Ultrasensitive SERS detection of propranolol based on sandwich nanostructure of molecular imprinting polymers

Propranolol (PRO) is a p-blocker used in the treatment of heart disease. Recently, it has become a kind of organic pollutions due to its wide-spread use. However, the reliable and rapid analytical method for detection and monitoring PRO is still a challenge. We design a novel sandwich nanostructure for the specific and sensitive determination of trace propranolol in complex samples by surface enhanced Raman scattering technology. The sandwich nanostructure consists of graphene oxide/molecular imprinting polymers, target molecules, and sliver nanoparticles. This novel approach exhibits excellent sensitivity for propranolol, which makes the limit of detection as low as 10(-11) mol/L. The results reveal the exceptional potential of the sandwich structure for high-performance environmental monitoring. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Dual-sized hollow particle incorporated fibroin thermal insulating coatings on catheter for cerebral therapeutic hypothermia

Selective endovascular hypothermia has been used to provide cooling-induced cerebral neuroprotection, but current catheters do not support thermally-insulated transfer of cold infusate, which results in an increased exit temperature, causes hemodilution, and limits its cooling efficiency. Herein, air-sprayed fibroin/silica-based coatings combined with chemical vapor deposited parylene-C capping film was prepared on catheter. This coating features in dual-sized-hollow-microparticle incorporated structures with low thermal conductivity. The infusate exit temperature is tunable by adjusting the coating thickness and infusion rate. No peeling or cracking was observed on the coatings under bending and rotational scenarios in the vascular models. Its efficiency was verified in a swine model, and the outlet temperature of coated catheter (75 μm thickness) was 1.8–2.0 °C lower than that of the uncoated one. This pioneering work on catheter thermal insulation coatings may facilitate the clinical translation of selective endovascular hypothermia for neuroprotection in patients with acute ischemic stroke