Omowunmi Sadik - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Omowunmi Sadik

Figure 1: (a) ~ (d) Origami fabrication of the paper-based MFC and (e) schematic diagram of a cro... more Figure 1: (a) ~ (d) Origami fabrication of the paper-based MFC and (e) schematic diagram of a cross section of the device and its test setup.

Analytical Biochemistry, Dec 1, 2009

This article reports the first electrochemical characterization of pain biomarkers that include a... more This article reports the first electrochemical characterization of pain biomarkers that include arachidonic acid (AA), prostaglandin G(2) (PGG(2)), and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). These biomarkers are mediators of pathophysiology of pain, inflammation, and cell proliferation in cancer. The article also reports the development of an electrochemical immunosensor for monitoring these pain biomarkers. The results revealed that direct electron transfer between AA metabolites and the electrode could be easily monitored and that an enzyme-modified electrode dramatically enhanced bioelectrocatalytic activity toward AA. Cyclic voltammetric analysis of AA revealed a concentration-dependent anodic current with a slope of 2.37 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.25nM. This unique AA/gold electrode electron transfer provides a good electrochemical sensing platform for prostaglandin H(2) (PGH(2)) as the basis for quantitation of pain. An amperometric signal intensity of a COX-2 antibody-modified gold electrode was linear with COX-2 concentration in the range of 0.1-0.5microg/ml and an LOD of 0.095microg/ml. The results also revealed a linear correlation of the concentration of PGG(2) with an LOD of 0.227microM.

Science of The Total Environment, Sep 1, 2016

Greener nanosynthesis utilizes fewer amounts of materials, water, and energy; while reducing or r... more Greener nanosynthesis utilizes fewer amounts of materials, water, and energy; while reducing or replacing the need for organic solvents. A novel approach is presented using naturally-derived flavonoids including Quercetin pentaphosphate (QPP), Quercetin sulfonic acid (QSA) and Apigenin Triphosphate (ATRP). These water soluble, phosphorylated flavonoids were utilized both as reducing agent and stabilizer. The synthesis was achieved at room temperature using water as a solvent and it requires no capping agents. The efficiency of the resulting silver nanoparticle synthesis was compared with naturally-occurring flavonoid such as Quercetin (QCR). Results show that QCR reduced Ag + faster followed by QPP, QSA and ATRP respectively. This is the first evidence of direct utilization of QCR for synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in water. The percentage conversion of Ag + to Ag 0 was determined to be 96% after 35 minutes. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Energy dispersive absorption spectroscopy (EDS), UV-vis spectroscopy, High resolution TEM (HR-TEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The particle sizes ranged from 2-80 nm with an average size of 22 nm and in the case of ATRP, the nanoparticle shapes varied from spherical to hexagonal with dispersed particle size ranging from 2-30 nm. Crystallinity was confirmed by XRD and the SAED of (111), (200), and the fringes observed in HRTEM images. Results were in agreement with the UV resonance peaks of 369-440 nm. The particles also exhibit excellent antibacterial activity against S. epidermidis, E.

Tetrahedron Letters, Apr 1, 2017

Flavonoids constitute a large family of plant-derived polyphenolic compounds that are found in fr... more Flavonoids constitute a large family of plant-derived polyphenolic compounds that are found in fruits, vegetables, spices, wines and juices 1. Examples of flavonoids include quercetin, fisetin, luteolin, apeginin, myricetin and many others. Previous studies have shown that these compounds exhibit an array of biological effects that are beneficial to humans, including antiviral, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic. The solubility of these polyphenolic compounds can be increased through the modification of the chemical structure, which may improve oral bioavailability 2. As a result, considerable efforts have been directed towards the development of novel, highly soluble conjugates having clinical profiles that are similar or even superior to those exhibited by the parent molecules in vitro. These include synthetic esters, acyl

RSC Advances

Fusarium oxysporum (F. oxysporum) is linked to the widespread fusarium wilt in plants affecting t... more Fusarium oxysporum (F. oxysporum) is linked to the widespread fusarium wilt in plants affecting the quality and yield of food crops.

