Nanoparticles: scaffolds for molecular recognition

Monolayer and mixed-monolayer protected clusters (MPCs and MMPCs) have great potential to combine molecular functionality with the intrinsic properties of nanometer-sized scaffolds. This synergy can be used to create complex functional devices, including redox-active, electronic, or magnetic storage devices, solution-based sensors, and highly efficient catalysts. This review outlines some of the recent developments in nanoscale receptors based on synthetic and nonbiological recognition elements. In these nanoparticle systems, molecular recognition is achieved by covalent attachment of receptors on the nanoparticles coupled with noncovalent interactions to target substrates. Synthetic host-guest systems, hydrogen bonding, change in redox states, pi-pi stacking, rotaxane formation, and ion recognition are the main topics covered in this review.     

On the Role Played by Dimers of Radical Cations in the Process of Electrochemical Oxidation–Reduction of Polyaniline: The Data that Were Obtained Using the Method of Cyclic Voltabsorptometry in the Presence of Counteranions of a Diverse Nature

The electrochemical oxidation–reduction of films of polyaniline is studied in the presence of various counteranions. The differential cyclic voltabsorptometric (DCVA) curves (dA/dt relative to potential, where A is the optical absorption) are recorded at characteristic wavelengths corresponding to individual spectrum components previously isolated with the Alentsev–Fok method. The DCVA curves for aqueous solutions of HCl, HClO₄, and H₂SO₄ at different potential scan rates are compared to traditional cyclic voltammograms. For the DCVA curves obtained at 665 nm discovered is one broad peak of dA/dt in the region of potentials between the first and second stages of polyaniline oxidation (0.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl). An assumption is made about a chemical nature of the process of generation of absorption in this spectral region, which, more likely than not, is connected with the emergence of dimers of radical cations of polyaniline. It is discovered that the electrochemical processes in the region of potentials that correspond to the first stage of oxidation give rise to variations in the absorption inside several regions of spectrum: 435 nm (radical cations) and 755 nm (localized polarons). An assumption is made that the first peak of the current corresponds to several successive processes that occur in a polyaniline molecule in the course of oxidation as well as to the existence of heterogeneous regions where the generation of localized polarons proceeds at different rates.     

Sequential injection system with higher dimensional electrochemical sensor signals Part 1. Voltammetric e-tongue for the determination of oxidizable compounds

A sequential injection analysis (SIA) system was developed with the aim of obtaining an automatic and versatile way to prepare standards needed in the study of systems with higher dimensional sensor signals. To illustrate this, different analytical techniques were used in determinations of several analytes. Automated potentiometric calibrations of different potentiometric sensors, with and without interference, were carried out. Useful determinations of selectivity coefficients with two degrees of freedom were obtained. Simultaneous voltammetric determinations have also been done. Firstly, simultaneous determinations of lead and cadmium, using epoxy-graphite composite as the working electrode, have enabled a separate calibration for each metal to be obtained. Next, a voltammetric electronic tongue was designed and applied to the determination of oxidizable species. The use of artificial neural networks has solved the overlapped signal of ascorbic acid, 4-aminophenol and 4-acetamidophenol (paracetamol). A set of 63 data points was prepared automatically and has facilitated the training of an electronic tongue for these three analytes. Accurate predictions of test solutions, in the range of 12–410 μM for ascorbic acid, 17–530 μM for 4-aminophenol and 10–420 μM for paracetamol, have been achieved with RMSEs lower than 0.10 μM.     

Single Atoms of Iron on MoS2 Nanosheets for N2 Electroreduction into Ammonia

Efforts have been devoted to achieving a highly efficient artificial synthesis of ammonia (NH₃). Reported herein is a novel Fe-MoS₂ catalyst with Fe atomically dispersed onto MoS₂ nanosheets, imitating natural nitrogenase, to boost N₂ electroreduction into NH₃ at room temperature. The Fe-MoS₂ nanosheets exhibited a faradic efficiency of 18.8 % with a yield rate of 8.63 μg mg_cat.⁻¹ h⁻¹ for NH₃ at −0.3 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode. The mechanism study revealed that the electroreduction of N₂ was promoted and the competing hydrogen evolution reaction was suppressed by decorating the edge sites of S in MoS₂ with the atomically dispersed Fe, resulting in high catalytic performance for the electroreduction of N₂ into NH₃. This work provides new ideas for the design of catalysts for N₂ electroreduction and strengthens the understanding about N₂ activation over Mo-based catalysts.     

