Biotin-tagged fluorescent sensor to visualize "mobile' Zn2+ in cancer cells

A cancer cell-targeting fluorescent sensor has been developed to image mobile Zn2+ by introducing a biotin group. It shows a highly selective response to Zn2+ in vitro, no toxicity in cellulo and images 'mobile' Zn2+ specifically in cancer cells. We believe this probe has the potential to help improve our understanding of the role of Zn2+ in the processes of cancer initiation and development

Single-Component Electroactive Polymer Architectures for Non-Enzymatic Glucose Sensing.

Organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors (OMIECs) have emerged as promising materials for biological sensing, owing to their electrochemical activity, stability in an aqueous environment, and biocompatibility. Yet, OMIEC-based sensors rely predominantly on the use of composite matrices to enable stimuli-responsive functionality, which can exhibit issues with intercomponent interfacing. In this study, an approach is presented for non-enzymatic glucose detection by harnessing a newly synthesized functionalized monomer, EDOT-PBA. This monomer integrates electrically conducting and receptor moieties within a single organic component, obviating the need for complex composite preparation. By engineering the conditions for electrodeposition, two distinct polymer film architectures are developed: pristine PEDOT-PBA and molecularly imprinted PEDOT-PBA. Both architectures demonstrated proficient glucose binding and signal transduction capabilities. Notably, the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) architecture demonstrated faster stabilization upon glucose uptake while it also enabled a lower limit of detection, lower standard deviation, and a broader linear range in the sensor output signal compared to its non-imprinted counterpart. This material design not only provides a robust and efficient platform for glucose detection but also offers a blueprint for developing selective sensors for a diverse array of target molecules, by tuning the receptor units correspondingly

Diagnosis and management of Cornelia de Lange syndrome:first international consensus statement

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is an archetypical genetic syndrome that is characterized by intellectual disability, well-defined facial features, upper limb anomalies and atypical growth, among numerous other signs and symptoms. It is caused by variants in any one of seven genes, all of which have a structural or regulatory function in the cohesin complex. Although recent advances in next-generation sequencing have improved molecular diagnostics, marked heterogeneity exists in clinical and molecular diagnostic approaches and care practices worldwide. Here, we outline a series of recommendations that document the consensus of a group of international experts on clinical diagnostic criteria, both for classic CdLS and non-classic CdLS phenotypes, molecular investigations, long-term management and care planning

n-Type semiconductors for organic electrochemical transistor applications

Over the last decade, the organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) has appeared as a powerful platform for developing organic bioelectronic applications such as electronic biosensors and neuromorphic devices. The rapidly growing interest in this field has spurred the development of new active bioelectronic materials that are tailor-made to fulfil the mixed ionic-electronic conduction requirements of the OECT. While p-type (hole-transporting) organic semiconductors quickly appeared with impressive mixed conduction properties, their electron-transporting counterparts, n-type organic semiconductors have lagged severely in terms of OECT performance metrics. Here, we review recent progress on the development of n-type organic semiconductors, including both small-molecule and polymer systems, for OECT applications and discuss the bioelectronic applications that have emerged from the materials development

Mixed Ionic and Electronic Conduction in Small-Molecule Semiconductors.

Small-molecule organic semiconductors have displayed remarkable electronic properties with a multitude of π-conjugated structures developed and fine-tuned over recent years to afford highly efficient hole- and electron-transporting materials. Already making a significant impact on organic electronic applications including organic field-effect transistors and solar cells, this class of materials is also now naturally being considered for the emerging field of organic bioelectronics. In efforts aimed at identifying and developing (semi)conducting materials for bioelectronic applications, particular attention has been placed on materials displaying mixed ionic and electronic conduction to interface efficiently with the inherently ionic biological world. Such mixed conductors are conveniently evaluated using an organic electrochemical transistor, which further presents itself as an ideal bioelectronic device for transducing biological signals into electrical signals. Here, we review recent literature relevant for the design of small-molecule mixed ionic and electronic conductors. We assess important classes of p- and n-type small-molecule semiconductors, consider structural modifications relevant for mixed conduction and for specific interactions with ionic species, and discuss the outlook of small-molecule semiconductors in the context of organic bioelectronics

Controlling morphology, adhesion, and electrochromic behavior of PEDOT films through molecular design and processing

