Large-scale synthesis of bioinert tantalum oxide nanoparticles for X-ray computed tomography imaging and bimodal image-guided sentinel lymph node mapping

Ever since Au nanoparticles were developed as X-ray contrast agents, researchers have actively sought alternative nanoparticle-based imaging probes that are not only inexpensive but also safe for clinical use. Herein, we demonstrate that bioinert tantalum oxide nanoparticles are suitable nanoprobes for high-performance X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging while simultaneously being cost-effective and meeting the criteria as a biomedical platform. Uniformly sized tantalum oxide nanoparticles were prepared using a microemulsion method, and their surfaces were readily modified using various silane derivatives through simple in situ sol-gel reaction. The silane-modified surface enabled facile immobilization of functional moieties such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and fluorescent dye. PEG was introduced to endow the nanoparticles with biocompatibility and antifouling activity, whereas immobilized fluorescent dye molecules enabled simultaneous fluorescence imaging as well as X-ray CT imaging. The resulting nanoparticles exhibited remarkable performances in the in vivo X-ray CT angiography and bimodal image-guided lymph node mapping. We also performed an extensive study on in vivo toxicity of tantalum oxide nanoparticles, revealing that the nanoparticles did not affect normal functioning of organs.     

Trimethylselenonium hydroxide: A new methylating agent

Trimethylselenonium hydroxide is very useful for methylating COOH, SH, aromatic OH, ring NH groups is aromatic heterocycles, etc.     

Synthesis of Patent Blue derivatized hydrophilic dendrons dedicated to sentinel node detection in breast cancer

In the last decade, methods for the precise localization of sentinel lymph node (SLN) have drawn tremendous attention by oncology surgeons and researchers in the field of medical diagnosis. The accurate identification and characterization of lymph nodes by imaging has important therapeutic and prognostic significance in patients with newly diagnosed cancers. The SLN is the first lymph node that receives lymphatic drainage from the site of a primary tumor. Two biocompatible dendronized phosphonates, one bearing a Patent Blue (PB VF) dye at its periphery, where synthesized. Indeed, such a blue dye is currently injected to label the lymph node system for its per-operative detection. Therefore, developing chemistry of Patent Blue VF to optimize early diagnosis is of great current interest.     

A new deuterated alkylating agent for quantitative proteomics

Weakly basic molecules containing a double bond, such as 2- and 4-vinylpyridine, are able to react and selectively alkylate -SH groups in proteins, thus preventing their re-oxidation to disulphide bridges. In contrast to conventional alkylating agents such as iodoacetamide and non-charged acrylamide derivatives, such molecules achieve 100% alkylation of all -SH residues, even in complex proteins, without reacting with other functional groups. Their use is particularly effective in proteome analysis and more generally for analyzing proteins in which the -SH groups should be blocked. Additionally, the use of vinylpyridines, partially or totally deuterated and thus with a mass difference compared with their non-deuterated counterparts of 4-7 Da, allows studies of induction/repression of protein synthesis (quantitative proteomics).     

A crossover SAFT-VR equation of state for pure fluids: preliminary results for light hydrocarbons

SAFT is perhaps the most versatile, fundamentally, based engineering equation of state in use today. However, in common with all analytic equations of state, SAFT exhibits classical behavior in the critical region rather than the non-analytical, singular behavior seen in real fluids. Recently, so-called crossover equations of state have been developed which solve this shortcoming by incorporating the scaling laws valid asymptotically close to the critical point while reducing to the original classical equation of state far from the critical point. We have combined the SAFT-VR equation of state with an analytical crossover technique to obtain the SAFT-VRX equation of state. The SAFT-VRX approach combines the accurate low temperature behavior of SAFT-VR with a precise representation of the critical region. Preliminary results are presented for hydrocarbon systems which illustrate the accuracy of the SAFT-VRX approach over the entire fluid phase region.     

