Towards CRISPR powered electrochemical sensing for smart diagnostics

Even though global health has been steadily improved, the global disease burden associated with communicable and non-communicable diseases extensively increased healthcare expenditure. The present COVID-19 pandemic scenario has again ascertained the importance of clinical diagnostics as a basis to make life-saving decisions. In this context, there is a need for developing next-generation integrated smart real-time responsive biosensors with high selectivity and sensitivity. The emergence of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas biosensing systems has shown remarkable potential for developing next-generation biosensors. CRISPR/Cas integrated electrochemical biosensors (E-CRISPR) stands out with excellent properties. In this opinionated review, we illustrate the rapidly evolving applications for E-CRISPR-integrated detection systems towards biosensing and the future scope associated with E-CRISPR based diagnostics.     

A Microbial Sensor Based on Direct Electron Transfer at Shewanella Sp. Drop‐Coated Screen‐Printed Carbon Electrodes

Aerobically grown Shewanella sp. bacterial suspension drop‐coated on a disposable screen‐printed carbon electrode was found to possess electroactivity without the aid of redox mediator. Cyclic voltammetric studies revealed the characteristics of a mixed diffusion adsorption‐controlled electrochemical process for direct electron transfer at the bacteria‐modified electrode. Both FE‐SEM and ATR FT‐IR experiments were carried out to investigate the surface characteristics. The electroanalytical applicability was further demonstrated for electrocatalytic reduction of arsenite, hydrogen peroxide and nitrite. Low cost and very simple manufacturing procedure allow for the proposed bacterial sensor to be applied as disposable devices.     

Water-soluble aminocalix[4]arene receptors with hydrophobic and hydrophilic mouths

We report the new water-soluble aminocalix[4]arene hosts 1 and 2 with deep hydrophobic cavity facilitating hydrophobic mouth and hydrophilic mouth, respectively. The ¹H NMR titrations revealed that host 1 shows high selectivity for neutral guests 9 and 10, with log K of 4.2 and 4.6, respectively. The host 2 shows log K of 4.9 for binding with guest 15. Moreover, the binding ability of the host 2 for guest 14 is stronger by a factor of 1000 than that of the host 1.     

X-ray structural studies on metal complexes with nucleotides and pyridoxal-amino acid Schiff bases. Models for platinum binding to DNA and pyridoxal catalyzed reactions

X-ray structural studies on metal complexes with nucleotides and with pyridoxalamino acid Schiff bases are briefly reviewed. The results with ternary metal nucleotide complexes show that the oxopurine nucleotides coordinate to the metal ion through the N(7) atoms of the bases incis position. The relevance of this mode of binding is discussed in terms of the possible mechanism of action of the novel platinum drugs. On the basis of the studies on metal pyridoxal-amino acid Schiff base complexes, the variations in stereochemistry of the ligands in different metal complexes have been related to the catalytic activity of various metal ions in pyridoxal-catalyzed nonenzymatic reactions.     

Reaction of chromous chloride with 3-nitroflavenes. A novel synthesis of flavonols

Reaction of Chromium(II) chloride with 3-nitroflavene yields flavonol.     

Antimony (III) Sulfate Catalyzed One-Pot Synthesis of 2,3-Disubstitutedindoles

A novel one-pot Fischer indole synthesis approach has been developed by using antimony (III) sulfate as the catalyst. Good yields were obtained after reacting phenylhydrazines hydrochlorides and ketones in refluxing methanol. The exclusive formation of 2,3- disubstituted indoles was observed in the reaction of ethyl methyl ketone with phenylhydrazines. One-pot synthesis of indole-3-propanol using dihydropyran has also been described. The use of reusable antimony (III) sulfate as a catalyst makes this method both economically and environmentally friendly.     

Direct Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Cysteine and Cystine Based on Nafion/Lead Oxide‐Manganese Oxide Combined Catalyst

This article reports direct electrocatalytic oxidation of cysteine (CySH) and cystine (CyS‐SCy) at an inexpensive Nafion/lead oxide‐manganese oxide combined catalyst in physiological pH. The synthesized lead oxide‐manganese oxide material is simply mixed with Nafion in the form of cast solution and modified on a disposable screen‐printed carbon electrode (designated as SPE/Nf‐PMO) for biosensing application. Electrochemical study with a standard redox couple of quinone/hydroquinone demonstrates an enhanced current response at the combined catalyst compared to its individual component. Surface characterization further provides information regarding the structural morphology of the catalyst to its catalytic performance. Direct electrocatalytic oxidation signals are observed at +0.75 and +1.20 V vs. Ag/AgCl for cysteine and cystine, respectively, at the SPE/Nf‐PMO. To extend the applicability, we further apply the proposed system for the detection of cysteine and cystine by flow injection analysis (FIA). Under optimized conditions, the detection limit (S/N=3) is 0.43 μM and 0.33 μM for cysteine and cystine, respectively.     

NMR Spectroscopic and X-Ray Structural Studies of Two Diazadiphosphetidines

Abstract

The crystal structures of the two diazadiphosphetidines, [PhNP(OCH₂CF₃)]₂ (1) and [MeNP(NMe₂)(O₂C₆H₄)]₂ (2) have been determined. The trifluoroethoxy groups in (1) have a trans orientation. The phosphorus chemical shift for (1) is at 189.8 δ. On standing in solution, (1) transforms slowly (～ 10 days) and almost completely into its ‘high-field’ (cis) isomer (142.2δ).     

Microwave‐Assisted One‐Pot Synthesis of Metal‐Free Nitrogen and Phosphorus Dual‐Doped Nanocarbon for Electrocatalysis and Cell Imaging

Metal‐free nitrogen and phosphorus dual‐doped, electrocatlytically active, functionalized nanocarbon (FNC) and photoluminescent carbon nanodots (PCNDs) are simultaneously synthesized using a facile one‐pot microwave‐assisted process. The successful incorporation of phosphorus and nitrogen to oxygen rich PCNDs and FNC are confirmed using surface morphological and spectral studies. The characterization studies of FNC further reveals the presence of edge‐plane‐like sites/defects and remarkable electrocatalytical activity. In addition to the electroctalytical activity, FNC shows attractive properties as a metal‐free oxygen reduction catalyst and is resistant to methanol crossover effects in alkaline media. The 5–10 nm PCNDs, which exhibit blue fluorescence under UV exposure, are successfully used for bioimaging applications.     

Efficient Synthesis of 2-Ethoxycarbonyl Indoles

An efficient one-pot procedure for the synthesis of 2-ethoxycarbonyl indoles from commercially available materials has been developed. The one-step procedure involves in situ formation of the hydrazones from phenylhydrazine hydrochloride and ethyl pyruvate in the presence of bismuth nitrate followed by Fischer cyclization in polyphosphoric acid and ethanol. This method is efficient and simple.