Electrochemical response of ascorbic and uric acids at organoclay film modified glassy carbon electrodes and sensing applications

A naturally occurring Cameroonian smectite clay has been grafted with trimethylpropylammonium groups and the resulting organoclay deposited as thin film onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface. It was then exploited as a suitable matrix for the accumulation and the electrochemical detection of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). Cyclic voltammetry revealed an increase in oxidation peak responses along with a negative shift of the corresponding anodic peak potential for both AA and UA species when using the organoclay coated GCE in comparison with the bare electrode. The electroanalytical response was improved by coating the electrode surface with a first layer of sublimed ferrocene (FC(s)), and then overcoating with the organoclay film to avoid the mediator leaching. The resulting bilayer film exhibited good characteristics such as extended linear range and high sensitivities for AA and UA, in cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. Interestingly, the redox mediator FC(s) was likely to lower overpotentials for AA oxidation (but not for UA), making possible the selective detection of these species in a mixture. The developed method could be used for the determination of AA in a pharmaceutical preparation and for UA in urine.     

Enhancing the Viscosity-Sensitive Range of a BODIPY Molecular Rotor by Two Orders of Magnitude

Molecular rotors are a class of fluorophores that enable convenient imaging of viscosity inside microscopic samples such as lipid vesicles or live cells. Currently, rotor compounds containing a boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) group are among the most promising viscosity probes. In this work, it is reported that by adding heavy-electron-withdrawing −NO₂ groups, the viscosity-sensitive range of a BODIPY probe is drastically expanded from 5–1500 cP to 0.5–50 000 cP. The improved range makes it, to our knowledge, the first hydrophobic molecular rotor applicable not only at moderate viscosities but also for viscosity measurements in highly viscous samples. Furthermore, the photophysical mechanism of the BODIPY molecular rotors under study has been determined by performing quantum chemical calculations and transient absorption experiments. This mechanism demonstrates how BODIPY molecular rotors work in general, why the −NO₂ group causes such an improvement, and why BODIPY molecular rotors suffer from undesirable sensitivity to temperature. Overall, besides reporting a viscosity probe with remarkable properties, the results obtained expand the general understanding of molecular rotors and show a way to use the knowledge of their molecular action mechanism for augmenting their viscosity-sensing properties.     

Sorption of methylene blue on an organoclay bearing thiol groups and application to electrochemical sensing of the dye

In this work, a thiol functionalized-clay was prepared by the covalent grafting of 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) onto the surface of a natural smectite clay mineral originating from Cameroon. Effectiveness of the grafting process and properties of the resulting hybrid material were studied by various physico-chemical techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, N(2) adsorption-desorption experiments (surface area measurements by the BET method) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS). Sorption of methylene blue (MB), an electroactive cationic dye, was investigated for both the raw clay and its modified counterpart, as a function of shaking time, adsorbate concentration and pH, through batch experiments. A significant enhancement of the adsorption capacity towards MB was observed with the clay bearing thiol groups in comparison with the pristine one. The obtained sorption data matched the Langmuir isotherm model, from which it appeared that the organoclay adsorbed MB at a maximal loading of 1.04mmolg(-1), while the natural clay displayed a significantly poorer performance (0.31mmolg(-1)). The uptake of MB by the modified clay was found to be highly affected by pH, the cationic dye being more effectively adsorbed in alkaline medium. The possible use of the thiol functionalized-clay as electrode modifier for MB sensing purposes was then evaluated by means of carbon paste electrodes, using cyclic voltammetry. A calibration curve was obtained in the concentration range from 1x10(-6) to 1.4x10(-5)molL(-1), with a detection limit of 4x10(-7)molL(-1)(signal/noise=3).     

Effectiveness of tumor electrochemotherapy as a function of electric pulse strength and duration

