Ultrastable graphene isolated Au Ag nanoalloy for SERS biosensing and photothermal therapy of bacterial infection

Plasmonic metal nanomaterials with intrinsic surface–enhanced Raman scattering(SERS)and photothermal properties,especially AuAg nanoalloys with both the outstanding merits of Au and Ag nanocrystals,show huge application prospects in bacterial theranostics.However,the direct exposure of AuAg nanoalloys in external conditions probably cause undesirable reactions and poisonous metal ion leakage during SERS detection and photothermal antibacterial therapy process,which severely hinder bacterial theranostics applications.Herein,we report an ultrastable graphene–isolated AuAg nanoalloy(GAA)with AuAg core confined in few–layer graphitic shell as a versatile platform for bacterial detection and therapy.The encapsulation of graphene ensures the good stability of AuAg core,that its superior SERS and photothermal properties are therefore further guaranteed.GAA is used for SERS detection of two vital bacterial biomarkers(including corrosive cyanide and pyocyanin),exhibiting good SERS quantitative and multiplexing ability.GAA is further used for photothermal antibacterial therapy application,and ultrahigh antibacterial efficacies for both Gram–negative Escherichia coli and Gram–positive Staphylococcus aureus are achieved under 808 nm laser irradiation.This work proposes a valuable method to develop robust bacterial theranostic platform.

Unsaturated bi-heterometal clusters in metal-vacancy sites of 2D MoS2 for efficient hydrogen evolution

The valence states and coordination structures of doped heterometal atoms in two-dimensional(2D)nanomaterials lack predictable regulation strategies.Hence,a robust method is proposed to form unsaturated heteroatom clusters via the metal-vacancy restraint mechanism,which can precisely regulate the bonding and valence state of heterometal atoms doped in 2D molybdenum disulfide.The unsaturated valence state of heterometal Pt and Ru cluster atoms form a spatial coordination structure with Pt–S and Ru–O–S as catalytically active sites.Among them,the strong binding energy of negatively charged suspended S and O sites for H+,as well as the weak adsorption of positively charged unsaturated heterometal atoms for H*,reduces the energy barrier of the hydrogen evolution reaction proved by theoretical calculation.Whereupon,the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance is markedly improved by the ensemble effect of unsaturated heterometal atoms and highlighted with an overpotential of 84 mV and Tafel slope of 68.5 mV dec^(−1).In brief,this metal vacancy-induced valence state regulation of heterometal can manipulate the coordination structure and catalytic activity of heterometal atoms doped in the 2D atomic lattice but not limited to 2D nanomaterials.

Synthesis Methods and Property Control of Two-Dimensional Magnetic Materials

Two-dimensional(2D)magnetic materials have been demonstrated to have excellent chemical,optical,electrical,and magnetic properties,particularly in the development of multifunctional electronic and spin electronic devices,showcasing tremendous potential.Therefore,corresponding synthesis techniques for 2D magnetic materials that offer high quality,high yield,low cost,time-saving,and simplicity are highly desired.This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent research advances in preparation of magnetic 2D materials,with a particular focus on the preparation methods employed.Moreover,the characteristics and applications of these magnetic materials are also discussed.Finally,the challenges and prospects of synthesis methods for magnetic 2D materials are briefly addressed.This review serves as a guiding reference for the controlled synthesis of 2D magnetic materials.

Studies on Interactions of Antibiotics with Serum Albumin by Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor

Characterizing how chemical compounds binding to serum albumin is essential in evaluating drug candidates and is the focus of this study. A surface plasmon resonance biosenser developed in this laboratory was used to determine the binding constants of antibiotics with serum albumin. The binding constants of five antibiotics（asithromycin, spectinomycin, gentamycin, metacycline and kanamycin） with serum albumins were obtained.

