Fibronectin adsorption on titanium surfaces and its effect on osteoblast precursor cell attachment

The objective of this study was to investigate the adsorption of fibronectin on titanium (Ti) surfaces and the effect of pre-adsorbed fibronectin on osteoblast precursor cell attachment in vitro. Two different concentrations of bovine fibronectin were used in this study. Protein adsorption on Ti surfaces was analyzed using the micro bicinchoninic acid (BCA) protein assay. Cell concentration on Ti and fibronectin pre-adsorbed Ti surfaces after 3 h incubation was analyzed using the Vybrant™ cell adhesion assay. Cell morphology on Ti and fibronectin pre-adsorbed Ti surfaces was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After 180 min incubation, maximum adsorption of bovine fibronectin on Ti surfaces was observed. Fibronectin adsorption on Ti surfaces was observed to be significantly dependent on the initial concentration and the amount of incubation time. In the presence of 1 mg/ml fibronectin pre-adsorbed on Ti surfaces after 15 min, osteoblast precursor cell attachment on Ti surfaces was observed to be enhanced compared with control Ti surfaces, Ti surfaces pre-adsorbed with 1 mg/ml fibronectin for 180 min, and Ti surfaces pre-adsorbed with 0.1 mg/ml fibronectin for 15 and 180 min. No significant difference in cell attachment was observed between control Ti surfaces, Ti surfaces pre-adsorbed with fibronectin for 180 min, and Ti surfaces pre-adsorbed with 0.1 mg/ml fibronectin for 15 and 180 min. In addition, no differences in cell morphology of the attached osteoblast precursor cells on control Ti surfaces and Ti surfaces pre-adsorbed with fibronectin were observed in this study. It was concluded that an optimum concentration of adsorbed fibronectin on Ti surfaces plays an important role in governing cell attachment.     

咪唑对锌缓蚀机理的表面增强拉曼光谱研究

利用电化学现场表面增强拉曼光谱技术(SERS)研究了咪唑在锌表面的成膜和缓蚀行为, 讨论了电位和pH值对咪唑分子和金属表面作用的影响. 锌电极上的表面拉曼光谱研究结果表明, 中性溶液中咪唑对锌的缓蚀作用明显, 它通过氮端垂直吸附在锌表面, 从而阻止锌的腐蚀, 其吸附取向不随电位的变化而改变; 在碱性溶液中咪唑和锌的作用较弱, 而且电位变化可以使其吸附取向发生改变, 在较正电位下咪唑以氮端垂直吸附, 在较负电位下以咪唑环倾斜吸附.     

Determination of antihyperglycemic biguanides in serum and urine using an ion-pair solid-phase extraction technique followed by HPLC-UV on a pentafluorophenylpropyl column and on an octadecyl column

An HPLC-UV method was established for the determination of metformin and buformin in biological fluids. Metformin was not retained on particles packed in conventional solid-phase extraction cartridges; in contrast, buformin was retained too firmly and not eluted with a solvent for recovery. However, both drugs were retained on particles that had been treated with an ion-pair reagent of heptanesulfonate or dodecylsulfate and recovered almost completely. The recovered fraction was subjected to HPLC on a pentafluorophenylpropyl column which was suitable for the determination of both biguanides in serum and in urine. Limits of quantitation were low enough for clinical use, and reproducibility was high with an RSD of 0.9-2.3%. HPLC on a conventional octadecyl column was suitable only for the determination of buformin in serum since interfering peaks appeared on the chromatograms of urine samples. The method was applied to analysis of some clinical specimens.     

