Amperometric monitoring of lactate accumulation in rabbit ischemic myocardium

Fabrication and characterization of miniature, flexible, planar biosensors for monitoring l-lactate accumulation in an ischemic myocardium are described. Three configurations of Au-based electrodes were fabricated by a photolithographic technique on flexible polyimide Kapton((R)) foil. All sensors are based on an immobilized lactate oxidase with amperometric detection of the enzymatically produced hydrogen peroxide at a platinum-electroplated-gold base electrode polarized at 0.5 V versus Ag/AgCl. An inner electropolymeric layer is used to prevent electrode fouling and to reject the interference effects of easily oxidizable molecules. In addition, a diffusion controlling outer layer that greatly enhances the linear dynamic range of the sensor, is obtained by casting a polyurethane external film. The developed sensor was evaluated in vitro and proved to have high selectivity, good operational stability, good accuracy and precision (average recovery = 102.3 +/- 0.4% for control sera), fast response time (t(95) = 20 s) and high upper limit of the linear dynamic range (25-80 mM, with sensitivity of 1.7-0.4 nA mM(-1) respectively at PO(2) = 15 mmHg). Subsequently, the sensor was brought into direct contact with the surface of the rabbit papillary muscle and used for continuous quantitative monitoring of extracellular lactate accumulation during no-flow ischemia.     

Selective kinetic determination of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate with an ammonia gas-sensing electrode

The coenzyme pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) is deiermined by in situ measurement of the rate of ammonia production using a potentiometric gas-sensing membrane electrode. It is shown that the initial rate of ammonia liberation from L-tryptophan by action of tryptophanase apoenzyme and the coenzyme can be linearly related to PLP levels in the nanogram range with minimal interference from related compounds. Calibration data for the 1 × 10^-7–2.5 × 10^-6 M range for PLP yielded a least-squares equation of rate (mV min^-1) = (0.64 ± 0.01) C — 0.01 ± 0.02 with a standard error of 0.02 mV min^-1, where concentration, C, is expressed in units of 10^-7 mol l^-1.     

Challenges in validating the sterilisation dose for processed human amniotic membranes

Most of the tissue banks in the Asia Pacific region have been using ionising radiation at 25 kGy to sterilise human tissues for save clinical usage. Under tissue banking quality system, any dose employed for sterilisation has to be validated and the validation exercise has to be a part of quality document. Tissue grafts, unlike medical items, are not produced in large number per each processing batch and tissues relatively have a different microbial population. A Code of Practice established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2004 offers several validation methods using smaller number of samples compared to ISO 11137 (1995), which is meant for medical products. The methods emphasise on bioburden determination, followed by sterility test on samples after they were exposed to verification dose for attaining of sterility assurance level (SAL) of 10⁻¹. This paper describes our experience in using the IAEA Code of Practice in conducting the validation exercise for substantiating 25 kGy as sterilisation dose for both air-dried amnion and those preserved in 99% glycerol.     

Viscoelasticity,mechanical properties,and in vivo biocompatibility of injectable polyvinyl alcohol/bioactive glass composite hydrogels as potential bone tissue scaffolds

Abstract

An injectable composite hydrogel composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and bioactive glass (BG) particles were synthesized by a physical crosslinking approach. The morphology, mechanical properties, and viscoelasticity of the PVA/BG composite hydrogel were characterized. Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) showed uniform and homogeneous distribution of BG particles throughout the composite hydrogel. The incorporation of 2.5?wt% of BG particles in the composite hydrogel formulations, enhanced the static compressive strength and static elastic modulus by 325% and 150%, respectively. The storage molds (G′) was greater than the loss modules (G′′) at all the frequency range studied, which revealed a self-standing elastic composite hydrogel with a smooth injectability. The PVA/BG composite hydrogel was also implanted subcutaneously in the dorsal region of adult male rats. After 4?weeks of implantation, no inflammatory cells were seen within and around the implant, which indicated that the composite hydrogel was biocompatible. The properties of the synthesized injectable PVA/BG composite hydrogel demonstrate its capability toward bone regeneration.     

Antimalarial activity of n(6)-substituted adenosine derivatives (part 2)

We have investigated the in vitro antimalarial activity of a new series of adenosine derivatives. The results show that N(6)-(1-naphthylmethyl)-5'-deoxy-5'-(amido)adenosines as well as N(6)-(4-phenylbenzyl)-5'-deoxy-5'-(amido)adenosines display significant activity against the malaria-causing parasites, with the sterically demanding bisubstituted species reported being active in most cases in the low-micromolar range. The novel compounds with unusual substitution pattern were obtained applying an efficient convergent polymer-assisted solution-phase (cPASP) synthesis protocol. Thus, we were able to prepare a series of substituted derivatives in parallel that would have been difficult to synthesize by standard techniques. The scope and limitations of the synthetic methodology are discussed.     

Microdetermination of chlorine and bromine in some organic compounds by ion-selective electrodes

Summary The solid state ion-selective chloride and bromide electrodes are used for the microdetermination of chlorine and bromine in organic compounds. After combustion in an oxygen-filled flask, potentiometric titration with silver nitrate at pH 5–7 in presence of 50% dioxan is carried out. Results accurate to ±0.3% absolute are obtained with some partially and highly halogenated compounds.

