Biosensors designed for environmental and food quality control based on screen-printed graphite electrodes with different configurations

Graphite electrodes fabricated by screen-printing have been used as amperometric detectors in biosensors based on NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenases, tyrosinase, or genetically modified acetylcholinesterases. The mono-enzyme sensors have been optimized as disposable or reusable devices for detection of a variety of substrates important in the food industry ( D-lactic acid, L-lactic acid, acetaldehyde) or in environmental pollution control (phenols and dithiocarbamate, carbamate and organophosphorus pesticides). The sensors were prepared in four configurations differing in enzyme confinement, enzyme immobilization and location of the immobilization agent in the biosensor assembly. Tests on real samples have been performed with the biosensors; D-lactic acid and acetaldehyde have been detected in wine and phenols in air.     

Complexing processes in M(II)-dithiomalonamide-diacetyl triple systems (M= Ni,Cu) in ethanol solution and in a metal(II)hexacyanoferrate(II) gelatin-immobilized matrix materials

The complexing processes in the M ^II -dithiomalonamide-diacetyl triple system (M=Ni, Cu) occuring in the nickel(II)- and copper(II)hexacyanoferrate(II) gelatin-immobilized matrix in contact with aqueous alkaline solutions (pH~12) containing dithiomalonamide and diacetyl at room temperature, and between MCl₂, dithiomalonamide and diacetyl in EtOH solutions upon heating to$80°C, have been studied. In the Ni ^II -dithiomalonamide-diacetyl system, template synthesis occurs in EtOH solution but does not occur in the gelatin-immobilized matrix, whereas in the Cu ^II -dithiomalonamide-diacetyl system, template synthesis occurs in the gelatin-immobilized matrix but not in EtOH solution. Dithiomalonamide and diacetyl are the ligand synthons in the processes indicated.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> inhibitory effect of polyoxometalates on human tumor cells

H₇[NiV₁₃O₃₈] was synthesized from K₇[NiV₁₃O₃₈] using an ion exchange method. Then Pr₂H[NiV₁₃O₃₈] was obtained by double decomposition of H₇[NiV₁₃O₃₈] with Pr₂(CO₃)₃. The actual amount of praseodymium measured by elemental analysis coincides with the designed amount of praseodymium in Pr₂H[NiV₁₃O₃₈]. The i.r. spectra suggested that the [NiV₁₃O₃₈]^7– anion did not collapse after the ion exchange and double decomposition. The ⁵¹V n.m.r. spectrum of Pr₂H[NiV₁₃O₃₈] showed four peaks and their ratio of the relative intensity was 4:4:4:1. This result agrees with the chemical environment of V atoms in the [NiV₁₃O₃₈]^7– anion. In vitro antitumor activities of polyoxometalates on several human tumor cells have been investigated using the MTT method. Pr₂H[NiV₁₃O₃₈] is the most effective polyoxometalate tested in this study for inhibiting KB cell. Pr₂H[NiV₁₃O₃₈] also showed remarkable inhibitory effect on some other tumor cells: HCT, Bel, B₁₆, BCAP and ESCL cells. These results indicate that Pr₂H[NiV₁₃O₃₈] is a potent broad spectrum antitumor agent. The structure type of polyoxometalates greatly influences their antitumor activity: the order of structure type for inhibiting KB cell is: [NiV₁₃O₃₈]^7–>[Mo₇O₂₄]^6–>Anderson structure Keggin structure Dawson structure. Moreover, the nature of the polyatom in the polyoxometalates also greatly influences their antitumor activity: the polyatom order for inhibiting KB cell is: V>Mo W. On the other hand, the nature of the counter cation and the heteroatom in the polyoxometalates exerted a relatively small influence on the inhibitory effect against the KB cell, although the praseodymium salt of [NiV₁₃O₃₈]^7– showed a higher antitumor activity than its potassium salt.     

