In this paper, we discovered that ZnFe(2)O(4) magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) possess intrinsic peroxidase-like activity. ZnFe(2)O(4) MNPs exhibit several advantages such as high catalytic efficiency, good stability, monodispersion, and rapid separation over other peroxidase nanomimetics and horseradish peroxidase (HRP). ZnFe(2)O(4) MNPs were used as a colorimetric biosensor for the detection of urine glucose. This method is simple, inexpensive, highly sensitive, and selective for glucose detection using glucose oxidase (GOx) and ZnFe(2)O(4) MNPs with a linear range from 1.25 × 10(-6) to 1.875 × 10(-5) mol L(-1) with a detection limit of 3.0 × 10(-7) mol L(-1). The color change observable by the naked eyes based on the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) is the principle for the sensing of urine glucose level.

Colorimetric and fluorescent dual mode detection methods have gained much attention in recent years; however, it is still desirable to develop new colorimetric and fluorescent dual mode nanosensors with more simple preparation procedures, low cost, and excellent biocompatibility. Herein, a colorimetric and fluorescent nanosensor based on B, N, S-co-doped carbon dots (BNS-CDs) was synthesized by one-step hydrothermal treatment of 2,5-diaminobenzenesulfonic acid and 4-aminophenylboronic acid hydrochloride. Using this nanosensor, a highly sensitive assay of Fe in the range of 0.3-546 μM with a detection limit of 90 nM was provided by quenching the red emission fluorescence. It is more attractive that Fe can also be visualized by this nanosensor via evident color changes of the solution (from red to blue) under sunlight without the aid of an ultraviolet (UV) lamp. Furthermore, the designed nanosensor can be applied for efficient detection of intracellular Fe with excellent biocompatibility and cellular imaging capability, and it holds great promise in biomedical applications.

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In this paper, a simple and rapid colorimetric method, which does not require any expensive and complex instruments, is established for the determination of melamine in dairy products. Lower than 2.5 ppm (the safety limit in the USA and EU) of melamine in real samples can be detected exactly with the recoveries in a range from 98-115% using a 721-A spectrophotometer. More significantly, the existence of melamine can be visually evaluated easily without the aid of any instrumentation.