Enzyme-regulated the changes of pH values for assembling a colorimetric and multistage interconnection logic network with multiple readouts

Based on enzymatic reactions-triggered changes of pH values and biocomputing, a novel and multistage interconnection biological network with multiple easy-detectable signal outputs has been developed. Compared with traditional chemical computing, the enzyme-based biological system could overcome the interference between reactions or the incompatibility of individual computing gates and offer a unique opportunity to assemble multicomponent/multifunctional logic circuitries. Our system included four enzyme inputs: β-galactosidase (β-gal), glucose oxidase (GOx), esterase (Est) and urease (Ur). With the assistance of two signal transducers (gold nanoparticles and acid–base indicators) or pH meter, the outputs of the biological network could be conveniently read by the naked eyes. In contrast to current methods, the approach present here could realize cost-effective, label-free and colorimetric logic operations without complicated instrument. By designing a series of Boolean logic operations, we could logically make judgment of the compositions of the samples on the basis of visual output signals. Our work offered a promising paradigm for future biological computing technology and might be highly useful in future intelligent diagnostics, prodrug activation, smart drug delivery, process control, and electronic applications.     

Rapid and sensitive lateral flow immunoassay method for determining alpha fetoprotein in serum using europium (III) chelate microparticles-based lateral flow test strips

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a primary marker for many diseases including various cancers, is important in clinical tumor diagnosis and antenatal screening. Most immunoassays provide high sensitivity and accuracy for determining AFP, but they are expensive, often complex, time-consuming procedures. A simple and rapid point-of-care system that integrates Eu (III) chelate microparticles with lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) has been developed to determine AFP in serum with an assay time of 15 min. The approach is based on a sandwich immunoassay performed on lateral flow test strips. A fluorescence strip reader was used to measure the fluorescence peak heights of the test line (H_T) and the control line (H_C); the H_T/H_C ratio was used for quantitation. The Eu (III) chelate microparticles-based LFIA assay exhibited a wide linear range (1.0–1000 IU mL⁻¹) for AFP with a low limit of detection (0.1 IU mL⁻¹) based on 5ul of serum. Satisfactory specificity and accuracy were demonstrated and the intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation (CV) for AFP were both <10%. Furthermore, in the analysis of human serum samples, excellent correlation (n = 284, r = 0.9860, p < 0.0001) was obtained between the proposed method and a commercially available CLIA kit. Results indicated that the Eu (III) chelate microparticles-based LFIA system provided a rapid, sensitive and reliable method for determining AFP in serum, indicating that it would be suitable for development in point-of-care testing.     

改性活性炭纤维可见光催化联合脱硫脱硝的研究

利用水合肼还原法制备的TiO₂/Cu₂O复合光催化剂对活性炭纤维(ACF)进行改性,利用SEM、XPS、BET以及XRD对其进行表征,研究改性后ACF的性质及其脱硫脱硝效果。研究表明,TiO₂/Cu₂O同时改性后的ACF表面孔径减小,但表面石墨碳和羰基(C=O)官能团增加,增强了ACF对NO和SO₂的吸附能力,从而提高了脱硫脱硝的效率,该催化剂在40℃、可见光的催化下脱硫效率达90%,脱硝效率达60%。     

快原子轰击离子化质谱研究酚类化合物抗氧化作用

为了建立简便、快速筛选高效、低毒的新型抗氧化药物的方法,本研究采用快原子轰击离子化质谱( FAB-MS)对酚类化合物抗氧化作用强弱进行了研究。考察了基质、轰击时间和样本浓度对FAB-MS 谱中分子离子(M+·)相对强度的影响,研究了黄酮类化合物在FAB-MS谱中的I(M+·)/I([M+H]+)比值与其抗氧化活性的相关性。对12种酚类化合物的抗氧化活性进行了预测与评价,并与硫代巴比妥酸法( TBA)检测的脂质过氧化抑制率进行比较,验证 FAB-MS 方法的可靠性。结果表明,由 FAB-MS 获得的 I ( M+·)/I([ M+H]+)比值能较好地反映酚类化合物抗氧化作用的强弱,可以作为抗氧化剂的体外筛选或预测方法,有助于加速新型抗氧化药物的发现。     

