Biological Detection Research Articles

Multi-scenario refractive index sensor based on merging BIC in an all-dielectric metasurface

In recent years, bound states in the continuum (BICs) in the all-dielectric metasurfaces have attracted considerable attention due to the low radiation loss and large quality factor (Q-factor). In this study, we design a highly sensitive refractive index sensor working in multi-scenario based on merging quasi-BIC in the silicon nitride metasurface. By adjusting the thickness of the metasurface and keeping the structural symmetry, nine BICs distributed in momentum space form the merging BIC at the Γ point with significantly enhanced Q-factor. The transmission spectra of the metasurface sensor disperse with the refractive index in multi-scenario. The modulation depth of the Fano resonance spectrum can exceed 99.9%. The sensitivity and figure of merit of the refractive index sensor based on the merging quasi-BIC can reach 41.35 nm/RIU and 13,389.1 RIU-1 for gas, 59.05 nm/RIU and 8,415.9 RIU-1 for blood, and 66.08 nm/RIU and 8,845.8 RIU-1 for cerebrospinal fluid, respectively. Furthermore, we investigate the influence of the structural deviations on the Q-factor, which of the merging quasi-BIC maintains higher than that of the isolated quasi-BIC. Our work offers a method for designing high-sensitivity sensors working in multi-scenarios, which may hold significant potential for enhancing device performance in gas and biological detection.

Aerial Systems for Releasing Natural Enemy Insects of Purple Loosestrife Using Drones

Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife) is an invasive species that displaces native wetland flora in the USA. The detection and manual release of biological control agents for L. salicaria is challenging because L. salicaria inhabits many inaccessible areas. This study was conducted to develop aerial systems for the detection of L. salicaria and the release of its natural enemy, Galerucella calmariensis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). We determined the optimal sensors and flight height for the aerial detection of L. salicaria and designed an aerial deployment method for G. calmariensis. Drone-based aerial surveys were conducted at various flight heights utilizing RGB, multispectral, and thermal sensors. We also developed an insect container (i.e., bug ball) for the aerial deployment of G. calmariensis. Our findings indicated that L. salicaria flowers were detectable with an RGB sensor at flight heights ≤ 15 m above the canopy. The post-release mortality and feeding efficiency of G. calmariensis did not significantly differ from the control group (non-aerial release), indicating the feasibility of the targeted release of G. calmariensis. This innovative study establishes a critical foundation for the future development of sophisticated aerial systems designed for the automated detection of invasive plants and the precise release of biological control agents, significantly advancing ecological management and conservation efforts.

Circulating tumor DNA methylation detection as biomarker and its application in tumor liquid biopsy: advances and challenges.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) methylation, an innovative liquid biopsy biomarker, has emerged as a promising tool in early cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis prediction. As a noninvasive approach, liquid biopsy overcomes the limitations of traditional tissue biopsy. Among various biomarkers, ctDNA methylation has garnered significant attention due to its high specificity and early detection capability across diverse cancer types. Despite its immense potential, the clinical application of ctDNA methylation faces substantial challenges pertaining to sensitivity, specificity, and standardization. In this review, we begin by introducing the basic biology and common detection techniques of ctDNA methylation. We then explore recent advancements and the challenges faced in the clinical application of ctDNA methylation in liquid biopsies. This includes progress in early screening and diagnosis, identification of clinical molecular subtypes, monitoring of recurrence and minimal residual disease (MRD), prediction of treatment response and prognosis, assessment of tumor burden, and determination of tissue origin. Finally, we discuss the future perspectives and challenges of ctDNA methylation detection in clinical applications. This comprehensive overview underscores the vital role of ctDNA methylation in enhancing cancer diagnostic accuracy, personalizing treatments, and effectively monitoring disease progression, providing valuable insights for future research and clinical practice.

