Comment on "Wide-field coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy with non-phase-matching illumination"

We comment on a Letter by Toytman et al. [Opt. Lett.32, 1941 (2007)] in which a novel setup for wide-field imaging in coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy is demonstrated. There the authors state that our phase-matching implementation of a wide-field CARS system [Appl. Phys. Lett.84, 816 (2004); New J. Phys.8, 36 (2006)] suffers from a strong background from the bulk medium. However, our results show quite the contrary, i.e., that our setup provides a very good signal contrast, due to an almost vanishing background level from the bulk solvent.     

Application of the TLC image analysis technique for the simultaneous quantitative determination of L-proline and L-lysine in dietary supplement

A simple and sensitive thin-layer chromatography (TLC) method coupled with an image analysis technique was developed for the simultaneous quantitative determination of L-proline and L-lysine in dietary supplement with good precision and accuracy. Separation was performed on silica gel plates using ethanol‒toluene (2:3, V/V) as the mobile phase. The visualization of chromatograms was based on iodine–azide reaction; therefore, pre-chromatographic derivatization reaction of amino acids with phenyl isothiocyanate was performed. Digital images of TLC plate chromatograms were converted into peak chromatograms, and quantitative analysis was conducted using TLSee software.

     

Selective Detection of Carbohydrates and Their Peptide Conjugates by ESI-MS Using Synthetic Quaternary Ammonium Salt Derivatives of Phenylboronic Acids

We present new tags based on the derivatives of phenylboronic acid and apply them for the selective detection of sugars and peptide-sugar conjugates in mass spectrometry. We investigated the binding of phenylboronic acid and its quaternary ammonium salt (QAS) derivatives to carbohydrates and peptide-derived Amadori products by HR-MS and MS/MS experiments. The formation of complexes between sugar or sugar-peptide conjugates and synthetic tags was confirmed on the basis of the unique isotopic distribution resulting from the presence of boron atom. Moreover, incorporation of a quaternary ammonium salt dramatically improved the efficiency of ionization in mass spectrometry. It was found that the formation of a complex with phenylboronic acid stabilizes the sugar moiety in glycated peptides, resulting in simplification of the fragmentation pattern of peptide-derived Amadori products. The obtained results suggest that derivatization of phenylboronic acid as QAS is a promising method for sensitive ESI-MS detection of carbohydrates and their conjugates formed by non-enzymatic glycation or glycosylation.

Pharmaceutical approaches involving carvedilol characterization,compatibility with different excipients and kinetic studies

This study was performed to investigate the physical–chemical characteristics of carvedilol (CRV), complemented by compatibility studies with a great variety of pharmaceutical excipients. Thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, supported by diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT), X-ray powder diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were selected as the solid-state techniques for the intended analyses. In addition, non-isothermal methods were employed to investigate kinetic data of CRV decomposition process under nitrogen and air atmospheres. CRV is characterized by an endothermic sharp event (T _peak = 389.81 K and ΔH _fusion of ?176.28 J g^?1) and a thermal decomposition behavior in two stages, totalizing 98 % of mass loss. The CRV pattern diffraction presents prominent peaks at 2θ: 5.92°, 14.90°, 18.62°, 24.47°, and 26.30°, and the DRIFT spectrum showed the main characteristics bands for CRV chemical functional groups. The SEM photomicrographs demonstrate that CRV is characterized by irregular blocky shaped crystals. Zero order kinetics was determined by Ozawa method in both nitrogen and air atmospheres. The compatibility results showed no evidence of any incompatibility among CRV and all the excipients analyzed.     

Physical boundaries within aggregates – differences between amorphous,para‐crystalline,and crystalline Structures

The structural properties of finely divided inorganic materials such as metal and metalloid oxides, silicates or carbonates of both synthetic and natural origin are compared by means of electron microscopy and tomography. The structure of the outer surfaces of various compact or compacted agglomerates may suggest some striking similarities between various amorphous silica on the one hand and crystalline titania and alumina on the other however the details of the interior fine structure are completely different. Inside of the crystalline aggregates of, for example, alumina and titania distinct grain boundaries between the inter‐grown primary crystallites exist. Also physical boundaries between different solid phases and crystalline/amorphous transitions in core/shell structures can occur. No physical grain or phase boundaries were found inside of synthetic amorphous silica or para‐crystalline carbon black thus, the aggregate is the constituent particle. Synthetic amorphous silica from different production technologies (fumed/pyrogenic, precipitated, aerogel, gel) may exhibit different macro‐morphology but distinct similarities of the amorphous silica networks. Computational studies on silica and titania underline the stability of constituent particles and aggregates as observed by means of TEM after dispersing the original materials by ultra‐sonication.     

