Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-11-17DOI: 10.1016/j.talo.2025.100596
Salma Shalaby , Jenny Jeehan Mohamed Nasr , Asmaa Kamal El-Deen
Cysteine (CYS) is a pivotal biomolecule involved in both biological and environmental processes, yet conventional detection methods suffer from low sensitivity, complex procedures, and interference issues. In this study, we report the development of cobalt-manganese layered double hydroxides (CoMn-LDHs) as a novel nanomaterial-based sensing platform with dual oxidase/peroxidase mimicry for label-free CYS detection. The synthesized CoMn-LDHs exhibit exceptional catalytic activity, efficiently oxidizing the chromogenic substrate TMB through the generation of reactive species such as superoxide anion (O₂•⁻) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH), which significantly enhance sensitivity and selectivity. This dual-enzyme mimic mechanism enables a rapid, colorimetric detection method with ultra-low detection limits of 0.024 μM and 0.12 μM for oxidase and peroxidase modes, respectively, outperforming traditional techniques. The sensor demonstrates excellent performance in real samples, including mineral water, tap water, and milk, with high recovery rates (> 98 %) and low relative standard deviation (%RSD < 2 %), showcasing its robust stability and reproducibility in complex matrices. This work presents a cost-effective, highly sensitive, and selective platform for CYS detection, offering significant advancements in environmental monitoring and food safety applications through the innovative use of nanomaterial-based enzyme mimics.
{"title":"A dual enzyme-mimicking nanoplatform based on CoMn-LDHs for ultrasensitive detection of L-cysteine: Toward environmental and food safety monitoring","authors":"Salma Shalaby , Jenny Jeehan Mohamed Nasr , Asmaa Kamal El-Deen","doi":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100596","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100596","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cysteine (CYS) is a pivotal biomolecule involved in both biological and environmental processes, yet conventional detection methods suffer from low sensitivity, complex procedures, and interference issues. In this study, we report the development of cobalt-manganese layered double hydroxides (CoMn-LDHs) as a novel nanomaterial-based sensing platform with dual oxidase/peroxidase mimicry for label-free CYS detection. The synthesized CoMn-LDHs exhibit exceptional catalytic activity, efficiently oxidizing the chromogenic substrate TMB through the generation of reactive species such as superoxide anion (O₂•⁻) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH), which significantly enhance sensitivity and selectivity. This dual-enzyme mimic mechanism enables a rapid, colorimetric detection method with ultra-low detection limits of 0.024 μM and 0.12 μM for oxidase and peroxidase modes, respectively, outperforming traditional techniques. The sensor demonstrates excellent performance in real samples, including mineral water, tap water, and milk, with high recovery rates (> 98 %) and low relative standard deviation (%RSD < 2 %), showcasing its robust stability and reproducibility in complex matrices. This work presents a cost-effective, highly sensitive, and selective platform for CYS detection, offering significant advancements in environmental monitoring and food safety applications through the innovative use of nanomaterial-based enzyme mimics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":436,"journal":{"name":"Talanta Open","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100596"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145568198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
3D printing technology enables the on-demand fabrication of low-cost thermoplastic electrodes, which have shown promising results in enzymatic bioassays. To fully harness the potential of 3D printing in electrochemical biosensing, this work introduces a new generation of tailor-made conductive filament integrated with a biomimetic functional material for the 3D printing of ready-to-use sensors designed for enzyme-free biodeterminations. The filament was synthesized using the solvent casting method and was composed of polylactic acid as the base, carbon black as the conductive filler, and CuO nanopowder as the artificial nanozyme. The filament was characterized using thermogravimetry, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electrochemical techniques. The as-printed sensors enabled direct electrochemical monitoring of crucial bioindicators—glucose (GLU), lactic acid (LA), and creatinine (CRE)—with exceptional sensitivity, offering limits of detection of 5.1 µM, 0.12 mM, and 1.5 µM, respectively. Moreover, the sensors exhibited high anti-interference capability and were successfully applied to the determination of the target biomarkers in blood, sweat, and urine samples. The amperometric determination of GLU was based on the conversion of integrated CuO to CuOOH, which subsequently oxidized GLU to gluconic acid. The voltammetric determination of CRE was based on the formation of copper-creatinine complexes, resulting in the suppression of the oxidation signal of electrogenerated copper. Meanwhile, LA voltammetric detection relied on the characteristic increases in the redox signals of CuO. This work paves the way for the development of accessible, point-of-need printable, and ready-to-use electrochemical biomimetic sensors for easy applications in the biosensing field.
