Study of Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films of odorant-binding protein/amphiphile for odorant biosensors

To make ultrathin films for the fabrication of artificial olfactory systems, odorant biosensors, we have investigated mixed Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films of odorant-binding protein/amphiphile. Under optimized experimental conditions (phosphate buffer solution, pH 7.5, OBP-1F concentration of 4 mg L(-1), target pressure 35 mN m(-1)), the mixed monolayer at the air/water interface is very stable and has been efficiently transferred onto gold supports, which were previously functionalized by self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with 1-octadecanethiol (ODT). Atomic force microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to characterize mixed Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films before and after contact with a specific odorant molecule, isoamyl acetate. AFM phase images show a higher contrast after contact with the odorant molecule due to the new structure of the OBP-1F/ODA LB film. Non-Faradaic electrochemical spectroscopy (EIS) is used to quantify the effect of the odorant based on the electrical properties of the OBP-1F/ODA LB film, as its resistance strongly decreases from 1.18 MOmega (before contact) to 25 kOmega (after contact).     

硼离子对铕掺杂SiO2干凝胶发光性能的影响

采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了Al单掺和B，Al共掺的Eu掺杂SiO2干凝胶。利用荧光光谱、IR，XRD，DSC，TG／DTG等技术研究了硼离子、退火温度对样品发光性质的影响。经500℃以上退火处理用248nm激发的样品，产生Eu^3＋离子^5D0→^7FJ的特征发射，^5D0→^7F1的跃迁分裂为两个峰。比较615nm处的发光强度，掺硼酸样品的发光强度是不加硼酸发光强度的3．3倍。这是因为B离子的加入，在材料中形成了Si—O—B键，破坏了网络的对称性，加强了Eu^3＋的红光发射。当退火温度上升到850℃用350nm激发时，样品有很强的Eu^2＋蓝光发射。Al单掺的发射中心在437nm处，发射半峰宽约为70nm，而B，Al共掺样品的发光中心蓝移到425nm处，单掺样品的蓝光强度几乎是共掺样品强度的2倍。这是由于硼酸的加入改变了基质的网络结构，从而导致单掺和共掺样品发射峰位和强度的改变。     

Controlling the framework formation of silver(I) coordination polymers with 1,4-bis(phenylthio)butane by varying the solvents,metal-to-ligand ratio,and counteranions

The reactions of 1,4-bis(phenylthio)butane (L) with Ag(I) salts in varied conditions (varying the solvents, metal-to-ligand ratios, and counteranions) lead to the formation of four new two-dimensional (2D) coordination polymers with different network structures: [Ag(2)L(3)(ClO(4))(2)](infinity) 1, [Ag(2)L(3)(ClO(4))(2) x CH(3)OH](infinity) 2, [[AgL(2)](ClO(4))](infinity) 3, and [AgLNO(3)](infinity) 4. All the structures were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystal data for 1: triclinic, P-1, a = 11.0253(9) A, b = 11.3455(9) A, c = 11.5231(9) A, alpha = 93.931(2) degrees, beta = 92.689(2) degrees, gamma = 112.9810(10) degrees, Z = 2. 2: triclinic, P-1, a = 11.9147(13) A, b = 16.1534(17) A, c = 16.2259(17) A, alpha = 74.977(2) degrees, beta = 69.030(2) degrees, gamma = 69.986(2) degrees, Z = 2. 3: triclinic, P-1, a = 12.1617(9) A, b = 12.5054(10) A, c = 13.1547(10) A, alpha = 64.3370(10) degrees, beta =85.938 (2) degrees, gamma = 69.3010(10) degrees, Z = 2. 4: monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 5.4032(17) A, b = 16.974(6) A, c = 19.489(6) A, beta = 94.234(6) degrees, Z = 4. In all four complexes, each Ag(I) center has a tetracoordination geometry, and the 2D networks consist of fused large macrometallacyclic ring systems. The "hexagonal" 42-membered rings, Ag(6)L(6), observed in 1 and 2 are nearly identical, which could be considered as unique examples of self-sustaining noninterpenetrated frameworks formed with flexible ligands. The repeating rectangular 28-membered macrometallacycle, Ag(4)L(4), is the basis for the network of 3, in which the perchlorate anions occupy the voids to prevent the ring from collapsing. In 4, columns of the fused rectangular 22-membered rings, Ag(4)L(2)(NO(3))(2), are cross-linked through the L ligands to form a unique 2D network consisting of two types of 22-membered repeating units.     

The photoluminescence of Co-Al-layered double hydroxide

We report a new optical behaviour of pure Co-Al-layered double hydroxide (LDH).It was found that the Co-Al-LDH sample could emit fluorescence without any fluorescent substances intercalated.Its excitation spectrum shows a maximum peak near the wavelength 370nm,the maximum emission peak appears at 430 nm and the photoluminescence colour of the Co-Al-LDH sample is blue.This new optical property will be expected to extend the potential applications of LDHs in optical materials field.     

Kinetic determination of ascorbic acid by the BZ oscillating chemical system

A new analytical method for the determination of ascorbic acid by the perturbation caused by different amounts of ascorbic acid on the BZ oscillating chemical system involving the Ce(IV)-catalyzed reaction between potassium bromate and malonic acid in a acidic medium is proposed. The method relies on the linear relationship between the change in the oscillation amplitude of the chemical system and the concentration of ascorbic acid, which is in this work exposed for the first time. The calibration curve is linearly proportional to the concentration of ascorbic acid over the range 3.5x10(-6)-4.7x10(-4) M, with the regression coefficient is 0.9975. Two different methodologies were used to address the determination. Some aspects of the potential mechanism of action of ascorbic acid on the BZ oscillating chemical system are discussed in detail.     