Investigation of the Electrochemical Reduction of Benzophenone in Aprotic Solvents Using the Method of Cyclic Voltammetry

The reduction of benzophenone (Bzph) in 3-pentanone (PEN), acetone (ACE), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), tetrahydrofuran (THF), acetonitrile (ACN) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) with n-tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAPF₆) as background electrolyte was studied using the technique of cyclic voltammetry at the temperature of 263.15 K. The half-wave potentials (E _1/2) were extracted. The reduction of Bzph occurs in two successive one-electron steps to produce first the free radical anion Bzph⁻ and then the dianion Bzph²⁻. The results indicated that the radical anion Bzph⁻ is reoxidized to Bzph in all investigated solvent media whereas the dianion Bzph²⁻ is reoxidized to Bzph⁻ only in THF. The heterogeneous electron-transfer rate constants (k _s ) were evaluated by employing the electrochemical rate equation proposed by Nicholson. The rate of electron transfer for the Bzph/Bzph⁻ couple was found to be relatively slow in all investigated solvent media. Consequently, the electron-transfer processes can be recognized as quasi-reversible. The diffusion coefficients (D) of Bzph in the investigated solvent media have been calculated using the modified Randles-Sevcik equation. The effect of the physical and chemical properties of the solvent medium on the electrochemical behavior of Bzph has been examined.     

Advanced oxidation processes for decolorization of aqueous solution containing acid red G azo dye

Some investigations concerning the decolorization of Acid Red G azo dye by photooxidation with hydrogen peroxide were performed. The influences of pH, oxidant concentration, and the presence of Fe²⁺ or other metal ions (Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺) as potential catalysts, were investigated. The best results were obtained in the presence of ferrous ions in acid and neutral media. The other ions are not as effective as Fe²⁺ for dye decolorization. Co²⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions have a catalytic action, at low concentration, within a wide range of pH. Ni²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions have no catalytic effect in photooxidation with hydrogen peroxide at acid Ni²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions have no catalytic effect in photooxidation with hydrogen peroxide at acid pH values, but show a weak action in alkaline media.     

Nucleophilic addition of bifunctional sulfimidosulfides to platinum(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">IV</Emphasis>)-coordinated nitriles

Reactions of the platinum(IV) nitrile complexes [PtCl₄(RCN)₂] (R = Me, CH₂Ph, Ph) with 1,2- and 1,4-PhS(=NH)C₆H₄SPh in CH₂Cl₂ afforded addition products of sulfimides and coordinated nitriles, viz., the [PtCl₄{NH=C(R)N=S(Ph)(C₆H₄SPh)}₂] complexes. The latter were isolated in 75—90% yields and characterized by elemental analysis, positive-ion FAB mass spectrometry, IR spectroscopy, and ¹H and ¹³C¹H NMR spectroscopy. The temperature dependence of the ¹H NMR spectra of the model [PtCl₄{NH=C(R)N=SPh₂}₂] complexes (R = Me, Et) in CD₂Cl₂ studied in a temperature range from +40 to -70 °C demonstrated that E—Z isomerization of the ligands is a dynamic process in a range from +40 to -10 °C. The activation free energy of this process was calculated.Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1618–1622, August, 2004.     

Antiferromagnetic coupling in [Mn<Subscript>12</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript>(O<Subscript>2</Subscript>CMe)<Subscript>6</Subscript>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-phenyl nitronyl

The synthesis of [Mn₁₂O₁₂(O₂CMe)₆(p-CO₂-phenyl nitronyl nitroxide)₁₀(H₂O)₄]· 4H₂O, (1), by direct replacement of some of the acetate groups in [Mn₁₂O₁₂(O₂CMe)₁₆(H₂O)₄] · 4H₂O · 2MeCO₂H, (2), with the organic radical p-HO₂C-phenyl nitronyl nitroxide, (3), is reported. E.p.r. spectra show exchange narrowing in (1) due to coupling between the manganese ions and radicals. The isotropic hyperfine splitting constant from the manganese ions is a = 96 Oe at 5.5K. The magnetic susceptibility indicates antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the manganese ions and the radicals with the Weiss constant = -25 K. The spin was determined to be S = 6 from magnetization data in the 2--30 K temperature range at 50 kOe, suggesting a mixture of ground state with excited states.     