{"title":"Biomimetic 3D printable electrochemical filament integrated with CuO nanopowder for enzyme-free biosensing","authors":"Leonidas Papagiannakopoulos , Vasiliki Polyzopoulou , Loizos Tsolakis , Eleni Sorkou, Eleni Koukouviti, Anastasios Economou, Christos Kokkinos","doi":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100480","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100480","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>3D printing technology enables the on-demand fabrication of low-cost thermoplastic electrodes, which have shown promising results in enzymatic bioassays. To fully harness the potential of 3D printing in electrochemical biosensing, this work introduces a new generation of tailor-made conductive filament integrated with a biomimetic functional material for the 3D printing of ready-to-use sensors designed for enzyme-free biodeterminations. The filament was synthesized using the solvent casting method and was composed of polylactic acid as the base, carbon black as the conductive filler, and CuO nanopowder as the artificial nanozyme. The filament was characterized using thermogravimetry, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electrochemical techniques. The as-printed sensors enabled direct electrochemical monitoring of crucial bioindicators—glucose (GLU), lactic acid (LA), and creatinine (CRE)—with exceptional sensitivity, offering limits of detection of 5.1 µM, 0.12 mM, and 1.5 µM, respectively. Moreover, the sensors exhibited high anti-interference capability and were successfully applied to the determination of the target biomarkers in blood, sweat, and urine samples. The amperometric determination of GLU was based on the conversion of integrated CuO to CuOOH, which subsequently oxidized GLU to gluconic acid. The voltammetric determination of CRE was based on the formation of copper-creatinine complexes, resulting in the suppression of the oxidation signal of electrogenerated copper. Meanwhile, LA voltammetric detection relied on the characteristic increases in the redox signals of CuO. This work paves the way for the development of accessible, point-of-need printable, and ready-to-use electrochemical biomimetic sensors for easy applications in the biosensing field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":436,"journal":{"name":"Talanta Open","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100480"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144167607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-05-21DOI: 10.1016/j.talo.2025.100476
Akanksha Lahiri , Balamuralidhara V , Hemanth Vikram PR , Karthika Paul
Introduction
Levodopa, a dopamine precursor, widely prescribed drug in Parkinson’s disease management possesses a side effect of Levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID). Amantadine hydrochloride, an NMDA receptor antagonist is co-encapsulated along with levodopa and formulates as polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) so as to overcome the side effects and act synergistically to enhance therapeutic outcome.
Methodology
In current work, we developed a novel, green Ultra-Fast Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS) technique for the simultaneous quantification of amantadine and levodopa in polymeric nanoparticles. A triple quadrupole analyser with a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) scan mode and an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source. A Waters Symmetry C8 column (150 × 4.6 mm, 3.5 μm) maintained at 40 °C was used for the chromatographic separation. In order to ensure sensitive and specific analyte detection, the mobile phase consisted of 0.1 % formic acid in water and methanol (40:60) with a total run time of 5 min. Excellent linearity, recovery, accuracy, and sensitivity were validated by method validation. Greenness assessment was done by AGREE, GAPI and AES metrics.
Results
Proposed green UFLC-MS/MS method effectively quantifies Levodopa and Amantadine in polymeric nanoparticles, followed by accurate evaluation of %DL, %DEE, and drug release profiles. %DEE values were observed for Levodopa (89.6%) and Amantadine (90.16 %), with corresponding %DL values of 20.5% and 24.10%, indicating substantial drug loading capacity. The in vitro drug release profiles demonstrated sustained release behaviour, with 91.89% ± 0.362 of Levodopa and 92% ± 0.362 of Amantadine released over the study period.
Conclusion
Using GAPI, AGREE, and AES criteria, the created analytical method's greenness was carefully assessed. The outcomes were then compared to previously published methods in the literature. For the simultaneous measurement of amantadine and levodopa in nanoparticles, our innovative UFLC-MS/MS technology offered a dependable and extremely sensitive method.
