Determination of Human Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) by Solid Substrate Room Temperature Phosphorescence Enzyme-Linked Immune Response Using Luminescent Nanoparticles

Luminescent nanoparticles of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) containing fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) with a particle size of 20 nm were synthesized using the Sol–Gel method (abbreviated FITC–SiO₂). FITC–SiO₂ nanoparticles whose surfaces are modified (FITC–SiO₂–S–CH₂COOH) can emit strong and stable solid substrate room temperature phosphorescence (SS-RTP) on acetyl cellulose membranes. When the original color-producing agent (R) in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits for determination of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was substituted with (FITC–SiO₂–S–CH₂COOH), the system maintained good FITC–SiO₂ phosphorescence properties. Furthermore, the phosphorescence intensity enhanced markedly after the ELISA reaction. The relationship between the phosphorescence intensity and the content of AFP obeyed Beer’s law. Based on the facts stated above, a new method for the determination of human AFP by SS-RTP-ELISA (using the luminescent nanoparticle as marker) was established. The linear range of this method is 0.040–16.0 pg of human AFP per spot (sample volume: 0.40 μL spot⁻¹, corresponding concentration: 0.10–40.0 ng mL⁻¹). The regression equation of the working curve is ΔIp = −6.289+18.075 m_AFP (pg spot⁻¹) (r = 0.9960, n = 6). The detection limit (LD) of this method calculated by 3 S_b/k is 6.7 fg spot⁻¹ (corresponding concentration: 17 ng L⁻¹). Compared to the ELISA method using a traditional color-producing agent, the new method exhibited a 34.8 times higher sensitivity and a wider linear range. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of human AFP in serum.     

Selective Transport of Lead(II) and Strontium(II) Through a Crown Ether-Based Polymer Inclusion Membrane Containing Dialkylnaphthalenesulfonic Acid

New polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) containing 18-membered crownethers and dialkylnaphthalenesulfonic acid are proposed for Sr2+ and Pb2+removal from nitric acid solutions. The influence of source phasecomposition and stripping agents was characterized and permeabilitycoefficients were calculated. The PIMs are easy to prepare and may be usefulin separation and concentration procedures for these cations from complexmixtures such as nuclear waste. Long-term stability was obtained for atleast several weeks of constant use during which no significant change ofpermeability was observed.     

Novel functional activities of anti-dna autoantibodies from sera of patients with lymphoproliferative and autoimmune diseases

DNA-hydrolyzing activity of IgG autoantibodies from sera of patients with various types of lymphoproliferative diseases was investigated. The association of DNA-hydrolyzing activity with the antibody (Ab) fraction has been proved by newly developed affinity-capture assay. Study of abzyme incidence in blood tumors and systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) revealed linkage of anti-DNA Ab catalysts to mature B-cell tumors, and increased probability of DNA-abzymes formation on the background of autoimmune manifestations. These data suggest possible similarity between mechanisms of abzyme formation in SLE and B-cell lymphomas. A new mechanism of formation of DNA-specific catalytic Abs has been proposed based on the increased crossreactivity of polyclonal DNA-abzymes to DNA-depleted nuclear matrix proteins. The possibility of the abzyme production as Ab to the energetically destabilized ground state of the antigen has been discussed. Preliminary results were obtained that indicate the complement-independent cytotoxicity of anti-DNA autoantibodies isolated from blood of patients with SLE and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.     

KINETICS OF IRREVERSIBLE MODIFICATION OF ENZYME ACTIVITY IN A SYSTEM OF COUPLED ENZYME ASSAY (Ⅱ)——BOTH PRIMARY AND AUXILIARY ENZYMES MODIFIED BY REAGENT Y

Following the previous paperr, we examined the kinetics of the irreversible modification of enzyme activity in coupled assay when the modifier reacted with both primary and auxiliary enzymes. It was shown that Tsou's kinetic method can also be used in the present situation in some conditions.     

高砷低金银的铅阳极泥中银的冶炼

本文报导了将纯碱加入砷含量高的铅阳极泥熔炼成贵铅，用硝酸溶解，硫氰酸盐沉淀，再用锌粉还原得银的方法。从而避免砒霜挥发。     

Industrial Application of Hybrid Sol-Gel Coatings for the Decoration of Crystal Glassware

The coloration of glass via melting techniques presents some unique problems with respect to the reproducibility, toxicology and economics of certain colors, especially if the market demands are highly variable. This is also the case for consumer products such as crystal glass and tableware. Traditionally, the decoration of crystal glasses is performed by laborious manual techniques, which are costly and do not meet modern market requirements. Alternatively, spraying of colored lacquers is a highly flexible and valuable tool for the development of new products. Sol-gel type hybrid coatings provide several advantages compared to conventional organic systems like high abrasion resistance, almost perfect adhesion, refractive index matching and sufficient stability in dishwashing procedures. The solubility of organic dyes in the hybrid matrix is sufficient for intense colors even at rather low layer thicknesses, which on the other hand convey the high brilliance of the base material. The development of transparent, translucent and opaque hybrid coatings for crystal glass has been completed in the last few years and the production of partially coated articles has started recently. The synthesis and properties of the coating material are reviewed and the industrial process and first market results are also outlined.     

