Hydrophobic and hydrophilic au and ag nanoparticles. Breakthroughs and perspectives

This review provides a broad look on the recent investigations on the synthesis, characterization and physico-chemical properties of noble metal nanoparticles, mainly gold and silver nanoparticles, stabilized with ligands of different chemical nature. A comprehensive review of the available literature in this field may be far too large and only some selected representative examples will be reported here, together with some recent achievements from our group, that will be discussed in more detail. Many efforts in finding synthetic routes have been performed so far to achieve metal nanoparticles with well-defined size, morphology and stability in different environments, to match the large variety of applications that can be foreseen for these materials. In particular, the synthesis and stabilization of gold and silver nanoparticles together with their properties in different emerging fields of nanomedicine, optics and sensors are reviewed and briefly commented

Tractor cabin ergonomics analyses by means of Kinect motion capture technology

Kinect is the de facto standard for real-time depth sensing and motion capture cameras. The sensor is here proposed for exploiting body tracking during driving operations. The motion capture system was developed taking advantage of the Microsoft software development kit (SDK), and implemented for real-time monitoring of body movements of a beginner and an expert tractor drivers, on different tracks (straight and with curves) and with different driving conditions (manual and assisted steering). Tests show how analyses can be done not only in terms of absolute movements, but also in terms of relative shifts, allowing for quantification of angular displacements or rotations

Biogratings: Diffractive Transducers for Biosensing in Photonic Platforms

Tesis por compendio[ES] El desarrollo científico y tecnológico de las últimas décadas ha dado lugar a sistemas sensores capaces de obtener, procesar y transmitir información sobre multitud de aspectos físicos y químicos, y utilizarla para mejorar aspectos clave de multitud de áreas de nuestra sociedad. Los sensores químicos son dispositivos compactos y miniaturizados capaces de ofrecer soluciones alternativas a las técnicas de análisis instrumental convencionales. En especial, los biosensores han adquirido gran relevancia por los avances que han supuesto para sectores estratégicos como el diagnóstico clínico, la industria alimentaria y el medio ambiente. Los biosensores ópticos se basan en interacciones entre la luz y la materia para transducir eventos de bioreconocimiento y presentan prestaciones importantes como la estabilidad, inmunidad a estímulos externos y versatilidad en el desarrollo de aproximaciones sin marcaje (label-free). Este último aspecto suele aprovechar fenómenos nanoscópicos y su desarrollo se encuentra muy ligado al progreso de la nanociencia y nanotecnología. Un aspecto clave en el biosensado sin marcaje consiste en descubrir y desarrollar nuevas estrategias de transducción. En este sentido, aunque se encuentren aun en una etapa temprana de desarrollo, los biosensores difractivos presentan un gran potencial en términos de simplicidad, miniaturización, y capacidad para minimizar señales no deseadas fruto de interacciones no específicas, entre otros aspectos.[CA] El desenvolupament científic i tecnològic de les últimes dècades ha donat lloc a sistemes sensors capaços d'obtindre, processar i transmetre informació sobre multitud d'aspectes físics i químics, i utilizar-la per a millorar aspectes clau de multitud d'arees de la nostra societat. Els sensors químics són dispositius compactes i miniaturitzats capaços d'oferir solucions alternatives a les tècniques d'analisi instrumental convencionals. Especialment, els biosensors han adquirit gran rellevància pels avanços que han suposat per als sectors estratègics com el diagnòstic clínic, la industria alimentària i el medi ambient. Els biosensors òptics es basen en interaccions entre la llum i la matèria per a transduir esdeveniments de bioreconèixement i presenten prestacions importants com estabilitat, immunitat a estímuls externs i versatilitat en el desenvolupament d'aproximacions sense marcatge (label-free). Aquest últim aspecte sol aprofitat fenòmens nanoscòpics i el seu desenvolupament es troba molt lligat al progrés de la nanociència i nanotecnologia. Un aspecte clau en el biosensat sense marcatge consisteix a descobrir i desenvolupar noves estratègies de transducció. En aquest sentit, encara que es troben fins i tot en una etapa primerenca de desenvolupament, els biosensors difractius presenten un gran potencial en termes de simplicitat, miniaturització, i capacitat per a minimitzar senyals no desitjats fruit d'interaccions no específiques, entre altres aspectes.[EN] The scientific and technological progress in recent decades has given rise to sensor systems capable of obtaining, processing, and transmitting information on a multitude of physical and chemical aspects and using it to improve key aspects of many areas of our society. Chemical sensors are compact, miniaturized devices capable of offering alternative solutions to conventional instrumental analysis techniques. In particular, biosensors have become highly relevant due to the progress they have brought to strategic sectors such as clinical diagnostics, the food industry, and the environment. Optical biosensors rely on interactions between light and matter to transduce biosensing events and provide important features such as stability, immunity to external stimuli, and versatility in the development of label-free approaches. This last aspect usually exploits nanoscopic phenomena and its development in closely linked to the progress in nanoscience and nanotechnology. A key aspect of label-free biosensing is the discovery and development of new transduction strategies. In this regard, although they are at an early stage of development, diffractive biosensors offer great potential in terms of simplicity, miniaturization, and the ability to minimize unwanted signals from non-specific interactions, among other aspects.This work was financially supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/Agencia Estatal de Investigación (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) co-funded by the European Union “ERDF A way of making Europe” (PID2019-110713RB-I00, TED2021-132584B-C21, PID2019-110877GB-I00), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (TEC2016-80385-P), Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2019/048 PROMETEO/2020/094, PROMETEO/2021/015, IDIFEDER/2021/046). A.J.D. ackowledges the FPI-UPV 2017 grant program. The authors acknowledge Instituto de Microelectrónica de Barcelona CNM-CSIC for the support in the fabrication of the measured chip samples on the Multiproject CNM-VLC silicon nitride technology platform.Juste Dolz, AM. (2023). Biogratings: Diffractive Transducers for Biosensing in Photonic Platforms [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/194251Compendi

