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Cadmium telluride (CdTe) semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are brightly luminescent nanocrystals that have emerged as a new class of fluorescent probes for in vivo bioimaging and theranostic applications. CdTe QDs toxicity to normal human cells is minimized by coating with a less toxic ZnS and ZnSe shell forming a core–shell nanostructure. However, coating with ZnS or ZnSe shell is insufficient to prevent the leaching of toxic Cd metal ions. To further minimize toxicity, thiol dual capped CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe multi-core-multi-shell quantum dots were coated with nanoliposome or liposome vesicles (CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe@liposome) and chitosan nanoparticles (CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe@ChitNPs) and their biocompatibility on HeLa and Vero cells were investigated. Different spectroscopic and microscopic techniques were used to elucidate nanocomposites' optical, morphological, and physicochemical properties. The coating of CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe multi-core-multi-shell quantum dots were conducted at different formulations (F1, F2 and F3) and results from the fluorescence studies show that F3 demonstrated the best interaction for both liposome and ChitNPs composite. Exposure to 12 h UV illumination studies also reveals that CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe@liposome shows an enhancement in fluorescence compared to CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe@ChitNPs. The cytotoxicity of the formulations towards HeLa and Vero cells also depicted minimal toxicity compared to CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe QDs that shows much higher toxicity (IC₅₀ = 0.09381 mg/ml). It was further observed that liposome coated multi-core-multi-shell QDs@F2 demonstrated lower toxicity (IC₅₀ = 0.4364 mg/ml) compared to ChitNPs coated multi-core-multi-shell QDs@F2 (IC₅₀ = 0.1618 mg/ml). Results from the florescence imaging studies reveal that CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe-multi-core-multi-shell QDs liposomes and ChitNPs composite retained most of their fluorescence and properties and could easily be tracked in cells and visualized around the nucleus. This indicates the successful internalization of the QDs in the cytosol. Therefore, these results shows that coating CdTe multi-core-mutli-shell QDs with liposomes and ChitNPs produce better biocompatibility compared to uncoated multi-core–shell QDs. However, liposome coated CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe multi-core-multi-shell quantum dots show better optical properties, photostability and biocompatibility compared to CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe multi-core-multi-shell quantum dots with ChitNPs coating. These particles therefore show good promise in cell-labelling and drug delivery studies.

Ensuring effective monitoring of methotrexate (MTX) levels in the bloodstream of cancer patients undergoing high-dose methotrexate chemotherapy is crucial to prevent potentially harmful side effects. However, the absence of portable analytical devices suitable for point-of-care bedside monitoring has presented a significant obstacle to achieving real-time MTX monitoring. In this study, we developed an impedimetric immunosensor that doesn't require reagents for measuring MTX levels in undiluted human blood serum. This reagentless approach simplifies the assay process, enabling rapid and straightforward MTX quantification. The immunosensor transducer was fabricated by electrodepositing conductive network of porous multiwalled carbon nanotube@polypyrrole/polytyramine on screen-printed gold microchip electrode (SP–Au/MWCNT70@PPy-PTA). Polyclonal anti-MTX antibodies were immobilized on the film, acting as the immunorecognition element. Non-specific binding was prevented by blocking the transducer interface with denatured bovine serum albumin (dBSA) fibrils, resulting in SP-Au/MWCNT70@PPy-PTA/anti-MTXAb|dBSA film electrode. When MTX binds to the SP-Au/MWCNT70@PPy-PTA/anti-MTXAb|dBSA interface, the film conductance and electron transfer resistance changes. This conductivity attenuation allows for electrochemical impedimetric signal transduction without a redox-probe solution. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results showed increased charge transfer resistance and phase angle as MTX concentrations increased. The SP-Au/MWCNT70@PPy-PTA/anti-MTXAb|dBSA demonstrated high sensitivity, with a linear response from 0.02 to 20.0 μM and a detection limit of 1.93 nM. The detection limit was 50 times lower than the intended safe level of MTX in human serum. The immunosensor exhibited minimal cross-reactivity with endogenous MTX analogs and serum proteins. The SP-Au/MWCNT70@PPy-PTA/anti-MTXAb|dBSA immunosensor presents a simple and rapid method for therapeutic drug monitoring compared to traditional immunoassay systems.

