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One elusive aspect of the chromosome architecture is how it constrains the DNA topology. Nucleosomes stabilise negative DNA supercoils by restraining a DNA linking number difference (∆Lk) of about −1.26. However, whether this capacity is uniform across the genome is unknown. Here, we calculate the ∆Lk restrained by over 4000 nucleosomes in yeast cells. To achieve this, we insert each nucleosome in a circular minichromosome and perform Topo-seq, a high-throughput procedure to inspect the topology of circular DNA libraries in one gel electrophoresis. We show that nucleosomes inherently restrain distinct ∆Lk values depending on their genomic origin. Nucleosome DNA topologies differ at gene bodies (∆Lk = −1.29), intergenic regions (∆Lk = −1.23), rDNA genes (∆Lk = −1.24) and telomeric regions (∆Lk = −1.07). Nucleosomes near the transcription start and termination sites also exhibit singular DNA topologies. Our findings demonstrate that nucleosome DNA topology is imprinted by its native chromatin context and persists when the nucleosome is relocated. Here, the authors develop Topo-seq to measure the DNA topology (∆Lk) restrained by individual nucleosomes in vivo. They show that nucleosome DNA topology is imprinted by its native chromatin context and persists when the nucleosome is relocated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we synthesized and tested a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (mag‐MIP) sensor for the detection of tetracycline in food samples. High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectrofluorometry were employed for tetracycline determination. The mag‐MIP was polymerized on the surface of Fe3O4@SiO2 magnetic nanoparticles using the following substances: 4 mmol of methacrylic acid as the functional monomer, 20 mmol of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross‐linking agent, 82.5 mg of benzoyl peroxide as the radical initiator, and 30 ml of acetonitrile as the solvent. The physicochemical characteristics of the proposed mag‐MIP, including adsorption capabilities and selectivity, were studied and compared with those of a magnetic non‐molecularly imprinted polymer (mag‐NIP). The analytical curve was constructed in the range of 1.0×10−5–8.0×10−5 mol L−1, LOD: 3.3×10−6, LOQ: 1.1×10−5 mol L−1. The results obtained from the adsorption analysis showed that the highest adsorption capacity of the mag‐MIP at equilibrium was 8.247 mg g−1 and that the tetracycline adsorption process followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model and pseudo‐second‐order reaction kinetics. The proposed mag‐MIP also exhibited good results when subjected to fluorescence analysis; an increase in tetracycline concentration resulted in an increase in the adsorption capacity, and this led to the effective removal of tetracycline with the reduction of fluorescence intensity. The applicability of the proposed mag‐MIP was evaluated in honey, cow milk, and egg samples through recovery tests conducted using samples containing spiked tetracycline concentration at two different concentration levels (1.7×10−5 and 2.5×10−5 mol L−1), where we obtained recovery percentages in the range of 73.2–87.2 % (HPLC) and 90.5–103.7 % (spectrofluorometry). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of certain moulds, prevalent in 60–80% of food crops and many processed products but challenging to eliminate. Consuming mycotoxin-contaminated food and feed can lead to various adverse effects on humans and livestock. Therefore, testing mycotoxin residue levels is critical to ensure food safety. Gold standard analytical methods rely on liquid chromatography coupled with optical detectors or mass spectrometers, which are high-cost with limited capacity. This study reported the successful development of a microfluidic "lab-on-a-chip" device to enrich and detect zearalenone in food samples based on the fluorescence quenching effect of quantum dots and selective affinity of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). The dummy template and functional polymer were synthesized and characterized, and the detailed microfluidic chip design and optimization of the flow conditions in the enrichment module were discussed. The device achieved an enrichment factor of 9.6 (±0.5) in 10 min to quantify zearalenone spiked in food with high recoveries (91–105%) at 1–10 mg kg−1, covering the concerned residue levels in the regulations. Each sample-to-answer test took only 20 min, involving 3 min of manual operation and no advanced equipment. This microfluidic device was mostly reusable, with a replaceable detection module compatible with fluorescence measurement using a handheld fluorometer. To our best knowledge, the reported device was the first application of an MIP-based microfluidic sensor for detecting mycotoxin in real food samples, providing a novel, rapid, portable, and cost-effective tool for monitoring mycotoxin contamination for food safety and security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibacterial materials and surfaces play an important role in various applications, including healthcare, food packaging, and environmental protection. This study investigated the use of nanoimprint lithography for the fabrication of antibacterial hierarchical polymer film. The hierarchical structures were produced on poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF‐HFP) films incorporated with silver (Ag) particles. The fabrication process involved an in situ chemical reduction method to synthesize the PVDF‐HFP/Ag film. Subsequently, a two‐step nanoimprint lithography technique was employed to create the hierarchical structures. Scanning electron microscopy images confirmed the uniform distribution of these structures across the surface of the PVDF‐HFP/Ag film. The antibacterial properties of the produced samples were assessed using two model bacterial species, Streptococcus agalactiae and Escherichia coli as representative bacteria models. Results demonstrated a significant improvement in antibacterial behavior, which is attributed to the presence of hierarchical structures on the surface of PVDF‐HFP/Ag films. This study offers insights into the development of antibacterial surfaces using nanoimprint lithography. These materials can be potentially used in various biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metasurface holograms, with the capability to manipulate spatial light amplitudes and phases, are considered next-generation solutions for holographic imaging. However, conventional fabrication approaches for meta-atoms are heavily dependent on electron-beam lithography (EBL), a technique known for its expensive and time-consuming nature. In this paper, a polarization-insensitive metasurface hologram is proposed using a cost-effective and rapid nanoimprinting method with titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle loaded polymer (NLP). Based on a simulation, it has been found that, despite a reduction in the aspect ratio of meta-atoms of nearly 20%, which is beneficial to silicon master etching, NLP filling, and the mold release processes, imaging efficiency can go up to 54% at wavelength of 532 nm. In addition, it demonstrates acceptable imaging quality at wavelengths of 473 and 671 nm. Moreover, the influence of fabrication errors and nanoimprinting material degradation in terms of residual layer thickness, meta-atom loss or fracture, thermal-induced dimensional variation, non-uniform distribution of TiO2 particles, etc., on the performance is investigated. The simulation results indicate that the proposed device exhibits a high tolerance to these defects, proving its applicability and robustness in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few decades, considerable scientific strides have been made in the subject of drug analysis in human biological samples. However, the risk caused by incorrect drug plasma levels in patients still remains an important concern. This review paper attempts to investigate the advances made over the last ten years in common sample preparation techniques (SPT) for biological samples based on solid sorbents, including solid-phase extraction (SPE) and solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME), and in particular in the field of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), including non-stimuli-responsive and stimuli-responsive adsorbents. This class of materials is known as 'smart adsorbents', exhibiting tailored responses to various stimuli such as magnetic fields, pH, temperature, and light. Details are provided on how these advanced SPT are changing the landscape of modern drug analysis in their coupling with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analytical techniques, a general term that includes high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), as well as any variation of MS, such