TalantaPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-06-10DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128450
Adem Zengin, Necdet Karakoyun, Mustafa Bilici
{"title":"Selective and sensitive determination of neopterin in biological fluids using magnetic silica-supported molecularly-imprinted polymers.","authors":"Adem Zengin, Necdet Karakoyun, Mustafa Bilici","doi":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128450","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128450","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neopterin (NPT) is a key biomarker of immune system activation and holds significant importance in the diagnosis and monitoring of various clinical conditions. In this study, a novel magnetic silica-supported molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP-MS) was synthesized via surface imprinting and integrated with UV-vis spectrophotometry for the selective extraction and quantification of NPT in human serum and artificial cerebrospinal fluid. Comprehensive characterization was carried out and the results confirmed the successful fabrication of the MIP layer with well-defined structural and surface properties. Adsorption kinetics and isotherm studies were best fitted by the pseudo second-order (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.9997) and Langmuir model (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.9987), respectively and the results revealed the presence of specific recognition sites on the MIP-MS for NPT, resulting in adsorption capacity of 98.3 mg/g and imprinting factor of 4.77. Additionally, the MIP-MS exhibited outstanding reusability, retaining its performance over 10 adsorption-desorption cycles. The developed method demonstrated excellent sensitivity, with a wide linear range (3-300 nM), a detection limit of 1.18 nM and a recovery range of 97.6 %-100.4 %, accompanied by a relative standard deviation below 5.0 %. The findings suggest that the proposed MIP-MS coupled with UV-vis spectrophotometry provides a cost-effective, rapid, and highly selective alternative for NPT detection in biological samples.</p>","PeriodicalId":435,"journal":{"name":"Talanta","volume":"295 ","pages":"128450"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144289367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
TalantaPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-05-28DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128404
Yuhang Lin, Ruishuang Yuan, Tianshuo Wang, Yuanhao Liu, Lianxi Pu, Mingxuan Jia, Xilong Zhou, Min Zhang, Lijun Ding, Weiran Zhu, Kun Wang
{"title":"Sensitive and visual colorimetric detection of AFB1 based on MOF-on-MOF bimetallic nanozymes.","authors":"Yuhang Lin, Ruishuang Yuan, Tianshuo Wang, Yuanhao Liu, Lianxi Pu, Mingxuan Jia, Xilong Zhou, Min Zhang, Lijun Ding, Weiran Zhu, Kun Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128404","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128404","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is widely present in food crops and their products, posing significant risks to human health as a contaminant. Therefore, developing reliable, rapid, and convenient detection methods for AFB1 is crucial to ensure food safety. In this study, a MOF-on-MOF strategy was employed to prepare bimetallic MOF, using MIL-101 (Fe) as the host metal-organic framework (MOF) and MIL-125 (Ti), which exhibits excellent peroxidase-like activity and photosensitivity, as the guest. The material was then calcined under a nitrogen atmosphere to promote the carbonization of the framework and the development of a hollow structure, resulting in the fabrication of MIL-125@MIL-101-N<sub>2</sub> catalyst. This method utilizes the distinct properties of iron and titanium to lower the reaction barriers in the colorimetric process. The host-guest interaction in the MOF-on-MOF structure prevents the excessive coordination of Fe, which would speed up the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, thereby broadening the light absorption range and boosting the photogenerated electron capability. Based on the bimetallic MOF-on-MOF strategy, a colorimetric sensor was constructed with MIL-125@MIL-101-N<sub>2</sub> material and aptamer as recognition element for detection of AFB1. The results demonstrated a linear relationship between the RGB values and AFB1 concentrations in the range of 1-1380 ng/mL, which can be used for sensitive and visual detection of AFB1.</p>","PeriodicalId":435,"journal":{"name":"Talanta","volume":"295 ","pages":"128404"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144186164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
TalantaPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-05-22DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128372
Andrés Suárez Priede, Mario Corte-Rodríguez, Hannes Gödde, María Montes Bayón, Jörg Bettmer
{"title":"Single particle and single cell analysis by ICP-MS with pneumatic nebulisation: Comparing sample introduction systems.","authors":"Andrés Suárez Priede, Mario Corte-Rodríguez, Hannes Gödde, María Montes Bayón, Jörg Bettmer","doi":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128372","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128372","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) operated in the single particle (sp) and singe cell (sc) modes belongs to the methods of elemental analysis that has significantly grown during the last years. Its contribution to the characterisation of nanomaterials and cell populations has opened new avenues and possibilities in many different disciplines. In this context, pneumatic nebulisation plays a pivotal role since it is still the preferable sample introduction system in ICP-MS. Reliable quantitative data are only accessible with known transport efficiency (TE) of the small objects, so that the determination of this parameter is extremely critical. In this study, we investigated various