次甲基蓝与牛血清白蛋白作用的光谱特性研究

应用荧光及紫外光谱法研究了次甲基蓝(MB)与牛血清白蛋白(BSA)相互作用的光谱特性。测定了19℃、29℃、39℃三个温度下的结合常数KA和结合位点数n。结果表明:MB对BSA内源荧光的猝灭机理主要为静态猝灭;以疏水作用与BSA相互作用;同步荧光技术研究了MB对BSA构象的影响,表明BSA的荧光主要源于色氨酸残基,MB对BSA的构象有影响;利用Frster偶极-偶极非辐射能量转移理论,计算了MB与BSA的作用距离及19℃、29℃、39℃三个温度下的能量转移。     

荧光光谱法研究木犀草素与牛血清白蛋白的相互作用

在pH为7.40的Tris-HCl缓冲体系中,采用荧光光谱技术研究了木犀草素与牛血清白蛋白(BSA)的相互作用。根据测定292K、299K、311K温度下的猝灭常数,证实了木犀草素对BSA的荧光猝灭为静态猝灭过程,根据Frster非辐射能量转移理论计算出木犀草素与BSA间的结合距离r=2.75nm,由热力学参数焓变(△H)小于零和熵变(△S)大于零,推断出木犀草素与BSA之间主要靠静电引力相结合,生成自由能变(△G)为负值,表明木犀草素与BSA的作用过程是一个自发过程;同时,应用同步荧光光谱考察了木犀草素对BSA构象的影响。     

Facile, sensitive and selective fluorescence turn-on detection of HSA/BSA in aqueous solution utilizing 2,4-dihydroxyl-3-iodo salicylaldehyde azine

A novel fluorescence turn-on detection method of human serum albumin (HSA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in aqueous solution is investigated using 2,4-dihydroxyl-3-iodo salicylaldehyde azine (DISA). Upon the addition of DISA to HSA/BSA solution, a fluorescence turn-on effect at 529 nm can be observed with a large stokes shift of ∼129 nm based on hydrophobic binding-mode between protein and dye. Under the optimal condition, the linear ranges of fluorescence intensity for HSA and BSA are 0.1-30 μg mL⁻¹ with the relative correlation coefficient of R² = 0.991 (n = 10) and 0.3-50 μg mL⁻¹ with R² = 0.997 (n = 10); and the detection limits for HSA and BSA based on IUPAC (C_DL = 3S_b/m) are 20 ng mL⁻¹ and 50 ng mL⁻¹, respectively.     

Encapsulation and release of biomolecules from Ca-P/PHBV nanocomposite microspheres and three-dimensional scaffolds fabricated by selective laser sintering

This study focused on the fabrication of calcium phosphate (Ca-P)/poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) nanocomposite scaffolds loaded with biomolecules using the selective laser sintering (SLS) technique and their evaluation. Ca-P/PHBV nanocomposite microspheres loaded with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the model protein were fabricated using the double emulsion solvent evaporation method. The encapsulation efficiency of BSA in PHBV polymer microspheres and Ca-P/PHBV nanocomposite microspheres were 18.06 ± 0.86% and 24.51 ± 0.60%, respectively. The BSA loaded Ca-P/PHBV nanocomposite microspheres were successfully produced into three-dimensional porous scaffolds with good dimensional accuracy using the SLS technique. The nanocomposite microspheres served as protective carriers and maintained the bioactivity of BSA during SLS. The effects of SLS parameters such as laser power and scan spacing on the encapsulation efficiency of BSA in the scaffolds and in vitro BSA release were studied. An initial burst release was observed, which was followed by a slow release of BSA. After 28-day release, The PHBV matrix was slightly degraded after 28-day in vitro release study. It was shown that nanocomposite scaffolds with controlled architecture obtained via SLS could be incorporated with biomolecules, enhancing them with more functions for bone tissue engineering application or making them suitable for localized delivery of therapeutics.     

Study on the interaction of La with bovine serum albumin at molecular level

The interaction of La³⁺ to bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been investigated mainly by fluorescence spectra, UV-vis absorption spectra, and circular dichroism (CD) under simulative physiological conditions. Fluorescence data revealed that the quenching mechanism of BSA by La³⁺ was a static quenching process and the binding constant is 1.75×10⁴ L mol⁻¹ and the number of binding sites is 1 at 289 K. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH=−20.055 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔG=−23.474 kJ mol⁻¹, and ΔS=11.831 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹) indicate that electrostatic effect between the protein and the La³⁺ is the main binding force. In addition, UV-vis, CD, and synchronous fluorescence results showed that the addition of La³⁺ changed the conformation of BSA.     

