Colorimetric Detection of Creatinine Based on Plasmonic Nanoparticles via Synergistic Coordination Chemistry

Anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and biocompatibility properties of aqueous extract of Tamarindus indica L. fruit coat analyses by in-vitro and in-vivo approaches

The anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and biocompatibility nature of Tamarindus indica L. fruit coat aqueous extract were investigated in this research through in-vitro and in-vivo studies. The anti-inflammatory property was determined through albumin denaturation inhibition and antiprotease activities as up to 39.5% and 41.2% respectively at 30 mg mL-1 concentration. Furthermore, the antidiabetic activity was determined through α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition as up to 62.15% and 67.35% respectively at 30 mg mL-1 dosage. The albino mice based acute toxicity study was performed by different treatment groups (group I-V) with different dosages of aqueous extract to detect the biocompatibility of sample. Surprisingly, findings revealed that the T. indica L. fruit coat aqueous extract had no harmful impacts on any of the groups. Urine, as well as serum parameter analysis, confirmed this. Moreover, the findings of SOD (Superoxide Dismutase), GST (Glutathione-S-transferase), & CAT (Catalase) as well as glutathione peroxidase as well as reduced glutathione antioxidant enzymes studies stated that the aqueous extract possess high antioxidant ability via a dose-dependent way. These findings indicate that T. indica fruit coat aqueous extract contains medicinally important phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties, as well as being biocompatible in nature.

Critical importance of RGB color space specificity for colorimetric bio/chemical sensing: A comprehensive study

The use of the RGB color model in colorimetric chemical sensing via imaging techniques is widely prevalent in the literature. However, the lack of specificity in the selection of RGB color space during capture and analysis presents a significant challenge in creating standardised methods for this field and possible discrepancies. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive comparison and contrast of a total of 68 RGB color spaces to evaluate their respective impacts on colorimetric bio/chemical sensing. We explore the impact of dynamic range, sensitivity, and limit of detection, and show that the lack of specificity in RGB color space selection can significantly impact colorimetric chemical sensing by 42-77%. We also explore the impact of underlying RGB comparisons and demonstrate a further 18.3% discrepancy between RGB color spaces. By emphasising the importance of proper RGB color space selection and handling, our findings contribute to a better understanding of this critical area and present valuable opportunities for future research. We further provide valuable insights for creating standardised methods in this field, which can be utilised to avoid discrepancies and ensure accurate and reliable analysis in colorimetric bio/chemical sensing.

Order-order assembly transition-driven polyamines detection based on iron-sulfur complexes

Innovative modes of response can greatly push forward chemical sensing processes and subsequently improve sensing performance. Classical chemical sensing modes seldom involve the transition of a delicate molecular assembly during the response. Here, we display a sensing mode for polyamine detection based on an order-order transition of iron-sulfur complexes upon their assembly. Strong validation proves that the unique order-order transition of the assemblies is the driving force of the response, in which the polyamine captures the metal ion of the iron-sulfur complex, leading it to decompose into a metal-polyamine product, accompanied by an order-order transition of the assemblies. This mechanism makes the detection process more intuitive and selective, and remarkably improves the detection efficiency, achieving excellent polyamines specificity, second-level response, convenient visual detection, and good recyclability of the sensing system. Furthermore, this paper also provides opportunities for the further application of the iron-sulfur platform in environment-related fields.

Electrodeposited copper nanoparticles for creatinine detection via the in situ formation of copper-creatinine complexes

Creatinine is an important biomarker of kidney diseases. In this work, a fast and facile electrochemical sensor was developed for creatinine detection based on the use of copper nanoparticle-modified screen-printed electrodes. The copper electrodes were prepared by simple electrodeposition of Cu²⁺ (aq). The electrochemically inactive creatinine was detected reductively via the in situ formation of copper-creatinine complexes. Two linear detection ranges, 0.28-3.0 mM and 3.0-20.0 mM, were achieved using differential pulse voltammetry, with the sensitivities of 0.824 ± 0.053 μA mM^-1 and 0.132 ± 0.003 μA mM^-1, respectively. The limit of detection was determined to be 0.084 mM. The sensor was validated in synthetic urine samples to yield 99.3% recovery (%RSD = 2.8), demonstrating high tolerance to possible interfering species. Finally, the stability of creatinine and its degradation kinetics at different temperatures were evaluated using our developed sensor. The loss of creatinine was found to be a first-order reaction with the activation energy of 64.7 kJ mol^-1.