Microbial synthesis of N, P co-doped carbon supported PtCu catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

Developing highly efficient and stable platinum-based electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) is critical to expediting commercialization of fuel cells.Herein,several PtCu alloy nanocatalysts supported on N,P co-doped carbon(PtCu/NPC) were prepared by microbial-sorption and carbonization-reduction.Among them,PtCu/NPC-700 ℃ exhibits excellent catalytic performance for ORR with a mass activity of 0.895 A mg_(pt)^(-1)(@0.9 V) which is 8.29 folds of commercial Pt/C.Additionally,the ECSA and MA of PtCu/NPC-700℃ only decrease by 14.2% and 18.7% respectively,while Pt/C decreases by 35.2% and 52.8% after 10,000 cycles of ADT test.Moreover,the PtCu/NPC-700℃ catalyst emanates a maximum power density of 715 mW cm^(-2) and only 11.1% loss of maximum power density after 10,000 ADTs in single-cell test,indicating PtCu/NPC-700℃ also manifests higher activity and durability in actual single-cell operation than Pt/C.This research provides an easy and novel strategy for developing highly active and durable Pt-based alloy catalyst.

Active straining engineering on self-assembled stacked Ni-based hybrid electrode for ultra-low overpotential

Generating sufficient strains on metal surfaces are highly challenging owing to that most metals can deform plastically to relax the strains on the surfaces.In this work,we developed a facile but highly efficient stacked deposition strategy to in situ activation and reconstruction of NiO/NiOOH on Ni matrix,following with the migration of Fe ions to NiOOH.The Fe sites on the Ni/NiO/NiOOH facilitate the formation of the stable*OH oxygenated intermediates,and the Ni matrix in the catalyst provides the catalyst excellent stability.The oxygen evolution reaction(OER)performance of the stacked NiFe-5 with compressive strain displays the strengthened binding to oxygenated intermediates and superior OER activity,the ultralow overpotentials of 162 versus reversible hydrogen electrode at 10 mA cm^(-2).On the other hand,the Ni-5 without the incorporation of Fe has shown an outstanding hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)activity,affording an overpotential of 47 mV at 10 mA cm^(-2).The NiFe-5‖Ni-5 enables the overall water splitting at a voltage of 1.508 V to achieve 20 mA cm^(-2) with remarkable durability.The stacked deposition strategy improves binding strength of Ni-based catalysts to oxygenated intermediates via generating compressive strain,causing high catalytic activities on OER and HER.

Interaction of epicatechin with bovine serum albumin using fluorescence quenching combined with chemometrics

The interaction between BSA and epicatechin was studied using fluorescence quenching titrations combined with trilinear decomposition method and excitation-emission matrix(EEM)fluorescence.The resolved spectra were highly similar with the actual ones which indicated that the resolved results were reliable.The relevant parameters of the binding process were obtained by quantifying each substance in the complicated mixtures in situ.The quenching was static quenching,epicatechin had a weak interaction with BSA and the binding site was one.The total concentration and the free concentration of quenchers had different effect on the system.The results demonstrated that the method exploited in this article is a useful tool to investigate complicated interactions,avoiding complicated pretreatment and simplify experimental procedure.

Gate tunable spatial accumulation of valley-spin in chemical vapor deposition grown 40°-twisted bilayer WS2

The emerging two-dimensional materials,particularly transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs),are known to exhibit valley degree of freedom with long valley lifetime,which hold great promises in the implementation of valleytronic devices.Especially,light-valley interactions have attracted attentions in these systems,as the electrical generation of valley magnetization can be readily achieved—a rather different route toward magnetoelectric(ME)effect as compared to that from conventional electron spins.However,so far,the moiré patterns constructed with twisted bilayer TMDs remain largely unexplored in regard of their valley spin polarizations,even though the symmetry might be distinct from the AB stacked bilayer TMDs.Here,we study the valley Hall effect(VHE)in 40°-twisted chemical vapor deposition(CVD)grown WS2moiré transistors,using optical Kerr rotation measurements at 20 K.We observe a clear gate tunable spatial distribution of the valley carrier imbalance induced by the VHE when a current is exerted in the system.

