Biosensors for pharmaceuticals based on novel technology

The availability of pharmaceuticals to treat and to prevent disease has brought great benefit. Nevertheless, attention is being drawn to the uncontrolled use and careless disposal of medications for humans and animals. These compounds and their metabolites are found in the environment and foodstuffs, with possible adverse risks to human health.Detection of pharmaceuticals and residues in environmental and biological matrices has become a priority for governmental agencies. However, current analytical methods capable of detecting pharmaceuticals at very low levels require time-consuming sample preparation, concentration and/or extraction prior to analysis.Biosensors offer several advantages over existing techniques (e.g., less time, high-throughput screening, improved sensitivity, real-time analysis and the possibility of developing label-free detection methods and devices). Also, incorporation of nanotechnology into biosensor systems may increase the speed and the capability of the diagnostic methods. Moreover, the possibility of using biosensor systems in different configurations allows us envisaging their implementation as point-of-care systems or multiplexed devices.This review provides a general overview of the progress, the limitations and the future challenges of biosensors for detecting pharmaceuticals.     

Analysis of the vaporization process in TG apparatus and its incidence in pyrolysis

An analysis of the evaporation process of n-hexadecane in a thermogravimetric apparatus was carried out. n-Hexadecane represents a typical example of a high boiling point compound and its study is interesting for understanding those processes where vaporization takes place in parallel with pyrolysis during thermal treatment. The process has been studied under different operating conditions: nitrogen and air atmospheres, and isothermal and dynamic runs with three different heating rates from 5 K/min to 20 K/min. The experimental data were satisfactorily correlated to a n-order model with zero process order and the same apparent activation energy for all runs, but the exponential factors of the different runs depended on the initial mass and the heating rate. The experimental results were compared with those predicted considering the diffusion process inside the crucible, taking into account the vapor pressure and the diffusion coefficient of n-hexadecane. A parameter, product of these two variables, can be estimated from a single TG run, so the vaporization process in other equipment and/or operating conditions can also be estimated.     

Novel ZnO nanostructured electrodes for higher power conversion efficiencies in polymeric solar cells

1-Dimensional nanostructured ZnO electrodes have been demonstrated to be potentially interesting for their application in solar cells. Herein, we present a novel procedure to control the ZnO nanowire optoelectronic properties by means of surface modification. The nanowire surface is functionalized with ZnO nanoparticles in order to provide an improved contact to the photoactive P3HT:PCBM film that enhances the overall power conversion efficiency of the resulting solar cell. Charge extraction and transient photovoltage measurements have been used to successfully demonstrate that the surface modified nanostructured electrode contributes in enhancing the exciton dissociating ratio and in enlarging the charge lifetime as a consequence of a reduced charge recombination. Under AM1.5G illumination, all these factors contribute to a considerably large increase in photocurrent yielding unusually high conversion efficiencies over 4% and external quantum efficiencies of 87% at 550 nm for commercially available P3HT:PCBM based solar cells. The same approach might be equally used for polymeric materials under development to overcome the record reported efficiencies.     

Long-term storage of surface-adsorbed protein machines

The effective and simple long-term storage of complex functional proteins is critical in achieving commercially viable biosensors. This issue is particularly challenging in recently proposed types of nanobiosensors, where molecular-motor-driven transportation substitutes microfluidics and forms the basis for novel detection schemes. Importantly, therefore, we here describe that delicate heavy meromyosin (HMM)-based nanodevices (HMM motor fragments adsorbed to silanized surfaces and actin bound to HMM) fully maintain their function when stored at -20 °C for more than a month. The mechanisms for the excellent preservation of acto-HMM motor function upon repeated freeze-thaw cycles are discussed. The results are important to the future commercial implementation of motor-based nanodevices and are of more general value to the long-term storage of any protein-based bionanodevice.     

Crystallization Elution Fractionation and Thermal Gradient Interaction Chromatography. Techniques Comparison

Summary: The chemical composition distribution has been shown to be the most critical and discriminating parameter in understanding the performance of industrial polyolefins with non homogeneous comonomer incorporation. The chemical composition distribution is being analyzed by well known techniques such as temperature rising elution fractionation, TREF, crystallization analysis fractionation, CRYSTAF and crystallization elution fractionation, CEF. These techniques separate according to crystallizability and provide a powerful and predictable separation of components based on the presence of branches, irregularities or tacticity differences, independently of the molar mass. TREF, CRYSTAF and CEF can not be used, however, for the separation of more amorphous resins, and may not always provide the best solution for complex multi-component resins due to the existence of some co-crystallization. The application of high temperature interactive HPLC to polyolefins opened a new route to characterize these types of polymers. The use of solvent gradient HPLC for separation of polyethylene and polypropylene and the developments in HPLC on carbon based columns extended further the application of high temperature HPLC in polyolefins. A new approach has been developed recently using the carbon based column but replacing solvent gradient by a thermal gradient which facilitates the analysis of polyethylene copolymers and provides a powerful tool for the analysis of elastomers. Thermal gradient interaction chromatography (TGIC) is being compared with TREF and CEF with the analysis of model samples. The advantages/disadvantages of each technique are being investigated and discussed. The combination of TGIC and TREF/CEF provides an extended range of separation of polyolefins.     

