Sample records for bioanalytical sensor modified

  1. Electrochemical sensor for multiplex screening of genetically modified DNA: identification of biotech crops by logic-based biomolecular analysis.

    PubMed

    Liao, Wei-Ching; Chuang, Min-Chieh; Ho, Ja-An Annie

    2013-12-15

    Genetically modified (GM) technique, one of the modern biomolecular engineering technologies, has been deemed as profitable strategy to fight against global starvation. Yet rapid and reliable analytical method is deficient to evaluate the quality and potential risk of such resulting GM products. We herein present a biomolecular analytical system constructed with distinct biochemical activities to expedite the computational detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The computational mechanism provides an alternative to the complex procedures commonly involved in the screening of GMOs. Given that the bioanalytical system is capable of processing promoter, coding and species genes, affirmative interpretations succeed to identify specified GM event in terms of both electrochemical and optical fashions. The biomolecular computational assay exhibits detection capability of genetically modified DNA below sub-nanomolar level and is found interference-free by abundant coexistence of non-GM DNA. This bioanalytical system, furthermore, sophisticates in array fashion operating multiplex screening against variable GM events. Such a biomolecular computational assay and biosensor holds great promise for rapid, cost-effective, and high-fidelity screening of GMO. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Fluorescent silica nanoparticles containing covalently bound dyes for reporter, marker, and sensor applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Patonay, Gabor; Henary, Maged; Chapman, Gala; Emer, Kyle; Crow, Sidney

    2016-03-01

    Silica nanoparticles have proven to be useful in many bioanalytical and medical applications and have been used in numerous applications during the last decade. Combining the properties of silica nanoparticles and fluorescent dyes that may be used as chemical probes or labels can be relatively easy by simply soaking porous silica nanoparticles in a solution of the dye of interest. Under proper conditions the entrapped dye can stay inside the silica nanoparticle for several hours resulting in a useful probe. In spite of the relative durability of these probes, leaching can still occur. A much better approach is to synthesize silica nanoparticles that have the fluorescent dye covalently attached to the backbone structure of the silica nanoparticle. This can be achieved by using appropriately modified tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) analogues during the silica nanoparticle synthesis. The molar ratio of TEOS and modified TEOS will determine the fluorescent dye load in the silica nanoparticle. Dependent on the chemical stability of the reporting dye either reverse micellar (RM) or Stöber method can be used for silica nanoparticle synthesis. If dye stability allows RM procedure is preferred as it results in a much easier control of the silica nanoparticle reaction itself. Also controlling the size and uniformity of the silica nanoparticles are much easier using RM method. Dependent on the functional groups present in the reporting dye used in preparation of the modified TEOS, the silica nanoparticles can be utilized in many applications such as pH sensor, metal ion sensors, labels, etc. In addition surface activated silica nanoparticles with reactive moieties are also excellent reporters or they can be used as bright fluorescent labels. Many different fluorescent dyes can be used to synthesize silica nanoparticles including visible and NIR dyes. Several bioanalytical applications are discussed including studying amoeba phagocytosis.

  3. Real Time Analysis of Bioanalytes in Healthcare, Food, Zoology and Botany

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Tianqi; Ramnarayanan, Ashwin

    2017-01-01

    The growing demand for real time analysis of bioanalytes has spurred development in the field of wearable technology to offer non-invasive data collection at a low cost. The manufacturing processes for creating these sensing systems vary significantly by the material used, the type of sensors needed and the subject of study as well. The methods predominantly involve stretchable electronic sensors to monitor targets and transmit data mainly through flexible wires or short-range wireless communication devices. Capable of conformal contact, the application of wearable technology goes beyond the healthcare to fields of food, zoology and botany. With a brief review of wearable technology and its applications to various fields, we believe this mini review would be of interest to the reader in broad fields of materials, sensor development and areas where wearable sensors can provide data that are not available elsewhere. PMID:29267256

  4. Real Time Analysis of Bioanalytes in Healthcare, Food, Zoology and Botany.

    PubMed

    Wang, Tianqi; Ramnarayanan, Ashwin; Cheng, Huanyu

    2017-12-21

    The growing demand for real time analysis of bioanalytes has spurred development in the field of wearable technology to offer non-invasive data collection at a low cost. The manufacturing processes for creating these sensing systems vary significantly by the material used, the type of sensors needed and the subject of study as well. The methods predominantly involve stretchable electronic sensors to monitor targets and transmit data mainly through flexible wires or short-range wireless communication devices. Capable of conformal contact, the application of wearable technology goes beyond the healthcare to fields of food, zoology and botany. With a brief review of wearable technology and its applications to various fields, we believe this mini review would be of interest to the reader in broad fields of materials, sensor development and areas where wearable sensors can provide data that are not available elsewhere.

  5. Migrating the Mach-Zehnder chemical and bio-sensor to the mid-infrared region

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Leidner, L.; Ewald, M.; Sieger, M.; Mizaikoff, B.; Gauglitz, G.

    2013-05-01

    The properties of integrated optical phase-modulated Mach-Zehnder interferometers (IO-MZI) are used to set up a new generation of chemical and biochemical sensors working in the mid-infrared. First applications of the MZI principle were introduced in the beginning 1990s. They range from a gas sensor to monitor organic solvent concentrations1 to setting up an immunoassay for the detection of the herbicide simazine2. Most if not all sensors of MZI type operate at wavelengths of the visible or near infrared spectrum. There are several reasons to change this strategy and move into the mid-infrared spectral range (MIR): higher manufacturing tolerances, increased evanescent field penetration depth, signal amplification by surface enhanced infrared absorption effect (SEIRA), species identification by MIR fingerprints. The basis of the planned MIR-MZI is a GaAs waveguide pattern epitaxially grown on a substrate3. As a first step towards nanostructuring the waveguide surface, chemical deposition of Au nanoparticles on GaAs transducers was established. For the use of MIR-MZI sensors in bioanalytical assay development, chemical immobilization of molecular recognition elements on GaAs transducers was carried out. The modified surfaces were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), dark field microscopy, contact angle measurements and ellipsometric data as well as by a modified version of Reflectometric Interference Spectroscopy (RIfS)4. It was possible to monitor both the immobilization of gold nanoparticles and time-resolved specific binding using a model antibody antigen assay. After successful setup of relevant assays with RIfS, e.g. the detection of bacteria or endocrine disruptors, the assays are designed to be transferred onto the mid-infrared Mach-Zehnder interferometer.

  6. Peptide-Based Protein Capture Agents with High Affinity, Selectivity, and Stability as Antibody Replacements in Biodetection Assays

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-08-01

    still require months to produce, whereas alternatives such as aptamers [5, 6] require less time to discover, but are not as thermally stable. Smart...Bioanalytical Chemistry, 402(10), 3027-3038 (2012). [5] K.-M. Song, S. Lee, and C. Ban, " Aptamers and Their Biological Applications," Sensors, 12(1...612-631 (2012). [6] B. Strehlitz, N. Nikolaus, and R. Stoltenburg, "Protein Detection with Aptamer Biosensors," Sensors, 8(7), 4296- 4307 (2008). [7

  7. Process development for waveguide chemical sensors with integrated polymeric sensitive layers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Amberkar, Raghu; Gao, Zhan; Park, Jongwon; Henthorn, David B.; Kim, Chang-Soo

    2008-02-01

    Due to the proper optical property and flexibility in the process development, an epoxy-based, high-aspect ratio photoresist SU-8 is now attracting attention in optical sensing applications. Manipulation of the surface properties of SU-8 waveguides is critical to attach functional films such as chemically-sensitive layers. We describe a new integration process to immobilize fluorescence molecules on SU-8 waveguide surface for application to intensity-based optical chemical sensors. We use two polymers for this application. Spin-on, hydrophobic, photopatternable silicone is a convenient material to contain fluorophore molecules and to pattern a photolithographically defined thin layer on the surface of SU-8. We use fumed silica powders as an additive to uniformly disperse the fluorophores in the silicone precursor. In general, additional processes are not critically required to promote the adhesion between the SU-8 and silicone. The other material is polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA). Recently we demonstrated a novel photografting method to modify the surface of SU-8 using a surface bound initiator to control its wettability. The activated surface is then coated with a monomer precursor solution. Polymerization follows when the sample is exposed to UV irradiation, resulting in a grafted PEGDA layer incorporating fluorophores within the hydrogel matrix. Since this method is based the UV-based photografting reaction, it is possible to grow off photolithographically defined hydrogel patterns on the waveguide structures. The resulting films will be viable integrated components in optical bioanalytical sensors. This is a promising technique for integrated chemical sensors both for planar type waveguide and vertical type waveguide chemical sensors.

  8. Quantification of a Cardiac Biomarker in Human Serum Using Extraordinary Optical Transmission (EOT)

    PubMed Central

    Ding, Tao; Hong, Minghui; Richards, A. Mark; Wong, Ten It; Zhou, Xiaodong; Drum, Chester Lee

    2015-01-01

    Nanoimprinting lithography (NIL) is a manufacturing process that can produce macroscale surface areas with nanoscale features. In this paper, this technique is used to solve three fundamental issues for the application of localized surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) in practical clinical measurements: assay sensitivity, chip-to-chip variance, and the ability to perform assays in human serum. Using NIL, arrays of 140 nm square features were fabricated on a sensing area of 1.5 mm x 1.5 mm with low cost. The high reproducibility of NIL allowed for the use of a one-chip, one-measurement approach with 12 individually manufactured surfaces with minimal chip-to-chip variations. To better approximate a real world setting, all chips were modified with a biocompatible, multi-component monolayer and inter-chip variability was assessed by measuring a bioanalyte standard (2.5−75 ng/ml) in the presence of a complex biofluid, human serum. In this setting, nanoimprinted LSPR chips were able to provide sufficient characteristics for a ‘low-tech’ approach to laboratory-based bioanalyte measurement, including: 1) sufficient size to interface with a common laboratory light source and detector without the need for a microscope, 2) high sensitivity in serum with a cardiac troponin limit of detection of 0.55 ng/ml, and 3) very low variability in chip manufacturing to produce a figure of merit (FOM) of 10.5. These findings drive LSPR closer to technical comparability with ELISA-based assays while preserving the unique particularities of a LSPR based sensor, suitability for multiplexing and miniaturization, and point-of-care detections. PMID:25774658

  9. Alcohol biosensing by polyamidoamine (PAMAM)/cysteamine/alcohol oxidase-modified gold electrode.

    PubMed

    Akin, Mehriban; Yuksel, Merve; Geyik, Caner; Odaci, Dilek; Bluma, Arne; Höpfner, Tim; Beutel, Sascha; Scheper, Thomas; Timur, Suna

    2010-01-01

    A highly stable and sensitive amperometric alcohol biosensor was developed by immobilizing alcohol oxidase (AOX) through Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers on a cysteamine-modified gold electrode surface. Ethanol determination is based on the consumption of dissolved oxygen content due to the enzymatic reaction. The decrease in oxygen level was monitored at -0.7 V vs. Ag/AgCl and correlated with ethanol concentration. Optimization of variables affecting the system was performed. The optimized ethanol biosensor showed a wide linearity from 0.025 to 1.0 mM with 100 s response time and detection limit of (LOD) 0.016 mM. In the characterization studies, besides linearity some parameters such as operational and storage stability, reproducibility, repeatability, and substrate specificity were studied in detail. Stability studies showed a good preservation of the bioanalytical properties of the sensor, 67% of its initial sensitivity was kept after 1 month storage at 4 degrees C. The analytical characteristics of the system were also evaluated for alcohol determination in flow injection analysis (FIA) mode. Finally, proposed biosensor was applied for ethanol analysis in various alcoholic beverage as well as offline monitoring of alcohol production through the yeast cultivation. Copyright 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers

  10. Sensing of single electrons using micro and nano technologies: a review

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jalil, Jubayer; Zhu, Yong; Ekanayake, Chandima; Ruan, Yong

    2017-04-01

    During the last three decades, the remarkable dynamic features of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS), and advances in solid-state electronics hold much potential for the fabrication of extremely sensitive charge sensors. These sensors have a broad range of applications, such as those involving the measurement of ionization radiation, detection of bio-analyte and aerosol particles, mass spectrometry, scanning tunneling microscopy, and quantum computation. Designing charge sensors (also known as charge electrometers) for electrometry is deemed significant because of the sensitivity and resolution issues in the range of micro- and nano-scales. This article reviews the development of state-of-the-art micro- and nano-charge sensors, and discusses their technological challenges for practical implementation.

  11. Synthesis, Characterization and Utility of Carbon Nanotube Based Hybrid Sensors in Bioanalytical Applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Badhulika, Sushmee

    The detection of gaseous analytes and biological molecules is of prime importance in the fields of environmental pollution control, food and water - safety and analysis; and medical diagnostics. This necessitates the development of advanced and improved technology that is reliable, inexpensive and suitable for high volume production. The conventional sensors are often thin film based which lack sensitivity due to the phenomena of current shunting across the charge depleted region when an analyte binds with them. One dimensional (1-D) nanostructures provide a better alternative for sensing applications by eliminating the issue of current shunting due to their 1-D geometries and facilitating device miniaturization and low power operations. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are 1-D nanostructures that possess small size, high mechanical strength, high electrical and thermal conductivity and high specific area that have resulted in their wide spread applications in sensor technology. To overcome the issue of low sensitivity of pristine CNTs and to widen their scope, hybrid devices have been fabricated that combine the synergistic properties of CNTs along with materials like metals and conducting polymers (CPs). CPs exhibit electronic, magnetic and optical properties of metals and semiconductors while retaining the processing advantages of polymers. Their high chemical sensitivity, room temperature operation and tunable charge transport properties has made them ideal for use as transducing elements in chemical sensors. In this dissertation, various CNT based hybrid devices such as CNT-conducting polymer and graphene-CNT-metal nanoparticles based sensors have been developed and demonstrated towards bioanalytical applications such as detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and saccharides. Electrochemical polymerization enabled the synthesis of CPs and metal nanoparticles in a simple, cost effective and controlled way on the surface of CNT based platforms thus resulting in the fabrication of hybrid sensors which exhibited superior properties and improved performance when used for sensing applications using various modes of sensor configurations.

  12. Label-Free Bioanalyte Detection from Nanometer to Micrometer Dimensions-Molecular Imprinting and QCMs †.

    PubMed

    Mujahid, Adnan; Mustafa, Ghulam; Dickert, Franz L

    2018-06-01

    Modern diagnostic tools and immunoassay protocols urges direct analyte recognition based on its intrinsic behavior without using any labeling indicator. This not only improves the detection reliability, but also reduces sample preparation time and complexity involved during labeling step. Label-free biosensor devices are capable of monitoring analyte physiochemical properties such as binding sensitivity and selectivity, affinity constants and other dynamics of molecular recognition. The interface of a typical biosensor could range from natural antibodies to synthetic receptors for example molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs). The foremost advantages of using MIPs are their high binding selectivity comparable to natural antibodies, straightforward synthesis in short time, high thermal/chemical stability and compatibility with different transducers. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) resonators are leading acoustic devices that are extensively used for mass-sensitive measurements. Highlight features of QCM devices include low cost fabrication, room temperature operation, and most importantly ability to monitor extremely low mass shifts, thus potentially a universal transducer. The combination of MIPs with quartz QCM has turned out as a prominent sensing system for label-free recognition of diverse bioanalytes. In this article, we shall encompass the potential applications of MIP-QCM sensors exclusively label-free recognition of bacteria and virus species as representative micro and nanosized bioanalytes.

  13. New trends in bioanalytical tools for the detection of genetically modified organisms: an update.

    PubMed

    Michelini, Elisa; Simoni, Patrizia; Cevenini, Luca; Mezzanotte, Laura; Roda, Aldo

    2008-10-01

    Despite the controversies surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the production of GM crops is increasing, especially in developing countries. Thanks to new technologies involving genetic engineering and unprecedented access to genomic resources, the next decade will certainly see exponential growth in GMO production. Indeed, EU regulations based on the precautionary principle require any food containing more than 0.9% GM content to be labeled as such. The implementation of these regulations necessitates sampling protocols, the availability of certified reference materials and analytical methodologies that allow the accurate determination of the content of GMOs. In order to qualify for the validation process, a method should fulfil some criteria, defined as "acceptance criteria" by the European Network of GMO Laboratories (ENGL). Several methods have recently been developed for GMO detection and quantitation, mostly based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology. PCR (including its different formats, e.g., double competitive PCR and real-time PCR) remains the technique of choice, thanks to its ability to detect even small amounts of transgenes in raw materials and processed foods. Other approaches relying on DNA detection are based on quartz crystal microbalance piezoelectric biosensors, dry reagent dipstick-type sensors and surface plasmon resonance sensors. The application of visible/near-infrared (vis/NIR) spectroscopy or mass spectrometry combined with chemometrics techniques has also been envisaged as a powerful GMO detection tool. Furthermore, in order to cope with the multiplicity of GMOs released onto the market, the new challenge is the development of routine detection systems for the simultaneous detection of numerous GMOs, including unknown GMOs.

  14. Optical Fiber Sensing Using Quantum Dots

    PubMed Central

    Jorge, Pedro; Martins, Manuel António; Trindade, Tito; Santos, José Luís; Farahi, Faramarz

    2007-01-01

    Recent advances in the application of semiconductor nanocrystals, or quantum dots, as biochemical sensors are reviewed. Quantum dots have unique optical properties that make them promising alternatives to traditional dyes in many luminescence based bioanalytical techniques. An overview of the more relevant progresses in the application of quantum dots as biochemical probes is addressed. Special focus will be given to configurations where the sensing dots are incorporated in solid membranes and immobilized in optical fibers or planar waveguide platforms. PMID:28903308

  15. Microfluidic Biosensing Systems Using Magnetic Nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Giouroudi, Ioanna; Keplinger, Franz

    2013-01-01

    In recent years, there has been rapidly growing interest in developing hand held, sensitive and cost-effective on-chip biosensing systems that directly translate the presence of certain bioanalytes (e.g., biomolecules, cells and viruses) into an electronic signal. The impressive and rapid progress in micro- and nanotechnology as well as in biotechnology enables the integration of a variety of analytical functions in a single chip. All necessary sample handling and analysis steps are then performed within the chip. Microfluidic systems for biomedical analysis usually consist of a set of units, which guarantees the manipulation, detection and recognition of bioanalytes in a reliable and flexible manner. Additionally, the use of magnetic fields for performing the aforementioned tasks has been steadily gaining interest. This is because magnetic fields can be well tuned and applied either externally or from a directly integrated solution in the biosensing system. In combination with these applied magnetic fields, magnetic nanoparticles are utilized. Some of the merits of magnetic nanoparticles are the possibility of manipulating them inside microfluidic channels by utilizing high gradient magnetic fields, their detection by integrated magnetic microsensors, and their flexibility due to functionalization by means of surface modification and specific binding. Their multi-functionality is what makes them ideal candidates as the active component in miniaturized on-chip biosensing systems. In this review, focus will be given to the type of biosening systems that use microfluidics in combination with magnetoresistive sensors and detect the presence of bioanalyte tagged with magnetic nanoparticles. PMID:24022689

  16. Plasmonic nanoparticles for bioanalytics and therapy at the limit

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schneider, T.; Wirth, J.; Garwe, F.; Csáki, A.; Fritzsche, W.

    2011-12-01

    Noble metal nanoparticles interacting with electromagnetic waves exhibit the effect of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) based on the collective oscillation of their conduction electrons. Local refractive index changes by a (bio) molecular layer surrounding the nanoparticle are important for a variety of research areas like optics and life sciences. In this work we demonstrate the potential of two applications in the field of molecular plasmonics, single nanoparticle sensors and nanoantennas, situated between plasmonics effects and the molecular world.

  17. Comparative assessment of bioanalytical method validation guidelines for pharmaceutical industry.

    PubMed

    Kadian, Naveen; Raju, Kanumuri Siva Rama; Rashid, Mamunur; Malik, Mohd Yaseen; Taneja, Isha; Wahajuddin, Muhammad

    2016-07-15

    The concepts, importance, and application of bioanalytical method validation have been discussed for a long time and validation of bioanalytical methods is widely accepted as pivotal before they are taken into routine use. United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) guidelines issued in 2001 have been referred for every guideline released ever since; may it be European Medical Agency (EMA) Europe, National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) Brazil, Ministry of Health and Labour Welfare (MHLW) Japan or any other guideline in reference to bioanalytical method validation. After 12 years, USFDA released its new draft guideline for comments in 2013, which covers the latest parameters or topics encountered in bioanalytical method validation and approached towards the harmonization of bioanalytical method validation across the globe. Even though the regulatory agencies have general agreement, significant variations exist in acceptance criteria and methodology. The present review highlights the variations, similarities and comparison between bioanalytical method validation guidelines issued by major regulatory authorities worldwide. Additionally, other evaluation parameters such as matrix effect, incurred sample reanalysis including other stability aspects have been discussed to provide an ease of access for designing a bioanalytical method and its validation complying with the majority of drug authority guidelines. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  18. Design and integration of a generic disposable array-compatible sensor housing into an integrated disposable indirect microfluidic flow injection analysis system.

    PubMed

    Rapp, Bastian E; Schickling, Benjamin; Prokop, Jürgen; Piotter, Volker; Rapp, Michael; Länge, Kerstin

    2011-10-01

    We describe an integration strategy for arbitrary sensors intended to be used as biosensors in biomedical or bioanalytical applications. For such devices ease of handling (by a potential end user) as well as strict disposable usage are of importance. Firstly we describe a generic array compatible polymer sensor housing with an effective sample volume of 1.55 μl. This housing leaves the sensitive surface of the sensor accessible for the application of biosensing layers even after the embedding. In a second step we show how this sensor housing can be used in combination with a passive disposable microfluidic chip to set up arbitrary 8-fold sensor arrays and how such a system can be complemented with an indirect microfluidic flow injection analysis (FIA) system. This system is designed in a way that it strictly separates between disposable and reusable components- by introducing tetradecane as an intermediate liquid. This results in a sensor system compatible with the demands of most biomedical applications. Comparative measurements between a classical macroscopic FIA system and this integrated indirect microfluidic system are presented. We use a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor as an exemplary detector in this work.

  19. Global bioanalytical support.

    PubMed

    John Lin, Zhongping; Zhang, Tianyi; Pasas-Farmer, Stephanie; Brooks, Stephen D; Moyer, Michael; Connolly, Ron

    2014-05-01

    With the globalization of drug development, there is an increasing need for global bioanalytical support. Bioanalysis provides pivotal data for toxicokinetic, pharmacokinetic, bioavailability and bioequivalence studies used for regional or global regulatory submission. There are many known complications in building a truly global bioanalytical operation, ranging from lack of global regulatory guidelines and global standard operating procedures to barriers in regional requirements on sample shipping, importation and exportation. The primary objective of this article is to discuss common experiences and challenges facing the biopharmaceutical industry when providing bioanalytical support in a global setting. The key components of global bioanalytical services include the supporting infrastructure, spanning project management, IT support of data management, best practices in bioanalytical method transfer and sample analysis, and comprehensive knowledge of the requirements of bioanalysis guidelines and differences in these guidelines. A case study will highlight best practices for successful management of a global project.

  20. How the bioanalytical scientist plays a key role in interdisciplinary project teams in the development of biotherapeutics - a reflection of the European Bioanalysis Forum.

    PubMed

    Dudal, Sherri; Staack, Roland F; Stoellner, Daniela; Fjording, Marianne Scheel; Vieser, Eva; Pascual, Marie-Hélène; Brudny-Kloeppel, Margarete; Golob, Michaela

    2014-05-01

    The bioanalytical scientist plays a key role in the project team for the drug development of biotherapeutics from the discovery to the marketing phase. Information from the project team members is required for assay development and sample analysis during the discovery, preclinical and clinical phases of the project and input is needed from the bioanalytical scientist to help data interpretation. The European Bioanalysis Forum target team 20 discussed many of the gaps in information and communication between the bioanalytical scientist and project team members as a base for providing a perspective on the bioanalytical scientist's role and interactions within the project team.

  1. Nanostructure-enhanced surface plasmon resonance imaging (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Špašková, Barbora; Lynn, Nicholas S.; Slabý, Jiří Bocková, Markéta; Homola, Jiří

    2017-06-01

    There remains a need for the multiplexed detection of biomolecules at extremely low concentrations in fields of medical diagnostics, food safety, and security. Surface plasmon resonance imaging is an established biosensing approach in which the measurement of the intensity of light across a sensor chip is correlated with the amount of target biomolecules captured by the respective areas on the chip. In this work, we present a new approach for this method allowing for enhanced bioanalytical performance via the introduction of nanostructured sensing chip and polarization contrast measurement, which enable the exploitation of both amplitude and phase properties of plasmonic resonances on the nanostructures. Here we will discuss a complex theoretical analysis of the sensor performance, whereby we investigate aspects related to both the optical performance as well as the transport of the analyte molecules to the functionalized surfaces. This analysis accounts for the geometrical parameters of the nanostructured sensing surface, the properties of functional coatings, and parameters related to the detection assay. Based on the results of the theoretical analysis, we fabricated sensing chips comprised of arrays of gold nanoparticles (by electron-beam lithography), which were modified by a biofunctional coating to allow for the selective capturing of the target biomolecules in the regions with high sensitivity. In addition, we developed a compact optical reader with an integrated microfluidic cell, allowing for the measurement from 50 independent sensing channels. The performance of this biosensor is demonstrated through the sensitive detection of short oligonucleotides down to the low picomolar level.

  2. 78 FR 56718 - Draft Guidance for Industry on Bioanalytical Method Validation; Availability

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-09-13

    ...] Draft Guidance for Industry on Bioanalytical Method Validation; Availability AGENCY: Food and Drug... availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled ``Bioanalytical Method Validation.'' The draft guidance is intended to provide recommendations regarding analytical method development and validation for the...

  3. 8th GCC: consolidated feedback to US FDA on the 2013 draft FDA guidance on bioanalytical method validation.

    PubMed

    Bower, Joseph; Fast, Douglas; Garofolo, Fabio; Gouty, Dominique; Hayes, Roger; Lowes, Steve; Nicholson, Robert; LeLacheur, Richard; Bravo, Jennifer; Shoup, Ronald; Dumont, Isabelle; Carbone, Mary; Zimmer, Jennifer; Ortuno, Jordi; Caturla, Maria Cruz; Datin, Jim; Lansing, Tim; Fatmi, Saadya; Struwe, Petra; Sheldon, Curtis; Islam, Rafiqul; Yu, Mathilde; Hulse, Jim; Kamerud, John; Lin, John; Doughty, John; Kurylak, Kai; Tang, Daniel; Buonarati, Mike; Blanchette, Alexandre; Levesque, Ann; Gagnon-Carignan, Sofi; Lin, Jenny; Ray, Gene; Liu, Yanseng; Khan, Masood; Xu, Allan; El-Sulayman, Gibran; DiMarco, Chantal; Bouhajib, Mohammed; Tacey, Dick; Jenkins, Rand; der Strate, Barry van; Briscoe, Chad; Karnik, Shane; Rhyne, Paul; Garofolo, Wei; Schultz, Gary; Roberts, Andrew; Redrup, Mike; DuBey, Ira; Conliffe, Phyllis; Pekol, Teri; Hantash, Jamil; Cojocaru, Laura; Allen, Mike; Reuschel, Scott; Watson, Andrea; Farrell, Colin; Groeber, Elizabeth; Malone, Michele; Nowatzke, William; Fang, Xinping

    2014-01-01

    The 8th GCC Closed Forum for Bioanalysis was held in Baltimore, MD, USA on 5 December 2013, immediately following the 2013 AAPS Workshop (Crystal City V): Quantitative Bioanalytical Methods Validation and Implementation--The 2013 Revised FDA Guidance. This GCC meeting was organized to discuss the contents of the draft revised FDA Guidance on bioanalytical method validation that was published in September 2013 and consolidate the feedback of the GCC members. In attendance were 63 senior-level participants, from seven countries, representing 46 bioanalytical CRO companies/sites. This event represented a unique opportunity for CRO bioanalytical experts to share their opinions and concerns regarding the draft FDA Guidance, and to build unified comments to be provided to the FDA.

  4. Outsourcing bioanalytical services at Janssen Research and Development: the sequel anno 2017.

    PubMed

    Dillen, Lieve; Verhaeghe, Tom

    2017-08-01

    The strategy of outsourcing bioanalytical services at Janssen has been evolving over the last years and an update will be given on the recent changes in our processes. In 2016, all internal GLP-related activities were phased out and this decision lead to the re-orientation of the in-house bioanalytical activities. As a consequence, in-depth experience with the validated bioanalytical assays for new drug candidates is currently gained together with the external partner, since development and validation of the assay and execution of GLP preclinical studies are now transferred to the CRO. The evolution to externalize more bioanalytical support has created opportunities to build even stronger partnerships with the CROs and to refocus internal resources. Case studies are presented illustrating challenges encountered during method development and validation at preferred partners when limited internal experience is obtained or with introduction of new technology.

  5. Improving productivity and profitability of a bioanalytical business through sales and operation planning.

    PubMed

    Islam, Rafiqul

    2013-07-01

    Today's bioanalytical CROs face increasing global competition, highly variable demand, high fixed costs, pricing pressure, and increasing demand for quality and speed. Most bioanalytical laboratories have responded to these challenges by implementing automation and by implementing process improvement methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma). These solutions have not resulted in a significant improvement in productivity and profitability since none of them are able to predict the upturn or downturn in demand. High volatility of demand causes long lead times and high costs during peak demand and poor productivity during trough demand. Most bioanalytical laboratories lack the tools to align supply efficiently to meet changing demand. In this paper, sales and operation planning (S&OP) has been investigated as a tool to balance supply and demand. The S&OP process, when executed effectively, can be the single greatest determinant of profitability for a bioanalytical business.

  6. Study on a Luminol-based Electrochemiluminescent Sensor for Label-Free DNA Sensing

    PubMed Central

    Chu, Hai-Hong; Yan, Ji-Lin; Tu, Yi-Feng

    2010-01-01

    Automatic, inexpensive, simple and sensitive methods for DNA sensing and quantification are highly desirable for biomedical research. The rapid development of both the fundamentals and applications of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) over the past years has demonstrated its potential for analytical and bio-analytical chemistry. This paper reports the quenching effect of DNA on the ECL of luminol and the further development of a DNA sensing device. With the pre-functionalization by a composite of carbon nano-tubes (CNTs) and Au nanoparticles (AuNPs), the sensor provides a novel and valuable label-free approach for DNA sensing. Here the ECL intensity was remarkably decreased when more than 1.0 × 10−12 molar of DNA were adsorbed on the sensor. Linearity of the DNA amount with the reciprocal of ECL intensity was observed. A saturated sensor caused a 92.8% quenching effect. The research also proposes the mechanism for the quenching effect which could be attributed to the interaction between luminol and DNA and the elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROSs) by DNA. PMID:22163421

  7. Bioanalytical outsourcing strategy at Janssen Research and Development.

    PubMed

    Verhaeghe, Tom

    2014-05-01

    The times when all bioanalytical work was supported in-house are long behind us. In the modern bioanalytical laboratory, workload is divided between in-house support and outsourcing to contract research organizations. This paper outlines the outsourcing strategy of the Janssen-regulated bioanalytical group. Keeping the knowledge of the assay and the compound internally is a cornerstone of this strategy and is a driver for balancing the workload between the internal laboratory and contract laboratories. The number of contract laboratories that are being used is limited and criteria for selecting laboratories are discussed. Special attention is paid to the experience with outsourcing clinical studies to China.

  8. Resolving molecule-specific information in dynamic lipid membrane processes with multi-resonant infrared metasurfaces.

    PubMed

    Rodrigo, Daniel; Tittl, Andreas; Ait-Bouziad, Nadine; John-Herpin, Aurelian; Limaj, Odeta; Kelly, Christopher; Yoo, Daehan; Wittenberg, Nathan J; Oh, Sang-Hyun; Lashuel, Hilal A; Altug, Hatice

    2018-06-04

    A multitude of biological processes are enabled by complex interactions between lipid membranes and proteins. To understand such dynamic processes, it is crucial to differentiate the constituent biomolecular species and track their individual time evolution without invasive labels. Here, we present a label-free mid-infrared biosensor capable of distinguishing multiple analytes in heterogeneous biological samples with high sensitivity. Our technology leverages a multi-resonant metasurface to simultaneously enhance the different vibrational fingerprints of multiple biomolecules. By providing up to 1000-fold near-field intensity enhancement over both amide and methylene bands, our sensor resolves the interactions of lipid membranes with different polypeptides in real time. Significantly, we demonstrate that our label-free chemically specific sensor can analyze peptide-induced neurotransmitter cargo release from synaptic vesicle mimics. Our sensor opens up exciting possibilities for gaining new insights into biological processes such as signaling or transport in basic research as well as provides a valuable toolkit for bioanalytical and pharmaceutical applications.

  9. Challenges in application of bioanalytical method on different populations and effect of population on PK.

    PubMed

    Kale, Prashant; Shukla, Manoj; Soni, Gunjan; Patel, Ronak; Gupta, Shailendra

    2014-01-01

    Prashant Kale has 22 years of immense experience in the analytical and bioanalytical domain. He is Senior Vice President, Bioequivalence Operations of Lambda Therapeutic Research, India which includes Bioanalytical, Clinics, Clinical data management, Pharmacokinetics and Biostatistics, Protocol writing, Clinical lab and Quality Assurance departments. He has been with Lambda for over 14 years. By qualification he is a M.Sc. and an MBA. Mr. Kale is responsible for the management, technical and administrative functions of the BE unit located at Ahmedabad and Mumbai, India. He is also responsible for leading the process of integration between bioanalytical laboratories and services offered by Lambda at global locations (India and Canada). Mr. Kale has faced several regulatory audits and inspections from leading regulatory bodies including but not limited to DCGI, USFDA, ANVISA, Health Canada, UK MHRA, Turkey MoH, WHO. There are many challenges involved in the application of bioanalytical method on different populations. This includes difference in equipment, material and environment across laboratories, variations in the matrix characteristics in different populations, differences in techniques between analysts such as sample processing and handling and others. Additionally, there is variability in the PK of a drug in different populations. This article shows the effect of different populations on validated bioanalytical method and on the PK of a drug. Hence, the bioanalytical method developed and validated for a specific population may need required modification when applied to another population. Critical consideration of all such aspects is the key to successful implementation of a validated method on different populations.

  10. Applicability of bioanalysis of multiple analytes in drug discovery and development: review of select case studies including assay development considerations.

    PubMed

    Srinivas, Nuggehally R

    2006-05-01

    The development of sound bioanalytical method(s) is of paramount importance during the process of drug discovery and development culminating in a marketing approval. Although the bioanalytical procedure(s) originally developed during the discovery stage may not necessarily be fit to support the drug development scenario, they may be suitably modified and validated, as deemed necessary. Several reviews have appeared over the years describing analytical approaches including various techniques, detection systems, automation tools that are available for an effective separation, enhanced selectivity and sensitivity for quantitation of many analytes. The intention of this review is to cover various key areas where analytical method development becomes necessary during different stages of drug discovery research and development process. The key areas covered in this article with relevant case studies include: (a) simultaneous assay for parent compound and metabolites that are purported to display pharmacological activity; (b) bioanalytical procedures for determination of multiple drugs in combating a disease; (c) analytical measurement of chirality aspects in the pharmacokinetics, metabolism and biotransformation investigations; (d) drug monitoring for therapeutic benefits and/or occupational hazard; (e) analysis of drugs from complex and/or less frequently used matrices; (f) analytical determination during in vitro experiments (metabolism and permeability related) and in situ intestinal perfusion experiments; (g) determination of a major metabolite as a surrogate for the parent molecule; (h) analytical approaches for universal determination of CYP450 probe substrates and metabolites; (i) analytical applicability to prodrug evaluations-simultaneous determination of prodrug, parent and metabolites; (j) quantitative determination of parent compound and/or phase II metabolite(s) via direct or indirect approaches; (k) applicability in analysis of multiple compounds in select disease areas and/or in clinically important drug-drug interaction studies. A tabular representation of select examples of analysis is provided covering areas of separation conditions, validation aspects and applicable conclusion. A limited discussion is provided on relevant aspects of the need for developing bioanalytical procedures for speedy drug discovery and development. Additionally, some key elements such as internal standard selection, likely issues of mass detection, matrix effect, chiral aspects etc. are provided for consideration during method development.

  11. Ask the experts: automation: part I.

    PubMed

    Allinson, John L; Blick, Kenneth E; Cohen, Lucinda; Higton, David; Li, Ming

    2013-08-01

    Bioanalysis invited a selection of leading researchers to express their views on automation in the bioanalytical laboratory. The topics discussed include the challenges that the modern bioanalyst faces when integrating automation into existing drug-development processes, the impact of automation and how they envision the modern bioanalytical laboratory changing in the near future. Their enlightening responses provide a valuable insight into the impact of automation and the future of the constantly evolving bioanalytical laboratory.

  12. Bioanalytical methods for food contaminant analysis.

    PubMed

    Van Emon, Jeanette M

    2010-01-01

    Foods are complex mixtures of lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, organic compounds, and other naturally occurring substances. Sometimes added to this mixture are residues of pesticides, veterinary and human drugs, microbial toxins, preservatives, contaminants from food processing and packaging, and other residues. This milieu of compounds can pose difficulties in the analysis of food contaminants. There is an expanding need for rapid and cost-effective residue methods for difficult food matrixes to safeguard our food supply. Bioanalytical methods are established for many food contaminants such as mycotoxins and are the method of choice for many food allergens. Bioanalytical methods are often more cost-effective and sensitive than instrumental procedures. Recent developments in bioanalytical methods may provide more applications for their use in food analysis.

  13. Challenges and opportunities in bioanalytical support for gene therapy medicinal product development.

    PubMed

    Ma, Mark; Balasubramanian, Nanda; Dodge, Robert; Zhang, Yan

    2017-09-01

    Gene and nucleic acid therapies have demonstrated patient benefits to address unmet medical needs. Beside considerations regarding the biological nature of the gene therapy, the quality of bioanalytical methods plays an important role in ensuring the success of these novel therapies. Inconsistent approaches among bioanalytical labs during preclinical and clinical phases have been observed. There are many underlying reasons for this inconsistency. Various platforms and reagents used in quantitative methods, lacking of detailed regulatory guidance on method validation and uncertainty of immunogenicity strategy in supporting gene therapy may all be influential. This review summarizes recent practices and considerations in bioanalytical support of pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and immunogenicity evaluations in gene therapy development with insight into method design, development and validations.

  14. Protein, enzyme and carbohydrate quantification using smartphone through colorimetric digitization technique.

    PubMed

    Dutta, Sibasish; Saikia, Gunjan Prasad; Sarma, Dhruva Jyoti; Gupta, Kuldeep; Das, Priyanka; Nath, Pabitra

    2017-05-01

    In this paper the utilization of smartphone as a detection platform for colorimetric quantification of biological macromolecules has been demonstrated. Using V-channel of HSV color space, the quantification of BSA protein, catalase enzyme and carbohydrate (using D-glucose) have been successfully investigated. A custom designed android application has been developed for estimating the total concentration of biological macromolecules. The results have been compared with that of a standard spectrophotometer which is generally used for colorimetric quantification in laboratory settings by measuring its absorbance at a specific wavelength. The results obtained with the designed sensor is found to be similar when compared with the spectrophotometer data. The designed sensor is low cost, robust and we envision that it could promote diverse fields of bio-analytical investigations. Schematic illustration of the smartphone sensing mechanism for colorimetric analysis of biomolecular samples. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  15. Automation practices in large molecule bioanalysis: recommendations from group L5 of the global bioanalytical consortium.

    PubMed

    Ahene, Ago; Calonder, Claudio; Davis, Scott; Kowalchick, Joseph; Nakamura, Takahiro; Nouri, Parya; Vostiar, Igor; Wang, Yang; Wang, Jin

    2014-01-01

    In recent years, the use of automated sample handling instrumentation has come to the forefront of bioanalytical analysis in order to ensure greater assay consistency and throughput. Since robotic systems are becoming part of everyday analytical procedures, the need for consistent guidance across the pharmaceutical industry has become increasingly important. Pre-existing regulations do not go into sufficient detail in regard to how to handle the use of robotic systems for use with analytical methods, especially large molecule bioanalysis. As a result, Global Bioanalytical Consortium (GBC) Group L5 has put forth specific recommendations for the validation, qualification, and use of robotic systems as part of large molecule bioanalytical analyses in the present white paper. The guidelines presented can be followed to ensure that there is a consistent, transparent methodology that will ensure that robotic systems can be effectively used and documented in a regulated bioanalytical laboratory setting. This will allow for consistent use of robotic sample handling instrumentation as part of large molecule bioanalysis across the globe.

  16. Large-volume injection of sample diluents not miscible with the mobile phase as an alternative approach in sample preparation for bioanalysis: an application for fenspiride bioequivalence.

    PubMed

    Medvedovici, Andrei; Udrescu, Stefan; Albu, Florin; Tache, Florentin; David, Victor

    2011-09-01

    Liquid-liquid extraction of target compounds from biological matrices followed by the injection of a large volume from the organic layer into the chromatographic column operated under reversed-phase (RP) conditions would successfully combine the selectivity and the straightforward character of the procedure in order to enhance sensitivity, compared with the usual approach of involving solvent evaporation and residue re-dissolution. Large-volume injection of samples in diluents that are not miscible with the mobile phase was recently introduced in chromatographic practice. The risk of random errors produced during the manipulation of samples is also substantially reduced. A bioanalytical method designed for the bioequivalence of fenspiride containing pharmaceutical formulations was based on a sample preparation procedure involving extraction of the target analyte and the internal standard (trimetazidine) from alkalinized plasma samples in 1-octanol. A volume of 75 µl from the octanol layer was directly injected on a Zorbax SB C18 Rapid Resolution, 50 mm length × 4.6 mm internal diameter × 1.8 µm particle size column, with the RP separation being carried out under gradient elution conditions. Detection was made through positive ESI and MS/MS. Aspects related to method development and validation are discussed. The bioanalytical method was successfully applied to assess bioequivalence of a modified release pharmaceutical formulation containing 80 mg fenspiride hydrochloride during two different studies carried out as single-dose administration under fasting and fed conditions (four arms), and multiple doses administration, respectively. The quality attributes assigned to the bioanalytical method, as resulting from its application to the bioequivalence studies, are highlighted and fully demonstrate that sample preparation based on large-volume injection of immiscible diluents has an increased potential for application in bioanalysis.

  17. A systematic and critical review on bioanalytical method validation using the example of simultaneous quantitation of antidiabetic agents in blood.

    PubMed

    Fachi, Mariana Millan; Leonart, Letícia Paula; Cerqueira, Letícia Bonancio; Pontes, Flavia Lada Degaut; de Campos, Michel Leandro; Pontarolo, Roberto

    2017-06-15

    A systematic and critical review was conducted on bioanalytical methods validated to quantify combinations of antidiabetic agents in human blood. The aim of this article was to verify how the validation process of bioanalytical methods is performed and the quality of the published records. The validation assays were evaluated according to international guidelines. The main problems in the validation process are pointed out and discussed to help researchers to choose methods that are truly reliable and can be successfully applied for their intended use. The combination of oral antidiabetic agents was chosen as these are some of the most studied drugs and several methods are present in the literature. Moreover, this article may be applied to the validation process of all bioanalytical. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. Use of a special Brazilian red-light emitting railroad worm Luciferase in bioassays of NEK7 protein Kinase and Creatine Kinase.

    PubMed

    Marina Perez, Arina; Aquino, Bruno; Viviani, Vadim; Kobarg, Jörg

    2017-07-19

    Luciferases, enzymes that catalyze bioluminescent reactions in different organisms, have been extensively used for bioanalytical purposes. The most well studied bioluminescent system is that of firefly and other beetles, which depends on a luciferase, a benzothiazolic luciferin and ATP, and it is being widely used as a bioanalytical reagent to quantify ATP. Protein kinases are proteins that modify other proteins by transferring phosphate groups from a nucleoside triphosphate, usually ATP. Here, we used a red-light emitting luciferase from Phrixotrix hirtus railroad worm to determine the activity of kinases in a coupled assay, based on luminescence that is generated when luciferase is in the presence of its substrate, the luciferin, and ATP. In this work we used, after several optimization reactions, creatine kinase isoforms as well as NEK7 protein kinase in the absence or presence of ATP analogous inhibitors  to validate this new luminescence method. With this new approach we validated a luminescence method to quantify kinase activity, with different substrates and inhibition screening tests, using a novel red-light emitting luciferase as a reporter enzyme.

  19. Conducting remote bioanalytical data monitoring and review based on scientific quality objectives.

    PubMed

    He, Ling

    2011-07-01

    For bioanalytical laboratories that follow GLP regulations and generate data for new drug filing, ensuring quality standards set by regulatory guidance is a fundamental expectation. Numerous guidelines and White Papers have been published by regulatory agencies, professional working groups and field experts in the past two decades, and have significantly improved the standards of good practices for bioanalysis. From a sponsor's perspective, continuous quality monitoring of the data generated by CRO laboratories, identifying adverse trends and taking corrective and preventative actions against issues encountered, are critical aspects of effective bioanalytical outsourcing management. This is especially important for clinical bioanalysis, where one validated assay is applied for analyzing a large number of samples of diverse demographics and disease states. This perspective article presents thoughts toward remote data monitoring and its merits for scientific quality oversight, and introduces a novel Bioanalytical Data Review software that was custom-developed and platform-neural, to conduct remote data monitoring on raw or processed LC-MS/MS data from CROs. Flexible, adaptive and user-customizable queries are applied for conducting project-, batch- and sample-level data review based on scientific quality performance factors commonly assessed for good bioanalytical practice.

  20. Bioanalysis of antibody-drug conjugates: American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists Antibody-Drug Conjugate Working Group position paper.

    PubMed

    Gorovits, Boris; Alley, Stephen C; Bilic, Sanela; Booth, Brian; Kaur, Surinder; Oldfield, Phillip; Purushothama, Shobha; Rao, Chetana; Shord, Stacy; Siguenza, Patricia

    2013-05-01

    Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) typically consist of a cytotoxic drug covalently bound to an antibody by a linker. These conjugates have the potential to substantially improve efficacy and reduce toxicity compared with cytotoxic small-molecule drugs. Since ADCs are generally complex heterogeneous mixtures of multiple species, these novel therapeutic products present unique bioanalytical challenges. The growing number of ADCs being developed across the industry suggests the need for alignment of the bioanalytical methods or approaches used to assess the multiple species and facilitate consistent interpretation of the bioanalytical data. With limited clinical data, the current strategies that can be used to provide insight into the relationship between the multiple species and the observed clinical safety and efficacy are still evolving. Considerations of the bioanalytical strategies for ADCs based on the current industry practices that take into account the complexity and heterogeneity of ADCs are discussed.

  1. A high efficiency, high quality and low cost internal regulated bioanalytical laboratory to support drug development needs.

    PubMed

    Song, Yan; Dhodda, Raj; Zhang, Jun; Sydor, Jens

    2014-05-01

    In the recent past, we have seen an increase in the outsourcing of bioanalysis in pharmaceutical companies in support of their drug development pipeline. This trend is largely driven by the effort to reduce internal cost, especially in support of late-stage pipeline assets where established bioanalytical assays are used to analyze a large volume of samples. This article will highlight our perspective of how bioanalytical laboratories within pharmaceutical companies can be developed into the best partner in the advancement of drug development pipelines with high-quality support at competitive cost.

  2. Submission of scientifically sound and ethical manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals - a reviewer's personal perspective on bioanalytical publications.

    PubMed

    Weng, Naidong

    2012-11-01

    In the pharmaceutical industry, bioanalysis is very dynamic and is probably one of the few fields of research covering the entire drug discovery, development and post-marketing process. Important decisions on drug safety can partially rely on bioanalytical data, which therefore can be subject to regulatory scrutiny. Bioanalytical scientists have historically contributed significant numbers of scientific manuscripts in many peer-reviewed analytical journals. All of these journals provide some high-level instructions, but they also leave sufficient flexibility for reviewers to perform independent critique and offer recommendations for each submitted manuscript. Reviewers play a pivotal role in the process of bioanalytical publication to ensure the publication of high-quality manuscripts in a timely fashion. Their efforts usually lead to improved manuscripts. However, it has to be a joint effort among authors, reviewers and editors to promote scientifically sound and ethically fair bioanalytical publications. Most of the submitted manuscripts were well written with only minor or moderate revisions required for further improvement. Nevertheless, there were small numbers of submitted manuscripts that did not meet the requirements for publications because of scientific or ethical deficiencies, which are discussed in this Letter to the Editor. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  3. The improved electrochemical performance of cross-linked 3D graphene nanoribbon monolith electrodes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vineesh, Thazhe Veettil; Alwarappan, Subbiah; Narayanan, Tharangattu N.

    2015-04-01

    Technical advancement in the field of ultra-small sensors and devices demands the development of novel micro- or nano-based architectures. Here we report the design and assembly of cross-linked three dimensional graphene nanoribbons (3D GNRs) using solution based covalent binding of individual 2D GNRs and demonstrate its electrochemical application as a 3D electrode. The enhanced performance of 3D GNRs over individual 2D GNRs is established using standard redox probes - [Ru(NH3)6]3+/2+, [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- and important bio-analytes - dopamine and ascorbic acid. 3D GNRs are found to have high double layer capacitance (2482 μF cm-2) and faster electron transfer kinetics; their exceptional electrocatalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction is indicative of their potential over a wide range of electrochemical applications. Moreover, this study opens a new platform for the design of novel point-of-care devices and electrodes for energy devices.Technical advancement in the field of ultra-small sensors and devices demands the development of novel micro- or nano-based architectures. Here we report the design and assembly of cross-linked three dimensional graphene nanoribbons (3D GNRs) using solution based covalent binding of individual 2D GNRs and demonstrate its electrochemical application as a 3D electrode. The enhanced performance of 3D GNRs over individual 2D GNRs is established using standard redox probes - [Ru(NH3)6]3+/2+, [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- and important bio-analytes - dopamine and ascorbic acid. 3D GNRs are found to have high double layer capacitance (2482 μF cm-2) and faster electron transfer kinetics; their exceptional electrocatalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction is indicative of their potential over a wide range of electrochemical applications. Moreover, this study opens a new platform for the design of novel point-of-care devices and electrodes for energy devices. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr07315k

  4. Array Formatting of the Heat-Transfer Method (HTM) for the Detection of Small Organic Molecules by Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

    PubMed Central

    Wackers, Gideon; Vandenryt, Thijs; Cornelis, Peter; Kellens, Evelien; Thoelen, Ronald; De Ceuninck, Ward; Losada-Pérez, Patricia; van Grinsven, Bart; Peeters, Marloes; Wagner, Patrick

    2014-01-01

    In this work we present the first steps towards a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based biomimetic sensor array for the detection of small organic molecules via the heat-transfer method (HTM). HTM relies on the change in thermal resistance upon binding of the target molecule to the MIP-type receptor. A flow-through sensor cell was developed, which is segmented into four quadrants with a volume of 2.5 μL each, allowing four measurements to be done simultaneously on a single substrate. Verification measurements were conducted, in which all quadrants received a uniform treatment and all four channels exhibited a similar response. Subsequently, measurements were performed in quadrants, which were functionalized with different MIP particles. Each of these quadrants was exposed to the same buffer solution, spiked with different molecules, according to the MIP under analysis. With the flow cell design we could discriminate between similar small organic molecules and observed no significant cross-selectivity. Therefore, the MIP array sensor platform with HTM as a readout technique, has the potential to become a low-cost analysis tool for bioanalytical applications. PMID:24955945

  5. Chem/bio sensing with non-classical light and integrated photonics.

    PubMed

    Haas, J; Schwartz, M; Rengstl, U; Jetter, M; Michler, P; Mizaikoff, B

    2018-01-29

    Modern quantum technology currently experiences extensive advances in applicability in communications, cryptography, computing, metrology and lithography. Harnessing this technology platform for chem/bio sensing scenarios is an appealing opportunity enabling ultra-sensitive detection schemes. This is further facilliated by the progress in fabrication, miniaturization and integration of visible and infrared quantum photonics. Especially, the combination of efficient single-photon sources together with waveguiding/sensing structures, serving as active optical transducer, as well as advanced detector materials is promising integrated quantum photonic chem/bio sensors. Besides the intrinsic molecular selectivity and non-destructive character of visible and infrared light based sensing schemes, chem/bio sensors taking advantage of non-classical light sources promise sensitivities beyond the standard quantum limit. In the present review, recent achievements towards on-chip chem/bio quantum photonic sensing platforms based on N00N states are discussed along with appropriate recognition chemistries, facilitating the detection of relevant (bio)analytes at ultra-trace concentration levels. After evaluating recent developments in this field, a perspective for a potentially promising sensor testbed is discussed for reaching integrated quantum sensing with two fiber-coupled GaAs chips together with semiconductor quantum dots serving as single-photon sources.

  6. Bioanalytical and chemical sensors using living taste, olfactory, and neural cells and tissues: a short review.

    PubMed

    Wu, Chunsheng; Lillehoj, Peter B; Wang, Ping

    2015-11-07

    Biosensors utilizing living tissues and cells have recently gained significant attention as functional devices for chemical sensing and biochemical analysis. These devices integrate biological components (i.e. single cells, cell networks, tissues) with micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)-based sensors and transducers. Various types of cells and tissues derived from natural and bioengineered sources have been used as recognition and sensing elements, which are generally characterized by high sensitivity and specificity. This review summarizes the state of the art in tissue- and cell-based biosensing platforms with an emphasis on those using taste, olfactory, and neural cells and tissues. Many of these devices employ unique integration strategies and sensing schemes based on sensitive transducers including microelectrode arrays (MEAs), field effect transistors (FETs), and light-addressable potentiometric sensors (LAPSs). Several groups have coupled these hybrid biosensors with microfluidics which offers added benefits of small sample volumes and enhanced automation. While this technology is currently limited to lab settings due to the limited stability of living biological components, further research to enhance their robustness will enable these devices to be employed in field and clinical settings.

  7. Evaluating Zeolite-Modified Sensors: towards a faster set of chemical sensors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Berna, A. Z.; Vergara, A.; Trincavelli, M.; Huerta, R.; Afonja, A.; Parkin, I. P.; Binions, R.; Trowell, S.

    2011-09-01

    The responses of zeolite-modified sensors, prepared by screen printing layers of chromium titanium oxide (CTO), were compared to unmodified tin oxide sensors using amplitude and transient responses. For transient responses we used a family of features, derived from the exponential moving average (EMA), to characterize chemo-resistive responses. All sensors were tested simultaneously against 20 individual volatile compounds from four chemical groups. The responses of the two types of sensors showed some independence. The zeolite-modified CTO sensors discriminated compounds better using either amplitude response or EMA features and CTO-modified sensors also responded three times faster.

