Protein separation with surfactant-coated polystyrene involving Cibacron Blue 3GA-conjugated triton X-100

Through mixing of porous polystyrene particles (Amberlite XAD-4), non-ionic surfactants, and surfactant-conjugated substrates (affinity ligand) in an aqueous solution led to the formation of a novel medium (affinity admicelle) for protein separation. The ligand (CB-Triton) was synthesized by mixing a triazine dye (Cibacron Blue 3GA (CB)) and a polyoxyethylene-type non-ionic surfactant (Triton X-100) in weakly alkaline solutions. Triton X-100 and CB-Triton were competitively sorbed onto XAD-4. Albumin (bovine serum), alcohol dehydrogenase (yeast), and lysozyme (chicken egg) having specific interaction to CB were collected onto the affinity admicelle. On the other hand, the collection of ovalubmin (chicken egg white), having no binding ability to CB, was negligibly small. Lysozyme in 100 microl of chicken egg white, diluted with 900 microl of 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.4), was successfully collected on 18 mg of CB-Triton admicelles and, then, it was eluted with 1 ml of aqueous solution of 100 mM phosphate (pH 7.4). The recovery based on the activity for the lysis of micrococcus and the concentration factor were 60% and 40 (n = 3), respectively.     

Simultaneous degradation of non-emissive and emissive dyes on visible light illuminated TiO2 surface

Simultaneous photocatalytic degradation of non-emissive dye, acid blue1 (AB1) and emissive dyes (eosinY or thionine) in air-equilibrated aqueous suspension of TiO₂ semiconductor photocatalyst has been achieved at ambient conditions. Under visible light irradiation AB1 undergoes appreciable degradation in presence of a sensitizing dye (eosinY or thionine). However, concomitant decoloration of eosinY (EY) or thionine (Th) due to self-sensitized degradation was also noticed. Mechanistic proposals for the photocatalytic degradation of AB1 using a 150 W Xe lamp with a UV-filter (λ > 420 nm) as well as without a UV-filter, are discussed. Formation of reactive O₂⁻/HO₂ radicals is proposed to be responsible for the degradation of the selected dyes, AB1, EY and Th.     

Preparation of poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-protected Prussian blue nanoparticles-modified electrode and its electrocatalytic reduction for hemoglobin

In this paper, a novel modified electrode was developed by using highly dispersed Prussian blue (PB) nanoparticles protected by poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). The size of the nanoparticles was controlled through adjusting the feed ratio of PVP/Fe²⁺. Physical characteristics of the nanocomposite were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analysis. The electrocatalytic reduction of hemoglobin (Hb) at PVP-protected PB nanoparticles (PVP/PB NPs)-modified electrode had been investigated. In addition, the size effects and biocompatibility of PVP/PB NPs for the electrochemistry of Hb were also observed. Experimental results indicated that the reduction peak currents of Hb were linear with its concentrations over the range from 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.2 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L and the calculated detection limit (S/N = 3) was 4.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol/L.     

ADSORPTION OF METHYLENE BLUE FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION ON ATTAPULGITE

Batch adsorption experiments were carried out for the removal of methylene blue （MB） from aqueous solution using attapulgite as adsorbent. The effects of various parameters such as temperature, contact time, the pH value, and attapulgite dosage on the adsorption performance were investigated. The standard curve and regression equation were established by spectrophotometry. The adsorption experimental results showed that the adsorption equilibrium data were well in accord with Langmuir adsorptive model. The optimal result was acquired under the experimental condition of attapulgite dosage 0.18g, MB concentration 50.0mg/L, pH 10, and adsorption time 20min at room temperature.     

Light-assisted and remote delivery of carbon monoxide to malignant cells and tissues: Photochemotherapy in the spotlight

The recent discovery of the salutary effects of carbon monoxide (CO) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ischemic perfusion damage, graft implantation, as well as its pro-apoptotic effects on hyper-proliferating cells has raised interest in delivering small doses of CO to biological targets under controlled conditions. In such attempts, photoactive metal carbonyl complexes (photoCORMs) have shown promise and several accounts of cancer cell eradication with light-triggered CO release from photoCORMs have been reported. CO releasing molecules (CORMs) and photoCORMs have been incorporated within biocompatible drug delivery vehicles such as carboxymethyl chitosan or mesoporous silica-based nanoparticles and the composite materials (photoCORs) have been successfully employed in controlled CO delivery to cancer cells to cause rapid CO-induced apoptosis. Fiber optic technology has also been utilized for remote delivery of CO to not easily accessible targets. Reports on all these therapeutic modalities for on-demand CO delivery to malignant targets in a highly localized fashion have opened up the possibility of phototherapy of cancer with the use of an unusual so-called “toxic” molecule. This review highlights the methodologies used in CO photochemotherapy reported so far along with analysis of their therapeutic outcomes, and possible improvements for better applicability.     

