"Turn on" electron-transfer-based selective detection of ascorbic acid via copper complexes immobilized on glass

"Turn-on" optical detection of parts-per-million (ppm) levels of ascorbic acid (AA) in water has been determined using a redox-active monolayer on glass.     

Efficient Green Protocol for the Synthesis of Novel Dihydroindeno[1,2-b]pyrroles

A simple and ecofriendly protocol has been developed for the expedient synthesis of novel dihydroindeno[1,2-b]pyrrol-4(3aH)-ones from the reaction of ninhydrin and (E)-N-methyl-1-(methylthio)-2-nitroethenamine or (E)-N-(1-(methylthio)-2-nitrovinyl)anilines.     

Efficiency of blocking of non-specific interaction of different proteins by BSA adsorbed on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces

The efficiency of a pre-absorbed bovine serum albumin (BSA) layer in blocking the non-specific adsorption of different proteins on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively using infrared reflection spectroscopy supported by spectral simulations. A BSA layer with a surface coverage of 35% of a close-packed monolayer exhibited a blocking efficiency of 90–100% on a hydrophobic and 68–100% on a hydrophilic surface, with respect to the non-specific adsorption of concanavalin A (Con A), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and staphylococcal protein A (SpA). This BSA layer was produced using a solution concentration of 1 mg/mL and 30 min incubation time. BSA layers that were adsorbed at conditions commonly employed for blocking (a 12 h incubation time and a solution concentration of 10 mg/mL) exhibited a blocking activity that involved competitive adsorption–desorption. This activity resulted from the formation of BSA–phosphate surface complexes, which correlated with the conformation of adsorbed BSA molecules that was favourable for blocking. The importance of optimisation of the adsorbed BSA layer for different surfaces and proteins to achieve efficient blocking was addressed in this study.     

Synthesis of Novel Dispiro 1,4-Benzothiazine Hybrid Heterocycles Through 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides generated in situ from the reaction of acenaphthylene-1,2-dione or isatins and α-amino acids to (E)-methyl/ethyl 2-(3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[b][1,4]thiazin-2-ylidene)acetate led to the stereoselective formation of novel dispiro 1,4-benzothiazine hybrid heterocycles in good yields.     

A three-component domino protocol for the facile synthesis of highly functionalized tetrahydroisoquinolines by creation of their benzene ring

A simple and efficient one-pot synthesis of novel 6-amino-8-aryl-2-methyl/benzyl-7-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-5-carbonitriles from the reaction of 1-methyl/benzylpiperidin-4-one with β-nitrostyrenes and malononitrile in the presence of morpholine is described. This transformation proceeds through the creation of three CC bonds, leading to a new benzene ring, and presumably occurs via a domino sequence involving Knoevenagel, Michael, Thorpe-Ziegler, and dehydrogenation reactions.     

A simple method of surface functionalisation for immuno-specific immobilisation of proteins

We present a new and advanced methodology, developed for surface functionalisation of gold and to study immobilisation of an immuno-specific system of proteins. A combination of electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance and Raman spectroscopy techniques allowed a complete understanding of the system starting from surface functionalisation and progressing to the functional structure analysis of immobilised proteins. A simple electrochemical procedure was formulated to prepare sulphonyl chloride terminated gold surfaces that form a strong sulphonamide bond with the receptor protein staphylococcal protein A (SpA). On the SpA grafted surfaces, the immobilisation of a human IgG and consecutive binding of an immuno-specific anti-human IgG was observed. The surface functional groups form a strong interaction with SpA without disturbing its functional properties. The native functional structure of SpA and also the IgGs was found to be retained in their immobilised state.