Analyst最新文献

{"title":"Leaky waveguide biosensors for label-free measurement of human serum albumin†","authors":"Anil Kumar Pal, Md Nazmul Hossain, Saverio Brogna, Nicholas J. Goddard and Ruchi Gupta","doi":"10.1039/D5AN00108K","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5AN00108K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Early diagnosis of diseases such as kidney disease relies on the successful measurement of albumin concentration in urine. We report label-free detection of human serum albumin (HSA) using a leaky waveguide (LW) optical biosensor. The LW reported in this work comprised a few microns-thick mesoporous polyacrylamide hydrogel film deposited on a glass substrate by casting and, for the first time, copolymerized with <em>N</em>-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide (APMAA) to provide functional amine groups required to immobilise recognition elements, half-antibody fragments. Furthermore, this is an unprecedented report on the use of a high molecular weight (3700 D) poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylamide in contrast to previously reported low molecular weight bis-acrylamide crosslinkers to increase the porosity of waveguide films. Equally, other parameters such as molar ratio of APMAA to acrylamide and total weight of (monomers and crosslinker) to volume ratio were optimised to obtain hydrogel films with pore size and amine groups required to immobilise half-antibody fragments in hydrogel films. Three different strategies for immobilisation of recognition elements; two based on streptavidin biotin interactions and the third based on half fragments of antibody were studied. The third immobilisation strategy resulted in the most reproducible results and hence was used to measure the equilibrium dissociation constant of HSA and its corresponding half-antibody fragments. Using the LW-based label-free optical biosensor, HSA was successfully detected with a limit of detection of 28 ng mL<small>⁻¹</small> in buffer and the lowest concentration of HSA measured in this work was 66.5 ng mL<small>⁻¹</small>. This capability of quantitation of HSA by the LW can be built upon to realise a LW biosensor for early detection of diseases including kidney disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":63,"journal":{"name":"Analyst","volume":" 12","pages":" 2643-2652"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/an/d5an00108k?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143897905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An Endo IV-driven signal amplifier for sensitive detection of cancer biomarker TdT†","authors":"Min Lin, Ziying Ye, Wei Dai, Jin Tu, Yutong Li, Jie Yu, Xianjin Xiao, Chun Li and Longjie Li","doi":"10.1039/D5AN00203F","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5AN00203F","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) is a template-independent DNA polymerase and its function is mainly involved in the development of the human immune system. The activity of TdT is normally suppressed in healthy human cells but is overexpressed in certain diseases, such as leukemia and other malignant blood disorders. Therefore, the detection of TdT activity is crucial for clinical diagnosis and disease progression monitoring. In this study, we developed an Endo IV-driven signal amplifier to assess TdT activity. TdT can recognize primers and add dATP to the 3′ hydroxyl end of the primers, forming a polyA tail. Fluorescent probes (polyT) containing AP sites can bind to the polyA tail and the AP site will be hydrolyzed by Endo IV. Then the fluorescent probe is cut and emits fluorescence. Subsequently, the intact fluorescent probe rebinds to the polyA tail, creating a cyclic process for signal amplification. The detection limit for TdT was 1 × 10<small>⁻⁴</small> U μL<small>⁻¹</small>, with a linear range of 1 × 10<small>⁻⁴</small> to 1 × 10<small>⁻¹</small> U μL<small>⁻¹</small>. This biosensor expands the current TdT detection toolkit. Its excellent specificity and sensitivity in various kinds of biological environments provide a powerful detection tool for clinical TdT testing.</p>","PeriodicalId":63,"journal":{"name":"Analyst","volume":" 12","pages":" 2661-2670"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143901139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Research on cavity-driven control methods for concentration gradient microdroplets with high precision and stability","authors":"Huimei Lin, Jianhong Dong, Qing Yu and Junsheng Wang","doi":"10.1039/D5AN00422E","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5AN00422E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Microfluidic chip technology, an emerging interdisciplinary field, enables precise control of fluids at micro- and nano-scales and is widely applied in biomedicine, chemical analysis, and drug screening. This study investigates the effect of the parameters of chip geometry and the flow rate of fluid on the performance of the droplet concentration gradient generator using a cave-based microfluidic chip structure through numerical simulation and experimental verification. Finite element simulation