左旋多巴是一种多巴胺前体，是帕金森病治疗中广泛使用的处方药，它具有左旋多巴诱导的运动障碍（LID）的副作用。盐酸金刚烷胺是一种NMDA受体拮抗剂，与左旋多巴共包被，形成聚合物纳米颗粒（NPs），以克服副作用并协同作用，提高治疗效果。在目前的工作中，我们开发了一种新型的绿色超快速液相色谱-串联质谱（UFLC-MS/MS）技术，用于同时定量聚合物纳米颗粒中的金刚烷胺和左旋多巴。具有多反应监测（MRM）扫描模式和大气压化学电离（APCI）源的三重四极杆分析仪。色谱柱为Waters Symmetry C8柱（150 × 4.6 mm, 3.5 μm），保持温度为40℃。为确保分析物检测的敏感性和特异性，流动相为0.1%甲酸水溶液和甲醇（40:60），总运行时间为5 min。通过方法验证验证了良好的线性、回收率、准确性和灵敏度。绿色评估采用AGREE、GAPI和AES指标。结果建立的绿色UFLC-MS/MS方法能有效地定量左旋多巴和金刚烷胺在聚合物纳米颗粒中的含量，并能准确评价其%DL、%DEE和药物释放谱。左旋多巴（89.6%）和金刚烷胺（90.16%）的DEE值为%，相应的DL值分别为20.5%和24.10%，说明其载药量较大。体外释药表现为缓释行为，左旋多巴释药率为91.89%±0.362%，金刚烷胺释药率为92%±0.362%。结论采用GAPI、AGREE和AES标准对所建立的分析方法进行了绿色度评价。然后将结果与文献中先前发表的方法进行比较。对于纳米颗粒中金刚烷胺和左旋多巴的同时测定，我们创新的UFLC-MS/MS技术提供了一种可靠且灵敏度极高的方法。
{"title":"A Novel and Green UFLC-MS/MS Method for Quantification of Amantadine and Levodopa in Polymeric Nanoparticles: Application to determine Drug loading (%DL), Drug entrapment (%DEE) and Drug release profile","authors":"Akanksha Lahiri , Balamuralidhara V , Hemanth Vikram PR , Karthika Paul","doi":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100476","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100476","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Levodopa, a dopamine precursor, widely prescribed drug in Parkinson’s disease management possesses a side effect of Levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID). Amantadine hydrochloride, an NMDA receptor antagonist is co-encapsulated along with levodopa and formulates as polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) so as to overcome the side effects and act synergistically to enhance therapeutic outcome.</div></div><div><h3>Methodology</h3><div>In current work, we developed a novel, green Ultra-Fast Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS) technique for the simultaneous quantification of amantadine and levodopa in polymeric nanoparticles. A triple quadrupole analyser with a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) scan mode and an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source. A Waters Symmetry C8 column (150 × 4.6 mm, 3.5 μm) maintained at 40 °C was used for the chromatographic separation. In order to ensure sensitive and specific analyte detection, the mobile phase consisted of 0.1 % formic acid in water and methanol (40:60) with a total run time of 5 min. Excellent linearity, recovery, accuracy, and sensitivity were validated by method validation. Greenness assessment was done by AGREE, GAPI and AES metrics.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Proposed green UFLC-MS/MS method effectively quantifies Levodopa and Amantadine in polymeric nanoparticles, followed by accurate evaluation of %DL, %DEE, and drug release profiles. %DEE values were observed for Levodopa (89.6%) and Amantadine (90.16 %), with corresponding %DL values of 20.5% and 24.10%, indicating substantial drug loading capacity. The in vitro drug release profiles demonstrated sustained release behaviour, with 91.89% ± 0.362 of Levodopa and 92% ± 0.362 of Amantadine released over the study period.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Using GAPI, AGREE, and AES criteria, the created analytical method's greenness was carefully assessed. The outcomes were then compared to previously published methods in the literature. For the simultaneous measurement of amantadine and levodopa in nanoparticles, our innovative UFLC-MS/MS technology offered a dependable and extremely sensitive method.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":436,"journal":{"name":"Talanta Open","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100476"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144167608","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-05-25DOI: 10.1016/j.talo.2025.100479
Nair Afijith Ravindranath , V. Jayaraman , K.I. Gnanasekar
This short review is intended to provide an overview of the recent developments in the field of multilayered thin films of solid electrolyte-based electrochemical oxygen sensors. This work reviews the factors that prevent the realization of multilayer-based thin film electrochemical sensors and outlines the methodologies to be adopted to circumvent them. It demonstrates the feasibility of energy-efficient compact sensors as they offer low thermal mass and ease of integration with the thin film heater for operation. Design of a multilayered sensor, deposition of high-quality thin films of various components of electrochemical oxygen sensing device, density of YSZ thin film electrolyte, interdiffusion of components and their impact on electrical property, long-term stability of thin layered device and its operation at lower temperatures of about 623 to 673 K as against 923 K for bulk devices have been addressed.
