Characterization of poly(butylene terephthalate) by size-exclusion chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) samples have been analyzed with size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) using a mixed solvent of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and chloroform as the mobile phase. Several matrices and different sample deposition methods have been investigated to analyze PBT with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). Optimum results have been acquired by depositing PBT on top of a 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone matrix. The found MALDI-TOF-MS method can be used to analyze the end group functionalities of PBT, as demonstrated with the samples at hand. By combining SEC (off-line) with MALDI-TOF-MS, absolute molecular masses of PBT can be measured, and these have been found to be considerably lower than those determined with SEC using polystyrene standards.     

Quantitative aspects of directly coupled supercritical fluid extraction–capillary gas chromatography with a conventional split/splitless injector as interface

The quantitative aspects of on-line supercritical fluid extractioncapillary gas chromatography (SFE-GC) with a split/splitless injector as interface were investigated. Special attention was paid to the discrimination behavior and the reproducibility of the split/splitless interface. A simple experimental set-up is proposed that allows accurate quantitation in on-line SFE-split GC. The results obtained in on-line SFE-GC compare favorably with those from conventional GC with split injection. Discrimination was found to be absent when working at sufficiently high interface temperatures. Finally, the effects of the carbon dioxide flow rate, interface temperature and split ratio on both discrimination and reproducibility were studied.     

Voltammetric determination of paracetamol using a glassy carbon electrode modified with Prussian Blue and a molecularly imprinted polymer,and ratiometric read-out of two signals

The authors report on a ratiometric electrochemical sensor for paracetamol (PR) which was fabricated by successively electropolymerizing a layer of Prussian blue (PB) and a layer of molecularly imprinted polypyrrole (MIP) on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The binding of PR molecules to the MIP has two effects: The first is an increase of the oxidation current for PR at 0.42 V (vs. SCE), and the second is a decrease in the current for PB (at 0.18 V) due to partial blocking of the channels which results in reduced electron transmissivity. Both currents, and in particular their ratio, can serve as analytical information. Under optimized conditions, the sensor displays enhanced sensitivity for PR in the 1.0 nM to 0.1 mM concentration range and a 0.53 nM lower limit of detection. The sensor was applied to the determination of PR in tablets and urines where it gave recoveries in the range between 94.6 and 104.9 %. This dual-signal (ratiometric) detection scheme (using electropolymerized Prussian Blue and analyte-specific MIP) in our perception has a wide scope in that it may be applied to numerous other electroactive species for which specific MIP can be made available.

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Graphical Abstract Prussian blue (PB) and molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) were combined to fabricate an electrochemical sensor for paracetamol (PR) detection. The ratio of both currents, increase of PR current and decrease of PB current, was employed for PR selective detection with enhanced sensitivity.

     

Tailoring Size and Coverage Density of Silver Nanoparticles on Monodispersed Polymer Spheres as Highly Sensitive SERS Substrates

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were deposited onto the monodispersed carboxylic polystyrene (CPS) spheres by an improved in situ reduction method. The size and coverage density of the AgNPs on the surface of CPS spheres could be easily tailored by tuning the concentrations of carboxylic functional groups and silver precursor. The morphologies and structures of the resulting CPS/Ag hybrid particles were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), UV‐Vis‐NIR spectrometer and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), etc. The surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) performances of the resulting uniform CPS/Ag hybrid particles were investigated using 4‐aminobenzenethiol (4‐ABT) as the probe molecule. The optimized CPS/Ag hybrid particles show high enhancement factor (EF) of 2.71×10⁷, low limit of detection (LOD) of 10^?10 m and good reproducibility with relative standard deviation (RSD) of 9.64 %. The good SERS improvement properties demonstrate these hybrid particles could be employed as simple and effective substrates in the SERS spectroscopy.     

Chemical Constituents of Cassia abbreviata and Their Anti-HIV-1 Activity

Three new (1–3) and 25 known compounds were isolated from the crude extract of Cassia abbreviata. The chemical structures of new compounds were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses including 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS. Cassiabrevone (1) is the first heterodimer of guibourtinidol and planchol A. Compound 2 was a new chalcane, while 3 was a new naphthalene. Cassiabrevone (1), guibourtinidol-(4α→8)-epiafzelechin (4), taxifolin (8), oleanolic acid (17), piceatannol (22), and palmitic acid (28), exhibited potent anti-HIV-1 activity with IC₅₀ values of 11.89 µM, 15.39 µM, 49.04 µM, 7.95 µM, 3.58 µM, and 15.97 µM, respectively.     

