sensitivity of 460 ± 8 µA·cm-2·mM-1). Besides being a simple and inexpensive process for the development of electrochemically-active substrates, this approach opens new possibilities for the in-situ synthesis of metallic nanoparticles without the traditional requirements of solutions and adjuvants.
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PURPOSE: Chemotherapy plus anti-EGFR is standard first-line therapy in RAS wild-type (wt) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), but biomarkers of early response are clinically needed. We aimed to define the utility of ctDNA to assess early response in patients with mCRC receiving first-line anti-EGFR therapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Prospective multicentric study of tissue patients with RAS wt mCRC treated with first-line chemotherapy plus cetuximab undergoing sequential liquid biopsies. Baseline and early (C3) ctDNA were analyzed by NGS. Trunk mutations were assessed as surrogate marker of total tumor burden. RAS/BRAF/MEK/EGFR-ECD were considered mutations of resistance. ctDNA results were correlated with clinical outcome. RESULTS: One hundred patients were included. ctDNA was detected in 72% of patients at baseline and 34% at C3. Decrease in ctDNA trunk mutations correlated with progression-free survival (PFS; HR, 0.23; P = 0.001). RAS/BRAF were the only resistant mutations detected at C3. An increase in the relative fraction of RAS/BRAF at C3 was followed by an expansion of the RAS clone until PD, and was associated with shorter PFS (HR, 10.5; P < 0.001). The best predictor of response was the combined analysis of trunk and resistant mutations at C3. Accordingly, patients with "early molecular response" (decrease in trunk and decrease in resistant mutations) had better response (77.5% vs. 25%, P = 0.008) and longer PFS (HR, 0.18; P < 0.001) compared with patients with "early molecular progression" (increase in trunk and/or increase in resistant mutations). CONCLUSIONS: ctDNA detects early molecular response and predicts benefit to chemotherapy plus cetuximab. A comprehensive NGS-based approach is recommended to integrate information on total disease burden and resistant mutations. See related commentary by Eluri et al., p. 302.
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Neoplasias do Colo , Neoplasias Colorretais , Neoplasias Retais , Humanos , Cetuximab , Neoplasias Colorretais/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Colorretais/genética , Neoplasias Colorretais/patologia , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas B-raf/genética , Estudos Prospectivos , Resultado do Tratamento , Neoplasias do Colo/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Retais/tratamento farmacológico , Biópsia Líquida , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/efeitos adversos , Mutação , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas p21(ras)/genéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: DNA methylation (DNAm) age metrics have been widely accepted as an epigenetic biomarker for biological aging and disease. The purpose of this study is to assess whether or not individuals carrying Lynch Syndrome-associated mutations are affected in their rate of biological aging, as measured by the epigenetic clock. METHODS: Genome-wide bisulfite DNA sequencing data were generated using DNA from CD4 + T-cells obtained from peripheral blood using 27 patient samples from Lynch syndrome families. Horvath's DNAm age model based on penalized linear regression was applied to estimate DNAm age from patient samples with distinct clinical and genetic characteristics to investigate cancer mutation-related aging effects. RESULTS: Both Lynch mutation carriers and controls exhibited high variability in their estimated DNAm age, but regression analysis showed steeper slope for the Lynch mutation carriers. Remarkably, six Lynch Syndrome-associated mutation carriers showed a strong correlation to the control group, and two sisters carrying Lynch Syndrome-associated mutations, with no significant difference in lifestyle and similar chronological age, were assigned very different DNAm age. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies will be required to explore, in larger patient populations, whether specific epigenetic age acceleration is predictive of time-to-cancer development, treatment response, and survival. Epigenetic clock DNAm metrics may be affected by the presence of cancer mutations in the germline, and thus show promise of potential clinical utility for stratified surveillance strategies based on the relative risk for imminent emergence of tumor lesions in otherwise healthy Lynch Syndrome-associated mutation carriers.