{"title":"Developments of compact, energy-efficient thin-film-based multilayered oxygen sensors","authors":"Nair Afijith Ravindranath , V. Jayaraman , K.I. Gnanasekar","doi":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100479","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100479","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This short review is intended to provide an overview of the recent developments in the field of multilayered thin films of solid electrolyte-based electrochemical oxygen sensors. This work reviews the factors that prevent the realization of multilayer-based thin film electrochemical sensors and outlines the methodologies to be adopted to circumvent them. It demonstrates the feasibility of energy-efficient compact sensors as they offer low thermal mass and ease of integration with the thin film heater for operation. Design of a multilayered sensor, deposition of high-quality thin films of various components of electrochemical oxygen sensing device, density of YSZ thin film electrolyte, interdiffusion of components and their impact on electrical property, long-term stability of thin layered device and its operation at lower temperatures of about 623 to 673 K as against 923 K for bulk devices have been addressed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":436,"journal":{"name":"Talanta Open","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100479"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144167596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz (OI) or Shyonaka or Sona Patha is an endangered medicinal plant used in various traditional medicines. The roots of OI are the most commonly used part in preparing numerous traditional medicines worldwide. To conserve the environment, it is necessary to check the substitution of official parts with aerial parts like leaf and stem bark using sophisticated techniques. The present study developed HPLC and ICP-OES methods to quantify OI's main phytoconstituents and metal ions in four parts (root, root bark, stem bark, and leaf). The phytochemicals viz. vanillic acid, trans-ferulic acid, baicalein, and chrysin were quantified by HPLC study, where the significantly better amounts of baicalein and chrysin (baicalein > chrysin) were quantified in aerial parts (leaf and stem bark) as compared to root and root bark. ICP-OES elemental analysis has revealed that all parts of OI are good sources of Ca, K, Na, Mg, Mn, Fe, and Zn. GC–MS study was performed to identify the volatile compounds of all parts of OI. In antioxidant studies (TPC, TFC, and DPPH assays), the leaf showed a better IC50 value, followed by stem bark, root bark, and root. In the antacid study, the leaf has shown better activity, followed by root bark, stem bark, and root. In the anti-bacterial assay, all parts of OI significantly inhibited Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi strains, where root bark and leaf demonstrated improved activities. In computational studies, the invitro antacid, antioxidant, and anti-bacterial activities were confirmed, where most of the phytochemicals demonstrated binding energies over standard drugs. Overall, the study revealed that all parts of OI, including roots and aerial parts, might be medicinally useful, and leaves may be used as a nutritional food. Moreover, the official part, i.e., root or root bark used in traditional medicines, may be replaced with aerial parts (leaf or stem bark) to conserve the environment. After the in-depth pharmacological and toxicological studies, all parts of OI Oroxylum indicum might be incorporated into pharmaceutics.
{"title":"Quantification of phytochemicals of different parts of Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz for the evidence-based substitution of the official part (root) with aerial part","authors":"Megha Nigam , Yashika Gandhi , Vijay Kumar , Hemant Soni , Rishi Kumar Saxena","doi":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100528","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100528","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Oroxylum indicum</em> (L.) Kurz (OI) or Shyonaka or Sona Patha is an endangered medicinal plant used in various traditional medicines. The roots of OI are the most commonly used part in preparing numerous traditional medicines worldwide. To conserve the environment, it is necessary to check the substitution of official parts with aerial parts like leaf and stem bark using sophisticated techniques. The present study developed HPLC and ICP-OES methods to quantify OI's main phytoconstituents and metal ions in four parts (root, root bark, stem bark, and leaf). The phytochemicals viz. vanillic acid, trans-ferulic acid, baicalein, and chrysin were quantified by HPLC study, where the significantly better amounts of baicalein and chrysin (baicalein > chrysin) were quantified in aerial parts (leaf and stem bark) as compared to root and root bark. ICP-OES elemental analysis has revealed that all parts of OI are good sources of Ca, K, Na, Mg, Mn, Fe, and Zn. GC–MS study was performed to identify the volatile compounds of all parts of OI. In antioxidant studies (TPC, TFC, and DPPH assays), the leaf showed a better IC<sub>50</sub> value, followed by stem bark, root bark, and root. In the antacid study, the leaf has shown better activity, followed by root bark, stem bark, and root. In the anti-bacterial assay, all parts of OI significantly inhibited <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> and <em>Salmonella typhi</em> strains, where root bark and leaf