Reagentless pH-based biosensing using a fluorescently-labelled dextran co-entrapped with a hydrolytic enzyme in sol-gel derived nanocomposite films

We report on the development of reagentless fluorescence-based sensing films utilizing hydrolytic enzymes co-entrapped with polymers that are labelled with pH sensitive fluorophores. Aqueous solutions of a hydrophilic enzyme (urease) or a lipophilic enzyme (lipase) containing fluorescein or carboxy-seminaphtharhodafluor-1 (SNARF-1), either free or conjugated to a dextran polymer backbone, were mixed with hydrolyzed alkoxysilane solutions and cast onto planar surfaces to form thin, biologically active sol-gel derived films (ca. 500 nm thick). The films also contained various additives, such as methyltrimethoxysilane, dimethyldimethoxysilane, polyethylene glycol or polyvinyl alcohol, to optimize the activity of the entrapped enzymes. The photostability, leaching, pK_a and pH response of the entrapped probes were characterized, as was the performance of the entrapped enzymes, and an optimal set of processing conditions was obtained for each different sensing film. In general, the results indicated that SNARF-labelled dextran was the most useful pH sensitive dye owing to insensitivity to leaching and photobleaching. Furthermore, it was observed that the pK_a and pH response of this probe was insensitive to preparation conditions. The performance of the co-entrapped enzymes was highly dependent on the type and level of additive, but in all cases, it was possible to obtain active enzymes with good performance characteristics. Reagentless sensing films for urea and glyceryl tributyrate (GTB) are demonstrated based on the detection of enzyme-mediated pH changes from films coated onto planar substrates.     

Progress on phthalocyanine-conjugated Ag and Au nanoparticles: Synthesis,characterization, and photo-physicochemical properties

Phthalocyanine (Pc) complexes are an important class of dyes with numerous (e.g., biological, photophysical, and analytical) applications. Among the methods used to improve the properties of these complexes, one should mention the introduction of different substituents, variation of the central metal ion, ligand exchange, and conjugation to nanomaterials (e.g., carbon-based nanomaterials and metal nanoparticles (NPs)). This work briefly reviews Pc complex conjugation to Ag and Au NPs, highlights the different NP shapes, and discusses the diversity of conjugation approaches. Moreover, the use of UV–Vis spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to characterize Pc-NP hybrids is summarized. The effect of conjugation on Pc photo-physicochemical properties (fluorescence, singlet oxygen generation, triplet state formation, and optical limiting behavior) is discussed, and future perspectives for the synthesis and applications of new hybrids are provided.     

A perylenedicarboxamide linker for DNA hairpins

The synthesis and properties of a perylenediamide diol linker and several DNA hairpins possessing this linker are described. The diol linker absorbs and fluoresces strongly in the visible. Hairpins having poly(dA)-poly(dT) stems have fluorescence quantum yields and decay times similar to those of the linker, indicating that hole injection does not occur from the singlet excited linker into the base pair domain. Fluorescence quenching by dG or dZ bases is observed when these bases are located near the linker. The strong distance dependence of fluorescence quenching is consistent with a superexchange mechanism for electron transfer. Failure to observe formation of the linker anion radical by means of femtosecond time resolved absorption spectroscopy is attributed to fast charge recombination. The properties and behavior of the perylene linker and its hairpins are compared to those of other arenedicarboxamide linkers.     

卟啉酞菁模型化合物光致电子转移研究

本文采用时间相关单光子计数对卟啉酞菁ＴＴＰ－（ＣＨ２）ｎ－Ｐｃ模型化合物的光致电子转移进行了研究，发现激发Ｐｃ时，呈现单指数衰减，ｎ＝４时电子转移速率减小，活化能，重排能增加，电子转移效率下降，电子转移反应△ＧＣＳ与电荷分离活化络合物衰变速率ＫＣＴ，按以下规律：△Ｇ＾（５）ＣＳ〉△＾（３）ＣＳ〉△＾（４）ＣＳ〉△＾（２）ＣＳ，ｋ＾（２）ＣＳ〉ｋ＾（３）ＣＳ〉ｋ＾（４）ＣＳ〉ｋ＾（５）ｃｓ。其△Ｇ＾     

不同添加物对表面活性剂溶液预胶束形成的影响

关于表面活性剂溶液中预胶束的形成问题已有不少报道［’－‘］．预胶束是表面活性剂溶液在浓度很稀时（远小于其临界胶束浓度（CMC》、表面活性分子所形成的一种集合体·由于一般的物理化学方法对其难于捡出，因此常被研究者忽略．文献间曾指出：预胶束形成的驱动力与胶束一样，也是疏水作用所致．因此表面活性分子的链长、头部极性、溶剂性质以及添加物的引入等因素必然会影响预胶束的形成．本工作是对添加物的引入问题所作的初步研究·。作中所研究的阴离子表面活性剂有十二烷基硫酸钠（sss）·＋”烷基；Iv酸钠（5％）和十六烷基硫酸…     

