Three-dimensional molecular mapping of a multiple emulsion by means of CARS microscopy

Multiple emulsions consisting of water droplets dispersed in an oil phase containing emulsifier which is emulsified in an outer water phase (W/O/W) are of great interest in pharmacology for developing new drugs, in the nutrition sciences for designing functional food, and in biology as model systems for cell organelles such as liposomes. In the food industry multiple emulsions with high sugar content in the aqueous phase can be used for the production of sweets, because the high sugar content prevents deterioration. However, for these emulsions the refractive indexes of oil and aqueous phase are very similar. This seriously impedes the analysis of these emulsions, e.g., for process monitoring, because microscopic techniques based on transmission or reflection do not provide sufficient contrast. We have characterized the inner dispersed phase of concentrated W/O/W emulsions with the same refractive index of the three phases by micro Raman spectroscopy and investigated the composition and molecular distribution in water-oil-water emulsions by means of three-dimensional laser scanning CARS (coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering) microscopy. CARS microscopy has been used to study water droplets dispersed in oil droplets at different Raman resonances to visualize different molecular species. Water droplets with a diameter of about 700 nm could clearly be visualized. The advantages of CARS microscopy for studying this particular system are emphasized by comparing this microscopic technique with conventional confocal reflection and transmission microscopies.     

Polypyrrole/copper hexacyanoferrate hybrid as redox mediator for glucose biosensors

A copper containing Prussian Blue analogue was incorporated into a conducting polypyrrole film. The modified electrode was synthesized through an electrochemical two-step methodology leading to very stable and homogeneous hybrid films. These electrodes were proved to show excellent catalytic properties towards H₂O₂ detection, with a performance higher than those observed for Prussian Blue and other analogues. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy experiments demonstrated that the excellent performance of these hybrid films is strongly related to the electronic conductivity of the polymeric matrix that is wiring the copper hexacyanoferrate sites. A glucose biosensor was built-up by the immobilization of glucose oxidase; the sensitivity obtained being higher than other biosensors reported in the literature even in Na⁺ containing electrolytes.     

Thermochemical study of two anhydrous polymorphs of caffeine

The mean values of the standard massic energy of combustion of caffeine in phase I (or alpha) and in phase II (or beta) measured by static-bomb combustion calorimetry in oxygen, at T = 298.15 K, are Δ_cu^° (C₈H₁₀O₂N₄, I) = −(21823.27 ± 0.68) J · g⁻¹ and Δ_cu^° (C₈H₁₀O₂N₄, II) = −(21799.96 ± 1.08) J · g⁻¹, respectively.The standard (p^° = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpy of formation in condensed phase for each form was derived from the corresponding standard molar enthalpies of combustion as, and .The difference between the standard enthalpy of formation of the two polymorphs in condensed phase was also evaluated by using reaction-solution calorimetry. The obtained result, 2.04 ± 0.25 kJ · mol⁻¹, is in agreement, within the uncertainty, with the difference between the molar enthalpies of formation obtained from combustion experiments (4.5 ± 3.2) kJ · mol⁻¹, which can be considered as an internal test for consistency of the results.A value for the standard enthalpy of formation of caffeine in the gaseous state was proposed: , estimated from the values of the standard enthalpies of formation of both crystalline forms obtained in this work, and the data on standard enthalpies of sublimation collected from the literature.     

Structural and Spectroscopic Characterization of Bis(thiosaccharinato)‐trispyridine‐cadmium(II)

The crystal structure of the title complex, [Cd(tsac)₂(py)₃], has been determined by single crystal X‐ray diffractometry. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with Z = 8.The Cd ²⁺ cation is at the center of a square‐ bipyramidal environment, equatorially coordinated to two thiosaccharinate anions through their sulfur atoms and the nitrogen atom of one of them acting as a bidentate ligand. Nitrogen atoms of pyridine molecules occupy the fourth equatorial position and the two axial ones. The infrared and electronic spectra of the complex were briefly discussed. Its thermal stability was investigated by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis.     

