Individually addressable recessed gold microelectrode arrays with monolayers of thio-cyclodextrin nanocavities

Four, individually addressable 30 microm diameter, e-beam deposited, gold microelectrodes recessed by 6 microm were suitably spaced on a single substrate to avoid diffusional overlap between each microelectrode. The single substrate device was functionalised with thiolated alpha-, beta-, and gamma-cyclodextrin nanocavities without spacer groups to ensure close proximity of the cavities to the electrode surface. The microelectrodes were assessed in two stages. The e-beam deposited micron sized electrodes were characterized using models for recessed and inlaid microdisk electrodes. Subsequently, each individually addressable, atomically flat, micro-patterned gold electrode with thiolated CD ensembles was treated as a nanoporous electrode assembly. Theoretical and experimental results were compared using cyclic voltammetry. Atomic force microscopy was also used to characterise the modified microelectrodes. Comparisons were made with thiolated CDs deposited on macroelectrodes. This is the first report of the behaviour of immobilized CD nanocavities ensembles on atomically flat gold microelectrodes.     

A biosensor for monitoring formaldehyde using a new lipophilic tetrathiafulvalene-tetracyanoquinodimethane salt and a polyurethane membrane

The fabrication and application of an end-column amperometric detection (AD) system with a carbon electrode for capillary-column liquid chromatography (CLC) were described. This new amperometric detector showed good sensitivity and stability in detecting the thiocompounds and other analytes with CLC. In order to obtain the better separation and detection performance for analytes, several operational parameters had been investigated: the working potentials, pH and flow rate. Under the optimum conditions, the method could effectively separate and determine cysteine (Cys), glutathione (GSH), dopamine (DA) and 6-thiopurine (6-TP). Good repeatability for retention time was obtained with a relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) value of 0.5%. The linear range covered over three orders of magnitude and the limits of detection were 8 fmol for cysteine, 20 fmol for glutathione, 8 fmol for dopamine and 20 fmol for 6-thiopurine. This method was successfully applied in determination of urinary sample with characteristics of simplicity, high sensitivity and good repeatability.     

New Cyclodextrin-Based Ion-Selective Electrodes for Determining Activity Coefficients of Biologically Important Onium Ions

Ion-selective electrodes (ISEs), apart from fluoride, calcium, and a few others, have not often been used to obtain thermodynamic information on electrolytes. Here, novel cyclodextrin-based ISEs are used to determine activity coefficients of some onium chlorides in aqueous solution. Cyclodextrins, rendered lipophilic by alkylation, have been incorporated into polymeric membranes and used as ionophores in ISEs for sensing the substituted ammonium (onium) ions, choline, acetylcholine, and acetyl--methylcholine. Potentiometric measurements using these cyclodextrin-based ISEs allow the determination of ratios of activity coefficients in solutions. Choosing one solution as reference and using a theoretical model (e.g., Pitzer equations), it is possible to evaluate activity coefficients of individual solutions. Results for choline chloride compare well with limited data in the literature. This is the first time, that ISEs have been used to measure activity coefficients of biologically important ions.     

Modular assembly of a preorganised, ditopic receptor for dicarboxylates

Two types of calix[4]arene derived hosts for anions with, respectively, 1,3-alternate and cone conformations have been prepared; the 1,3-alternate system binds dicarboxylate anions in a ditopic manner while the cone compounds are deprotonated by carboxylates.     

Complexation Studies of Pyridyl Sulfonamide Ligands for Sensing Zinc and Copper Ions

Ligand protonation and stepwise dissociation constants, formation constants and speciation of four pyridyl sulfonamide ligands (Congreeve et al., New J. Chem. 27:98–106, 2003) were assessed, using potentiometric and UV/Visible spectrophotometric pH titrations (in 80% MeOH − 20% H₂O). The suitability of these ligands as Cu(II) and Zn(II) sensors for physiological applications was assessed. Two ligands L¹ and L⁴ were p-toluenesulfonamide derivatives while L² and L³ were triflurosulfonamide derivatives. Additionally L³ and L⁴ were appended with α-methyl groups. The most stable complex was formed by L¹ with Cu(II) owing to the fact that this complex was square planar (log ₁₀  K ₁=12.15±0.004 and log ₁₀  β ₂=15.42±0.006). The rest of the complexes invariably formed distorted tetrahedron geometry and complexation was weaker. Speciation diagrams show the effect of ligand to metal concentration, revealing that the L² and L³ ligands are the most suitable for forming ML₂ complexes at physiological pH.     