Colloidal Photonic Crystal-Enhanced Fluorescence of Gold Nanoclusters: A Highly Sensitive Solid-state Fluorescent Probe for Creatinine

Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) are an intensely pursued class of fluorophores with excellent biocompatibility, high water solubility, and ease of further conjugation. However, their low quantum yield limits their applications, such as ultra-sensitive chemical or molecular sensing. To address this problem, various strategies have been adopted for augmenting their fluorescence intensity. Herein, we report a facile and scalable approach for the fluorescence enhancement of bovine serum albumin (BSA) capped AuNCs (BSA-AuNCs) using periodic, close-packed polystyrene colloidal photonic crystals (CPCs). The slow photon effect at the bandgap edges is utilized for the increased light-matter interactions and thereby enhancing the fluorescence intensity of the BSA-AuNCs. Compared to the planar polystyrene control sample, the CPC film yielded a 14-fold enhancement in fluorescence intensity. Further, we demonstrated the as-prepared BSA-AuNCs-CPC as a solid-state platform for the highly sensitive and selective fluorescence turn-off detection of creatinine at nanomolar level.

Design and Engineering of a Palm-Sized Optical Immunosensing Device for the Detection of a Kidney Dysfunction Biomarker

Creatinine is one of the most common and specific biomarkers for renal diseases, usually found in the serum and urine of humans. Its level is extremely important and critical to know, not only in the case of renal diseases, but also for various other pathological conditions. Hence, detecting creatinine in clinically relevant ranges in a simplistic and personalized manner is interesting and important. In this direction, an optical sensing device has been developed for the simple, point-of-care detection of creatinine. The developed biosensor was able to detect creatinine quantitatively based on optical signals measured through a change in color. The sensor has been integrated with a smartphone to develop a palm-sized device for creatinine analysis in personalized settings. The sensor has been developed following facile chemical modification steps to anchor the creatinine-selective antibody to generate a sensing probe. The fabricated sensor has been thoroughly characterized by FTIR, AFM, and controlled optical analyses. The quantitative analysis is mediated through the reaction between picric acid and creatinine which was detected by the antibody-functionalized sensor probe. The differences in color intensity and creatinine concentrations show an excellent dose-dependent correlation in two different dynamic ranges from 5 to 20 μM and 35 to 400 μM, with a detection limit of 15.37 (±0.79) nM. Several interfering molecules, such as albumin, glucose, ascorbic acid, citric acid, glycine, uric acid, Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl^-, were tested using the biosensor, in which no cross-reactivity was observed. The utility of the developed system to quantify creatinine in spiked serum samples was validated and the obtained percentage recoveries were found within the range of 89.71-97.30%. The fabricated biosensor was found to be highly reproducible and stable, and it retains its original signal for up to 28 days.

Alkaline n-gqds fluorescent probe for the ultrasensitive detection of creatinine

Creatinine (Crn) is an important excretory product of the human body. Medical laboratory technology has improved over years and brought many advancements in clinical diagnostics equipment, and testing techniques and made the tests more efficient. Yet, the quantitative analysis of Crn is still carried out by the classical Jaffe's reaction (using Picric acid (PA) with NaOH) method. Since PA is hazardous to human health, alternative solutions such as; nanoparticles and surface-modified nanoparticles can be used. Exploring the optoelectronic properties of carbon-based quantum dots for biomolecule sensing is of current interest among researchers. Nitrogen functionalized graphene quantum dots (Alk-NGQDs) measured featured Crn easier and reduced the time taken for the test carried out in laboratories. The synthesized Alk-NGQDs optical, structural, morphological properties, surface and compositions are studied through XPS, HRTEM, XRD, FTIR, and spectroscopic techniques. Alk-NGQDs at alkaline conditions (pH 9.5) form a stable complex with Crn through intermolecular charge transfer (ICT). The fluorescence titration method is used to sense Crn in commercial Crn samples and human blood serum. To understand the efficacy of sensing creatinine using Alk-NGQDs, working concentration, fluorescence quantum yield, the limit of detection, and quenching constant are calculated using the Stern-Volmer plot. The emission property of Alk-NGQDs is aimed to bring an alternative to the traditional colorimetric Jaffe's reaction.

Recyclable Luminescent Sensor for Detecting Creatinine Based on a Lanthanide-Organic Framework

Creatinine is an important clinical marker for human health, but detecting it by a luminescent sensor based on metal-organic frameworks is rarely investigated. In this work, we synthesized a new lanthanide-organic framework {[Tb(L)(CH₃COO)(H₂O)]·0.5DMF}_n (1) (H₂L = 3,5-bis(4'-carboxy-phenyl)1,2,4-triazole) with good solvent and acid/alkaline stabilities. Experimental results indicate that 1 can be used in the detection of creatinine in an aqueous solution with a wide linear detection range from 3.27 to 371 μM, and the detection limit can reach 1.7 × 10^-6 M based on the 3σ method, which is less than the pathogenic concentration in a real environment. In addition, this luminescent sensor can also monitor the concentration changes of creatinine in diluted serum solutions and can be recycled at least five times, suggesting that it has a potential application for clinical monitoring.

