Engineering Gram Selectivity of Mixed‐Charge Gold Nanoparticles by Tuning the Balance of Surface Charges

Nanoparticles covered with ligand shells comprising both positively and negatively charged ligands exhibit Gram‐selective antibacterial action controlled by a single experimental parameter, namely the proportion of [+] and [?] ligands tethered onto these particles. Gram selectivity is attributed to the interplay between polyvalent electrostatic and non‐covalent interactions that work in unison to disrupt the bacterial cell wall. The [+/?] nanoparticles are effective in low doses, are non‐toxic to mammalian cells, and are tolerated well in mice. These results constitute the first example of rational engineering of Gram selectivity at the (macro)molecular level.     

Customized fastSLAM algorithm: analysis and assessment on real mobile platform

Nonlinear Dynamics - The task of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) allows a mobile robot to localize itself in the unknown environment, while building the map of the surrounding...     

Phenylcopper(I) clusters in the gas phase obtained by laser desorption/ionization from bis(dibenzoylmethane)copper(II)

It has been demonstrated that phenylcopper(I)-containing clusters are generated in the gas phase from bis(dibenzoylmethane) copper(II) (Cu(dbm)₂) by laser desorption/ ionization (LDI) method. For example, the [Cu₅dbm₂(C₆H₅)₂]⁺ ion can be considered as consisting of two Cudbm molecules, two CuC₆H₅ molecules and a Cu⁺ cation. The [Cu₅(C₆H₅)₄]⁺ ion can be considered as phenylcopper(I) cluster (consisting of four phenylcopper molecules) ionized by additional Cu⁺ cation. Results from MS/MS (tandem mass spectrometry) experiments have confirmed the presence of phenylcopper molecules in the analyzed clusters. Ease of preparation of dibenzoylmethane-metal complexes and straightforward method to obtain LDI mass spectra offer a wide range of possibilities to study similar organometallic clusters in the gas phase.      

Headspace single-drop microextraction and GC–ECD determination of chlorpyrifos-ethyl in rat liver

The present work describes a headspace single-drop microextraction (HS-SDME) method in conjunction with gas chromatography electron capture detection (GC–ECD) for the determination of an organophosphate insecticide, chlorpyrifos-ethyl (CPF), in rat liver. Sample preparation included tissue homogenization with methanol in the presence of anhydrous sodium sulfate in order to isolate CPF from the matrix, followed by dilution with 10 mL of 0.1 M H₂SO₄ and headspace microextraction to a 2-μL drop of 1-octanol. The main factors affecting extraction efficiency were optimized [temperature 90 °C, preheating and extraction times of eight and six minutes, respectively, 2 g of (NH₄)₂SO₄, stirring rate of 1000 rpm, 200 μL of methanolic extract]. The method allows for the separation and quantitation of residue levels of CPF in the livers of rats exposed orally to that insecticide. Using internal standardization (with chlorpyrifos-methyl used as an internal standard), the linearity of the method was demonstrated in the range 10–2500 ng g⁻¹ with a correlation coefficient R > 0.996 and a satisfactory level of precision (RSD 3.85%, n = 6). Moreover, the results obtained with the new method do not differ from those obtained with the conventional residue method used in our laboratory. The feasibility of this HS-SDME approach as an equivalent analytical method for the determination of CPF in rat liver that possessess advantages such as low cost, low solvent consumption and high throughput was confirmed. Figure Headspace single-drop microextraction     

Estimation of antioxidant capacity against peroxynitrite and hypochlorite with fluorescein

Peroxynitrite and hypochlorite are oxidants relevant in many pathological situations. We propose a simple spectrofluorometric assay to determine antioxidant capacity against hypochlorite and peroxynitrite based on protection against fluorescein bleaching. The assay can be performed on a microplate and requires minute amounts of material. Standard antioxidants show different reactivities for both oxidants. Antioxidant capacity of fruit bodies of edible mushrooms, tea, coffee and wine estimated as exemplary biological material point to considerable differences in the scavenging capacity of various biological material against hypochlorite, peroxynitrite and peroxyl radicals.