Bacteria capture, concentration and detection by alternating current dielectrophoresis and self-assembly of dispersed single-wall carbon nanotubes

The high polarizability and dielectrophoretic mobility of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) are utilized to capture and detect low numbers of bacteria and submicron particles in milliliter-sized samples. Concentrated SWNT solutions are mixed with the sample and a high-frequency (>100 kHz) alternating current (AC) field is applied by a microelectrode array to enhance bulk absorption of the particles (bacteria and nanoparticle substitutes) by the SWNTs via dipole-dipole interaction. The same AC field then drives the SWNT-bacteria aggregates to the microelectrode array by positive-AC dielectrophoresis (DEP), with enhanced and reversed bacteria DEP mobility due to the attached SWNTs. Since the field frequency exceeds the inverse RC time of the electrode double layer, the AC field penetrates deeply into the bulk and across the electrode gap. Consequently, the SWNTs and absorbed bacteria assemble rapidly (<5 min) into conducting linear aggregates between the electrodes. Measured AC impedance spectra by the same trapping electrodes and fields show a detection threshold of 10(4) bacteria/mL with this pathogen trapping and concentration technique.     

Dynamics of Filament Formation in Laser Produced Collisional Magnetoplasma

The paper presents an investigation of growth dynamics of spike in a collisional magneto plasma in the presence of externally applied magnetic field. We have set up and solved the non‐linear differential equations for growth and width of the laser spikes. We have considered the mechanism of nonuniform heating of carriers along the wavefront which is important in collisional plasmas. The effect of intensity of main beam and magnetic field on growth dynamics of spikes is studied (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Increased Conversion to 2,4,6‐Triarylpyrylium Salt: Aldol Cyclotrimerization of Acetophenone in BMImPF6 Ionic Liquid

Substituted acetophenone 1 in BMImPF₆ ionic liquid, heated at 120 °C for 24 h, produces β‐methylchalcone 2 , triarylbenzene 3 , and triarylpyrylium salt 4. BMImPF₆ catalyzes the self‐aldol condensation of 1 , whose cyclotrimerization gives an increased conversion to 4 at the expense of 3 normally obtained from the cyclotrimerization of 1 in common organic solvent.     

有机试剂结构与性质的研究 Ⅺ 吡啶偶氮衍生物结构与吸收光谱的研究

本文应用PPP-SCF-MO法研究了吡啶偶氮苯衍生物结构与吸收光谱的关系。本文认为吡啶偶氮苯波长最长的吸收峰为分子內荷移光谱。本文还研究了取代基对吸收光谱的影响,得到了λ_(最大)与“净电荷”Q的线性方程。     

Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance Studies on Cytochrome c/Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Assemblies on Gold Electrodes

Polyelectrolyte multilayer assemblies containing proteins are of interest for applications such as sensors, bioreactors, and bioelectronics. A multilayer electrode was built up by the layer‐by‐layer strategy consisting of alternating layers of cytochrome c and poly(aniline sulfonic acid). The electrode showed a linear increase of redox active protein with the number of deposited layers. The principle of electrode preparation was transferred from needle electrodes to planar surfaces in order to further the understanding of electron transfer through the layer assembly by means of electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance studies. The deposition process was followed on‐line by detection of the frequency shift of the crystals and was found to be rather fast (minutes). The total mass deposited was found to correlate well with the electrochemical response of the immobilized cyt.c. Furthermore, the influence of the polyelectrolyte was investigated by addition of PSS to the PASA solution. The strong interaction of the former polyelectrolyte seemed to hinder the electron transfer although a multilayer formation was proved. Dilution of the protein solution with redox inactive apo‐cyt.c led to a strong decrease of the voltammetric signal, well beyond the percentage of apo‐cyt.c inside the assembly. Thus, arguments for an electron transfer via protein–protein interaction were found.     

