Selective Electroanalytical Assay for Cysteine at a Boron Doped Diamond Electrode

The electrochemical oxidation of the cysteine‐quinone adduct has been examined as a means of providing an electroanalytical cysteine specific detection protocol. The appliance of square‐wave voltammetry allowed 0.5 μM as a limit of detection. The effects of various biologically relevant interferences including other thiols were studied and found to present no change in the voltammetric profile. The practical applicability and efficiency of the methodology was probed through the determination of cysteine concentration in growth tissue medium.     

Rapid quantification of HIV protease inhibitors in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

HIV protease inhibitors are important antiretroviral drugs which have substantially reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV-1 infection. Recent data have shown relationships between plasma concentrations of the protease inhibitors and clinical response, which makes therapeutic drug monitoring valuable. We have developed and validated an assay, using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), for the routine quantification of the six licensed protease inhibitors (amprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir) and the pharmacologically active nelfinavir metabolite M8 in plasma. The sample pretreatment consisted of protein precipitation with a mixture of methanol and acetronitrile using only 100 microl of plasma. Chromatographic separation was performed on an Inertsil ODS3 column (50 x 2.0 mm i.d., particle size 5 microm), with a quick stepwise gradient using an acetate buffer (pH 5) and methanol, at a flow rate of 0.5 ml min(-1). The analytical run time was 5.5 min. The use of a 96-well plate autosampler allowed batch sizes up to 150 patient samples. The triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer was operated in the positive ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring was used for drug quantification. The method was validated over the concentration ranges 0.01-10 microg ml(-1) for indinavir and saquinavir, 0.1-10 microg ml(-1) for amprenavir, 0.05-10 microg ml(-1) for nelfinavir and ritonavir, 0.1-20 microg ml(-1) for lopinavir and 0.01-5 microg ml(-1) for M8. Saquinavir-d(5) and indinavir-d(6) were used as internal standards. The coefficients of variation were always <10% for both intra-day and inter-day precisions for each compound. Mean accuracies were also between the designated limits (+/-15%). The validated concentration ranges proved to be adequate in daily practice. This robust and fast LC/MS/MS assay is now successfully applied for routine therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacokinetic studies in our hospital.     

Physicochemical and structural properties of bacteriostatic sulfonamides: Theoretical study

A theoretical study at the Hartree–Fock and density functional theory levels is performed on sulfonamide‐type bacteriostatic compounds with the aim to provide an insight into their structure–activity relationship. The basicity of the p‐amino group is analyzed by means of the proton affinities and the protonation energies, showing that molecules presenting bacteriostatic activity are less basic, i.e., they are characterized by larger protonation energies and smaller proton affinities. The acidity of the amide group is analyzed through the deprotonation energy. The results reveal that the more acidic molecules present a larger bacteriostatic activity. This result is also confirmed from a study of bond orders. A bond order analysis of the amide group suggests that the electron attracting group in these molecules is responsible for the increase in acidity. The charge of the SO₂ group is also shown to be affected by the presence of the electron attracting group and consequently related to the acidity of the molecules. A geometric analysis shows that structures in which the amino group is more coplanar with respect to the benzenic ring possess larger bacteriostatic activity. A conformational analysis of these molecules illustrates that active molecules have relatively larger torsion energy barriers. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 94: 165–172, 2003     

四核钼簇合物的配体取代反应及产物Mo4S4(μ-OAc)2(dtp)4的晶体结构

标题化合物(Ⅰ)经由Mo₄S₄(μ-dtp)₄(Ⅱ)[dtp=S₂P(OEt)₂]和Ni(OAc)₂反应而得。(Ⅰ)晶体属单斜晶系,空间群P2/c,a=13.176(4),b=11.699(3),c=18.526(4)Å,β=116.11(3)°,V=2564(3)ų,Z     

Preparation of Y2Ba4Cu7O15-δ Superconductor without High Oxygen Pressure

The synthesis of bulk Y₂Ba₄Cu₇O_15-δ superconductor at atmospheric oxygen pressure via solid state sintering is reported. Temperature ranging from 860 to 890 °C as well as time interval over 2 to 15 days were used to investigate the formation of the Y₂Ba₄Cu₇O_15-δ phase. A time-temperature profile characterizing the conditions for the preparation of Y₂Ba₄Cu₇O_15-δ phase suggests the optimal condition to be sintering at 890 °C for over 10 days. Detailed results of X-ray diffraction, electrical resistivity, iodometric titration and magnetization measurements are described.     