A new device for reducing diesel engine emissions: a preliminary investigation

A new catalytic converter is compose by a alloy noble metal supported on inert wool and located downstream to combustion chamber appears able to markedly reduce the content of toxic organics, fine particulates and CO emitted by a diesel engine equipped truck. By contrast, emissions of NOx and particulate n-alkanes remain unaltered or increase, according to the driving and operating conditions of the vehicle. Although this tesrs are preliminary the results obtained, however, suggest that the adoption of this device significantly reduce the health risk associated to fine aerosols and carcinogenic PAH. Exhaust concentrations of some unregulated species, e.g. volatile aldehydes, were lowered by the oxidising catalyzer.     

A lab-on-a-chip for detection of nerve agent sarin in blood

Sarin (C(4)H(10)FO(2)P,O-isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate) is a colourless, odourless and highly toxic phosphonate that acts as a cholinesterase inhibitor and disrupts neuromuscular transmission. Sarin and related phosphonates are chemical warfare agents, and there is a possibility of their application in a military or terrorist attack. This paper reports a lab-on-a-chip device for detecting a trace amount of sarin in a small volume of blood. The device should allow early detection of sarin exposure during medical triage to differentiate between those requiring medical treatment from mass psychogenic illness cases. The device is based on continuous-flow microfluidics with sequential stages for lysis of whole blood, regeneration of free nerve agent from its complex with blood cholinesterase, protein precipitation, filtration, enzyme-assisted reaction and optical detection. Whole blood was first mixed with a nerve gas regeneration agent, followed by a protein precipitation step. Subsequently, the lysed product was filtered on the chip in two steps to remove particulates and fluoride ions. The filtered blood sample was then tested for trace levels of regenerated sarin using immobilised cholinesterase on the chip. Activity of immobilised cholinesterase was monitored by the enzyme-assisted reaction of a substrate and reaction of the end-product with a chromophore. Resultant changes in chromophore-induced absorbance were recorded on the chip using a Z-shaped optical window. Loss of enzyme activity obtained prior and after passage of the treated blood sample, as shown by a decrease in recorded absorbance values, indicates the presence of either free or regenerated sarin in the blood sample. The device was fabricated in PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) using CO(2)-laser micromachining. This paper reports the testing results of the different stages, as well as the whole device with all stages in the required assay sequence. The results demonstrate the potential use of a field-deployable hand-held device for point-of-care triage of suspected nerve agent casualties.     

99mTc-EC: A new renal functional imaging agent

The biological behavior of Technetium-99m-L,L-Ethylenedicysteine (Tc-99m-EC)was compared with that of Technetium-99m-Mercaftoacetyltriglycine (Tc-99m-MAG3) and Iodine-131-hippuran (1131-OIH) in mice and rabbits. Tc-99m-EC showed a more rapid urinary excretion and less retention in kidney, liver, intestines and blood in comparison to Tc-99m-MAG3 and I-131-OIH. Urinary excretion decreased after probenecid treatment, indicating active tubular transport. In human bodies, the renal scintigraphy with Tc-99m-EC, Tc-99m-MAG3 and Tc-99m-DTPA were comparable. The promising results of the animal and human studies suggest that Tc-99m-EC may be a useful alternative to Tc-99m-MAG3 and I-131-OIH for renal functional studies.     

Antimony by ICP-MS as a marker for sentinel lymph nodes in melanoma patients

A sensitive, accurate and specific method for the analysis of antimony by ICP-MS is presented as a marker of the sentinel lymph node in melanoma patients.     

A new bifunctional coupling agent: synthesis and model reactions

The preparation of a new bifunctional coupling agent with one oxazoline group and one oxazinone group has been described. Model reactions with dodecanoic acid, benzoic acid, n‐dodecyl alcohol and n‐dodecylamine in melt evidenced that both carboxylic acids react selectively with the oxazoline group whereas the oxazinone group is exclusively attacked by the amino and the hydroxy compound, respectively. In blends of amino group terminated polyethers with a carboxy group containing polyethylene the new coupling agent has proven very effective.     

Sequestering agent for uranyl chelation: new binaphtyl ligands

The synthesis of phosphonate, sulfocatecholamide (CAMS) and hydroxypyridinone (HOPO) binaphtyl ligands is presented. Their binding abilities for uranyl cation were determined by UV spectrophotometry in aqueous media versus pH. These titrations showed that the efficiency of these chelating agents depends on the nature of the chelating group. Each ligand shows a more or less pronounced affinity towards uranium. While the bisphosphonate compound did not show any affinity towards the uranyl ion, the BINHOPO derivative exhibits significant affinity at acidic and neutral pH while the BINCAMS is more efficient at basic pH.     