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 1-(2,4-dichlorobenzoyl)-4-substituted thiosemicarbazides, 1,2,4-triazoles and their methyl derivatives

A series of 1-(2,4-dichlorobenzoyl)thiosemicarbazides, s-triazoles and their methyl derivatives have been synthesised by condensation of 2,4-dichlorobenzoyl hydrazine with aryl isothiocyanates. Subsequent ring closure of the substituted thiosemicarbazides yielded the s-triazoles, and reaction with methyl iodide resulted methyl derivatives. All the compounds were subjected to in vitro testing against two gram-positive and two gram-negative bacteria. Antibacterial activity was found to be moderate to good in most of the compounds.     

Cyclodextrin-modified biosensors: comparision of cyclodextrin-linked ferrocenes as mediators in sol-gel and screen-printed formats for sensing acetylcholine.

This work reports the comparison of a sol-gel and a screen-printed biosensor format using new mediators and a sensitive thin-film (ref. 1: P. Kataky and D. Parker, Analyst, 1996, 121, 1829) to enhance the sensitivity and stability of biosensors. The new mediators were per-alkylated cyclodextrin linked ferrocenes and a control, ferrocene aminocarboxylic acid. The thin film comprised a cocktail with polyurethane, plasticiser, lipophilic anion and a perethylated beta-CD. The analyte targeted was acetylcholine using the established horseradish peroxidase-choline-oxidase-acetylcholine esterase relay. The screen-printed electrode format showed a marked decrease in oxidation potential, the magnitude of the shift depended on the structure of the mediator and the membrane covering. Although lower oxidation-potentials were observed with the sol-gel format sensors, their response was more akin to aqueous solution behaviour. Electrocatalytic currents were observed suggesting a highly efficient electron transfer process.     

The Effect of a Hydrogen Bonding Environment (Dimethyl Sulfoxide) on the Ionisation and Redox Properties of the Thiol Group in Cysteine and a Protein Disulfide Isomerase Mimic (Vectrase)

Increasing enrichment of dimethyl sulfoxide, DMSO, in DMSO-water mixtures causes a reversal in the thermodynamic dissociation constants, pK _as, and has a marked effect on the redox potentails of the thiolic and amino groups in cysteine and the protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) mimic BMC, Vectrase. This paper illustrates the effect of a hydrogen-bonding environment on the ionisation and redox properties of thiol groups in amino acids. A combination of potentiometry and Raman spectroscopy was applied to rationalise the observations. Intracellular environments are full of hydrophobic, hydrogen-bonding environments. The results illustrate the profound effects of the local environment on the thiol group.     

Emulsification at the Liquid/Liquid Interface: Effects of Potential,Electrolytes and Surfactants

Emulsification of oils at liquid/liquid interfaces is of fundamental importance across a range of applications, including detergency. Adsorption and partitioning of the anionic surface active ions at the interface between two immiscible solutions is known to cause predictable chaos at the transfer potential region of the surfactant. In this work, the phenomenon that leads to the chaotic behaviour shown by sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) at the water/1,2‐dichloroethane interface is applied to commercial surfactants and aqueous/glyceryl trioleate interface. Electrochemical methods, electrocapillary curves, optical microscopy and conductivity measurements demonstrated that at 1.5 mm of SDBS, surfactants are adsorbed at the interface and assemble into micelles, leading to interfacial instability. As the concentration of the anionic surfactant was enhanced to 8 and 13.4 mm , the Marangoni effect and the interfacial emulsification became more prominent. The chaotic behaviour was found to be dependent on the surfactant concentration and the electrolytes present.     

Investigation of mechanisms for the reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethylenes using electroanalytical techniques.

Chlorinated ethenes in the environment can dechlorinate by accepting electrons from electron donors fortuitously found in nature under a wide range of conditions in the sub-surface by both abiotic and biotic pathways. A source of electron donors is a range of dehalorespiratory bacteria, in which Co(I) in vitamin B12, in the presence of strong reductants such as Ti(III) citrate, aids dehalogenation. In this work we investigated a range of reducing conditions using electron donors of varying strengths and proposed mechanisms for dechlorination. Initially, the reducing abilities of one of the strongest electron donors known, tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TDAE), was studied. Subsequently, the reducing ability of a cobalt salt under reducing conditions was examined. Molasses was used as a source of hydrogen. The reactions were followed using electrochemistry, UV-Vis spectroscopy and ion chromatography. TDAE was found to form adducts with tetrachloroethylene and trans-dichloroethylene and to reduce trichloroethylene and cis-dichloroethylene very rapidly. On application of a negative potential, cobalt, in the presence of molasses, was also found to dechlorinate trichloroethylene rapidly. Dechlorination of PCE was considerably slower.