Preface

Owing to the fast economic growing and the concern over greenhouse gases and air pollution,the development of nuclear energy is one important option to meet the expanded energy consumption in our future.To achieve that goal,continuing and reliable supplies of uranium are critical to future nuclear power projects.As is well known,global terrestrial reserves of uranium are limited and the deposits in China are relatively small.Given the projected big growth in nuclear power in the future,reliable supply of uranium at a reasonable price is essential for China.     

Highly conducting gold nanoparticles-graphene nanohybrid films for ultrasensitive detection of carcinoembryonic antigen

A new label-free amperometric immunosensor was developed for detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) based on chitosan-ferrocene (CS-Fc) and nano-TiO₂ (CS-Fc + TiO₂) complex film and gold nanoparticles-graphene (Au-Gra) nanohybrid. CS-Fc + TiO₂ composite membrane was first modified on a bare glass carbon electrode. Then Au-Gra nanohybrid was formed on the CS-Fc + TiO₂ membrane by self-assembly strategy. Next, further immobilization of anti-CEA was constructed according to the strong interaction between Au-Gra and the amido groups of anti-CEA. Since Au-Gra nanohybrid films provided a congenial microenvironment for the immobilization of biomolecules, the surface coverage of antibody protein could be enhanced and the sensitivity of the immunosensor has been improved. The good electronic conductive characteristic might be attributed to the synergistic effect of graphene nanosheets and Au NPs. The modified process was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Under optimized conditions, the resulting biosensor displayed good amperometric response to CEA with linear range from 0.01 to 80 ng/mL and a detection limit of 3.4 pg/mL (signal/noise = 3). The results demonstrated that the immunosensor has advantages of high conduction, sensitivity, and long life time. This assay approach showed a great potential in clinical applications and detection of low level proteins.     

A novel immunosensor for carcinoembryonic antigen based on poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) protected prussian blue nanoparticles and double-layer nanometer-sized gold particles

A highly sensitive amperometric immunosensor has been developed for the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). It is based on (a) Prussian Blue nanoparticles coated with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (P-PB) and (b) double-layer gold nanocrystals. The sensor was obtained by first electrodepositing porous gold nanocrystals on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE), and then by modifying the electrode with the coated P-PB. Subsequently, colloidal gold nanoparticles (nano-Au) were adsorbed onto the GCE by electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged nano-Au and the positively charged P-PB to immobilize CEA antibodies. Finally, bovine serum albumin was employed to block possible remaining active sites and to prevent the non-specific adsorption on the nano-Au. This immunosensor was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and scanning electron microscopy. The working range was adjusted to two concentration ranges, viz. from 0.5 to 10 ng.mL^?1, and from 10 to 120 ng.mL^?1 of CEA, with a detection limit of 0.2 ng.mL^?1 at three times the background noise.     

Amine-terminated organosilica nanosphere functionalized prussian blue for the electrochemical detection of glucose

A new glucose biosensor had been developed by immobilizing positively charged gold nanoparticles (PGNs) on organosilica nanosphere functionalized prussian blue (OSiFPB)-modified gold electrode. The OSiFPB compound could not only effectively prevent the leakage of the PB mediator during measurements, but also easily form stable film on the electrode surface with efficient redox-activity and excellent conductivity. Furthermore, with the negatively charged surface of OSiFPB, this film could be used as an interface to adsorb the PGNs, which provided a congenial microenvironment for adsorbing biomolecules and decreased the electron-transfer impedance. So, with glucose oxidase as a model biomolecular, the proposed sensor showed rapid and highly sensitive amperometric response to glucose and this immobilization approach effectively improved the stability of the electron-transfer mediator. This work would be promising for construction of biosensor and bioelectronic devices.     

A novel cyclopentene derivative and a polyhydroxylated steroid from a South China Sea gorgonian Menella sp

A chemical investigation on a South China Sea gorgonian, Menella sp. resulted in the isolation and elucidation of menellin A (1), a highly oxygenated racemate with C(8) skeleton, and a polyhydroxylated steroid, menellsteroid C (2), along with eight known compounds (3-10). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by means of MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra, and the relative stereochemistry of 1 was determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis. In addition, compound 7 was isolated as a new natural product. Compounds 1-3 and 7 were selected to test the anti-inflammatory inhibition against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 macrophages. 1 and 3 exhibited modest inhibitory effects with IC(50) of 71.3, 33.9 μM, respectively, compared to the positive control aminoguanidine (IC(50) 25.0 μM).     

