Colorimetric and fluorescence sensing of anions using thiourea based coumarin receptors

Thiourea-containing coumarins 1, 2 have been designed and synthesized via reaction of 6-aminomethylcoumarin and the corresponding isothiocyanates. Their anion-binding ability has been examined using UV-vis, fluorescence and ¹H NMR. The anion recognition takes place through charge neutral thiourea receptor sites with concomitant fluorescence quenching of the coumarin moiety with 1 showing a strong binding to C₆H₅COO⁻ over F⁻ with a distinct change in color.     

Thiazole sulfonamide based ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor with a large spectral shift for zinc sensing

A new thiazole sulfonamide (TTP, 1) based Zn²⁺ selective intrinsic chemosensor has been synthesized and investigated. The chemosensor shows a selective fluorescence enhancement (3.0 fold) with Zn²⁺ over biologically relevant cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺) and biologically non-relevant cations (Cd²⁺) in an aqueous ethanol system. It produces an increase in the quantum yield and a longer emission wavelength shift (64 nm) on Zn²⁺ binding with the potential of a ratiometric assay.     

Rhodamine-labelled new architecture for dual sensing of Co and Hg ions

A new rhodamine-based chemosensor 1 has been designed and synthesized. The receptor selectively recognizes Co²⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions in CH₃CN/water (4:1, v/v; 10 μM tris HCl buffer, pH 6.8) by showing different extents of change in emission. The disappearance of colour of mercury-ensemble of 1 followed by appearance of distinct bluish colour under UV illumination upon addition of l-cysteine distinguishes Hg²⁺ from Co²⁺ ions. The receptor shows in vitro detection of both the ions in human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells.     

Syntheses, crystal structures and Raman spectra of Ba(BF4)(PF6), Ba(BF4)(AsF6) and Ba2(BF4)2(AsF6)(H3F4); the first examples of metal salts containing simultaneously tetrahedral BF4 and octahedral AF6 anions

In the system BaF₂/BF₃/PF₅/anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (aHF) a compound Ba(BF₄)(PF₆) was isolated and characterized by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction on the single crystal. Ba(BF₄)(PF₆) crystallizes in a hexagonal space group with a=10.2251(4) Å, c=6.1535(4) Å, V=557.17(5) Å³ at 200 K, and Z=3. Both crystallographically independent Ba atoms possess coordination polyhedra in the shape of tri-capped trigonal prisms, which include F atoms from BF₄⁻ and PF₆⁻ anions. In the analogous system with AsF₅ instead of PF₅ the compound Ba(BF₄)(AsF₆) was isolated and characterized. It crystallizes in an orthorhombic Pnma space group with a=10.415(2) Å, b=6.325(3) Å, c=11.8297(17) Å, V=779.3(4) Å³ at 200 K, and Z=4. The coordination around Ba atom is in the shape of slightly distorted tri-capped trigonal prism which includes five F atoms from AsF₆⁻ and four F atoms from BF₄⁻ anions. When the system BaF₂/BF₃/AsF₅/aHF is made basic with an extra addition of BaF₂, the compound Ba₂(BF₄)₂(AsF₆)(H₃F₄) was obtained. It crystallizes in a hexagonal P6₃/mmc space group with a=6.8709(9) Å, c=17.327(8) Å, V=708.4(4) Å³ at 200 K, and Z=2. The barium environment in the shape of tetra-capped distorted trigonal prism involves 10 F atoms from four BF₄⁻, three AsF₆⁻ and three H₃F₄⁻ anions. All F atoms, except the central atom in H₃F₄ moiety, act as μ₂-bridges yielding a complex 3-D structural network.     

Cu2＋和Fe3＋与明胶的相互作用

利用荧光猝灭法, 研究了不同温度、酸度下, Cu2＋和Fe3＋与明胶的相互作用.计算了猝灭常数和结合常数.紫外光谱和显微红外光谱的测定结果表明, Cu2＋、Fe3＋与明胶分子中的酰胺键发生了作用.探讨了猝灭机理.计算出的热力学函数表明,在Cu2＋、Fe3＋与明胶的相互作用过程中熵变起主要的作用.     

Highly sensitive and selective determination of Hg2+ by using 3-((2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)phenylimino)methyl)benzene-1,2-diol as fluorescent chemosensor and its application in real water sample

A new receptor 3-((2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)phenylimino)methyl)benzene-1,2-diol (1) was synthesised and developed as a highly selective fluorescent chemosensor for the detection of Hg²⁺ in semi-aqueous media. The fluorescence of receptor 1 was dramatically and selectively quenched on complexation with Hg²⁺ ion with the detection limit down to 0.20 μM. The developed sensor was successfully applied for the determination of Hg²⁺ content in water samples. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed to study the mechanistic behaviour behind the binding of Hg²⁺ with receptor 1.     