Application of mitochondrial miRNA-204 nanoprobes in Alzheimer's disease treatment by clearing reactive oxygen species-mediated autophagy

Neuronal mitochondrial damage is the primary characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD); as mitochondrial microRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial for maintaining mitochondrial function, developing a detection system for mitochondrial miRNAs and applying it for AD treatment is of great significance. Herein, we report CeO2-DNA-RNA hybrid chain (DRP)/mitochondrial aptamers (MA) nanoclusters, formed using specially modified 5 nm sized cerium dioxide (CeO2) nanoparticles, to achieve AD diagnosis and treatment by targeting mitochondrial miRNA-204. First, nanomaterials with unique reactive oxygen species-scavenging functions could easily enter the central nervous system, and surface modification with mitochondrial aptamers facilitated successful mitochondrial targeting. Furthermore, surface modification of nanomaterials with DNA-RNA hybrid biological detection probes was used to detect miRNA-204 in AD and simultaneously perform gene-silencing therapy. In 3 × Tg-AD model mice, CeO2-DRP/MA aggregated into neuronal mitochondria, silenced mitochondrial miRNA-204, and restored the damaged mitochondria for AD treatment. The promising diagnostic and therapeutic functions of CeO2-DRP/MA demonstrate its better performance as a diagnostic and therapeutic system targeting mitochondrial miRNA.

The clinical potential of 1,5-anhydroglucitol as biomarker in diabetes mellitus.

A crucial measure of diabetes management is to monitor blood glucose, which often requires continuous blood collection, leading to economic burden and discomfort. Blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin A1c serve as traditional indicators of glucose monitoring. But now glycated albumin, fructosamine, and 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) have been gaining more attention. 1,5-AG is a chemically stable monosaccharide that exists in the human body. Its serum concentration remains stable when blood glucose levels are normal. However, it decreases when blood glucose exceeds the renal glucose threshold. Studies have shown that 1.5-AG reflects blood glucose changes in 1 to 2 weeks; therefore, decreased levels of serum 1,5-AG can serve as a clinical indicator of short-term blood glucose disturbances. Recent studies have shown that 1,5-AG can be used not only for the screening and managing of diabetes but also for predicting diabetes-related adverse events and islet β cell function in prediabetic patients. In addition, saliva 1,5-AG demonstrates potential value in the screening and diagnosis of diabetes. This review focuses on the biological characteristics, detection methods, and clinical application of 1,5-AG to promote understanding and applicable research of 1,5-AG in the future.

Analysis Of The Result Of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) Electrophoresis On Vaginal Mucosal Swabs With Cervical Cancer Patients

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the second-highest sexually transmitted diseases in the world, accounting for 13% of the total 22% of deaths caused by non-communicable diseases. Today there have been many developments about cervical cancer diagnosis methods especially in early detection aimed at recognizing cervical cancer at an earlier stage, including molecular biology detection using PCR tools and electrophoresis. Objective: To identify the results of DNA electrophoresis in vaginal mucosal swabs with cervical cancer. Method : The research method used is experimental. Results: Based on the results of a study using a documentary gel, 2 samples of HPV DNA tape were detected, it was tested positive because there was 450 bp DNA tape and 4 samples of negative results were obtained. Conclusion: The frequency distribution of respondents from 6 samples by using electrophoresis and focumerary gel as readers detected 2 positive samples. A positive result is expressed if a result in the documentary gel is found to be a DNA band. The size of the DNA ribbon produced with the DNA marker markers is at 450 bp, according to the sample target. This shows that the DNA bands in the sample are about 450 bp in size.

Fe(II) Induced Porphyrin Nanoaggregates Assembled in the Liquid-Liquid Interface with Dual Enzyme-like Activity for Colorimetric Determination of Methimazole.

The liquid-liquid interface offers a confined space to control the growth of nanomaterials. In this study, Fe(II) (water phase) induced Meso-tetra (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (H2TCPP) (CHCl3, organic phase) into nanoaggregates (Fe-TCPP) in the liquid-liquid interface. By tuning the ratio of DMF in organic solvents, Fe(II) induced H2TCPP into two nanoaggregates (Fe-TCPP-1 and Fe-TCPP-2) with different morphologies via coordination interaction occurring at the water-CHCl3 interface. Interestingly, the Fe-TCPP nanoaggregates possess dual enzyme-like activity (peroxidase-like and oxidase-like activity). In particular, both Fe-TCPP-1 and Fe-TCPP-2 demonstrate a peroxidase-/oxidase-like activity under visible light irradiation that is higher than that in the dark. Comparatively, Fe-TCPP-2 exhibits enhanced peroxide-like (POD) activity together with oxidase-like (OXD) activity compared with that of Fe-TCPP-1 under the corresponding similar conditions. The excellent enzyme mimic activity of Fe-TCPP nanozymes is ascribed to the generated hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and superoxide anions (O2•-). Remarkably, the catalytic activity of Fe-TCPP-2 remains more than 90% even in the higher temperature range of 35-40 °C, which is significant for biological detection under physiological conditions. Based on the outstanding dual enzyme-like activity of Fe-TCPP-2, a colorimetric sensing platform for methimazole (an antithyroid medicine) has been developed, demonstrating a linear detection range of 10-100 μM and a detection limit of 4.44 μM.

