Electrochemical Signal Enhancer Fabricated Using Lysine‐rich Peptide for Ultrasensitive Electrochemical DNA Biosensor Analysis

Here we present a novel design of electrochemical signal enhancer to increase the detection sensitivity of electrochemical DNA biosensors. The key element of this enhancer is a lysine‐rich peptide (LRP). Its C‐terminal is conjugated with a planer molecule, being able to intercalate into the base pairs of probe‐target duplexes. The lysine residues of LRP are covalently linked with electrochemical signal indicators, acting as an assembly of electrochemical signal indicators. Experimental results proved the feasibility of the novel design. We have examined the effects of the numbers of lysine residues and the hybridization conditions on the detection sensitivity. The optimization procedures have led to significant sensitivity enhancement, and the LOD (limit of detection) has been determined to be 1.4 amol. This enhancer demonstrates advantages of easy operation, simple instrumentation, and high exemption from environmental influence.     

Metal–Organic Framework (MOF)-Derived Carbon-Mediated Interfacial Reaction for the Synthesis of CeO2−MnO2 Catalysts

CeO₂-based catalysts are widely studied in catalysis fields. Developing one novel synthetic approach to increase the intimate contact between CeO₂ and secondary species is of particular importance for enhancing catalytic activities. Herein, an interfacial reaction between metal–organic framework (MOF)-derived carbon and KMnO₄ to synthesize CeO₂−MnO₂, in which carbon is derived from the pyrolysis of Ce-MOFs under an inert atmosphere, is described. The MOF-derived carbon is found to restrain the growth of CeO₂ crystallites under a high calcination temperature and, more importantly, intimate contact within CeO₂/C is conveyed to CeO₂/MnO₂ after the interfacial reaction; this is responsible for the high catalytic activity of CeO₂−MnO₂ towards CO oxidation.     

From cluster assembly to ultrathin nanocrystals and complex nanostructures

Ultrathin nanostructures have attracted much attention in recent years due to their predictable novel properties and various potential applications. The improvement in synthetic skills has led to many successful syntheses of nanostructures including zerodimensional (0D) nanoclusters, one-dimensional (1D) nanowires, two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets and other higher-level complex nanostructures, where cluster-assembly of primary nanocrystals is a common process. In this review, progress in ultrathin nanocrystals in the last decade and several important factors in the growth mechanisms are covered. By giving examples of cluster assembly from 1D to 3D nanostructures, the utility of cluster assembly in the synthesis of new materials has been demonstrated.     

Preparation and characterization of nickel hydroxide microspheres assembled by nanoribbons

Abstract  

This article describes a facile green strategy for preparing the Ni(OH)₂ microsphere assembled by nanoribbons by the template of the squama inner coat of onion at mild condition. The method is simple and effective. The results of SEM show the products are Ni(OH)₂ microspheres with diameters in the range of 500–2,500 nm. The results of TEM show the microsphere is assembly by nanoribbons, with thickness in the range of 30–50 nm. The products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, IR, and thermogravimetric analysis. A possible formation mechanism was also proposed.     

燃煤锅炉粉煤灰中典型痕量金属元素淋滤特性研究

本文通过批淋滤实验研究了某电厂2号炉三个静电除尘器下粉煤灰中Cd、Cr、Pb、V的淋滤特性.淋滤液选择pH=4的HCI和pH=10的NaOH溶液,液固比为4:1;批淋滤选取从15分钟到7天的14个时间进行.实验结果显示,在实验条件下,Cr在酸性条件下淋出滤较高,而Pb在碱性条件下淋出滤较高;其中Cr随着淋滤时间的增加,淋出滤有显著增加,且三种粉煤灰中淋出滤大小为LCr3>LCr2>LCr1.     

A Green and Efficient Approach for the Synthesis of 3-Chalcogen Benzo[b]Furans via I2-Mediated Cascade Annulation Reaction of 2-Alkynylanisoles at Room Temperature in Water

Abstract

An efficient and green aqueous protocol to access 3-chalcogen benzo[b]furan derivatives has been developed. The reaction can proceed via I₂-mediated intramolecular annulation reaction of 2-alkynylanisoles with diaryl disulfides (diselenides) in water or under solvent-free conditions at room temperature. With the participation of I₂, a variety of 3-chalcogen benzo[b]furan derivatives were obtained in good to excellent yields. This reaction was considered to work via an iodocyclization cascade mechanism and the intermediate 3-iodo-2-phenylbenzofuran was detected by GC-MS.     