金刚石格点上自避行走尾形链的构象统计理论

研究了金刚石格点上自避随机行走（ＳＡＷ）尾形链，采用精确计数和ＭｏｎｔｅＣａｒｌｏ模拟方法求得该ＳＡＷ尾形链的构象数Ｃ（Ｄ）１（Ｎ）和均方末端距［ｈ（Ｄ）１（Ｎ）］２及其分量随链长Ｎ的变化关系．发现它们与自由ＳＡＷ链一样都服从标度律，从这些量的计算机实验数据拟合求出了金刚石格点上ＳＡＷ尾形链的临界指数和格点指数．计算结果还表明短链ＳＡＷ在壁的法向与ＮＲＷ尾形链一样有所伸展，均方末端距的法向分量几乎是平行分量的２倍；但随Ｎ→∞，链自回避效应对壁的作用有所屏蔽．这些都与简立方格子模型上得到的结果一致．     

Self‐Assembled Monolayers of Cobalt and Iron Phthalocyanine Complexes on Gold Electrodes: Comparative Surface Electrochemistry and Electrocatalytic Interaction with Thiols and Thiocyanate

The self‐assembling of the octa(hydroxyethylthio)‐metallophthalocyanine {MOHETPc (M=Co and Fe)} complexes and their similar analogues, octabutylthiometallophthalocyanine {MOBTPc (M=Co and Fe)} complexes on gold electrodes are investigated. Comparative surface voltammetric insights into their distinct self‐assembling properties with respect to the passivation of Faradaic processes and surface coverages, including their solution electrochemistry, suggest different orientations and non‐cleavage of their C? S bonds. In the pH 2?9 range, the reversible [M^(III)Pc(?2)]⁺ / [M^(II)Pc(?2)] redox couples show potential shifts close to ?59 mV / pH. The gold electrodes modified with the SAMs of these species show electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of thiols (L ‐cysteine, homocysteine and penicillamine) and thiocyanate in acidic media with detection limits in the region of 10^?7–10^?6 mol dm^?3. These monolayers are stable and easily reproducible.     

Self‐Assembled Monolayers into the 21st Century: Recent Advances and Applications

The modification of an interface on a molecular level with more than one molecular ‘building block' is essentially an example of the ‘bottom–up' fabrication principle of nanotechnology. The fabrication of such integrated molecular systems in electrochemistry has seen rapid progress in recent years via the development of sensing interfaces fabricated using self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs). This review outlines recent advances and applications of self‐assembled monolayers for modifying electrodes with an emphasis on the development of integrated molecular systems. First, some basic issues regarding fabricating integrated molecular systems, such as the role of the surface topography of the electrode and patterning surfaces, are discussed. Subsequently an overview of recent developments in pH, inorganic and bio sensing involving the use of SAMs is given. Finally emerging trends in using molecular building blocks in the fabrication of integrated molecular systems, such as nanotubes, dendrimers and nanoparticles, are reviewed.     

Protein interactions with model chromatographic stationary phases constructed using self-assembled monolayers

Model surfaces representative of chromatographic stationary phases were developed by immobilising an homologous series (C2-C18) of n-alkylthiols, mixed monolayers of C4/C18 and thioalkanes with alcohol, carboxylic acid, amino and sulphonic acid terminal groups onto a flat, silver-coated glass surface using self-assembled monolayer (SAM) chemistry. The processes of adsorption and desorption of serum albumins onto the monolayer surfaces was monitored in real-time using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Alkyl-terminated SAMs all showed a strong adsorption of bovine serum albumin which was largely independent of alkyl chain length, the ratio of mixed C4/C18 SAMs or the solution pH/ionic strength. The adsorption of human serum albumin to carboxylic and amine terminated SAMs was shown to be predominantly via non-electrostatic interactions (hydrophobic or hydrogen bonding). However, sulphonic acid terminated SAMs showed almost exclusively electrostatic interactions with human serum albumin. This preliminary work using self-assembled monolayer chemistry confirms the usefulness of well characterised SAMs surfaces for investigating protein adsorption and desorption onto/from model chromatography surfaces and gives some guidance for selecting appropriate functionalities to develop better surfaces for chromatography and electrophoresis.     

Selective Vesicle Formation from Calixarenes by Self‐Assembly

Amphiphilic polyhydroxy macrocycles self‐assemble in water to form vesicles selectively. These vesicles are uniform in size (50–200 nm; see representation) and stable both in aqueous solution and in dried form. The selective mode of aggregation can be correlated with structural characteristics of the phenolic amphiphiles, in particular, the macrocyclic moiety and intra‐ and intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the phenolic OH groups.