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of electrochemotherapy (ECT) as a function of various combinations of pulse strength and duration. C57Bl mice bearing LLC tumors were injected i.p. with bleomycin (BLM) at doses 5 mg/kg in 0.2 ml of physiological saline. Thirty minutes later, tumors were positioned between plate electrodes and were pulsed with eight-square wave electric pulses with an individual pulse strength of 900, 1100, 1300 or 1500 V/cm and duration of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 or 1 ms. Effectiveness of ECT was estimated by measuring inhibition of tumor growth and by estimating extent of necrosis in histological slices of the treated tumors. At pulse strength of 900 V/cm and duration of 0.1 ms, electrochemotherapy was ineffective. Noticeable inhibition of tumor growth (threshold of ECT) was obtained when pulse duration at this field strength was increased up to 0.25 ms. Further increase of pulse strength and/or duration resulted in progressive enhancement of antitumor effects. Using tumor doubling time (DT) as a criteria, we showed that the same efficacy of ECT could be achieved using various pairs of values for pulse strength and duration. Largest antitumor efficacy of ECT was obtained at pulse strength of 1500 V/cm and duration of 1 ms. These pulse conditions applied alone neither significantly suppressed tumor growth nor induced noticeable side effects of the surrounding tissues. The results of this study thus suggest that the effectiveness of electrochemotherapy can be enhanced (in comparison to widely accepted conditions of electrochemotherapy--8 pulses of 1300 V/cm, 0.1 ms) if 1500-V/cm, 1-ms electric pulses are used. Our study also implicates that other pulse conditions could be found for this enhanced ECT.     

Electrochemical behavior and in-vitro antimicrobial screening of some thienylazoaryls dyes

Background

A series of recently reported phenolic azo dyes 7a–e were prepared by coupling the thienyl diazonium sulfate of 3-Amino-4H-benzo[f]thieno[3,4-c](2H)chromen-4-one with selected diversely substituted phenolic and naphtholic derivatives. These compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activities. Furthermore their voltammetric behavior was compared at a glassy carbon electrode.

Results

The voltammetric behavior of the five recently reported azo dyes has been compared at a glassy carbon electrode. It is shown that the azo dyes 7a–e with a hydroxyl group in the ortho position with respect to the azo bridge give rise to well defined, irreversible peaks for the oxidation and reduction process within a pH range of 2–7. The mechanisms of electrochemical oxidation of compound 7a–c and 7e are proposed. For the hydroxyl-substituted dyes, re-oxidation peaks were obtained in the subsequent scan. The antimicrobial activities of the reported compounds 7a–e along with the entire precursors 1–4 and 6a–e were performed against selected bacterial and fungal species and their activities compared to those of nystatin, griseofulvin and ciprofloxacin used as reference drugs.

Conclusions

The present study showed significant antimicrobial activity of compounds 6d, 7a and 7c,e against the tested microorganisms; this result confirms the antimicrobial potency of azo compounds and some of their precursors.

     

Electrochemical Sensor for Caffeine Based on a Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with an Attapulgite/Nafion Film

In the present work, a simple and economic analytical method based on attapulgite/nafion coated glassy carbon electrode (AT/Naf/GCE) has been developped for the electrochemical determination of caffeine. Prior to its use, the ionic exchange properties and conductivity of AT/Naf/GCE were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Caffeine gave an irreversible oxidation peak around +1.41 V (vs Ag/AgCl reference electrode) in 0.1 M H₂SO₄ at pH 1.5. The peak current varied linearly with the square root of the scan rate, showing that the transfer process is controlled by diffusion. The heterogeneous rate constant, the transfer coefficient and the number of electrons involved were calculated. Upon optimization of key analytical parameters involved in the electroanalysis of caffeine by DPV, the recorded oxidation peak current varied linearly with caffeine concentration in the range from 0.1 to 4 μm, leading to a detection limit of 4.57×10^?8 M (S/N=3). The developed electrode exhibited good stability and was easily regenerated. The effect of some important potential interfering compounds (ascorbic acid, dopamine, uric acid, sulphite ions and glucose) on the signal of caffeine was also examined. The obtained electrode was successfully employed in the determination of caffeine content in a commercial drug.     

Electrochemical Study of DPPH Incorporated in Carbon Paste Electrode as Potential Tool for Antioxidant Properties Determination

The electrochemical behaviour of 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) incorporated in a carbon paste electrode (CPE/DPPH1 %) was studied. Two electrochemical systems assigned to the free‐radical were perfectly defined, including System I where DPPH acts as reducing agent and System II where it acts as an oxidant. Although System II was reversible and remains stable after several consecutive potential scans, System I shows high peak current ratio (Ipa/Ipc=1.4) and a significant decrease in signal intensity when performing consecutive potentials scans. This phenomenon was due to the chemical reaction of the oxidized DPPH and the hydroxide ions present at the vicinity of the electrode surface. This new compound formed was responsible of a new system (System III). Systems II and III were highly pH‐dependent, in agreement with the proton exchange involved in these electrochemical transformations. When experiments were performed in the presence of ascorbic acid (AAH₂), only System I was found to be ideal for monitoring the antioxidant activity of AAH₂. System I clearly shows a linear dependency between the peak currents of DPPH as a function of AAH₂ concentration. This linear response was used to determine the IC₅₀ of ascorbic acid (0.56 μM) in the described experimental condition. This effect was confirmed when controlled amount of tea extracts were used instead of AAH₂, confirming the efficiency of CPE/DPPH1 % for the electrochemical evaluation of antioxidant properties.     