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Neoplasias Colorretais Hereditárias sem Polipose , Metilação de DNA , Aceleração , Envelhecimento/genética , Neoplasias Colorretais Hereditárias sem Polipose/genética , Epigênese Genética , Humanos , MutaçãoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Biologicals, in combination with chemotherapy, are recommended as first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC); however, evidence guiding the appropriate management of older patients with mCRC is limited. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy and safety outcomes in older versus younger patients with mCRC who received first-line biological therapy. METHODS: This retrospective analysis used pooled data from five trials undertaken by the Spanish Cooperative Group for the Treatment of Digestive Tumours. All were studies of adults with advanced CRC who received first-line treatment with chemotherapy plus bevacizumab, cetuximab or panitumumab, stratified by age (≥ 65 vs. < 65 years). Endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR) and safety. RESULTS: In total, 999 patients from five studies were included in the analysis: 480 (48%) were aged ≥ 65 years, and 519 (52%) were aged < 65 years. Median PFS did not differ significantly between patients aged ≥ 65 and < 65 years (9.9 vs. 9.4 months; hazard ratio [HR] 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.88-1.17). Median OS was significantly shorter in older than in younger patients (21.3 vs. 25.0 months; HR 1.21; 95% CI 1.04-1.41). There was no significant difference between older and younger patients in ORR (59 vs. 62%). Patients aged ≥ 65 years experienced significantly more treatment-related grade 3 or higher adverse events (61.67%) than did patients aged < 65 years (45.86%). CONCLUSIONS: Biologicals plus chemotherapy is an effective first-line treatment option for selected patients aged ≥ 65 years with mCRC and has a manageable safety profile and efficacy comparable to that observed in younger patients.
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Fatores Biológicos , Neoplasias Colorretais , Idoso , Bevacizumab/efeitos adversos , Neoplasias Colorretais/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Panitumumabe , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The cell cycle checkpoint G1/S, dependent on cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4 amplification/overexpression and retinoblastoma phosphorylation, is altered in most anaplastic oligodendrogliomas (AOs). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of palbociclib, an oral inhibitor of CDK4/6 with proven efficacy in breast cancer, in patients with AO. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival at 6 months. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, open-label, phase II trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of palbociclib in patients with AO who progressed on radiotherapy and chemotherapy with histologically and molecularly confirmed grade 3 oligodendroglioma and conserved retinoblastoma protein (pRb) expression by immunohistochemistry. Patients were treated with palbociclib (125 mg/day) for 3/1 weeks on/off. RESULTS: Overall, 34 patients were enrolled across 10 hospitals in the Spanish Group of Neuro-Oncology (GEINO) study. The study was stopped early owing to the lack of efficacy, with 74% of evaluable patients progressing within 6 months, which was insufficient to consider palbociclib as an active drug in this population. Within the median follow-up of 12 months, the median progression-free survival was 2.8 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.6-3.1] and the median overall survival was 32.1 months (95% CI 5.1-59.2). There were no partial or complete responses; only 13 patients (38%) achieved stable disease as the best response. Palbociclib was well tolerated, with neutropenia (grade 3 or higher: 58.8%) and thrombocytopenia (grade 3 or higher: 14.7%) as the most common adverse events (AEs). Both AEs had no significant impact. CONCLUSION: Despite the good tolerance, palbociclib monotherapy did not show favorable efficacy against recurrent AO. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT0253032 (retrospectively registered on 21 August 2015).
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Oligodendroglioma/tratamento farmacológico , Piperazinas/uso terapêutico , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/uso terapêutico , Piridinas/uso terapêutico , Retinoblastoma/tratamento farmacológico , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Recidiva Local de Neoplasia , Oligodendroglioma/patologia , Piperazinas/farmacologia , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/farmacologia , Piridinas/farmacologia , Retinoblastoma/patologia , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Graphene quantum dots (GQD) were determined in water samples using terbium-sensitized luminescence (TSL). Terbium ions complex with GQD due to the carboxylic groups that are usually present in these nanomaterials, increasing the luminescence signal of terbium. In Tb(III)-GQD complexes, GQD absorb energy at their characteristic excitation wavelength and transfer it to terbium ion, which emits at its particular emission wavelength. The analytical signal, measured at λexc=257nm and λem=545nm, increases proportionally to GQD concentration between 50 and 500µgL-1. Under optimum conditions, the proposed method presents a detection limit of 15µgL-1 and is selective to GQD in the presence of other nanomaterials of similar size. As GQD are highly water-soluble, they are potential contaminants in environmental or drinking waters water samples, and hence the method was applied to the analysis of different drinking waters which were the target samples for the application of the developed method.
