Fluorescent Devices Research Articles

A compact, palm-sized isothermal fluorescent diagnostic intelligent IoT device for personal health monitoring and beyond via one-tube/one-step LAMP-CRISPR assay

The demand for accurate, user-friendly, and sensitive at-home nucleic acid testing solutions is rising due to occasional outbreaks of various infectious diseases and a growing desire for an improved quality of life. In response, we developed the WeD-mini, a compact, palm-sized isothermal fluorescent diagnostic IoT device that weighs just 61 g. The WeD-mini features a uniquely designed, highly sensitive optical sensing system, ultra-low power consumption, a minimalist industrial design, and an intelligent operating algorithm. It integrates real-time fluorescence detection and automatic result interpretation via a smartphone, with results seamlessly uploaded to the ‘EzDx Cloud’ for comprehensive health management and spatio-temporal disease mapping. The device supports various assays that operate at different temperatures and with varying fluorescence emission intensities, such as RPA (39 °C, low intensity), LAMP (65 °C, high intensity), and LAMP-PfAgo (65/95 °C, high intensity), while maintaining precise temperature control and exceptional fluorescence detection sensitivity. Additionally, we engineered a more thermostable AapCRISPR-Cas12b variant that operates effectively at 63 °C, enhancing compatibility with LAMP to create a robust One-Tube/One-Step LAMP-CRISPR assay. Adaptable for at-home testing of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses, the WeD-mini achieved 100% sensitivity and specificity with the newly established One-Tube/One-Step LAMP-CRISPR assay. Furthermore, the WeD-mini shows potential applications in detecting meat adulteration, monitoring respiratory diseases in pets, and conducting wastewater surveillance, making it suitable for a wide range of personal and public health use cases.

In-situ fabricated hexagonal PDMS microsphere arrays for substrate-mode light extraction in blue fluorescent organic light emitting diodes

To inhibit the total reflection in the substrate-mode light loss of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and fully take advantage of the excellent light converging and out-coupling effect of the hexagonal array of microsphere, we in-situ fabricated the hexagonal array of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microsphere onto the substrate of OLEDs via the porous template for substrate-mode light extraction. Firstly, regular honeycomb porous polystyrene (PS) template was prepared via a self-assembly “breath figure” process. The PS molecular weight, solvent, and humidity play an important role on the uniformity of pore distribution and pore diameter according to Young-Laplace equation. Based on the optimized porous PS template, the PDMS microsphere array was fabricated by pattern transferring, which indicates more prominent light diffraction than the flat PDMS film. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation denotes that higher duty ratio of the PDMS microsphere array contributes to higher light out-coupling efficiency. Therefore, a PDMS microsphere array with larger duty ratio of 84.0 % was applied in the extraction of external light for the blue fluorescent OLED device. The maximum luminance, current efficiency, and power efficiency are all improved, and the external quantum efficiency (EQE) is increased by 18.81 % with spectral stability.

Development and validation of polymer-based porphyrin-incorporated reference materials for calibration of quantitative light-induced fluorescence device

BackgroundThis study aimed at developing and validating polymer-based reference materials with varying amounts of porphyrin to accurately assess and calibrate quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) device. MethodsReference materials with porphyrin concentrations ranging from 0 to 0.08 wt.% were prepared. The surface properties of the materials were analyzed via gloss and roughness measurements. Color analysis of the specimens was performed on black and white backgrounds with or without filters using a spectrophotometer. This approach revealed the correlations between fluorescence and color. The fluorescence emitted by the specimens was analyzed by measuring ΔR and ΔRmax values using a QLF-D Biluminator™. ResultsThe surface gloss and roughness of the reference materials were not affected by the porphyrin content (p > 0.005). Spectrophotometric measurements revealed significant color differences among most specimen groups depending on the background color and the presence of a filter. QLF-D imaging revealed significant differences in fluorescence (ΔR and ΔRmax) among all specimen groups regardless of the background. The fluorescence values observed on the black backgrounds were higher than those observed on the white backgrounds (p < 0.05). ConclusionsThe developed polymer-based porphyrin-incorporated materials serve as reliable reference standards for accurate assessment and calibration of QLF devices. This study demonstrates the importance of background conditions in fluorescence detection and highlights the potential of these materials as standards for QLF device calibration.

