Integrating aptasensor with an explosive mass-tag signal amplification strategy for ultrasensitive and multiplexed analysis using a miniature mass spectrometer

Nanomaterial-enhanced ambient ionization for miniature mass spectrometry: toward high-performance on-site detection

Mass spectrometry (MS), which is renowned for its high sensitivity and molecular specificity, serves as a cornerstone of modern analytical chemistry. However, the field applications of MS are constrained by bulky instrumentation and operational complexity. The integration of miniaturized MS with ambient ionization has revolutionized analytical workflows, enabling "sampling-ionization-detection" platforms that have shifted paradigms from laboratory-based analysis to on-site point-of-care testing. This has led to promising applications in food safety, environmental monitoring, and clinical diagnostics. Despite these advancements, challenges such as matrix interference and insufficient sensitivity persist. To address these limitations, the structural and surface properties of nanomaterials can be leveraged and engineered, offering multidimensional enhancement strategies across MS workflows that provide improved sensitivity and mitigate matrix effects. This review summarizes the developments over the past five years in the utilization of nanomaterials coupled with ambient ionization techniques for sample pretreatment and ionization optimization. Moreover, the synergy of these strategies with miniature MS systems is systematically highlighted for food safety, biomarker detection, and environmental pollutant determination. By bridging materials science, sensor technology, and diagnostics, these multidisciplinary efforts have accelerated the development of intelligent, portable analytical platforms, paving the way for precision medicine and next-generation field-deployable diagnostics. The convergence of nanomaterial innovations, sensor miniaturization, and diagnostic advancements underscores the transformative potential of these developments for the real-time, on-site detection of trace analytes in complex matrices.

Aggregation-induced emission(AIE)for next-generation biosensing and imaging: A review

Luminescence technology is a powerful analytical tool for biomedical research as well as for marker detection. Luminescent materials with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties have attracted extensive research interest, and their unique luminescence characteristics, biocompatibility, and sensitivity make them useful for the development of fluorescence-turn-on biosensors with superior sensitivity. While numerous reviews have focused on the design of AIEgens, comprehensive summaries on the strategies for biosensor preparation and application fields remain limited. In this review, we provide a concise introduction to the discovery and mechanism of the AIE phenomenon and summarize the working principles of classic AIE molecules. We discuss luminescence tuning strategies and functionalization methods for AIEgens, along with the design and preparation of AIE-based biosensors. Typical applications of AIE in biosensing and imaging are outlined, and we analyze the current limitations and future research directions of AIE technology in these fields. We hope this review will serve as a valuable reference for researchers in this rapidly developing field. The insights provided may facilitate the rational design of next-generation biosensors based on AIE technology, exhibiting promising avenues of biomedical applications and vast potential for growth.

Miniature mass spectrometer-based point-of-care assay for quantification of metformin and sitagliptin in human blood and urine

Metformin (MET) and sitagliptin (STG) are widely used as the first-line and long-term oral hypoglycemic agents for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the current lack of convenient and rapid measurement methods poses a challenge for individualized management. This study developed a point-of-care (POC) assay method utilizing a miniature mass spectrometer, enabling rapid and accurate quantification of MET and STG concentrations in human blood and urine. By combining the miniature mass spectrometer with paper spray ionization, this method simplifies the process into three to four steps, requires minimal amounts of bodily fluids (50 μL of blood and 2 μL of urine), and is able to obtain quantification results within approximately 2 min. Stable isotope-labeled internal standards were employed to enhance the accuracy and stability of measurement. The MS/MS responses exhibited good linear relationship with concentration, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) below 25%. It has the potential to provide immediate treatment feedback and decision support for patients and healthcare professionals in clinical practice.