Ultra-sensitive detection of bacterial toxin with silicon nanowire transistor

Nanowire field effect transistors (nano-FET) were lithographically fabricated using 50 nm doped polysilicon nanowires attached to two small gold terminals separated from each other by a approximately 150 nm gap to serve as the basis for electronic detection of bacteria toxins. The device characterizations, semiconducting properties and use in a robust and sensitive bio-molecular detection sensor of bacterial toxins were reported in this work. The device characteristics were demonstrated with varying gate and drain voltages. The bio-molecular detection was demonstrated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), using Staphylococcus aureus Enterotoxin B (SEB) as the target molecule. The detection limit of SEB was observed in the range of 10-35 fM.     

High-performance thin-layer chromatography densitometric method for the simultaneous determination of three phenolic acids in Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry

A simple, precise, and rapid high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of 3 phenolic acids, i.e., gallic acid, caffeic acid, and syringic acid, in the dried buds of Syzygium aromaticum, commonly known as clove. HPTLC was performed on silica gel 60F254 plates with toluene-ethyl acetate-formic acid (8 + 2 + 1) mobile phase and densitometric scanning at 280 nm. The method was validated for selectivity, linearity, precision, and repeatability. Instrumental precision coefficient of variation (CV) was 0.88, 0.93, and 0.98% and repeatability of the method (CV) was 0.76, 0.64, and 0.69% for gallic acid, caffeic acid, and syringic acid, respectively. The linear concentration ranges were 400-3200 ng/spot with a correlation coefficient of 0.993 for gallic acid, 440-3520 ng/spot with a correlation coefficient of 0.994 for caffeic acid, and 400-4000 ng/spot with a correlation coefficient of 0.993 for syringic acid. The average recoveries of gallic acid, caffeic acid, and syringic acid were 96.3, 95.7, and 92.4%, respectively. Gallic acid, caffeic acid, and syringic acid were present at levels of 1.58, 0.06, and 0.05% (w/w), respectively, in S. aromaticum. This method is simple, accurate, precise, and economical and can be used for routine quality control.     

DNA detection on lateral flow test strips: enhanced signal sensitivity using LNA-conjugated gold nanoparticles

A lateral flow test strip assay, enabling sensitive detection of DNA specific to the foodborne pathogen E. coli O157:H7, is described. The use of LNA-conjugated gold nanoparticle probes, along with signal amplification protocols, results in minimum detectable concentrations of ~0.4 nM.     

Synthesis and anticancer activity studies of alpha-aminoalkylated conjugated nitroalkenes

Novel alpha-aminoalkylated conjugated nitroalkenes which inhibit human cervical cancer (HeLa) cell proliferation by binding to tubulin were synthesized by imidazole/LiCl-mediated reaction of conjugated nitroalkenes with N-tosylimines.     

Biosorption of copper(II) from aqueous solutions by Spirogyra species

Batch studies were conducted to investigate the kinetics and isotherms of Cu(II) biosorption on the biomass of green alga Spirogyra species. It is observed that the biosorption capacity of the biomass strongly depends on pH and algal dose. The maximum biosorption capacity of 133.3 mg Cu(II)/g of dry weight of biomass was observed at an optimum pH of 5 in 120 min with an algal dose of 20 g/L. Desorption studies were conducted with 133.3 mg/g of Cu(II) loaded biomass using different desorption agents including HCl, EDTA, H2SO4, NaCl, and H2O. The maximum desorption of 95.3% was obtained with HCl in 15 min. The results indicate that with the advantages of high metal biosorption capacity and satisfactory recovery of Cu(II), Spirogyra can be used as an efficient and economic biosorbent material for the removal and recovery of toxic heavy metals from polluted water.     

Immobilization and Activation of a Single‐Site Chromium Catalyst for Ethylene Polymerization using MgCl2/AlRn(OEt)3 − n Supports

Summary: The effective immobilization and activation of a single‐site chromium catalyst for ethylene polymerization has been achieved using MgCl₂/AlR_n(OEt)_{3 − n} supports, without the use of methylaluminoxane (MAO) or a borate activator. High catalyst activity and a spherical polyethylene‐particle morphology is obtained. Furthermore, the single‐site characteristics of the catalyst are retained, the narrow molecular weight distribution of the polymers obtained are apparent from gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and confirmed by rheological characterization.

