Adsorption of 2‐amino‐5‐cyanopyridine on a gold surface as probed by surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy

The adsorption of 2‐amino‐5‐cyanopyridine (2‐ACP) was investigated in solution at different pH values by i n situ surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy combined with the electrochemical method. The assignments of the main bands were first performed on the basis of the spectral features of similar compounds and with the help of density functional theory calculations. The results revealed that the adsorption and the interfacial structure of 2‐ACP on the Au electrode depended on the applied potential and the pH values of the solution. In the natural solution, 2‐ACP was adsorbed on the surface with a vertical orientation by the CN group from − 0.4 to − 1.0 V, whereas in the − 0.4 to 0.8 V range, the N atom of the pyridine ring was bound to the surface. A transition region for the reorientation of the two adsorption modes was observed from − 0.8 to − 0.4 V. A flat configuration was preferred at an extremely negative potential. A similar surface adsorption behavior was observed in the alkali environment, while the Stark effect slope decreased because of the adsorption of OH⁻. Due to the protonation of N atom in the acidic solution, the potential region for the coexistence of two configurations ranged from − 0.4 to 0.2 V. Additionally, a similar adsorption configuration was proposed on the Au colloids at various pH values. The results revealed that the adsorption behavior became more complex on colloidal surfaces than that on a rigid electrode surface. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

核黄素/银溶胶体系的吸收光谱和表面增强共振喇曼光谱

利用可见紫外吸收光谱和表面增强共振喇曼散射光谱(SERRS)研究了核黄素和银胶颗粒的相互作用。不仅有效地淬灭了黄素发色团的荧光干扰,而且还使其喇曼散射得到显著增强。对SERRS进行了分析和指认,SERRS结果揭示出,黄素发色团与银胶颗粒相互作用所形成的络合物,不同于与银离子所形成的络合物。利用这一方法还得到1000cm^-1以下的喇曼带,这些带多与发色团的环呼吸振动和C—H面外变型振动有关。 关键词：     

Adsorption of 1,2,4‐triazole on a silver electrode: surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory studies

The pH‐dependent surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of 1,2,4‐triazole adsorbed on silver electrode and normal Raman (NR) spectra of this compound in the aqueous solutions were investigated. The observed bands in the NR and SERS spectra were assigned with the help of density functional theory calculations for model molecules in the neutral, anionic, and cationic forms and their complexes with silver. The Raman wavenumbers and intensities were computed at the optimized molecular geometry. Vibrational assignments of the SERS and NR spectra are provided by calculated potential energy distributions. The combination of experimental SERS results and density functional theory calculations provide an insight into the molecular structure of adlayers formed by 1,2,4‐triazole on a silver surface at varying pH values and enable the determination of molecular orientation with respect to the surface. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

负电性纳米银溶胶SERS活性及稳定性的比较研究

用单宁还原硝酸银可制得表面带负电的、对阳离子型分子具有较强SERS效应的纳米银。为了进一步测试负电性纳米银溶胶的SERS活性及稳定性,在室温下用制针剂的封装机将样品(old NCS)封装并保存。两年后与新制备的负电性纳米银溶胶(new NCS)比较,用透射电镜观测发现old NCS与new NCS相比银粒子尺寸增大;用紫外可见吸收光谱测定old NCS的吸收峰为431 nm,new NCS的吸收峰为418 nm,old NCS与new NCS相比吸收峰发生红移。为比较old NCS及new NCS的SERS活性选取阳离子型分子、中性分子及阴离子型分子作为测试分子,用拉曼光谱仪测试这些分子在两种纳米银上的SERS谱,结果发现,阳离子型分子碱性品红、中性分子吖啶橙在old NCS及new NCS上SERS较强,阳离子型分子亚甲基蓝在old NCS上与在new NCS上相比SERS较弱,阴离子型分子苯甲酸在old NCS及new NCS均未观察到SERS信号。     

Self‐Organization of Anisotropic and Binary Colloids in Thermo‐Switchable 1D Microconfinement

Anisotropic and binary colloids self‐assemble into a variety of novel supracolloidal structures within the thermo‐switchable confinement of molecular microtubes, achieving structuring at multiple length scales and dimensionalities. The multistage self‐assembly strategy involving hard colloidal particles and a soft supramolecular template is generic for colloids with different geometries and materials as well as their binary mixtures. The colloidal architectures can be controlled by colloid shape, size, and concentration. Colloidal cubes align in chains with face‐to‐face arrangement, whereas rod‐like colloids predominantly self‐organize in end‐to‐end configurations with their long axis parallel with the long axis of the microtubes. The 1D microconfinement imposed on binary mixtures of anisotropic and isotropic colloids further increases the diversity of colloid‐in‐tube structures. In cube–sphere mixtures, cubes may act as additional confiners, locking in colloidal sphere chains, while a “colloidal Morse code” is generated where rods and spheres alternate in the case of rod–sphere mixtures. The versatile confined colloidal superstructures including their thermoresponsive assembly and disassembly are relevant for the development of stimulus–responsive materials where controlled release and encapsulation are desired.     

