Synthesis of Gold Microplates Using Bovine Serum Albumin as a Reductant and a Stabilizer

Gold microplates were synthesized in aqueous solutions by reducing HAuCl₄ with the hydroxyl groups in both serine and threonine of bovine serum albumin (BSA), which is a globular protein in its native state. In this article, we systematically investigated the effects of temperature, pH value, the concentration of BSA, and ionic species on the reduction kinetics and thus the size and morphology of the final product. The optimal experimental conditions for producing uniform Au microplates include the following: an elevated temperature in the range of 55–65 °C, an acidic solution with pH≈3, and the presence of NaCl (0.14 M ). We found that if any one of these parameters was deviated from the optimal condition, Au microplates would not be formed in high yields. We also found that the surfaces of the as‐synthesized Au microplates were covered by a dense array of BSA bumps.     

Simultaneous determination of phthalates and adipates in human serum using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with solid‐phase extraction

A gas chromatography–mass spectrometry assay was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of phthalates and adipates in human serum. The phthalates and adipates studied were dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, benzylbutyl phthalate, di‐2‐ethylhexyl phthalate, di‐n‐octyl phthalate, diethyl adipate, dibutyl adipate, diisobutyl adipate, bis(2‐butoxyethyl) adipate and di‐2‐ethylhexyl adipate, with diisooctyl phthalate as internal standard. The extraction and cleaning up procedure was carried out with solid‐phase extraction cartridges containing dimethyl butylamine groups, which showed extraction efficiencies over 88% for each analyte and the internal standard. The calibration curves obtained were linear with correlation coefficients greater than 0.98. For all analytes, the assay gave CV% values for intra‐day precision from 4.9 to 13.3% and mean accuracy values from 91.4 to 108.4%, while inter‐day precision was 5.2–13.4% and mean accuracy 91.0–110.2%. The limits of detection for the assay of phthalates and adipates were in the range 0.7–4.5 ng/mL. The method is simple, sensitive and accurate, and allows for simultaneous determination of nanogram levels of phthalates and adipates in human serum. It was successfully applied to an investigation on the level of phthalates and adipates in a non‐occupationally exposed population.     

Applications of polymethacrylate-based monoliths in high-performance liquid chromatography

Monolithic columns were introduced in the early 1990s and have become increasingly popular as efficient stationary phases for most of the important chromatographic separation modes. Monoliths are functionally distinct from porous particle-based media in their reliance on convective mass transport. This makes resolution and capacity independent of flow rate. Monoliths also lack a void volume. This eliminates eddy dispersion and permits high-resolution separations with extremely short flow paths. The analytical value of these features is the subject of recent reviews. Nowadays, among other types of rigid macroporous monoliths, the polymethacrylate-based materials are the largest and most examined class of these sorbents. In this review, the applications of polymethacrylate-based monolithic columns are summarized for the separation, purification and analysis of low and high molecular mass compounds in the different HPLC formats, including micro- and large-scale HPLC modes.     

Speciation of selenomethionine and selenocystine using online micro-column containing Cu(II) loaded nanometer-sized Al2O3 coupled with ICP-MS detection

A flow injection online speciation procedure by using micro-column packed with Cu(II) loaded nanometer-sized Al₂O₃ coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the separation and determination of selenomethionine (SeMet) and selenocystine (SeCys₂) has been developed. The main factors affecting the separation and preconcentration of SeMet and SeCys₂ including pH value, sample flow rate, eluent concentration, eluent volume and flow rate, and interfering ions have been investigated. It was found that SeCys₂ could be selectively retained by micro-column packed with Cu(II) loaded nanometer-sized Al₂O₃ at pH 4.0, and the retained SeCys₂ could be eluted by 1.0 mol L⁻¹ HNO₃, while SeMet was not retained and passed through the micro-column directly at this pH. Both SeMet and SeCys₂ could be quantitatively adsorbed by the micro-column at pH 9.0, and the retained SeMet and SeCys₂ could be easily eluted with 1.0 mol L⁻¹ HNO₃. The content of SeMet was obtained by subtracting the SeCys₂ from the total content of seleno amino acids. With the enrichment factor of 7.8 and 7.7, the limits of detection (LODs) for SeMet and SeCys₂ were found to be 24 pg Se mL⁻¹ and 21 pg Se mL⁻¹, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for SeCys₂ and SeMet with seven replicate determinations of 1.0 ng mL⁻¹ SeMet and SeCys₂, were 2.1% and 1.6%, respectively, the sampling frequency of 8 h⁻¹ was obtained. The proposed method was applied to the speciation of SeMet and SeCys₂ in selenized yeast, human urine and serum with satisfactory results.     