Isolation and Immobilization of Influenza Virus-Specific N-SA-α-2,3-Gal Receptors Using Magnetic Nanoparticles Coated with Chitosan and Maackia amurensis Lectin

Avian influenza viruses preferentially bind to sialic acid alpha-2,3-galactose (N-SA-α-2,3-Gal) receptors on epithelial cells. Herein, we describe a procedure we have developed for isolation of N-SA-α-2,3-Gal receptors from porcine trachea using magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) coated with chitosan (NP-Ch) and functionalized with Maackia amurensis lectin (NP-lectin). Magnetic nanoparticles were coated with chitosan in a one-step co-precipitation, and then M. amurensis lectin was immobilized covalently using glutaraldehyde. Lectin coated nanoparticles were incubated with sialic acid enriched fraction of tracheal homogenate, and N-SA-α-2,3-Gal receptor was extracted under magnetic field in two cycles. The presence of 66.4 kDa protein was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The interaction of immobilized receptor (NP-Ch-R) with M. amurensis lectin (NP-Ch-R-L) was demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).     

The influence of patterned nanofiber meshes on human mesenchymal stem cell osteogenesis

A specially designed electroconductive collector enables the electrospinning of P-NFM composed of areas of parallel/uniaxially aligned fibers and areas of random/orthogonal nanofiber distribution. The biological relevance of P-NFM is demonstrated using hBMSCs as an autologous cell source. The structures induce cell orientation along the uniaxially aligned fibers, mainly during earlier culturing periods under basal and osteogenic differentiation conditions. The microtopography of the P-NFM also controls the deposition of mineralized extracellular matrix along the pre-defined fiber direction. Genotypic characterization confirms the successful differentiation into the osteogenic lineage.     

Antimycotic effect of the essential oil of Aloysia triphylla against Candida species obtained from human pathologies

The research of alternative substances to treat infections caused by Candida species is a need. Aromatic plants have the ability to produce secondary metabolites, such as essential oils (EO). The antimicrobial properties of Aloysia triphylla (L'Her.) Britton (cedrón) EO has been previously described. The aims of this work were to determine the antimicrobial activity and the effect on the cell structure of the EO of A. triphylla against Candida sp isolated from human illnesses. The EO was obtained by hydrodistillation of A. triphylla leaves. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was performed with microdilution method and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) was determined. A. triphylla EO's showed antifungal activity against all yeast: C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. guillermondii, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis which were resistant to fluconazol (150 mg/mL). The range of MIC values was from: 35 to 140 microg/mL and the MFC: 1842 to 2300 microg/mL. The time of killing at the MFC against C. albicans (3 x 10(5) UFC/mL) was 140 min. The dates of OD620 and OD260 suggest lysis and loss of absorbing material, respectively. The HROM shows distortion in morphology and shape of the cell, with large vacuoles in the cytoplasm. These studies clearly show that A. triphylla EO is a promising alternative for the treatment of candidiasis.     

A zebrafish scale assay to monitor dioxin-like activity in surface water samples

New regulations on water quality require a close control of the possible biological activities known or unexpected pollutants may bring about. We present here a protocol based on the direct exposure of zebrafish to river water and the analysis of expression of specific genes in their scales to determine the presence of compounds with dioxin-like biological activity. The method does not require the killing of animals and allows detection of the biological activity after a single day of exposure. When tested, the method with real samples from the Llobregat River, clear temporal and spatial variations were observed, demonstrating its suitability for monitoring natural variations in water quality linked to specific discharges. High biological activities were unrelated to the currently checked water quality parameters (macropollutants, turbidity, TOC, etc.), but they did correlate with the presence of micropollutants (estrogens, detergents, etc.) related to domestic and/or industrial runoffs. The scale assay therefore provides a new tool to evaluate water quality changes that cannot be easily derived from the existing standard analytical procedures. It ranks among the very few described protocols able to detect biological effects from natural water samples, without a pre-concentration step, and after only 24 h of exposure.     

Immobilization of Distinctly Capped CdTe Quantum Dots onto Porous Aminated Solid Supports

Immobilization of quantum dots (QDs) onto solid supports could improve their applicability in the development of sensing platforms and solid‐phase reactors by allowing the implementation of reusable surfaces and the execution of repetitive procedures. As the reactivity of QDs relies mostly on their surface chemistry, immobilization could also limit the disruption of solution stability that could prevent stable measurements. Herein, distinct strategies to immobilize QDs onto porous aminated supports, such as physical adsorption and the establishment of chemical linking, were evaluated. This work explores the influence of QD capping and size, concentration, pH, and contact time between the support and the QDs. Maximum QD retention was obtained for physical adsorption assays. Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms were used to analyze the equilibrium data. Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy were calculated and the stability of immobilized QDs was confirmed.