Dehydrogenation of tertiary amines in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

In the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF MS) analysis of various compounds synthesized in our laboratory, strong [M - H]+ ion peaks were often observed for the molecules with tertiary amino groups. In this work, the MALDI TOF MS behavior of two groups of compounds that incorporate tertiary amino moieties was investigated. One group is bisurea dimethylanilines (BUDMAs) prepared for the study of molecular recognition in thermoplastic elastomers, and the other group is the poly(propylene imine) diaminobutane dendrimers. The results clearly demonstrate the appearance of the [M - H]+ ions. In order to understand the possible mechanisms for the generation of these ions, a series of model compounds, ranging from primary to tertiary amines, were investigated. Unlike the tertiary amines, no [M - H]+ ion peaks were recorded for the primary amines, and only barely detectable ones, if any, for some secondary amines. It appears that the tertiary amino groups play an important role in the formation of these ions. In addition to MALDI TOF MS analysis, these samples were also applied to electrospray ionization (ESI) MS where no [M - H]+ ions were observed. The results indicate that the generation of [M - H]+ ion is due to the unique MALDI conditions and is likely to be formed via dehydrogenation of a protonated tertiary amine resulting in an N=C double bond. The absence of [M - H]+ ion peaks for the primary and secondary amines is probably because upon their formation these ions could easily transfer one proton to the corresponding amines in the MALDI gas-phase plume, yielding neutral imines that cannot be detected by MS.     

Molecularly imprinted polymers microsphere prepared by precipitation polymerization for hydroquinone recognition

A one-step precipitation polymerization synthesis was adopted for the preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) by using hydroquinone as a template molecule. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) exhibited that the polymers were uniform spheres with the diameter of about 700 nm. The results of adsorption experiments showed that the microspherical imprinted polymers possessed fast adsorption dynamics. Compared to the structurally similar compounds, catechol and resorcinol, the MIPs exhibited a high recognizable capacity to hydroquinone. And the electrochemical sensor fabricated by modifying the prepared MIPs microsphere on the glassy carbon electrode surface was used to detect the hydroquinone concentration. The current response was proportional to the concentration of hydroquinone in the range of 2.0 x 10(-6) to 1.0 x 10(-4)mol/L with the detection limit of 1.0 x 10(-6)mol/L.     

磁性金属纳米管的制备、形成机理及潜在应用

磁性金属纳米管因其独特的中空结构和优异的催化、磁性及易修饰等性能,逐步发展成为一类重要的功能纳米材料,受到国内外研究人员的广泛关注。本文综述了近年来模板法制备磁性金属纳米管的主要技术,如电沉积、化学沉积、湿模板、原子沉积及水热合成等,重点阐述了硬模板法制备磁性金属纳米管的特殊策略,并针对不同制备策略下的磁性金属纳米管形成机理进行了评述。另外,对硬模板法合成磁性金属纳米管建立了一个机理模型,分别从基底性能、成核环境、生长环境三方面对磁性纳米管的形成机理进行了探讨。最后简单介绍了磁性金属纳米管的性能及潜在应用,并展望了该领域的发展趋势。     

盾壳霉代谢物的抗菌活性预测

利用紫外-可见光谱对盾壳霉代谢抗白叶枯病菌活性物质进行了研究,将代谢活性产物的光谱检测与抗菌活性检测对比分析.结果表明:代谢物质浓度在14.84～207.79mg.L-1范围内,280nm波长下的吸光度与抑菌圈直径的线性相关系数为0.992.相比测定抑菌圈直径的方法,光谱法具有灵敏度高、操作简便、快速等优点.     

Cuprous Oxide/Nitrogen-doped Graphene Nanocomposites as Electrochemical Sensors for Ofloxacin Determination

Cu₂O/nitrogen-doped grapheme(NG) nanocomposite material was prepared via a facile one step chemical reduction and characterized by means of X-ray diffraction(XRD) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM). A new electrochemical sensor was then fabricated by coating Cu₂O/nitrogen-doped graphene nanocomposite with Nafion on glassy carbon electrode(Cu₂O/NG/Nafion/GCE). The electrochemical response of this modified electrode toward ofloxacin was examined by cyclic voltammetry. The results indicate that Cu₂O/NG/Nafion composite-modified electrode exhibits higher catalytic activity in the electrochemical oxidation of ofloxacin compared with glassy carbon electrode(GCE), Cu₂O/Nafion modified electrode(Cu₂O/Nafion/GCE), and N-doped graphene/Nafion modified electrode(NG/Nafion/GCE). Under optimal conditions, the peak current was found to be linearly proportional to the concentration of ofloxacin in the 0.5-27.5 μmol/L and 27.5-280 μmol/L ranges with a lower detection limit of 0.34 μmol/L, higher sensitivity of 39.32 μA·L·mmol^-1 and a shorter reaction time of less than 2 s. In addition, Nafion can enhance the stability of the modified electrode and prevent some negative species. Thus the modified electrode exhibits good selectivity and a long working life. The Cu₂O/NG/Nafion composite modified electrode shows promising application in electrochemical sensors, biosensors, and other related fields because of its excellent properties.