Amperometric glucose sensor based on glucose oxidase immobilized on gelatin-multiwalled carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode

We investigated the direct electrochemistry of glucose oxidase (GOx) at gelatin-multiwalled carbon nanotube (GCNT) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). GOx was covalently immobilized onto GCNT modified GCE through the well known glutaraldehyde (GAD) chemistry. The immobilized GOx showed a pair of well-defined reversible redox peaks with a formal potential (E⁰′) of ? 0.40 V and a peak to peak separation (ΔE_p) of 47 mV. The surface coverage concentration (Г) of GOx in GCNT/GOx/GAD composite film modified GCE was 3.88 × 10^? 9 mol cm^? 2 which indicates the high enzyme loading. The electron transfer rate constant (k_s) of GOx immobilized onto GCNT was 1.08 s^? 1 which validates a rapid electron transfer processes. The composite film shows linear response towards 6.30 to 20.09 mM glucose. We observed a good sensitivity of 2.47 μA mM^?1 cm^? 2 for glucose at the composite film. The fabricated biosensor displayed two weeks stability. Moreover, it shows no response to 0.5 mM of ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA), acetaminophen (AP), pyruvate (PA) and lactate (LA) which shows its potential application in the determination of glucose from human serum samples. The composite film exhibits excellent recovery for glucose in human serum at physiological pH with good practical applicability.     

Ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes containing tetradentate Schiffbases

Ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes of general formula [Ru(CO)(B)(L)] [where B = PPh3, pyridine (py), piperidine (pip); L = the dianionic tetradentate Schiff bases derived from the condensation of acetylacetone or benzoylacetone with ethylenediamine, propylenediamine or trimethylenediamine] have been synthesised by reacting [RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)2(B)] (B = PPh3, py or pip) with bis(acetylacetone)ethylenediimine, bis(acetylacetone)propylenediimine, bis(acetylacetone)trimethylenedi- imine, bis(benzoylacetone)ethylenediimine, bis(benzoylacetone)propylenediimine or bis(benzoylacetone)trimethylenediimine. The complexes were characterised onthe basis of elemental analyses, i.r., electronic and 1H- and 31P{1H}-n.m.r. spectral studies. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis,characterization and biocidal studies of ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes containing tetradentate Schiff bases

Stable ruthenium(II) complexes of Schiff bases have been prepared by reacting [RuHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂(B)] (B = PPh₃, pyridine or piperidine) with bis(o-vanillin)ethylenediimine (valen), bis(o-vanillin)propylene-diimine (valpn), bis(o-vanillin)tetramethylenediimine (valtn), bis(o-vanillin)o-phenylenediimine (valphn), bis(salicylaldehyde)tetramethylenediimine (saltn) and bis(salicylaldehyde)o-phenylenediimine (salphn). These complexes have been characterised by elemental analyses, i.r., electronic, ¹H- and ³¹P{¹H}-n.m.r. spectral studies. In all the above reactions, the Schiff bases replace two molecules of Ph₃P, a hydride and a halide ion from the starting complexes, indicating that the Ru–N bonds present in the complexes containing heterocyclic nitrogen bases are stronger than the Ru–P bond to Ph₃P. The new complexes of the general formula [Ru(CO)(B)(L)] (B = PPh₃, py or pip; L = tetradentate Schiff bases) have been assigned an octahedral structure. Some of the Schiff bases and the new complexes have been tested against the pathogenic fungus Fusarium sp.     

A simple synthesis of dialkylketones from alkenes via hydroboration-carbenoidation

Hydroboration of alkenes with sodium acetoxyborohydride(NaBH₃OAc) followed by carbenoidation using NaOCH₃/CHCl₃ system and oxidation with H₂O₂/NaOH give dialkylketones.     

Studies on ruthenium(II) Schiff base complexes as catalysts for transfer hydrogenation reactions

The reactions of [RuHCl(CO)(B)(EPh₃)₂] (B = EPh₃ or Py; E = P or As) and Schiff bases in 1:1 molar ratio led to the formation of [RuCl(CO)(EPh₃)(B)(L)] (E = P or As; B = PPh₃, AsPh₃ or Py; L = Schiff base ligand). The new complexes have been characterized by analytical and spectroscopic (IR, electronic and ¹H NMR) data. They have been assigned an octahedral structure. The new complexes were found to catalyse the transfer hydrogenation of ketones.     