桥链七甲川菁的合成及光性能

菁是一种具有多功能用途的染料,除用作卤化银感光材料及有机光导材料的光谱增感剂、光记录材料中记录介质外,还可作为染料激光器中用的激光染料.我们曾合成了四甲川苯乙烯菁、五甲川(艹粦)及五甲川吡喃鎓等红外染料作为激光染料,测定了它们的光性能.本文合成了具有桥链的七甲川菁,研究了这些桥链七甲川菁的吸收光谱及荧光光谱,并以YAG激光倍频(532nm)作泵浦源,测定了它们的激光调谐范围、中心波长及激光转换效率.     

两亲嵌段共聚物溶液内胶束形成的温度效应

合成了一系列具有两亲嵌段结构的聚（乙二醇）（PEO）一聚（丙二醇）（PPO）共聚物．利用荧光探针及示差量热法测定了共聚物水溶液的临界胶束形成温度（CMT）值．发现二嵌段共聚物（PEO－PPO）和三嵌段共聚物（PEO－PPO－PEO）有着类似的变化规律，即随共聚物分子中疏水链（PPO）长度的增大，其CMT值降低．但三嵌段共聚（PPO－PEO－PPO）则因疏水链段处于共聚物分子的两端，因而在溶液中有可能形成立体网状交联结构．此外，利用探针分子在不同极性溶剂中荧光峰值波长发生位移的现象可以对形成胶束内核的组织程度、极性大小进行估测．     

Photovoltaic and spectral properties of tetraphenyloporphyrin and metallotetraphenyloporphyrin dyes

Spectroscopical properties and photocurrent (or photovoltage) of tetraphenyloporphyrins and metallotetraphenyloporphyrins in nematic liquid crystal have been studied. Photoelectric response has been measured in an electrochemical cell made of the semitransparent semiconducting and golden electrodes with porphyrin dyes embedded in liquid crystal. Fluorescence, time-resolved luminescence in microsecond time scale and photoacoustic spectra have also been measured. The competition between radiative, non-radiative processes and charge transfer is discussed. It has been shown that effectivity of porphyrins for photocurrent generation depends on the presence/absence of central metal in the macrocycle of porphyrin skeleton and the kind of metal. The schematic model of the contributions of the dye molecule and semiconducting electrode in the electron transfer process is shown.     

POPOP诱导环糊精形成纳米管的研究

用紫外吸收光谱、稳态荧光、荧光各向异性和动态光散射等方法研究了2,2′-p-亚苯基-双(5-苯基噁唑) (POPOP)分子与环糊精(CD)的相互作用. 结果表明, POPOP分子在浓度较低时与β-CD形成1:2的包合物, 在浓度较高时可以进一步诱导β-CD形成纳米管结构. 同时发现, POPOP分子也可以诱导γ-CD形成纳米管结构. 对比于β-CD, POPOP分子在γ-CD水溶液中的荧光发射峰, 不仅有明显的红移而且也缺失了精细结构, 呈现较宽的大包峰. 这是由于POPOP分子成对进入γ-CD空腔形成了激基缔合物的缘故. pH和温度效应实验进一步表明, POPOP诱导β-CD形成的纳米管在pH大于12和温度高于331 K的环境下不能稳定存在.     

Spectrafluorimetric method for the rapid screening of toxic heavy metals in water samples

A fast and inexpensive sensitive screening test for recognising potential wastewater contamination by the presence of highly toxic heavy metals is described. The test is based on the reaction of the toxic heavy metals Hg(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Ag(I) with 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) to produce highly fluorescent complexes.Optimum experimental conditions include a buffer of pH 7.2 (0.1 M citric acid/0.2 M Na₂HPO₄), a chelating reagent concentration of 6×10⁻⁴ M and the addition of 10⁻⁴ M of o-phenanthroline. The fluorescence emitted by the complexes was measured at 380 and 540 nm for excitation and emission wavelengths, respectively.Detection limits of 4, 3, 6 and 3 μg l⁻¹ were achieved for Hg, Cd, Pb and Ag. Relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) were between ±2 and ±6% of the fluorescence signals for five identical samples. Potential interference effects from other heavy metals (Zn, Mn, Co, Fe, Ni and Cu), which could affect the response of the proposed screening test was investigated. Results showed that none of these metals give rise to noticeable fluorescence signals under the above described experimental conditions.Finally, the capability of the proposed heavy metal screening test for the analysis of contaminated water samples is discussed.