software, equipped with laminar flow, phase field, and dilute substance transfer modules, was employed to analyze the impact of geometric parameters (cavity number, cavity radius, contact length between the cavity and the central channel, and cavity interval length) on the concentration gradient curve. Additionally, the effect of the fluid flow rate on the frequency, size, and concentration of the generated microdroplets was explored. Results indicate that the number, radius, and contact length of cavities significantly affect the concentration gradient curve, while the interval length has a minimal impact. Precise control of droplet concentration, generation frequency, and size can be achieved by adjusting the flow rates of the dispersed phase and the continuous phase. This study provides a theoretical basis for the design and optimization of concentration gradient microfluidic chips and promotes the application of concentration gradient microdroplet technology in high-throughput drug screening, biological detection and chemical analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":63,"journal":{"name":"Analyst","volume":" 11","pages":" 2397-2409"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143897903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recent advances in biosensors based on the electrochemical properties of MXenes","authors":"Luming Pan, Dongtao Zhou and Yuzhen Wang","doi":"10.1039/D5AN00235D","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5AN00235D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Biosensors have rapidly gained popularity and made significant progress in their applications in recent years, and a key strategy for the development of advanced biosensors is the utilization of novel structures with remarkable properties. The emergence of novel nanostructures will significantly improve the performance of sensors and create a new frontier for highly sensitive analysis. MXenes, as an emerging two-dimensional nanomaterial with a unique layered structure and electrochemical properties, have become an ideal material for developing high-sensitivity, high-stability, and multifunctional biosensors. In this review, we systematically summarized the synthesis and modification methods for MXenes and their current applications in biosensing, including electrochemical sensing, optical sensing, and wearable and portable sensing. Furthermore, this review offers potential solutions to address the challenges posed by MXenes in biosensor applications, specifically those related to material stability and biocompatibility. This review is believed to provide insights into the development of MXenes for biosensing, paving the way for their future translational medical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":63,"journal":{"name":"Analyst","volume":" 12","pages":" 2469-2488"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143897906","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insights into the cellular lipid cascade of prostate cells explored using infrared microspectroscopy†","authors":"Thomas. A. Gladwell, Dougal Ferguson, Noel Clarke, Michael D. Brown and Peter Gardner","doi":"10.1039/D5AN00126A","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5AN00126A","url":null,"abstract":"<p > <em>Background</em>: Although prostate cancer (PCa) is the most diagnosed cancer in men worldwide, there is geographical variance in both incidence and morbidity, with higher levels in developed “Western Diet” countries. In particular the high levels of the omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, arachidonic acid (AA), in Western diets has been shown to promote aggressive PCa <em>in vitro</em>. However the exact mechanism through which AA induces the aggressive phenotype has not been fully characterised. <em>Methods</em>: In this study Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) imaging coupled with fluorescence microscopy (FM), is used to follow AA metabolism in PCa cell lines. This is achieved using partially deuterated AA, with a distinctive C–D stretch seen at 2251 cm<small>⁻¹</small> providing molecular specificity, coupled with Nile Red Fluorescence imaging. <em>Results</em>: We show that, invasive cell lines PC-3, LNCaP C4-2B and DU145 readily uptake and metabolise AA, producing prostaglandins <em>via</em> the COX-2 pathway. Inhibition of the COX-2 pathway with either NS938 or the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), reduces the invasive stimulus of AA and blocks its uptake. <em>Conclusion</em>: This demonstrates that FTIR imaging can be utilised to follow metabolomics processes within a PCa model and provide an insight to the molecular pathways underlying the cancer metabolome. Additionally, these works provide key insights into the rapid uptake of AA within certain invasive cell lines of prostate cancer, suggesting that AA exposure initiates early cellular responses prior to the uptake and processing of lipids within the cells.