家蚕微粒子虫表面增强拉曼光谱研究

本文报导并分析了家蚕微粒子虫(Nosema bombycis Naegeli,缩写为NbN)孢子在PH4.0条件下的表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS),在常规的实验条件下未得到NbN的一般拉曼谱,同时也未获得其它PH条件下的表面增强拉曼谱。对获得的NbN的SERS分析表明:NbN孢子通过S原子,COO~-和NH_2基团被吸附到银胶表面上,Tyr、Trp残基侧链靠近银表面,以Tyr残基侧链的振动增强效应最显著。当NbN孢子吸附在银胶表面时,NbN孢子中的C—C—S—S—C—C链为扭曲—扭曲—反式结构。     

Photothermal bleaching of Ca colloids in additively colored CaF2

Cation colloidal particles in additively colored CaF₂ crystals have been bleached with light in the colloidal band. At 360 K the colloid band decreases and a new band in the near i.r. region is created which is probably due to highly coagulated F-centers. At 430 K the colloidal band is destroyed at the same time that a band appears at 383 nm. This band has been tentatively associated to a kind of F-center. Photochromic conversions between colloids and i.r. bands at 360 K and between colloids and 383 nm band at 430 K have been obtained. A mechanism for the bleaching of colloids has been proposed.     

Raman and surface‐enhanced Raman studies of α‐aminophosphinic inhibitors of metalloenzymes

Here, we report the nature of new di‐α‐amino (L¹–L³) and α‐amino‐α‐hydroxyphosphinic (L⁴–L⁶) acids, which are considered potential inhibitors of the aminopeptidase N, adsorbed on a colloidal silver surface by means of surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. In order to reveal the adsorption mechanism of these species from their SERS spectra, Fourier‐transform Raman (FT‐RS) spectra of these nonadsorbed molecules were measured. By examining the enhancement, shift in wavenumbers, and changes in breadth of the SERS bands due to the adsorption process, we revealed that the tilted compounds interact with the colloidal silver substrate mainly through the benzene ring, amino group, and phosphinic moiety in the following way. The benzene ring of L² and L³ is ‘standing up’ on the colloidal silver surface, and the C N bond is almost vertical to it, while the tilt angle between the O PO bond and this surface is greater than 45°. On the other hand, for L¹, L⁴, and L⁵, the aromatic ring and C N bond are arranged more or less tilted, and the tilt angle between the O PO bond and the silver substrate is smaller than 45°. The elongation of the bond to the benzene ring, the L⁶ case, produces an almost horizontal orientation of the benzene ring and the O PO bond on the silver nanoparticles. For these ligands, the complement inhibition IC₅₀ tested in vitro using porcine kidney leucine aminopeptidase was correlated mainly with the behavior of the O PO and C CH N fragments on the silver surface. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

胞嘧啶在沉积激光烧蚀Ag纳米颗粒电极上的SERS分析

用Nd:YAG激光器在二次去离子水中烧蚀银片,制备出了尺度分布均匀、并且具有很好的稳定性的"化学纯净"的Ag胶体系,并在电化学体系中将这种银胶沉积在粗糙的银电极表面,研究了胞嘧啶分子吸附在沉积Ag纳米颗粒电极表面随电极电位改变的表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)。分析表明:(1)沉积银纳米颗粒的电极将金属电极与金属溶胶体系各自的优势很好的结合起来,形成了一种高效的SERS活性基底。(2)胞嘧啶在沉积银颗粒的电极表面以N3位竖直吸附,并且随着电位的负移,大多数SERS峰的位置发生了红移,表明胞嘧啶在电极表面吸附作用减弱。     