Applications of Graphene Quantum Dots in Biomedical Sensors

Due to the proliferative cancer rates, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, autoimmune diseases and a plethora of infections across the globe, it is essential to introduce strategies that can rapidly and specifically detect the ultralow concentrations of relevant biomarkers, pathogens, toxins and pharmaceuticals in biological matrices. Considering these pathophysiologies, various research works have become necessary to fabricate biosensors for their early diagnosis and treatment, using nanomaterials like quantum dots (QDs). These nanomaterials effectively ameliorate the sensor performance with respect to their reproducibility, selectivity as well as sensitivity. In particular, graphene quantum dots (GQDs), which are ideally graphene fragments of nanometer size, constitute discrete features such as acting as attractive fluorophores and excellent electro-catalysts owing to their photo-stability, water-solubility, biocompatibility, non-toxicity and lucrativeness that make them favorable candidates for a wide range of novel biomedical applications. Herein, we reviewed about 300 biomedical studies reported over the last five years which entail the state of art as well as some pioneering ideas with respect to the prominent role of GQDs, especially in the development of optical, electrochemical and photoelectrochemical biosensors. Additionally, we outline the ideal properties of GQDs, their eclectic methods of synthesis, and the general principle behind several biosensing techniques.DFG, 428780268, Biomimetische Rezeptoren auf NanoMIP-Basis zur Virenerkennung und -entfernung mittels integrierter Ansätz

