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Dual emission BSA-capped bimetallic nanoclusters for detection of acrylamide in certain food matrices based on thiol-ene Michael addition click reaction

Research Abstract

Dual-emissive gold and silver nanoclusters stabilized by bovine serum albumin (BSA@Au-Ag NCs) were engineered for the precise and sensitive estimation of acrylamide (ACM). The probe demonstrated emissions at 630 nm and 405 nm upon excitation at 320 nm. Decreasing the fluorescence of the probe at 630 nm was observed upon cysteine (Cys) addition while the emission band at 405 nm experienced a slight increase. The introduction of ACM into the probe led to the recovery of fluorescence at 630 nm, while the fluorescence at 405 nm remained largely unaffected. This selective response provides a ratiometric method for determining ACM. A linear relationship between the response ratio (F630/F405) and ACM concentration was established in the range of 0.12–450 µM, with LOD of 0.03 µM. The fluorescent probe boasts several advantages, including a low LOD, robustness against interference, and …

Research Authors
Ahmed Z Alanazi, Khalid Alhazzani, Hossieny Ibrahim, Al-Montaser Bellah H Ali, Mahmoud Darweesh, Reem Y Shahin, Mohamed M El-Wekil
Research Date
Research Journal
Microchemical Journal
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Year
2024

Nanostructured gold-embedded porous carbon black nanoceramic film coating on pencil graphite rods: An innovative disposable ultrasensitive sensor for monitoring dopamine

Research Abstract

For the first time, we introduce a new disposable and ultrasensitive sensing electrode made up of nanostructured gold anchored porous carbon black (Au@PCB) sol–gel nanoceramic conductive film (CF) coated eco-friendly and inexpensive pencil graphite rods (PGRs) to explore their electro-catalytic sensing of dopamine (DA) in the absence and presence of uric acid (UA). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) were used for evaluating the Au@PCB nanocomposite. The CV analysis revealed that the disposable Au@PCB-CF/PGRE sensor exhibited outstanding redox activities in the optimal probe [Fe(CN)6]3−/4−. The conductive Au@PCB nanocomposite exhibits exceptional electrochemical characteristics, a larger electrochemically active surface area, and remarkable electro-catalytic activity. As a result, the oxidation current of

Research Authors
Ahmed Z Alanazi, Khalid Alhazzani, Mohamed M El-Wekil, Al-Montaser Bellah H Ali, Mahmoud Darweesh, Hossieny Ibrahim
Research Date
Research Journal
Microchemical Journal
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Year
2024

pH-Sensitive blue and red N-CDs for L-asparaginase quantification in complex biological matrices

Research Abstract

A novel fluorometric method for the determination of L-asparaginase, an enzyme crucial in cancer therapy and food industry applications, is presented. This sensitive and selective approach utilizes L-asparagine and two pH-sensitive carbon dots (blue-N-CDs and red-N-CDs) as probes. The interaction between L-asparagine and L-asparaginase liberates ammonia, causing an increase in pH. This pH change simultaneously decreases the fluorescence of blue-N-CDs while enhancing the emission of red-N-CDs, enabling ratiometric detection of L-asparaginase. Comprehensive characterization of both carbon dots and investigation of their response mechanism towards L-asparaginase were conducted using ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry, fluorescence spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging techniques. The designed approach demonstrates outstanding linearity (20 to 2000 U L-1 …

Research Authors
Ahmed Z Alanazi, Khalid Alhazzani, Hossieny Ibrahim, Aya M Mostafa, James Barker, Ashraf M Mahmoud, Mohamed M El-Wekil, Al-Montaser Bellah H Ali
Research Date
Research Journal
Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy
Research Year
2025

Enhanced fluorescent detection of oxaliplatin via BSA@ copper nanoclusters: a targeted approach for cancer drug monitoring

Research Abstract

A new fluorescence sensing approach has been proposed for the precise determination of the anti-cancer drug oxaliplatin (Oxal-Pt). This method entails synthesizing blue-emitting copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) functionalized with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the stabilizing agent. Upon excitation at 360 nm, the resultant probe exhibits emission at 460 nm. Notably, the fluorescence response of BSA@CuNCs substantially increases upon incubation with Oxal-Pt due to multiple binding interactions between the drug and the fluorescent probe. These interactions involve hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction, and the high affinity between the SH groups (cysteine residues of BSA) and platinum (in Oxal-Pt). Consequently, this interaction induces aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) of BSA@CuNCs. The probe demonstrates a broad response range from 0.08 to 140.0 μM, along with a low detection 

