A Structural View on Medicinal Chemistry Strategies against Drug Resistance

The natural phenomenon of drug resistance is a widespread issue that hampers the performance of drugs in many major clinical indications. Antibacterial and antifungal drugs are affected, as well as compounds for the treatment of cancer, viral infections, or parasitic diseases. Despite the very diverse set of biological targets and organisms involved in the development of drug resistance, the underlying molecular mechanisms have been identified to understand the emergence of resistance and to overcome this detrimental process. Detailed structural information on the root causes for drug resistance is nowadays frequently available, so next‐generation drugs can be designed that are anticipated to suffer less from resistance. This knowledge‐based approach is essential for fighting the inevitable occurrence of drug resistance.     

Sensor Array Based Determination of Edman Degradated Amino Acids Using Poly(p-phenyleneethynylene)s

A cross-reactive optical sensor array based on poly(p-phenyleneethynylene)s (PPEs) determines Edman degraded amino acids. We report a sensor array composed of three anionic PPEs P1–P3 , and their electrostatic complexes with metal ions (Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺). We recorded distinct fluorescence intensity response patterns as “fingerprints” of this chemical tongue toward standard phenylthiohydantoin (PTH) amino acids—degradation products of the Edman process. These “fingerprints” were converted into canonical scores by linear discrimination analysis (LDA), which differentiates all of the PTH-amino acids. This array discriminates PTH-amino acid residues degraded from an oligopeptide through Edman sequencing. This approach is complementary to chromatography approaches which rely on mass spectrometry; our array offers the advantage of simplicity.     

Cu-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles for Non-Enzymatic Glucose Sensing

Copper-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPs) Cu_xZn_1−xO (x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04) were synthesized via a sol-gel process and used as an active electrode material to fabricate a non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor for the detection of glucose. Their structure, composition, and chemical properties were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopies, and zeta potential measurements. The electrochemical characterization of the sensors was studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Cu doping was shown to improve the electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of glucose, which resulted from the accelerated electron transfer and greatly improved electrochemical conductivity. The experimental conditions for the detection of glucose were optimized: a linear dependence between the glucose concentration and current intensity was established in the range from 1 nM to 100 μM with a limit of detection of 0.7 nM. The proposed sensor exhibited high selectivity for glucose in the presence of various interfering species. The developed sensor was also successfully tested for the detection of glucose in human serum samples.     

Electrochemical Sensor for Sensitive Determination of Ga(III) Ion Based on β‐Cyclodextrin Incorporated Multi‐walled Carbon Nanotubes and Imprinted Sol‐gel Composite Film

A novel sensor for detection of trace gallium ion [Ga(III)] was created by stepwise modification of a gold electrode with β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD)/multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and an ion imprinted polymer (IIP). The sensor surface morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical performance of the imprinted sensor was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The sensor displayed excellent selectivity towards the target Ga(III) ion. Meanwhile, the introduced MWCNTs displayed noticeable catalytic activity, and β‐CD demonstrated significant enrichment capacity. A linear calibration curve was obtained covering the concentration range from 5.0×10^?8 to 1.0×10^?4 mol·L^?1, with a detection limit of 7.6×10^?9 mol·L^?1. The proposed sensor was successfully applied to detect Ga(III) in real urine samples.     

基于分子印迹技术的牛血清白蛋白电位式传感器的研究

以牛血清白蛋白(BSA)为模板,合成了分子印迹聚合物凝胶(MIP),进而制得了以聚氯乙烯(PVC)为支撑膜的BSA电位式传感器。采用直接电位法测得BSA在浓度0.1～1.0 mg/mL范围内与电位呈线性关系。此电极制作简单,可用于BSA的测定。     

An Enzyme Sensor For Determination of Acetylcholine and Choline In Rat Brain Extracts

Abstract

A choline enzyme sensor, recently developed by the authors, was used for choline and acetylcholine determination in rat brain extracts, using choline oxidase immobilized on cellulose triacetate membranes, and acetylcholinesterase in homogeneous solution. the method proved useful for assay of the acetylcholine content in a commercial pharmaceutical formulation used in ophthalmology.     

Solid-state pH nanoelectrode based on polyaniline thin film electrodeposited onto ion-beam etched carbon fiber

An ultramicro pH sensor has been constructed based on a thin polyaniline film that was electrochemically deposited onto a carbon fiber nanometer-size electrode. The substrate nanoelectrodes were fabricated using ion-beam conically etched carbon fibers with tip diameters ranging ca. from 100 to 500 nm. The polyaniline film was deposited from HCl solution containing the aniline monomer by cycling the potential between −0.2 and +1.0 V. The electromotive force (emf) signal between the pH sensitive polyaniline-coated nanoelectrode and an Ag/AgCl reference electrode was linear over the pH range of 2.0-12.5 with a slightly super-Nernstian slope of ca. −60 mV/pH unit. Response times ranged from several sec at pHs around 7 up to 2 min at pH 12.5. The proposed pH nanoelectrode displayed high ion selectivity with respect to K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and Li⁺, with log K_H,M values around −12 and has a working lifetime of about 20 days. Key parameters important for the pH nanoelectrode performance, including polyaniline film preparation, selectivity, response time, temperature dependence, relative coating thickness, stability, and reproducibility, have been characterized and optimized. The performance of the pH nanoelectrode was examined by measuring the pH of several real samples including body fluids (serum, urine) and low ionic strength water samples (rain, deionized and tap water). The results agreed very well with those obtained by using commercial glass pH electrodes. The proposed pH nanoelectrode demonstrated attractive properties and seems particularly promising for use under physiological conditions.     

测定金属电阻温度系数的方法研究

从金属电阻率与温度的线性关系出发,设计了测定金属电阻温度系数的实验方案。利用基本的电磁学仪器和热学仪器组合进行实验,以漆包铜线作为待测金属丝测定出铜的电阻温度系数,分析了导致系统误差产生的主要原因,并就待测金属丝的选取原则、温度控制的方法进行了讨论。     

基于ZIF-8/PAN复合薄膜的柔性丙酮气体传感器

ZIF-8是一种Zn基金属有机骨架材料, 可以吸附丙酮气体从而作为电容式丙酮传感器的气敏材料, 然而ZIF-8的传统使用形式为粉末态, 这导致其不能成为具备柔性的整体, 从而限制了传感器的柔性. 结合包埋种子和二次生长法将ZIF-8与纳米纤维结合成纤维型柔性材料, 并将其作为气敏层制备了柔性电容式丙酮气体传感器. 该传感器在9种常见挥发性有机化合物中表现出良好的选择性, 对250~2000 cm³/m³的丙酮气体具有灵敏的响应、良好的循环响应及长期稳定性. 值得注意的是该柔性传感器不仅在室温下进行传感, 而且在弯折180°的状态下对丙酮气体的响应值与不弯折(0°)状态下几乎一致, 在200次以内的180°弯折-恢复后同样表现出了传感性能的稳定, 表明了其在柔性传感器方面的潜力.