Rhenium bipyridine complexes for the recognition of glucose

Bipyridine ligands containing pendant methyl, amino, and amino-boronic acid groups were synthesized. Coordination complexes of these ligands with rhenium were prepared straightforwardly and in good yield. The fluorescence behavior of the Re complexes was studied as a function of pH and exposure to various concentrations of glucose. The methyl bipyridine complex showed no change in fluorescence with pH, the amino derivative showed a rapid decrease from low pH to neutral, and the amino-boronate derivative showed little change from pH 4 to 10. Fluorescence quenching was observed at high pH as expected on the basis of a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) signaling mechanism. This behavior can be explained on the basis of the first oxidation and reduction potentials of these complexes. Glucose testing showed a significant dependence on the solvent system used. In pure methanol, the rhenium boronate complex exhibited a 55% fluorescence intensity increase upon increasing glucose concentration from 0 to 400 mg/dL. However, in 50 vol % methanol/phosphate buffered saline, none of the complexes showed significant response in the glucose range of physiological interest.     

A Simple Substrate Feeding Strategy using a pH Control Trigger in Fed-Batch Fermentation

A simple automated glucose feeding strategy based on pH control was developed to produce high-cell-density fed-batch fermentation. In this strategy, the pH control scheme utilized an acidified concentrated glucose solution to lower the pH. The frequency of glucose addition to the fermentor is determined by the culture’s growth kinetics. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the coupled pH and glucose control strategy in biomass and/or secondary metabolite production, several fed-batch fermentations of indigenous Escherichia coli and recombinant E. coli were carried out. Both strains produced biomass with optical density of greater than 40 at 600 nm. We also tested the glucose control strategy using two types of pH controller: a less sophisticated portable pH controller and a more sophisticated online proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller. Our control strategy was successfully applied with both controllers, although better control was observed using the PID controller. We have successfully demonstrated that a glucose feeding strategy based on a simple pH control scheme to indirectly control the glucose concentration can be easily achieved and adapted to conventional bioreactors in the absence of online glucose measurement and control.     

Colorimetric detection of glucose using a boronic acid derivative receptor attached to unmodifed AuNPs简

A simple, cheap and non-enzymatic colorimetric strategy for glucose detection has been designed based on the interactions between a phenylboronic acid （PBA） derivative, which is coupled with gold nanoparticles （AuNPs） as the colorimetric reporters, and glucose. The PBA-AuNPs hybrid system proposed here exhibits ordered photochemistry behaviors upon the addition of glucose at different pH values. There are two linear regions of glucose concentration for the glucose sensor at different pH values, i.e., between 0.1 mmol/L and 9.8 mmol/L at pH 6 with the detection limit of 64μmol/L and between 0 and 6.5 mmol/L with the detection limit of 48 μmol/L at pH 9, respectively. To test the practicality of the sensor system, we also applied this assay to detect a glucose sample in the artificial saliva.     

Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of polyhydroxy compounds by class A bacterial acid phosphatases

Nonspecific acid phosphatases share a conserved active site with mammalian glucose-6-phosphatases (G6Pase). In this work we examined the kinetics of the phosphorylation of glucose and dephosphorylation of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) catalysed by the acid phosphatases from Shigella flexneri (PhoN-Sf) and Salmonella enterica (PhoN-Se). PhoN-Sf is able to phosphorylate glucose regiospecifically to G6P, glucose-1-phosphate is not formed. The K(m) for glucose using pyrophosphate (PPi) as a phosphate donor is 5.3 mM at pH 6.0. This value is not significantly affected by pH in the pH region 4-6. The K(m) value for G6P by contrast is much lower (0.02 mM). Our experiments show these bacterial acid phosphatases form a good model for G6Pase. We also studied the phosphorylation of inosine to inosine monophosphate (IMP) using PPi as the phosphate donor. PhoN-Sf regiospecifically phosphorylates inosine to inosine-5'-monophosphate whereas PhoN-Se produces both 5'IMP and 3'IMP. The data show that during catalysis an activated phospho-enzyme intermediate is formed that is able to transfer its phosphate group to water, glucose or inosine. A general mechanism is presented of the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation reaction catalysed by the acid phosphatases. Considering the nature of the substrates that are phosphorylated it is likely that this class of enzyme is able to phosphorylate a wide range of hydroxy compounds.     