Analysis of whole congener mixtures of polybromodiphenyl ethers by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in both environmental and biological samples at femtogram levels

A sensitive and selective method for the determination of the whole congener distribution of polybromodiphenyl ethers in environmental and biological samples in one single instrumental run is described. The method is based on gas chromatography coupled to low-resolution mass spectrometry in negative ion chemical ionization mode. It allows determination of these compounds at concentration levels lower than 10⁻¹⁴ g. A programmed temperature vaporization injector has been used to ensure maximum compound transfer to the chromatographic column while maintaining low thermal degradation levels of the more brominated congeners. Selectivity was increased by modification of the MS source parameters for optimization of the abundance of the high mass fragment ions. Under optimized condition, good repeatability (1.7–9.1%) and reproducibility (4.1–20%), and low detection limits, ranging between 1.5 and 15 pg ml⁻¹, were obtained. These features afforded reliable quantification of these compounds in snow and human samples at the concentrations in which these compounds are found.     

偶氮氯膦Ⅰ分光光度法测定血清蛋白质的效果分析

在Na2HPO4-柠檬酸酸性缓冲液中,加入非离子表面活性剂聚氧乙烯月桂醚（Brij-35）,使偶氮氯膦Ⅰ（CPA—Ⅰ）与牛血清白蛋白形成复合物,复合物的最大吸收波长在570nm,比试剂本身红移了70nm,表观摩尔吸光系数为5．88×10^4L／（mol·cm^-1）,线性范围0—166mg／L,采用分光光度法研究该结合反应的最佳反应条件,并据此建立了一种测定血清蛋白质的新方法。结果表明,该法回收率为98．7％～102．2％,批内变异系数为2．4％,血清用量少,线性范围宽,具有操作快速、简便、结果灵敏可靠等优点,与双缩脲法相关性良好。     

锌(Ⅱ)对于甲基百里酚蓝与牛血清白蛋白相互作用的影响

采用荧光光谱、紫外-可见光谱研究了有/无金属Zn2+存在下甲基百里酚蓝(MTB)与牛血清白蛋白(BSA)的相互作用.实验结果表明,无论Zn2+离子存在与否,MTB与BSA之间均为一形成复合物的静态猝灭过程.根据Stern-Volmer方程和Lineweaver-Burk方程求出了其结合常数与热力学参数,发现Zn2+离子存在时,MTB与BSA间的作用力由静电力转为氢键和Van der Waals力作用为主,认为金属Zn2+以"离子架桥"的方式参与MTB与BSA的结合过程,从而ΔH对ΔG的贡献增大.     

荧光光谱法研究辛硫磷与牛血清白蛋白的相互作用

用荧光光谱法研究了在生理pH条件下杀虫剂辛硫磷与牛血清白蛋白(BSA)的相互作用. 结果表明: 辛硫磷对BSA的荧光有较强的猝灭作用, 该猝灭属于静态猝灭. 根据猝灭结果求得了不同温度下辛硫磷与牛血清白蛋白结合作用的结合位点数、结合常数及反应热力学参数, 并据此确定它们之间主要的相互作用力为疏水作用力. 用同步荧光光谱法探讨了辛硫磷对BSA构象的影响.     

2,4-二硝基苯胺与牛血清白蛋白相互作用的研究

通过荧光和紫外光谱法研究了2,4-二硝基苯胺同牛血清白蛋白(BSA)的相互作用. 2,4-二硝基苯胺对牛血清白蛋白的内源荧光具有强烈的猝灭作用. 二者之间形成不发荧光的复合物是导致荧光猝灭的主要原因. 计算了其结合常数和结合位点数. 紫外光谱法进一步证明了其猝灭机理为静态猝灭. 根据能量转移理论计算了作用距离(3.13 nm). 同步荧光的结果表明2,4-二硝基苯胺的存在改变了牛血清白蛋白的分子构象.     

Effects of Temperature and Common Ions on Binding of Puerarin to BSA

The effects of temperature and common ions on binding of puerarin to bovine serum albumin (BSA) are investigated. The binding constants (K _a) between puerarin and BSA are 1.13×10⁴ L⋅mol⁻¹ (20 °C) and 1.54×10⁴ L⋅mol⁻¹ (30 °C), and the number of binding sites (n) is (0.95±0.02). However, at a higher temperature (40 °C) the stability of the puerarin–BSA system decreases, which results in a lower binding constant (1.58×10³ L⋅mol⁻¹) and number of binding sites (n=0.73) of the puerarin–BSA system. However, the presence of Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions increases the binding constants and the number of binding sites in the puerarin–BSA complex.