Nano Au/TiO2 hollow microsphere membranes for the improved sensitivity of detecting specific DNA sequences related to transgenes in transgenic plants

Gold nanoparticles (nano Au)/titanium dioxide (TiO₂) hollow microsphere membranes were prepared on the carbon paste electrode (CPE) for enhancing the sensitivity of DNA hybridization detection. The immobilization of nano Au and TiO₂ microsphere was investigated with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The hybridization events were monitored with EIS using [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4− as indicator. The sequence-specific DNA of the 35S promoter from cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV35S) gene was detected with this DNA electrochemical sensor. The dynamic detection range was from 1.0×10⁻¹² to 1.0×10⁻⁸ mol/L DNA and a detection limit of 2.3×10⁻¹³ mol/L could be obtained. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the terminator of nopaline synthase (NOS) gene from the real sample of a kind of transgenic soybean was also satisfactorily detected. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 20635020 and 20375020), Doctoral Foundation of the Ministry of Education of China (Grant No. 20060426001) and Natural Science Foundation of Qingdao City (Grant No. 04-2-JZP-8)     

Nanosilver resonance scattering spectral method for determination of hydroxyl radical and its application

Silver nanoparticles were prepared under a microwave high-pressure condition using citric acid sodium as a reducer while the excess citrate was removed under high speed centrifugation. There is a resonance scattering (RS) peak at 470 nm for silver nanoparticles. In a pH 4.0 HAc-NaAc buffer solution, hydroxyl radicals from the Fenton reaction can oxidize silver nanoparticles to Ag , resulting in the RS intensity decreasing. The decreased RS intensity at 470 nm (△I 470 nm) is linear with respect to the concentration of H2O2 (C) in the range of 0.27-7.56 μmol/L with a detection limit of 0.23 μmol/L. Its regression equation is △I 470 nm = 24.3 C 13.8 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9959. This method was applied to screening the antioxidants with satisfactory results.     

Characterization of catechol 1,2-dioxygenase from cell extracts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphingomonas xenophaga</Emphasis> QYY

Sphingomonas xenophaga QYY, capable of growing significantly on more than ten kinds of aromatic compounds as sole carbon source, was used to study characterization of catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (C12O) in cell extracts. Characterization of the crude C12O showed that the maximum activity was obtained at 40–70°C and pH 7.8–8.8. Metal ions had different influences on the activity of crude C12O. It was suggested that strain QYY possessed an inducible and ferric-dependent C12O. Kinetic studies showed that the value of V _max and K _m was 0.25 μmol catechol/L/mg protein/min and 52.85 μmol/L, respectively. In addition, the partial purification of C12O was achieved by a HiTrap Q Sepharose column chromatography. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50608011) and the 39th Postdoctoral Funds of China (Grant No. 20060390983)     

Resonance-enhanced photon excitation spectroscopy of the even-parity autoionizing Rydberg states of Kr

Kr atoms were produced in their metastable states 4p⁵5s [3/2]₂ and 4p⁵5s’ [1/2]₀ in a pulsed DC discharge in a beam, and subsequently excited to the even-parity autoionizing Rydberg states 4p⁵ np′ [3/2]_1,2, [1/2]₁ and 4p⁵ nf′ [5/2]₃ using single photon excitation. The excitation spectra of the even-parity autoionizing resonance series from the metastable Kr were obtained by recording the autoionized Kr⁺ ions with time-of-flight ion detection in the photon energy range of 29000–40000 cm⁻¹. A wealth of autoionizing resonances were newly observed, from which more precise and more systematic spectroscopic data of the level energy and quantum defects were derived. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20673107), the National Key Basic Research Special Foundation of China (Grant No. 2007CB815203), and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KJCX2-SW-H08)     

A new fluorescent sensor selective for Pb<Superscript>2+</Superscript> in water capable of two-photon-induced fluorescence measurement