General diastereoselective synthetic approach toward isospongian diterpenes. Synthesis of (-)-marginatafuran, (-)-marginatone, and (-)-20-acetoxymarginatone

This work describes a synthetic approach to the carbocyclic skeleton of isospongian diterpenes that uses the commercially available monoterpene (S)-carvone as a C-ring synthon, which is incorporated into the tetracyclic isospongian framework via a C→ABC→ABCD ring annulation strategy using intramolecular Diels-Alder and ring-closing metathesis reactions. This approach has been successfully used to prepare both the title natural isospongians and several nonnatural oxygenated analogues. A preliminary evaluation of the inhibitory activity of the small collection of synthesized isospongians on the mammalian mitochondrial respiratory chain revealed that most were able to inhibit the integrated electron transfer chain (NADH oxidase activity) in the micromolar range.     

Brønsted acid catalyzed enantioselective α-amidoalkylation in the synthesis of isoindoloisoquinolines

The Parham cyclization-intermolecular α-amidoalkylation sequence results in the facile enantioselective synthesis of 12b-substituted isoindoloisoquinolines (ee up to 95%) using BINOL-derived Br?nsted acids. α-Amidoalkylation of indole occurs through the formation of a chiral conjugate base/bicyclic quaternary N-acyliminium ion pair.     

An experimental procedure to obtain sound power level of tyre/road noise under Coast-By conditions

The rolling noise from tyre–pavement interaction represents the greatest sound contribution from a vehicle when cruising at a high speed. To evaluate the sound levels from this source, existing standardized methods that establish different measurement procedures in both the immediate tyre surroundings, for example the Close-Proximity method, as well as at greater distances, as the Coast-By method. A fundamental parameter that can quantify the sound generation of a source is its sound power level. The standardized methods establish procedures to measure the sound pressure level but not the power level of a tyre as a noise source. For this reason, this paper presents a novel methodology based on sound pressure measurements to obtain the sound power level that a vehicle emits in Coast-By conditions, where noise is generated at tyre/road interaction. The paper describes the testing procedure used to obtain the sound power level, and it is accompanied by a mathematical simulation that studies the feasibility of the proposal. Finally, the proposed methodology is further validated through a field study.     

Unlocking the Real Potential of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae Protein Derivatives in Pet Diets

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL)-derived proteins are gaining popularity as sustainable pet food ingredients. According to the literature, these ingredients have strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Due to the ability of BSFL protein derivatives to donate hydrogen atoms and/or electrons to counterpoise unstable molecules, they could possibly help in the prevention of osteoarthritis. During this study, the antiarthritic potential of BSFL protein derivatives was evaluated using the following assays: (1) proteinase inhibition, (2) erythrocyte membrane stability, (3) reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by activated macrophages, (4) ROS production by monocytes, and (5) cellular toxicity. Additionally, the glucosamine content of these ingredients was also evaluated. Chicken meal is commonly used in pet food formulations and was used as an industrial benchmark. The results obtained during this study demonstrated the strong antiarthritic potential of BSFL protein derivatives. We found that BSFL protein derivatives are not only useful in preventing the development of arthritis but could also help to cure it due to the presence of glucosamine. We also found that chicken meal could contribute to the development of arthritis by increasing ROS production by monocytes.     

Ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry and accurate mass measurements for high-throughput food lipids profiling

In the present study, accurate mass measurements by ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry with Orbitrap-Exactive working at resolving power R: 100,000 (m/z 200, full width at half maximum) with an accuracy better than 2?ppm in all the mass range (m/z 200 to 2000) were used to show a detailed molecular composition of diverse edible oils and fats. Flow injection was used to introduce samples into the mass spectrometer, obtaining a complete analysis of each sample in less than 10 min, including blanks. Meticulous choice of organic solvents and optimization of the ion source and Orbitrap mass analyzer parameters were carried out, in order to achieve reproducible mass spectra giving reliable elemental compositions of the lipid samples and to prevent carry over. More than 200 elemental compositions attributable to diacylglycerols, triacylglycerols (TAGs), and their oxidation products have been found in the spectra of food lipids from different origin. Several compounds with very close molecular mass could only be resolved through ultrahigh resolution, allowing detailed and robust TAG profiling with a high characterization potential. Copyright ? 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.