Protein biosensors based on biofunctionalized conical gold nanotubes

There is increasing interest in the concept of using nanopores as the sensing elements in biosensors. The nanopore most often used is the alpha-hemolysin protein channel, and the sensor consists of a single channel embedded within a lipid bilayer membrane. An ionic current is passed through the channel, and analyte species are detected as transient blocks in this current associated with translocation of the analyte through the channel-stochastic sensing. While this is an extremely promising sensing paradigm, it would be advantageous to eliminate the very fragile lipid bilayer membrane and perhaps to replace the biological nanopore with an abiotic equivalent. We describe here a new family of protein biosensors that are based on conically shaped gold nanotubes embedded within a mechanical and chemically robust polymeric membrane. While these sensors also function by passing an ion current through the nanotube, the sensing paradigm is different from the previous devices in that a transient change in the current is not observed. Instead, the protein analyte binds to a biochemical molecular-recognition agent at the mouth of the conical nanotube, resulting in complete blockage of the ion current. Three different molecular-recognition agents, and correspondingly three different protein analytes, were investigated: (i) biotin/streptavidin, (ii) protein-G/immunoglobulin, and (iii) an antibody to the protein ricin with ricin as the analyte.     

Infrared spectra and rotational isomerism of epifluorohydrin and other propene oxide derivatives

The infrared spectrum for the vapour, liquid and solid states of epifluorohydrin has been studied, and evidence has been obtained for the presence of rotational isomers. The dominant conformer in all phases corresponds to a gauche structure, which was the only form identified in the vapour by microwave spectroscopy [1]. Similar evidence for conformational equilibria has been found for the chloro, bromo and iodo derivatives, and the enthalpy differences between the rotational isomers of these compounds were measured respectively as 4580 ± 970, 3950 ± 400, and 2350 ± 170 J mol^?1 respectively. At low temperatures, epiiodohydrin was found to crystallize in one of two possible crystalline phases. These two phases correspond to the two rotational isomeric conformations of the molecule.     

Dye laser excitation of the fluorosulfate radical. Totally symmetric upper state fundamentals

Upper state vibronic levels associated with totally symmetric fundamentals of the fluorosulfate radical were populated by means of dye laser excitation. The analysis of the resulting fluorescence confirmed the assignment of these levels. Theoretical intensities using the Green's function approach to vibronic coupling were calculated and compared to the experimental values.     

Importance of the diamine reactant in the production of polyphosphonamides by the interfacial technique

The stirred interfacial polycondensation of phenylphosphonic dichloride and 1,6-hexanediamine has been studied as a function of several reaction variables. The reaction is rapid, being completed in less than 1 min. When organic solvent is varied and reactant molar ratio is varied with an excess of the acid chloride, yield is constant. When reactant molar ratio is varied polymer yield increases with increase in amine concentration. When reactant concentration is increased yield increases. With the addition of a soluble salt in the aqueous phase yield is increased. The above indicates that the diffusion of the amine to the reaction zone is of primary importance in determining polymerization rate and that the diffusion of the acid chloride is relatively unimportant. Polymer yield was found to be dependent on the pH of the amine in the aqueous phase. The observed trend is related to the apparent solubility of the amine in the aqueous phase such that the greater the apparent solubility of the amine, the less the polymer yield. Polymer molecular weight is found to be independent of reaction variables tested. Polymer was also formed from the condensation of phenylphosphonic dichloride with p-phenylenediamine, H₂N-D-NH₂ (where D is a 36-carbon hydrocarbon chain), 1,3-di-4-piperidylpropane, and 4-aminomethylpiperidine; phenyl phosphorodichloridate with 1,6-hexanediamine; chloromethyl phosphonic dichloride with 1,6-hexanediamine.     

Sine-wave polarographic determination of small amounts of indium in the presence of large amounts of cadmium,lead or tin

The sine-wave polarographic determination of small amounts of indium in the presence of large amounts of cadmium, lead or tin was investigated. The determination of indium in cadmium was possible down to 0.01 % in 1 M potassium iodide at pH 2, the determination of indium in lead was possible down to 0.02 % in 1 M potassium chloride at pH 2, and the determination of indium in tin was possible down to 0.3 % in 1 M hydrochloric acid and down to 0.2 % in 2 M perchloric acid with 0.5 M sodium chloride.     

Formation of Bi-Sb, Bi-Sn, and Bi-Sb-Sn Nanoclusters in Silica Xerogel Matrices from Mixed-Metal Oxide Precursors

Homogeneous mixed-metal oxides of the general formula (Bi/E/Si)O _x , where E represents a dopant element (E=Sb, Sn, or Sb/Sn), can be prepared using typical sol-gel processing techniques. Reduction of the in-situ Bi(III) and E ions by hydrogen affords nanocomposites of Bi-Sb, Bi-Sn, or Bi-Sb-Sn widely dispersed throughout the silica xerogel matrix. The materials prepared have high Bi-E metal loading of 52–60 wt. % containing Bi-E alloy nanoclusters of 12–15 nm average diameter. These results demonstrate a convenient method for the production of practical quantities of nanostructured bismuth alloy ceramic composites at high metal content.     

The mass spectra of substituted 2-methylbenzophenones

The mass spectra of some methoxy and methyl derivatives of 2-methylbenzophenone have been examined. Loss of a substituents from 3′-and 4′-positions as well as the previously known loss from 2′-positions are important fragmentation processes. Thus, these fragmentations are of little use in locating substituents on benzophenones of unknown structure. Deuterium labelling shows the [M - 1]⁺ ion from 3′,4,4′,5,5′-pentamethoxy-2-methyl benzophenone to be due largely to loss of hydrogen from 2′- and 6′-positions.     

Studies on indian medicinal plants-XLIV: Solanoforthine,a new steroidal alkaloid from solanum seaforthianum. a note on the mass spectrum of solanocapsine

The structure of solanoforthine, m.p. 208–10°, [α]_D- 26.6°, a new steroidal alkaloid isolated from Solanum seaforthianum Andr., has been established as 3β-amino-22,26-epimino-16α,23-epoxy-22αH,25βH-cholest- 5- en -23β - ol 3, based on chemical and spectroscopic evidence and by its reduction to solanocapsine 2, another steroidal alkaloid encountered in the same species. The mass spectra of2 and 3 are discussed.