demonstrated improved activities. In computational studies, the invitro antacid, antioxidant, and anti-bacterial activities were confirmed, where most of the phytochemicals demonstrated binding energies over standard drugs. Overall, the study revealed that all parts of OI, including roots and aerial parts, might be medicinally useful, and leaves may be used as a nutritional food. Moreover, the official part, i.e., root or root bark used in traditional medicines, may be replaced with aerial parts (leaf or stem bark) to conserve the environment. After the in-depth pharmacological and toxicological studies, all parts of OI <em>Oroxylum indicum</em> might be incorporated into pharmaceutics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":436,"journal":{"name":"Talanta Open","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100528"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144830544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-31DOI: 10.1016/j.talo.2025.100586
Mara Putzu , Marta Barbaresi , Marta Fadda , Alessio Sacco , Maurizio Piergiovanni , Matteo Masino , Federica Bianchi , Korinna Altmann , Nizar Benismail , Laureen Coïc , Ivana Fenoglio , Monica Mattarozzi , Andrea Mario Rossi , Maria Careri , Andrea Mario Giovannozzi
The presence of microplastics (MPs) in the food chain is increasingly documented, raising concerns over potential risks to human health. Despite growing efforts, standardized methods for MPs detection in food matrices remain limited. This study presents an interlaboratory comparison (ILC) aimed at assessing the accuracy and comparability of an analytical approach for the identification and quantification of small MPs (5–100 µm) in infant milk powder using µ-Raman spectroscopy and a representative polyethylene terephthalate (PET) reference material (RM). The RM, formulated as water-soluble tablets, was designed to replicate the morphology, size distribution, and polymer composition of environmentally relevant MPs, and was previously assessed for homogeneity and stability for mass fraction and particle numbers.
The approach was assessed using two PET RM batches with different MPs particle numbers (high load batch: 1759 ± 141 MPs; low load batch: 160 ± 22 MPs), subjected to an enzymatic–chemical digestion, followed by µ-Raman analysis performed independently in two laboratories with different instruments and operators. Results are reported as absolute particle counts per analyzed sample and demonstrated excellent recovery across all size classes, including the smallest particles (down to 5 µm), with recovery rates ranging from 82 % to 88 %, in good agreement with the RM reference values.
The analytical approach proved to be robust, reproducible, and suitable for low-level MPs quantification in complex food matrices, supporting ongoing efforts toward method harmonization and standardization for reliable MPs monitoring in the food sector.
{"title":"Accuracy assessment of a micro-Raman spectroscopy method for small microplastic particles in infant milk formula","authors":"Mara Putzu , Marta Barbaresi , Marta Fadda , Alessio Sacco , Maurizio Piergiovanni , Matteo Masino , Federica Bianchi , Korinna Altmann , Nizar Benismail , Laureen Coïc , Ivana Fenoglio , Monica Mattarozzi , Andrea Mario Rossi , Maria Careri , Andrea Mario Giovannozzi","doi":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100586","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100586","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The presence of microplastics (MPs) in the food chain is increasingly documented, raising concerns over potential risks to human health. Despite growing efforts, standardized methods for MPs detection in food matrices remain limited. This study presents an interlaboratory comparison (ILC) aimed at assessing the accuracy and comparability of an analytical approach for the identification and quantification of small MPs (5–100 µm) in infant milk powder using µ-Raman spectroscopy and a representative polyethylene terephthalate (PET) reference material (RM). The RM, formulated as water-soluble tablets, was designed to replicate the morphology, size distribution, and polymer composition of environmentally relevant MPs, and was previously assessed for homogeneity and stability for mass fraction and particle numbers.</div><div>The approach was assessed using two PET RM batches with different MPs particle numbers (high load batch: 1759 ± 141 MPs; low load batch: 160 ± 22 MPs), subjected to an enzymatic–chemical digestion, followed by µ-Raman analysis performed independently in two laboratories with different instruments and operators. Results are reported as absolute particle counts per analyzed sample and demonstrated excellent recovery across all size classes, including the smallest particles (down to 5 µm), with recovery rates ranging from 82 % to 88 %, in good agreement with the RM reference values.</div><div>The analytical approach proved to be robust, reproducible, and suitable for low-level MPs quantification in complex food matrices, supporting ongoing efforts toward method harmonization and standardization for reliable MPs monitoring in the food sector.