Research Authors
Yahya S Alqahtani, Ashraf M Mahmoud, Hossieny Ibrahim, Mohamed M El-Wekil
Research Date
Research Journal
Analytical Methods
Research Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Research Rank
International
Research Vol
16
Research Year
2024

L-asparaginase-mediated pH shift and carbon dot fluorescence modulation: A sensitive ratiometric method for quantifying L-asparagine in diverse potato varieties under variable storage conditions

Research Abstract

This study presents a novel and selective method for the determination of l-asparagine in diverse potato varieties under various storage conditions. L-asparagine levels serve as a crucial indicator for acrylamide formation, a hazardous substance in processed potato products. The fluorometric method utilized blue-emitting CDs (B-CDs), orange-emitting CDs (O-CDs), and the enzyme L-asparaginase for ratiometric detection of L-asparagine. Upon enzymatic hydrolysis of L-asparagine by L-asparaginase, liberated ammonia induced a pH increase in the reaction medium. This pH shift enhanced the fluorescence of B-CDs while simultaneously decreasing that of O-CDs, enabling sensitive and selective L-asparagine quantification. Comprehensive characterization of the CDs was performed using various spectroscopic techniques and transmission electron microscopy. The method demonstrated excellent sensitivity …

Research Authors
Khalid Alhazzani, Ahmed Z Alanazi, Hossieny Ibrahim, Aya M Mostafa, James Barker, Ashraf M Mahmoud, Mohamed M El-Wekil, Al-Montaser Bellah H Ali
Research Date
Research Journal
Food Chemistry
Research Year
2025

First electrochemical nanosensor for ultrasensitive quantification of MET inhibitor, capmatinib based on carbon nanofiber networks incorporated with hybrid nanofiller nanogold-loaded porous acetylene black

Research Abstract

In the current study, the first voltammetric method is constructed for the ultrasensitive quantification of capmatinib (CMT), a targeted therapy drug falls within the category of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), using a modified carbon nanofibers paste electrode (CNFs-PE). Nanogold-loaded porous acetylene black (Au@PAB) as a conductive hybrid nanofiller incorporating carbon nanofiber networks (CNFs) was synthesized. The surface morphology of the synthesized Au@PAB and the ternary nanocomposite Au@PAB/CNFs was elucidated using various analytical techniques. The results show Au@PAB hybrid nanofiller incorporated CNFs has a critical property that increases electrocatalytic performance. The impact of scan rate, pH, and supporting electrolyte on the electrocatalytic response of CMT was explored on the Au@PAB/CNFs-PE nanosensor. Under optimum adsorptive stripping square-wave voltammetric …

Research Authors
Yahya S Alqahtani, Ashraf M Mahmoud, Bandar A Alyami, Mohamed M El-Wekil, Hazim M Ali, Hossieny Ibrahim
Research Date
Research Journal
Microchemical Journal
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Rank
International
Research Vol
201
Research Year
2025

ZIF-12-derived nitrogen doped porous carbon nanosheets-functionalized with silver nanoparticles for ratiometric molecularly-imprinted electrochemical sensing of D-penicillamine

Research Abstract

In this work, an electrochemical platform was developed for detection of D-pencillamine utilizing highly responsive molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). This platform operates on a ratiometric principle and is constructed on nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanosheets (N-PCNS) derived from zeolite imidazolate frameworks (ZIF-12) in the presence of saturated solution of zinc sulfate. Subsequently, silver nanoparticles (Ag) were introduced onto the surface of N-PCNS/GCE to enhance conductivity and surface area, and serve as a standard signal. The MIP layer was formed on the Ag@N-PCNS/GCE surface through o-phenylenediamine (o-phen) electro-polymerization in the presence of the D-pencillamine (D-PAN) as a template. Detection of D-PAN relies on measuring ID-PAN/IAg response ratio employing differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). This ratio exhibits a linear correlation with the concentration of D-PAN in …

Research Authors
Khalid Alhazzani, Ahmed Z Alanazi, Hossieny Ibrahim, Al-Montaser Bellah H Ali, Mahmoud Darweesh, Ashraf M Mahmoud, Mohamed M El-Wekil
Research Date
Research Journal
Microchemical Journal
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Year
2024

A novel disposable ultrasensitive sensor based on nanosized ceria uniformly loaded carbon nanofiber nanoceramic film wrapped on pencil graphite rods for electrocatalytic