Crystal Structures of 1,3-Calix[4]-bis-crown-6·3CH3CN and 1,3-Calix[4]-bis-(benzo-crown-6)·3 CH3CN

The crystal structures of a new solvate of the ditopic receptor 1,3-calix[4]-bis-crown-6, Bis-C6, and of 1,3-calix[4]-bis-(benzo-crown-6), Bis-benzoC6, are reported. Bis-C6.3 CH3CN (1) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n, a = 14.388(3), b = 26.947(8), c = 14.707(4) Å, = 113.19(3)°, V = 5241(5) Å3, Z = 4. Refinement led to a final conventional R value of 0.092 for 2723 reflections. The structure of (1) differs from the previously reported structure of Bis-C6.4 CH3CN by the conformation of one crown either chain. Two acetonitrile molecules are in the close neighbourhood of the crown ether cavities. Bis-benzoC6.3 CH3CN (2) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c, a = 10.391(4), b = 17.264(11), c = 30.426(9) Å, = 94.62(3)°, V = 5440(7) Å3, Z = 4. Refinement led to a final conventional R value of 0.106 for 2965 reflections. Two acetonitrile molecules are located near the crown ether cavities, as in (1). One of the crown ether conformations is the same as in the binuclear caesium complex of Bis-benzoC6, supporting the hypothesis of a preorganization of this ligand towards the complexation of this ion; the second crown ether chain is partially disordered.     

（Z）—3—丁烯基—4,5—二羟基苯酞的合成

（Ｚ）－３－丁烯基苯酞和它的衍生物广泛地存在于微形科植物，如当归、川芎等，这些植物有些是重要的中药材。（Ｚ）－３－丁烯基－４，５－二羟基苯酞是（Ｚ）－３－丁烯基苯酞的类似物；它对前列腺素Ｆ２α具有抑制作用。本文以３，４－二甲氧基苯甲醇（２）或价廉易得的胡椒醇（６）为起始原料，分别经四步反应顺利地合成了（Ｚ）－３－丁烯基－４，５羟基苯酞（１）。和一步是本方法的关键，即利用杂原子诱导的区域选择性的芳环     

Label-Free Impedance Biosensors: Opportunities and Challenges

Impedance biosensors are a class of electrical biosensors that show promise for point-of-care and other applications due to low cost, ease of miniaturization, and label-free operation. Unlabeled DNA and protein targets can be detected by monitoring changes in surface impedance when a target molecule binds to an immobilized probe. The affinity capture step leads to challenges shared by all label-free affinity biosensors; these challenges are discussed along with others unique to impedance readout. Various possible mechanisms for impedance change upon target binding are discussed. We critically summarize accomplishments of past label-free impedance biosensors and identify areas for future research.     

Mg改性对Co/γ-Al2O3-TiO2催化燃烧丙烷性能影响

采用分步浸渍法制备了系列Mg改性的Co/γ-Al_2O_3-TiO_2催化剂,通过X射线衍射(XRD)、紫外可见漫反射光谱(DR-UV-vis)、N_2吸附-脱附(BET)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)和H_2程序升温还原(H_2-TPR)等技术对催化剂进行表征,并考察了其对丙烷燃烧的催化性能。结果表明,Co在原始γ-Al_2O_3-TiO_2载体和Mg改性MgO/γ-Al_2O_3-TiO_2载体上均以Co_3O_4的形式存在;Mg掺入后与Al_2O_3作用形成MgAl_2O_4尖晶石,改善了载体的织构性质,提升了Co_3O_4在催化剂载体表面的暴露数量和分散程度。此外,MgAl_2O_4与Co_3O_4相互作用提升了Co_3O_4颗粒表面Co~(3+)/Co~(2+)和O_(ads)/O_(latt)的比例,并削弱了Co-O键键能,从而提升了其对丙烷的催化燃烧活性。当Mg负载量为15%(质量分数)时,在Co/MgO(15%)/γ-Al_2O_3-TiO_2催化剂上进行丙烷燃烧,丙烷90%转化率的温度比无Mg掺杂的Co/γ-Al_2O_3-TiO_2催化剂的降低了45℃,并且连续反应40 h其活性保持稳定。     

Temporal Response of SERS to the Potential for 4-Cyanopyridine Adsorbed on Ag Electrode

Time-resolved surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was applied to study the response of Raman bands from 4-cyanopyridine (PyCN) adsorbed on a Ag electrode to variation of the potential; the temporal resolution was 0.1 s. The response of the SERS signals of PyCN was instantaneous to the oxidation potential of Ag electrode. However, delay of the SERS signals was observed while AgCl was reducing. The decay and growth of the SERS bands look place within 1 s in the cases of desorption and adsorption of PyCN on the electrode. It took much longer for PyCN to alter from one adsorption geometry to another on the electrode.