Sorption of nonylphenol on Na-Montmorillonite

Sorption of nonylphenol on Na-montmorillonite was studied by batch experiment and compared with that on -SiO₂, -Al₂O₃ and gibbsite. It was found that sorption of nonylphenol on Na-montmorillonite reached the equilibrium state within 24 h, and that the interlayer width of Na-montmorillonite did not change before and after the sorption. These suggest that nonylphenol was sorbed on the outer surface of Na-montmorillonite. Sorption isotherms of nonylphenol on Na-montmorillonite, -SiO₂, -Al₂O₃ and gibbsite were studied. Sorption amount of nonylphenol on the surface of octahedral sheets of Na-montmorillonite was found to be identical to that of gibbsite. On the other hand, sorption amount on -Al₂O₃ was smaller, and that on -SiO₂ was fairly few. Dependence of sorption onto Na-montmorillonite on pH and ionic strength was also examined. Sorption amount was found to increase monotonously with pH. Sorption amount decreased with ionic strength in the low ionic strength region, reached to a minimum and then increased with ionic strength. These results might suggest that nonylphenol was sorbed on the broken-edges of octahedral alumina sheets of Na-montmorillonite.     

Determination of radioactive and stable cobalt in marine biological materials (author's transl)]

Studies were made to develop the method for rapid determination of radioactive and stable cobalt in a single specimen of marine biological materials. The sample was dried, ashed, and dissolved in acid. The cobalt was extracted with 1-nitroso-2-naphthol benzene and determined by absorptiometry on the benzene phase. Then, the organic solution was evaporated to dryness, and the residue was treated with nitric-perchloric acid mixture to decompose any organic matter, and taken up with hydrochloric acid. The cobolt was extracted from the solution with TIO A-toluene, and the radioactive cobalt was determined by liquid scintillation counting on the toluene phase. Examinations were made on the chemical yield and on the decontamination factor of the fission product nuclides. Analysis were made on the marine biological samples of Urazoko Bay, Fukui prefecture. Agreement of the radioactive cobalt data between that by the present method and that by Ge(Li) gamma ray spectometry was good. Also, the stable cobalt value by the present method agreed well with that by neutron activation analysis method.     

Determination of volatile elements in biological materials by isotopic dilution ETV-ICP-MS after dissolution with tetramethylammonium hydroxide or acid digestion

Isotopic dilution for the determination of Ag, Cd, Hg, Pb and Tl in biological materials by ETV-ICP-MS is proposed. The sample was simply dissolved with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) or acid digested in a microwave furnace, with an on line matrix separation. When the dissolution was employed, Ir was used as a chemical modifier for Hg and Pb and Pd was used for Cd and Tl. No modifier was used for Ag. The pyrolysis temperatures were taken from pyrolysis temperature curves. The on line preconcentration was performed in a flow injection system with solenoid valves and was based on the analyte complexation with ammonium diethyldithiophosphate and sorption of the complexes on C(18) bonded to silica gel in a minicolumn. For the digested sample submitted to the analyte preconcentration procedure, a modifier, Ir, was only used for Hg. For the other analytes, since a low pyrolysis temperature, 300 degrees C, was employed, no modifier was added. The isotopic dilution calibration was applied to two certified materials, bovine liver and dog fish muscle, dissolved with TMAH or acid digested, and to another two certified materials, corn bran and rice flour, acid digested and submitted to analyte preconcentration. The obtained concentration values agree with the certified ones, showing that this calibration procedure leads to accurate results in the determination of low concentrations of volatile elements. Due to simplicity, the dissolution with TMAH is very attractive.     

The mechanism of phenol methylation on acid and basic zeolite catalysts

The alkylation of phenol with methanol on HY and CsY/CsOH catalysts was studied in situ under static conditions by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Attention was largely given to the identification of intermediate compounds and mechanisms of anisole, cresol, and xylenol formation. The mechanisms of phenol methylation were found to be different on acid and basic catalysts. The primary process on acid catalysts was the dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether and methoxy groups. This resulted in the formation of anisole and dimethyl ether, the ratio between which depended on the reagent ratio, which was evidence of similar mechanisms of their formation. Subsequent reactions with phenol gave cresols and anisoles. Cresols formed at higher temperatures both in the direct alkylation of phenol and in the rearrangement of anisole. The main alkylation product on basic catalysts was anisole formed in the interaction of phenolate anions with methanol; no cresol formation was observed. The deactivation of acid catalysts was caused by the formation of condensed aromatic hydrocarbons that blocked zeolite pores. The deactivation of basic catalysts resulted from the condensation of phenol and formaldehyde with the formation of phenol-formaldehyde resins.     