Chemometrics-assisted excitation-emission fluorescence spectroscopy for simultaneous determination of ethoxyquin and tert-butylhydroquinone in biological fluid samples

A novel method applying simple, rapid, effective and inexpensive excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with second-order calibration method for simultaneous determination of ethoxyquin (EQ) and tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) contents in biological fluid samples was developed. After a simple data preprocessing that was to insert zeros below the first-order Rayleigh scattering, the second-order calibration method based on the alternating normalization-weighed error (ANWE) algorithm was used to deal with EEM data. Via the introduced "second-order advantage", the individual con- centrations of the analytes of interest could be obtained even in the presence of uncalibrated interferences. The experimental concentration ranges for the analytes were as follows: EQ, from 4.58 to 20.6 g mL 1 in plasma and from 6.87 to 20.6 g mL 1 in urine; TBHQ, from 4.49 to 20.2 g mL-1 in plasma and from 6.73 to 22.4 g mL-1 in urine. The recoveries from spiked biological fluid samples were in the ranges of 92.8%-106.2% for EQ and 94.6%-107.2% for TBHQ. These results demonstrate that the three-dimensional EEM fluorescence with second-order calibration method is a powerful tool for obtaining both EQ and TBHQ quantitative results in plasma and urine samples, and could be applied to more complex matrices.

Laser patterning of large-scale perovskite single-crystal-based arrays for single-mode laser displays

Lead halide perovskites have attracted considerable attention as potential candidates for high-performance nano/microlasers,owing to their outstanding optical properties.However,the further development of perovskite microlaser arrays(especially based on polycrystalline thin films)produced by the conventional processing techniques is hindered by the chemical instability and surface roughness of the perovskite structures.Herein,we demonstrate a laser patterning of large-scale,highly crystalline perovskite single-crystal films to fabricate reproducible perovskite single-crystal-based microlaser arrays.Perovskite thin films were directly ablated by femtosecond-laser in multiple low-power cycles at a minimum machining line width of approximately 300 nm to realize high-precision,chemically clean,and repeatable fabrication of microdisk arrays.The surface impurities generated during the process can be washed away to avoid external optical loss due to the robustness of the single-crystal film.Moreover,the high-quality,large-sized perovskite single-crystal films can significantly improve the quality of microcavities,thereby realizing a perovskite microdisk laser with narrow linewidth(0.09 nm)and low threshold(5.1µJ/cm2).Benefiting from the novel laser patterning method and the large-sized perovskite single-crystal films,a high power and high color purity laser display with single-mode microlasers as pixels was successfully fabricated.Thus,this study may offer a potential platform for mass-scale and reproducible fabrication of microlaser arrays,and further facilitate the development of highly integrated applications based on perovskite materials.

Simultaneous and interference-free determination of eleven nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs illegally added into Chinese patent drugs using chemometrics-assisted HPLC-DAD strategy

In this work, a smart strategy that combines three-way high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection(HPLCDAD) data with second-order calibration method based on alternating trilinear decomposition(ATLD) algorithm was proposed for simultaneous determination of eleven non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) illegally added into Chinese patent drugs and health products. All target analytes were rapidly eluted out within 14.5 min under a simple gradient elution. With the aid of the prominent "second-order advantage" of the ATLD algorithm, three HPLC problems, i.e. peak overlaps, unknown interferences and baseline drift, could be mathematically calibrated, and pure signals of target analytes could be extracted out from heavy-interference but information-rich HPLC-DAD data. The average spiked recoveries for all target analytes were in the range of 95.9%–106.4% with standard deviations lower than 7.5%. Validation parameters including sensitivity(SEN), selectivity(SEL), limit of detection(LOD), limit of quantitation(LOQ) and precisions of intra-day and inter-day were calculated to validate the accuracy of the proposed method, quantitative results were further confirmed by the classic HPLC method, which proved that chemometrics-assisted HPLC-DAD analytical strategy was highly efficient, accurate and green for drug-abuse monitoring of NSAIDs in Chinese patent drugs and health products.