Potentiometric flow injection determination of manganese(II) by using a hexacyanoferrate(III)-hexacyanoferrate(II) potential buffer

A highly sensitive potentiometric flow injection analysis method for the determination of manganese(II), utilizing a redox reaction with hexacyanoferrate(III) in near neutral media containing ammonium citrate is described. The analytical method is based on the detection of the change in potential of a flow-through type redox electrode detector, resulting from the composition change of an [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻-[Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ potential buffer solution. A linear relationship between the potential change (peak height) and the concentration of manganese(II) was found. Manganese(II) in a wide concentration range from 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻⁷ M could be determined by appropriately altering the concentration of the potential buffer from 10⁻³ to 10⁻⁵ M. The lower detection limit of manganese(II) was determined to be 1×10⁻⁷ M. The sampling rate and relative standard deviation were 20 h⁻¹ and 1.9% (n=8) for 6×10⁻⁶ M manganese(II), respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of manganese(II) in actual soil samples obtained from tea fields. Analytical results obtained by the proposed method were in good agreement with those obtained by an atomic absorption spectrophotometric method.     

Cl/Cl isotope effects in Rh NMR of [RhCln(H2O)6−n] complex anions in hydrochloric acid solution as a unique ‘NMR finger-print’ for unambiguous speciation

A detailed analysis of the ³⁵Cl/³⁷Cl isotope effects observed in the 19.11 MHz ¹⁰³Rh NMR resonances of [RhCl_n(H₂O)_6−n]³⁻ⁿ complexes (n = 3–6) in acidic solution at 292.1 K, shows that the ‘fine structure’ of each ¹⁰³Rh resonance can be understood in terms of the unique isotopologue and in certain instances the isotopomer distribution in each complex. These ³⁵Cl/³⁷Cl isotope effects in the ¹⁰³Rh NMR resonance of the [Rh^35/37Cl₆]³⁻ species manifest only as a result of the statistically expected ³⁵Cl/³⁷Cl isotopologues, whereas for the aquated species such as for example [Rh^35/37Cl₅(H₂O)]²⁻, cis-[Rh^35/37Cl₄(H₂O)₂]⁻ as well as the mer-[Rh^35/37Cl₃(H₂O)₃] complexes, additional fine-structure due to the various possible isotopomers within each class of isotopologues, is visible. Of interest is the possibility of the direct identification of stereoisomers cis-[RhCl₄(H₂O)₂]⁻, trans-[RhCl₄(H₂O)₂]⁻, fac-[RhCl₃(H₂O)₃] and mer-[RhCl₃(H₂O)₃] based on the ¹⁰³Rh NMR line shape, other than on the basis of their very similar δ(¹⁰³Rh) chemical shift. The ¹⁰³Rh NMR resonance structure thus serves as a novel and unique ‘NMR-fingerprint’ leading to the unambiguous assignment of [RhCl_n(H₂O)_6−n]³⁻ⁿ complexes (n = 3–6), without reliance on accurate δ(¹⁰³Rh) chemical shifts.     

Simultaneous capillary electrophoretic determination of Sb(III) and Bi(III) based on the complex-formation with a W(VI)-P(V) reagent

A capillary electrophoretic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of Sb(III) and Bi(III). A 1.0 mM W(VI)-0.10 mM P(V) complexing reagent readily reacted with a mixture of trace amounts of Sb(III) and Bi(III) to form the corresponding ternary Keggin-type complexes; [P(Sb^IIIW₁₁)O₄₀]⁶⁻ and [P(Bi^IIIW₁₁)O₄₀]⁶⁻ in 0.01 M malonate buffer (pH 2.4). Since the peaks due to the migrations of the ternary complex anions were well separated in the electropherogram, the pre-column complex-formation reaction was applied to the simultaneous CE determination of Sb(III) and Bi(III) with direct UV detection at 255 nm. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 2×10⁻⁷-5×10⁻⁵ M; a detection limit of 1×10⁻⁷ M was achieved for Sb(III) or Bi(III) (the signal-to-noise ratio=3).     