  8. An overview of the China Bioanalytical Forum: interview with Daniel Tang.

    PubMed

    Tang, Daniel

    2017-02-01

    Daniel Tang talks to Sankeetha Nadarajah, Commissioning Editor (Bioanalysis), regarding the China Bioanalysis Forum (CBF), in which Daniel was one of the co-founders and remains as its co-chair. Daniel is currently the CEO of UP Pharma, a biologics focused bioanalytical CRO in China.

  9. 3D-printed Bioanalytical Devices

    PubMed Central

    Bishop, Gregory W; Satterwhite-Warden, Jennifer E; Kadimisetty, Karteek; Rusling, James F

    2016-01-01

    While 3D printing technologies first appeared in the 1980s, prohibitive costs, limited materials, and the relatively small number of commercially available printers confined applications mainly to prototyping for manufacturing purposes. As technologies, printer cost, materials, and accessibility continue to improve, 3D printing has found widespread implementation in research and development in many disciplines due to ease-of-use and relatively fast design-to-object workflow. Several 3D printing techniques have been used to prepare devices such as milli- and microfluidic flow cells for analyses of cells and biomolecules as well as interfaces that enable bioanalytical measurements using cellphones. This review focuses on preparation and applications of 3D-printed bioanalytical devices. PMID:27250897

  10. Challenges and opportunities for translating medical microdevices: insights from the programmable bio-nano-chip

    PubMed Central

    McRae, Michael P; Simmons, Glennon; McDevitt, John T

    2016-01-01

    This perspective highlights the major challenges for the bioanalytical community, in particular the area of lab-on-a-chip sensors, as they relate to point-of-care diagnostics. There is a strong need for general-purpose and universal biosensing platforms that can perform multiplexed and multiclass assays on real-world clinical samples. However, the adoption of novel lab-on-a-chip/microfluidic devices has been slow as several key challenges remain for the translation of these new devices to clinical practice. A pipeline of promising medical microdevice technologies will be made possible by addressing the challenges of integration, failure to compete with cost and performance of existing technologies, requisite for new content, and regulatory approval and clinical adoption. PMID:27071710

  11. The 10th Annual Bioassays and Bioanalytical Method Development Conference.

    PubMed

    Ma, Mark; Tudan, Christopher; Koltchev, Dolly

    2015-01-01

    The 10th Annual Bioassays and Bioanalytical Method Development Conference was hosted in Boston, MA, USA on 20-22 October 2014. This meeting brought together scientists from the biopharmaceutical and life sciences industries, the regulatory agency and academia to share and discuss current trends in cell-based assays and bioanalysis, challenges and ideas for the future of the bioassays and bioanalytical method development. The experiences associated with new and innovative technologies were evaluated as well as their impact on the current bioassays methodologies and bioanalysis workflow, including quality, feasibility, outsourcing strategies and challenges, productivity and compliance. Several presentations were also provided by members of the US FDA, sharing both scientific and regulatory paradigms including a most recent update on the position of the FDA with specific aspects of the draft Bioanalytical Method Validation guidance following its review of the industry's responses. The meeting was jointly coincided with the 15th Annual Immunogenicity for Biotherapeutics meeting, allowing for attendees to also familiarize themselves with new and emerging approaches to overcome the effect of immunogenicity, in addition to investigative strategies.

  12. MARS: bringing the automation of small-molecule bioanalytical sample preparations to a new frontier.

    PubMed

    Li, Ming; Chou, Judy; Jing, Jing; Xu, Hui; Costa, Aldo; Caputo, Robin; Mikkilineni, Rajesh; Flannelly-King, Shane; Rohde, Ellen; Gan, Lawrence; Klunk, Lewis; Yang, Liyu

    2012-06-01

    In recent years, there has been a growing interest in automating small-molecule bioanalytical sample preparations specifically using the Hamilton MicroLab(®) STAR liquid-handling platform. In the most extensive work reported thus far, multiple small-molecule sample preparation assay types (protein precipitation extraction, SPE and liquid-liquid extraction) have been integrated into a suite that is composed of graphical user interfaces and Hamilton scripts. Using that suite, bioanalytical scientists have been able to automate various sample preparation methods to a great extent. However, there are still areas that could benefit from further automation, specifically, the full integration of analytical standard and QC sample preparation with study sample extraction in one continuous run, real-time 2D barcode scanning on the Hamilton deck and direct Laboratory Information Management System database connectivity. We developed a new small-molecule sample-preparation automation system that improves in all of the aforementioned areas. The improved system presented herein further streamlines the bioanalytical workflow, simplifies batch run design, reduces analyst intervention and eliminates sample-handling error.

  13. Sample Preparation and Extraction in Small Sample Volumes Suitable for Pediatric Clinical Studies: Challenges, Advances, and Experiences of a Bioanalytical HPLC-MS/MS Method Validation Using Enalapril and Enalaprilat

    PubMed Central

    Burckhardt, Bjoern B.; Laeer, Stephanie

    2015-01-01

    In USA and Europe, medicines agencies force the development of child-appropriate medications and intend to increase the availability of information on the pediatric use. This asks for bioanalytical methods which are able to deal with small sample volumes as the trial-related blood lost is very restricted in children. Broadly used HPLC-MS/MS, being able to cope with small volumes, is susceptible to matrix effects. The latter restrains the precise drug quantification through, for example, causing signal suppression. Sophisticated sample preparation and purification utilizing solid-phase extraction was applied to reduce and control matrix effects. A scale-up from vacuum manifold to positive pressure manifold was conducted to meet the demands of high-throughput within a clinical setting. Faced challenges, advances, and experiences in solid-phase extraction are exemplarily presented on the basis of the bioanalytical method development and validation of low-volume samples (50 μL serum). Enalapril, enalaprilat, and benazepril served as sample drugs. The applied sample preparation and extraction successfully reduced the absolute and relative matrix effect to comply with international guidelines. Recoveries ranged from 77 to 104% for enalapril and from 93 to 118% for enalaprilat. The bioanalytical method comprising sample extraction by solid-phase extraction was fully validated according to FDA and EMA bioanalytical guidelines and was used in a Phase I study in 24 volunteers. PMID:25873972

  14. NIR fluorescent dyes: versatile vehicles for marker and probe applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Patonay, Gabor; Chapman, Gala; Beckford, Garfield; Henary, Maged

    2013-02-01

    The use of the NIR spectral region (650-900 nm) is advantageous due to the inherently lower background interference and the high molar absorptivities of NIR chromophores. Near-Infrared (NIR) dyes are increasingly used in the biological and medical field. The binding characteristics of NIR dyes to biomolecules are possibly controlled by several factors, including hydrophobicity, size and charge just to mention a few parameters. Binding characteristics of symmetric carbocyanines and found that the hydrophobic nature of the NIR dye is only partially responsible for the binding strength. Upon binding to biomolecules significant fluorescence enhancement can be observed for symmetrical carbocyanines. This fluorescence amplification facilitates the detection of the NIR dye and enhances its utility as NIR reporter. This manuscript discusses some probe and marker applications of such NIR fluorescent dyes. One application discussed here is the use of NIR dyes as markers. For labeling applications the fluorescence intensity of the NIR fluorescent label can significantly be increased by enclosing several dye molecules in nanoparticles. To decrease self quenching dyes that have relatively large Stokes' shift needs to be used. This is achieved by substituting meso position halogens with amino moiety. This substitution can also serve as a linker to covalently attach the dye molecule to the nanoparticle backbone. We report here on the preparation of NIR fluorescent silica nanoparticles. Silica nanoparticles that are modified with aminoreactive moieties can be used as bright fluorescent labels in bioanalytical applications. A new bioanalytical technique to detect and monitor the catalytic activity of the sulfur assimilating enzyme using NIR dyes is reported as well. In this spectroscopic bioanalytical assay a family of Fischer based n-butyl sulfonate substituted dyes that exhibit distinct variation in absorbance and fluorescence properties and strong binding to serum albumin as its sulfonic acid moiety is modified to less water soluble moiety was identified. In polar solvents, these water soluble compounds are strongly fluorescent, however form the less soluble aggregated species with virtual loss of fluorescence when the sulfonate groups are cleaved by enzymatic activity to form the corresponding straight chain alkyl aldehyde derivatives. To achieve this conversion in vitro photo-reduced riboflavin mononucleotide (FMN) with a glucose/ glucose-oxygenase oxygen scavenging system was utilized. The reduced FMN serves as a key substrate in the enzymatic desulfonation. Once the FMNH2 was produced the desulfonation reaction was characterized by using Laser Induced Fluorescence Capillary Zone Electropheresis (LIF-CZE). This method can be utilized as an assay to detect the enzyme activity in vitro with the possibilities of in vivo applications.

  15. 2013 White Paper on recent issues in bioanalysis: 'hybrid'--the best of LBA and LCMS.

    PubMed

    Stevenson, Lauren; Garofolo, Fabio; DeSilva, Binodh; Dumont, Isabelle; Martinez, Suzanne; Rocci, Mario; Amaravadi, Lakshmi; Brudny-Kloeppel, Margarete; Musuku, Adrien; Booth, Brian; Dicaire, Catherine; Wright, Laura; Mayrand-Provencher, Laurence; Losauro, Mike; Gouty, Dominique; Arnold, Mark; Bansal, Surendra; Dudal, Sherri; Dufield, Dawn; Duggan, Jeff; Evans, Christopher; Fluhler, Eric; Fraser, Stephanie; Gorovits, Boris; Haidar, Sam; Hayes, Roger; Ho, Stacy; Houghton, Richard; Islam, Rafiqul; Jenkins, Rand; Katori, Noriko; Kaur, Surinder; Kelley, Marian; Knutsson, Magnus; Lee, Jean; Liu, Hanlan; Lowes, Steve; Ma, Mark; Mikulskis, Alvydas; Myler, Heather; Nicholson, Bob; Olah, Timothy; Ormsby, Eric; Patel, Shefali; Pucci, Vincenzo; Ray, Chad; Schultz, Gary; Shih, Judy; Shoup, Ronald; Simon, Craig; Song, An; Neto, João Tavares; Theobald, Valerie; Thway, Theingi; Wakelin-Smith, Jason; Wang, Jian; Wang, Laixin; Welink, Jan; Whale, Emma; Woolf, Eric; Xu, Raymond

    2013-12-01

    The 2013 7th Workshop on Recent Issues in Bioanalysis was held in Long Beach, California, USA, where close to 500 professionals from pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, CROs and regulatory agencies convened to discuss current topics of interest in bioanalysis. These 'hot' topics, which covered both small and large molecules, were the starting point for fruitful exchanges of knowledge, and sharing of ideas among speakers, panelists and attendees. The discussions led to specific recommendations pertinent to bioanalytical science. Such as the previous editions, this 2013 White Paper addresses important bioanalytical issues and provides practical answers to the topics presented, discussed and agreed upon by the global bioanalytical community attending the 7th Workshop on Recent Issues in Bioanalysis.

  16. Recombinant antibody mediated delivery of organelle-specific DNA pH sensors along endocytic pathways

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Modi, Souvik; Halder, Saheli; Nizak, Clément; Krishnan, Yamuna

    2013-12-01

    DNA has been used to build nanomachines with potential in cellulo and in vivo applications. However their different in cellulo applications are limited by the lack of generalizable strategies to deliver them to precise intracellular locations. Here we describe a new molecular design of DNA pH sensors with response times that are nearly 20 fold faster. Further, by changing the sequence of the pH sensitive domain of the DNA sensor, we have been able to tune their pH sensitive regimes and create a family of DNA sensors spanning ranges from pH 4 to 7.6. To enable a generalizable targeting methodology, this new sensor design also incorporates a `handle' domain. We have identified, using a phage display screen, a set of three recombinant antibodies (scFv) that bind sequence specifically to the handle domain. Sequence analysis of these antibodies revealed several conserved residues that mediate specific interactions with the cognate DNA duplex. We also found that all three scFvs clustered into different branches indicating that their specificity arises from mutations in key residues. When one of these scFvs is fused to a membrane protein (furin) that traffics via the cell surface, the scFv-furin chimera binds the `handle' and ferries a family of DNA pH sensors along the furin endocytic pathway. Post endocytosis, all DNA nanodevices retain their functionality in cellulo and provide spatiotemporal pH maps of retrogradely trafficking furin inside living cells. This new molecular technology of DNA-scFv-protein chimeras can be used to site-specifically complex DNA nanostructures for bioanalytical applications.DNA has been used to build nanomachines with potential in cellulo and in vivo applications. However their different in cellulo applications are limited by the lack of generalizable strategies to deliver them to precise intracellular locations. Here we describe a new molecular design of DNA pH sensors with response times that are nearly 20 fold faster. Further, by changing the sequence of the pH sensitive domain of the DNA sensor, we have been able to tune their pH sensitive regimes and create a family of DNA sensors spanning ranges from pH 4 to 7.6. To enable a generalizable targeting methodology, this new sensor design also incorporates a `handle' domain. We have identified, using a phage display screen, a set of three recombinant antibodies (scFv) that bind sequence specifically to the handle domain. Sequence analysis of these antibodies revealed several conserved residues that mediate specific interactions with the cognate DNA duplex. We also found that all three scFvs clustered into different branches indicating that their specificity arises from mutations in key residues. When one of these scFvs is fused to a membrane protein (furin) that traffics via the cell surface, the scFv-furin chimera binds the `handle' and ferries a family of DNA pH sensors along the furin endocytic pathway. Post endocytosis, all DNA nanodevices retain their functionality in cellulo and provide spatiotemporal pH maps of retrogradely trafficking furin inside living cells. This new molecular technology of DNA-scFv-protein chimeras can be used to site-specifically complex DNA nanostructures for bioanalytical applications. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Detailed description of all oligonucleotide sequences used in this study; list of figures that support claims from the main text. Mainly these show sensor sequences, phage display results, scFv purification and binding data, cell images clamped at different pH and co-localization studies with endocytic tracers. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr03769j

  17. Binding of leachable components of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and peptide on modified SPR chip

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Szaloki, M.; Vitalyos, G.; Harfalvi, J.; Hegedus, Cs

    2013-12-01

    Many types of polymers are often used in dentistry, which may cause allergic reaction, mainly methyl methacrylate allergy due to the leachable, degradable components of polymerized dental products. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction between the leachable components of PMMA and peptides by Fourier-transform Surface Plasmon Resonance (FT SPR). In our previous work binding of oligopeptides (Ph.D.-7 and Ph.D.-12 Peptide Library Kit) was investigated to PMMA surface by phage display technique. It was found that oligopeptides bounded specifically to PMMA surface. The most common amino acids were leucine and proline inside the amino acids sequences of DNA of phages. The binding of haptens, as formaldehyde and methacrylic acid, to frequent amino acids was to investigate on the modified gold SPR chip. Self assembled monolayer (SAM) modified the surface of gold chip and ensured the specific binding between the haptens and amino acids. It was found that amino acids bounded to modified SPR gold and the haptens bounded to amino acids by creating multilayer on the chip surface. By the application of phage display and SPR modern bioanalytical methods the interaction between allergens and peptides can be investigated.

  18. Bioanalytical method transfer considerations of chromatographic-based assays.

    PubMed

    Williard, Clark V

    2016-07-01

    Bioanalysis is an important part of the modern drug development process. The business practice of outsourcing and transferring bioanalytical methods from laboratory to laboratory has increasingly become a crucial strategy for successful and efficient delivery of therapies to the market. This chapter discusses important considerations when transferring various types of chromatographic-based assays in today's pharmaceutical research and development environment.

  19. Fundamentals and applications of SERS-based bioanalytical sensing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kahraman, Mehmet; Mullen, Emma R.; Korkmaz, Aysun; Wachsmann-Hogiu, Sebastian

    2017-03-01

    Plasmonics is an emerging field that examines the interaction between light and metallic nanostructures at the metal-dielectric interface. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful analytical technique that uses plasmonics to obtain detailed chemical information of molecules or molecular assemblies adsorbed or attached to nanostructured metallic surfaces. For bioanalytical applications, these surfaces are engineered to optimize for high enhancement factors and molecular specificity. In this review we focus on the fabrication of SERS substrates and their use for bioanalytical applications. We review the fundamental mechanisms of SERS and parameters governing SERS enhancement. We also discuss developments in the field of novel SERS substrates. This includes the use of different materials, sizes, shapes, and architectures to achieve high sensitivity and specificity as well as tunability or flexibility. Different fundamental approaches are discussed, such as label-free and functional assays. In addition, we highlight recent relevant advances for bioanalytical SERS applied to small molecules, proteins, DNA, and biologically relevant nanoparticles. Subsequently, we discuss the importance of data analysis and signal detection schemes to achieve smaller instruments with low cost for SERS-based point-of-care technology developments. Finally, we review the main advantages and challenges of SERS-based biosensing and provide a brief outlook.

  20. 11th GCC Closed Forum: cumulative stability; matrix stability; immunogenicity assays; laboratory manuals; biosimilars; chiral methods; hybrid LBA/LCMS assays; fit-for-purpose validation; China Food and Drug Administration bioanalytical method validation.

    PubMed

    Islam, Rafiq; Briscoe, Chad; Bower, Joseph; Cape, Stephanie; Arnold, Mark; Hayes, Roger; Warren, Mark; Karnik, Shane; Stouffer, Bruce; Xiao, Yi Qun; van der Strate, Barry; Sikkema, Daniel; Fang, Xinping; Tudoroniu, Ariana; Tayyem, Rabab; Brant, Ashley; Spriggs, Franklin; Barry, Colin; Khan, Masood; Keyhani, Anahita; Zimmer, Jennifer; Caturla, Maria Cruz; Couerbe, Philippe; Khadang, Ardeshir; Bourdage, James; Datin, Jim; Zemo, Jennifer; Hughes, Nicola; Fatmi, Saadya; Sheldon, Curtis; Fountain, Scott; Satterwhite, Christina; Colletti, Kelly; Vija, Jenifer; Yu, Mathilde; Stamatopoulos, John; Lin, Jenny; Wilfahrt, Jim; Dinan, Andrew; Ohorodnik, Susan; Hulse, James; Patel, Vimal; Garofolo, Wei; Savoie, Natasha; Brown, Michael; Papac, Damon; Buonarati, Mike; Hristopoulos, George; Beaver, Chris; Boudreau, Nadine; Williard, Clark; Liu, Yansheng; Ray, Gene; Warrino, Dominic; Xu, Allan; Green, Rachel; Hayward-Sewell, Joanne; Marcelletti, John; Sanchez, Christina; Kennedy, Michael; Charles, Jessica St; Bouhajib, Mohammed; Nehls, Corey; Tabler, Edward; Tu, Jing; Joyce, Philip; Iordachescu, Adriana; DuBey, Ira; Lindsay, John; Yamashita, Jim; Wells, Edward

    2018-04-01

    The 11th Global CRO Council Closed Forum was held in Universal City, CA, USA on 3 April 2017. Representatives from international CRO members offering bioanalytical services were in attendance in order to discuss scientific and regulatory issues specific to bioanalysis. The second CRO-Pharma Scientific Interchange Meeting was held on 7 April 2017, which included Pharma representatives' sharing perspectives on the topics discussed earlier in the week with the CRO members. The issues discussed at the meetings included cumulative stability evaluations, matrix stability evaluations, the 2016 US FDA Immunogenicity Guidance and recent and unexpected FDA Form 483s on immunogenicity assays, the bioanalytical laboratory's role in writing PK sample collection instructions, biosimilars, CRO perspectives on the use of chiral versus achiral methods, hybrid LBA/LCMS assays, applications of fit-for-purpose validation and, at the Global CRO Council Closed Forum only, the status and trend of current regulated bioanalytical practice in China under CFDA's new BMV policy. Conclusions from discussions of these topics at both meetings are included in this report.

  1. Advanced bioanalytics for precision medicine.

    PubMed

    Roda, Aldo; Michelini, Elisa; Caliceti, Cristiana; Guardigli, Massimo; Mirasoli, Mara; Simoni, Patrizia

    2018-01-01

    Precision medicine is a new paradigm that combines diagnostic, imaging, and analytical tools to produce accurate diagnoses and therapeutic interventions tailored to the individual patient. This approach stands in contrast to the traditional "one size fits all" concept, according to which researchers develop disease treatments and preventions for an "average" patient without considering individual differences. The "one size fits all" concept has led to many ineffective or inappropriate treatments, especially for pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease and cancer. Now, precision medicine is receiving massive funding in many countries, thanks to its social and economic potential in terms of improved disease prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. Bioanalytical chemistry is critical to precision medicine. This is because identifying an appropriate tailored therapy requires researchers to collect and analyze information on each patient's specific molecular biomarkers (e.g., proteins, nucleic acids, and metabolites). In other words, precision diagnostics is not possible without precise bioanalytical chemistry. This Trend article highlights some of the most recent advances, including massive analysis of multilayer omics, and new imaging technique applications suitable for implementing precision medicine. Graphical abstract Precision medicine combines bioanalytical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, and imaging tools for performing accurate diagnoses and selecting optimal therapies for each patient.

  2. Advances in OLED/OPD-based sensors and spectrometer-on-a-chip (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shinar, Joseph; Kaudal, Rajiv; Manna, Eeshita; Fungura, Fadzai; Shinar, Ruth

    2016-09-01

    We describe ongoing advances toward achieving all-organic optical sensors and a spectrometer on a chip. Two-dimensional combinatorial arrays of microcavity OLEDs (μcOLEDs) with systematically varying optical cavity lengths are fabricated on a single chip by changing the thickness of different organic and/or spacer layers sandwiched between two metal electrodes (one very thin) that form the cavity. The broad spectral range is achieved by utilizing materials that result in white OLEDs (WOLEDs) when fabricated on a standard ITO substrate. The tunable and narrower emissions from the μcOLEDs serve as excitation sources in luminescent sensors and in monitoring light absorption. For each wavelength, the light from the μcOLED is partially absorbed by a sample under study and the light emitted by an electronically excited sample, or the transmitted light is detected by a photodetector (PD). To obtain a compact monitor, an organic PD (OPD) or a perovskite-based PD is integrated with the μcOLED array. We show the potential of encompassing a broader wavelength range by using WOLED materials to fabricate the μcOLEDs. The utility of the all-organic analytical devices is demonstrated by monitoring oxygen, and bioanalytes based on oxygen detection, as well as the absorption spectra of dyes.

  3. Detection of Antibodies in Blood Plasma Using Bioluminescent Sensor Proteins and a Smartphone.

    PubMed

    Arts, Remco; den Hartog, Ilona; Zijlema, Stefan E; Thijssen, Vito; van der Beelen, Stan H E; Merkx, Maarten

    2016-04-19

    Antibody detection is of fundamental importance in many diagnostic and bioanalytical assays, yet current detection techniques tend to be laborious and/or expensive. We present a new sensor platform (LUMABS) based on bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) that allows detection of antibodies directly in solution using a smartphone as the sole piece of equipment. LUMABS are single-protein sensors that consist of the blue-light emitting luciferase NanoLuc connected via a semiflexible linker to the green fluorescent acceptor protein mNeonGreen, which are kept close together using helper domains. Binding of an antibody to epitope sequences flanking the linker disrupts the interaction between the helper domains, resulting in a large decrease in BRET efficiency. The resulting change in color of the emitted light from green-blue to blue can be detected directly in blood plasma, even at picomolar concentrations of antibody. Moreover, the modular architecture of LUMABS allows changing of target specificity by simple exchange of epitope sequences, as demonstrated here for antibodies against HIV1-p17, hemagglutinin (HA), and dengue virus type I. The combination of sensitive ratiometric bioluminescent detection and the intrinsic modularity of the LUMABS design provides an attractive generic platform for point-of-care antibody detection that avoids the complex liquid handling steps associated with conventional immunoassays.

  4. Electrochemical processes and mechanistic aspects of field-effect sensors for biomolecules

    PubMed Central

    Huang, Weiguo; Diallo, Abdou Karim; Dailey, Jennifer L.; Besar, Kalpana

    2017-01-01

    Electronic biosensing is a leading technology for determining concentrations of biomolecules. In some cases, the presence of an analyte molecule induces a measured change in current flow, while in other cases, a new potential difference is established. In the particular case of a field effect biosensor, the potential difference is monitored as a change in conductance elsewhere in the device, such as across a film of an underlying semiconductor. Often, the mechanisms that lead to these responses are not specifically determined. Because improved understanding of these mechanisms will lead to improved performance, it is important to highlight those studies where various mechanistic possibilities are investigated. This review explores a range of possible mechanistic contributions to field-effect biosensor signals. First, we define the field-effect biosensor and the chemical interactions that lead to the field effect, followed by a section on theoretical and mechanistic background. We then discuss materials used in field-effect biosensors and approaches to improving signals from field-effect biosensors. We specifically cover the biomolecule interactions that produce local electric fields, structures and processes at interfaces between bioanalyte solutions and electronic materials, semiconductors used in biochemical sensors, dielectric layers used in top-gated sensors, and mechanisms for converting the surface voltage change to higher signal/noise outputs in circuits. PMID:29238595

  5. Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) for Chemical Sensing Applications of Recognition Layers †

    PubMed Central

    2017-01-01

    Surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators represent some of the most prominent acoustic devices for chemical sensing applications. As their frequency ranges from several hundred MHz to GHz, therefore they can record remarkably diminutive frequency shifts resulting from exceptionally small mass loadings. Their miniaturized design, high thermal stability and possibility of wireless integration make these devices highly competitive. Owing to these special characteristics, they are widely accepted as smart transducers that can be combined with a variety of recognition layers based on host-guest interactions, metal oxide coatings, carbon nanotubes, graphene sheets, functional polymers and biological receptors. As a result of this, there is a broad spectrum of SAW sensors, i.e., having sensing applications ranging from small gas molecules to large bio-analytes or even whole cell structures. This review shall cover from the fundamentals to modern design developments in SAW devices with respect to interfacial receptor coatings for exemplary sensor applications. The related problems and their possible solutions shall also be covered, with a focus on emerging trends and future opportunities for making SAW as established sensing technology. PMID:29186771

  6. Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) for Chemical Sensing Applications of Recognition Layers.

    PubMed

    Mujahid, Adnan; Dickert, Franz L

    2017-11-24

    Surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators represent some of the most prominent acoustic devices for chemical sensing applications. As their frequency ranges from several hundred MHz to GHz, therefore they can record remarkably diminutive frequency shifts resulting from exceptionally small mass loadings. Their miniaturized design, high thermal stability and possibility of wireless integration make these devices highly competitive. Owing to these special characteristics, they are widely accepted as smart transducers that can be combined with a variety of recognition layers based on host-guest interactions, metal oxide coatings, carbon nanotubes, graphene sheets, functional polymers and biological receptors. As a result of this, there is a broad spectrum of SAW sensors, i.e., having sensing applications ranging from small gas molecules to large bio-analytes or even whole cell structures. This review shall cover from the fundamentals to modern design developments in SAW devices with respect to interfacial receptor coatings for exemplary sensor applications. The related problems and their possible solutions shall also be covered, with a focus on emerging trends and future opportunities for making SAW as established sensing technology.

  7. CE separation of proteins and yeasts dynamically modified by PEG pyrenebutanoate with fluorescence detection.

    PubMed

    Horká, Marie; Růzicka, Filip; Holá, Veronika; Slais, Karel

    2007-07-01

    The optimized protocols of the bioanalytes separation, proteins and yeasts, dynamically modified by the nonionogenic tenside PEG pyrenebutanoate, were applied in CZE and CIEF with the acidic gradient in pH range 2-5.5, both with fluorescence detection. PEG pyrenebutanoate was used as a buffer additive for a dynamic modification of proteins and/or yeast samples. The narrow peaks of modified analytes were detected. The values of the pI's of the labeled proteins were calculated using new fluorescent pI markers in CIEF and they were found to be comparable with pI's of the native compounds. As an example of the possible use of the suggested CIEF technique, the mixed cultures of yeasts, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Candida zeylanoides, Geotrichum candidum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Trichosporon asahii and Yarrowia lipolytica, were reproducibly focused and separated with high sensitivity. Using UV excitation for the on-column fluorometric detection, the minimum detectable amounts of analytes, femtograms of proteins and down to ten cells injected on the separation capillary, were estimated.

  8. Biomarkers of cigarette smoking and DNA methylating agents: Raman, SERS and DFT study of 3-methyladenine and 7-methyladenine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Harroun, Scott G.; Zhang, Yaoting; Chen, Tzu-Heng; Ku, Ching-Rong; Chang, Huan-Tsung

    2017-04-01

    3-Methyladenine and 7-methyladenine are biomarkers of DNA damage from exposure to methylating agents. For example, the concentration of 3-methyladenine increases significantly in the urine of cigarette smokers. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has shown much potential for detection of biomolecules, including DNA. Much work has been dedicated to the canonical nucleobases, with comparatively fewer investigations of modified DNA and modified DNA nucleobases. Herein, Raman spectroscopy and SERS are used to examine the adsorption orientations of 3-methyladenine and 7-methyladenine on Ag nanoparticles. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP level are used to support the conclusions via simulated spectra of the nucleobases and of Ag+/nucleobase complexes. The results herein show that 7-methyladenine adsorbs upright via its N3 and N9 atoms side, similarly to adenine. 3-Methyladenine adsorbs in a very tilted or flat orientation on the Ag nanoparticles. These findings will be useful for future SERS or other nanoparticle-based bioanalytical assays for detection of these methyladenines or other modified nucleobases.

  9. Exploration of ToxCast/Tox21 bioassays as candidate bioanalytical tools for measuring groups of chemicals in water.

    PubMed

    Louisse, Jochem; Dingemans, Milou M L; Baken, Kirsten A; van Wezel, Annemarie P; Schriks, Merijn

    2018-06-14

    The present study explores the ToxCast/Tox21 database to select candidate bioassays as bioanalytical tools for measuring groups of chemicals in water. To this aim, the ToxCast/Tox21 database was explored for bioassays that detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), aromatic amines (AAs), (chloro)phenols ((C)Ps) and halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons (HAliHs), which are included in the European and/or Dutch Drinking Water Directives. Based on the analysis of the availability and performance of bioassays included in the database, we concluded that several bioassays are suitable as bioanalytical tools for assessing the presence of PAHs and (C)Ps in drinking water sources. No bioassays were identified for AAs and HAliHs, due to the limited activity of these chemicals and/or the limited amount of data on these chemicals in the database. A series of bioassays was selected that measure molecular or cellular effects that are covered by bioassays currently in use for chemical water quality monitoring. Interestingly, also bioassays were selected that represent molecular or cellular effects that are not covered by bioassays currently applied. The usefulness of these newly identified bioassays as bioanalytical tools should be further evaluated in follow-up studies. Altogether, this study shows how exploration of the ToxCast/Tox21 database provides a series of candidate bioassays as bioanalytical tools for measuring groups of chemicals in water. This assessment can be performed for any group of chemicals of interest (if represented in the database), and may provide candidate bioassays that can be used to complement the currently applied bioassays for chemical water quality assessment. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  10. Laboratory automation of high-quality and efficient ligand-binding assays for biotherapeutic drug development.

    PubMed

    Wang, Jin; Patel, Vimal; Burns, Daniel; Laycock, John; Pandya, Kinnari; Tsoi, Jennifer; DeSilva, Binodh; Ma, Mark; Lee, Jean

    2013-07-01

    Regulated bioanalytical laboratories that run ligand-binding assays in support of biotherapeutics development face ever-increasing demand to support more projects with increased efficiency. Laboratory automation is a tool that has the potential to improve both quality and efficiency in a bioanalytical laboratory. The success of laboratory automation requires thoughtful evaluation of program needs and fit-for-purpose strategies, followed by pragmatic implementation plans and continuous user support. In this article, we present the development of fit-for-purpose automation of total walk-away and flexible modular modes. We shared the sustaining experience of vendor collaboration and team work to educate, promote and track the use of automation. The implementation of laboratory automation improves assay performance, data quality, process efficiency and method transfer to CRO in a regulated bioanalytical laboratory environment.

  11. The current skills gaps in analytical sciences are failing industry: debate at the 21st International Reid Bioanalytical Forum.

    PubMed

    Spooner, Neil; Sangster, Timothy

    2016-07-01

    21st International Reid Bioanalytical Forum, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK, 7-10 September 2015 The 21st International Reid Bioanalytical Forum held between 7 and 10 September 2015, brought together over 100 scientists from around the world, representing industry, academia and vendors, for 4 days of engaging science at the University of Surrey in Guildford, UK. The scientific program consisted of 43 podium and 23 poster presentations from key opinion leaders and those just setting out on their scientific career. The latter being the focus of the meeting. One of the highlights of the forum was the debate. An expert panel helped spark off an active discussion among a passionate audience on the topic of 'The Current Skills Gaps in Analytical Sciences are Failing Industry.'

  12. Validated low-volume aldosterone immunoassay tailored to GCLP-compliant investigations in small sample volumes.

    PubMed

    Schaefer, J; Burckhardt, B B; Tins, J; Bartel, A; Laeer, S

    2017-12-01

    Heart failure is well investigated in adults, but data in children is lacking. To overcome this shortage of reliable data, appropriate bioanalytical assays are required. Development and validation of a bioanalytical assay for the determination of aldosterone concentrations in small sample volumes applicable to clinical studies under Good Clinical Laboratory Practice. An immunoassay was developed based on a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and validated according to current bioanalytical guidelines of the EMA and FDA. The assay (range 31.3-1000 pg/mL [86.9-2775 pmol/L]) is characterized by a between-run accuracy from - 3.8% to - 0.8% and a between-run imprecision ranging from 4.9% to 8.9% (coefficient of variation). For within-run accuracy, the relative error was between - 11.1% and + 9.0%, while within-run imprecision ranged from 1.2% to 11.8% (CV). For parallelism and dilutional linearity, the relative error of back-calculated concentrations varied from - 14.1% to + 8.4% and from - 7.4% to + 10.5%, respectively. The immunoassay is compliant with the bioanalytical guidelines of the EMA and FDA and allows accurate and precise aldosterone determinations. As the assay can run low-volume samples, it is especially valuable for pediatric investigations.

  13. Aptamer-phage reporters for ultrasensitive lateral flow assays

    PubMed Central

    Adhikari, Meena; Strych, Ulrich; Kim, Jinsu; Goux, Heather; Dhamane, Sagar; Poongavanam, Mohan-Vivekanandan; Hagström, Anna E. V.; Kourentzi, Katerina; Conrad, Jacinta C.; Willson, Richard C.

    2015-01-01

    We introduce the modification of bacteriophage particles with aptamers for the use as bioanalytical reporters, and demonstrate the use of these particles in ultrasensitive lateral flow assays. M13 phage displaying an in vivo biotinylatable peptide (AviTag) genetically fused to the phage tail protein pIII were used as reporter particle scaffolds, with biotinylated aptamers attached via avidin-biotin linkages, and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) reporter enzymes covalently attached to the pVIII coat protein. These modified viral nanoparticles were used in immunochromatographic sandwich assays for the direct detection of IgE and of the penicillin-binding protein from Staphylococcus aureus (PBP2a). We also developed an additional lateral flow assay for IgE, in which the analyte is sandwiched between immobilized anti-IgE antibodies and aptamer-bearing reporter phage modified with HRP. The limit of detection of this LFA was 0.13 ng/mL IgE, ~100 times lower than those of previously reported IgE assays. PMID:26456715

  14. Aptamer-Phage Reporters for Ultrasensitive Lateral Flow Assays.

    PubMed

    Adhikari, Meena; Strych, Ulrich; Kim, Jinsu; Goux, Heather; Dhamane, Sagar; Poongavanam, Mohan-Vivekanandan; Hagström, Anna E V; Kourentzi, Katerina; Conrad, Jacinta C; Willson, Richard C

    2015-12-01

    We introduce the modification of bacteriophage particles with aptamers for use as bioanalytical reporters, and demonstrate the use of these particles in ultrasensitive lateral flow assays. M13 phage displaying an in vivo biotinylatable peptide (AviTag) genetically fused to the phage tail protein pIII were used as reporter particle scaffolds, with biotinylated aptamers attached via avidin-biotin linkages, and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) reporter enzymes covalently attached to the pVIII coat protein. These modified viral nanoparticles were used in immunochromatographic sandwich assays for the direct detection of IgE and of the penicillin-binding protein from Staphylococcus aureus (PBP2a). We also developed an additional lateral flow assay for IgE, in which the analyte is sandwiched between immobilized anti-IgE antibodies and aptamer-bearing reporter phage modified with HRP. The limit of detection of this LFA was 0.13 ng/mL IgE, ∼100 times lower than those of previously reported IgE assays.

  15. Research in bioanalysis and separations at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

    PubMed

    Hage, David S; Dodds, Eric D; Du, Liangcheng; Powers, Robert

    2011-05-01

    The Chemistry Department at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln (UNL) is located in Hamilton Hall on the main campus of UNL in Lincoln, NE, USA. This department houses the primary graduate and research program in chemistry in the state of Nebraska. This program includes the traditional fields of analytical chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and physical chemistry. However, this program also contains a great deal of multidisciplinary research in fields that range from bioanalytical and biophysical chemistry to nanomaterials, energy research, catalysis and computational chemistry. Current research in bioanalytical and biophysical chemistry at UNL includes work with separation methods such as HPLC and CE, as well as with techniques such as MS and LC-MS, NMR spectroscopy, electrochemical biosensors, scanning probe microscopy and laser spectroscopy. This article will discuss several of these areas, with an emphasis being placed on research in bioanalytical separations, binding assays and related fields.

  16. Bioanalytical procedures for monitoring in utero drug exposure

    PubMed Central

    Gray, Teresa

    2009-01-01

    Drug use by pregnant women has been extensively associated with adverse mental, physical, and psychological outcomes in their exposed children. This manuscript reviews bioanalytical methods for in utero drug exposure monitoring for common drugs of abuse in urine, hair, oral fluid, blood, sweat, meconium, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord tissue, nails, and vernix caseosa; neonatal matrices are particularly emphasized. Advantages and limitations of testing different maternal and neonatal biological specimens including ease and invasiveness of collection, and detection time frames, sensitivities, and specificities are described, and specific references for available analytical methods included. Future research involves identifying metabolites unique to fetal drug metabolism to improve detection rates of in utero drug exposure and determining relationships between the amount, frequency, and timing of drug exposure and drug concentrations in infant biological fluids and tissues. Accurate bioanalytical procedures are vital to defining the scope of and resolving this important public health problem. PMID:17370066

  17. Integrating internal and external bioanalytical support to deliver a diversified pharmaceutical portfolio.

    PubMed

    Summerfield, Scott G; Evans, Christopher; Spooner, Neil; Dunn, John A; Szapacs, Matthew E; Yang, Eric

    2014-05-01

    The portfolios of pharmaceutical companies have diversified substantially over recent years in recognition that monotherapies and/or small molecules are less suitable for modulating many complex disease etiologies. Furthermore, there has been increased pressure on drug-development budgets over this same period. This has placed new challenges in the path of bioanalytical scientists, both within the industry and with contract research organizations (CROs). Large pharmaceutical, biotechnology and small-medium healthcare enterprises have had to make important decisions on what internal capabilities they wish to retain and where CROs offers a significant strategic benefit to their business model. Our journey has involved asking where we believe an internal bioanalytical facility offers the greatest benefit to progressing drug candidates through the drug-development cycle and where externalization can help free up internal resources, adding flexibility to our organization in order to deal with the inevitable peaks and troughs in workload.

  18. Integrated air stream micromixer for performing bioanalytical assays on a plastic chip.

    PubMed

    Geissler, Matthias; Li, Kebin; Zhang, Xuefeng; Clime, Liviu; Robideau, Gregg P; Bilodeau, Guillaume J; Veres, Teodor

    2014-10-07

    This paper describes the design, functioning and use of an integrated mixer that relies on air flux to agitate microliter entities of fluid in an embedded microfluidic cavity. The system was fabricated from multiple layers of a thermoplastic elastomer and features circuits for both liquid and air supply along with pneumatic valves for process control. Internally-dyed polymer particles have been used to visualize flow within the fluid phase during agitation. Numerical modelling of the micromixer revealed an overall efficacy of 10(-1) to 10(-2) for momentum transfer at the air-water interface. Simulation of air vortex dynamics showed dependency of the flow pattern on the velocity of the flux entering the cavity. Three bioanalytical assays have been performed as proof-of-concept demonstrations. In a first assay, cells of Listeria monocytogenes were combined with magnetic nanoparticles (NPs), resulting in high-density coverage of the bacteria's surface with NPs after 1 min of agitation. This finding is contrasted by a control experiment without agitation for which interaction between bacteria and NPs remains low. In a second one, capture and release of genomic DNA from fungi through adsorption onto magnetic beads was tested and shown to be improved by agitation compared to non-agitated controls. A third assay finally involved fluorescently-labelled target oligonucleotide strands and polystyrene particles modified with DNA capture probes to perform detection of nucleic acids on beads. Excellent selectivity was obtained in a competitive hybridization process using a multiplexed micromixer chip design.

  19. Benzofurazane as a new redox label for electrochemical detection of DNA: towards multipotential redox coding of DNA bases.

    PubMed

    Balintová, Jana; Plucnara, Medard; Vidláková, Pavlína; Pohl, Radek; Havran, Luděk; Fojta, Miroslav; Hocek, Michal

    2013-09-16

    Benzofurazane has been attached to nucleosides and dNTPs, either directly or through an acetylene linker, as a new redox label for electrochemical analysis of nucleotide sequences. Primer extension incorporation of the benzofurazane-modified dNTPs by polymerases has been developed for the construction of labeled oligonucleotide probes. In combination with nitrophenyl and aminophenyl labels, we have successfully developed a three-potential coding of DNA bases and have explored the relevant electrochemical potentials. The combination of benzofurazane and nitrophenyl reducible labels has proved to be excellent for ratiometric analysis of nucleotide sequences and is suitable for bioanalytical applications. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  20. Quantitative determination of a chemically modified hammerhead ribozyme in blood plasma using 96-well solid-phase extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography or capillary gel electrophoresis.

    PubMed

    Bellon, L; Maloney, L; Zinnen, S P; Sandberg, J A; Johnson, K E

    2000-08-01

    Versatile bioanalytical assays to detect chemically stabilized hammerhead ribozyme and putative ribozyme metabolites from plasma are described. The extraction protocols presented are based on serial solid-phase extractions performed on a 96-well plate format and are compatible with either IEX-HPLC or CGE back-end analysis. A validation of both assays confirmed that both the HPLC and the CGE methods possess the required linearity, accuracy, and precision to accurately measure concentrations of hammerhead ribozyme extracted from plasma. These methods should be of general use to detect and quantitate ribozymes from other biological fluids such as serum and urine. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

  1. Light-Addressable Potentiometric Sensors using ZnO Nanorods as the Sensor Substrate for Bioanalytical Applications.

    PubMed

    Tu, Ying; Ahmad, Norlaily; Briscoe, Joe; Zhang, De-Wen; Krause, Steffi

    2018-06-22

    Light-addressable potentiometric sensors (LAPS) are of great interest in bioimaging applications such as the monitoring of concentrations in microfluidic channels or the investigation of metabolic and signaling events in living cells. By measuring the photocurrents at electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) and electrolyte-semiconductor structures, LAPS can produce spatiotemporal images of chemical or biological analytes, electrical potentials and impedance. However, its commercial applications are often restricted by their limited AC photocurrents and resolution of LAPS images. Herein, for the first time, the use of 1D semiconducting oxides in the form of ZnO nanorods for LAPS imaging is explored to solve this issue. A significantly increased AC photocurrent with enhanced image resolution has been achieved based on ZnO nanorods, with a photocurrent of 45.7 ± 0.1 nA at a light intensity of 0.05 mW, a lateral resolution as low as 3.0 μm as demonstrated by images of a PMMA dot on ZnO nanorods and a pH sensitivity of 53 mV/pH. The suitability of the device for bioanalysis and bioimaging was demonstrated by monitoring the degradation of a thin poly(ester amide) film with the enzyme α-chymotrypsin using LAPS. This simple and robust route to fabricate LAPS substrates with excellent performance would provide tremendous opportunities for bioimaging.

  2. Electrochemiluminescent pH sensor measured by the emission potential of TiO2 nanocrystals and its biosensing application.

    PubMed

    Liu, Xuan; Wang, Nianyue; Zhao, Wei; Jiang, Hui

    2015-02-01

    This work reports for the first time a potential-based nano-electrochemiluminescent (ECL) pH sensor, using anatase TiO2 nanocrystals (NCs) as the ECL probe. The first ECL peak potential of the TiO2 NCs shifted negatively with increasing pH, showing a linear range from -0.47 V (vs Ag/AgCl) at pH 3 to -1.06 V at pH 10. This phenomenon was attributed to the absorption of 'potential-determining ions' of OH(-) on the surface of TiO2 NCs, leading to larger impedance of the electron injection. Other common 'potential-determining ions', such as phosphate, induced a slight potential shift of 0.03 V at a concentration of 0.1 M. Using urease as an enzyme model, a urea biosensor was developed by the simultaneous modification of urease and TiO2 NCs on indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrodes. The biosensor, measured on the basis of the pH increase caused by the enzyme catalysis reaction, had a linear range of 0.01-2.0 mM, with a potential shift of 0.175 V. The as-prepared pH sensor, which has simple construction procedures and acceptable sensitivity and selectivity, may provide new avenues for the construction of ECL bioanalytical methodologies. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  3. In Silico Evaluation of the Potential Impact of Bioanalytical Bias Difference between Two Therapeutic Protein Formulations for Pharmacokinetic Assessment in a Biocomparability Study.

    PubMed

    Thway, Theingi M; Macaraeg, Chris; Eschenberg, Michael; Ma, Mark

    2015-05-01

    Formulation changes at later stages of biotherapeutics development require biocomparability (BC) assessment. Using simulation, this study aims to determine the potential effect of bias difference observed between the two formulations after spiking into serum in passing or failing of a critical BC study. An ELISA method with 20% total error was used to assess any bias differences between a reference (RF) and test formulations (TF) in serum. During bioanalytical comparison of these formulations, a 9% difference in bias was observed between the two formulations in sera. To determine acceptable level of bias difference between the RF and TF bioanalytically, two in silico simulations were performed. The in silico analysis showed that the likelihood of the study meeting the BC criteria was >90% when the bias difference between RF and TF in serum was 9% and the number of subjects was ≥20 per treatment arm. An additional simulation showed that when the bias difference was increased to 13% and the number of subjects was <40, the likelihood of meeting the BC criteria decreased to 80%. The result from in silico analysis allowed the bioanalytical laboratory to proceed with sample analysis using a single calibrator and quality controls made from the reference formulation. This modeling approach can be applied to other BC studies with similar situations.

  4. Recent development in software and automation tools for high-throughput discovery bioanalysis.

    PubMed

    Shou, Wilson Z; Zhang, Jun

    2012-05-01

    Bioanalysis with LC-MS/MS has been established as the method of choice for quantitative determination of drug candidates in biological matrices in drug discovery and development. The LC-MS/MS bioanalytical support for drug discovery, especially for early discovery, often requires high-throughput (HT) analysis of large numbers of samples (hundreds to thousands per day) generated from many structurally diverse compounds (tens to hundreds per day) with a very quick turnaround time, in order to provide important activity and liability data to move discovery projects forward. Another important consideration for discovery bioanalysis is its fit-for-purpose quality requirement depending on the particular experiments being conducted at this stage, and it is usually not as stringent as those required in bioanalysis supporting drug development. These aforementioned attributes of HT discovery bioanalysis made it an ideal candidate for using software and automation tools to eliminate manual steps, remove bottlenecks, improve efficiency and reduce turnaround time while maintaining adequate quality. In this article we will review various recent developments that facilitate automation of individual bioanalytical procedures, such as sample preparation, MS/MS method development, sample analysis and data review, as well as fully integrated software tools that manage the entire bioanalytical workflow in HT discovery bioanalysis. In addition, software tools supporting the emerging high-resolution accurate MS bioanalytical approach are also discussed.

  5. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for the detection of pathogenic DNA and protein in foods

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chowdhury, Mustafa H.; Atkinson, Brad; Good, Theresa; Cote, Gerard L.

    2003-07-01

    Traditional Raman spectroscopy while extremely sensitive to structure and conformation, is an ineffective tool for the detection of bioanalytes at the sub milimolar level. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) is a technique developed more recently that has been used with applaudable success to enhance the Raman cross-section of a molecule by factors of 106 to 1014. This technique can be exploited in a nanoscale biosensor for the detection of pathogenic proteins and DNA in foods by using a biorecognition molecule to bring a target analyte in close proximity to the mental surface. This is expected to produce a SERS signal of the target analyte, thus making it possible to easily discriminate between the target analyte and possible confounders. In order for the sensor to be effective, the Raman spectra of the target analyte would have to be distinct from that of the biorecognition molecule, as both would be in close proximity to the metal surface and thus be subjected to the SERS effect. In our preliminary studies we have successfully used citrate reduced silver colloidal particles to obtain unique SERS spectra of α-helical and β-sheet bovine serum albumin (BSA) that served as models of an α helical antiobiody (biorecognition element) and a β-sheet target protein (pathogenic prion). In addition, the unique SERS spectra of double stranded and single stranded DNA were also obtained where the single stranded DNA served as the model for the biorecognition element and the double stranded DNA served as themodel for the DNA probe/target hybrid. This provides a confirmation of the feasibility of the method which opens opportunities for potentially wide spread applications in the detection of food pathogens, biowarefare agents, andother bio-analytes.

  6. Cadmium-free aqueous synthesis of ZnSe and ZnSe@ZnS core-shell quantum dots and their differential bioanalyte sensing potential

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mir, Irshad Ahmad; Rawat, Kamla; Bohidar, H. B.

    2016-10-01

    Herein we report a facile and cadmium-free approach to prepare water-soluble fluorescent ZnSe@ZnS core-shell quantum dots (QDs), using thioglycolic acid (TGA) ligand as a stabilizer and thiourea as a sulfur source. The optical properties and morphology of the obtained core-shell QDs were characterized by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX), x-ray diffraction (XRD), electrophoresis and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. TEM analysis, and electrophoresis data showed that ZnSe core had an average size of 3.60 ± 0.12 nm and zeta potential of -38 mV; and for ZnSe@ZnS QDs, the mean size was 4.80 ± 0.20 nm and zeta potential was -45 mV. Compared to the core ZnSe QDs, the quantum yield of these core-shell structures was higher (13% versus 32%). These were interacted with five common bioanalytes such as, ascorbic acid, citric acid, oxalic acid, glucose and cholesterol which revealed fluorescence quenching due to concentration dependent binding of analytes to the core only, and core-shell QDs. The binding pattern followed the sequence: cholesterol < glucose < ascorbic acid < oxalic acid < citric acid for ZnSe, and cholesterol < glucose < oxalic acid < ascorbic acid < citric acid for core-shell QDs. Thus, enhanced binding was noticed for the analyte citric acid which may facilitate development of a fluorescence-based sensor based on the ZnSe core-only quantum dot platform. Further, the hydrophilic core-shell structure may find use in cell imaging applications.

  7. Fiber optic sensor and method for making

    DOEpatents

    Vartuli, James Scott; Bousman, Kenneth Sherwood; Deng, Kung-Li; McEvoy, Kevin Paul; Xia, Hua

    2010-05-18

    A fiber optic sensor including a fiber having a modified surface integral with the fiber wherein the modified surface includes an open pore network with optical agents dispersed within the open pores of the open pore network. Methods for preparing the fiber optic sensor are also provided. The fiber optic sensors can withstand high temperatures and harsh environments.

  8. QbD-oriented development and validation of a bioanalytical method for nevirapine with enhanced liquid-liquid extraction and chromatographic separation.

    PubMed

    Beg, Sarwar; Chaudhary, Vandna; Sharma, Gajanand; Garg, Babita; Panda, Sagar Suman; Singh, Bhupinder

    2016-06-01

    The present studies describe the systematic quality by design (QbD)-oriented development and validation of a simple, rapid, sensitive and cost-effective reversed-phase HPLC bioanalytical method for nevirapine in rat plasma. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a C18 column using isocratic 68:9:23% v/v elution of methanol, acetonitrile and water (pH 3, adjusted by orthophosphoric acid) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min using UV detection at 230 nm. A Box-Behnken design was applied for chromatographic method optimization taking mobile phase ratio, pH and flow rate as the critical method parameters (CMPs) from screening studies. Peak area, retention time, theoretical plates and peak tailing were measured as the critical analytical attributes (CAAs). Further, the bioanalytical liquid-liquid extraction process was optimized using an optimal design by selecting extraction time, centrifugation speed and temperature as the CMPs for percentage recovery of nevirapine as the CAA. The search for an optimum chromatographic solution was conducted through numerical desirability function. Validation studies performed as per the US Food and Drug Administration requirements revealed results within the acceptance limit. In a nutshell, the studies successfully demonstrate the utility of analytical QbD approach for the rational development of a bioanalytical method with enhanced chromatographic separation and recovery of nevirapine in rat plasma. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  9. Plasma-Treated Microplates with Enhanced Protein Recoveries and Minimized Extractables

    PubMed Central

    Weikart, Christopher M.; Klibanov, Alexander M.; Breeland, Adam P.; Taha, Ahmad H.; Maurer, Brian R.; Martin, Steven P.

    2016-01-01

    SiO2 Medical Products, Inc. (SiO) has developed a proprietary technology that greatly enhances protein recoveries and reduces extractables from commercial microplates used for bioanalytical assays and storage of biologics. SiO technology is based on plasma treatment that chemically modifies the surface of polypropylene with predominantly hydrogen-bond-acceptor uncharged polar groups. The resultant surface resists nonspecific protein adsorption over a wide range of protein concentrations, thereby eliminating the need to passivate (and hence potentially contaminate) the microplates with blocking proteins. High shelf-life stability and cleanliness of the plasma-treated microplates have been demonstrated using five different proteins for two common microplate formats. The protein recovery performance of plasma-treated microplates is found to be higher compared with commercial low-protein-binding microplates. PMID:27651466

  10. A Multi-Region Magnetoimpedance-Based Bio-Analytical System for Ultrasensitive Simultaneous Determination of Cardiac Biomarkers Myoglobin and C-Reactive Protein.