The kinetics and mechanism of the decomposition of N-chloroleucine

At 298 K the rate constant for the decomposition of N-chloroleucine has the constant value 3.20 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹ over the range pH 5–12, increases with increasing acidity at pH < 5, and increases with pH at pH > 12. A mechanism is put forward which explains these results.     

Measurement of Glucose Concentration in Blood Plasma Based on a Wireless Magnetoelastic Biosensor

Abstract

A wireless magnetoelastic glucose biosensor in blood plasma is described, based on using a mass sensitive magnetoelastic sensor as transducer. The glucose biosensor was fabricated by coating the ribbon‐like, magnetoelastic sensor with a pH sensitive polymer and a biolayer of glucose oxidase (GOx) and catalase. The pH response polymer swells or shrinks, thereby changing sensor mass loading, respectively, in response to increase or decrease of pH values. The GOx–catalyzed oxidation of the glucose in blood plasma produces gluconic acid, resulting in the pH sensitive polymer shrinking, which in turn decreases the sensor mass loading. The results show that the proposed magnetoelastic glucose biosensor can be successfully applied to determine the concentration of glucose in blood plasma. At glucose concentration range of 2.5–20.0 mmol/l, the biosensor responses are reversible and linear, with a detection limit of 1.2 mmol/l. Since no physical connections between the sensor and the monitoring instruments are required, this proposed biosensor can potentially be applied to in vivo and in situ measurement of glucose concentration in physiological fluids.     

Co-immobilization of polymeric luminol,iron(II) tris(5-aminophenanthroline) and glucose oxidase at an electrode surface,and its application as a glucose optrode

The anodic polymerization of 3-aminophthalhydrazide (luminol) and iron(II) tris 5-aminophenanthroline (Fe(phen-NH2)3(2+)) has been reported in this paper. A bilayer electrode was developed based on these polymers and the ITO conductive glass (denoted ITO[Fe(phen-NH2)3(2+)]luminol electrode). This electrode emitted light (lambdaem: 430 nm) as it was brought into contact with H2O2. At pH 10, the resulting electrochemiluminescence (ECL) showed a linear relationship with the concentration of H2O2 in the range of 10 microM(-1) mM. This bilayer electrode also showed an application potential for the detection of glucose after being further modified with glucose oxidase (denoted ITO[Fe(phen-NH2)3(2+)]luminol]GOx electrode). Although the resulting ECL decayed more rapidly in concentrated glucose solutions (e.g., I M) because of the consumption of luminol during use, the decay became less severe in diluted glucose solutions (e.g., 10 mM). According to the flow injection analysis, a linear relationship existed between the ECL and the concentration of glucose from 10(-5)-10(-3) M at pH 9. The detection limit could reach a level of 5 x 10(-5) M at this pH.     

Hydrolysis of Cellobiose in Dilute Sulpuric Acid and Under Hydrothermal Conditions

The sulfuric acid hydrolysis rate of cellobiose between pH 2 and 3 is directly proportional to the acid concentration. In good agreement with other authors, an activation energy of 133 kJ/Mol was found under these acidic conditions. The relation of the reaction rate constants for the glucose formation and glucose degradation (k₁/k₂) shows, in contrast to the hydrolysis of cellulose, little dependence on the temperature. Hydroxymethylfurfural, and to a lesser extent furfural, are glucose degradation products, which are also consumed but at a lower reaction rate than glucose. At pH values between 3 and 4.7 (pure water) strong deviations of the hydrolysis rates were observed. The formation of organic acids decreases the pH but has no influence on the reaction rate. This fact indicates that hydrothermolysis follows a reaction mechanism different from that of acidic hydrolysis.     

