Evidence for a two-step mechanism in electronically selective single-walled carbon nanotube reactions

Covalent and noncovalent chemistries that are selective to single-walled carbon nanotubes of a particular electronic type have become increasingly important for electronic structure separation and on-chip modification of nanoelectronic devices. By monitoring transient Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) during a reaction with 4-chlorobenzene diazonium in aqueous solution, evidence for a characteristic two-step mechanism with two distinct time constants is uncovered. A long-lived intermediate selectively and noncovalently binds and partially dopes the nanotube surface (tau = 2.4 min). A slower, covalent reaction is tracked using the time-dependent increase in the disorder mode in Raman (tau = 73 min). The transient Raman and PL data are well described using a series of two first-order reactions. The covalent bonding step can be deactivated by changing the structure of the surfactant adsorbed phase, further supporting the mechanism.     

Understanding the dynamics of signal transduction for adsorption of gases and vapors on carbon nanotube sensors

Adsorption dynamics and their influence on signal transduction for carbon nanotube-based chemical sensors are explored using continuum site balance equations and a mass action model. These sensors are shown to possess both reversible and irreversible binding sites that can be modeled independently. For the case of irreversible adsorption, it is shown that the characteristic response time scales inversely with analyte concentration. It is inappropriate to report a detection limit for this type of sensor since any nonzero analyte concentration can be detected in theory but at a cost of increasing transduction time with decreasing concentration. The response curve should examine the initial rate of signal change as a function of analyte concentration. Conversely, a reversible sensor has a predefined detection limit, independent of the detector geometry with a characteristic time scaling that becomes constant in the zero analyte concentration limit. A simple analytical test is presented to distinguish between these two mechanisms from the transient response of a nanotube sensor array. Two systems appearing in the literature are shown to have an irreversible component, and regressed surface rate constants for this component are similar across different sensor geometries and analytes.     

Controlling the electrophoretic mobility of single-walled carbon nanotubes: a comparison of theory and experiment

The electrophoretic mobilities of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in agarose gels subjected to negatively charged covalent functionalization and noncovalent anionic surfactant adsorption are compared using a simplified hydrodynamic model. Net charges are calculated on the basis of estimated friction coefficients for cylindrical rodlike particles. The effects of functionalization with negatively charged 4-hydroxybenzene diazonium and anionic sodium cholate are quantified and compared with model predictions. The adsorption of Na+ counterions into the nonionic surfactant layer adsorbed on SWNTs (Triton-X-405) is shown to induce a positive charge and reverse the mobility under select conditions. This effect has not been identified or quantified for nanoparticle systems and may be important in the processing of these systems.     

Application of ultrasound‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry for the rapid determination of synthetic cannabinoids and metabolites in biological samples

The constant emergence of new psychoactive substances is a challenge to clinical and forensic toxicologists who need to constantly update analytical techniques to detect them. A large portion of these substances are synthetic cannabinoids. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid and simple method for the determination of synthetic cannabinoids and their metabolites in urine and blood using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The method involves an ultrasound‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction that implies a rapid procedure, giving excellent extraction efficiencies with minimal use of toxic solvents. This is followed by silylation and analysis with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The chromatographic method allows for the separation and identification of 29 selected synthetic cannabinoids and some metabolites. The method was validated on urine and blood samples with the ability to detect and quantify all analytes with satisfactory limits of detection (from 1 to 5 ng/mL), limits of quantification (5 ng/mL), and selectivity and linearity (in the range of 5–200 ng/mL). The developed assay is highly applicable to laboratories with limited instrumental availability, due to the use of efficient and low‐cost sample preparation and instrumental equipment. The latter may contribute to enhance the detection of new psychoactive substances in clinical and forensic toxicology laboratories.     

Two new eudesmane derivatives from Verbesina virginica

<正>Two new eudesmane derivatives were isolated from the leaves and flowers of Verbesina virginica,along with the known 6-O-β-E -p-coumaroyl-4α-hydroxyeudesmane(1).Their structures were determined as 6-O-β-Z-p-coumaroyl-4α-hydroxyeudesmane(2) and 6-O-α-E-p-coumaroyl-1β-4α-dihydroxyeudesmane(3) by spectroscopic methods.     

A fast gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method for the determination of stimulants and narcotics in urine

A fast method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of 52 stimulants and narcotics excreted unconjugated in urine by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The procedure involves the liquid/liquid extraction of the analytes from urine at strong alkaline pH and the injection of the extract into a GC/MS instrument with a fast GC column (10 m × 0.18 mm i.d.); the short column allows the complete separation of the 52 analytes in a chromatographic run of 8 min. The method has been fully validated giving lower limits of detection (LLODs) satisfactory for its application to antidoping analysis as well as to forensic toxicology. The repeatability of the concentrations and the retention times are good both for intra‐ and for inter‐day experiments (%CV of concentrations always lower than 15 and %CV of retention times lower than 0.6). In addition, the analytical bias is satisfactory (A% always >15%). The method proposed here would be particularly useful whenever there are time constraints and the analyses have to be completed in the shortest possible time. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method for the determination of sildenafil,vardenafil and tadalafil and their metabolites in human urine

Sildenafil (SDF), vardenafil (VDF) and tadalafil (TDF) are phosphodiesterase type 5 enzyme inhibitors (PDE5Is), used in the treatment of erectile disorders and to improve breathing efficiency in pulmonary hypertension. The increasing incidence of their use among young athletes has drawn the attention of the anti‐doping authorities to the possible abuse of PDE5Is by athletes due to their pharmacological activities. This paper describes a method for the determination in urine of PDE5Is and their metabolites by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) after liquid/liquid extraction of the analytes from urine and derivatisation to obtain trimethylsilyl derivatives. The metabolic profile was studied on real samples collected from subjects taking PDE5Is (Viagra®, Levitra® or Cialis®); the main urinary metabolites were identified and their MS fragmentation characterized. The sample pre‐treatment and GC/MS conditions for the detection of the metabolites have been optimised. A method for their preliminary screening and subsequent confirmation is described that takes into account the general requirements of a routine doping analysis to be used for the screening of large numbers of samples. The main metabolites identified can be included in a general purpose screening method and all the metabolites in a more specific confirmation method. The method developed has been applied for the screening of PDE5Is in 5000 urine samples. Based on the obtained results, the proposed method appears to be of practical use in analytical and forensic toxicology, including doping analysis. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of Pr-Ca substitution on the transport and magnetic behavior of LaMnO3 perovskite

The effect of simultaneous substitution of a fluctuating cation and a divalent cation in LaMnO₃ perovskite modifies the properties of the material to exhibit large valence colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) effect. A good example of these properties is (La_1−2x Pr _x Ca _x )MnO₃ (LPCMO) type CMR material. In this communication it is reported that, with the increase in x (for x=0.1, 0.15, 0.2), the T _c varies between 100 and 120 K with improvisation in metal-insulator transition. Interestingly, resistance increases with x from few hundred ohms to few kilo ohms with corresponding decrease in the unit cell volume. The results of the studies using X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance and ac susceptibility measurements on LPCMO samples for understanding the structural, transport and magnetic properties are discussed in detail.