Nanomaterial-based amplified transduction of biomolecular interactions

This article reviews progress in the development of nanomaterials for amplified biosensing and discusses different nanomaterial-based bioamplification strategies. Signal amplification has attracted considerable attention for ultrasensitive detection of disease markers and biothreat agents. The emergence of nanotechnology is opening new horizons for highly sensitive bioaffinity and biocatalytic assays and for novel biosensor protocols that employ electronic, optical, or microgravimetric signal transduction. Nucleic acids and antibodies functionalized with metal or semiconductor nanoparticles have been employed as amplifying tags for the detection of DNA and proteins. The coupling of different nanomaterial-based amplification platforms and amplification processes dramatically enhances the intensity of the analytical signal and leads to ultrasensitive bioassays. The successful realization of the new nanoparticle-based signal amplification strategies requires proper attention to nonspecific adsorption issues. The implications of such nanoscale materials on amplified biodetection protocols and on the development of modern biosensors are discussed.     

锐钛矿型TiO_2的制备及其光催化降解甲基橙

采用水热法制备了TiO2纳米材料,利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和X射线衍射仪(XRD)对产物进行表征,并以有机材料甲基橙进行了光催化反应。结果表明,产物TiO2晶型为锐钛矿型(A-TiO2),以自制的TiO2为光催化剂对甲基橙溶液进行降解,最佳条件为:12 mg/L的甲基橙溶液中加入0.050 g的TiO2用HNO3调节溶液成酸性后,经254 nm紫外光照射下,28℃恒温磁力快速搅拌反应1 h,降解率达到43.2%。     

LaF_3纳米颗粒的制备及其润滑作用

LaF3纳米材料作为一种新型的润滑油添加剂显示出了优异的摩擦学性能.文章综述了近年来LaF3纳米材料的制备方法、表面改性技术以及润滑作用机制和应用进展,指出LaF3纳米材料在润滑中所面临主要问题是它的分散性和稳定性问题.展望了LaF3纳米材料作为润滑添加剂的发展趋势.随着现代工业的快速发展,LaF3纳米颗粒作为极压抗磨剂是未来的发展方向,在摩擦学领域中它的摩擦学性能和润滑机理必将受到人们更为广泛的关注.     

Toward the Specificity of Bare Nanomaterial Surfaces for Protein Corona Formation

Aiming at creating smart nanomaterials for biomedical applications, nanotechnology aspires to develop a new generation of nanomaterials with the ability to recognize different biological components in a complex environment. It is common opinion that nanomaterials must be coated with organic or inorganic layers as a mandatory prerequisite for applications in biological systems. Thus, it is the nanomaterial surface coating that predominantly controls the nanomaterial fate in the biological environment. In the last decades, interdisciplinary studies involving not only life sciences, but all branches of scientific research, provided hints for obtaining uncoated inorganic materials able to interact with biological systems with high complexity and selectivity. Herein, the fragmentary literature on the interactions between bare abiotic materials and biological components is reviewed. Moreover, the most relevant examples of selective binding and the conceptualization of the general principles behind recognition mechanisms were provided. Nanoparticle features, such as crystalline facets, density and distribution of surface chemical groups, and surface roughness and topography were encompassed for deepening the comprehension of the general concept of recognition patterns.     

集成型二氧化锡纳米棒酒精传感器的自组装研制

为了有效提高酒精传感器的探测灵敏度,通过热蒸发SnO2和活性炭的混合粉末的自组装方式直接在Cd-Au梳状交叉电极上制备了一层SnO2纳米棒气敏层,从而构成了SnO2纳米棒气敏传感器,经测试,此传感器对于超低浓度范围（2×10^-6～10×10^-6）的酒精具有0．83～1．33的高探测灵敏度。继而从气敏机制、自组装制备方式、SnO2纳米棒的比表面特性及SnO2纳米棒的尺度（低于得拜长度）等角度解释此传感器对超低浓度酒精具有高气敏特性的原因。     

磁性纳米材料制备及其在传感器检测领域的应用

在外界磁场的驱动下, 磁性纳米材料能迅速完成对目标物的吸附及其与基质的分离。基于这点, 磁性纳米材料在吸附分离, 环境治理, 食品安全等方面已有较多应用, 并将有更大的应用前景。本文主要对磁性纳米材料的制备方法、富集分离、传感器检测3个方面的研究进展进行介绍。其中, 磁性纳米材料的制备方法包括固、液和气相合成法。富集分离方法介绍了磁性纳米材料对有机污染物的吸附分离, 例如微塑料; 对无机金属离子的吸附分离, 例如铬离子, 铅离子。在传感器检测方面主要介绍了磁性纳米材料在电化学传感器、生物传感器、光学传感器方面的应用。     

Fabrication of three-dimensional copper nanodomes as anode materials for direct methanol fuel cells

In this study, we demonstrate a novel approach for fabricating copper nanodomes (Cu-NDs) by combining of soft lithography, nanosphere lithography, physical vapor deposition (PVD) and electrochemical deposition methods. The 3D nano structures were characterized using surface microscopic techniques. The methanol oxidation activity of the Cu-NDs anode was tested by electrochemical methods in 0.1 M KOH +1 M CH₃OH solution and the results were compared with that of bulk Cu as a reference point. The results showed that very well-structured, uniformly and homogeneously distributed Cu-NDs could be fabricated using these combined methods. The peak current density related to methanol oxidation reaction increased and charge transfer resistance reduced almost three times at the Cu-NDs electrode with respect to the bulk Cu. Also, the Cu-NDs electrode has good time stability and high tolerance to CO_ads poisoning. The enhanced activity of the nanostructures was related to good intrinsic activity of Cu for this reaction and their larger available electrochemical active sites.     

Research progress on heat transfer enhancement technology of phase change energy storage

相变储能是通过相变材料吸/放热过程来实现能量储存的技术,它能够解决热量供需时间、空间和强度上的不匹配,并以其高储能密度成为储能领域的研究热点,但由于相变材料的热导率较低,使其应用受到限制。针对相变储能材料熔化/凝固过程中热导率低引起的传热速率慢的问题,从优化储能设备结构、添加剂提高相变材料热导率以及联合强化传热技术三方面综述国内外相变材料储能强化传热技术的最新进展。通过比较各种强化传热方式的优劣,实验和模拟均显示复合强化传热即可解决相变材料热导率低,又增大传热面积,从而提高相变材料的传热性能;多孔金属作为导热添加剂增强导热效果更好;并提出了相变储能强化传热技术未来需要解决的相关技术难题。     

Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 by Novel Strategies for Gene Therapy

Precise editing of the genome of a living body is a goal pursued by scientists in many fields. In recent years, CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)/Cas (CRISPR-associated) genome-editing systems have become a revolutionary toolbox for gene editing across various species. However, the low transfection efficiency of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo is a big obstacle hindering wide and deep application. In this review, recently developed delivery strategies for various CRISPR/Cas9 formulations and their applications in treating gene-related diseases are briefly summarized. This review should inspire others to explore more efficient strategies for CRISPR system delivery and gene therapy.