PPy modified titanium foam electrode with high performance for supercapacitor

Pyrrole was polymerized on the surface of titanium foam using FeCl₃ as oxidant and the as-synthesized product could be directly used as electrode for supercapacitor. The globular polypyrrole (PPy) particles were firmly loaded on the substrate with high density. The morphology study of PPy film is observed in SEM images, the XRD, FTIR and UV–vis spectra reveal the structure and crystalline of PPy nanoparticles. The electrochemical properties of PPy modified electrode are investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) and cycle life techniques. The electrochemical measurements showed such a PPy–Ti electrode had a wide working potential window, a high specific capacitance of 855 F g⁻¹ and excellent cycle stability at a discharge current density of 1 A g⁻¹.     

Organic Reactions in Ionic Liquids: Ionic Liquid Ethylammonium Nitrate–Promoted Knoevenagel Condensation of Meldrum's Acid With Aromatic Aldehydes

The Knoevenagel condensation of Meldrum's acid with aromatic aldehydes proceeded efficiently in a reusable ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate, at room temperature in the absence of any catalyst with high yields.     

A SERS-based immunoassay for porcine circovirus type 2 using multi-branched gold nanoparticles

We report on a facile immunoassay for porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) based on surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) using multi-branched gold nanoparticles (mb-AuNPs) as substrates. The mb-AuNPs in the immunosensor act as Raman reporters and were prepared via Tris base-induced reduction and subsequent reaction with p-mercaptobenzoic acid (pMBA). They possess good stability and high SERS activity. Subsequently, the modified mb-AuNPs were covalently conjugated to the monoclonal antibody (McAb) against the PCV2 cap protein to form SERS immuno nanoprobes. These were captured in a microtiterplate via a immunoreaction in the presence of target antigens. The effects of antibody concentration, reaction time and temperature on the sensitivity of the immunoassay were investigated. Under optimized assay conditions, the Raman signal intensity at 1,076 cm^?1 increases logarithmically with the concentrations of PCV2 in the concentration ranging from 8?×?10² to 8?×?10⁶ copies per mL. The limit of detection is 8?×?10² copies per mL. Compared to conventional detecting methods such as those based on PCR, the method presented here is rapid, facile and very sensitive.

DI-(2,2,2-Trichloroethyl)-Carbonate: Byproduct in Reactions with 2,2,2-Trichloroethyl Chloroformate

2,2,2-Trichloroethyl chloroformate (1) in higher boiling solvents, particularly in the presence of potassium carbonate and potassium bicarbonate, affords undesired di-(2,2,2-trichloroethyl)-carbonate (2) as a byproduct. When chemically pure chloroformate was used, addition of carbonates was found to be unnecessary in N-demethylation reactions.     

Supramolecular organogelators based on Janus type AT nucleosides

J-AT nucleoside-based organogelators 1a and 1b were designed and synthesized. They were endowed with unparalleled superiority to natural nucleobase analogues 2–6 to gelate aromatic solvents due to their excellent self-assembly properties. The J-AT nucleoside-based organogelators showed a specific self-complementary base pair recognition characteristic. The gel stabilities of 1a and 1b were drastically influenced by adenine analogue 2, hardly affected by thymine analogue 3, uracil analogue 4, cytosine analogue 5, and mildly interrupted by guanine analogue 6.     

Macrocycles consisting of flexible and rigid segments: enforced folding and host-guest inclusion exciplex formation

Macrocycles consisting of two tris(phenylene ethynylene) (or tri-PE) units connected via two flexible linkers adopt an ‘unfolded’ conformation that is converted into a folded conformation upon introducing intramolecular hydrogen bonding interaction. These foldable macrocycles are capable of forming inclusion charge transfer (CT) complex with electron-deficient small aromatics.     

Single molecule study of DNA collision with elliptical nanoposts conveyed by hydrodynamics

Periodic arrays of micro‐ or nanopillars constitute solid‐state matrices with excellent properties for DNA size separation. Nanofabrication technologies offer many solutions to tailor the geometry of obstacle arrays, yet most studies have been conducted with cylinders arranged in hexagonal lattices. In this report, we investigate the dynamics of single DNA collision with elliptical nanoposts using hydrodynamic actuation. Our data show that the asymmetry of the obstacles has minor effect on unhooking dynamics, and thus confirm recent predictions obtained by Brownian dynamics simulations. In addition, we show that the disengagement dynamics are correctly predicted by models of electrophoresis, and propose that this consistency is associated to the confinement in slit‐like channels. We finally conclude that elliptical posts are expected to marginally improve the performances of separation devices.     

A microfluidic chip‐based fluorescent biosensor for the sensitive and specific detection of label‐free single‐base mismatch via magnetic beads‐based “sandwich” hybridization strategy

A novel microfluidic chip‐based fluorescent DNA biosensor, which utilized the electrophoretic driving mode and magnetic beads‐based “sandwich” hybridization strategy, was developed for the sensitive and ultra‐specific detection of single‐base mismatch DNA in this study. In comparison with previous biosensors, the proposed DNA biosensor has much more robust resistibility to the complex matrix of real saliva and serum samples, shorter analysis time, and much higher discrimination ability for the detection of single‐base mismatch. These features, as well as its easiness of fabrication, operation convenience, stability, better reusability, and low cost, make it a promising alternative to the SNPs genotyping/detection in clinical diagnosis. By using the biosensor, we have successfully determined oral cancer‐related DNA in saliva and serum samples without sample labeling and any preseparation or dilution with a detection limit of 5.6 × 10^?11 M, a RSD (n = 5) < 5% and a discrimination factor of 3.58–4.54 for one‐base mismatch.     

Characterization of a hybrid dielectrophoresis and immunocapture microfluidic system for cancer cell capture

The capture of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from cancer patient blood enables early clinical assessment as well as genetic and pharmacological evaluation of cancer and metastasis. Although there have been many microfluidic immunocapture and electrokinetic techniques developed for isolating rare cancer cells, these techniques are often limited by a capture performance tradeoff between high efficiency and high purity. We present the characterization of shear‐dependent cancer cell capture in a novel hybrid DEP–immunocapture system consisting of interdigitated electrodes fabricated in a Hele‐Shaw flow cell that was functionalized with a monoclonal antibody, J591, which is highly specific to prostate‐specific membrane antigen expressing prostate cancer cells. We measured the positive and negative DEP response of a prostate cancer cell line, LNCaP, as a function of applied electric field frequency, and showed that DEP can control capture performance by promoting or preventing cell interactions with immunocapture surfaces, depending on the sign and magnitude of the applied DEP force, as well as on the local shear stress experienced by cells flowing in the device. This work demonstrates that DEP and immunocapture techniques can work synergistically to improve cell capture performance, and it will aid in the design of future hybrid DEP–immunocapture systems for high‐efficiency CTC capture with enhanced purity.