A microfluidic-based enzymatic assay for bioactivity screening combined with capillary liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry

The design and implementation of a continuous-flow microfluidic assay for the screening of (complex) mixtures for bioactive compounds is described. The microfluidic chip featured two microreactors (1.6 and 2.4 microL) in which an enzyme inhibition and a substrate conversion reaction were performed, respectively. Enzyme inhibition was detected by continuously monitoring the products formed in the enzyme-substrate reaction by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). In order to enable the screening of mixtures of compounds, the chip-based assay was coupled on-line to capillary reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with the HPLC column being operated either in isocratic or gradient elution mode. In order to improve the detection limits of the current method, sample preconcentration based on a micro on-line solid-phase extraction column was employed. The use of electrospray MS allowed the simultaneous detection of chemical (MS spectra) and biological parameters (enzyme inhibition) of ligands eluting from the HPLC column. The present system was optimized and validated using the protease cathepsin B as enzyme of choice. Inhibition of cathepsin B is detected by monitoring three product traces, obtained by cleavage of the substrate. The two microreactors provided 32 and 36 s reaction time, respectively, which resulted in sufficient assay dynamics to enable the screening of bioactive compounds. The total flow rate was 4 microL min-1, which a 25-fold decrease was compared with a macro-scale system described earlier. Detection limits of 0.17-2.6 micromol L-1 were obtained for the screening of inhibitors, which is comparable to either microtiter plate assays or continuous-flow assays described in the literature.     

Infrared study of anion-water interactions in dichloromethane

The binding energy and number of anion-water interactions were investigated by infrared spectroscopy in aqueous CH₂Cl₂ solutions containing salts and cryptands. In these solutions the frequency of the bound OH vibration and the H-bond energy both correlate linearly (Badger-Bauer rule) and are of the same order of magnitude as those in water-organic H-bond acceptor systems. The frequency shift of the OH vibration and the H-bond energy both show an anion dependence which increases in the order: $$ClO_4^ - {\text{ }}<< {\text{ NO}}_{\text{3}}^ - \lesssim I^ -< {\text{ SCN}}^ - {\text{ }}< {\text{ }}Cl^{ - {\text{ }}} \lesssim CO_3^2 {\text{ }} \lesssim F^ -$$ to 340 cm^?1 and 17.2 kJ-mol^?1 of H-bonds, respectively, when compared to H₂O-CH₂Cl₂ interactions. Anion-water H-bond energies agree with the results of computer simulations and heats of hydration. This indicates that an H-bond may be regarded as an interaction between an acid H-atom and a partial charge-whether the H-bond acceptor is formally charged or not (anion or organic base). The magnitude of water-anion interaction energies show a similar order as is found for water interactions.     

Photoinduced electron transfer between metal-coordinated cyclodextrin assemblies and viologens

Two novel tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complexes bearing two and six beta-cyclodextrin binding sites on their ligands have been synthesised and characterised. Complex 1, bearing two cyclodextrins, adopts a conformation in aqueous solution where parts of the aromatic ligands are self-included into the cyclodextrin moieties. This results in a loss of symmetry of the complex and gives rise to a much more complicated 1H NMR spectrum than expected. Photophysical studies indicate that the appended cyclodextrins protect the luminescent ruthenium core from quenching by oxygen, which results in longer excited state lifetimes and higher emission quantum yields compared with the reference compound, the unsubstituted ruthenium tris(bipyridine). Inclusion of suitable guests such as dialkyl-viologens leads to a quenching of the luminescence of the central unit. In these supramolecular donor-acceptor dyads an efficient photoinduced electron transfer from the excited ruthenium moiety (the donor) to the viologen unit (the acceptor) is observed. The alkyl chain length of the acceptor plays an important role on the binding properties; when it exceeds a certain limit the binding becomes strong enough for electron transfer to occur. Interestingly, a viologen with only one long alkyl tail instead of two shows no efficient quenching; this indicates that cooperative interactions between two cyclodextrins binding one viologen are essential to raise the binding constant of the supramolecular dyad.     