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":436,"journal":{"name":"Talanta Open","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100586"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145463089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shatavarin-IV and Protodioscin, saponins of Asparagus racemosus and Trigonella foenum-graecum respectively are phytoestrogens commonly used to alleviate post-menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, sleeping disorder, and mood sways. While their individual benefits are well-documented, the synergistic effects of these compounds remain underexplored. This study aims to validate the combination of Shatavarin-IV and Protodioscin on molecular mediators of menopausal symptoms using advanced computational analyses. Deep learning model for drug additivity analysis was developed and trained on the DrugComb database using the Loewe’s additivity score as the target variable, with a focus on combinations tested on the MCF7 cell line and validated of the 786-O cell line. Molecular docking simulations were performed using PyRx, PyMOL, FPocket and ChimeraX to investigate the binding affinities of Protodioscin and Shatavarin-IV with key neuronal modulators of hot flashes, including Kisspeptin, Neurokinin B, TRPV1, c-FOS, and GnRH. IC50 values were derived from binding free energies. Dose-response simulations were evaluated across concentrations (0.01 µM to 100 µM) using a four-parameter logistic equation. Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Elimination (ADME) profiling was determined to predict bioavailability and toxicity. The dose-response simulations confirmed significant therapeutic potential at relevant concentrations and additive interaction between both the compounds suggests enhanced therapeutic efficacy. ADME profiling indicated favorable bioavailability, non-toxicity, and efficient metabolism for both compounds and provides novel insights into their molecular mechanism of action in the body. The results of this research indicate that the combined additive effect of Protodioscin and Shatavarin-IV in alleviating menopausal symptoms exhibits favorable pharmacokinetic profile, and could potentially be promising candidates for future human clinical studies.
{"title":"Validation of combination of protodioscin and shatavarin iv from medicinal extracts for alleviating menopausal symptoms by computational deep learning models","authors":"Rithika Naveencharan , Ashwin Sivakumar , Rishi Senthil Kumar , Sheena Christabel Pravin , Reena Monica P , V. Kiruthika , Abhijeet Morde , Arun Balakrishnan , Muralidhara Padigaru , Ninad Puranik , Ravindra Nayakwadi , Tejas Namjoshi","doi":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100552","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100552","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Shatavarin-IV and Protodioscin, saponins of Asparagus racemosus and Trigonella foenum-graecum respectively are phytoestrogens commonly used to alleviate post-menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, sleeping disorder, and mood sways. While their individual benefits are well-documented, the synergistic effects of these compounds remain underexplored. This study aims to validate the combination of Shatavarin-IV and Protodioscin on molecular mediators of menopausal symptoms using advanced computational analyses. Deep learning model for drug additivity analysis was developed and trained on the DrugComb database using the Loewe’s additivity score as the target variable, with a focus on combinations tested on the MCF7 cell line and validated of the 786-O cell line. Molecular docking simulations were performed using PyRx, PyMOL, FPocket and ChimeraX to investigate the binding affinities of Protodioscin and Shatavarin-IV with key neuronal modulators of hot flashes, including Kisspeptin, Neurokinin B, TRPV1, c-FOS, and GnRH. IC50 values were derived from binding free energies. Dose-response simulations were evaluated across concentrations (0.01 µM to 100 µM) using a four-parameter logistic equation. Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Elimination (ADME) profiling was determined to predict bioavailability and toxicity. The dose-response simulations confirmed significant therapeutic potential at relevant concentrations and additive interaction between both the compounds suggests enhanced therapeutic efficacy. ADME profiling indicated favorable bioavailability, non-toxicity, and efficient metabolism for both compounds and provides novel insights into their molecular mechanism of action in the body. The results of this research indicate that the combined additive effect of Protodioscin and Shatavarin-IV in alleviating menopausal symptoms exhibits favorable pharmacokinetic profile, and could potentially be promising candidates for future human clinical studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":436,"journal":{"name":"Talanta Open","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100552"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145044224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-09-10DOI: 10.1016/j.talo.2025.100551
Molly Ann Williams , Ciprian Briciu-Burghina , Sean Power , Joyce O’Grady , Elvira de Eyto , Nigel Kent , Anne Parle-McDermott , Fiona Regan
Biodiversity loss is at an all-time high increasing the need for simple and rapid species monitoring systems. Management and conservation of fish species within aquatic environments requires knowledge of distribution, traditionally gained through visual detection and counting. These methods are expensive, time consuming and can lead to harm of the species of interest. Environmental DNA (eDNA) offers a solution to this through detection of DNA that may be shed into the environment by a given target species. Integrating eDNA based molecular assays to a biosensor device enables onsite sample testing for rapid species assessment.
