Molecular dynamics simulation of the aggregation of colloidal particles

The spontaneous time evolution of systems containing N colloidal particles (N = 12, 24, 100) in a spherical cell of volume V at a constant volume fraction φ=0.1 was studied by a molecular dynamics method in the NVT ensemble. The starting velocities of the particles are allocated according to the Maxwell distribution at T=273 K.

Pairwise interaction of the particles was specified by molecular, electrostatic and elastic forces. The changes in the potential energy of the systems were calculated during the establishment of dynamic equilibrium. Coagulation takes place at sufficiently high values of the Hamaker constant. The value of the coefficient of Brownian diffusion, which is calculated from the half-time of coagulation, is found to be close to the known value for aqueous dispersions. The inclusion of electrostatic forces prevents coagulation.

The results obtained are in agreement with those obtained using theories of aggregate formation. Some structural characteristics of aggregates and stable systems are discussed.     

Gemini表面活性剂与DNA在气/液界面上的相互作用

在气/液界面上, 阳离子表面活性剂可以通过静电作用与阴离子型的脱氧核糖核酸(DNA)分子形成复合膜, 并压缩沉积得到LB(Langmuir-Blodget)膜. 利用表面压-表面积(π-A)曲线、原子力显微镜(AFM)和石英晶体微天平(QCM)研究了阳离子Gemini表面活性剂([C₁₈H₃₇(CH₃)₂N⁺-(CH₂)_s-N⁺(CH₃)₂C₁₈H₃₇]·2Br^-, 简写为18-s-18, s=3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12)与DNA(双链DNA(dsDNA), 单链DNA(ssDNA))之间的相互作用, 并对18-s-18在不同下相表面的分子面积进行了比较. 实验结果表明连接基团和下相的DNA对Gemini表面活性剂在气/液界面上的性质有很大影响. 此外, Gemini表面活性剂在界面上对DNA的吸附能力与它们之间的相互作用方式密切相关.     

阿特拉津与DNA作用共振光散射光谱的研究及其应用

首次报道了阿特拉津与ctDNA作用的共振光散射光谱 (RLS)特征和利用小分子农药阿特拉津作为探针测定痕量脱氧核糖核酸的方法。在 pH=1.41的酸度条件下 ,阿特拉津 -ctDNA在319.8nm处有一增强的共振光散射光谱峰 ,且增强的共振光散射强度与ctDNA的浓度成线性关系。在实验确定的优化条件下 ,方法的线性范围为0.05～34μg·mL -1 ,检出限为11.9ng·mL -1(3δ) ,该方法成功地用于人工混合样品中ctDNA的测定     

碳酸镧分离富集DNA的研究

通过紫外-可见分光光度法测定了碳酸镧吸附前后溶液中的DNA含量,并计算了DNA的吸附率.通过X射线光电子能谱(XPS)与X射线衍射(XRD)分析了吸附DNA前后固相的变化.结果表明,碳酸镧对DNA有较强的吸附作用,且该过程对碳酸镧晶型未产生明显影响.通过对吸附条件的考察,发现DNA的吸附率随pH值升高而降低.最后通过磷酸二氢钾作为洗脱液将吸附的DNA回收,洗脱液中镧离子含量低于0.1×10~(-6)mol/L,对DNA的后期使用无污染.     

Properties of different natural organic matter influence the adsorption and aggregation behavior of TiO2 nanoparticles

Natural organic matter (NOM) has considerable influence on the aggregation and stability of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs). However, the effect of chemical properties of NOM on the interface interaction and the aggregation process is still not clear. In this study, we investigated the effects of two typical types of NOM (fulvic acid (FA) and humic acid (HA)) on its adsorption onto TiO₂ nanoparticles and their aggregation behavior in aqueous phase. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) was used to study their functional groups, indicating that HA has a stronger hydrophobicity than FA. The presence of HA or FA lowered the critical coagulation concentration (CCC) of TiO₂ NPs, while FA showed a more significant effect. HA promotes the aggregation of TiO₂ NPs when ionic strength (IS) > CCC, which was likely due to the bridging effect. Contact angle measurements indicate that HA has higher hydrophobic properties than FA, and it is easier to transfer from water to the surface of TiO₂ NPs. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was applied to investigate the aggregate formation and colloid interface morphology of NOM-coated-TiO₂ NPs and NOM entanglement. Different structures of HA and FA result in various behavior and their interface interaction mechanisms including IS-induced entanglement and NOM/IS bridging.     

