Correction for ‘Unlocking interstitial fluid for acute coronary syndrome diagnosis: ultrasensitive troponin I detection using imprinted polymer nanoparticles’ by Joshua Saczek et al. , Nanoscale Horiz. , 2026, https://doi.org/10.1039/d5nh00441a.

Molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles are utilised to achieve the rapid, ultrasensitive detection of cardiac troponin I in human interstitial fluid.

Norovirus poses a continuous challenge for healthcare systems, leading to increased hospital admissions, infection-control demands, and costly outbreak management. Gold-standard diagnostics such as real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) require specialized laboratory equipment and trained personnel. This work reports a portable electrochemical sensor based on an electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymer fabricated directly on an electrode surface for rapid norovirus detection using voltametric read-out. The sensor was tested against four norovirus virus-like particle (VLP) genotypes that each exhibited consistent responses across a broad concentration range. Sensor specificity and selectivity were demonstrated through comparison with a nontarget imprinted control polymer and testing against four nontarget live viruses. The imprinted polymer electrodes showed excellent stability, with no significant loss of performance after storage under ambient conditions for up to three months. For practical applicability, nitrile gloves were inoculated with each VLP genotype and sampled using standard swabbing procedures. The entire process was completed in ∼ 15 min, with electrochemical acquisition completed in 20 s. Successful detection of each genotype was achieved with detection limits between 154 and 279 fg/mL (8.78 × 103 and 1.59 × 104 particles/mL) for swab samples. This rapid and portable platform supports near real-time norovirus screening at the point-of-care.

Hyaluronic acid was crosslinked using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide to form hydrogels with low elastic modulus. These hydrogels were swollen in water and the elastic modulus was obtained with a contact mechanics approach in ambient conditions using a low-load mechanical tester under compression. The modulus was measured during both the approach and retraction of the cylindrical probe into the gel and was found to be of the order of 30 kPa. The modulus was also measured from a stress-strain curve (47 kPa), in reasonable agreement with the contact mechanics approach. However, nanoindentation and rheology measurements reveal much smaller moduli, indicating that the technique used interrogates different length scales within the gel. This has profound implications for the applications of hydrogels used, for example, in tissue engineering. The values reported here are likely to be appropriate for applications where contact with the spinal cord is necessary. It is argued that a contact mechanics approach is appropriate for the characterization of hydrogels for applications designed for contact with tissue.

The phase separation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-polypropylene (PP) blends was studied using atomic force microscopy in tapping mode to obtain height and phase images. The results are compared with those from scanning electron microscopy imaging and are connected to the thermomechanical properties of the blends, characterised through differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and tensile testing. Pure PP, as well as 10:90 and 20:80 weight ratio HDPE-PP blends, showed a homogeneous morphology, but the 25:75 HDPE-PP blends exhibited a sub-micrometre droplet-matrix structure, and the 50:50 HDPE-PP blends displayed a more complex co-continuous nano/microphase-separated structure. These complex phase separation morphologies correlate with the increased loss modulus (viscous properties) of the corresponding blends as measured by DMA, demonstrating the potential for the creation of strong and simultaneously tough, energy-absorbing materials for numerous applications.

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a critical protein biomarker for heart attack diagnosis. This study presents a thorough analysis of a novel biosensing device utilizing molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) for detecting cTnI in clinical patient serum samples post myocardial infarction. The methodology, based on the heat-transfer method approach, offers faster measurements times than the current gold standard and sample volumes equivalent to a single blood drop. Biomarker binding shows performance comparable to a high-sensitivity ELISA, accurately identifying patients with elevated cTnI levels (R2 = 0.893). The cTnI peak concentration time variations are attributed to heterogeneous serum complexes, with different troponin complex sizes potentially generating differing thermal insulation levels. Comparison with an established patient database demonstrates robust correlations between our cTnI concentrations and clinical parameters (R2 = 0.855). This underscores the potential of nanoMIP sensors for sensitive cTnI detection, providing insights into post-heart attack biomarker levels. Furthermore, our methodology presents the additional benefits of being low cost and portable enabling measurements at time and place of patients. Consequently, it holds the potential to become a vital part of the diagnostic pathway for heart attack treatment, ultimately reducing healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes.