as tandem (MS/MS), multiple-stage (MSn), and high-resolution (HRMS) mass spectrometry. Some notes are also provided on coupling with less-performing techniques, such as high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) and diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) detection. Finally, we provide a general review of the difficulties and benefits of the proposed approaches and the future prospects of this research area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents an electrochemical sensor detecting a fungicide-azoxystrobin (AZO) in aqueous environments. This AZO sensor utilizes a thin-film metal electrode (TFME) combined with an AZO-selective molecularly imprinted polymer (AZO–MIP). The AZO–MIP was directly generated on TFME through electrochemical polymerization from the solution containing two functional monomers: aniline (Ani) and m-phenylenediamine (mPD), and the template: AZO, which was afterwards removed to form AZO-selective cavities in the polymer matrix. The AZO–MIP preparation was characterized by electrochemical and ellipsometry measurements. Optimization of the synthesis parameters, including the charge density applied during electrodeposition, the monomer-to-template ratio, was performed to enhance the sensor's performance. The results demonstrated that the AZO sensor achieved a low limit of detection (LOD) of 3.6 nM and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 11.8 nM in tap water, indicating its sensitivity in a complex aqueous environment. The sensor also exhibited satisfactory selectivity for AZO in both ultrapure and tap-water samples and achieved a good recovery (94–119%) for the target analyte. This study highlights the potential of MIP-based electrochemical sensors for the rapid and accurate detection of fungicide contaminants in water, contributing to the advancement of analytical tools for water-quality monitoring and risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work describes the preparation of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) platform on polyethylene terephthalate (MIP-PET) via RAFT polymerization for analyzing tartrazine using a smartphone. The MIP-PET platform was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques, Raman Spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and confocal microscopy. The optimal pH and adsorption time conditions were determined. The adsorption capacity of the MIP-PET plates with RAFT treatment (0.057 mg cm−2) was higher than that of the untreated plates (0.028 mg cm−2). The kinetic study revealed a pseudo-first-order model with intraparticle diffusion, while the isotherm study indicated a fit for the Freundlich model. Additionally, the MIP-PET demonstrated durability by maintaining its adsorption capacity over five cycles of reuse without significant loss. To quantify tartrazine, images were captured using a smartphone, and the RGB values were obtained using the ImageJ® free program. A partial least squares regression (PLS) was performed, obtaining a linear range of 0 to 7 mg L−1 of tartrazine. The accuracy of the method was 99.4% (4.97 ± 0.74 mg L−1) for 10 samples of 5 mg L−1. The concentration of tartrazine was determined in two local soft drinks (14.1 mg L−1 and 16.5 mg L−1), with results comparable to the UV–visible spectrophotometric method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are established artificial molecular recognition platforms with tailored selectivity towards a target molecule, whose synthesis and functionality are highly influenced by the nature of the solvent employed in their synthesis. Steps towards the "greenification" of molecular imprinting technology (MIT) has already been initiated by the elaboration of green MIT principles; developing MIPs in a solvent-free environment may not only offer an eco-friendly alternative, but could also significantly influence the affinity and expected selectivity of the resulting binding sites. In the current study the first solvent-free mechanochemical synthesis of MIPs via liquid-assisted grinding (LAG) is reported. The successful synthesis of the imprinted polymer was functionally demonstrated by measuring its template rebinding capacity and the selectivity of the molecular recognition process in comparison with the ones obtained by the conventional, non-covalent molecular imprinting process in liquid media. The results demonstrated similar binding capacities towards the template molecule and superior chemoselectivity compared to the solution-based MIP synthesis method. The adoption of green chemistry principles with all their inherent advantages in the synthesis of MIPs may not only be able to alleviate the potential environmental and health concerns associated with their analytical (e.g., selective adsorbents) and biomedical (e.g., drug carriers or reservoirs) applications, but might also offer a conceptual change in molecular imprinting technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new dual‐template surface imprinted polymer for Cu(II) and Pb(II) was synthesized in one pot. Magnetic graphene oxide was self‐assembled with low cost and environmentally benign thiourea. Presence of sulfur and nitrogen donor atoms provide hooks for coordination and partial reduction of graphene oxide matrix. It was used as an solid‐phase extraction adsorbent for extraction, preconcentration, and coupled with flame atomic absorption spectrometry to manifest performance comparable with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICPAES) both in terms of quantification limit as well as interference. The critical experimental parameters such as pH; 4.6, contact time of 15 min and initial concentration of 777 (Qe; 227 mg g−1) and 800 μg L−1 (Qe; 273 mg g−1) for Cu(II) and Pb(II), respectively, were optimized using RSM‐CCD and artificial neural network. The adsorption process was kinetically faster (50% adsorption in 5 min), following fractal‐like‐pseudo‐second‐order (FLPSO) kinetics and Brouers–Sotolongo isotherm model owing to the heterogenous energy landscape. The imprinting factors were in the range of 4–7 in the presence of all coexisting ions. The proposed method was robust in the determination and removal of Cu(II) and Pb(II) from food, ground water, and industry effluents with low limit of detection (Cu(II); 1.03 μg L−1 & Pb(II); 1.79 μgL−1). Spiking and recovery tests were used to assess the method's accuracy. Cu(II)/Pb(II) loaded dual template IIP (DIIP) was utilized to remove anionic dyes with >95% efficiency. Thorough examination of the method and material selectivity (in binary, ternary, and multielement system), multi fold applications of determination, removal of Cu(II), Pb(II), and removal of anionic dyes makes DIIP a promising candidate for environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐quality‐factor microring resonators are highly desirable in many applications. Fabricating a microring resonator typically requires delicate instruments to ensure a smooth side wall of waveguides and 100‐nm critical feature size in the coupling region. In this work, a new method "damascene soft nanoimprinting lithography" is demonstrated that can create high‐fidelity waveguide by simply backfilling an imprinted cladding template with a high refractive index polymer core. This method can easily realize high Q‐factor polymer microring resonators (e.g., ≈5 × 105 around 770 nm wavelength) without the use of any expensive instruments and can be conducted in a normal lab environment. The high Q‐factors can be attributed to the residual layer‐free feature and controllable meniscus cross‐section profile of the filled polymer core. Furthermore, the new method is compatible with different polymers, yields low fabrication defects, enables new functionalities, and allows flexible substrate. These benefits can broaden the applicability of the fabricated microring resonator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostaglandin analogs (PGAs) are commonly used to treat ocular hypertension and glaucoma patients. Nowadays, the use of PGAs enhances eyelashes in cosmetics, particularly in the condition of hypotrichosis. A method was developed in which surface molecularly imprinted polymers were synthesized for selective extraction of PGAs (bimatoprost, latanoprost, and travoprost) by using bimatoprost as template molecules which were coupled with liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC‐MS) system. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy techniques were used to study the morphological and physical characterization. The adsorption selectivity studies showed the high selectivity of PGAs. The adsorption capacities of bimatoprost, latanoprost, and travoprost were 93.8, 92.3, and 91.5 μg/g, respectively. The recoveries and precision of samples at three concentration levels (10–30 ng/mL) of bimatoprost, latanoprost, and travoprost were tested (98.5%–102.5%, 1.2%–4.5%, n = 3). The % relative standard deviation for repeatability of the method for bimatoprost, latanoprost, and travoprost ranged from 1.8 to 5.6, 1.5 to 4.8, and 1.6 to 5.2, respectively. While the limit of detection for bimatoprost, latanoprost, and travoprost was 0.20, 0.25, and 0.45 ng/mL, respectively. The method of surface molecularly imprinted polymer coupled with LC‐MS was successfully applied to cosmetic products for selective extraction of PGAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop a molecular imprinting electrochemical sensor for the specific detection of the anticancer drug amsacrine. The sensor used a composite of bacterial cellulose (BC) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a platform for the immobilization of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) film. The main objective was to enhance the electrochemical properties of the sensor and achieve a high level of selectivity and sensitivity toward amsacrine molecules in complex biological samples. Design/methodology/approach: The composite of BC-AgNPs was synthesized and characterized using FTIR, XRD and SEM techniques. The MIP film was molecularly imprinted to selectively bind amsacrine molecules. Electrochemical characterization, including cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, was performed to evaluate the modified electrode's conductivity and electron transfer compared to the bare glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Differential pulse voltammetry was used for quantitative detection of amsacrine in the concentration range of 30–110 µM. Findings: The developed molecular imprinting electrochemical sensor demonstrated significant improvements in conductivity and electron transfer compared to the bare GCE. The sensor exhibited a linear response to amsacrine concentrations between 30 and 110 µM, with a low limit of detection of 1.51 µM. The electrochemical response of the sensor showed remarkable changes before and after amsacrine binding, indicating the successful imprinting of amsacrine in the MIP film. The sensor displayed excellent selectivity for amsacrine in the presence of interfering substances, and it exhibited good stability and reproducibility. Originality/value: This study presents a novel molecular imprinting electrochemical sensor design using a composite of BC and AgNPs as a platform for MIP film immobilization. The incorporation of BC-AgNPs improved the sensor's electrochemical properties, leading to enhanced sensitivity and selectivity for amsacrine detection. The successful imprinting of amsacrine in the MIP film contributes to the sensor's specificity. The sensor's ability to detect amsacrine in a concentration range relevant to anticancer therapy and its excellent performance in complex sample matrices add significant value to the field of electrochemical sensing for pharmaceutical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HBV infection is challenging to cure due to the persistence of viral covalently closed circular viral DNA (cccDNA). The dedicator of cytokinesis 11 (DOCK11) is recognized as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for CDC42 that has been reported to be required for HBV persistence. DOCK11 is expressed in both the cytoplasm and nucleus of human hepatocytes and is functionally associated with retrograde trafficking proteins Arf-GAP with GTPase domain, ankyrin repeat, and pleckstrin homology domain-containing protein 2 (AGAP2), and ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1), together with the HBV capsid, in the trans-Golgi network (TGN). This opens an alternative retrograde trafficking route for HBV from early endosomes (EEs) to the TGN and then to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), thereby avoiding lysosomal degradation. DOCK11 also facilitates the association of cccDNA with H3K4me3 and RNA Pol II for activating cccDNA transcription. In addition, DOCK11 plays a crucial role in the host DNA repair system, being essential for cccDNA synthesis. This function can be inhibited by 10M-D42AN, a novel DOCK11-binding peptide, leading to the suppression of HBV replication both in vitro and in vivo. Treatment with a combination of 10M-D42AN and entecavir may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Consequently, DOCK11 may be seen as a potential candidate molecule in the development of molecularly targeted drugs against CHB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel cost-effective sensor material was developed from modified graphene oxide based molecular imprinted polymer (GO-MIP) for the detection of folic acid (FA). This GO-MIP was obtained through several processes including functionalization, polymerization and template molecule introduction/removal during the synthesizing process. Firstly, graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by modified Hummers method which undergoes hydroxyl functionalization to form GO–OH. It further undergoes surface modification with allyl bromide in presence of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to form vinylated GO–OH (GO–O–CH=CH2). The GO–O–CH=CH2 subjected to further molecular imprinting process with methacrylic acid (MAA) as the monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linker, azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator and FA as the template molecule. The different preparatory stages of materials were characterized by FTIR, XRD and SEM techniques to understand the formation. The obtained GO–MIP was used as an active material for FA sensing. The pH studies were carried out using cyclic voltameteric measurement and maximum current is obtained at pH 4.0. The proposed GO-MIP based electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activity toward FA detection at optimized conditions. The limit of detection obtained in the present study is 1.0 nM. The results obtained from the real time usability of electrodes in wheat flour, tablet and spinach are well with commercially available FA monitors. The results endorse the promising application of GO-MIP toward superior FA sensing with long-term stability. Method of synthesis of GO-MIP [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a molecularly imprinted co-polymer-based electrochemical sensor has been fabricated that shows sensitive and selective detection of paracetamol. Molecularly imprinted co-polymer synthesis was achieved using methacrylic acid and styrene as functional monomers, azobisisobutyronitrile as a free radical initiator, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linker, and dimethyl sulfoxide as a porogenic solvent. The molecularly imprinted co-polymer was synthesized using a thermal free radical bulk polymerization technique. The molecularly imprinted co-polymer is characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The LCR meter was used to measure electrical parameters such as inductance and resistance. The sensor response was linear and concentration-dependent. The lower limit of detection of the fabricated sensor in terms of inductance and resistance was 12 and 5.33 mg/L, respectively. Furthermore, in the presence of competing substances such as ascorbic acid and uric acid, the fabricated sensor proved a selective response. The fabricated sensor also shows reproducibility and reversible response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The approach toward the molecular imprinting of hydrogel with different proteins erects the template-size cavities inside the matrix. The cavities provide the binding sites to adsorb the protein perfectly in the hydrogel. To intensify the adsorption efficiency of protein bovine serum albumin (BSA), cobalt ions (Co) play an essential role. In contrast, 2-(Dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) provides pH sustainability as an assistant monomer. Results elucidate that incorporating Co in preparation can enhance the hydrogel's imprinting effect or adsorption efficiency compared to others due to the development of coordinated covalent bonding. Hydrogel adsorption capacity is an essential factor in this study. In this research, the obtained BSA-imprinted hydrogel also observed a high protein adsorption capacity. The Co concentration and pH of the hydrogel system are the main factors affecting proteins' adsorption efficiency. Their optimizations are the main concerns, and their successful implementations are confirmed by UV/Vis spectroscopy. The imprinted BSA protein was removed by using 500 mmol/L NaCl solution. The two and three-parameter isothermal models were implemented to predict the mechanism of the adsorption process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop an electrochemical sensor based on a derivative of graphene oxide (GO) and a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) on a pencil graphite electrode (PGE) for the detection of ascorbic acid (AA). MIP was fabricated onto the surface of the electrode by electropolymerization technique using cyclic voltammetry with a scan rate of 10 mV/s consisting of template molecule (ascorbic acid), functional monomer (polypyrrole), cross-linker (LiClO4) and citrate buffer at pH 4. Then, the template removal process was conducted to create the imprinted cavities for detecting the analyte. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) methods were used to perform quantitative analyses of the modified electrodes. CV analysis was performed at the optimum scan rate of 10 mV/s, and the electrolyte concentration at 1.0 mM K3[Fe(CN)6] in 0.1 M KCl. MIP-PGE (2) produced the best performance by having the highest redox peak current response when scanning with the CV compared to other modified electrodes. The optimum parameters for DPV measurement are 100 mV pulse amplitude, 200 ms pulse period, and 10 mV/s scan rate. The straightforward instrumentation and easy preparation of the proposed sensor make it a valuable system for constructing simple devices for determining ascorbic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triazine pesticides can easily remain in the environment and food, causing serious harm to organisms. Developing a pretreatment technology with strong purification and enrichment capabilities is of great significance for the detection of triazine. In this paper, magnetic dual-template nanomolecular imprinted polymers (MMIPs) were synthesized using silica-modified Fe3O4 magnetic shell nanoparticles as carriers, methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer, and cyromazine and melamine as template molecules. This material was characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The adsorption experiments were carried out and the results showed that the MMIPs had the chemical properties of surface molecular imprinting. The binding constants of MMIPs were 26.95 mg/L and 657.89 mg/L, and their maximum apparent binding capacity was 2.02 mg/g and 8.59 mg/g, respectively. The prepared MMIPs were used as adsorbents for dispersive solid phase extraction, and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis was coupled to determine triazine pesticides from three samples. The recovery of this method was between 84.8% and 109.5% and the limits of detection were between 0.01–0.03 µg/L. This method greatly shortens the sample pretreatment time and achieves the purpose of rapid pretreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A selective and sensitive ion-imprinted electrochemical sensor was proposed to detect cadmium ion (Cd2+) through differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) method based on core–shell mesoporous cadmium ion-imprinted polymers (IIP) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The ion-imprinted polymers were prepared by the surface ion-imprinting technique using core–shell mesoporous silica as the carrier, Cd2+ as the template ion, and 3-mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane (MPTMS) as the functional monomer. Due to the implementation of surface ion imprinting strategy on core–shell mesoporous structure, the polymer was endowed with excellent specific surface area and imprinted cavities, thus showing effective transmission and recognition ability for Cd2+. Furthermore, the introduction of gold nanoparticles synthesized through electrodeposition can accelerate the electron transfer rate and also increase the modified area of electrode for ion-imprinted polymers, resulting in higher sensitivity of the modified electrodes when ion-imprinted polymers was self-assembled on the surface of gold nanoparticle-modified electrode through Au–S. The linear range of the sensor varied from 1 to 100 µg L−1, with the minimum detection limit of 0.22 µg L−1. In addition, excellent anti-interference ability in Cd2+ detection was obtained in the presence of various interfering ions, and the sensor has also been proved to have good practicability in actual water sample detection, with the recovery rate in the range of 82.2% and 116.0% and the RSD is in the range of 0.33−7.30%. Therefore, this work is expected to provide an electrochemical sensor with excellent selectivity, good stability, and sensitivity for detecting trace Cd2+ in real-water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the initial attempt at introducing a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) designed specifically for lamotrigine with the purpose of functioning as a drug carrier. First, the composition of the magnetic polymer underwent optimization based on bulk polymer adsorption studies and theoretical analyses. The magnetic MIP was synthesized from itaconic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate exhibiting a drug loading capacity of 3.4 ± 0.9 μg g−1. Structural characterization was performed using powder X-ray diffraction analysis, vibrating sample magnetometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The resulting MIP demonstrated controlled drug released characteristics without a burst effect in the phospahe buffer saline at pH 5 and 8. These findings hold promise for the potential nasal administration of lamotrigine in future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the global market era, food product control is very challenging. It is impossible to track and control all production and delivery chains not only for regular customers but also for the State Sanitary Inspections. Certified laboratories currently use accurate food safety and quality inspection methods. However, these methods are very laborious and costly. The present review highlights the need to develop fast, robust, and cost-effective analytical assays to determine food contamination. Application of the molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as selective recognition units for chemosensors' fabrication was herein explored. MIPs enable fast and inexpensive electrochemical and optical transduction, significantly improving detectability, sensitivity, and selectivity. MIPs compromise durability of synthetic materials with a high affinity to target analytes and selectivity of molecular recognition. Imprinted molecular cavities, present in MIPs structure, are complementary to the target analyte molecules in terms of size, shape, and location of recognizing sites. They perfectly mimic natural molecular recognition. The present review article critically covers MIPs' applications in selective assays for a wide range of food products. Moreover, numerous potential applications of MIPs in the food industry, including sample pretreatment before analysis, removal of contaminants, or extraction of high-value ingredients, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized with attapulgite (ATP) and acrylamide (AM) and ethyl methacrylate (MMA) for controlled release carrier of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The MIPs (PAM-PMMA) were characterized by XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, and FTIR. The drug loading and in vitro controlled release ability of MIP on 5-FU was investigated by adsorption property analysis and in vitro release analysis. MIPs (PAM-PMMA) reached a maximum drug loading of 12 mg/g and a maximum release of 80% at an ATP dosage of 0.2 g (0.4%), an initial concentration of 5-FU of 100 mg/L, and an adsorption time of 240 min. Cytotoxicity analysis showed that the maximum inhibition of cells could reach 25% at 72 h of cell culture time under the above conditions. The results showed that MIPs synthesized with ATP as the substrate and AM and MMA as the functional monomers were successfully synthesized and could be used as a drug delivery system for 5-FU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widely used organophosphorus pesticide triazophos (TAP) can easily cumulate in aquatic system due to its high stability chemically and photochemically and thus posing significant threat to aquatic creatures and humans' health. Urging demand for rapid determining TAP in water has risen. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing turns out to be a good candidate for its simplicity in fabrication and swiftness in detection. Nevertheless, traditional PEC sensors often lack selectivity as their signal generation primarily relies on the oxidation of organic compounds in the electrolyte by photo-induced holes. To address this limitation, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) can be in combined with PEC sensors to significantly enhance the selectivity. Here, we present a novel approach utilizing a PEC sensor enhanced by carbon-modified titanium dioxide molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP/C/TiO2 NTs). Carbon quantum dot (CQD) modification of titanium dioxide nanotube arrays (C/TiO2 NTs) was achieved through a one-step anodization process, effectively enhancing visible light absorption by narrowing the band gap of TiO2, and CQDs also function as sensitizer accelerating charge transfer for improved and stable photocurrent signals during detection. Our method further incorporates MIPs to heighten the selectivity of the PEC sensor. Electro-polymerization using cyclic voltammetry was employed to polymerize MIPs with pyrrole as the functional monomer and triazophos as the target molecule. The resultant MIP/C/TiO2 NT sensor exhibited remarkable sensitivity, with a detection limit of 0.03 nM (S/N = 3), alongside exceptional selectivity and stability for triazophos detection in water. This offers a promising avenue for efficient, cost-effective, and rapid monitoring of pesticide contaminants in aquatic environments, contributing to the broader goals of environmental preservation and public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative analysis of molecularly imprinted polymers based on different synthesis techniques was performed for the recognition of molnupiravir (MOL). The polymerizations were performed with 3-thienyl boronic acid (3-TBA) as a functional monomer by electropolymerization (EP) and with guanine methacrylate (GuaM) as a functional monomer by photopolymerization (PP). Morphological and electrochemical characterizations of the developed sensors were investigated to verify the constructed sensors. Moreover, quantum chemical calculations were used to evaluate changes on the electrode surface at the molecular and electronic levels. The dynamic linear range of both designed sensors under optimized experimental conditions was found to be 7.5 × 10−12–2.5 × 10−10 M and 7.5 × 10−13–2.5 × 10−11 M for EP and PP, respectively. The effect of various interfering agents on MOL peak current was assessed for the selectivity of the study. In the presence of 100 times more interfering agents, the RSD and recovery values were determined. The RSD values of GuaM/MOL@MIP/GCE and poly(Py-co-3-PBA)/MOL@MIP/GCE sensors were found to be 1.99% and 1.72%, respectively. Furthermore, the recovery values of the MIP-based sensors were 98.18–102.69% and 98.05–103.72%, respectively. In addition, the relative selectivity coefficient (k′) of the proposed sensor was evaluated, and it exhibited good selectivity for MOL with respect to the NIP sensor. The prepared sensor was successfully applied to determine MOL in commercial serum samples and capsule form. In conclusion, the developed sensors provided excellent reproducibility, repeatability, high sensitivity, and selectivity against the MOL molecule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful method for detecting breast cancer-specific biomarkers due to its extraordinary enhancement effects obtained by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in metallic nanostructures at hotspots. In this research, gold nanostars (AuNSs) were used as SERS probes to detect a cancer biomarker at very low concentrations. To this end, we combined molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as a detection layer with SERS for the detection of the biomarker CA 15–3 in point-of-care (PoC) analysis. This required two main steps: (i) the deposition of MIPs on a gold electrode, followed by a second step (ii) antibody binding with AuNSs containing a suitable Raman reporter to enhance Raman signaling (SERS). The MPan sensor was prepared by electropolymerization of the monomer aniline in the presence of CA 15–3. The template molecule was then extracted from the polymer using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). In parallel, a control material was prepared in the absence of the protein (NPan). Surface modification for the control was performed using electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The performance of the sensor was evaluated using the SERS technique, in which the MPan sensor is first incubated with the protein and then exposed to the SERS probe. Under optimized conditions, the device showed a linear response to CA 15–3 concentrations from 0.016 to 248.51 U mL−1 in a PBS buffer at pH 7.4 in 1000-fold diluted serum. Overall, this approach demonstrates the potential of SERS as an optical reader and opens a new avenue for biosensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) nanofilms for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 using either a peptide (epitope-MIP) or the whole protein (protein-MIP) as the template were prepared by electropolymerization of scopoletin. Conducting atomic force microscopy revealed after template removal and electrochemical deposition of gold a larger surface density of imprinted cavities for the epitope-imprinted polymers than when using the whole protein as template. However, comparable affinities towards the respective target protein (AFP and RBD) were obtained for both types of MIPs as expressed by the KD values in the lower nanomolar range. On the other hand, while the cross reactivity of both protein-MIPs towards human serum albumin (HSA) amounts to around 50% in the saturation region, the nonspecific binding to the respective epitope-MIPs is as low as that for the non-imprinted polymer (NIP). This effect might be caused by the different sizes of the imprinted cavities. Thus, in addition to the lower costs the reduced nonspecific binding is an advantage of epitope-imprinted polymers for the recognition of proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor is presented based on one-dimensional ultrathin manganese oxide nanowires/two-dimensional molybdenum titanium carbide MXene (MnO2NWs@Mo2TiC2 MXene) for fenitrothion (FEN) determination. After the synthesis of MnO2NWs@Mo2TiC2 MXene ionic nanocomposite was successfully completed with a facile hydrothermal and the pillaring methods, a new type molecular imprinted electrochemical sensor based on MnO2NWs@Mo2TiC2 MXene was constructed with cyclic voltammetry (CV) polymerization including pyrrole monomer and FEN target molecule. After the characterization studies including spectroscopic, electrochemical and microscopic methods, the analytical applications of the prepared sensor were performed. A linearity of 1.0×10−9–2.0×10−8 mol L−1 was obtained and the values of the quantification limit (LOQ) and the detection limit (LOD) were 1.0×10−9 mol L−1 and 3.0×10−10 mol L−1, respectively. The studies of selectivity, stability and reproducibility of the constructed sensor based on MnO2NWs@Mo2TiC2 nanocomposite and molecularly imprinting polymer (MIP) were carried out in detail. Finally, the developed sensor was applied to white flour samples with the values close to 100%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alumina inorganic molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on a glassy carbon electrode (MWCNTs-Al2O3-MIP/GCE) was firstly designed and fabricated by one-step electro deposition technique for the detection of uric acid (UA) in sweat. The UA templates were embedded within the inorganic MIP by co-deposition with Al2O3. Through the evaluation of morphology and structure by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), it was verified that the specific recognition sites can be fabricated in the electrodeposited Al2O3 molecular imprinted layer. Due to the high selectivity of molecular imprinting holes, the MWCNTs-Al2O3-MIP/GCE electrode demonstrated an impressive imprinting factor of approximately 2.338 compared to the non-molecularly imprinted glassy carbon electrode (MWCNTs-Al2O3-NIP/GCE) toward uric acid detection. Moreover, it exhibited a remarkable limit of detection (LOD) of 50 nM for UA with wide detection range from 50 nM to 600 μM. The MWCNTs-Al2O3-MIP/GCE electrode also showed strong interference resistance against common substances found in sweat. These results highlight the excellent interference resistance and selectivity of MWCNTs-Al2O3-MIP/GCE sensor, positioning it as a novel sensing platform for non-invasive uric acid detection in human sweat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A molecularly-imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensor was constructed for the determination of fenpropathrin (FPT) by molecular imprinting technology. In this sensing platform, the introduction of CdS@MWCNTs significantly enhanced the initial ECL signal of the luminol-O2 system. Specifically, MWCNTs was used as a carrier to adsorb more CdS, in which CdS acted as a co-reaction promoter for luminescence. Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) containing specific recognition sites of FPT was used as the material for selective recognition. With increasing amount of FPT the ECL signal decreased. Under the optimum conditions, the ECL response was linearly related to the logarithm of FPT concentration. The developed ECL sensor allowed for sensitive determination of FPT and exhibited a wide linear range from 1.0 × 10− 10 mol L− 1 to 1.0 × 10− 6 mol L− 1. The limit of detection was 3.3 × 10− 11 mol L− 1 (S/N = 3). It can be used for the detection of FPT in vegetable samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a citalopram optical nano-sensor was developed. Citalopram is a well-known antidepressant drug that reduces the reuptake of serotonin in neurons as a result, serotonin neurotransmission, the primary response to antidepressant treatments, increases in many parts of the brain. This study introduces a carbon quantum dots (CQDs)-based optical nanosensor for rapid detection of citalopram. This fluorescent nanosensor was made through the polymerization of tetraethyl orthosilicate in the presence of CQDs as the fluorescent materials and citalopram as the template molecule. Following the polymerization, the templated molecules were washed and removed from the structure, and the matrix of the polymer was left with some cavities that resembled citalopram in terms of size and shape. The final structure which is used as a chemical nanosensor, is named carbon quantum dots embedded silica molecularly imprinted polymer (CQDs-SMIP). The materials used in designing nano-sensors were characterized using FTIR, UV/Vis, and fluorescence spectroscopy, as well as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). CQDs-SMIP showed a strong fluorescence emission at 420 nm in the absence of the template molecule. The fluorescence intensity of the nanosensor decreased in the presence of citalopram. The correlation between the extent of the fluorescence quenching and the concentration of citalopram provided the nano-sensor signal. The nano-sensor was used to measure citalopram in complex matrices such as human plasma and urine samples with remarkable selectivity and sensitivity. The detection limit of 10.3 µg.L-1 over a linear range of 100 to 700 µg.L-1, and RSD of 3.15% was obtained. This nano-sensor was applied to analyze of citalopram in plasma and human urine samples with remarkable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titania is a functional oxide used as a catalyst and photocatalyst, which has various applications. Modifying the surface morphology and creating micro patterns on titania can significantly enhance its catalytic efficiency and utility in semiconductor devices. This study focuses on the fabrication of submicron patterns on titania using thermal nanoimprinting. The process involves the preparation of a high-viscosity sol consisting of 2-butoxyethanol, titanium butoxide, ethylene glycol, and water, followed by drying on a substrate to obtain a printable titania gel. We investigated the structural characteristics of this printable titania gel using Fourier transform infrared thermal analysis and high-energy X-ray diffraction. These structural analyses shed light on the critical factors affecting the growth of the Ti–O network within the gel and the effect of the organic content of the gel on its properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), functioning as artificial bioreceptors, hold significant promise for biomarker detection in healthcare, disease diagnosis, and addressing drug abuse. In contrast to natural bioreceptors, MIP-based sensors offer numerous advantages, such as high stability, cost-effectiveness, high selectivity, sensitivity, and notably straightforward preparation with customizable binding sites for diverse targets. Conventional MIP sensors often necessitate external redox reagents in analytes to transduce binding events into electrochemical signals for indirect detection, presenting challenges for practical applications in wearables or point-of-care (POC) testing. Redox-active MIP sensors have emerged as a viable alternative, enabling direct and label-free electrochemical detection, with two types developed. The first type utilizes electrocatalytic materials to expedite electron transfer and facilitate a redox reaction between the captured electroactive target and the electrode. The second type incorporates an embedded redox reactive component that allows selective binding of a target to modulate its electron transfer, leading to a change in the electrical signal. This review covers emerging trends and challenges in redox-active MIP sensors for direct electrochemical detection of biomarkers, focusing on sensing mechanisms, synthesis methods, and applications. Additionally, recent progress in wearable and POC redox-active MIP sensors is highlighted. A comprehensive outlook of challenges is further provided, aiming to advance direct biomarker detection for diverse healthcare applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the computationally assisted design of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP), emphasizing the selected strategies and chosen methods of approach. In summary, this paper provides an overview of the MIP fabrication procedure, focusing on key factors and challenges, where the fabrication of MIP includes a step‐by‐step process with extensive experimental procedures. This brings challenges in optimizing experimental conditions, such as the selection of monomer, cross‐linker, and their relevant molar ratios to the template and solvent. Next, the principles of computational methods are elucidated to explore their potential applicability in solving the challenges. The computational approach can tackle the problems and optimize the MIP's design. Finally, the atomistic, quantum mechanical (QM), and combined methods in the recent research studies are overviewed with stress on strategies, analyses, and results. It is demonstrated that optimization of pre‐polymerization mixture by employing simulations significantly reduces the trial‐and‐error experiments. Besides, higher selectivity and sensitivity of MIP are observed. The polymerization and resulting binding sites by computational methods are considered. Several models of binding sites are formed and analyzed to assess the affinities representing the sensitivity and selectivity of modeled cavities. Combined QM/atomistic methods showed more flexibility and versatility for realistic modeling with higher accuracy. This methodological advancement aligns with the principles of green chemistry, offering cost‐effective and time‐efficient solutions in MIP design. This article is categorized under:Structure and Mechanism > Molecular StructuresStructure and Mechanism > Computational Materials ScienceMolecular and Statistical Mechanics > Molecular Interactions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the selective adsorption of the target pollutant, this study successfully synthesized chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose molecularly imprinted hollow vesicles (CS/CMC-MIV) for selective adsorption of acid blue-113 (AB-113). The vesicles were obtained by mixing the carboxymethyl cellulose solution with the chitosan/AB-113 mixture in sequential fast and slow stirring. Benefiting from the molecular imprinting technique, the maximum adsorption capacity of AB-113 by CS/CMC-MIV was 972.7 mg/g, which was 84.8% higher than that of the vesicles without imprinting (526.4 mg/g). The adsorption process could be well in accordance with Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order models. The vesicles exhibited superior stability and reusability, maintaining 92% of the initial adsorption capacity after four adsorption repeats. What's more, CS/CMC-MIV showed excellent selective adsorption ability on mixed dye solutions, which was attributed to the specific recognition sites created during the molecular imprint process. This study provides a facile method to bind dye templates to vesicles and excels at selective dye removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel magnetic molecularly imprinted polymeric material (Fe3O4@MOF@MIP-160) with a metal-organic backbone (Fe3O4@MOF) carrier was prepared using dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as a template. The material can be used for the efficient, rapid, and selective extraction of trace amounts of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in food and can detect them via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The synthesis conditions of the materials were optimized to prepare the Fe3O4@MOF@MIP160 with the highest adsorption performance. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra (FT-IR), Vibration Sample Magnetic (VSM), and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method were used to characterize the materials. Compared with Fe3O4@MOF and the magnetic non-imprinted polymeric material (Fe3O4@MOF@NIP), Fe3O4@MOF@MIP-160 possesses the advantages of easy and rapid manipulation of magnetic materials, the advantages of high specific surface area and the stability of metal–organic frameworks, and the advantages of high selectivity of molecularly imprinted polymers. Fe3O4@MOF@MIP-160 has good recognition and adsorption capacity for di-butyl phthalate (DBP) and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP): the adsorption capacity for DBP and DEHP is 260 mg·g−1 and 240.2 mg·g−1, and the adsorption rate is fast (reaching equilibrium in about 20 min). Additionally, Fe3O4@MOF@MIP160 could be recycled six times, making it cost-effective, easy to operate, and time-saving as compared to traditional solid-phase extraction materials. The phthalate ester content in drinking water, fruit juice, and white wine was analyzed, with recoveries ranging from 70.3% to 100.7%. This proved that Fe3O4@MOF@MIP160 was suitable for detecting and removing PAEs from food matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the development of a novel electrochemical sensor for caffeine detection in sports drinks, utilizing molecular imprinting technology with surface-imprinted nanoparticles. Key to this study is the synthesis of caffeine-imprinted polypyrrole nanoparticles via electropolymerization, which displayed a high specific surface area (25 m2/g) and efficient template binding. The sensor exhibited a notable linear detection range from 30 to 150 µM and a significantly low limit of detection at 2.5 µM. Characterization of the nanoparticles was rigorously conducted using SEM, FTIR, and BET analysis. Optimized sensing conditions were established at pH 5, with a 5 min accumulation time and a scan rate of 50 mV/s, ensuring high sensitivity and selectivity. Practical application was demonstrated through the accurate detection of caffeine in commercially available sports drinks, with recovery rates ranging from 97.6 to 101.5%. This research underscores the potential of molecularly imprinted polymer-based sensors in simplifying and enhancing the detection of caffeine in complex matrices, offering a promising tool for health monitoring and sports performance analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides a summary of various research articles on the development of sensors and biosensors for different applications. The articles cover a range of topics, including the sensing of urea and creatinine, the detection of the CagA antigen in gastric cancer, the electrochemical sensing of methotrexate, the measurement of antibodies and antioxidant activity in saliva, the detection of genetic signatures of viruses, the investigation of the sensing properties of VSe2 monolayers, and the determination of ochratoxin A. The articles present different fabrication methods and techniques, as well as the optimization of detection limits and sensitivities. The research findings suggest the potential for these biosensors to be used in practical applications for monitoring health and detecting diseases. [Extracted from the article]

This work presents a novel approach for tailoring molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with a preliminary stage of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), for a more precise definition of the imprinted cavity. A well-defined copolymer of acrylamide and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (PAAm-co-PMBAm) was synthesized by ATRP and applied to gold electrodes with the template, followed by a crosslinking reaction. The template was removed from the polymer matrix by enzymatic/chemical action. The surface modifications were monitored via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), having the MIP polymer as a non-conducting film designed with affinity sites for CA15-3. The resulting biosensor exhibited a linear response to CA15-3 log concentrations from 0.001 to 100 U/mL in PBS or in diluted fetal bovine serum (1000×) in PBS. Compared to the polyacrylamide (PAAm) MIP from conventional free-radical polymerization, the ATRP-based MIP extended the biosensor's dynamic linear range 10-fold, improving low concentration detection, and enhanced the signal reproducibility across units. The biosensor demonstrated good sensitivity and selectivity. Overall, the work described confirmed that the process of radical polymerization to build an MIP material influences the detection capacity for the target substance and the reproducibility among different biosensor units. Extending this approach to other cancer biomarkers, the methodology presented could open doors to a new generation of MIP-based biosensors for point-of-care disease diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the objective is to immobilize molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) onto the surface of magnetic carbon nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2@C) to develop an effective method for the adsorption of zearalenone (ZEN). The prepared products were characterized by FT-IR, SEM, TEM, XRD, VSM, TGA, and BET. The content of zearalenone in corn samples was monitored by HPLC. The results indicate that the particle size of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) is approximately 200 nm. The adsorption mechanism of MMIPs was confirmed by static adsorption and dynamic adsorption experiments. The maximum adsorption capacity was 1.56 mg/g, and the adsorption equilibrium was reached within 50 min. The scatchard model showed that MMIPs had two binding sites, a high-affinity binding site and a low-affinity site. Kinetic second-order fitting indicates that MMIPs are mainly through chemisorption. In the actual sample application, the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were 0.3 mg/L and 0.9 mg/L, respectively. The recovery of corn with the standard addition of ZEN was 73.6–88.1%, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 2.86–5.63%. The results demonstrated that MMIPs possess the advantages of straightforward operation, high precision, and cost-effectiveness, rendering them suitable for rapid ZEN detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many diseases are due to bacterial infections, which are treated by penicillin. Existing methods for penicillin detection have relatively high requirements for sample storage and processing, personnel professionalism, and instruments. Herein, water-soluble N–C quantum dots (QDs) from wheat straw were synthesized in a green way by using an efficient and simple method. The N–C QDs were modified with an imprinted layer by a gel–sol method. Penicillin selectively quenched the fluorescence emission of N–C QDs@MIP, and a linear relationship was obtained in the concentration range of 1.0 × 10−6–15.2 × 10−6 mol L−1. The reliability of the sensor in real sample analysis was satisfactory with results in the range of 93.6%–100%, and the sensor showed good reproducibility and long-term stability. The study provides a simple strategy to fabricate N–C QDs@MIP with a highly selective recognition ability and opens an avenue to develop highly efficient sensing probes for the detection of antibiotics in biological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assembly of functional materials into microstructures, which extends unique features such as enlarged specific surface areas, effective conduction paths, higher material utilization ratios, and ordered alignment compared to continuous films, has gained prominence in various fields. Achieving high performance in electronics requires cooperation among building blocks, fabrication methods, and device design. However, the remaining challenge is obtaining highly regular and large-scale patterns with controllable assembly methods while maximizing device performances. Manipulating functional materials with liquid assistance is a feasible approach to realizing controllable dewetting, regular molecule packing, and customized performances. This review focuses on the recent advances in preparing and applying liquid-induced microstructures. The predominant preparation technologies are summarized, including flow-enabled assembly, nanoimprint lithography, and capillary-bridge-mediated assembly. Furthermore, diverse applications of various microstructure-based electronics, such as flexible and transparent electrodes, organic field-effect transistors, gas sensors, photodetectors, and solar cells, are demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA), known for its endocrine-disrupting properties and potential to leach into food products, has led to significant food safety concerns. Therefore, the development of sensitive and selective BPA rapid detection methods is crucial. In this study, molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction coupled to a colorimetric method was adopted for the smartphone-based determination of BPA. The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was prepared via photopolymerization and used as a selective adsorbent material for SPE columns. The solid-phase extraction (SPE) columns with multiple cycles significantly reduced the extraction time to only 30 min. The developed method demonstrates useful sensitivity for BPA (LOD = 30 ppb). Furthermore, BPA migration from plastic packaging was evaluated under different storage conditions, revealing that microwave treatment for 5 min led to BPA release from polycarbonate packaging in juice and basic solutions. The MIP selective extraction/clean-up and smartphone-based