Recent advances in the application of nanomaterials in enzymatic glucose sensors

Due to the critical role of glucose level in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes, as well as the increasing number of diabetics, there is an overwhelming demand for developing glucose sensors. It is well acknowledged that these sensors, especially those based on glucose oxidase, have played an important role in blood glucose detection. Inspired by the attractive properties, nanomaterials, especially nanostructured carbon and metal/metal oxides, have been extensively explored to develop enzymatic glucose sensors with high sensitivity, fast response time, and satisfied stability. In this review, a brief history of glucose biosensors is firstly presented. Furthermore, we discuss the currently available fabrication possesses in the field of enzymatic glucose biosensors based on nanomaterials, focusing on the carbon-based, metal-based, and metal oxides-based nanocomposites. What is more, we discuss the challenges and attempt to give an outlook on the possible further developments.     

Retention behaviour of strong acid anions in ion-exclusion chromatography on sulfonate and carboxylate stationary phases

Some factors influencing the retention of strong-acid anions on ion-exclusion columns were investigated using columns with sulfonate and carboxylate functional groups. The nature of the functional group on the resin, the eluent pH and the eluent ionic strength all significantly affected the retention and separation of these analytes. Retention was observed for all strong-acid anions over the eluent pH range 2.2-5.7 and increased with both decreasing eluent pH and increasing eluent ionic strength. Some separation of strong-acid anions was possible when using a resin with carboxylate functional groups. It has also been demonstrated that strong-acid anions are poor markers of column void volume for ion-exclusion chromatography. A more accurate value was obtained using the neutral polymeric material dextran blue. When using eluents of low ionic strength, poor or fronted peak shapes were observed. A mechanism for these observations is proposed that relates the shape to ionic strength changes across the peak. A system peak was encountered under most experimental conditions. The properties of this peak are discussed and a cause for the system peak postulated.     

Characterization of a Recombinant Flocculent Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strain That Co-Ferments Glucose and Xylose: II. Influence of pH and Acetic Acid on Ethanol Production

The inhibitory effects of pH and acetic acid on the co-fermentation of glucose and xylose in complex medium by recombinant flocculent Saccharomyces cerevisiae MA-R4 were evaluated. In the absence of acetic acid, the fermentation performance of strain MA-R4 was similar between pH?4.0?C6.0, but was negatively affected at pH?2.5. The addition of acetic acid to batch cultures resulted in negligible inhibition of several fermentation parameters at pH?6.0, whereas the interactive inhibition of pH and acetic acid on the maximum cell and ethanol concentrations, and rates of sugar consumption and ethanol production were observed at pH levels below 5.4. The inhibitory effect of acetic acid was particularly marked for the consumption rate of xylose, as compared with that of glucose. With increasing initial acetic acid concentration, the ethanol yield slightly increased at pH?5.4 and 6.0, but decreased at pH values lower than 4.7. Notably, ethanol production was nearly completely inhibited under low pH (4.0) and high acetic acid (150?C200?mM) conditions. Together, these results indicate that the inhibitory effects of acetic acid and pH on ethanol fermentation by MA-R4 are highly synergistic, although the inhibition can be reduced by increasing the medium pH.     

A simple poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonic acid) transistor for glucose sensing at neutral pH

We demonstrate a simple transistor based on the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonic acid), capable of sensing glucose in a neutral pH buffer solution by a mechanism involving sensing of hydrogen peroxide.     

Effect of primary metabolites on protein utilization byAgaricus bisporus,Coprinus cinereus,andVolvariella volvacea

