Evanescent fluorobiosensor for the detection of polyaromatic hydrocarbon based on DNA intercalation

A flow-injection analysis (FIA) system coupled with an evanescent wave (EW) Biosensor employing total internal reflection of fluorescence radiation (TIRF) for the detection of polyaromatic hydrocarbon that intercalates into DNA is reported. A highly fluorescent intercalator, “ethidium bromide,” has been used as the reference compound for detection. The EW Biosensor was developed according to the procedure described earlier (1,2). Data on the analysis of Naphthalene, 3-methy cholanthrene, 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, 1,2-benzanthracene, and some standard reference materials supplied by the National Institute of Standards and Technology are reported. The relative ability of the polyaromatic hydrocarbon to displace ethidium bromide, based on the relative binding ratio, is found to be on the order of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene > 3-methylcholanthrene > 1,2-benzanthracene > napthalene.     

Changes in the physicochemical properties of transferrin upon chemical derivatization with ceramides

The interaction of native and derivatized transferrin with lecithin, cholesterol and their mixtures was studied using monomolecular layers of phospholipids. Moreover, the thermodynamic parameters corresponding to these interactions: the mixing excess free energy, interaction energy, and interaction parameter were also calculated.The ability of these two proteins to insert into monolayers was studied working at constant area.The formation of aggregates or secondary structures in solution was determined by the fluorescence and polarization values of ANS (anilinonaphthalene sulfonate), measured at different protein/ANS relationships.Abbreviations TF Transferrin - DTF derivatized transferrin - PC lecithin - CHOL cholesterol - CER ceramides - ANS anilinonaphthalene sulfonate - TNBS trinitro benzenesulfonate method     

Analysis of combinatorial chemistry samples by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

A micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) method has been developed that can evaluate the purity of samples generated in combinatorial chemistry libraries. This method uses an open tube capillary (27 cm x 50 microm) along with a run buffer composed of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, and sodium tetraborate coupled with UV detection. Neutral compounds and compounds that were insoluble in aqueous buffers could be analyzed under these conditions in approximately 3 min. The concentration of SDS and the concentration of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin effected the separation. The affect on selectivity resulting from the addition of an organic modifier to the run buffer was examined. The low background absorbency of the run buffer made for easy detection of compounds that absorbed at low UV wavelengths. The quick analysis time made this suitable for analysis of combinatorial chemistry samples.     

Amperometric biosensor for ethanol based on immobilization of alcohol dehydrogenase on a nickel hexacyanoferrate modified microband gold electrode

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) has been immobilized on a nickel hexacyanoferrate modified microband gold electrode surface by a glutaraldehyde/bovine serum albumin (BSA) cross-linking procedure to provide a new amperometric sensor for the assay of ethanol. The resulting enzyme electrode exhibits excellent electrocatalysis for the oxidation of reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NADH). The amperometric determination is based on the electrochemical detection of NADH which is generated in the enzymatic reaction of ethanol with NAD(+) under catalysis of ADH. The influence of various experimental conditions was examined for the determination of the optimum analytical performance. The sensor responds rapidly to ethanol with a detection limit of (5.0 +/- 0.3) x 10(-7) mol 1(-1). The response current increases linearly with ethanol concentration up to 5 mmol 1(-1). The sensor remains relatively stable for about 1 week.     

Silver(I) 1,3-butadiynediide and two related silver(I) double salts containing the C4(2-) dianion

Ag2C4, the second silver carbide to be fully characterized, has been synthesized as a light-gray powder (contaminated with metallic silver) that is explosive at high temperature (130 degrees C) and sensitive to mechanical shock, rather like the well-known prototype Ag2C2. In the pair of hydrated double salts Ag2C4.6AgNO3.nH2O (n = 2, 3), the nearly linear, centrosymmetric 1,3-butadiyne-1,4-diyl dianion C42-exhibits an unprecedented mu8-coordination mode, each terminal being capped by four sigma-bonded silver(I) atoms with pi-interaction to one of them.     

Microwave-accelerated derivatization processes for the determination of phenolic acids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A rapid method for the derivatization of phenolic antioxidants using microwave irradiation has been developed. Six antioxidatively active phenolic components of wines and fruits, namely gallic acid, gentisic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid were used in the model study. The solution of phenolic acids was evaporated to dryness on a rotary evaporator followed by further drying under microwave irradiation (600 W, 30 s). The resultant residue was dissolved in pyridene and treated with bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide while irradiated by microwave using high power for 30 s. Controlled reaction was carried out employing bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide under conventional heating for 30 min. The trimethylsilyl derivatives were identified and quantified on a gas chromatography/mass selective detector. The mass spectral fragmentation patterns of the derivatives obtained by microwave irradiation were identical to those prepared by heating. The yields of microwave-assisted silylation were comparable to those from conventional heating. The rsd were less than 8% for six replicates. The linearity in wine matrix was nearly perfect. This method is a useful protocol to examine the phenolic constituents in wines and agricultural products.     

Identification and determination of active components in Angelica dahurica Benth and its medicinal preparation by capillary electrophoresis

A micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) method for the separation of three active components, imperatorin (IM), isoimperatorin (IO) and scopoletin (SC), in Angelica dahurica Benth and its preparation was developed. The optimum separation for these analytes was achieved using 10 mM borate, 20 mM SDS and 10%(v/v) acetonitrile, with applied voltage of 22 kV. All experiments were performed using a 50.0 cm (42.5 cm effective length)x75 mum I.D. fused-silica capillary. The linear calibration range was 12.0-800.0 mug ml(-1) for IM, 10.0-850.0 mug ml(-1) for IO and 3.5-600.0 mug ml(-1) for SC. The recoveries of three constituents were from 91.3 to 108.7%. Also, the dissociation constant (pKa) of SC was determined by the CE method established in this paper.     

The crystal and molecular structure of 12,13-dibromopseurotin.

The crystal structure of 12,13-dibromopseurotin has been determined by single crystal X-ray analysis. The crystals belong to space group P2₁ with a = 16.75, b = 9.63, c = 7.42 Å, β 95.9°, Z = 2. The structure was solved by the heavy atom technique and refined to R = 0.062 with 819 significant reflexions for 299 parameters.