Background Norovirus is the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis worldwide, contributing to widespread disease and financial burdens. However, current testing methods are unsuitable for on-site analysis, as they typically use biological receptors, require specialized reagents, and skilled technicians. Proactive on-site testing of high-risk food samples is essential to prevent outbreaks, requiring the development of innovative sensor systems. Results We have developed a thermal sensor capable of selectively detecting two recurrent norovirus genotypes, GI.1 and GII.4, within a model food matrix. The sensor uses epitope-imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) designed from a 10-amino-acid sequence derived from the conserved P1 region of the GI.1 viral capsid. The nanoMIPs demonstrated favorable detection capability to norovirus GI.1 and GII.4 virus-like particles in buffer solutions, achieving detection limits of 1.53 and 2.28 pg/mL, respectively. The selectivity of the nanoMIPs was evaluated against a panel of similar viruses, including murine norovirus, Tulane virus, and bacteriophage MS2, each of which showed a reduced signal. Notably, the sensor achieved rapid detection (30 min) of norovirus GI.1 and GII.4 virus-like particles in contamination prone spinach samples while maintaining comparable detection limits (2.19 pg/mL and 2.69 pg/mL) to spiked buffer solutions. Significance The combination of rapid detection time, dual strain recognition, and simple sample preparation makes this thermal sensor a promising tool for on-site testing in food safety and public health settings. Furthermore, the ability to detect multiple strains using a single ligand represents a significant advantage, enabling the development of straightforward systems capable of detecting various strains in complex environments.

This chapter provides advice to graduate students, postdocs, and other scientists on how to build a strong curriculum vitae that will enhance their career prospects. During their studies, graduate students should be thinking about what they intend to do in the future and what skills they need to develop to achieve their career goals. The most important things are to perform good research and write and defend a thesis. However, other activities can help graduate students develop a strong reputation and CV. Whenever possible, graduate students should devote time to identifying these activities and how they can pursue them without adversely affecting their progress toward their degrees. Publishing scientific papers, presenting at conferences, and receiving awards are some of the most important things that can improve your scientific reputation and career opportunities. However, various other things are also important depending on the job you aim to do in the future. For instance, if you want to be a professor, you may want to develop some experience in grant writing, service, and teaching. This chapter provides tips on strengthening your CV by participating in different research, teaching, and service activities. It also provides guidance on how to write a good CV.

The reviewing and revision of scientific manuscripts are major factors contributing to the progress of science and technology. Reviewers help to identify errors in the design, performance, or interpretation of a scientific study that the original researchers were unaware of, as well as to provide new ideas for additional experiments or interpretations that can help improve the researcher's work. The reviewers may also be able to provide suggestions on how the results can be presented in a more compelling and understandable fashion, which could increase the impact of your research. Reviewers are often the unsung heroes of science – receiving no financial rewards or broader recognition. The results of the submission and revision process can be highly rewarding (if your manuscript gets accepted) or highly disparaging (if your manuscript gets rejected). It is good advice to develop a respectful and constructive attitude when responding to reviewers' comments. If your manuscript does get rejected by one journal, do not take it personally, this is a normal part of the scientific process. If you can, you should carry out any additional research needed, revise your manuscript, and then submit it to another journal. If your research has merit, then it should eventually get published, thereby advancing our understanding of the world. This chapter discusses how to decide where to publish your research, how to prepare the different materials needed for submission, how to deal with reviewers' comments, and how to promote your work once published.

The scientific method has proven to be one of the most powerful tools humans have ever invented. It has radically transformed the world over the past few hundred years, helping to improve health, extend lifespans, and enhance the quality of life for billions of people around the globe. The scientific method requires researchers to focus on empirical data to prove or disprove their hypotheses, as well as to take an objective approach when designing, performing, and interpreting their experiments. An improved understanding of the scientific method and its limitations can help practicing scientists work more efficiently and effectively. Knowledge of the scientific method can help in the design and interpretation of experiments. There are often several approaches that can be adopted when carrying out a scientific study and it is important to identify the most appropriate one for a particular problem. Science is continually evolving and so it is important to recognize that there may be more effective approaches to problem-solving than the ones presently employed. It is crucial to stay informed about the latest developments within your scientific discipline, as well as across other disciplines. Maintaining an open mind and embracing change can contribute to the cultivation of strong scientific skills. This chapter highlights different sources of scientific knowledge and different stages of scientific studies (creative, research, and communication phases). It discusses the contributions made to the development of the scientific method by major historical figures like Bacon, Hume, Kant, Popper, and Kuhn. It highlights the important role played by both transformative and incremental science in improving our knowledge and understanding of the world. It discusses the relative merits of reductionist and holistic approaches to understanding complex systems, and the role of trial-and-error, white-, gray-, and black-box approaches.