A new fluorescent sensor (1) for Pb²⁺ containing a 1,4-dicyano-2,5-bis(styryl)benzene fluorophore and 2-(N,N′-bis(carboxylmethyl))amino-1-carboxylmethoxylbenzene as receptor has been synthesized. The sensor selectively responds to Pb²⁺ in the aqueous environment, and brings about similar and significant changes in one- and two-photon excited emission spectra: λ _max red-shift from 460 (519) to 590 nm. The selective response is pH-independent in a large physiological pH range, and two-photon action cross section (ϕδ) is 51 GM (1 GM = 1×10⁻⁵⁰ cm⁴·s·photon⁻¹·molecule⁻¹) at 740 nm. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 20705621 & 20706008), the National Basic Research Project of China (Grant No. 2009CB724706), the Ministry of Education of China, Changjiang Scholars Innovative Research Team in University (Grant No. IRT0711) and Cultivation Fund of the Key Scientific and Technical Innovation Project (Grant No. 707016)     

Immobilization and hybridization of DNA based on magnesium ion modified 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid polymer and its application for label-free PAT gene fragment detection by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

A new approach for a simple electrochemical detection of PAT gene fragment is described. Poly(2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid) (PDC) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was prepared by potential scan electropolymerization in an aqueous solution. Mg2 ions were incorporated by immer-sion of the modified electrode in 0.5 mol/L aqueous solution of MgCl2 to complete the preparation of a generic "activated" electrode ready for binding the probe DNA. The ssDNA was linked to the conduct-ing polymer by forming a bidentate complex between the carboxyl groups on the polymer and the phosphate groups of DNA via Mg2 . DNA immobilization and hybridization were characterized with dif-ferential pulse voltammetry (DPV) by using methylene blue (MB) as indicator and electrochemical im-pedance spectroscopy (EIS). The EIS was of higher sensitivity for DNA detection as compared with voltammetric methods in our strategy. The electron transfer resistance (Ret) of the electrode surface in EIS in [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- solution increased after the immobilization of the DNA probe on the Mg/PDC/GCE electrode. The hybridization of the DNA probe with complementary DNA (cDNA) made Ret increase further. The difference between the Ret at ssDNA/Mg/PDC/GCE and that at hybridization DNA modified electrode (dsDNA/Mg/PDC/GCE) was applied to determine the specific sequence related to the target PAT gene with the dynamic range comprised between 1.0 × 10-9 and 1.0 × 10_5 mol/L. A detection limit of 3.4 × 10-10 mol/L of oligonucleotides can be estimated.     

Resonance scattering spectral detection of ultratrace IgG using immunonanogold-HAuCl<Subscript>4</Subscript>-NH<Subscript>2</Subscript>OH catalytic reaction

Nanogold particles of 10 nm were used to label goat anti-human IgG (GIgG) to obtain nanogold-labeled GIgG (AuGIgG). In a citrate-HCI buffer solution of pH 2.27, AuGIgG showed a strong catalytic effect on the reaction between HAuCl₄ and NH₂OH to form big gold particles that exhibited a resonance scattering (RS) peak at 796 nm. Under the chosen conditions, AuGIgG combined with IgG to form immunocomplex AuGIgG-IgG that can be removed by centrifuging at 16000 r/min. AuGIgG in the centrifuging solution also showed catalytic effect on the reaction. On those grounds, an immunonanogold catalytic RS assay for IgG was designed. With addition of IgG, the amount of AuGIgG in the centrifuging solution decreased; the RS intensity at 796 nm (I _{796 nm}) decreased linearly. The decreased intensity ΔI _{796 nm} was linear with respect to the IgG concentration in the range of 0.08–16.0 ng · mL⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.02 ng · mL⁻¹. This assay was applied to analysis of IgG in sera with satisfactory sensitivity, selectivity and rapidity. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20667001), Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Province (Grant No. 0728213), and the Foundation of New Century Ten-Hundred-Thousand Talents of Guangxi Province     

Investigations on the amalgamation of gold nanorods by iodine and the detection of tetracycline

