Sample treatment procedures for environmental sensing and biosensing

Bioanalysis of antihypertensive drugs by LC-MS: a fleeting look at the regulatory guidelines and artificial intelligence

Hypertension is a multifaceted cardiovascular disease, a significant risk factor for stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and renal damage. An essential phase in the drug development process is the exploration of effective bioanalytical approaches to investigate drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics precisely. The use of LC-MS has increased significantly over the last 10 years; numerous researchers have made contributions to the field and enhanced the technical capabilities of workflows based on LC-MS. This review provides a critical analysis of the method development and validation of bioanalytical methods using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) of a few antihypertensive drugs, focusing on extraction techniques and validation parameters. Furthermore, a fleeting look at the GLP, regulatory guidelines, machine learning and artificial intelligence in bioanalysis. Despite these advancements, the document identifies gaps in current regulatory guidelines and advocates areas for further research, predominantly concerning matrix effects and the impact of co-medications. The integration of AI tools in LC-MS has shown the potential to revolutionize bioanalytical methods, yet there is still an imperative for global harmonization. We assume that this review will offer a foundation for the research of new strategies and assist in the identification of the optimum relevant methodology parameters for known and emerging antihypertensive drugs.

Optical glucose biosensor built-in disposable strips and wearable electronic devices

On-demand screening, real-time monitoring and rapid diagnosis of ubiquitous diseases, such as diabetes, at early stages are indispensable in personalised treatment. Emerging impacts of nano/microscale materials on optical and portable biosensor strips and devices have become increasingly important in the remarkable development of sensitive visualisation (i.e. visible inspection by the human eye) assays, low-cost analyses and personalised home testing of patients with diabetes. With the increasing public attention regarding the self-monitoring of diabetes, the development of visual readout, easy-to-use and wearable biosensors has gained considerable interest. Our comprehensive review bridges the practical assessment gap between optical bio-visualisation assays, disposable test strips, sensor array designs and full integration into flexible skin-based or contact lens devices with the on-site wireless signal transmission of glucose detection in physiological fluids. To date, the fully modulated integration of nano/microscale optical biosensors into wearable electronic devices, such as smartphones, is critical to prolong periods of indoor and outdoor clinical diagnostics. Focus should be given to the improvements of invasive, wireless and portable sensing technologies to improve the applicability and reliability of screen display, continuous monitoring, dynamic data visualisation, online acquisition and self and in-home healthcare management of patients with diabetes.

Emerging nanobiotechnology in agriculture for the management of pesticide residues

Utilization of pesticides is often necessary for meeting commercial requirements for crop quality and yield. However, incessant global pesticide use poses potential risks to human and ecosystem health. This situation increases the urgency of developing nano-biotechnology-assisted pesticide formulations that have high efficacy and low risk of side effects. The risks associated with both conventional and nanopesticides are summarized in this review. Moreover, the management of residual pesticides is still a global challenge. The contamination of soil and water resources with pesticides has adverse impact over agricultural productivity and food security; ultimately posing threats to living organisms. Pesticide residues in the eco-system may be treated via several biological and physicochemical processes, such as microbe-based degradation and advanced oxidation processes. With these issues in mind, we present a review that explores both existing and emerging techniques for management of pesticide residues and environmental risks. These techniques can offer a sustainable solution to revitalize the tarnished water/soil resources. Further, state-of-the-art research approaches to investigate biotechnological alternatives to conventional pesticides are discussed along with future prospects and mitigation techniques are recommended.

Recent progress in micro/nano biosensors for shellfish toxin detection

Shellfish toxins, as one kind of marine toxin, have attracted worldwide attention due to their severe threat to food safety and human health. Therefore, it is highly essential and urgent to develop a low-cost and convenient method to detect these toxins. With the rapid advance in microfabrication processes, micro/nano biosensors provide novel approaches to address this issue. In addition to their features of low cost, portability, easy operation, high efficiency and high bioactivity, micro/nano biosensors have great potential to realize on-the-spot, rapid detection of shellfish toxins. This review focuses on the most recent advances in the development of micro/nano biosensors for shellfish toxin detection. These biosensors are mainly classified into five categories according to their transducer detection principles, which include optical devices, electrochemical sensors, electrochemiluminescence, field-effect transistors, and acoustic devices. Sensor strategies, toxin analytes, biosensitive elements, coupling methods and field detection performance are highlighted to discuss the applications of shellfish toxin detection. With advances in sensor technology, biomaterials, microfabrication and miniaturized electronics, micro/nano biosensors applied to in-field fast detection of shellfish toxins are expected to play a critical role in food safety, environmental monitoring, and foreign trade in the foreseeable future. Finally, the current challenges and future development trends of micro/nano biosensors for shellfish toxin detection are discussed.

Fullerene C60 in Atmospheric Aerosol and Its Relationship to Combustion Processes

Fullerenes are emerging pollutants, and it is essential to determine and quantify these compounds to assess environmental risk and environmental flows. The goal of this work was to determine the fullerene C₆₀ emission levels in the atmospheric aerosol and their relationship with combustion processes. To measure the concentration, a fullerene C₆₀ extraction method with toluene was optimized in air samples using ultrasound, followed by analysis using high-pressure, liquid chromatography-diode array detector-mass spectrometry. This method has been applied to outdoor and indoor environmental samples collected in different places in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain), with diverse environmental characteristics, as well as at the exhaust outlets of different vehicles with and without catalytic converters. The maximum concentration of fullerene C₆₀ present in the outdoor samples was 2.27 pg/m³, and the maximum concentration was 10.50 pg/m³ in indoor environments. The air samples collected at the exhaust outlets of vehicles without catalytic converters showed fullerene C₆₀ concentrations above 170 pg/m³, while in the case of vehicles with catalytic converters, the detected concentration of fullerene C₆₀ was lower than the limit of quantification.