    PubMed

    Yang, Zhen; Wang, Huanhuan; Guo, Pengfei; Ding, Yuanyuan; Lei, Chong; Luo, Yongsong

    2018-06-01

    Cardiac biomarkers (CBs) are substances that appear in the blood when the heart is damaged or stressed. Measurements of the level of CBs can be used in course of diagnostics or monitoring the state of the health of group risk persons. A multi-region bio-analytical system (MRBAS) based on magnetoimpedance (MI) changes was proposed for ultrasensitive simultaneous detection of CBs myoglobin (Mb) and C-reactive protein (CRP). The microfluidic device was designed and developed using standard microfabrication techniques for their usage in different regions, which were pre-modified with specific antibody for specified detection. Mb and CRP antigens labels attached to commercial Dynabeads with selected concentrations were trapped in different detection regions. The MI response of the triple sensitive element was carefully evaluated in initial state and in the presence of biomarkers. The results showed that the MI-based bio-sensing system had high selectivity and sensitivity for detection of CBs. Compared with the control region, ultrasensitive detections of CRP and Mb were accomplished with the detection limits of 1.0 pg/mL and 0.1 pg/mL, respectively. The linear detection range contained low concentration detection area and high concentration detection area, which were 1 pg/mL⁻10 ng/mL, 10⁻100 ng/mL for CRP, and 0.1 pg/mL⁻1 ng/mL, 1 n/mL⁻80 ng/mL for Mb. The measurement technique presented here provides a new methodology for multi-target biomolecules rapid testing.

  11. Selective Amplification of SPR Biosensor Signal for Recognition of rpoB Gene Fragments by Use of Gold Nanoparticles Modified by Thiolated DNA

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Matsishin, M.; Rachkov, A.; Lopatynskyi, A.; Chegel, V.; Soldatkin, A.; El'skaya, A.

    2017-04-01

    An experimental approach for improving the sensitivity of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) DNA hybridization sensor using gold nanoparticles (GNPs), modified by specific oligonucleotides, was elaborated. An influence of the ionic strength on the aggregation stability of unmodified GNPs and GNPs modified by the thiolated oligonucleotides was investigated by monitoring a value of light extinction at 520 nm that can be considered as a measure of a quantity of the non-aggregated GNPs. While the unmodified GNPs started to aggregate in 0.2 × saline-sodium citrate (SSC), GNPs modified by the negatively charged oligonucleotides were more stable at increasing ionic strength up to 0.5 × SSC. A bioselective element of the SPR DNA hybridization sensor was formed by immobilization on the gold sensor surface of the thiolated oligonucleotides P2, the sequence of which is a fragment of the rpoB gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The injections into the measuring flow cell of the SPR spectrometer of various concentrations of GNPs modified by the complementary oligonucleotides T2-18m caused the pronounced concentration-dependent sequence-specific sensor responses. The magnitude of the sensor responses was much higher than in the case of the free standing complementary oligonucleotides. According to the obtained experimental data, the usage of GNPs modified by specific oligonucleotides can amplify the sensor response of the SPR DNA hybridization sensor in 1200 times.

  12. Investigations on pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of polymeric and solid lipid nanoparticulate systems of atypical antipsychotic drug: effect of material used and surface modification.

    PubMed

    Joseph, Emil; Saha, Ranendra N

    2017-04-01

    The present study focuses on the effect of material used for the preparation of nanoparticulate (NP) systems and surface modification on the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of atypical antipsychotic, olanzapine (OLN). NP carriers of OLN were prepared from two different materials such as polymer (polycaprolactone) and solid lipid (Glyceryl monostearate). These systems were further surface modified with surfactant, Polysorbate 80 and studied for pharmacokinetics-biodistribution in Wistar rats using in-house developed bioanalytical methods. The pharmacokinetics and biodistribution studies resulted in a modified and varied distribution of NP systems with higher area under curve (AUC) values along with prolonged residence time of OLN in the rat blood circulation. The distribution of OLN to the brain was significantly enhanced with surfactant surface-modified NP systems, followed by nonsurface-modified NP formulations as compared with pure OLN solution. Biodistribution study demonstrated a low uptake of obtained NP systems by kidney and heart, thereby decreasing the nephrotoxicity and adverse cardiovascular effects. By coating the NP with surfactant, uptake of macrophage was found to be reduced. Thus, our studies confirmed that the biodistribution OLN could be modified effectively by incorporating in NP drug delivery systems prepared from different materials and surface modifications. A judicious selection of materials used for the preparation of delivery carriers and surface modifications would help to design a most efficient drug delivery system with better therapeutic efficacy.

  13. A Silver Nanoparticle-Modified Evanescent Field Optical Fiber Sensor for Methylene Blue Detection

    PubMed Central

    Luo, Ji; Yao, Jun; Lu, Yonggang; Ma, Wenying; Zhuang, Xuye

    2013-01-01

    A silver nanoparticle-modified evanescent field optical fiber sensor based on a MEMS microchannel chip has been successfully fabricated. Experimental results show that the sensor response decreases linearly with increasing concentration of analyte. Over a range of methylene blue concentrations from 0 to 0.4 μmol/mL, the sensor response is linear (R = 0.9496). A concentration variation of 0.1 μmol/mL can cause an absorbance change of 0.402 dB. Moreover, the optical responses of the same sensing fiber without decoration and modified with silver nanoparticles have also been compared. It can be observed that the output intensity of the Ag nanoparticle-modified sensor is enhanced and the sensitivity is higher. Meanwhile, the absorbance spectra are found to be more sensitive to concentration changes compared to the spectra of the peak wavelength. PMID:23519353

  14. A cross-reactive sensor array for the fluorescence qualitative analysis of heavy metal ions.

    PubMed

    Kang, Huaizhi; Lin, Liping; Rong, Mingcong; Chen, Xi

    2014-11-01

    A cross-reactive sensor array using mercaptopropionic acid modified cadmium telluride (CdTe), glutathione modified CdTe, poly(methacrylic acid) modified silver nanoclusters, bovine serum albumin modified gold nanoclusters, rhodamine derivative and calcein blue as fluorescent indicators has been designed for the detection of seven heavy metal ions (Ag(+), Hg(2+), Pb(2+), Cu(2+), Cr(3+), Mn(2+) and Cd(2+)). The discriminatory capacity of the sensor array to different heavy metal ions in different pH solutions has been tested and the results have been analyzed with linear discriminant analysis. Results showed that the sensor array could be used to qualitatively analyze the selected heavy metal ions. The array performance was also evaluated in the identification of known and unknown samples and the preliminary results suggested the promising practicability of the designed sensor assay. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. An ultrasensitive quantum dots fluorescent polarization immunoassay based on the antibody modified Au nanoparticles amplifying for the detection of adenosine triphosphate.

    PubMed

    He, Yanlong; Tian, Jianniao; Hu, Kun; Zhang, Juanni; Chen, Sheng; Jiang, Yixuan; Zhao, Yanchun; Zhao, Shulin

    2013-11-13

    In this work, an ultrasensitive fluorescent polarization immunoassay (FPIA) method based on the quantum dot/aptamer/antibody/gold nanoparticles ensemble has been developed for the detection of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). DNA hybridization is formed when ATP is present in the PBS solution containing the DNA-conjugated quantum dots (QDs) and antibody-AuNPs. The substantial sensitivity improvement of the antibody-AuNPs-enhanced method is mainly attributed to the slower rotation of fluorescent unit when QDs-labeled oligonucleotides hybridize with antibody modified the gold nanoparticle. As a result, the fluorescent polarization (FP) values of the system increase significantly. Under the optimal conditions, a linear response with ATP concentration is ranged from 8×10(-12) M to 2.40×10(-4) M. The detection limit reached as low as 1.8 pM. The developed work provides a sensitive and selective immunoassay protocol for ATP detection, which could be applied in more bioanalytical systems. Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. The multifunctional application of microfluidic lab-on-a-chip surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (LOC-SERS) within the field of bioanalytics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    März, Anne; Mönch, Bettina; Walter, Angela; Bocklitz, Thomas; Schumacher, Wilm; Rösch, Petra; Kiehntopf, Michael; Popp, Jürgen

    2011-07-01

    This contribution will present a variety of applications of lab-on-a-chip surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy in the field of bioanalytic. Beside the quantification and online monitoring of drugs and pharmaceuticals, determination of enzyme activity and discrimination of bacteria are successfully carried out utilizing LOC-SERS. The online-monitoring of drugs using SERS in a microfluidic device is demonstrated for nicotine. The enzyme activity of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) in lysed red blood cells is determined by SERS in a lab-on-a-chip device. To analyse the activity of TPMT the metabolism of 6-mercaptopurine to 6-methylmercaptopurine is investigated. The discrimination of bacteria on strain level is carried out with different E. coli strains. For the investigations, the bacteria are busted by ultra sonic to achieve a high information output. This sample preparation provides the possibility to detect SERS spectra containing information of the bacterial cell walls as well as of the cytoplasm. This contribution demonstrates the great potential of LOC-SERS in the field of bioanalytics.

  17. Molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor based on amine group modified graphene covalently linked electrode for 4-nonylphenol detection.

    PubMed

    Chen, Hong-Jun; Zhang, Zhao-Hui; Cai, Rong; Chen, Xing; Liu, Yu-Nan; Rao, Wei; Yao, Shou-Zhuo

    2013-10-15

    In this work, an imprinted electrochemical sensor based on electrochemical reduced graphene covalently modified carbon electrode was developed for the determination of 4-nonylphenol (NP). An amine-terminated functional graphene oxide was covalently modified onto the electrode surface with diazonium salt reactions to improve the stability and reproducibility of the imprinted sensor. The electrochemical properties of each modified electrodes were investigated with differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The electrochemical characteristic of the imprinted sensor was also investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in detail. The response currents of the imprinted electrode exhibited a linear relationship toward 4-nonylphenol concentration ranging from 1.0 × 10(-11) to 1.0 × 10(-8) gm L(-1) with the detection limit of 3.5 × 10(-12) gm L(-1) (S/N=3). The fabricated electrochemical imprinted sensor was successfully applied to the detection of 4-nonylphenol in rain and lake water samples. Crown Copyright © 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. Piezoelectric sensor for sensitive determination of metal ions based on the phosphate-modified dendrimer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, S. H.; Shen, C. Y.; Lin, Y. M.; Du, J. C.

    2016-08-01

    Heavy metal ions arising from human activities are retained strongly in water; therefore public water supplies must be monitored regularly to ensure the timely detection of potential problems. A phosphate-modified dendrimer film was investigated on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) for sensing metal ions in water at room temperature in this study. The chemical structures and sensing properties were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and QCM measurement, respectively. This phosphate-modified dendrimer sensor can directly detect metal ions in aqueous solutions. This novel sensor was evaluated for its capacity to sense various metal ions. The sensor exhibited a higher sensitivity level and shorter response time to copper(II) ions than other sensors. The linear detection range of the prepared QCM based on the phosphate-modified dendrimer was 0.0001 ∼ 1 μM Cu(II) ions (R2 = 0.98). The detection properties, including sensitivity, response time, selectivity, reusability, maximum adsorption capacity, and adsorption equilibrium constants, were also investigated.

  19. X-ray free electron lasers motivate bioanalytical characterization of protein nanocrystals: serial femtosecond crystallography.

    PubMed

    Bogan, Michael J

    2013-04-02

    Atomic resolution structures of large biomacromolecular complexes can now be recorded at room temperature from crystals with submicrometer dimensions using intense femtosecond pulses delivered by the world's largest and most powerful X-ray machine, a laser called the Linac Coherent Light Source. Abundant opportunities exist for the bioanalytical sciences to help extend this revolutionary advance in structural biology to the ultimate goal of recording molecular-movies of noncrystalline biomacromolecules. This Feature will introduce the concept of serial femtosecond crystallography to the nonexpert, briefly review progress to date, and highlight some potential contributions from the analytical sciences.

  20. Smart polymers as surface modifiers for bioanalytical devices and biomaterials: theory and practice

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ivanov, A. E.; Zubov, V. P.

    2016-06-01

    Smart, or responsive polymers can reversibly change their state of aggregation, thus switching from water-soluble to insoluble state, in response to minor changes in temperature, pH or solvent composition. Grafting of these polymers to solid surfaces imparts the surfaces with controllable wettability and adsorption behaviour. The review summarizes the theoretical models and the results of physical measurements of the conformational transitions in grafted polymer chains and polymer brushes. Primary attention is paid to the grafting density and the length and spatial arrangement of grafted chains, the role of polystyrene, organosilane or alkanethiol sublayers and their effects on adsorption of proteins and adhesion of cells. The key applications of grafted smart polymers such as cell culture and tissue engineering, cell and protein separation, biosensing and targeted drug delivery are surveyed. The bibliography includes 174 references.

  1. Bioanalytical effect-balance model to determine the bioavailability of organic contaminants in sediments affected by black and natural carbon.

    PubMed

    Bräunig, Jennifer; Tang, Janet Y M; Warne, Michael St J; Escher, Beate I

    2016-08-01

    In sediments several binding phases dictate the fate and bioavailability of organic contaminants. Black carbon (BC) has a high sorptive capacity for organic contaminants and can limit their bioavailability, while the fraction bound to organic carbon (OC) is considered to be readily desorbable and bioavailable. We investigated the bioavailability and mixture toxicity of sediment-associated contaminants by combining different extraction techniques with in vitro bioanalytical tools. Sediments from a harbour with high fraction of BC, and sediments from remote, agricultural and urban areas with lower BC were treated with exhaustive solvent extraction, Tenax extraction and passive sampling to estimate total, bioaccessible and bioavailable fractions, respectively. The extracts were characterized with cell-based bioassays that measure dioxin-like activity (AhR-CAFLUX) and the adaptive stress response to oxidative stress (AREc32). Resulting bioanalytical equivalents, which are effect-scaled concentrations, were applied in an effect-balance model, consistent with a mass balance-partitioning model for single chemicals. Sediments containing BC had most of the bioactivity associated to the BC fraction, while the OC fraction played a role for sediments with lower BC. As effect-based sediment-water distribution ratios demonstrated, most of the bioactivity in the AhR-CAFLUX was attributable to hydrophobic chemicals while more hydrophilic chemicals activated AREc32, even though bioanalytical equivalents in the aqueous phase remained negligible. This approach can be used to understand the fate and effects of mixtures of diverse organic contaminants in sediments that would not be possible if single chemicals were targeted by chemical analysis; and make informed risk-based decisions concerning the management of contaminated sediments. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Integrated quantitative and qualitative workflow for in vivo bioanalytical support in drug discovery using hybrid Q-TOF-MS.

    PubMed

    Ranasinghe, Asoka; Ramanathan, Ragu; Jemal, Mohammed; D'Arienzo, Celia J; Humphreys, W Griffith; Olah, Timothy V

    2012-03-01

    UHPLC coupled with orthogonal acceleration hybrid quadrupole-TOF (Q-TOF)-MS is an emerging technique offering new strategies for the efficient screening of new chemical entities and related molecules at the early discovery stage within the pharmaceutical industry. In the first part of this article, we examine the main instrumental parameters that are critical for the integration of UHPLC-Q-TOF technology to existing bioanalytical workflows, in order to provide simultaneous quantitative and qualitative bioanalysis of samples generated following in vivo studies. Three modern Q-TOF mass spectrometers, including Bruker maXis™, Agilent 6540 and Sciex TripleTOF™ 5600, all interfaced with UHPLC systems, are evaluated in the second part of the article. The scope of this work is to demonstrate the potential of Q-TOF for the analysis of typical small molecules, therapeutic peptides (molecular weight <6000 Da), and enzymatically (i.e., trypsin, chymotrypsin and pepsin) cleaved peptides from larger proteins. This work focuses mainly on full-scan TOF data obtained under ESI conditions, the major mode of TOF operation in discovery bioanalytical research, where the compounds are selected based on their pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic behaviors using animal models prior to selecting a few desirable candidates for further development. Finally, important emerging TOF technologies that could potentially benefit bioanalytical research in the semi-quantification of metabolites without synthesized standards are discussed. Particularly, the utility of captive spray ionization coupled with TripleTOF 5600 was evaluated for improving sensitivity and providing normalized MS response for drugs and their metabolites. The workflow proposed compromises neither the efficiency, nor the quality of pharmacokinetic data in support of early drug discovery programs.

  3. Activity-Based Detection and Bioanalytical Confirmation of a Fatal Carfentanil Intoxication.

    PubMed

    Cannaert, Annelies; Ambach, Lars; Blanckaert, Peter; Stove, Christophe P

    2018-01-01

    Carfentanil, one of the most potent opioids known, has recently been reported as a contaminant in street heroin in the United States and Europe, and is associated with an increased number of life-threatening emergency department admissions and deaths. Here, we report on the application of a novel in vitro opioid activity reporter assay and a sensitive bioanalytical assay in the context of a fatal carfentanil intoxication, revealing the highest carfentanil concentrations reported until now. A 21-year-old male was found dead at home with a note stating that he had taken carfentanil with suicidal intentions. A foil bag and plastic bag labeled "C.50" were found at the scene. These bags were similar to a sample obtained by the Belgian Early Warning System on Drugs from a German darknet shop and to those found in the context of a fatality in Norway. Blood, urine and vitreous, obtained during autopsy, were screened with a newly developed in vitro opioid activity reporter assay able to detect compounds based on their μ-opioid receptor activity rather than their chemical structure. All extracts showed strong opioid activity. Results were confirmed by a bioanalytical assay, which revealed extremely high concentrations for carfentanil and norcarfentanil. It should be noted that carfentanil concentrations are typically in pg/mL, but here they were 92 ng/mL in blood, 2.8 ng/mL in urine, and 23 ng/mL in vitreous. The blood and vitreous contained 0.532 and 0.300 ng/mL norcarfentanil, respectively. No norcarfentanil was detected in urine. This is the first report where a novel activity-based opioid screening assay was successfully deployed in a forensic case. Confirmation and quantification using a validated bioanalytical procedure revealed the, to our knowledge, highest carfentanil concentrations reported in humans so far.

  4. Modeling and simulation of soft sensor design for real-time speed estimation, measurement and control of induction motor.

    PubMed

    Etien, Erik

    2013-05-01

    This paper deals with the design of a speed soft sensor for induction motor. The sensor is based on the physical model of the motor. Because the validation step highlight the fact that the sensor cannot be validated for all the operating points, the model is modified in order to obtain a fully validated sensor in the whole speed range. An original feature of the proposed approach is that the modified model is derived from stability analysis using automatic control theory. Copyright © 2012 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Development of a Hydrogen Peroxide Sensor Based on Screen-Printed Electrodes Modified with Inkjet-Printed Prussian Blue Nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Cinti, Stefano; Arduini, Fabiana; Moscone, Danila; Palleschi, Giuseppe; Killard, Anthony J.

    2014-01-01

    A sensor for the simple and sensitive measurement of hydrogen peroxide has been developed which is based on screen printed electrodes (SPEs) modified with Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs) deposited using piezoelectric inkjet printing. PBNP-modified SPEs were characterized using physical and electrochemical techniques to optimize the PBNP layer thickness and electroanalytical conditions for optimum measurement of hydrogen peroxide. Sensor optimization resulted in a limit of detection of 2 × 10−7 M, a linear range from 0 to 4.5 mM and a sensitivity of 762 μA·mM−1·cm−2 which was achieved using 20 layers of printed PBNPs. Sensors also demonstrated excellent reproducibility (<5% rsd). PMID:25093348

  6. Electrochemical sensing of bisphenol using a multilayer graphene nanobelt modified photolithography patterned platinum electrode

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Karthick Kannan, Padmanathan; Hu, Chunxiao; Morgan, Hywel; Moshkalev, Stanislav A.; Sekhar Rout, Chandra

    2016-09-01

    An electrochemical sensor has been developed for the detection of Bisphenol-A (BPA) using photolithographically patterned platinum electrodes modified with multilayer graphene nanobelts (GNB). Compared to bare electrodes, the GNB modified electrode exhibited enhanced BPA oxidation current, due to the high effective surface area and high adsorption capacity of the GNB. The sensor showed a linear response over the concentration range from 0.5 μM-9 μM with a very low limit of detection = 37.33 nM. In addition, the sensor showed very good stability and reproducibility with good specificity, demonstrating that GNB is potentially a new material for the development of a practical BPA electrochemical sensor with application in both industrial and plastic industries.

  7. Phase retrieval using a modified Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor with defocus.

    PubMed

    Li, Changwei; Li, Bangming; Zhang, Sijiong

    2014-02-01

    This paper proposes a modified Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor for phase retrieval. The sensor is revamped by placing a detector at a defocused plane before the focal plane of the lenslet array of the Shack-Hartmann sensor. The algorithm for phase retrieval is an optimization with initial Zernike coefficients calculated by the conventional phase reconstruction of the Shack-Hartmann sensor. Numerical simulations show that the proposed sensor permits sensitive, accurate phase retrieval. Furthermore, experiments tested the feasibility of phase retrieval using the proposed sensor. The surface irregularity for a flat mirror was measured by the proposed method and a Veeco interferometer, respectively. The irregularity for the mirror measured by the proposed method is in very good agreement with that measured using the Veeco interferometer.

  8. Development of electrochemical sensor for the determination of palladium ions (Pd2+) using flexible screen printed un-modified carbon electrode.

    PubMed

    Velmurugan, Murugan; Thirumalraj, Balamurugan; Chen, Shen-Ming; Al-Hemaid, Fahad M A; Ajmal Ali, M; Elshikh, Mohamed S

    2017-01-01

    To date, the development of different modified electrodes have received much attention in electrochemistry. The modified electrodes have some drawbacks such as high cost, difficult to handle and not eco friendly. Hence, we report an electrochemical sensor for the determination of palladium ions (Pd 2+ ) using an un-modified screen printed carbon electrode has been developed for the first time, which are characterized and studied via scanning electron microscope and cyclic voltammetry. Prior to determination of Pd 2+ ions, the operational conditions of un-modified SPCE was optimized using cyclic voltammetry and showed excellent electro-analytical behavior towards the determination of Pd 2+ ions. Electrochemical determination of Pd 2+ ions reveal that the un-modified electrode showed lower detection limit of 1.32μM with a linear ranging from 3 to 133.35μM towards the Pd 2+ ions concentration via differential pulse voltammetry. The developed sensor also applied to the successfully determination of trace level Pd 2+ ions in spiked water samples. In addition, the advantage of this type of electrode is simple, disposable and cost effective in electrochemical sensors. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Supercritical fluid chromatography: a promising alternative to current bioanalytical techniques.

    PubMed

    Dispas, Amandine; Jambo, Hugues; André, Sébastien; Tyteca, Eva; Hubert, Philippe

    2018-01-01

    During the last years, chemistry was involved in the worldwide effort toward environmental problems leading to the birth of green chemistry. In this context, green analytical tools were developed as modern Supercritical Fluid Chromatography in the field of separative techniques. This chromatographic technique knew resurgence a few years ago, thanks to its high efficiency, fastness and robustness of new generation equipment. These advantages and its easy hyphenation to MS fulfill the requirements of bioanalysis regarding separation capacity and high throughput. In the present paper, the technical aspects focused on bioanalysis specifications will be detailed followed by a critical review of bioanalytical supercritical fluid chromatography methods published in the literature.

  10. Laser machined plastic laminates. Towards portable diagnostic devices for use in low resource environments

    DOE PAGES

    Harper, Jason C.; Carson, Bryan D.; Bachand, George D.; ...

    2015-07-14

    Despite significant progress in development of bioanalytical devices cost, complexity, access to reagents and lack of infrastructure have prevented use of these technologies in resource-limited regions. To provide a sustainable tool in the global effort to combat infectious diseases the diagnostic device must be low cost, simple to operate and read, robust, and have sensitivity and specificity comparable to laboratory analysis. Thus, in this mini-review we describe recent work using laser machined plastic laminates to produce diagnostic devices that are capable of a wide variety of bioanalytical measurements and show great promise towards future use in low-resource environments.

  11. Cellphone-based devices for bioanalytical sciences

    PubMed Central

    Vashist, Sandeep Kumar; Mudanyali, Onur; Schneider, E.Marion; Zengerle, Roland; Ozcan, Aydogan

    2014-01-01

    During the last decade, there has been a rapidly growing trend toward the use of cellphone-based devices (CBDs) in bioanalytical sciences. For example, they have been used for digital microscopy, cytometry, read-out of immunoassays and lateral flow tests, electrochemical and surface plasmon resonance based bio-sensing, colorimetric detection and healthcare monitoring, among others. Cellphone can be considered as one of the most prospective devices for the development of next-generation point-of-care (POC) diagnostics platforms, enabling mobile healthcare delivery and personalized medicine. With more than 6.5 billion cellphone subscribers worldwide and approximately 1.6 billion new devices being sold each year, cellphone technology is also creating new business and research opportunities. Many cellphone-based devices, such as those targeted for diabetic management, weight management, monitoring of blood pressure and pulse rate, have already become commercially-available in recent years. In addition to such monitoring platforms, several other CBDs are also being introduced, targeting e.g., microscopic imaging and sensing applications for medical diagnostics using novel computational algorithms and components already embedded on cellphones. This manuscript aims to review these recent developments in CBDs for bioanalytical sciences along with some of the challenges involved and the future opportunities. PMID:24287630

  12. History and perspectives of bioanalytical methods for chemical warfare agent detection.

    PubMed

    Black, Robin M

    2010-05-15

    This paper provides a short historical overview of the development of bioanalytical methods for chemical warfare (CW) agents and their biological markers of exposure, with a more detailed overview of methods for organophosphorus nerve agents. Bioanalytical methods for unchanged CW agents are used primarily for toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic studies. An important aspect of nerve agent toxicokinetics is the different biological activity and detoxification pathways for enantiomers. CW agents have a relatively short lifetime in the human body, and are hydrolysed, metabolised, or adducted to nucleophilic sites on macromolecules such as proteins and DNA. These provide biological markers of exposure. In the past two decades, metabolites, protein adducts of nerve agents, vesicants and phosgene, and DNA adducts of sulfur and nitrogen mustards, have been identified and characterized. Sensitive analytical methods have been developed for their detection, based mainly on mass spectrometry combined with gas or liquid chromatography. Biological markers for sarin, VX and sulfur mustard have been validated in cases of accidental and deliberate human exposures. The concern for terrorist use of CW agents has stimulated the development of higher throughput analytical methods in support of homeland security. Copyright (c) 2010. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  13. Update of Standard Practices for New Method Validation in Forensic Toxicology.

    PubMed

    Wille, Sarah M R; Coucke, Wim; De Baere, Thierry; Peters, Frank T

    2017-01-01

    International agreement concerning validation guidelines is important to obtain quality forensic bioanalytical research and routine applications as it all starts with the reporting of reliable analytical data. Standards for fundamental validation parameters are provided in guidelines as those from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the German speaking Gesellschaft fur Toxikologie und Forensische Chemie (GTFCH) and the Scientific Working Group of Forensic Toxicology (SWGTOX). These validation parameters include selectivity, matrix effects, method limits, calibration, accuracy and stability, as well as other parameters such as carryover, dilution integrity and incurred sample reanalysis. It is, however, not easy for laboratories to implement these guidelines into practice as these international guidelines remain nonbinding protocols, that depend on the applied analytical technique, and that need to be updated according the analyst's method requirements and the application type. In this manuscript, a review of the current guidelines and literature concerning bioanalytical validation parameters in a forensic context is given and discussed. In addition, suggestions for the experimental set-up, the pros and cons of statistical approaches and adequate acceptance criteria for the validation of bioanalytical applications are given. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

  14. Nafion/lead nitroprusside nanoparticles modified carbon ceramic electrode as a novel amperometric sensor for L-cysteine.

    PubMed

    Razmi, H; Heidari, H

    2009-05-01

    This work describes the electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties of carbon ceramic electrode (CCE) modified with lead nitroprusside (PbNP) nanoparticles as a new electrocatalyst material. The structure of deposited film on the CCE was characterized by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cyclic voltammogram (CV) of the PbNP modified CCE showed two well-defined redox couples due to [Fe(CN)5NO](3-)/[Fe(CN)5NO](2-) and Pb(IV)/Pb(II) redox reactions. The modified electrode showed electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of L-cysteine and was used as an amperometric sensor. Also, to reduce the fouling effect of L-cysteine and its oxidation products on the modified electrode, a thin film of Nafion was coated on the electrode surface. The sensor response was linearly changed with L-cysteine concentration in the range of 1 x 10(-6) to 6.72 x 10(-5)mol L(-1) with a detection limit (signal/noise ratio [S/N]=3) of 0.46 microM. The sensor sensitivity was 0.17 microA (microM)(-1), and some important advantages such as simple preparation, fast response, good stability, interference-free signals, antifouling properties, and reproducibility of the sensor for amperometric determination of L-cysteine were achieved.

  15. Voltammetric sensor based on carbon paste electrode modified with molecular imprinted polymer for determination of sulfadiazine in milk and human serum.

    PubMed

    Sadeghi, Susan; Motaharian, Ali

    2013-12-01

    A new sensitive voltammetric sensor for determination of sulfadiazine is described. The developed sensor is based on carbon paste electrode modified with sulfadiazine imprinted polymer (MIP) as a recognition element. For comparison, a non-imprinted polymer (NIP) modified carbon paste electrode was prepared. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) methods were performed to study the binding event and electrochemical behavior of sulfadiazine at the modified carbon paste electrodes. The determination of sulfadiazine after its extraction onto the electrode surface was carried out by DPV at 0.92 V vs. Ag/AgCl owing to oxidation of sulfadiazine. Under the optimized operational conditions, the peak current obtained at the MIP modified carbon paste electrode was proportional to the sulfadiazine concentration within the range of 2.0×10(-7)-1.0×10(-4) mol L(-1) with a detection limit and sensitivity of 1.4×10(-7) mol L(-1) and 4.2×10(5) μA L mol(-1), respectively. The reproducibility of the developed sensor in terms of relative standard deviation was 2.6%. The sensor was successfully applied for determination of sulfadiazine in spiked cow milk and human serum samples with recovery values in the range of 96.7-100.9%. © 2013.

  16. Fluorescence in nanobiotechnology: sophisticated fluorophores for novel applications.

    PubMed

    Hötzer, Benjamin; Medintz, Igor L; Hildebrandt, Niko

    2012-08-06

    Nanobiotechnology is one of the fastest growing and broadest-ranged interdisciplinary subfields of the nanosciences. Countless hybrid bio-inorganic composites are currently being pursued for various uses, including sensors for medical and diagnostic applications, light- and energy-harvesting devices, along with multifunctional architectures for electronics and advanced drug-delivery. Although many disparate biological and nanoscale materials will ultimately be utilized as the functional building blocks to create these devices, a common element found among a large proportion is that they exert or interact with light. Clearly continuing development will rely heavily on incorporating many different types of fluorophores into these composite materials. This review covers the growing utility of different classes of fluorophores in nanobiotechnology, from both a photophysical and a chemical perspective. For each major structural or functional class of fluorescent probe, several representative applications are provided, and the necessary technological background for acquiring the desired nano-bioanalytical information are presented. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  17. Photonics-on-a-chip: recent advances in integrated waveguides as enabling detection elements for real-world, lab-on-a-chip biosensing applications.

    PubMed

    Washburn, Adam L; Bailey, Ryan C

    2011-01-21

    By leveraging advances in semiconductor microfabrication technologies, chip-integrated optical biosensors are poised to make an impact as scalable and multiplexable bioanalytical measurement tools for lab-on-a-chip applications. In particular, waveguide-based optical sensing technology appears to be exceptionally amenable to chip integration and miniaturization, and, as a result, the recent literature is replete with examples of chip-integrated waveguide sensing platforms developed to address a wide range of contemporary analytical challenges. As an overview of the most recent advances within this dynamic field, this review highlights work from the last 2-3 years in the areas of grating-coupled, interferometric, photonic crystal, and microresonator waveguide sensors. With a focus towards device integration, particular emphasis is placed on demonstrations of biosensing using these technologies within microfluidically controlled environments. In addition, examples of multiplexed detection and sensing within complex matrices--important features for real-world applicability--are given special attention.

  18. Site-specific His/Asp phosphoproteomic analysis of prokaryotes reveals putative targets for drug resistance.

    PubMed

    Lai, Shu-Jung; Tu, I-Fan; Wu, Wan-Ling; Yang, Jhih-Tian; Luk, Louis Y P; Lai, Mei-Chin; Tsai, Yu-Hsuan; Wu, Shih-Hsiung

    2017-05-25

    Phosphorylation of amino acid residues on proteins is an important and common post-translational modification in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Most research work has been focused on phosphorylation of serine, threonine or tyrosine residues, whereas phosphorylation of other amino acids are significantly less clear due to the controversy on their stability under standard bioanalytical conditions. Here we applied a shotgun strategy to analyze the histidine and aspartate phosphorylations in different microbes. Our results collectively indicate that histidine and aspartate phosphorylations frequently occur also in proteins that are not part of the two-component systems. Noticeably, a number of the modified proteins are pathogenesis-related or essential for survival in host. These include the zinc ion periplasmic transporter ZnuA in Acinetobacter baumannii SK17, the multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) channel YeeO in Klebsiella pneumoniae NTUH-K2044, branched amino acid transporter AzlC in Vibrio vulnificus and the RNA-modifying pseudouridine synthase in Helicobacter pylori. In summary, histidine and aspartate phosphorylation is likely to be ubiquitous and to take place in proteins of various functions. This work also sheds light into how these functionally important proteins and potential drug targets might be regulated at a post-translational level.

  19. Mechanical splitting of microtubules into protofilament bundles by surface-bound kinesin-1

    DOE PAGES

    VanDelinder, Virginia; Adams, Peter G.; Bachand, George D.

    2016-12-21

    The fundamental biophysics of gliding microtubule (MT) motility by surface-tethered kinesin-1 motor proteins has been widely studied, as well as applied to capture and transport analytes in bioanalytical microdevices. In these systems, phenomena such as molecular wear and fracture into shorter MTs have been reported due the mechanical forces applied on the MT during transport. In the present work, we show that MTs can be split longitudinally into protofilament bundles (PFBs) by the work performed by surface-bound kinesin motors. We examine the properties of these PFBs using several techniques (e.g., fluorescence microscopy, SEM, AFM), and show that the PFBs continuemore » to be mobile on the surface and display very high curvature compared to MT. Further, higher surface density of kinesin motors and shorter kinesin-surface tethers promote PFB formation, whereas modifying MT with GMPCPP or higher paclitaxel concentrations did not affect PFB formation.« less

  20. Trimethylamine Sensors Based on Au-Modified Hierarchical Porous Single-Crystalline ZnO Nanosheets.

    PubMed

    Meng, Fanli; Zheng, Hanxiong; Sun, Yufeng; Li, Minqiang; Liu, Jinhuai

    2017-06-22

    It is of great significance for dynamic monitoring of foods in storage or during the transportation process through on-line detecting trimethylamine (TMA). Here, TMA were sensitively detected by Au-modified hierarchical porous single-crystalline ZnO nanosheets (HPSCZNs)-based sensors. The HPSCZNs were synthesized through a one-pot wet-chemical method followed by an annealing treatment. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) was used to modify the surface of the HPSCZNs, and then the PEI-modified samples were mixed with Au nanoparticles (NPs) sol solution. Electrostatic interactions drive Au nanoparticles loading onto the surface of the HPSCZNs. The Au-modified HPSCZNs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectrum (EDS), respectively. The results show that Au-modified HPSCZNs-based sensors exhibit a high response to TMA. The linear range is from 10 to 300 ppb; while the detection limit is 10 ppb, which is the lowest value to our knowledge.

  1. Trimethylamine Sensors Based on Au-Modified Hierarchical Porous Single-Crystalline ZnO Nanosheets

    PubMed Central

    Zheng, Hanxiong; Sun, Yufeng; Li, Minqiang; Liu, Jinhuai

    2017-01-01

    It is of great significance for dynamic monitoring of foods in storage or during the transportation process through on-line detecting trimethylamine (TMA). Here, TMA were sensitively detected by Au-modified hierarchical porous single-crystalline ZnO nanosheets (HPSCZNs)-based sensors. The HPSCZNs were synthesized through a one-pot wet-chemical method followed by an annealing treatment. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) was used to modify the surface of the HPSCZNs, and then the PEI-modified samples were mixed with Au nanoparticles (NPs) sol solution. Electrostatic interactions drive Au nanoparticles loading onto the surface of the HPSCZNs. The Au-modified HPSCZNs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectrum (EDS), respectively. The results show that Au-modified HPSCZNs-based sensors exhibit a high response to TMA. The linear range is from 10 to 300 ppb; while the detection limit is 10 ppb, which is the lowest value to our knowledge. PMID:28640226

  2. Sensitive And Selective Chemical Sensor With Nanostructured Surfaces.

    DOEpatents

    Pipino, Andrew C. R.

    2003-02-04

    A chemical sensor is provided which includes an optical resonator including a nanostructured surface comprising a plurality of nanoparticles bound to one or more surfaces of the resonator. The nanoparticles provide optical absorption and the sensor further comprises a detector for detecting the optical absorption of the nanoparticles or their environment. In particular, a selective chemical interaction is provided which modifies the optical absorption of the nanoparticles or their environment, and an analyte is detected based on the modified optical absorption. A light pulse is generated which enters the resonator to interrogate the modified optical absorption and the exiting light pulse is detected by the detector.

  3. Highly Sensitive and Selective Hydrogen Gas Sensor Using the Mesoporous SnO₂ Modified Layers.

    PubMed

    Xue, Niuzi; Zhang, Qinyi; Zhang, Shunping; Zong, Pan; Yang, Feng

    2017-10-14

    It is important to improve the sensitivities and selectivities of metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gas sensors when they are used to monitor the state of hydrogen in aerospace industry and electronic field. In this paper, the ordered mesoporous SnO₂ (m-SnO₂) powders were prepared by sol-gel method, and the morphology and structure were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). The gas sensors were fabricated using m-SnO₂ as the modified layers on the surface of commercial SnO₂ (c-SnO₂) by screen printing technology, and tested for gas sensing towards ethanol, benzene and hydrogen with operating temperatures ranging from 200 °C to 400 °C. Higher sensitivity was achieved by using the modified m-SnO₂ layers on the c-SnO₂ gas sensor, and it was found that the S(c/m2) sensor exhibited the highest response (Ra/Rg = 22.2) to 1000 ppm hydrogen at 400 °C. In this paper, the mechanism of the sensitivity and selectivity improvement of the gas sensors is also discussed.

  4. 4th Global CRO Council for Bioanalysis: coadministered drugs stability, EMA/US FDA guidelines, 483s and carryover.

    PubMed

    Lowes, Steve; Jersey, Jim; Shoup, Ronald; Garofolo, Fabio; Needham, Shane; Couerbe, Philippe; Lansing, Tim; Bhatti, Masood; Sheldon, Curtis; Hayes, Roger; Islam, Rafiq; Lin, Zhongping; Garofolo, Wei; Moussallie, Marc; Teixeira, Leonardo de Souza; Rocha, Thais; Jardieu, Paula; Truog, James; Lin, Jenny; Lundberg, Richard; Breau, Alan; Dilger, Carmen; Bouhajib, Mohammed; Levesque, Ann; Gagnon-Carignan, Sofi; Jenkins, Rand; Nicholson, Robert; Lin, Ming Hung; Karnik, Shane; DeMaio, William; Smith, Kirk; Cojocaru, Laura; Allen, Mike; Fatmi, Saadya; Sayyarpour, Farhad; Malone, Michele; Fang, Xinping

    2012-04-01

    The Global CRO Council for Bioanalysis (GCC) was formed in September 2010. Since then, the representatives of the member companies come together periodically to openly discuss bioanalysis and the regulatory challenges unique to the outsourcing industry. The 4th GCC Closed Forum brought together experts from bioanalytical CROs to share and discuss recent issues in regulated bioanalysis, such as the impact of coadministered drugs on stability, some differences between European Medicines Agency and US FDA bioanalytical guidance documents and lessons learned following recent Untitled Letters. Recent 483s and agency findings, as well as issues on method carryover, were also part of the topics discussed.

  5. Bioanalytical challenge: A review of environmental and pharmaceuticals contaminants in human milk.

    PubMed

    Lopes, Bianca Rebelo; Barreiro, Juliana Cristina; Cass, Quezia Bezerra

    2016-10-25

    An overview of bioanalytical methods for the determination of environmental and pharmaceutical contaminants in human milk is presented. The exposure of children to these contaminants through lactation has been widely investigated. The human milk contains diverse proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates and the concentration of these components is drastically altered during the lactation period providing a high degree of an analytical challenge. Sample collection and pretreatment are still considered the Achilles' heel. This review presents liquid chromatographic methods developed in the last 10 years for this complex matrix with focuses in the extraction and quantification steps. Green sample preparation protocols have been emphasized. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Multifunctional Fluorescent-Magnetic Polymeric Colloidal Particles: Preparations and Bioanalytical Applications.

    PubMed

    Kaewsaneha, Chariya; Tangboriboonrat, Pramuan; Polpanich, Duangporn; Elaissari, Abdelhamid

    2015-10-28

    Fluorescent-magnetic particles (FMPs) play important roles in modern materials, especially as nanoscale devices in the biomedical field. The interesting features of FMPs are attributed to their dual detection ability, i.e., fluorescent and magnetic modes. Functionalization of FMPs can be performed using several types of polymers, allowing their use in various applications. The synergistic potentials for unique multifunctional, multilevel targeting nanoscale devices as well as combination therapies make them particularly attractive for biomedical applications. However, the synthesis of FMPs is challenging and must be further developed. In this review article, we summarized the most recent representative works on polymer-based FMP systems that have been applied particularly in the bioanalytical field.

  7. Application of nickel zinc ferrite/graphene nanocomposite as a modifier for fabrication of a sensitive electrochemical sensor for determination of omeprazole in real samples.

    PubMed

    Afkhami, Abbas; Bahiraei, Atousa; Madrakian, Tayyebeh

    2017-06-01

    In the present study, a simple and highly sensitive sensor for the determination of omeprazole based on nickel-zinc ferrite/graphene modified glassy carbon electrode is reported. The morphology and electro analytical performance of the fabricated sensor were characterized with X-ray diffraction spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and operation of the sensor. Results were compared with those achieved at the graphene modified glassy carbon electrode and bare glassy carbon electrode. Under the optimized experimental conditions, linear response was over the range of 0.03-100.0µmolL -1 . The lower detection limit was found to be 0.015µmolL -1 . The effect of different interferences on the anodic current response of OMZ was investigated. By measuring the concentrations of omeprazole in plasma and pharmaceutical samples, the practical application of the modified electrode was evaluated. This revealed that the nickel-zinc ferrite/graphene modified glassy carbon electrode shows excellent analytical performance for the determination of omeprazole with a very low detection limit, high sensitivity, and very good accuracy. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Polymeric mercaptosilane-modified platinum electrodes for elimination of interferants in glucose biosensors.

    PubMed

    Jung, S K; Wilson, G S

    1996-02-15

    An oxidase-based glucose sensor has been developed that uses a mercaptosilane-modified platinum electrode to achieve selectivity of electrochemical interferants. A platinum-iridium (9:1) wire (0.178 mm o.d., sensing area of 1.12 mm2) is modified with (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane. The modified sensors show excellent operational stability for more than 5 days. Glucose oxidase is immobilized on the modified surface (i) by using 3-maleimidopropionic acid as a linker or (ii) by cross-liking with bovine serum albumin using glutaraldehyde. Sensitivities in the range of 9.97 nA/mM glucose are observed when the enzyme is immobilized by method ii. Lower sensitivities (1.13 x 10(-1) nA/mM glucose) are observed when immobilization method i is employed. In terms of linear response range, the sensor enzyme-immobilized by method i is superior to that immobilized by method ii. The linearity is improved upon coating the enzyme layer with polyurethane. The sensor immobilized by method ii and coated with polyurethane exhibits a linear range to 15 mM glucose and excellent selectivity to glucose (0.47 nA/mM) against interferants such as ascorbic acid, uric acid, and acetaminophen.

  9. A SERS-active sensor based on heterogeneous gold nanostar core-silver nanoparticle satellite assemblies for ultrasensitive detection of aflatoxinB1

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Aike; Tang, Lijuan; Song, Dan; Song, Shanshan; Ma, Wei; Xu, Liguang; Kuang, Hua; Wu, Xiaoling; Liu, Liqiang; Chen, Xin; Xu, Chuanlai

    2016-01-01

    A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor based on gold nanostar (Au NS) core-silver nanoparticle (Ag NP) satellites was fabricated for the first time to detect aflatoxinB1 (AFB1). We constructed the SERS sensor using AFB1 aptamer (DNA1)-modified Ag satellites and a complementary sequence (DNA2)-modified Au NS core. The Raman label (ATP) was modified on the surface of Ag satellites. The SERS signal was enhanced when the satellite NP was attached to the Au core NS. The AFB1 aptamer on the surface of Ag satellites would bind to the targets when AFB1 was present in the system, Ag satellites were then removed and the SERS signal decreased. This SERS sensor showed superior specificity for AFB1 and the linear detection range was from 1 to 1000 pg mL-1 with the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.48 pg mL-1. The excellent recovery experiment using peanut milk demonstrated that the sensor could be applied in food and environmental detection.A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor based on gold nanostar (Au NS) core-silver nanoparticle (Ag NP) satellites was fabricated for the first time to detect aflatoxinB1 (AFB1). We constructed the SERS sensor using AFB1 aptamer (DNA1)-modified Ag satellites and a complementary sequence (DNA2)-modified Au NS core. The Raman label (ATP) was modified on the surface of Ag satellites. The SERS signal was enhanced when the satellite NP was attached to the Au core NS. The AFB1 aptamer on the surface of Ag satellites would bind to the targets when AFB1 was present in the system, Ag satellites were then removed and the SERS signal decreased. This SERS sensor showed superior specificity for AFB1 and the linear detection range was from 1 to 1000 pg mL-1 with the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.48 pg mL-1. The excellent recovery experiment using peanut milk demonstrated that the sensor could be applied in food and environmental detection. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr08372a

  10. Magneto-photonic crystal optical sensors with sensitive covers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dissanayake, Neluka; Levy, Miguel; Chakravarty, A.; Heiden, P. A.; Chen, N.; Fratello, V. J.

    2011-08-01

    We report on a magneto-photonic crystal on-chip optical sensor for specific analyte detection with polypyrrole and gold nano particles as modified photonic crystal waveguide cover layers. The reaction of the active sensor material with various analytes modifies the electronic structure of the sensor layer causing changes in its refractive index and a strong transduction signal. Magneto-photonic crystal enhanced polarization rotation sensitive to the nature of the cover layer detects the index modification upon analyte adsorption. A high degree of selectivity and sensitivity are observed for aqueous ammonia and methanol with polypyrrole and for thiolated-gold- with gold-nanoparticles covers.

  11. Nonclinical dose formulation analysis method validation and sample analysis.

    PubMed

    Whitmire, Monica Lee; Bryan, Peter; Henry, Teresa R; Holbrook, John; Lehmann, Paul; Mollitor, Thomas; Ohorodnik, Susan; Reed, David; Wietgrefe, Holly D

    2010-12-01

    Nonclinical dose formulation analysis methods are used to confirm test article concentration and homogeneity in formulations and determine formulation stability in support of regulated nonclinical studies. There is currently no regulatory guidance for nonclinical dose formulation analysis method validation or sample analysis. Regulatory guidance for the validation of analytical procedures has been developed for drug product/formulation testing; however, verification of the formulation concentrations falls under the framework of GLP regulations (not GMP). The only current related regulatory guidance is the bioanalytical guidance for method validation. The fundamental parameters for bioanalysis and formulation analysis validations that overlap include: recovery, accuracy, precision, specificity, selectivity, carryover, sensitivity, and stability. Divergence in bioanalytical and drug product validations typically center around the acceptance criteria used. As the dose formulation samples are not true "unknowns", the concept of quality control samples that cover the entire range of the standard curve serving as the indication for the confidence in the data generated from the "unknown" study samples may not always be necessary. Also, the standard bioanalytical acceptance criteria may not be directly applicable, especially when the determined concentration does not match the target concentration. This paper attempts to reconcile the different practices being performed in the community and to provide recommendations of best practices and proposed acceptance criteria for nonclinical dose formulation method validation and sample analysis.

  12. Plant-based Food and Feed Protein Structure Changes Induced by Gene-transformation heating and bio-ethanol processing: A Synchrotron-based Molecular Structure and Nutrition Research Program

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    P Yu

    Unlike traditional 'wet' analytical methods which during processing for analysis often result in destruction or alteration of the intrinsic protein structures, advanced synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy has been developed as a rapid and nondestructive and bioanalytical technique. This cutting-edge synchrotron-based bioanalytical technology, taking advantages of synchrotron light brightness (million times brighter than sun), is capable of exploring the molecular chemistry or structure of a biological tissue without destruction inherent structures at ultra-spatial resolutions. In this article, a novel approach is introduced to show the potential of the advanced synchrotron-based analytical technology, which can be used to study plant-basedmore » food or feed protein molecular structure in relation to nutrient utilization and availability. Recent progress was reported on using synchrotron-based bioanalytical technique synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy and diffused reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy to detect the effects of gene-transformation (Application 1), autoclaving (Application 2), and bio-ethanol processing (Application 3) on plant-based food and feed protein structure changes on a molecular basis. The synchrotron-based technology provides a new approach for plant-based protein structure research at ultra-spatial resolutions at cellular and molecular levels.« less

  13. Enzyme-Based Logic Gates and Networks with Output Signals Analyzed by Various Methods.

    PubMed

    Katz, Evgeny

    2017-07-05

    The paper overviews various methods that are used for the analysis of output signals generated by enzyme-based logic systems. The considered methods include optical techniques (optical absorbance, fluorescence spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance), electrochemical techniques (cyclic voltammetry, potentiometry, impedance spectroscopy, conductivity measurements, use of field effect transistor devices, pH measurements), and various mechanoelectronic methods (using atomic force microscope, quartz crystal microbalance). Although each of the methods is well known for various bioanalytical applications, their use in combination with the biomolecular logic systems is rather new and sometimes not trivial. Many of the discussed methods have been combined with the use of signal-responsive materials to transduce and amplify biomolecular signals generated by the logic operations. Interfacing of biocomputing logic systems with electronics and "smart" signal-responsive materials allows logic operations be extended to actuation functions; for example, stimulating molecular release and switchable features of bioelectronic devices, such as biofuel cells. The purpose of this review article is to emphasize the broad variability of the bioanalytical systems applied for signal transduction in biocomputing processes. All bioanalytical systems discussed in the article are exemplified with specific logic gates and multi-gate networks realized with enzyme-based biocatalytic cascades. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  14. A bioanalytical platform for simultaneous detection and quantification of biological toxins.

    PubMed

    Weingart, Oliver G; Gao, Hui; Crevoisier, François; Heitger, Friedrich; Avondet, Marc-André; Sigrist, Hans

    2012-01-01

    Prevalent incidents support the notion that toxins, produced by bacteria, fungi, plants or animals are increasingly responsible for food poisoning or intoxication. Owing to their high toxicity some toxins are also regarded as potential biological warfare agents. Accordingly, control, detection and neutralization of toxic substances are a considerable economic burden to food safety, health care and military biodefense. The present contribution describes a new versatile instrument and related procedures for array-based simultaneous detection of bacterial and plant toxins using a bioanalytical platform which combines the specificity of covalently immobilized capture probes with a dedicated instrumentation and immuno-based microarray analytics. The bioanalytical platform consists of a microstructured polymer slide serving both as support of printed arrays and as incubation chamber. The platform further includes an easy-to-operate instrument for simultaneous slide processing at selectable assay temperature. Cy5 coupled streptavidin is used as unifying fluorescent tracer. Fluorescence image analysis and signal quantitation allow determination of the toxin's identity and concentration. The system's performance has been investigated by immunological detection of Botulinum Neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A), Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), and the plant toxin ricin. Toxins were detectable at levels as low as 0.5-1 ng · mL(-1) in buffer or in raw milk.

  15. A Bioanalytical Platform for Simultaneous Detection and Quantification of Biological Toxins

    PubMed Central

    Weingart, Oliver G.; Gao, Hui; Crevoisier, François; Heitger, Friedrich; Avondet, Marc-André; Sigrist, Hans

    2012-01-01

    Prevalent incidents support the notion that toxins, produced by bacteria, fungi, plants or animals are increasingly responsible for food poisoning or intoxication. Owing to their high toxicity some toxins are also regarded as potential biological warfare agents. Accordingly, control, detection and neutralization of toxic substances are a considerable economic burden to food safety, health care and military biodefense. The present contribution describes a new versatile instrument and related procedures for array-based simultaneous detection of bacterial and plant toxins using a bioanalytical platform which combines the specificity of covalently immobilized capture probes with a dedicated instrumentation and immuno-based microarray analytics. The bioanalytical platform consists of a microstructured polymer slide serving both as support of printed arrays and as incubation chamber. The platform further includes an easy-to-operate instrument for simultaneous slide processing at selectable assay temperature. Cy5 coupled streptavidin is used as unifying fluorescent tracer. Fluorescence image analysis and signal quantitation allow determination of the toxin’s identity and concentration. The system’s performance has been investigated by immunological detection of Botulinum Neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A), Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), and the plant toxin ricin. Toxins were detectable at levels as low as 0.5–1 ng·mL−1 in buffer or in raw milk. PMID:22438766

  16. A gas-sensing array produced from screen-printed, zeolite-modified chromium titanate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pugh, David C.; Hailes, Stephen M. V.; Parkin, Ivan P.

    2015-08-01

    Metal oxide semiconducting (MOS) gas sensors represent a cheap, robust and sensitive technology for detecting volatile organic compounds. MOS sensors have consistently been shown to lack sensitivity to a broad range on analytes, leading to false positive errors. In this study an array of five chromium titanate (CTO) thick-film sensors were produced. These were modified by incorporating a range of zeolites, namely β, Y, mordenite and ZSM5, into the bulk sensor material. Sensors were exposed to three common reducing gases, namely acetone, ethanol and toluene, and a machine learning technique was applied to differentiate between the different gases. All sensors produced strong resistive responses (increases in resistance) and a support vector machine (SVM) was able to classify the data to a high degree of selectivity.