Herein, a portable fluorometer with incubating capabilities (SensEDNA) was custom designed and built to conduct the simultaneous incubation and fluorescent detection steps required for isothermal eDNA detection. The system features three optical cells to enable triplicate analysis. Each optical cell is set to incubate at 37 °C and control within 0.5 °C. Fluorescence detection with excitation at 485 nm and emission at 535 nm was integrated and optimised to provide highest signal/noise ratio while minimising fluorescence bleaching. The system comprises a simple LED/high pass filter/photodiode configuration and is controlled by a Wixel board. This affordable and user-friendly optical detection platform, coupled with RPA-CRISPR-Cas, provides a crucial step towards on-site single species identification from eDNA.
{"title":"SensEDNA: An innovative optical CRISPR platform for rapid environmental DNA monitoring","authors":"Molly Ann Williams , Ciprian Briciu-Burghina , Sean Power , Joyce O’Grady , Elvira de Eyto , Nigel Kent , Anne Parle-McDermott , Fiona Regan","doi":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100551","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100551","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biodiversity loss is at an all-time high increasing the need for simple and rapid species monitoring systems. Management and conservation of fish species within aquatic environments requires knowledge of distribution, traditionally gained through visual detection and counting. These methods are expensive, time consuming and can lead to harm of the species of interest. Environmental DNA (eDNA) offers a solution to this through detection of DNA that may be shed into the environment by a given target species. Integrating eDNA based molecular assays to a biosensor device enables onsite sample testing for rapid species assessment.</div><div>Herein, a portable fluorometer with incubating capabilities (SensEDNA) was custom designed and built to conduct the simultaneous incubation and fluorescent detection steps required for isothermal eDNA detection. The system features three optical cells to enable triplicate analysis. Each optical cell is set to incubate at 37 °C and control within 0.5 °C. Fluorescence detection with excitation at 485 nm and emission at 535 nm was integrated and optimised to provide highest signal/noise ratio while minimising fluorescence bleaching. The system comprises a simple LED/high pass filter/photodiode configuration and is controlled by a Wixel board. This affordable and user-friendly optical detection platform, coupled with RPA-CRISPR-Cas, provides a crucial step towards on-site single species identification from eDNA.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":436,"journal":{"name":"Talanta Open","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100551"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145095062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-24DOI: 10.1016/j.talo.2025.100582
Wenju Ren , Chenyang Qi , Rui Yang , Jie Zhou , Liu Yang , Yuandi Yu , Taixiong Zheng ([email protected]) , Lizhi Fu
African Swine Fever (ASF) poses a severe threat to the global pig husbandry. In the absence of an effective vaccine, developing rapid and accurate diagnostic methods is crucial for epidemic control. This study designed a low-cost microfluidic chip and integrated nucleic acid rapid detection device (INARDD) based on colorimetric principles combined with magnetic bead based nucleic acid extraction technology. Manufactured using micro computer numerical control machine tools (CNC) and 3D printing, the device fully automates the entire process include nucleic acid extraction, transfer, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and detection without requiring external equipment or manual intervention. Experimental results demonstrate high sensitivity (94.1 %, 32/34), specificity (97.7 %, 42/43), and accuracy (96.1 %, 74/77), with a detection limit of 10² copies/μL. The device features low production costs (approximately $69.1), low per-test expenses, and a portable design (2 kg), facilitating field deployment. This study provides an economical and efficient solution for rapid on-site diagnosis of African swine fever, holding significant implications for enhancing epidemic control and ensuring meat safety. It also offers technical reference for developing portable diagnostic systems for other infectious diseases.
