Search

[DE] Mit DNA verschlossene und mit Farbstoff beladene mesoporöse Siliciumdioxid-Nanopartikel wurden zum Nachweis von Mycoplasma bis zu einer Nachweisgrenze von ca. 70 genomischen DNA-Kopien pro mu-L in real kontaminierten Zellkulturmedien ohne die Hilfe von PCR-Techniken eingesetzt., Diese Arbeit wurde durch die Spanische Regierung (MAT2009-14564-C04-01 und SAF2010 15512) und die Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2009/016 und 2010/005) unterstützt. E.C. dankt dem Spanischen Bildungsministerium für ein Stipendium

[EN] Trapped: Mesoporous silica nanoparticles were loaded with a fluorescent guest and functionalized with octadecyltrimethoxysilane. The alkyl chains interact with paraffins, which build a hydrophobic layer around the particle (see picture). Upon melting of the paraffin, the guest molecule is released, as demonstrated in cells for the guest doxorubicin. The release temperature can be tuned by choosing an appropriate paraffin. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim., Financial support from the Spanish Government (projects MAT2009-14564-C04-01 and SAF2010-15512) and the Generalitat Valenciana (projects PROMETEO/2009/016 and PROMETEO/2010/005) is gratefully acknowledged. L.M. thanks the Generalitat Valenciana for a VALi+d postdoctoral contract. We thank UPV electron microscopy and CIPF confocal microscopy services for technical support.

Chemical warfare (CW) agents are toxic chemicals that have been used in several terrorist attacks in recent years. Among CW species, nerve agents are probably the most dangerous; their high toxicity and facile synthesis underscores the need to detect these lethal compounds with quick, reliable procedures. Analytical methods based on enzymatic assays and physical measurements have generally been used to detect these hazards. However, these protocols usually have limitations such as low selectivity, poor portability, and a certain level of complexity. In recent years, several chromogenic and fluorogenic sensors, and reagents for the detection of nerve agents have been described. For instance, approaches that involve perborate-mediated oxidation of organophosphorus agents, fluorescent probes based on polyethylene terephthalate (PET), assays that use oximate-containing derivatives, molecularly imprinted polymers, nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, porous silicon, displacement-like procedures, and cyclization reactions in push–pull chromophores have been reported. Most of these protocols rely on changes in fluorescence properties, whereas few examples deal with color modulations. Colorimetric detection is particularly appealing because it uses low-cost, widely available instrumentation and allows assays to be detected with the naked eye. However, the development of selective, sensitive chromogenic probes for the detection of deadly chemical species is still rare. Given our interest in the design of novel hybrid organic– inorganic materials as probes, we focused on the preparation of a new optical test for the detection of nerve agent mimics based on nerve agent control of mass transport to the surface of functionalized silica nanoparticles. The chromogenic approach (Scheme 1) involves the use of silica nanoparticles that are functionalized with two different subunits— thiol groups (SH) and aliphatic alcohols (OH). The role of the

[EN] Gated community: Peptides anchored to the surface of silica mesoporous supports by a valid procedure act as gatekeepers. In this way, "zero release" supports that selectively deliver the cargo in the presence of a suitable peptidase are obtained (see picture, red spheres: cargo, colored chains: peptides). © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim., We thank the Spanish Government (projects MAT2009-14564-C04, CB07/01/2012, and BIO2007 60066), the Generalitat Valencia (project PROMETEO/2009/016, PROMETEO/2010/005), and the CIBER-BBN for their support.