Magnetic mixed matrix membranes in air separation

Ethylcellulose (EC) or linear polyimide (LPI) and magnetic neodymium powder particles MQP-14-12 were used for the preparation of inorganic-organic hybrid membranes. For all the membranes, N₂, O₂ and air permeability were examined. Mass transport coefficients were determined using the Time Lag System based on dynamic experiments in a constant pressure system. The results showed that the membrane permeation properties were improved by the addition of magnetic neodymium particles to the polymer matrix. The magnetic ethylcellulose and polyimide membranes exhibited higher gas permeability and diffusivity, while their permeability selectivity and solubility were either unchanged or slightly increased. Polyimide mixed matrix membranes were characterised by a higher thermal and mechanical stability, larger filler loading, better magnetic properties and reasonable selectivity in the air separation.     

A spectrophotometric method for plant pigments determination and herbs classification

Twenty herbs, showing medicinal benefits on human life, like Taraxacum officinale, Plantago lanceolata, Hypericum perforatum, Ocimum basilicum, Melissa officinalis, Mentha piperita, and others, were tested. The percentage content of pigments, i.e. chlorophylls, carotenoids, and flavonoids, in the chosen herbs was determined. The spectrophotometric method, which is quick and readily available, was used. Measurements required pigment extraction with a solvent. Ethanol was used for the determination of chlorophylls and carotenoids, and acetone for the determination of flavonoids. Hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis was performed in order to confirm the experimental results. The study of flavonoids content showed an interesting regularity which can be used for the classification of herbs. Plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family showed the flavonoids content in the range from 0.18 % to 0.68 %, whereas those belonging to the Apiaceaehas family showed the flavonoids content in the 0.75–1.20 % range.     

Ultrathin films of functionalised single-walled carbon nanotubes: a potential bio-sensing platform

ABSTRACT

The Langmuir monolayer is a special class of lyotropic liquid crystalline system wherein phase transition essentially depends on surface density, temperature and ion-content in the aqueous medium. The variety of surface phases can be transferred onto devices by the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) technique. The Langmuir monolayer of pristine single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) exhibited gas and liquid-like phases. The LB film of SWCNTs shows target surface pressure dependent interesting morphologies. The methane gas sensing using parallel alignment of SWCNTs was found to be better than that of randomly oriented SWCNTs. The SWCNTs can be functionalised chemically to enhance the ease of film processability and affinity towards analytes. These are essential parameters for the development of a sensor. In this article, we present our work on Langmuir monolayer and LB films of octadecylamine functionalised SWCNTs (ODACNTs) and its sensing application towards bio-analytes, e.g. L-aspartic acid and bovine serum albumin. The sensing performance of LB film of ODACNTs was compared with that of spin-coated films of ODACNTs. The sensing performance of LB films of ODACNTs indicated a potential platform for bio-sensing application.     

Oxidized Hemithioindigo Photoswitches—Influence of Oxidation State on (Photo)physical and Photochemical Properties

The photophysical and photochemical properties of sulfoxide and sulfone derivatives of hemithioindigo photoswitches are scrutinized and compared to the unoxidized parent chromophores. Oxidation results in significantly blue-shifted absorptions and mostly reduction of photochromism while thermal stabilities of individual isomers remain largely unaltered. Effective photoswitching takes place at shorter wavelengths compared to parent hemithioindigos and high isomeric yields can be obtained reversibly in the respective photostationary states. Reversible solid-state photoswitching is observed for a twisted sulfone derivative accompanied by visible color changes. These results establish oxidized hemithioindigo photoswitches as promising and versatile tools for robust light-control of molecular behavior for a wide range of applications.