Performance of an ultra-low elution-volume 96-well plate: drug discovery and development applications

Recently, sample preparation has been considered to be the major cause of bottlenecks during high-throughput analysis. With the assistance of robotic liquid handlers and the 96-well plate format, more samples can be prepared for subsequent liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis. Protein precipitation is still widely used despite potential loss of sensitivity or variable results due to ion suppression. The use of solid-phase extraction (SPE) clearly gives superior results but may not be as cost effective as protein precipitation due to the labor and material costs associated with the process. Here, a novel 96-well SPE plate is described that was designed to minimize the elution volume required for quantitative elution of analytes. The plate is packed with 2 mg of a high-capacity SPE sorbent that allows loading of up to 750 microL of plasma, while the novel design permits elution with as little as 25 microL. Therefore, the plate offers up to a 15-fold increase in sample concentration. The evaporation and reconstitution step that is typically required in SPE is avoided due to the concentrating ability of the plate. Examples of applications in drug discovery/development are shown and results are compared to protein precipitation. Excellent sensitivity and linearity are demonstrated.     

Polyvinyl pyridines as flocculating agents

Summary High molecular weight poly 2- and 4-vinyl pyridines were synthesized by ionic polymerisation and their flocculation efficiency tested against kaolin and silica dispersions at pH 3. Low additions of the polymers, around 3 parts per 10₃ parts solid, destabilize the dispersions and clarify silica dispersions to a remarkable extent; however, over-addition of polymer leads to partial restabilization. The flocculation efficiency improves with increase of solids content, especially with clay dispersions. Flocculation efficiency increases with polymer molecular weight, especially over the lower part of the range covered, but is relatively independent of pH in the range 2–4. Quaternization of poly(4-vinyl pyridine) with bromobutane produces a good flocculant for aqueous silica dispersions in which the degree of restabilization on over-dosing depends on the KCI content. TheN-oxide derivatives of the vinyl pyridine polymers do not affect the colloidal stability of silica dispersions. The observations are interpreted in terms of bridging flocculation by the cationic polymer molecules between anionic surface sites on the solid particles.     

Ultrathin polymer film formation by collision-induced cross-linking of adsorbed organic molecules with hyperthermal protons

A new synthetic approach for the formation of ultrathin polymer films with customizable properties was developed. In this approach, the kinematic nature of proton collisions with simple organic molecules condensed on a substrate is exploited to break C-H bonds preferentially. The subsequent recombination of carbon radicals gives a cross-linked polymer thin film, and the selectivity of C-H cleavage preserves the chemical functionalities of the precursor molecules. The nature and validity of the method are exemplified with theoretical results from ab initio molecular dynamics calculations and experimental evidence from a variety of characterization techniques. Its applicability is demonstrated by the synthesis of ultrathin polymer films with precursor molecules such as dotriacontane, docosanoic acid, poly(acrylic acid) oligomer, and polyisoprene. The approach is fundamentally different from conventional chemical synthesis as it involves an unusual mix of physical and chemical processes including charge exchange, projectile penetration, kinematics, collision-induced dissociation, inelastic energy transfer, chain transfer, and chain cross-linking.     

Structural analyses and magnetic properties of 3D coordination polymeric networks of nickel(II) maleate and manganese(II) adipate with the flexible 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane ligand

Two novel inorganic-organic hybrid 3D extended networks of Ni(II) and Mn(II) having molecular formulas [(maleate)(2)Ni(3)(bpe)(4)(H(2)O)(4)](NO(3))(2).H(2)O (1) and [(adipate)Mn(bpe)] (2) (bpe = 1, 2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane), respectively, have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies and low-temperature (300-2 K) magnetic measurements. Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2/c (No. 15), with chemical formula C(56)H(62)N(10)Ni(3)O(19), a = 30.955(4) A, b = 12.705(3) A, c = 17.058(5) A, beta = 117.26(2) degrees, and Z = 4. Compound 2 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group Ponemacr; (No. 2), with chemical formula C(18)H(20)MnN(2)O(4), a = 8.492(2) A, b = 9.444(2) A, c = 11.533(3) A, alpha = 97.19(1) degrees, beta = 94.64(1) degrees, gamma = 105.02(1) degrees, and Z = 2. The structure determination reveals for both a 3D network. Compound 1 contains two crystallographically independent Ni(II) ions in different octahedral environments. Ni(1) lies on an inversion center, and its coordination environment comprises two chelating maleate anions and two bpe nitrogen donors, while the Ni(2) ion is surrounded by meridionally disposed three bpe N atoms, two water molecules, and one oxygen donor from the dicarboxylate anion. Of the three crystallographic independent bpe ligand, one presents an anti and the others a gauche conformation. The corresponding N-to-N distances are 9.344, 6.543, and 6.187 A. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurement of the complex reveals the existence of a dominant ferromagnetic interaction within the molecule. Compound 2 is composed of Mn(2) dimer units linked by adipate anions to form corrugated 2D sheets which, on interconnection through bpe (anti conformation, N-to-N distance of 9.391 A), produces an interpenetrated 3D alpha-polonium-related type net. Complex 2 reveals to be antiferromagnetic fitting data using a dimeric Mn(II) model that considers negligible magnetic transmission through the carbon skeleton of adipate and the bpe pathway.     