Bismuthene, a two-dimensional nanostructured material derived from the environmentally friendly and nontoxic element bismuth, holds significant potential for sustainable electrocatalytic applications. However, the large-scale application of bismuthene is hindered by the absence of a high-throughput method for synthesizing solution-processable bismuthene nanosheets, which are essential for the straightforward and low-cost fabrication of bismuthene-based nanostructure devices. This study introduces a simple solvothermal method for synthesizing bismuthene nanosheets, using hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) as a structure-directing agent and in situ-generated hydrogen (H₂) from the alkaline hydrolysis of NaBH4 as the reducing agent. The structural and electron transfer properties were characterized by using microscopic, spectroscopic, and electrochemical analyses. To demonstrate the electrocatalytic application potential, a bismuthene-modified screen-printed carbon nanotube electrode was fabricated as a nanosensor for the quantitative detection of heavy metal ions in contaminated water. The nanosensor exhibited a wide linear concentration range and low detection limits of 0.1 and 0.16 ppb (μg/L) for Cd and Pb, respectively. Additionally, the sensor was integrated with a microfluidic flow cell, demonstrating its applicability for the flow-through analysis of Cd and Pb ions. The nanosensor showed high selectivity for Cd and Pb ions in the presence of other metal ions with excellent repeatability and sensor-to-sensor reproducibility, evidenced by a relative standard deviation of 2% and 10%, respectively.

A single run approach for rapid detection of nitrification inhibitor, dicyandiamide (DCD) using electrogenerated chlorine assisted polymerization through azo bond, under acidic conditions and at a preanodized screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE*) is presented. The role of chloride containing support electrolyte in acidic medium along with oxygen functionalities/edge sites are found to be crucial for the successful oxidative polymerization and subsequent adsorption of oxidized products on the electrode surface. The SEM, cyclic voltammetry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies were used to characterize the polymer film formation. The system exhibited a linear range between 20 and 170 μM with a detection limit of 3 μM (S/N = 3). The method was successfully tested for the detection of DCD in dairy and water samples. Simultaneous detection of DCD in the presence of melamine has also been demonstrated.

A new technique for sensing nanomolar concentrations of hydrazine in water samples is reported. A screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) altered using an amine-azo functional group encompassing poly(dicyandiamide) is used in this study. The modified electrode exhibits an enhanced activity toward hydrazine detection at a lower overpotential and broad linear scale between 20 nM and 1 mM, with an accurate sensitivity value of 0.1 nA μm–1 cm–2. To the best of our knowledge, poly(dicyandiamide)-modified electrodes exhibit one of the lowest limits of detection for any metal-free electrode that detects 6.7 nM (S/N = 3) of hydrazine. The method established sufficient selectivity and better recoveries. Finally, the poly(dicyandiamide)-modified SPCE* is highly suitable for electrochemical determination of hydrazine in water samples from tap and lake.

In this study, nanostructure kazakhstanite-like iron vanadate (FexV3xOy.H2O) was synthesized and calcined at different temperatures (100-800 °C) in a nitrogen atmosphere. The material was used to modify screen-printed carbon electrodes to achieve an electrocatalytic effect on the surface. The relationship between calcination conditions and the catalytic performance of the electrode towards the oxidation of chemotherapeutic drugs, including methotrexate (MTX) and folinic acid (FA), was studied. Various spectroscopic, microscopic, and electrochemical methods were used to characterize the synthesized materials. The results show that calcination induces changes in the electronic structure, nanostructure morphology, electroactive surface area, and electrocatalytic performance of the material. Screen-printed carbon electrode modified with FexV3xOy calcinated at 450 °C (SPC/FexV3xOy-450) was used to develop a voltammetric sensor for the determination of MTX and FA in blood serum. The response of the SPC/FexV3xOy-450 towards the electrooxidation of MTX and FA was the highest in comparison to the bare SPC and SPC/FexV3xOy calcined at other temperatures. The SPC/FexV3xOy-450 exhibited a linear relationship over a wide concentration range: 0.005-200 µM for MTX and 0.05-200 µM for FA. The detection limit was 2.85 nM for MTX and 7.79 nM for FA. Compared to conventional methods, the SPC/FexV3xOy-450 sensor had a short response time (5 min) for simultaneous detection of MTX and FA without signal interferences from coexisting electroactive compounds. The accurate and precise determination of MTX in the presence of FA confirmed the potential clinical applications of SPC/FexV3xOy-450 for therapeutic drug monitoring during chemotherapy.