Individually addressable recessed gold microelectrode arrays with monolayers of thio-cyclodextrin nanocavities

Four, individually addressable 30 microm diameter, e-beam deposited, gold microelectrodes recessed by 6 microm were suitably spaced on a single substrate to avoid diffusional overlap between each microelectrode. The single substrate device was functionalised with thiolated alpha-, beta-, and gamma-cyclodextrin nanocavities without spacer groups to ensure close proximity of the cavities to the electrode surface. The microelectrodes were assessed in two stages. The e-beam deposited micron sized electrodes were characterized using models for recessed and inlaid microdisk electrodes. Subsequently, each individually addressable, atomically flat, micro-patterned gold electrode with thiolated CD ensembles was treated as a nanoporous electrode assembly. Theoretical and experimental results were compared using cyclic voltammetry. Atomic force microscopy was also used to characterise the modified microelectrodes. Comparisons were made with thiolated CDs deposited on macroelectrodes. This is the first report of the behaviour of immobilized CD nanocavities ensembles on atomically flat gold microelectrodes.     

Fe3O4‐supported Schiff‐base copper (II) complex: A valuable heterogeneous nanocatalyst for one‐pot synthesis of new pyrano[2,3‐b]pyridine‐3‐carboxamide derivatives

A novel Cu (II) Schiff‐base complex immobilized on core‐shell magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@SPNC) was successfully designed and synthesized. The structural features of these nanoparticles were studied and confirmed by using various techniques including FT‐IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), X‐Ray diffraction (XRD), wavelength dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (WDX), and inductively coupled plasma (ICP). These newly synthesized nanoparticles have been used as efficient heterogeneous catalytic system for one‐pot multicomponent synthesis of new pyrano[2,3‐b]pyridine‐3‐carboxamide derivatives. Notably, the catalyst could be easily separated from the reaction mixture by using an external magnet and reused for several successive reaction runs with no significant loss of activity or copper leaching. The present protocol benefits from a hitherto unreported MNPs‐immobilized Cu (II) Schiff‐base complex as an efficient nanocatalyst for the synthesis of newly reported derivatives of pyrano[2,3‐b]pyridine‐3‐carboxamide from one‐pot multicomponent reactions.     

Celestine blue as a new indicator in electrochemical DNA biosensors

Celestine blue(CB)was introduced as a new electroactive indicator in DNA biosensors.The interaction of CB with DNA was investigated by electrochemical and spectroscopic methods.The effect of buffer kind and p H on the electrochemical behavior of CB was studied.The peak currents of CB were linearly related to DNA concentration in the range of 5.0×10~(-9) to 1.0×10~(-7)mol/L.The detection limit of this approach was 4.76×10~(-10) mol/L.Based on spectrometry data a hypochromic effect was observed in UV-Vis spectra of CB with increasing DNA concentration.The results illustrate the possible interaction mode between CB and DNA is electrostatic binding.     

Electrochemical detection of miRNA-222 by use of a magnetic bead-based bioassay

MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are naturally occurring small RNAs (approximately 22 nucleotides in length) that have critical functions in a variety of biological processes, including tumorigenesis. They are an important target for detection technology for future medical diagnostics. In this paper we report an electrochemical method for miRNA detection based on paramagnetic beads and enzyme amplification. In particular, miR 222 was chosen as model sequence, because of its involvement in brain, lung, and liver cancers. The proposed bioassay is based on biotinylated DNA capture probes immobilized on streptavidin-coated paramagnetic beads. Total RNA was extracted from the cell sample, enriched for small RNA, biotinylated, and then hybridized with the capture probe on the beads. The beads were then incubated with streptavidin–alkaline phosphatase and exposed to the appropriate enzymatic substrate. The product of the enzymatic reaction was electrochemically monitored. The assay was finally tested with a compact microfluidic device which enables multiplexed analysis of eight different samples with a detection limit of 7 pmol L^?1 and RSD?=?15 %. RNA samples from non-small-cell lung cancer and glioblastoma cell lines were also analyzed.     

Improve the heat exchanger efficiency via examine the Graphene Oxide nanoparticles: a comprehensive study of the preparation and stability,predict the thermal conductivity and rheological properties,convection heat transfer and pressure drop

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In this research, the effect of using GO/ water nanofluid as a coolant fluid in an isothermal heat transfer system was studied. At first, to evaluate...     