Carbon film electrodes for oxidase-based enzyme sensors in food analysis

Carbon film resistor electrodes have been evaluated as transducers for the development of multiple oxidase-based enzyme electrode biosensors. The resistor electrodes were first modified with Prussian Blue (PB) and then covered by a layer of covalently immobilized enzyme. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to characterize the interfacial behaviour of the Prussian Blue modified and enzyme electrodes; the spectra demonstrated that the access of the substrates is essentially unaltered by application of the enzyme layer. These enzyme electrodes were used to detect the substrate of the oxidase (glucose, ethanol, lactate, glutamate) via reduction of hydrogen peroxide at +50 mV versus Ag/AgCl in the low micromolar range. Response times were 1-2 min. Finally, the glucose, ethanol and lactate electrochemical biosensors were used to analyse complex food matrices—must, wine and yoghurt. Data obtained by the single standard addition method were compared with a spectrophotometric reference method and showed good correlation, indicating that the electrodes are suitable for food analysis.     

溶剂热法制备Ag/TiO2纳米材料及其光催化性能

以乙醇为溶剂, 钛酸四丁酯为前驱体, 用溶剂热法制备了Ag表面修饰的负载型纳米二氧化钛光催化剂. 利用X射线衍射(XRD)、N₂吸附-脱附(BET)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、紫外-可见(UV-Vis)光谱等技术对其进行了系统的表征, 以亚甲基蓝(MB)溶液的脱色降解为模型反应, 考察了不同Ag含量样品的光催化性能. 结果表明: 用溶剂热法制备的样品中TiO₂皆为锐钛矿相, 金属Ag颗粒沉积在TiO₂表面, 粒径为2 nm左右, 比表面积较溶胶凝胶法制备的样品大大增加, 最高可达151.44 m²·g^-1; UV-Vis光谱和光催化实验表明: Ag修饰使TiO₂对光的吸收能力大大增强, 吸收带边红移至可见光区, 亚甲基蓝在该复合材料上的光催化降解反应遵循一级反应动力学模型; 溶剂热法制备样品的光催化性能明显好于溶胶凝胶法制备的样品, 在紫外光和可见光下, Ag摩尔分数为5%的样品表现出最佳的光催化活性.     

Photocatalysis of Reduction of the Dye Methylene Blue by Bi2S3/CdS Nanocomposites

We have determined the optimal conditions for synthesis of Bi₂S₃/CdS nanocomposites and we have determined their photocatalytic activity in the reaction of reduction of methylene blue as a function of composition. We suggest a possible mechanism for the photocatalytic action of the nanocomposites.     

Characterization of gold nanoparticles electrochemically deposited on amine-functioned mesoporous silica films and electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose

This study reports the preparation and characterization of gold nanoparticles deposited on amine-functioned hexagonal mesoporous silica (NH₂–HSM) films and the electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose. Gold nanoparticles are fabricated by electrochemically reducing chloroauric acid on the surface of NH₂–HSM film, using potential step technology. The gold nanoparticles deposited have an average diameter of 80 nm and show high electroactivity. Prussian blue film can form easily on them while cycling the potential between −0.2 and 0.6 V (vs saturated calomel electrode) in single ferricyanide solution. The gold nanoparticles loading NH₂–HSM-film-coated glassy carbon electrode (Au–NH₂–HSM/GCE) shows strong catalysis to the oxidation of glucose, and according to the cathodic oxidation peak at about 0.16 V, the catalytic current is about 2.5 μA mM⁻¹. Under optimized conditions, the peak current of the cathodic oxidation peak is linear to the concentration of glucose in the range of 0.2 to 70 mM. The detection limit is estimated to be 0.1 mM. In addition, some electrochemical parameters about glucose oxidation are estimated.     

A Quantitative Spectrometric Assay for the Determination of Solution Concentration of para-sulphonato-calix[n]arenes and Their Derivatives

A spectrometric assay for the determination of concentration of para-sulphonato-calix[n]arenes and their derivatives has been developed using dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) as a probe. Interaction with para-sulphonato-calix[n]arenes leads to a metachromatic shift in the spectrum of DMMB with appearance of a peak at 536 nm and diminution of the spectral intensity of the peaks at 594 and 649 nm. The method shows good linearity in the concentration range 0–6 μg/ml for para-sulphonato-calix[n]arenes. in final form: 27 December 2004