Simple design of an aligned transparent biofilm by magnetic particles and its cellular study

The aim of this study was to produce aligned biodegradable films. In this study, we used magnetic microparticles and strong magnetic field for orientation of gelatin gels. The samples were evaluated by microscopic analyses and cell culture assays with Schwann cells. Results of structural analyses showed a good arrangement and orientation of films under strong magnetic field with movement of magnetite particles. Cellular experiments showed a good cell adhesion and orientation on the designed films compared with those on unmodified ones. This aligned guide appears to have the right organization for testing in vivo nerve tissue engineering studies. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fluorescence enhancement effect for the determination of DNA with calcein-cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide system

A new spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the determination of trace amounts of DNA using the calcein as a fluorescent probe. In the presence of appropriate amounts of the cationic surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), the anionic dye calcein dimerizes. The weak fluorescence intensity of the dimer was enhanced by adding DNA at pH 6–7. The interaction between calcein–CTAB and DNA was studied on the basis of this behavior and a new method was developed for determining DNA. Under the optimal conditions, the enhanced fluorescence intensity was in proportion to the concentration of DNA in the range of 4.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 8.0 × 10⁻⁵ g L⁻¹ for fsDNA and thermally denatured ctDNA (4.5 × 10⁻⁶ to 9.0 × 10⁻⁵ g L⁻¹). The detection limits (S/N = 3) were 2.0 × 10⁻⁶ and 2.2 × 10⁻⁶ g L⁻¹, respectively. This method was used for determining the concentration of DNA in synthetic samples with satisfactory results.     

Synchronous fluorescence determination of DNA based on the interaction between methylene blue and DNA

The fluorescence intensity of methylene blue (MB) quenched by DNA in the pH range of 6.5-8.0 was studied with synchronous fluorescence technology. A novel method for detecting single-stranded and double-stranded DNA was developed. The decreased fluorescence intensity at 664 nm is in proportion to the concentration of DNA in the range of 0.28-11.0 μmol L⁻¹ for ctDNA, 0.14-8.25 μmol L⁻¹ for thermally denatured ctDNA and 0.28-8.25 μmol L⁻¹ for hsDNA. The detection limits (S/N = 3) are 0.11, 0.04 and 0.04 μmol L⁻¹, respectively. The method is rapid, selective, and the reagents are lower toxic. It has been used for the determination of DNA in synthetic samples with good satisfaction. In addition, the interaction modes between MB and ctDNA and the mechanism of the fluorescence quenching were also discussed in detail. The experimental results from absorption spectra and fluorescence polarization indicate that the possible interaction modes between MB and DNA are the electrostatic binding and the intercalation binding.     

Effect of saline groundwater on the aggregation and settling of suspended particles in a turbid Australian river

Laboratory studies have modelled the interaction of Darling River water and a saline groundwater intrusion. Kinetic measurements have shown that the rate determining step in water column clarification is the aggregation of small colloidal particles which then settle rapidly after reaching a critical diameter. Divalent cations (Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺) are extremely effective in enhancing the rate of clarification by increasing the colloid stability factor. Three different phases have been observed in the cation-mediated removal of iron from solution: (i) rapid coagulation induced by the initial velocity shear resulting from solution mixing; (ii) a slower second-order iron removal, consistent with conventional aggregation kinetics; and (iii) a decrease in rate after 90% iron removal which is attributed to a lower iron content in the ultrafine colloid fraction. Specific interactions between the divalent cations and the organic coatings on the particles are proposed in order to explain the much higher rate of coagulation than expected on electrostatic grounds when compared with the monovalent Na⁺ and K⁺.

Water column clarification occurred more rapidly in these model laboratory studies than was observed in the Darling River weir pool. Iron removal rates in the river tend to be inhibited by hydrological effects. Turbulence inducing processes are required to mix the dense saline groundwater with the overlying water column and thus may ultimately limit the rate of turbidity reduction.     

A DNA biosensor based on the electrocatalytic oxidation of amine by a threading intercalator

An electrochemical biosensor for the detection of DNA based a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) capture probe (CP) modified indium tin oxide electrode (ITO) is described in this report. After hybridization, a threading intercalator, N,N′-bis[(3-propyl)-imidazole]-1,4,5,8-naphthalene diimide (PIND) imidazole complexed with Ru(bpy)₂Cl (PIND-Ru, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine), was introduced to the biosensor. PIND-Ru selectively intercalated to double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA) and became immobilized on the biosensor surface. Voltammetric tests showed highly stable and reversible electrochemical oxidation/reduction processes and the peak currents can directly be utilized for DNA quantification. When the tests were conducted in an amine-containing medium, Tris-HCl buffer for example, a remarkable improvement in the voltammetric response and noticeable enhancements of voltammetric and amperometric sensitivities were observed due to the electrocatalytic activity of the [Ru(bpy)₂Cl] redox moieties. Electrocatalytic current was observed when as little as 3.0 attomoles of DNA was present in the sample solution.     

