A simple poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonic acid) transistor for glucose sensing at neutral pH

We demonstrate a simple transistor based on the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonic acid), capable of sensing glucose in a neutral pH buffer solution by a mechanism involving sensing of hydrogen peroxide.     

Quality specifications for evaluation and comparison of performance among external quality assessment schemes in occupational and environmental laboratory medicine

Quality specifications (QS) are proposed for lead in blood and for aluminium, copper, selenium and zinc in serum as part of the aim to set standards of performance for laboratories so that results can be demonstrated to be fit for the purpose to which they are applied. The QS were established taking account of the analytical state-of-the-art, physiological variations in the concentrations of the analyte and the clinical purpose for which the assay is to be used. A procedure was devised that uses these QS to give equivalence of assessment among external quality assessment schemes (EQAS), thus avoiding conflicting information which has been demonstrated in the past. Advantages of this procedure are: to provide direct comparison of performance of laboratories taking part in different schemes, to provide equivalence of assessment of laboratory performance necessary to establish mutual recognition agreements, and to demonstrate the fitness for purpose of results from participants.Presented at the Eurachem PT Workshop September 2005, Portorož, Slovenia     

Immobilization of pig liver microsomes

Microsomes from pig liver were covalently coupled to Sepharose activated by CNBr and to Sephadex activated by 1,1’-carbonyldiimidazole. Microsomes were also entrapped inside Ca-alginate andk-carrageenan gels. The concentration of immobilized cytochrome P-450 was determined by CO-difference spectra. The activity of the monooxygenase system was demonstrated by theN-demethylation of aminopyrine, theO-demethylation ofp-nitroanisole, and the hydroxylation of perhexiline maleate. Upon immobilization, a 30–40% and a 60–70% decrease in V _max ^app for theOandN-demethylations were respectively observed. The V _max ^app values for the hydroxylation of perhexiline maleate were essentially the same for the different immobilized forms and for the freely suspended microsomal cytochrome P-450. Under storage at 4°C, microsomes entrapped insidek-carrageenan and Ca-alginate were less stable than the free microsomes, whereas immobilization on CNBr-activated Sepharose improved the stability of the hepatic microsomal monooxygenase system at the same temperature. These types of immobilized microsomes have the advantage of being easily recovered and reused for other assays. Finally, microsomes entrapped insidek-carrageenan or Ca-alginate can be used to follow up the continuous metabolization ofp-nitroanisole for several hours in a stirred-batch reactor.     

Insight in the role of bovine serum albumin for promoting the in situ surface growth of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) on patterned surfaces via enzymatic surface-initiated polymerization

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a family of aliphatic polyesters produced by a variety of microorganisms as a reserve of carbon and energy. Enzymes involved in the synthesis of PHAs can be utilized to produce polymers in vitro, both in bulk and on solid surfaces. Here, site-specific attachment of the key catalytic enzyme, PHA synthase, on lithographically patterned surfaces and subsequent addition of (R)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA substrate allowed us to fabricate spatially ordered polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) polymeric structures via an in situ enzymatic surface-initiated polymerization (ESIP). By varying the reaction conditions, we enhanced the growth of PHB on solid surfaces and analyzed the resulting structures by fluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). We found that stabilization of smaller PHB granule structures by an addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) was the most important factor for a successful synthesis of a PHB layer up to 1mum in thickness, consisting mainly of larger cluster assemblies of PHB granules that cover the entire patterned area. Immunofluorescence detection and surface contact angle analysis revealed that BSA was physically bound to the PHB polymer all through the cluster, and reduced the overall hydrophobicity of the polymer surface. Based on information obtained from AFM, kinetic measurements and various polymer characterization methods, a plausible model for roles of BSA in the enhancement of PHB formation on surfaces is discussed. Furthermore, by using biotinylated BSA conjugates, we were able to incorporate biotin groups into the PHB polymer matrix, thus generating a bioactive surface that can be used for displaying other functional biomolecules through streptavidin-biotin interaction on the PHB structures. Because of its versatility, our fabrication strategy is expected to be a useful surface modification tool for numerous biomedical and biotechnological applications.     

Near-infrared fluorescence imaging with water-soluble lead salt quantum dots

A simple procedure for transferring PbS and PbSe quantum dots into water is presented, along with characterization of the resulting water-soluble quantum dots. The external surface of the water-soluble quantum dots include carboxylic groups, which will allow target-specific labeling of cells. As a first example, near-infrared fluorescence imaging of human colon cancer cells is demonstrated using these water-soluble near-infrared fluorophores.     

Synthesis and biochemical evaluation of selective inhibitors of class II fructose bisphosphate aldolases: towards new synthetic antibiotics

We report the synthesis and biochemical evaluation of selective inhibitors of class II (zinc-dependent) fructose bisphosphate aldolases. The most active compound is a simplified analogue of fructose bisphosphate, bearing a well-positioned metal chelating group. It is a powerful and highly selective competitive inhibitor of isolated class II aldolases. We report crystallographic studies of this inhibitor bound in the active site of the Helicobacter pylori enzyme. The compound also shows activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates.     

Mathematical Modeling of the Bulk Photopolymerization of Furfuryl Acrylate

Summary: Experimental data for the photopolymerization of furfuryl acrylate (FA) conformed satisfactorily to the kinetics model proposed for the photopolymerization of furfuryl methacrylate (FM). This model allowed the kinetic constants of the basic steps of the studied mechanism, namely propagation, degradative transfer, re‐initiation and cross‐termination, to be determined. The calculated values of these constants were in agreement with the chemical nature of FA. For each of these constants, the confidence intervals were determined, and the statistical dependence between some of them was analyzed using the ellipse error method. The equations of moments of the distribution of molecular sizes of the primary chains in the network with order greater than one were developed to describe different molecular averages, such as weight‐average chain length and size‐average heterogeneity of the primary chains. The results found for the monomer conversion, the cross‐link degree and number‐average length of the primary chains of the network for FA were compared with those obtained for FM, and it was shown that the process of polymerization of the former monomer was more retarded and produced gels with a greater degree of cross‐linking than the latter as expected.

Network structures with different heterogeneity in size of the primary chains.     

Visualization and analysis of muzzle flow fields using the Background-Oriented Schlieren technique

Several experimental and numerical studies on muzzle blast and flow fields have been performed. However, due to the extremely short duration and the spatiotemporal evolution of these flows, experimental quantitative techniques are limited. As a consequence, the number of validated numerical calculations is limited as well. On the other hand, despite the development of computer models that have succeeded in predicting the measured pressure and velocity, they show unrealistic temperatures and densities. Therefore, temperature and/or density measurements are required to validate these codes, thus the motivation of this research. The present paper focuses on the development of a density-sensitive and non-intrusive measurement technique and the implementation of a quantitative flow visualization method based on Background-Oriented Schlieren (BOS) combined with a high-speed camera. In BOS, the experimental setup of conventional Schlieren (mirrors, lenses, and knife-edge) is replaced by a background pattern and a single digital camera. The muzzle flow fields and the flow field around a 5.56-mm projectile in flight were successfully visualized. Indeed, the implemented experimental high-speed BOS setup has demonstrated its ability to capture clearly the salient features of the precursor and the propellant gas flow fields and their interactions. The captured structures such as vortex, barrel shock, Mach disk, and blast wave show a good agreement with that issued from a realized conventional Schlieren setup and the bibliography, confirming the BOS capability to visualize complex density flow fields.