A simple and efficient assay platform with high sensitivity, convenient implementation, and moderate cost in reagents and instrumentation is most appropriate for routine applications. On the basis of the gold nanoparticle (AuNP) enumeration signal readout mode established in our laboratory, we have developed a nonamplification sandwich assay for nucleic acid detection with the 3 fM limit of detection for a sequence related to Alzheimer's disease. This AuNP counting based method takes advantages of the distinctive and strong localized surface plasmon resonance light scattering with the dark-field microscope and magnetic separation. It is shown that the presence of 20 nM random DNA sequence or calf thymus DNA with a mass up to 10(6)-fold of the targets do not significantly interfere with the assay signal. The spike recoveries of Hela cell lysate sample at 109.3% for 20 pM target and 110.5% for 100 pM target indicate the potential of this proposed method in practical sample applications. This nonamplification sandwich assay platform in principle is applicable to other assays such as the immunoassay and thus would be expected to find a breadth of applications that can make the best use of the simplicity and sensitivity.
Difluoroboron β-diketonates (BF bdks) show both fluorescence (F) and room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) when confined to a rigid matrix, such as poly(lactic acid). These materials have been utilized as optical oxygen sensors (e.g., in tumors, wounds, and cells). Spectral features include charge transfer (CT) from the major aromatic donor to the dioxaborine acceptor. A series of naphthyl-phenyl dyes (BF nbm) (1-6) were prepared to test heavy-atom placement effects. The BF nbm dye (1) was substituted with Br on naphthyl (2), phenyl (3), or both rings (4) to tailor the fluorescence/phosphorescence ratio and RTP lifetime-important features for designing O sensing dyes by means of the heavy atom effect. Computational studies identify the naphthyl ring as the major donor. Thus, Br substitution on the naphthyl ring produced greater effects on the optical properties, such as increased RTP intensity and decreased RTP lifetime compared to phenyl substitution. However, for electron-donating piperidyl-phenyl dyes (5), the phenyl aromatic is the major donor. As a result, Br substitution on the naphthyl ring (6) did not alter the optical properties significantly. Experimental data and computational modeling show the importance of Br position. The S and T states are described by two singly occupied MOs (SOMOs). When both of these SOMOs have substantial amplitude on the heavy atom, passage from S to T and emission from T to S are both favored. This shortens the excited-state lifetimes and enhances phosphorescence.
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