A sensor comprising a field-effect transistor of a semiconducting material in two-dimensional nanosheets having an interfacial nanoarchitecture comprising a recognition element, a structural element and a polymeric coating, a gate electrode of the transistor being coplanar with a drain electrode and a source electrode of the transistor; a system using the sensor and methods of preparation and use thereof. The disclosed sensor has increased stability and an interfacial nanoarchitecture suitable for the immobilization of a broad number of recognition elements without loss of their biological activity.

A sensor comprising a field-effect transistor of a semiconducting material in two-dimensional nanosheets having an interfacial nanoarchitecture comprising a recognition element, a structural element and a polymeric coating, a gate electrode of the transistor being coplanar with a drain electrode and a source electrode of the transistor; a system using the sensor and methods of preparation and use thereof. The disclosed sensor has increased stability and an interfacial nanoarchitecture suitable for the immobilization of a broad number of recognition elements without loss of their biological activity.

The invention concerns a biocompatible oily ferrofluid comprising iron-oxide based magnetic nanoparticles and an oil phase comprising at least one fatty acid ester, characterized in that said magnetic nanoparticles are surface functionalized by molecules of one or more phospholipids, and in particular a biocompatible oily ferrofluid comprising iron-oxide based magnetic nanoparticles and an oil phase comprising at least one fatty acid ester, said iron-oxide based magnetic nanoparticles forming a colloidal dispersion in said oil phase from a temperature belonging to the range from 20 to 80° C., characterized in that said magnetic nanoparticles are surface functionalized by molecules of one or more phospholipids which do not completely cover the surface of the iron-oxide based magnetic nanoparticles, which in particular ensure a coverage rate of the surface of the iron-oxide based magnetic nanoparticles such that the fatty acid ester(s) present in the oil phase have access to the surface of the iron-oxide based magnetic nanoparticles. The invention also concerns the process for preparing such a biocompatible oily ferrofluid and its use as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging or in the context of a cancer treatment by hyperthermia. Finally, the invention concerns a nanoemulsion comprising such a biocompatible oily ferrofluid.

The invention relates to an optical method for detecting at least one target molecule (TM) contained in a sample at a determined concentration, which comprises: (a) bringing a sample containing the TM into contact, in a liquid medium, with a solution containing nanoparticles (NPs), the surface of the NPs having been coated or functionalised with at least one type of specific bioreceptor (BR) of the target molecule to be detected (NP-BR), such that the BRs specifically recognise the TM, thus forming conjugates of the NP-BRs with the TMs (NP-BR-TMs); (b) separating the nanoparticles conjugates (NP-BR-TMs and/or NP-BRs) formed in the previous step; (c) bringing the nanoparticles conjugates (NP-BR-TMs and/or NP-BRs) into contact with a sensor surface of an optical transducer that operates by means of reflection and/or transmission, the response of which is based on optical interference, the sensor surface being functionalised by immobilising thereon: (i) the target molecule (TM) or (ii) at least one specific bioreceptor of the target molecule, which may be of the same type (BR) or of another type (BR1); and (d) determining the optical reading on the sensor surface by means of change in the interference response of the optical transducer, caused by change in the real part of the refractive index as a result of the NP conjugates recognised on the sensor surface, and/or by means of change in intensity in the interference response, caused by variation in intensity as a result of dispersion or as a result of variation in the complex part of the refractive index of the NP conjugates, or by means of a combination of both effects amplification in the interference response by refractive index and scattering.

A gas sensing platform for sensing a gas component includes a chemoresistive gas sensor and a supporting substrate. The sensor includes a sensing region made of porous graphene having two interconnect regions each extending continuously from the sensing region and a gas-sensitive nanomaterial dispersed in the sensing region operable to deconvolute the gas component from a gas mixture. The chemoresistive gas sensor responds to the gas component by changing the resistance of the gas sensing region as the gas-sensitive nanomaterial binds with the gas component.

Natural and/or synthetic antibodies for specific proteins are adhered to nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are adhered to a substrate and the substrate is exposed to a sample that may contain the specific proteins. The substrates are then tested with surface enhanced Raman scattering techniques and/or localized surface plasmon resonance techniques to quantify the amount of the specific protein in the sample.

Natural and/or synthetic antibodies for specific proteins are adhered to nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are adhered to a substrate and the substrate is exposed to a sample that may contain the specific proteins. The substrates are then tested with surface enhanced Raman scattering techniques and/or localized surface plasmon resonance techniques to quantify the amount of the specific protein in the sample.

Colloidal synthesis of narrowly disperse, near IR emitting Group IV alloy quantum dots with wide range of Sn compositions via reduction of precursor halides is provided, allowing for less-toxic, earth abundant, and silicon-compatible Group IV alloy quantum dots for application in a broad range of electronic and photonic technologies.

One non-limiting and exemplary embodiment provides a metal microscopic structure capable of detecting a low-concentration analyte with high sensitivity. The metal microscopic structure includes a base member including multiple protrusions arrayed at predetermined intervals, and multiple projections made of a metal film covering the base member and configured to generate surface plasmons upon irradiation with light. A film thickness of the metal film positioned in a bottom portion of a gap between every adjacent two of the multiple projections is greater than a height of the multiple protrusions and is more than or equal to 90% and less than or equal to 100% of a film thickness of the metal film deposited on top portions of the multiple protrusions.

One non-limiting and exemplary embodiment provides a metal microscopic structure capable of detecting a low-concentration analyte with high sensitivity. The metal microscopic structure includes a base member including multiple protrusions arrayed at predetermined intervals, and multiple projections made of a metal film covering the base member and configured to generate surface plasmons upon irradiation with light. A film thickness of the metal film positioned in a bottom portion of a gap between every adjacent two of the multiple projections is greater than a height of the multiple protrusions and is more than or equal to 90% and less than or equal to 100% of a film thickness of the metal film deposited on top portions of the multiple protrusions.