Microchemical Journal最新文献

{"title":"Non-centrosymmetric hybrid zinc halide crystal with dual NLO and Cu2+ sensing functionality","authors":"Intissar Hamdi ,&nbsp;Jassem Wannassi ,&nbsp;Noureddine Mhadhbi ,&nbsp;Ali Ben Ahmed ,&nbsp;Jeanneau Erwann ,&nbsp;Naoufel Ben Hamadi ,&nbsp;Ahlem Guesmi ,&nbsp;Lotfi Khezami ,&nbsp;Houcine Barhoumi ,&nbsp;Houcine Naïli","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117298","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117298","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We report the synthesis, crystal structure, and multifunctional properties of a novel non-centrosymmetric hybrid crystal, (BrAL)₂[ZnCl₄]·2H₂O (BrAL = 4-bromoanilinium), synthesized via the Schlenk method. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows it crystallizing in the orthorhombic <em>P2</em>_<em>1</em><em>2</em>_<em>1</em><em>2</em>_<em>1</em> space group, featuring isolated [ZnCl₄]²⁻ anions, two 4-bromoanilinium cations, and two water molecules, stabilized by N—H···Cl, N—H···O, and O—H···Cl hydrogen bonds. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal the electronic structure, including HOMO–LUMO energies and electrostatic potential, and predict nonlinear optical (NLO) behavior, in agreement with experimental data. The crystal exhibits a wide-band-gap semiconductor character with an optical bandgap of ∼3.05 eV and strong UV absorption. Second harmonic generation (SHG) measurements confirm its NLO activity. Electrochemical studies demonstrate that a (BrAL)₂[ZnCl₄]·2H₂O -modified electrode enables sensitive and selective detection of Cu²⁺ ions. This work introduces a new multifunctional hybrid material that integrates structural, optical, and electrochemical functionalities, offering promising applications in NLO devices and environmental monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"223 ","pages":"Article 117298"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Programmable biosensors for precision leukaemia diagnostics: engineering the future of hematologic oncology","authors":"Sameer Khan ,&nbsp;Varun Singh Chouhan ,&nbsp;Nilofar Siddique ,&nbsp;Roberto Pilloton ,&nbsp;Jagriti Narang","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117244","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117244","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leukaemia, a devastating blood cancer characterized by uncontrolled white blood cell proliferation, ranks among the world's top 10 deadliest cancers and carries poorer survival rates than most malignancies. Early and accurate diagnosis remains absolutely critical for improving patient outcomes and enabling effective treatment strategies. This comprehensive review traces the remarkable evolution of leukaemia biosensors from their humble electrochemical origins in the 1960s to today's sophisticated integration of nanotechnology, microfluidic systems, and artificial intelligence. The discovery of critical leukaemia biomarkers including BCR-ABL fusion genes, cluster of differentiation (CD) markers like CD19/CD33, disease-specific microRNAs, and exosomal proteins has been instrumental in guiding the development of specialised biosensing platforms utilising bio-recognition agents such as aptamers and antibodies. Nano materials have dramatically enhanced signal amplification while enabling device miniaturisation for true point-of-care diagnostic systems. Artificial intelligence and machine learning now provide unprecedented interpretive precision, supporting dynamic disease monitoring and personalised therapeutic approaches. This review highlights programmable biosensors that address four major literature gaps: rigid target detection through 4-day DNA/RNA reprogramming, femtomolar exosomal detection, AI-driven molecular design, and clinical translation pathways. These innovations overcome the painful limitations of invasive bone marrow biopsies, revolutionizing early detection and minimal residual disease monitoring for precision leukaemia diagnostics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"223 ","pages":"Article 117244"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comprehensive study of Tetrahydrobiopterin autoxidation: Bridging electrochemical and thermodynamic approaches with tandem mass spectrometry","authors":"Francesco Chiara ,&nbsp;Lucia Gallucci ,&nbsp;Simona Liuzzi ,&nbsp;Maria Paola Puccinelli ,&nbsp;Laura Sillani ,&nbsp;Sarah Allegra ,&nbsp;Silvia De Francia ,&nbsp;Giulio Mengozzi ,&nbsp;Agnese Giacomino ,&nbsp;Paolo Inaudi","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117386","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117386","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The 5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydrobiopterin (H₄B) cofactor is essential for several enzymatic functions, including phenylalanine-4-hydroxylase (PAH, EC 1.14.16.1). However, H₄B is highly unstable and spontaneously oxidizes in aqueous solution at room temperature, which complicates its measurement in clinical and research settings and has led to its exclusion from many routine analytical protocols. This study addresses the need for a quantitative description of H₄B autoxidation and for practical strategies to mitigate analytical artefacts in solution and in urine. A kinetic study using flow injection analysis–tandem mass spectrometry (FIA–MS/MS) was carried out to monitor H₄B signal decay under different media and antioxidant compositions, and the data were interpreted within a pseudo-first-order kinetic framework. Autoxidation was fastest in aqueous solvent and slower in urine, with rate constants further modulated by the presence of ascorbic acid (H₂A) and glutathione (GSH). Equimolar H₂A and GSH, and excess GSH, significantly slowed H₄B decay but did