An SPR biosensor for the detection of microcystins in drinking water

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor for the detection of microcystins (MCs) in drinking water has been developed. Several assay formats have been evaluated. The selected format is based on a competitive inhibition assay, in which microcystin-LR (MCLR) has been covalently immobilized onto the surface of an SPR chip functionalized with a self-assembled monolayer. The influence of several factors affecting sensor performance, such as the nature and concentration of the antibody, the composition of the carrier buffer, and the blocking and regeneration solutions, has been evaluated. The optimized SPR biosensor provides an IC₅₀ 0.67 ± 0.09 μg L⁻¹, a detection limit of 73 ± 8 ng L⁻¹, and a dynamic range from 0.2 to 2.0 μg L⁻¹ for MCLR. Cross-reactivity to other related MCs, such as microcystin-RR (88%) and microcystin-YR (94%), has also been measured. The SPR biosensor can perform four simultaneous determinations in 60 min, and each SPR chip can be reused for at least 40 assay–regeneration cycles without significant binding capacity loss. The biosensor has been successfully applied to the direct analysis of MCLR in drinking water samples, below the provisional guideline value of 1 μg L⁻¹ established by the World Health Organization for drinking water.     

In vitro evaluation of cytotoxic and inflammatory properties of silica nanoparticles of different sizes in murine RAW 264.7 macrophages

The biological response to four well-characterized amorphous silica nanoparticles was investigated in RAW 264.7 macrophages in view of their potential application as drug carriers to sites of inflammation. All silica nanoparticles-induced cell membrane damage, reduced metabolic activity, generated ROS and released various cytokines, but to different extents. Two silica nanoparticles of 34 nm (A and B) with different zetapotentials were more cytotoxic than (aggregated) 11 and 248 nm nanoparticles, while cytokines were mostly induced by the (aggregated) 11 nm and only one of the 34 nm nanoparticles (34A). The results indicate that specific silica nanoparticles may have counterproductive effects, for example when used as carriers of anti-inflammatory drugs. The physicochemical properties determining the response of nanoparticles vary for different responses, implying that a screening approach for the safe development of nanoparticles needs to consider the role of combinations of (dynamic) physicochemical properties and needs to include multiple toxicity endpoints.     

Real operator algebras and real completely isometric theory

This paper is a continuation of the program started by Ruan (Acta Math Sin (Engl Ser) 19(3):485–496, 2003, Illinois J Math 47(4):1047–1062, 2003), of developing real operator space theory. In particular, we develop the theory of real operator algebras. We also show among other things that the injective envelope, $C^*$ -envelope and non-commutative Shilov boundary exist for a real operator space. We develop real one-sided $M$ -ideal theory and characterize one-sided $M$ -ideals in real $C^*$ -algebras and real operator algebras with contractive approximate identity.     

Solvability of a Class of Braided Fusion Categories

We show that a weakly integral braided fusion category ${{\mathcal C}}$ such that every simple object of ${{\mathcal C}}$ has Frobenius-Perron dimension ≤?2 is solvable. In addition, we prove that such a fusion category is group-theoretical in the extreme case where the universal grading group of ${{\mathcal C}}$ is trivial.     

Liquid-phase microextraction with in-drop derivatization combined with microvolume fluorospectrometry for free and hydrolyzed formaldehyde determination in textile samples

A new miniaturized methodology based on the combination of headspace single drop microextraction and microvolume fluorospectrometry is proposed in this work for the determination of free and hydrolyzed formaldehyde in textile samples. The proposed method is based on the extraction and in-drop derivatization of free and hydrolyzed formaldehyde using the Hantzsch reaction. The effect of experimental variables affecting the performance of the proposed method, such as fluorescence parameters, nature of the extractant phase composition (including acetylacetone concentration, pH, ammonium acetate concentration and presence of an organic solvent), sample temperature, NaCl concentration and microextraction time was carefully investigated. Under optimized conditions, instrumental detection and quantification limits were 26 and 87 μg L⁻¹, respectively, whereas procedural detection and quantification limits were 1.0 and 3.5 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation, was 4.6% (n = 9). The method was successfully applied to the determination of free and hydrolyzed formaldehyde in several textile samples, the found results being in good agreement with those obtained with the EN ISO 14184-1:1998 method.     

Polyisoprenylated benzophenone derivatives from the fruits of Garcinia cambogia and their absolute configuration by quantum chemical circular dichroism calculations

Three new tetracyclic polyisoprenylated xanthones, named oxy-guttiferones M, K2, and I, along with oxy-guttiferone K and guttiferone M, have been isolated from the fruits of Garcinia cambogia. Their structures were elucidated by MS and NMR spectroscopic experiments. The absolute configurations of oxy-guttiferone K, taken as a model of tetracyclic xanthones, and guttiferone M, as a model of polyisoprenylated benzophenones, have been determined by comparison of their experimentally measured circular dichroism (CD) curves with the TDDFT-predicted curves.     

Kinetic studies of urban solid residues and leachate from sanitary landfill

Urban solid residues are constituted of food remaining, grass leaves, fruit peelings, paper, cardboard, rubber, plastic, etc. The organic fraction formed represents about 50% during the decomposition yields biogas and leachate, which are sources of pollution. Residue samples were collected from the landfill in different and cells from several ages and the corresponding leachate, both after treatments, were submitted to thermal analysis. Kinetic parameters were determined using Flynn–Wall–Ozawa method. The linear relation between the two kinetic parameters (ln A and E) was verified for organic residue urban’s samples, but not for leachate’s sample. The occurred difference can be attributed to the constituents present in leachate.     

Synthesis and characterization of a new semi-interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel obtained by gamma radiations

A new polyacrylic acid/polyhydroxybutyrate semi-interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel, the s-IPN/PAA-PHB, was prepared by a gamma radiation-induced polymerization. Thermal behavior was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), while the s-IPNs composition, FTIR spectra, and swelling kinetics were also determined. It was found that the DSC curve showed a melting point which is attributed to polyhydroxybutyrate. The TG curves showed various stages of degradation which are in correspondence of the presence of crosslinked polyacrylic acid and confirmed the higher thermal stability of the polymer network. The s-IPN/PAA-PHB composition was 10% of PHB and 90% of PAA. Moreover, the network reached approximately 600% of swelling in water, so it behaves like a superabsorbent hydrogel.     

Griess micro-assay for the determination of nitrite by combining fibre optics-based cuvetteless UV-Vis micro-spectrophotometry with liquid-phase microextraction

A novel, simple and low cost method for the determination of nitrite using headspace single-drop microextraction and cuvetteless ultraviolet-visible micro-spectrophotometry is described. A Griess reagent-containing aqueous microdrop exposed to the headspace was used as extractant of the volatile nitrogen oxides generated from nitrite by direct acidification of the aqueous sample. Experimental parameters affecting the headspace single-drop microextraction performance such as composition and volume of the extractant phase, sample volume, concentration of acetic acid, ionic strength, sample agitation, temperature and microextraction time were systematically examined. Measurements were carried out at 540 nm under optimized conditions. A detection limit of 1.5 μg L⁻¹ and an enrichment factor of 193 were achieved. Intra-day repeatability and inter-day reproducibility, expressed as relative standard deviation, were 3.5% (n = 7) and 10.6% (three consecutive days), respectively. The proposed method, characterized by its enhanced sensitivity and selectivity in comparison with the standardized colorimetric assay, was successfully applied to the analysis of several environmental water samples.