A cobalt(II)-selective PVC membrane based on a Schiff base complex of N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-3,4-diaminotoluene

A new PVC membrane electrode for Co²⁺ based on N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-3,4-diaminotoluene, an excellent neutral carrier, has been fabricated using sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) as an anionic excluder and dioctylphthalte (DOP) as a solvent mediator. The electrode exhibits a linear potential response in the concentration range of 7.9 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.0 × 10⁻¹ M with a slope of 30 ± 0.2 mV per decade. The detection limit of the proposed sensor is 5.0 × 10⁻⁸ M and it can be used over a period of 5 months. The proposed sensor revealed good selectivity over a wide variety of other cations including alkali, alkaline earth, heavy and transition metals and could be used in the pH range of 2.0-9.0. This electrode was successfully applied for the determination of Co²⁺in real samples and as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of cobalt ions.     

Sol-gel-derived micron scale optical fibers for chemical sensing

We report for the first time on the preparation of organically-doped room temperature processed sol-gel-derived micron scale optical fibers as platforms for chemical- and bio-sensors. Micron scale optical fibers are drawn from fluorescent dye-doped tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)-derived sol-gel solution processed under ambient conditions. Such a simple methodology to entrap organic and even bioactive species within the optical fiber offers many advantages over more conventional ways of immobilizing organic probes for the development of optical sensors. Specifically, we report on the photophysical properties of fluorescein (a pH sensitive fluorescent dye) and rhodamine 6G (R6G; laser dye) entrapped within sol-gel-derived optical fibers. We present the preliminary results on the viability of such doped optical fibers for chemical sensing. Our results demonstrate that a fluorescein-doped sol-gel-derived optical fiber responds to ammonia and acid vapors with a response time of 1–2 seconds.     

Ferrocene incorporating host-guest dyads with electrochemically controlled three-pole hydrogen bonding properties

We describe the electrochemically controlled hydrogen bonding interactions between the isobutyl flavin/2,6-diferrocenylamidopyridine (2·5) and 9,10-phenanthrenequinone/1-ferrocenyl-3-hexylurea (4·6) dyads. Cyclic and square wave voltammetry studies have shown that the binding efficiencies between these moieties can be electrochemically actuated in non-polar (CH₂Cl₂ for 2·5) or polar (DMF for 4·6) organic solvents between three distinct states.     

纳米硫化镉修饰玻碳电极对血红蛋白的直接电化学和生物电催化

0IntroductionStudies of direct electrochemistry of proteins orenzymes at electrodes can serve as a basis for build-ing electrochemical biosensors,enzymatic bioreactors,and biomedical devices[1].This approach simplifiessuch devices without using mediators and is of partic-ular significance for fabricating the third generationbiosensors[2].For example,if a protein or enzyme im-mobilized on electrode surface is capable of directelectron transfer without loss of bioactivities,it can beused in the …     

Reversible Immobilization of Peptides: Surface Modification and In Situ Detection by Attenuated Total Reflection FTIR Spectroscopy

A generic method is described for the reversible immobilization of polyhistidine‐bearing polypeptides and proteins on attenuated total reflecting (ATR) sensor surfaces for the detection of biomolecular interactions by FTIR spectroscopy. Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) groups are covalently attached to self‐assembled monolayers of either thioalkanes on gold films or mercaptosilanes on silicon dioxide films deposited on germanium internal reflection elements. Complex formation between Ni²⁺ ions and NTA groups activates the ATR sensor surface for the selective binding of polyhistidine sequences. This approach not only allows a stable and reversible immobilization of histidine‐tagged peptides (His–peptides) but also simultaneously allows the direct in situ quantification of surface‐adsorbed molecules from their specific FTIR spectral bands. The surface concentrations of both NTA and His–peptide on silanized surfaces were determined to be 1.1 and 0.4 molecules nm^?2, respectively, which means that the surface is densely covered. A comparison of experimental FTIR spectra with simulated spectra reveals a surface‐enhancement effect of one order of magnitude for the gold surfaces. With the presented sensor surfaces, new ways are opened up to investigate, in situ and with high sensitivity and reproducibility, protein–ligand, protein–protein, protein–DNA interactions, and DNA hybridization by ATR–FTIR spectroscopy.