{"title":"Design and fabrication of microfluidic chip and integrated nucleic acid rapid diagnosis device","authors":"Wenju Ren , Chenyang Qi , Rui Yang , Jie Zhou , Liu Yang , Yuandi Yu , Taixiong Zheng ([email protected]) , Lizhi Fu","doi":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100582","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100582","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>African Swine Fever (ASF) poses a severe threat to the global pig husbandry. In the absence of an effective vaccine, developing rapid and accurate diagnostic methods is crucial for epidemic control. This study designed a low-cost microfluidic chip and integrated nucleic acid rapid detection device (INARDD) based on colorimetric principles combined with magnetic bead based nucleic acid extraction technology. Manufactured using micro computer numerical control machine tools (CNC) and 3D printing, the device fully automates the entire process include nucleic acid extraction, transfer, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and detection without requiring external equipment or manual intervention. Experimental results demonstrate high sensitivity (94.1 %, 32/34), specificity (97.7 %, 42/43), and accuracy (96.1 %, 74/77), with a detection limit of 10² copies/μL. The device features low production costs (approximately $69.1), low per-test expenses, and a portable design (2 kg), facilitating field deployment. This study provides an economical and efficient solution for rapid on-site diagnosis of African swine fever, holding significant implications for enhancing epidemic control and ensuring meat safety. It also offers technical reference for developing portable diagnostic systems for other infectious diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":436,"journal":{"name":"Talanta Open","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100582"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145412589","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The rhizome of Kaempferia galanga L. contained ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC) as a major component of its essential oil. Despite the abundance of EPMC in the plant, conventional isolation methods yielded only 0.5 – 2.5 %. This study developed molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) via bulk and suspension polymerisation to enhance the selective isolation of EPMC from K. galanga extracts. Six functional monomers were screened for their binding affinity with EPMC. 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) in chloroform and methacrylic acid (MAA) in n-hexane were selected for further investigation. Stoichiometric analysis established optimal template-to-monomer ratios of 1:6 for HEMA and 1:7 for MAA. Eight MIP formulations and their corresponding non-imprinted polymers (NIPs), were synthesised using these monomers via both polymerisation methods. Characterisation using Fourie Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and Particle Size Analysis (PSA) revealed that bulk polymers exhibited larger, irregular, and non-uniform particles compared to those produced by suspension polymerisation. Adsorption studies confirmed that the MIPs follow Freundlich isotherms, with MIP B2 (bulk, MAA, 1:7 ratio) exhibiting the highest binding affinity (KF = 0.081 mg/g). MIP B2 also demonstrated superior performance in the solid-phase extraction of EPMC from extracts, achieving recoveries of up to 82.4 % ± 5.52 and imprinting factors above 1.3. Selectivity tests confirmed strong discrimination of EPMC over structural analogues. In conclusion, MIP B2 offers a selective, efficient, and scalable method for EPMC isolation. These findings supported the continued development of tailored MIPs for natural product purification and provided a foundation for future optimisation of monomer-initiator systems and polymerisation parameters.
{"title":"Development of molecularly imprinted polymers via dual polymerisation strategies for targeted isolation of Ethyl p-Methoxycinnamate from Kaempferia galanga L. extract","authors":"Marisa Dwi Ariani , Ade Zuhrotun , Panagiotis Manesiotis , Aliya Nur Hasanah","doi":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100580","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.talo.2025.100580","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rhizome of <em>Kaempferia galanga</em> L. contained ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC) as a major component of its essential oil. Despite the abundance of EPMC in the plant, conventional isolation methods yielded only 0.5 – 2.5 %. This study developed molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) via bulk and suspension polymerisation to enhance the selective isolation of EPMC from <em>K. galanga</em> extracts. Six functional monomers were screened for their binding affinity with EPMC. 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) in chloroform and methacrylic acid (MAA) in <em>n</em>-hexane were selected for further investigation. Stoichiometric analysis established optimal template-to-monomer ratios of 1:6 for HEMA and 1:7 for MAA. Eight MIP formulations and their corresponding non-imprinted polymers (NIPs), were synthesised using these monomers via both polymerisation methods. Characterisation using Fourie Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and Particle Size Analysis (PSA) revealed that bulk polymers exhibited larger, irregular, and non-uniform particles compared to those produced by suspension polymerisation. Adsorption studies confirmed that the MIPs follow Freundlich isotherms, with MIP B2 (bulk, MAA, 1:7 ratio) exhibiting the highest binding affinity (KF = 0.081 mg/g). MIP B2 also demonstrated superior performance in the solid-phase extraction of EPMC from extracts, achieving recoveries of up to 82.4 % ± 5.52 and imprinting factors above 1.3. Selectivity tests confirmed strong discrimination of EPMC over structural analogues. In conclusion, MIP B2 offers a selective, efficient, and scalable method for EPMC isolation. These findings supported the continued development of tailored MIPs for natural product purification and provided a foundation for future optimisation of monomer-initiator systems and polymerisation parameters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":436,"journal":{"name":"Talanta Open","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100580"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145358179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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