Exploiting a strong coupling regime of organic pentamer surface plasmon resonance based on the Otto configuration for creatinine detection

The sandwiched material-analyte layer in the surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-Otto configuration emulates an optical cavity and, coupled with large optical nonlinearity material, the rate of light escaping from the system is reduced, allowing the formation of a strong coupling regime. Here, we report an organic pentamer SPR sensor using the Otto configuration to induce a strong coupling regime for creatinine detection. Prior to that, the SPR sensor chip was modified with an organic pentamer, 1,4-bis[2-(5-thiophene-2-yl)-1-benzothiopene]-2,5-dioctyloxybenzene (BOBzBT₂). To improve the experimental calibration curve, a normalisation approach based on the strong coupling-induced second dip was also developed. By using this procedure, the performance of the sensor improved to 0.11 mg/dL and 0.36 mg/dL for the detection and quantification limits, respectively.

Conventional and nanotechnology based sensors for creatinine (A kidney biomarker) detection: A consolidated review

There is an increasing demand for developing the novel methods for the detection of clinically important metabolites. One among those metabolites is creatinine (2-amino-1-methyl-5H-imidazol-4-one), a waste product, produced by the catabolism of phosphocreatine from muscle and protein metabolism, finally excreted by the kidney. It is very important to measure the creatinine level in human blood and urine because it reflects the muscular and thyroid functions. Importantly, the elevated level of creatinine is considered to be as impairment of the kidney. There are numerous methods existed to measure the concentration of creatinine in blood and urine. In this review, we consolidated the different conventional methods (chromatography, spectroscopy, immune sensor and enzyme-based detections) and their shortcomings. On other hand, we also dissertated the various nanomaterials (chemiluminescence, voltametric, amperometric, conductometric, potentiometric, impedimetric and nano polymer) based creatinine detection methods and their advantages. Finally, we also focussed on the point-of-care detection methods of creatinine determination. This review can conclude the low cost, more efficient and reliable new sensors have been developed with upgraded nanotechnology for the detection of creatinine.

Application progress of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers chemical sensors in the detection of biomarkers

Specific recognition and highly sensitive detection of biomarkers play an essential role in identification, early diagnosis and prevention of many diseases. Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) have been widely used to capture biomimetic receptors for targets in various complex matrices due to their superior recognition ability, structural stability, and rapid separation characteristics, which overcome the existing deficiencies of traditional recognition elements such as antibodies, aptamers. The integration of MMIPs as recognition elements with chemical sensors opens new opportunities for the development of advanced analytical devices with improved selectivity and sensitivity, shorter analysis time, and lower cost. Recently, MMIPs-chemical sensors (MMIPs-CS) have made significant progress in detection, but many challenges and development spaces remain. Therefore, this review focuses on the research progress of the sensor based on biomarker detection and introduces the surface modification of the magnetic support material used to prepare high selective MMIPs, as well as the selective extraction of target biomarkers by MMIPs from the complex biological sample matrix. Based on the understanding of optical sensors and electrochemical sensors, the applications of MMIPs-optical sensors (MMIPs-OS) and MMIPs-electrochemical sensors (MMIPs-ECS) for biomarker detection were reviewed and discussed in detail. Moreover, it provides an overview of the challenges in this research area and the potential strategies for the rational design of high-performance MMIPs-CS, accelerating the development of multifunctional MMIPs-CS.

Molecular Probes, Chemosensors, and Nanosensors for Optical Detection of Biorelevant Molecules and Ions in Aqueous Media and Biofluids

Synthetic molecular probes, chemosensors, and nanosensors used in combination with innovative assay protocols hold great potential for the development of robust, low-cost, and fast-responding sensors that are applicable in biofluids (urine, blood, and saliva). Particularly, the development of sensors for metabolites, neurotransmitters, drugs, and inorganic ions is highly desirable due to a lack of suitable biosensors. In addition, the monitoring and analysis of metabolic and signaling networks in cells and organisms by optical probes and chemosensors is becoming increasingly important in molecular biology and medicine. Thus, new perspectives for personalized diagnostics, theranostics, and biochemical/medical research will be unlocked when standing limitations of artificial binders and receptors are overcome. In this review, we survey synthetic sensing systems that have promising (future) application potential for the detection of small molecules, cations, and anions in aqueous media and biofluids. Special attention was given to sensing systems that provide a readily measurable optical signal through dynamic covalent chemistry, supramolecular host-guest interactions, or nanoparticles featuring plasmonic effects. This review shall also enable the reader to evaluate the current performance of molecular probes, chemosensors, and nanosensors in terms of sensitivity and selectivity with respect to practical requirement, and thereby inspiring new ideas for the development of further advanced systems.