combinations of commercially available nebulizers and spray chambers for testing their performance in sp- and sc-ICP-MS. Two configurations made use of high sample flow rates of 0.4 mL/min with a \"traditional\" cyclonic spray chamber, and another four combinations employed spray chambers especially designed for total consumption used at optimum flow rates of 10 μL/min (Cytospray and HE-SIS). Achievable sensitivities were significantly better for the high consumption set-ups (about 5-fold). Transport efficiencies determined by the particle number method were evaluated by the use of three different model suspensions: i) 30 nm standard gold nanoparticles LGCQC5050, ii) europium-loaded polystyrene beads, and iii) selenized yeast SELM-1. Significant differences between the three suspensions were observed obtaining results up to 90 % for certain configurations. In fact, these differences imply that for different approaches (sp- or sc-ICP-MS) a suitable calibrant has to be used for the accurate determination of the transport efficiency.</p>","PeriodicalId":435,"journal":{"name":"Talanta","volume":"295 ","pages":"128372"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144179484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Fabrication of montmorillonite composite alginate beads for micro-solid phase extraction of carbamate residues prior to their determination by ultra performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector.","authors":"Chutharat Maokam, Pirom Suwannasom, Saksit Chanthai, Onanong Cheerarot, Yanawath Santaladchaiyakit, Jitlada Vichapong","doi":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128452","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128452","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper reports the employment of natural montmorillonite (Cloisite Na<sup>+</sup>) and sodium alginate (Alg) to fabricate sorbent beads and applied for extraction and preconcentration of carbamates (CBMs) based on micro-solid phase extraction (μ-SPE) method prior to analysis by ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector (UPLC-PDA). Cloisite Na<sup>+</sup>/Alg composite bead was synthesized by ionic gelation method using calcium chloride as a cross-linking agent at ambient temperature. The biocomposite sorbent bead was then characterized by various techniques, including scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The parameters affected the extraction efficiency were investigated and optimized. Based on the optimal extraction conditions, the method provided linearity in the range of 1.0-1000 μg L<sup>-1</sup>, with determination coefficient greater than 0.99. The limits of detection ranged between 0.7 and 10 μ g L<sup>-1</sup> for all analytes. The relative standard deviation was less than 4.6 % and 6.2 % for intra-day and inter-days, respectively. Finally, the μ-SPE-UPLC-PDA method was successfully used to CBMs residue detection in food and environment samples. The percentage recoveries were found in the range of 70-117 %. Moreover, the result in real sample found that no residue of the studied carbamates was observed in sample studies. The application of greenness and blueness assessment tools (AES, AGREE, and BAGI) confirmed that μ-SPE can be considered a green chemistry method. The proposed investigated method offers advantages such as low cost, simplicity, reduced solvent consumption, and minimal environmental impact, making it a promising alternative to conventional methods for carbamate pesticides analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":435,"journal":{"name":"Talanta","volume":"295 ","pages":"128452"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144289366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
TalantaPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-05-27DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128376
Ali Khumaeni, Rina Dwi Indriana, Felix Jonathan, Dian Fiantis, Frisa Irawan Ginting, Nasrullah Idris, Hendrik Kurniawan
{"title":"Analysis of geochemical and mineral compositions of volcanic soil affected by Merapi eruption in Central Java Indonesia using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy with calibration-free.","authors":"Ali Khumaeni, Rina Dwi Indriana, Felix Jonathan, Dian Fiantis, Frisa Irawan Ginting, Nasrullah Idris, Hendrik Kurniawan","doi":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128376","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128376","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Volcanic materials are crucial for the rejuvenation process as they positively influence agricultural factors by progressively enhancing soil fertility. In this study, the quantification of geochemical and mineral constituents of Merapi volcanic soil was carried out to assess its substantial influence on enhancing soil fertility using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique via a calibration-free approach. The volcanic soil samples were obtained from 24 locations in the Merapi volcano in Central Java Indonesia. In the experiment, a pulse Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm, 83 mJ, 10 ns) was experimentally directed and focussed on the samples to generate a luminous plasma containing the elemental makeup of the samples. The volcanic soil in all directions contained the same elements with different concentrations for each sampling location. The volcanic soil contains major elements of Si, Ca, Fe, Al, and K and minor elements of P, Ti, Mn, Cu, and Zn. The soil of Merapi volcano contains a total of 13 oxides, including three elemental oxides from the silicate mineral framework (SiO<sub>2</sub>, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>), five essential macronutrients for plant growth (CaO, MgO, K<sub>2</sub>O, SO<sub>3</sub>, P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>), five micronutrients for plant growth (MnO, CuO, ZnO, Cl, Br), and two total oxide elements from rare earth elements (Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and Eu<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>). The results of the LIBS method demonstrate a substantial concordance with the findings obtained from the conventional X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique.</p>","PeriodicalId":435,"journal":{"name":"Talanta","volume":"295 ","pages":"128376"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144191340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Polarity-switchable photoelectrochemical detection of tyrosinase activity based on enzyme-triggered boronic ester bridging between In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> and Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub>.","authors":"Rong Liao, Bowen Yan, Shihua Wang, Wenfang Deng, Yueming Tan, Qingji Xie","doi":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128405","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128405","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Herein, an innovative polarity switchable strategy for photoelectrochemical (PEC) detection is reported by utilizing enzyme-triggered boronic ester bridging between two semiconductors. Monophenol-modified In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> is prepared by sequentially coating polyethyleneimine (PEI) and covalently conjugating 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (PhOH) on In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>, whereas dihydroxy-modified Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub> is prepared through surface coating of chitosan (CS). Under the catalysis of tyrosinase (TYR), monophenol groups of In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>@PEI-PhOH undergo the conversion to o-diphenol groups. With the aid of 1,4-phenylboronic acid, boronate ester bridges form between TYR-treated In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>@PEI-PhOH and Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub>@CS, so In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> can be anchored on the Cu<sub>2</sub>ZnSnS<sub>4</sub>@CS-modified electrode surface. As a result, the formation of p-n heterojunctions on the photoelectrode can reverse the photocurrent polarity, enabling polarity switchable PEC detection of TYR activity. The linear range is from 0.01 to 5 U mL<sup>-1</sup>, and the detection limit is 0.0015 U mL<sup>-1</sup> for TYR activity detection. The established method is successfully employed for TYR activity detection in human serum samples.</p>","PeriodicalId":435,"journal":{"name":"Talanta","volume":"295 ","pages":"128405"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144191344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
TalantaPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-06-10DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128425
Liyu Qiu, Xixiang Yang, Nan Zhao, Anqi Luo, Li Wang, Xiaogang Hu
{"title":"A novel pH-responsive aptamer-molecularly imprinted hydrogel for efficient identification and separation of ampicillin in complex matrices.","authors":"Liyu Qiu, Xixiang Yang, Nan Zhao, Anqi Luo, Li Wang, Xiaogang Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128425","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128425","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hybrids of molecular imprinting-aptamers have been used for environmental analysis; however, the weak selectivity and stability inhibited their applications in complex matrices. In this paper, the nano-scale pH-responsive aptamer-molecularly imprinted interpenetrating hydrogels (Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>@Apt-MIH) were prepared in one step by the modified sol-gel method based on the preparation principle of interpenetrating network hydrogels, with Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> as the carrier, aminopropyltriethoxysilane and methyltrimethoxysilane as functional monomers, polyethyleneimine (PEI) as the pH-responsive components, and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and glutaraldehyde (GA) as dual cross-linking agents. After optimizing the polymerization and extraction conditions, the pH response performance, extraction capacity and reusability of the material with highly magnetism were investigated, which could achieve magnetic separation within 5 s. The SiO<sub>2</sub> coating hydrolyzed by TEOS provided a rigid backbone for interpenetrating hydrogels, which could improve the acid resistance of PEI by adjusting the isoelectric point of Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>@Apt-MIH and assist in target identification. Selectivity research showed that aptamers and functional monomers have a highly effective synergistic recognition effect on ampicillin, with the imprinting factor of 6.90 and the synergistic recognition factor of 1.48. This solid-phase microextraction material coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography with the linear range of 10-1000 μg/L and the detection limit of 7.67 μg/L enabled the selective separation and detection of ampicillin in milk and honey, with minimal sample matrix interference and recovery between 95.2 and 102 %.