Protease sensors for bioimaging

Optical imaging of specific molecular targets and pathways in vivo has recently become possible through continued developments in imaging equipment, reconstruction algorithms, and more importantly the availability of imaging reporter molecules. These reporter molecules encompass photoproteins expressed in vivo and exogenously administered probes detectable by fluorescence and/or bioluminescence imaging. One particularly enticing aspect of optical imaging is the ability to design activatible probes with inherent amplification. This review summarizes our experience in developing novel near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) imaging agents that report on protease activities. These agents are designed to be biocompatible, highly activatible, and able to produce bright NIRF following protease cleavage.     

应用安培检测-流动注射分析法快速测定制革废液中的硫

采用安培检测－流动注射分析法快速测定制革浸灰，脱毛工序废液中的硫的含量，与常规的铁氰化钾法相比，不仅分析速度快（３０－６０ｓ），测定准确，而且精度和灵敏度高，检测下限为０．１０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ，在制革工业中有广阔的应用前景。     

Determination of Nonsteroidal Anti‐inflammatory Drugs in Serum by Microchip Capillary Electrophoresis with Electrochemical Detection

A simple and rapid method has been developed for the analysis of four nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in serum using microchip capillary electrophoresis with pulsed amperometric detection. The selected NSAIDs (salicylic acid, acetaminophen, diflunisal, and diclofenac) are among the most commonly used drugs to treat fever, inflammation, and pain. Used above the therapeutic levels, these drugs can cause a wide variety of adverse effects and their fast analysis could have a significant impact in treatment and recovery of the patients. Several conditions, including separation potential, pH, and concentration of the electrolyte solution were studied to optimize the separation and detection. In this study, salicylic acid, acetaminophen, diflunisal, and diclofenac were separated in less than 2 minutes using a 5 mM borate buffer at pH 11.5 and a separation potential of +1200 V. Linear relationships were obtained between the concentration and peak current in the 0.5–15.3 μg/mL range and detection limits around 0.26 μg/mL. After 30 consecutive injections, the stability of both the response and migration time of the analytes showed relative related deviations of less than 4.6% and 1.0%, respectively. The potential of this method was verified by spiking a bovine serum sample with the four NSAIDs and analyzing the recovery ratio.     

Determination of orthophosphates using a macro segmented flow analyzer (MSFA) based on colorimetric detection

Fabrication of a macro segmented flow analysis (MSFA) system based on reconfiguration of the manifold by adjustment of the sample/reagent ratio, has been found to produce a sensitive method for orthophosphate analysis based on colorimetric detection at 880 nm. Optimization of sample tube length, reaction temperature and molybdate concentration in the carrier solutions has been carried out. The larger sample tube internal diameter led to the combined advantages of better sensitivities, wider working range and higher sample throughput over most existing methods. Using the optimized conditions of 50.0 cm sample tube length (1.6 mm i.d.), 37.0 °C reaction temperature and 0.0113 M molybdate concentration in the carrier solution, the calibration model for orthophosphate standard solutions was found to be linear (y = 0.04895x + 0.003561; correlation coefficient, r²=0.9970) over the working range 0.01-2.00 mg l⁻¹ orthophosphate. The volume of the sample injected was 1.396 ml at a flow rate of 6.0 ml min⁻¹. The sample throughput of this MSFA method was 40 samples per an hour, with a detection limit of 4.0 μg l⁻¹, and %R.S.D.’s below 5%. The MSFA method was successfully applied to analysis of water and wastewater samples.     

A specific colorimetric cysteine sensing probe based on dipyrromethane-TCNQ assembly

A new charge-transfer complex, consisting of dihydroxymethyl di-(2-pyrrolyl)methane and tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), has been designed to high selectively distinguish cysteine from other amino acids in water/organic solvent mixtures through the visual color change from blue to nearly colorless. The excellent system properties make the supramolecular assembly a highly selective colorimetric probe for monitoring cysteine.     

Contactless conductivity detection of synthetic polymers in non-aqueous size-exclusion electrokinetic chromatography

A capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (CCD) system has been applied for the detection of neutral synthetic polymers in capillary size-exclusion electrokinetic chromatography (SEEC). Polystyrene standards, that were used as a model compounds, were separated on a capillary column packed with porous 10 microm silica particles with an electrokinetically driven mobile phase, and detected by CCD and UV detection simultaneously. Mass-calibration curves for polystyrene were constructed. Satisfactory results were obtained for the linearity, the run-to-run repeatability (<0.2% for the relative retention and <4% for the peak area) and the robustness of the detector. One of the major issues in this preliminary study was to investigate the origin of the peaks observed for the polystyrene standards. The effect of the molar mass of the polystyrenes on the sensitivity was small. Therefore, the signals obtained could not be explained as the result of an increased viscosity and a decreased solution conductivity of the solute zone. An alternative hypothesis is suggested, and recommendations for further research are given.     

氯氮平、去甲氯氮平及奥氮平的高效液相色谱电化学检测特性的研究

 采用高效液相色谱安培电化学检测法 ,考察了氯氮平、去甲氯氮平和奥氮平在不同 pH值流动相下的色谱分离情况及其色谱峰高与检测电压的关系。结果表明 ,氯氮平、去甲氯氮平和奥氮平的保留时间均随流动相 pH值的升高而延长 ;在pH值为 4 5 6和 5 5 6的流动相中 ,均可实现基线分离。 3种化合物的色谱峰高与检测电压之间呈典型的“S”型曲线 ,pH值升高时该曲线均左移。氯氮平、去甲氯氮平和奥氮平的检测电压必须大于产生最大氧化电流的最低电压才能得到稳定的检测电流。这种典型的“S”型伏安曲线对于化合物的定量和定性检测具有重要意义。     

Use of non-segmented flow,post-columns reaction detection with miniaturized HPLC systems

Summary The use of non-segmented flow, post-column reaction detection is evaluated for use with miniaturized HPLC. Non-segmented open-tubular reactors with internal diameters 0.1 mm to 0.25 mm and packed-bed reactors with internal diameters of 1 mm, filled with 5 and 10 m particles are evaluated theoretically and experimentally with respect to band broadening and pressure drop characteristics. An integrated system consisting of miniaturized HPLC (1 mm i. d.) columns and compatible hardware is described. An example of the separation of catecholamines is given.     

Closer asymptotic approximations for the distributions of the power divergence goodness-of-fit statistics

Summary The members of the power divergence family of statistics all have an asymptotically equivalent χ² distribution (Cressie and Read [1]). An asymptotic expansion for the distribution function is derived which shows that the speed of convergence to this asymptotic limit is dependent on λ. Known results for Pearson'sX ² statistic and the log-likelihood ratio statistic then appear as special cases in a continuum rather than as separate (unrelated) expansions.