The morphological transformation process of gold nanorods (Au-NRs) resulting from the reaction between tetracycline and iodine was monitored by the plasmon resonance absorption (PRA) spectra and the scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. It was found that iodine could fuse Au-NRs into sphericity with the lower aspect ratio and blue shift of the longitudinal PRA band. It was found, however, that the presence of tetracycline, since it can react with I₂, decreases the effective concentration of I₂ and its fusion effect on Au-NRs. As a result, the longitudinal PRA of Au-NRs shifts to longer wavelength linearly with increasing the concentration of tetracycline. With that, tetracycline can be detected in the range of 5.0×10^∮5- 5.0×10⁻⁴ mol·L⁻¹, with a limit of determination (LOD) of 2.4×10⁻⁶ mol·L⁻¹ (3σ). Most foreign substances in the samples did not interfere in the detection, and tetracycline in the synthetic samples could be detected with the recovery in the range of 92.8%–107.2%, and RSD lower than 4.3%. The concentration of tetracycline in milk detected with standard addition method was so low that it accorded with the safety regulation. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 30570465 and 20425517)     

DFT and TDDFT investigations on the ground and excited states for polynuclear platinum(II) complexes containing the rigid phenylacetylide ligand

We have studied the ground and excited states of the three dendritic polynuclear Pt(II) complexes 1-[Cl(PH3)2PtC≡≡ C]-3,5-[HC≡≡ C]C6H3 (1), 1,3-[Cl(PH3)2PtC≡≡ C]2-5-[HC≡≡ C]C6H3 (2), and 1,3,5-[Cl(PH3)2- PtC≡≡ C]3C6H3 (3), by using the B3LYP and UB3LYP methods, respectively. TDDFT approach with the PCM model was performed to predict the emission spectra properties of 1―3 in CH2Cl2 solution. We first predicted the excited-state geometries for the three complexes. With the change of the number of Pt(II) atom, 1―3 show the different geometry structures in both the ground and excited states; fur- thermore, the increase of the metal density from 1 to 3 results in the red shift of the lowest-energy emissions along the series. The luminescent properties of 1 are somewhat different from those of 2 and 3. The emission properties of 2 and 3 are richer than 1. Our conclusion can give a good support for designing the high efficient luminescent materials.     

Study of third-order nonlinear susceptibility of polySchiff base containing triphenylamine

PolySchiff base containing triphenylamine has been synthesized by polycondensation and character-ized by FT-IR,NMR,UV-visible spectrometer. Measurements of the third-order optical nonlinear sus-ceptibility χ(3) by Z-scan technique have shown that the large nonlinearity is dominated by the two-photon absorption in PSB. The sign and size of real part Reχ(3) ,nonlinear refractive index n2 have been measured with the condition of 532 nm,8 ns-duration pulses to be -1.23×10-10 esu,-3.06×10-12 esu;nonlinear absorption index β and size of image part Imχ(3) to be 3.63×10-10 m/W,1.15×10-11 esu,respec-tively,so the third-order nonlinear susceptibility χ(3) is 1.19×10-11 esu. The value is larger than other polymers reported. PSB is self-focusing material and has potential application in nonlinear optic field.     

A capacitive sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymers and poly( p -aminobenzene sulfonic acid) film for detection of pazufloxacin mesilate

A novel capacitive sensor for pazufloxacin mesilate (pazufloxacin) determination was developed by electropolymerizing p-aminobenzene sulfonic (p-ABSA) and molecularly imprinted polymers (MPs), which was synthesized through thermal radical copolymerization of metharylic acid (MAA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) in the presence of pazufloxacin template molecules, on the gold electrode surface. Furthermore, 1-dedecanethiol was used to insulate the modified electrode. Alternating current (ac) impedance experiments were carried out with a Model IM6e to obtain the capacitance responses. Under the optimum conditions, the sensor showed linear capacitance response to pazufloxacin in the range of 5 ng·mL⁻¹ to 5 μg·mL⁻¹ with a relative standard deviation (RSD) 5.3% (n=7) and a detection limit of 1.8 ng·mL⁻¹. The recoveries for different concentration levels of pazufloxacin samples varied from 94.0% to 102.0%. Electrochemical experiments indicated the capacitive sensor exhibited good sensitivity and selectivity and showed excellent parameters of regeneration and stability. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20675064), the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing City (Grant No. CSTC-2004BB4149 and 2005BB4100) and High Technology Project Foundation of Southwest University (Grant No. XSGX02).     