Research Abstract

For the first time, we introduce a novel disposable and ultrasensitive sensing electrode made up of nanosized ceria uniformly loaded carbon nanofibers (CeNPs@CNF) sol-gel nanoceramic film (CF) wrapped on eco-friendly and inexpensive pencil graphite rods (PGRs) to explore their electro-catalytic detection of the anticancer drug capmatinib (CMB). The as-prepared CeNPs@CNF hybrid nanocomposite was described by XRD, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, and EDX analysis. The CV study clearly demonstrated that, the disposable CeNPs@CNF-CF/PGRE sensor exhibited excellent redox activities in the ideal probe [Fe(CN)6]3-/4-. Due to the outstanding electrochemical properties, larger electrochemically active surface area, and tremendous electro-catalytic activity of CeNPs@CNF, the reduction current of CMB on the CeNPs@CNF-CF/PGRE sensor is considerably higher than that of bare PGRE. The detection conditions …

Research Authors
Ahmed Z Alanazi, Khalid Alhazzani, Mohamed M El-Wekil, Al-Montaser Bellah H Ali, Mahmoud Darweesh, Hossieny Ibrahim
Research Date
Research Journal
Talanta
Research Vol
279
Research Year
2024

A novel urease-assisted ratiometric fluorescence sensing platform based on pH-modulated copper-quenched near-infrared carbon dots and methyl red-quenched red carbon dots for

Research Abstract

A novel and sensitive fluorescence ratiometric method is developed for urea detection based  on the pH-sensitive response of two fluorescent carbon dot (CD) systems: R-CDs/methyl red (MR) and NIR-CDs/Cu2+. The sensing mechanism involves breaking down urea using the enzyme urease, releasing ammonia and increasing pH. At higher pH, the fluorescence of NIR-CDs is quenched due to the enhanced interaction with Cu2+, while the fluorescence of R-CDs is restored as the acidic MR converts to its basic form, removing the inner filter effect. The ratiometric signal (F608/F750) of the R-CDs/MR and NIR-CDs/Cu2+ intensities changed in response to the pH induced by urea hydrolysis, enabling selective and sensitive urea detection. Detailed spectroscopic and morphological investigations confirmed the fluorescence probe design and elucidated the sensing mechanism. The method exhibited excellent …

Research Authors
Ahmed Z Alanazi, Khalid Alhazzani, Aya M Mostafa, James Barker, Hossieny Ibrahim, Mohamed M El-Wekil, Al-Montaser Bellah H Ali
Research Date
Research Journal
Microchimica Acta
Research Publisher
Springer Vienna
Research Year
2024

Self‐Calibrating Copper‐Based Metal Organic Frameworks for Ratiometric Electrochemical Sensing of Creatinine

Research Abstract

Nanostructures that can undergo redox reactions have significant potential for electrochemical analysis. They can act as signal amplifiers to determine concentrations of targets in biological samples. In this work, a rational combination of electroactive copper‐based metal‐organic frameworks (Cu‐MOFs) and ferrocene carboxylic acid (Fc) was designed for ratiometric electrochemical detection of creatinine. The synthesized Fc@Cu‐MOFs exhibited two redox signals from the Cu2+/Cu+ and Fe3+/Fe2+ systems in the skeleton of Cu‐MOFs and Fc, respectively. In the presence of chloride (Cl), the oxidation current of Cu+ increased due to formation of solid‐state cuprous chloride (CuCl). Adding strong Cu+ chelators, e. g. creatinine, coordinated with Cu+ and caused the current output of solid‐state CuCl to decrease significantly. The anodic current of Fc did not appreciably change, serving as an internal reference signal. The ratiometric responses (ICu(I)/IFc) changed with increasing concentrations of creatinine from 0.017–130 μM with a detection limit (S/N=3) of 0.005 μM. The main advantages of Fc@Cu‐MOFs are the low LOD, high selectivity, and reliability, making it a suitable platform for determining creatinine in human serum and urine samples. The as‐fabricated sensor is a reliable approach for determining (bio) molecules that can form stable complexes with Cu+ ions.

Research Authors
Ahmed Z Alanazi, Khalid Alhazzani, Al‐Montaser Bellah H Ali, Mahmoud Darweesh, Hossieny Ibrahim, Mohamed M El‐Wekil
Research Date
Research Journal
Electroanalysis
Research Publisher
Wiley
Research Rank
International
Research Year
2024
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