Electrochemical sensing of tumor suppressor protein p53–deoxyribonucleic acid complex stability at an electrified interface

Electrochemical biosensors have the unique ability to convert biological events directly into electrical signals suitable for parallel analysis. Here we utilize specific properties of constant current chronopotentiometric stripping (CPS) in the analysis of protein and DNA–protein complex nanolayers. Rapid potential changes at high negative current intensities (I_str) in CPS are utilized in the analysis of DNA–protein interactions at thiol-modified mercury electrodes. P53 core domain (p53CD) sequence-specific binding to DNA results in a striking decrease in the electrocatalytic signal of free p53. This decrease is related to changes in the accessibility of the electroactive amino acid residues in the p53CD–DNA complex. By adjusting I_str and temperature, weaker non-specific binding can be eliminated or distinguished from the sequence-specific binding. The method also reflects differences in the stabilities of different sequence-specific complexes, including those containing spacers between half-sites of the DNA consensus sequence. The high resolving power of this method is based on the disintegration of the p53CD–DNA complex by the electric field effects at a negatively charged surface and fine adjustment of the millisecond time intervals for which the complex is exposed to these effects. Picomole amounts of p53 proteins and DNA were used for the analysis at full electrode coverage but we show that even 10–20-fold smaller amounts can be analyzed. Our method cannot however take advantage of very low detection limits of the protein CPS detection because low I^_str intensities are deleterious to the p53CD–DNA complex stability at the electrode surface. These data highlight the utility of developing biosensors offering novel approaches for studying real-time macromolecular protein dynamics.     

Bifunctional Reduced Graphene Oxide/V2O5 Composite Hydrogel: Fabrication,High Performance as Electromagnetic Wave Absorbent and Supercapacitor

Multifunctional graphene hydrogels have attracted great attention aimed at practical applications. Herein, the novel and bifunctional composite hydrogel containing reduced graphene‐oxide nanosheets (RGO) and V₂O₅ nanobelts (RGO/V₂O₅) is successfully prepared for the first time. Surprisingly, tridimensional (3D) RGO/V₂O₅ composite hydrogels cannot only be used as high‐performance electromagnetic (EM) wave absorbents; they also exhibit excellent properties suitable for supercapacitor electrodes. The composites exhibit a maximum absorption of up to ?21.5 dB. In particular, a composite hydrogel showed a bandwidth of 6.63 GHz, corresponding to a reflection loss at ?10 dB, which opens the possibility for the use of 3D graphene with other functional nanomaterials as lightweight and high‐performance EM wave absorption materials. Remarkably, the composite hydrogel is capable of delivering a high specific capacitance of about 320 F g^?1 at a current density of 1.0 A g^?1.     

A Sodium Manganese Oxide Cathode by Facile Reduction for Sodium Batteries

A nonstoichiometric sodium manganese oxide (Na_xMnO_2+δ) cathode useful for sodium batteries was synthesized by an ambient‐temperature strategy that involved facile reduction of aqueous sodium permanganate in sodium iodide and subsequent heat treatment at 600 °C. Combined powder X‐ray diffraction and synchrotron X‐ray diffraction analyses confirmed the annealed sample to belong to a Na_xMnO₂ phase with a P2‐hexagonal structure. The ICP‐AES results confirmed the stoichiometry of the sample to be Na_0.53MnO_2+δ. Electron microscopy studies revealed the particle size of the electrode to be in the range of a few hundred nanometers. The Na_0.53MnO_2+δ cathode delivered an average discharge capacity of 170 mA h g^?1 with a stable plateau at 2.1 V for the initial 25 cycles versus sodium. Ex situ XANES studies confirmed the reversible intercalation of sodium into Na_0.53MnO_2+δ and suggested the accommodation of over‐stoichiometric Mn⁴⁺ ions to contribute towards the performance of the electrode.     

A tutorial on the application of ion-selective electrode potentiometry: An analytical method with unique qualities,unexplored opportunities and potential pitfalls; Tutorial

Ion-selective potentiometry enjoys practical utility as a simple analytical technique to measure ionic constituents in complex samples. Advances in the field have improved the selectivity and decreased the detection limit of ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) by orders of magnitude such that trace analysis in micro and nanomolar concentrations is now possible with potentiometric sensors. This tutorial reviews the fundamental principles of ion-selective potentiometry, describes the practical considerations involved in the use of these sensors to measure real samples, and discusses the statistical evaluation of experimental results compared with alternative analytical techniques.     

Comparative study of the electrochemical behavior and analytical applications of (bio)sensing platforms based on the use of multi-walled carbon nanotubes dispersed in different polymers

This review present a critical comparison of the electrochemical behavior and analytical performance of glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) modified with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) dispersed in different polymers: polyethylenimine (PEI), PEI functionalized with dopamine (PEI-Do), polyhistidine (Polyhis), polylysine (Polylys), glucose oxidase (GOx) and double stranded calf-thymus DNA (dsDNA). The comparison is focused on the analysis of the influence of the sonication time, solvent, polymer/CNT ratio, and nature of the polymer on the efficiency of the dispersions and on the electrochemical behavior of the resulting modified electrodes. The results allow to conclude that an adequate selection of the polymers makes possible not only an efficient dispersion of CNTs but also, and even more important, the building of successful analytical platforms for the detection of different bioanalytes like NADH, glucose, DNA and dopamine.     