Temperature-compensated optical fiber sensor for urea detection based on the femtosecond laser-inscribed process

This study demonstrates a low crosstalk temperature-compensated fiber-based urea sensor based on the hybridization of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI). In this sensing structure, an inscribed waveguide and a semi-open cavity are processed by a femtosecond laser in an optical fiber to excite an SPR signal sensitive to refractive index (RI) and an MZI signal highly sensitive to temperature. Based on the temperature detected by the MZI, the influence of temperature on the SPR signal’s RI detection can be calculated and compensated for using a sensitivity matrix. Based on this precise RI detection of the SPR signal, we have achieved selective urea detection by bio-functionalizing the sensor surface using the urease self-assembly method. The sensitivity and limit of detection for urea are 7.98 (nm/mmol/L) and 0.13 mmol/L, respectively, which are better than those in previous studies. Compared to previous temperature compensation studies, this SPR + MZI sensing method using femtosecond laser processing significantly improves the temperature sensitivity of the MZI signal, which reduces crosstalk and ensures a sufficient working range for the SPR signal. Therefore, this sensor is crucial for advancing high-precision temperature compensation detection, high-sensitivity biological detection, and the future application of the femtosecond laser technology.

Understanding the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Acupuncture: Targeting Hippocampal Neuroinflammation, Oxidative Stress, Neuroplasticity, and Apoptosis in CUMS Rats.

Depression is recognized globally as one of the most intractable diseases, and its complexity and diversity make treatment extremely challenging. Acupuncture has demonstrated beneficial effects in various psychiatric disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture's antidepressant action, particularly in depression, remain elusive. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of acupuncture on chronic unpredictability stress (CUMS)-induced depressive symptoms in rats and to further elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms. All rats were exposed to CUMS of two stressors every day for 28 days, except for the control group. One hour before CUMS, rats were given a treatment with acupuncture, electroacupuncture, sham-acupuncture, or fluoxetine (2.1 mg/kg). Behavioral tests and biological detection methods were conducted in sequence to evaluate depression-like phenotype in rats. The findings of this study demonstrate that acupuncture therapy effectively ameliorated depression-like behavior induced by CUMS in rats. Additionally, acupuncture exerted a restorative effect on the alterations induced by CUMS in the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB), postsynaptic density95 (PSD95), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and acetylcholine (ACh). Additionally, our findings indicate that acupuncture also modulates the ERK and Caspase-3 apoptotic pathways in the hippocampus of CUMS rats. This study suggests that acupuncture may play a potential preventive role by regulating hippocampal neuroinflammatory response, levels of oxidative stress, apoptotic processes, and enhancing synaptic plasticity.

A broadband tunable THz sensor based on graphene metasurface

In this paper, we design a polarization-independent and angle-insensitive wideband THz graphene metamaterial sensor. The proposed metasurface sensor consists of six layers, which are silicon dioxide substrate, metal reflector, air layer, graphene metasurface with microstructure, ion-gel layer and silicon dioxide dielectric layer from bottom to top. The sensor was simulated by using CST Microwave Studio software, and the absorption and sensing performance were analyzed. The results show that the absorption rate is more than 95 % in the range of 1.05–4.07 THz. In addition, when the Fermi energy level of graphene is changed, the absorption rate can be adjusted from 20 % to more than 95 %. At the same time, the absorptivity of the device can be maintained above 80 % before 60° when the TE and TM waves are incident, and it is insensitive to the polarization angle due to the central symmetry of the graphene surface microstructure. By changing the thickness of the air layer, the device can achieve maximum absorption at h2=30μm, where the maximum frequency shift sensitivity is 2.179 THz/RIU. The influence of structure parameters and incident angle on the absorption spectrum shows that the proposed structure has good stability. The proposed metasurface sensor has potential application prospects in biological detection and medical monitoring, broadening the application range of THz functional devices.

