Abstract: Colorimetric methods and kits for determining anti-icing effects of testing materials are presented. In embodiments, a method includes: mixing a testing material with a dithiolate-based ligand-grafted gold nanoparticle (AuNP) probe in solution, thereby generating a test sample; chilling the test sample at a predetermined temperature for a period of time; subsequent to chilling the test sample, detecting a color of the test sample; and determining anti-icing effects of the testing material based on the color of the test sample.

Abstract: The compounds shown below are presented. The compounds have a bidentate binding group: thioctic acid (TA) with disulfide or its reduced form of dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) with dithiol. In embodiments, the compounds form part of a dithiolate-based ligand-grafted gold nanoparticle (AuNP). A method includes: mixing a testing material with a dithiolate-based ligand-grafted AuNP probe in solution, thereby generating a test sample; chilling the test sample at a predetermined temperature for a period of time; subsequent to chilling the test sample, detecting a color of the test sample; and determining anti-icing effects of the testing material based on the color of the test sample.

Abstract: A FRET based reporter system utilizing the fluorescent semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) and restriction enzymes expressed in cell-free system has the potential to detect multiple analytes in single reaction.