No abstract

A novel ultra-sensitive fluorescent sensor for monitoring microRNA (miRNA) in living cells was constructed by utilizing a hybridization chain reaction (HCR) as the signal amplification with a carbon nitride nanosheet (CNNS) as a carrier. The Cy5-labeled hairpin DNA could be adsorbed onto the surface of CNNS, resulting in fluorescence quenching of Cy5. When treated with complementary miRNA, the fluorescence was recovered because miRNA could efficiently trigger an HCR, which led to the release of the HCR products from the CNNS. This intracellular HCR strategy can be used for ultra-sensitive monitoring of intracellular miRNA. The main advantages of the proposed method are its simplicity, high sensitivity, high specificity and low toxicity for monitoring low-level biomarkers.

With the development and progress of nanotechnology, major advances have been achieved in the micro/nanoscale motors field. Compared with tubular, wire, and sphere nanomotors, magnetically driven helical micro/nanoscale motors show broad prospects of future biomedical applications, especially in targeted drug delivery, due to their excellent movement performance in low Reynolds numbers fluids. In recent years, many fabrication methods of helical micro‐nano motors have been reported. This review set out to provide a summary of the fabrication of helical micro/nanoscale motors. In addition, the design strategies and further functionalization to achieve targeted drug delivery will be introduced as well. With this, we hope to spur further development of novel helical micro/nanomotors and speed up their clinical translation.

Owing to good moving performance at low Reynolds medium and low invasiveness of magnetic field to organisms, magnetically driven helical micro/nanoscale motors attract enormous attention. In recent years, many fabrication methods for helical motors have been reported. This review by F. Qin, Y, Zhang and F. Peng sets out to provide a comprehensive summary of fabrication approaches. In addition, design strategies and further functionalization to achieve targeted drug delivery are described. More information can be found in the Minireview by Fei Peng et al.