Raman and SERS study of metoclopramide at different pH values

Conjugate acid–base forms of the drug metoclopramide were investigated by Raman spectroscopy in aqueous solutions and by surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), when the molecules were adsorbed on colloidal silver surfaces. Raman spectra were recorded at pH values below 8, metoclopramide being poorly water soluble at higher pH values. The SERS spectra of metoclopramide were recorded in the 3–11 pH range, even in spite of its low solubility at basic pH values. The Raman and SERS spectra were assigned by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. By monitoring several SERS marker bands, the protonated, neutral or the coexistence of both molecular species adsorbed on the colloidal silver particles could be evidenced. The adsorbate orientation was deduced to be perpendicular to the metal surface for the protonated molecular species and tilted for the neutral metoclopramide molecular species. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fluorescence and surface-enhanced vibrational spectroscopies of lawsone and plumbagin

The natural dyes lawsone and plumbagin (1,4-naphthoquinones) were studied by using fluorescence, Raman, infrared (IR), surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and surface-enhanced IR absorption. From the absorption spectrum, it was possible to infer that the enol-lawsone tautomer concentration decreases in silver colloidal solution. Plumbagin dimers, both in water and in silver colloidal solution, were identified from the fluorescence band profile and surface-SERS spectrum. The SERS spectrum of lawsone was obtained by using silver colloidal solution after 12-hour settle; the keto and enol lawsone silver colloid interaction occurs. The assignment of Raman and IR bands of both dyes was calculated with density functional theory calculations. Only a monomeric structure of lawsone interacting with a silver cluster model was predicted. The monomer adopts a nearly coplanar orientation onto the silver surface; the shortest distance is 3.2 Å, suggesting an electrostatic interaction.     

Adsorbed states of substituted α‐aminophosphinic acids on a silver electrode surface: comparison with a colloidal silver substrate

We investigated the interfacial structures of various aromatic (each compound contains one or two phenyls) di‐α‐amino ( L¹ – L³ ) and α‐amino‐α‐hydroxyphosphinic ( L⁴ – L⁶ ) acids immobilized onto an electrochemically roughened silver electrode surface in an aqueous solution using surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). These structures were compared to those on a colloidal silver surface to determine the relationship between adsorption strength and geometry. The presence of an enhanced ν_19a ring band in the SERS spectra of L⁶ , L² , and L³ on the electrode indicated that the benzene rings of those molecules interact with the electrode surface through localized CC bond(s). We observed significant band broadening of the benzene ring modes for all α‐hydroxyphosphinic acids on both substrates, except for L¹ deposited onto the electrode surface. This suggests the possibility of direct interaction between the ring and Ag, although the benzene ring–surface π overlap is weaker for the colloidal silver than for the Ag electrode. The downward shift in wavenumber and alternations in the enhancement of a ν₁₂ ring band indicate a general increase of tilt angle on both silver substrates in the order L³ < L⁴ < L⁵ < L⁶ . The altered enhancement of the bands due to the vibrations of the  NH₂ and O PO fragments, a finding observed on both silver substrates, strongly suggests that the groups interact with different strength and geometry with these substrates. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface anchoring mode‐dependent hydrolysis reactions of hydrazone groups on gold examined by pH‐dependent Raman spectroscopy

We conducted a comparative study of the pH‐dependent anchoring behaviors of 3‐methyl‐2‐benzothiazolinone hydrazone (3M2BH) and benzophenone hydrazone (BPH) on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by means of interfacial Raman spectroscopy. We found that several bands of 3M2BH in the highly alkaline pH region disappeared as the colloidal conditions became more neutral and acidic. The vibrational band at 919, 1174, and 1222 cm⁻¹ at pH 10.0 disappeared below pH 9.2, which may be because of the hydrolysis reactions that cleave the labile N―NH₂ group of 3M2BH, indicating a rather perpendicular orientation via the sulfur atom at the surfaces. A fairly high transition pH value was assumed to be because of the interaction of the N―NH₂ group in the vicinity of the surfaces. Several characteristic bands, including 1584 and 1617 cm⁻¹, also exhibited different intensities, suggesting that the adsorbates on Au surfaces underwent structural transformations of the N―NH₂ group after the pH value became neutral or acidic. These changes were not observed for BPH, presumably because of the direct and robust binding of the hydrazone onto Au surfaces. Our results revealed that the pH‐dependent cleavage reactions may vary depending on the surface anchoring modes of the adsorbates. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Monitoring of local pH in photodynamic therapy‐treated live cancer cells using surface‐enhanced Raman scattering probes

