New supramolecular interactions for electrochemical sensors development: different cucurbit[8]uril sensing platform designs

Three different strategies for cucurbit[8]uril immobilization on a glassy carbon electrode have been assayed. The electrochemical properties of the resulting modified electrodes in solutions containing neutral, positively and negatively charged potential cucurbit[8]uril guests were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The comparison of the electrochemical behaviour exhibited by the unmodified electrodes against various probes, with respect to that of each modified electrode, resulted in an appropriate method to choose among different strategies for the development of electrochemical sensors. These sensors are based on the incorporation of the cucurbit[8]uril molecular selection properties that depend on the chemical characteristics of the potential analytes. Furthermore, atomic force microscopy was employed for the characterization of the different surfaces developed.     

C-O and C-C bond formation in the cyclisation of gem-(dialkoxymethyl)-1,6-dienes catalysed by tin(IV) triflimidate at room temperature

We described herein a Sn(NTf₂)₄-catalysed cyclisation of gem-(dialkoxymethyl)-1,6-dienes and derivatives where cyclohexane or tetrahydrofuran rings are formed following either a 6-enexo-endo-trig process or a 5-exo-trig process, respectively, depending on substitution patterns. The latter process features an unusual dealkylative ether cyclisation, triggered by the strong Lewis acid character of the tin(IV) triflimidate catalyst.     

Compressive response of a sandwich plate containing a cracked diamond-celled lattice

The compressive strength is determined for a sandwich plate containing a centre-cracked core made from an elastic–brittle, diamond-celled lattice. It is assumed that the lattice fails when the major component of principal stress anywhere in the lattice attains the compressive or tensile strength of the solid, or when local buckling intervenes. First, analytical and numerical predictions are given for the unnotched strength of the core and for the compressive fracture toughness of the lattice K_IC. Second, finite element simulations and analytical models are reported for the fracture response of the sandwich plate with cracked core. The active failure mechanism in the cracked core is sensitive to core height, crack length, lattice geometry and material choice; this is illustrated by means of material-property charts.     

Low threshold voltage asymmetric antiferroelectric liquid crystal cells

Asymmetric antiferroelectric liquid crystal displays (AAFLCD) are attractive since they show a very well defined off state and fast switching time. Moreover, they can be driven by a simple biasless DC compensated waveform. The electrooptical response of an AAFLCD allows for new addressing modes, including quasi-static intermediate greyscales maintained without applying a field and passively addressed multiplexed high-frequency displays and spatial light modulators. A new kind of asymmetric cells have been obtained by using fluorinated block copolymer (FBC) alignment, which enhances surface segregation and provides a low energy surface. In this work we combine FBC alignment with antiferroelectric liquid crystal mixtures containing strongly electronegative fluorinated components. Threshold voltages for the antiferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition as low as 3 volts are observed. We report the time evolution of the shift of the electro-optical response.     

Suitability of hollow fibre liquid-phase microextraction for the determination of acidic pharmaceuticals in wastewater by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry without matrix effects

The applicability of hollow fibre liquid-phase microextraction (LPME), as an alternative to solid-phase extraction (SPE), for the extraction/enrichment of acidic drugs (e.g. ibuprofen, clofibric acid, bezafibrate, etc.) from water samples prior to the determination by LC-ESI-MS-MS has been evaluated. After LPME method optimisation, it was found that this technique can provide very clean extracts, which do not lead to signal suppression during LC-ESI-MS-MS analysis of the analytes. The limits of quantification (0.5-42 ng/L) are suitable for the analysis of these drugs in wastewater. However repeatability needs to been improved (intra-day R.S.D. = 3.4-32%), which may be expected by automation and the development of commercially available devices and fibres specially prepared for analytical purposes. The method was finally applied to wastewater samples (treated and untreated) and results comparable to SPE were obtained.     

Electrochemical study of taxol (paclitaxel) by cathodic stripping voltammetry: determination in human urine

An analytical method for the determination of taxol (paclitaxel) via cathodic stripping square wave voltammetry has been developed. The method allows to achieve a detection limit of 5.2 ng ml⁻¹ and a determination limit of 11.0 ng ml⁻¹ working with a mercury drop electrode in 0.05 M boric acid/borate buffer pH 9.0, previously accumulated at −0.1 V (v.s. Ag/AgCl/KCl 3 M) for 360 s. Moreover, information about the mechanisms governing the reduction of taxol has been obtained from the studies of the instrumental parameters of square wave voltammetry technique. After addition of an internal standard, taxol was extracted from spiked human urine and the proposed method was successfully applied to the quantification of the analyte.     

ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and Cu/ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Sol–Gel Materials Spectroscopic Characterization

Copper-doped zirconia (1% mol) and zirconia powders were prepared by the sol–gel process, using zirconium n-butoxide and copper nitrate as precursors. The resulting xerogels are nanocrystalline and exhibit different properties from the corresponding microcrystalline materials. The copper nitrate salt was dissolved and co-gelled in situ at the initial stage of the reaction. The properties of the resulting materials were studied by XRD, FTIR and UV-Vis. The as-prepared samples were amorphous and crystallized to the tetragonal zirconia phase at 400 °C. At temperatures higher than 600 °C, the monoclinic phase was also obtained. No evidence of discrete crystalline copper compounds was observed, consistent with good dispersion of the dopant. Several bands were observed by FTIR in the 4400–3000 cm^–1 region, which diminishes in intensity and shifted to higher wavenumbers with heating. The bandgap energy (E_g) was strongly modulated by the presence of the dopant and heating temperature, with increasing temperature leading to a corresponding decrease in E_g.     

Solute-solvent interactions in micellar electrokinetic chromatography: IV. Characterization of electroosmotic flow and micellar markers

A wide study of the compounds and procedures mostly used to determine the electroosmotic flow (EOF) and micelle elution times has been done in seven different micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) systems. These systems are formed from mixtures of an aqueous buffer with the surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate, lithium dodecyl sulfate, lithium perfluorooctane sulfonate, sodium cholate, sodium deoxycholate, tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. The solvation parameter model has been used to evaluate the usefulness of the compounds studied as EOF or micellar markers in each of the seven MEKC systems. It is demonstrated that methanol, acetonitrile and formamide are the best EOF markers, and that dodecanophenone is the best micellar marker.     

Part two: Analytical optimisation of a procedure for lead detection in milk by means of bismuth-modified screen-printed electrodes

This work reports the optimisation of a new analytical method for lead ion detection in milk; the electrochemical detection scheme is based on the method that was described in Part I [1]. It features the use of a disposable, environmentally friendly bismuth film electrode to replace the traditionally used (toxic) mercury one while here we report an arduous development of sample treatment so that the simple device can be applied as a screening tool in many settings. For this purpose, a milk pre-treatment procedure by means of wet digestion with HCl, HClO₄, and H₂O₂ combined with an ultrasonic treatment was developed. The detection of lead ions in treated milk was then carried out using a disposable screen-printed electrode modified with Nafion^® and an “in situ” bismuth film, with the analysis being performed in anodic stripping voltammetry mode. The analytical method developed allows the detection of milk contaminated with lead ions at a concentration of 20 μg Kg⁻¹ (legal limit) and it can be proposed as a screening method for routine analysis of lead ions in milk with the advantage of employing inexpensive and portable instrumentation. Moreover, dedicated software supported by a portable instrument introduces procedures that are essential to avoid distortion from ambient lead contamination and also makes it possible for an unskilled operator to carry out each step of the analysis.