Distance-Based Fluorescent Immunosensor for Point-of-Care Test of Illegal Additives through the Gas-Producing Nanozyme.

The colorimetric point-of-care test (POCT) offers a rapid and efficient method for detecting specific targets in real samples. However, traditional colorimetric methods often rely on complex signal amplification techniques or electronic devices to enhance detection sensitivity, which can inadvertently increase both cost and time, thus contradicting the fundamental goals of visual detection methods. Here, we presented a distance-based fluorescent immunosensor that utilized a gas-producing nanozyme for continuous gas production reaction as a signal. Specifically, the SOM-ZIF-8@Pt nanozyme catalyzed the production of O2 from H2O2 to cause an obvious increase in the pressure within a sealed chamber, thus driving the production of H2S to quench the fluorescence of CsPbBr3 on the walls of the capillaries. Based on the competitive immunoassay, the fluorescence quenching lengths were relative with the concentration of aminopyrine in the range from 0.2 to 20 ng/L; thus, the fluorescent POCT-based homemade device was realized through the amplification of distance-based signals facilitated by the continuous gas production reaction. This strategy provides an effective way to realize POCT assays in resource-limited areas by transforming pressure variations into directly observable signals. Furthermore, distinguished by its high sensitivity, ease of operation, and portability, it also represents a significant advancement in biomedical diagnostics, particularly within home healthcare and clinical POCT.

The Effect of Evaluating Perfusion with Infrared Fluorescent Angiography on Flap Survival in Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction.

Intraoperative fluid management is one of the most important factors affecting optimal perfusion in the microcirculatory area in patients that undergo flap surgery. While insufficient fluid administration in the intraoperative period leads to flap complications and organ dysfunction, volume load can cause complications such as edema in the denervated flap tissue, the opening of the sutures, or fat necrosis. The Infrared Fluorescent Angiography Perfusion Evaluation Device (SPY) is one of the many noninvasive techniques that evaluate the well-being of microcirculation at the tissue level. This device monitors and scores the perfusion distribution in the flap area. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the effect of fluid resuscitation in head and neck free flap transfer surgery on flap quality and patient outcomes according to the change in SPY scores. This study included 39 ASA I-II patients who were aged 18-60 years and underwent simultaneous free flap reconstruction of the head and neck between 2015 and 2021. Patients' blood pressure, body temperature, hemoglobin, pH, and lactate values were recorded at both baseline and end of the operation. Also, the SPY "Infrared Fluorescent Angiography Perfusion Evaluation Device" scores, the amount of intraoperative fluid and transfusion, bleeding and urine output, and the duration of mechanical ventilation, anesthesia and surgery, and the duration and amount of drainage, the length of stay in hospital and intensive care unit, and the presence of flap infection, detachment, necrosis and loss, and re-exploration rate were recorded for the patients. The difference between the first and last measured SPY values was observed to be positively correlated with the length of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit and the duration of drainage. There was a positive correlation between the length of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit and the duration of drainage, the amount of drainage, as well as the duration of anesthesia and the duration of surgery (p < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between the amount of drainage and the amount of crystalloid solution administered (r = 0.36, p < 0.05). In patients with flap infection, the difference between SPYfirst and SPYlast, the duration of anesthesia, and the duration of surgery were significantly higher. The amount of crystalloid solution given and bleeding and the duration of anesthesia and surgery were found to be significantly higher in mechanically ventilated patients (p < 0.05). It has been concluded that SPY-guided fluid management can be beneficial in preventing morbidities, such as extended hospital and intensive care stay, by reducing flap infection, mechanical ventilation duration, and drainage, with early diagnosis of insufficient perfusion.

