Electrochemical Detection of a Cancer Biomarker mir‐21 in Cell Lysates Using Graphene Modified Sensors

In the present study, the voltammetric and impidimetric detection of microRNA‐21, mir‐21 from cell lysates was investigated for the first time by using graphene modified disposable pencil graphite electrodes (GME). The surface characterization of GME was performed via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Upon passive adsorption of inosine substituted antimicroRNA‐21, antimir‐21 probe, InP, onto the surface of GME and then solid phase hybridization of InP with mir‐21, the target, the electrochemical detection was performed by using Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) and EIS techniques. This developed biosensor, GME has presented a 2.77 times lower detection limit of 2.09 µg/mL (3.12 pmol) with respect to unmodified pencil graphite electrode (GE). Moreover it is capable of analyzing mir‐21 in the cell lysates of mir‐21 positive breast cancer cell line (MCF‐7) contrast to mir‐21 negative hepatoma cell line (HUH‐7). The proposed electrochemical yes‐no system does not require any purification and/or amplification step prior to fast detection of mir‐21 from real samples.     

Electrical and photoelectrical behaviour of heterojunctions based on novel oligomeric metal complexes

Naringenin‐based Schiff base ligands with 4‐aminobenzoic hydrazide were obtained as a unilateral form ( L¹ ). The ligand was oligomerized by oxidative polycondensation reaction with NaOCl as an oxidant in an aqueous alkaline medium at 90 °C to form a functional oligomer ( L² ), and its transition metal complexes such as those with Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) were prepared. The monomer and the oligomeric compounds were characterized using various techniques. Optical and electrical properties of the complexes were also investigated. All compounds showed indirect band gaps and they can be accepted as being in the semiconductor class. Organic–inorganic hybrid devices were obtained using n‐Si inorganic semiconductor and the complexes. The characteristic parameters of the devices were determined using current–voltage (I–V) and capacitance–voltage measurements in the dark. Photoelectrical properties of the devices were investigated using I–V measurements under a solar simulator with an AM1.5 global filter. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Amperometric biosensors based on deposition of gold and platinum nanoparticles on polyvinylferrocene modified electrode for xanthine detection

In this study, new xanthine biosensors, XO/Au/PVF/Pt and XO/Pt/PVF/Pt, based on electroless deposition of gold(Au) and platinum(Pt) nanoparticles on polyvinylferrocene(PVF) coated Pt electrode for detection of xanthine were presented. The amperometric responses of the enzyme electrodes were measured at the constant potential, which was due to the electrooxidation of enzymatically produced H₂O₂. Compared with XO/PVF/Pt electrode, XO/Au/PVF/Pt and XO/Pt/PVF/Pt exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of the analyte. Effect of Au and Pt nanoparticles was investigated by monitoring the response currents at the different deposition times and the different concentrations of KAuCl₄ and PtBr₂. Under the optimal conditions, the calibration curves of XO/Au/PVF/Pt and XO/Pt/PVF/Pt were obtained over the range of 2.5 × 10^?3 to 0.56 mM and 2.0 × 10^?3 to 0.66 mM, respectively. The detection limits were 7.5 × 10^?4 mM for XO/Au/PVF/Pt and 6.0 × 10^?4 mM for XO/Pt/PVF/Pt. The effects of interferents, the operational and the storage stabilities of the biosensors and the applicabilities of the proposed biosensors to the drug samples analysis were also evaluated.     

Mechanistic investigation of the Ru-catalyzed hydroamidation of terminal alkynes

The ruthenium-catalyzed hydroamidation of terminal alkynes has evolved to become a broadly applicable tool for the synthesis of enamides and enimides. Depending on the catalyst system employed, the reaction leads chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectively to a single diastereoisomer. Herein, we present a comprehensive mechanistic study of the ruthenium-catalyzed hydroamidation of terminal alkynes, which includes deuterium-labeling, in situ IR, in situ NMR, and in situ ESI-MS experiments complemented by computational studies. The results support the involvement of ruthenium-hydride and ruthenium-vinylidene species as the key intermediates. They are best explained by a reaction pathway that consists of an oxidative addition of the amide, followed by insertion of a π-coordinated alkyne into a ruthenium-hydride bond, rearrangement to a vinylidene species, nucleophilic attack of the amide, and finally reductive elimination of the product.     

The synthesis and characterization of copper(II)–<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-aminosalicylate complexes with diamine ligands

The complexes were synthesized by the reaction between sodium salt of p-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) and Cu(II) for 1 and corresponding ethylenediamine (en) or its derivatives for 2–6. The complexes were characterized by using elemental analyses, FT-IR, UV–Vis, magnetic moment measurements, and thermal analyses techniques. In complex 1[Cu₂(PA)₄(H₂O)₂], two Cu(II) ions were found as bridged by four μ-O:O′ p-aminosalicylato (PA) ligands, forming a cage structure, and two aqua ligands to form dinuclear square-pyramidal geometry around Cu(II) ions. In the complexes 2–6, the PA (anionic form of p-aminosalicylic acid) coordinated to Cu(II) ions as monodentate manner by using its oxygen atom of deprotonated carboxylic acid and ethylenediamine derivatives coordinated to the Cu(II) ions in bidentate manner to form mononuclear octahedral complexes [Cu(PA)₂(L)₂] (L = ethylendiamine, N,N-dimethylethylendiamine, N,N′-dimethylethylendiamine, N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylendiamine, and 1,3-propanediamine, for complexes 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively). In all the complexes OH and NH₂ groups of PA ligands were not coordinated to metals.     