Quantum-inspired computational imaging

Computational imaging combines measurement and computational methods with the aim of forming images even when the measurement conditions are weak, few in number, or highly indirect. The recent surge in quantum-inspired imaging sensors, together with a new wave of algorithms allowing on-chip, scalable and robust data processing, has induced an increase of activity with notable results in the domain of low-light flux imaging and sensing. We provide an overview of the major challenges encountered in low-illumination (e.g., ultrafast) imaging and how these problems have recently been addressed for imaging applications in extreme conditions. These methods provide examples of the future imaging solutions to be developed, for which the best results are expected to arise from an efficient codesign of the sensors and data analysis tools.Y.A. acknowledges support from the UK Royal Academy of Engineering under the Research Fellowship Scheme (RF201617/16/31). S.McL. acknowledges financial support from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (grant EP/J015180/1). V.G. acknowledges support from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) InPho program through U.S. Army Research Office award W911NF-10-1-0404, the U.S. DARPA REVEAL program through contract HR0011-16-C-0030, and U.S. National Science Foundation through grants 1161413 and 1422034. A.H. acknowledges support from U.S. Army Research Office award W911NF-15-1-0479, U.S. Department of the Air Force grant FA8650-15-D-1845, and U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration grant DE-NA0002534. D.F. acknowledges financial support from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (grants EP/M006514/1 and EP/M01326X/1). (RF201617/16/31 - UK Royal Academy of Engineering; EP/J015180/1 - UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council; EP/M006514/1 - UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council; EP/M01326X/1 - UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council; W911NF-10-1-0404 - U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) InPho program through U.S. Army Research Office; HR0011-16-C-0030 - U.S. DARPA REVEAL program; 1161413 - U.S. National Science Foundation; 1422034 - U.S. National Science Foundation; W911NF-15-1-0479 - U.S. Army Research Office; FA8650-15-D-1845 - U.S. Department of the Air Force; DE-NA0002534 - U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration)Accepted manuscrip

Plasmonic antennas and zero mode waveguides to enhance single molecule fluorescence detection and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy towards physiological concentrations

Single-molecule approaches to biology offer a powerful new vision to elucidate the mechanisms that underpin the functioning of living cells. However, conventional optical single molecule spectroscopy techniques such as F\"orster fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) or fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) are limited by diffraction to the nanomolar concentration range, far below the physiological micromolar concentration range where most biological reaction occur. To breach the diffraction limit, zero mode waveguides and plasmonic antennas exploit the surface plasmon resonances to confine and enhance light down to the nanometre scale. The ability of plasmonics to achieve extreme light concentration unlocks an enormous potential to enhance fluorescence detection, FRET and FCS. Single molecule spectroscopy techniques greatly benefit from zero mode waveguides and plasmonic antennas to enter a new dimension of molecular concentration reaching physiological conditions. The application of nano-optics to biological problems with FRET and FCS is an emerging and exciting field, and is promising to reveal new insights on biological functions and dynamics.Comment: WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 201

A label-free diffraction-based sensing displacement immunosensor toquantify low molecular weight organic compounds

[EN] Herein we present a diffractometric immunosensor to quantify low molecular weight organic compounds in a label-free, simple, and sensitive fashion. The approach is based on patterning analyte analogues (haptens) on solid surfaces according to a diffractive structure, and then loading specific antibodies on them to be subsequently displaced by free analytes in solution. This displacement generates a measurable change in the diffractive response that enables to quantify the analyte concentration. In this study we address the fabrication, optimization, and assessment of these diffractive structures of biological probes and their application to the analysis of atrazine, an organic compound extensively used as pesticide. This immunosensor displays well-correlated dose-response curves that reach a detection limit of 1.1¿ng¿mL¿1 of atrazine in label-free conditions. From a general viewpoint, this study also aims to provide insights into exploiting this approach towards prospective in-field analysis and screening strategies to sense multiple low molecular weight compounds in label-free conditions.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (CTQ2013-45875-R and FIS2011-23175), FEDER, and the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO II/2014/040 and PROMETEO II/2014/072). Special thanks go to Richard A. McAloney and M. Cynthia Goh for hosting M.A.-O. as visiting researcher, sharing their expertise, and offering their valuable support. M.A.-O. also acknowledges the FPI program of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for a PhD and an EEBB mobility grant.Avella-Oliver, M.; Ferrando Martín, V.; Monsoriu Serra, JA.; Puchades, R.; Maquieira Catala, A. (2018). A label-free diffraction-based sensing displacement immunosensor toquantify low molecular weight organic compounds. Analytica Chimica Acta. 1033:173-179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2018.05.060S173179103