Automated hollow fiber-protected dynamic liquid-phase microextraction of pesticides for gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis

Dynamic liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) controlled by a programmable syringe pump was evaluated for extracting pesticides in water prior to GC-MS analysis. A conventional microsyringe with a 1.3-cm length of hollow fiber attached to its needle was connected to a syringe pump to perform the extraction. The microsyringe was used as both the microextraction device as well as the sample introduction device for GC-MS analysis. The attached hollow fiber served as the "holder" and protector" of 3 microl of organic solvent. The solvent was repeatedly withdrawn into and discharged from the hollow fiber by the syringe pump. Pesticides were extracted from 4-ml water samples into the organic solvent impregnated in the hollow fiber. The effects of organic solvents, plunger movement pattern, agitation and extraction time were investigated. Good repeatabilities of extraction performance were obtained, with the RSD values ranging from 3.0% (alachlor) to 9.8% (4-chlorophenol) for the 14 pesticides; most RSD values were under 5.0%. The method provided a 490-fold preconcentration of the target pesticides. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.01-5.1 microg/l (S/N = 3) in the GC-MS selected ion monitoring mode. In addition, sample clean-up was achieved during LPME because of the selectivity of the hollow fiber, which prevented undesirable large molecules from being extracted. A slurry sample (mixture of 40 mg soil/ml of water) containing seven pesticides was extracted using this method which also gave good linearity and precision (most RSDs <7.0%, n = 3).     

An efficient synthesis of novel spiro[[8H]indeno[2,1-b]-thiophene-8,9′-fluorene] building block for blue light-emitting materials

We have developed efficient synthetic routes to obtain a novel building block spiro[[8H]indeno[2,1-b]thiophene-8,9′-fluorene] (SITF), a monothiophene-containing spirobifluorene analogue, and constructed blue light-emitting materials, including 2′,7′-bis([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)-spiro[indeno[2,1-b]thiophene-8,9′-fluorene] (BBP-SITF) and 2′,7′-bis(9,9′-spirobifluoren-2-yl)spiro[[8H]indeno[2,1-b]-thiophene-8,9′-fluorene] (BSBF-SITF). BSBF-SITF has shown to be a stable blue light-emitting material with high PL quantum efficiency (89%) and unique regioselective feature at the C2 of thiophene, which indicate that BSBF-SITF will be useful for constructing complicated optoelectronic systems.     

A novel chain-like molybdenum phosphate: hydrothermal synthesis,crystal structure and characterization of [NH3(CH2CH2)2NH3]3[NH3(CH2CH2)2NH2]-Na5[Mo6O12(OH)3(PO4)(HPO4)3]2·4H2O

A novel organic/inorganic hybrid molybdenum phosphate, [NH₃(CH₂CH₂)₂NH₃]₃[NH₃(CH₂CH₂)₂NH₂]Na₅-[Mo₆O₁₂(OH)₃(PO₄)(HPO₄)₃]₂·4H₂O (1), involving molybdenum presented in V oxidation, has been hydrothermally prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, i.r., u.v.–vis., x.p.s., t.g. and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of the title compound (1) may be considered to consist of two [Mo₆O₁₂(OH)₃(PO₄)(HPO₄)₃] units bonded together with NaO₆ octahedra, forming dimers. Further, these dimers connect with each other through four Na⁺ cations as bridges, giving rise to novel one-dimensional chain-like skeleton. Piperazines exist among inorganic chains acting as charge balancing cations.     

Decoupling the effects of hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties at the neuron–nanofibre interface

Peptide-based nanofibres are a versatile class of tunable materials with applications in optoelectronics, sensing and tissue engineering. However, the understanding of the nanofibre surface at the molecular level is limited. Here, a series of homologous dilysine–diphenylalnine tetrapeptides were synthesised and shown to self-assemble into water-soluble nanofibres. Despite the peptide nanofibres displaying similar morphologies, as evaluated through atomic force microscopy and neutron scattering, significant differences were observed in their ability to support sensitive primary neurons. Contact angle and labelling experiments revealed that differential presentation of lysine moieties at the fibre surface did not affect neuronal viability; however the mobility of phenylalanine residues at the nanofibre surface, elucidated through solid- and gel-state NMR studies and confirmed through tethered bilayer lipid membrane experiments, was found to be the determining factor in governing the suitability of a given peptide as a scaffold for primary neurons. This work offers new insights into characterising and controlling the nanofibre surface at the molecular level.

The mobility of hydrophobic moieties at a peptide nanofibre surface determines its suitability as a scaffold for sensitive primary cells.     

Determination of pesticides in soil by liquid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Trace amounts of pesticides in soil were determined by liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The technique involved the use of a small amount (3 microl) of organic solvent impregnated in a hollow fiber membrane, which was attached to the needle of a conventional GC syringe. The organic solvent was repeatedly discharged into and withdrawn from the porous polypropylene hollow fiber by a syringe pump, with the pesticides being extracted from a 4 ml aqueous soil sample into the organic solvent within the hollow fiber. Aspects of the developed procedure such as organic solvent selection, extraction time, movement pattern of plunger, concentrations of humic acid and salt, and the proportion of organic solvent in the soil sample, were optimized. Limits of detection (LOD) were between 0.05 and 0.1 microg/g with GC-MS analysis under selected-ion monitoring (SIM). Also, this method provided good precision ranging from 6 to 13%; the relative standard deviations were lower than 10% for most target pesticides (at spiked levels of 0.5 microg/g in aqueous soil sample). Finally, the results were compared to those achieved using solid-phase microextraction (SPME). The results demonstrated that LPME was a fast (within 4 min) and accurate method to determine trace amounts of pesticides in soil.