Validity assessment of a third-generation light-induced fluorescence device in detecting proximal and occlusal caries lesions: A cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) device (QrayCam Pro, AIOBIO, Seoul, Republic of Korea) in detecting and differentiating the severity of posterior proximal and occlusal primary caries. Materials and methodsThe study included a total of 120 teeth in 60 patients (of both genders, aged between 21 and 38 years) between January and March 2024, one carious tooth and one sound tooth were selected at random in each patient. All occlusal surfaces were evaluated in accordance with the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) Nyvad Criteria, using the visual tactile method. The ICDAS employs a scoring system ranging from 0 to 6, while the Nyvad Criteria employs a similar scoring system. Addionally, the depth of the proximal lesions was scored (0–6) using bite-wing radiography. The quantitative values representing the maximum loss of fluorescence (∆Fmax) and the maximum change in the ratio of red and green fluorescence (∆Rmax) were obtained using the Q-ray Clinical software v 1.45. To assess the validity, the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) were calculated. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to investigate the correlation between the findings of the traditional and QLF examination methods. ResultsThe AUROC values for both ∆Fmax and ∆Rmax were found to be excellent. The sensitivity of QrayCam Pro was found to be 84–88.6%, while the specificity was 100%. The correlation analysis demonstrated a strong correlation between scores obtained from the traditional examination and the QLF values. ConclusionsBased on the findings of this study, QrayCam Pro exhibits potential as a valuable additional tool for not only detecting caries but also for assessing their severity and activity. Clinical relevanceThis study revealed that QrayCam Pro might be suggested as a precise tool for enhancing caries detection and assessment compared to traditional methods. By providing quantitative data on caries severity and activity, it enables more informed treatment decisions, potentially optimizing outcomes for patients.

Surface Modification of Gold Nanorods: Multifunctional Strategies and Application Prospects.

Gold nanorods (AuNRs), as an important type of gold nanomaterials, have attracted much attention in the nano field. Compared with gold nanoparticls, AuNRs have broader application potential due to their tunable localized surface plasmon resonance properties and anisotropic shapes. Yet, conventional synthesis methods using surfactants have limited the use of AuNRs in a variety of fields such as biomedical applications, plasma-enhanced fluorescence, optics and optoelectronic devices. To solve this problem and improve the stability and biocompatibility of AuNRs, researchers in recent years have used surface modification and functionalization to modify AuNRs, among which the introduction of organic ligands to prepare organic/gold hybrid nanorods has become an effective strategy. Organic materials have better toughness and easy processing, and by introducing organic ligands into the surface of AuNRs, the molecular-level composite of organic and inorganic materials can be realized, thus obtaining hybrid nanorods with excellent properties. This paper reviews the research progress of hybrid nanocomposites, and introducing the synthesis methods of AuNRs and the development of surface ligand modification, then summarises the applications of a wide variety of ligands. Also, the advantages and disadvantages of different ligands and their roles in further self-assembly processes are discussed.

Cascade Effect of a Dimerized Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Dendrimer.

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters with a high horizontal orientation are highly essential for improving the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of organic light-emitting diodes; however, pivotal molecular design strategies to improve the horizontal orientation of solution-processable TADF emitters are still scarce and challenging. Herein, a phenyl bridge is adopted to connect the double TADF units, and generate a dimerized TADF dendrimer, D4CzBNPh-SF. Compared to its counterpart with a single TADF unit, the proof-of-the-concept molecule not only exhibits an improved horizontal dipole ratio (78 %) due to the π-delocalization-induced extended molecular conjugation, but also displays a faster reversed intersystem crossing rate constant (6.08×106 s-1) and a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 95 % in neat film. Consequently, the non-doped solution-processed device with D4CzBNPh-SF as the emitter achieves an ultra-high maximum EQE of 32.6 %, which remains at 26.6 % under a luminance of 1000 cd/m2. Furthermore, when using D4CzBNPh-SF as a sensitizer, the TADF-sensitized fluorescence device exhibits a high maximum EQE of 30.7 % at a luminance of 575 cd/m2 and a full width at half maximum of 36 nm.

