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Topic Review
Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Nanostructure in High-Temperature Processes
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a highly sensitive analytical technique based on Raman scatter and utilizes the nanostructures of active metals, such as gold and silver, with roughened surfaces as a signal amplifier. With its enhancement effect and “fingerprint” ability, in situ SERS is able to capture the dynamics of microstructure evolution and trace surface species in real time, which provides direct information for the analysis of a reaction mechanism in various surface processes, including heterogeneous catalysis, electrochemical reactions, etc. SERS has been widely used in operando analysis of surface processes under ordinary temperatures. For application in high-temperature processes, the harsh environment puts forward additional requirements in addition to high sensitivity for the SERS nanostructures, especially concerning thermal stability, chemical inertness, and surface universality. 
  • 774
  • 20 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Plasmonic Sensing with Molecular Imprinting Technology
Molecularly imprinted plasmonic nanosensors are robust devices capable of selective target interaction, and in some cases reaction catalysis. Recent advances in control of nanoscale structure have opened the door for development of a wide range of chemosensors for environmental monitoring. The soaring rate of environmental pollution through human activities and its negative impact on the ecosystem demands an urgent interest in developing rapid and efficient techniques that can easily be deployed for in-field assessment and environmental monitoring purposes. Organophosphate pesticides (OPPs) play a significant role for agricultural use; however, they also present environmental threats to human health due to their chemical toxicity. Plasmonic sensors are thus vital analytical detection tools that have been explored for many environmental applications and OPP detection due to their excellent properties such as high sensitivity, selectivity, and rapid recognition capability. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have also significantly been recognized as a highly efficient, low-cost, and sensitive synthetic sensing technique that has been adopted for environmental monitoring of a wide array of environmental contaminants, specifically for very small molecule detection.
  • 774
  • 31 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Malt on Beer Flavour Stability
Delaying flavour staling has been one of the greatest and most significant challenges for brewers. The choice of suitable raw materials, particularly malting barley, is the critical starting point to delay the risk of beer staling. Malting barley and the malting process can have an impact on beer instability due to the presence of pro-oxidant and antioxidant activities. Malt contains various compounds originating from barley or formed during the malting process, which can play a significant role in the fundamental processes of brewing through their antioxidant properties. 
  • 770
  • 26 May 2023
Topic Review
Pore-Based Sensing for Virus Particles Detection
Pore-based sensing is a highly sensitive sensing technology for the detection of extremely small particles such as molecules, proteins, and viruses (50–200 nm). Pore-based sensing is conducted by applying an electric field across nanopores, usually made of biomacromolecules, e.g., α-hemolysin or synthetic materials, e.g., graphene and semiconductor. When a particle passes through the pore, changes in the current waveform can be observed. The presence of specific waveform changes indicates the presence of target, and the number of this specific waveform can be used to determine the concentration.
  • 764
  • 12 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Digital PCR for Single-Cell Analysis
Single-cell analysis provides an overwhelming strategy for revealing cellular heterogeneity and new perspectives for understanding the biological function and disease mechanism. Moreover, it promotes the basic and clinical research in many fields at a single-cell resolution. A digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) is an absolute quantitative analysis technology with high sensitivity and precision for DNA/RNA or protein. With the development of microfluidic technology, digital PCR has been used to achieve absolute quantification of single-cell gene expression and single-cell proteins. For single-cell specific-gene or -protein detection, digital PCR has shown great advantages. 
  • 751
  • 23 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Cheminformatic of Natural Antimicrobial Products
The growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of pathogenic organisms to currently prescribed drugs has resulted in the failure to treat various infections caused by these superbugs. Therefore, to keep pace with the increasing drug resistance, there is a pressing need for novel antimicrobial agents, especially from non-conventional sources. Several natural products (NPs) have been shown to display promising in vitro activities against multidrug-resistant pathogens. Still, only a few of these compounds have been studied as prospective drug candidates. Drug developers are employing different modern strategies to overcome the challenges. These current drug discovery and design strategies can computationally identify potential liabilities and optimize hit compounds to impact desired drug-like properties prior to expensive synthesis and pre-clinical experiments. In addition, it can computationally process a large set of compounds from virtual combinatorial libraries and high-throughput screening to guide rational decision-making in drug discovery and development. This technique of processing large chemical bioactivity data is called cheminformatics.