The local pH inside individual live glioma (U‐87 MG) cancer cells was monitored after treatment by the photodynamic therapy drug 6‐methyl‐1,3,8‐trihydroxyanthraquinone (emodin). The cellular pH is tracked by the real‐time measurement of the surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) from a probe that is embedded in the cell. The probe is a micrometer‐sized silica bead that is covered by nanosized silver colloids, which enhance Raman signal, and 4‐mercaptobenzoic acid (pMBA) whose molecular vibrations and resulting Raman spectrum are sensitive to pH. Visible excitation at different light dosages is used to activate the drug. The results indicate cell maintenance of internal pH and cell death at low and high light dosage, respectively. We demonstrate that these SERS probes are an effective tool for ex vivo pH monitoring in a live cell thanks to their high optical sensitivity and noninvasive usage. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface enhanced Raman scattering of trans‐p‐coumaric and syringic acids

The vibrational spectra of trans‐p‐coumaric acid (pCA) and syringic acid (SA) are discussed. The spectral fingerprints of the organic acids observed in the infrared and Raman spectra are assigned to fundamental vibrational wavenumbers supported by quantum chemical computations. The average surface‐enhanced Raman scattering spectra of both acids have been obtained on silver colloidal solutions and the interpretation of the spectra is presented based on complementary Raman spectra and computational results for the silver salts. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ag nanoparticles obtained by pulsed laser ablation in water: surface properties and SERS activity

We studied the surface properties and reactivity of silver nanoparticles obtained by picosecond or nanosecond pulsed laser ablation in water and with 1064‐nm wavelength. Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy results and subsequent modelling by Mie theory indicated the presence of an oxide layer on the nanoparticle surface, which favours the colloidal stability, but reduces the interaction with the environment. The oxide layer is also responsible for the reduced surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) activity of these colloids with respect to those obtained by chemical reduction. However, SERS activation can be efficiently obtained by addition of chloride ions to the colloids, leading to SERS enhancement factors that are comparable with those of the chemically prepared counterparts. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exploration of small hydroxy‐9,10‐anthraquinones as anthracycline analogues: physicochemical characteristics and DNA binding for comparison

Hydroxy‐9,10‐anthraquinones resemble anthracycline‐based anticancer drugs. By varying the pH of the solution, the proton dissociation constants of 1,2,5,8‐tetrahydroxy‐9,10‐anthraquinone (THAQ) were determined. Interaction of THAQ with calf thymus DNA (ct DNA) was studied by UV–Vis spectroscopy to determine the overall binding constant and site size of interaction. The binding constant values (~10⁴) for THAQ interacting with ct DNA at different pH were an order less than that known for anthracyclines. From knowledge of the overall binding constants at different pH values and the first pK of THAQ, the contribution of each form (neutral and monoanionic) towards overall binding with ct DNA could be obtained under physiological conditions. Hence, knowing the contributions of the neutral and monoanionic forms, it now becomes possible to know the overall binding constant for an interaction of THAQ with ct DNA at any pH. The calculated parameters help in understanding the role of the negative charge on the monoanionic form during interaction and suggests suitable chemical modifications that could prevent the development of such negative charges. This could lead to an increase in binding of THAQ to ct DNA. The study also helps to recognize the importance of sugar units in anthracycline anticancer drugs in DNA interaction. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of pH and anions on the adsorption mechanism of rifampicin on silver colloids

The influence of pH and anions on the adsorption mechanism of rifampicin on colloidal silver nanoparticles has been analysed by electronic absorption, resonance Raman (RR) and surface‐enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS). Rifampicin is a widely used antibiotic with a zwitterionic nature. SERRS spectra of rifampicin adsorbed on silver sols, prepared using hydroxylamine hydrochloride as reducing agent, undergo dramatic changes upon lowering the pH. The spectral form changes progressively from that characteristic of chemisorbed rifampicin (at pH > 7) to one very similar to the rifampicin RR spectrum (at lower pH), indicative of a modification of the adsorption mechanism on the surface of the Ag nanoparticles. The RR‐type SERRS spectrum is proposed to result from formation of an ion pair between rifampicin and Cl⁻ anions, which, deriving from the colloid preparation, are adsorbed on the Ag surface. The addition of anions to the hydroxylamine hydrochloride sol facilitates conversion from the chemisorbed to ion pair form and leads to an order of magnitude increase in the SERRS signal. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering study of L‐tryptophan

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of tryptophan (Trp) were obtained. A unique SERS spectrum of Trp, corresponding to the most stable conformation and orientation on the metal surface, is observed after a stabilization period. The Trp molecules interact with the surface through both the carboxylate and amino groups; the aliphatic moiety is close to the surface. The pyrrole ring of the indole moiety is farther from the surface than the benzene fragment. The observed spectra vary depending on both the preparation of the silver colloid and the aggregation time. The interpretation of the experimental results is supported by theoretical treatment of the molecule on the silver surface. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.