Protein is probably a major nitrogen constituent in the natural habitats of basidiomycete fungi. The ability of two commercial crop species, Agaricus bisporus and Volvariella volvacea, and a common weed, Coprinus cinereus, to degrade protein was investigated. Mycelia were incubated at 25‡C in static liquid cultures on completely defined media supplemented with 1% (w/v) soluble casein as the protein source. Glucose, ammonium, or sulfate were added as alternative sources of the major elements. Tests were also made on media devoid of protein. Alternative nitrogen or sulfur sources had little or no effect on the rate of protein degradation, pH, medium glucose, or ammonium concentrations or mycelial dry weight yields. However, addition of glucose affected these parameters markedly, with a 3–4-fold increase in the dry weights of all three organisms and a two-fold increase in the rate of protein degradation by C. cinereus and V. volvacea. A. bisporus degraded protein at the same rate in both the presence or absence of glucose. Growth of the organisms was similar whether glucose or protein was the sole source of carbon. With glucose present, the pH decreased during the early stages of growth, being correlated with glucose utilization. Upon glucose disappearance, the pH increased in the presence of protein, but no subsequent change occurred with the glucose as a sole carbon source. In the absence of protein, the pH decreased to pH 3. At this pH no subsequent changes occurred in dry weight yields, glucose, or ammonium. With protein present, changes in medium ammonium concentration were correlated with dry weight yield, protein utilization, and pH. Thus, a strong correlation appears to exist between protein and glucose utilization and changes in pH and ammonium as well as dry weight yield. The increase in medium ammonium is probably caused by the deamination of the protein in the absence of glucose and its utilization as an energy source. However, the protein is utilized as efficiently as is glucose as a sole source of carbon.     

Kinetics and mechanism of glucose electrooxidation on different electrode-catalysts: Part II. Effect of the nature of the electrode and the electrooxidation mechanism

A comparative study has been made of glucose electrooxidation on electrodes made of metals of group VIII, Ag, Au, Cu and glassy carbon as well as of phthalocyanines and porphyrins of cobalt, manganese and iron. It is found that considerable electrooxidation currents are observed for iridium and rhodium (group VIII), and for gold and copper (the copper subgroup). In neutral and alkaline solutions, glucose electrooxidation rates on gold considerably exceed those on platinum.Investigations have been carried out into the main regularities of glucose electrooxidation on a gold electrode in a wide range of potentials, glucose concentrations and pH values. The effect of chloride ions, gluconic acid and amino acids on glucose electrooxidation on gold have been studied.Proceeding from the direct comparison of adsorption data with polarization data obtained under the same conditions, a mechanism of glucose electrooxidation on platinum has been suggested. It is also shown that the mechanism of glucose electrooxidation on gold is similar, in many respects, to that on platinum.     

Immobilization on chitosan of a thermophilic βglycosidase expressed inSaccharomyces cerevisiae

ASulfolobus solfataricus β-glycosidase expressed inSaccharomyces cerevisiae (Sβgly) was immobilized on chitosan activated with glutaraldehyde. The yield of immobilization was evaluated as 80%. Compared to the free β-glycosidase, the immobilized enzyme showed a similar pH optimum (pH = 7.0), the same increasing activity up to 80°C, improved thermostability, and no inhibition by glucose. Functional studies pointed out that the kinetic constant values for both enzymes were comparable. A bioreactor, assembled with the immobilized Sβgly, was used for glucose production. The values of cellobiose conversion increased on increasing residence time in the bioreactor, following a nonlinear trend. However, the highest glucose production/ min was obtained at a flow of 0.5 mL/min.     

Designed glucose-responsive microgels with selective shrinking behavior

We report on the synthesis of various glucose-responsive microgels based on N-alkylacrylamide derivatives and phenylboronic acid (PBA) as a glucose sensing moiety. Depending on their chemical composition, the microgels exhibit opposite behaviors in response to glucose concentration increase: they can either swell or shrink, using two different mechanisms for glucose recognition. Both behaviors may be suitable for glucose sensing and insulin delivery. When glucose binds a single boronate receptor, the microgel swells as glucose concentration increases. This mechanism can be used to deliver a drug by diffusion through the network. In other cases, glucose binds specifically to two boronates, which creates additional cross-links within the network and provokes shrinkage. Such systems are promising for the development of sensors with improved selectivity and also as potential "intelligent" valves in microfabricated delivery systems. By a rational choice of the constituting units of the network structure, we show how to favor one or the other type of response to glucose variation. Therefore, glucose-swelling microgels operating under physiological conditions have been obtained by copolymerization with an appropriate choice of alkylacrylamide monomer and boronate derivative. At a pH above the pK(a) of the boronic acid derivative, the same structures shrink in response to glucose concentration. The nature of the cross-linker is a key parameter to enable this dual behavior. In other microgels, an amine group is introduced in the vicinity of the boronic acid, which lowers its pK(a) and favors microgel contraction at physiological pH. This work has allowed us to give some general rules to control the swelling/shrinking behavior of glucose-responsive microgels.     