The Use of SIMS, SEM, EPMA, LRS and X-Ray Diffraction Measurements for the Examination of Corrosive Layers and Protective Coatings on Steels and Alloys in Advanced Power Stations

The development of modern power generation systems with higher thermal efficiency requires the use of constructional materials of higher strength and improved resistance to the aggressive service atmospheres. In this paper the following examples are discussed:1) The oxidation behaviour of 9% (w/w) Cr steels in simulated combustion gases: the effects of O₂ and H₂O content on the oxidation behaviour of 9% (w/w) Cr steels in the temperature range of 600–800°C showed that in dry oxygen a protective scale was formed with an oxidation rate controlled by diffusion. However, in the presence of water vapour, after an incubation period, the scale became non-protective as a result of a change in the oxidation mechanism.Oxidation experiments on 10% (w/w) Cr steel in simulated steam atmosphere at 650°C have shown that a haematite layer is formed. The investigation suggests that several independent processes, such as oxide dissociation and solid state diffusion of iron cations in the scale, significantly contribute to the overall oxide growth process.2) The development of light-weight intermetallics based on TiAl-basis: TiAl-based intermetallics are promising materials for future turbine components because of their combination of high temperature strength and low density. These alloys, however, exhibits poor oxidation resistance at temperatures above 700°C. The experimental results showed that the oxidation behaviour of TiAl-based intermetallics can be significantly improved by minor additions of 1–2 at-% silver.     

Biosensor immunoassays for the detection of bisphenol A

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a xenoestrogen found in the environment, in consequence, for the biosensor detection of BPA we raised antibodies (polyclonal (PAbs) and monoclonal (MAbs)) against a structural analogue of BPA, 4,4 bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl) valeric acid (BVA). The kinetics of the MAb-BPA interaction were evaluated and the MAb providing the highest affinity was directly immobilized onto the sensor chip surface to evaluate a direct assay. Afterwards, the performance of the MAbs and the PAbs was compared in an inhibition assay using a BVA-coated chip.The highest sensitivity (limit of detection (LOD) of 0.4 μg L⁻¹) was obtained with MAb 12 in the direct assay. However, the inhibition assay was the most robust and the PAbs showed the highest sensitivity (LOD of 0.5-1 μg L⁻¹). The antibodies were specific for BVA and BPA as only minor cross-reactivities were found toward structurally related compounds or other endocrine disruptors. In the inhibition assay (with a run time of 6 min), water samples spiked with BPA at different levels (0.5-50 μg L⁻¹) resulted in recoveries varying between 68% and 121%. The sensitivity of the inhibition assay could be improved 40 times (LOD of 0.03 μg L⁻¹ with the Mab 12-based assay) using solid phase extraction (SPE).     

Mikrogravimetrische Bestimmung von Gold als Dekamethonium-Tetrabromoaurat(III)

Zusammenfassung Die mikrogravimetrische Bestimmung von Gold als Bis(trimethyl)-dekamethylendiammoniumtetrabromoaurat(III) [(CH₃)₃N-(CH₂)₁₀-N(CH₃)₃] [AuBr₄]₂ erlaubt die Erfassung von 700g Au neben 200fachen Überschüssen an Cu²⁺ und Ni²⁺ sowie 50fachen Mengen anderer Übergangsmetalle.

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Summary The microgravimetric determination of gold as bis-(trimethyl) decamethylenediammoniumtetrabromaurate(III) [(CH₃)₃N-(CH₂)₁₀-N(CH₃)₃] [AuBr₄]₂ permits the determination of 700g Au in the presence of 200-fold excesses of Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ as well as 50-fold amounts of other transition metals.

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Résumé Le microdosage gravimétrique de l'or à l'état de tétrabromoaurate-III de bis(triméthyl)décaméthylènediammonium [(CH₃)₃N-(CH₂)₁₀-N(CH₃)₃] [AuBr₄]₂ permet de descendre jusqu'à 700g Au en présence d'un excès de 200 fois Cu²⁺ et Ni²⁺ et d'une quantité 50 fois plus grande des autres métaux de transition.