Discussions about whether radioactive half life can be changed by mechanic motion

In this essay, some discussions and comments about the paper entitled “Can the decay rate of ³²P be changed by mechanic motion?” (Ding et al., Science in China Series B: Chemistry (Chinese version), 2008, 38(11):1035–1037) are given. It was strongly suggested that its experimental methods, data calculations and conclusion should be reconsidered. After the data were recalculated, the new results supported that the chiral mechanic motion could induce the changes of radioactive half life. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 20571085, and 20877099), Fund of the President of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. 0521021T04), 2005/2006 USA Li’s Foundation Merit Prize Fund, Fund of Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. 065101HM03), and Fund of the Key Laboratory of Nuclear Analysis of the Institute of High Energy Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. K129)     

Facile synthesis of small crystal ZSM-5 zeolite by acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of tetraethylorthosilicate

Small crystal zeolites ZSM-5 with sizes of 150–300 nm were synthesized using the colloidal silicate precursors as the silica source created by the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of tetraethylorthosilicate with tetrapropylammonium bromide as the structure-directing agent within a short crystallization time of 20–35 h. The precursors and final products were detected by XRD, SEM, ICP and DLS. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20776069), Key Natural Science Foundation for Universities of Jiangsu Province (Grant No. 06KJA53012), and Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (Grant No. PCSIRT 0732)     

New bienzymatic strategy for glucose determination by immobilized-gold nanoparticle-enhanced chemiluminescence

Bienzymatic biosensor for the determination of glucose by flow injection chemiluminescence (CL) detection was proposed. Hybrids of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and chitosan were chosen as the immobilization matrix of glucose oxidase (GOD) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to fabricate the biosensors with silane-pretreated glass microbeads. After the enzyme catalyzing oxidation of glucose in GOD biosensor, the produced H₂O₂ flowed into HRP biosensor to react with luminol. The doped GNPs in chitosan were found to enhance the classical CL reaction of luminol-H₂O₂-HRP. The CL enhancement was investigated in detail by CL and UV-visible spectrum. Under the optimized experimental conditions, glucose could be determined in a linear range from 0.01 to 6.0 mmol/L with a detection limit of 5.0 μmol/L at 3σ. The accuracy of the proposed method was examined by detecting the glucose level in four clinical serum samples from hospital. The proposed method provides a new alternative to determine glucose. Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (Grant No. Q2007B03), the Doctoral Fund of Qingdao University of Science and Technology (Grant No. 0022141), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20775038)     

Effect of strontium substitution on the activity of La2?xSrxNiO4 (x = 0.0–1.2) in NO decomposition

The aim of this work is to study the effect of Sr substitution on the redox properties and catalytic activity of La_2−x Sr _x NiO₄ (x = 0.0–1.2) for NO decomposition. Results suggest that the x = 0.6 sample shows the highest activity. The characterization (TPD, TPR, etc.) of samples indicates that the x = 0.6 sample possesses suitable abilities in both oxidation and reduction, which facilitates the proceeding of oxygen desorption and NO adsorption. At temperature below 700°C, the oxygen desorption is difficult, and is the rate-determining step of NO decomposition. With the increase of reaction temperature (T > 700°C), the oxygen desorption is favorable and, the active adsorption of NO on the active site (NO + V _o + Ni²⁺ → NO⁻-Ni³⁺) turns out to be the rate-determining step. The existence of oxygen vacancy is the prerequisite condition for NO decomposition, but its quantity does not relate much to the activity. Supported by the National Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China (863 Program)(Grant No. 2004CB 719502) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20177022)     

Preparation of polystyrene-grafted titanate nanotubes by <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> atom transfer radical polymerization