On-line coupling of macroporous resin column chromatography with direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry utilizing a surface flowing mode sample holder

A surface flowing mode sample holder was designed as an alternative sampling strategy for direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS). With the sample holder, the on-line coupling of macroporous resin column chromatography with DART-MS was explored and the new system was employed to monitor the column chromatography elution process of Panax notoginseng. The effluent from macroporous resin column was first diluted and mixed with a derivatization reagent on-line, and the mixture was then directly transferred into the ionization region of DART-MS by the sample holder. Notoginsenosides were methylated and ionized in a metastable helium gas stream, and was introduced into MS for detection. The on-line system showed reasonable repeatability with a relative standard deviation of 12.3% for the peak area. Three notoginsenosides, i.e. notoginsenoside R₁, ginsenoside Rb₁ and ginsenoside Rg₁, were simultaneously determined during the eluting process. The alteration of the chemical composition in the effluent was accurately identified in 9 min, agreeing well with the off-line analysis. The presented technique is more convenient compared to the traditional UPLC method. These results suggest that the surface flowing mode DART-MS has a good potential for the on-line process monitoring in the pharmaceutical industry.     

Simultaneous capillary electrophoretic determination of Sc(III) and Y(III) based on the complex-formation with a lacunary Keggin-type [PW11O39] complex

Trace amounts of Sc(III) and Y(III) can react with [PW₁₁O₃₉]⁷⁻ to form the ternary Keggin-type complexes: [P(Sc^IIIW₁₁)O₄₀]⁶⁻ and [P(Y^IIIW₁₁)O₄₀]⁶⁻ having high molar absorptivities in the UV region. Since the rate of the complex-formation was very rapid and the kinetically stable ternary anions migrated in the capillary with different electrophoretic mobilities, the complex-formation reaction was applied to the simultaneous CE determination of Sc(III) and Y(III) with direct UV detection at 250 nm. For both Sc(III) and Y(III), the pre-column method provided linear calibration curves in the range of 2 × 10⁻⁷ to 1 × 10⁻⁵ M; the respective detection limits were 1 × 10⁻⁷ M (the signal-to-noise ratio = 3). The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of Sc(III) and Y(III) in river water.     

Determination of proline in wine using flow injection analysis with tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) chemiluminescence detection

Flow injection methodology is described for the determination of proline in red and white wines using tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) chemiluminescence detection. Selective conditions were achieved for proline at pH 10, while other amino acids and wine components did not interfere. The precision of the method was less than 1.00% (R.S.D.) for five replicates of a standard (4 × 10⁻⁶ M) and the detection limit was 1 × 10⁻⁸ M. The level of proline in white and sparkling wines using the developed methodology was equivalent to those achieved using HPLC-FMOC amino acid analysis. SPE removal of phenolic material was required for red wines to minimize Ru(bipy)₃³⁺ consumption and its associated effect on accuracy.     

Label-free genotyping of single-nucleotide polymorphisms for DNA and RNA targets using a cationic polythiophene derivate

By using the specific primer extension reaction, a new assay for genotyping of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has been demonstrated. The assay relies on the conformational and colorimetric change of water-soluble polythiophene derivative, poly[3-(3′-N,N,N-triethylamino-1′-propyloxy)-4-methyl-2,5-thiophene hydrochloride] (PMNT), upon forming interpolyelectrolyte complex with extended double strand DNA and non-extended single strand DNA. All three kinds of SNP genotypes can be colorimetrically identified with one primer extension reaction in homogeneous solution. Moreover, combining with the specific digestion of RNA strands in the RNA/DNA hybrids, the proposed assay can also be applied to SNP genotyping for RNA templates. The SNP genotyping assay does not require chemical modification of oligonucleotide probes and nucleic acid targets and any separation step. It would be useful for routinely SNP detection in ordinary laboratories.     

Biosensors and rapid diagnostic tests on the frontier between analytical and clinical chemistry for biomolecular diagnosis of dengue disease: a review

The past decades have witnessed enormous technological improvements towards the development of simple, cost-effective and accurate rapid diagnostic tests for detection and identification of infectious pathogens. Among them is dengue virus, the etiologic agent of the mosquito-borne dengue disease, one of the most important emerging infectious pathologies of nowadays. Dengue fever may cause potentially deadly hemorrhagic symptoms and is endemic in the tropical and sub-tropical world, being also a serious threat to temperate countries in the developed world. Effective diagnostics for dengue should be able to discriminate among the four antigenically related dengue serotypes and fulfill the requirements for successful decentralized (point-of-care) testing in the harsh environmental conditions found in most tropical regions. The accurate identification of circulating serotypes is crucial for the successful implementation of vector control programs based on reliable epidemiological predictions. This paper briefly summarizes the limitations of the main conventional techniques for biomolecular diagnosis of dengue disease and critically reviews some of the most relevant biosensors and rapid diagnostic tests developed, implemented and reported so far for point-of-care testing of dengue infections. The invaluable contributions of microfluidics and nanotechnology encompass the whole paper, while evaluation concerns of rapid diagnostic tests and foreseen technological improvements in this field are also overviewed for the diagnosis of dengue and other infectious and tropical diseases as well.