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OBJECTIVE: We conducted a phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a combination consisting of second-line docetaxel and gemcitabine in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: histologically confirmed advanced NSCLC with progressive disease to platinum-based chemotherapy, ECOG performance status (PS) 0 or 1, and adequate kidney, liver and bone marrow function. Treatment consisted of docetaxel 36 mg/m(2) i.v. over 60 min followed by gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) i.v. over 30 min on days 1 and 8 of each 3-week cycle for a planned six cycles or unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS: Of the 52 patients enrolled, 50 were evaluable for response and toxicity. The mean age was 59 years (range 42-79), 46 male and 4 female. Histology subtypes were: adenocarcinoma 26 patients, bronchioloalveolar 1 patient, large cell carcinoma 5 patients, and squamous cell carcinoma 18 patients. Thirty-eight patients had ECOG PS 1 and 12 patients had PS 0. The median number of cycles administered was four (range 2-6). The overall response rate was 28%. The median follow-up was 9 months (range 5-34 months). The median survival time (MST) was 8.2 months (95% CI, 4-12%), and the 1-year survival was 25%. The median progression-free survival was 4.4 months (95% CI, 2-6%). In the Cox regression model, survival was only significantly affected by the PS. The median survival in patients with PS 0 was 17.8 months (95% CI, 18.8-21.8%) compared with a median survival for patients with PS 1 of 6.1 months (95% CI, 4.1-8.2%) (P=0.0057). TOXICITY: three patients had grade 3 anemia, three patients had grade 3 thrombocytopenia, four patients had grade 3 neutropenia and only one patient developed grade 4 febrile neutropenia. Non-hematologic toxicity was also mild; the most frequent was asthenia, with grade 3 in eight patients (16%), and one patient with grade 4. CONCLUSION: This regimen of docetaxel in combination with gemcitabine in advanced second-line NSCLC is an active and safe regimen.
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Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamento farmacológico , Adulto , Idoso , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/mortalidade , Desoxicitidina/administração & dosagem , Desoxicitidina/efeitos adversos , Desoxicitidina/análogos & derivados , Docetaxel , Feminino , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/mortalidade , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Recidiva Local de Neoplasia/tratamento farmacológico , Recidiva Local de Neoplasia/mortalidade , Análise de Sobrevida , Taxa de Sobrevida , Taxoides/administração & dosagem , Taxoides/efeitos adversos , GencitabinaRESUMO
A simple methodology was developed to quantify penicillamine (PA) in pharmaceutical samples, using the selective interaction of the drug with Cu-modified graphene quantum dots (Cu-GQDs). The proposed strategy combines the advantages of carbon dots (over other nanoparticles) with the high affinity of PA for the proposed Cu-GQDs, resulting in a significant and selective quenching effect. Under the optimum conditions for the interaction, a linear response (in the 0.10-7.50 µmol/L PA concentration range) was observed. The highly fluorescent GQDs used were synthesized using uric acid as single precursor and then characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence, and absorption spectroscopy. The proposed methodology could also be extended to other compounds, further expanding the applicability of GQDs.
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A simple and inexpensive method to fabricate a colloidal CdSe/ZnS quantum dots-modified paper-based assay for glucose is herein reported. The circular paper sheets were uniformly loaded and displayed strong fluorescence under a conventional hand-held UV lamp (365 nm). The assay is based on the use of glucose oxidase enzyme (GOx), which impregnated the paper sheets, producing H2O2 upon the reaction with the glucose contained in the samples. After 20 min of exposure, the fluorescence intensity changed due to the quenching caused by H2O2. To obtain a reading, the paper sheets were photographed under 365 nm excitation using a digital camera. Several parameters, including the amount of QD, sample pH, and amount of GOx were optimized to maximize the response to glucose. The paper-based assay showed a sigmoidal-shaped response with respect to the glucose concentration in the 5-200 mg·dL-1 range (limit of detection of 5 µg·dL-1), demonstrating their potential use for biomedical applications.