Rapid and reagent-saving immunoassay using innovative stirring actions of magnetic beads in microreactors in the sequential injection mode

We developed new ELISA techniques in sequential injection analysis (SIA) mode using microreactors with content of a few microliters. We immobilized antibodies on magnetic beads 1.0 μm in diameter, injected the beads into microreactors and applied rotating magnetic fields of several hundred gauss. Magnetic beads, suspended in liquid in density of approximately 10⁹-10¹⁰ particles per millilitre, form a large number of thin rod clusters, whose length-wise axes are oriented in parallel with the magnetic field. We rotate the Nd magnets below the center of the microreactor by a tiny motor at about 2000-5000 rpm. These rotating clusters remarkably accelerate the binding rate of the antibodies with antigens in the liquid. The beads are trapped around the center of the rotating magnetic field even in the flowing liquid. This newly found phenomenon enables easy bead handling in microreactors. Modification of reactor walls with selected blocking reagents was essential, because protein-coated beads often stick to the wall surface and cannot move freely. Washing steps were also shortened.     

Computer simulation to investigate absorption of energies of arrayed disk‐like nanoiron particles under magnetic fields

In this research, we focus on the studying of absorbed energies of materials under an external magnetic field frequency of 0.5 GHz. This wave corresponds to microwave irradiation. The absorbent materials were arrayed disk‐like iron particles with dimension on the nanometer scale and magnetic responses of the particles were simulated by solving the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation. The external fields were applied from various directions and energies of absorption of the system were calculated. The maximum absorbed energies were found when the field was 135° ± 30° along the X‐axis or the Y‐axis. The current simulation demonstrated that the direction of applied field results in different absorption energies of the system.     

脂肪酸甲胺铂配合物的结构表征及磁场对其抗癌活 性的影响

用元素分析、傅立叶变换红外光谱和核磁共振对6种脂肪酸胺(氨)铂配合物的结构和理化特性进行了研究。选用人黑色素瘤(LiBr)、白血病细胞K~5~6~2和肝癌(7721)作为体外模型。用扫描电子显微镜技术研究了磁场对肿瘤细胞膜表面微观结构的影响。用MTT法对合成的几种脂肪酸胺(氨)铂配合物的抗癌活性进行了研究。研究发现,抗癌活性与浓度梯度、胺(氨)配体、脂肪酸碳链的长度密切相关。磁场对药物与癌细胞相互作用的影响与磁场强度有关。     

Tailoring of carboxyl‐decorated magnetic latex particles using seeded emulsion polymerization

In this research, submicron and carboxyl‐functionalized magnetic latex particles were elaborated by using seeded emulsion polymerization technique in presence of oil‐in‐water (o/w) magnetic emulsion as seed. The polymerization conditions were optimized in order to get well‐defined latex particles with magnetic core and polymer shell bearing carboxylic (–COOH) functionality. Starting from (o/w) magnetic emulsion as seed, synthesis process was performed by copolymerization of styrene (St) monomer with the cross‐linker divinylbenzene (DVB) in presence of 4,4′‐azobis(4‐cyanopentanoic acid) (ACPA) as a carboxyl‐bearing initiator. The prepared magnetic latex particles were first characterized in terms of particle size, chemical composition, morphology, magnetic properties, magnetic content, and colloidal stability using various techniques, e.g. particle size analyzer using dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique, Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, thermogravimetric analysis, and zeta potential measurements as a function of pH of the dispersion media, respectively. The prepared magnetic latex particles were then used as second seed for further functionalization with methacrylic acid (MAA) in order to enhance carboxylic groups on the magnetic particle's surface. The results showed that final magnetic latex particles possessed spherical morphology with core‐shell structure and enriched carboxylic acid functionality. More importantly, they exhibited superparamagnetism with high magnetic content (58.42 wt%) and high colloidal stability, which considered as the main requirements for their application in the biomedical diagnostic domains. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