Early-life exposure to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics disrupts metabolic homeostasis and gut microbiota in juvenile mice with a size-dependent manner

Early-life exposure to different sizes of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) affects biotoxicity, which is related not only to the dose but also directly to particle size. In this study, pregnant ICR mice received drinking water containing 5 μm polystyrene microplastics (5 μm PS-MPs) or 0.05 μm polystyrene nanoplastics (0.05 μm PS-NPs) from pregnancy to the end of lactation. Histopathological and molecular biological detection, 16s rRNA sequencing for intestinal flora analysis, and targeted metabolomics analysis were used to look into how early-life exposure to MNPs of various sizes affects young mice's growth and development, gut flora, and metabolism. The outcomes showed that 0.05 μm and 5 μm PS-MNPs can pass through the placental and mammary barriers, and MNPs accumulating in various organs were size-dependent: the greater the accumulation in organs, the smaller the particle size. Further studies found that the larger 5 μm PS-MPs caused only small accumulation in organs, with the main health hazard being the disruption of intestinal barrier and liver function, indirectly causing gut dysbiosis and metabolic disorders. In contrast, the smaller 0.05 μm PS-NPs caused excessive accumulation in organs, not only impaired the function of the intestine and liver, but also caused direct mechanical damage to physical tissues, and ultimately resulted in more severe intestinal and metabolic disorders. Our findings underline the size-dependent risks associated with micro- and nanoplastics exposure early in life and highlight the necessity for tailored approaches to address health damages from early MNPs exposure.

Preparation and Application of Two-Dimensional Ta4C3 MXene/Gold Nanostar Composite SERS Substrates for Thiram Detection.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a novel spectroscopic technique that enables the identification of analytes through analysis of their unique chemical signatures. Its high sensitivity, specificity, and rapid response make it a valuable tool in a range of fields, including biological detection, food safety, and environmental monitoring. However, traditional SERS nanoparticle substrates are susceptible to instability and agglomeration. In this study, Ta4C3 MXene/gold nanostar (AuNSs) hybrids were prepared as SERS substrates. By optimizing the experimental conditions of AuNSs, the optimal preparation method for the Ta4C3 MXene/AuNSs composite structure was identified. The addition of MXene to the Ta4C3 MXene/AuNSs hybrid substrates was found to enhance the sensitivity of the composite for Raman detection, as evaluated using 4-aminothiophenol (PATP) as a Raman molecule. This improvement in sensitivity is attributed to the enhanced electromagnetic properties of the hybrid substrates, which facilitate more efficient charge transfer and enhance the Raman scattering process. The limit of detection (LOD) of Ta4C3 MXene/AuNSs is 10-9 M for PATP and 10-7 M for thiram solutions. In addition, good reproducibility and spatial uniformity were obtained for the Raman signals of Ta4C3 MXene/AuNSs. Furthermore, Ta4C3 MXene/AuNSs were combined with filter paper to create paper-based SERS substrates that could be used for detection. By directly wiping the apple peel and subsequently detecting the thiram residues using Ta4C3 MXene/AuNSs, the level of detection of thiram residues on the peel surface was down to 7.8 ng/cm2.

Oxidative stress: fundamentals and advances in quantification techniques.

Oxidative species, generated endogenously via metabolism or from exogenous sources, play crucial roles in the body. At low levels, these species support immune functions by participating in phagocytosis. They also aid in cellular signaling and contribute to vasomodulation. However, when the levels of oxidative species exceed the body's antioxidant capacity to neutralize them, oxidative stress occurs. This stress can damage cellular macromolecules such as lipids, DNA, RNA, and proteins, driving the pathogenesis of diseases and aging through the progressive deterioration of physiological functions and cellular structures. Therefore, the body's ability to manage oxidative stress and maintain it at optimal levels is essential for overall health. Understanding the fundamentals of oxidative stress, along with its reliable quantification, can enable consistency and comparability in clinical practice across various diseases. While direct quantification of oxidant species in the body would be ideal for assessing oxidative stress, it is not feasible due to their high reactivity, short half-life, and the challenges of quantification using conventional techniques. Alternatively, quantifying lipid peroxidation, damage products of nucleic acids and proteins, as well as endogenous and exogenous antioxidants, serves as appropriate markers for indicating the degree of oxidative stress in the body. Along with the conventional oxidative stress markers, this review also discusses the role of novel markers, focusing on their biological samples and detection techniques. Effective quantification of oxidative stress may enhance the understanding of this phenomenon, aiding in the maintenance of cellular integrity, prevention of age-associated diseases, and promotion of longevity.