Enzyme biosensor based on the immobilization of HRP on SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/BSA/Au composite nanoparticles

In this work, an enzyme biosensor based on the immobilization of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) on SiO₂/BSA/Au/thionine/nafion-modified gold electrode was fabricated successfully. Firstly, nafion was dropped on the surface of the gold electrode to form a nafion film followed by chemisorption of thionine (Thi) as an electron mediator via the ion-exchange interaction between the Thi and nafion. Subsequently, the SiO₂/BSA/Au composite nanoparticles were assembled onto Thi film through the covalent bounding with the amino groups of Thi. Finally, HRP was immobilized on the SiO₂/BSA/Au composite nanoparticles due to the covalent conjugation to construct an enzyme biosensor. The surface topographies of the SiO₂/BSA/Au composite nanoparticles were investigated by using scanning electronic microscopy. The stepwise self-assemble procedure of the biosensor was further characterized by means of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The enzyme biosensor showed high sensitivity, good stability and selectivity, a wide linear response to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the range of 8.0 × 10^-6 ∼ 3.72 × 10^-3 mol/L, with a detection limit of 2.0 × 10^-6 mol/L. The Michaelies-Menten constant K_M^app K_M^{app} value was estimated to be 2.3 mM.     

Iron-catalyzed highly regio- and stereoselective conjugate addition of 2,3-allenoates with Grignard reagents

An efficient highly regio- and stereoselective iron-catalyzed conjugate addition of 2,3-allenoates with primary or secondary alkyl, phenyl, or vinyl Grignard reagents to synthesize multi-substituted beta,gamma-unsaturated enoates has been reported. The in situ formed magnesium dienolate may readily react with different electrophilic reagents to construct an allylic quaternary carbon at the alpha-position of the ester group.     

A study on the chiral recognition mechanism of enantioseparation of adrenaline and its analogues using capillary electrophoresis

The purpose of this paper was to study the chiral recognition mechanism of enantioseparation of adrenaline and its analogues using capillary electrophoresis. The enantiomeric separation of adrenaline and its analogues has been developed using beta-cyclodextrins as the chiral selectors. All the tested compounds were separated under the same experimental conditions to study the chiral recognition mechanisms, using a low-pH buffer (50 mM Tris buffer at pH 2.5). By means of molecular docking the inclusion course between beta-cyclodextrins and enantiomers was investigated and thus the interaction energy was obtained by molecular mechanics calculations. The results suggest that the difference in interaction energy for the side chain part is most likely responsible for enantiomeric separation.     

Probing traces of hydrogen peroxide by use of a biosensor based on mediator-free DNA and horseradish peroxidase immobilized on silver nanoparticles

A new electrochemical biosensor for determination of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) has been developed by immobilizing horseradish peroxidase (HRP) on silver colloids (nanosilver) and use of a DNA-functionalized interface. In the presence of the DNA and the nanosilver the immobilized HRP gives a pair of well-defined redox peaks with an electron-transfer rate constant of 3.27 ± 0.91 s⁻¹ in pH 7.0 PBS. The presence of DNA also provides a biocompatible microenvironment for enzyme molecules, greatly amplifies the amount of HRP molecules immobilized on the electrode surface, and improves the sensitivity of the biosensor. Under optimum conditions the biosensor has electrocatalytic activity in the reduction of hydrogen peroxide with linear dependence on H₂O₂ concentration in the range 1.5 × 10⁻⁶ to 2.0 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹; the detection limit is 5.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The value of HRP in the composite membrane was found to be 1.62 mmol L⁻¹. These results suggest that the properties of the complex film, with its bioelectrochemical catalytic activity, could make it useful for development of bioelectronic devices and for investigation of protein electrochemistry at functional interfaces.     

Chemical speciation study of platinum metals and other siderophile elements in Precambrian/Cambrian black shale, south China

Chemical speciation of platinum metals and some other siderophile elements in Precambrian/Cambrian black shale, south China, were studied using stepwise dissolution, fire assay preconcentration, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and instrumental neutron activation analysis. The results indicate that platinum metals in Precambrian/Cambrian black shale, south China, are enriched through a syngenetical mineralizing process.