单链脱氧核糖核酸探针在羧基聚苯乙烯小珠表面的微阵列条件及固—液杂交特

优化在１－乙基－３－（３－二甲基氨丙基）－碳化二亚胺（ＥＤＣ）存在下,５′－ＮＨ２单末端和５′－ＴＲ／３′－ＮＨ２双末端修饰单链脱氧核糖核酸（ＤＮＡ）探针在１０μｍ羧基聚苯乙烯小珠表面进行微阵列的条件,研究５′－ＮＨ２单末端修饰ＤＮＡ探针与其碱基互补充阢进行的固－液杂交特性。结果表明,在ＰＨ４．６－５．６,ＥＤＣ浓度为０．５－０．７ｇ／Ｌ时,ＤＮＡ探针在小珠表面具有最大的微阵列能力。微阵列在小珠表面的５′－ＨＮ２单末端修饰ＤＮＡ探针,与期 碱基互补序列的杂交反应遵守二级反应动力学,杂交优化条件除取决于溶液介质的ＰＨ值,离子强度和碱基互补序列 溶液介质中的浓度外,还取决于环境温度和杂交时间。测定了２５℃下微阵列在小珠表面的２０－ｍｅｒＤＮＡ探针与其溶液中互补序列的杂交反应常数。     

Development of a novel label-free amperometric immunosensor for the detection of okadaic acid

Okadaic acid (OA), a lipophilic phycotoxin is mainly produced by toxigenic dinoflagellates. The need to develop high performing methods for OA analysis able to improve the traditional ones is evident. In this work, a novel experimental methodology for label-free detection of OA was developed. Protein G magnetic beads (protein-G-MBs) modified gold electrode was used to immobilize anti-OA monoclonal antibody (anti-OA-MAb). Preliminary, colorimetric tests were performed in order to validate protein-G-MBs and anti-OA-MAb reaction. Electrochemical detection was carried out by differential pulse voltammetry in ferri/ferrocyanide solution. The limit of detection value obtained (0.5 μg L⁻¹) validated the developed electrochemical immunosensor as a promising tool for routine use. The matrix effect and the recovery rate were also assessed with real samples, showing a good percentage of recovery.     

Theoretical study of the magnetic properties of an SF6 molecule in non-uniform magnetic field

Perturbation theory has been applied to evaluate the induced electronic moments and magnetic field at the nuclei of an SF₆ molecule interacting with an external magnetic field with a spatially uniform gradient. Contributions to magnetic susceptibility and magnetic shielding of the nuclei have been evaluated using the random phase approximation within the framework of accurate Hartree-Fock zero order wavefuctions. The quality of the calculations has been judged by the fulfillment of sum rules for the origin dependence of the response properties.     

N-Methylimidazolium modified magnetic particles as adsorbents for solid phase extraction of genomic deoxyribonucleic acid from genetically modified soybeans

N-Methylimidazolium modified magnetic particles (MIm-MPs) were prepared and applied in the solid phase extraction of genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from genetically modified soybeans. The adsorption of MIm-MPs for DNA mainly resulted from the strong electrostatic interaction between the positively charged MPs and the negatively charged DNA. The elution of DNA from MPs–DNA conjugates using phosphate buffer resulted from the stronger electrostatic interaction of phosphate ions with MPs than DNA. In the extraction procedure, no harmful reagents (e.g. phenol, chloroform and isopropanol, etc.) used, high yield (10.4 μg DNA per 30 mg sample) and high quality (A₂₆₀/A₂₈₀ = 1.82) of DNA can be realized. The as-prepared DNA was used as template for duplex-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the PCR products were analyzed by a sieving capillary electrophoresis method. Quick and high quality extraction of DNA template, and fast and high resolution detection of duplex PCR products can be realized using the developed method. No toxic reagents are used throughout the method.     

Potential of boronic acid functionalized magnetic particles in the adsorption of human antibodies under mammalian cell culture conditions

In this work, we systematically evaluated the potential of using boronic acid functionalized magnetic particles in the capturing of human immunoglobulin G under typical mammalian cell culture conditions. For comparison, Protein A coated magnetic particles were also used. The binding pH was found to significantly influence the adsorption isotherms of boronic acid particles with the higher capacities (0.216 g IgG/g support) being observed at pH 7.4. Comparatively, this value was 0.109 g IgG/g support, for Protein A particles under the same conditions. Both particles revealed very fast adsorption kinetics with more than 70% of the maximum binding capacity being achieved in a few seconds. The effect of glucose and lactate, which are known to interact with boronic acid, was evaluated. For glucose, the binding capacity was significantly influenced by the pH and decreased as pH increased. At pH 9.5, a 70% lower binding capacity was observed for glucose concentrations as low as 0.5 g/l. The effect of lactate was less pronounced and almost pH independent reaching at most 20% decrease in binding capacity. Nevertheless, the effect of both molecules was always lower at pH 7.4. The optimization of the elution conditions enabled complete recovery of bound IgG from boronic acid particles using 50mM Tris-HCl, 200 mM sorbitol, 200 mM NaCl at pH 8.5.