Cascade Effect of a Dimerized Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Dendrimer

AbstractThermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters with a high horizontal orientation are highly essential for improving the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of organic light‐emitting diodes; however, pivotal molecular design strategies to improve the horizontal orientation of solution‐processable TADF emitters are still scarce and challenging. Herein, a phenyl bridge is adopted to connect the double TADF units, and generate a dimerized TADF dendrimer, D4CzBNPh‐SF. Compared to its counterpart with a single TADF unit, the proof‐of‐the‐concept molecule not only exhibits an improved horizontal dipole ratio (78 %) due to the π‐delocalization‐induced extended molecular conjugation, but also displays a faster reversed intersystem crossing rate constant (6.08×106 s−1) and a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 95 % in neat film. Consequently, the non‐doped solution‐processed device with D4CzBNPh‐SF as the emitter achieves an ultra‐high maximum EQE of 32.6 %, which remains at 26.6 % under a luminance of 1000 cd/m2. Furthermore, when using D4CzBNPh‐SF as a sensitizer, the TADF‐sensitized fluorescence device exhibits a high maximum EQE of 30.7 % at a luminance of 575 cd/m2 and a full width at half maximum of 36 nm.

Bone lead measurements of live condors in field to assess cumulative lead exposure.

Lead poisoning remains the leading cause of diagnosed death for critically endangered California condors, which are annually monitored for lead exposure via blood tests. Blood tests are generally reflective of acute lead exposure. Since condors are victims to both chronic and acute lead exposure, measuring bone, which in humans is reflective of years to decades worth of exposure, is a valuable biomarker. In this study, we measured bone Pb of the tibiotarsus of 64 condors in vivo using a portable x-ray fluorescence device. The average uncertainty for measurements, typically reflective of how effective the device performed, was found to be 3.8 ± 2.2µg/g bone mineral. The average bone lead level was found to be 26.7 ± 24.5µg/g bone mineral. Bone lead correlated significantly with a sum of all blood lead measures over the lifetime of each condor. In the future, bone lead can potentially be used to inform treatment planning and address the chronic health implications of lead in the species.

Twisted Structure and Multiple Charge-Transfer Channels Endow Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Devices with Small Efficiency Roll-Off and Low Concentration Dependence.

Despite the rapid development of thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) materials, developing organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with small efficiency roll-off remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we have designed a TADF molecule (mClSFO) based on the spiro fluorene skeleton. The highly twisted structure and multiple charge-transfer channels effectively suppress aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) and endow mClSFO with excellent exciton dynamic properties to reduce efficiency roll-off. Fast radiative rate (kr) and rapid reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) rate (kRISC) of 1.6×107 s-1 and 1.07×106 s-1, respectively, are obtained in mClSFO. As a result, OLEDs based on mClSFO obtain impressive maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) exceeding 20 % across a wide doping concentration range of 10-60 wt %. 30 wt % doped OLED exhibits an EQEmax of 23.1 % with a small efficiency roll-off, maintaining an EQE of 18.6 % at 1000 cd m-2. The small efficiency roll-off and low concentration dependence observed in the TADF emitter underscore its significant potential.

An all-in-one smartphone-assisted ratiometric fluorescent device for visual and quantitative detection of glutathione

The daily consumption of foods abundant in Glutathione (GSH) can be supplemented to maintain the homeostasis of GSH in human health and alleviate pathologies resulting from abnormal GSH levels. The fluorescence-based visual determination of GSH has gradually attracted the attention of researchers due to its robust performance and versatile implementation. However, the current GSH visual strategy primarily relies on variations in fluorescence intensity at a single emission wavelength, which poses challenges for naked-eye and portable readout, as well as distorted signals caused by complex matrix effects in real samples. Herein, a ratiometric fluorescence sensor based on carbon dots (CDs) combined with an all-in-one 3D-printed smartphone-based device was successfully developed for low-cost, visual and rapid detection of GSH without the need for an external excitation light source. The ratiometric fluorescent materials were synthesized by conjugating blue carbon dots (B-CDs) with yellow carbon dots (Y-CDs) through the utilization of selected Cu2+ ions. The resulting mechanism demonstrated that the coordination interaction between Cu2+ and residual aromatic amino groups in Y-CDs (Y-CDs-Cu2+) contributed to a newly emitted peak at 580 nm, thereby inducing fluorescence resonance energy transfer from B-CDs to Y-CDs-Cu2+. A linear correlation was found between GSH concentrations and R/B values in the range of 10–100 μM, with a limit of detection observed at 4.8 μM. By utilizing this portable device in combination with RGB analysis, the quantitative detection of GSH can be achieved even in complex food matrices such as tomatoes and grapes. The universality of this all-in-one device was further validated by pre-spraying CDs onto a paper strip for visual measurement of GSH. This work offers a portable, visual, and accessible approach to evaluating food safety and nutrition, thereby demonstrating significant economic value and holding profound implications for human health.