  17. Development and Testing of Prototype Commercial Gasifier Sensor

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zelepouga, Serguei; Moery, Nathan; Wu, Mengbai

    This report presents the results of the sensor development and testing at the Wabash River gasifier. The project work was initiated with modification of the sensor software (Task 2) to enable real time temperature data acquisition, and to process and provide the obtained gasifier temperature information to the gasifier operators. The software modifications were conducted by the North Carolina State University (NCSU) researchers. The modified software was tested at the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) combustion laboratory to assess the temperature recognition algorithm accuracy and repeatability. Task 3 was focused on the sensor hardware modifications needed to improve reliability of themore » sensor system. NCSU conducted numerical modeling of the sensor probe’s purging flow. Based on the modeling results the probe purging system was redesigned to prevent carbon particulates deposition on the probe’s sapphire window. The modified design was evaluated and approved by the Wabash representative. The modified gasifier sensor was built and installed at the Wabash River gasifier on May 1 2014. (Task 4) The sensor was tested from the startup of the gasifier on May 5, 2015 until the planned autumn gasifier outage starting in the beginning of October, 2015. (Task 5) The project team successfully demonstrated the Gasifier Sensor system’s ability to monitor gasifier temperature while maintaining unobstructed optical access for six months without any maintenance. The sensor examination upon completion of the trial revealed that the system did not sustain any damage.« less

  18. Redox Proteomics: A Key Tool for New Insights into Protein Modification with Relevance to Disease.

    PubMed

    Butterfield, D Allan; Perluigi, Marzia

    2017-03-01

    Oxidatively modified proteins are characterized by elevations in protein-resident carbonyls or 3-nitrotyrosine, measures of protein oxidation, or protein bound reactive alkenals such as 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, a measure of lipid peroxidation. Oxidatively modified proteins nearly always have altered structure and function. Redox proteomics is that branch of proteomics used to identify oxidized proteins and determine the extent and location of oxidative modifications in the proteomes of interest. This technique nearly always employs mass spectrometry as the major platform to achieve the goals of identifying the target proteins. Once identified, oxidatively modified proteins can be placed in specific molecular pathways to provide insights into protein oxidation and human disease. Both original research and review articles are included in this Forum on Redox Proteomics. The topics related to redox proteomics range from basic chemistry of sulfur radical-induced redox modifications in proteins, to the thiol secretome and inflammatory network, to reversible thiol oxidation in proteomes, to the role of glutamine synthetase in peripheral and central environments on inflammation and insulin resistance, to bioanalytical aspects of tyrosine nitrated proteins, to protein oxidation in human smokers and models thereof, and to Alzheimer disease, including articles on the brain ubiquitinylome and the "triangle of death" composed of oxidatively modified proteins involved in energy metabolism, mammalian target of rampamycin activation, and the proteostasis network. This Forum on Redox Proteomics is both timely and a critically important resource to highlight one of the key tools needed to better understand protein structure and function in oxidative environments in health and disease. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 26, 277-279.

  19. Activity-Based Detection and Bioanalytical Confirmation of a Fatal Carfentanil Intoxication

    PubMed Central

    Cannaert, Annelies; Ambach, Lars; Blanckaert, Peter; Stove, Christophe P.

    2018-01-01

    Carfentanil, one of the most potent opioids known, has recently been reported as a contaminant in street heroin in the United States and Europe, and is associated with an increased number of life-threatening emergency department admissions and deaths. Here, we report on the application of a novel in vitro opioid activity reporter assay and a sensitive bioanalytical assay in the context of a fatal carfentanil intoxication, revealing the highest carfentanil concentrations reported until now. A 21-year-old male was found dead at home with a note stating that he had taken carfentanil with suicidal intentions. A foil bag and plastic bag labeled “C.50” were found at the scene. These bags were similar to a sample obtained by the Belgian Early Warning System on Drugs from a German darknet shop and to those found in the context of a fatality in Norway. Blood, urine and vitreous, obtained during autopsy, were screened with a newly developed in vitro opioid activity reporter assay able to detect compounds based on their μ-opioid receptor activity rather than their chemical structure. All extracts showed strong opioid activity. Results were confirmed by a bioanalytical assay, which revealed extremely high concentrations for carfentanil and norcarfentanil. It should be noted that carfentanil concentrations are typically in pg/mL, but here they were 92 ng/mL in blood, 2.8 ng/mL in urine, and 23 ng/mL in vitreous. The blood and vitreous contained 0.532 and 0.300 ng/mL norcarfentanil, respectively. No norcarfentanil was detected in urine. This is the first report where a novel activity-based opioid screening assay was successfully deployed in a forensic case. Confirmation and quantification using a validated bioanalytical procedure revealed the, to our knowledge, highest carfentanil concentrations reported in humans so far. PMID:29867491

  20. Comparison of sensor structures for the signal amplification of surface plasmon resonance immunoassay using enzyme precipitation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Chih-Tsung; Thierry, Benjamin

    2015-12-01

    Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensing has been successfully applied for the label-free detection of a broad range of bioanalytes ranging from bacteria, cell, exosome, protein and nucleic acids. When it comes to the detection of small molecules or analytes found at low concentration, amplification schemes are desirable to enhance binding signals and in turn increase sensitivity. A number of SPR signal amplification schemes have been developed and validated; however, little effort has been devoted to understanding the effect of the SPR sensor structures on the amplification of binding signals and therefore on the overall sensing performance. The physical phenomenon of long-range SPR (LRSPR) relies on the propagation of coupled surface plasmonic waves on the opposite sides of a nanoscale-thick noble metal film suspended between two dielectrics with similar refractive indices. Importantly, as compared with commonly used conventional SPR (cSPR), LRSPR is not only characterized by a longer penetration depth of the plasmonic waves in the analyzed medium but also by a greater sensitivity to bulk refractive index changes. In this work, an immunoassay signal amplification platform based on horseradish peroxidase (HRP) catalyzed precipitation was utilized to investigate the sensing performance with regards to cSPR and LRSPR. The enzymatic precipitation of 3, 3'-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB)/H2O2 was used to amplify SPR signals. The structure-function relationship of cSPR and LRSPR sensors is presented for both standard refractometric measurements and the enzymatic precipitation scheme. Experimental data shows that despite its inherent higher sensitivity to bulk refractive index changes and higher figure of merit, LRSPR was characterized by a lower angular sensitivity in the model enzymatic amplification scheme used here.

  1. Ag Nanoparticles-Modified 3D Graphene Foam for Binder-Free Electrodes of Electrochemical Sensors.

    PubMed

    Han, Tao; Jin, Jianli; Wang, Congxu; Sun, Youyi; Zhang, Yinghe; Liu, Yaqing

    2017-02-16

    Ag nanoparticles-modified 3D graphene foam was synthesized through a one-step in-situ approach and then directly applied as the electrode of an electrochemical sensor. The composite foam electrode exhibited electrocatalytic activity towards Hg(II) oxidation with high limit of detection and sensitivity of 0.11 μM and 8.0 μA/μM, respectively. Moreover, the composite foam electrode for the sensor exhibited high cycling stability, long-term durability and reproducibility. These results were attributed to the unique porous structure of the composite foam electrode, which enabled the surface of Ag nanoparticles modified reduced graphene oxide (Ag NPs modified rGO) foam to become highly accessible to the metal ion and provided more void volume for the reaction with metal ion. This work not only proved that the composite foam has great potential application in heavy metal ions sensors, but also provided a facile method of gram scale synthesis 3D electrode materials based on rGO foam and other electrical active materials for various applications.

  2. Ag Nanoparticles-Modified 3D Graphene Foam for Binder-Free Electrodes of Electrochemical Sensors

    PubMed Central

    Han, Tao; Jin, Jianli; Wang, Congxu; Sun, Youyi; Zhang, Yinghe; Liu, Yaqing

    2017-01-01

    Ag nanoparticles-modified 3D graphene foam was synthesized through a one-step in-situ approach and then directly applied as the electrode of an electrochemical sensor. The composite foam electrode exhibited electrocatalytic activity towards Hg(II) oxidation with high limit of detection and sensitivity of 0.11 µM and 8.0 µA/µM, respectively. Moreover, the composite foam electrode for the sensor exhibited high cycling stability, long-term durability and reproducibility. These results were attributed to the unique porous structure of the composite foam electrode, which enabled the surface of Ag nanoparticles modified reduced graphene oxide (Ag NPs modified rGO) foam to become highly accessible to the metal ion and provided more void volume for the reaction with metal ion. This work not only proved that the composite foam has great potential application in heavy metal ions sensors, but also provided a facile method of gram scale synthesis 3D electrode materials based on rGO foam and other electrical active materials for various applications. PMID:28336878

  3. Infection control procedures used in conjunction with computed dental radiography.

    PubMed

    Hubar, J S; Gardiner, D M

    2000-10-01

    Infection control guidelines for dental radiography have been modified since 1986, when the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supported the concept of "universal blood and body fluid precautions." With the introduction of computed digital radiography, hardware manufacturers recommend that alternative infection control techniques are necessary to prevent potential damage to the digital x-ray sensors placed inside the patient's mouth. Thirty first-year dental hygiene students were asked to insert and remove a Schick CDR number 2 size intraoral digital x-ray sensor into modified Rinn XCP bitewing bite blocks and a modified Rinn Snap-a-ray five times with each of the recommended infection control covers. Reduced rates of cross contamination are possible if the plastic barrier envelope has an additional latex finger cot stretched over it and the x-ray sensor. Sole usage of a latex finger cot will result in a reduced incidence of contamination, but still not to acceptable levels. However, a plastic barrier envelope placed over the x-ray sensor and over the modified XCP bite block together or a covered sensor in a Snap-a-ray under normal conditions does not result in a perforation and is least likely to result in cross contamination.

  4. A Data-Gathering Scheme with Joint Routing and Compressive Sensing Based on Modified Diffusion Wavelets in Wireless Sensor Networks.

    PubMed

    Gu, Xiangping; Zhou, Xiaofeng; Sun, Yanjing

    2018-02-28

    Compressive sensing (CS)-based data gathering is a promising method to reduce energy consumption in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Traditional CS-based data-gathering approaches require a large number of sensor nodes to participate in each CS measurement task, resulting in high energy consumption, and do not guarantee load balance. In this paper, we propose a sparser analysis that depends on modified diffusion wavelets, which exploit sensor readings' spatial correlation in WSNs. In particular, a novel data-gathering scheme with joint routing and CS is presented. A modified ant colony algorithm is adopted, where next hop node selection takes a node's residual energy and path length into consideration simultaneously. Moreover, in order to speed up the coverage rate and avoid the local optimal of the algorithm, an improved pheromone impact factor is put forward. More importantly, theoretical proof is given that the equivalent sensing matrix generated can satisfy the restricted isometric property (RIP). The simulation results demonstrate that the modified diffusion wavelets' sparsity affects the sensor signal and has better reconstruction performance than DFT. Furthermore, our data gathering with joint routing and CS can dramatically reduce the energy consumption of WSNs, balance the load, and prolong the network lifetime in comparison to state-of-the-art CS-based methods.

  5. New Electrochemically-Modified Carbon Paste Inclusion β-Cyclodextrin and Carbon Nanotubes Sensors for Quantification of Dorzolamide Hydrochloride.

    PubMed

    Alarfaj, Nawal Ahmad; El-Tohamy, Maha Farouk

    2016-12-02

    The present article introduces a new approach to fabricate carbon paste sensors, including carbon paste, modified carbon paste inclusion β-cyclodextrin, and carbon nanotubes for the quantification of dorzolamide hydrochloride (DRZ). This study is mainly based on the construction of three different carbon paste sensors by the incorporation of DRZ with phosphotungstic acid (PTA) to form dorzolamide-phosphotungstate (DRZ-PT) as an electroactive material in the presence of the solvent mediator ortho-nitrophenyloctyl ether ( o -NPOE). The fabricated conventional carbon paste sensor (sensor I), as well as the other modified carbon paste sensors using β-cyclodextrin (sensor II) and carbon nanotubes (sensor III), have been investigated. The sensors displayed Nernstian responses of 55.4 ± 0.6, 56.4 ± 0.4 and 58.1 ± 0.2 mV·decade -1 over concentration ranges of 1.0 × 10 -5 -1.0 × 10 -2 , 1.0 × 10 -6 -1.0 × 10 -2 , and 5.0 × 10 -8 -1.0 × 10 -2 mol·L -1 with lower detection limits of 5.0 × 10 -6 , 5.0 × 10 -7 , and 2.5 × 10 -9 mol·L -1 for sensors I, II, and III, respectively. The critical performance of the developed sensors was checked with respect to the effect of various parameters, including pH, selectivity, response time, linear concentration relationship, lifespan, etc. Method validation was applied according to the international conference on harmonisation of technical requirements for registration of pharmaceuticals for human use ICH guidelines. The developed sensors were employed for the determination of DRZ in its bulk and dosage forms, as well as bio-samples. The observed data were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained from other published methods.

  6. Recommendations on incurred sample stability (ISS) by GCC.

    PubMed

    Lowes, Steve; LeLacheur, Richard; Shoup, Ronald; Garofolo, Fabio; Dumont, Isabelle; Martinez, Suzanne; Zimmer, Jennifer; Caturla, Maria Cruz; Couerbe, Philippe; Awaiye, Kayode; Fatmi, Saadya; Farmen, Raymond; Sheldon, Curtis; Bower, Joseph; Fiscella, Michele; Fast, Douglas; Cape, Stephanie; Hulse, Jim; Kamerud, John; Zhang, Tee; Pasas-Farmer, Stephanie; Garofolo, Wei; Moussallie, Marc; Rocci, Mario; Allinson, John; Gouty, Dominique; Buonarati, Mike; Boudreau, Nadine; Pellerin, Brigitte; Lin, Jenny; Xu, Allan; Hayes, Roger; Bouhajib, Mohammed; Stipancic, Mary; Nicholson, Robert; Nehls, Corey; Warren, Mark; Karnik, Shane; Houghton, Richard; Stovold, Craig; Reuschel, Scott; Cojocaru, Laura; Marcelletti, John; Fang, Xinping; Smith, Ian; Watson, Andrea

    2014-09-01

    The topic of incurred sample stability (ISS) has generated considerable discussion within the bioanalytical community in recent years. The subject was an integral part of the seventh annual Workshop on Recent Issues in Bioanalysis (WRIB) held in Long Beach, CA, USA, in April 2013, and at the Global CRO Council for Bioanalysis (GCC) meeting preceding it. Discussion at both events focused on the use of incurred samples for ISS purposes in light of results from a recent GCC survey completed by member companies. This paper reports the consensus resulting from these discussions and serves as a useful reference for depicting ISS issues and concerns, summarizing the GCC survey results and providing helpful recommendations on ISS in the context of bioanalytical method development and application.

  7. Translating Current Bioanalytical Techniques for Studying Corona Activity.

    PubMed

    Wang, Chunming; Wang, Zhenzhen; Dong, Lei

    2018-07-01

    The recent discovery of the biological corona is revolutionising our understanding of the in vivo behaviour of nanomaterials. Accurate analysis of corona bioactivity is essential for predicting the fate of nanomaterials and thereby improving nanomedicine design. Nevertheless, current biotechniques for protein analysis are not readily adaptable for analysing corona proteins, given that their conformation, activity, and interaction may largely differ from those of the native proteins. Here, we introduce and propose tailor-made modifications to five types of mainstream bioanalytical methodologies. We specifically illustrate how these modifications can translate existing techniques for protein analysis into competent tools for dissecting the composition, bioactivity, and interaction (with both nanomaterials and the tissue) of corona formed on specific nanomaterial surfaces. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Transgene traceability in transgenic mice: a bioanalytical approach for potential gene-doping analysis.

    PubMed

    Bogani, Patrizia; Spiriti, Maria Michela; Lazzarano, Stefano; Arcangeli, Annarosa; Buiatti, Marcello; Minunni, Maria

    2011-11-01

    The World Anti-Doping Agency fears the use of gene doping to enhance athletic performances. Thus, a bioanalytical approach based on end point PCR for detecting markers' of transgenesis traceability was developed. A few sequences from two different vectors using an animal model were selected and traced in different tissues and at different times. In particular, enhanced green fluorescent protein gene and a construct-specific new marker were targeted in the analysis. To make the developed detection approach open to future routine doping analysis, matrices such as urine and tears as well blood were also tested. This study will have impact in evaluating the vector transgenes traceability for the detection of a gene doping event by non-invasive sampling.

  9. Bioanalytical qualification of clinical biomarker assays in plasma using a novel multi-analyte Simple Plex™ platform.

    PubMed

    Gupta, Vinita; Davancaze, Teresa; Good, Jeremy; Kalia, Navdeep; Anderson, Michael; Wallin, Jeffrey J; Brady, Ann; Song, An; Xu, Wenfeng

    2016-12-01

    Immune-checkpoint inhibitors are presumed to break down the tolerogenic state of immune cells by activating T-lymphocytes that release cytokines and enhance effector cell function for elimination of tumors. Measurement of cytokines is being pursued for better understanding of the mechanism of action of immune-checkpoint inhibitors, as well as to identify potential predictive biomarkers. In this study, we show bioanalytical qualification of cytokine assays in plasma on a novel multi-analyte immunoassay platform, Simple Plex ™ . The qualified assays exhibited excellent sensitivity as evidenced by measurement of all samples within the quantifiable range. The accuracy and precision were 80-120% and 10%, respectively. The qualified assays will be useful in assessing mechanism of action cancer immunotherapies.

  10. Highly Sensitive and Selective Hydrogen Gas Sensor Using the Mesoporous SnO2 Modified Layers

    PubMed Central

    Xue, Niuzi; Zhang, Qinyi; Zhang, Shunping; Zong, Pan; Yang, Feng

    2017-01-01

    It is important to improve the sensitivities and selectivities of metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gas sensors when they are used to monitor the state of hydrogen in aerospace industry and electronic field. In this paper, the ordered mesoporous SnO2 (m-SnO2) powders were prepared by sol-gel method, and the morphology and structure were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The gas sensors were fabricated using m-SnO2 as the modified layers on the surface of commercial SnO2 (c-SnO2) by screen printing technology, and tested for gas sensing towards ethanol, benzene and hydrogen with operating temperatures ranging from 200 °C to 400 °C. Higher sensitivity was achieved by using the modified m-SnO2 layers on the c-SnO2 gas sensor, and it was found that the S(c/m2) sensor exhibited the highest response (Ra/Rg = 22.2) to 1000 ppm hydrogen at 400 °C. In this paper, the mechanism of the sensitivity and selectivity improvement of the gas sensors is also discussed. PMID:29036898

  11. A Novel of Multi-wall Carbon Nanotubes/Chitosan Electrochemical Sensor for Determination of Cupric ion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tan, Funeng; Li, Lei

    2018-03-01

    A multi-wall carbon nanotubes/Chitosan electrochemical sensor had been fabricated by dropping CHS/MWNT solution directly onto the GC surface. The sensor was charactered by cyclic voltammetry and AC impedance with K3Fe(CN)6 as a electrochemical probe; Cyclic voltammograms(CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) indicated that the active area and electrochemical behavior of the sensor increased and improved significantly after the electrode was modified by carbon nanotubes dispersed by the chitosan. The sensor showed good electrocatalytic activity of K3Fe(CN)6. Also, from the cyclic voltammograms, we can see the process was diffusion controlled on the bare electrode and kinetics and diffusion controlled on the modified electrode. Finally Cu2+ responsed sensitively at the sensor which supplied a new method for the detection of Cu2+.

  12. The Effect of Zeolite Composition and Grain Size on Gas Sensing Properties of SnO₂/Zeolite Sensor.

    PubMed

    Sun, Yanhui; Wang, Jing; Li, Xiaogan; Du, Haiying; Huang, Qingpan; Wang, Xiaofeng

    2018-01-29

    In order to improve the sensing properties of tin dioxide gas sensor, four kinds of different SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio, different particle size of MFI type zeolites (ZSM-5) were coated on the SnO₂ to prepared zeolite modified gas sensors, and the gas sensing properties were tested. The measurement results showed that the response values of ZSM-5 zeolite (SiO₂/Al₂O₃ = 70, grain size 300 nm) coated SnO₂ gas sensors to formaldehyde vapor were increased, and the response to acetone decreased compared with that of SnO₂ gas sensor, indicating an improved selectivity property. The other three ZSM-5 zeolites with SiO₂/Al₂O₃ 70, 150 and 470, respectively, and grain sizes all around 1 μm coated SnO₂ sensors did not show much difference with SnO₂ sensor for the response properties to both formaldehyde and acetone. The sensing mechanism of ZSM-5 modified sensors was briefly analyzed.

  13. Development of chemiresponsive sensors for detection of common homemade explosives.

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Brotherton, Christopher M.; Wheeler, David Roger

    2012-05-01

    Field-structured chemiresistors (FSCRs) are polymer based sensors that exhibit a resistance change when exposed to an analyte of interest. The amount of resistance change depends on the polymer-analyte affinity. The affinity can be manipulated by modifying the polymer within the FSCRs. In this paper, we investigate the ability of chemically modified FSCRs to sense hydrogen peroxide vapor. Five chemical species were chosen based on their hydrophobicity or reactivity with hydrogen peroxide. Of the five investigated, FSCRs modified with allyl methyl sulfide exhibited a significant response to hydrogen peroxide vapor. Additionally, these same FSCRs were evaluated against a common interferrant inmore » hydrogen peroxide detection, water vapor. For the conditions investigated, the FSCRs modified with allyl methyl sulfide were able to successfully distinguish between water vapor and hydrogen peroxide vapor. A portion of the results presented here will be submitted to the Sensors and Actuators journal.« less

  14. Method for modifying trigger level for adsorber regeneration

    DOEpatents

    Ruth, Michael J.; Cunningham, Michael J.

    2010-05-25

    A method for modifying a NO.sub.x adsorber regeneration triggering variable. Engine operating conditions are monitored until the regeneration triggering variable is met. The adsorber is regenerated and the adsorbtion efficiency of the adsorber is subsequently determined. The regeneration triggering variable is modified to correspond with the decline in adsorber efficiency. The adsorber efficiency may be determined using an empirically predetermined set of values or by using a pair of oxygen sensors to determine the oxygen response delay across the sensors.

  15. Genetically modified crops: detection strategies and biosafety issues.

    PubMed

    Kamle, Suchitra; Ali, Sher

    2013-06-15

    Genetically modified (GM) crops are increasingly gaining acceptance but concurrently consumers' concerns are also increasing. The introduction of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) genes into the plants has raised issues related to its risk assessment and biosafety. The International Regulations and the Codex guidelines regulate the biosafety requirements of the GM crops. In addition, these bodies synergize and harmonize the ethical issues related to the release and use of GM products. The labeling of GM crops and their products are mandatory if the genetically modified organism (GMO) content exceeds the levels of a recommended threshold. The new and upcoming GM crops carrying multiple stacked traits likely to be commercialized soon warrant sensitive detection methods both at the DNA and protein levels. Therefore, traceability of the transgene and its protein expression in GM crops is an important issue that needs to be addressed on a priority basis. The advancement in the area of molecular biology has made available several bioanalytical options for the detection of GM crops based on DNA and protein markers. Since the insertion of a gene into the host genome may even cause copy number variation, this may be uncovered using real time PCR. Besides, assessing the exact number of mRNA transcripts of a gene, correlation between the template activity and expressed protein may be established. Here, we present an overview on the production of GM crops, their acceptabilities, detection strategies, biosafety issues and potential impact on society. Further, overall future prospects are also highlighted. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. A Modified Distributed Bees Algorithm for Multi-Sensor Task Allocation.

    PubMed

    Tkach, Itshak; Jevtić, Aleksandar; Nof, Shimon Y; Edan, Yael

    2018-03-02

    Multi-sensor systems can play an important role in monitoring tasks and detecting targets. However, real-time allocation of heterogeneous sensors to dynamic targets/tasks that are unknown a priori in their locations and priorities is a challenge. This paper presents a Modified Distributed Bees Algorithm (MDBA) that is developed to allocate stationary heterogeneous sensors to upcoming unknown tasks using a decentralized, swarm intelligence approach to minimize the task detection times. Sensors are allocated to tasks based on sensors' performance, tasks' priorities, and the distances of the sensors from the locations where the tasks are being executed. The algorithm was compared to a Distributed Bees Algorithm (DBA), a Bees System, and two common multi-sensor algorithms, market-based and greedy-based algorithms, which were fitted for the specific task. Simulation analyses revealed that MDBA achieved statistically significant improved performance by 7% with respect to DBA as the second-best algorithm, and by 19% with respect to Greedy algorithm, which was the worst, thus indicating its fitness to provide solutions for heterogeneous multi-sensor systems.

  17. Direct electrochemistry of glucose oxidase and biosensing for glucose based on boron-doped carbon nanotubes modified electrode.

    PubMed

    Deng, Chunyan; Chen, Jinhua; Chen, Xiaoli; Xiao, Chunhui; Nie, Lihua; Yao, Shouzhuo

    2008-03-14

    Due to their unique physicochemical properties, doped carbon nanotubes are now extremely attractive and important nanomaterials in bioanalytical applications. In this work, selecting glucose oxidase (GOD) as a model enzyme, we investigated the direct electrochemistry of GOD based on the B-doped carbon nanotubes/glassy carbon (BCNTs/GC) electrode with cyclic voltammetry. A pair of well-defined, quasi-reversible redox peaks of the immobilized GOD was observed at the BCNTs based enzyme electrode in 0.1M phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.98) by direct electron transfer between the protein and the electrode. As a new platform in glucose analysis, the new glucose biosensor based on the BCNTs/GC electrode has a sensitivity of 111.57 microA mM(-1)cm(-2), a linear range from 0.05 to 0.3mM and a detection limit of 0.01mM (S/N=3). Furthermore, the BCNTs modified electrode exhibits good stability and excellent anti-interferent ability to the commonly co-existed uric acid and ascorbic acid. These indicate that boron-doped carbon nanotubes are the good candidate material for the direct electrochemistry of the redox-active enzyme and the construction of the related enzyme biosensors.

  18. Paper-based microreactor integrating cell culture and subsequent immunoassay for the investigation of cellular phosphorylation.

    PubMed

    Lei, Kin Fong; Huang, Chia-Hao

    2014-12-24

    Investigation of cellular phosphorylation and signaling pathway has recently gained much attention for the study of pathogenesis of cancer. Related conventional bioanalytical operations for this study including cell culture and Western blotting are time-consuming and labor-intensive. In this work, a paper-based microreactor has been developed to integrate cell culture and subsequent immunoassay on a single paper. The paper-based microreactor was a filter paper with an array of circular zones for running multiple cell cultures and subsequent immunoassays. Cancer cells were directly seeded in the circular zones without hydrogel encapsulation and cultured for 1 day. Subsequently, protein expressions including structural, functional, and phosphorylated proteins of the cells could be detected by their specific antibodies, respectively. Study of the activation level of phosphorylated Stat3 of liver cancer cells stimulated by IL-6 cytokine was demonstrated by the paper-based microreactor. This technique can highly reduce tedious bioanalytical operation and sample and reagent consumption. Also, the time required by the entire process can be shortened. This work provides a simple and rapid screening tool for the investigation of cellular phosphorylation and signaling pathway for understanding the pathogenesis of cancer. In addition, the operation of the paper-based microreactor is compatible to the molecular biological training, and therefore, it has the potential to be developed for routine protocol for various research areas in conventional bioanalytical laboratories.

  19. Systematic Development and Validation of a Thin-Layer Densitometric Bioanalytical Method for Estimation of Mangiferin Employing Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) Approach

    PubMed Central

    Khurana, Rajneet Kaur; Rao, Satish; Beg, Sarwar; Katare, O.P.; Singh, Bhupinder

    2016-01-01

    The present work aims at the systematic development of a simple, rapid and highly sensitive densitometry-based thin-layer chromatographic method for the quantification of mangiferin in bioanalytical samples. Initially, the quality target method profile was defined and critical analytical attributes (CAAs) earmarked, namely, retardation factor (Rf), peak height, capacity factor, theoretical plates and separation number. Face-centered cubic design was selected for optimization of volume loaded and plate dimensions as the critical method parameters selected from screening studies employing D-optimal and Plackett–Burman design studies, followed by evaluating their effect on the CAAs. The mobile phase containing a mixture of ethyl acetate : acetic acid : formic acid : water in a 7 : 1 : 1 : 1 (v/v/v/v) ratio was finally selected as the optimized solvent for apt chromatographic separation of mangiferin at 262 nm with Rf 0.68 ± 0.02 and all other parameters within the acceptance limits. Method validation studies revealed high linearity in the concentration range of 50–800 ng/band for mangiferin. The developed method showed high accuracy, precision, ruggedness, robustness, specificity, sensitivity, selectivity and recovery. In a nutshell, the bioanalytical method for analysis of mangiferin in plasma revealed the presence of well-resolved peaks and high recovery of mangiferin. PMID:26912808

  20. Bioanalytical method for the estimation of co-administered esomeprazole, leflunomide and ibuprofen in human plasma and in pharmaceutical dosage forms using micellar liquid chromatography.

    PubMed

    Talaat, Wael

    2017-05-01

    The present study represents a connection between basic science and clinical applied science through providing a bioanalytical method for the analysis of certain co-administered drugs used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The studied drugs are esomeprazole, leflunomide and ibuprofen. The proposed bioanalytical method is a simple reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic method using micellar mobile phase. The method is conducted using a Shim-pack VP-ODS (150 mm × 4.6 mm ID) stainless steel column at ambient temperature with ultraviolet detection at 285 nm. The micellar mobile phase consisted of 0.1 m sodium dodecyl sulfate, 10% n-propanol, 0.3% triethylamine in 0.02 m orthophosphoric acid (pH 3.5) and is pumped at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The calibration curve was rectilinear over the concentration range of 0.1-5.0, 0.5-10.0 and 1.0-20.0 μg/mL for esomeprazole, leflunomide and ibuprofen respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of these drugs in dosage forms. The method is extended to the in-vitro, in-vivo determination of these drugs in spiked and real human plasma samples. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  1. Understanding bioavailability and toxicity of sediment-associated contaminants by combining passive sampling with in vitro bioassays in an urban river catchment.

    PubMed

    Li, Juan-Ying; Tang, Janet Yat Man; Jin, Ling; Escher, Beate I

    2013-12-01

    Bioavailable and bioaccessible fractions of sediment-associated contaminants are considered as better dose metrics for sediment-quality assessment than total concentrations. The authors applied exhaustive solvent extraction and nondepletive equilibrium sampling techniques to sediment samples collected along the Brisbane River in South East Queensland, Australia, which range from pristine environments to urban and industry-impacted areas. The wide range of chemicals expected prevents comprehensive chemical analysis, but a battery of cell-based bioassays sheds light on mixture effects of chemicals in relation to various modes of toxic action. Toxic effects were expressed as bioanalytical equivalent concentrations (BEQs) normalized to the organic carbon content of each sediment sample. Bioanalytical equivalent concentrations from exhaustive extraction agreed fairly well with values estimated from polydimethylsiloxane passive sampling extracts via the constant organic carbon to polydimethylsiloxane partition coefficient. Agreement was best for bioassays indicative of photosynthesis inhibition and oxidative stress response and discrepancy within a factor of 3 for the induction of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. For nonspecific cytotoxicity, BEQ from exhaustive extraction were 1 order of magnitude higher than values from equilibrium sampling, possibly because of coextraction of bioactive natural organic matter that led to an overestimation of toxicity in the exhaustive extracts, which suggests that passive sampling is better suited in combination with bioanalytical assessment than exhaustive extraction. © 2013 SETAC.

  2. Application of multi-factorial design of experiments to successfully optimize immunoassays for robust measurements of therapeutic proteins.

    PubMed

    Ray, Chad A; Patel, Vimal; Shih, Judy; Macaraeg, Chris; Wu, Yuling; Thway, Theingi; Ma, Mark; Lee, Jean W; Desilva, Binodh

    2009-02-20

    Developing a process that generates robust immunoassays that can be used to support studies with tight timelines is a common challenge for bioanalytical laboratories. Design of experiments (DOEs) is a tool that has been used by many industries for the purpose of optimizing processes. The approach is capable of identifying critical factors and their interactions with a minimal number of experiments. The challenge for implementing this tool in the bioanalytical laboratory is to develop a user-friendly approach that scientists can understand and apply. We have successfully addressed these challenges by eliminating the screening design, introducing automation, and applying a simple mathematical approach for the output parameter. A modified central composite design (CCD) was applied to three ligand binding assays. The intra-plate factors selected were coating, detection antibody concentration, and streptavidin-HRP concentrations. The inter-plate factors included incubation times for each step. The objective was to maximize the logS/B (S/B) of the low standard to the blank. The maximum desirable conditions were determined using JMP 7.0. To verify the validity of the predictions, the logS/B prediction was compared against the observed logS/B during pre-study validation experiments. The three assays were optimized using the multi-factorial DOE. The total error for all three methods was less than 20% which indicated method robustness. DOE identified interactions in one of the methods. The model predictions for logS/B were within 25% of the observed pre-study validation values for all methods tested. The comparison between the CCD and hybrid screening design yielded comparable parameter estimates. The user-friendly design enables effective application of multi-factorial DOE to optimize ligand binding assays for therapeutic proteins. The approach allows for identification of interactions between factors, consistency in optimal parameter determination, and reduced method development time.

  3. A miniaturized optoelectronic system for rapid quantitative label-free detection of harmful species in food

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Raptis, Ioannis; Misiakos, Konstantinos; Makarona, Eleni; Salapatas, Alexandros; Petrou, Panagiota; Kakabakos, Sotirios; Botsialas, Athanasios; Jobst, Gerhard; Haasnoot, Willem; Fernandez-Alba, Amadeo; Lees, Michelle; Valamontes, Evangelos

    2016-03-01

    Optical biosensors have emerged in the past decade as the most promising candidates for portable, highly-sensitive bioanalytical systems that can be employed for in-situ measurements. In this work, a miniaturized optoelectronic system for rapid, quantitative, label-free detection of harmful species in food is presented. The proposed system has four distinctive features that can render to a powerful tool for the next generation of Point-of-Need applications, namely it accommodates the light sources and ten interferometric biosensors on a single silicon chip of a less-than-40mm2 footprint, each sensor can be individually functionalized for a specific target analyte, the encapsulation can be performed at the wafer-scale, and finally it exploits a new operation principle, Broad-band Mach-Zehnder Interferometry to ameliorate its analytical capabilities. Multi-analyte evaluation schemes for the simultaneous detection of harmful contaminants, such as mycotoxins, allergens and pesticides, proved that the proposed system is capable of detecting within short time these substances at concentrations below the limits imposed by regulatory authorities, rendering it to a novel tool for the near-future food safety applications.

  4. A method for determining the actual rate of orientation switching of DNA self-assembled monolayers using optical and electrochemical frequency response analysis.

    PubMed

    Casanova-Moreno, J; Bizzotto, D

    2015-02-17

    Electrostatic control of the orientation of fluorophore-labeled DNA strands immobilized on an electrode surface has been shown to be an effective bioanalytical tool. Modulation techniques and later time-resolved measurements were used to evaluate the kinetics of the switching between lying and standing DNA conformations. These measurements, however, are the result of a convolution between the DNA "switching" response time and the other frequency limited responses in the measurement. In this work, a method for analyzing the response of a potential driven DNA sensor is presented by calculating the potential effectively dropped across the electrode interface (using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) as opposed to the potential applied to the electrochemical cell. This effectively deconvolutes the effect of the charging time on the observed frequency response. The corrected response shows that DNA is able to switch conformation faster than previously reported using modulation techniques. This approach will ensure accurate measurements independent of the electrochemical system, removing the uncertainty in the analysis of the switching response, enabling comparison between samples and measurement systems.

  5. Recent advances in nanoplasmonic biosensors: applications and lab-on-a-chip integration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lopez, Gerardo A.; Estevez, M.-Carmen; Soler, Maria; Lechuga, Laura M.

    2017-01-01

    Motivated by the recent progress in the nanofabrication field and the increasing demand for cost-effective, portable, and easy-to-use point-of-care platforms, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) biosensors have been subjected to a great scientific interest in the last few years. The progress observed in the research of this nanoplasmonic technology is remarkable not only from a nanostructure fabrication point of view but also in the complete development and integration of operative devices and their application. The potential benefits that LSPR biosensors can offer, such as sensor miniaturization, multiplexing opportunities, and enhanced performances, have quickly positioned them as an interesting candidate in the design of lab-on-a-chip (LOC) optical biosensor platforms. This review covers specifically the most significant achievements that occurred in recent years towards the integration of this technology in compact devices, with views of obtaining LOC devices. We also discuss the most relevant examples of the use of the nanoplasmonic biosensors for real bioanalytical and clinical applications from assay development and validation to the identification of the implications, requirements, and challenges to be surpassed to achieve fully operative devices.

  6. Phosphorescent nanosensors for in vivo tracking of histamine levels.

    PubMed

    Cash, Kevin J; Clark, Heather A

    2013-07-02

    Continuously tracking bioanalytes in vivo will enable clinicians and researchers to profile normal physiology and monitor diseased states. Current in vivo monitoring system designs are limited by invasive implantation procedures and biofouling, limiting the utility of these tools for obtaining physiologic data. In this work, we demonstrate the first success in optically tracking histamine levels in vivo using a modular, injectable sensing platform based on diamine oxidase and a phosphorescent oxygen nanosensor. Our new approach increases the range of measurable analytes by combining an enzymatic recognition element with a reversible nanosensor capable of measuring the effects of enzymatic activity. We use these enzyme nanosensors (EnzNS) to monitor the in vivo histamine dynamics as the concentration rapidly increases and decreases due to administration and clearance. The EnzNS system measured kinetics that match those reported from ex vivo measurements. This work establishes a modular approach to in vivo nanosensor design for measuring a broad range of potential target analytes. Simply replacing the recognition enzyme, or both the enzyme and nanosensor, can produce a new sensor system capable of measuring a wide range of specific analytical targets in vivo.

  7. Monolithic pixel development in TowerJazz 180 nm CMOS for the outer pixel layers in the ATLAS experiment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Berdalovic, I.; Bates, R.; Buttar, C.; Cardella, R.; Egidos Plaja, N.; Hemperek, T.; Hiti, B.; van Hoorne, J. W.; Kugathasan, T.; Mandic, I.; Maneuski, D.; Marin Tobon, C. A.; Moustakas, K.; Musa, L.; Pernegger, H.; Riedler, P.; Riegel, C.; Schaefer, D.; Schioppa, E. J.; Sharma, A.; Snoeys, W.; Solans Sanchez, C.; Wang, T.; Wermes, N.

    2018-01-01

    The upgrade of the ATLAS tracking detector (ITk) for the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider at CERN requires the development of novel radiation hard silicon sensor technologies. Latest developments in CMOS sensor processing offer the possibility of combining high-resistivity substrates with on-chip high-voltage biasing to achieve a large depleted active sensor volume. We have characterised depleted monolithic active pixel sensors (DMAPS), which were produced in a novel modified imaging process implemented in the TowerJazz 180 nm CMOS process in the framework of the monolithic sensor development for the ALICE experiment. Sensors fabricated in this modified process feature full depletion of the sensitive layer, a sensor capacitance of only a few fF and radiation tolerance up to 1015 neq/cm2. This paper summarises the measurements of charge collection properties in beam tests and in the laboratory using radioactive sources and edge TCT. The results of these measurements show significantly improved radiation hardness obtained for sensors manufactured using the modified process. This has opened the way to the design of two large scale demonstrators for the ATLAS ITk. To achieve a design compatible with the requirements of the outer pixel layers of the tracker, a charge sensitive front-end taking 500 nA from a 1.8 V supply is combined with a fast digital readout architecture. The low-power front-end with a 25 ns time resolution exploits the low sensor capacitance to reduce noise and analogue power, while the implemented readout architectures minimise power by reducing the digital activity.

  8. Solid State pH Sensor Based on Light Emitting Diodes (LED) As Detector Platform

    PubMed Central

    Lau, King Tong; Shepherd, R.; Diamond, Danny; Diamond, Dermot

    2006-01-01

    A low-power, high sensitivity, very low-cost light emitting diode (LED)-based device developed for low-cost sensor networks was modified with bromocresol green membrane to work as a solid-state pH sensor. In this approach, a reverse-biased LED functioning as a photodiode is coupled with a second LED configured in conventional emission mode. A simple timer circuit measures how long (in microsecond) it takes for the photocurrent generated on the detector LED to discharge its capacitance from logic 1 (+5 V) to logic 0 (+1.7 V). The entire instrument provides an inherently digital output of light intensity measurements for a few cents. A light dependent resistor (LDR) modified with similar sensor membrane was also used as a comparison method. Both the LED sensor and the LDR sensor responded to various pH buffer solutions in a similar way to obtain sigmoidal curves expected of the dye. The pKa value obtained for the sensors was found to agree with the literature value.

  9. Gas-Sensing Flip-Flop Circuits

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Buehler, Martin G.; Blaes, Brent R.; Williams, Roger; Ryan, Margaret A.

    1995-01-01

    Gas-sensing integrated circuits consisting largely of modified static random-access memories (SRAMs) undergoing development, building on experience gained in use of modified SRAMs as radiation sensors. Each SRAM memory cell includes flip-flop circuit; sensors exploit metastable state that lies between two stable states (corresponding to binary logic states) of flip-flop circuit. Voltages of metastable states vary with exposures of gas-sensitive resistors.

  10. Regulatory observations in bioanalytical determinations.

    PubMed

    Viswanathan, C T

    2010-07-01

    The concept of measuring analytes in biological media is a long-established area of the quantitative sciences that is employed in many sectors. While academic research and R&D units of private firms have been in the forefront of developing complex methodologies, it is the regulatory environment that has brought the focus and rigor to the quality control of the quantitative determination of drug concentration in biological samples. In this article, the author examines the regulatory findings discovered during the course of several years of auditing bioanalytical work. The outcomes of these findings underscore the importance of quality method validation to ensure the reliability of the data generated. The failure to ensure the reliability of these data can lead to potential risks in the health management of millions of people in the USA.

  11. Improving the sensitivity and specificity of a bioanalytical assay for the measurement of certolizumab pegol.

    PubMed

    Smeraglia, John; Silva, John-Paul; Jones, Kieran

    2017-08-01

    In order to evaluate placental transfer of certolizumab pegol (CZP), a more sensitive and selective bioanalytical assay was required to accurately measure low CZP concentrations in infant and umbilical cord blood. Results & methodology: A new electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was developed to measure CZP levels in human plasma. Validation experiments demonstrated improved selectivity (no matrix interference observed) and a detection range of 0.032-5.0 μg/ml. Accuracy and precision met acceptance criteria (mean total error ≤20.8%). Dilution linearity and sample stability were acceptable and sufficient to support the method. The electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was validated for measuring low CZP concentrations in human plasma. The method demonstrated a more than tenfold increase in sensitivity compared with previous assays, and improved selectivity for intact CZP.

  12. Bioanalysis of alectinib and metabolite M4 in human plasma, cross-validation and impact on PK assessment.

    PubMed

    Heinig, Katja; Miya, Kazuhiro; Kamei, Tomonori; Guerini, Elena; Fraier, Daniela; Yu, Li; Bansal, Surendra; Morcos, Peter N

    2016-07-01

    Alectinib is a novel anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor for treatment of patients with ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer who have progressed on or are intolerant to crizotinib. To support clinical development, concentrations of alectinib and metabolite M4 were determined in plasma from patients and healthy subjects. LC-MS/MS methods were developed and validated in two different laboratories: Chugai used separate assays for alectinib and M4 in a pivotal Phase I/II study while Roche established a simultaneous assay for both analytes for another pivotal study and all other studies. Cross-validation assessment revealed a bias between the two bioanalytical laboratories, which was confirmed with the clinical PK data between both pivotal studies using the different bioanalytical methods.

  13. From benchtop to raceway : spectroscopic signatures of dynamic biological processes in algal communities.

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Trahan, Christine Alexandra; Garcia, Omar Fidel; Martino, Anthony A.

    2010-08-01

    The search is on for new renewable energy and algal-derived biofuel is a critical piece in the multi-faceted renewable energy puzzle. It has 30x more oil than any terrestrial oilseed crop, ideal composition for biodiesel, no competition with food crops, can be grown in waste water, and is cleaner than petroleum based fuels. This project discusses these three goals: (1) Conduct fundamental research into the effects that dynamic biotic and abiotic stressors have on algal growth and lipid production - Genomics/Transcriptomics, Bioanalytical spectroscopy/Chemical imaging; (2) Discover spectral signatures for algal health at the benchtop and greenhouse scale - Remote sensing,more » Bioanalytical spectroscopy; and (3) Develop computational model for algal growth and productivity at the raceway scale - Computational modeling.« less

  14. Sponsor relationships, analyte stability in ligand-binding assays and critical reagent management: a bioanalytical CRO perspective.

    PubMed

    Lefor Bradford, Julia

    2015-01-01

    This perspective article discusses key points to address in the establishment of sound partnerships between sponsors and bioanalytical CROs to assure the timeliness, quality and consistency of bioanalysis throughout biological therapeutic development. The performance of ligand-binding assays can be greatly impacted by low-grade reagents, lot-to-lot variability and lack of stability of the analyte in matrix, impacting both timelines and cost. Thorough characterization of the biologic of interest and its assay-enabling critical reagents will lend itself well to conservation of materials and continuity of assay performance. When unplanned events occur, such as performance declines or premature depletion of material, structured procedures are paramount to supplement the current loosely defined regulatory guidance on critical reagent characterization and method bridging.

  15. A fully automated colorimetric sensing device using smartphone for biomolecular quantification

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dutta, Sibasish; Nath, Pabitra

    2017-03-01

    In the present work, the use of smartphone for colorimetric quantification of biomolecules has been demonstrated. As a proof-of-concept, BSA protein and carbohydrate have been used as biomolecular sample. BSA protein and carbohydrate at different concentrations have been treated with Lowry's reagent and Anthrone's reagent respectively . The change in color of the reagent-treated samples at different concentrations have been recorded with the camera of a smartphone in combination with a custom designed optomechanical hardware attachment. This change in color of the reagent-treated samples has been correlated with color channels of two different color models namely RGB (Red Green Blue) and HSV (Hue Saturation and Value) model. In addition to that, the change in color intensity has also been correlated with the grayscale value for each of the imaged sample. A custom designed android app has been developed to quantify the bimolecular concentration and display the result in the phone itself. The obtained results have been compared with that of standard spectrophotometer usually considered for the purpose and highly reliable data have been obtained with the designed sensor. The device is robust, portable and low cost as compared to its commercially available counterparts. The data obtained from the sensor can be transmitted to anywhere in the world through the existing cellular network. It is envisioned that the designed sensing device would find wide range of applications in the field of analytical and bioanalytical sensing research.

  16. Advances on Aryldiazonium Salt Chemistry Based Interfacial Fabrication for Sensing Applications.

    PubMed

    Cao, Chaomin; Zhang, Yin; Jiang, Cheng; Qi, Meng; Liu, Guozhen

    2017-02-15

    Aryldiazonium salts as coupling agents for surface chemistry have evidenced their wide applications for the development of sensors. Combined with advances in nanomaterials, current trends in sensor science and a variety of particular advantages of aryldiazonium salt chemistry in sensing have driven the aryldiazonium salt-based sensing strategies to grow at an astonishing pace. This review focuses on the advances in the use of aryldiazonium salts for modifying interfaces in sensors and biosensors during the past decade. It will first summarize the current methods for modification of interfaces with aryldiazonium salts, and then discuss the sensing applications of aryldiazonium salts modified on different transducers (bulky solid electrodes, nanomaterials modified bulky solid electrodes, and nanoparticles). Finally, the challenges and perspectives that aryldiazonium salt chemistry is facing in sensing applications are critically discussed.

  17. A graphene-based electrochemical sensor for sensitive detection of paracetamol

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kang, Xinhuang; Wang, Jun; Wu, Hong

    2010-05-15

    An electrochemical sensor based on the electrocatalytic activity of functionalized graphene for sensitive detection of paracetamol is presented. The electrochemical behaviors of paracetamol on graphene-modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs) were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and square-wave voltammetry. The results showed that the graphene-modified electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity to paracetamol. A quasi-reversible redox process of paracetamol at the modified electrode was obtained, and the over-potential of paracetamol decreased significantly compared with that at the bare GCE. Such electrocatalytic behavior of graphene is attributed to its unique physical and chemical properties, e.g., subtle electronic characteristics, attractive π–π interaction, and strong adsorptivemore » capability. The sensor shows great promise for simple, sensitive, and quantitative detection of paracetamol.« less

  18. Polymer-grafted QCM chemical sensor and application to heavy metalions real time detection.

    PubMed

    Sartore, Luciana; Barbaglio, Marzia; Borgese, Laura; Bontempi, Elza

    2011-07-20

    A flow type quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) chemical sensor was developed for monitoring of heavy metal ions in aqueous solutions (that is suitable for environmental monitoring). The sensor is based upon surface chelation of the metal ions at multifunctional polymer modified gold electrodes on 9 MHz AT-cut quartz resonators, functioning as a QCM. New processes have been developed which enable to obtain surface-modified gold electrodes with high heavy metal ions complexing ability. These polymer grafted QCM sensors can selectively adsorb heavy metal ions, such as copper lead chrome and cadmium, from solution over a wide range from 0.01 to 1000 ppm concentration by complexation with functional groups in the polymers. Cations typically present in natural water did not interfere with the detection of heavy metals. X-Ray Reflectivity (XRR) and Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence (TXRF) were carried out to characterise the unmodified and modified gold surfaces as well as to verify the possibility to selectively bond and remove metal ions.

  19. Study of a QCM dimethyl methylphosphonate sensor based on a ZnO-modified nanowire-structured manganese dioxide film.

    PubMed

    Pei, Zhifu; Ma, Xingfa; Ding, Pengfei; Zhang, Wuming; Luo, Zhiyuan; Li, Guang

    2010-01-01

    Sensitive, selective and fast detection of chemical warfare agents is necessary for anti-terrorism purposes. In our search for functional materials sensitive to dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), a simulant of sarin and other toxic organophosphorus compounds, we found that zinc oxide (ZnO) modification potentially enhances the absorption of DMMP on a manganese dioxide (MnO(2)) surface. The adsorption behavior of DMMP was evaluated through the detection of tiny organophosphonate compounds with quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors coated with ZnO-modified MnO(2) nanofibers and pure MnO(2) nanofibers. Experimental results indicated that the QCM sensor coated with ZnO-modified nanostructured MnO(2) film exhibited much higher sensitivity and better selectivity in comparison with the one coated with pure MnO(2) nanofiber film. Therefore, the DMMP sensor developed with this composite nanostructured material should possess excellent selectivity and reasonable sensitivity towards the tiny gaseous DMMP species.

  20. Highly selective dopamine electrochemical sensor based on electrochemically pretreated graphite and nafion composite modified screen printed carbon electrode.

    PubMed

    Ku, Shuhao; Palanisamy, Selvakumar; Chen, Shen-Ming

    2013-12-01

    Herein, we report a highly selective dopamine electrochemical sensor based on electrochemically pretreated graphite/nafion composite modified screen printed carbon (SPC) electrode. Electrochemically activated graphite/nafion composite was prepared by using a simple electrochemical method. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) used to characterize the surface morphology of the fabricated composite electrode. The SEM result clearly indicates that the graphitic basal planes were totally disturbed and leads to the formation of graphite nanosheets. The composite modified electrode showed an enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of DA when compared with either electrochemical pretreated graphite or nafion SPC electrodes. The fabricated composite electrode exhibits a good electrocatalytic oxidation toward DA in the linear response range from 0.5 to 70 μM with the detection limit of 0.023 μM. The proposed sensor also exhibits very good selectivity and stability, with the appreciable sensitivity. In addition, the proposed sensor showed satisfactory recovery results toward the commercial pharmaceutical DA samples. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Development and characterization of a voltammetric carbon-fiber microelectrode pH sensor.

    PubMed

    Makos, Monique A; Omiatek, Donna M; Ewing, Andrew G; Heien, Michael L

    2010-06-15

    This work describes the development and characterization of a modified carbon-fiber microelectrode sensor capable of measuring real-time physiological pH changes in biological microenvironments. The reagentless sensor was fabricated under ambient conditions from voltammetric reduction of the diazonium salt Fast Blue RR onto a carbon-fiber surface in aprotic media. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry was used to probe redox activity of the p-quinone moiety of the surface-bound molecule as a function of pH. In vitro calibration of the sensor in solutions ranging from pH 6.5 to 8.0 resulted in a pH-dependent anodic peak potential response. Flow-injection analysis was used to characterize the modified microelectrode, revealing sensitivity to acidic and basic changes discernible to 0.005 pH units. Furthermore, the modified electrode was used to measure dynamic in vivo pH changes evoked during neurotransmitter release in the central nervous system of the microanalytical model organism Drosophila melanogaster.

  2. Honeycomb-like Porous Carbon-Cobalt Oxide Nanocomposite for High-Performance Enzymeless Glucose Sensor and Supercapacitor Applications.

    PubMed

    Madhu, Rajesh; Veeramani, Vediyappan; Chen, Shen-Ming; Manikandan, Arumugam; Lo, An-Ya; Chueh, Yu-Lun

    2015-07-29

    Herein, we report the preparation of Pongam seed shells-derived activated carbon and cobalt oxide (∼2-10 nm) nanocomposite (PSAC/Co3O4) by using a general and facile synthesis strategy. The as-synthesized PSAC/Co3O4 samples were characterized by a variety of physicochemical techniques. The PSAC/Co3O4-modified electrode is employed in two different applications such as high performance nonenzymatic glucose sensor and supercapacitor. Remarkably, the fabricated glucose sensor is exhibited an ultrahigh sensitivity of 34.2 mA mM(-1) cm(-2) with a very low detection limit (21 nM) and long-term durability. The PSAC/Co3O4 modified stainless steel electrode possesses an appreciable specific capacitance and remarkable long-term cycling stability. The obtained results suggest the as-synthesized PSAC/Co3O4 is more suitable for the nonenzymatic glucose sensor and supercapacitor applications outperforming the related carbon based modified electrodes, rendering practical industrial applications.

  3. Study of a QCM Dimethyl Methylphosphonate Sensor Based on a ZnO-Modified Nanowire-Structured Manganese Dioxide Film

    PubMed Central

    Pei, Zhifu; Ma, Xingfa; Ding, Pengfei; Zhang, Wuming; Luo, Zhiyuan; Li, Guang

    2010-01-01

    Sensitive, selective and fast detection of chemical warfare agents is necessary for anti-terrorism purposes. In our search for functional materials sensitive to dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), a simulant of sarin and other toxic organophosphorus compounds, we found that zinc oxide (ZnO) modification potentially enhances the absorption of DMMP on a manganese dioxide (MnO2) surface. The adsorption behavior of DMMP was evaluated through the detection of tiny organophosphonate compounds with quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors coated with ZnO-modified MnO2 nanofibers and pure MnO2 nanofibers. Experimental results indicated that the QCM sensor coated with ZnO-modified nanostructured MnO2 film exhibited much higher sensitivity and better selectivity in comparison with the one coated with pure MnO2 nanofiber film. Therefore, the DMMP sensor developed with this composite nanostructured material should possess excellent selectivity and reasonable sensitivity towards the tiny gaseous DMMP species. PMID:22163653

  4. Development and Characterization of a Voltammetric Carbon-fiber Microelectrode pH Sensor

    PubMed Central

    Makos, Monique A.; Omiatek, Donna M.; Ewing, Andrew G.; Heien, Michael L.