Research on Fiber Optic Surface Plasmon R esonance.Biosensors:A Review

Due to the benefits of the high sensitivity,real-time response,no labeling requirement,and good selectivity,fiber optic sensors based on surface plasmon resonance(SPR)have gained popularity in biochemical sensing in recent years.The current research on such sensors is hot in enhancing sensitivity,improving detection accuracy,and achieving the detection of biochemical molecules.The goal of this work is to present a thorough overview of recent developments in the optical fiber SPR biosensor research.Firstly,it explores the basic principles and sensing structures of optical fiber SPR biosensors,focusing on four aspects.Subsequently,this paper introduces three fiber optic surface plasmon biosensors:SPR,localized surface plasmon resonance(LSPR),and long-range surface plasmon resonance(LRSPR).Each concept is explained from the perspective of the basic principles of fiber optic SPR biosensors.Furthermore,a classification of fiber optic SPR biosensors in health monitoring,food safety,environmental monitoring,marine detection,and other applications is introduced and analyzed.Eventually,this paper summarizes the current research directions of SPR biosensors.Meanwhile,it provides a prospective outlook on how fiber optic SPR sensors will develop in the future.

Biosorption of cadmium(Ⅱ) from aqueous solutions by industrial fungus Rhizopus cohnii

An important filamentous industrial fungus,Rhizopus cohnii(R.cohnii),was used as an efficient biosorbent for removing cadmium from wastewater.The sorption conditions,such as pH,the dose of biomass and the initial concentration of cadmium were examined.Two kinds of adsorption models were applied to simulate the biosorption data.The uptake of cadmium was higher in weak acid condition than in strong acid condition.Nearly no sorption of cadmium occurred when the pH value was lower than 2.0. Biosorption isothermal data could be well simulated by both Langmuir and Freundlich models.Langmuir simulation of the biosorption showed that the maximum uptake of cadmium was 40.5 mg/g(0.36 mmol/g)in the optimal conditions,which was higher than many other adsorbents,including biosorbents and activated carbon.In addition,the reusability results showed that after five times of sorption and desorption process,the sorption capacity of R.cohnii could still maintain nearly 80%,confirming its practical application in cadmium treatment.Fourier transform infrared spectrum revealed that carboxyl,amino and hydroxyl groups on biosorbent R.cohnii surface were responsible for the biosorption of cadmium.

Hepatitis C virus and antiviral innate immunity:Who wins at tug-of-war?

Hepatitis C virus(HCV) is a major human pathogen of chronic hepatitis and related liver diseases. Innate immunity is the first line of defense against invading foreign pathogens, and its activation is dependent on the recognition of these pathogens by several key sensors. The interferon(IFN) system plays an essential role in the restriction of HCV infection via the induction of hundreds of IFN-stimulated genes(ISGs) that inhibit viral replication and spread. However, numerous factors that trigger immune dysregulation, including viral factors and host genetic factors, can help HCV to escape host immune response, facilitating viral persistence. In this review, we aim to summarize recent advances in understanding the innate immune response to HCV infection and the mechanisms of ISGs to suppress viral survival, as well as the immune evasion strategies for chronic HCV infection.

A new multifunctional polymer:Synthesis and characterization of mPEG-b-PAA-grafted chitosan copolymer

A new multifunctional mPEG-b-PAA-grafted chitosan copolymer possessing amino and carboxyl groups,mPEG-b-PAA-g-CHI(compound 6) ,was designed for a potential application in gene/drug delivery and synthesized by the methods of reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer(RAFT) polymerization of acrylic acid(AA) and grafting reaction of a biodegradable chitosan(CHI) derivative.Completion of the reactions and characterization of the resulting compounds were demonstrated by 1 H NMR,FTIR and gel permeation chtomatography(GPC) studies.The results show that the molar ratio of amino groups to carboxyl groups in the copolymer(compound 6) is 0.41-0.59.