Narrowband Emission in Pt(II) Complexes via Ligand Engineering for Blue Phosphorescent Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes

AbstractIn this study, three stable tetradentate Pt(II) complexes are synthesized and characterized, namely, Pt‐biPh, Pt‐biPh5tBu, and Pt‐biPh4tBu, tailored for blue phosphorescent organic light‐emitting diodes to realize high‐efficiency and narrowband emissions via ligand engineering. Biphenyl (Pt‐biPh) or tert‐butyl‐modified biphenyl (Pt‐biPh5tBu and Pt‐biPh4tBu) is introduced into the carbene unit of the ligand to control the intermolecular interactions between the Pt(II) phosphors. Pt‐biPh, Pt‐biPh5tBu, and Pt‐biPh4tBu exhibit high photoluminescence quantum yields of 74%, 84%, and 92% with exciton lifetimes of 2.2, 2.3, and 2.5 µs, respectively, demonstrating rapid and efficient light emission. Furthermore, Pt‐biPh, Pt‐biPh5tBu, and Pt‐biPh4tBu show maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) values of 18.1%, 19.0%, and 21.8%, respectively. Pt‐biPh5tBu and Pt‐biPh4tBu exhibit narrowband emission with a full width at half maximum of 21 nm owing to the small vibrational emission because of their sterically hindered and bulky ligand structures. Moreover, phosphor‐sensitized thermally activated delayed fluorescence devices employing a Pt‐biPh4tBu sensitizer achieve a high EQE of 28.6%. In particular, Pt‐biPh4tBu performs better than the state‐of‐the‐art phosphor as the sensitizer of the blue phosphor‐sensitized thermally activated delayed fluorescence devices in terms of the EQE.

Quantifying non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) in human plasma: incorporating BODIPY-pyridylhydrazone (BODIPY-PH) within a thin green film linked to a portable fluorescence-based device.

Free iron in human serum or non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) can generate free radicals and lead to oxidative damage. Moreover, it is highly toxic to various tissues and a vital biomarker related to the iron-loading status of thalassemia and Alzheimer's patients. In NTBI in healthy individuals, NTBI levels are typically less than 1µM; current NTBI analysis usually requires advanced instrumentation and many-step sample pretreatment. To address this issue, we employed our invented BODIPY derivative, BODIPY-PH, as a fluorescence probe and trapped it onto the microcentrifuge tube lid using tapioca starch. The fluorescence intensity of BODIPY-PH increased with increasing NTBI concentration (turn-on). The developed portable reaction chamber facilitates rapid analysis (∼5min) using small sample volumes (10 μL sample in a total volume of 600 μL). Under optimum conditions, using the sample-developed portable fluorescence device and fluorescence spectrometer, we achieved impressive limits of detection (LOD) of 0.003 and 0.0015μM, respectively. Furthermore, the developed sensors show relatively high selectivity toward Fe3+ over other metal ions and biomolecules (i.e., Fe2+, Cr3+, Cu2+, and glucose). The sensor performance in serum samples of thalassemia patients exhibited no significant difference compared to the labeled value (obtained from standard methods). Overall, the developed fluorescence sensor is suitable for determining NTBI and offers high sensitivity, high selectivity, and a short incubation time (5min). Moreover, the method requires a limited number of reagents, is simple to use, and uses low-cost equipment to determine NTBI in human serum samples.

Spin-Flip-Restricted Multiple-Resonance Emitters for Extended Device Lifetime in Indolocarbazole-Based Blue Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.