Sensitive electrochemical detection of methyl parathion in the presence of para-nitrophenol on a glassy carbon electrode modified by a functionalized NiAl-layered double hydroxide

An inorganic–organic composite material was prepared by the insertion of bis(ethylhexyl)hydrogen phosphate (BEHP) within the interlayer space of a nickel-aluminum–layered double hydroxide (NiAl LDH). X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared were used to characterize the pristine and modified LDH (NiAl–BEHP), which together confirm the intercalation of BEHP in the mineral structure. Cyclic voltammetry using [Fe(CN)₆]^3? as an anionic redox probe demonstrated a significant decrease in the anion exchange capacity of NiAl upon modification. Used as electrode modifier for methyl parathion (MP) detection, a remarkable increase in MP signal on NiAlBEHP–modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE/NiAl–BEHP) was observed, because of the high hydrophobicity character of the modified LDH. The signal assigned to the electroactivity of the nitro group being less stable than that of the reduction of the nitroso group, the use of both functions was explored for the calibration experiments. Sensitivities of 0.79 μA μM^?1 and 0.14 μA μM^?1 were obtained, with detection limits of 2.28 × 10^?8 and 12.4 × 10^?8 mol L^?1 for nitro and nitroso groups, respectively. However, the linearity range was more important for the nitroso group (0.5–12 μM) as compared to the nitro group (0.5–3.5 μM). Moreover, the signal of the nitroso group showed poor interference with some chemical species likely to be encountered in the presence of MP. The GCE/NiAl-BEHP–modified electrode was particularly effective for the differentiation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) from MP. Interestingly, the decrease in the sensor sensitivity was negligible (0.13 μA μM^?1) when the calibration curve of MP was plotted in the presence of 1 μM of 4-NP. The poor efficiency of the sensor to quantify 4-NP was probably because of the high organophilic character of the electrode material. The developed method was successfully applied to quantify MP in spring water.     

Kaolinite-based Hybrid Material from Interlayer Grafting of 1-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine and Application to the Sensitive Voltammetric Detection of Lead

This work describes the synthesis of an organo-inorganic hybrid material and its application as low-cost electrode material for the electrochemical detection of trace levels of lead in contaminated water. The organo-inorganic hybrid material was obtained by the grafting of 1-(2-hydroxyethylpiperazine) (HEP) in the interlayer space of a natural kaolinite (K). The obtained organokaolinite (K-HEP) was characterized by XRD, FTIR and TGA-DTG techniques. XRD results in particular showed that the structure of the pristine kaolinite was not affected during the synthesis of K-HEP. It was also noticed from ¹³C NMR data that the structure of HEP was preserved during the synthesis process. Taking into account the affinity of the amine group on HEP molecule for lead ions, K-HEP was used to modify the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) (GCE/K-HEP) in order to build a sensor for lead detection. The peak current of Pb(II) recorded on GCE/K-HEP was more intense compared to the signal recorded on bare GCE, and on natural kaolinite film modified GCE. Several parameters that can affect the stripping response were systematically investigated to optimize the sensitivity of the organokaolinite film modified electrode. Under optimized conditions, a calibration curve was obtained in the concentration range from 8.29 to 116.03 ppb; with a detection limit of 0.25 ppb (S/N=3). After the study of some interfering species on the electrochemical response of Pb(II), the developed sensor was successfully applied to the quantification of the same pollutant in tap water and spring water samples.     

On computing distributions of products of non-negative independent random variables

We introduce a new functional representation of probability density functions (PDFs) of non-negative random variables via a product of a monomial factor and linear combinations of decaying exponentials with complex exponents. This approximate representation of PDFs is obtained for any finite, user-selected accuracy. Using a fast algorithm involving Hankel matrices, we develop a general numerical method for computing the PDF of the sums, products, or quotients of any number of non-negative independent random variables yielding the result in the same type of functional representation. We present several examples to demonstrate the accuracy of the approach.