A novel electrochemical sensor for nitroguanidine determination using a glassy carbon electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and polyvinylpyrrolidone

The GC/PVP/MWCNTs electrode is the first electrode for the electrochemical determination of insensitive explosive nitroguanidine using intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions.

High stability resistive switching mechanism of a screen-printed electrode based on BOBZBT2 organic pentamer for creatinine detection

The resistive switching (RS) mechanism is resulted from the formation and dissolution of a conductive filament due to the electrochemical redox-reactions and can be identified with a pinched hysteresis loop on the I-V characteristic curve. In this work, the RS behaviour was demonstrated using a screen-printed electrode (SPE) and was utilized for creatinine sensing application. The working electrode (WE) of the SPE has been modified with a novel small organic molecule, 1,4-bis[2-(5-thiophene-2-yl)-1-benzothiopene]-2,5-dioctyloxybenzene (BOBzBT2). Its stability at room temperature and the presence of thiophene monomers were exploited to facilitate the cation transport and thus, affecting the high resistive state (HRS) and low resistive state (LRS) of the electrochemical cell. The sensor works based on the interference imposed by the interaction between the creatinine molecule and the radical cation of BOBzBT2 to the conductive filament during the Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) measurement. Different concentrations of BOBzBT2 dilution were evaluated using various concentrations of non-clinical creatinine samples to identify the optimised setup of the sensor. Enhanced sensitivity of the sensor was observed at a high concentration of BOBzBT2 over creatinine concentration between 0.4 and 1.6 mg dL-1-corresponding to the normal range of a healthy individual.

Colorimetric Detection Based on Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance for Determination of Chemicals in Urine

Colorimetric sensors based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) have attracted much attention for biosensor and chemical sensor applications. The unique optical effect of LSPR is based on the nanostructure of noble metals (e.g., Au, Ag, and Al) and the refractive index of the environment surrounding these metal nanomaterials. When either the structure or the environment of these nanomaterials is changed, their optical properties change and can be observed by spectroscopic techniques or the naked eye. Colorimetric-probe-based LSPR provides a simple, rapid, real-time, nonlabelled, sensitive biochemical detection and can be used for point-of-care testing as well as rapid screening for the diagnosis of various diseases. Gold and silver nanoparticles, which are the two most widely used plasmonic nanomaterials, demonstrate strong and sensitive LSPR signals that can be used for the selective detection of several chemicals in biochemical compounds provided by the human body (e.g., urine and blood). This information can be used for the diagnosis of several human health conditions. This paper provides information regarding colorimetric probes based on LSPR for the detection of three major chemicals in human urine: creatinine, albumin, and glucose. In addition, the mechanisms of selective detection and quantitative analysis of these chemicals using metal nanoparticles are discussed along with colorimetric-detection-based LSPR for many other specific chemicals that can be detected in urine, such as catecholamine neurotransmitters, thymine, and various medicines. Furthermore, issues regarding the use of portable platforms for health monitoring with colorimetric detection based on LSPR are discussed.

Trend in creatinine determining methods: Conventional methods to molecular‐based methods

Renal failure (RF) disease is ranked as one of the most prevalent diseases with severe morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis of RF leads to subsequent control of disease to reduce the poor prognosis. The level of sera creatinine is considered as a significant biomarker for kidney biofunction, which is routinely detected by the Jaffe reaction. The normal range for creatinine in the blood may be 0.84‐1.21 mg/dL. Low accuracy, insufficient sensitivity, explosive and toxicity of picric acid, and pseudo‐interaction with nonspecific elements such as ammonium ions in the Jaffe method lead to the development of various techniques for precise detection of creatinine such as spectroscopic, electrochemical, and chromatography approaches and sensors based on enzymes, molecular imprinted polymer and nanoparticles, etc. Based on previously established results, they are trying to construct sensors with high accuracy, optimum sensitivity, acceptable linear/calibration range, and limit of detection, which are small in size and applicable by the patient him/herself (point‐of‐care testing). By comparing the results of research, a molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence‐based sensor with linear/calibration range of 5‐1 mMconcentration of creatinine and the detection limit of 0.5 nM has the best detectable resolution with 2 million measurable points. In this paper, we will review the recently developed methods for measuring creatinine concentration and renal biofunction.