Perovskite nanocrystals photo-initiated in situ encapsulation for optical tracking

Metal halide perovskite (CsPbX3, X = Cl, Br, I) nanocrystals (MHP NCs) have been widely investigated for a variety of optoelectronic applications due to their superior photophysical characteristics. However, the inherent poor stability has limited broad applications. Herein, a facile in situ photopolymerization strategy using MHP NCs as photo-initiators is designed to fabricate homogeneous perovskite-silicone composites with outstanding stability, flexibility, and scalability. The fabrication process is completed upon exposure to 30 W ultraviolet light for 5 min under ambient conditions without additional protections and additives. The composites have exceptional stability in air and can even withstand harsh conditions, such as a basic pH of 13 for six months. The mechanical properties of composites are tunable from rigid to elastic by regulating the composition, ratios of polymerization monomers, and reaction time. Their superb properties enable optical visualization tracking for magnetically driven soft robots. This convenient and effective approach opens a new pathway for future applications in optical tracking, soft displays, biological detection, and bioimaging of perovskite nanocrystals.

Structural Regulation of Au-Pt Bimetallic Aerogels for Catalyzing the Glucose Cascade Reaction.

Bimetallic nanostructures are promising candidates for the development of enzyme-mimics, yet the deciphering of the structural impact on their catalytic properties poses significant challenges. By leveraging the structural versatility of nanocrystal aerogels, this study reports a precise control of Au-Pt bimetallic structures in three representative structural configurations, including segregated, alloy, and core-shell structures. Benefiting from a synergistic effect, these bimetallic aerogels demonstrate improved peroxidase- and glucose oxidase-like catalytic performances compared to their monometallic counterparts, unleashing tremendous potential in catalyzing the glucose cascade reaction. Notably, the segregated Au-Pt aerogel shows optimal catalytic activity, which is 2.80 and 3.35 times higher than that of the alloy and core-shell variants, respectively. This enhanced activity is attributed to the high-density Au-Pt interface boundaries within the segregated structure, which foster greater substrate affinity and superior catalytic efficiency. This work not only sheds light on the structure-property relationship of bimetallic catalysts but also broadens the application scope of aerogels in biosensing and biological detections.

Reverse iontophoresis sensing electrode for joint detection of pH, NH4+, and lactic acid

With the rapid development of integrated electronic circuit technology, biological fluid-electricity integrated detection systems have gradually become a research hotspot. Researchers have integrated biological fluid electrical detection methods into circuits and developed small, low-power, portable detection devices equipped with sensing electrodes, which can achieve continuous monitoring of human health parameters. In recent years, the integration of reverse iontophoresis technology that can be used to extract body fluids with electrochemical sensors has opened up the possibility of flexible, portable biochemical sensing with excellent detection sensitivity. Herein, we present a method for extracting biofluids based on reverse iontophoresis technology, coupled with electrochemical sensing techniques for the simultaneous detection of various biomarkers in body fluids. The multi-channel sensing electrode was modified layer by layer using nitrogen-doped graphene (N-Gr), ion-selective membrane, or lactate oxidase for rapid and sensitive detection of pH (3–8), ammonium ion (NH4+) (0.1 mM–50 mM), and lactic acid (1 mM–50 mM). Subsequently, an integrated system for electrical stimulation extraction and sensing analysis based on reverse iontophoresis was established and experimentally tested. Experimental results demonstrated that the multi-channel joint detection sensing electrode has excellent sensing linearity, specificity, repeatability, and long-term stability. Finally, a smartphone-based WeChat applet was developed, which can realize parameter setting, function selection, and result display of sensor detection. In this study, reverse iontophoresis technology was used to collect body fluids, and the important biomarkers pH, NH4+, and lactic acid in the body fluids were detected. Overall, this research presents an integrated detection system and a multi-channel sensing scheme for the detection of important biochemical markers in bodily fluids, thereby providing potential value for health monitoring applications.