  • 750
  • 12 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Metal Oxide Nanoparticles in Potentiometric Sensors
Metal oxides, because of their remarkable properties including high electrical capacity and mixed ion-electron conductivity, have found applications as both sensing layers (e.g., of screen-printing pH sensors) or solid-contact layers and paste components in solid-contact and paste-ion-selective electrodes. 
  • 750
  • 22 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Intracellular Imaging of Metal Ions
Metal ions are known to play indispensable roles in many critical biochemical processes. The amount and dispersion of metal ions in body fluids have a significant impact on the normal physiological function of the human body. In terms of their effects in biosystems, the general public generally classifies metals into two categories: essential and non-essential. It is widely recognized that there are ten essential metal ions for life, and the body must have appropriate amounts of them, including potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), cobalt (Co), molybdenum (Mo), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn). Among them, K, Na, Ca, and Mg make up over 99% of the total metal elements in the human body, while the remaining six elements are present in small amounts. When essential metal ions are maintained at normal levels, they play a crucial role in various physiological functions, including catalyzing enzymes, participating in oxidative metabolism, and contributing to DNA synthesis.
  • 747
  • 12 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Perylene Diimide-Based Optical Chemosensors for pH Probing
The precise control and monitoring of pH values remain critical for many chemical, physiological and biological processes. Perylene diimide (PDI)-based molecules and materials exhibit excellent thermal, chemical and photochemical stability, unique UV-vis absorption and fluorescent emission properties, low cytotoxicity, as well as intrinsic electron-withdrawing (n-type semiconductor) nature and impressive molecular assembly capability. These features combined enable promising applications of PDIs in chemosensors via optical signal modulations (e.g., fluorescent or colorimetric). One of the typical applications lies in the probing of pH under various conditions, which in turn helps monitor the extracellular (environmental) and intracellular pH change and pH-relying molecular recognition of inorganic or organic ions, as well as biological species, and so on. 
  • 747
  • 19 May 2023
Topic Review
Methods for Identifying Organic Compounds in Bituminous Emissions
Bitumen is a major construction material that can emit harmful fumes when heated. These fumes pose health risks to workers and communities near construction projects or asphalt mixing plants. The chemical complexity of bitumen fumes and the increasing use of additives add to the difficulty of analytically quantifying the harmful chemicals emitted using a single technique. Research on bitumen emissions consists of numerous sample preparation and analytical methods. There are a range of considerations to be made when deciding on an appropriate sample preparation method and instrumental configuration to optimise the analysis of specific organic contaminants in emissions. Researchers investigating emissions from bituminous materials may need to consider a range of analytical techniques to quantify harmful chemicals and assess the efficacy of new additives.
  • 742
  • 27 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Ion-Channel Antiepileptic Drugs
The term seizures includes a wide array of different disorders with variable etiology, which currently represent one of the most important classes of neurological illnesses. As a consequence, many different antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are currently available, exploiting different activity mechanisms and providing different levels of performance in terms of selectivity, safety, and efficacy. AEDs are currently among the psychoactive drugs most frequently involved in therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) practices. Ezogabine (or retigabine), lacosamide, and zonisamide are the TDM of three AEDs belonging to the class of ion channel agents.
  • 731
  • 24 Jan 2022
Topic Review
In Vivo/In Vitro Electrochemical Detection of Neurochemicals
Neurochemicals, crucial for nervous system function, influence vital bodily processes and their fluctuations are linked to neurodegenerative diseases and mental health conditions. Monitoring these compounds is pivotal, yet the intricate nature of the central nervous system poses challenges. Researchers have devised methods, notably electrochemical sensing with micro-nanoscale electrodes, offering high-resolution monitoring despite low concentrations and rapid changes. Implantable sensors enable precise detection in brain tissues with minimal damage, while microdialysis-coupled platforms allow in vivo sampling and subsequent in vitro analysis, addressing the selectivity issues seen in other methods.
  • 731
  • 27 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Carbon Nanotubes for Lead Ions
Lead is one of the most toxic heavy metals released into the environment through industrial sources. Its direct determination is often a problem due to the presence of relatively complex matrices as well as low content. Thus, the additional separation and preconcentration steps are necessary in the analytical procedures. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) continue to attract significant interest for these purposes as they exhibit a high specific surface area, exceptional porosities, and numerous adsorption sites.