Biosensors

Pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) remains a safety concern in the preservation and quality of... more Pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) remains a safety concern in the preservation and quality of green leafy vegetables. Sugar–lectin interactions provide a reliable, specific, and effective sensing platform for the detection of bacteria as compared to the tedious conventional plate counting technique. Herein, we present the synthesis of 4-(N-mannosyl) benzoic acid (4-NMBA) and 4-thiophenyl-N-mannose (4-TNM) via a two-step reductive amination for the detection of E. coli using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) biosensor. The 4-NMBA was synthesized with mannose and para-aminobenzoic (4-PBA), while the 4-TNM was synthesized with mannose and 4-aminophenyl disulfide (4-AHP) using water and acetic acid in a 1:1 ratio. The resultant structure of mannose derivatives (4-NMBA and 4-TNM) was characterized and confirmed using analytical tools, such as Mass Spectrometer, SEM, and FTIR. The choice of ligands (mannose derivatives) is ascribed to the specific recognition of mannose to the FimH ...

Biosensors

The spread and resurgence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19 disease) threatens human health and s... more The spread and resurgence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19 disease) threatens human health and social relations. Prevention of COVID-19 disease partly relies on fabricating low-cost, point-of-care (POC) sensing technology that can rapidly and selectively detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We report a colorimetric, paper-based polydiacetylene (PDA) biosensor, designed to detect SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in artificial saliva. Analytical characterizations of the PDA sensor using NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy showed the correct structural elucidation of PCDA-NHS conjugation. The PDA sensor platform containing the N-Hydroxysuccinimide ester of 10, 12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA-NHS) was divided into three experimental PCDA-NHS concentration groups of 10%, 20%, and 30% to optimize the performance of the sensor. The optimal PCDA-NHS molar concentration was determined to be 10%. The PDA sensor works by a color change from blue to red as its colorimetric output when the immobilized antibody binds to ...

2016 IEEE SENSORS

In this work, we report paper-based microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that produce high power and curre... more In this work, we report paper-based microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that produce high power and current densities from one drop of bacteria-containing liquid. The devices feature (i) a simple and versatile fabrication technique by using paper as a substrate and (ii) an exceptional performance by incorporating novel nanostructured polymers, PAA-Poly (amic) acid) and PPDD-Poly(pyromellitic dianhydride-p-phenylene diamine), into the paper substrate. Four 3-D MFC configurations were designed by using different numbers of 2-D sheets of paper layers. Each device integrated four functional compartments (i.e. anode, reservoir, proton exchange membrane, and air-cathode) into one, two, three or four paper layers, respectively. The nanostructured polymers were engineered as a proton exchange membrane to enhance ion traveling efficiency or an oxygen mitigating layer to prevent diverting electrons away from the anode. Among the four MFC devices with different numbers of layers, two-layer paper-based MFC generated the highest current density of 47|UA/cm2 and power density of 4|UW/cm2, both of which are substantially greater than achieved by previous paper-based MFCs and even comparable to that of conventional micro-sale counterparts.

JMIR Biomedical Engineering

UNSTRUCTURED Pain is a subjective phenomenon caused/perceived centrally and modified by physical,... more UNSTRUCTURED Pain is a subjective phenomenon caused/perceived centrally and modified by physical, physiological, or social influences. Currently, the most commonly used approaches for pain measurement rely on self-reporting of pain level on a discrete rating scale. This provides a subjective and only semi-quantitative indicator of pain. This paper presents an approach that combines self-reported pain with pain-related biomarkers to be obtained from biosensors (in development) and possibly other sources of evidence to provide more dependable estimates of experienced pain, a clinical decision support system. We illustrate the approach using a Bayes network, but also describe other artificial intelligence (AI) methods that provide other ways to combine evidence. We also propose an optimization approach for tuning the AI method parameters (opaque to clinicians) so as to best approximate the kinds of outputs most useful to medical practitioners. We present some data from a sample of 379 patients that illustrate several evidence patterns we may expect in real healthcare situations. The majority (79.7%) of our patients show consistent evidence suggesting this biomarker approach may be reasonable. We also found five patterns of inconsistent evidence. These suggest a direction for further exploration. Finally, we sketch out an approach for collecting medical experts’ guidance as to the way the combined evidence might be presented so as to provide the most useful guidance (also needed for any optimization approach). We recognize that one possible outcome may be that all this approach may be able to provide is a quantified measure of the extent to which the evidence is consistent or not, leaving the final decision to the clinicians (where it must reside). Pointers to additional sources of evidence might also be possible in some situations.