</p>","PeriodicalId":63,"journal":{"name":"Analyst","volume":" 11","pages":" 2280-2287"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/an/d5an00126a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143893823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and validation of an integrated UHPLC-MS/MS and GC-MS method for the simultaneous analysis of three categories of phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals in surface water†","authors":"Nan Zhang, Xinyuan Pei, Huiyang Fu, Shiyu Miao, Qingqing Zhu, Zhengbo Dai, Yi Chi, Guohua Zhu, Ligang Hu, Rong Jin and Chunyang Liao","doi":"10.1039/D5AN00415B","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5AN00415B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The global concern over emerging contaminants, particularly endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), has driven the need for advanced detection methods. Phenolic EDCs, such as parabens, bisphenols, and synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs), are widely distributed in the environment and pose risks to reproductive systems and metabolism. With ongoing advancements in research, the development of high-throughput technologies for the simultaneous detection of these phenolic EDCs has become a pressing priority. A sensitive method combining ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed for the simultaneous determination of three typical classes of phenolic EDCs in aquatic environments, including parabens, bisphenols, and SPAs. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) parameters and instrumental conditions were optimized, achieving recoveries of 64.7%–123% and 64.0%–111% for blank spikes and matrix spikes, respectively, with relative standard deviation below 18%. Detection and quantification limits were determined to be 0.228–0.940 ng L<small>⁻¹</small> and 0.758–3.13 ng L<small>⁻¹</small>, respectively. The method was successfully applied to 23 surface water samples, and 10 EDCs were detected. Notably, bisphenols and SPAs in the Qiantang River displayed a clear increasing trend toward the downstream. SPAs exhibited the highest concentrations, with oxidation by the π-system being the predominant pathway responsible for the transformation to degradants like BHT-Q and BHT-quinol. This method offers reliable detection and quantification of multiple phenolic EDCs in water, providing a valuable tool for environmental monitoring, risk assessment, and regulatory management of EDCs contamination.</p>","PeriodicalId":63,"journal":{"name":"Analyst","volume":" 11","pages":" 2356-2367"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143885386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Flexible hand-made carbon electrode decorated with metronidazole imprinted polymer†","authors":"Dominik Korol, Kostiantyn Nikiforow, Paweł Borowicz, Piyush S. Sharma and Maciej Cieplak","doi":"10.1039/D5AN00146C","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5AN00146C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Carbon paper was used as a cost-effective electrode material for flexible electrode fabrication. These electrodes were coated with polypyrrole film imprinted with metronidazole. SEM imaging indicated successful covering of the carbon paper fibers. Structure of the pre-polymerization complex was optimized <em>via</em> DFT simulations. This imprinted polymer-modified electrode responded linearly to the logarithm of metronidazole concentration in 0.2 to 200 nM range with the LOD of 0.4 nM in the DPV experiments in the presence of the Ru(NH<small>₃</small>)<small>₆</small>Cl<small>₃</small> redox probe. Selectivity of the fabricated sensor was appreciably high, and the apparent imprinting factor was equal to IF = 38. Such high selectivity and the imprinting factor confirmed successful imprinting in the polypyrrole matrix. The sensor was validated by metronidazole determination in honey samples. Moreover, robustness of the MIP-coated carbon paper electrode was proven. Only a slight loss of recorded current values was observed when the electrode was bent to approx. 45° and straightened multiple times.</p>","PeriodicalId":63,"journal":{"name":"Analyst","volume":" 12","pages":" 2554-2563"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/an/d5an00146c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143880309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dual-responsive Zr(iv) MOF based fluorometric sensor for rapid and selective detection of anti-cancer drug dacarbazine and herbicide oryzalin in environmental and biological samples†","authors":"Paltan Laha, Subhrajyoti Ghosh, Mostakim SK and Shyam Biswas","doi":"10.1039/D5AN00190K","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5AN00190K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The widespread use of pesticides, herbicides, and therapeutic drugs has raised significant concerns due to their potential toxic effects, especially when misused or overused. These contaminants pose risks to both environmental and human health, necessitating the development of highly sensitive and reliable detection methods for their quantitative analysis in wastewater, food, and biological fluids. Existing detection techniques often suffer from limitations such as low sensitivity, slow response times, and interference from other