Direct evaluation of meat spoilage and the progress of aging using biosensors

A direct sensing method for monitoring meat quality was developed. The sensor is composed of an Ag/AgCl electrode and a platinum electrode on which putrescine oxidase or xanthine oxidase were immobilized to estimate bacterial spoilage or the progress of aging, respectively. A potential-step chronoamperometric method was applied in which the potential was stepped from 300 mV to 600 mV. A linear relationship was obtained between 5 and 60 nmol g⁻¹ for putrescine (Put) and 0.05 and 1.0 μmol g⁻¹ for hypoxanthine (Hx). The coefficient of variation was 0.75% for 20 nmol ml⁻¹ Put solution and 2.2 for a meat sample using the putrescine sensor, and 1.09% for 0.25 μmol ml⁻¹ Hx solution and 2.6% for a meat sample using the xanthine sensor. The pH requirements and substrate selectivity were suitable for the direct measurement of substrates on the surface of meat. From the results of practical experiments, the direct sensing method was indicated to be useful with some modifications for the estimation of meat quality during aging.     

Hypoxanthine sensor based on an amorphous silicon field-effect transistor

The pH response of an a-ISFET with xanthine oxidase immobilized on a ca. 20-μm thick poly(vinyl butyral) membrane over the gate insulator, is used to detect the uric acid produced by enzyme-catalyzed oxidation of hypoxanthine. The pH sensitivity between pH 5.0 and 10.0 is ca 48 mV/pH at 32°C in 10 mM phosphate buffer. The change in the output gate voltage 1 min after sample injection, is linearly related to the logarithm of the hypoxanthine concentration in the range 0.02–0.1 mM. The optimum buffer pH is 7.5. The system can be used for 2 weeks with 30% loss of enzymatic activity.     

Development of a disposable miniature l-lysine sensor

A hybrid l-lysine sensor consisting of an immobilized l-lysine decarboxylase and a miniature bacterial CO₂ sensor was fabricated using semiconductor techniques. The bacteria was immobilized in a calcium alginate gel in a miniature oxygen electrode cell together with the electrolyte. The enzyme was immobilized in a bovine serum albumin matrix on a gas-permeable membrane. The cell was formed on a silicon substrate by anisotropic etching and had a two-gold-electrode configuration. The response time of the l-lysine sensor was 1–3 min. The optimum pH was 6.0 and the optimum temperature was 33°C. The response to l-lysine concentration was linear from 25 to 400 μM. Reproducible responses were obtained by adding more than 1 μM pyridoxal-5′-phosphate. The sensor had excellent selectivity for l-lysine and a stable response for more than 25 repetitive operations.     

Binding forces in complexation ofp-alkylphenols withβ-cyclodextrin and methylatedβ-cyclodextrins

Fluorescence spectroscopy has been used to determine the binding constants (K) for inclusion complexes of six kinds ofp-Akyphenols with-cyclodextrin (-CDx), heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)--CDx (DMe--CDxg), and heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)--CDx (TMe--CDx). The stability of the inclusion complex of each cyclodextrin increases with increasing alkyl chain length of thep-alkylphenol. TheK values decrease in the order of DMe--CDx,-CDx, and TMe--CDx for each guest. In complexation of 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propanol (3) with-CDx as well as with DMe--CDx, negative enthalpy (H) and positive entropy changes (S) have been obtained, suggesting both van der Waals and hydrophobic interactions as binding forces. The inclusion of 3 by TMe--CDx, however, is an enthalpically favorable but entropically unfavorable process. The van der Waals interactions may be the main binding forces for complexing3 with TMe--CDx.     

A biocompatible needle-type glucose sensor based on platinum-electroplated carbon electrode

A biocompatible needle-type glucose sensor with a 3-electrode configuration was constructed. A platinum-electroplated carbon stick was used as the working electrode, Ag/AgCl as the reference electrode, and a disposable hypodermic needle made of stainless steel as the counter electrode. A Nafion membrane, an immobilized glucose oxidase (GOD) membrane, and a biocompatible membrane with diffusion-limiting effect were coated successively onto the working electrode. The sensor showed a rapid response (< 120 s in batch operation), good reproducibility (RE < 3%), good stability (over 36 h in control serum), a wide dynamic range (5-600 mg/dL glucose), and superior biocompatibility. It was used to determine glucose in serum. The data obtained from the sensor showed good agreement with that from a clinical autoanalyzer (R > 0.95).     

Efficient medium-ring cyclization under non-high-dilution conditions using SmI 2

[reaction: see text] A general, efficient, and experimentally simple method for generating medium rings utilizing the SmI(2)-mediated Barbier-type coupling has been developed. Various eight- and nine-membered carbocycles and heterocycles are assembled with high efficiency via this protocol. Amazingly, the process does not require high-dilution conditions and almost quantitative yields of the frequently inaccessible medium-sized rings are obtained.     

Quartz-crystal gelation detector for the determination of fibrinogen concentration

A quartz crystal resonator was used for gelation monitoring and applied to the determination of fibrinogen concentration. The system consists of a 9-MHz AT-cut quartz crystal with a well- type cell, oscillator, frequency counter and microcomputer. The gelation time of fibrinogen on mixing with thrombin solution was determined by computer processing. The effect of temperature was avoided by the addition of aluminium oxide particles to the thrombin solution. The gelation time obtained in this system showed good linearity with fibrinogen concentration over the range 50–500 mg d l^?1.     

Sensor for free fatty acids based on acyl coenzyme-a synthetase and acyl coenzyme-a oxidase

The measurement is based on monitoring dissolved oxgyen consumed by the two sequential reactions catalyzed by the enzymes immobilized in photo-cross-linkable poly (vinyl alcohol) resin (PVA-SbQ). A linear correlation was observed between current decrease and 0.3–2.6 mM oleic or palmitic acid. The sensor was stable in use for three days and could be used to monitor the freshness of oily food.     

Electron energy distribution of a current-free double layer: Druyvesteyn theory and experiments

Electron energy distributions upstream of a current-free double layer (CFDL) contained in a low-collisional plasma are modeled and compared with experimental results. The experimentally observed electron energy probability functions (EEPFs) with a depleted tail above the energy corresponding to the potential drop of the CFDL can be well approximated by a Druyvesteyn distribution function. Theoretical effective electron temperatures for the Druyvesteyn distribution are in good agreement with the values obtained from the experimental EEPFs over the range of pressure where the CFDL is observed.