This work successfully prepared nanohybrids by in situ atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene from titanate nanotubes (TNTs). Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), pronton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to verify the successful graft of polystyrene (PS) chains from TNTs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) displayed that the obtained PS-g-TNTs nanohybrids had a core-shell structure of TNT core and PS shell. The grafted PS content was well controlled and increased with increasing of the monomer/initiator ratio. Further copolymerization of tert-butyl acrylate (tBA) from the surface of PS-g-TNTs was studied, illustrating the “living” characteristics of the surface-induced ATRP method used in this work. Supported by the Special Funds for Major State Basic Research Projects (Grant No. 2005CB623803), the National Basic Research Program (Grant Nos. 2007CB808000 & 2009CB930400), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 50633010 & 20874060), the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (Grant No. NCET-07-0558), the Basic Research Foundation of Shanghai Science and Technique Committee (Grant No. 07DJ14004), and Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project (Grant No. B202).     

Direct electrochemistry and enzymatic activity of hemoglobin in positively charged colloid Au nanoparticles and hemoglobin layer-by-layer self-assembly films

Alternate adsorption of positively charged colloid-Au nanoparticles (nano-Au⊕) and negatively charged hemoglobin (Hb) on L-cysteine (L-cys) modified gold electrode resulted in the assembly of {Hb/nano-Au⊕}n layer-by-layer films/L-cys modified gold electrode. The nano-Au⊕ was characterized by transmission electron micrograph (TEM) and microelectrophoresis. The modified electrode interface morphology was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), atomic force mi- croscopy (AFM), cyclic voltammograms (CV) and chronoamperometry. Direct electron transfer between hemoglobin and gold electrodes was studied, and the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant ( km app) of the modified electrode was evaluated to be 0.10 mmol·L?1. Moreover, the higher activity of proteins in the nano-Au⊕ films could be retained compared with the electropolymerization membrane, since the pro- teins in nano-Au⊕ films retained their near-native structure. Direct electron transfer between hemoglo- bin and electrode and electrochemically catalyzed reduction of hydrogen peroxide on a modified elec- trode was studied, and the linear range was from 2.1×10-8 to 1.2 ×10?3 mol·L-1 (r = 0.994) with a detection limit of 1.1×10-8 mol·L-1 H2O2.     

Assembly, crystal structure, and luminescent properties of three-dimensional (10,3)-a netted rare earth coordination polymers

Solid complexes [REL(NO3)3]n with novel (10,3)-a type three-dimensional networks structure have been assembled using rare earth nitrates and an amide type semirigid tripodal bridging ligand, 1,3,5-tris {[(2′-benzylaminoformyl)phenoxyl]methyl}benzene (L), as building blocks. The complexes were crys- tallized in the orthorhombic system with chiral space group P212121. The whole structure consists of an infinite array of trigonal RE(III) ions bridged by tridentate ligands, and a novel (10,3)-a net is formed, which is very uncommon in the rare earth complexes. At room temperature, the Sm(III), Eu(III), Tb(III), Dy(III) complexes all exhibited characteristic luminescence emissions of central metal ions under UV light excitation.     

Study on the recovery of hydrogen from refinery (hydrogen + methane) gas mixtures using hydrate technology

A novel technique for separating hydrogen from (H2 CH4) gas mixtures through hydrate formation/dissociation was proposed. In this work, a systematic experimental study was performed on the separation of hydrogen from (H2 CH4) feed mixtures with various hydrogen contents (mole fraction x = 40%-90%). The experimental results showed that the hydrogen content could be enriched to as high as ~94% for various feed mixtures using the proposed hydrate technology under a temperature slightly above 0℃ and a pressure below 5.0 MPa. With the addition of a small amount of suitable additives, the rate of hydrate formation could be increased significantly. Anti-agglomeration was used to disperse hydrate particles into the condensate phase. Instead of preventing hydrate growth (as in the kinetic inhibitor tests), hydrates were allowed to form, but only as small dispersed particles. Anti-agglomeration could keep hydrate particles suspended in a range of condensate types at 1℃ and 5 MPa in the water-in-oil emulsion.