In this study, a multiple-resonance (MR) core structure is developed with a spin-flip-restricted emission mechanism based on a fused indolo[3,2,1-jk]carbazole (ICz) framework as emitters to improve the lifetime of blue organic light-emitting diodes. The molecular skeleton modulation approach applied to the conjugated π-system effectively stabilizes the triplet energy of the fused ICz emitters and narrows the full-width-at-half maximum (<20nm). In addition, the emitters exhibit higher exciton stability than conventional boron-based MR emitters. The fused ICz-based blue fluorescent device exhibits a high external quantum efficiency of 7.2%, a blue index of 68.6cd A-1 at a Commission internationale de l'éclairage y coordinate (CIEy) of 0.075, and a device lifetime 1.8 times longer than that of a boron-based emitter. In addition, a phosphor-sensitized fluorescent device based on the ICz emitter exhibited an improved external quantum efficiency of 20.6% with a CIEy coordinate of 0.076.

Multi-deformable interpenetrating network thermosensitive hydrogel fluorescent device for real-time and visual detection of nitrite

Functionalized thermosensitive hydrogel materials exhibit excellent properties for the fabrication of sensing devices that enable real-time visual detection of food safety duo to their good plasticity and powerful loading capacity. Here, a ratiometric fluorescent device based on an interpenetrating network (IPN) thermosensitive hydrogel was designed to embed functionalized Au nanoclusters (Au NCs) and Blue Carbon dots (BCDs) composites in a multi-network structure to build a sensitive hazardous material nitrite (NO2-) chemsensor. The hydrogel was utilized poloxamer 407 (P407), lignin and cellulose to form stable IPN structure, which resulted in complementation and synergy, thereby strengthening its porous network structure. The combination of fluorescent nanoprobes with the porous network structure has the potential to enhance stable fluorescence signals and improve sensing sensitivity. Moreover, the thermosensitive liquid-solid transition characteristics of the hydrogel facilitate its preparation into diverse sensing devices following curing at room temperature. The hydrogel device, when combined with a smartphone system, converted image information into data information, thereby enabling the accurate quantification of NO2- with a detection limit of 9.38 nM in 2 s. The designed multi-functional hydrogel device is capable of real-time differentiation of NO2- dosage with the naked eye, offering a high-contrast, rapid-response sensing methodology for visual assessment of food freshness. This research contributes to the expansion of hydrogel materials applications and the detection of hazardous materials in food safety.

On-spot detection of diethylchlorophosphate through device fabrication, pen and spray method based on intramolecular charge transfer modulated sensor molecule extending application to cell imaging

BackgroundDetecting diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP), a highly toxic chemical simulant for nerve agents like Sarin, Soman, and Tabun, is crucial due to its prevalence in warfare scenarios, as well as its presence in contaminated soil and air. Traditional detection methods often struggle with sensitivity and versatility, limiting their effectiveness in real-time, on-the-spot applications. Effective detection is vital for safety, environmental monitoring, and mitigating the risks associated with these hazardous substances. There is a pressing need for advanced sensors that can offer high sensitivity, specificity, and practicality in various environments. ResultsIn our study, we developed and introduced two ICT-based fluorocolorimetric sensors, TPAHY and TPAPD, designed for the detection of DCP. These sensors exhibit remarkable sensitivity, with limits of detection (LOD) at 23.31 nM for TPAHY and 28.42 nM for TPAPD. TPAHY proves to be an efficient sensor for the on-spot DCP detection, showcasing practical applications such as fluorescent sprays, pens, and detection devices. Upon addition of DCP, TPAHY undergoes a distinct colorimetric shift from yellow to orange, coupled with an enhancement of orange fluorescence. Conversely, TPAPD demonstrates a colorimetric transition from colourless to yellow and experiences fluorescence quenching from blue emission. To understand the underlying mechanisms, we conducted studies using density functional theory (DFT) and lifetime measurements, providing deeper insights into the sensor behaviours. SignificanceThe development of TPAHY and TPAPD provides reliable, sensitive, and versatile solutions for monitoring DCP. TPAHY not only serves as a useful tool for detecting DCP in various field applications but also extends its utility to biological imaging, as demonstrated in HeLa cell studies. This dual functionality enhances its relevance for both environmental monitoring and broader scientific investigations. These sensors represent a significant advancement in the detection of toxic chemicals, offering improved safety and research capabilities.

