Sensitively detecting mTBI biomarker S100B by using peptide-modified ratiometric fluorescent C/AuNCs nanoprobe.

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has become a tough nut in forensic science because of its minor damages but serious consequences. Utilizing biomarkers to diagnose mTBI has become a promising approach due to various shortcomings of traditional diagnostic methods. In this work, we developed a peptide-modified ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobe based on carbon dots (CDs) and gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) for the measurements of a pivotal biomarker S100B protein in the early diagnosis of mTBI. It has been found that florescence intensity of AuNCs at 580 nm was decreased as report signal while the florescence intensity of CDs was unchanged as reference signal in this sensing system when the surface modified peptide bind tightly with calcium-activated S100B. Under the optimized conditions, S100B concentration ranging from 0.03 to 1 µg/mL was successfully determined within 30 min, and the detection limit of 0.01 µg/mL was acquired through the standard rule (S/N = 3). Moreover, the detection of S100B in spiked blood samples were conducted with satisfactory recoveries. The as-prepared ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobe was proved to be a time-saving, convenient, and sensitive strategy, and it showed great prospects in the early diagnosis of mTBI in forensic practice.

SiC-functionalized fluorescent aptasensor for determination of Proteus mirabilis.

Aptamer-modified SiC quantum dots (DNA-SiC QDs) as fluorescent aptasensor are described for the determination of Proteus mirabilis. The SiC QDs were synthesized through one-pot hydrothermal method with particle sizes of about 14 nm. The amino-modified aptamers against P. mirabilis were conjugated to the surfaces of SiC QDs for bacteria recognition. The aptamer with an affinity for target protein can bound to P. mirabilis and this causes a decrease in the fluorescence intensity of DNA-SiC QDs. P. mirabilis levels were tested by the aptasensor within 35 min with fluorescence excitation/emission maxima at 320/420 nm. The linear range is from 103 to 108 CFU mL-1 and the limit of detection is 526 CFU mL-1 (S/N = 3). The aptasensor was used for determination of P. mirabilis in pure milk samples and obtained good accuracy (87.6-104.5%) and recovery rates (85-110.2%) were obtained. The detection in simulated forensic identification samples (pure milk, milk powder, blood, and urine) obtained gave satisfactory coincidence rates with the method of bacterial isolation and identification as standard. These results demonstrate that the fluorescent aptasensor is a potential tool for identification of P. mirabilis in forensic food poisoning cases. Graphical abstract Determination of P. mirabilis is based on SiC QDs fluorescence aptasensor. The SiC QDs with plentiful carboxyl groups on the surface can be synthesized via one-pot hydrothermal route. After activated by EDC/NHS, the SiC QDs can bind to aptamer to form fluorescence aptasensors. When the target P. mirabilis exists, the fluorescence of aptasensor will be quenched and the determination of the P. mirabilis based on the fluorescence change can be analyzed.