Analysis of tetracycline antibiotics using HPLC with pulsed amperometric detection.

The analysis of tetracycline, oxytetracyline, chlortetracycline and doxycycline by high-performance liquid chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection using an anodized boron-doped diamond thin film (BDD) electrode is originally reported. The analyses were carried out using the mobile phase, phosphate buffer (0.01 M, pH 2.5)-acetonitrile (80:20; v/v), on a C18 column (250 x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 microm) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The optimal PAD waveform parameters at the anodized BDD were 1.5 V (versus Ag/AgCl) detection potential (E(det)) for 290 ms (200 ms delay time and 90 ms integration time), 2.0 V (versus Ag/AgCl) oxidation potential (E(oxd)) for 200 ms oxidation time (t(oxd)) and 0.4 V (versus Ag/AgCI) reduction potential (E(red)) for 200 ms reduction time (t(red)). The proposed method showed the simultaneous determination of tetracycline, oxytetracyline, chlortetracycline and doxycycline with a linear range of 0.1 - 100 microg/mL, detection limits of 0.05 - 0.1 microg/mL and recoveries of 70.8 - 96.0%. The application of this method to real samples was demonstrated and validated using a shrimp sample.     

A microfluidic paper-based analytical device for rapid quantification of particulate chromium

Occupational exposure to Cr is concerning because of its myriad of health effects. Assessing chromium exposure is also cost and resource intensive because the analysis typically uses sophisticated instrumental techniques like inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Here, we report a novel, simple, inexpensive microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) for measuring total Cr in airborne particulate matter. In the μPAD, tetravalent cerium (Ce(IV)) was used in a pretreatment zone to oxidize all soluble Cr to Cr(VI). After elution to the detection zone, Cr(VI) reacts with 1,5-diphenylcarbazide (1,5-DPC) forming 1,5-diphenylcarbazone (DPCO) and Cr(III). The resulting Cr(III) forms a distinct purple colored complex with the DPCO. As proof-of-principle, particulate matter (PM) collected on a sample filter was analyzed with the μPAD to quantify the mass of total Cr. A log-linear working range (0.23–3.75 μg; r² = 0.998) between Cr and color intensity was obtained with a detection limit of 0.12 μg. For validation, a certified reference containing multiple competing metals was analyzed. Quantitative agreement was obtained between known Cr levels in the sample and the Cr measured using the μPAD.     

Electrochemical droplet-based microfluidics using chip-based carbon paste electrodes for high-throughput analysis in pharmaceutical applications

This paper presents the first example of a pharmaceutical application of droplet-based microfluidics coupled with chronoamperometric detection using chip-based carbon paste electrodes (CPEs) for determination of dopamine (DA) and ascorbic acid (AA). Droplets were generated using an oil flow rate of 1.80 μL min⁻¹, whereas a flow rate of 0.80 μL min⁻¹ was applied to the aqueous phase, which resulted in a water fraction of 0.31. The optimum applied potential for chronoamperometric measurements in droplets was found to be 150 mV. Highly reproducible analysis of DA and AA was achieved with relative standard deviations of less than 5% for both intra-day and inter-day measurements. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were found to be 20 and 70 μM for DA and 41 and 137 μM for AA, respectively. Linearity of this method was in the ranges of 0.02–3.0 mM for DA and 0.04–3.0 mM for AA. This system was successfully applied to determine the amounts of DA and AA in intravenous drugs. Calibration curves of DA and AA for quantitative analysis were obtained with good linearity with R² values of 0.9984 and 0.9988, respectively. Compared with the labeled amounts, the measured concentrations of DA and AA obtained from this system were insignificantly different, with error percentages of less than ±3.0%, indicating a high accuracy of the developed method.     

Highly selective and sensitive paper-based colorimetric sensor using thiosulfate catalytic etching of silver nanoplates for trace determination of copper ions

A novel, highly selective and sensitive paper-based colorimetric sensor for trace determination of copper (Cu²⁺) ions was developed. The measurement is based on the catalytic etching of silver nanoplates (AgNPls) by thiosulfate (S₂O₃²⁻). Upon the addition of Cu²⁺ to the ammonium buffer at pH 11, the absorption peak intensity of AuNPls/S₂O₃²⁻ at 522 nm decreased and the pinkish violet AuNPls became clear in color as visible to the naked eye. This assay provides highly sensitive and selective detection of Cu²⁺ over other metal ions (K⁺, Cr³⁺, Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺, As³⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Pb²⁺, Al³⁺, Ni²⁺, Fe³⁺, Mg²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Bi³⁺). A paper-based colorimetric sensor was then developed for the simple and rapid determination of Cu²⁺ using the catalytic etching of AgNPls. Under optimized conditions, the modified AgNPls coated at the test zone of the devices immediately changes in color in the presence of Cu²⁺. The limit of detection (LOD) was found to be 1.0 ng mL⁻¹ by visual detection. For semi-quantitative measurement with image processing, the method detected Cu²⁺ in the range of 0.5–200 ng mL⁻¹(R² = 0.9974) with an LOD of 0.3 ng mL⁻¹. The proposed method was successfully applied to detect Cu²⁺ in the wide range of real samples including water, food, and blood. The results were in good agreement according to a paired t-test with results from inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES).     

