Robust Peptide-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles via Ethynyl Bonding for High-Fidelity Bioanalytical Applications

While Au-S bonds have been widely applied in preparing gold nanoparticle (AuNP) bioconjugates for biosensing, cell imaging, and biomedical research, biothiols in complex biological environments can seriously interfere with the stability of the conjugates due to ligand exchange. Herein, we communicate a robust and fast strategy for constructing peptide-functionalized AuNP conjugates (PFCs) using the Au-C≡C bond, which can be completed within two minutes. The resulting Au-C≡C PFCs exhibited better stability and resistance to biothiols than the corresponding Au-S PFCs, and also demonstrated excellent stability in high salt concentration, a wide range of pH values, and varying temperatures. The mechanism of Au-C≡C conjugation was confirmed using molecular dynamics simulation and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The Au-C≡C PFCs significantly improved the signal fidelity in an intracellular caspase imaging assay. Overall, the developed strategy provides a promising approach for constructing AuNP nanoprobes, allowing reliable detection and broadening the potential for diverse biological applications.

Precision Covalent Chemistry for Fine-Size Tuning of Sandwiched Nanoparticles between Graphene Nanoplatelets

The covalent functionalization of graphene for enhancing their stability, improving their electrical or optical properties, or creating hybrid structures has continued to attract extensive attention; however, a fine control of nanoparticle (NP) size between graphene layers via covalent-bridging chemistry has not yet been explored. Herein, precision covalent chemistry-assisted sandwiching of ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (US-AuNP) between graphene layers is described for the first time. Covalently interconnected graphene (CIG) nanoscaffolds with a preadjusted finely tuned graphene layer-layer distance facilitated the formation of sandwiched US-AuNPs (∼1.94 ± 0.20 nm, 422 AuNPs). The elemental composition analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy displayed an aniline group addition per ∼55 graphene carbon atoms. It provided information on covalent interconnection via amidic linkages, while Raman spectroscopy offered evidence of covalent surface functionalization and the number of graphene layers (≤2-3 layers). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy images indicated a layer-layer distance of 2.04 nm, and low-angle X-ray diffraction peaks (2θ at 24.8 and 12.5°) supported a layer-layer distance increase compared to the characteristic (002) reflection (2θ at 26.5°). Combining covalent bridging with NP synthesis may provide precise control over the metal/metal oxide NP size and arrangement between 2D layered materials, unlocking new possibilities for advanced applications in energy storage, electrochemical shielding, and membranes.

Fabrication of near infrared light responsive photoelectrochemical immunosensor for in vivo detection of melanoma cells

Effective and convenient detection of melanoma cells with high sensitivity is essential to identify malignant melanoma in its early stage. However, the existing detection methods, such as immunohistochemical analysis, are too complicated and time-consuming to realize the convenient in vivo and in situ detection. Herein, a near infrared responsive photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunosensor is proposed with plasmonic Au nanoparticles-photonic TiO2 nanocaves (Au/TiO2 NCs) as photon harvest and conversion transducer and antibody as cell recognition unit. The micro-antibody/Au/TiO2 NCs photoelectrode can easily in vivo distinguish melanoma cells and can realize sensitive detection of melanoma cells in short time of 1 min with a lowest limit of detection of 2 cell mL-1. The PEC immunosensor strategy not only allows us to pioneeringly implement sensitive in vivo bio-detection, but also opens up a new avenue for rational design of cell recognition units and micro-electrode for universal and reliable bio-detections.

Electropotential-Inspired Star-Shaped Gold Nanoconfined Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes: A Proof-of-Concept Electrosensoring Interface for Lung Metastasis Biomarkers

Herein, an innovative way of designing a star-shaped gold nanoconfined multiwalled carbon nanotube-engineered sensoring interface (AuNS@MWCNT//GCE) is demonstrated for quantification of methionine (MTH); a proof of concept for lung metastasis. The customization of the AuNS@MWCNT is assisted by surface electrochemistry and thoroughly discussed using state-of-the-art analytical advances. Micrograph analysis proves the protrusion of nanotips on the surface of potentiostatically synthesized AuNPs and validates the hypothesis of Turkevich seed (AuNP)-mediated formation of AuNSs. In addition, a facile synthesis of electropotential-assisted transformation of MWCNTs to luminescent nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N_d-GQDs avg. ∼4.3 nm) is unveiled. The sensor elucidates two dynamic responses as a function of C_MTH ranging from 2 to 250 μM and from 250 to 3000 μM with a detection limit (DL) of ∼0.20 μM, and is robust to interferents except for tiny response of a similar -SH group bearing Cys (<9.00%). The high sensitivity (0.44 μA·μM^-1·cm^-2) and selectivity of the sensor can be attributed to the strong hybridization of the Au nanoparticle with the sp² C atom of the MWCNTs, which makes them a powerful electron acceptor for Au-SH-MTH interaction as evidenced by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The validation of the acceptable recovery of MTH in real serum and pharma samples by standard McCarthy-Sullivan assay reveals the holding of great promise to provide valuable information for early diagnosis as well as assessing the therapeutic consequence of lung metastasis.

Nano-Hybrid Au@LCCs Systems Displaying Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) have received great attention owing to their biocompatible nature, environmental, and widespread biomedical applications. Au NPs are known as capable to regulate inflammatory responses in several tissues and organs; interestingly, lower toxicity in conjunction with anti-inflammatory effects was reported to occur with Au NPs treatment. Several variables drive this benefit-risk balance, including Au NPs physicochemical properties such as their morphology, surface chemistry, and charge. In our research we prepared hybrid Au@LCC nanocolloids by the Pulsed Laser Ablation, which emerged as a suitable chemically clean technique to produce ligand-free or functionalized nanomaterials, with tight control on their properties (product purity, crystal structure selectivity, particle size distribution). Here, for the first time to our knowledge, we have investigated the bioproperties of Au@LCCs. When tested in vitro on intestinal epithelial cells exposed to TNF-α, Au@LCCs sample at the ratio of 2.6:1 showed a significantly reduced TNF gene expression and induced antioxidant heme oxygenase-1 gene expression better than the 1:1 dispersion. Although deeper investigations are needed, these findings indicate that the functionalization with LCCs allows a better interaction of Au NPs with targets involved in the cell redox status and inflammatory signaling.

Density functional theory simulation of cobalt oxide aggregation and facile synthesis of a cobalt oxide, gold and multiwalled carbon nanotube based ternary composite for a high performance supercapattery

A novel ternary composite consisting of cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) nanoparticles (NPs) grown on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and mixed with gold (Au) NPs is synthesized by a single step hydrothermal route.

Chemical routes to discharging graphenides

Chemical and electrochemical reduction methods allow the dispersion, processing, and/or functionalization of discrete sp²-hybridised nanocarbons, including fullerenes, nanotubes and graphenes. Electron transfer to the nanocarbon raises the Fermi energy, creating nanocarbon anions and thereby activating an array of possible covalent reactions. The Fermi level may then be partially or fully lowered by intended functionalization reactions, but in general, techniques are required to remove excess charge without inadvertent covalent reactions that potentially degrade the nanocarbon properties of interest. Here, simple and effective chemical discharging routes are demonstrated for graphenide polyelectrolytes and are expected to apply to other systems, particularly nanotubides. The discharging process is inherently linked to the reduction potentials of such chemical discharging agents and the unusual fundamental chemistry of charged nanocarbons.