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In this paper, we describe a novel carbon dot (CD) synthesized from citric acid and tyramine using a one-step microwave heating route. Under UV irradiation, the CD displayed blue emission that was quenched in the presence of H 2 O 2 and peroxidase. This property was used to quantify glucose in biological samples, using a standard additions procedure employing a paper platform and the H 2 O 2 formed in the enzymatic reaction with glucose oxidase. The attractive features of the paper platform include low cost, easy availability, biocompatibility, and hydrophilicity. The standard additions calibration method has the advantages that it can be performed using a single device, eliminates the need for external calibration, and reduces matrix effects associated with the sample and/or non-uniformity of the paper. The method developed was applied in the analysis of certified serum and urine samples. There were no statistically significant differences between the certified concentrations and the results obtained using the paper device with standard additions (Student's t-test at 95% confidence level). Image 1 • Green synthesis of carbon dots from citric acid and tyramine. • Carbon dots were prepared by a simple, fast, one-step microwave heating method. • Domestic microwave used to synthesize carbon dots. • Glucose determination using standard addition calibration method. • A simple, low-cost, portable, and eco-friendly paper platform method was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development and application of a new, simple, inexpensive, and eco-friendly method is presented for the quantification of bumetanide in human urine samples for the detection of doping in sports. The method involves the use of a paper platform and digital image detection and is based on the reaction between bumetanide, p -dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (p -DAC), and HCl in a methanolic medium, yielding a colored compound in a delimited area on a qualitative filter paper. The concentrations of p- DAC and HCl were optimized by a chemometric experimental design. After the addition of the reagents to the paper, digital images were obtained by scanning in a multifunctional printer and analyzed using the RGB pattern. The linear bumetanide concentration range was 6.90 × 10−5–1.37 × 10−3 mol L−1 with R 2 = 0.993 and the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 3.60 × 10−4 and 1.09 × 10−4 mol L−1, respectively. A SPE clean-up step for the samples were required to eliminate the interference of urinary urea. The recoveries obtained varied from 94% to 105%, indicating the absence of significant matrix effects or interferences in urine samples after clean-up step. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of bumetanide in human urine samples. • Spot test employing a paper platform delimited with hydrophobic barriers • μPAD associated with digital image detection for bumetanide determination • Determination of bumetanide in urine samples for doping sports • The method represents an advantageous alternative to most of the reported methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, thanks to nanotechnological progress, which itself guides us more and more closely toward not only the efficient design of innovative nanomaterials or nanostructures, but to the improvement of their functionality, we benefit from an important asset in the battle against pathogenic illnesses. Herein, we report a versatile biocompatible plasmonic nanoplatform based on a Whatman paper incorporating positively-charged gold nanospherical particles via the immersion approach. The morphological characterization of the as-engineered-plasmonic paper was examined by SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and HRTEM (high-resolution transmission electron microscopy) investigations, while its surface chemical modification with a synthetic polypeptide, specifically RRWHRWWRR-NH2 (P2), was proved by monitoring the plasmonic response of loaded gold nanospheres and the emission signal of P2 via fluorescence spectroscopy. The as-functionalized plasmonic paper is non-cytotoxic towards BJ fibroblast human cells at bactericidal concentrations. Finally, the antimicrobial activity of the P2-functionalized plasmonic paper on both planktonic bacteria and biofilms was tested against two reference strains: Gram-positive Bacteria, i.e., Staphylococcus aureus and the Gram-negative Bacteria, i.e., Escherichia coli, determining microbial inhibition of up to 100% for planktonic bacteria. In line with the above presented nanoplatform’s proper design, followed by their functionalization with active antimicrobial peptides, new roads can be open for determining antibiotic-free treatments against different relevant pathogens.

A simple, fast, low-cost, portable, and eco-friendly method using a spot test on a paper platform, together with diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, was developed and validated for the quantification of aluminum hydrochloride, a potential neurotoxic agent, in antiperspirant samples. The determination of aluminum hydrochloride was performed at a wavelength of 615 nm, by measuring consumption of the purple colorimetric reagent Alizarin S, due to reaction with aluminum. The linear range was from 10.0 to 125.0 mg L −1 and could be described by the equation: A R  = 0.4479 − 0.002543 C Al (R = 0.999). The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 3.06 and 10.2 mg L −1 , respectively. The method was specific, accurate, and repeatable, with relative standard deviation (RSD) <5.0%. The recovery was between 92.2 and 103.4%. The method was successfully used for the determination of aluminum hydrochloride in commercial antiperspirant samples, revealing concentrations below the maximum permitted by current legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Easy and non-invasive sample collection using saliva. • A low-cost sample treatment using a cotton-paper-syringe filtration system. • LODs as low as 10−6 mol L−1 and 10−7 mol L−1 were achieved. • Simple, fast, low cost and highly sensitive method to analyze glucose and lactate. Bioanalyses are commonly performed with blood or serum samples. However, these analyses often require invasive and painful blood collection using a needle or finger pricking. Saliva is an alternative and very attractive biological medium for performing clinical analyses, since it contains many types of clinically relevant biomarkers and compounds. Its collection is straightforward and can be achieved in a non-invasive and stress-free way. However, the analytes are frequently present at low concentrations, while the viscosity of whole saliva hinders its analysis using paper devices, especially those with multiple layers (3D-μPADs). This work explores the use of a simple, fast, and low-cost saliva sample pretreatment using a cotton-paper-syringe filtration system, allowing the analysis of saliva samples using multilayer paper devices. The proposed methodology employs the oxidation of glucose and lactate, catalyzed by specific oxidase enzymes, producing hydrogen peroxide. The detection is based on the fluorescence quenching of carbon dots in the presence of hydrogen peroxidase. The concentrations of the analytes showed good linear correlations with the fluorescence quenching, with LODs of 2.60 × 10−6 and 8.14 × 10−7 mol L−1 for glucose and lactate, respectively. The proposed method presented satisfactory intra-day and inter-day repeatabilities, with %RSD values in the range 3.82–6.61%. The enzymatic systems proved to be specific for the analytes and the matrix had no significant influence on the glucose and lactate determinations. The proposed methodology was successfully applied to saliva and serum samples and was validated using certified material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, thanks to nanotechnological progress, which itself guides us more and more closely toward not only the efficient design of innovative nanomaterials or nanostructures, but to the improvement of their functionality, we benefit from an important asset in the battle against pathogenic illnesses. Herein, we report a versatile biocompatible plasmonic nanoplatform based on a Whatman paper incorporating positively-charged gold nanospherical particles via the immersion approach. The morphological characterization of the as-engineered-plasmonic paper was examined by SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and HRTEM (high-resolution transmission electron microscopy) investigations, while its surface chemical modification with a synthetic polypeptide, specifically RRWHRWWRR-NH2 (P2), was proved by monitoring the plasmonic response of loaded gold nanospheres and the emission signal of P2 via fluorescence spectroscopy. The as-functionalized plasmonic paper is non-cytotoxic towards BJ fibroblast human cells at bactericidal concentrations. Finally, the antimicrobial activity of the P2-functionalized plasmonic paper on both planktonic bacteria and biofilms was tested against two reference strains: Gram-positive Bacteria, i.e., Staphylococcus aureus and the Gram-negative Bacteria, i.e., Escherichia coli, determining microbial inhibition of up to 100% for planktonic bacteria. In line with the above presented nanoplatform's proper design, followed by their functionalization with active antimicrobial peptides, new roads can be open for determining antibiotic-free treatments against different relevant pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]