Electrical conductivity and phase transitions of the solid electrolyte system (Cs1−yRby)Cu4Cl3(I2−xClx)

Results of electrical conductivity measurements, thermal analysis, and X-ray diffraction studies indicate the existence of four phases, between 295 K and the melting points, in the system (Cs_1?yRb_y)Cu₄Cl₃I₂. These phases are designated α, á β, γ in order of decreasing temperature. The α phase is isostructural with α-RbAg₄I₅; the á phase is also cubic and very likely belongs to space groupP2₁3, a subgroup ofP4₁32 andP4₃32 to which the α phase belongs. There is a high probability that the á → α transition is continuous. The á → α transition is not discernible in the conductivity measurements or thermal analysis; therefore the line of á-α transitions is presently unknown. The β phase transforms to the á and the γ phase transforms to the β phase wheny ≤ 0.36; the γ phase transforms to the α phase wheny ≥ 0.36. That is, there is a triple point aty = 0.36, T = 399K. The γ-β, β-α′, and γ-α transitions are all hysteretic and are therefore first order. The conductivities of the β phases are relatively low and the enthalpies of activation relatively high. The conductivity of the β phase decreases with increasingy. The β phase probably belongs to space groupR3, in which the Cu⁺ ions can be ordered. The α and á phases are the true solid electrolytes; the conductivities are high, >0.73 Ω^?1cm^?1 at 419 K, and the enthalpies of activation of motion of the Cu⁺ ions low, 0.11 eV.In the system CsCu₄Cl₃(I_2?xCl_x), 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.25, the Cl^? for I^? substitutions affect the transitions to only a small extent relative to the stoichiometric compound. The β phase occurs for allx and transforms to á.     

Gravimetric determination of osmium with 1:2:3-benzotriazole

A method for the direct gravimetric determination of osmium with 1:2:3-benzotriazole in acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer is presented. The method is accurate and reproducible, and the conditions used in the determination are not critical. The precipitate is a stoichiometric compound which is stable from room temperature up to 200°. It appears that 1:2:3-benzotriazole is probably the first organic reagent to be used successfully in the direct gravimetric determination of osmium.     

Reversible replication between ordered mesoporous silica and mesoporous carbon

Highly ordered mesoporous silica can be regenerated from a mesoporous carbon CMK-3 that is a negative replica of mesoporous silica SBA-15, indicating reversible replication between carbon and inorganic materials.     

Radioactivity contents in building materials used in Hong Kong

The radioactivity contents in building materials used in Hong Kong were measured to determine the sources of the high indoor radon concentrations observed in local buildings. The radium contents and the radon emanation coefficients of different building materials were measured by high resolution γ-ray spectroscopy using germanium detectors. The radon exhalation rates were measured using scintillation cells by circulating the exhaled radon from building materials and obtaining the initial growth rates. The radium content and the radon exhalation rates of concrete and bricks used in Hong Kong were found to be higher than those in some other countries, resulting in high indoor radon concentrations probably due to the high radioactivity contents in the aggregates, granitic in nature, used in building materials.     

High levels of soluble herpes virus entry mediator in sera of patients with allergic and autoimmune diseases

Herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) is a newly discovered member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily that has a role in herpes simplex virus entry, in T cell activation and in tumor immunity. We generated mAb against HVEM and detected soluble HVEM (SHVEM) in the sera of patients with various autoimmune diseases. HVEM was constitutively expressed on CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, CD19(+) B cells, CD14(+) monocytes, neutrophils and dendritic cells. In three-way MLR, mAb 122 and 139 were agonists and mAb 108 had blocking activity. An ELISA was developed to detect sHVEM in patient sera. sHVEM levels were elevated in sera of patients with allergic asthma, atopic dermatitis and rheumatoid arthritis. The mAbs discussed here may be useful for studies of the role of HVEM in immune responses. Detection of soluble HVEM might have diagnostic and prognostic value in certain immunological disorders.     

Ethanol Washing Effect on Textural Properties of the Sodium Silicate-Derived Silica Xerogel

This study deals with the use of ethanol as washing solvent in the preparation of the silica gels from sodium silicate in order to enhance the textural properties, especially surface area. We here examined the effect of ethanol-washing on surface area, micro- and mesopore volume, and average pore size. The silica xerogels prepared from sodium silicate solution exhibited an extremely high surface area of 1139 m2/g by washing their hydrogels with ethanol. Compared to water-washed xerogels, ethanol-washed xerogels showed higher surface areas, total pore volumes, and larger average pore sizes. Unlike the surface area of water-washed xerogel, that of the ethanol-washed xerogel was not affected by the silica concentration of initial solution. This study indicates that the textural properties of sodium silicate-derived xerogels are further enhanced by using ethanol as washing solvent.