Preparation and characterization of individual peptide-wrapped single-walled carbon nanotubes

Two challenges for effectively exploiting the remarkable properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are the isolation of intact individual nanotubes from the raw material and the assembly of these isolated SWNTs into useful structures. In this study, we present atomic force microscopy (AFM) evidence that we can isolate individual peptide-wrapped SWNTs, possibly connected end-to-end into long fibrillar structures, using an amphiphilic alpha-helical peptide, termed nano-1. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and well-resolved absorption spectral features further corroborate nano-1's ability to debundle SWNTs in aqueous solution. Peptide-assisted assembly of SWNT structures, specifically in the form of Y-, X-, and intraloop junctions, was observed in the AFM and TEM images.     

Supercritical CO2 Extraction of High-Added Value Compounds from Chlorella vulgaris: Experimental Design,Modelling and Optimization

Microalgae are well-known for their high-added value compounds and their recovery is currently of great interest. The aim of this work is the recovery of such components from Chlorella vulgaris through supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO₂. The effect of the extraction temperature (40–60 °C), pressure (110–250 bar), and solvent flow rate (20–40 g/min) was tested on yield, the extract’s antioxidant activity, and the phenolic, chlorophyll and carotenoid content. Thus, data analysis indicated that the yield was mainly affected by temperature, carotenoids by pressure, while the extract’s phenolics and antioxidant activity were affected by the synergy of temperature and pressure. Moreover, SFE’s kinetic study was performed and experimental data were correlated using Sovová’s mass transfer-based model. SFE optimization (60 °C, 250 bar, 40 g/min) led to 3.37% w/w yield, 44.35 mg_extr/mg_DPPH antioxidant activity (IC50), 18.29 mg_GA/g_extr total phenolic content, 35.55, 21.14 and 10.00 mg/g_extr total chlorophyll, carotenoid and selected carotenoid content (astaxanthin, lutein and β-carotene), respectively. A comparison of SFE with conventional aq. ethanol (90% v/v) extraction proved SFE’s superiority regarding extraction duration, carotenoids, antioxidant activity and organoleptic characteristics of color and odor despite the lower yield. Finally, cosolvent addition (ethanol 10% w/w) at optimum SFE conditions improved the extract’s antioxidant activity (19.46%) as well as yield (101.81%).     

Determination of phenolic compounds using spectral and color transitions of rhodium nanoparticles

This work reports a new approach for the determination of phenolic compounds based on their interaction with citrate-capped rhodium nanoparticles. Phenolic compounds (i.e., catechins, gallates, cinnamates, and dihydroxybenzoic acids) were found to cause changes in the size and localized surface plasmon resonance of rhodium nanoparticles, and therefore, give rise to analyte-specific spectral and color transitions in the rhodium nanoparticle suspensions. Upon reaction with phenolic compounds (mainly dithydroxybenzoate derivatives, and trihydroxybenzoate derivatives), new absorbance peaks at 350 nm and 450 nm were observed. Upon reaction with trihydroxybenzoate derivatives, however, an additional absorbance peak at 580 nm was observed facilitating the speciation of phenolic compounds in the sample. Both absorbance peaks at 450 nm and 580 nm increased with increasing concentration of phenolic compounds over a linear range of 0–500 μM. Detection limits at the mid-micromolar levels were achieved, depending on the phenolic compound involved, and with satisfactory reproducibility (<7.3%). On the basis of these findings, two rhodium nanoparticles-based assays for the determination of the total phenolic content and total catechin content were developed and applied in tea samples. The obtained results correlated favorably with commonly used methods (i.e., Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum complexation assay). Not the least, the finding that rhodium nanoparticles can react with analytes and exhibit unique localized surface plasmon resonance bands in the visible region, can open new opportunities for developing new optical and sensing analytical applications.     

A novel catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetric method for the determination of germanium ultratraces in the presence of chloranilic acid and the V(IV)·HEDTA complex

A novel, sensitive catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetric procedure which can be used to determine trace amounts of germanium is described. The method is based on the interfacial accumulation of the complex formed by Ge(IV) and the product of the reduction of chloranilic acid on the hanging mercury drop electrode or the renewable silver amalgam film electrode, and its subsequent reduction from the adsorbed state followed by the catalytic action of the V(IV)·HEDTA complex. The presence of V(IV)·HEDTA greatly enhances the adsorptive stripping response of Ge. The reduction of the Ge(IV) in the presence of chloranilic acid and V(IV)·HEDTA was investigated in detail and the effects of pH, electrolyte composition, and instrumental parameters were studied. Under optimal conditions, the catalytic peak current of germanium exhibited good linearity for Ge(IV) concentrations in the range of 0.75–60 nM (for 60 s of accumulation at −0.1 V, r² = 0.995) and a low limit of detection (LOD = 0.085 nM). The procedure was successfully applied to determine Ge in water samples.

     

Determination of dissolved organic matter based on UV-light induced reduction of ionic silver to metallic nanoparticles by humic and fulvic acids

We describe a novel solution-based method for the determination of dissolved organic matter (DOM) relying on the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) via photo-stimulated reduction of silver ions by humic and fulvic acids. The method is based on natural driven formation of nanoscale materials yielding a direct relationship between DOM concentration and AgNPs formation. The aqueous dispersion of the formed AgNPs show strong and uniform UV–Vis absorption bands between 450 and 550 nm irrespectively of DOM nature and properties (i.e. humic or fulvic acids). The ensuing chromatic shift accompanying the appearance of the new absorption bands is easily conceivable by a simple spectrophotometer and the bare eye, holding great promise for the on-site, instrumental-free screening of DOM levels. Under the optimum experimental conditions the determination of DOM was successfully demonstrated to various water samples with high sensitivity (<1.0 mg L⁻¹), satisfactory recoveries (87.5–123.5%) and reproducibility (5.87–6.73%).     

Immobilization of MP-11 into a mesoporous metal-organic framework, MP-11@mesoMOF: a new platform for enzymatic catalysis

Microperoxidase-11 has for the first time been successfully immobilized into a mesoporous metal-organic framework (MOF) consisting of nanoscopic cages and it demonstrates superior enzymatic catalysis performances compared to its mesoporous silica counterpart.     

Selective inhibition of CBP/p300 HAT

In this issue of Chemistry & Biology, Mantelingu and colleagues present the development of the garcinol derivative LTK-14, which is a specific and nontoxic inhibitor of histone acetyltransferase p300-HAT [1]. Interestingly, it blocks histone acetylation of HIV-infected cells resulting in inhibition of the multiplication of HIV in these cells.     

Transport of Pseudomonas putida in a 3-D Bench Scale Experimental Aquifer

This study is focused on the transport of Pseudomonas (P.) putida bacterial cells in a 3-D model aquifer. The pilot-scale aquifer consisted of a rectangular glass tank with internal dimensions: 120?cm length, 48?cm width, and 50?cm height, carefully packed with well-characterized quartz sand. The P. putida decay was adequately represented by a first-order model. Transport experiments with a conservative tracer and P. putida were conducted to characterize the aquifer and to investigate the bacterial behavior during transport in water saturated porous media. A 3-D, finite-difference numerical model for bacterial transport in saturated, homogeneous porous media was developed and was used to successfully fit the experimental data. Furthermore, theoretical interaction energy calculations suggested that the extended-DLVO theory seems to predict bacteria attachment onto the aquifer sand better than the classical DLVO theory.