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Mikrobestimmung von Chlor und Brom in einigen organischen Verbindungen mit Hilfe von ionenselektiven Elektroden

Zusammenfassung Chlorid- und bromidselektive Festkörperelektroden wurden zur Chlor- und Brombestimmung in teilweise bzw. hochhalogenierten organischen Verbindungen benutzt. Nach Verbrennung im Sauerstoffkolben erfolgt eine potentiometrische Titration mit Silbernitrat bei pH 5–7 in Gegenwart von 50% Dioxan. Die erhaltenen Ergebnisse sind auf ±0,3 % genau.

     

Resorcinol - formaldehyde adsorption of cesium from Hanford waste solutions

Batch equilibrium measurements were conducted at 25±2 °C with a granular resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) resin to determine the distribution coefficients (K _d ) for cesium. In the tests, Hanford Site actual waste sample containing radioactive cesium (¹³⁷Cs) and a pretreated waste sample that was spiked with non-radioactive ¹³³Cs were used. Initial concentrations of non-radioactive cesium in the waste sample were varied to generate an equilibrium isotherm for cesium. Majority of the tests were conducted at 25±2 °C using a liquid to solid phase ratio of 100 ml/g and at a contact time of 72 hours. Two additional tests were conducted at a liquid to solid phase ratio of 10 and at contact time of 120 hours. The measured distribution coefficient (K _d ) for radioactive cesium (¹³⁷Cs) was 948 ml/g, the K _d for non-radioactive cesium (¹³³Cs) was 1039 ml/g. The K _d for nonradioactive cesium decreased from 1039 to 691 ml/g with increased initial cesium concentration from 8 to 64 g/ml. Very little change of the K _d was observed at initial cesium concentration above 64 g/ml. The maximum sorption capacity for cesium on granular RF resin was 1.17 mmole/g dry resin. This value was calculated from the fit of the equilibrium isotherm data to the Dubinin-Radushkevich equation. Previously, a total capacity of 2.84 mmole/g was calculated by Bibler and Wallace for air-dried RF resin.This work was conducted at the Savannah River Technology Center in Aiken, SC, which is operated for the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) by Westinghouse Savannah River Company under Contract DE-AC09-96SR18500. The Hanford River Protection Project-Waste Treatment Plant (RPP-WTP) funded this work. The authors are very grateful to Karen Palmer, Betty Mealer, and Yvonne Simpkins for their assistance in the experimental work.     

Composition-controlled synthesis of bimetallic gold-silver nanoparticles

This paper reports findings of an investigation of the synthesis of monolayer-capped binary gold-silver (AuAg) bimetallic nanoparticles that is aimed at understanding the control factors governing the formation of the bimetallic compositions. The synthesis of alkanethiolate-capped AuAg nanoparticles was carried out using two related synthetic protocols using aqueous sodium borohydride as a reducing agent. One involves a two-phase reduction of AuCl(4)(-), which is dissolved in organic solution, and Ag(+), which is dissolved in aqueous solution. The other protocol involves a two-phase reduction of AuCl(4)(-) and AgBr(2)(-), both of which are dissolved in the same organic solution. AuAg nanoparticles of 2-3 nm core sizes with different compositions in the range of 0-100% Au have been synthesized. The two synthetic routes were compared in terms of bimetallic composition and size properties. Our new findings have allowed us to establish the correlation between synthetic feeding of metals and metal compositions in the bimetallic nanoparticles, which have important implications to the exploration of gold-based bimetallic nanoparticles for constructing sensing and catalytic nanomaterials.     

Synergism in the solvent extraction of samarium by thenoyltrifluoroacetone and triphenyl or trioctyl phosphine oxide mixture

Synergistic extraction of samarium with TTA(HA) and TPPO or TOPO (B) mixtures were investigated. The extracted complex was proved to have the general formula SmA₃ · 2B. A graphical determination for the formation constants of these complexes gave the values 3.9 × 10¹³ and 8.2 × 10¹⁰ for SmA₃ · 2TOPO and SmA₃ · 2TPPO in benzene, respectively.     

Alkenyl selenols and selenocyanates: synthesis, spectroscopic characterization by photoelectron spectroscopy, and quantum chemical study

Vinyl, allyl, and homoallyl selenols were easily prepared by a chemoselective reduction of the corresponding selenocyanates with aluminum hydrides. Two stable vinyl and five stable allyl conformers of both series were predicted on the potential-energy surface. The interaction of SeH or SeCN groups with the vinyl group has been investigated with UV photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations, using the MP2/cc-pVTZ and B3LYP/cc-pVTZ levels. In the vinyl derivatives, a surprisingly strong direct conjugation of the selenium lone electron pair and the C=C double bond was observed. On the other hand, in allyl position the selenium lone pair is independent on the C=C double bond, and the hyperconjugation between the Se-C bond and the double bond is the ruling effect. Thus is clarified the type and extent of the interaction between the SeH or SeCN group and the unsaturated moiety.