not fully suppress oxidation, indicating partial stabilization rather than complete protection. Cyclic voltammetry and thermodynamic analysis provided complementary information on redox potentials, intermediates and thermodynamic affinity, linking changes in reaction rate to the underlying redox equilibria. The combined kinetic, electrochemical and thermodynamic results show that matrix composition and antioxidant content critically influence H₄B stability in solution and in urine. While antioxidants such as H₂A and GSH attenuate spontaneous oxidation, careful control of sample handling, timing and storage remains essential. The mechanistic insight obtained her e supports the rational design of stabilization and preparation protocols for future LC–MS/MS assays targeting H₄B in bioanalytical and diagnostic applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"223 ","pages":"Article 117386"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146173058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced dispersion of porphyrin modified N-graphene quantum dots for flexible electrochemical sensor towards pefloxacin detection","authors":"Jiamiao Jiang,&nbsp;Meiyan Du,&nbsp;Junxian Che,&nbsp;Chunlei Wang,&nbsp;Yanmei Huang,&nbsp;Xixi Zhu,&nbsp;Xia Kong,&nbsp;Guang Lu,&nbsp;Qingyun Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117319","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117319","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Inspired by the supervisor photoelectric properties of the nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) and the exceptional biocatalytic activity of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (4-pyridyl) porphyrin (TPyP), a novel flexible electrochemical sensing platform TPyP/N-GQDs/CC towards quinolone antibiotic Pefloxacin (PEF) detection was proposed. Attributed to the function of TPyP in enhancing N-GQD dispersion, as well as the directionality of a built-in electric field (BIEF) pointing from N-GQDs to TPyP in combination with the good mechanical flexibility, excellent electron transport capacity and outstanding electrocatalytic activity, the TPyP/N-GQDs/CC sensor towards PEF detection demonstrated high sensitivity of 4.489 μA/(μM cm²) with low detection limit of 0.109 μM (S/N = 3), good selectivity and anti-interference ability, remarkable mechanical stability and electrochemical stability both in PBS and milk, serum and river water sample. The present work fabricated a simple and efficient sensor platform to detect quinolone antibiotic and in turn provides a novel and reliable strategy with significant applicable potential for environmental monitoring and drug residue analysis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"223 ","pages":"Article 117319"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146173066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrative FTIR spectral analysis and machine learning for authentication and classification of edible and essential oils","authors":"Niloofar Rahmani ,&nbsp;Ahmad Mani-Varnosfaderani","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117392","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117392","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aims to develop a comprehensive Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectral database of over 3000 spectra from 30 edible and essential oils, which provide a valuable resource for detecting adulteration and quality control in the oil industry. Spectral similarity was assessed using Spearman correlation and Euclidean distance, revealing distinct clustering patterns and compositional differences between oil types. Advanced machine learning models, including support vector machine and random forest (RF) achieved 100% classification accuracy, effectively distinguishing oil types based on their spectral fingerprints. Importantly, model reliability was further evaluated using external validation through independently collected commercial oil samples, highlighting strong performance under real-market conditions. A similarity-based method accurately estimated oil proportions in multi-oil blends. To detect adulteration, 600 binary blends of sunflower oil with high-quality oils were analyzed, and the RF model yielded high prediction accuracy with R² <em>v</em>alues of 0.977–0.996 and RMSE values of 1.459–6.093% (<em>v</em>/v) for test sets. Network analysis further enhanced interpretability by visualizing complex spectral relationships among oils. This study integrates a large-scale FTIR spectral database, commercial samples validation, multi-oil adulteration modeling, advanced machine learning, and network analysis into a unified framework. This integration offers a novel, reliable, and robust approach for oil quality assurance and provides a valuable resource for the food industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"223 ","pages":"Article 117392"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147386154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Construction of portable hydrogel sensors with self-ratio optical bimodal detection and smartphone imaging functionality for visual quantitative nitrite detection","authors":"Hanqing Liu ,&nbsp;Haifeng Zhou ,&nbsp;Jing Xu ,&nbsp;Le Ding ,&nbsp;Guangjun Zhou ,&nbsp;Shiwei Chen ,&nbsp;Youxin Lou","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117358","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117358","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Excessive use of nitrite in food production and preservation causes blood and digestive system diseases, underscoring the need for rapid and accurate quantitative detection of nitrite. In this study, we developed a novel visual method for nitrite detection based on a near-infrared (NIR)-excited