Simultaneous vector magnetometry based on fluorescence polarization of NV centers ensemble in diamond

The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers ensemble has extensive application prospects in vector-magnetic-field measurement due to its accurate and fixed spatial orientations along the crystallographic axes of diamonds. However, to address signals of NV centers along all four axes, a large bias magnetic field sufficient to spectrally separate their resonances is typically inevitable, which may affect the magnetic substance under test and require multiple-frequency microwaves to interrogate signals of the four axes. Here, we demonstrate an NV-based simultaneous vector magnetometer that works at a bias field as low as just separating the resonant peaks of |ms=±1 states and utilizes a single-frequency microwave. By simultaneously detecting the fluorescence at specific optical polarization angles in three orthogonal directions and determining the transformation matrix in advance, all the Cartesian components of the magnetic field under test are distinguished. The experimentally achieved magnetic-field sensitivity is 63 nT/Hz, and the bias field is reduced to around 11 Gauss (still reducible by narrowing the linewidth) in ambient conditions. The proposed methods dramatically reduce the bias field for NV-based simultaneous vector magnetometers and potentially expand their applications in biological science, materials science, and industrial noninvasive detection.

Molybdenum disulfide quantum dots for rapid fluorescence detection of glutathione and ascorbic acid

A method for the specific detection of glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (AA) using 3-aminophenylboronic acid functionalized molybdenum disulfide quantum dots (APBA-MoS2 QDs) was reported. The APBA-MoS2 QDs synthesized using the hydrothermal method showed the strongest fluorescence intensity at an emission wavelength of 375 nm with the optimum excitation wavelength of 320 nm. The detection method was constructed by the combination of the dynamic and static quenching and the inner filter effect (IFE) of APBA-MoS2 QDs by permanganate (MnO4−) and the rapid redox reaction (1 min) of MnO4− by GSH or AA. The concentrations of GSH and AA showed good linear ranges of 10–500 μM and 10–100 μM, respectively, with limits of detection (LOD) of 0.476 μM and 0.185 μM, respectively. The spiked recovery tests in human serum and fresh fruit samples showed that APBA-MoS2 QDs had significant potential in the construction of fluorescent biological detection methods.

Conductivity optimisation of graphene oxide-M13 bacteriophage nanocomposites: towards graphene-based gas micronano-sensors

Graphene oxide (GO) and M13 bacteriophage can self-assemble to form ultra-low density porous structures, known as GraPhage13 aerogels (GPA). Due to the insulating nature of GPA and the challenges in producing highly conductive aerogels, it is paramount to explore ways to enhance the conductivity of GPA. Herein, we have developed a method to enhance the conductivity of GPA, via the integration and optimisation of 5 nm and 20 nm diameter gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) into the aerogel structure and systematically analysed the morphology, composition and spectroscopic properties of the resulting GPA-Au nanocomposite. The fabricated GPA-Au nanocomposites exhibited remarkable increases in conductivity, with the integration of 5 nm AuNPs leading to a 53-fold increase compared to GPA, achieving a performance of up to 360 nS/cm, which is within the range suitable for miniaturised semiconductor devices. The mechanism behind the conductivity enhancement was further investigated and attributed to GO-AuNP interactions increasing the carrier density by introducing new energy levels in the GO band gap or shifting its Fermi level towards the conduction band. These findings demonstrate the potential of functionalised AuNPs to significantly improve the electrical properties of GPA, paving the way for their application in gas sensors for biological and chemical detection and a new range of advanced semiconductor devices.

Disseminated tuberculosis with osteomyelitis of the right little finger as the first manifestation: a case report

The clinical data of a child with disseminated tuberculosis with osteomyelitis of the right little finger as the first manifestation who was admitted to Tianjin Children's Hospital on April 8, 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The child, a 14-year-old female, presented with osteomyelitis of the right little finger as the first manifestation. She still had recurrent fever after focal incision and drainage. She was referred to our hospital. The samples from multiple sites were positive for molecular biology detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. She was considered as disseminated tuberculosis and was given anti-tuberculosis treatment. The child has recovered well. Pediatric disseminated tuberculosis has variable clinical manifestations and lacks specificity. It is often misdiagnosed and has a high mortality rate. Clinicians should improve their understanding of the disease and ensure early diagnosis and treatment.