Electrochemical preparation of α-Ni(OH)2 ultrafine nanoparticles for high-performance supercapacitors

Well-dispersed nanoparticles of nickel hydroxide were prepared via a simple electrochemical method. Electrodeposition experiments were performed from 0.005 M Ni(NO₃)₂ bath at a constant current density of 0.1 mA cm^?2 on the steel cathode for 1 h. Recording the potential values during the deposition process revealed that the reduction of water has major role in the base electrogeneration at the applied conditions. The obtained deposit was characterized by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR), differential scanning calorimeter–thermogravimetric analysis, carbon–nitrogen–hydrogen (CHN), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The CHN, XRD, and IR analyses showed that the obtained deposit has α phase of Ni(OH)₂ with intercalated nitrate ions in its structure. Morphological characterization by SEM and TEM revealed that the prepared α-Ni(OH)₂ is composed of well-dispersed ultrafine particles with the size of about 5 nm. The supercapacitive performance of the prepared nanoparticles was analyzed by means of cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge–discharge tests. The electrochemical measurements showed an excellent supercapacitive behavior of the prepared α-Ni(OH)₂ nanoparticles. It was also observed that the α-Ni(OH)₂ ultrafine particles have better electrochemical characteristic and supercapacitive behavior than β-Ni(OH)₂ ultrafine nanoparticles, including less positive charging potential, lower E _a???E _c value, better reversibility, higher E _OER???E _a, higher utilization of active material, higher proton diffusion coefficient, greater discharge capacity, and better cyclability. These results make the α-Ni(OH)₂ nanoparticles as an excellent candidate for the supercapacitor materials.     

Synthesis,antibacterial evaluation and survey on the thermophysical characteristics of novel medically applicable polyamides containing pharmaceutically outstanding triazole moieties

There are many different strategies to decrease the incidence of infection of medical device and food related containers. One way to prevent infection is by modifying the polymers used in making the devices and containers. Incorporation of antimicrobial agents in the bulk material or in formulations of medical devices production has been considered a viable alternative for systemic application of antibiotics. In this article, preparation of a series of triazole containing polymers, poly(triazole-amide-imide)s (PTAI)s and poly(triazole-amide) (PTA)s, and their monomers are reported. These polymers were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents, showed significant thermal properties and also viscosities in the range of 0.55–0.66 dL/g. They have been tested against a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. The results indicated that these novel polymers containing triazole moiety in their repeating units can effectively control Gram-positive and negative pathogens and their physic-chemical properties besides their antibacterial characteristics make them unique candidate for using in the manufacturing of the medical devices.     

Synthesis of a new smart temperature responsive glycopolymer via click-polymerisation

A novel temperature responsive water-soluble glycopolymer was synthesised via copper wire-catalysed click-polymerisation. Di-hydroxyl terminated poly(ethylene glycol) was quantitatively alkyne end-capped to yield di-alkyne terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (DAT-PEG). 2,3,4,2′,3′,4′-hexa-O-acetyl-6,6′-diazido-6,6′-dideoxy-α,α-D-trehalose (HADADT) was prepared from the di hydrated α,α-D-Trehalose by tosylation/acetylation followed by azidation. Click-polymerisation reaction between DAT-PEG and HADADT was successfully carried out to produce an alternating glycopolymer with triazole rings as linkers in high yield. All the intermediates as well as the glycopolymer were fully characterised by NMR, MS, IR, SEC, TGA and DSC. The cloud point of the aqueous solution of glycopolymer was investigated by optical microscopy and UV–vis spectroscopy. The LCST was found to be within physiological range of about 39 °C, known as fever temperature.     

Anode spot plasma deposition of insulating layers on aluminum

The deposition of an insulating layer upon an aluminum plate in an argon plasma is described. The process is effected in a low-power DC discharge to which a small amount of sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) has been added, causing the formation of anode spots at sharp metallic surfaces. The insulator is deposited in the region beneath the spot     

Solvent influence upon complex formation between benzo-15-crown-5 and Mg2+, Ca2+ and Sr2+ cations in some pure and binary mixed solvents using conductometric method

The complexation reactions between Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Sr²⁺ cations with the macrocyclic ligand, benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5), in pure acetonitrile, water, methanol and tetrahydrofuran and also in acetonitrile–water (AN–H₂O) and in methanol–tetrahydrofuran (MeOH–THF) binary mixtures have been studied at different temperatures using conductometric method. The conductance data show that the stoichiometry of the complexes in most cases is 1:1 [ML]. But in the case of Ca²⁺ cation a 1:2 [ML₂] complex is formed in pure THF, which shows that the stoichiometry of the complexes may be changed by the nature of the medium. The values of stability constants of complexes, which were obtained from conductometric data, show that the stability of complexes is affected by the nature and composition of the binary mixed solvents and a non-linear behavior was observed for variation of logK_f of the complexes versus the composition of the solvent systems. The results show that the selectivity order of B15C5 for the metal cations in two AN–H₂O binary solutions (mol% AN = 25.71 and 50.94) at 25 °C is: Mg²⁺ > Sr²⁺ > Ca²⁺. The values of thermodynamic parameters (ΔH _c ⁰ , ΔS _c ⁰ ) for formation of complexes were obtained from temperature dependence of stability constants of complexes using the van’t Hoff plots. The results show that the values and also the sign of these parameters are influenced by the nature and also the composition of the binary mixed solvents.