Fast Photoresponse and Long Lifetime UV Photodetectors and Field Emitters Based on ZnO/Ultrananocrystalline Diamond Films

We have designed photodetectors and UV field emitters based on a combination of ZnO nanowires/nanorods (ZNRs) and bilayer diamond films in a metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) structure. The ZNRs were fabricated on different diamond films and systematic investigations showed an ultra‐high photoconductive response from ZNRs prepared on ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) operating at a lower voltage of 2 V. We found that the ZNRs/UNCD photodetector (PD) has improved field emission properties and a reduced turn‐on field of 2.9 V μm^?1 with the highest electron field emission (EFE) by simply illuminating the sample with ultraviolet (UV) light. The photoresponse (I_photo/I_dark) behavior of the ZNRs/UNCD PD exhibits a much higher photoresponse (912) than bare ZNRs (229), ZNRs/nanocrystalline diamond (NCD; 518), and ZNRs/microcrystalline diamond (MCD; 325) under illumination at λ=365 nm. A photodetector with UNCD films offers superior stability and a longer lifetime compared with carbon materials and bare ZNRs. The lifetime stability of the ZNRs/UNCD‐based device is about 410 min, which is markedly superior to devices that use bare ZNRs (92 min). The ZNRs/UNCD PD possesses excellent photoresponse properties with improved lifetime and stability; in addition, ZNRs/UNCD‐based UV emitters have great potential for applications such as cathodes in flat‐panel displays and microplasma display devices.     

Strong Fluorescent Smart Organogel as a Dual Sensing Material for Volatile Acid and Organic Amine Vapors

An L ‐phenylalanine derivative ( C12PhBPCP ) consisting of a strong emission fluorophore with benzoxazole and cyano groups is designed and synthesized to realize dual responses to volatile acid and organic amine vapors. The photophysical properties and self‐assembly of the said derivative in the gel phase are also studied. C12PhBPCP can gelate organic solvents and self‐assemble into 1 D nanofibers in the gels. UV/Vis absorption spectral results show H‐aggregate formation during gelation, which indicates strong exciton coupling between fluorophores. Both wet gel and xerogel emit strong green fluorescence because the cyano group suppresses fluorescence quenching in the self‐assemblies. Moreover, the xerogel film with strong green fluorescence can be used as a dual chemosensor for quantitative detection of volatile acid and organic amine vapors with fast response times and low detection limits owing to its large surface area and amplified fluorescence quenching. The detection limits are 796 ppt and 25 ppb for gaseous aniline and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), respectively.     

Fe(NO3)3·9H2O-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of sulfi des to sulfoxides under mild conditions with the aid of trifl uoroethanol

Selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides was successfully performed by employing readily available Fe(NO3)3·9H2O as the active catalyst with oxygen as the oxidant in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) without the formation of sulfones. Nitrate anion could play a crucial role in promoting the reaction due to the oxidation capacity under acidic media. High yields of sulfoxides were exclusively obtained from the corresponding sulfides. Furthermore, both aromatic and aliphatic sulfides gave moderate to high yields of sulfoxides with this protocol.     

不同微波膨胀烟梗的化学感官特性研究

研究不同来源包括产地、部位、年份、品种的烟梗原料经相同的微波膨胀工艺处理后的常规化学成分、致香成分、主流烟气(主要包括抽吸口数、焦油、烟碱及一氧化碳释放量)及感官特性差异,指导微波膨胀梗丝在产品中的配伍应用,为建立不同来源微波膨胀梗原料的品质特征评价体系及微波膨胀梗丝的工业应用提供依据。结果表明:不同产地来源的微波膨胀梗丝常规化学成分、致香成分、主流烟气存在差异。不同年份的微波膨胀梗丝间感官质量无明显差异,不同产地、品种、部位来源的微波膨胀梗丝总体感官质量存在差异。