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This article details the study of electrochemical behavior of new carbon electrodes based on pyrolysis of different paper sources to be used in biosensor applications. The resistivity of the pyrolyzed papers was initially used as screening parameters to select the best three paper samples (imaging card paper, multipurpose printing paper, and 3MM chromatography paper) and assemble working electrodes that were further characterized by a combination of microscopy, electrochemistry, and spectroscopy. Although slight differences in performance were observed, all carbon substrates fabricated from pyrolysis of paper allowed the development of competitive biosensors for uric acid. The presented results demonstrate the potential of these electrodes for sensing applications and highlight the potential advantages of 3MM chromatography paper as a substrate to fabricate electrodes by pyrolysis.
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An optical sensor for vanillin in food samples using CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) modified with ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) was developed. This vanillin-sensor is based on the selective host-guest interaction between vanillin and ß-cyclodextrin. The procedure for the synthesis of ß-cyclodextrin-CdSe/ZnS (ß-CD-CdSe/ZnS-QDs) complex was optimized, and its fluorescent characteristics are reported. It was found that the interaction between vanillin and ß-CD-CdSe/ZnS-QDs complex produced the quenching of the original fluorescence of ß-CD-CdSe/ZnS-QDs according to the Stern-Volmer equation. The mechanism of the interaction is discussed. The analytical potential of this sensoring system was demonstrated by the determination of vanillin in synthetic and food samples. The method was selective for vanillin, with a limit of detection of 0.99 µg mL(-1), and a reproducibility of 4.1% in terms of relative standard deviation (1.2% under repeatability conditions). Recovery values were in the 90-105% range for food samples.
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Benzaldeídos/análise , Técnicas Biossensoriais/métodos , Compostos de Cádmio/química , Análise de Alimentos/métodos , Pontos Quânticos , Compostos de Selênio/química , Sulfetos/química , Compostos de Zinco/química , beta-Ciclodextrinas/químicaRESUMO
A simple and fast procedure for water solubilization of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) using microwave irradiation (MW) has been optimized. The CdSe/ZnS QDs were synthesized in organic media and water solubilization was achieved by replacing the initial hydrophobic ligands (TOPO and TOP) with hydrophilic heterobifunctional thiol ligands, such as L-cysteine (L-Cys), 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA) and cysteamine (CTAM). The use of MW irradiation allowed carrying out the modification of the surface thiol of QDs in a simple and fast way (only 40 s was required). Different optimization studies based on activation-time, irradiation-time, concentration of ligands, pH and lifetime fluorescent properties were carried out in order to obtain the best results for the solubilization of QDs. By the proposed method, the resulting water-soluble QDs exhibit a strong fluorescence emission at about 590 nm, with a high and reproducible photostability and acceptable yields. With the aim of contributing to exploiting the advantages of synthetized QDs from an analytical point of view, the different behavior with sulfonylurea herbicides (SUHs) were studied.
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Based on the highly sensitive fluorescence change of water-soluble CdSe/ZnS core-shell quantum dots (QD) by paraquat herbicide, a simple, rapid and reproducible methodology was developed to selectively determine paraquat (PQ) in water samples. The methodology enabled the use of simple pretreatment procedure based on the simple water solubilization of CdSe/ZnS QDs with hydrophilic heterobifunctional thiol ligands, such as 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA), using microwave irradiation. The resulting water-soluble QDs exhibit a strong fluorescence emission at 596 nm with a high and reproducible photostability. The proposed analytical method thus satisfies the need for a simple, sensible and rapid methodology to determine residues of paraquat in water samples, as required by the increasingly strict regulations for health protection introduced in recent years. The sensitivity of the method, expressed as detection limits, was as low as 3.0 ng L(-1). The lineal range was between 10-5×10(3) ng L(-1). RSD values in the range of 71-102% were obtained. The analytical applicability of proposed method was demonstrated by analyzing water samples from different procedence.