substances present in complex matrices. Therefore, there is a critical need for advanced sensing platforms that can rapidly and selectively detect these harmful compounds with high precision. A luminescent metal–organic framework (MOF) can serve as an efficient fluorometric sensor for detection of toxic analytes. A novel benzofuran based Zr(<small>IV</small>)-MOF-based probe was synthesized and characterized properly. Fluorescence quenching efficiency, detection limits, response time, and selectivity of the MOF towards DCZ and ORZ were evaluated through experimental studies. Additionally, the sensor's real-world applicability was tested in various environmental and biological samples, including serum, urine, and wastewater, under different pH conditions. Computational studies were also performed to elucidate the fluorescence quenching mechanism. The developed fluorometric sensor exhibited remarkable quenching efficiencies of 90% for DCZ and 80% for ORZ which demonstrate high sensitivity with detection limits of 57 nM and 60 nM, respectively. The Stern–Volmer constants (<em>K</em><small>_SV</small>) were calculated as 1.85 × 10<small>⁵</small> M<small>⁻¹</small> for ORZ and 1.52 × 10<small>⁵</small> M<small>⁻¹</small> for DCZ, indicating strong analyte interactions. The probe showed a rapid response time of 10 s for both analytes and exhibited excellent selectivity against potential interferents. Thus, this study presents the first fluorometric-based dual probe specifically designed for DCZ and ORZ detection. The sensor's high sensitivity, rapid response, and strong selectivity make it a promising tool for monitoring hazardous analytes in environmental and biological settings. The insights gained from experimental and computational analyses further support the practical utility of this Zr-based MOF sensor in real-world applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":63,"journal":{"name":"Analyst","volume":" 11","pages":" 2375-2387"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143880320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A near-infrared fluorescent probe selectively recognizing cysteine to release H2S and its applications†","authors":"Xuan Wang, Nianwei Wang, Yikun Ren, Jicheng Wang, Jiao Bai, Huiming Hua and Dahong Li","doi":"10.1039/D5AN00316D","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5AN00316D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Cysteine, a pivotal biothiol vital for human health, exhibits strong associations with various diseases, yet its concentration assessment is often confounded by structurally and functionally similar biothiols. Hydrogen sulfide (H<small>₂</small>S), an endogenous gasotransmitter with therapeutic potential, faces challenges in achieving pharmacological effects due to the unpredictable presence of inorganic H<small>₂</small>S donors. To address these issues, we developed <strong>TMN-ONCS</strong>, a near-infrared fluorescent probe that integrates a <em>p</em>-tolyl isothiocyanate with a dicyanoisophorone fluorophore through a self-immolative spacer. <strong>TMN-ONCS</strong> demonstrates high selectivity and analytical performance for cysteine, avoids the generation of multiple fluorophores seen in conventional isothiocyanate probes, and functions as a cysteine-activated fluorescent H<small>₂</small>S donor with concurrent visualization. Furthermore, it mitigates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells, highlighting its potential for treating inflammation.</p>","PeriodicalId":63,"journal":{"name":"Analyst","volume":" 11","pages":" 2251-2258"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143880308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Baseline correction of Raman spectral data using triangular deep convolutional networks","authors":"Tiejun Chen, YoungJae Son, Changqing Dong and Sung-June Baek","doi":"10.1039/D5AN00253B","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5AN00253B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Raman spectroscopy requires baseline correction to address fluorescence- and instrumentation-related distortions. The existing baseline correction methods can be broadly classified into traditional mathematical approaches and deep learning-based techniques. While traditional methods often require manual parameter tuning for different spectral datasets, deep learning methods offer greater adaptability and enhance automation. Recent research on deep learning-based baseline correction has primarily focused on optimizing existing methods or designing new network architectures to improve correction performance. This study proposes a novel deep learning network architecture to further enhance baseline correction effectiveness, building upon prior research. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms existing approaches by achieving superior correction accuracy, reducing computation time, and more effectively preserving peak intensity and shape.</p>","PeriodicalId":63,"journal":{"name":"Analyst","volume":" 12","pages":" 2653-2660"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143866299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}