ratiometric fluorescent hydrogel sensor. In this sensor, NIR-excited upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and basic fuchsin (BF) served as energy donors and acceptors, respectively, collectively forming an integrated ratiometric nanofluorescent probe. The upconversion optical probe was further embedded into a three-dimensional (3D) porous polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogel to fabricate a smart hydrogel nanosensor that exhibited specific optical and colorimetric responses to nitrite. The hydrogel nanosensor demonstrated a high loading capacity for upconversion probes and provided a liquid-phase detection environment, thus significantly enhancing both fluorescence signal stability and sensing sensitivity. The NIR-excitation of the UCNPs prevented background fluorescence interference from the hydrogel and real samples. BF acted as a specific recognition unit for nitrite ions. The addition of nitrite altered the green-to-red intensity (G/R) ratio of the hydrogel sensor, facilitating real-time quantitative nitrite detection. Furthermore, the hydrogel sensor was integrated with a smartphone to create a portable platform for practical visual nitrite detection. The detection limits for nitrite using the probe and hydrogel sensor were extremely low (60.7 and 72 nM, respectively). The proposed novel UCNP-based hydrogel nanosensor provides a new sensing approach for detecting harmful substances in food, showing considerable potential to advance the applicability of portable fluorescence sensing devices in food safety monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"223 ","pages":"Article 117358"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147386241","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Three-dimensional DNA nanosphere electrochemical biosensor based on the rolling circle amplification reaction of dumbbell shaped ring for the ultrasensitive detection of cancer-related biomarkers","authors":"Congcong Li,&nbsp;Tongyang Xu,&nbsp;Shunhao Sun,&nbsp;Yin Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117376","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117376","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The precise analysis of miRNAs, potential tumor biomarkers in clinical samples, contributes to the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Here, based on the dumbbell shaped DNA ring (D-ring)-mediated rolling circle amplification (RCA) reaction, we constructed a three-dimensional (3D) DNA nanosphere based electrochemical biosensor with only three DNA strands for the ultrasensitive detection of miRNA. Specifically, the hairpin capturing probes (HCP) were first immobilized on the electrode surface via AU-S bonds, followed by target miRNA-21binding to the hairpin fragment. The exposed sticky ends then served as primer strands to trigger the RCA of the D-ring. The multiple repetitive complementary sequences within the RCA products hybridized and self-assembled spontaneously to form DNA nanospheres. Electrochemical indicator (methylene blue, MB) was inserted into the DNA nanospheres, subsequently generating an enhanced electrochemical signal. It has been verified that the 3D DNA nanosphere based electrochemical biosensor can detect the target at a minimum concentration of 29 fM. In addition, the 3D DNA nanosphere based electrochemical biosensor showed high accuracy and reliability in the detection of miRNAs in human blood samples, which has great potential for application in nucleic acid-based clinical diagnosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"223 ","pages":"Article 117376"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147381927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"UPLC-ESI-MS-MS characterization and evaluation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycemic substances in pollen powder collected from the flowers of Pistacia atlantica (Anacardiaceae): In vitro and in silico","authors":"Chaima Kaifes ,&nbsp;Hamid Guenane ,&nbsp;Ziyad Ben Ahmed ,&nbsp;Mohamed Yousfi ,&nbsp;Walid Boussebaa","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117375","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117375","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Pistacia atlantica</em> is a tree that lives in arid and semi-arid places. Its species have been used in traditional medicine since prehistoric times in several countries for treating cancer, diabetes, and inflammation. We endeavored to continue the previous studies on <em>P. atlantica</em> by working on its hand collected pure pollens aqueous extracts (PAPA) for the first time and discover its bioactive compounds and examine their possibility of interactions against oxidation, inflammation and hyperglycemia <em>in-vitro and in-silico.</em> The total phenolic contents and flavonoids were quantified and identified spectrophotometrically and with LC-MS-MS analysis. Antioxidant activity was measured using (DPPH, ABTS free radicals and FRAP). (BSA) denaturation was estimated for the inflammation test. The anti-hyperglycemic was using α-amylase enzyme.</div><div>The results showed a good content of total phenolic compounds in all samples with (84.34 ± 0.81 mg GAE/g DM) and flavonoids (22.61 ± 0.16 mg QE/g DM) as the highest values. The DPPH, ABTS and FRAP tests proved very remarkable antioxidants (59.80 ± 1.53 mg/g), (0.72 ± 0.00 mg/g), (4.30 ± 0.01 mg/g) and IC₅₀ (0.035 mg/mL), (2.30 mg/mL) and (0.51 mg/mL) respectively. Regarding α-amylase inhibition, PAPA exhibited (386.40 ± 4.71 mg AcE/g DM), while the denaturation protection of (BSA) represented (33.90 ± 1.77 mg DcE/g DM). The LC-MS-MS analysis exhibited 13 phenolic compounds such as Caffeic acid, Epicatechin, Quercetin and Resveratol. The <em>in-silico</em> study revealed that PAPA compounds interacted strongly with the amino acids of the active site and gave a good docking scores.