    2010-01-01

    This work describes the development and characterization of a modified carbon-fiber microelectrode sensor capable of measuring real-time physiological pH changes in biological microenvironments. The reagentless sensor was fabricated under ambient conditions from voltammetric reduction of the diazonium salt Fast Blue RR onto a carbon-fiber surface in aprotic media. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry was used to probe redox activity of the p-quinone moiety of the surface-bound molecule as a function of pH. In vitro calibration of the sensor in solutions ranging from pH 6.5 to 8.0 resulted in a pH-dependent anodic peak potential response. Flow-injection analysis was used to characterize the modified microelectrode, revealing sensitivity to acidic and basic changes discernable to 0.005 pH units. Furthermore, the modified electrode was used to measure dynamic in vivo pH changes evoked during neurotransmitter release in the central nervous system of the microanalytical model organism Drosophila melanogaster. PMID:20380393

  5. Bioanalytical tools for the evaluation of organic micropollutants during sewage treatment, water recycling and drinking water generation.

    PubMed

    Macova, Miroslava; Toze, Simon; Hodgers, Leonie; Mueller, Jochen F; Bartkow, Michael; Escher, Beate I

    2011-08-01

    A bioanalytical test battery was used for monitoring organic micropollutants across an indirect potable reuse scheme testing sites across the complete water cycle from sewage to drinking water to assess the efficacy of different treatment barriers. The indirect potable reuse scheme consists of seven treatment barriers: (1) source control, (2) wastewater treatment plant, (3) microfiltration, (4) reverse osmosis, (5) advanced oxidation, (6) natural environment in a reservoir and (7) drinking water treatment plant. Bioanalytical results provide complementary information to chemical analysis on the sum of micropollutants acting together in mixtures. Six endpoints targeting the groups of chemicals with modes of toxic action of particular relevance for human and environmental health were included in the evaluation: genotoxicity, estrogenicity (endocrine disruption), neurotoxicity, phytotoxicity, dioxin-like activity and non-specific cell toxicity. The toxicity of water samples was expressed as toxic equivalent concentrations (TEQ), a measure that translates the effect of the mixtures of unknown and potentially unidentified chemicals in a water sample to the effect that a known reference compound would cause. For each bioassay a different representative reference compound was selected. In this study, the TEQ concept was applied for the first time to the umuC test indicative of genotoxicity using 4-nitroquinoline as the reference compound for direct genotoxicity and benzo[a]pyrene for genotoxicity after metabolic activation. The TEQ were observed to decrease across the seven treatment barriers in all six selected bioassays. Each bioassay showed a differentiated picture representative for a different group of chemicals and their mixture effect. The TEQ of the samples across the seven barriers were in the same order of magnitude as seen during previous individual studies in wastewater and advanced water treatment plants and reservoirs. For the first time a benchmarking was performed that allows direct comparison of different treatment technologies and covers several orders of magnitude of TEQ from highly contaminated sewage to drinking water with TEQ close or below the limit of detection. Detection limits of the bioassays were decreased in comparison to earlier studies by optimizing sample preparation and test protocols, and were comparable to or lower than the quantification limits of the routine chemical analysis, which allowed monitoring of the presence and removal of micropollutants post Barrier 2 and in drinking water. The results obtained by bioanalytical tools were reproducible, robust and consistent with previous studies assessing the effectiveness of the wastewater and advanced water treatment plants. The results of this study indicate that bioanalytical results expressed as TEQ are useful to assess removal efficiency of micropollutants throughout all treatment steps of water recycling. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. A Modified Distributed Bees Algorithm for Multi-Sensor Task Allocation †

    PubMed Central

    Nof, Shimon Y.; Edan, Yael

    2018-01-01

    Multi-sensor systems can play an important role in monitoring tasks and detecting targets. However, real-time allocation of heterogeneous sensors to dynamic targets/tasks that are unknown a priori in their locations and priorities is a challenge. This paper presents a Modified Distributed Bees Algorithm (MDBA) that is developed to allocate stationary heterogeneous sensors to upcoming unknown tasks using a decentralized, swarm intelligence approach to minimize the task detection times. Sensors are allocated to tasks based on sensors’ performance, tasks’ priorities, and the distances of the sensors from the locations where the tasks are being executed. The algorithm was compared to a Distributed Bees Algorithm (DBA), a Bees System, and two common multi-sensor algorithms, market-based and greedy-based algorithms, which were fitted for the specific task. Simulation analyses revealed that MDBA achieved statistically significant improved performance by 7% with respect to DBA as the second-best algorithm, and by 19% with respect to Greedy algorithm, which was the worst, thus indicating its fitness to provide solutions for heterogeneous multi-sensor systems. PMID:29498683

  7. Identification of a novel structure in heparin generated by potassium permanganate oxidation

    PubMed Central

    Beccati, Daniela; Roy, Sucharita; Yu, Fei; Gunay, Nur Sibel; Capila, Ishan; Lech, Miroslaw; Linhardt, Robert J.; Venkataraman, Ganesh

    2012-01-01

    The worldwide heparin contamination crisis in 2008 led health authorities to take fundamental steps to better control heparin manufacture, including implementing appropriate analytical and bio-analytical methods to ensure production and release of high quality heparin sodium product. Consequently, there is an increased interest in the identification and structural elucidation of unusually modified structures that may be present in heparin. Our study focuses on the structural elucidation of species that give rise to a signal observed at 2.10 ppm in the N-acetyl region of the 1H NMR spectrum of some pharmaceutical grade heparin preparations. Structural elucidation experiments were carried out using homonuclear (COSY, TOSCY and NOESY) and heteronuclear (HSQC, HSQC-DEPT, HMQC-COSY, HSQC-TOCSY, and HMBC) 2D NMR spectroscopy on both heparin as well as heparin-like model compounds. Our results identify a novel type of oxidative modification of the heparin chain that results from a specific step in the manufacturing process used to prepare heparin. PMID:25147414

  8. Template-directed covalent conjugation of DNA to native antibodies, transferrin and other metal-binding proteins

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rosen, Christian B.; Kodal, Anne L. B.; Nielsen, Jesper S.; Schaffert, David H.; Scavenius, Carsten; Okholm, Anders H.; Voigt, Niels V.; Enghild, Jan J.; Kjems, Jørgen; Tørring, Thomas; Gothelf, Kurt V.

    2014-09-01

    DNA-protein conjugates are important in bioanalytical chemistry, molecular diagnostics and bionanotechnology, as the DNA provides a unique handle to identify, functionalize or otherwise manipulate proteins. To maintain protein activity, conjugation of a single DNA handle to a specific location on the protein is often needed. However, preparing such high-quality site-specific conjugates often requires genetically engineered proteins, which is a laborious and technically challenging approach. Here we demonstrate a simpler method to create site-selective DNA-protein conjugates. Using a guiding DNA strand modified with a metal-binding functionality, we directed a second DNA strand to the vicinity of a metal-binding site of His6-tagged or wild-type metal-binding proteins, such as serotransferrin, where it subsequently reacted with lysine residues at that site. This method, DNA-templated protein conjugation, facilitates the production of site-selective protein conjugates, and also conjugation to IgG1 antibodies via a histidine cluster in the constant domain.

  9. Capillary isoelectric focusing and fluorometric detection of proteins and microorganisms dynamically modified by poly(ethylene glycol) pyrenebutanoate.

    PubMed

    Horka, Marie; Ruzicka, Filip; Horký, Jaroslav; Holá, Veronika; Slais, Karel

    2006-12-15

    The nonionogenic pyrene-based tenside, poly(ethylene glycol) pyrenebutanoate, was prepared and applied in capillary isoelectric focusing with fluorometric detection. This dye was used here as a buffer additive in capillary isoelectric focusing for a dynamic modification of the sample of proteins and microorganisms. The values of the isoelectric points of the labeled bioanalytes were calculated with use of the fluorescent pI markers and were found comparable with pI of the native compounds. The mixed cultures of proteins and microorganisms, Escherichia coli CCM 3954, Staphylococcus epidermidis CCM 4418, Proteus vulgaris, Enterococcus faecalis CCM 4224, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, the strains of the yeast cells, Candida albicans CCM 8180, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were reproducibly focused and separated by the suggested technique. Using UV excitation for the on-column fluorometric detection, the minimum detectable amount was down to 10 cells injected on the separation capillary.

  10. Highly sensitive detection of target molecules using a new fluorescence-based bead assay

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Scheffler, Silvia; Strauß, Denis; Sauer, Markus

    2007-07-01

    Development of immunoassays with improved sensitivity, specificity and reliability are of major interest in modern bioanalytical research. We describe the development of a new immunomagnetic fluorescence detection (IM-FD) assay based on specific antigen/antibody interactions and on accumulation of the fluorescence signal on superparamagnetic PE beads in combination with the use of extrinsic fluorescent labels. IM-FD can be easily modified by varying the order of coatings and assay conditions. Depending on the target molecule, antibodies (ABs), entire proteins, or small protein epitopes can be used as capture molecules. The presence of target molecules is detected by fluorescence microscopy using fluorescently labeled secondary or detection antibodies. Here, we demonstrate the potential of the new assay detecting the two tumor markers IGF-I and p53 antibodies in the clinically relevant concentration range. Our data show that the fluorescence-based bead assay exhibits a large dynamic range and a high sensitivity down to the subpicomolar level.

  11. Manufacture and application of RuO2 solid-state metal-oxide pH sensor to common beverages.

    PubMed

    Lonsdale, W; Wajrak, M; Alameh, K

    2018-04-01

    A new reproducible solid-state metal-oxide pH sensor for beverage quality monitoring is developed and characterised. The working electrode of the developed pH sensor is based on the use of laser-etched sputter-deposited RuO 2 on Al 2 O 3 substrate, modified with thin layers of sputter-deposited Ta 2 O 5 and drop-cast Nafion for minimisation of redox interference. The reference electrode is manufactured by further modifying a working electrode with a porous polyvinyl butyral layer loaded with fumed SiO 2 . The developed pH sensor shows excellent performance when applied to a selection of beverage samples, with a measured accuracy within 0.08 pH of a commercial glass pH sensor. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. New Electrochemically-Modified Carbon Paste Inclusion β-Cyclodextrin and Carbon Nanotubes Sensors for Quantification of Dorzolamide Hydrochloride

    PubMed Central

    Alarfaj, Nawal Ahmad; El-Tohamy, Maha Farouk

    2016-01-01

    The present article introduces a new approach to fabricate carbon paste sensors, including carbon paste, modified carbon paste inclusion β-cyclodextrin, and carbon nanotubes for the quantification of dorzolamide hydrochloride (DRZ). This study is mainly based on the construction of three different carbon paste sensors by the incorporation of DRZ with phosphotungstic acid (PTA) to form dorzolamide-phosphotungstate (DRZ-PT) as an electroactive material in the presence of the solvent mediator ortho-nitrophenyloctyl ether (o-NPOE). The fabricated conventional carbon paste sensor (sensor I), as well as the other modified carbon paste sensors using β-cyclodextrin (sensor II) and carbon nanotubes (sensor III), have been investigated. The sensors displayed Nernstian responses of 55.4 ± 0.6, 56.4 ± 0.4 and 58.1 ± 0.2 mV·decade−1 over concentration ranges of 1.0 × 10−5–1.0 × 10−2, 1.0 × 10−6–1.0 × 10−2, and 5.0 × 10−8–1.0 × 10−2 mol·L−1 with lower detection limits of 5.0 × 10−6, 5.0 × 10−7, and 2.5 × 10−9 mol·L−1 for sensors I, II, and III, respectively. The critical performance of the developed sensors was checked with respect to the effect of various parameters, including pH, selectivity, response time, linear concentration relationship, lifespan, etc. Method validation was applied according to the international conference on harmonisation of technical requirements for registration of pharmaceuticals for human use ICH guidelines. The developed sensors were employed for the determination of DRZ in its bulk and dosage forms, as well as bio-samples. The observed data were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained from other published methods. PMID:27918458

  13. Electrokinetic transport phenomena: Mobility measurement and electrokinetic instability

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oddy, Michael Huson

    Miniaturization and integration of traditional bioassay procedures into microfabricated on-chip assay systems, commonly referred to as "Micro Total Analysis" (muTAS) systems, may have a significant impact on the fields of genomics, proteomics, and clinical analysis. These bioanalytical microsystems leverage electroosmosis and electrophoresis for sample transport, mixing, manipulation, and separation. This dissertation addresses the following three topics relevant to such systems: a new diagnostic for measuring the electrophoretic mobility of sub-micron, fluorescently-labeled particles and the electroosmotic mobility of a microchannel; a novel method and device for rapidly stirring micro- and nanoliter volume solutions for microfluidic bioanalytical applications; and a multiple-species electrokinetic instability model. Accurate measurement of the electrophoretic particle mobility and the electroosmotic mobility of microchannel surfaces is crucial to understanding the stability of colloidal suspensions, obtaining particle tracking-based velocimetry measurements of electroosmotic flow fields, and the quantification of electrokinetic bioanalytical device performance. A method for determining these mobilities from alternating and direct current electrokinetic particle tracking measurements is presented. The ability to rapidly mix fluids at low Reynolds numbers is important to the functionality of many bioanalytical, microfluidic devices. We present an electrokinetic process for rapidly stirring microflow streams by initiating an electrokinetic flow instability. The design, fabrication and performance analysis of two micromixing devices capable of rapidly stirring two low Reynolds number fluid streams are presented. Electroosmotic and electrophoretic transport in the presence of conductivity mismatches between reagent streams and the background electrolytes, can lead to an unstable flow field generating significant sample dispersion. In the multiple-species electrokinetic instability model, we consider a high aspect ratio microchannel geometry, a conductivity gradient orthogonal to the applied electric field, and a four-species chemistry model. A linear stability analysis of the depth-averaged governing equations shows unstable eigenmodes for conductivity ratios as close to unity as 1.01. Experiments and full nonlinear simulations of the governing equations were conducted for a conductivity ratio of 1.05. Images of the disturbance dye field from the nonlinear simulations show good qualitative and quantitative agreement with experiment. Species electromigration is shown to a have significant influence on the development of the conductivity field and instability dynamics in multi-ion configurations.

  14. Managing scientific, technical and regulatory innovation in regulated bioanalysis: a discussion paper from the European Bioanalysis Forum.

    PubMed

    Timmerman, Philip; Henderson, Neil; Smeraglia, John; Mulder, Hans; Ingelse, Benno; Brudny-Kloeppel, Margarete; Companjen, Arjen

    2013-01-01

    On 12-13 June 2012, the European Bioanalysis Forum hosted its third Focus Meeting in Brussels (Belgium). At the meeting, a panel discussion was held on the hurdles that the bioanalytical community encounters when adopting new technologies or managing regulated bioanalysis expectations around emerging technologies. Over the last few years, the industry has seen many new technologies maturing. As they became available, the bioanalytical scientist has observed that implementing these technologies in the regulated environment has become increasingly challenging. For one, scientific developments and regulatory expectations may not go hand in hand. At the same time, the pharmaceutical industry has become increasingly risk averse in their response to these real or perceived higher expectations in regulated bioanalysis. As a downstream consequence, the potential result of overinterpretation of guidance or occasional widespread and premature implementation of responses to health authority inspections, industry may be contributing significantly to raising the bar on some processes related to day-to-day practices in the bioanalytical laboratory. Last but not least, with the community being satisfied with the performance of the current tools, potential complacency can be observed in the regulated bioanalytical community because existing technologies, such as LC-MS/MS and ligand-binding assays, have served and still are serving them extremely well. Hence, the question 'what's next after LC-MS/MS or ELISA?' is not resonating with many scientists as pertinently compared with 'What's next after RIA, GC or LC-UV?', which was the key question in the 1990s, certainly in the context of an increasing effort needed to validate these new tools. With this article, the European Bioanalysis Forum aims to stimulate an open dialogue between all stakeholders in regulated bioanalysis to positively influence how we balance science, process and regulations in day-to-day work. This discussion should facilitate the evaluation and the subsequent implementation of innovative techniques for the benefit of the patient, while stimulating our community to raise the bar on added-value science, but at the same time removing the bar on processes with limited or no added value.

  15. Synthesis and characterization of graphene quantum dots/CoNiAl-layered double-hydroxide nanocomposite: Application as a glucose sensor.

    PubMed

    Samuei, Sara; Fakkar, Jila; Rezvani, Zolfaghar; Shomali, Ashkan; Habibi, Biuck

    2017-03-15

    In the present work, a novel nanocomposite based on the graphene quantum dots and CoNiAl-layered double-hydroxide was successfully synthesized by co-precipitation method. To achieve the morphological, structural and compositional information, the resulted nanocomposite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and photoluminescence. Then, the nanocomposite was used as a modifier to fabricate a modified carbon paste electrode as a non-enzymatic sensor for glucose determination. Electrochemical behavior and determination of glucose at the nanocomposite modified carbon paste electrode were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry methods, respectively. The prepared sensor offered good electrocatalytic properties, fast response time, high reproducibility and stability. At the optimum conditions, the constructed sensor exhibits wide linear range; 0.01-14.0 mM with a detection limit of 6 μM (S/N = 3) and high sensitivity of 48.717 μAmM -1 . Finally, the sensor was successfully applied to determine the glucose in real samples which demonstrated its applicability. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Biosensors based on inorganic nanoparticles with biomimetic properties: Biomedical applications and in vivo cytotoxicity measurements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ispas, Cristina R.

    The rapid progress of nanotechnology and advanced nanomaterials production offer significant opportunities for designing powerful biosensing devices with enhanced performances. This thesis introduces ceria (CeO 2) nanoparticles and its congeners as a new class of materials with huge potential in bioanalytical and biosensing applications. Unique redox, catalytic and oxygen storage/release properties of ceria nanoparticles, originating from their dual oxidation state are used to design biomedical sensors with high sensitivity and low oxygen dependency. This thesis describes a new approach for fabrication of implantable microbiosensors designed for monitoring neurological activity in physiological conditions. Understanding the mechanisms involved in neurological signaling and functioning is of great physiological importance. In this respect, the development of effective methods that allow accurate detection and quantification of biological analytes (i.e. L-glutamate and glucose) associated with neurological processes is of paramount importance. The performance of most analytical techniques currently used to monitor L-glutamate and glucose is suboptimal and only a limited number of approaches address the problem of operation in oxygen-restricted conditions, such as ischemic brain injury. Over the past couple of years, enzyme based biosensors have been used to investigate processes related to L-glutamate release/uptake and the glucose cycle within the brain. However, most of these sensors, based on oxidoreductase enzymes, do not work in conditions of limited oxygen availability. This thesis presents the development of a novel sensing technology for the detection of L-glutamate and glucose in conditions of oxygen deprivation. This technology provides real-time assessment of the concentrations of these analytes with high sensitivity, wide linear range, and low oxygen dependence. The fabrication, characterization and optimization of enzyme microbiosensors are discussed. This work introduces a new generic approach of improving the sensitivity of oxidase-based enzymatic assays and indicates that ceria and its mixture with other metal oxide nanoparticles could be used to minimize the problems associated with variations of the oxygen. These materials have great potential in bioanalytical and biotechnological applications and offer great opportunities for development of implantable sensing devices for in vivo and in vitro monitoring of analytes of clinical relevance. Additionally, this thesis evaluates the toxicity of different metal and metal oxide nanoparticles by using zebrafish embryos as a toxicological target. Because of their similarities with other vertebrates, rapid development and low cost, zebrafish embryos are ideal animal models for probing toxicological effects of engineered nanomaterials. Among the nanomaterials tested, nickel nanoparticles were characterized by high toxicity and induced delayed development and morphological malformations, while metal oxides nanoparticles (i.e. ceria nanoparticles) had no toxic effects.

  17. Nano-structured surface plasmon resonance sensor for sensitivity enhancement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Jae-Ho; Kim, Hyo-Sop; Kim, Jin-Ho; Choi, Sung-Wook; Cho, Yong-Jin

    2008-08-01

    A new nano-structured SPR sensor was devised to improve its sensitivity. Nano-scaled silica particles were used as the template to fabricate nano-structure. The surface of the silica particles was modified with thiol group and a single layer of the modified silica particles was attached on the gold or silver thin film using Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method. Thereafter, gold or silver was coated on the template by an e-beam evaporator. Finally, the nano-structured surface with basin-like shape was obtained after removing the silica particles by sonication. Applying the new developed SPR sensor to a model food of alcoholic beverage, the sensitivities for the gold and silver nano-structured sensors, respectively, had 95% and 126% higher than the conventional one.

  18. Enhanced electrochemiluminescence sensor from tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) incorporated into MCM-41 and an ionic liquid-based carbon paste electrode.

    PubMed

    Li, Jing; Huang, Minghua; Liu, Xiaoqing; Wei, Hui; Xu, Yuanhong; Xu, Guobao; Wang, Erkang

    2007-07-01

    The electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) [Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)] ion-exchanged in the sulfonic-functionalized MCM-41 silicas was developed with tripropylamine (TPrA) as a co-reactant in a carbon paste electrode (CPE) using a room temperature ionic liquid (IL) as a binder. The sulfonic-functionalized silicas MCM-41 were used for preparing an ECL sensor by the electrostatic interactions between Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) cations and sulfonic acid groups. We used the IL as a binder to construct the CPE (IL-CPE) to replace the traditional binder of the CPE (T-CPE)--silicone oil. The results indicated that the MCM-41-modified IL-CPE had more open structures to allow faster diffusion of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and that the ionic liquid also acted as a conducting bridge to connect TPrA with Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) sites immobilized in the electrode, resulting in a higher ECL intensity compared with the MCM-41-modified T-CPE. Herein, the detection limit for TPrA of the MCM-41-modified IL-CPE was 7.2 nM, which was two orders of magnitude lower than that observed at the T-CPE. When this new sensor was used in flow injection analysis (FIA), the MCM-41-modified IL-CPE ECL sensor also showed good reproducibility. Furthermore, the sensor could also be renewed easily by mechanical polishing whenever needed.

  19. Closed-Loop Process Control for Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication and Deposition Processes

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Taminger, Karen M. (Inventor); Hofmeister, William H. (Inventor); Martin, Richard E. (Inventor); Hafley, Robert A. (Inventor)

    2013-01-01

    A closed-loop control method for an electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF(sup 3)) process includes detecting a feature of interest during the process using a sensor(s), continuously evaluating the feature of interest to determine, in real time, a change occurring therein, and automatically modifying control parameters to control the EBF(sup 3) process. An apparatus provides closed-loop control method of the process, and includes an electron gun for generating an electron beam, a wire feeder for feeding a wire toward a substrate, wherein the wire is melted and progressively deposited in layers onto the substrate, a sensor(s), and a host machine. The sensor(s) measure the feature of interest during the process, and the host machine continuously evaluates the feature of interest to determine, in real time, a change occurring therein. The host machine automatically modifies control parameters to the EBF(sup 3) apparatus to control the EBF(sup 3) process in a closed-loop manner.

  20. Highly Sensitive Aluminium(III) Ion Sensor Based on a Self-assembled Monolayer on a Gold Nanoparticles Modified Screen-printed Carbon Electrode.

    PubMed

    See, Wong Pooi; Heng, Lee Yook; Nathan, Sheila

    2015-01-01

    A new approach for the development of a highly sensitive aluminium(III) ion sensor via the preconcentration of aluminium(III) ion with a self-assembled monolayer on a gold nanoparticles modified screen-printed carbon electrode and current mediation by potassium ferricyanide redox behavior during aluminium(III) ion binding has been attempted. A monolayer of mercaptosuccinic acid served as an effective complexation ligand for the preconcentration of trace aluminium; this led to an enhancement of aluminium(III) ion capture and thus improved the sensitivity of the sensor with a detection limit of down to the ppb level. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the sensor exhibited a wide linear dynamic range from 0.041 to 12.4 μM. The lower detection limit of the developed sensor was 0.037 μM (8.90 ppb) using a 10 min preconcentration time. The sensor showed excellent selectivity towards aluminium(III) ion over other interference ions.

  1. Electrochemical determination of bisphenol A in plastic bottled drinking water and canned beverages using a molecularly imprinted chitosan-graphene composite film modified electrode.

    PubMed

    Deng, Peihong; Xu, Zhifeng; Kuang, Yunfei

    2014-08-15

    Herein, a novel electrochemical sensor based on an acetylene black paste electrode modified with molecularly imprinted chitosan-graphene composite film for sensitive and selective detection of bisphenol A (BPA) has been developed. Several important parameters controlling the performance of the sensor were investigated and optimised. The imprinted sensor offers a fast response and sensitive BPA quantification. Under the optimal conditions, a linear range from 8.0 nM to 1.0 μM and 1.0 to 20 μM for the detection of BPA was observed with the detection limit of 6.0 nM (S/N=3). Meanwhile, the fabricated sensor showed excellent specific recognition to template molecule among the structural similarities and coexistence substances. Furthermore, this imprinted electrochemical sensor was successfully employed to detect BPA in plastic bottled drinking water and canned beverages. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Development of a high-sensitivity plasticizer sensor based on a quartz crystal microbalance modified with a nanostructured nickel hydroxide film

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hu, Ruifen; Zhang, Kaihuan; Fan, Guokang; Luo, Zhiyuan; Li, Guang

    2015-05-01

    Nanostructured nickel hydroxide (nano-Ni(OH)2) was synthesized at a low temperature without annealing. Accordingly, a plasticizer sensor based on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) modified with the nano-Ni(OH)2 sensing film was fabricated to detect dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and its relative film thickness was optimized. The sensor worked at room temperature and exhibited a high sensitivity of 4.91 Hz ppb-1 to DBP in a low concentration range of 5-20 ppb, and an ultra-low detection limit of 5 ppb was achieved. In addition, the sensor maintained good repeatability as well as stability shown by the experimental data. The responses to five possible interferences and four other plasticizers were also measured, which indicated the excellent selectivity of the sensor and its potential use in monitoring plasticizers in a gaseous state.

  3. Bioanalytical method for in vitro metabolism study of repaglinide using 96-blade thin-film solid-phase microextraction and LC-MS/MS.

    PubMed

    Simões, Rodrigo Almeida; Bonato, Pierina Sueli; Mirnaghi, Fatemeh S; Bojko, Barbara; Pawliszyn, Janusz

    2015-01-01

    A high-throughput bioanalytical method using 96-blade thin film microextraction (TFME) and LC-MS/MS for the analysis of repaglinide (RPG) and two of its main metabolites was developed and used for an in vitro metabolism study. The target analytes were extracted from human microsomal medium by a 96-blade-TFME system employing the low-cost prototype 'SPME multi-sampler' using C18 coating. Method validation showed recoveries around 90% for all analytes and was linear over the concentration range of 2-1000 ng ml(-1) for RPG and of 2-500 ng ml(-1) for each RPG metabolite. The method was applied to an in vitro metabolism study of RPG employing human liver microsomes and proved to be very useful for this purpose.

  4. Cardiotoxicity evaluation using human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Qi; Wang, Xijie; Wang, Shuyan; Song, Zheng; Wang, Jiaxian; Ma, Jing

    2017-03-09

    Cardiotoxicity remains an important concern in drug discovery. Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) have become an attractive platform to evaluate cardiotoxicity. However, the consistency between human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) in prediction of cardiotoxicity has yet to be elucidated. Here we screened the toxicities of four representative drugs (E-4031, isoprenaline, quinidine, and haloperidol) using both hESC-CMs and hiPSC-CMs, combined with an impedance-based bioanalytical method. It showed that both hESC-CMs and hiPSC-CMs can recapitulate cardiotoxicity and identify the effects of well-characterized compounds. The combined platform of hPSC-CMs and an impedance-based bioanalytical method could improve preclinical cardiotoxicity screening, holding great potential for increasing drug development accuracy.

  5. Bioanalysis in microfluidic devices.

    PubMed

    Khandurina, Julia; Guttman, András

    2002-01-18

    Microfabricated bioanalytical devices (also referred to as laboratory-on-a-chip or micro-TAS) offer highly efficient platforms for simultaneous analysis of a large number of biologically important molecules, possessing great potential for genome, proteome and metabolome studies. Development and implementation of microfluidic-based bioanalytical tools involves both established and evolving technologies, including microlithography, micromachining, micro-electromechanical systems technology and nanotechnology. This article provides an overview of the latest developments in the key device subject areas and the basic interdisciplinary technologies. Important aspects of DNA and protein analysis, interfacing issues and system integration are all thoroughly discussed, along with applications for this novel "synergized" technology in high-throughput separations of biologically important molecules. This review also gives a better understanding of how to utilize these technologies as well as to provide appropriate technical solutions to problems perceived as being more fundamental.

  6. Mathematical simulations for bioanalytical assay development: the (un-)necessity and (im-)possibility of free drug quantification.

    PubMed

    Staack, Roland F; Jordan, Gregor; Heinrich, Julia

    2012-02-01

    For every drug development program it needs to be discussed whether discrimination between free and total drug concentrations is required to accurately describe its pharmacokinetic behavior. This perspective describes the application of mathematical simulation approaches to guide this initial decision based on available knowledge about target biology, binding kinetics and expected drug concentrations. We provide generic calculations that can be used to estimate the necessity of free drug quantification for different drug molecules. In addition, mathematical approaches are used to simulate various assay conditions in bioanalytical ligand-binding assays: it is demonstrated that due to the noncovalent interaction between the binding partners and typical assay-related interferences in the equilibrium, a correct quantification of the free drug concentration is highly challenging and requires careful design of different assay procedure steps.

  7. Development of an ultra-sensitive Simoa assay to enable GDF11 detection: a comparison across bioanalytical platforms.

    PubMed

    Myzithras, Maria; Li, Hua; Bigwarfe, Tammy; Waltz, Erica; Gupta, Priyanka; Low, Sarah; Hayes, David B; MacDonnell, Scott; Ahlberg, Jennifer; Franti, Michael; Roberts, Simon

    2016-03-01

    Four bioanalytical platforms were evaluated to optimize sensitivity and enable detection of recombinant human GDF11 in biological matrices; ELISA, Meso Scale Discovery, Gyrolab xP Workstation and Simoa HD-1. Results & methodology: After completion of custom assay development, the single-molecule ELISA (Simoa) achieved the greatest sensitivity with a lower limit of quantitation of 0.1 ng/ml, an improvement of 100-fold over the next sensitive platform (MSD). This improvement was essential to enable detection of GDF11 in biological samples, and without the technology the sensitivity achieved on the other platforms would not have been sufficient. Other factors such as ease of use, cost, assay time and automation capability can also be considered when developing custom immunoassays, based on the requirements of the bioanalyst.

  8. Proposal for risk-based scientific approach on full and partial validation for general changes in bioanalytical method.

    PubMed

    Mochizuki, Ayumi; Ieki, Katsunori; Kamimori, Hiroshi; Nagao, Akemi; Nakai, Keiko; Nakayama, Akira; Nanba, Eitaro

    2018-04-01

    The guidance and several guidelines on bioanalytical method validation, which were issued by the US FDA, EMA and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, list the 'full' validation parameters; however, none of these provide any details for 'partial' validation. Japan Bioanalysis Forum approved a total of three annual discussion groups from 2012 to 2014. In the discussion groups, members from pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations discussed the details of partial validation from a risk assessment viewpoint based on surveys focusing on bioanalysis of small molecules using LC-MS/MS in Japan. This manuscript presents perspectives and recommendations for most conceivable changes that can be made to full and partial validations by members of the discussion groups based on their experiences and discussions at the Japan Bioanalysis Forum Symposium.

  9. Systematic Development and Validation of a Thin-Layer Densitometric Bioanalytical Method for Estimation of Mangiferin Employing Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) Approach.

    PubMed

    Khurana, Rajneet Kaur; Rao, Satish; Beg, Sarwar; Katare, O P; Singh, Bhupinder

    2016-01-01

    The present work aims at the systematic development of a simple, rapid and highly sensitive densitometry-based thin-layer chromatographic method for the quantification of mangiferin in bioanalytical samples. Initially, the quality target method profile was defined and critical analytical attributes (CAAs) earmarked, namely, retardation factor (Rf), peak height, capacity factor, theoretical plates and separation number. Face-centered cubic design was selected for optimization of volume loaded and plate dimensions as the critical method parameters selected from screening studies employing D-optimal and Plackett-Burman design studies, followed by evaluating their effect on the CAAs. The mobile phase containing a mixture of ethyl acetate : acetic acid : formic acid : water in a 7 : 1 : 1 : 1 (v/v/v/v) ratio was finally selected as the optimized solvent for apt chromatographic separation of mangiferin at 262 nm withRf 0.68 ± 0.02 and all other parameters within the acceptance limits. Method validation studies revealed high linearity in the concentration range of 50-800 ng/band for mangiferin. The developed method showed high accuracy, precision, ruggedness, robustness, specificity, sensitivity, selectivity and recovery. In a nutshell, the bioanalytical method for analysis of mangiferin in plasma revealed the presence of well-resolved peaks and high recovery of mangiferin. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  10. 75 FR 26318 - Office of Hazardous Materials Safety; Notice of Applications for Modification of Special Permit

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-05-11

    ... volume of the radiation sensor to be a function of the fill pressure not to exceed 57 grams of BF3 per sensor. 12561-M Rhodia, Inc., 49 CFR 172.203 (a); To modify the special Cranbury, NJ. 173.31; 179.13... Western 49 CFR 172.203(a), To modify the special International Gas & 172.301(c), permit to add DOT 3AL...

  11. Nanostructured disposable impedimetric sensors as tools for specific biomolecular interactions: sensitive recognition of concanavalin A.

    PubMed

    Loaiza, Oscar A; Lamas-Ardisana, Pedro J; Jubete, Elena; Ochoteco, Estibalitz; Loinaz, Iraida; Cabañero, Germán; García, Isabel; Penadés, Soledad

    2011-04-15

    The development of sensors to detect specific weak biological interactions is still today a challenging topic. Characteristics of carbohydrate-protein (lectin) interactions include high specificity and low affinity. This work describes the development of nanostructured impedimetric sensors for the detection of concanavalin A (Con A) binding to immobilized thiolated carbohydrate derivatives (D-mannose or D-glucose) onto screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) modified with gold nanoparticles. Thiolated D-galactose derivative was employed as negative control to evaluate the selectivity of the proposed methodology. After binding the thiolated carbohydrate to the nanostructured SPCEs, different functionalized thiols were employed to form mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAM). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was employed as a technique to evaluate the binding of Con A to selected carbohydrates through the increase of electron transfer resistance of the ferri/ferrocyanide redox probe at the differently SAM modified electrodes. Different variables of the assay protocol were studied in order to optimize the sensor performance. Selective Con A determinations were only achieved by the formation of mixed SAMs with adequate functionalized thiols. Important differences were obtained depending on the chain lengths and functional groups of these thiols. For the 3-mercapto-1-propanesulfonate mixed SAMs, the electron transfer resistance varied linearly with the Con A concentration in the 2.2-40.0 μg mL(-1) range for D-mannose and D-glucose modified sensors. Low detection limits (0.099 and 0.078 pmol) and good reproducibility (6.9 and 6.1%, n=10) were obtained for the D-glucose and D-mannose modified sensors, respectively, without any amplification strategy. © 2011 American Chemical Society

  12. Review on State-of-the-art in Polymer Based pH Sensors

    PubMed Central

    Korostynska, Olga; Arshak, Khalil; Gill, Edric; Arshak, Arousian

    2007-01-01

    This paper reviews current state-of-the-art methods of measuring pH levels that are based on polymer materials. These include polymer-coated fibre optic sensors, devices with electrodes modified with pH-sensitive polymers, fluorescent pH indicators, potentiometric pH sensors as well as sensors that use combinatory approach for ion concentration monitoring. PMID:28903277

  13. Bulk- and surface-modified combinable PDMS capillary sensor array as an easy-to-use sensing device with enhanced sensitivity to elevated concentrations of multiple serum sample components.

    PubMed

    Fujii, Yuji; Henares, Terence G; Kawamura, Kunio; Endo, Tatsuro; Hisamoto, Hideaki

    2012-04-21

    To enhance sensitivity and facilitate easy sample introduction into a combinable poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) capillary (CPC) sensor array, PDMS was modified in bulk and on its surface to prepare "black" PDMS coated with a silver layer and self-assembled monolayer (SAM). India ink, a traditional Japanese black ink, was added to the PDMS pre-polymer for bulk modification. The surface was modified by a silver mirror reaction followed by SAM formation using cysteine. These modifications enhanced the fluorescence signals by reflecting them from the surface and reducing background interference. A decrease in the water contact angle led to enhanced sensitivity and easy sample introduction. Furthermore, a CPC sensor array for multiplex detection of serum sample components was prepared that could quantify the analytes glucose, potassium, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). When serum samples were introduced by capillary action, the CPC sensor array showed fluorescence responses for each analyte and successfully identified the components with elevated concentrations in the serum samples.

  14. Bioanalytical Methods for Food Contaminant Analysis

    EPA Science Inventory

    Foods are complex mixtures of lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, organic compounds and other naturally occurring compounds. Sometimes added to this mixture are residues of pesticides, veterinary and human drugs, microbial toxins, preservatives, contaminants from food proc...

  15. Bioanalytical devices: Technological leap for sweat sensing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Heikenfeld, Jason

    2016-01-01

    Sweat analysis is an ideal method for continuously tracking a person's physiological state, but developing devices for this is difficult. A wearable sweat monitor that measures several biomarkers is a breakthrough. See Letter p.509

  16. Quartz tuning fork based sensor for detection of volatile organic compounds: towards breath analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sampson, Abraham; Panchal, Suresh; Phadke, Apoorva; Kashyap, A.; Suman, Jilma; Unnikrishnan, G.; Datar, Suwarna

    2018-04-01

    Several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present in the exhaled human breath whose concentration can vary depending on the physiological changes occurring within a human being. These changes in the concentration or the occurrence of a particular VOC can be used as signature of a particular disease in a person. In the present work, a sensor has been developed to detect VOCs such as 1,4-dimethoxy-2,3-butanediol (BD), and cyclohexanone (CH), acetone, methanol and ethanol. Except for BD and CH, the rest of the VOCs are present in a healthy person in ppm levels. CH and BD have been reported to be present in the exhaled human breath of breast cancer patients in ppm levels and can be used to distinguish between a healthy person and a person with breast cancer. The selectivity of the sensor towards these two compounds in the presence of other VOCs commonly present in human breath like acetone, ethanol and methanol has been studied. The sensor has been developed using modified Quartz Tuning Forks (QTFs) with the intent of developing an array of such sensors identifying different VOCs present in a healthy human’s breath. Two differently modified QTFs have been used to detect 1 ppm of 1,4-dimethoxy-2,3-butanediol and 20 ppm of cyclohexanone. Linear Discriminants Analysis (LDA) has been used to classify seven different VOCs. For this purpose, features extracted from sensor responses -shift in resonant frequency, response time and recovery time of the sensors- have been used as features in the model. Differently modified array of QTFs along with the use of LDA can be a useful pathway towards development of a QTF based sensor array for human breath analysis.

  17. A new electrochemical sensor for highly sensitive and selective detection of nitrite in food samples based on sonochemical synthesized Calcium Ferrite (CaFe2O4) clusters modified screen printed carbon electrode.

    PubMed

    Balasubramanian, Paramasivam; Settu, Ramki; Chen, Shen-Ming; Chen, Tse-Wei; Sharmila, Ganapathi

    2018-08-15

    Herein, we report a novel, disposable electrochemical sensor for the detection of nitrite ions in food samples based on the sonochemical synthesized orthorhombic CaFe 2 O 4 (CFO) clusters modified screen printed electrode. As synthesized CFO clusters were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformer infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and amperometry (i-t). Under optimal condition, the CFO modified electrode displayed a rapid current response to nitrite, a linear response range from 0.016 to 1921 µM associated with a low detection limit 6.6 nM. The suggested sensor also showed the excellent sensitivity of 3.712 μA μM -1  cm -2 . Furthermore, a good reproducibility, long-term stability and excellent selectivity were also attained on the proposed sensor. In addition, the practical applicability of the sensor was investigated via meat samples, tap water and drinking water, and showed desirable recovery rate, representing its possibilities for practical application. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. Highly sensitive glucose sensors based on enzyme-modified whole-graphene solution-gated transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Meng; Liao, Caizhi; Mak, Chun Hin; You, Peng; Mak, Chee Leung; Yan, Feng

    2015-02-01

    Noninvasive glucose detections are convenient techniques for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, which require high performance glucose sensors. However, conventional electrochemical glucose sensors are not sensitive enough for these applications. Here, highly sensitive glucose sensors are successfully realized based on whole-graphene solution-gated transistors with the graphene gate electrodes modified with an enzyme glucose oxidase. The sensitivity of the devices is dramatically improved by co-modifying the graphene gates with Pt nanoparticles due to the enhanced electrocatalytic activity of the electrodes. The sensing mechanism is attributed to the reaction of H2O2 generated by the oxidation of glucose near the gate. The optimized glucose sensors show the detection limits down to 0.5 μM and good selectivity, which are sensitive enough for non-invasive glucose detections in body fluids. The devices show the transconductances two orders of magnitude higher than that of a conventional silicon field effect transistor, which is the main reason for their high sensitivity. Moreover, the devices can be conveniently fabricated with low cost. Therefore, the whole-graphene solution-gated transistors are a high-performance sensing platform for not only glucose detections but also many other types of biosensors that may find practical applications in the near future.

  19. An electrochemical sensor for detection of neurotransmitter-acetylcholine using metal nanoparticles, 2D material and conducting polymer modified electrode.

    PubMed

    Chauhan, Nidhi; Chawla, Sheetal; Pundir, C S; Jain, Utkarsh

    2017-03-15

    An essential biological sensor for acetylcholine (ACh) detection is constructed by immobilizing enzymes, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and choline oxidase (ChO), on the surface of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe 2 O 3 NPs), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposite modified fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO). The qualitative and quantitative measurements of nanocomposites properties were accomplished by scanning electron microscope (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). This prepared biological sensor delineated a wide linear range of 4.0nM to 800μM with a response time less than 4s and detection limit (based on S/N ratio) of 4.0nM. The sensor showed perfect sensitivity, excessive selectivity and stability for longer period of time during storage. Besides its very high-sensitivity, the biosensor has displayed a low detection limit which is reported for the first time in comparison to previously reported ACh sensors. By fabricating Fe 2 O 3 NPs/rGO/PEDOT modified FTO electrode for determining ACh level in serum samples, the applicability of biosensor has increased immensely as the detection of the level neurotransmitter is first priority for patients suffering from memory loss or Alzheimer's disease (AD). Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Highly sensitive glucose sensors based on enzyme-modified whole-graphene solution-gated transistors

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Meng; Liao, Caizhi; Mak, Chun Hin; You, Peng; Mak, Chee Leung; Yan, Feng

    2015-01-01

    Noninvasive glucose detections are convenient techniques for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, which require high performance glucose sensors. However, conventional electrochemical glucose sensors are not sensitive enough for these applications. Here, highly sensitive glucose sensors are successfully realized based on whole-graphene solution-gated transistors with the graphene gate electrodes modified with an enzyme glucose oxidase. The sensitivity of the devices is dramatically improved by co-modifying the graphene gates with Pt nanoparticles due to the enhanced electrocatalytic activity of the electrodes. The sensing mechanism is attributed to the reaction of H2O2 generated by the oxidation of glucose near the gate. The optimized glucose sensors show the detection limits down to 0.5 μM and good selectivity, which are sensitive enough for non-invasive glucose detections in body fluids. The devices show the transconductances two orders of magnitude higher than that of a conventional silicon field effect transistor, which is the main reason for their high sensitivity. Moreover, the devices can be conveniently fabricated with low cost. Therefore, the whole-graphene solution-gated transistors are a high-performance sensing platform for not only glucose detections but also many other types of biosensors that may find practical applications in the near future. PMID:25655666

  1. A Novel Method for Fabricating Wearable, Piezoresistive, and Pressure Sensors Based on Modified-Graphite/Polyurethane Composite Films

    PubMed Central

    He, Yin; Li, Wei; Yang, Guilin; Liu, Hao; Lu, Junyu; Zheng, Tongtong; Li, Xiaojiu

    2017-01-01

    A wearable, low-cost, highly repeatable piezoresistive sensor was fabricated by the synthesis of modified-graphite and polyurethane (PU) composites and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Graphite sheets functionalized by using a silane coupling agent (KH550) were distributed in PU/N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution, which were then molded to modified-graphite/PU (MG/PU) composite films. Experimental results show that with increasing modified-graphite content, the tensile strength of the MG/PU films first increased and then decreased, and the elongation at break of the composite films showed a decreasing trend. The electrical conductivity of the composite films can be influenced by filler modification and concentration, and the percolation threshold of MG/PU was 28.03 wt %. Under liner uniaxial compression, the 30 wt % MG/PU composite films exhibited 0.274 kPa−1 piezoresistive sensitivity within the range of low pressure, and possessed better stability and hysteresis. The flexible MG/PU composite piezoresistive sensors have great potential for body motion, wearable devices for human healthcare, and garment pressure testing. PMID:28773047

  2. Characterization of an electrochemical mercury sensor using alternating current, cyclic, square wave and differential pulse voltammetry.

    PubMed

    Guerreiro, Gabriela V; Zaitouna, Anita J; Lai, Rebecca Y

    2014-01-31

    Here we report the characterization of an electrochemical mercury (Hg(2+)) sensor constructed with a methylene blue (MB)-modified and thymine-containing linear DNA probe. Similar to the linear probe electrochemical DNA sensor, the resultant sensor behaved as a "signal-off" sensor in alternating current voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry. However, depending on the applied frequency or pulse width, the sensor can behave as either a "signal-off" or "signal-on" sensor in square wave voltammetry (SWV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). In SWV, the sensor showed "signal-on" behavior at low frequencies and "signal-off" behavior at high frequencies. In DPV, the sensor showed "signal-off" behavior at short pulse widths and "signal-on" behavior at long pulse widths. Independent of the sensor interrogation technique, the limit of detection was found to be 10nM, with a linear dynamic range between 10nM and 500nM. In addition, the sensor responded to Hg(2+) rather rapidly; majority of the signal change occurred in <20min. Overall, the sensor retains all the characteristics of this class of sensors; it is reagentless, reusable, sensitive, specific and selective. This study also highlights the feasibility of using a MB-modified probe for real-time sensing of Hg(2+), which has not been previously reported. More importantly, the observed "switching" behavior in SWV and DPV is potentially generalizable and should be applicable to most sensors in this class of dynamics-based electrochemical biosensors. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Bioanalytical applications of SERS (surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy).

    PubMed

    Hudson, Stephen D; Chumanov, George

    2009-06-01

    Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful technique for analyzing biological samples as it can rapidly and nondestructively provide chemical and, in some cases, structural information about molecules in aqueous environments. In the Raman scattering process, both visible and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths of light can be used to induce polarization of Raman-active molecules, leading to inelastic light scattering that yields specific molecular vibrational information. The development of surface enhancement has enabled Raman scattering to be an effective tool for qualitative as well as quantitative measurements with high sensitivity and specificity. Recent advances have led to many novel applications of SERS for biological analyses, resulting in new insights for biochemistry and molecular biology, the detection of biological warfare agents, and medical diagnostics for cancer, diabetes, and other diseases. This trend article highlights many of these recent investigations and provides a brief outlook in order to assess possible future directions of SERS as a bioanalytical tool.

  4. The BioSentinel Bioanalytical Microsystem: Characterizing DNA Radiation Damage in Living Organisms Beyond Earth Orbit

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ricco, A. J.; Hanel, R.; Bhattacharya, S.; Boone, T.; Tan, M.; Mousavi, A.; Rademacher, A.; Schooley, A.; Klamm, B.; Benton, J.; hide

    2016-01-01

    We will present details and initial lab test results from an integrated bioanalytical microsystem designed to conduct the first biology experiments beyond low Earth orbit (LEO) since Apollo 17 (1972). The 14-kg, 12x24x37-cm BioSentinel spacecraft (Figure 1) assays radiation-responsive yeast in its science payload by measuring DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) repaired via homologous recombination, a mechanism common to all eukaryotes including humans. S. cerevisiae (brewer's yeast) in 288 microwells are provided with nutrient and optically assayed for growth and metabolism via 3-color absorptimetry monthly during the 18-month mission. BioSentinel is one of several secondary payloads to be deployed by NASA's Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1) launch vehicle into approximately 0.95 AU heliocentric orbit in July 2018; it will communicate with Earth from up to 100 million km.

  5. Nanoparticle functionalised small-core suspended-core fibre - a novel platform for efficient sensing.

    PubMed

    Doherty, Brenda; Csáki, Andrea; Thiele, Matthias; Zeisberger, Matthias; Schwuchow, Anka; Kobelke, Jens; Fritzsche, Wolfgang; Schmidt, Markus A

    2017-02-01

    Detecting small quantities of specific target molecules is of major importance within bioanalytics for efficient disease diagnostics. One promising sensing approach relies on combining plasmonically-active waveguides with microfluidics yielding an easy-to-use sensing platform. Here we introduce suspended-core fibres containing immobilised plasmonic nanoparticles surrounding the guiding core as a concept for an entirely integrated optofluidic platform for efficient refractive index sensing. Due to the extremely small optical core and the large adjacent microfluidic channels, over two orders of magnitude of nanoparticle coverage densities have been accessed with millimetre-long sample lengths showing refractive index sensitivities of 170 nm/RIU for aqueous analytes where the fibre interior is functionalised by gold nanospheres. Our concept represents a fully integrated optofluidic sensing system demanding small sample volumes and allowing for real-time analyte monitoring, both of which are highly relevant within invasive bioanalytics, particularly within molecular disease diagnostics and environmental science.

  6. Voltammetric Determination of Ferulic Acid Using Polypyrrole-Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Modified Electrode with Sample Application

    PubMed Central

    Abdel-Hamid, Refat; Newair, Emad F.

    2015-01-01

    A polypyrrole-multiwalled carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode-based sensor was devised for determination of ferulic acid (FA). The fabricated sensor was prepared electrochemically using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and characterized using CV and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The electrode shows an excellent electrochemical catalytic activity towards FA oxidation. Under optimal conditions, the anodic peak current correlates linearly to the FA concentration throughout the range of 3.32 × 10−6 to 2.59 × 10−5 M with a detection limit of 1.17 × 10−6 M (S/N = 3). The prepared sensor is highly selective towards ferulic acid without the interference of ascorbic acid. The sensor applicability was tested for total content determination of FA in a commercial popcorn sample and showed a robust functionality. PMID:28347090

  7. High temperature skin friction measurement

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tcheng, Ping; Holmes, Harlan K.; Supplee, Frank H., Jr.

    1989-01-01

    Skin friction measurement in the NASA Langley hypersonic propulsion facility is described. The sensor configuration utilized an existing balance, modified to provide thermal isolation and an increased standoff distance. For test run times of about 20 sec and ambient-air cooling of the test section and balance, the modified balance performed satisfactorily, even when it was subjected to acoustic and structural vibration. The balance is an inertially balanced closed-loop servo system where the current to a moving-coil motor needed to restore or null the output from the position sensor is a measure of the force or skin friction tending to displace the moving element. The accuracy of the sensor is directly affected by the position sensor in the feedback loop, in this case a linear-variable differential transformer which has proven to be influenced by temperature gradients.

  8. Creatinine sensor based on a molecularly imprinted polymer-modified hanging mercury drop electrode.

    PubMed

    Lakshmi, Dhana; Prasad, Bhim Bali; Sharma, Piyush Sindhu

    2006-09-15

    Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) have been elucidated to work as artificial receptors. In our present study, a MIP was applied as a molecular recognition element to a chemical sensor. We have constructed a creatinine sensor based on a MIP layer selective for creatinine and its differential pulse, cathodic stripping voltammetric detection (DPCSV) on a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). The creatinine sensor was fabricated by the drop coating of dimethylformamide (DMF) solution of a creatinine-imprinted polymer onto the surface of HMDE. The modified-HMDE, preanodised in neutral medium at +0.4V versus Ag/AgCl for 120s, exhibited a marked enhancement in DPCSV current in comparison to the less anodised (

  9. A performance comparison of choline biosensors: anodic or cathodic detections of H2O2 generated by enzyme immobilized on a conducting polymer.

    PubMed

    Rahman, Md Aminur; Park, Deog-Soo; Shim, Yoon-Bo

    2004-07-15

    Amperometric choline biosensors were fabricated by the covalent immobilization of an enzyme of choline oxidase (ChO) and a bi-enzyme of ChO/horseradish peroxidase (ChO/HRP) onto poly-5,2':5',2"-terthiophene-3'-carboxylic acid (poly-TTCA) modified electrodes (CPMEs). A sensor modified with ChO utilized the oxidation process of enzymatically generated H(2)O(2) in a choline solution at +0.6V. The other one modified with ChO/HRP utilized the reduction process of H(2)O(2) in a choline solution at -0.2V. Experimental parameters affecting the sensitivity of sensors, such as pH, applied potential, and temperature were optimized. A performance comparison of two sensors showed that one based on ChO/HRP/CPME had a linear range from 1.0 x 10(-6) to 8.0 x 10(-5) M and the other based on ChO/CPME from 1.0 x 10(-6) to 5.0 x 10(-5) M. The detection limits for choline employing ChO/HRP/CPME and ChO/CPME were determined to be about 1.0 x 10(-7) and 4.0 x 10(-7) M, respectively. The response time of sensors was less than 5s. Sensors showed good selectivity to interfering species. The long-term storage stability of the sensor based on ChO/HRP/CPME was longer than that based on ChO/CPME.

  10. para-Sulfonatocalix[6]arene-modified silver nanoparticles electrodeposited on glassy carbon electrode: preparation and electrochemical sensing of methyl parathion.

    PubMed

    Bian, Yinghui; Li, Chunya; Li, Haibing

    2010-05-15

    In this paper, a new electrochemical sensor, based on modified silver nanoparticles, was fabricated using one-step electrodeposition approach. The para-sulfonatocalix[6]arene-modified silver nanoparticles coated on glassy carbon electrode (pSC(6)-Ag NPs/GCE) was characterized by attenuated total reflection IR spectroscopy (ATR-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), etc. The pSC(6) as the host are highly efficient to capture organophosphates (OPs), which dramatically facilitates the enrichment of nitroaromatic OPs onto the electrochemical sensor surface. The combination of the host-guest supramolecular structure and the excellent electrochemical catalytic activities of the pSC(6)-Ag NPs/GCE provides a fast, simple, and sensitive electrochemical method for detecting nitroaromatic OPs. In this work, methyl parathion (MP) was used as a nitroaromatic OP model for testing the proposed sensor. In comparison with Ag NPs-modified electrode, the cathodic peak current of MP was amplified significantly. Differential pulse voltammetry was used for the simultaneous determination of MP. Under optimum conditions, the current increased linearly with the increasing concentration of MP in the range of 0.01-80microM, with a detection limit of 4.0nM (S/N=3). The fabrication reproducibility and stability of the sensor is better than that of enzyme-based electrodes. The possible underlying mechanism is discussed.