An ultra-sensitive DNA assay based on single-molecule detection coupled with hybridization accumulation and its application

An ultra-sensitive assay for quantification of DNA based on single-molecule detection coupled with hybridization accumulation was developed. In this assay, target DNA (tDNA) in solution was accumulated on a silanized substrate blocked with ethanolamine and bovine serum albumin (BSA) through a hybridization reaction between tDNA and capture DNA immobilized on the substrate. The tDNA on the substrate was labeled with quantum dots which had been modified with detection DNA and blocked with BSA. The fluorescence image of single QD-labeled tDNA molecules on the substrate was acquired using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. The tDNA was quantified by counting the bright dots on the image from the QDs. The limit of detection of the DNA assay was as low as 6.4 × 10(-18) mol L(-1). Due to the ultra-high sensitivity, the DNA assay was applied to measure the beta-2-microglobulin messenger RNA level in single human breast cancer cells without a need for PCR amplification.     

Immobilization of ultra-thin layer of monoclonal antibody on glass surface

When preparing an affinity column and a biosensor, it is desirable to immobilize a unimolecular layer of pure protein on a matrix. In this work, we tried to immobilize a monoclonal antibody on a surface of a glass test-tube as a model, to confirm the stability of this ultra-thin layer by an enzyme immunoassay, and to estimate the thickness of the layer on a slide glass by Fourier transform infrared reflection spectrometry. A new test-tube was washed and dried. The tube was filled with 5% 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The 3-aminopropylsilylated surface was treated with glutaraldehyde and 5.6.10(-2) mg/ml solution of a normal mouse monoclonal antibody. The Schiff base between glutaraldehyde and the antibody was further reduced with 7.9.10(-3)% NaBH4. The tube was washed with 0.05% Tween 20 to block non-specific binding. The antibody immobilized on the surface was measured by an enzyme immunoassay based on a reaction of anti-mouse immunoglobulin G labelled with alkaline phosphatase, with which p-nitrophenol was produced from p-nitrophenylphosphate as a substrate. Meanwhile, various amounts of the antibody were immobilized on slide glasses in the same manner. The antibody on each surface was measured by Fourier transform infrared reflection spectrometry. The antibody immobilized under the final conditions was detectable by the enzyme immunoassay, and stable at 4 degrees C for ten days. The antibody on the slide glass was a unimolecular layer, as judged from the Fourier transform infrared spectra referred to -CONH- band semiquantitatively. Thus, we found the optimal conditions for immobilizing an ultra-thin layer of the monoclonal antibody on the glass surface.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Wetting of nanogrooved polymer surfaces

Molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the wetting of nanogrooved PE and PVC polymer surfaces. The contact angles, equilibrium states, and equilibrium shapes of two nanosized water droplets were analyzed on surfaces with 1D-arranged periodic roughness of various dimensions. The composite solid-liquid contact, which is preferred in practical applications and in which a droplet rests on top of the surface asperities, was observed on the roughest PE surfaces, whereas water filled the similar but slightly deeper grooves on PVC surfaces. The transition from the wetted to composite contact regime occurred when the contact angle with a flat surface reached the value at which the apparent Wenzel and Cassie contact angles are equal. Droplets on grooved PE surfaces with the composite contact exhibited contact angles in agreement with Cassie's equation, but the increase in hydrophobicity on smoother surfaces with the wetted contact was less than expected from Wenzel's equation. The difference between the simulated and theoretical values decreased as the dimensions of the surface grooves increased. Only a slight increase or even a slight decrease in the contact angles was observed on the grooved PVC surfaces, owing to the less hydrophobic nature of the flat PVC surface. On both polymers, the nanodroplet assumed a spherical shape in the composite contact. Only minor anisotropy was observed in the wetted contact on PE surfaces, whereas even a highly anisotropic shape was seen on the grooved PVC surfaces. The contact angle in the direction of the grooves was smaller than that in the perpendicular direction, and the difference between the two angles decreased with the increasing size of the water droplet.     

