Microbubble-sonosensitiser conjugates as therapeutics in sonodynamic therapy

A Rose Bengal sonosensitiser has been covalently attached to a lipid microbubble and the resulting conjugate shown to produce higher levels of singlet oxygen, enhanced cytotoxicity in a cancer cell line and a greater reduction in tumour growth than the sonosensitiser alone.     

Disposable screen-printed sensors modified with bismuth precursor compounds for the rapid voltammetric screening of trace Pb(II) and Cd(II)

In this article, a study of novel screen-printed electrodes bulk-modified with five potential bismuth precursor compounds (bismuth citrate, bismuth titanate, bismuth oxide, bismuth aluminate and bismuth zirconate) is presented for the determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) by anodic stripping voltammetry. During the electrolytic deposition step, the precursor was reduced and served as the source of bismuth. Different key parameters were investigated in detail such as the nature of the bismuth precursor compound, the precursor content in the carbon ink, the polarisation range of the sensors, the supporting electrolyte, the stripping waveform, the deposition time, the deposition potential and the long-term stability of the sensors under continuous use. Using bismuth citrate as the precursor, the limit of detection was 0.9 μg L⁻¹ for Pb(II) and 1.1 μg L⁻¹ for Cd(II). The reproducibility on the same sensor (expressed as % relative standard deviation, (n = 8)) was 5.4% for Pb(II) and 7.2% for Cd(II) at the 20 μg L⁻¹ level. Finally, the sensors were applied to the determination of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in water samples.     

Screen‐Printed Disposable Sensors Modified with Bismuth Precursors for Rapid Voltammetric Determination of 3 Ecotoxic Nitrophenols

This work reports the application of screen‐printed electrodes bulk‐modified with bismuth precursors to the voltammetric determination of 2‐nitrophenol (2‐NP), 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) and 2,4‐dinitrophenol (2,4‐DNP) in water samples. A bismuth film was formed at the electrode surface via in situ reduction of the precursor compound contained in the electrode matrix by cathodic polarization at ?1.20 V. The formation of bismuth layer at the precursor‐modified electrodes was assessed by cyclic voltammetric (CV) at different pH values and by optical techniques. The target nitrophenols were voltammetrically determined by recording their reduction peaks in the differential pulse (DP) mode. The composition and content of the precursor compounds in the printed ink and the effect of the pH of the supporting electrolyte on the DP reduction currents of the 3 target nitrophenols were studied. The limits of quantification (LOQs) in three water matrices (distilled water, tap water and surface water) were in the range 1.1–2.2 µmol L^?1_. Using a simple solid‐phase extraction (SPE) procedure with Lichrolut EN cartridges and elution with methanol, a preconcentration factor of 100 was achieved; the LOQs were 0.021, 0.027 and 0.025 µmol L^?1 for 2‐NP, 4‐NP and 2,4‐DNP, respectively. The recoveries of samples spiked with the 3 target nitrophenols at two concentration levels (0.04 and 0.1 µmol L^?1) were always >87 %.     

Time-dependent Cu-induced gelation of poly(ethylene-alt-maleic acid) in aqueous solution

The complexation of Cu²⁺ ions with an alternating copolymer of maleic acid (MAc) and ethylene in aqueous solution was followed through turbidimetry and absorption spectrophotometry as a function of the polymer concentration and the metal ion-to-polymer molar ratio, r. The introduction of Cu²⁺ ions was performed in aqueous solution through neutralization of the polyacid with Cu(OH)₂ powder. A gelation window between homogeneous and phase-separated solutions was observed in the phase diagram of the polymer/Cu²⁺ mixture and the viscoelastic properties of the hydrogels were evaluated through rheology measurements. It is found that the stiffness of the hydrogels can be tuned by the polymer concentration and the mixing ratio r. Moreover, the stiffness of the hydrogels increases substantially with time. In fact, this time evolution may be as long as one month or longer if the composition of the aqueous solution is close to the gelation threshold. The gelation properties can be qualitatively explained from the possible formation of binuclear polymer/Cu²⁺ complexes in aqueous solutions, as indicated from the absorption spectroscopy results.     

Voltammetric Determination of Neonicotinoid Pesticides at Disposable Screen‐Printed Sensors Featuring a Sputtered Bismuth Electrode

This work reports the determination of 5 neonicotinoid pesticides (Clothianidin, Imidacloprid, Thiamethoxam, Nitenpyram and Dinotefuran) in water samples by cathodic differential pulse (DP) voltammetry at screen‐printed disposable sensors featuring a sputtered bismuth thick‐film working electrode, a Ag reference electrode and a carbon counter electrode. The performance of the bismuth thick‐film electrodes was compared to that of a home‐made bismuth thin‐film electrode and a bismuth‐bulk electrode. The electrodes were further characterized by electrochemical and optical techniques. The effect of the pH of the supporting electrolyte on the DP reduction currents of the 5 pesticides was studied. The limits of quantification (LOQs) in 4 water matrices (distilled water, tap water, mineral water and surface water) were in the range 0.76 to 2.10 mg L^?1 but severe matrix effects were observed in the analysis of mineral and, especially, surface water samples. Using a solid‐phase extraction (SPE) procedure using Lichrolut EN cartridges and elution with methanol, the matrix effects were substantially reduced and the LOQs were in the range 9 to 17 µg L^?1_. The recoveries of surface water samples spiked with the 5 target neonicotinoids at two concentration levels (20 and 50 µg L^?1) were in the range 89 to 109 % and the % relative standard deviations ranged from 4.3 to 7.2 %.