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is a well-known semiconducting polymer with favorable properties which find it often applied as the active material in biological sensors and electrochromic devices. However, PEDOT has several drawbacks which can prohibit its effective or long-term use, including weak adhesion to substrates such as ITO-coated glass, poorly controlled surface morphology, and reduced electrochemical stability over time. While a diverse range of approaches have been explored to overcome these issues, most involve additives or substrate modification, while solutions based on direct covalent adaptation are relatively lacking. We present a novel polymer based on covalently modified EDOT (PEDOT-Crown), featuring polar motifs and a 15-crown-5 moiety. Compared to PEDOT, PEDOT-Crown demonstrates a wealth of advantageous properties including: superior adhesion to ITO under physical and electrochemical duress; a more uniform surface morphology; and electrochemical properties including a higher contrast ratio, red-shifted polaron and bipolaron absorption features, bleaching of the neutral absorption band across a narrower voltage range, and more Faradaic rather than capacitive behavior. Additionally, we note that in the presence of Na+, PEDOT-Crown appears to show modified behavior in long-term electrochemical experiments. These features make PEDOT-Crown a material with improved suitability for application in biological sensing and electrochromic devices, compared to PEDOT

Sustainability Consolidated Ln(3+)(Ce3+-Pr3+-Nd3+):SnO2 System for Variegated Electrochemical and Photovoltaic Applications

This work for the first time develops and employs the novel cerium-praseodymium-neodymium oxide co-doped tin oxide (Ln3+(Ce3+-Pr3+-Nd3+):SnO2) system for varied energy applications including electro-catalytic, super-capacitive, and photovoltaic conversion potential. The outstanding optical, compositional, crystalline, and morphological aspects of the synthesized material express its effectiveness for energy related micro-electrochemical applications. Bandgap narrowing due to lanthanide doping and acquiring cassiterite crystalline phase results in the auspicious output. O2 and H2 evolution of the developed electro-catalyst expresses superior energy production with lower overpotential values of 95 mV for O2 and 131 mV toward H2. Fabricated electrode expresses an impressive charge storage potential with the specific capacitance of 151.62 F g−1. Also, this electrode has an extended service life for 100 min showing its ultra-durability for commercial applications. Ln3+(Ce3+-Pr3+-Nd3+):SnO2 is used as an electron transport layer in the cesium based solar cells with the power conversion efficiency of 12.49%, short circuit current of 19.63 mA cm−1, and open circuit voltage of 1.2 V under artificial sun with negligible hysteresis. Ln3+(Ce3+-Pr3+-Nd3+):SnO2 is an effective material with the perfect bandgap tuned exceeding the pristine material for diverse energy applications marked by profound sustainability and economic viability

Rare earth (Sm/Eu/Tm) doped ZrO<inf>2</inf> driven electro-catalysis, energy storage, and scaffolding in high-performance perovskite solar cells

Current work presents the first report on the modification of zirconia (ZrO2) by doping it with the lanthanides oxides i.e. [samarium, europium, and thulium] forming a [Sm/Eu/Tm] co-doped ZrO2 system. Lanthanide doping tailored the structure of host material by causing considerable bandgap energy shrinkage from 4.04 to 3.57 eV and reduction in the crystallite size from 67.92 to 45.23 nm. Profound electro-catalytic potential was reflected analyzed via linear sweep voltammetry showing the excellent of developed catalytic towards H2 evolution with lower overpotential i.e. 133 mV and Tafel slope of 119.3 mV dec−1. While for O2 evolution, the electro-catalyst succeeded in gaining overpotential and Tafel slope values of 310 mV and 294.8 mV dec−1, respectively. With such values, this material has surpassed the conventional electro-catalysts and is proved to be an excellent hydrogen producing electro-catalyst. The electrical charge storage potential was analyzed for [Sm/Eu/Tm] co-doped ZrO2 decorated nickel foam electrode for development into a super-capacitor. This electrode was impressively stable for 10 cycles after 20 days checked through cyclic voltammetry. Furthermore, an augmented specific capacitance of 447 F g−1 was achieved by the doped electrode when compared with the pristine one approaching 83.69 F g−1. The electrical energy storage capacity of [Sm/Eu/Tm] co-doped ZrO2 is even higher than the conventionally used metal oxides. In terms of the interfacial electrode-electrolyte, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was done expressing the excellent ionic diffusion and electrochemically active sites for [Sm/Eu/Tm] co-doped ZrO2 electrode with minimal resistance. The developed doped system was used a spacer layer in a cesium lead halide perovskite solar cells having planar architecture. The spacer layer containing solar cell device succeeded in gaining a power conversion efficiency of 16.31% and a fill factor of 78% evaluated via photo-current measurements carried out under artificial solar irradiance. The impressively higher fill factor shows the effective passivation and scaffolding by the [Sm/Eu/Tm] co-doped ZrO2. The associated device was also marked by negligible hysteresis. Chrono-potentiometry and chrono-amperometry expressed commendable accelerated service lives for 100 min inside an electrolyte. The lanthanide co-doped ZrO2 is an effective material for the utilization in energy systems associated with the electro-catalysis of water, charge storage electrode for super-capacitors, and photovoltaic solar to electrical energy conversion