Radioactivity measurements in epiphytic lichens of Uludağ Mountain in Western Anatolia

Activity concentrations of gross-β, naturally occurring ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ²¹⁰Pb, ⁷Be and anthropogenic ¹³⁷Cs in epiphytic lichens collected from Uluda? Mountain are presented and discussed with the aim of evaluating potential usability of lichens as a biomonitor. The activity concentrations of gross-β, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be in the lichen samples were found to be in the range of 177–707, 4.05–94.26, 86–211, below detection limit (BDL)—19.2, BDL—14.0, 229–872, and 72.1–220.7 Bq kg^?1 in dry weight, respectively. ¹³⁷Cs content in collected epiphytic lichens was in descending order: Parmelia sulcata > Lobaria pulmonaria > Pseudevernia furfuracea > Usnea filipendula. The best biomonitor for ¹³⁷Cs among the lichen species used in this study was determined as Parmelia sulcata. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated between ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K activity concentrations using a statistical package program (SPSS ver. 17.0) and a negative correlation value (R = ?0,323, p = 0,222) was obtained. The highest ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th activity concentrations were found in Bo?azova Yaylas? which has a geological structure including granitic rocks. It was found that ¹³⁷Cs and ⁷Be activity concentrations in species demonstrated an inverse behaviour. The effect of mean annual precipitation and temperature on ⁷Be activity concentration was determined using multi regression analysis. Also, correlations between the ¹³⁷Cs and ⁷Be, and ⁴⁰K and ⁷Be were investigated.     

Synthesis, structural characterization and electrochemical studies of new macrocyclic Schiff base containing pyridine head and its metal complexes

A new macrocyclic ligand, 1,3,5-triaza-2,4:7,8:13,14-tribenzo-9,12-dioksa-cyclopentadeca-1,5-diene was synthesized by reaction of 2,6-diaminopyridine and 1,2-bis(2-carboxyaldehyde phenoxy)ethane. Then, its Cu(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), Co(III) and La(III) complexes were synthesized by the template effect by the reaction of 2,6-diaminopyridine and 1,2-bis(2-carboxyaldehyde phenoxy)ethane and Cu(NO₃)₂ · 3H₂O, Ni(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O, Pb(NO₃)₂, Co(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O, La(NO₃)₃ · 6H₂O, respectively. The ligand and its metal complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, UV-Vis spectra, magnetic susceptibility, thermal gravimetric analysis, conductivity measurements, mass spectra, and cyclic voltammetry. All complexes are diamagnetic and Cu(II) complex is binuclear. The Co(II) was oxidized to Co(III). The comparative electrochemical studies show that the nickel complex exhibited a quasi-reversible one-electron reduction process, while copper and cobalt complexes gave irreversible reduction processes in DMSO solution.     

Organosilanols as catalysts in asymmetric aryl transfer reactions

[reaction: see text] Various ferrocene-based organosilanols have been synthesized in four steps starting from achiral ferrocene carboxylic acid. Applying these novel planar-chiral ferrocenes as catalysts in asymmetric phenyl transfer reactions to substituted benzaldehydes afforded products with high enantiomeric excesses. The best result (91% ee) was achieved in the addition to p-chlorobenzaldehyde with organosilanol 2b, which has a tert-butyl substituent on the oxazoline ring and an isopropyl group on the silanol fragment.     

Synthesis,characterization and electrochemical properties of novel metal free and zinc(II) phthalocyanines of ball and clamshell types

The phthalodinitrile derivative 1 was prepared by the reaction of 4-nitrophthalonitrile and 1,3-dimethoxy-4-tert-butylcalix[4]arene in dry dimethylsulfoxide as the solvent, in the presence of the base K₂CO₃, by nucleophilic substitution of an activated nitro group in an aromatic ring. The tetramerization of compound 1 gave a binuclear zinc(II) phthalocyanine and a metal-free phthalocyanine of the ball type, 2 and 3, respectively. Its condensation with 4,5-bis(hexylthio)phthalonitrile results in a binuclear phthalocyanine of the clamshell type, 4. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, UV–Vis, IR, MS and ¹H NMR spectra. The electronic spectra exhibit an intense π → π^∗ transition with characteristic Q and B bands of the phthalocyanine core. The electrochemical properties of 2–4 were examined by cyclic voltammetry in non-aqueous media. The voltammetric results showed that while there is no considerable interaction between the two phthalocyanine rings in 4, the splitting of a molecular orbital occurs as a result of the strong interaction between the phthalocyanine rings in 2 and 3.