Effect of phosvitin on the nucleation and growth of calcium phosphates in physiological solutions

The promoting effect of phosvitin on the nucleation of hydroxyapatite (HAP) and the inhibitory effect of phosvitin on the transformation from amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) to HAP were investigated. Atomic force microscopy observations showed that the nucleation of HAP on collagen substrate was greatly enhanced when the phosvitin was bound on the collagen surface. Nucleated crystals were uniformly distributed with a high nucleation rate on the collagen surface in the presence of phosvitin, while, in the absence of phosvitin, crystals nucleated slowly and were observed only at some particular area. Time-resolved static light scattering measurements revealed that the transformation from ACP to HAP was inhibited when free phosvitin was present in the calcium phosphate solutions. The transformation kinetics in the absence of phosvitin, which is a direct reconstruction of the inner ACP structure to HAP, was changed to heterogeneous growth of HAP on ACP with time.     

甲酸在钼青铜修饰铂电极上的催化氧化

应用循环伏安法和双电位阶跃法研究了不同浓度硫酸中钼酸盐在多晶铂电极上的电化学行为 .在硫酸溶液中 ,当电位负向扫描时 ,钼酸盐即于铂电极上还原形成钼青铜 ,吸附在电极表面 ;电位正向扫描时钼青铜将再被氧化 ,氧化机理受硫酸浓度的影响 .铂电极因钼酸盐的还原和钼青铜的氧化而得到修饰 .在硫酸钠溶液中以此修饰的铂电极对甲酸氧化有明显的催化作用 ,其氧化峰电流接近未修饰铂电极上的 2倍 .钼青铜对铂的不完全修饰或过分修饰均会减弱甲酸氧化的催化作用     

Effects of pressurized hot water extraction on the nanoscale structure of birch sawdust

Pressurized hot water extraction with a flow-through system was used to extract hemicelluloses and lignin from birch sawdust. The structure of the extraction residue was studied on various levels. Molecular mass distributions were determined with gel permeation chromatography and the crystal structure of cellulose was characterized using wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). Information on the short-range order of cellulose microfibrils and on the nanoscale pore structure was obtained with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and the micrometre scale cellular morphology was imaged with X-ray microtomography. The pressurized hot water treatment was observed to increase the lateral width of cellulose crystallites, determined with WAXS, whereas a possible small decrease in the crystallinity of cellulose compared to native wood was detected. The molecular mass of cellulose remained at a relatively high level. According to the SAXS results, a tighter lateral association of cellulose microfibrils was observed in the extracted samples, which possibly led to opening of pores between bundles of microfibrils, as indicated by an increased specific surface area. A reduction in the thickness of the fibre cell walls was evidenced by X-ray microtomography.     

Preparation and application of a chiral stationary phase based on (+)-(1 8-crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid without extra free aminopropyl groups on silica surface

A crown ether-based chiral stationary phase (CSP) without extra aminopropyl groups on the surface of silica gel was newly prepared by bonding (+)-(18-crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid to silica gel. The new CSP was applied to the resolution of various racemic alpha-amino acids, amines, and amino alcohols. The chiral recognition efficiency of the new CSP was generally superior to that of the original CSP containing unreacted residual aminopropyl groups on the surface of silica gel in terms of the separation (alpha) and the resolution factors (Rs). The retention behaviors of analytes on the new CSP with the variation of the content of organic and acidic modifiers in aqueous mobile phase were consistent with those on the original CSP in the resolution of alpha-amino acids, but somewhat different in the resolution of racemic amines and amino alcohols from those on the original CSP and the difference was rationalized by the lipophilicity difference of the two CSPs. The effect of the column temperature on the chromatographic resolution behaviors on the new CSP was consistent with that on the original CSP.     