An optimal method for measuring biomarkers: colorimetric optical image processing for determination of creatinine concentration using silver nanoparticles

Creatinine concentration is one of the important elements in the body for diagnosing kidney failure, muscular dystrophy, glomerular filtration rate, and diabetic nephropathy. The disadvantages of recently introduced analytical techniques, such as Jaffe's, spectroscopic, colorimetric, and chromatographic methods, for quantifying creatinine in urine involve toxicity, the high cost, interference, and the complexity of the design. In this paper, we designed and fabricated a new colorimetric assay for the measurement of creatinine concentration based on color differentiation generated by mixing different concentrations of creatinine with synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). An isolated box is designed for the uniform optical imaging of solutions, the captured images are processed in real time, and the quantitative and qualitative results are displayed. For colorimetric processing, a variety of color systems, such as RGB (red, green, blue), CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black), and grayscale (Gr), have been evaluated, indicating that the combination of green (G) and grayscale (Gr) provides the best results for this experiment. TEM analysis and spectroscopy were used to confirm the results of the experiment. Linear range and limit of detection (LOD) were obtained for AgNPs/PVP 0.03-1 mg/dl and 0.024 mg/dl and for AgNPs/PVA 0.01-1 mg/dl and 0.014 mg/dl, respectively, indicating the superiority of our proposed method over recently introduced methods. In this experiment, the detectable resolution with AgNPs/PVP is 40, while it is 71 with AgNPs/PVA. The designed system is simple to use, small in size, and cost-effective for measuring creatinine concentration, while it can be used as a portable system.

Colorimetric Determination of Urinary Creatinine in Proteinuria Patients by Chromaticity Analysis of Gold Nanoparticle Colloidal Solutions

Several scientific works have reported the use of colloidal gold nanoparticle (AuNP) solutions as a colorimetric probe for creatinine detection. Nonetheless, urinary protein is one of the primary chemical components that can interfere with creatinine detection. In this work, we developed a colorimetric probe using AuNP colloidal solution to detect creatinine in the urine of proteinuria patients. A microchamber array was prepared to minimize the sample volume and was used to simultaneously perform spectral recording and image acquisition of several samples. The analyzed volume for each sample was 15 μL. A camera coupled with liquid crystal tunable filters was used to record hyperspectral images, and the signals were then converted to localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectra. Color changes in the AuNP colloidal solution in the presence of varying concentrations of creatinine and human serum albumin (HSA) indicated different features and could be detected by a hyperspectral imaging technique. The relevant concentration ranges of creatinine and HSA were 5 - 200 and 50 - 250 mg dL^-1, respectively. Furthermore, a smartphone camera was adopted to record a color mapping image of the AuNP colloidal solution in the presence of creatinine and HSA at these concentration ranges. Contour plots of red and blue chromaticity levels from color mappings were produced, and 2D fitting equations obtained from these contour plots were adopted to determine the creatinine concentration in the urine of proteinuria patients. This practical technique can be used for screening and can be further developed as a household biosensing device for urinalysis.

Low-Cost Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles from Reused Traditional Gold Leaf and its Application for Sensitive and Selective Colorimetric Sensing of Creatinine in Urine

Background:

Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) are normally prepared using standard gold (III) trichloride which is much expensive and irritant. This work is aimed at demonstrating simple and low-cost synthesis of Au NPs from the reused traditional gold leaf which is cost-free and less toxic.

Methods:

The reused gold leaf was donated by the local temple. It was digested and used as the precursor for the preparation of the Au NPs by Turkevich method. Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was employed as a stabilizer. The as-prepared Au NPs were applied for the colorimetric determination of creatinine in urine without any sample pretreatment.

Results:

Long-term stability of the gold colloids was achieved for at least 3 months. Morphology and purity of the as-prepared Au NPs were the same as the ones prepared from standard gold (III) salt and standard gold foil. Colorimetric response of the Au NPs was linear to the standard creatinine up to 200 mg L-1. The limit of detection (0.16 mg L-1 or 1.41 μM) was enough sensitive for urinary creatinine detection in patients with kidney disease. Good recoveries (97-108%) and fast analysis time (3 min) were achieved. The developed method was successfully validated against the HPLC method.

Conclusion:

Facile and cost-effective synthesis of the Au NPs from the reused traditional gold leaf, was accomplished. The as-prepared Au NPs were successfully applied for the determination of urinary creatinine with high sensitivity and selectivity.