Norovirus (NoV) is the predominant cause of foodborne illness globally; current detection methods are typically expensive, have inadequate sensitivities, and utilize biological receptors with poor stability. Therefore, accurate, cost-effective, and highly stable detection methods are needed to screen for NoV in foods. We developed molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) to detect NoV using a small target epitope (12 amino acids) with a solid-phase synthesis approach. The performance of three batches of nanoMIPs with varying monomer compositions (nanoMIP-1, -2, and -3) were compared both experimentally and computationally. Surface plasmon resonance examined nanoMIP binding affinity to norovirus virus-like particles (NoV-LPs), whereby nanoMIP-1 had the lowest KD value of 0.512 μM. This is significant, as traditional targets for generation of norovirus ligands previously reported were generated against drastically larger norovirus capsid segments that have limitations in ease of production. Further, an electrochemical sensor was developed by covalently attaching the nanoMIPs to glassy carbon electrodes. In agreement with our predictions from density functional theory simulations, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed a sensitive response toward NoV-LPs for nanoMIP batches tested; however, nanoMIP-1 was optimal, with an excellent detection limit of 3.4 pg/mL (1.9 × 105 particles/mL). Due to its exceptional performance, nanoMIP-1 was immobilized to screen-printed electrodes and utilized within a thermal sensor, where it exhibited a low detection limit of 6.5 pg/mL (3.7 × 105 particles/mL). Crucially, we demonstrated that nanoMIP-1 could detect NoV in real food samples (romaine lettuce) by using electrochemical and thermal sensors. Consequently, the study highlights the exceptional potential of nanoMIPs to replace traditional biological materials (e.g., antibodies) as sensitive, versatile, and highly stable receptors within NoV sensors.

If you are a graduate student, the final stage of your studies typically involves writing a PhD thesis and then defending it in front of a thesis committee. Writing a PhD thesis from scratch can be a daunting and laborious experience. For this reason, it's a good idea to plan your thesis as early as possible and write parts of it as you move through the different stages of your graduate studies. The best way to do this is to write a review article, which can serve as your background literature chapter, and several original research articles, which can serve as chapters in the main body of your thesis. However, your ability to write several scientific manuscripts during your PhD is highly dependent on your field of study. In some fields, it is normal to publish none or only one paper from a thesis, whereas in other fields, it is possible to publish several papers. Your oral presentation should accurately describe what you did, why you did it, what you found, and why it's important. It should also be clear, concise, and engaging to the audience. You should therefore design your oral presentation to flow well and be visually compelling. This chapter gives advice on writing the different sections of a PhD thesis. It also gives tips on how to design a final PhD oral defense that is impactful and engaging.

Conferences bring together individuals to share their research findings, network with peers, and stay up to date on advancements within their respective fields. They are an integral part of academic life and are often held at different locations each year. Attendees typically include individuals from academia, ranging from graduate students to professors, as well as members of industry, government agencies, and clinical organizations. Conferences usually focus on specific research areas to ensure that the content is relevant to attendees. However, the scope of these areas can vary significantly, ranging from highly multidisciplinary meetings to those that focus on specialized topics. Similarly, the size of conferences can range from international events that attract tens of thousands of attendees to smaller gatherings with fewer than 100 delegates. In general, conferences are advertised well in advance, and delegates must register and pay a fee to attend. Delegates may apply to present their research findings as a poster or oral presentation, which helps to disseminate their research. This chapter offers a practical guide on all aspects of conferences and provides insights into how graduate students and other scientists can make the most of these important events.