     

Understanding the contrast mechanism in scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images of an intermixed tetraphenylporphyrin layer on Ag(111)

The appearance of tetraphenylporphyrins in scanning tunneling micrographs depends strongly on the applied bias voltage. Here, we report the observation and identification of certain features in scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images of intermixed layers of tetraphenylporphyrin (2HTPP) and cobalt-tetraphenylporphyrin (CoTPP) on Ag(111). A significant fraction of an ordered monolayer of commercially available CoTPP appears as "pits" at negative bias voltages around -1 V. The obvious possibility that these pits are missing molecules within the ordered layer could be ruled out by imaging the molecules at reduced bias voltages, at which the contrast of the pits fades, and at positive bias voltages around +1 V, at which the image contrast is inverted. With the investigation of the electronic structure, in particular the density of states (DOS) close to the Fermi level, of CoTPP and 2HTPP layers by means of ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS), the contrast mechanism was clarified. The correlation of the bias dependent contrast with the UPS data enabled us to interpret the "pits" as individual 2HTPP molecules. Additional evidence could be provided by imaging layers of different mixtures of 2HTPP and CoTPP and by high-resolution STM imaging of the features in CoTPP.     

Size Effects at Corners of Anisotropic Material Discontinuities

Reinforcement patches of composite laminates often possess corners due to design and manufacturing necessities. Hence, the patches reconstitute the demanded effective strength or stiffness in the region considered but at their boundaries also constitute a source for stress localizations. The complex potential method is a means for the investigation of such stress localizations. With the help of appropriate complex potentials the mechanical in-plane fields around the reinforcement corner can be expressed as series representations. A first analysis step is to obtain the exponents and corresponding modes which cause singular behavior of the membrane forces. Then, the determination of appropriately defined generalized membrane force intensity factors is used to show whether and how the singularity exponents are in effect. On this basis it is possible to deduce what impact a specific loading condition or the reinforcement corner's material combination and geometry have on the character of the singularity. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Universal state-selective corrections to multi-reference coupled-cluster theories with single and double excitations

The recently proposed universal state-selective (USS) corrections [K. Kowalski, J. Chem. Phys. 134, 194107 (2011)] to approximate multi-reference coupled-cluster (MRCC) energies can be commonly applied to any type of MRCC theory based on the Jeziorski-Monkhorst [B. Jeziorski and H. J. Monkhorst, Phys. Rev. A 24, 1668 (1981)] exponential ansatz. In this paper we report on the performance of a simple USS correction to the Brillouin-Wigner and Mukherjee's MRCC approaches employing single and double excitations (USS-BW-MRCCSD and USS-Mk-MRCCSD). It is shown that the USS-BW-MRCCSD correction, which employs the manifold of single and double excitations, can be related to a posteriori corrections utilized in routine BW-MRCCSD calculations. In several benchmark calculations we compare the USS-BW-MRCCSD and USS-Mk-MRCCSD results with the results obtained with the full configuration interaction method.     

Direct Dynamic Protein-Affinity Selection Mass-Spectrometry

Mobile phase chromatographic conditions for the selective separation of metoprolol from related amino alcohols have been evaluated using Hypercarb as support and carbon dioxide with addition of methanol as mobile phase. The objective for the presented study was to show the unique ability of the porous graphitized carbon surface to separate closely structurally related substances. Experimental results, using Hypercarb and “chromatographic normal phase conditions” (SFC), are presented with focus on how to control retention and to improve peak performance. A high concentration of basic aliphatic amine additive was required in order to elute the amine analytes as symmetrical peaks. N,N-Dimethyloctylamine was preferred over triethylamine since the retention was markedly shorter though the selectivity and resolution were virtually the same. The selectivity can be optimized by altering the temperature of the column. A high selectivity was demonstrated between metoprolol and two homologues with one and two extra methylene groups inserted between the secondary nitrogen atom and the carbon atom with a hydroxyl group attached. The mobile phase flow rate effect the column efficiency only to a minor extent as the steepness of the van Deemter curve for metoprolol was virtually flat in the range studied: 0.5–3.0 mL min^?1.