</div><div>Pollens from <em>Pistacia atlantica</em> resulted favorably with larger phenolic compounds composition and detailed antioxidant, anti-inflammation and also the potential to contain active ingredients for hyperglycemic therapy. For that, these pollens are suggested to be involved in pharmaceutical and therapeutic fields and used as a functional food.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"223 ","pages":"Article 117375"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147386247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapid near-infrared spectroscopic determination of biomass lignocellulosic components using integrated wavelength selection and chemometric modeling","authors":"Yulin Zhao ,&nbsp;Yingying Zhu ,&nbsp;Wensheng Yang ,&nbsp;Yifan Zhao ,&nbsp;Yu Hong","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117289","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117289","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The stability of lignocellulosic components in wood is critical for process control, product consistency, and energy efficiency in modern wood-processing industries. However, routine quality control still relies mainly on conventional wet-chemical analyses, which are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and destructive, and therefore cannot meet the demand for high-frequency or even online monitoring in industrial production. To address the challenges posed by the complex composition of wood lignocellulosic components and the severe overlap of spectral information, this study systematically constructed and compared multiple hybrid analysis strategies that combine different wavelength (feature) selection algorithms with regression models. Using a full factorial experimental design, we not only achieved high-accuracy prediction of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin contents, but more importantly identified the optimal algorithm combinations for each individual component. The results indicate that competitive adaptive reweighted sampling–partial least squares (CARS-PLS) delivered the best cellulose prediction (<em>R</em>^<em>2</em> = 0.962, <em>RMSE</em> = 0.536%). Random forest–partial least squares (RF-PLS) provided the most robust overall performance for hemicellulose and lignin (<em>R</em>^<em>2</em> = 0.979/0.977; <em>RMSE</em> = 0.131%/0.300%), with higher <em>RPD</em> and lower <em>rRMSE</em>, indicating strong quantitative capability and low relative error. Overall, the optimized models showed stable generalization on the test set. The study demonstrates that, after systematic comparison and validation, the selected chemometric model of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)–based algorithms can achieve rapid, non-destructive, and accurate quantification of wood lignocellulosic components. This work provides essential methodological guidance and experimental evidence for developing robust and efficient near-infrared (NIR) analytical schemes suitable for industrial wood applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"223 ","pages":"Article 117289"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146147319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fabrication of anisotropic gold nanostructures for non-enzymatic and selective detection of hydrogen peroxide","authors":"Sangamithra Nehru ,&nbsp;Cheedalla Shanmukh Sankeeth Gupta ,&nbsp;Anu Prathap M. Udayan ,&nbsp;Anandhakumar Sundaramurthy","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117189","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.117189","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gold nanostars (AuNSs) synthesized via a new seed-mediated growth method offers a better control over their anisotropic morphology and surface properties. This two-step synthesis approach leverages a combination of different surfactants, strong and weak reducing agents, and morphology-directing agents to guide the formation of branched gold nanostructures with sharp and high-index facets. In this study, we have successfully synthesized anisotropic gold nanostructures, specifically gold nanorods (AuNRs) and gold nanostars (AuNSs), through a straightforward and reproducible seed-mediated method. Comparative electrochemical characterization revealed that AuNSs exhibited markedly superior performance over AuNRs in non-enzymatic hydrogen peroxide detection. AuNS-based sensors demonstrated high sensitivity, an extended linear dynamic range, a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.7 μM, and remarkable selectivity, even in the presence of common interfering species. These results position AuNSs as highly effective nanomaterials for electrochemical biosensing, especially in applications related to clinical diagnostics and oxidative stress monitoring, where reliable and accurate peroxide detection is critical. The outstanding performance of AuNSs can be attributed to their unique branched morphology and high-index crystalline facets, which enhance catalytic activity and facilitate rapid electron transfer. This distinctive nanostructure not only increases the effective surface area but also creates numerous active sites, resulting in improved sensitivity and detection precision. These findings contribute valuable insights into the rational design of noble metal nanomaterials for advanced analytical applications and open up new avenues for addressing pressing challenges in biomedical diagnostics and environmental monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"223 ","pages":"Article 117189"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146147411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}