Highly sensitive fluorescence quantification of irinotecan in biological fluids with the aid of second-order advantage

A rapid,green and highly sensitive excitation-emission matrix（EEM） fluorescence method was proposed for analysis of irinotecan（CPT-11） in biological fluids including human plasma and urine samples of uncalibrated interferences with the aid of second-order advantage.Due to the serious spectral overlapping from biological matrices,the parallel factor analysis（PARAFAC） and the alternating normalization-weighted error（ANWE） have been recommended to perform directly calibration and overcome the problem which makes the traditional fluorospectrophotometer in trouble.Satisfactory results can be achieved.Furthermore, performance of the proposed method was evaluated based on figures of merit and some statistical parameters.The accuracy of both algorithms was validated by the elliptical joint confidence region（EJCR） test.The precision and repeatability were also investigated by the relative standard deviations（RSDs） of intra-day and inter-day.

Preparation and phase change performance of Na_2HPO_4·12H_2O@poly(lactic acid) capsules for thermal energy storage

Micro-encapsulated phase-change materials(micro PCMs) with Na_2 HPO_4·12 H_2 O encapsulated in poly(lactic acid)(PLA) shell were prepared by a solvent evaporation–precipitation method that involves the use of a coaxial needle. The effects of PLA concentration, stirring speed, injection rate of core and shell solutions, and polyvinyl alcohol(PVA) concentration on phase change properties were investigated. The thermal properties of microP CMs were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC). The capsules prepared under the optimal conditions are about 2 mm in diameter and show a latent heat of up to 122.2 J·g^(-1).

Metal-Organic Framework Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery in Biomedical Applications

Investigation of metal–organic frameworks(MOFs)for biomedical applications has attracted much attention in recent years.MOFs are regarded as a promising class of nanocarriers for drug delivery owing to well-defined structure,ultrahigh surface area and porosity,tunable pore size,and easy chemical functionalization.In this review,the unique properties of MOFs and their advantages as nanocarriers for drug delivery in biomedical applications were discussed in the first section.Then,state-ofthe-art strategies to functionalize MOFs with therapeutic agents were summarized,including surface adsorption,pore encapsulation,covalent binding,and functional molecules as building blocks.In the third section,the most recent biological applications of MOFs for intracellular delivery of drugs,proteins,and nucleic acids,especially aptamers,were presented.Finally,challenges and prospects were comprehensively discussed to provide context for future development of MOFs as efficient drug delivery systems.

Single-Crystalline In Ga As Nanowires for Room-Temperature High-Performance Near-Infrared Photodetectors

In Ga As is an important bandgap-variable ternary semiconductor which has wide applications in electronics and optoelectronics. In this work, single-crystal In Ga As nanowires were synthesized by a chemical vapor deposition method.Photoluminescence measurements indicate the In Ga As nanowires have strong light emission in near-infrared region. For the first time, photodetector based on as-grown In Ga As nanowires was also constructed. It shows good light response over a broad spectral range in infrared region with responsivity of 6.5×10~3 AW^(-1) and external quantum efficiency of 5.04×10~5%. This photodetector may have potential applications in integrated optoelectronic devices and systems.

Simultaneous determination of metronidazole and tinidazole in plasma by using HPLC-DAD coupled with second-order calibration

A method using HPLC-DAD coupled with second-order calibration was developed to simultaneously determine metronidazole and tinidazole in plasma samples in this paper. The second-order calibration method based on APTLD （alternating penalty trilinear decomposition） algorithm was proposed to analyze the three-way HPLC-DAD data from both standard and prediction samples, which makes it possible that calibration can be performed even in the presence of unknown interferences with a simple and green chromatographic condition and short analysis time. The results showed that good recoveries were obtained although the chromatographic and spectral profiles of the analytes of interest as well as background were partially overlapped with each other in plasma samples.