Action of HCl on 3-hydroxypyrazolo(iso)quinolines to give 1-chloropyrazoles: evidence for an addition–elimination mechanism by ab initio calculations in gas phase and water

 Addition–elimination reactions involving a nucleophile and a remote leaving group [S^H _N(AE)^tele] are well-known under basic conditions, especially amongst electron-poor six-membered heterocycles, but are less commonly encountered for five-membered heterocycles and are rare under acidic conditions. Concentrated HCl converts 1-hydroxy-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c] isoquinoline and 1-hydroxy-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]quinoline into 3-chloro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]isoquinoline and 3-chloro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]quinoline, respectively. However, apparently neither the isomeric 1-hydroxy-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-c](iso)-quinolines nor the parent 1-hydroxypyrazole undergo this reaction. Additionally, all these systems are refractory under basic conditions. We present a plausible mechanism for the reaction, involving the 3-addition of Cl^- to the diprotonated heterocycle, followed by the elimination of water. Calculations of the initial transition states and intermediates, using optimisation at B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p), including thermochemistry [HF/6-31+G(d)], and single-point Poisson–Boltzmann self-consistent reaction field determination of the free energy of solvation (Jaguar Poisson–Boltzmann self-consistent reaction field), support this mechanism and reproduce the observed order of reactivity, the addition step being 2–4 kcal less favourable for the isomeric 1-hydroxy-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-c](iso)quinolines and provide a rationalisation for the role of strong acid. Received: 27 June 2002 / Accepted: 6 September 2002 / Published online: 14 February 2003     

31P{1H}-n.m.r. as a tool for identification of ruthenium isomers containing PPh3 or 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane ligands. X-ray structures of the cis-{RuCl2(PPh3)2 [4,4′-(-X)2-2,2′-bipy]} complexes [X=-H, -Me, -SMe and (-Cl, -Me)]

A series of cis-{RuCl₂(PPh₃)₂[4,4-(X)₂-2,2-bipy]} [cis-chlorines; X=-H, -Me, -SMe, and (-Cl,-Me)] complexes have had their structures determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The geometry of these complexes, also determined in CH₂Cl₂ solution by ³¹P{¹H}-n.m.r. spectroscopy, showed that the chemical shifts for the phosphorus atoms are slightly dependent on the pKa of the 4,4-(-X)₂-2,2-bipy ligands.     

Structural characterization of cardiolipin by tandem quadrupole and multiple-stage quadrupole ion-trap mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization

We report negative-ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometric methods for structural characterization of cardiolipin (CL), a four-acyl-chain phospholipid containing two distinct phosphatidyl moieties, of which structural assignment of the fatty acid residues attached to the glycerol backbones performed by low-energy CAD tandem mass spectrometry has not been previously described. The low-energy MS2-spectra of the [M - H]- and [M - 2H]2- ions obtained with ion-trap or with tandem quadrupole instrument combined with ion-trap MS3-spectra or with source CAD product-ion spectra provide complete structural information for CL characterization. The MS2-spectra of the [M - H]- ions contain two sets of prominent fragment ions that comprise a phosphatidic acid, a dehydrated phosphatidylglycerol, and a (phosphatidic acid + 136) anion. The substantial differences in the abundances of the two distinct phosphatidic anions observed in the MS2-spectra of the [M -H]- ions lead to the assignment of the phosphatidyl moieties attached to the 1' or 3' position of central glycerol. Upon further collisional dissociation, the MS3-spectra of the phosphatidic anions provide information to identify the fatty acyl substituents and their position in the glycerol backbone. The MS2-spectra of the [M - 2H]2- ions obtained with TSQ or ITMS contain complementary information to confirm structural assignment. The applications of the above methods in the differentiation of cardiolipin isomers and in the identification of complex cardiolipin species consisting of multiple molecular structures are also demonstrated.