A magnetic relaxation switching and visual dual-mode sensor for selective detection of Hg2+ based on aptamers modified Au@Fe3O4 nanoparticles

The solvated mercuric ion (Hg²⁺) from industrial pollutants are highly toxic to the ecological environment and human health. Driven by urgent need for the selective and sensitive detection of Hg²⁺, a magnetic relaxation switching (MRS) based on Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) was designed. Practically, the concentrations of Hg²⁺ in industrial pollutant is usually much higher than the detection range. Thus, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized on the surface of Fe₃O₄ NPs to enable the visual detection of Au@Fe₃O₄ NPs. The presence of Hg²⁺ in sample can specifically cause the aggregation of Au@Fe₃O₄-aptamers NPs through T-Hg²⁺-T base pairs, leading to the change in transverse relaxation time T₂ value of detection solution. The MRS sensor showed excellent response for Hg²⁺ ions in the range of 10 nM-100 nM and 100 nM to 5 μM. A highly sensitive and selective measurement of Hg²⁺ was obtained with a limit of detection of 2.7 nM. Noticeably, the visual detection can qualitatively analyze the Hg²⁺ beyond 5 μM by naked eye without advanced instrumentation and skilled operators.

A dual signal on-off fluorescent nanosensor for the simultaneous detection of copper and creatinine

The transition of conventional medicine to personalized medicine has paved the way for sensing new biomolecules. Consequently, this field attracted wide interest due to its capability to provide information on point of care basis. Multi-analyte sensors that emerged recently can perform quick and affordable analysis with minimum quantity of blood samples compared to traditional sensing of individual analytes. The present study focuses on the development of a quantum dot (Qd) based nanosensor for the simultaneous detection of copper and creatinine; two biologically relevant molecules. The sensor was designed by forming a complex of Qd with 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and picric acid through carboxylic bond formation of Qd-EDC with picric acid. The dual independent emissions of the Qd-EDC complex was used for the simultaneous detection of creatinine and copper by a turn on/turn off method and was successfully demonstrated with a sensitivity of nanomolar to millimolar, and micromolar to millimolar range respectively. The multianalyte sensor thus developed has quick response and works well under normal conditions of temperature and pH. It is also shown to work in cellular environment and blood serum. A simple image based detection of creatinine using the sensor strips has also been attempted by means of a mobile camera and validated with human blood samples.

Highly Sensitive and Selective Colorimetric Detection of Creatinine Based on Synergistic Effect of PEG/Hg2+-AuNPs

A colorimetric sensor, based on the synergistic coordination effect on a gold nanoparticle (AuNP) platform has been developed for the determination of creatinine. The sensor selects citrate stabilized AuNPs as a platform, polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a decorator, and Hg²⁺ as a linkage to form a colorimetric probe system (PEG/Hg²⁻–AuNPs). By forming hydrogen bond between the oxygen-containing functional groups of PEG and citrate ions on the surface of AuNPs, this probe shows good stability. PEG coordinated with Hg²⁺ synergistically and specifically on the surface of dispersed AuNPs, and the existence of creatinine could induce the aggregation of AuNPs with a corresponding color change and an obvious absorption peak shift within 5 min. This PEG/Hg²⁺–AuNPs probe towards creatinine shows high sensitivity, and a good linear relationship (R² = 0.9948) was obtained between A_{620–522 nm} and creatinine concentration, which can achieve the quantitative calculations of creatinine. The limit of detection (LOD) of this PEG/Hg2+–AuNPs probe was estimated to be 9.68 nM, lower than that of many other reported methods. Importantly, the sensitive probe can be successfully applied in a urine simulating fluid sample and a bovine serum sample. The unique synergistic coordination sensing mechanism applied in the designation of this probe further improves its high selectivity and specificity for the detection of creatinine. Thus, the proposed probe may give new inspirations for colorimetric detection of creatinine and other biomolecules.

Sensitive Detection of Serum Creatinine Based on β-Cyclodextrin-Ferrocenylmethanol Modified Screen-printed Electrode

Ferrocenylmethanol (Fc-OH) is included in β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) to form the β-CD-Fc-OH complex by host-guest supramolecular interaction. β-CD dissociates from the β-CD-Fc-OH complex due to the conversion of Fc-OH to Fc⁺-OH under a stimulus of oxidant. In our study, Fc-OH is oxidized after a series of enzymatic reactions of creatinine, which blocks the other means for oxidation of Fc-OH. And the background noise is reduced for testing for serum creatinine (sCr). The chronoamperometry signal for creatinine (with a constant potential -0.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl) increases linearly in the 1 - 1000 μM range, with a limit of detection as low as 0.5 μM. The amperometric potential of -0.3 V greatly prevents the interference of various redox substances in serum. The biosensor was used to test 120 clinical specimens and the results showed a linear correlation with the biochemical analyzer (R² = 0.9885). The biosensor could be applied to clinical trials and offers good prospects for clinical sCr detection.