Smart Biosensor Technology, 2018

ACS Agricultural Science & Technology, 2021

Advanced Sustainable Systems, 2018

Paper‐based electronics have recently emerged as a simple, biodegradable, and low‐cost paradigm f... more Paper‐based electronics have recently emerged as a simple, biodegradable, and low‐cost paradigm for disposable electronics and may be an excellent way to reduce the dramatic increase in electronic waste. Paper‐based batteries are imperative for stand‐alone and self‐sustained paper‐based electronics. Ideally, paper‐based batteries must be simple, biodegradable, inexpensive, and provide realistic and accessible power. Among many paper‐based batteries, paper‐based microbial biobatteries attract significant attention because of their self‐sustainability, cost‐effectiveness, eco‐friendliness, and potential for energy accessibility in resource‐constrained settings. However, the promise of this technology has not translated into practical power applications because of its low performance. Furthermore, its biodegradability remains questionable. In this work, an easily biodegradable paper‐polymer substrate is engineered as a part of a novel, high‐performance microbial battery. Poly (amic) ac...

RSC Advances, 2018

We hereby present a novel greener and ecofriendly synthesis of anisotropic silver nanoparticles (... more We hereby present a novel greener and ecofriendly synthesis of anisotropic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using water soluble quercetin diphosphate (QDP). QDP was employed as a reducing, capping and stabilizing agent at room temperature without any extraneous reagents.

Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry, 2018

Pain is a multidimensional condition of multiple origins. Determining both intensity and underlyi... more Pain is a multidimensional condition of multiple origins. Determining both intensity and underlying cause are critical for effective management. Utilization of painkillers does not follow any guidelines relying on biomarkers, which effectively eliminates objective treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of serum cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as pain biomarkers. This work could significantly advance the diagnosis and treatment of pain. We assessed the potential utility of serum COX-2 and iNOS as objective measures of pain in a sample of American patients. Pain was scaled between level 0-5 in accordance with the level reported by the patients. Blood samples were collected from 102 patients in the emergency room. Sandwich ELISA was used to determine the COX-2 and iNOS levels in the blood serum while statistical analysis was performed using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, Regression and Receiver Operating Characteri...

ACS sensors, Jan 26, 2018

The blue-green mold Penicillium italicum is among the most problematic post-harvest plant infecti... more The blue-green mold Penicillium italicum is among the most problematic post-harvest plant infections limiting the integrity of citrus and many other crops during storage and transportation, but there is no sensor for its on-site or field detection. We hereby, for the first time, report the development of novel biomolecular sensor for assessing the presence of P. italicum spores and hyphae using carbohydrate-lectin recognitions. Two approaches were developed: (i) lateral tests using standalone poly(amic) acid (PAA) membranes and glass surfaces and (ii) quantitative tests on 96-well polystyrene plates and paper electrodes. In both cases, the surfaces were functionalized with novel derivatized sugar based ligands while staining was performed with gold nanoparticles. Both approaches provided strong signals for 10spores/mL of P. italicum isolated from experimentally infected lemons as the lowest-reliable concentration. The 96-well plate-based gave the most sensitive detection with a 4 × ...

Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 2017

The Analyst, 2016

A novel electrochemical sensing platform for nitrobenzene has been developed using silver nanopar... more A novel electrochemical sensing platform for nitrobenzene has been developed using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) embedded in the poly(amic) acid (PAA) polymer matrix (PAA–AgNPs).

Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 2016

Quantitative removal and in situ detection of lead from water using naturally derived quercetin p... more Quantitative removal and in situ detection of lead from water using naturally derived quercetin pentaphosphate.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2016

This study reports for the first time the use of poly(pyromellitic dianhydride-p-phenylenediamine... more This study reports for the first time the use of poly(pyromellitic dianhydride-p-phenylenediamine) (PPDD) as a reducing and stabilizing agent, immobilization matrix, and directional template for the synthesis of anisotropic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The work also provides a new physical insight into the mechanisms of directional templating of anisotropic nanoparticles based on diffusion-limited aggregate model and coalescence growth mechanism. Molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations were performed to provide insight into possible conformations of the PPDD monomer. Anisotropic (nonspherical) peanut-shaped nanorods and dendritic nanostructures were prepared in situ using varying concentrations of precursors from 0.1 to 1.0% w/v within PPDD matrix. The PPDD served as the reducing and directional template, thus enforcing preferential orientation. The mechanism of formation and growth of the polymer-mediated anisotropic nanoparticles was confirmed using transmission electr...