  • 730
  • 22 May 2023
Topic Review
Optical Polymer-Based Sensors in Environmental and Biological Systems
Polymers are widely used in many areas, but often their individual properties are not sufficient for use in certain applications. One of the solutions is the creation of polymer-based composites and nanocomposites. In such materials, in order to improve their properties, nanoscale particles (at least in one dimension) are dispersed in the polymer matrix. These properties include increased mechanical strength and durability, the ability to create a developed inner surface, adjustable thermal and electrical conductivity, and many others. The materials created can have a wide range of applications, such as biomimetic materials and technologies, smart materials, renewable energy sources, packaging, etc.
  • 729
  • 26 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Fatty Acid Composition in Sprouted Grains
A whole-grain diet is associated with the prevention of metabolic syndromes, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Sprouting improves the nutritional profile and bioactive properties of grains, which are important for use as raw ingredients in the food industry.
  • 719
  • 10 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Cholinesterase Methods for Nerve Agents Detection Using Optical Evaluation
The extreme toxicity of nerve agents and the broad spectrum of their physical and chemical properties, enabling the use of these agents in a variety of tactical situations, is a continuing challenge in maintaining the knowledge and capability to detect them, as well as in finding new effective methods. With the military standardization of V-series agents (VX), the sensitivity of traditional chemical methods was no longer satisfactory; therefore, increased attention was paid to cholinesterase methods. The reduction of enzyme activity after contact with NAs allows for the detection of these cholinesterase inhibitors with high sensitivity since, in this case, one and the same enzyme acts as both a sensitive element and an amplifier of the analytical signal.
  • 717
  • 01 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Contamination of Royal Jelly with Pesticides
Pesticides can easily enter the food chain, harming bee populations and ecosystems. Exposure of beehive products to various contaminants has been identified as one of the factors contributing to the decline in bee populations, and multiple food alerts have been reported. Despite this fact, royal jelly, a valuable bee product with nutritional and functional properties, has received less attention in this context. Pesticide residues of different chemical class can contaminate royal jelly when foraging bees collect pollen or nectar from pesticide-treated flowers, or in some cases, due to its frequent and inappropriate use in the treatment of mites in beehives.
  • 702
  • 16 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Techniques for the Analysis of Trace Tin Concentrations
Tin determination allows for the monitoring of pollution and assessment of the impact of human activities on the environment. The determination of tin in the environment is crucial for the protection of human health and ecosystems, and for maintaining sustainability. Tin can be released into the environment from various sources, such as industry, transportation, and electronic waste. The concentration of tin in the environment can be determined by different analytical methods, depending on the form of tin present and the purpose of the analysis. The choice of an appropriate method depends on the type of sample, concentration levels, and the available instrumentation.
  • 702
  • 18 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Fabric Phase Sorptive Extraction in Sample Preparation
Fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) is an evolutionary sample preparation approach which was introduced in 2014, meeting all green analytical chemistry (GAC) requirements by implementing a natural or synthetic permeable and flexible fabric substrate to host a chemically coated sol–gel organic–inorganic hybrid sorbent in the form of an ultra-thin coating. This construction results in a versatile, fast, and sensitive micro-extraction device. The user-friendly FPSE membrane allows direct extraction of analytes with no sample modification, thus eliminating/minimizing the sample pre-treatment steps, which are not only time consuming, but are also considered the primary source of major analyte loss. Sol–gel sorbent-coated FPSE membranes possess high chemical, solvent, and thermal stability due to the strong covalent bonding between the fabric substrate and the sol–gel sorbent coating. Subsequent to the extraction on FPSE membrane, a wide range of organic solvents can be used in a small volume to exhaustively back-extract the analytes after FPSE process, leading to a high preconcentration factor.
  • 699
  • 12 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Certitudes in Male Infertility
Male infertility (MI) involves various endogenous and exogenous facts. These include oxidative stress (OS), which is known to alter several physiological pathways and it is estimated to be present at high levels in up to 80% of infertile men. Infertility refers to the problem of couples who achieve a pregnancy but do not carry it to term. Male infertility (MI) is defined as the inability of a male to make a fertile female pregnant, also for a minimum of a one year of unprotected intercourse. As for the male factor, males are found to be solely responsible for 20–30% of infertility cases and contribute to 50% of cases overall.
  • 694
  • 30 Aug 2023
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