Biomimetic materials assembled on a photovoltaic cell as a novel biosensing approach to cancer biomarker detection

Supplementary information accompanies this paper at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-27884-2.This work describes for the first time the integration of Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) technology in biosensors and biomimetic materials, opening doors towards a new dimension of autonomous screening devices that may be used in point-of-care, with zero-power requirements. DSSCs are fabricated with a counter electrode (CE) of polypyrrole (PPy) that was made responsive to a specific protein by biomimetic material (BM) technology. Carcinogenic embryonic antigen (CEA) was selected as target protein. The resulting BM-PPy film acted as biomimetic artificial antibody for CEA. Rebinding of CEA into this film changed its intrinsic electrical properties and the subsequent electrical output of the DSSC using it as CE. The quantity of CEA in solution was deduced by I-V and electrochemical impedance spesctroscopy (EIS). Linear responses to CEA were observed down to 0.25pg/mL, with 0.13pg/mL detection limit. Control films of PPy (prepared without CEA in the electropolymerization step) confirmed the ability of the BM material to recognize the target protein. Accurate results were obtained in the analysis of urine samples. Further developments into this ground-breaking self-powered biosensor will display a huge impact in point-to-care medical applications, which may be extended to other fields of knowledge.The authors acknowledge the financial support of FP7 and European Research Council though the Starting Grant, ERC-StG-3P’s/2012, GA 311086 (to MGF Sales).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The FANTASIO+ set-up to investigate jet-cooled molecules: Focus on overtone bands of acetylene dimers

The experimental set-up FANTASIO, for 'Fourier trANsform, Tunable diode and quadrupole mAss spectrometers interfaced to a Supersonic expansIOn' (M. Herman, K. Didriche, D. Hurtmans, B. Kizil, P. Macko, A. Rizopoulos and P. Van Poucke, Mol. Phys. 105, 815 (2007)) built in Brussels has been updated. The turbomolecular pumping system of the supersonic expansion has been doubled and new mirrors, with reflectivity 99.999% instead of 99.99%, have been set in the CW-cavity ring down spectrometer probing jet-cooled molecules. The changes all together result in a signal to noise increased by up to a factor 10, around 1.5 μm. These improvements are demonstrated with various acetylene data in the 2CH excitation range, including the assignment of a new sub-band of acetylene-Ar, with K'-K'' = 2-3. The focus is set on the acetylene dimer. Overtone sub-bands, with b- and a-type structures, are identified for the first time in the literature. They are assigned to vibrational excitation in the hat and body units of the T shaped dimer, respectively. The relevance of the overtone data on acetylene dimers for space remote sensing is highlighted. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.SCOPUS: cp.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

On-site and in situ remediation technologies applicable to petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites in the Antarctic and Arctic

Petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites, associated with the contemporary and legacy effects of human activities, remain a serious environmental problem in the Antarctic and Arctic. The management of contaminated sites in these regions is often confounded by the logistical, environmental, legislative and financial challenges associated with operating in polar environments. In response to the need for efficient and safe methods for managing contaminated sites, several technologies have been adapted for on-site or in situ application in these regions. This article reviews six technologies which are currently being adapted or developed for the remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites in the Antarctic and Arctic. Bioremediation, landfarming, biopiles, phytoremediation, electrokinetic remediation and permeable reactive barriers are reviewed and discussed with respect to their advantages, limitations and potential for the long-term management of soil and groundwater contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons in the Antarctic and Arctic. Although these technologies demonstrate potential for application in the Antarctic and Arctic, their effectiveness is dependent on site-specific factors including terrain, soil moisture and temperature, freeze–thaw processes and the indigenous microbial population. The importance of detailed site assessment prior to on-site or in situ implementation is emphasized, and it is argued that coupling of technologies represents one strategy for effective, long-term management of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites in the Antarctic and Arctic