</p>","PeriodicalId":435,"journal":{"name":"Talanta","volume":"295 ","pages":"128425"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144281924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Simple one-pot assay for visual and smartphone-based quantification of human albumin in urine and biological fluids.","authors":"Nopchulee Cheeveewattanagul, Oranut Warachit, Paskorn Muangphrom, Patsamon Rijiravanich","doi":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128443","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128443","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study introduces a simple and effective one-pot assay for the quantification of human albumin (HA) using H8 aptamer-modified magnetic beads (H8Apt-MB-HA), applicable across various biological fluids, including urine, serum, and sweat. Upon binding to HA, the aptamer-bead complexes exhibit concentration-dependent aggregation: well-dispersed at low HA levels and clustered at higher concentrations, with rapid sedimentation under a magnetic field in U-shaped well plates. These aggregation patterns are visually discernible, enabling rapid qualitative screening without the need for complex instrumentation. For quantitative analysis, digital images captured by a smartphone or a plate scanner (Cytation™ 5) are processed using ImageJ software, allowing for accurate signal quantification. The top and bottom-view assay achieves a detection limit of 5.9 and 6.5 mg L<sup>-1</sup> and demonstrates robust performance across a urinary pH range of 5.0-7.0. Minimal cross-reactivity with other biological components confirms the aptamer's high specificity. Clinical validation with patient urine samples shows excellent correlation with standard immunoturbidimetric methods, underscoring the assay's potential for point-of-care testing. This approach supports immediate interpretation and clinical decision making, especially valuable in resource-limited settings and for routine monitoring of kidney-related disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":435,"journal":{"name":"Talanta","volume":"295 ","pages":"128443"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144289368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
TalantaPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-06-03DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128428
Gongwei Tian, Jianhui Chen, Dan Yang, Cuiyuan Liang, Qinyi Zhao, Yan Liu, Weihong Lu, Dianpeng Qi
{"title":"Self-healable and stretchable electrochemical sensor for sweat glucose detection.","authors":"Gongwei Tian, Jianhui Chen, Dan Yang, Cuiyuan Liang, Qinyi Zhao, Yan Liu, Weihong Lu, Dianpeng Qi","doi":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128428","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128428","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Wearable sensing devices provide a promising approach for non-invasive health detection. However, most flexible devices are inevitably susceptible to wear and mechanical degradation in practical applications due to stretching, cutting, or overuse, resulting in device malfunction. Therefore, it is necessary to develop sensing devices with self-healing and stretchable capabilities. Here, an in-situ self-healing and stretchable sweat glucose sensor is fabricated by depositing Au on the synthetic self-healable PDMS<sub>0.9</sub>-IPDI elastomer and modifying polypyrrole/glucose oxidase on the sensing position, respectively. This sensor can recover electromechanical properties through dynamic hydrogen bonds after fracture and self-healing 4 h at room temperature, and maintain stable sensing properties under 50 % strain, which satisfies the strain required by human skin in daily activities. In addition, the modified polypyrrole film on the Au electrode increases the electrochemically active area of the working electrode by 3-4 times and the sensor exhibits a sensitivity of 62.60 μA mM<sup>-1</sup> cm<sup>-2</sup> in the linear range of 0-1 mM, with the detection limit is as low as 12.58 μM. Furthermore, the sensor can accurately and reliably detect the glucose content in human sweat samples, providing a novel approach for the practical application of glucose sensors.</p>","PeriodicalId":435,"journal":{"name":"Talanta","volume":"295 ","pages":"128428"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144281926","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The optimal ionic concentration of sensing buffer in the detection of RNA by using the DNA probe with the silicon nanowire field-effect transistor (SiNW-FET).","authors":"Wen-Pin Hu, Jui-Shen Wang, Yu-Peng Chiu, Tzu-Chen Huang, Bharath Kumar Yadlapalli, Wen-Yih Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128375","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128375","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigates optimal conditions for surface modification and ionic concentration of sensing buffers for miRNA-21 detection using DNA probes on silicon nanowire field-effect transistor (SiNW-FET) biosensors. Ionic strength is a key factor influencing DNA/RNA hybridization efficiency and FET detection sensitivity by affecting duplex formation and the Debye length. An optimal balance between these effects is crucial for ultra-sensitive miRNA detection. The surface functionalization process was optimized through systematic testing of reaction time, temperature, and pH. A 30-min silanization reaction at room temperature without pH adjustment, followed by acetic acid rinsing, resulted in the most uniform silica surface. For hybridization detection, fluorescence microscopy showed that the highest ionic strength (150 mM) of Bis-Tris propane (BTP) buffer produced the greatest hybridization amount. Grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) confirmed stable secondary structures in DNA/DNA and DNA/RNA hybrids across all ionic strengths. For SiNW-FET measurements, BTP buffers with varying ionic strengths (10 mM, 50 mM, and 150 mM) were tested. A 50 mM BTP buffer provided the optimal balance between ionic strength for hybridization and electric double-layer structure, yielding the highest voltage shifts and enhanced sensitivity for ultra-low miRNA concentrations. Moreover, 50 mM BTP outperformed 50 mM PBS due to BTP's larger counterions reduced ion accumulation on the sensor surface, further improving sensitivity. These findings are crucial for advancing non-invasive liquid biopsy techniques in detecting low-concentration miRNAs.</p>","PeriodicalId":435,"journal":{"name":"Talanta","volume":"295 ","pages":"128375"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144179626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}