optical sensor were successfully applied to BPA standard solutions and complex food samples (e.g., juice and tap water), resulting in reproducible and selective BPA determination (RSD ≤ 6%, n = 3). This rapid and cost-effective method of producing MIPs for BPA offers a promising solution for fast and low-cost sensing for on-site fresh food analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article introduces distance-based paper analytical devices (dPADs) integrated with molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and carbon dots (CDs) for simultaneous quantification of cytokine biomarkers, namely C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in human biological samples for diagnosis of cytokine syndrome. Using fluorescent CDs and MIP technology, the dPAD exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity. Detection is based on fluorescence quenching of CDs achieved through the interaction of the target analytes with the MIP layer on the paper substrate. Quantitative analysis is easily accomplished by measuring the distance length of quenched fluorescence with a traditional ruler and naked eye readout enabling rapid diagnosis of cytokine syndrome and the underlying infection. Our sensor demonstrated linear ranges of 2.50-24.0 pg mL-1 (R2 = 0.9974), 0.25-3.20 pg mL-1 (R2 = 0.9985), and 1.50-16.0 pg mL-1 (R2 = 0.9966) with detection limits (LODs) of 2.50, 0.25, and 1.50 pg mL-1 for CRP, TNF-a, and IL-6, respectively. This sensor also demonstrated remarkable selectivity compared to a sensor employing a non-imprinted polymer (NIP), and precision with the highest relative standard deviation (RSD) of 5.14%. The sensor is more accessible compared to prior methods relying on expensive reagents and instruments and complex fabrication methods. Furthermore, the assay provided notable accuracy for monitoring these biomarkers in various human samples with recovery percentages ranging between 99.22% and 103.58%. By integrating microfluidic systems, nanosensing, and MIPs technology, our developed dPADs hold significant potential as a cost-effective and user-friendly analytical method for point-of-care diagnostics (POC) of cytokine-related disorders. This concept can be further extended to developing diagnostic devices for other biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new coinage metal nanocluster surface molecularly imprinted polymethacrylic acid nanoprobe (NC@MIP) for the selective determination of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) was prepared via microwave synthesis using 2,4,6-trichlorophenol as a template molecule, copper nanoclusters (CuNC) as a nanosubstrate, and methacrylic acid as a polymer monomer. It was found that the copper nanocluster MIP (CuNC@MIP) shows the strongest catalytic performance for the reduction of HAuCl4 by hydrazine hydrate for the on-site generation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effects of resonance surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) as well as absorption (Abs). When TCP was added, the CuNC@MIP nanoprobe and TCP-formed CuNC@MIP–TCP nanoenzyme with stronger catalytic activity generated more AuNPs, and the trimodal analytical signal was enhanced linearly. Therefore, a new SERS/RRS/Abs trimodal sensing platform for TCP was constructed, which was simple, rapid, sensitive, and selective. For each mode, the linear ranges were 0.0075–0.075, 0.010–0.10, and 0.010–0.10 nmol L−1, and the detection limits were 0.0010, 0.021, and 0.043 nmol L−1, respectively. The relative deviation of TCP in different water quality was 0.47%–2.5% and the recovery rate was 94.6%–108.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An electrochemical gas sensor has been fabricated using molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes on screen-printed electrodes. Methanol vapour was chosen as the target due to its toxicity as its suitability as a model for more harmful pollutant gases. The sensor functions under ambient conditions and in the required concentration range, in contrast to all previous MIP-based gas sensors for methanol. The sensitivity of the sensor was greatly improved by the addition of multiwall carbon nanotubes, resulting in a limit of detection of approximately 10 ppm. The nanoMIPs provide an inherent selectivity for the target inherent in its design. Selectivity studies were performed with structurally analogous alcohols at various concentrations, demonstrating selectivity for methanol 12.1 times that for ethanol at 2 mmol dm−3 and 4.2 times that for ethanol at 1 mmol dm−3. Interactions with isopropanol and n-propanol were found to be non-specific, and the response to water was negligible. This demonstrates an improvement over previous methanol gas sensors based on molecularly imprinted polymers. No response was observed with carbon nanotubes alone, and no selectivity was observed with non-imprinted equivalents of the nanoMIP sensor. The resulting device is by far the most practical MIP-based instrument for methanol gas sensing thus far described in the literature, being the only example capable of functioning at the necessary methanol vapour concentrations and at the required temperature and humidity. With the selectivity and sensitivity described and the simple design, the developed device provides a substantial advance in the field of molecularly imprinted gas sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is a contents list for the journal "Analyst" published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. It includes a range of articles and papers on various topics in the field of chemistry. Some of the topics covered include bacterial transglycosylation, nanozyme kinetics, fiber optic cadmium ion sensors, and electrochemical biosensors. The journal aims to connect the global chemistry community and reinvest its profits back into the field. [Extracted from the article]

Cadmium poisoning is a chronic accumulation process, and long-term drinking of even low cadmium content water will cause kidney damage, so an ultra-low detection limit is particularly important. However, at the present stage, the traditional detection method cannot reach a sufficiently low detection limit, the response time is too long, and the cost of detection is very high, so that real-time measurement cannot be realized. Therefore, the traditional cadmium ion detection method has a slow response and an insufficient detection limit. This paper presents a fiber optic cadmium ion sensor functionalized based on an Fe3O4@SiO2@CS magnetic ion imprinting polymer (M-IIP). The sensor is based on the coupling characteristics of the optical microfiber coupler (OMC) cone region to achieve a highly sensitive response to the change in the cadmium ion concentration. M-IIP materials were prepared by surface imprinting polymerization to achieve low cross-sensitivity and thus improve the detection limit of the sensor. The results show that the developed fiber sensor has high specificity and a rapid response to cadmium ions. The experimental limit of detection (LOD) reached 0.051 nM within 0–1 μM with a response time of less than 50 s. Moreover, the proposed fiber cadmium ion sensor exhibits excellent performance in terms of sensitivity, stability, repeatability and biocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate and lung cancers are the most common types of cancer and affect a large part of the population around the world, causing deaths. Therefore, the rapid identification of cancer can profoundly impact reducing cancer-related death rates and protecting human lives. Significant resources have been dedicated to investigating new methods for early disease detection. Cancer biomarkers encompass various biochemical entities, including nucleic acids, proteins, sugars, small metabolites, cytogenetic and cytokinetic parameters, and whole tumor cells in bodily fluids. These tools can be utilized for various purposes, such as risk assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment efficacy, toxicity evaluation, and predicting a return. Due to these versatile and critical purposes, there are widespread studies on the development of new, sensitive, and selective approaches for the determination of cancer biomarkers. This review illustrates the significant lung and prostate cancer biomarkers and their determination utilizing electrochemical sensors, which have the advantage of improved sensitivity, low cost, and simple analysis. Additionally, approaches such as improving sensitivity with nanomaterials and ensuring selectivity with MIPs are used to increase the performance of the sensor. This review aims to overview the most recent electrochemical biosensor applications for determining vital biomarkers of prostate and lung cancers in terms of nanobiosensors and molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based biosensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]