Figure 1: (a) ~ (d) Origami fabrication of the paper-based MFC and (e) schematic diagram of a cro... more Figure 1: (a) ~ (d) Origami fabrication of the paper-based MFC and (e) schematic diagram of a cross section of the device and its test setup.

Analytical Biochemistry, Dec 1, 2009

This article reports the first electrochemical characterization of pain biomarkers that include a... more This article reports the first electrochemical characterization of pain biomarkers that include arachidonic acid (AA), prostaglandin G(2) (PGG(2)), and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). These biomarkers are mediators of pathophysiology of pain, inflammation, and cell proliferation in cancer. The article also reports the development of an electrochemical immunosensor for monitoring these pain biomarkers. The results revealed that direct electron transfer between AA metabolites and the electrode could be easily monitored and that an enzyme-modified electrode dramatically enhanced bioelectrocatalytic activity toward AA. Cyclic voltammetric analysis of AA revealed a concentration-dependent anodic current with a slope of 2.37 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.25nM. This unique AA/gold electrode electron transfer provides a good electrochemical sensing platform for prostaglandin H(2) (PGH(2)) as the basis for quantitation of pain. An amperometric signal intensity of a COX-2 antibody-modified gold electrode was linear with COX-2 concentration in the range of 0.1-0.5microg/ml and an LOD of 0.095microg/ml. The results also revealed a linear correlation of the concentration of PGG(2) with an LOD of 0.227microM.

Science of The Total Environment, Sep 1, 2016

Greener nanosynthesis utilizes fewer amounts of materials, water, and energy; while reducing or r... more Greener nanosynthesis utilizes fewer amounts of materials, water, and energy; while reducing or replacing the need for organic solvents. A novel approach is presented using naturally-derived flavonoids including Quercetin pentaphosphate (QPP), Quercetin sulfonic acid (QSA) and Apigenin Triphosphate (ATRP). These water soluble, phosphorylated flavonoids were utilized both as reducing agent and stabilizer. The synthesis was achieved at room temperature using water as a solvent and it requires no capping agents. The efficiency of the resulting silver nanoparticle synthesis was compared with naturally-occurring flavonoid such as Quercetin (QCR). Results show that QCR reduced Ag + faster followed by QPP, QSA and ATRP respectively. This is the first evidence of direct utilization of QCR for synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in water. The percentage conversion of Ag + to Ag 0 was determined to be 96% after 35 minutes. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Energy dispersive absorption spectroscopy (EDS), UV-vis spectroscopy, High resolution TEM (HR-TEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The particle sizes ranged from 2-80 nm with an average size of 22 nm and in the case of ATRP, the nanoparticle shapes varied from spherical to hexagonal with dispersed particle size ranging from 2-30 nm. Crystallinity was confirmed by XRD and the SAED of (111), (200), and the fringes observed in HRTEM images. Results were in agreement with the UV resonance peaks of 369-440 nm. The particles also exhibit excellent antibacterial activity against S. epidermidis, E.

Tetrahedron Letters, Apr 1, 2017

Flavonoids constitute a large family of plant-derived polyphenolic compounds that are found in fr... more Flavonoids constitute a large family of plant-derived polyphenolic compounds that are found in fruits, vegetables, spices, wines and juices 1. Examples of flavonoids include quercetin, fisetin, luteolin, apeginin, myricetin and many others. Previous studies have shown that these compounds exhibit an array of biological effects that are beneficial to humans, including antiviral, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic. The solubility of these polyphenolic compounds can be increased through the modification of the chemical structure, which may improve oral bioavailability 2. As a result, considerable efforts have been directed towards the development of novel, highly soluble conjugates having clinical profiles that are similar or even superior to those exhibited by the parent molecules in vitro. These include synthetic esters, acyl

RSC Advances

Fusarium oxysporum (F. oxysporum) is linked to the widespread fusarium wilt in plants affecting t... more Fusarium oxysporum (F. oxysporum) is linked to the widespread fusarium wilt in plants affecting the quality and yield of food crops.