Gold Nanoparticle-Based Colorimetric Strategies for Chemical and Biological Sensing Applications

Gold nanoparticles are popularly used in biological and chemical sensors and their applications owing to their fascinating chemical, optical, and catalytic properties. Particularly, the use of gold nanoparticles is widespread in colorimetric assays because of their simple, cost-effective fabrication, and ease of use. More importantly, the gold nanoparticle sensor response is a visual change in color, which allows easy interpretation of results. Therefore, many studies of gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric methods have been reported, and some review articles published over the past years. Most reviews focus exclusively on a single gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric technique for one analyte of interest. In this review, we focus on the current developments in different colorimetric assay designs for the sensing of various chemical and biological samples. We summarize and classify the sensing strategies and mechanism analyses of gold nanoparticle-based detection. Additionally, typical examples of recently developed gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric methods and their applications in the detection of various analytes are presented and discussed comprehensively.

Softening gold for elastronics

Gold, one of the noble metals, has played a significant role in human society throughout history. Gold's excellent electrical, optical and chemical properties make the element indispensable in maintaining a prosperous modern electronics industry. In the emerging field of stretchable electronics (elastronics), the main challenge is how to utilize these excellent material properties under various mechanical deformations. This review covers the recent progress in developing "softening" gold chemistry for various applications in elastronics. We systematically present material synthesis and design principles, applications, and challenges and opportunities ahead.

Modern creatinine (Bio)sensing: Challenges of point-of-care platforms

The importance of knowing creatinine levels in the human body is related to the possible association with renal, muscular and thyroid dysfunction. Thus, the accurate detection of creatinine may indirectly provide information surrounding those functional processes, therefore contributing to the management of the health status of the individual and early diagnosis of acute diseases. The questions at this point are: to what extent is creatinine information clinically relevant?; and do modern creatinine (bio)sensing strategies fulfil the real needs of healthcare applications? The present review addresses these questions by means of a deep analysis of the creatinine sensors reported in the literature over the last five years. There is a wide range of techniques for detecting creatinine, most of them based on optical readouts (20 of the 33 papers collected in this review). However, the use of electrochemical techniques (13 of the 33 papers) is recently emerging in alignment with the search for a definitive and trustworthy creatinine detection at the point-of-care level. In this sense, biosensors (7 of the 33 papers) are being established as the most promising alternative over the years. While creatinine levels in the blood seem to provide better information about patient status, none of the reported sensors display adequate selectivity in such a complex matrix. In contrast, the analysis of other types of biological samples (e.g., saliva and urine) seems to be more viable in terms of simplicity, cross-selectivity and (bio)fouling, besides the fact that its extraction does not disturb individual's well-being. Consequently, simple tests may likely be used for the initial check of the individual in routine analysis, and then, more accurate blood detection of creatinine could be necessary to provide a more genuine diagnosis and/or support the corresponding decision-making by the physician. Herein, we provide a critical discussion of the advantages of current methods of (bio)sensing of creatinine, as well as an overview of the drawbacks that impede their definitive point-of-care establishment.

Optical sensing at the nanobiointerface of metal ion-optically-active nanocrystals

Optically-active nanocrystals (such as quantum dots and plasmonic noble metal nanoparticles) have received great attention due to their size-tunable optical properties. The indicator displacement assay (IDA) with optically-active nanocrystals has become a common practice for optical sensor development, since no sophisticated surface functionalization of nanoparticles is required. Among the IDA-based optical sensors, the use of metal ions as receptors seems to be attractive. Therefore, in this review, the research progress of optical sensing at the nanobiointerface of metal ion-optically-active nanocrystals has been summarized. In particular, metal ion-mediated selective recognition has been summarized here based on the classical Hard-Soft-Acid-Base (HSAB) principle, which has been seldom mentioned before. Most of the references were therefore categorized according to their located place based on the HSAB theory. Besides, several metal ion modulation strategies that were not related to the HSAB theory (e.g., redox modulation) were also included. Finally, due to the cross-talk of metal ions in selective recognition, we have also summarized sensor array development based on multiple metal ion receptors in IDA sensing with optically-active nanocrystals. Several interesting applications of the IDA sensing with metal ions as receptors and optically-active nanocrystals as indicators are presented, with specific emphasis on the design principles and photophysical mechanisms of these probes.

