Development of an immunoassay and a sol-gel-based immunoaffinity cleanup method for coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls from soil and sediment samples

Two polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed using goat PCB purified immunoglobulin (IgG) antibodies (Abs). The IgGs exhibited the highest affinity toward PCB-77 (24 ng mL⁻¹) with sensitivities in the range of 6-11 ng mL⁻¹. The Abs cross-reacted with PCB-126 and the heptachlorodibenzofuran 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF but not with PCB-169, PCB-118, Aroclor 1232, 1248, 1260 or the hexachlorodibenzofuran 2,3,4,6,7,8-HxCDF. The IgGs were also used to develop a sol-gel-based immunoaffinity purification (IAP) method for cleanup of PCB-126. Recovery efficiencies depended on the sol-gel formats; a 1:12 format resulted in the highest binding capacity. Net binding capacity ranged from 112 to 257 ng, and 90% of the analyte could be eluted with only 2 mL of ethanol. The method was also very efficient in purifying PCB-126 from spiked soil and sediment samples from contaminated sites; and eliminating matrix interferences to a degree that enabled analysis of the purified samples by ELISA. The approaches developed in the course of the study form a basis for the development of additional IAP methods for other PCBs, and their implementation in high-throughput screening programs for PCB in food, soil, and other environmental and biological samples.     

Tuning the electronic structures of platinum(II) complexes with a cyclometalating aryldiamine ligand

Triflate salts of four platinum(II) pyridyl complexes with a mer-coordinating tridentate pincer ligand, pip(2)NCN(-) (pip(2)NCNH = 1,3-bis(piperidylmethyl)benzene), are reported: Pt(pip(2)NCN)(L)(+) (2, L = pyridine; 3, L = 4-phenylpyridine; 5, L = 2,6-pyridinedimethanol) and [(Pt(pip(2)NCN))(2)(micro-4,4'-bipyridine)](2+) (4). The complexes have been fully characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography. Compound 2(CF(3)SO(3)(-)): triclinic, P1, a = 9.7518(6) A, b = 12.0132(8) A, c = 12.6718(9) A, alpha = 114.190(2) degrees, beta = 100.745(3) degrees, gamma = 103.545(2) degrees, V = 1247.95(14) A(3), Z = 2. Compound 3(CF(3)SO(3)(-)): monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 15.550(2) A, b = 9.7386(11) A, c = 18.965(3) A, beta = 92.559(7) degrees, V = 2869.1(6) A(3), Z = 4. Compound 4(CF(3)SO(3)(-))(2).1/2(CH(3))(2)CO: monoclinic, I2/a, a = 21.3316(5) A, b = 9.6526(2) A, c = 26.1800(6) A, beta = 96.4930(10) degrees, V = 5356.0(2) A(3), Z = 4. Compound 5(CF(3)SO(3)(-)).3/2CHCl(3): monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 17.1236(10) A, b = 9.3591(5) A, c = 21.3189(11) A, beta = 96.11(3) degrees, V = 3397.2(3) A(3), Z = 4. The accumulated data indicate that the phenyl group of pip(2)NCN(-) labilizes the trans pyridyl ligand. The electronic structures were investigated using cyclic voltammetry, as well as UV-visible absorption and emission spectroscopies. Red emission from 2 in rigid media originates from a lowest triplet ligand field excited state, whereas yellow-green emissions from 3 and 4 originate from a lowest pyridyl ligand-centered triplet pi-pi state, indicating that substitution of the pyridyl ligand results in a dramatic change in the orbital character of the emissive state.     

Curing and Physical Properties of Natural Rubber/Wood Flour Composites

Natural rubber based composites were prepared by incorporating Wood flour of two different particle size ranges (250–300 µm) and (300–425 µm) and concentrations (15 and 30 phr) into the matrix, using a Banbury® internal mixer according to a base formulation. Curing characteristics of the samples were studied. Influence of particle size and loading of filler on the properties of the composites was analyzed. Results obtained show that the addition of wood flour to natural rubber increased scorch time and curing time and caused improvement in modulus at 300% strain and in tear properties. However, it decreased tensile strength and elongation at break. The particle size range of 300–425 µm was found to offer the best overall balance of mechanical and dynamic properties (tan δ and viscous torque). Swelling behavior of the composites in toluene was also analyzed in order to determine the rubber volume fraction and crosslinking density. Composites with the bigger particle size wood flour were found to have greater crosslinking density than the ones with smaller particle size, fact that could possibly indicate a better rubber-filler interaction in the former. Major percentage of filler increased slightly this interaction. Water absorption behavior of the composites with wood flour reached a maximum of 12% w/w when 30 phr of filler were incorporated; nonetheless, particle size did not affect this property. The ageing study in presence of air at 70 °C revealed that natural rubber composites with wood flour maintained the same classification cell with temperature as the pure rubber. A compound with 30 phr of carbon black was prepared for comparative purposes. Results obtained were as expected. Scorch time decreased and higher values of modulus at 300% strain and tensile strength were achieved, due to strongest interaction between filler and elastomer.     