肾上腺素在脱氧核糖核酸修饰金电极上的电化学行为及铅离子的影响

用干燥／吸附法制备了脱氧核糖核酸(DNA)修饰金电极(DNA／Au)，采用循环伏安法、计时库仑法、微分脉冲伏安法、交流阻抗以及紫外光谱法研究了肾上腺素(EP)在该电极上的伏安行为及Pb^2 产生的影响。结果表明：在5mmol/L pH7．7Tris底液中，EP在DNA／Au上产生一不可逆的氧化峰(Ep＝0．16V)。该峰较EP在裸金电极上的峰(Ep＝0．11V)电位为正，灵敏度高。在有Pb^2 存在时，峰电位负移，峰高增大。微分脉冲峰高与EP浓度在0．5-75μmol/L范围内呈线性关系。氧化峰为扩散控制为主并兼有弱的吸附性。本文还探讨了其电极反应的机理，认为在无Pb^2 的情况下，EP与DNA的结合是EP嵌入DNA中为主并兼有一定程度的静电吸附。有Pb^2 存在的情况下EP是以EP-Pb^2 嵌入DNA的双螺旋结构中和通过静电吸附在DNA骨架上的Pb^2 为桥梁与DNA结合。     

Comparative evaluation of Fe(III) reducing power-based antioxidant capacity assays in the presence of phenanthroline, batho-phenanthroline, tripyridyltriazine (FRAP), and ferricyanide reagents

The chemical diversity of antioxidants in complex matrices such as plant extracts makes it difficult to separate and quantify antioxidants from these solutions. Therefore it is desirable to establish methods that can measure the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels directly from plant extracts. Iron(III)-based TAC assays, especially the most widely used FRAP (ferric-reducing antioxidant power), play an important role in this regard. However, many problems have been reported in the application of the FRAP assay, the most serious one being the incomplete oxidation of a number of antioxidants during the time protocol of the assay. Thus, six different ferric ion-based total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assays have been comparatively tested, modified, and improved so as to obtain more sensitive and precise results for complex mixtures, namely: 1,10-phenanthroline (o-phen) method (with incubation), batho-phenanthroline method (with incubation), original FRAP method, modified FRAP method (with incubation), original ferricyanide method, and modified ferricyanide method (with incubation). Two new assays in this regard (i.e., o-phen and batho-phen) have been established, and the existing assays (FRAP and ferricyanide) have been modified so as to let the oxidation reactions of antioxidants reach completion. The molar absorptivity for a variety of antioxidants was highest for modified FRAP, batho-phen, and original FRAP methods. The absorption maximum wavelength shifted batochromically to a higher extent for modified ferricyanide, FRAP, and batho-phen procedures, decreasing the possibility of interferences due to organics absorbing in the near-UV range of the visible spectrum where most antioxidant assays are performed. The linear concentration ranges were shown to be further extended and linear correlation coefficients improved with respect to the most widely used ferric-based assay, FRAP. Of the six assays tested and developed, only the modified ferricyanide procedure gave high intercept values and low addivitity of TAC values of constituents in complex mixtures, requiring further attention of method optimization. Thus, it was shown that the most widely used FRAP could be effectively modified, and o-phen, batho-phen, and ferricyanide methods constitute cheaper alternatives to FRAP under certain conditions, with partly improved molar absorptivity (and thus sensitivity) for antioxidants, lower intercept values (and higher precision), broader linear range (and higher flexibility), and better additivity of TAC values of antioxidant constituents in mixtures.     

Application of Graphite-Epoxy Composite Electrodes in Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry of Heavy Metals

An analytical study on the use of graphite-epoxy composite (GEC) electrodes for differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) of heavy metals is presented. This study is accompanied by microscopic observations of the electrode surface before and after the stripping step in comparison to glassy carbon electrode. GEC electrodes show much better accumulation properties and consequently acceptable behaviour which makes them suitable as working electrodes in the DPASV of heavy metals. Lead determination in real water samples in a batch system as well as some preliminary results in a flow-through system are presented. The detection limits in batch measurements were 100ppb for Cd, 10pb for lead and 50ppb for copper. The detection limit for lead in the flow-through system was similar to that in the batch. The results obtained show that these low cost and easy to prepare materials can be of interest in future research concerning stripping techniques of heavy metals and other analytes.     

Fluoride and lead adsorption on carbon nanotubes

The properties and applications of CNT have been studied extensively since Iijima discovered them in 1991[1,2]. They have exceptional mechanical properties and unique electrical property, highly chemical stability and large specific surface area. Thus far, they have widely potential applications in many fields. They can be used as reinforcing materials in composites[3], field emissions[4], hydrogen storage[5], nanoelectronic components[6], catalyst supports[7], adsorption material and so on.…