Biosensors

Pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) remains a safety concern in the preservation and quality of... more Pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) remains a safety concern in the preservation and quality of green leafy vegetables. Sugar–lectin interactions provide a reliable, specific, and effective sensing platform for the detection of bacteria as compared to the tedious conventional plate counting technique. Herein, we present the synthesis of 4-(N-mannosyl) benzoic acid (4-NMBA) and 4-thiophenyl-N-mannose (4-TNM) via a two-step reductive amination for the detection of E. coli using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) biosensor. The 4-NMBA was synthesized with mannose and para-aminobenzoic (4-PBA), while the 4-TNM was synthesized with mannose and 4-aminophenyl disulfide (4-AHP) using water and acetic acid in a 1:1 ratio. The resultant structure of mannose derivatives (4-NMBA and 4-TNM) was characterized and confirmed using analytical tools, such as Mass Spectrometer, SEM, and FTIR. The choice of ligands (mannose derivatives) is ascribed to the specific recognition of mannose to the FimH ...

Biosensors

The spread and resurgence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19 disease) threatens human health and s... more The spread and resurgence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19 disease) threatens human health and social relations. Prevention of COVID-19 disease partly relies on fabricating low-cost, point-of-care (POC) sensing technology that can rapidly and selectively detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We report a colorimetric, paper-based polydiacetylene (PDA) biosensor, designed to detect SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in artificial saliva. Analytical characterizations of the PDA sensor using NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy showed the correct structural elucidation of PCDA-NHS conjugation. The PDA sensor platform containing the N-Hydroxysuccinimide ester of 10, 12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA-NHS) was divided into three experimental PCDA-NHS concentration groups of 10%, 20%, and 30% to optimize the performance of the sensor. The optimal PCDA-NHS molar concentration was determined to be 10%. The PDA sensor works by a color change from blue to red as its colorimetric output when the immobilized antibody binds to ...

2016 IEEE SENSORS

In this work, we report paper-based microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that produce high power and curre... more In this work, we report paper-based microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that produce high power and current densities from one drop of bacteria-containing liquid. The devices feature (i) a simple and versatile fabrication technique by using paper as a substrate and (ii) an exceptional performance by incorporating novel nanostructured polymers, PAA-Poly (amic) acid) and PPDD-Poly(pyromellitic dianhydride-p-phenylene diamine), into the paper substrate. Four 3-D MFC configurations were designed by using different numbers of 2-D sheets of paper layers. Each device integrated four functional compartments (i.e. anode, reservoir, proton exchange membrane, and air-cathode) into one, two, three or four paper layers, respectively. The nanostructured polymers were engineered as a proton exchange membrane to enhance ion traveling efficiency or an oxygen mitigating layer to prevent diverting electrons away from the anode. Among the four MFC devices with different numbers of layers, two-layer paper-based MFC generated the highest current density of 47|UA/cm2 and power density of 4|UW/cm2, both of which are substantially greater than achieved by previous paper-based MFCs and even comparable to that of conventional micro-sale counterparts.

JMIR Biomedical Engineering

UNSTRUCTURED Pain is a subjective phenomenon caused/perceived centrally and modified by physical,... more UNSTRUCTURED Pain is a subjective phenomenon caused/perceived centrally and modified by physical, physiological, or social influences. Currently, the most commonly used approaches for pain measurement rely on self-reporting of pain level on a discrete rating scale. This provides a subjective and only semi-quantitative indicator of pain. This paper presents an approach that combines self-reported pain with pain-related biomarkers to be obtained from biosensors (in development) and possibly other sources of evidence to provide more dependable estimates of experienced pain, a clinical decision support system. We illustrate the approach using a Bayes network, but also describe other artificial intelligence (AI) methods that provide other ways to combine evidence. We also propose an optimization approach for tuning the AI method parameters (opaque to clinicians) so as to best approximate the kinds of outputs most useful to medical practitioners. We present some data from a sample of 379 patients that illustrate several evidence patterns we may expect in real healthcare situations. The majority (79.7%) of our patients show consistent evidence suggesting this biomarker approach may be reasonable. We also found five patterns of inconsistent evidence. These suggest a direction for further exploration. Finally, we sketch out an approach for collecting medical experts’ guidance as to the way the combined evidence might be presented so as to provide the most useful guidance (also needed for any optimization approach). We recognize that one possible outcome may be that all this approach may be able to provide is a quantified measure of the extent to which the evidence is consistent or not, leaving the final decision to the clinicians (where it must reside). Pointers to additional sources of evidence might also be possible in some situations.