Biological monitoring of 3-phenoxybenzoic acid in urine by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was employed for determination of the pyrethroid biomarker, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) in human urine samples. The optimized coating antigen concentration was 0.5 ng/mL with a dilution of 1:4000 for the 3-PBA antibody and 1:6000 for the enzyme conjugate. Urine samples were hydrolyzed with concentrated hydrochloric acid; extracted with dichloromethane and solvent-exchanged into a methanol/buffer solution, prior to analysis in a 96-microwell plate immunoassay. Quantitative recoveries of 3-PBA were obtained for fortified urine samples by ELISA (92 ± 18%) as well as by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) (90 ± 13%). The overall method precision of these samples was within ±20% for both the ELISA and GC/MS methods. Analytical results from over one hundred urine samples showed that the ELISA and GC/MS data were highly correlated, with a correlation coefficient of 0.95. At the 10 ng/mL comparative concentration level, the false positive rate was 0% and the false negative rate was 0.8% for ELISA when using GC/MS as the reference method. The ELISA method has a suitable low detection limit for 3-PBA to assess pyrethroid exposures in non-occupational settings.     

A luminescent platinum(II) 2,6-bis(N-pyrazolyl)pyridine complex

Four platinum(II) cationic complexes were prepared with the mer-coordinating tridentate ligands 2,6-bis(N-pyrazolyl)pyridine (bpp) and 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-N-pyrazolyl)pyridine (bdmpp): [Pt(bpp)Cl]Cl.H(2)O; [Pt(bdmpp)Cl]Cl.H(2)O; [Pt(bpp)(Ph)](PF(6)); [Pt(bdmpp)(Ph)](PF(6)). The complexes were characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry, and the structures of the bpp derivatives were determined by X-ray crystallography. [Pt(bpp)Cl]Cl.2H(2)O: monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 11.3218(5) A, b = 6.7716(3) A, c = 20.6501(6) A, beta = 105.883(2) degrees, V = 1522.73(11) A(3), Z = 4. The square planar cations stack in a head-to-tail fashion to form a linear chain structure with alternating Pt...Pt distances of 3.39 and 3.41 A. [Pt(bpp)(Ph)](PF(6)).CH(3)CN: triclinic, P, a = 8.3620(3) A, b = 10.7185(4) A, c = 13.4273(5) A, alpha = 96.057(1) degrees, beta = 104.175(1) degrees, gamma = 110.046(1) degrees, V = 1072.16(7) A(3), Z = 2. Cyclic voltammograms indicate all four complexes undergo irreversible reductions between -1.0 and -1.3 V vs Ag/AgCl (0.1 M TBAPF(6)/CH(3)CN), attributable to ligand- and/or metal-centered processes. By comparison to related 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine complexes, the electrochemical and UV-visible absorption data are consistent with bpp being both a weaker sigma-donor and pi-acceptor than terpyridine. Solid samples of [Pt(bpp)(Ph)](PF(6)) at 77 K exhibit a remarkably intense, narrow emission centered at 655 nm, whereas the other three complexes exhibit only very weak emission.     

A Bio‐inspired Approach for Chromophore Communication: Ligand‐to‐Ligand and Host‐to‐Guest Energy Transfer in Hybrid Crystalline Scaffolds

Efficient multiple‐chromophore coupling in a crystalline metal–organic scaffold was achieved by mimicking a protein system possessing 100 % energy‐transfer (ET) efficiency between a green fluorescent protein variant and cytochrome b₅₆₂. The two approaches developed for ET relied on the construction of coordination assemblies and host–guest coupling. Based on time‐resolved photoluminescence measurements in combination with calculations of the spectral overlap function and Förster radius, we demonstrated that both approaches resulted in a very high ET efficiency. In particular, the observed ligand‐to‐ligand ET efficiency value was the highest reported so far for two distinct ligands in a metal–organic framework. These studies provide important insights for the rational design of crystalline hybrid scaffolds consisting of a large ensemble of chromophore molecules with the capability of directional ET.     

Keratin Coatings for Wool: Shrinkproofing and Nanoparticle Delivery

Summary: Wool fabrics were treated with keratin hydrolysate in isolated systems, in systems incorporating a cross-linking enzyme, and in systems with nanoparticle silver. The dimensions of wool fabric were controlled after keratin applications and the strength of bleached wool fabric was improved. Keratin applications imparted these improved properties when applied alone and when applied with the enzyme. The enzyme was effective for in-situ, solid-state cross-linking of wool fabric, cross-linking keratin-to-keratin, and cross-linking keratin-to-fabric. To further improve the properties of wool, nanoparticle silver was produced in various shapes. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs of these particles showed discrete and isolated particles of size 8-100 nm, dependent on the preparation. A combination of TEM and UV-VIS spectroscopy was used to characterize these particles and scanning electron microscopy running in backscattered electron mode confirmed their placement on wool fibers. The application of nanoparticle silver to wool when co-added with keratin may both improve dimensional stability and impart antimicrobial efficacy.