Citrate-capped silver nanoparticles as a probe for sensitive and selective colorimetric and spectrophotometric sensing of creatinine in human urine

Urinary creatinine concentration is a critical physiological parameter that enables reliable assessment of patient renal function and diagnosis of a broad spectrum of diseases. In this study, a simple and inexpensive sensor comprising monodisperse, citrate-capped silver nanoparticles (cc-AgNPs) was developed, which enabled rapid, sensitive and selective quantitation of creatinine directly in unprocessed urine. The mechanism of this sensor entails the creatinine-mediated aggregation of the cc-AgNPs (within 1 min) under alkaline conditions (pH 12). This is attributed to the tautomerization of creatinine to its amino anionic species at alkaline pH, which cross-link the cc-AgNPs via hydrogen bond networks with the negatively charged citrate caps. Creatinine elicited visibly-discernable color changes of the cc-AgNPs colloids in a concentration-dependent manner up to 10 μM. UV-visible spectroscopic analyses of the cc-AgNPs revealed that creatinine elicited a concentration-dependent decrease in intensity of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) band centered around 403 nm, with a concomitant increase in intensity of the red-shifted LSPR band at 670 nm. This observation denotes a creatinine-mediated increase in cc-AgNP particle size via aggregation, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy analysis. The cc-AgNP sensor exhibited a linear correlation between the A₆₇₀/A₄₀₃ extinction ratio and creatinine concentration range of 0-4.2 μM in aqueous solutions (R² = 0.996), and a low detection limit of 53.4 nM. Hence, the simplicity, short assay time, and high sensitivity and selectivity of our cc-AgNP sensor affirms its utility as a creatinine monitoring assay for low-resource, point-of-care settings.

Development of Ratiometric Fluorescent Biosensors for the Determination of Creatine and Creatinine in Urine

In this study, the oxazine 170 perchlorate (O17)-ethylcellulose (EC) membrane was successfully exploited for the fabrication of creatine- and creatinine-sensing membranes. The sensing membrane exhibited a double layer of O17-EC membrane and a layer of enzyme(s) entrapped in the EC and polyurethane hydrogel (PU) matrix. The sensing principle of the membranes was based on the hydrolytic catalysis of urea, creatine, and creatinine by the enzymes. The reaction end product, ammonia, reacted with O17-EC membrane, resulting in the change in fluorescence intensities at two emission wavelengths (λ_em = 565 and 625 nm). Data collected from the ratio of fluorescence intensities at λ_em = 565 and 625 nm were proportional to the concentrations of creatine or creatinine. Creatine- and creatinine-sensing membranes were very sensitive to creatine and creatinine at the concentration range of 0.1–1.0 mM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.015 and 0.0325 mM, respectively. Furthermore, these sensing membranes showed good features in terms of response time, reversibility, and long-term stability. The interference study demonstrated that some components such as amino acids and salts had some negative effects on the analytical performance of the membranes. Thus, the simple and sensitive ratiometric fluorescent sensors provide a simple and comprehensive method for the determination of creatine and creatinine concentrations in urine.

Visual Monitoring of Food Spoilage Based on Hydrolysis-Induced Silver Metallization of Au Nanorods

Colorimetric detection of biogenic amines, well-known indicators of food spoilage, plays an important role for monitoring of food safety. However, common colorimetric sensors for biogenic amines suffer from low color resolution or complicated design and intricate output for the end-users. Herein, we explored a simple but effective strategy for visual monitoring of biogenic amines with multiple color change based on hydrolysis-induced silver metallization reaction to tune the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) adsorption of Au nanorods (NRs). The color change and blue shift of longitudinal LSPR peak of Au NRs were closely related to the concentration of biogenic amines. This strategy provided a simple, sensitive, robust, nondestructive, cost-effective, and user-friendly platform for in situ evaluating the freshness of foodstuffs.

A fluorescent probe for the selective detection of creatinine in aqueous buffer applicable to human blood serum

A naphthalimide-based fluorescence light-up probe detects creatinine selectively in PBS buffer of pH 7.2 at 37 °C. It exhibits a ‘turn-on’ response to creatinine over a variety of biologically relevant ions and species and can also detect creatinine in human blood serum.

Nanomaterial-based approaches for the detection and speciation of mercury

Detection and speciation of Hg through the T–Hg–T coordination, Hg–S and/or Hg–Au/Ag interactions based colorimetric or fluorescent changes.