Publishing manuscripts is the main way scientists communicate their findings to each other, as well as to policymakers, companies, the media, and the general public. It also helps scientists to build their reputation, thereby increasing their standing in their field of expertise. Designing, writing, and submitting manuscripts should therefore be one of your main priorities. If you are a graduate student, publishing manuscripts makes it much easier to write your final thesis. Graduate students are recommended to write a review article on their research topic that can be used as an introductory chapter in their thesis, as well as to write one or more original research articles that can be used as research chapters. In this chapter, we present a manuscript-focused approach for designing scientific studies, which we have found to be extremely effective in our own work. A checklist is used that asks the researcher to provide the title, objective, relevance, novelty, and hypothesis of their proposed manuscript before starting most of their experiments. Moreover, the checklist asks the researcher to design the different sections and subsections of the manuscript, as well as to draw the expected figures and tables that will appear in the final article. This approach helps to establish whether a manuscript based on the research would be suitable for publication if all the experiments went to plan. Of course, the results of any research study may not be as expected, especially if you are working in a cutting-edge area. Consequently, it is always important to be objective and have an open mind that does not ignore unexpected results – as these may be the most interesting and impactful ones. Writing scientific manuscripts is a critical part of research that can help you build a strong reputation in your field of study. You should therefore prioritize publishing strong scientific manuscripts in well-respected academic journals throughout your research career.

Presenting your research findings at scientific meetings is an important way for other people to learn about what you have done. Moreover, it is a great way of increasing your visibility in your field of expertise, as well as building skills and confidence in public speaking and presenting that will be highly valuable for many career paths. It is therefore critical to create oral presentations and posters that are impactful and memorable, as this may help you to find collaborators or future employers. In addition, people who learn about your work at conferences may read and cite your scientific publications, thereby further increasing your impact and standing. An important skill of a successful scientist is therefore to be able to design and deliver impactful oral and poster presentations. In this chapter, we discuss how to design and prepare impactful oral presentations and posters that the audience will find informative and engaging.

Scientific studies typically generate a large amount of data that needs to be analyzed, interpreted, and communicated. The values of scientific measurements and observations vary due to the natural variability of the world. A good understanding of statistics is critical to the proper design and interpretation of most scientific studies. The proper use of statistics leads to results that are more accurate and precise. We therefore recommend becoming familiar with the most important statistical concepts relevant to your field of study. You should be aware that your results are always prone to experimental errors for many different reasons, including blunders, random errors, and systematic errors. It is important to carefully consider all the possible sources of errors in your studies and eliminate or reduce them. Representing your scientific findings in a clear and concise manner that is visually appealing to readers will also increase the impact of your research. Wherever possible, we strongly recommend that you try to interpret your results using fundamental scientific principles (such as physics, chemistry, and biology), rather than simply developing correlations (black-box approach). The black-box approach produces new knowledge about the world, but the fundamental approach creates new understanding. This chapter introduces various important statistical concepts that are commonly used in designing and interpreting experiments. It also highlights the importance of choosing the correct format for presenting your results in a clear, accurate, and compelling way.

Scientific research is expensive. Funds are required to pay students and postdocs, to purchase supplies, chemicals, and equipment, to cover travel expenses, and to support publication costs. Consequently, applying for funding is a vital skill for research scientists, which requires a combination of knowledge, creativity, writing skills, and planning. However, it is a highly competitive process, with funding agencies typically receiving many more grant proposals than they can fund. Consequently, a grant proposal must stand out from all the others submitted to the same program. This can be achieved by focusing on a problem relevant to the funding agencies' priorities and making sure your grant proposal is presented in a clear, concise, and compelling manner. Persistence and resilience are vital when pursuing research funding, as most grant proposals are rejected. Therefore, it is important to keep refining your ideas and trying to get them funded. This chapter provides advice on designing a grant proposal and writing each of the sections in a manner that is compelling and more likely to increase your chances of getting funding.

This chapter is primarily targeted at graduate students. Starting a graduate program can be daunting for new students. You have to learn many new skills, work in a new environment with unfamiliar people, and are expected to produce an original body of research by the end of your studies. However, it is also an exciting time when you can grow as a person and a scientist, meet new people, learn interesting new things, and create new knowledge that may make the world a better place. This chapter provides advice on choosing a professor, getting to know your lab mates, finding a mentor, understanding the graduate program, developing the soft skills needed (such as time management, creativity, critical thinking, communication, independence, teamwork, and laboratory practice), work-life balance, and career goals. It is designed to demystify the graduate studies process.

This short chapter provides 10 tips for becoming a more successful research scientist based on the material covered in the book: (1) Understand the system, (2) Set clear goals, (3) Know your field, (4) Develop strong research skills, (5) Publish and present, (6) Communicate well, (7) Develop a strong work ethic and positive attitude, (8) Collaborate and network, (9) Time management, (10) Prioritize self-care and well-being.