Sensitive and selective DNA probe based on “turn-on” photoluminescence of C-dots@RGO

In this study, highly hydrophilic and photoluminescent sheets of reduced graphene oxide decorated with carbon dots (C-dots@RGO), methylene blue (MB), and a probe DNA have been used for the detection of DNA. The photoluminescence of C-dots@RGO is quenched by MB, which is restored in the presence of a target DNA. The combination of the C-dots@RGO, MB, and a DNA probe is selective for perfectly matched DNA over mismatched DNA, mainly because relative to single-stranded DNA, double-stranded DNA intercalates more strongly with MB, but interacts more weakly with RGO. In the presence of a target DNA, MB intercalates with the as-formed double-stranded DNA and is released from the surface of C-dots@RGO, leading to “turn-on” photoluminescence. The practicality of this assay has been validated by the determination of tumor suppressor gene BRCA1, with linearity over the concentration range from 25 to 250 nM and a limit of detection (LOD, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3) of 14.6 nM. The C-dots@RGO probe provides higher specificity towards target DNA than towards common salts, carbohydrates, amino acids, and proteins found in real samples. Having the advantages of simplicity, cost-effectiveness, selectivity, and sensitivity, the DNA-P/C-dots@RGO–MB probe on microwells has been successfully employed for the detection of DNA, suggesting its potential for multiple analyses of DNA targets when various DNA probes are employed.     

Encapsulation of dicinnamalacetone in β-cyclodextrin: A physicochemical evaluation and molecular modeling approach on 1:2 inclusion complex

The aim of this research is to prepare and characterize the inclusion complex between Dicinnamalacetone (DCA) and β-CD. The inclusion complex of Dicinnamalacetone [DCA] and Beta-cyclodextrin [β-CD] was characterized both in solution and solid state by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fluorescence spectroscopy, Nano second time resolved fluorescence study, Fourier Transform Infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and molecular modeling test. The 1:2 soichiometry of inclusion complex and binding constant values were determined by Benesi-Hildebrand plot and confirmed by Job's continuous variation method. FT-IR study indicated that the aromatic rings of the Dicinnamalacetone molecule were included in the β-CD cavities. The nano second time resolved fluorescence study revealed that DCA exhibits single exponential decay in aqueous medium and bi-exponential decay in β-CD medium indicating the formation of inclusion complex. From the DSC study it is observed that the thermal stability of the inclusion complex was significantly enhanced when compared with the pure compound due to strong interaction between DCA and β-CD. Furthermore, implementation of molecular modeling test confirmed that the complexation could reduce the energy of the system. The experimental studies revealed that the most predominant structure of 1:2 inclusion complex is the one in which the two aromatic ends of DCA were inserted into the cavities of two β-CD molecules.     

Expired pharmaceutical compounds as potential inhibitors for cast iron corrosion in acidic medium

The inhibition potential of some expired waste pharmaceutical drugs, namely cefpodoxime (CF), levofloxacin (LV), ofloxacin (OX) and linezolid (LZ) on cast iron corrosion in 1 M HCl has been tested for the first time by chemical (weight loss) and electrochemical (Tafel polarization and impedance spectroscopy) methods. At a constant acid concentration (1 M HCl), the inhibition efficiency (IE%) increased with the increase of the inhibitors’ concentration. At optimum inhibitor concentration, the CF exhibited the highest inhibition efficiency (95.2%). Inhibitors were adsorbed on the cast iron surface through the Langmuir adsorption isotherm at all concentrations and temperatures studied. Antagonism and synergism arising between the halide ions and the inhibitors were also explained. Thermodynamic parameters have been calculated and are discussed. Tafel polarization curves pointed to all inhibitors acting as mixed-type. Corrosion inhibition properties of the inhibitors have been inferred from FT-IR spectra, UV–Vis spectra, surface morphological analysis and wide-angle X-ray diffraction studies.