  11. Nanohole-based SPR Instruments with Improved Spectral Resolution Quantify a Broad Range of Antibody-Ligand Binding Kinetics

    PubMed Central

    Im, Hyungsoon; Sutherland, Jamie N.; Maynard, Jennifer A.; Oh, Sang-Hyun

    2012-01-01

    We demonstrate an affordable low-noise SPR instrument based on extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) in metallic nanohole arrays and quantify a broad range of antibody-ligand binding kinetics with equilibrium dissociation constants ranging from 200 pM to 40 nM. This nanohole-based SPR instrument is straightforward to construct, align, and operate, since it is built around a standard microscope and a portable fiber-optic spectrometer. The measured refractive index resolution of this platform is 3.1 × 10−6 without on-chip cooling, which is among the lowest reported for SPR sensors based on EOT. This is accomplished via rapid full-spectrum acquisition in 10 milliseconds followed by frame averaging of the EOT spectra, which is made possible by the production of template-stripped gold nanohole arrays with homogeneous optical properties over centimeter-sized areas. Sequential SPR measurements are performed using a 12-channel microfluidic flow cell after optimizing surface modification protocols and antibody injection conditions to minimize mass-transport artifacts. The immobilization of a model ligand, the protective antigen of anthrax on the gold surface, is monitored in real-time with a signal-to-noise ratio of ~860. Subsequently, real-time binding kinetic curves were measured quantitatively between the antigen and a panel of small, 25 kDa single-chain antibodies at concentrations down to 1 nM. These results indicate that nanohole-based SPR instruments have potential for quantitative antibody screening and as a general-purpose platform for integrating SPR sensors with other bioanalytical tools. PMID:22235895

  12. Wide-field surface plasmon microscopy of nano- and microparticles: features, benchmarking, limitations, and bioanalytical applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nizamov, Shavkat; Scherbahn, Vitali; Mirsky, Vladimir M.

    2017-05-01

    Detection of nano- and micro-particles is an important task for chemical analytics, food industry, biotechnology, environmental monitoring and many other fields of science and industry. For this purpose, a method based on the detection and analysis of minute signals in surface plasmon resonance images due to adsorption of single nanopartciles was developed. This new technology allows one a real-time detection of interaction of single nano- and micro-particles with sensor surface. Adsorption of each nanoparticle leads to characteristic diffraction image whose intensity depends on the size and chemical composition of the particle. The adsorption rate characterizes volume concentration of nano- and micro-particles. Large monitored surface area of sensor enables a high dynamic range of counting and to a correspondingly high dynamic range in concentration scale. Depending on the type of particles and experimental conditions, the detection limit for aqueous samples can be below 1000 particles per microliter. For application of method in complex media, nanoparticle images are discriminated from image perturbations due to matrix components. First, the characteristic SPRM images of nanoparticles (templates) are collected in aqueous suspensions or spiked real samples. Then, the detection of nanoparticles in complex media using template matching is performed. The detection of various NPs in consumer products like cosmetics, mineral water, juices, and wines was shown at sub-ppb level. The method can be applied for ultrasensitive detection and analysis of nano- and micro-particles of biological (bacteria, viruses, endosomes), biotechnological (liposomes, protein nanoparticles for drug delivery) or technical origin.

  13. A High-Speed Vision-Based Sensor for Dynamic Vibration Analysis Using Fast Motion Extraction Algorithms.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Dashan; Guo, Jie; Lei, Xiujun; Zhu, Changan

    2016-04-22

    The development of image sensor and optics enables the application of vision-based techniques to the non-contact dynamic vibration analysis of large-scale structures. As an emerging technology, a vision-based approach allows for remote measuring and does not bring any additional mass to the measuring object compared with traditional contact measurements. In this study, a high-speed vision-based sensor system is developed to extract structure vibration signals in real time. A fast motion extraction algorithm is required for this system because the maximum sampling frequency of the charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor can reach up to 1000 Hz. Two efficient subpixel level motion extraction algorithms, namely the modified Taylor approximation refinement algorithm and the localization refinement algorithm, are integrated into the proposed vision sensor. Quantitative analysis shows that both of the two modified algorithms are at least five times faster than conventional upsampled cross-correlation approaches and achieve satisfactory error performance. The practicability of the developed sensor is evaluated by an experiment in a laboratory environment and a field test. Experimental results indicate that the developed high-speed vision-based sensor system can extract accurate dynamic structure vibration signals by tracking either artificial targets or natural features.

  14. Boronic acid based imprinted electrochemical sensor for rutin recognition and detection.

    PubMed

    Wang, Chunlei; Wang, Qi; Zhong, Min; Kan, Xianwen

    2016-10-21

    Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and boronic acid based molecular imprinting polymer (MIP) were successively modified on a glassy carbon electrode surface to fabricate a novel electrochemical sensor for rutin recognition and detection. 3-Aminophenylboronic acid (APBA) was chosen as a monomer for the electropolymerization of MIP film in the presence of rutin. In addition to the imprinted cavities in MIP film to complement the template molecule in shape and functional groups, the high affinity between the boronic acid group of APBA and vicinal diols of rutin also enhanced the selectivity of the sensor, which made the sensor display a good selectivity to rutin. Moreover, the modified MWNTs improved the sensitivity of the sensor for rutin detection. The mole ratios of rutin and APBA, electropolymerized scan cycles and rates, and pH value of the detection solution were optimized. Under optimal conditions, the sensor was used to detect rutin in a linear range from 4.0 × 10 -7 to 1.0 × 10 -5 mol L -1 with a detection limit of 1.1 × 10 -7 mol L -1 . The sensor has also been applied to assay rutin in tablets with satisfactory results.

  15. ANALYSIS OF DIOXINS IN CONTAMINATED SOILS WITH THE CALUX AND CAFLUX BIOASSAYS, AN IMMUNOASSAY, AND GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY/HIGH-RESOLUTION MASS SPECTROMETRY

    PubMed Central

    Nording, Malin; Denison, Michael S.; Baston, David; Persson, Ylva; Spinnel, Erik; Haglund, Peter

    2010-01-01

    The chemically activated luciferase expression assay, the chemically activated fluorescence expression assay, and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are all bioanalytical methods that have been used for the detection and quantification of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). However, no comparisons of the results obtained by these three methods have been published analyzing identical replicates of purified sample extracts. Therefore, we have evaluated the performance of each of these methods for analyzing PCDD/Fs in aliquots of extracts from aged-contaminated soil samples and compared the results with those obtained by gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC/HRMS). The quantitative performance was assessed and the effects of sample purification and data interpretation on the quality of the bioassay results were investigated. Results from the bioanalytical techniques were, in principle, not significantly different from each other or from the GC/HRMS data (p = 0.05). Furthermore, properly used, all of the bioanalytical techniques examined were found to be sufficiently sensitive, selective, and accurate to be used in connection with soil remediation activities when aiming at the remediation goal recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (i.e., < 1,000 pg toxic equivalency/g). However, a site-specific correction factor should be applied with the use of the ELISA to account for differences between the toxic equivalency factors and the ELISA cross-reactivities of the various PCDD/F congeners, which otherwise might significantly underestimate the PCDD/F content. PMID:17571676

  16. Modeling of a Surface Acoustic Wave Strain Sensor

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wilson, W. C.; Atkinson, Gary M.

    2010-01-01

    NASA Langley Research Center is investigating Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) sensor technology for harsh environments aimed at aerospace applications. To aid in development of sensors a model of a SAW strain sensor has been developed. The new model extends the modified matrix method to include the response of Orthogonal Frequency Coded (OFC) reflectors and the response of SAW devices to strain. These results show that the model accurately captures the strain response of a SAW sensor on a Langasite substrate. The results of the model of a SAW Strain Sensor on Langasite are presented

  17. Non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensor based on NiMoO4 nanorods

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Dandan; Cai, Daoping; Huang, Hui; Liu, Bin; Wang, Lingling; Liu, Yuan; Li, Han; Wang, Yanrong; Li, Qiuhong; Wang, Taihong

    2015-04-01

    A non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on the NiMoO4 nanorods has been fabricated for the first time. The electrocatalytic performance of the NiMoO4 nanorods’ modified electrode toward glucose oxidation was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. The NiMoO4 nanorods’ modified electrode showed a greatly enhanced electrocatalytic property toward glucose oxidation, as well as an excellent anti-interference and a good stability. Impressively, good accuracy and high precision for detecting glucose concentration in human serum samples were obtained. These excellent sensing properties, combined with good reproducibility and low cost, indicate that NiMoO4 nanorods are a promising candidate for non-enzymatic glucose sensors.

  18. Cu-modified carbon spheres/reduced graphene oxide as a high sensitivity of gas sensor for NO2 detection at room temperature

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Su, Zhibin; Tan, Li; Yang, Ruiqiang; Zhang, Yu; Tao, Jin; Zhang, Nan; Wen, Fusheng

    2018-03-01

    Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) as one of the most serious air pollution is harmful to people's health, therefore high-performance gas sensors is critically needed. Here, Cu-modified carbon spheres/reduced graphene oxide (Cu@CS/RGO) composite have been prepared as NO2 gas sensor material. Carbon sphere in the interlayer of RGO can increase the specific surface area of RGO. Copper nanoparticles decorated on the surface of CS can effectively enhance the adsorption activity of RGO as supplier of free electrons. The experimental results showed that its particular structure improved the gas sensitivity of RGO at different NO2 concentrations at room temperature.

  19. Stand alone, low current measurements on possible sensing platforms via Arduino Uno microcontroller with modified commercially available sensors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tanner, Meghan; Henson, Gabriel; Senevirathne, Indrajith

    Advent of cost-effective solid-state sensors has spurred an immense interest in microcontrollers, in particular Arduino microcontrollers. These include serious engineering and physical science applications due to their versatility and robustness. An Arduino microcontroller coupled with a commercially available sensor has been used to methodically measure, record, and explore low currents, low voltages, and corresponding dissipated power towards assessing secondary physical properties in a select set of engineered systems. System was assembled via breadboard, wire, and simple soldering with an Arduino Uno with ATmega328P microcontroller connected to a PC. The microcontroller was programmed with Arduino software while the bootloader was used to upload the code. High-side measurement INA169 current shunt monitor was used to measure corresponding low to ultra-low currents and voltages. A collection of measurements was obtained via the sensor and was compared with measurements from standardized devices to assess reliability and uncertainty. Some sensors were modified/hacked to improve the sensitivity of the measurements.

  20. Modification of glassy carbon electrode with poly(hydroxynaphthol blue)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composite and construction a new voltammetric sensor for the simultaneous determination of hydroquinone, catechol, and resorcinol

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Daneshinejad, Hassan; Arab Chamjangali, Mansour; Goudarzi, Nasser; Hossain Amin, Amir

    2018-03-01

    A novel voltammetric sensor is developed based on a poly(hydroxynaphthol blue)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes-modified glassy carbon electrode for the simultaneous determination of the dihydroxybenzene isomers hydroquinone (HQ), catechol (CC), and resorcinol (RS). The preparation and basic electrochemical performance of the sensor are investigated in details. The electrochemical behavior of the dihydroxybenzene isomers at the sensor is studied by the cyclic and differential pulse voltammetric techniques. The results obtained show that this new electrochemical sensor exhibits an excellent electro-catalytic activity towards oxidation of the three isomers. The mechanism of this electro-catalytic activity is discussed. Using the optimum parameters, limit of detection obtained 0.24, 0.24, and 0.26 μmol L-1 for HQ, CC, and RS, respectively. The modified electrode is also successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of dihydroxybenzene in water samples.

  1. Network compensation for missing sensors

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ahumada, Albert J., Jr.; Mulligan, Jeffrey B.

    1991-01-01

    A network learning translation invariance algorithm to compute interpolation functions is presented. This algorithm with one fixed receptive field can construct a linear transformation compensating for gain changes, sensor position jitter, and sensor loss when there are enough remaining sensors to adequately sample the input images. However, when the images are undersampled and complete compensation is not possible, the algorithm need to be modified. For moderate sensor losses, the algorithm works if the transformation weight adjustment is restricted to the weights to output units affected by the loss.

  2. Application of polymer-coated metal-insulator-semiconductor sensors for the detection of dissolved hydrogen

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Dongmei; Medlin, J. W.; Bastasz, R.

    2006-06-01

    The detection of dissolved hydrogen in liquids is crucial to many industrial applications, such as fault detection for oil-filled electrical equipment. To enhance the performance of metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) sensors for dissolved hydrogen detection, a palladium MIS sensor has been modified by depositing a polyimide (PI) layer above the palladium surface. Response measurements of the PI-coated sensors in mineral oil indicate that hydrogen is sensitively detected, while the effect of interfering gases on sensor response is minimized.

  3. Comparison of two-concentration with multi-concentration linear regressions: Retrospective data analysis of multiple regulated LC-MS bioanalytical projects.

    PubMed

    Musuku, Adrien; Tan, Aimin; Awaiye, Kayode; Trabelsi, Fethi

    2013-09-01

    Linear calibration is usually performed using eight to ten calibration concentration levels in regulated LC-MS bioanalysis because a minimum of six are specified in regulatory guidelines. However, we have previously reported that two-concentration linear calibration is as reliable as or even better than using multiple concentrations. The purpose of this research is to compare two-concentration with multiple-concentration linear calibration through retrospective data analysis of multiple bioanalytical projects that were conducted in an independent regulated bioanalytical laboratory. A total of 12 bioanalytical projects were randomly selected: two validations and two studies for each of the three most commonly used types of sample extraction methods (protein precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction). When the existing data were retrospectively linearly regressed using only the lowest and the highest concentration levels, no extra batch failure/QC rejection was observed and the differences in accuracy and precision between the original multi-concentration regression and the new two-concentration linear regression are negligible. Specifically, the differences in overall mean apparent bias (square root of mean individual bias squares) are within the ranges of -0.3% to 0.7% and 0.1-0.7% for the validations and studies, respectively. The differences in mean QC concentrations are within the ranges of -0.6% to 1.8% and -0.8% to 2.5% for the validations and studies, respectively. The differences in %CV are within the ranges of -0.7% to 0.9% and -0.3% to 0.6% for the validations and studies, respectively. The average differences in study sample concentrations are within the range of -0.8% to 2.3%. With two-concentration linear regression, an average of 13% of time and cost could have been saved for each batch together with 53% of saving in the lead-in for each project (the preparation of working standard solutions, spiking, and aliquoting). Furthermore, examples are given as how to evaluate the linearity over the entire concentration range when only two concentration levels are used for linear regression. To conclude, two-concentration linear regression is accurate and robust enough for routine use in regulated LC-MS bioanalysis and it significantly saves time and cost as well. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Multifunctional Nanomaterials Utilizing Hybridization Chain Reaction for Molecular Diagnostics and Bioanalytical Applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rana, Md. Muhit

    DNA nanotechnology has shown great promise in molecular diagnostic, bioanalytical and biomedical applications. The great challenge of detecting target analytes, biomarkers and small molecules, in molecular diagnostics is low yield sensitivity. To address this challenge, different nanomaterials have been used for a long time and to date there is no such cost-effective bioanalytical technique which can detect these target biomarkers (DNA, RNA, circulating DNA/miRNA) or environmental heavy metal ions (Hg2+ and Ag+) in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Herein, we initially discuss two possible bioanalytical detection methods- a) colorimetric and b) fluorometric assays which are very popular nowadays due to their distinctive spectroscopic properties. Finally, we report the promising colorimetric assay using a novel DNA based amplification strategy know as hybridization chain reaction (HCR) for potential application in the visual detection of low copies of biomarkers (miRNAs as little as 20 femtomole in an RNA pool and cell extracts in seven different combinations and Ebola virus DNA as low as 400 attomoles in liquid biopsy mimics in sixteen different combinations), environmental and biological heavy metal ions (mercury and silver concentrations as low as 10 pM in water, soil and urine samples) and also successfully applied to a molecular logic gate operation to distinguish OR and AND logic gates. No results showed any false-positive or false-negative information. On the other hand, we also discuss the future possibilities of HCR amplification technology, which is very promising for fluorometric bioanalysis. The HCR based nanoprobe technology has numerous remarkable advantages over other methods. It is re-programmable, simple, inexpensive, easy to assemble and operate and can be performed with visual and spectroscopic read-outs upon recognition of the target analytes. This rapid, specific and sensitive approach for biomarkers and heavy metal ion detection generates an on-site signal while eliminating the use of sophisticated high-maintenance instrumentation. We demonstrate that this state-of-the-art technology and methodology can potentially serve as an alternative approach to detect novel disease biomarkers, small molecules and inorganic compounds. This approach can be combined with the current existing methods for real-time point-of-care molecular diagnostics and is significant for preclinical or clinical studies.

  5. Electroacoustic miniaturized DNA-biosensor.

    PubMed

    Gamby, Jean; Lazerges, Mathieu; Pernelle, Christine; Perrot, Hubert; Girault, Hubert H; Tribollet, Bernard

    2007-11-01

    A micrometer-sized electroacoustic DNA-biosensor was developed. The device included a thin semi-crystalline polyethylene terephthalate (PET) dielectric layer with two Ag microband electrodes on one side and a DNA thiol-labeled monolayer adsorbed on a gold surface on the other. A resonance wave was observed at 29 MHz with a network analyzer, upon AC voltage application between the two Ag electrodes, corresponding to electromechanical coupling induced by molecular dipoles of the PET polymer chain in the dielectric layer. It was found that the device size and geometry were well adapted to detect DNA hybridization, by measuring the capacity of the resonance response evolution: hybridization induced polarization of the dielectric material that affected the electromechanical coupling established in the dielectric layer. The 0.2 mm(2) sensor sensitive area allows detection in small volumes and still has higher detection levels for bioanalytical applications, the non-contact configuration adopted avoids electric faradic reactions that may damage biosensor sensitive layers, and finally, PET is a costless raw material, easy to process and well adapted for large scale production. The well-balanced technological and economic advantages of this kind of device make it a good candidate for biochip integration.

  6. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of riboflavin on nanostructured Ag surfaces: The role of excitation wavelength, plasmon resonance and molecular resonance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Šubr, Martin; Kuzminova, Anna; Kylián, Ondřej; Procházka, Marek

    2018-05-01

    Optimization of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based sensors for (bio)analytical applications has received much attention in recent years. For optimum sensitivity, both the nanostructure fabrication process and the choice of the excitation wavelength used with respect to the specific analyte studied are of crucial importance. In this contribution, detailed SERS intensity profiles were measured using gradient nanostructures with the localized surface-plasmon resonance (LSPR) condition varying across the sample length and using riboflavin as the model biomolecule. Three different excitation wavelengths (633 nm, 515 nm and 488 nm) corresponding to non-resonance, pre-resonance and resonance excitation with respect to the studied molecule, respectively, were tested. Results were interpreted in terms of a superposition of the enhancement provided by the electromagnetic mechanism and intrinsic properties of the SERS probe molecule. The first effect was dictated mainly by the degree of spectral overlap between the LSPR band, the excitation wavelength along with the scattering cross-section of the nanostructures, while the latter was influenced by the position of the molecular resonance with respect to the excitation wavelength. Our experimental findings contribute to a better understanding of the SERS enhancement mechanism.

  7. Methylamine-Sensitive Amperometric Biosensor Based on (His)6-Tagged Hansenula polymorpha Methylamine Oxidase Immobilized on the Gold Nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Stasyuk, Nataliya Ye.; Smutok, Oleh V.; Zakalskiy, Andriy E.; Zakalska, Oksana M.; Gonchar, Mykhailo V.

    2014-01-01

    A novel methylamine-selective amperometric bienzyme biosensor based on recombinant primary amine oxidase isolated from the recombinant yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae and commercial horseradish peroxidase is described. Two amine oxidase preparations were used: free enzyme (AMO) and covalently immobilized on the surface of gold nanoparticles (AMO-nAu). Some bioanalytical parameters (sensitivity, selectivity, and storage stability) of the developed biosensors were investigated. The sensitivity for both sensors is high: 1450 ± 113 and 700 ± 30 A−1 ·M−1 ·m−2 for AMO-nAu biosensor, respectively. The biosensors exhibit the linear range from 15 μM to 150 μM (AMO-nAu) and from 15 μM to 60 μM (AMO). The developed biosensor demonstrated a good selectivity toward methylamine (MA) (signal for dimethylamine and trimethylamine is less than 5% and for ethylamine 15% compared to MA output) and reveals a satisfactory storage stability. The constructed amperometric biosensor was used for MA assay in real samples of fish products in comparison with chemical method. The values obtained with both approaches different methods demonstrated a high correlation. PMID:25136590

  8. Bio-analytical applications of microbial fuel cell-based biosensors for onsite water quality monitoring.

    PubMed

    ElMekawy, A; Hegab, H M; Pant, D; Saint, C P

    2018-01-01

    Globally, sustainable provision of high-quality safe water is a major challenge of the 21st century. Various chemical and biological monitoring analytics are presently utilized to guarantee the availability of high-quality water. However, these techniques still face some challenges including high costs, complex design and onsite and online limitations. The recent technology of using microbial fuel cell (MFC)-based biosensors holds outstanding potential for the rapid and real-time monitoring of water source quality. MFCs have the advantages of simplicity in design and efficiency for onsite sensing. Even though some sensing applications of MFCs were previously studied, e.g. biochemical oxygen demand sensor, recently numerous research groups around the world have presented new practical applications of this technique, which combine multidisciplinary scientific knowledge in materials science, microbiology and electrochemistry fields. This review presents the most updated research on the utilization of MFCs as potential biosensors for monitoring water quality and considers the range of potentially toxic analytes that have so far been detected using this methodology. The advantages of MFCs over established technology are also considered as well as future work required to establish their routine use. © 2017 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

  9. Nanopore DNA sensors based on dendrimer-modified nanopipettes.

    PubMed

    Fu, Yaqin; Tokuhisa, Hideo; Baker, Lane A

    2009-08-28

    A dendrimer-modified nanopipette is used to detect hybridization of a specific DNA sequence through evaluation of the extent of rectification of ion currents observed in the measured current-voltage response.

  10. Novel Gas Sensor Arrays Based on High-Q SAM-Modified Piezotransduced Single-Crystal Silicon Bulk Acoustic Resonators

    PubMed Central

    Zhao, Yuan; Yang, Qingrui; Chang, Ye; Pang, Wei; Zhang, Hao; Duan, Xuexin

    2017-01-01

    This paper demonstrates a novel micro-size (120 μm × 200 μm) piezoelectric gas sensor based on a piezotransduced single-crystal silicon bulk acoustic resonator (PSBAR). The PSBARs operate at 102 MHz and possess high Q values (about 2000), ensuring the stability of the measurement. A corresponding gas sensor array is fabricated by integrating three different self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) modified PSBARs. The limit of detection (LOD) for ethanol vapor is demonstrated to be as low as 25 ppm with a sensitivity of about 1.5 Hz/ppm. Two sets of identification code bars based on the sensitivities and the adsorption energy constants are utilized to successfully discriminate isopropanol (IPA), ethanol, hexane and heptane vapors at low and high gas partial pressures, respectively. The proposed sensor array shows the potential to form a portable electronic nose system for volatile organic compound (VOC) differentiation. PMID:28672852

  11. Novel Gas Sensor Arrays Based on High-Q SAM-Modified Piezotransduced Single-Crystal Silicon Bulk Acoustic Resonators.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Yuan; Yang, Qingrui; Chang, Ye; Pang, Wei; Zhang, Hao; Duan, Xuexin

    2017-06-26

    This paper demonstrates a novel micro-size (120 μm × 200 μm) piezoelectric gas sensor based on a piezotransduced single-crystal silicon bulk acoustic resonator (PSBAR). The PSBARs operate at 102 MHz and possess high Q values (about 2000), ensuring the stability of the measurement. A corresponding gas sensor array is fabricated by integrating three different self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) modified PSBARs. The limit of detection (LOD) for ethanol vapor is demonstrated to be as low as 25 ppm with a sensitivity of about 1.5 Hz/ppm. Two sets of identification code bars based on the sensitivities and the adsorption energy constants are utilized to successfully discriminate isopropanol (IPA), ethanol, hexane and heptane vapors at low and high gas partial pressures, respectively. The proposed sensor array shows the potential to form a portable electronic nose system for volatile organic compound (VOC) differentiation.

  12. Peptide Modified ZnO Nanoparticles as Gas Sensors Array for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

    PubMed Central

    Mascini, Marcello; Gaggiotti, Sara; Della Pelle, Flavio; Di Natale, Corrado; Qakala, Sinazo; Iwuoha, Emmanuel; Pittia, Paola; Compagnone, Dario

    2018-01-01

    In this work a peptide based gas sensor array based of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONPs) has been realized. Four different pentapeptides molecularly modeled for alcohols and esters having cysteine as a common spacer have been immobilized onto ZnONPs. ZnONPs have been morphologically and spectroscopically characterized. Modified nanoparticles have been then deposited onto quartz crystal microbalances (QCMs) and used as gas sensors with nitrogen as carrier gas. Analysis of the pure compounds modeled demonstrated a nice fitting of modeling with real data. The peptide based ZnONPs had very low sensitivity to water, compared to previously studied AuNPs peptide based gas sensors allowing the use of the array on samples with high water content. Real samples of fruit juices have been assayed; stability of the signal, good repeatability, and discrimination ability of the array was achieved. PMID:29713626

  13. Peptide Modified ZnO Nanoparticles as Gas Sensors Array for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

    PubMed

    Mascini, Marcello; Gaggiotti, Sara; Della Pelle, Flavio; Di Natale, Corrado; Qakala, Sinazo; Iwuoha, Emmanuel; Pittia, Paola; Compagnone, Dario

    2018-01-01

    In this work a peptide based gas sensor array based of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONPs) has been realized. Four different pentapeptides molecularly modeled for alcohols and esters having cysteine as a common spacer have been immobilized onto ZnONPs. ZnONPs have been morphologically and spectroscopically characterized. Modified nanoparticles have been then deposited onto quartz crystal microbalances (QCMs) and used as gas sensors with nitrogen as carrier gas. Analysis of the pure compounds modeled demonstrated a nice fitting of modeling with real data. The peptide based ZnONPs had very low sensitivity to water, compared to previously studied AuNPs peptide based gas sensors allowing the use of the array on samples with high water content. Real samples of fruit juices have been assayed; stability of the signal, good repeatability, and discrimination ability of the array was achieved.

  14. Sensitivity optimization of ZnO clad-modified optical fiber humidity sensor by means of tuning the optical fiber waist diameter

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Azad, Saeed; Sadeghi, Ebrahim; Parvizi, Roghaieh; Mazaheri, Azardokht; Yousefi, M.

    2017-05-01

    In this work, the multimode optical fiber size effects on the performances of the clad-modified fiber with ZnO nanorods relative humidity (RH) sensor were experimentally investigated. Simple and controlled chemical etching method through on line monitoring was used to prepare different fiber waist diameter with long length of 15 mm. More precisely, the competition behavior of sensor performances with varying fiber waist diameter was studied to find appropriate size of maximizing evanescent fields. The obtained results revealed that evanescent wave absorption coefficient (γ) enhanced more than 10 times compare to bare fiber at the proposed optimum fiber diameter of 28 μm. Also, high linearity and fast recovery time about 7 s was obtained at the proposed fiber waist diameter. Applicable features of the proposed sensor allow this device to be used for humidity sensing applications, especially to be applied in remote sensing technologies.

  15. Peptide modified ZnO nanoparticles as gas sensors array for volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mascini, Marcello; Gaggiotti, Sara; Della Pelle, Flavio; Di Natale, Corrado; Qakala, Sinazo; Iwuoha, Emmanuel; Pittia, Paola; Compagnone, Dario

    2018-04-01

    In this work a peptide based gas sensor array based of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONPs) has been realized. Four different pentapeptides molecularly modelled for alcohols and esters having cysteine as a common spacer have been immobilized onto ZnONPs. ZnONPs have been morphologically and spectroscopically characterized. Modified nanoparticles have been then deposited onto quartz crystal microbalances (QCMs) and used as gas sensors with nitrogen as carrier gas. Analysis of the pure compounds modelled demonstrated a nice fitting of modelling with real data. The peptide based ZnONPs had very low sensitivity to water, compared to previously studied AuNPs peptide based gas sensors allowing the use of the array on samples with high water content. Real samples of fruit juices have been assayed; stability of the signal, good repeatability and discrimination ability of the array was achieved.

  16. Development and study the performance of PBA cladding modified fiber optic intrinsic biosensor for urea detection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Botewad, S. N.; Pahurkar, V. G.; Muley, G. G.

    2016-05-01

    The fabrication and study of a cladding modified fiber optic intrinsic urea biosensor based on evanescent wave absorbance has been presented. The sensor was prepared using cladding modification technique by removing a small portion of cladding of an optical fiber and modifying with an active cladding of porous polyaniline-boric acid (PBA) matrix to immobilize enzyme-urease through cross-linking via glutaraldehyde. The nature of as-synthesized and deposited PBA film on fiber optic sensing element was studied by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The performance of the developed sensor was studied for different urea concentrations in solutions prepared in phosphate buffer.

  17. IMMUNOASSAYS FOR BIOMARKERS AND NEUTRACEUTICALS/PHARMACEUTICALS

    EPA Science Inventory

    Product is an abstract for an invited oral platform presentation to be given at the Pittsburgh Conference to be held February 25 - March 2, 2007 in Chicago, Ilinois. The presentation will describe methods research for the development of bioanalytical methods to measure biomarker...

  18. INTEGRATING BIOANALYTICAL CAPABILITY IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYTICAL LABORATORY

    EPA Science Inventory

    The product is a book chapter which is an introductory and summary chapter for the reference work "Immunoassays and Other Bianalytical Techniques" to be published by CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Books. The chapter provides analytical chemists information on new techni...

  19. Simultaneous monitoring of humidity and chemical changes using quartz crystal microbalance sensors modified with nano-thin films.

    PubMed

    Selyanchyn, Roman; Korposh, Serhiy; Wakamatsu, Shunichi; Lee, Seung-Woo

    2011-01-01

    Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) electrodes modified with nano-thin films were used to develop a system for measuring significant environment changes (smoke, humidity, hazardous material release). A layer-by-layer approach was used for the deposition of sensitive coatings with a nanometer thickness on the electrode surface. The QCM electrode was modified with self-assembled alternate layers of tetrakis-(4-sulfophenyl) porphine (TSPP) (or its manganese derivative, MnTSPP) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA). The QCM sensors, which had been reported previously for humidity sensing purposes, revealing a high possibility to recognize significant environmental changes. Identifying of the origin of environmental change is possible via differential signal analysis of the obtained data. The sensors showed different responses to humidity changes, hazardous gas (ammonia) or cigarette smoke exposure. Even qualitative analysis is not yet available; it has been shown that ventilation triggers or alarms for monitoring smoke or hazardous material release can be built using the obtained result.

  20. Phytic acid/graphene oxide nanocomposites modified electrode for electrochemical sensing of dopamine.

    PubMed

    Wang, Donglei; Xu, Fei; Hu, Jiajie; Lin, Meng

    2017-02-01

    An electrochemical sensor for determining dopamine was developed by modifying phytic acid/graphene oxide (PA/GO) nanocomposites onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). PA functionalized GO was prepared by an ultra-sonication method. Subsequently, the PA/GO nanocomposites were drop-casted on a glassy carbon substrate. The structural feature of the PA/GO modified GCE was confirmed by attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy. The proposed electrochemical sensor was applied to detect various concentrations of DA by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The PA/GO/GCE was considered to be highly sensitive to DA in the range of 0.05-10μM. In addition, the PA/GO/GCE demonstrated high electrochemical selectivity toward DA in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). The prepared electrochemical DA sensor was applied for detection of DA in dopamine hydrochloride injection and spiked samples of human urine with satisfactory results. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Determination of linear short chain aliphatic aldehyde and ketone vapors in air using a polystyrene-coated quartz crystal nanobalance sensor.

    PubMed

    Mirmohseni, Abdolreza; Olad, Ali

    2010-01-01

    A polystyrene coated quartz crystal nanobalance (QCN) sensor was developed for use in the determination of a number of linear short-chain aliphatic aldehyde and ketone vapors contained in air. The quartz crystal was modified by a thin-layer coating of a commercial grade general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) from Tabriz petrochemical company using a solution casting method. Determination was based on frequency shifts of the modified quartz crystal due to the adsorption of analytes at the surface of modified electrode in exposure to various concentrations of analytes. The frequency shift was found to have a linear relation to the concentration of analytes. Linear calibration curves were obtained for 7-70 mg l(-1) of analytes with correlation coefficients in the range of 0.9935-0.9989 and sensitivity factors in the range of 2.07-6.74 Hz/mg l(-1). A storage period of over three months showed no loss in the sensitivity and performance of the sensor.

  2. An electrical circuit model for additive-modified SnO2 ceramics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Karami Horastani, Zahra; Alaei, Reza; Karami, Amirhossein

    2018-05-01

    In this paper an electrical circuit model for additive-modified metal oxide ceramics based on their physical structures and electrical resistivities is presented. The model predicts resistance of the sample at different additive concentrations and different temperatures. To evaluate the model two types of composite ceramics, SWCNT/SnO2 with SWCNT concentrations of 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4 and 3.8%wt, and Ag/SnO2 with Ag concentrations of 0.3, 0.5, 0.8 and 1.5%wt, were prepared and their electrical resistances versus temperature were experimentally measured. It is shown that the experimental data are in good agreement with the results obtained from the model. The proposed model can be used in the design process of ceramic-based gas sensors, and it also clarifies the role of additive in gas sensing process of additive-modified metal oxide gas sensors. Furthermore the model can be used in the system level modeling of designs in which these sensors are also present.

  3. Modified sensing element of a fibre-optic current sensor based on a low-eigenellipticity spun fibre

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Przhiyalkovsky, Ya V; Morshnev, S K; Starostin, N I

    2014-10-31

    We have proposed and investigated a modified sensing element of a spun fibre current sensor for the case when the beat length of the built-in linear birefringence of the fibre is equal to or less than the spin pitch of its helical structure. The proposed configuration makes it possible to restore the interferometer contrast reduced because of the decrease in the ellipticity of the wavelength-averaged polarisation state of radiation propagating in such spun fibre. The modified sensing element contains two polarisation state converters: one, located at the spun fibre input, produces polarisation with ellipticity equal to the eigenellipticity of themore » fibre, and the other ensures conversion of the elliptical polarisation to an orthogonal one through mirror reflection at the fibre output. We have also demonstrated that the magneto-optical sensitivity decreases slightly for the analysed spectrum-averaged parameters of the polarisation state of radiation in the spun fibre. Experimental data lend support to the theoretical predictions. (fibre-optic sensors)« less

  4. A non-enzymatic sensor for hydrogen peroxide based on polyaniline, multiwalled carbon nanotubes and gold nanoparticles modified Au electrode.

    PubMed

    Narang, Jagriti; Chauhan, Nidhi; Pundir, C S

    2011-11-07

    We describe the construction of a polyaniline (PANI), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) modified Au electrode for determination of hydrogen peroxide without using peroxidase (HRP). The AuNPs/MWCNT/PANI composite film deposited on Au electrode was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical methods. Cyclic voltammetric (CV) studies of the electrode at different stages of construction demonstrated that the modified electrode had enhanced electrochemical oxidation of H(2)O(2), which offers a number of attractive features to develop amperometric sensors based on split of H(2)O(2). The amperometric response to H(2)O(2) showed a linear relationship in the range from 3.0 μM to 600.0 μM with a detection limit of 0.3 μM (S/N = 3) and with high sensitivity of 3.3 mA μM(-1). The sensor gave accurate and satisfactory results, when employed for determination of H(2)O(2) in milk and urine.

  5. Redox electrodeposition polymers: adaptation of the redox potential of polymer-bound Os complexes for bioanalytical applications.

    PubMed

    Guschin, Dmitrii A; Castillo, John; Dimcheva, Nina; Schuhmann, Wolfgang

    2010-10-01

    The design of polymers carrying suitable ligands for coordinating Os complexes in ligand exchange reactions against labile chloro ligands is a strategy for the synthesis of redox polymers with bound Os centers which exhibit a wide variation in their redox potential. This strategy is applied to polymers with an additional variation of the properties of the polymer backbone with respect to pH-dependent solubility, monomer composition, hydrophilicity etc. A library of Os-complex-modified electrodeposition polymers was synthesized and initially tested with respect to their electron-transfer ability in combination with enzymes such as glucose oxidase, cellobiose dehydrogenase, and PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenase entrapped during the pH-induced deposition process. The different polymer-bound Os complexes in a library containing 50 different redox polymers allowed the statistical evaluation of the impact of an individual ligand to the overall redox potential of an Os complex. Using a simple linear regression algorithm prediction of the redox potential of Os complexes becomes feasible. Thus, a redox polymer can now be designed to optimally interact in electron-transfer reactions with a selected enzyme.

  6. SERS as a bioassay platform: fundamentals, design, and applications

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Porter, M.; Lipert, R.; Siperko, L.

    2008-03-18

    Bioanalytical science is experiencing a period of unprecedented growth. Drivers behind this growth include the need to detect markers central to human and veterinary diagnostics at ever-lower levels and greater speeds. A set of parallel arguments applies to pathogens with respect to bioterrorism prevention and food and water safety. This tutorial review outlines our recent explorations on the use of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for detection of proteins, viruses, and microorganisms in heterogeneous immunoassays. It will detail the design and fabrication of the assay platform, including the capture substrate and nanoparticle-based labels. The latter, which is the cornerstone ofmore » our strategy, relies on the construction of gold nanoparticles modified with both an intrinsically strong Raman scatterer and an antibody. This labelling motif, referred to as extrinsic Raman labels (ERLs), takes advantage of the well-established signal enhancement of scatterers when coated on nanometre-sized gold particles, whereas the antibody imparts antigenic specificity. We will also examine the role of plasmon coupling between the ERLs and capture substrate, and challenges related to particle stability, nonspecific adsorption, and assay speed.« less

  7. A modified cross-correlation method for white-light optical fiber extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric hydrogen sensors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Zhen; Zhang, Min; Liao, Yanbiao; Lai, Shurong; Tian, Qian; Li, Qisheng; Zhang, Yi; Zhuang, Zhi

    2009-11-01

    An extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (EFPI) optical fiber hydrogen sensor based on palladium silver (Pd-Ag) film is designed for hydrogen leakage detection. A modified cross correlation signal processing method for an optical fiber EFPI hydrogen sensor is presented. As the applying of a special correlating factor which advises the effect on the fringe visibility of the gap length and wavelength, the cross correlation method has a high accuracy which is insensitive to light source power drift or changes in attenuation in the fiber, and the segment search method is employed to reduce computation and demodulating speed is fast. The Fabry-Perot gap length resolution of better than 0.2nm is achieved in a certain concentration of hydrogen.

  8. Calibration Of Partial-Pressure-Of-Oxygen Sensors

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Yount, David W.; Heronimus, Kevin

    1995-01-01

    Report and analysis of, and discussion of improvements in, procedure for calibrating partial-pressure-of-oxygen sensors to satisfy Spacelab calibration requirements released. Sensors exhibit fast drift, which results in short calibration period not suitable for Spacelab. By assessing complete process of determining total drift range available, calibration procedure modified to eliminate errors and still satisfy requirements without compromising integrity of system.

  9. Microfluidic-Based Platform for Universal Sample Preparation and Biological Assays Automation for Life-Sciences Research and Remote Medical Applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brassard, D.; Clime, L.; Daoud, J.; Geissler, M.; Malic, L.; Charlebois, D.; Buckley, N.; Veres, T.

    2018-02-01

    An innovative centrifugal microfluidic universal platform for remote bio-analytical assays automation required in life-sciences research and medical applications, including purification and analysis from body fluids of cellular and circulating markers.

  10. A Bioanalytical Chemistry Experiment for Undergraduate Students: Biosensors Based on Metal Nanoparticles

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Niagi, John; Warner, John; Andreesco, Silvana

    2007-01-01

    The study describes the development of new biosensors based on metal nanoparticles because of its high surface area and large binding ability. The adopted procedure is extremely simple and versatile and can be used in various applications of electrochemistry.

  11. Bioanalytical Applications of Fluorenscence Quenching.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1986-02-10

    fluorescence is observed. Thus, ’ the enzymes (in this case phosphorylase C) which can hydrolyze the lecithin , can be determined by measuring the released...encapsulated in lecithin liposomes. In this manner the fluorescence is self-quenched. When the liposomes are disrupted, the dye is released and

  12. Assessment and Rehabilitation of Central Sensory Impairments for Balance in mTBI

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-10-01

    place; 95% complete. ● Purchasing and testing software of Opals ; awaiting release of newer, updated sensor from APDM to determine need for more sensors...2016. ● Develop new algorithm to automatically quantify head movements from Opal sensor; 100% complete 23-Sep-2016. ● Set up and test gait paradigm...Interaction in Balance (mCTSIB), Modified Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS) and walking tests, subjects wear five Opal inertial sensors (APDM, Inc

  13. Preparation of a molecularly imprinted sensor based on quartz crystal microbalance for specific recognition of sialic acid in human urine.

    PubMed

    Qiu, Xiuzhen; Xu, Xian-Yan; Chen, Xuncai; Wu, Yiyong; Guo, Huishi

    2018-05-08

    A novel molecularly imprinted quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor was successfully prepared for selective determination of sialic acid (SA) in human urine samples. To obtain the QCM sensor, we first modified the gold surface of the QCM chip by self-assembling of allylmercaptane to introduce polymerizable double bonds on the chip surface. Then, SA molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) nanofilm was attached to the modified QCM chip surface. For comparison, we have also characterized the nonmodified and improved surfaces of the QCM sensor by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. We then tested the selectivity and detection limit of the imprinted QCM sensor via a series of adsorption experiments. The results show a linear response in the range of 0.025-0.50 μmol L -1 for sialic acid. Moreover, the limit of detection (LOD) of the prepared imprinted QCM sensor was found to be 1.0 nmol L -1 for sialic acid, and high recovery values range from 87.6 to 108.5% with RSD < 8.7 (n = 5) for the spiked urine sample obtained. Overall, this work presents how a novel QCM sensor was developed and used to detect sialic acid in human urine samples. Graphical abstract Specific recognition of sialic acid by the MIP-QCM sensor system.

  14. Bioanalytical assessment of adaptive stress responses in drinking water: A predictive tool to differentiate between micropollutants and disinfection by-products.

    PubMed

    Hebert, Armelle; Feliers, Cedric; Lecarpentier, Caroline; Neale, Peta A; Schlichting, Rita; Thibert, Sylvie; Escher, Beate I

    2018-04-01

    Drinking water can contain low levels of micropollutants, as well as disinfection by-products (DBPs) that form from the reaction of disinfectants with organic and inorganic matter in water. Due to the complex mixture of trace chemicals in drinking water, targeted chemical analysis alone is not sufficient for monitoring. The current study aimed to apply in vitro bioassays indicative of adaptive stress responses to monitor the toxicological profiles and the formation of DBPs in three drinking water distribution systems in France. Bioanalysis was complemented with chemical analysis of forty DBPs. All water samples were active in the oxidative stress response assay, but only after considerable sample enrichment. As both micropollutants in source water and DBPs formed during treatment can contribute to the effect, the bioanalytical equivalent concentration (BEQ) approach was applied for the first time to determine the contribution of DBPs, with DBPs found to contribute between 17 and 58% of the oxidative stress response. Further, the BEQ approach was also used to assess the contribution of volatile DBPs to the observed effect, with detected volatile DBPs found to have only a minor contribution as compared to the measured effects of the non-volatile chemicals enriched by solid-phase extraction. The observed effects in the distribution systems were below any level of concern, quantifiable only at high enrichment and not different from bottled mineral water. Integrating bioanalytical tools and the BEQ mixture model for monitoring drinking water quality is an additional assurance that chemical monitoring is not overlooking any unknown chemicals or transformation products and can help to ensure chemically safe drinking water. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  15. Near-infrared dyes and upconverting phosphors as biomolecule labels and probes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Patonay, Gabor; Strekowski, Lucjan; Nguyen, Diem-Ngoc; Seok, Kim Jun

    2007-02-01

    Near-Infrared (NIR) absorbing chromophores have been used in analytical and bioanalytical chemistry extensively, including for determination of properties of biomolecules, DNA sequencing, immunoassays, capillary electrophoresis (CE) separations, etc. The major analytical advantages of these dyes are low background interference and high molar absorptivities. NIR dyes have additional advantages due to their sensitivity to microenvironmental changes. Spectral changes induced by the microenvironment are not desirable if the labels are used as a simple reporting group, e.g., during a biorecognition reaction. For these applications upconverting phosphors seem to be a better choice. There are several difficulties in utilizing upconverting phosphors as reporting labels. These are: large physical size, no reactive groups and insolubility in aqueous systems. This presentation will discuss how these difficulties can be overcome for bioanalytical and forensic applications. During these studies we also have investigated how to reduce physical size of the phosphor by simple grinding without losing activity and how to attach reactive moiety to the phosphor to covalently bind to the biomolecule of interest. It has to be emphasized that the described approach is not suitable for medical applications and the results of this research are not applicable in medical applications. For bioanalytical and forensic applications upconverting phosphors used as reporting labels have several advantages. They are excited with lasers that are red shifted respective to phosphorescence, resulting in no light scatter issues during detection. Also some phosphors are excited using eye safe lasers. In addition energy transfer to NIR dyes is possible, allowing detection schemes using donor-acceptor pairs. Data is presented to illustrate the feasibility of this phenomenon. If microenvironmental sensitivity is required, then specially designed NIR dyes can be used as acceptor labels. Several novel dyes have been synthesized in our laboratories for that purpose.

  16. Selecting the correct weighting factors for linear and quadratic calibration curves with least-squares regression algorithm in bioanalytical LC-MS/MS assays and impacts of using incorrect weighting factors on curve stability, data quality, and assay performance.

    PubMed

    Gu, Huidong; Liu, Guowen; Wang, Jian; Aubry, Anne-Françoise; Arnold, Mark E

    2014-09-16

    A simple procedure for selecting the correct weighting factors for linear and quadratic calibration curves with least-squares regression algorithm in bioanalytical LC-MS/MS assays is reported. The correct weighting factor is determined by the relationship between the standard deviation of instrument responses (σ) and the concentrations (x). The weighting factor of 1, 1/x, or 1/x(2) should be selected if, over the entire concentration range, σ is a constant, σ(2) is proportional to x, or σ is proportional to x, respectively. For the first time, we demonstrated with detailed scientific reasoning, solid historical data, and convincing justification that 1/x(2) should always be used as the weighting factor for all bioanalytical LC-MS/MS assays. The impacts of using incorrect weighting factors on curve stability, data quality, and assay performance were thoroughly investigated. It was found that the most stable curve could be obtained when the correct weighting factor was used, whereas other curves using incorrect weighting factors were unstable. It was also found that there was a very insignificant impact on the concentrations reported with calibration curves using incorrect weighting factors as the concentrations were always reported with the passing curves which actually overlapped with or were very close to the curves using the correct weighting factor. However, the use of incorrect weighting factors did impact the assay performance significantly. Finally, the difference between the weighting factors of 1/x(2) and 1/y(2) was discussed. All of the findings can be generalized and applied into other quantitative analysis techniques using calibration curves with weighted least-squares regression algorithm.

  17. A reversible ratiometric sensor for intracellular Cu2+ imaging: metal coordination-altered FRET in a dual fluorophore hybrid.

    PubMed

    Chen, Yuncong; Zhu, Chengcheng; Cen, Jiajie; Li, Jing; He, Weijiang; Jiao, Yang; Guo, Zijian

    2013-09-07

    ICT fluorophore benzoxadiazole with its electron-donating group modified as a Cu(2+) chelator was conjugated with coumarin to construct a new ratiometric sensor with reversible intracellular Cu(2+) imaging ability.

  18. Automation on the Laboratory Bench.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Legrand, M.; Foucard, A.

    1978-01-01

    A kit is described for use in automation of routine chemical research procedures. The kit uses sensors to evaluate the state of the system, actuators which modify the adjustable parameters, and an organ of decision which uses the information from the sensors. (BB)

  19. Enhanced low current, voltage, and power dissipation measurements via Arduino Uno microcontroller with modified commercially available sensors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tanner, Meghan; Eckel, Ryan; Senevirathne, Indrajith

    The versatility, simplicity, and robustness of Arduino microcontroller architecture have won a huge following with increasingly serious engineering and physical science applications. Arduino microcontroller environment coupled with commercially available sensors have been used to systematically measure, record, and analyze low currents, low voltages and corresponding dissipated power for assessing secondary physical properties in a diverse array of engineering systems. Setup was assembled via breadboard, wire, and simple soldering with an Arduino Uno with ATmega328P microcontroller connected to a PC. The microcontroller was programmed with Arduino Software while the bootloader was used to upload the code. Commercial Hall effect current sensor modules ACS712 and INA169 current shunt monitor was used to measure corresponding low to ultra-low currents and voltages. Stable measurement data was obtained via sensors and compared with corresponding oscilloscope measurements to assess reliability and uncertainty. Sensor breakout boards were modified to enhance the sensitivity of the measurements and to expand the applicability. Discussion of these measurements will focus on capabilities, capacities and limitations of the systems with examples of possible applications. Lock Haven Nanotechnology Program.

  20. Facile fabrication of CNT-based chemical sensor operating at room temperature

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sheng, Jiadong; Zeng, Xian; Zhu, Qi; Yang, Zhaohui; Zhang, Xiaohua

    2017-12-01

    This paper describes a simple, low cost and effective route to fabricate CNT-based chemical sensors, which operate at room temperature. Firstly, the incorporation of silk fibroin in vertically aligned CNT arrays (CNTA) obtained through a thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method makes the direct removal of CNT arrays from substrates without any rigorous acid or sonication treatment feasible. Through a simple one-step in situ polymerization of anilines, the functionalization of CNT arrays with polyaniline (PANI) significantly improves the sensing performance of CNT-based chemical sensors in detecting ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen chloride (HCl) vapors. Chemically modified CNT arrays also show responses to organic vapors like menthol, ethyl acetate and acetone. Although the detection limits of chemically modified CNT-based chemical sensors are of the same orders of magnitudes reported in previous studies, these CNT-based chemical sensors show advantages of simplicity, low cost and energy efficiency in preparation and fabrication of devices. Additionally, a linear relationship between the relative sensitivity and concentration of analyte makes precise estimations on the concentrations of trace chemical vapors possible.

  1. Fabrication of a novel metal chromite - Carbon nanotube composite for the highly efficient electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shahnavaz, Zohreh; Abd Hamid, Sharifah Bee

    2017-06-01

    The new electrocatalyst, ZnCr2O4/MWCNTs composite was successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method followed by calcination at 500 °C. A potential application of ZnCr2O4/MWCNTs composite modified electrode as enzyme-free sensor to monitor H2O2 has been studied. The sensor exhibited a high sensitivity of 1717.14 μA mM-1 cm-2 and a low detection limit down to 0.11 μM with a linear wide range from 50 μM to 34.8 mM with a fast response time of 2 s. In addition, modified electrode performance was investigated by measuring current responses of the sensor for three weeks to confirm the great stability of the proposed sensor. Along with these considerable analytical advantages, the as-prepared composite showed very high specificity to H2O2 with complete elimination of interference from uric acid, ascorbic acid, dopamine and glucose. The sensor gave satisfactory results in a real sample, when employed for determination of H2O2 in lens cleaning solution.

  2. Development and study the performance of PBA cladding modified fiber optic intrinsic biosensor for urea detection

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Botewad, S. N.; Pahurkar, V. G.; Muley, G. G., E-mail: gajananggm@yahoo.co.in

    2016-05-06

    The fabrication and study of a cladding modified fiber optic intrinsic urea biosensor based on evanescent wave absorbance has been presented. The sensor was prepared using cladding modification technique by removing a small portion of cladding of an optical fiber and modifying with an active cladding of porous polyaniline-boric acid (PBA) matrix to immobilize enzyme-urease through cross-linking via glutaraldehyde. The nature of as-synthesized and deposited PBA film on fiber optic sensing element was studied by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The performance of the developed sensor was studied for different urea concentrations in solutions prepared in phosphatemore » buffer.« less

  3. Modified Electrodes Used for Electrochemical Detection of Metal Ions in Environmental Analysis

    PubMed Central

    March, Gregory; Nguyen, Tuan Dung; Piro, Benoit

    2015-01-01

    Heavy metal pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems, and regulations are becoming stricter. Many efforts have been made to develop sensors for monitoring heavy metals in the environment. This review aims at presenting the different label-free strategies used to develop electrochemical sensors for the detection of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic etc. The first part of this review will be dedicated to stripping voltammetry techniques, on unmodified electrodes (mercury, bismuth or noble metals in the bulk form), or electrodes modified at their surface by nanoparticles, nanostructures (CNT, graphene) or other innovative materials such as boron-doped diamond. The second part will be dedicated to chemically modified electrodes especially those with conducting polymers. The last part of this review will focus on bio-modified electrodes. Special attention will be paid to strategies using biomolecules (DNA, peptide or proteins), enzymes or whole cells. PMID:25938789

  4. Fabrication of polyaniline-HCl cladding modified fiber optic intrinsic biosensor for glucose detection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pahurkar, Vikas; Tamgadge, Yuoraj; Muley, Gajanan

    2016-05-01

    In the present study, we have fabricated and studied response of cladding modified fiber optic intrinsic glucose biosensor (FOIGB). The optical fiber was used as a light transforming waveguide and sensing element fabricated over it by applying a thin layer of polymer. The cladding of the sensor was modified with the polyaniline-hydrochloric acid (PANI-HCl) polymer matrix. The PANI-HCl matrix provides an amorphous morphology useful to immobilize glucose oxidase (GOx) biomolecules through cross-linking technique via glutaraldehyde. The present sensor was used to detect the glucose analyte in the solution. In the sensing response study of FOIGB toward glucose, novel modal power distribution (MPD) technique was used. The reaction between GOx and glucose changes the optical properties of prepared FOIGB and hence modify MPD at output as a function of glucose concentration. The nature and surface morphology of PANI-HCl matrix has been studied.

  5. Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Glucose Oxidase on Carbon Nanotube Modified Electrodes.

