A magnetic quantum dot (MQD) based cellular nanoprobe, composed of a magnetic oxide nanoparticle component and a quantum dot component, has been synthesized and used for both imaging and separation. The successful synthesis is based on a reverse micelle based polyacrylate coating in the presence of component nanoparticles, followed by their functionalization via conjugation chemistry.

A multimodal optical/paramagnetic nanoprobe, Den-Angio, was developed and demonstrated a capability to circumvent the blood brain barrier (BBB) and visualize brain tumors with high sensitivity in vivo. Den-Angio holds promise to pre-operatively localize brain tumors and make image-guided tumor resection possible during surgery.

The creation of novel engineered multimodal nanoparticles (NPs) is a key focus in bionanotechnology and can lead to deep understanding of biological processes at the molecular level. Here, we present a multi-component system made of gold-coupled core-shell SPIONs, as a new nanoprobe with signal enhancement in surface Raman spectroscopy, due to its jagged-shaped gold shell coating.

A ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobe based on terbium functionalized carbon dots (CDs) was designed to detect dipicolinic acid (DPA) as an anthrax biomarker with high selectivity and sensitivity. CDs were generated by one-step synthesis using an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid precursor, and served as a scaffold for coordination with Tb(3+) and a fluorescence reference.

A fluorescence sensor for Ag(I) ions is developed based on the target-induced conformational change of a silver-specific cytosine-rich oligonucleotide (SSO) and the interactions between the fluorogenic SSO probe and graphene oxide.

The EPA's recommended maximum allowable level of inorganic mercury in drinking water is 2 ppb (10 nM). To our knowledge, the most sensitive colorimetric mercury sensor reported to date has a limit of detection (LOD) of 800 pM. Here, we report an instrument-free and highly practical colorimetric methodology, which enables detection of as low as 2 ppt (10 pM) of mercury and/or silver ions with th...

An electrochemical, label-free method was developed to detect folate receptor positive tumor cells by specific recognition of a polydopamine-coated carbon nanotubes-folate nanoprobe to cell-surface folate receptors. This strategy offers great promise to extend its application in studying the interaction of ligand and cell-surface receptor.

In this communication we report a p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene coated ZnS quantum dots "cup type" highly stable optical probe for the detection and determination of menadione (VK(3)) with high sensitivity and selectivity. The detection of VK(3) depends on supramolecular host-guest chemistry.

PURPOSE To develop and validate an optical imaging nanoprobe for the discrimination of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR)-overexpressing tumors from surrounding normal tissues that also expresses EGFR. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Near-infrared (NIR) quantum dots (QD) were coupled to EGF using thiol-maleimide conjugation to create EGF-QD nanoprobes. In vitro binding affinity of these nanopr...

Introduction: Fluorescent visualization of hydrogen peroxide in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is conducive to predicting malignant prognosis after chemotherapy. Two photon microscopy has been employed for vivo detection owing its advantages deep penetration and low phototoxicity. Methods: In this study, a two-photon fluorescent probe (TPFP) was protected by mesoporous silica nanoparticles (M...