Rapid detection of Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus using a hand‐held nucleic acid detection system

AbstractSalmonella and Staphylococcus aureus are common pathogens that cause foodborne illnesses. Currently, the detection of these pathogens involves time‐consuming procedures, namely isolation, cultivation, and biochemical identification, making it impossible for on‐site real‐time testing. In this study, we developed a compact hand‐held real‐time fluorescent nucleic acid testing device and specific lyophilized reagents to achieve rapid detection of Salmonella and S. aureus within 30 min. The detection sensitivity was 100 colony‐forming units (CFU)/mL for Salmonella and 125 CFU/mL for S. aureus. This technique significantly reduced the detection time compared with the traditional cultivation method. Even at low initial concentrations of 5 CFU/mL for Salmonella and 15 CFU/mL for S. aureus, it demonstrated superior performance compared with traditional cultivation, detecting the target bacteria more than 2 days earlier than that method. Notably, we achieved 100% in the detection of Salmonella and S. aureus using spiked pastry samples. In addition, the proposed detection system exhibited excellent specificity when tested against 27 bacterial strains. In conclusion, the proposed nucleic acid detection system provides a viable, miniaturized solution for rapid detection of bacteria.

Chromium and cobalt in leather: A Danish market survey.

Leather has been a significant source of chromium (Cr) allergy in Denmark since the 1990s. More recently, cobalt (Co) allergy has been identified in leather as a source of allergic contact dermatitis. To measure Cr and Co levels in Danish leather goods. A total of 87 leather samples were collected, all tanned in Europe. Handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) device was used to screen for the presence of Cr and Co. The 20 leather samples with the highest concentrations of Co and Co were tested using International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-standards. XRF analysis showed Cr in 78/87 (83.9%) samples and Co in 52/87 (59.7%), with average concentrations of 41 mg/kg (range: 0.0-77 mg/kg) and 0.22 mg/kg (range: 0.0-2.9 mg/kg), respectively. ISO 10195 and 17 075-1 testing identified Cr (VI) in 7 out of 20 samples (1.4; 0.3-4.2 mg/kg), while ISO 17072-1 detected Co in 6 of 20 samples, averaging 3.95 mg/kg (range: 0.22-7.9 mg/kg). Most leather samples contained Cr, which was expected, while Cr (VI) was detectable in seven out of twenty tested samples but only detected in one product above the regulatory limit of 3 mg/kg. A potentially significant concentration was found for Co.

Evaluation of the remineralization potential of self-assembling peptide P11-4 with fluoride compared to fluoride varnish in the management of incipient carious lesions: a randomized controlled clinical trial

ObjectivesThe present trial’s aim was to compare the remineralization potential of self-assembling peptide P11-4 combined with fluoride to that of fluoride varnish.Materials and methodsTwenty-eight participants with 58 incipient carious lesions were enrolled in the present trial. Participants were randomly divided into two groups with 14 participants and 29 incipient lesions in each group. Patients were assigned either to self-assembling peptide combined with fluoride (Curodont Repair Fluoride Plus™) or sodium fluoride varnish (NaF, Bifluorid 10) groups. Both agents were applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions on non-cavitated incipient carious lesions. Lesions were assessed by two calibrated and blinded assessors at baseline, and after one-, three- and six-months using a laser fluorescence device (DIAGNOdent).ResultsAlthough laser fluorescence scores significantly improved in both groups over time (p < 0.05), no notable differences were evident between both groups at one-month (p > 0.05). Yet, at three- and six-months statistically lower laser fluorescence readings were evident in the self-assembling peptide combined with fluoride group in comparison to the fluoride alone group (p < 0.05). There was 60% less risk for caries progression for Curodont Repair Fluoride Plus™ when compared to NaF varnish after six months. Self-assembling peptide combined with fluoride was able to change 65.5% of non-cavitated carious lesions from DIAGNOdent score 3 (11–20) to score 1 (0–4). Fluoride varnish was able to change 13.8% of the lesions from score 3 to score 1 after six months.ConclusionsThe self-assembling peptide combined with fluoride varnish showed higher remineralization potential than fluoride varnish alone for incipient carious lesions over a six-months follow up.Clinical relevanceThe combination of self-assembling peptide P11-4 and fluoride could offer a new tool in managing incipient carious lesions.