Towards the bio-production of trans-carveol and carvone from limonene: induction after cell growth on limonene and toluene

Rhodococcus opacus PW4 cells were found to produce trans- and cis-carveol and/or carvone as result of limonene metabolism, depending on the type and concentration of the carbon source used for cell growth. In aqueous systems, cells grown on ethanol and toluene only produced trans-carveol, whilst cells grown on limonene and on toluene with a larger head-space available produced both trans-carveol and carvone. In biphasic systems, limonene was converted to trans- and cis-carveol as well as to carvone, regardless of the carbon source used, although carveol and carvone production rates were higher in toluene and limonene grown cells, respectively. A good and stable emulsion was obtained in a magnetically stirred two-phase reactor but both trans-carveol and carvone were produced at low rates: 0.08 and 0.02 nmol/min mg prot, respectively. No cis-carveol was formed. When (−)-carveol was added, carvone production increased 4.7 fold to 0.12 nmol/min mg prot. Using an aerated two-phase reactor, carvone production was enhanced even with cells grown on toluene. The highest trans- and cis-carveol and carvone production rates were attained with cells grown on limonene by continuously supplying limonene to the reactor through the air stream, carvone production reaching 0.58 nmol/min mg prot. The best trans-/cis-carveol ratio (2.26) was observed with cells grown on toluene when limonene was supplied in the gas phase. When 50 mM limonene was added initially, carvone was produced 27.9 and 141.4 times faster than trans-carveol with cells grown on toluene and limonene, respectively.     

Protein resistant polyurethane surfaces by chemical grafting of PEO: amino-terminated PEO as grafting reagent

The objective of this work was to gain a better understanding of the mechanism of resistance to protein adsorption of surfaces grafted with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). A polyurethane-urea was used as a substrate to which PEO was grafted. Grafting was carried out by introducing isocyanate groups into the surface followed by reaction with amino-terminated PEO. Surfaces grafted with PEO of various chain lengths (PUU-NPEO) were prepared and characterized by water contact angle and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS data indicated higher graft densities on the PUU-NPEO surfaces than on analogous surfaces prepared using hydroxy-PEO (PUU-OPEO) as reported previously [J.G. Archambault, J.L. Brash, Colloids Surf. B: Biointerf. 33 (2004) 111-120]. Protein adsorption experiments using radiolabeled myoglobin, concanavalin A, albumin, fibrinogen and ferritin as single proteins in buffer showed that adsorption was reduced on the PEO-grafted surfaces by up to 95% compared to the control. Adsorption decreased with increasing PEO chain length and reached a minimum at a PEO MW of 2000. Adsorption levels on surfaces with 5000 and 2000 MW grafts were similar. There was no clear effect of protein size on resistance to protein adsorption. Adsorption on the PUU-NPEO surfaces was significantly lower than on the corresponding PUU-OPEO surfaces, again suggesting higher graft densities on the former. Adsorption of fibrinogen from plasma was also greatly reduced on the grafted surfaces. From analysis (SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting) of the proteins eluted after plasma exposure, it was found that the grafted surfaces and the unmodified substrate adsorbed the same proteins in roughly the same proportions, suggesting that adsorption to the PEO surfaces occurs on patches of bare substrate. The PEO grafts did not apparently cause differential access to the substrate based on protein size.     