Spectrofluorimetric study on the interaction between antimicrobial drug sulfamethazine and bovine serum albumin

The interaction between the antimicrobial drug sulfamethazine (STM) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been studied using steady state and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy. Fluorescence emission data revealed that BSA (2×10⁻⁶ M) fluorescence was statically quenched by STM at various concentrations, which implies that STM-BSA complex has been formed. The fluorescence emission data was analyzed via applying the Stern-Volmer analysis in combination with thermodynamic investigation, where obtained results revealed that quenching is static with quenching constants of 2.371, 1.658, and 0.916×10⁵ M⁻¹ at 298, 304, and 310 K, respectively. Binding constants and number of binding sites at different temperatures were also determined by applying the Scatchard method, which in turn were used to construct the van't Hoff plot in order to estimate the enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy changes (ΔS) for the complexation process. An average of 1.00±0.17 was estimated for the number of sites of BSA, which indicated that STM binds to BSA with stoichiometric ratio of 1:1. The values that were estimated from the van't Hoff plot for ΔH and (ΔS) were −36.8 kJ mol⁻¹ and −14.9 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively, which indicate that the STM-BSA complex is stabilized with hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions. Synchronous fluorescence data was obtained at Δλ of 15 and 60 nm, where obtained results confirmed that STM binds to BSA at the tryptophan residue (Trp. 213). In addition, the distance between STM and the Trp. 213 was estimated via employing the Förster's non-radiative energy-transfer theory, and was found to be 2.73 nm, which in turn indicated that STM can bind to BSA with high probability.     

Study on the interaction between promethazine hydrochloride and bovine serum albumin by fluorescence spectroscopy

The interaction between promethazine hydrochloride (PMT) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in vitro was investigated by means of fluorescence spectroscopy and absorption spectroscopy. The fluorescence of BSA was quenched remarkably by PMT and the quenching mechanism was considered as static quenching by forming a complex. The association constants K_a and the number of binding sites n were calculated at different temperatures. The BSA-PMT binding distance was determined to be less than 8 nm, suggesting that energy transfer from BSA to PMT may occur. The thermodynamic parameters of the interaction between PMT and BSA were measured according to the van’t Hoff equation. The enthalpy change (ΔH) and entropy change (ΔS) were calculated to be −23.62 kJ mol⁻¹ and −0.10 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively, which indicated that the interaction of PMT with BSA was driven mainly by van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds. The binding process was a spontaneous process in which Gibbs free energy change (ΔG) was negative. In addition, the results of synchronous fluorescence spectra and three-dimensional fluorescence spectra showed that binding of PMT with BSA can induce conformational changes in BSA.     

Trace elements in bovine muscle: an ongoing project for a new certified reference material

In the framework of the activities of the Community Reference Laboratory (CRL) for residues at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) of Rome, a number of proficiency tests were performed in order to assess and improve, wherever necessary, the quality of regulatory residue analysis within the EU. In this context, a pilot study was undertaken with the purpose of ascertaining the feasibility of a project for the certification of a new reference material for trace elements in bovine muscle. On behalf of the ISS, approximately 70 kg of bovine muscle, collected at a slaughterhouse in Geel (Belgium), were freeze-dried, homogenized, stabilized and bottled under argon atmosphere by the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Joint Research Centre, European Commission (IRMM-JRC-EC). Preliminary analyses were carried out with Quadrupole (Q) and High Resolution (HR) Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to evaluate the content of As, Cd, Cu and Pb, whereas the Flow Injection Mercury System (FIMS) was used to quantify Hg. Digestion of the matrix was achieved by acid-assisted microwave irradiation. The mean values of experimentally obtained data were the following (in nanograms per gram): As, 24.2±1.2; Cd, 5.48±0.29; Cu, 4765±95; Hg, 3.37±0.73; and Pb, 184±7. Subsequently, 16 National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) for residues in the Member States plus the Norwegian one and eight Italian public laboratories were accepted to participate in the project and received one bottle of the freeze-dried bovine muscle. The laboratories were requested to perform three different analytical runs (in three different days), each consisting of three individual measurements. Preliminary results showed good agreement and fair evidence for homogeneity of the entire mass, thus setting the stage for the future certification of this candidate CRM.     

Determination of the mineral composition of fresh bovine milk from the milk-producing areas located in the State of Sergipe in Brazil and evaluation employing exploratory analysis

In this work, the mineral composition of fresh bovine milk obtained from the milk-producing areas of the Brazilian State of Sergipe was examined. A dry-ashed digestion method and the ICP OES technique were used for the quantification of mineral elements (e.g., Ca, Mg, K, Na, P, Sr and Zn) in 27 samples of milk collected from properties located in milk-producing areas around Nossa Senhora da Glória. The following ranges of values (% m/v) were obtained: 0.063 to 0.117 for Ca; 0.060 to 0.114 for P; 0.024 to 0.064 for Na; and 0.087 to 0.164 for K. The ranges of values (mg L^− 1) for the other mineral elements were also found: 0.68 to 1.89 for Sr; 2.46 to 5.73 for Zn; and 54.2 to 109.9 for Mg. Additionally, the exploratory evaluation of the 27 milk samples was performed using principal component analysis (PCA) involving seven variables dealing with the effect of different management systems (conventional and organic) on milk composition. The results show that there are indeed differences between the mineral composition of milk from properties that use organic practices and those that use conventional management practices.     

Testing methods for nanoindentation property of the cuticle of bovine hoof wall and dung beetle’s foreleg femur

Natural biomaterials have extensively been researched since their distinguished properties adapting to their living surroundings. The cuticle surfaces of bovine hoof and dung beetle directly contact soil when they move on soft ground or in soil. Their surface materials and structures can provide some information for designing soil-engaging components of soft terrain-machines. While, it is difficult to measure their mechanical properties since the cuticle of the bovine hoof wall and dung beetle are very thin. Nanoindenter provides a powerful tool for examining the mechanical properties such as reduced modulus and hardness in nano-scale. The testing methods for nanoindentation properties of the cuticle of the bovine hoof wall and dung beetle (Copris ochus Motschulsky) were discussed in this work.