Quantification of glycine betaine,choline and trimethylamine N-oxide in seawater particulates: Minimisation of seawater associated ion suppression

A liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS, electrospray ionisation) method has been developed for the quantification of nitrogenous osmolytes (N-osmolytes) in the particulate fraction of natural water samples. Full method validation demonstrates the validity of the method for measuring glycine betaine (GBT), choline and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in particulates from seawater. Limits of detection were calculated as 3.5, 1.2 and 5.9 pg injected onto column (equivalent to 1.5, 0.6 and 3.9 nmol per litre) for GBT, choline and TMAO respectively. Precision of the method was typically 3% for both GBT and choline and 6% for TMAO. Collection of the particulate fraction of natural samples was achieved via in-line filtration. Resulting chromatography and method sensitivity was assessed and compared for the use of both glass fibre and polycarbonate filters during sample collection. Ion suppression was shown to be a significant cause of reduced instrument response to N-osmolytes and was associated with the presence of seawater in the sample matrix.     

Synthesis of aurones under neutral conditions using a deep eutectic solvent

Aurones are an interesting, but little studied member of the flavanoid family of natural products. Of the various methods available for their synthesis, the simplest involves the condensation of a coumaranone with an aldehyde. This reaction can be performed under acidic or basic conditions. We have recently discovered an effectively neutral set of conditions that employ the deep eutectic solvent comprised of choline chloride and urea as both solvent and catalyst. Modest to good yields can be achieved for a range of aldehydes, thereby facilitating further study of aurones from both a biological as well as a spectroscopic perspective.     

Fabrication of a new ECL biosensor for choline by encapsulating choline oxidase into titanate nanotubes and Nafion composite film

A simple strategy for encapsulating choline oxidase (ChOD) into the titanate nanotubes (TNTs) and Nafion composite film for choline sensing was proposed. Hydrogen peroxide, as the product of the redox enzymatic reaction, could enhance the ECL of luminol. Therefore, the substrates of corresponding redox enzymes could be detected indirectly through the determination of hydrogen peroxide in the luminol ECL system. Through this approach, it was found that ChOD could be fixed firmly into the TNTs contained composite film. TNTs would not only offer excellent photocatalytic activity toward luminol-H₂O₂ ECL system, but also provide a shelter for the biomolecules, such as redox enzyme to retain its bioactivity.     

层层自组装技术制备PDDA-多壁碳纳米管-胆碱生物传感器

以PDDA分散多壁碳纳米管(MWCNTs),制得PDDA-MWCNTs悬浮液,采用层层自组装技术将PDDA-MWCNTs与胆碱氧化酶(ChOx)交替组装在铂(Pt)电极上,最后滴加Nafion制备抗干扰膜,构建了电流型胆碱生物传感器。实验结果表明,构建的复合酶膜(PDDA-MWCNTs/ChOx)n对底物胆碱的催化电流随着组装层数增多而明显增大,酶膜组装6层时最优。此传感器在5×10-6～2.5×10-4mol/L浓度范围内对胆碱有良好线性范围,响应时间为6.6s;灵敏度为21.97μA/mmol;检出限为2×10-6mol/L(S/N=3),RSD<5%,且传感器抗干扰能力强、稳定性好。     

Amperometric choline biosensors prepared by layer-by-layer deposition of choline oxidase on the Prussian blue-modified platinum electrode

An amperometric choline biosensor was developed by immobilizing choline oxidase (ChOx) in a layer-by-layer (LBL) multilayer film on a platinum (Pt) electrode modified with Prussian blue (PB). 6-O-Ethoxytrimethylammoniochitosan chloride (EACC) was used to prepare the ChOx LBL films. The choline biosensor was used at 0.0 V versus Ag/AgCl to detect choline and exhibited good characteristics such as relative low detection limit (5 × 10⁻⁷ M), short response time (within 10 s), high sensitivity (88.6 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻²) and a good selectivity. The results were explained based on the ultrathin nature of the LBL films and the low operating potential that could be due to the efficient catalytic reduction of H₂O₂ by PB. In addition, the effects of pH, temperature and applied potential on the amperometric response of choline biosensor were evaluated. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant was found to be (0.083 ± 0.001) ×10⁻³ M. The biosensor showed excellent long-term storage stability, which originates from a strong adsorption of ChOx in the EACC multilayer film. When the present choline biosensor was applied to the analysis of phosphatidylcholine in serum samples, the measurement values agreed satisfactorily with those by a hospital method.     

Henry’s constant of carbon dioxide-aqueous deep eutectic solvent (choline chloride/ethylene glycol,choline chloride/glycerol,choline chloride/malonic acid) systems

In this study, we present a new set of Henry’s constant data for the system carbon dioxide-aqueous deep eutectic solvent (DES) (20 to 80 wt% DES) at T = (303.15, 308.15, and 313.15) K. The DESs used were choline chloride-based: ethaline (choline chloride/ethylene glycol), glyceline (choline chloride/glycerol), and maline (choline chloride/malonic acid). A differential Henry’s coefficient model was used to describe the behaviour of Henry’s constant, and correlate it with temperature and concentration of DES in the aqueous DES solution. The correlation was found satisfactory such that the proposed model can be used in engineering calculations with reasonable accuracy.     

A sustainable approach to the Ugi reaction in deep eutectic solvent

The Ugi reaction goes fast with high yields in a recyclable and biodegradable low-melting mixture of choline chloride and urea (DES) as a novel and efficient reaction medium. The DES is applicable to a wide range of aldehydes, amines, isocyanides, and acids in good to excellent isolated yields (60–92%) and short reaction times (2–5 h) and can be reused four times without any loss of activity.