Ultrasonic energy as a new tool for fast isotopic 18O labeling of proteins for mass spectrometry-based techniques: preliminary results

Preliminary results regarding fast isotopic labeling of proteins with (18)O in conjunction with matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry technique are presented. Similar (16)O/(18)O isotopic labeling ratios were found for the overnight procedure (12h) and the new fast ultrasonic one (30 min) for the BSA, ovalbumin and alpha-lactalbumin proteins. The procedure, however, failed to promote double (18)O isotopic labeling for the proteins, ovalbumin and alpha-lactalbumin. Two different sonication frequencies, 35 and 130 kHz, were studied at two different sonication times of 15 and 30 min, being best results obtained with the procedure at 130 kHz of sonication frequency and 30 min of sonication time. For comparative purposes the overnight isotopic (18)O labeling procedure was done. In addition, the new fast isotopic labeling procedure was also studied without ultrasonication, in a water bath at 60 degrees C.     

N-Trifluoromethyl-N-nitrosobenzenesulfonamide. A new trifluoromethylating agent.

N-Trifluoromethyl-N-nitrosobenzenesulfonamide was synthesized. It was demonstrated that it acted as a new trifluoromethylating agent.     

Air quality study of Islamabad: preliminary results

Over a 1,000 pairs of coarse and fine filters were collected using Gent samplers and polycarbonate filters from three sites in Islamabad from the period 1998 to 2010. The black carbon in these samples was determined by reflectance measurement while their elemental composition were determined using the techniques of instrumental neutron activation analysis, ion beam analysis and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Islamabad is a well planned and relatively small city as compared to Lahore or Karachi therefore its air quality is better than the air quality of other major Pakistani cities. It was found that the new air quality standards being implemented by the Pakistani government on the 1st of January 2012 may not be attained even in Islamabad without the implementation of control and remedial measures. An overview of the elemental data obtained and calculation of enrichment factors shows that the particles in Islamabad originate from re-suspended soil, vehicular emissions and coal combustion. However further work is required for identification of pollution sources and their origin.     

Magnetic nanoparticle-molecular imprinted polymer: A new impedimetric sensor for tributyltin detection

Recently, molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) were extensively used for separation and identification of specific molecules, replacing expensive and unstable biological receptors. Nonetheless, their application in electrochemical sensors has not been sufficiently explored. Here we report the use of a MIP as a specific receptor in a new highly sensitive tributyltin (TBT) electrochemical sensor. The sensor combines the specificity, pre-concentration capability and robustness of molecular imprinted polymer attached onto magnetic nanoparticles with the quantitative outputs of impedimetric measurements. The proposed device detects TBT in a concentration range of 5 pM to 5 μM with a low limit of detection (5.37 pM), which is lower than the one recommended for TBT in sea water by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We believe that this new electrochemical sensor can play an important role in the monitoring of the quality of sea and fresh waters worldwide.     

Studies on pollutants: A new reagent for the detection of fluoride

A new solid analytical reagent is reported for the detection and semiquantitative determination of traces of fluoride. A blue (λ_max 590 nm) trypan blue dye is liberated from an insoluble zirconium-trypan blue complex by the action of fluoride in dilute acetic acid medium. The detection limit is 0.8 ppm and the range of semiquantitative determination is 0.8 to 8 ppm. The method is simple and can be conveniently used for field detection of fluoride in polluted waters.     

A potential bone tumor therapeutic agent153Sm-EDTMP: Its synthesis and preliminary structure analysis

Samarium-153-EDTMP (ethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonate), for its promising biological properties, has been proved as a palliating therapeutic agent for boné cancer in human beings. In this article, we present the results on synthesis and structure analysis of Samarium-153-EDTMP. In a basic medium,¹⁵³Sm-EDTMP can be readily prepared with a complexing yield not less than 98%, and it is confirmed that the ratio of the ligand to Sm is 11, and the charge of¹⁵³Sm-EDTMP is negative two.