A new chemically amplified electrochemical system for the detection of biological affinity reactions: direct and competitive biotin assay

Quantitation of biological affinity reactions by a newly developed chemically amplified electrochemical detection method was demonstrated with the biotin-avidin binding pair. In the method, ruthenium tris(2,2'-bipyridine)(Ru-bipy) was used as an electrochemical signal-generating tag. Its oxidation current on an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode was amplified with a sacrificial electron donor, oxalate. Because oxalate itself produced negligible current on the electrode, the signal-to-background ratio was greatly enhanced in comparison with other chemical amplification systems. Although the Ru-bipy/oxalate redox couple has been employed previously in electrochemiluminescent and photoelectrochemical detection, its use in a catalytic amperometric detection of biological binding assays has not been reported. To implement the method in the detection of biotin-avidin recognition, avidin was immobilized on an ITO electrode, and was reacted with biotin in solution. Immobilization of avidin by passive adsorption was found to be relatively stable under the condition of the affinity reaction. In the direct assay, biotin labelled with Ru-bipy was recognized by avidin and accumulated on the electrode surface, which was then detected electrochemically in the presence of oxalate. A linear relationship between electrochemical current and biotin concentration was obtained in the range of 1-300 ng mL(-1). In the competitive assay, a mixed solution of unlabelled biotin (the analyte) of various concentrations and 100 ng mL(-1) labelled biotin was reacted with avidin on the surface. As the concentration of the unlabelled biotin increased, less labelled biotin bound to avidin, leading to a reduction in the electro-catalytical response of Ru-bipy. A detection limit of 1 ng mL(-1) biotin was obtained in the competitive assay, which is close to the sensitivity of some enzyme-labelled amperometric assays.     

Spectroscopic analysis of L-histidine adsorbed on gold and silver nanoparticle surfaces investigated by surface-enhanced Raman scattering

The adsorption of l-histidine on gold (Au) and silver (Ag) nanoparticle surfaces has been comparatively analyzed by means of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The SERS spectra of l-histidine on Ag were found to be quite different from those on Au, indicating dissimilar adsorption structures depending on metal substrates. Most peaks of l-histidine on Ag appeared to be due to coordination via the carboxylate (COO(-)) group with an imidazole ring of fairly upright geometry, whereas on Au it was assumed to adsorb with a rather flat geometry. A density functional theory (DFT) calculation was performed at the level of B3LYP/LANL2DZ to estimate the energetic stability of the binding of the imidazole ring and the carboxylate group of l-histidine with the Ag and Au atoms, respectively. Based on the DFT calculation, the carboxylate group of l-histidine was predicted to bind more favorably to Ag than to Au, and this was in line with our SERS spectral analysis.     

Ferrocenyl-palladium complexes in cross-coupling reactions: a comparative study

Ferrocenecarboxaldehyde hydrazones were converted into palladium complexes on treatment with sodium tetrachloropalladate. The substitution pattern of the ferrocenylhydrazones was found to have a marked influence on the mode the palladium was attached to the organic moiety. The catalytic activity of the new palladium complexes in cross-coupling reactions was examined in detail, and it was compared with conventional catalyst systems.     

金属铁与丙烯共同还原NO的特性与机理

研究了丙烯在金属铁作用下还原NO的特性。采用陶瓷管流动反应器在300-1 100℃研究了不同条件下的NO还原效率,考察了SO_2的影响,采用XRD、SEM和EDS分析了反应后金属铁表面的组分和微观结构特征。结果表明,丙烯在金属铁作用下具有良好的NO还原效果。在N_2气氛,温度超过800℃后,金属铁作用下丙烯还原NO的效率达到了95%以上。在模拟烟气、富燃料条件下,温度高于900℃时,丙烯与金属铁还原NO的效率超过了90%。SO_2对丙烯在金属铁作用下还原NO的效率影响很小。机理分析表明,当丙烯与金属铁共同还原NO时,一方面,NO被金属铁直接还原,同时丙烯还原氧化铁为金属铁;另一方面,丙烯通过再燃机理还原NO,同时再燃中间产物被氧化铁氧化为N_2。