No abstract

The emerging properties of noble metal nanoparticles are attracting huge interest from the translational scientific community. In this feature article, we highlight recent advances in the adaptation of noble metal nanomaterials and their biomedical applications in therapeutics, diagnostics and sensing.

No abstract

Although numerous methods have been reported for the analysis of toxic mercury (Hg(2+)) ions in drinking water, development of simple, rapid, inexpensive, and sensitive sensors still remains a great challenge. Here, we report a simple yet very sensitive colorimetric assay for rapid detection of Hg(2+) in water. The colorimetric assay is based on the aggregation of as-prepared citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the presence of Hg(2+) ions and the positively charged amino acid, lysine. The detection limit of this inexpensive colorimetric assay is 2.9 nM, which is below the limit value (10 nM) defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in drinkable water. Also, the colorimetric response of citrate-capped AuNPs in the presence of lysine is very selective to the Hg(2+). In addition, the colorimetric assay is very fast, and all analyses can be completed within a few minutes.

No abstract

A facile colorimetric sensor array for detection of multiple toxic heavy metal ions (Hg(2+), Cd(2+), Fe(3+), Pb(2+), Al(3+), Cu(2+), and Cr(3+)) in water is demonstrated using 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA)-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and five amino acids (lysine, cysteine, histidine, tyrosine, and arginine). The presence of amino acids (which have functional groups that can form complexes with metal ions and MUA) regulates the aggregation of MUA-capped particles; it can either enhance or diminish the particle aggregation. The combinatorial colorimetric response of all channels of the sensor array (i.e., color change in each of AuNP and amino acid couples) enables naked-eye discrimination of all of the metal ions tested in this study with excellent selectivity.

No abstract

No abstract