    PubMed

    Suroviec, Alice H

    2017-01-01

    The use of enzymatically modified electrodes for the detection of glucose or other non-electrochemically active analytes is becoming increasingly common. Direct heterogeneous electron transfer to glucose oxidase has been shown to be kinetically difficult, which is why electron transfer mediators or indirect detection is usually used for monitoring glucose with electrochemical sensors. It has been found, however, that electrodes modified with single or multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) demonstrate fast heterogeneous electron transfer kinetics as compared to that found for traditional electrodes. Incorporating CNTs into the assembly of electrochemical glucose sensors, therefore, affords the possibility of facile electron transfer to glucose oxidase, and a more direct determination of glucose. This chapter describes the methods used to use CNTs in a layer-by-layer structure along with glucose oxidase to produce an enzymatically modified electrode with high turnover rates, increased stability and shelf-life.

  6. Method of making gold thiolate and photochemically functionalized microcantilevers

    DOEpatents

    Boiadjiev, Vassil I [Knoxville, TN; Brown, Gilbert M [Knoxville, TN; Pinnaduwage, Lal A [Knoxville, TN; Thundat, Thomas G [Knoxville, TN; Bonnesen, Peter V [Knoxville, TN; Goretzki, Gudrun [Nottingham, GB

    2009-08-25

    Highly sensitive sensor platforms for the detection of specific reagents, such as chromate, gasoline and biological species, using microcantilevers and other microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) whose surfaces have been modified with photochemically attached organic monolayers, such as self-assembled monolayers (SAM), or gold-thiol surface linkage are taught. The microcantilever sensors use photochemical hydrosilylation to modify silicon surfaces and gold-thiol chemistry to modify metallic surfaces thereby enabling individual microcantilevers in multicantilever array chips to be modified separately. Terminal vinyl substituted hydrocarbons with a variety of molecular recognition sites can be attached to the surface of silicon via the photochemical hydrosilylation process. By focusing the activating UV light sequentially on selected silicon or silicon nitride hydrogen terminated surfaces and soaking or spotting selected metallic surfaces with organic thiols, sulfides, or disulfides, the microcantilevers are functionalized. The device and photochemical method are intended to be integrated into systems for detecting specific agents including chromate groundwater contamination, gasoline, and biological species.

  7. An electrochemical fungicide pyrimethanil sensor based on carbon nanotubes/ionic-liquid construction modified electrode.

    PubMed

    Yang, Jichun; Wang, Qiong; Zhang, Minhui; Zhang, Shuming; Zhang, Lei

    2015-11-15

    In this study, a simple, rapid, sensitive and environmentally friendly electroanalytical detection method for pyrimethanil (PMT) was developed, which was based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and ionic liquids (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF6]) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). MWCNTs-IL modified electrode significantly enhanced the oxidation peak current of PMT by combining the excellent electrochemical properties of MWCNTs and IL, suggesting that the modified electrode can remarkably improve the sensitivity of PMT detection. Under the optimum conditions, this electrochemical sensor exhibited a linear concentration range for PMT of 1.0 × 10(-7)-1.0 × 10(-4) mol L(-1) and the detection limit was 1.6 × 10(-8) mol L(-1) (S/N = 3). The fabricated electrode showed good reproducibility, stability and anti-interference, and also it was successfully employed to detect PMT in real samples. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Pristine multi-walled carbon nanotubes/SDS modified carbon paste electrode as an amperometric sensor for epinephrine.

    PubMed

    Thomas, Tony; Mascarenhas, Ronald J; D' Souza, Ozma J; Detriche, Simon; Mekhalif, Zineb; Martis, Praveen

    2014-07-01

    An amperometric sensor for the determination of epinephrine (EP) was fabricated by modifying the carbon paste electrode (CPE) with pristine multi-walled carbon nanotubes (pMWCNTs) using bulk modification followed by drop casting of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) onto the surface for its optimal potential application. The modified electrode showed an excellent electrocatalytic activity towards EP by decreasing the overpotential and greatly enhancing the current sensitivity. FE-SEM images confirmed the dispersion of pMWCNTs in the CPE matrix. EDX analysis ensured the surface coverage of SDS. A comparative study of pMWCNTs with those of oxidized MWCNTs (MWCNTsOX) modified electrodes reveals that the former is the best base material for the construction of the sensor with advantages of lower oxidation overpotential and the least background current. The performance of the modified electrode was impressive in terms of the least charge transfer resistance (Rct), highest values for diffusion coefficient (DEP) and standard heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k°). Analytical characterization of the modified electrode exhibited two linear dynamic ranges from 1.0×10(-7) to 1.0×10(-6)M and 1.0×10(-6) to 1.0×10(-4)M with a detection limit of (4.5±0.18)×10(-8)M. A 100-fold excess of serotonin, acetaminophen, folic acid, uric acid, tryptophan, tyrosine and cysteine, 10-fold excess of ascorbic acid and twofold excess of dopamine do not interfere in the quantification of EP at this electrode. The analytical applications of the modified electrode were demonstrated by determining EP in spiked blood serum and adrenaline tartrate injection. The modified electrode involves a simple fabrication procedure, minimum usage of the modifier, quick response, excellent stability, reproducibility and anti-fouling effects. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Determining Methane Leak Locations and Rates with a Wireless Network Composed of Low-Cost, Printed Sensors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Smith, C. J.; Kim, B.; Zhang, Y.; Ng, T. N.; Beck, V.; Ganguli, A.; Saha, B.; Daniel, G.; Lee, J.; Whiting, G.; Meyyappan, M.; Schwartz, D. E.

    2015-12-01

    We will present our progress on the development of a wireless sensor network that will determine the source and rate of detected methane leaks. The targeted leak detection threshold is 2 g/min with a rate estimation error of 20% and localization error of 1 m within an outdoor area of 100 m2. The network itself is composed of low-cost, high-performance sensor nodes based on printed nanomaterials with expected sensitivity below 1 ppmv methane. High sensitivity to methane is achieved by modifying high surface-area-to-volume-ratio single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with materials that adsorb methane molecules. Because the modified SWNTs are not perfectly selective to methane, the sensor nodes contain arrays of variously-modified SWNTs to build diversity of response towards gases with adsorption affinity. Methane selectivity is achieved through advanced pattern-matching algorithms of the array's ensemble response. The system is low power and designed to operate for a year on a single small battery. The SWNT sensing elements consume only microwatts. The largest power consumer is the wireless communication, which provides robust, real-time measurement data. Methane leak localization and rate estimation will be performed by machine-learning algorithms built with the aid of computational fluid dynamics simulations of gas plume formation. This sensor system can be broadly applied at gas wells, distribution systems, refineries, and other downstream facilities. It also can be utilized for industrial and residential safety applications, and adapted to other gases and gas combinations.

  10. A novel rapid synthesis of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}/graphene nanocomposite using ferrate(VI) and its application as a new kind of nanocomposite modified electrode as electrochemical sensor

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Karimi, Mohammad Ali, E-mail: ma_karimi43@yahoo.com; Department of Chemistry & Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Research Laboratory; Banifatemeh, Fatemeh

    2015-10-15

    Highlights: • A novel rapid synthesis of rGO–Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanocomposite was developed using Fe(VI). • Fe(VI) as an environmentally friendly oxidant was introduced for GO synthesis. • Synthesized rGO–Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanocomposite was applied as electrochemical sensor. • A non-enzymatic sensor was developed for H{sub 2}O{sub 2}. - Abstract: In this study, a novel, simple and sensitive non-enzymatic hydrogen peroxide electrochemical sensor was developed using reduced graphene oxide/Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode. This nanocomposite was synthesized by reaction of sodium ferrate with graphene in alkaline media. This reaction completed in 5 min and the products weremore » stable and its deposition on the surface of electrode is investigated. It has been found the apparent charge transfer rate constant (ks) is 0.52 and transfer coefficient (α) is 0.61 for electron transfer between the modifier and glassy carbon electrode. Electrochemical behavior of this electrode and its ability to catalyze the electro-reduction of H{sub 2}O{sub 2} has been studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry at different experimental conditions. The analytical parameters showed the good ability of electrode as a sensor for H{sub 2}O{sub 2} amperometric reduction.« less

  11. Developing a New Wireless Sensor Network Platform and Its Application in Precision Agriculture

    PubMed Central

    Aquino-Santos, Raúl; González-Potes, Apolinar; Edwards-Block, Arthur; Virgen-Ortiz, Raúl Alejandro

    2011-01-01

    Wireless sensor networks are gaining greater attention from the research community and industrial professionals because these small pieces of “smart dust” offer great advantages due to their small size, low power consumption, easy integration and support for “green” applications. Green applications are considered a hot topic in intelligent environments, ubiquitous and pervasive computing. This work evaluates a new wireless sensor network platform and its application in precision agriculture, including its embedded operating system and its routing algorithm. To validate the technological platform and the embedded operating system, two different routing strategies were compared: hierarchical and flat. Both of these routing algorithms were tested in a small-scale network applied to a watermelon field. However, we strongly believe that this technological platform can be also applied to precision agriculture because it incorporates a modified version of LORA-CBF, a wireless location-based routing algorithm that uses cluster-based flooding. Cluster-based flooding addresses the scalability concerns of wireless sensor networks, while the modified LORA-CBF routing algorithm includes a metric to monitor residual battery energy. Furthermore, results show that the modified version of LORA-CBF functions well with both the flat and hierarchical algorithms, although it functions better with the flat algorithm in a small-scale agricultural network. PMID:22346622

  12. Developing a new wireless sensor network platform and its application in precision agriculture.

    PubMed

    Aquino-Santos, Raúl; González-Potes, Apolinar; Edwards-Block, Arthur; Virgen-Ortiz, Raúl Alejandro

    2011-01-01

    Wireless sensor networks are gaining greater attention from the research community and industrial professionals because these small pieces of "smart dust" offer great advantages due to their small size, low power consumption, easy integration and support for "green" applications. Green applications are considered a hot topic in intelligent environments, ubiquitous and pervasive computing. This work evaluates a new wireless sensor network platform and its application in precision agriculture, including its embedded operating system and its routing algorithm. To validate the technological platform and the embedded operating system, two different routing strategies were compared: hierarchical and flat. Both of these routing algorithms were tested in a small-scale network applied to a watermelon field. However, we strongly believe that this technological platform can be also applied to precision agriculture because it incorporates a modified version of LORA-CBF, a wireless location-based routing algorithm that uses cluster-based flooding. Cluster-based flooding addresses the scalability concerns of wireless sensor networks, while the modified LORA-CBF routing algorithm includes a metric to monitor residual battery energy. Furthermore, results show that the modified version of LORA-CBF functions well with both the flat and hierarchical algorithms, although it functions better with the flat algorithm in a small-scale agricultural network.

  13. Application of a Permethrin Immunosorbent Assay Method to Residential Soil and Dust Samples

    EPA Science Inventory

    A low-cost, high throughput bioanalytical screening method was developed for monitoring cis/trans-permethrin in dust and soil samples. The method consisted of a simple sample preparation procedure [sonication with dichloromethane followed by a solvent exchange into methanol:wate...

  14. 78 FR 56239 - Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-09-12

    ... Integrated Review Group; Molecular and Cellular. Endocrinology Study Section Date: October 8, 2013. Time: 8... Molecular Sciences and Training Integrated Review Group; Enabling Bioanalytical and Imaging Technologies...: Genes, Genomes, and Genetics Integrated Review Group; Genetics of Health and Disease Study Section. Date...

  15. A generic template for automated bioanalytical ligand-binding assays using modular robotic scripts in support of discovery biotherapeutic programs.

    PubMed

    Duo, Jia; Dong, Huijin; DeSilva, Binodh; Zhang, Yan J

    2013-07-01

    Sample dilution and reagent pipetting are time-consuming steps in ligand-binding assays (LBAs). Traditional automation-assisted LBAs use assay-specific scripts that require labor-intensive script writing and user training. Five major script modules were developed on Tecan Freedom EVO liquid handling software to facilitate the automated sample preparation and LBA procedure: sample dilution, sample minimum required dilution, standard/QC minimum required dilution, standard/QC/sample addition, and reagent addition. The modular design of automation scripts allowed the users to assemble an automated assay with minimal script modification. The application of the template was demonstrated in three LBAs to support discovery biotherapeutic programs. The results demonstrated that the modular scripts provided the flexibility in adapting to various LBA formats and the significant time saving in script writing and scientist training. Data generated by the automated process were comparable to those by manual process while the bioanalytical productivity was significantly improved using the modular robotic scripts.

  16. Advances in the analysis of biological samples using ionic liquids.

    PubMed

    Clark, Kevin D; Trujillo-Rodríguez, María J; Anderson, Jared L

    2018-02-12

    Ionic liquids are a class of solvents and materials that hold great promise in bioanalytical chemistry. Task-specific ionic liquids have recently been designed for the selective extraction, separation, and detection of proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, and other physiologically relevant analytes from complex biological samples. To facilitate rapid bioanalysis, ionic liquids have been integrated in miniaturized and automated procedures. Bioanalytical separations have also benefited from the modification of nonspecific magnetic materials with ionic liquids or the implementation of ionic liquids with inherent magnetic properties. Furthermore, the direct detection of the extracted molecules in the analytical instrument has been demonstrated with structurally tuned ionic liquids and magnetic ionic liquids, providing a significant advantage in the analysis of low-abundance analytes. This article gives an overview of these advances that involve the application of ionic liquids and derivatives in bioanalysis. Graphical abstract Ionic liquids, magnetic ionic liquids, and ionic liquid-based sorbents are increasing the speed, selectivity, and sensitivity in the analysis of biological samples.

  17. Completely monodisperse, highly repetitive proteins for bioconjugate capillary electrophoresis: Development and characterization

    PubMed Central

    Lin, Jennifer S.; Albrecht, Jennifer Coyne; Meagher, Robert J.; Wang, Xiaoxiao; Barron, Annelise E.

    2011-01-01

    Protein-based polymers are increasingly being used in biomaterial applications due to their ease of customization and potential monodispersity. These advantages make protein polymers excellent candidates for bioanalytical applications. Here we describe improved methods for producing drag-tags for Free-Solution Conjugate Electrophoresis (FSCE). FSCE utilizes a pure, monodisperse recombinant protein, tethered end-on to a ssDNA molecule, to enable DNA size separation in aqueous buffer. FSCE also provides a highly sensitive method to evaluate the polydispersity of a protein drag-tag and thus its suitability for bioanalytical uses. This method is able to detect slight differences in drag-tag charge or mass. We have devised an improved cloning, expression, and purification strategy that enables us to generate, for the first time, a truly monodisperse 20 kDa protein polymer and a nearly monodisperse 38 kDa protein. These newly produced proteins can be used as drag-tags to enable longer read DNA sequencing by free-solution microchannel electrophoresis. PMID:21553840

  18. Enhancing efficiency and quality of statistical estimation of immunogenicity assay cut points through standardization and automation.

    PubMed

    Su, Cheng; Zhou, Lei; Hu, Zheng; Weng, Winnie; Subramani, Jayanthi; Tadkod, Vineet; Hamilton, Kortney; Bautista, Ami; Wu, Yu; Chirmule, Narendra; Zhong, Zhandong Don

    2015-10-01

    Biotherapeutics can elicit immune responses, which can alter the exposure, safety, and efficacy of the therapeutics. A well-designed and robust bioanalytical method is critical for the detection and characterization of relevant anti-drug antibody (ADA) and the success of an immunogenicity study. As a fundamental criterion in immunogenicity testing, assay cut points need to be statistically established with a risk-based approach to reduce subjectivity. This manuscript describes the development of a validated, web-based, multi-tier customized assay statistical tool (CAST) for assessing cut points of ADA assays. The tool provides an intuitive web interface that allows users to import experimental data generated from a standardized experimental design, select the assay factors, run the standardized analysis algorithms, and generate tables, figures, and listings (TFL). It allows bioanalytical scientists to perform complex statistical analysis at a click of the button to produce reliable assay parameters in support of immunogenicity studies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. Rapid fabrication of embossing tools for the production of polymeric microfluidic devices for bioanalytical applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ford, Sean M.; McCandless, Andrew B.; Liu, Xuezhu; Soper, Steven A.

    2001-09-01

    In this paper we present embossing tools that were fabricated using both UV and X-ray lithography. The embossing tools created were used to emboss microfluidic channels for bioanalytical applications. Specifically, two tools were fabricated. One, using x-ray lithography, was fabricated for electrophoretic separations of DNA restriction fragment analysis. A second tool, fabricated using SU8, was designed for micro PCR applications. Depths of both tools were approximately 100 micrometers . Both tools were made by directly electroforming nickel on a stainless steel base. Fabrication time for the tool fabricated using x-ray lithography was less than 1 week, and largely depended on the availability of the x-ray source. The SU8 embossing tool was fabricated in less than 24 hours. The resulting nickel electroforms from both processes were extremely robust and did not fail under embossing conditions required for PMMA and/or polycarbonate. Some problems removing SU8 after electroforming were sen for smaller size gaps between nickel structures.

  20. [Present situation and development trends of asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation].

    PubMed

    Liang, Qihui; Wu, Di; Qiu, Bailing; Han, Nanyin

    2017-09-08

    Field-flow fractionation (FFF) is a kind of mature separation technologies in the field of bioanalysis, feasible of separating analytes with the differences of certain physical and chemical properties by the combination effects of two orthogonal force fields (flow field and external force field). Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) is a vital subvariant of FFF, which applying a vertical flow field as the second dimension force field. The separation in AF4 opening channel is carried out by any composition carrier fluid, universally and effectively used in separation of bioparticles and biopolymers due to the non-invasivity feature. Herein, bio-analytes are held in bio-friendly environment and easily sterilized without using degrading carrier fluid which is conducive to maintain natural conformation. In this review, FFF and AF4 principles are briefly described, and some classical and emerging applications and developments in the bioanalytical fields are concisely introduced and tabled. Also, special focus is given to the hyphenation of AF4 with highly specific, sensitive detection technologies.

  1. Workshop Report: Crystal City VI-Bioanalytical Method Validation for Biomarkers.

    PubMed

    Arnold, Mark E; Booth, Brian; King, Lindsay; Ray, Chad

    2016-11-01

    With the growing focus on translational research and the use of biomarkers to drive drug development and approvals, biomarkers have become a significant area of research within the pharmaceutical industry. However, until the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) 2013 draft guidance on bioanalytical method validation included consideration of biomarker assays using LC-MS and LBA, those assays were created, validated, and used without standards of performance. This lack of expectations resulted in the FDA receiving data from assays of varying quality in support of efficacy and safety claims. The AAPS Crystal City VI (CC VI) Workshop in 2015 was held as the first forum for industry-FDA discussion around the general issues of biomarker measurements (e.g., endogenous levels) and specific technology strengths and weaknesses. The 2-day workshop served to develop a common understanding among the industrial scientific community of the issues around biomarkers, informed the FDA of the current state of the science, and will serve as a basis for further dialogue as experience with biomarkers expands with both groups.

  2. Fused Deposition Modeling 3D Printing for (Bio)analytical Device Fabrication: Procedures, Materials, and Applications

    PubMed Central

    2017-01-01

    In this work, the use of fused deposition modeling (FDM) in a (bio)analytical/lab-on-a-chip research laboratory is described. First, the specifications of this 3D printing method that are important for the fabrication of (micro)devices were characterized for a benchtop FDM 3D printer. These include resolution, surface roughness, leakage, transparency, material deformation, and the possibilities for integration of other materials. Next, the autofluorescence, solvent compatibility, and biocompatibility of 12 representative FDM materials were tested and evaluated. Finally, we demonstrate the feasibility of FDM in a number of important applications. In particular, we consider the fabrication of fluidic channels, masters for polymer replication, and tools for the production of paper microfluidic devices. This work thus provides a guideline for (i) the use of FDM technology by addressing its possibilities and current limitations, (ii) material selection for FDM, based on solvent compatibility and biocompatibility, and (iii) application of FDM technology to (bio)analytical research by demonstrating a broad range of illustrative examples. PMID:28628294

  3. WO{sub 3} thin film based multiple sensor array for electronic nose application

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ramgir, Niranjan S., E-mail: niranjanpr@yahoo.com, E-mail: deepakcct1991@gmail.com; Goyal, C. P.; Datta, N.

    2015-06-24

    Multiple sensor array comprising 16 x 2 sensing elements were realized using RF sputtered WO{sub 3} thin films. The sensor films were modified with a thin layer of sensitizers namely Au, Ni, Cu, Al, Pd, Ti, Pt. The resulting sensor array were tested for their response towards different gases namely H{sub 2}S, NH{sub 3}, NO and C{sub 2}H{sub 5}OH. The sensor response values measured from the response curves indicates that the sensor array generates a unique signature pattern (bar chart) for the gases. The sensor response values can be used to get both qualitative and quantitative information about the gas.

  4. Electromechanical hand incorporates touch sensors and trigger function

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dane, D. H.

    1970-01-01

    Electromechanical hand incorporates touch sensors, concealed fingers, and a structure that allows the hand to hold a tool on a flat surface. The hands can be mounted on most types of existing manipulators either directly or by means of modified mounting brackets.

  5. Modified Hyperbranched Polymers for Fluorescence Sensing Applications

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-06-01

    sensors. The HBPs transported the fluorescent groups to the fiber mat surface where they interacted with mercury (Hg(II)) or cytochrome c as the analyte...coworkers (27, 28) have employed fluorescence quenching using a binol-based dendrimer sensor, which exhibited differential sensitivity to enantiomeric...based sensors using HBP-based fluorophores was demonstrated in this report. Low concentrations of fluorophore were transported to the surface of

  6. Thermal sensor with an improved coating

    DOEpatents

    LaDelfe, P.C.; Stotlar, S.C.

    1984-03-30

    The disclosure is directed to an apparatus for detecting radiation having wavelengths from about 0.4 ..mu..m to about 5.6 ..mu..m. An optical coating is applied to a thermal sensor that is normally transparent to radiation with such wavelengths. The optical coating is thin and light and includes a modifier and an absorber. The thermal sensor can be a pyroelectric detector such as strontium barium niobate.

  7. Thermal sensor with an improved coating

    DOEpatents

    LaDelfe, Peter C.; Stotlar, Suzanne C.

    1986-01-01

    The disclosure is directed to an apparatus for detecting radiation having wavelengths from about 0.4 .mu.m to about 5.6 .mu.m. An optical coating is applied to a thermal sensor that is normally transparent to radiation with such wavelengths. The optical coating is thin and light and includes a modifier and an absorber. The thermal sensor can be a pyroelectric detector such as strontium barium niobate.

  8. Chemically modified carbon paste and membrane sensors for the determination of benzethonium chloride and some anionic surfactants (SLES, SDS, and LABSA): Characterization using SEM and AFM.

    PubMed

    Issa, Yousry M; Mohamed, Sabrein H; Baset, Mohamed Abd-El

    2016-08-01

    Chemically modified carbon-paste (CMCP) and membrane- sensors based on incorporating benzothonium-tetraphenylborate (BT-TPB) were constructed for the analysis of benzethonium chloride, and some other surfactants such as sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES), sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), and linear alkylbenzene sulphonic acid (LABSA). All sensors showed good sensitivity and reverse wide linearity over a concentration range of 5.97×10(-7) to 1.00×10(-3) and 5.96×10(-7) to 3.03×10(-3)molL(-1) with limit of detection of 3.92×10(-7)and 3.40×10(-7)molL(-1) for membrane and chemically modified carbon paste sensors, respectively, with respect to benzethonium chloride (BT.Cl). They could be used over a wide pH range of 2.0-10.0. The thermal coefficients of membrane and CMCP sensors are 5.40×10(-4), 1.17×10(-4)V/°C, respectively. The sensors indicated a wide selectivity over different inorganic cations. The effect of soaking on the surface morphology of the membrane sensor was studied using EDX-SEM and AFM techniques. The response time was <10s The freshly prepared, exhausted membrane, and CMCP sensors were successfully applied for the potentiometric determination of the pure BT.Cl solution. They were also used for the determination of its pharmaceutical formulation Dermoplast(®) antibacterial spray (20% benzocaine+0.2% benzethonium chloride) with recovery values ranging from 97.54±1.70 to 101.25±1.12 and from 96.32±2.49 to 101.23±2.15%. The second goal of these sensors is the potentiometric determination of different surfactants such as SLES, SDS, and LABSA with good recovery values using BT.Cl as a titrant in their pure forms, and in samples containing one of them (shampoo, Touri(®) dishwashing liquid, and waste water). The statistical analysis of the obtained data was studied. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Survey of Visual and Force/Tactile Control of Robots for Physical Interaction in Spain

    PubMed Central

    Garcia, Gabriel J.; Corrales, Juan A.; Pomares, Jorge; Torres, Fernando

    2009-01-01

    Sensors provide robotic systems with the information required to perceive the changes that happen in unstructured environments and modify their actions accordingly. The robotic controllers which process and analyze this sensory information are usually based on three types of sensors (visual, force/torque and tactile) which identify the most widespread robotic control strategies: visual servoing control, force control and tactile control. This paper presents a detailed review on the sensor architectures, algorithmic techniques and applications which have been developed by Spanish researchers in order to implement these mono-sensor and multi-sensor controllers which combine several sensors. PMID:22303146

  10. Monitoring technology

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stevenson, William A. (Inventor)

    1989-01-01

    A process for infrared spectroscopic monitoring of insitu compositional changes in a polymeric material comprises the steps of providing an elongated infrared radiation transmitting fiber that has a transmission portion and a sensor portion, embedding the sensor portion in the polymeric material to be monitored, subjecting the polymeric material to a processing sequence, applying a beam of infrared radiation to the fiber for transmission through the transmitting portion to the sensor portion for modification as a function of properties of the polymeric material, monitoring the modified infrared radiation spectra as the polymeric material is being subjected to the processing sequence to obtain kinetic data on changes in the polymeric material during the processing sequence, and adjusting the processing sequence as a function of the kinetic data provided by the modified infrared radiation spectra information.

  11. Monitoring technology

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stevenson, William A. (Inventor)

    1992-01-01

    A process for infrared spectroscopic monitoring of insitu compositional changes in a polymeric material comprises the steps of providing an elongated infrared radiation transmitting fiber that has a transmission portion and a sensor portion, embedding the sensor portion in the polymeric material to be monitored, subjecting the polymeric material to a processing sequence, applying a beam of infrared radiation to the fiber for transmission through the transmitting portion to the sensor portion for modification as a function of properties of the polymeric material, monitoring the modified infrared radiation spectra as the polymeric material is being subjected to the processing sequence to obtain kinetic data on changes in the polymeric material during the processing sequence, and adjusting the processing sequence as a function of the kinetic data provided by the modified infrared radiation spectra information.

  12. The influence of adhesive on fiber Bragg grating strain sensor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Jixuan; Gong, Huaping; Jin, Shangzhong; Li, Shuhua

    2009-08-01

    A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor was fixed on the uniform strength beam with three adhesives, which were modified acrylate, glass glue and epoxy resin. The influence of adhesive on FBG strain sensor was investigated. The strain of FBG sensor was varied by loading weight to the uniform strength beam. The wavelength shift of the FBG sensor fixed by the three kinds of adhesive were measured with different weight at the temperatures 0°C, 10°C, 20°C, 30°C, 40°C. The linearity, sensitivity and their stability at different temperature of FBG sensor which fixed by every kind of adhesives were analyzed. The results show that, the FBG sensor fixed by the modified acrylate has a high linearity, and the linear correlation coefficient is 0.9996. It also has a high sensitivity which is 0.251nm/kg. The linearity and the sensitivity of the FBG sensor have a high stability at different temperatures. The FBG sensor fixed by the glass glue also has a high linearity, and the linear correlation coefficient is 0.9986, but it has a low sensitivity which is only 0.041nm/kg. The linearity and the sensitivity of the FBG sensor fixed by the glass glue have a high stability at different temperatures. When the FBG sensor is fixed by epoxy resin, the sensitivity and linearity is affected significantly by the temperature. When the temperature changes from 0°C to 40°C, the sensitivity decreases from 0.302nm/kg to 0.058nm/kg, and the linear correlation coefficient decreases from 0.9999 to 0.9961.

  13. Development of a glucose sensor employing quick and easy modification method with mediator for altering electron acceptor preference.

    PubMed

    Hatada, Mika; Loew, Noya; Inose-Takahashi, Yuka; Okuda-Shimazaki, Junko; Tsugawa, Wakako; Mulchandani, Ashok; Sode, Koji

    2018-06-01

    Enzyme based electrochemical biosensors are divided into three generations according to their type of electron transfer from the cofactors of the enzymes to the electrodes. Although the 3rd generation sensors using direct electron transfer (DET) type enzymes are ideal, the number of enzyme types which possess DET ability is limited. In this study, we report of a glucose sensor using mediator-modified glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), that was fabricated by a new quick-and-easy method using the pre-functionalized amine reactive phenazine ethosulfate (arPES). Thus mediator-modified GDH obtained the ability to transfer electrons to bulky electron acceptors as well as electrodes. The concentration of glucose was successfully measured using electrodes with immobilized PES-modified GDH, without addition of external electron mediators. Therefore, continuous monitoring systems can be developed based on this "2.5th generation" electron transfer principle utilizing quasi-DET. Furthermore, we successfully modified two other diagnostically relevant enzymes, glucoside 3-dehydrogenase and lactate oxidase, with PES. Therefore, various kinds of diagnostic enzymes can achieve quasi-DET ability simply by modification with arPES, suggesting that continuous monitoring systems based on the 2.5th generation principle can be developed for various target molecules. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Pressure sensor to determine spatial pressure distributions on boundary layer flows

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sciammarella, Cesar A.; Piroozan, Parham; Corke, Thomas C.

    1997-03-01

    The determination of pressures along the surface of a wind tunnel proves difficult with methods that must introduce devices into the flow stream. This paper presents a sensor that is part of the wall. A special interferometric reflection moire technique is developed and used to produce signals that measures pressure both in static and dynamic settings. The sensor developed is an intelligent sensor that combines optics and electronics to analyze the pressure patterns. The sensor provides the input to a control system that is capable of modifying the shape of the wall and preserve the stability of the flow.

  15. Non-enzymatic glucose detection based on phenylboronic acid modified optical fibers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sun, Xiaolan; Li, Nana; Zhou, Bin; Zhao, Wei; Liu, Liyuan; Huang, Chao; Ma, Longfei; Kost, Alan R.

    2018-06-01

    A non-enzymatic, sensitive glucose sensor was fabricated based on an evanescent wave absorbing optical fiber probe. The optical fiber sensor was functionalized by fixing a poly (phenylboronic acid) (polyPBA) film onto the conical region of the single mode fiber. The reflected light intensity of the polyPBA-functionalized fiber sensor increased proportionally with glucose concentration in the range of 0-60 mM, and the sensor showed good reproducibility and stability. The developed sensor possessed a high sensitivity of 0.1787%/mM and good linearity. The measurement of glucose concentration in human serum was also demonstrated.

  16. Error Analysis of Magnetohydrodynamic Angular Rate Sensor Combing with Coriolis Effect at Low Frequency.

    PubMed

    Ji, Yue; Xu, Mengjie; Li, Xingfei; Wu, Tengfei; Tuo, Weixiao; Wu, Jun; Dong, Jiuzhi

    2018-06-13

    The magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) angular rate sensor (ARS) with low noise level in ultra-wide bandwidth is developed in lasing and imaging applications, especially the line-of-sight (LOS) system. A modified MHD ARS combined with the Coriolis effect was studied in this paper to expand the sensor’s bandwidth at low frequency (<1 Hz), which is essential for precision LOS pointing and wide-bandwidth LOS jitter suppression. The model and the simulation method were constructed and a comprehensive solving method based on the magnetic and electric interaction methods was proposed. The numerical results on the Coriolis effect and the frequency response of the modified MHD ARS were detailed. In addition, according to the experimental results of the designed sensor consistent with the simulation results, an error analysis of model errors was discussed. Our study provides an error analysis method of MHD ARS combined with the Coriolis effect and offers a framework for future studies to minimize the error.

  17. Amperometric ascorbic acid sensor based on doped ferrites nanoparticles modified glassy carbon paste electrode.

    PubMed

    Dimitrijević, Teodora; Vulić, Predrag; Manojlović, Dragan; Nikolić, Aleksandar S; Stanković, Dalibor M

    2016-07-01

    In this study, a novel electrochemical sensor for quantification of ascorbic acid with amperometric detection in physiological conditions was constructed. For this purpose, cobalt and nickel ferrites were synthesized using microwave and ultrasound assistance, characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and used for modification of glassy carbon paste electrode (GCPE). It was shown that introducing these nanoparticles to the structure of GCPE led to increasing analytical performance. Co ferrite modified GCPE (CoFeGCPE) showed better characteristics toward ascorbic acid sensing. The limit of detection (LOD) obtained by sensor was calculated to be 0.0270 mg/L, with linear range from 0.1758 to 2.6010 mg/L. This sensor was successfully applied for practical analysis, and the obtained results demonstrated that the proposed procedure could be a promising replacement for the conventional electrode materials and time-consuming and expensive separation methods. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. Sensitive Adsorptive Voltammetric Method for Determination of Bisphenol A by Gold Nanoparticle/Polyvinylpyrrolidone-Modified Pencil Graphite Electrode

    PubMed Central

    Yaman, Yesim Tugce; Abaci, Serdar

    2016-01-01

    A novel electrochemical sensor gold nanoparticle (AuNP)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) modified pencil graphite electrode (PGE) was developed for the ultrasensitive determination of Bisphenol A (BPA). The gold nanoparticles were electrodeposited by constant potential electrolysis and PVP was attached by passive adsorption onto the electrode surface. The electrode surfaces were characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The parameters that affected the experimental conditions were researched and optimized. The AuNP/PVP/PGE sensor provided high sensitivity and selectivity for BPA recognition by using square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV). Under optimized conditions, the detection limit was found to be 1.0 nM. This new sensor system offered the advantages of simple fabrication which aided the expeditious replication, low cost, fast response, high sensitivity and low background current for BPA. This new sensor system was successfully tested for the detection of the amount of BPA in bottled drinking water with high reliability. PMID:27231912

  19. Non-enzymatic detection of glucose using poly(azure A)-nickel modified glassy carbon electrode.

    PubMed

    Liu, Tong; Luo, Yiqun; Zhu, Jiaming; Kong, Liyan; Wang, Wen; Tan, Liang

    2016-08-15

    A simple, sensitive and selective non-enzymatic glucose sensor was constructed in this paper. The poly(azure A)-nickel modified glassy carbon electrode was successfully fabricated by the electropolymerization of azure A and the adsorption of Ni(2+). The Ni modified electrode, which was characterized by scanning electron microscope, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements, respectively, displayed well-defined current responses of the Ni(III)/Ni(II) couple and showed a good activity for electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose in alkaline medium. Under the optimized conditions, the developed sensor exhibited a broad linear calibration range of 5 μM-12mM for quantification of glucose and a low detection limit of 0.64μM (3σ). The excellent analytical performance including simple structure, fast response time, good anti-interference ability, satisfying stability and reliable reproducibility were also found from the proposed amperometric sensor. The results were satisfactory for the determination of glucose in human serum samples as comparison to those from a local hospital. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Preparation of β-cyclodextrin entrapped graphite composite for sensitive detection of dopamine.

    PubMed

    Palanisamy, Selvakumar; Sakthinathan, S; Chen, Shen-Ming; Thirumalraj, Balamurugan; Wu, Tsung-Han; Lou, Bih-Show; Liu, Xiaoheng

    2016-01-01

    A simple dopamine (DA) electrochemical sensor was developed based on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified with β-cyclodextrin entrapped graphite (GR/β-CD) composite for the first time. The polar hydroxyl groups on the β-CD rims interact with polar groups of edges of GR sheets resulting into the high dispersion ability of GR in β-CD solution. The GR/β-CD modified electrode exhibited a higher electrochemical response to DA with a lower oxidation potential (0.224V) than that of bare/β-CD (0.38V) and GR (0.525V) modified SPCEs, revealing an excellent electro-oxidation behavior of GR/β-CD composite toward DA. Under optimum conditions, the fabricated sensor detects the DA in the linear concentration range from 0.1 to 58.5μM with a limit of detection of 0.011μM and the sensitivity of 1.27±0.02μAμM(-1)cm(-2). The fabricated sensor also exhibits the excellent repeatability, practicality, reproducibility, storage stability along with acceptable selectivity. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. A novel sensor made of Antimony Doped Tin Oxide-silica composite sol on a glassy carbon electrode modified by single-walled carbon nanotubes for detection of norepinephrine.

    PubMed

    Wang, Zhao; Wang, Kai; Zhao, Lu; Chai, Shigan; Zhang, Jinzhi; Zhang, Xiuhua; Zou, Qichao

    2017-11-01

    In this study, we designed a novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), Antimony Doped Tin Oxide (ATO)-silica composite sol, which was made using a sol-gel method. Then a sensitive and selective imprinted electrochemical sensor was constructed with the ATO-silica composite sol on a glassy carbon electrode modified by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The introduction of SWNTs increased the sensitivity of the MIP sensor. The surface morphology of the MIP and MIP/SWNTs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the optimal conditions for detection were determined. The oxidative peak current increased linearly with the concentration of norepinephrine in the range of 9.99×10 -8 M to 1.50×10 -5 M, as detected by cyclic voltammetry (CV), the detection limit was 3.33×10 -8 M (S/N=3). In addition, the proposed electrochemical sensors were successfully applied to detect the norepinephrine concentration in human blood serum samples. The recoveries of the sensors varied from 99.67% to 104.17%, indicating that the sensor has potential for the determination of norepinephrine in clinical tests. Moreover, the imprinted electrochemical sensor was used to selectively detect norepinephrine. The analytical application was conducted successfully and yielded accurate and precise results. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  2. An Easily Fabricated Electrochemical Sensor Based on a Graphene-Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode for Determination of Octopamine and Tyramine

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Yang; Zhang, Meiqin; Wei, Qianhui; Gao, Yongjie; Guo, Lijuan; Al-Ghanim, Khalid A.; Mahboob, Shahid; Zhang, Xueji

    2016-01-01

    A simple electrochemical sensor has been developed for highly sensitive detection of octopamine and tyramine by electrodepositing reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) nanosheets onto the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The electrocatalytic oxidation of octopamine and tyramine is individually investigated at the surface of the ERGO modified glassy carbon electrode (ERGO/GCE) by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Several essential factors including the deposition cycle of reduced graphene oxide nanosheets and the pH of the running buffer were investigated in order to determine the optimum conditions. Furthermore, the sensor was applied to the quantification of octopamine and tyramine by DPV in the concentration ranges from 0.5 to 40 μM and 0.1 to 25 μM, respectively. In addition, the limits of detection of octopamine and tyramine were calculated to be 0.1 μM and 0.03 μM (S/N = 3), respectively. The sensor showed good reproducibility, selectivity and stability. Finally, the sensor successfully detected octopamine and tyramine in commercially available beer with satisfactory recovery ranges which were 98.5%–104.7% and 102.2%–103.1%, respectively. These results indicate the ERGO/GCE based sensor is suitable for the detection of octopamine and tyramine. PMID:27089341

  3. Preparation of glucose sensors using gold nanoparticles modified diamond electrode

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fachrurrazie; Ivandini, T. A.; Wibowo, W.

    2017-04-01

    A glucose sensor was successfully developed by immobilizing glucose oxidase (GOx) at boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. Prior to GOx immobilization, the BDD was modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). To immobilize AuNPs, the gold surface was modified to nitrogen termination. The characterization of the electrode surface was performed using an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and a scanning electron microscope, while the electrochemical properties of the enzyme electrode were characterized using cyclic voltammetry. Cyclic voltammograms of the prepared electrode for D-glucose in phosphate buffer solution pH 7 showed a new reduction peak at +0.16 V. The currents of the peak were linear in the concentration range of 0.1 M to 0.9 M, indicated that the GOx-AuNP-BDD can be applied for electrochemical glucose detection.

  4. An acousto-optic sensor based on resonance grating waveguide structure

    PubMed Central

    Xie, Antonio Jou; Song, Fuchuan; Seo, Sang-Woo

    2014-01-01

    This paper presents an acousto-optic (AO) sensor based on resonance grating waveguide structure. The sensor is fabricated using elastic polymer materials to achieve a good sensitivity to ultrasound pressure waves. Ultrasound pressure waves modify the structural parameters of the sensor and result in the optical resonance shift of the sensor. This converts into a light intensity modulation. A commercial ultrasound transducer at 20 MHz is used to characterize a fabricated sensor and detection sensitivity at different optical source wavelength within a resonance spectrum is investigated. Practical use of the sensor at a fixed optical source wavelength is presented. Ultimately, the geometry of the planar sensor structure is suitable for two-dimensional, optical pressure imaging applications such as pressure wave detection and mapping, and ultrasound imaging. PMID:25045203

  5. Protein Quantification by Elemental Mass Spectrometry: An Experiment for Graduate Students

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Schwarz, Gunnar; Ickert, Stefanie; Wegner, Nina; Nehring, Andreas; Beck, Sebastian; Tiemann, Ruediger; Linscheid, Michael W.

    2014-01-01

    A multiday laboratory experiment was designed to integrate inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in the context of protein quantification into an advanced practical course in analytical and environmental chemistry. Graduate students were familiar with the analytical methods employed, whereas the combination of bioanalytical assays…

  6. 75 FR 56880 - Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes; Significant New Use Rules

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-09-17

    ... with this standard by using a well-designed filtration system. Manufacturers and engineers cannot...) Embryos. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 26:708-716. 5. EPA. (2010) Material Characterization of...) Ecotoxicity and Analysis of Nanomaterials in the Aquatic Environment. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry...

  7. Validation in context of bioanalytical research papers.

    PubMed

    Rogatsky, Eduard; Tomuta, Vlad; Stein, Daniel T

    2006-11-01

    We have noticed the growing amount of application papers, mainly focused on detailed description of analytical assay validation with limited discussion of method development and optimization in top-ranked chromatographic journals. We analyze the implications of this trend and suggest a re-emphasis on the intellectual component in method development.

  8. ALKYLPHENOLS, POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS, AND ORGANOCHLORINES IN SEDIMENT FROM LAKE SHIHWA, KOREA: INSTRUMENTAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHARACTERIZATION. (R825371)

    EPA Science Inventory

    The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Concl...

  9. Controllable Synthesis of Formaldehyde Modified Manganese Oxide Based on Gas-Liquid Interfacial Reaction and Its Application of Electrochemical Sensing.

    PubMed

    Bai, Wushuang; Sheng, Qinglin; Nie, Fei; Zheng, Jianbin

    2015-12-30

    Controllable synthesis of manganese oxides was performed via a simple one-step synthetic method. Then obtained manganese oxides which exhibit flower-like, cloud-like, hexagon-like, and rod-like morphologies were modified by formaldehyde based on a simple self-made gas-liquid reaction device respectively and the modified manganese oxides with coral-like, scallop-like and rod-like morphology were synthesized accordingly. The obtained materials were characterized and the formation mechanism was also researched. Then the modified manganese oxides were used to fabricate electrochemical sensors to detect H2O2. Comparison of electrochemical properties between three kinds of modified manganese oxides was investigated and the best one has been successfully employed as H2O2 sensor which shows a low detection limit of 0.01 μM, high sensitivity of 162.69 μA mM(-1) cm(-2), and wide linear range of 0.05 μM-12.78 mM. The study provides a new method for controllable synthesis of metal oxides, and electrochemical application of formaldehyde modified manganese oxides will provides a new strategy for electrochemical sensing with high performance, low cost, and simple fabrication.

  10. Synthesis of novel amperometric urea-sensor using hybrid synthesized NiO-NPs/GO modified GCE in aqueous solution of cetrimonium bromide.

    PubMed

    Parsaee, Zohreh

    2018-06-01

    In this study NiO nanostructures were synthesized via combinational synthetic method (ultrasound-assisted biosynthesis) and immobilized on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) as a highly sensitive and selective enzyme-less sensor for urea detection. NiO-NPs were fully characterized using SEM, EDX, XRD, BET, TGA, FT-IR, UV-vis and Raman methods which revealed the formation of NiO nanostructures in the form of cotton like porous material and crystalline in nature with the average size of 3.8 nm. GCE was modified with NiO-NPs in aqueous solution of cetrimonium bromide(CTAB). Highly adhesive NiO/CTAB/GO nanocomposite membrane has been formed on GCE by immersing NiO/CTAB modified GCE in GO suspension. CTAB has a major role in the production and immobilization of the nanocomposites on the GCE surface and the binding NiO nanoparticles on GO plates. In addition, CTAB/GO composition made a highly adhesive surface on the GCE. The resulting NiO/CTAB/GO/GCE contains potently sensitive to urea in aqueous environments. The response of as developed amperometric sensor was linear in the range of 100-1200 µM urea with R 2 value of 0.991 and limit of detection (LOD), 8 µM. The sensor responded negligibly to various interfering species like glucose, uric acid and ascorbic acid. This sensor was applied successfully for determining urea in real water samples such as mineral water, tap water and river water with acceptable recovery. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Electrochemiluminescence sensor for melamine based on a Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-doped silica nanoparticles/carboxylic acid functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes/Nafion composite film modified electrode.

    PubMed

    Chen, Xiaomei; Lian, Sai; Ma, Ying; Peng, Aihong; Tian, Xiaotian; Huang, Zhiyong; Chen, Xi

    2016-01-01

    In this work, a sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor for the determination of melamine (MEL) was developed based on a Ru(bpy)3(2+)-doped silica nanoparticles (RUDS)/carboxylic acid functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CMWCNTs)/Nafion composite film modified electrode. The homogeneous spherical RUDS were synthesized by a reverse microemulsion method. As Ru(bpy)3(2+) were encapsulated in the RUDS, Ru(bpy)3(2+) dropping from the modified electrode can be greatly prevented, which is helpful for obtaining a stable ECL signal. Moreover, to improve the conductivity of the film and promote the electron transfer rate on electrode surface, CMWCNTs with excellent electrical conductivity and large surface area were applied in the construction of the sensing film. As CMWCNTs acted as electron bridges making more Ru(bpy)3(2+) participate in the reaction, the ECL intensity was greatly enhanced. Under the optimum conditions, the relative ECL signal (△IECL) was proportional to the logarithmic MEL concentration ranging from 5×10(-13) to 1×10(-7) mol L(-1) with a detection limit of 1×10(-13) mol L(-1). To verify the reliability, the thus-fabricated ECL sensor was applied to determine the concentration of MEL in milk. Based on these investigations, the proposed ECL sensor exhibited good feasibility and high sensitivity for the determination of MEL, promising the applicability of this sensor in practical analysis. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Synthesis and characterization of a glycine-modified heptamethine indocyanine dye for in vivo cancer-targeted near-infrared imaging

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Tao; Luo, Shenglin; Wang, Yang; Tan, Xu; Qi, Qingrong; Shi, Chunmeng

    2014-01-01

    Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent sensors have emerged as promising molecular tools for cancer imaging and detection in living systems. However, cancer NIR fluorescent sensors are very challenging to develop because they are required to exhibit good specificity and low toxicity as an eligible contrast agent. Here, we describe the synthesis of a new heptamethine indocyanine dye (NIR-27) modified with a glycine at the end of each N-alkyl side chain, and its biological characterization for in vivo cancer-targeted NIR imaging. In addition to its high specificity, NIR-27 also shows lower cytotoxicity than indocyanine green, a nonspecific NIR probe widely used in clinic. These characteristics suggest that NIR-27 is a promising prospect as a new NIR fluorescent sensor for sensitive cancer detection. PMID:25246770

  13. An electrochemiluminescent biosensor for glucose based on the electrochemiluminescence of luminol on the nafion/glucose oxidase/poly(nickel(II)tetrasulfophthalocyanine)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified electrode.

    PubMed

    Qiu, Bin; Lin, Zhenyu; Wang, Jian; Chen, Zhihuang; Chen, Jinhua; Chen, Guonan

    2009-04-15

    A poly(nickel(II) tetrasulfophthalocyanine)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composite modified electrode (polyNiTSPc/MWNTs) was fabricated by electropolymerization of NiTSPc on MWNTs-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The modified electrode was found to be able to greatly improve the emission of luminol electrochemiluminescence (ECL) in a solution containing hydrogen peroxide. Glucose oxidase (GOD) was immobilized on the surface of polyNiTSPc/MWNTs modified GC electrode by Nafion to establish an ECL glucose sensor. Under the optimum conditions, the linear response range of glucose was 1.0x10(-6) to 1.0x10(-4) mol L(-1) with a detection limit of 8.0x10(-8) mol L(-1) (defined as the concentration that could be detected at the signal-to-noise ratio of 3). The ECL sensor showed an outstanding well reproducibility and long-term stability. The established method has been applied to determine the glucose concentrations in real serum samples with satisfactory results.

  14. Sensitive and selective determination of Cu2+ at D-penicillamine functionalized nano-cellulose modified pencil graphite electrode

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Taheri, M.; Ahour, F.; Keshipour, S.

    2018-06-01

    A novel electrochemical sensor based on D-penicillamine anchored nano-cellulose (DPA-NC) modified pencil graphite electrode was fabricated and used for highly selective and sensitive determination of copper (II) ions in the picomolar concentration by square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetric (SWV) method. The modified electrode showed better and increased SWV response compared to the bare and NC modified electrodes which may be related to the porous structure of modifier along with formation of complex between Cu2+ ions and nitrogen or oxygen containing groups in DPA-NC. Optimization of various experimental parameters influence the performance of the sensor, were investigated. Under optimized condition, DPA-NC modified electrode was used for the analysis of Cu2+ in the concentration range from 0.2 to 50 pM, and a lower detection limit of 0.048 pM with good stability, repeatability, and selectivity. Finally, the practical applicability of DPA-NC-PGE was confirmed via measuring trace amount of Cu (II) in tap and river water samples.

  15. An Alternative Time Metric to Modified Tau for Unmanned Aircraft System Detect And Avoid

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wu, Minghong G.; Bageshwar, Vibhor L.; Euteneuer, Eric A.

    2017-01-01

    A new horizontal time metric, Time to Protected Zone, is proposed for use in the Detect and Avoid (DAA) Systems equipped by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). This time metric has three advantages over the currently adopted time metric, modified tau: it corresponds to a physical event, it is linear with time, and it can be directly used to prioritize intruding aircraft. The protected zone defines an area around the UAS that can be a function of each intruding aircraft's surveillance measurement errors. Even with its advantages, the Time to Protected Zone depends explicitly on encounter geometry and may be more sensitive to surveillance sensor errors than modified tau. To quantify its sensitivity, simulation of 972 encounters using realistic sensor models and a proprietary fusion tracker is performed. Two sensitivity metrics, the probability of time reversal and the average absolute time error, are computed for both the Time to Protected Zone and modified tau. Results show that the sensitivity of the Time to Protected Zone is comparable to that of modified tau if the dimensions of the protected zone are adequately defined.

  16. Beyond graphene: Electrochemical sensors and biosensors for biomarkers detection.

    PubMed

    Bollella, Paolo; Fusco, Giovanni; Tortolini, Cristina; Sanzò, Gabriella; Favero, Gabriele; Gorton, Lo; Antiochia, Riccarda

    2017-03-15

    Graphene's success has stimulated great interest and research in the synthesis and characterization of graphene-like 2D materials, single and few-atom-thick layers of van der Waals materials, which show fascinating and technologically useful properties. This review presents an overview of recent electrochemical sensors and biosensors based on graphene and on graphene-like 2D materials for biomarkers detection. Initially, we will outline different electrochemical sensors and biosensors based on chemically derived graphene, including graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide, properly functionalized for improved performances and we will discuss the various strategies to prepare graphene modified electrodes. Successively, we present electrochemical sensors and biosensors based on graphene-like 2D materials, such as boron nitride (BN), graphite-carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ), transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), transition metal oxides and graphane, outlining how the new modified 2D nanomaterials will improve the electrochemical performances. Finally, we will compare the results obtained with different sensors and biosensors for the detection of important biomarkers such as glucose, hydrogen peroxide and cancer biomarkers and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of the use of graphene and graphene-like 2D materials in different sensing platforms. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. "Sign-on/off" sensing interface design and fabrication for propyl gallate recognition and sensitive detection.

    PubMed

    Dai, Yunlong; Li, Xueyan; Fan, Limei; Lu, Xiaojing; Kan, Xianwen

    2016-12-15

    A new strategy based on sign-on and sign-off was proposed for propyl gallate (PG) determination by an electrochemical sensor. The successively modified poly(thionine) (PTH) and molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) showed an obvious electrocatalysis and a good recognition toward PG, respectively. Furthermore, the rebound PG molecules in imprinted cavities not only were oxidized but also blocked the electron transmission channels for PTH redox. Thus, a sign-on from PG current and a sign-off from PTH current were combined as a dual-sign for PG detection. Meanwhile, the modified MIP endowed the sensor with recognition capacity. The electrochemical experimental results demonstrated that the prepared sensor possessed good selectivity and high sensitivity. A linear ranging from 5.0×10(-8) to 1.0×10(-4)mol/L for PG detection was obtained with a limit of detection of 2.4×10(-8)mol/L. And the sensor has been applied to analyze PG in real samples with satisfactory results. The simple, low cost, and effective strategy reported here can be further used to prepare electrochemical sensors for other compounds selective recognition and sensitive detection. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. Modified artificial fish school algorithm for free space optical communication with sensor-less adaptive optics system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cao, Jingtai; Zhao, Xiaohui; Li, Zhaokun; Liu, Wei; Gu, Haijun

    2017-11-01

    The performance of free space optical (FSO) communication system is limited by atmospheric turbulent extremely. Adaptive optics (AO) is the significant method to overcome the atmosphere disturbance. Especially, for the strong scintillation effect, the sensor-less AO system plays a major role for compensation. In this paper, a modified artificial fish school (MAFS) algorithm is proposed to compensate the aberrations in the sensor-less AO system. Both the static and dynamic aberrations compensations are analyzed and the performance of FSO communication before and after aberrations compensations is compared. In addition, MAFS algorithm is compared with artificial fish school (AFS) algorithm, stochastic parallel gradient descent (SPGD) algorithm and simulated annealing (SA) algorithm. It is shown that the MAFS algorithm has a higher convergence speed than SPGD algorithm and SA algorithm, and reaches the better convergence value than AFS algorithm, SPGD algorithm and SA algorithm. The sensor-less AO system with MAFS algorithm effectively increases the coupling efficiency at the receiving terminal with fewer numbers of iterations. In conclusion, the MAFS algorithm has great significance for sensor-less AO system to compensate atmospheric turbulence in FSO communication system.

  19. Barriers Keep Drops Of Water Out Of Infrared Gas Sensors

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Murray, Sean K.