Shear frequency dependence of the storage modulus of (♦ and ▴) polyethylene ( = 1.8–1.9) prepared using an immobilized Cr catalyst, compared to (▪) a reference polymer having = 4.1.     

Polymer crystallisation: Role of metastability and the confluence of thermodynamic and kinetic factors

Consideration is given to the effect of size on the thermodynamic stability in situations where two or more phase variants compete in the course of a phase transformation. It is found that, pending on material parameters, a situation can arise where the stabilities of the competing phases invert with size. Such a size induced stability inversion can have a profound influence on phase development in general connecting also with the kinetics of the phase transformation. Specifically, this newly considered combination of interrelated thermodynamic (stability) and kinetic (rates) factors can provide an explanation for the frequently experienced dominance of metastable phases (the century old Ostwald Stage Rule). When applied to polymers, as in the example of polyethylene, it provides a new outlook for polymer crystallisation. Amongst others it creates a unified approach for the two, so far largely disconnected areas of chain folded and extended chain type crystallisation incorporating (not contradicting!) existing approaches within a widened framework.     

Linear sweep voltammetry of 9-β- -ribofuranosyluric acid 5′-monophosphate in aqueous and micellar media

Linear sweep voltammetric behaviour of 9-β- -ribofuranosyluric acid 5′-monophosphate (UA-9R-5′-P) has been studied in phosphate buffers of pH 3.0 and 7.0 at the pyrolytic graphite electrode in aqueous and micellar media. At pH 3.0 in the presence of non-ionic and anionic surfactants, UA-9R-5′-P exhibited a single well-defined 2e, 2H⁺ oxidation peak, whereas in the presence of cationic surfactant (CTAB) the oxidation peak I_a showed a tendency to split into two peaks indicating that the 2e, 2H⁺ oxidation of UA-9R-5′-P in peak I_a reaction occurs in two 1e steps. The effect of cationic surfactant at pH 3.0 is explained on the basis of hydrophobic penetration of cationic species in cationic micelles. The products of electrode reaction in micellar medium were found as alloxan, urea and ribosyl phosphate at pH 3.0 and ribose, allantoin and 5-hydroxyhydantoin 5-carboxamide at pH 7.0 and were similar to those observed in aqueous media.     

A method for the analysis of intermediates of oxidative hair dyes in cosmetic products

A method has been developed and validated for the analysis of some commonly used intermediates of oxidative hair dyes: phenylenediamines, toluenediamines, aminophenols, 1-Naphthol, resorcinol, and hydroquinone. The target analytes are ion-paired prior to HPLC analysis with gradient elution employing phosphate buffer-acetonitrile as mobile phase and detection in the wavelength range 220–400 nm by a photodiode array detector. A spectral-library, consisting of 220–400 nm spectra of the target substances and their HPLC retention times, has been prepared for the identification. A method of sample preparation was established and applied to the analysis of a series of cosmetic formulations for hair dyeing. The method has been found to be suitable for routine analysis of the target intermediates of oxidative hair dyes, and it may also be suitable for the analysis of some non-target intermediates of these substances.     

A Study on the ordering of intercalated solvents in poly-benzyl-l-glutamate; In-situ raman and X-ray scattering investigations

A polymer/solvent system can form a gel due to specific interactions between the polymer and the solvent. For poly-benzyl-L-glutamate/solvent systems, gelation can be based on carbonyl or phenyl ring interactions, depending on the solvent. The present paper describes X-ray scattering and Raman investigations on cast films of poly-benzyl-L-glutamate (PBLG) and benzylmethacrylate (BzMA). The studies indicate that in the cast samples separate zones of PBLG and BzMA are present. Upon heating, the system homogenises and the PBLG molecules pack in a pseudo hexagonal lattice. At approximately 150°C a new reflection at 11.4 Å in the WAXS pattern arises. This reflection is attributed to structural ordering of the solvent, due to intercalation of the solvent molecules within the helices of PBLG. The observed changes in the WAXS pattern upon heating are supported by Raman experiments.