An HKUST-1@Ag-based SERS chip is fabricated by an in situ electrodeposition method and used for on-site detection of PAHs in environmental samples.

Development of flexible surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate with controllable "hot spots" has spurred increasing interest because of its unique structure and plasmonic properties. Here, charged poly(vinyl alcohol) microgels containing silver nanoparticles are developed by using microfluidic emulsification to produce a "smart" SERS sensor with charge screening and signals amplification. Importantly, this charged microgel enables the selective concentration of counter-charged molecules and induces the formation of assembled arrays at an immiscible liquid−liquid interface because of the electrostatic interaction. The SERS-active microgels arrays possess controllable structures and facilitate on-site determination of charged pesticides with an enhancement factor of 5.0 × 10 5 . Such nanostructures present the ease of assembly, stability, and reproducibility which allow multiplex detection of analytes at aqueous and organic phases without any pretreatment of the complex matrix samples. The interfacial sensing platform for on-site SERS analysis of charged pesticides will open vast possibilities for a wide range of in-field applications.

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This Concept provides an overview of recent developments of DNA‐based nanofabrication and discusses its potential applications in the area of surface engineering. The first part of the paper discusses the strength and limitations of existing DNA‐based nanofabrication methods. The second part highlights several examples of surface engineering applications involving nano‐ and microscale surface textures. It finishes with a discussion of the opportunities and remaining challenges of applying DNA‐based nanofabrication in surface engineering applications.

Abstract. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common complication of diabetes and a major cause of new-onset blindness in the developed world. The present study aimed to examine the effect of kaempferol on high glucose-induced human retinal endothelial cells (HRECs) in vitro. The expression levels of various mRNAs and proteins were measured by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting, respectively. The target of kaempferol was determined using a luciferase reporter assay. In addition, HREC proliferation, migration and cell sprouting were determined using Cell Counting kit-8, wound scratch and tube formation assays, respectively. RT-qPCR and western blotting results showed that treatment with 30 mM glucose for 12, 24 and 48 h increased the expression level of estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα) mRNA and protein.The luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that kaempferol inhibited ERRα activity in HRECs. Compared with 5 mM normal glucose treatment, high (30 mM) glucose significantly promoted the proliferation, migration and tube formation of HRECs, which was antagonized by 10 and 30 µM kaempferol in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with 30 mM glucose also increased the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and protein, and the expression levels of VEGF mRNA and protein were suppressed by kaempferol (10 and 30 µM). Kaempferol (30 µM) treatment also increased the expression levels of thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1) and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 1 (ADAMTS-1) mRNA; however, TSP-1 and ADAMTS-1 levels did not differ between high glucose and normal (5 mM) glucose conditions. The results of this study suggest that kaempferol targets ERRα and suppresses the angiogenesis of HRECs under high glucose conditions. Kaempferol may be a potential drug for use in controlling the progression of DR; however, in vivo studies are required to evaluate its efficacy and safety.