No abstract

A combination of a long exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and the extraction of radiolysis and photolysis products from tracks makes it possible to create ion-selective membranes from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films irradiated with heavy ions. These membranes exhibit high selectivity for singly charged cations and high transport characteristics in the electrodialysis mode. The aim of this study is to analyze the mechanisms of the transformation of latent tracks into a system of through pores of the subnanometer range in more detail. Polyethylene terephthalate films are irradiated with accelerated Xe and Bi ions with energy losses in the polymer of 11 and 18 keV/nm, respectively. The evolution of the free volume and the accumulation of carboxyl groups in the irradiated films at different stages of the treatment are studied using gravimetry, IR and UV spectroscopy, conductometry, and electron microscopy methods. It is found that the properties of the resulting membranes depend on several critical parameters, which include, in addition to temperature during extraction, the energy loss of the bombarding ion, the pH of the solution used for extraction, and ion fluence. Dramatic changes in the membrane properties are observed at ion fluences at which individual tracks begin to overlap.

Biosensors combining the ultrahigh sensitivity of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and the specificity of nucleic acid aptamers have recently drawn attention in the detection of respiratory viruses. The most sensitive SERS-based aptasensors allow determining as low as 104 virus particles per mL that is 100-fold lower than any antibody-based lateral flow tests but 10–100-times higher than a routine polymerase chain reaction with reversed transcription (RT-PCR). Sensitivity of RT-PCR has not been achieved in SERS-based aptasensors despite the usage of sophisticated SERS-active substrates. Here, we proposed a novel design of a SERS-based aptasensor with the limit of detection of just 103 particles per ml of the influenza A virus that approaches closely to RT-PCR sensitivity. The sensor utilizes silver nanoparticles with the simplest preparation instead of sophisticated SERS-active surfaces. The analytical signal is provided by a unique Raman-active dye that competes with the virus for the binding to the G-quadruplex core of the aptamer. The aptasensor functions even with aliquots of the biological fluids due to separation of the off-target molecules by pre-filtration through a polymeric membrane. The aptasensor detects influenza viruses in the range of 1·103–5·1010 virus particles per ml.

Addition of PVDF to LiTFSI–PEO solid electrolytes enables preparation of free-standing films with the compositions within the so called “crystallinity gap” of LiTFSI–PEO system. Such films possess ionic conductivity of about 0.3 mS cm−1 at 60 °C.