Interactions of DNA with graphene and sensing applications of graphene field-effect transistor devices: A review

Graphene field-effect transistors (GFET) have emerged as powerful detection platforms enabled by the advent of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) production of the unique atomically thin 2D material on a large scale. DNA aptamers, short target-specific oligonucleotides, are excellent sensor moieties for GFETs due to their strong affinity to graphene, relatively short chain-length, selectivity, and a high degree of analyte variability. However, the interaction between DNA and graphene is not fully understood, leading to questions about the structure of surface-bound DNA, including the morphology of DNA nanostructures and the nature of the electronic response seen from analyte binding. This review critically evaluates recent insights into the nature of the DNA graphene interaction and its affect on sensor viability for DNA, small molecules, and proteins with respect to previously established sensing methods. We first discuss the sorption of DNA to graphene to introduce the interactions and forces acting in DNA based GFET devices and how these forces can potentially affect the performance of increasingly popular DNA aptamers and even future DNA nanostructures as sensor substrates. Next, we discuss the novel use of GFETs to detect DNA and the underlying electronic phenomena that are typically used as benchmarks for characterizing the analyte response of these devices. Finally, we address the use of DNA aptamers to increase the selectivity of GFET sensors for small molecules and proteins and compare them with other, state of the art, detection methods.     

Tutorial review on validation of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry methods: Part I

This is the part I of a tutorial review intending to give an overview of the state of the art of method validation in liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and discuss specific issues that arise with MS (and MS/MS) detection in LC (as opposed to the “conventional” detectors). The Part I briefly introduces the principles of operation of LC–MS (emphasizing the aspects important from the validation point of view, in particular the ionization process and ionization suppression/enhancement); reviews the main validation guideline documents and discusses in detail the following performance parameters: selectivity/specificity/identity, ruggedness/robustness, limit of detection, limit of quantification, decision limit and detection capability. With every method performance characteristic its essence and terminology are addressed, the current status of treating it is reviewed and recommendations are given, how to determine it, specifically in the case of LC–MS methods.     

Versatile transamination in quinonediimine chemistry: Towards a novel class of water soluble UV/violet chromophores

The transamination reaction of 2,5-diaminobenzoquinonediimine (QDI) with ethylenediamine gave fluorescent 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino[2,3-g]quinoxaline (1). When the same reaction was carried out with N,N’-bis(aminoethyl)-1,3-propanediamine, a novel cationic quinoxalinium species (2) was isolated, which can be further condensed with p-cyanobenzaldehyde to afford a benzimidazolo-fused quinoxaline dye (3) that is a water-soluble fluorophore in the UV–visible range.     

Subnanomolar detection limit application of ion-selective electrodes with three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) carbon solid contacts

Solid-contact ion-selective electrodes (SC-ISEs) can exhibit very low detection limits and, in contrast to conventional ISEs, do not require an optimization of the inner filling solution. This work shows that subnanomolar detection limits can also be achieved with SC-ISEs with three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) carbon contacts, which have been shown recently to exhibit excellent long-term stabilities and good resistance to the interferences from oxygen and light. The detection limit of 3DOM carbon-contacted electrodes with plasticized poly-(vinyl chloride) as membrane matrix can be improved with a high polymer content of the sensing membrane, a large ratio of ionophore and ionic sites, and conditioning with a low concentration of analyte ions. This permits detection limits as low as 1.6 × 10⁻⁷ M for K⁺ and 4.0 × 10⁻¹¹ M for Ag⁺.     

Stochastic fatigue limits and fatigue life variability for unplasticised PVC pipes

This paper uses the random fatigue limit (RFL) model of Pascual and Meeker to address fatigue limits for PVC pressure pipes. This model differs from previous ways of describing fatigue data for PVC by recognising that the fatigue limit is a stochastic quantity rather than a single valued stress amplitude below which fatigue failures will not occur. By analysing published fatigue data, it is demonstrated that the RFL model is capable of quantifying fatigue limit variability and its influence on fatigue life variability. Moreover, the RFL model was used to illustrate the risks associated with defining fatigue limits based on small quantities of high-cycle fatigue data. In particular, it is shown that fatigue failure can occur below the mean fatigue limit and that the RFL model is capable of quantifying the probability of failure at a given level of stress amplitude.