Changlong Hao

Rapid and Highly Sensitive Detection of Lead Ions in Drinking Water Based on a Strip Immunosensor

In this study, we have first developed a rapid and sensitive strip immunosensor based on two heterogeneously-sized gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) probes for the detection of trace lead ions in drinking water. The sensitivity was 4-fold higher than that of the conventional LFA under the optimized conditions. The visual limit of detection (LOD) of the amplified method for qualitative detection lead ions was 2 ng/mL and the LOD for semi-quantitative detection could go down to 0.19 ng/mL using a scanning reader. The method suffered from no interference from other metal ions and could be used to detect trace lead ions in drinking water without sample enrichment. The recovery of the test samples ranged from 96% to 103%. As the detection method could be accomplished within 15 min, this method could be used as a potential tool for preliminary monitoring of lead contamination in drinking water.

Self-Organization of Plasmonic and Excitonic Nanoparticles into Resonant Chiral Supraparticle Assemblies

Chiral nanostructures exhibit strong coupling to the spin angular momentum of incident photons. The integration of metal nanostructures with semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) to form hybrid plasmon-exciton nanoscale assemblies can potentially lead to plasmon-induced optical activity and unusual chiroptical properties of plasmon-exciton states. Here we investigate such effects in supraparticles (SPs) spontaneously formed from gold nanorods (NRs) and chiral CdTe NPs. The geometry of this new type of self-limited nanoscale superstructures depends on the molar ratio between NRs and NPs. NR dimers surrounded by CdTe NPs were obtained for the ratio NR/NP = 1:15, whereas increasing the NP content to a ratio of NR/NP = 1:180 leads to single NRs in a shell of NPs. The SPs based on NR dimers exhibit strong optical rotatory activity associated in large part with their twisted scissor-like geometry. The preference for a specific nanoscale enantiomer is attributed to the chiral interactions between CdTe NP in the shell. The SPs based on single NRs also yield surprising chiroptical activity at the frequency of the longitudinal mode of NRs. Numerical simulations reveal that the origin of this chiroptical band is the cross talk between the longitudinal and the transverse plasmon modes, which makes both of them coupled with the NP excitonic state. The chiral SP NR-NP assemblies combine the optical properties of excitons and plasmons that are essential for chiral sensing, chiroptical memory, and chiral catalysis.

Plasmonic Core–Satellites Nanostructures with High Chirality and Bioproperty

In this Letter, gold nanorods (Au NRs) and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were assembled into core-satellites (Au NR-NPs) nanostructures using DNA as the linkers. Circular dichroism (CD) measurements of the nanoassemblies displayed two plasmonic CD (PCD) peaks in the vicinity of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Interestingly, the number of Au NPs in the assemblies had a significant influence on the shape and intensity of the CD line. The assemblies were enzymatically disassembled by deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I), and the CD responses were simultaneously reversed. With the proof-of-concept design, the PCD response was no change by addding enzyme inhibitor. These experiments suggested that the chirality depended upon the structure of core-satellites nanoassemblies, and the results clarify that the possible origin of the optical activity comes from chiral arrangement of building blocks and Coulomb dipole-dipole interactions. This research also illuminated that the assemblies can be used to develop a new sensor for the sensitive screening of the enzyme inhibitors.

Paper supported immunosensor for detection of antibiotics.

Paper supports were used to develop a simple, inexpensive, fast and sensitive electrochemical immunosensor for the analysis of antibiotic residues in milk samples, where single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and a simple dip-dry coating method were employed to prepare the highly sensitive biosensor. Well-dispersed SWNTs were impregnated with an antibody against neomycin to obtain a composite coating solution, followed by dipping the filtration paper in the solution to fabricate the sensitive biosensor which had high electrical conductivity. Based on the impedance change in the entire paper supported biosensor with increased concentrations of neomycin, the limit detection of the optimized method was 0.04 ng mL(-1) and a linear detection range from 0.2 to 125 ng mL(-1), well below the European Union regulations for neomycin in this matrix. This paper supported biosensor was applied to determine neomycin in milk samples after a simple sample treatment, with spiked recoveries which ranged from 93.25 to 110.47%. A variety of antibiotic residues in milk samples could be determined following similar sensor preparation.

Assembled Plasmonic Asymmetric Heterodimers with Tailorable Chiroptical Response

Directed nanocrystal (NC) heteroassemblies could potentially achieve tailorable multiplex circular dichroism (CD) bands. Here, for the first time, we developed assembly of nanoparticle (NP)-nanorod (NR) chiral heterodimers with chiral molecules to explore their chiroptical activities. The experimental results revealed that plasmonic CD responses were in the region from 520 to 750 nm, which was in agreement with the theoretical simulation. Importantly, the CD band could be regulated by controlling the gaps between adjacent NCs and altering the building blocks of the assemblies. These results show that the plasmonic chiroptical response of NP-NR heterodimers could come from the finger-crossed chiral construction of adjacent NC in the heterodimers and the formation of plasmonic hot-spots in the assemblies could further enhance the plasmonic CD. This work provides a new opportunity to create heterogeneous nanoscale plasmonic objects with tailorable chiroptical response for application in biosensors, in vivo chiral medical carriers and negative refractive index materials.