Introduction and Application of Electrochemical Sensors Based on Screen-Printed Technology

We report here the development of chemical sensors based on screen-printed technology in our research group to solve major analytical problems in environmental and clinical aspects. The purpose of the research is aimed at the enhancement of selectivity and sensitivity for analysis and monitoring of pollutants and analytes using novel chenically modified screen-printed electrodes. For example, an enzyme reactor coupled with a copper-plated screen-printed carbon electrode (CuSPE) was developed for glucose sensing. The electrocatalytic reduction of enzymatically produced H2O2 at the CuSPE was determined by flow injection analysis (FIA) in pH 7.4 PBS. The proposed method was applied to determine glucose content in fruit juice and clinical sample and satisfactory results with good recoveries were obtained. A thoroughly kinetics and mechanism study was also done for those systems that are verified in analytical applications.     

A potentiometric polypyrrole-based glucose biosensor

A new concept is described for monitoring a biomolecule with a sensor having an enzyme entrapped in a conducting polymer. This is based on the sensitivity of the electroactive polymer itself to changes of pH in solution. The concept has been investigated for a glucose sensor with glucose oxidase (GOD) immobilized in a polypyrrole (PPy) layer on an inert platinum electrode. Measurements with a Pt/PPy/GOD electrode for glucose concentrations in the physiological range gave a linear correlation with logarithm of concentration over one decade with a satisfactory dynamic response. There was practically no change of slope or range of linear response to glucose after several days of use; this was in contrast to the amperometric response of the detector when there was about a 50% loss of sensitivity.     

Captopril Electrochemical Oxidation on Fluorine‐Doped SnO2 Electrodes and Their Determination in Pharmaceutical Preparations

A novel application of fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) electrodes is reported in the present work. To this end, the captopril electrochemical oxidation mechanism on FTO electrodes at various pH and its determination in pharmaceutical preparations was investigated. Captopril oxidation on FTO proceeds at pH between 2.0 and 4.0. The study revealed that interferences for captopril determination in pharmaceutical samples was totally suppressed using these electrode materials. Voltammetric survey showed an anodic peak at about 0.375 V (Ag|AgCl) for captopril oxidation, that takes place through an EC process at pH interval 2.0–4.0. The investigation demonstrated that captopril oxidation occurs through protonated species and these electroactive species interact by adsorption on FTO electrodes, with a large heterogeneous rate constant and a mechanism involving 1H⁺/1e^? in the global reaction. Moreover, a captopril sensor based upon FTO electrodes, with a linear range miliMolar, is proposed. These electrodes are promising candidates for the efficient electrochemical determination of captopril in pharmaceutical preparations.     

Response‐Retaliation Behavior in Synthetic Protocell Communities

Two different artificial predation strategies are spatially and temporally coupled to generate a simple tit‐for‐tat mechanism in a ternary protocell network capable of antagonistic enzyme‐mediated interactions. The consortium initially consists of protease‐sensitive glucose‐oxidase‐containing proteinosomes ( 1 ), non‐interacting pH‐sensitive polypeptide/mononucleotide coacervate droplets containing proteinase K ( 2 ), and proteinosome‐adhered pH‐resistant polymer/polysaccharide coacervate droplets ( 3 ). On receiving a glucose signal, secretion of protons from 1 triggers the disassembly of 2 and the released protease is transferred to 3 to initiate a delayed contact‐dependent killing of the proteinosomes and cessation of glucose oxidase activity. Our results provide a step towards complex mesoscale dynamics based on programmable response‐retaliation behavior in artificial protocell consortia.