银负载量对网状TiO2柔性薄膜电极储锂性能的影响

本工作采用水热法结合银镜反应制备出一系列不同Ag负载量（2.2%、4.0%、6.4%,w/w）改性的3D纳米网状结构Ag@TiO₂薄膜电极。利用电感耦合等离子体技术（ICP）、X射线衍射（XRD）、扫描电镜（SEM）、透射电镜（TEM）和X射线能谱（EDX）等表征手段测试所合成材料的形貌及成分,实验结果表明Ag纳米颗粒可以成功沉积在TiO₂纳米线表面。电化学测试数据则表明,4.0%（w/w）负载量的Ag@TiO₂相比于未改性和其他负载量的TiO₂纳米线具有更好的倍率性能和更稳定的可逆容量。在50,100,200,400,800和1 200 mA·g^-1的电流密度条件下,该改性电极的放电容量可分别达到261.4,253.7,239.5,216.5,193.1和185.1 mAh·g^-1,在200 mA·g^-1下循环80次后容量保持率仍能达到99.8%。     

Disposable Horseradish Peroxidase Biosensors for the Selective Determination of Tyramine

This work reports the development of horseradish peroxidase based biosensors using screen‐printed carbon electrodes for the determination of tyramine (tyr). A novel procedure based on the insertion of the enzyme in the screen‐printing process (SPC_HRPEs) has been compared with the cross‐linked immobilization into the carbon working electrode (HRP/SPCEs). Both biosensors were characterized obtaining good capability of detection (2.1±0.2 and 0.2±0.01 µM for SPC_HRPEs and HRP/SPCEs, respectively). The reproducibility was 3.4 % and 6.8 % for SPC_HRPEs and HRP/SPCEs, respectively. The repeatability was 2.2 % and 7.1 % for SPC_HRPEs and HRP/SPCEs, respectively. The specificity towards different biogenic amines was analyzed. The developed biosensors were applied to the determination of tyr content in cheese samples.     

Biofuel Cell Operating in Vivo in Rat

Biocatalytic electrodes made of buckypaper were modified with PQQ‐dependent glucose dehydrogenase on the anode and with laccase on the cathode. The enzyme modified electrodes were assembled in a biofuel cell which was first characterized in human serum solution and then the electrodes were placed onto exposed rat cremaster tissue. Glucose and oxygen dissolved in blood were used as the fuel and oxidizer, respectively, for the implanted biofuel cell operation. The steady‐state open circuitry voltage of 140±30 mV and short circuitry current of 10±3 µA (current density ca. 5 µA cm^?2 based on the geometrical electrode area of 2 cm²) were achieved in the in vivo operating biofuel cell. Future applications of implanted biofuel cells for powering of biomedical and sensor devices are discussed.     

Organic/Water Interface Electrochemistry for the Direct Detection of a Model Pesticide in Soybean Oil

An electrochemical methodology was applied directly at an organic/water interface to detect a pesticide directly in oil, without the necessity of pre‐treatment of the sample. The oil phase was composed of soybean oil contaminated with carbendazim (methyl‐2‐benzimidazolecarbamate), and the aqueous phase consisted of a conventional Britton? Robinson buffer with a pH of 2. A boron‐doped diamond (BDD) electrode was placed directly at the interface of the two immiscible liquids. The ionic strength played an important role in the oxidation of carbendazim in our interfacial studies, as indicated by the oxidation currents varying from zero to 12 µA, depending on the position of the electrode.     

Sensitive Voltammetric Determination of Baicalein at Thermally Reduced Graphene Oxide Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

This work presents a sensitive voltammetric method for determination of the flavonoid baicalein by using a thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRGO) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in 100 mM KCl‐10 mM sodium phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.40). The surface morphology and structure of TRGO investigated by atomic force microscopy, FT‐IR spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy reveal that the TRGO prepared maintained as single or bilayer sheets and with significant edge‐plane‐like defect sites. The TRGO/GCE modified electrode shows more favorable electron transfer kinetics for potassium ferricyanide and potassium ferrocyanide probe molecules, which are important electroactive compounds, compared with bare GCE and GO/GCE electrodes. The electrochemical behaviors of baicalein at the TRGO/GCE were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, suggesting that the TRGO/GCE exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity to baicalein. Under physiological conditions, the modified electrode showed linear voltammetric response from 10 nM to 10 µM for baicalein, with a detection limit of 6.0 nM. This work demonstrates that the graphene‐modified electrode is a promising tool for electrochemical determination of flavonoid drugs.