Selective determination of homocysteine levels in human plasma using a silver nanoparticle-based colorimetric assay

The first use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for the rapid, simple, and selective determination of homocysteine (Hcy) levels in human plasma was studied. Hcy and five other amino acids, including cysteine (Cys), could be distinguished by their different aggregation kinetics, which caused a change in the visible color and a shift in the UV-vis absorption spectra. The difference in the cross-linking (aggregation) rate between Hcy and Cys was used as the basis for developing a selective probe for Hcy and allowed the detection of Hcy in the linear range of 2-12 μM (R² = 0.9936). The limits of detection and quantification were found to be 0.5 μM and 1.7 μM, respectively. To investigate its selectivity and potential applicability, this AgNP-based method was successfully applied for the determination of Hcy levels in actual biological (human plasma) samples, where the determined levels of Hcy were within the error range of the measured level using the traditional chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). Thus, the use of AgNPs is a feasible and potentially reliable method for the determination of Hcy levels in biological samples.     

Impact of lipid substitution on assembly and delivery of siRNA by cationic polymers

Characterization of a polymer library engineered to enhance their ability to protect and deliver their nucleotide cargo to the cells is reported. The ζ-potential continuously increased with higher polymer:siRNA weight ratio, and the ζ-potential of lipid-modified polymers:siRNA complexes were higher than PEI2 at all ratios. At polymer:siRNA ratio of 1:1, all lipid-substituted polymers showed complete protection against degradation. Lipid-modified polymers significantly increased the cellular uptake of siRNA complexes and down-regulation of GAPDH and P-gp (max. 66% and 67%, respectively). The results indicate that hydrophobic modification of low molecular PEI could render this otherwise ineffective polymer to a safe effective delivery system for intracellular siRNA delivery and protein silencing.     

Effect of nanoporous In2O3 film fabricated on TiO2-In2O3 photoanode for photovoltaic performance via a sparking method

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - A simple and inexpensive sparking method was used to deposit body-centered cubic In2O3 film on TiO2 photoanode for 30–180 min for...     

Electrochemical sensors for the simultaneous determination of zinc,cadmium and lead using a Nafion/ionic liquid/graphene composite modified screen-printed carbon electrode

A simple, low cost, and highly sensitive electrochemical sensor, based on a Nafion/ionic liquid/graphene composite modified screen-printed carbon electrode (N/IL/G/SPCE) was developed to determine zinc (Zn(II)), cadmium (Cd(II)), and lead (Pb(II)) simultaneously. This disposable electrode shows excellent conductivity and fast electron transfer kinetics. By in situ plating with a bismuth film (BiF), the developed electrode exhibited well-defined and separate peaks for Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). Analytical characteristics of the BiF/N/IL/G/SPCE were explored with calibration curves which were found to be linear for Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) concentrations over the range from 0.1 to 100.0 ng L⁻¹. With an accumulation period of 120 s detection limits of 0.09 ng mL⁻¹, 0.06 ng L⁻¹ and 0.08 ng L⁻¹ were obtained for Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively using the BiF/N/IL/G/SPCE sensor, calculated as 3σ value of the blank. In addition, the developed electrode displayed a good repeatability and reproducibility. The interference from other common ions associated with Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) detection could be effectively avoided. Finally, the proposed analytical procedure was applied to detect the trace metal ions in drinking water samples with satisfactory results which demonstrates the suitability of the BiF/N/IL/G/SPCE to detect heavy metals in water samples and the results agreed well with those obtained by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.     

Electrochemical behaviors of native and thermally denatured fish DNA in the presence of cytosine derivatives and porphyrin by cyclic voltammetry using boron-doped diamond electrode

The electrochemical behaviors of native and thermally denatured fish DNA was investigated using boron-doped diamond (BDD) film electrode by cyclic voltammetry. The BDD electrode afforded us to measure weak current less than muA for the DNA solution in 100 microl. The mixture of acetic acid and sodium acetate solution (0.2 M) was used as a supporting electrolyte. Two oxidation peaks were observed at about +1.1 V and +1.3 V at pH 4.6 for thermally denatured fish DNA. This is due to the oxidation of guanine and adenine in the denatured fish DNA, respectively. In contrast, the native fish DNA showed ill-defined peaks at +1.1 V. Furthermore, the electrochemical behaviors of thermally denatured fish DNA were studied in the presence of cytosine, cytidine, cytidine-5-monophosphate, tetrakis(1-methypyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin (H(2)(TMPyP)(4+)) and Ru(II)(TMPyP)(4+). The oxidation peak intensity at +1.1 V gradually decreased with the increase of the concentrations of the above compounds. Based on the above studies, electrochemical behaviors of the thermally denatured fish DNA at BDD electrode is discussed.     

Development of a sensitive micro-magnetic chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay for the determination of carcinoembryonic antigen

A micro-magnetic chemiluminescence (CL) enzyme immunoassay with high sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility was developed for the determination of the tumor marker, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in human serum. A sandwich scheme assay has been utilized with fluorescein isothiocyanate antibody (FITC)-labeled anti-CEA antibody and alkaline phosphate (ALP)-labeled anti-CEA antibody being used in the CL detection. The CL signal produced by the emission of photons from 4-methoxy-4-(3-phosphate-phenyl)-spiro-(1,2-dioxetane-3,2′-adamantane) (AMPPD) was directly proportional to the amount of analyte present in a sample solution. The influences of the reaction time of antigen with antibody, the reaction time of substrate with label, the dilution ratio of ALP-labeled anti-CEA antibody, the concentration of FITC-labeled anti-CEA antibody, and other relevant variables upon the CL signal were examined and optimized. The CL responses depended linearly on the CEA concentration over the range from 2 to 162 ng mL⁻¹ in a logarithmic plot. Assay sensitivity as low as 0.69 ng mL⁻¹ was achieved. A coefficient of variance of less than 13% was obtained for intra- and inter-assay precision. This method has been successfully applied to the analysis of CEA in human serum. According to the procedure based on spiked standards, the recoveries obtained were 80–110%. Comparison experiments were carried out with the commercially available CEA chemiluminescence immunoassay. Satisfactory results were obtained according to a paired t-test method (t value < t _critical at the 95% confidence level).