Discrimination and simultaneous determination of hydroquinone and catechol by tunable polymerization of imidazolium-based ionic liquid on multi-walled carbon nanotube surfaces

Tunable polymerization of ionic liquid on the surfaces of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was achieved by a mild thermal-initiation-free radical reaction of 3-ethy-1-vinylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate in the presence of MWCNTs. Successful modification of polymeric ionic liquid (PIL) on MWCNTs surfaces (PIL-MWCNTs) was demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The resulting PIL-MWCNTs possessed unique features of high dispersity in aqueous solution and tunable thickness of PIL layer, due to positive imidazole groups along PIL chains and controllable ionic liquid polymerization by tuning the ratio of precursor. Based on cation-π interaction between the positive imidazole groups on PIL-MWCNTs surface and hydroquinone (HQ) or catechol (CC), excellent discrimination ability toward HQ and CC and improved simultaneous detection performance were achieved. The linear range for HQ and CC were 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 5.0 × 10⁻⁴ M and 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 4.0 × 10⁻⁴ M, respectively. The detection limit for HQ was 4.0 × 10⁻⁷ M and for CC 1.7 × 10⁻⁷ M (S/N = 3), correspondingly.     

An ionic liquid-based sorbent for solid phase extraction of trace iron(Ш) from biological and natural water samples

A new ionic liquid modified silica gel sorbent was prepared from the reaction of active silica gel with N-3-(-3-triethoxysilylepropyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([(TESP)MIm]Cl). This sorbent was exploited as solid phase extractant for separation and preconcentration of metal ions prior to their determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). It was found that it can selectively adsorb Fe(Ш). Identification of the surface modification was performed on the basis of FT-IR. Experimental conditions for effective adsorption of trace Fe(Ш) were optimised using both batch and column procedures. At pH 3, Fe(Ш) could be quantitatively adsorbed and completely eluted by using 2?mL of 0.1?mol?L^?1 of HCl. 150?mL of sample solution was adopted as the maximum sample volume and a high enrichment factor of 75 was obtained. Most common coexisting ions did not interfere with the separation and preconcentration of Fe(Ш) at optimal conditions. The maximum static adsorption capacity of the sorbent was 37.0?mg?g^?1. The detection limit of the present method was 0.48?µg?L^?1, and the relative standard deviation (R. S. D.) was lower than 1.7%. The method was successfully applied to the preconcentration of trace Fe(Ш) in biological and natural water samples with satisfactory results.     

Bioconjugation of Proteins with a Paramagnetic NMR and Fluorescent Tag

Site‐specific labeling of proteins with lanthanide ions offers great opportunities for investigating the structure, function, and dynamics of proteins by virtue of the unique properties of lanthanides. Lanthanide‐tagged proteins can be studied by NMR, X‐ray, fluorescence, and EPR spectroscopy. However, the rigidity of a lanthanide tag in labeling of proteins plays a key role in the determination of protein structures and interactions. Pseudocontact shift (PCS) and paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (PRE) are valuable long‐range structure restraints in structural‐biology NMR spectroscopy. Generation of these paramagnetic restraints generally relies on site‐specific tagging of the target proteins with paramagnetic species. To avoid nonspecific interaction between the target protein and paramagnetic tag and achieve reliable paramagnetic effects, the rigidity, stability, and size of lanthanide tag is highly important in paramagnetic labeling of proteins. Here 4′‐mercapto‐2,2′: 6′,2′′‐terpyridine‐6,6′′‐dicarboxylic acid (4MTDA) is introduced as a a rigid paramagnetic and fluorescent tag which can be site‐specifically attached to a protein by formation of a disulfide bond. 4MTDA can be readily immobilized by coordination of the protein side chain to the lanthanide ion. Large PCSs and RDCs were observed for 4MTDA‐tagged proteins in complexes with paramagnetic lanthanide ions. At an excitation wavelength of 340 nm, the complex formed by protein–4MTDA and Tb³⁺ produces high fluorescence with the main emission at 545 nm. These interesting features of 4MTDA make it a very promising tag that can be exploited in NMR, fluorescence, and EPR spectroscopic studies on protein structure, interaction, and dynamics.