A single-bead analysis on a disk-shaped microfluidic device using an antigen-immobilized bead.

A disk-shaped microfluidic device (lab-on-a-Disk) was developed to allow the evaluation of mental stress. As a standard sample, secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), which is a candidate marker of mental stress, was measured by a heterogeneous enzyme immunoassay (EIA) on the lab-on-a-Disk. Centrifugal force provided a microfluidic control on the lab-on-a-Disk. We examined the relationship between the rotational speed, the channel profile, and the position of the microfluidic chambers from the center of rotation to manipulate sample solutions into each reaction reservoir through microchannels sequentially, i.e., retain in a reservoir or flow into a subsequent reservoir. A single glass bead with immobilized sIgA on its surface was injected into a reservoir for a competitive antigen-antibody reaction, and applied to a specific surface in a heterogeneous assay. It is expected that the lab-on-a-Disk would be suitable for miniaturization and automation of the processes in EIA compared with a conventional EIA using a titer plate.     

Quantitative analysis of trace lead in tin-base lead-free solder by laser-induced plasma spectroscopy in air at atmospheric pressure.

A quantitative analysis of trace lead in tin-base lead-free solder was carried out with laser-induced plasma spectroscopy (LIPS). In order to evaluate the applicability of the technique for rapid in situ analytical purposes, measurements were performed in air at atmospheric pressure, and the emission characteristics of the plasma produced by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser over a laser energy range of 10 - 90 mJ were investigated using time-resolved spectroscopy. The experimental results showed that the emission intensity of the analysis line (Pb I 405.78 nm) was maximized at a laser energy of around 30 mJ, and a time-resolved measurement of a spectrum with a delay time of 0.4 micros after the laser pulse was effective for reducing the background continuum. Based on the results, lead-free solder certified reference materials were analyzed for trace lead (concentration 174 - 1940 ppm), and a linear calibration curve was obtained with a detection limit of several tens ppm.     

High-throughput nitric oxide assay in biological fluids using microchip capillary electrophoresis

In order to develop a high-throughput screening method for the nitrogen monoxide metabolites, nitrite and nitrate, in biological fluids, we have investigated the simultaneous determination of these metabolites using microchip capillary electrophoresis (MCE). In this study, the control of applied voltage to obtain higher sensitivity by increasing the sample injection volume was investigated. Also, the improvement of reproducibility by correcting the injection volume using the internal standard was investigated. By increasing the sample volume, the limits of detection achieved for nitrite and nitrate were 24 and 12 microM, respectively. Because we used a 10-fold diluted sample when detecting nitrite and nitrate in human serum, it was necessary to increase the sensitivity by a factor of 10-50. The run-to-run and day-to-day relative standard deviations achieved were improved to less than 10% by using an internal standard to correct the injection volume. Moreover, we obtained successful separation of nitrite and nitrate in spiked human serum within 6.5 s under optimum analytical conditions. As a result, although it is necessary to obtain greater sensitivity, it was concluded that determination of the amount of NO metabolites in biological fluids using MCE is possible.     

Synthesis of a novel dicyano abietane analogue: a potential antiinflammatory agent

From a structure-activity relationship perspective, the new abietane 5 having cyano groups at C-2 and C-13 and a phenolic ring C has been synthesized and evaluated biologically because the related compound 4 has high potency in inflammation models in vitro and in vivo. Compound 5 was synthesized from 8, which was obtained in five steps from the known compound 9, via an unexpected aromatization caused by the addition of PhSeCl and subsequent oxidation/elimination of the selenated intermediate 14 with H2O2.     

Synthetic study on α(2→8)-linked oligosialic acid employing 1,5-lactamization as a key step

An attempt to synthesize α(2→8)-linked oligosialic acid utilizing a 1,5-lactamized sialyl acceptor is described. 1,5-Lactamization was experimentally proven to proceed only for α-sialoside, which was integrated into the synthetic cycle of oligosialic acid as a chemical sorting step to collect the desired α-sialoside and as a transformation step to produce a reactive sialyl acceptor for the next sialylation. Lactamized oligosialyl acceptors served as favorable coupling partners for sialylation, providing high stereoselectivities and high yields.     

Synthesis and electrophoretic deposition of high-dielectric-constant SrTiO3 nanoparticles

We have investigated on the synthesis of SrTiO₃ nanoparticles whose bulk exhibits dielectric constant of 300, and their colloidal dispersion. As a result, we successfully synthesized SrTiO₃ nanoparticles with an average diameter of 134–485 nm measured by a scanning electron microscopic observation. The SrTiO₃ nanoparticles with a negative charge (ζ = −25 to −31 mV) can be dispersed as colloidal nanoparticles in water, and the average diameter in the dispersion were 138–356 nm measured by a dynamic light scattering technique. The colloidal dispersion of SrTiO₃ nanoparticles is promising for fabrication of low-voltage organic field-effect transistors (FETs) by a wet-processing fabrication. We have also successfully prepared SrTiO₃ films with a thickness of 1–10 μm on n-doped silicon substrates by an electrophoretic deposition technique. The SrTiO₃ films on the silicon substrates are likely used as dielectric gate insulator to low-voltage organic FETs after a sintering treatment.     

Total Synthesis of Rapamycin

Rapamycin (1) is a macrocyclic natural product, established as a potent immunosuppressant and currently of interest to the scientific community as the framework for a series of novel anticancer drugs. Extensive studies have culminated in a new convergent total synthesis of 1 , which features a number of group‐derived methodologies and an unusual catechol‐templating strategy for the construction of the challenging macrocyclic core.