A silver enhanced and sensitive strip sensor for Cadmium detection

In this study, an enhanced test strip, based on a monoclonal antibody for the cadmium-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) complex, but not metal-free EDTA, has been developed. This colorimetric sensor was sensitive and specific for the detection of cadmium in aqueous samples containing excess EDTA. Through a process of silver enhancement, the visual detection limit for Cd(II) was 5 µg/L under optimised conditions and the limit of detection for semi-quantitative detection could be as low as 0.35 µg/L by using a scanning reader. The calibration curve showed that the colour intensity decreased as the Cd(II) concentration increased in the range of 0.5–5 µg/L. The other metal ions did not interfere with the determination of Cd(II). The recoveries of drinking water samples were from 98 to 108%. Consequently, the assay could be employed as a potential on-site screening tool for the detection of Cd(II) in water samples.

Wash-free magnetic oligonucleotide probes-based NMR sensor for detecting the Hg ion

An easily applied and sensitive sensor for the detection of heavy metal ion residues based entirely on magnetic nanoparticle and oligonucleotide was developed. The tool is established on the relaxation of magnetic nanoparticles with different dispersion states. The target analyte, Hg ions, induce the aggregation of the MNP oligonucleotide probes. Accordingly, the light produced by the magnetic relaxation image and the transverse relaxation time (T(2)) all change due to the effect of the aggregation. The limit of qualitative detection of the sensor is 0.15 ppt. The recoveries from test samples range between 97.1-101.8%. Using the nuclear resonance instrument, the method is a high throughput and sensitive sensor.

Facile and rapid magnetic relaxation switch immunosensor for endocrine-disrupting chemicals

In order to develop facile, fast and sensitive detection methods for endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), we described a sensitive biosensing system involving magnetic relaxation switch, based on the assembly of cross-linked superparamagnetic iron oxide (CLIO) nanoparticles induced by the antigen-antibody biorecognition. The design of smart CLIO-based superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and antigen-OVA was described for the detection of bisphenol A [2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenol) propane (BPA)]. The addition of BPA to the rapid magnetic relaxation switch immunosensor led to transverse relaxation time (T2) shortening compared to a blank control as shown by NMR relaxometry measurements. This process was also applied to the rapid and facile determination of concentrations of BPA in drinking water (tap water). Good linearity for all calibration curves was obtained, and the limit of detection (LOD) for BPA was 0.4 ng/mL in tap water.

A highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for copper(II) determination in drinking water

Monoclonal antibodies against Cu(II)–EDTA were produced by using an immunogen of Cu(II) chelate conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) via a bifunctional chelator, 1-(4-isothiocyanobenzyl)ethylenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (ITCBE). Stable hybridoma cell lines were generated with immunisation in mice followed by cell fusion. A monoclonal antibody with high affinity and specificity for Cu(II)-EDTA but not metal-free EDTA was produced from a selected hybridoma cell line (B11) and used to develop a competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CI-ELISA) for detection of Cu(II). The assay conditions, including the antigen coating, plate blocking and buffer pH, and ionic strength were examined for optimal assay performance. The optimised assay showed less than 3.9% cross-reactivities for Zn(II) and Co(II) and no cross-reactivities for other tested metal ions. The assay showed high sensitivity for Cu(II) with an IC50 of 3.9 ng/mL, a detection limit of 0.24 ng/mL and a detection range of 0.67–29 ng/mL. Recoveries from drinking water were determined to be in the range of 94.4–117.2%.

Visual Sensor for the Detection of Trace Cu(II) Ions using an Immunochromatographic Strip

A rapid and simple immunochromatography method based on a gold nanoparticle-labeled monoclonal antibody was developed for the on-site detection of copper (Cu) in water samples. This monoclonal antibody, obtained by a cell fusion technique, recognized the Cu-ethylenediamine-N,N,N’,N’-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) complex, but not metal-free EDTA, with high sensitivity and specificity. In optimized conditions, the visual limit of detection for qualitative detection of Cu(II) ions was 10 ng/mL and the LOD for semi-quantitative detection decreased to 0.45 ng/mL with the help of a scanning reader system. The detection process was achieved within 10 min with no cross-reactivity from other heavy metal ions. The recovery of the test samples ranged from 98% to 109%. To our knowledge, this antibody-based test strip for Cu(II) ions has not been previously reported. Based on the above results, this strip sensor could be used as an alternative tool for screening heavy metal pollution in the environment.