Smart Biosensor Technology, 2018

ACS Agricultural Science & Technology, 2021

Advanced Sustainable Systems, 2018

Paper‐based electronics have recently emerged as a simple, biodegradable, and low‐cost paradigm f... more Paper‐based electronics have recently emerged as a simple, biodegradable, and low‐cost paradigm for disposable electronics and may be an excellent way to reduce the dramatic increase in electronic waste. Paper‐based batteries are imperative for stand‐alone and self‐sustained paper‐based electronics. Ideally, paper‐based batteries must be simple, biodegradable, inexpensive, and provide realistic and accessible power. Among many paper‐based batteries, paper‐based microbial biobatteries attract significant attention because of their self‐sustainability, cost‐effectiveness, eco‐friendliness, and potential for energy accessibility in resource‐constrained settings. However, the promise of this technology has not translated into practical power applications because of its low performance. Furthermore, its biodegradability remains questionable. In this work, an easily biodegradable paper‐polymer substrate is engineered as a part of a novel, high‐performance microbial battery. Poly (amic) ac...

RSC Advances, 2018

We hereby present a novel greener and ecofriendly synthesis of anisotropic silver nanoparticles (... more We hereby present a novel greener and ecofriendly synthesis of anisotropic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using water soluble quercetin diphosphate (QDP). QDP was employed as a reducing, capping and stabilizing agent at room temperature without any extraneous reagents.

Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry, 2018

Pain is a multidimensional condition of multiple origins. Determining both intensity and underlyi... more Pain is a multidimensional condition of multiple origins. Determining both intensity and underlying cause are critical for effective management. Utilization of painkillers does not follow any guidelines relying on biomarkers, which effectively eliminates objective treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of serum cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as pain biomarkers. This work could significantly advance the diagnosis and treatment of pain. We assessed the potential utility of serum COX-2 and iNOS as objective measures of pain in a sample of American patients. Pain was scaled between level 0-5 in accordance with the level reported by the patients. Blood samples were collected from 102 patients in the emergency room. Sandwich ELISA was used to determine the COX-2 and iNOS levels in the blood serum while statistical analysis was performed using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, Regression and Receiver Operating Characteri...

ACS sensors, Jan 26, 2018

The blue-green mold Penicillium italicum is among the most problematic post-harvest plant infecti... more The blue-green mold Penicillium italicum is among the most problematic post-harvest plant infections limiting the integrity of citrus and many other crops during storage and transportation, but there is no sensor for its on-site or field detection. We hereby, for the first time, report the development of novel biomolecular sensor for assessing the presence of P. italicum spores and hyphae using carbohydrate-lectin recognitions. Two approaches were developed: (i) lateral tests using standalone poly(amic) acid (PAA) membranes and glass surfaces and (ii) quantitative tests on 96-well polystyrene plates and paper electrodes. In both cases, the surfaces were functionalized with novel derivatized sugar based ligands while staining was performed with gold nanoparticles. Both approaches provided strong signals for 10spores/mL of P. italicum isolated from experimentally infected lemons as the lowest-reliable concentration. The 96-well plate-based gave the most sensitive detection with a 4 × ...

Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 2017

The Analyst, 2016

A novel electrochemical sensing platform for nitrobenzene has been developed using silver nanopar... more A novel electrochemical sensing platform for nitrobenzene has been developed using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) embedded in the poly(amic) acid (PAA) polymer matrix (PAA–AgNPs).

Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 2016

Quantitative removal and in situ detection of lead from water using naturally derived quercetin p... more Quantitative removal and in situ detection of lead from water using naturally derived quercetin pentaphosphate.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2016

This study reports for the first time the use of poly(pyromellitic dianhydride-p-phenylenediamine... more This study reports for the first time the use of poly(pyromellitic dianhydride-p-phenylenediamine) (PPDD) as a reducing and stabilizing agent, immobilization matrix, and directional template for the synthesis of anisotropic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The work also provides a new physical insight into the mechanisms of directional templating of anisotropic nanoparticles based on diffusion-limited aggregate model and coalescence growth mechanism. Molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations were performed to provide insight into possible conformations of the PPDD monomer. Anisotropic (nonspherical) peanut-shaped nanorods and dendritic nanostructures were prepared in situ using varying concentrations of precursors from 0.1 to 1.0% w/v within PPDD matrix. The PPDD served as the reducing and directional template, thus enforcing preferential orientation. The mechanism of formation and growth of the polymer-mediated anisotropic nanoparticles was confirmed using transmission electr...