Surface-functionalized nano structures, arrays of the nanostructures, and method for using the arrays in surfaced-enhanced spectroscopy and dielectric sensing applications, such as surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy, are provided. The nanostructures are functionalized with specific binding moieties that are bound to the nanostructures via phosphonic acid linkers.

The disclosure relates to a method for specific detection of a target analyte using probe DNA specific to the target analyte and non-functionalized, carbohydrate-capped metal nanoparticles such as non-functionalized, dextrin-capped gold nanoparticles. A sample mixture including a target DNA analyte and a probe DNA specific thereto is incubated to from a probe DNA-target DNA complex. The non-functionalized, carbohydrate-capped metal nanoparticles and an ionic species such as sodium chloride or other salt are added to the probe DNA-target DNA complex, and the mixture is incubated. Addition of the ionic species creates a detectable distinction, such as color of the resultant mixture, between stabilized metal nanoparticles when the probe DNA-target DNA complex is present and destabilized metal nanoparticles when the probe DNA-target DNA complex is absent. The method can be used for colorimetric detection of plant pathogens and associated diseases in agricultural production systems.

A method for detecting a disease marker using self-amplification of a detection signal is disclosed. The method can include (a) a step of simultaneously inducing an antigen-antibody immune response and an Au particle formation reaction by reduction of Au ions in an assay solution prepared by, to a pre-assay solution in which all of an antibody or antigen for detection of a disease-specific marker, free Au ions, and adsorbed Au ions are present, adding a sample, which contains a disease-specific antigen or antibody binding specifically to the antibody or the antigen, and a reducing agent; and (b) a step of confirming the presence or absence of a disease-specific marker by a chromogenic reaction through the Au particle formation.

This disclosure relates to a multiplex diagnostic method and related kits thereof for detecting the presence of different target analytes in a sample, the method comprising providing the sample and a plurality of reporter particles such as gold nanoparticles having different colours to a substrate, the substrate having a assigned spatial regions; and determining, on the substrate, the presence of a colour arising from the reporter particles in each of assigned spatial regions on the substrate, wherein each of the assigned spatial regions on the substrate is configured to immobilize a target analyte that is different from the other assigned spatial regions, wherein reporter particles of each different colour are configured to couple to a target analyte that is different from the reporter particles of the other different colours, and wherein is an integer that is at least two and is an integer that is at least two. In one embodiment, the reporter particles are configured to give rise to a secondary colour when reporter particles of two or more different colours are colocalized in the same spatial region, wherein the secondary colour resulting from the colocalization of the reporter particles of two or more different colours from the different colours is distinct from another secondary colour resulting from the colocalization of reporter particles of other combinations of colours from the different colours.

The present disclosure relates to a novel method for lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) by utilizing plasmonic enhancement strategy. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a plasmonic enhanced lateral flow sensor (pLFS) concept by introducing a liposome-based amplification of the colorimetric signals on the lateral flow platform for ultrasensitive detection of pathogens.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and compositions useful for in vivo and/or in vitro profiling of environmental triggers (e.g., enzyme activity, pH or temperature). In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods of in vivo enzymatic processing of exogenous molecules followed by detection of nanocatalysts as representative of the presence of active enzymes (e.g., proteases) associated with a disease, for example, cancer or infection. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides compositions and methods for production of in vivo sensors comprising nanocatalysts.

Dye-loaded fluorescent polymeric nanoparticles working as light-harvesting nano-antenna, which efficiently transfer the excitation energy to acceptor dyes and, therefore, amplifies emission of the latter are provided.

Disclosed herein are methods of treating acute kidney injury. The A method can include administering a sufficient amount of a DNA origami nanostructure to a subject afflicted with AKI to increase an excretory function of said subject. In some examples, the DNA origami nanostructure includes a scaffold strand and a plurality of staple strands, in which the scaffold strand comprises a M1 3 viral genome having a length of 7249 base pairs; and each staple strand of the plurality of staple strands has a length of about 20 to 60 base pairs.

Embodiments herein provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for detecting, monitoring, measuring, and/or characterizing the activity of phosphoproteins such as tyrosine kinases (TKs) and downstream proteins in TK signal transduction pathways (e.g., TK pathway proteins). In various embodiments, the methods, apparatuses, and systems may use nanoparticles, such as quantum dots (QD), to detect and/or characterize the abnormally overactive TK signaling pathways that underlie tumorgenesis and tumor progression. In various embodiments, the QD-based methods, apparatuses, and systems may have a sufficiently high degree of sensitivity to enable the identification of new TK signaling pathway markers, for example for use in diagnosing, staging, monitoring, and/or prognosing cancers, or in evaluating the efficacy of cancer therapeutics.

Some embodiments relate to nanoparticle probes for the detection of disease states in a patient or for tissue engineering. In some embodiments, the nanoparticle probe comprises one or more slip bonds that bind to a cell surface structure. In some embodiments, the binding of the nanoparticle probe is selective. In some embodiments, the nanoparticle probe binds to cells having a certain maximum glycocalyx thickness.