    1996-01-01

    Infrared-sensor cells used for measuring partial pressures of CO(2) and other breathable gases modified to prevent entry of liquid water into sensory optical paths of cells. Hydrophobic membrane prevents drops of water entrained in flow from entering optical path from lamp to infrared detectors.

  20. Integration of a Miniaturized Conductivity Sensor into an Animal-Borne Instrument

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-09-30

    inductive sensors. However, there is a trade -off between size and accuracy. Decreasing size resuls in a decreased accuracy. In addition, by...modified for easy integration into the existing SRDL. The CT package will then be intergrated into the SRDL tested in the lab. After the successful

  1. Acquisition and cruise sensing for attitude control

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Pace, G. D., Jr.; Schmidt, L. F.

    1977-01-01

    Modified wideangle analog cruise sun sensor coupled with changes in optic attitude correction capabilities, eliminate need of acquisition and sun gate sensors, making on-course navigation of spacecraft flying interplanetary missions less risky and costly. Operational characteristics potentially make system applicable to guidance and control of solar energy collection systems.

  2. Improved fuel-cell-type hydrogen sensor

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rudek, F. P.; Rutkowski, M. D.

    1968-01-01

    Modified hydrogen sensor replaces oxygen cathode with a cathode consisting of a sealed paste of gold hydroxide and a pure gold current collector. The net reaction which occurs during cell operation is the reduction of the gold hydroxide to gold and water, with a half-cell potential of 1.4 volts.

  3. Calibration approach for fluorescence lifetime determination for applications using time-gated detection and finite pulse width excitation.

    PubMed

    Keller, Scott B; Dudley, Jonathan A; Binzel, Katherine; Jasensky, Joshua; de Pedro, Hector Michael; Frey, Eric W; Urayama, Paul

    2008-10-15

    Time-gated techniques are useful for the rapid sampling of excited-state (fluorescence) emission decays in the time domain. Gated detectors coupled with bright, economical, nanosecond-pulsed light sources like flashlamps and nitrogen lasers are an attractive combination for bioanalytical and biomedical applications. Here we present a calibration approach for lifetime determination that is noniterative and that does not assume a negligible instrument response function (i.e., a negligible excitation pulse width) as does most current rapid lifetime determination approaches. Analogous to a transducer-based sensor, signals from fluorophores of known lifetime (0.5-12 ns) serve as calibration references. A fast avalanche photodiode and a GHz-bandwidth digital oscilloscope is used to detect transient emission from reference samples excited using a nitrogen laser. We find that the normalized time-integrated emission signal is proportional to the lifetime, which can be determined with good reproducibility (typically <100 ps) even for data with poor signal-to-noise ratios ( approximately 20). Results are in good agreement with simulations. Additionally, a new time-gating scheme for fluorescence lifetime imaging applications is proposed. In conclusion, a calibration-based approach is a valuable analysis tool for the rapid determination of lifetime in applications using time-gated detection and finite pulse width excitation.

  4. Encapsulating Cytochrome c in Silica Aerogel Nanoarchitectures without Metal Nanoparticles while Retaining Gas-phase Bioactivity

    PubMed Central

    Harper-Leatherman, Amanda S.; Pacer, Elizabeth R.; Kosciuszek, Nina D.

    2016-01-01

    Applications such as sensors, batteries, and fuel cells have been improved through the use of highly porous aerogels when functional compounds are encapsulated within the aerogels. However, few reports on encapsulating proteins within sol–gels that are processed to form aerogels exist. A procedure for encapsulating cytochrome c (cyt. c) in silica (SiO2) sol-gels that are supercritically processed to form bioaerogels with gas-phase activity for nitric oxide (NO) is presented. Cyt. c is added to a mixed silica sol under controlled protein concentration and buffer strength conditions. The sol mixture is then gelled and the liquid filling the gel pores is replaced through a series of solvent exchanges with liquid carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is brought to its critical point and vented off to form dry aerogels with cyt. c encapsulated inside. These bioaerogels are characterized with UV-visible spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy and can be used to detect the presence of gas-phase nitric oxide. The success of this procedure depends on regulating the cyt. c concentration and the buffer concentration and does not require other components such as metal nanoparticles. It may be possible to encapsulate other proteins using a similar approach making this procedure important for potential future bioanalytical device development. PMID:26967257

  5. Rapid and label-free bioanalytical method of alpha fetoprotein detection using LSPR chip

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Dongjoo; Kim, Jinwoon; Kwak, Cheol Hwan; Heo, Nam Su; Oh, Seo Yeong; Lee, Hoomin; Lee, Go-Woon; Vilian, A. T. Ezhil; Han, Young-Kyu; Kim, Woo-Sik; Kim, Gi-bum; Kwon, Soonjo; Huh, Yun Suk

    2017-07-01

    Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is a cancer marker, particularly for hepatocellular carcinoma. Normal levels of AFP are less than 20 ng/mL; however, its levels can reach more than 400 ng/mL in patients with HCC. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) have been employed for clinical diagnosis of AFP; however, these methods are time consuming and labor intensive. In this study, we developed a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) based biosensor for simple and rapid detection of AFP. This biosensor consists of a UV-Vis spectrometer, a cuvette cell, and a biosensor chip nanopatterned with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). In our LSPR biosensor, binding of AFP to the surface of the sensor chip led to an increasing magnitude of the LSPR signals, which was measured by an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrometer. Our LSPR biosensor showed sufficient detectability of AFP at concentrations of 1 ng/mL to 1 μg/mL. Moreover, the overall procedure for detection of AFP was completed within 20 min. This biosensor could also be utilized for a point of care test (POCT) by employing a portable UV-Vis spectrometer. Owing to the simplicity and rapidity of the detection process, our LSPR biosensor is expected to replace traditional diagnostic methods for the early detection of diseases.

  6. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of riboflavin on nanostructured Ag surfaces: The role of excitation wavelength, plasmon resonance and molecular resonance.

    PubMed

    Šubr, Martin; Kuzminova, Anna; Kylián, Ondřej; Procházka, Marek

    2018-05-15

    Optimization of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based sensors for (bio)analytical applications has received much attention in recent years. For optimum sensitivity, both the nanostructure fabrication process and the choice of the excitation wavelength used with respect to the specific analyte studied are of crucial importance. In this contribution, detailed SERS intensity profiles were measured using gradient nanostructures with the localized surface-plasmon resonance (LSPR) condition varying across the sample length and using riboflavin as the model biomolecule. Three different excitation wavelengths (633 nm, 515 nm and 488 nm) corresponding to non-resonance, pre-resonance and resonance excitation with respect to the studied molecule, respectively, were tested. Results were interpreted in terms of a superposition of the enhancement provided by the electromagnetic mechanism and intrinsic properties of the SERS probe molecule. The first effect was dictated mainly by the degree of spectral overlap between the LSPR band, the excitation wavelength along with the scattering cross-section of the nanostructures, while the latter was influenced by the position of the molecular resonance with respect to the excitation wavelength. Our experimental findings contribute to a better understanding of the SERS enhancement mechanism. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  7. Fundamentals of Enzyme-Based Sensors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moreno-Bondi, María C.; Benito-Peña, Elena

    One of the mayor outbreaks in the development of analytical measurement techniques was the introduction, in the mid-twentieth century, of bioprobes for the analysis of chemical and biochemical compounds in real samples. The first devices, developed in the 1950's and 1960's by Clark et al. were based on electrochemical measurements and allowed the determination of oxygen and glucose in tissues and blood samples. Later on, in the 1970's, optical transduction was coupled to enzymatically-catalyzed reactions3 and since those early days the field of application of optical biosensors has broaden up considerably. According to the definition proposed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC): "A biosensor is a self-contained integrated device which is capable of providing specific quantitative or semi-quantitative analytical information using a biological recognition element (biochemical receptor) which is in direct spatial contact with a transducer element. A biosensor should be clearly distinguished from a bioanalytical system, which requires additional processing steps, such as reagent addition. Furthermore, a biosensor should be distinguished from a bioprobe which is either disposable after one measurement, i.e. single use, or unable to continuously monitor the analyte concentration". The general scheme of a biosensor configuration is shown in Figure 1. Biosensors that include transducers based on integrated circuit microchips are known as biochips.

  8. Encapsulating Cytochrome c in Silica Aerogel Nanoarchitectures without Metal Nanoparticles while Retaining Gas-phase Bioactivity.

    PubMed

    Harper-Leatherman, Amanda S; Pacer, Elizabeth R; Kosciuszek, Nina D

    2016-03-01

    Applications such as sensors, batteries, and fuel cells have been improved through the use of highly porous aerogels when functional compounds are encapsulated within the aerogels. However, few reports on encapsulating proteins within sol-gels that are processed to form aerogels exist. A procedure for encapsulating cytochrome c (cyt. c) in silica (SiO2) sol-gels that are supercritically processed to form bioaerogels with gas-phase activity for nitric oxide (NO) is presented. Cyt. c is added to a mixed silica sol under controlled protein concentration and buffer strength conditions. The sol mixture is then gelled and the liquid filling the gel pores is replaced through a series of solvent exchanges with liquid carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is brought to its critical point and vented off to form dry aerogels with cyt. c encapsulated inside. These bioaerogels are characterized with UV-visible spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy and can be used to detect the presence of gas-phase nitric oxide. The success of this procedure depends on regulating the cyt. c concentration and the buffer concentration and does not require other components such as metal nanoparticles. It may be possible to encapsulate other proteins using a similar approach making this procedure important for potential future bioanalytical device development.

  9. Gas Sensors Based on Semiconducting Metal Oxide One-Dimensional Nanostructures

    PubMed Central

    Huang, Jin; Wan, Qing

    2009-01-01

    This article provides a comprehensive review of recent (2008 and 2009) progress in gas sensors based on semiconducting metal oxide one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures. During last few years, gas sensors based on semiconducting oxide 1D nanostructures have been widely investigated. Additionally, modified or doped oxide nanowires/nanobelts have also been synthesized and used for gas sensor applications. Moreover, novel device structures such as electronic noses and low power consumption self-heated gas sensors have been invented and their gas sensing performance has also been evaluated. Finally, we also point out some challenges for future investigation and practical application. PMID:22303154

  10. Application of graphene oxide/lanthanum-modified carbon paste electrode for the selective determination of dopamine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ye, Fengying; Feng, Chenqi; Fu, Ning; Wu, Huihui; Jiang, Jibo; Han, Sheng

    2015-12-01

    A home-made carbon paste electrode (CPE) was reformed by graphene oxide (GO)/lanthanum (La) complexes, and a modified electrode, called GO-La/CPE, was fabricated for the selective determination of dopamine (DA) by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Several factors affecting the electrocatalytic performance of the modified sensor were investigated. Owning to the combination of GO and La ions, the GO-La/CPE sensor exhibited large surface area, well selectivity, good repeatability and stability in the oxidation reaction of DA. At optimal conditions, the response of the GO-La/CPE electrode for determining DA was linear in the region of 0.01-0.1 μM and 0.1-400.0 μM. The limit of detection was down to 0.32 nM (S/N = 3). In addition, this modified electrode was successfully applied to the detection of DA in real urine and serum samples by using standard adding method, showing its promising application in the electroanalysis of real samples.

  11. Self-assembling siloxane bilayer directly on SiO2 surface of micro-cantilevers for long-term highly repeatable sensing to trace explosives.

    PubMed

    Chen, Ying; Xu, Pengcheng; Li, Xinxin

    2010-07-02

    This paper presents a novel sensing layer modification technique for static micro-cantilever sensors that detect trace explosives by measuring specific adsorption-induced surface stress. For the first time, a method of directly modifying a siloxane sensing bilayer on an SiO(2) surface is proposed to replace the conventional self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of thiols on Au to avoid the trouble from long-term unstable Au-S bonds. For modifying the long-term reliable sensing bilayer on the piezoresistor-integrated micro-cantilevers, a siloxane-head bottom layer is self-assembled directly on the SiO(2) cantilever surface, which is followed by grafting another explosive-sensing-group functionalized molecule layer on top of the siloxane layer. The siloxane-modified sensor has experimentally exhibited a highly resoluble response to 0.1 ppb TNT vapor. More importantly, the repeated detection results after 140 days show no obvious attenuation in sensing signal. Also observed experimentally, the specific adsorption of the siloxane sensing bilayer to TNT molecules causes a tensile surface stress on the cantilever. Herein the measured tensile surface stress is in contrast to the compressive surface stress normally measured from conventional cantilever sensors where the sensitive thiol-SAMs are modified on an Au surface. The reason for this newly observed phenomenon is discussed and preliminarily analyzed.

  12. First tests of a novel radiation hard CMOS sensor process for Depleted Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pernegger, H.; Bates, R.; Buttar, C.; Dalla, M.; van Hoorne, J. W.; Kugathasan, T.; Maneuski, D.; Musa, L.; Riedler, P.; Riegel, C.; Sbarra, C.; Schaefer, D.; Schioppa, E. J.; Snoeys, W.

    2017-06-01

    The upgrade of the ATLAS [1] tracking detector for the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN requires novel radiation hard silicon sensor technologies. Significant effort has been put into the development of monolithic CMOS sensors but it has been a challenge to combine a low capacitance of the sensing node with full depletion of the sensitive layer. Low capacitance brings low analog power. Depletion of the sensitive layer causes the signal charge to be collected by drift sufficiently fast to separate hits from consecutive bunch crossings (25 ns at the LHC) and to avoid losing the charge by trapping. This paper focuses on the characterization of charge collection properties and detection efficiency of prototype sensors originally designed in the framework of the ALICE Inner Tracking System (ITS) upgrade [2]. The prototypes are fabricated both in the standard TowerJazz 180nm CMOS imager process [3] and in an innovative modification of this process developed in collaboration with the foundry, aimed to fully deplete the sensitive epitaxial layer and enhance the tolerance to non-ionizing energy loss. Sensors fabricated in standard and modified process variants were characterized using radioactive sources, focused X-ray beam and test beams before and after irradiation. Contrary to sensors manufactured in the standard process, sensors from the modified process remain fully functional even after a dose of 1015neq/cm2, which is the the expected NIEL radiation fluence for the outer pixel layers in the future ATLAS Inner Tracker (ITk) [4].

  13. Amperometric sensing of hydrogen peroxide using glassy carbon electrode modified with copper nanoparticles

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sophia, J.; Muralidharan, G., E-mail: muraligru@gmail.com

    2015-10-15

    In this paper, fabrication of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with nano copper particles is discussed. The modified electrode has been tested for the non-enzymatic electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide (H{sub 2}O{sub 2}). The copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) were prepared employing a simple chemical reduction method. The presence of Cu NPs was confirmed through UV–visible (UV–vis) absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The size and morphology of the particles were investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The electrochemical properties of the fabricated sensor were studied via cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The electrochemical sensor displayedmore » excellent performance features towards H{sub 2}O{sub 2} detection exhibiting wide linear range, low detection limit, swift response time, good reproducibility and stability.« less

  14. Development and characterization of an electrochemical sensor for furosemide detection based on electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymer.

    PubMed

    Kor, Kamalodin; Zarei, Kobra

    2016-01-01

    A novel electrochemical sensor based on a molecularly imprinted polymer, poly(o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD), has been developed for selective and sensitive detection of furosemide. The sensor was prepared by incorporating of furosemide as template molecules during the electropolymerization of o-phenylenediamine on a gold electrode. To develop the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), the template molecules were removed from the modified electrode's surface by washing it with 0.25 mol L(-1) NaOH solution. The imprinted layer was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The sensor's preparation conditions including furosemide concentration, the number of CV cycles in the electropolymerization process, extraction solution of the template from the imprinted film, the incubation time and the pH level were optimized. The incubation of the MIP-modified electrode, with respect to furosemide concentration, resulted in a suppression of the K4[Fe(CN)6] oxidation process. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the response of the imprinted sensor was linear in the range of 1.0×10(-7)-7.0×10(-6) mol L(-1) of furosemide. The detection limit was obtained as 7.0×10(-8) mol L(-1) for furosemide by using this sensor. The sensor was successfully used to determine the furosemide amount in the tablet and in human urine samples with satisfactory results. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Fluorescence enhancement of photoswitchable metal ion sensors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sylvia, Georgina; Heng, Sabrina; Abell, Andrew D.

    2016-12-01

    Spiropyran-based fluorescence sensors are an ideal target for intracellular metal ion sensing, due to their biocompatibility, red emission frequency and photo-controlled reversible analyte binding for continuous signal monitoring. However, increasing the brightness of spiropyran-based sensors would extend their sensing capability for live-cell imaging. In this work we look to enhance the fluorescence of spiropyran-based sensors, by incorporating an additional fluorophore into the sensor design. We report a 5-membered monoazacrown bearing spiropyran with metal ion specificity, modified to incorporate the pyrene fluorophore. The effect of N-indole pyrene modification on the behavior of the spiropyran molecule is explored, with absorbance and fluorescence emission characterization. This first generation sensor provides an insight into fluorescence-enhancement of spiropyran molecules.

  16. Oxidation of Hydrocarbons on the Surface of Tin Dioxide Chemical Sensors

    PubMed Central

    Teterycz, Helena; Halek, Patryk; Wiśniewski, Kamil; Halek, Grzegorz; Koźlecki, Tomasz; Polowczyk, Izabela

    2011-01-01

    The paper presents the results of our investigation on the effect of the molecular structure of organic vapors on the characteristics of resistive chemical gas sensors. The sensors were based on tin dioxide and prepared by means of thick film technology. The electrical and catalytic examinations showed that the abstraction of two hydrogen atoms from the organic molecule and formation of a water in result of reaction with a chemisorbed oxygen ion, determine the rate of oxidation reactions, and thus the sensor performance. The rate of the process depends on the order of carbon atoms and Lewis acidity of the molecule. Therefore, any modification of the surface centers of a sensor material, modifies not only the sensor sensitivity, but also its selectivity. PMID:22163855

  17. Graphene-multiwall carbon nanotube-gold nanocluster composites modified electrode for the simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid, dopamine, and uric acid.

    PubMed

    Liu, Xiaofang; Wei, Shaping; Chen, Shihong; Yuan, Dehua; Zhang, Wen

    2014-08-01

    In this paper, graphene-multiwall carbon nanotube-gold nanocluster (GP-MWCNT-AuNC) composites were synthesized and used as modifier to fabricate a sensor for simultaneous detection of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), and uric acid (UA). The electrochemical behavior of the sensor was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques. The combination of GP, MWCNTs, and AuNCs endowed the electrode with a large surface area, good catalytic activity, and high selectivity and sensitivity. The linear response range for simultaneous detection of AA, DA, and UA at the sensor were 120-1,701, 2-213, and 0.7-88.3 μM, correspondingly, and the detection limits were 40, 0.67, and 0.23 μM (S/N=3), respectively. The proposed method offers a promise for simple, rapid, selective, and cost-effective analysis of small biomolecules.

  18. Development of a Novel Electrochemical Sensor for Determination of Matrine in Sophora flavescens.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Junping; Wang, Yanchun; Zheng, Wei

    2017-04-01

    A simple and sensitive electrochemical sensor fabricated with graphene nanosheets (GNs) and a hydroxyapatite (HA) nanocomposite-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was developed for the determination of matrine (MT). The as-prepared electrode (GNs/HA/GCE) was verified to outperform bare a GCE and GNs-modified electrode with increased oxidation peak currents and the decreased over-potential in the redox process of MT, indicating the great enhancement of electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of MT by the composite of GNs and HA. Under the optimized conditions, the oxidation peak currents were related linearly with the concentration of MT, ranging from 2 μM to 3 mM, and the detection limit (S/N = 3) was 1.2 μM. In addition, the proposed electrochemical sensor can be successfully applied in the quantitative determination of MT in Sophora flavescens extract.

  19. ICECAP: an integrated, general-purpose, automation-assisted IC50/EC50 assay platform.

    PubMed

    Li, Ming; Chou, Judy; King, Kristopher W; Jing, Jing; Wei, Dong; Yang, Liyu

    2015-02-01

    IC50 and EC50 values are commonly used to evaluate drug potency. Mass spectrometry (MS)-centric bioanalytical and biomarker labs are now conducting IC50/EC50 assays, which, if done manually, are tedious and error-prone. Existing bioanalytical sample preparation automation systems cannot meet IC50/EC50 assay throughput demand. A general-purpose, automation-assisted IC50/EC50 assay platform was developed to automate the calculations of spiking solutions and the matrix solutions preparation scheme, the actual spiking and matrix solutions preparations, as well as the flexible sample extraction procedures after incubation. In addition, the platform also automates the data extraction, nonlinear regression curve fitting, computation of IC50/EC50 values, graphing, and reporting. The automation-assisted IC50/EC50 assay platform can process the whole class of assays of varying assay conditions. In each run, the system can handle up to 32 compounds and up to 10 concentration levels per compound, and it greatly improves IC50/EC50 assay experimental productivity and data processing efficiency. © 2014 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening.

  20. Competitive adsorption of dopamine and rhodamine 6G on the surface of graphene oxide.

    PubMed

    Ren, Hui; Kulkarni, Dhaval D; Kodiyath, Rajesh; Xu, Weinan; Choi, Ikjun; Tsukruk, Vladimir V

    2014-02-26

    Competitive adsorption-desorption behavior of popular fluorescent labeling and bioanalyte molecules, Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and dopamine (DA), on a chemically heterogeneous graphene oxide (GO) surface is discussed in this study. Individually, R6G and DA compounds were found to adsorb rapidly on the surface of graphene oxide as they followed the traditional Langmuir adsorption behavior. FTIR analysis suggested that both R6G and DA molecules predominantly adsorb on the hydrophilic oxidized regions of the GO surface. Thus, when R6G and DA compounds were adsorbed from mixed solution, competitive adsorption was observed around the oxygen-containing groups of GO sheets, which resulted in partial desorption of R6G molecules from the surface of GO into the solution. The desorbed R6G molecules can be monitored by fluorescence change in solution and was dependent on the DA concentration. We suggest that the efficient competitive adsorption of different strongly bound bioanalytes onto GO-dye complex can be used for the development of sensitive and selective colorimetric biosensors.

  1. Assessment of the within- and between-lot variability of Whatman™ FTA(®) DMPK and 903(®) DBS papers and their suitability for the quantitative bioanalysis of small molecules.

    PubMed

    Luckwell, Jacquelynn; Denniff, Philip; Capper, Stephen; Michael, Paul; Spooner, Neil; Mallender, Philip; Johnson, Barry; Clegg, Sarah; Green, Mark; Ahmad, Sheelan; Woodford, Lynsey

    2013-11-01

    To ensure that PK data generated from DBS samples are of the highest quality, it is important that the paper substrate is uniform and does not unduly contribute to variability. This study investigated any within and between lot variations for four cellulose paper types: Whatman™ FTA(®) DMPK-A, -B and -C, and 903(®) (GE Healthcare, Buckinghamshire, UK). The substrates were tested to demonstrate manufacturing reproducibility (thickness, weight, chemical coating concentration) and its effect on the size of the DBS produced, and the quantitative data derived from the bioanalysis of human DBS samples containing six compounds of varying physicochemical properties. Within and between lot variations in paper thickness, mass and chemical coating concentration were within acceptable manufacturing limits. No variation in the spot size or bioanalytical data was observed. Bioanalytical results obtained for DBS samples containing a number of analytes spanning a range of chemical space are not affected by the lot used or by the location within a lot.

  2. Application of DBS sampling in combination with LC-MS/MS for pharmacokinetic evaluation of a compound with species-specific blood-to-plasma partitioning.

    PubMed

    Xu, Guifen; Chen, Jiyun S; Phadnis, Ruta; Huang, Tom; Uyeda, Craig; Soto, Marcus; Stouch, Brian; Wells, Mary C; James, Christopher A; Carlson, Timothy J

    2012-08-01

    Dried blood spot (DBS) sampling in combination with LC-MS/MS has been used increasingly in drug discovery for quantitative analysis to support pharmacokinetic (PK) studies. In this study, we assessed the effect of blood-to-plasma (B:P) partitioning on the bioanalytical performance and PK data acquired by DBS for a compound AMG-1 with species and concentration-dependent B:P ratio. B:P partitioning did not adversely affect bioanalytical performance of DBS for AMG-1. For rat, (B:P ratio of 0.63), PK profiles from DBS and plasma methods were comparable. For dog, concentration-dependence of B:P ratio was observed both in vivo and in vitro. Additional studies demonstrated concentration-dependence of the compound's unbound fraction in plasma, which may contribute to the concentration-dependence of the B:P ratio. DBS is a promising sampling technique for preclinical pharmacokinetic studies. For compounds with high B:P ratio, caution needs to be applied for data comparison and interpretation between matrices.

  3. Beyond Antibodies as Binding Partners: The Role of Antibody Mimetics in Bioanalysis.

    PubMed

    Yu, Xiaowen; Yang, Yu-Ping; Dikici, Emre; Deo, Sapna K; Daunert, Sylvia

    2017-06-12

    The emergence of novel binding proteins or antibody mimetics capable of binding to ligand analytes in a manner analogous to that of the antigen-antibody interaction has spurred increased interest in the biotechnology and bioanalytical communities. The goal is to produce antibody mimetics designed to outperform antibodies with regard to binding affinities, cellular and tumor penetration, large-scale production, and temperature and pH stability. The generation of antibody mimetics with tailored characteristics involves the identification of a naturally occurring protein scaffold as a template that binds to a desired ligand. This scaffold is then engineered to create a superior binder by first creating a library that is then subjected to a series of selection steps. Antibody mimetics have been successfully used in the development of binding assays for the detection of analytes in biological samples, as well as in separation methods, cancer therapy, targeted drug delivery, and in vivo imaging. This review describes recent advances in the field of antibody mimetics and their applications in bioanalytical chemistry, specifically in diagnostics and other analytical methods.

  4. Cost-effective and business-beneficial computer validation for bioanalytical laboratories.

    PubMed

    McDowall, Rd

    2011-07-01

    Computerized system validation is often viewed as a burden and a waste of time to meet regulatory requirements. This article presents a different approach by looking at validation in a bioanalytical laboratory from the business benefits that computer validation can bring. Ask yourself the question, have you ever bought a computerized system that did not meet your initial expectations? This article will look at understanding the process to be automated, the paper to be eliminated and the records to be signed to meet the requirements of the GLP or GCP and Part 11 regulations. This paper will only consider commercial nonconfigurable and configurable software such as plate readers and LC-MS/MS data systems rather than LIMS or custom applications. Two streamlined life cycle models are presented. The first one consists of a single document for validation of nonconfigurable software. The second is for configurable software and is a five-stage model that avoids the need to write functional and design specifications. Both models are aimed at managing the risk each type of software poses whist reducing the amount of documented evidence required for validation.

  5. Strategies for the design of bright upconversion nanoparticles for bioanalytical applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wiesholler, Lisa M.; Hirsch, Thomas

    2018-06-01

    In recent years upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) received great attention because of their outstanding optical properties. Especially in bioanalytical applications this class of materials can overcome limitations of common probes like high background fluorescence or blinking. Nevertheless, the requirements for UCNPs to be applicable in biological samples, e.g. small size, water-dispersibility, excitation at low power density are in contradiction with the demand of high brightness. Therefore, a lot of attention is payed to the enhancement of the upconversion luminescence. This review discuss the recent trends and strategies to boost the brightness of UCNPs, classified in three main directions: a) improving the efficiency of energy absorption by the sensitizer via coupling to plasmonic or photonic structures or via attachment of ligands for light harvesting; b) minimizing non-radiative deactivation by variations in the architecture of UCNPs; and c) changing the excitation wavelength to get bright particles at low excitation power density for applications in aqueous systems. These strategies are critically reviewed including current limitations as well as future perspectives for the design of efficient UCNPs especially for sensing application in biological samples or cells.

  6. Review of the bioanalytical methods for the determination of methotrexate and its metabolites in in vitro, preclinical and clinical studies: Case studies and perspectives.

    PubMed

    Patel, Harilal; Giri, Poonam; Ghoghari, Ashok; Delvadia, Prashant; Syed, Muzeeb; Srinivas, Nuggehally R

    2017-01-01

    Methotrexate is an old drug that has found use in several therapeutic areas, such as cancer to treat various malignancies, rheumatoid arthtritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Owing to its structural properties of possessing two carboxylic acid groups and having low native fluorescence, it has provided technical challenges for development of bioanalytical methods. Also, in vivo metabolism leading to circulatory metabolites such as 7-hydroxymethotrexate and 2,4-diamino N 10 -methylpteroic acid, as well as the formation of polyglutamate metabolites intracellularly have added further complexity for the assays in terms of the analytes that need to be quantified in addition to methotrexate. The present review is aimed at providing a concise tabular summary of chromatographic assays with respect to method nuances including assay/chromatographic conditions, key validation parameters and applicable remarks. Several case studies are reviewed under various subheadings to provide the challenges involved in the method development for methotrexate and metabolites. Finally, a discussion section is devoted to overall perspectives obtained from this review. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  7. Optimal UAS Assignments and Trajectories for Persistent Surveillance and Data Collection from a Wireless Sensor Network

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-12-24

    minimizing a weighted sum ofthe time and control effort needed to collect sensor data. This problem formulation is a modified traveling salesman ...29 2.5 The Shortest Path Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 2.5.1 Traveling Salesman Problem ...48 3.3.1 Initial Guess by Traveling Salesman Problem Solution

  8. An electrochemical sensor for warfarin determination based on covalent immobilization of quantum dots onto carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes and chitosan composite film modified electrode.

    PubMed

    Gholivand, Mohammad Bagher; Mohammadi-Behzad, Leila

    2015-12-01

    A method is described for the construction of a novel electrochemical warfarin sensor based on covalent immobilization of CdS-quantum dots (CdS-QDs) onto carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes/chitosan (CS) composite film on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode. The CdS-QDs/CS/MWCNTs were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy, XRD analysis and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The sensor showed optimum anodic stripping response within 90s at an accumulation potential of 0.75V. The modified electrode was used to detect the concentration of warfarin with a wide linear range of 0.05-80 μM and a detection limit (S/N=3) of 8.5 nM. The proposed sensor has good storage stability, repeatability and reproducibility and was successfully applied for the determination of warfarin in real samples such as urine, serum and milk. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  9. Locating hazardous gas leaks in the atmosphere via modified genetic, MCMC and particle swarm optimization algorithms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Ji; Zhang, Ru; Yan, Yuting; Dong, Xiaoqiang; Li, Jun Ming

    2017-05-01

    Hazardous gas leaks in the atmosphere can cause significant economic losses in addition to environmental hazards, such as fires and explosions. A three-stage hazardous gas leak source localization method was developed that uses movable and stationary gas concentration sensors. The method calculates a preliminary source inversion with a modified genetic algorithm (MGA) and has the potential to crossover with eliminated individuals from the population, following the selection of the best candidate. The method then determines a search zone using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling, utilizing a partial evaluation strategy. The leak source is then accurately localized using a modified guaranteed convergence particle swarm optimization algorithm with several bad-performing individuals, following selection of the most successful individual with dynamic updates. The first two stages are based on data collected by motionless sensors, and the last stage is based on data from movable robots with sensors. The measurement error adaptability and the effect of the leak source location were analyzed. The test results showed that this three-stage localization process can localize a leak source within 1.0 m of the source for different leak source locations, with measurement error standard deviation smaller than 2.0.

  10. A simple preparation of graphite/gelatin composite for electrochemical detection of dopamine.

    PubMed

    Rajkumar, Chellakannu; Thirumalraj, Balamurugan; Chen, Shen-Ming; Chen, His-An

    2017-02-01

    In this study, we demonstrate a simple preparation of graphite (GR) sheets assisted with gelatin (GLN) polypeptide composite was developed for sensitive detection of dopamine (DA) sensor. The GR/GLN composite was prepared by GR powder in GLN solution (5mg/mL) via sonication process. The prepared GR/GLN composite displays well dispersion ability in biopolymer matrix and characterized via scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies. The GR/GLN modified electrode showed an excellent electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of DA, suggesting that the successful formation of GR sheets crosslinked with the functional groups of GLN polypeptide. In addition, the GR/GLN modified electrode achieved a wide linear response ranging from 0.05 to 79.5μM with a detection limit of 0.0045μM. The calculated analytical sensitivity of the sensor was 1.36±0.02μAμM -1 cm -2 . Conversely, the modified electrode demonstrates a good storage stability, reproducibility and repeatability. In addition, the sensor manifests the determination of DA in human serum and urine samples for practical applications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Thin-film chemical sensors based on electron tunneling

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Khanna, S. K.; Lambe, J.; Leduc, H. G.; Thakoor, A. P.

    1985-01-01

    The physical mechanisms underlying a novel chemical sensor based on electron tunneling in metal-insulator-metal (MIM) tunnel junctions were studied. Chemical sensors based on electron tunneling were shown to be sensitive to a variety of substances that include iodine, mercury, bismuth, ethylenedibromide, and ethylenedichloride. A sensitivity of 13 parts per billion of iodine dissolved in hexane was demonstrated. The physical mechanisms involved in the chemical sensitivity of these devices were determined to be the chemical alteration of the surface electronic structure of the top metal electrode in the MIM structure. In addition, electroreflectance spectroscopy (ERS) was studied as a complementary surface-sensitive technique. ERS was shown to be sensitive to both iodine and mercury. Electrolyte electroreflectance and solid-state MIM electroreflectance revealed qualitatively the same chemical response. A modified thin-film structure was also studied in which a chemically active layer was introduced at the top Metal-Insulator interface of the MIM devices. Cobalt phthalocyanine was used for the chemically active layer in this study. Devices modified in this way were shown to be sensitive to iodine and nitrogen dioxide. The chemical sensitivity of the modified structure was due to conductance changes in the active layer.

  12. Polyaniline/MWCNTs/starch modified carbon paste electrode for non-enzymatic detection of cholesterol: application to real sample (cow milk).

    PubMed

    Gautam, Vineeta; Singh, Karan P; Yadav, Vijay L

    2018-03-01

    Nanocomposite materials are potentially revolutionizing many technologies, including sensors. In this paper, we described the application of "PANI/MWCNTs/Starch" modified carbon paste electrode (PCS-CPE) as a simple and highly sensitive cholesterol sensor. This novel nano-composite material has integrated nano-morphology, where polyaniline could interact effectively with the additives; pi-pi stacking "MWCNTs," and covalently bonded with starch. Specific binding sites (sugar chains), better electro-catalytic properties and fast electron transfer facilitated the oxidation of cholesterol. Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed the interaction of cholesterol with the composite material. The sensing response of PCS was measured by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry (0.1 M PBS-5 used as supporting electrolyte). As the amount of cholesterol increased in the test solution, cyclic voltammograms showed a rise of peak current (cathodic and anodic). Under the normal experimental conditions, the developed sensor exhibited wide linear dynamic range (0.032 to 5 mM) (upper limit is due to lack of solubility of cholesterol), high sensitivity (800 μAmM -1  cm -2 ), low detection limit (0.01 mM) and shorter response time (within 4-6 s). Analytical specificity, selectivity, and sensitivity during cholesterol estimation were compared with the response of some other analytes (ascorbic acid, glucose, l-dopa, urea and lactic acid). This novel sensor was successfully applied to estimate cholesterol in cow milk (used as a model real sample). The sensing platform is highly sensitive and shows a linear response towards cholesterol without using any additional redox mediator or enzyme, thus this material is extremely promising for the realization of a low-cost integrated cholesterol sensor device. Graphical abstract Cyclic voltammetric response of cholesterol of composite modified carbon paste capillary electrode.

  13. New Method for Torque Magnetometry Using a Commercially Available Membrane-Type Surface Stress Sensor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Takahashi, Hideyuki; Ishimura, Kento; Okamoto, Tsubasa; Ohmichi, Eiji; Ohta, Hitoshi

    2017-06-01

    We present a new method for torque magnetometry by using a commercially available membrane-type surface stress sensor (MSS). This sensor has a silicon membrane supported by four beams in which piezoresistive paths are integrated. Although originally developed as a gas sensor, it can be used for torque measurement by modifying its on-chip aluminum interconnections. We demonstrate the magnetic-torque measurement of submillimeter-sized crystals at low temperature and in strong magnetic fields. This MSS can observe de-Haas-van-Alphen oscillation, which confirms that it can be an alternative tool for self-sensitive microcantilevers.

  14. Electroanalytical applications of screen-printable surfactant-induced sol-gel graphite composites

    DOEpatents

    Guadalupe, Ana R.; Guo, Yizhu

    2001-05-15

    A process for preparing sol-gel graphite composite electrodes is presented. This process preferably uses the surfactant bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) and eliminates the need for a cosolvent, an acidic catalyst, a cellulose binder and a thermal curing step from prior art processes. Fabrication of screen-printed electrodes by this process provides a simple approach for electroanalytical applications in aqueous and nonaqueous solvents. Examples of applications for such composite electrodes produced from this process include biochemical sensors such as disposable, single-use glucose sensors and ligand modified composite sensors for metal ion sensitive sensors.

  15. Array Of Sensors Measures Broadband Radiation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hoffman, James W.; Grush, Ronald G.

    1994-01-01

    Multiple broadband radiation sensors aimed at various portions of total field of view. All sensors mounted in supporting frame, serving as common heat sink and temperature reference. Each sensor includes heater winding and differential-temperature-sensing bridge circuit. Power in heater winding adjusted repeatedly in effort to balance bridge circuit. Intended to be used aboard satellite in orbit around Earth to measure total radiation emitted, at various viewing angles, by mosaic of "footprint" areas (each defined by its viewing angle) on surface of Earth. Modified versions of array useful for angle-resolved measurements of broadband radiation in laboratory and field settings on Earth.

  16. A disposable amperometric dual-sensor for the detection of hemoglobin and glycated hemoglobin in a finger prick blood sample.

    PubMed

    Moon, Jong-Min; Kim, Dong-Min; Kim, Moo Hyun; Han, Jin-Yeong; Jung, Dong-Keun; Shim, Yoon-Bo

    2017-05-15

    A disposable microfluidic amperometric dual-sensor was developed for the detection of glycated hemoglobin (HbA 1C ) and total hemoglobin (Hb), separately, in a finger prick blood sample. The accurate level of total Hb was determined through the measurements of the cathodic currents of total Hb catalyzed by a toluidine blue O (TBO)-modified working electrode. Subsequently, after washing unbound Hb in the fluidic channel of dual sensor with PBS, the cathodic current by only HbA 1C captured on aptamer was monitored using another aptamer/TBO-modified working electrode in the channel. To modify the sensor probe, poly(2,2´:5´,5″-terthiophene-3´-p-benzoic acid) and a multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite layer (pTBA@MWCNT) was electropolymerized on a screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE), followed by immobilization of TBO for the total Hb probe and aptamer/TBO for the HbA 1C probe, respectively. The characterization of each sensor surface was performed using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The experimental conditions affecting the analytical signal were optimized in terms of the amount of TBO, pH, temperature, binding time, applied potential, and the content ratio of monomer and MWCNT. The dynamic ranges of Hb and HbA 1C were from 0.1 to 10µM and from 0.006 to 0.74µM, with detection limits of 82(±4.2)nM and 3.7(±0.8)nM, respectively. The reliability of the proposed microfluidic dual-sensor for a finger prick blood sample (1µL) was evaluated in parallel with a conventional method (HPLC) for point-of-care analysis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. Modifying a known gelator scaffold for nitrite detection.

    PubMed

    Zurcher, Danielle M; Adhia, Yash J; Romero, Julián Díaz; McNeil, Anne J

    2014-07-25

    The process of selecting and modifying a known gelator scaffold to develop a new nitrite-based sensor is described. Five new azo-sulfonate gelators were discovered and characterized. The most promising scaffold exhibits a stable diazonium intermediate, proceeds in a high yield, and gels nitrite-spiked tap, river, and pond water.

  18. Quick-Reaction Report on Modifying C-26 Aircraft for Counterdrug Missions

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1994-03-23

    National Guard was modifying 76 OH-58 helicopters with thermal imagery system sensors to identify indoor marijuana crops, drug processing laboratories, or...interdiction of aircraft crossing the U.S./Mexican border and detection of marijuana growing areas. The Director, ANG, decided that the C-26, a medium-size

  19. Discovery, identification and mitigation of isobaric sulfate metabolite interference to a phosphate prodrug in LC-MS/MS bioanalysis: Critical role of method development in ensuring assay quality.

    PubMed

    Yuan, Long; Ji, Qin C

    2018-06-05

    Metabolite interferences represent a major risk of inaccurate quantification when using LC-MS/MS bioanalytical assays. During LC-MS/MS bioanalysis of BMS-919194, a phosphate ester prodrug, in plasma samples from rat and monkey GLP toxicology studies, an unknown peak was detected in the MRM channel of the prodrug. This peak was not observed in previous discovery toxicology studies, in which a fast gradient LC-MS/MS method was used. We found out that this unknown peak would co-elute with the prodrug peak when the discovery method was used, therefore, causing significant overestimation of the exposure of the prodrug in the discovery toxicology studies. To understand the nature of this interfering peak and its impact to bioanalytical assay, we further investigated its formation and identification. The interfering compound and the prodrug were found to be isobaric and to have the same major product ions in electrospray ionization positive mode, thus, could not be differentiated using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. By using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), the interfering metabolite was successfully identified to be an isobaric sulfate metabolite of BMS-919194. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that a phosphate prodrug was metabolized in vivo to an isobaric sulfate metabolite, and this metabolite caused significant interference to the analysis of the prodrug. This work demonstrated the presence of the interference risk from isobaric sulfate metabolites to the bioanalysis of phosphate prodrugs in real samples. It is critical to evaluate and mitigate potential metabolite interferences during method development, therefore, minimize the related bioanalytical risks and ensure assay quality. Our work also showed the unique advantages of HRMS in identifying potential metabolite interference during LC-MS/MS bioanalysis. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Bioanalytical assessment of the formation of disinfection byproducts in a drinking water treatment plant.

    PubMed

    Neale, Peta A; Antony, Alice; Bartkow, Michael E; Farré, Maria José; Heitz, Anna; Kristiana, Ina; Tang, Janet Y M; Escher, Beate I

    2012-09-18

    Disinfection of drinking water is the most successful measure to reduce water-borne diseases and protect health. However, disinfection byproducts (DBPs) formed from the reaction of disinfectants such as chlorine and monochloramine with organic matter may cause bladder cancer and other adverse health effects. In this study the formation of DBPs through a full-scale water treatment plant serving a metropolitan area in Australia was assessed using in vitro bioanalytical tools, as well as through quantification of halogen-specific adsorbable organic halogens (AOXs), characterization of organic matter, and analytical quantification of selected regulated and emerging DBPs. The water treatment train consisted of coagulation, sand filtration, chlorination, addition of lime and fluoride, storage, and chloramination. Nonspecific toxicity peaked midway through the treatment train after the chlorination and storage steps. The dissolved organic matter concentration decreased after the coagulation step and then essentially remained constant during the treatment train. Concentrations of AOXs increased upon initial chlorination and continued to increase through the plant, probably due to increased chlorine contact time. Most of the quantified DBPs followed a trend similar to that of AOXs, with maximum concentrations observed in the final treated water after chloramination. The mostly chlorinated and brominated DBPs formed during treatment also caused reactive toxicity to increase after chlorination. Both genotoxicity with and without metabolic activation and the induction of the oxidative stress response pathway showed the same pattern as the nonspecific toxicity, with a maximum activity midway through the treatment train. Although measured effects cannot be directly translated to adverse health outcomes, this study demonstrates the applicability of bioanalytical tools to investigate DBP formation in a drinking water treatment plant, despite bioassays and sample preparation not yet being optimized for volatile DBPs. As such, the bioassays are useful as monitoring tools as they provide sensitive responses even at low DBP levels.

  1. Sensor failure detection for jet engines

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Beattie, E. C.; Laprad, R. F.; Akhter, M. M.; Rock, S. M.

    1983-01-01

    Revisions to the advanced sensor failure detection, isolation, and accommodation (DIA) algorithm, developed under the sensor failure detection system program were studied to eliminate the steady state errors due to estimation filter biases. Three algorithm revisions were formulated and one revision for detailed evaluation was chosen. The selected version modifies the DIA algorithm to feedback the actual sensor outputs to the integral portion of the control for the nofailure case. In case of a failure, the estimates of the failed sensor output is fed back to the integral portion. The estimator outputs are fed back to the linear regulator portion of the control all the time. The revised algorithm is evaluated and compared to the baseline algorithm developed previously.

  2. Evaluation of contaminant removal of reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation in full-scale operation by combining passive sampling with chemical analysis and bioanalytical tools.

    PubMed

    Escher, Beate I; Lawrence, Michael; Macova, Miroslava; Mueller, Jochen F; Poussade, Yvan; Robillot, Cedric; Roux, Annalie; Gernjak, Wolfgang

    2011-06-15

    Advanced water treatment of secondary treated effluent requires stringent quality control to achieve a water quality suitable for augmenting drinking water supplies. The removal of micropollutants such as pesticides, industrial chemicals, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC), pharmaceuticals, and personal care products (PPCP) is paramount. As the concentrations of individual contaminants are typically low, frequent analytical screening is both laborious and costly. We propose and validate an approach for continuous monitoring by applying passive sampling with Empore disks in vessels that were designed to slow down the water flow, and thus uptake kinetics, and ensure that the uptake is only marginally dependent on the chemicals' physicochemical properties over a relatively narrow molecular size range. This design not only assured integrative sampling over 27 days for a broad range of chemicals but also permitted the use of a suite of bioanalytical tools as sum parameters, representative of mixtures of chemicals with a common mode of toxic action. Bioassays proved to be more sensitive than chemical analysis to assess the removal of organic micropollutants by reverse osmosis, followed by UV/H₂O₂ treatment, as many individual compounds fell below the quantification limit of chemical analysis, yet still contributed to the observed mixture toxicity. Nonetheless in several cases, the responses in the bioassays were also below their quantification limits and therefore only three bioassays were evaluated here, representing nonspecific toxicity and two specific end points for estrogenicity and photosynthesis inhibition. Chemical analytical techniques were able to quantify 32 pesticides, 62 PCPPs, and 12 EDCs in reverse osmosis concentrate. However, these chemicals could explain only 1% of the nonspecific toxicity in the Microtox assay in the reverse osmosis concentrate and 0.0025% in the treated water. Likewise only 1% of the estrogenic effect in the E-SCREEN could be explained by the quantified EDCs after reverse osmosis. In comparison, >50% of the estrogenic effect can typically be explained in sewage. Herbicidal activity could be fully explained by chemical analysis as the sampling period coincided with an illegal discharge and two herbicides dominated the mixture effect. The mass balance of the reverse osmosis process matched theoretical expectations for both chemical analysis and bioanalytical tools. Overall the investigated treatment train removed >97% estrogenicity, >99% herbicidal activity, and >96% baseline toxicity, confirming the suitability of the treatment train for polishing water for indirect potable reuse. The product water was indistinguishable from local tap water in all three bioassays. This study demonstrates the suitability and robustness of passive sampling linked with bioanalytical tools for semicontinuous monitoring of advanced water treatment with respect to micropollutant removal.

  3. Near-IR Two-Photon Fluorescent Sensor for K(+) Imaging in Live Cells.

    PubMed

    Sui, Binglin; Yue, Xiling; Kim, Bosung; Belfield, Kevin D

    2015-08-19

    A new two-photon excited fluorescent K(+) sensor is reported. The sensor comprises three moieties, a highly selective K(+) chelator as the K(+) recognition unit, a boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivative modified with phenylethynyl groups as the fluorophore, and two polyethylene glycol chains to afford water solubility. The sensor displays very high selectivity (>52-fold) in detecting K(+) over other physiological metal cations. Upon binding K(+), the sensor switches from nonfluorescent to highly fluorescent, emitting red to near-IR (NIR) fluorescence. The sensor exhibited a good two-photon absorption cross section, 500 GM at 940 nm. Moreover, it is not sensitive to pH in the physiological pH range. Time-dependent cell imaging studies via both one- and two-photon fluorescence microscopy demonstrate that the sensor is suitable for dynamic K(+) sensing in living cells.

  4. Materials and Techniques for Implantable Nutrient Sensing Using Flexible Sensors Integrated with Metal-Organic Frameworks.

    PubMed

    Ling, Wei; Liew, Guoguang; Li, Ya; Hao, Yafeng; Pan, Huizhuo; Wang, Hanjie; Ning, Baoan; Xu, Hang; Huang, Xian

    2018-06-01

    The combination of novel materials with flexible electronic technology may yield new concepts of flexible electronic devices that effectively detect various biological chemicals to facilitate understanding of biological processes and conduct health monitoring. This paper demonstrates single- or multichannel implantable flexible sensors that are surface modified with conductive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) such as copper-MOF and cobalt-MOF with large surface area, high porosity, and tunable catalysis capability. The sensors can monitor important nutriments such as ascorbicacid, glycine, l-tryptophan (l-Trp), and glucose with detection resolutions of 14.97, 0.71, 4.14, and 54.60 × 10 -6 m, respectively. In addition, they offer sensing capability even under extreme deformation and complex surrounding environment with continuous monitoring capability for 20 d due to minimized use of biological active chemicals. Experiments using live cells and animals indicate that the MOF-modified sensors are biologically safe to cells, and can detect l-Trp in blood and interstitial fluid. This work represents the first effort in integrating MOFs with flexible sensors to achieve highly specific and sensitive implantable electrochemical detection and may inspire appearance of more flexible electronic devices with enhanced capability in sensing, energy storage, and catalysis using various properties of MOFs. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  5. Oxygen Plasma Effect on QCM Sensor Coated Polystyrene Film

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Khusnah, N. F.; Sakti, S. P.; Santjojo, D. J. D. H.

    2018-05-01

    Hydrophobicity property of polystyrene (PS) thin film is one of the essential factors to be considered in the development of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) biosensor using polystyrene as matrix layer. Many methods were developed to improve the immobilization rate of the biomolecule on the sensor surface without affecting the QCM essential works. Surface modification of the sensor surface aims to modify the physical and or chemical property of the surface. A straightforward method, the fast, environmentally-friendly, and low-cost solution to modify the sensor surface coated with polystyrene film is using oxygen plasma. In this experiment, the polystyrene film was spin-coated on both surface of QCM electrodes and then heated at 100 °C. The specimen is then placed for 5 min long in a chamber filled with oxygen plasma generated by 2 MHz RF-DC high-density plasma system. The relationship between DC-bias used and the changes in morphology properties of the coated film was characterized by Topography Measurement System (TMS) and Contact Angle Measurement. The electrical characteristic of QCM was also characterized using Impedance Analyzer. It was revealed that the contact angle of oxygen plasma treated film is changed and depicted the hydrophobic character. Also, there is an increasing resonance frequency of the sensor after oxygen plasma treatment indicates an etching mechanism occurs during plasma treatment.

  6. A novel electrochemical sensor based on FeS anchored reduced graphene oxide nanosheets for simultaneous determination of dopamine and acetaminophen.

    PubMed

    Liu, Xiaoya; Shangguan, Enbo; Li, Jing; Ning, Sashuang; Guo, Litan; Li, Quanmin

    2017-01-01

    In this paper, FeS nanoparticles anchored on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets are synthesized via a facile direct-precipitation method. For the first time, a novel electrochemical sensor is developed based on FeS/rGO nanosheets modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). It has been proved that the resultant FeS/rGO/GCE sensor is very suitable for the individual and simultaneous measurement of dopamine (DA) and acetaminophen (AC) and delivers excellent anti-interference ability to ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). Under optimum conditions with differential pulse voltammetry method, a broad linear response versus the concentrations of DA and AC has been observed in the ranges of 2.0 to 250.0μM and 5.0 to 300.0μM, respectively. The detection limits for DA and AC are 0.098μM and 0.18μM, respectively. Furthermore, the as-obtained sensor has been successfully utilized in real samples and satisfactory results have been achieved. Consequently, by virtue of its outstanding electrocatalytic activity, excellent sensitivity, and long time stability, the as-obtained FeS/rGO modified electrode can be considered as a new promising DA and AC sensor. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  7. Fabrication and evaluation of evanescent wave absorption based polyaniline-cladding modified fiber optic urea biosensor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Botewad, S. N.; Pahurkar, V. G.; Muley, G. G.

    2018-01-01

    The fabrication and study of cladding modified intrinsic fiber optic urea biosensor has been reported in the present investigation. A simple cladding modification technique was used to construct the sensor by uncladding the small portion from optical fiber. Further bare core was decorated by supportive porous, chemically and optically sensitive matrix material polyaniline (PANI) as an active cladding for enzyme residency. Enzyme-urease (Urs) was cross-linked on the active cladding region via glutaraldehyde solution. Confirmation of the prepared PANI in proper form determined by ultraviolet-visible and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic techniques. X-ray diffraction technique was employed for nature and compatibility examination of PANI. Sensor parameters such as sensitivity, selectivity, stability and lower detection limit have been analyzed by absorption variation study in evanescent wave field. The response of prepared sensor was studied towards urea in the wide concentration range 100 nM-100 mM and confirmed its lowest detection limit as 100 nM. The stability of sensor was found 28 days with little variation in response. The fabricated sensor has not shown any response towards interference species like glucose, ascorbic acid, L-alanine, L-arginine and their combination with urea solution and hence found selective for urea solution only.

  8. Nano-TiO₂ modified carbon paste sensor for electrochemical nicotine detection using anionic surfactant.

    PubMed

    Shehata, M; Azab, S M; Fekry, A M; Ameer, M A

    2016-05-15

    A newly competitive electrochemical sensor for nicotine (NIC) detection was successfully achieved. Nano-TiO2 with a carbon paste electrode (CPE) were used for the sensor construction, where Nano-TiO2 was considered as one of the richest and highly variable class of materials. The sensor showed electrocatalytic activity in both aqueous and micellar media toward the oxidation of NIC at Britton-Robinson (B-R) buffer solution (4×10(-2)M) of pH range (2.0-8.0) containing (1.0mM) sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX) techniques were also used. The linear range of detection for NIC using the new Nano-TiO2 Modified Carbon Paste sensor (NTMCP) was detected using diffrential pulse voltammetry (DPV) technique and it was found between 2×10(-6)M and 5.4×10(-4)M with a detection limit of 1.34×10(-8)M. The obtained results clarified the simplicity, high sensitivity and selectivity of the new NTMCPE for nicotine determination in real cigarettes and urine samples. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Development of Two Color Fluorescent Imager and Integrated Fluidic System for Nanosatellite Biology Applications

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wu, Diana Terri; Ricco, Antonio Joseph; Lera, Matthew P.; Timucin, Linda R.; Parra, Macarena P.

    2012-01-01

    Nanosatellites offer frequent, low-cost space access as secondary payloads on launches of larger conventional satellites. We summarize the payload science and technology of the Microsatellite in-situ Space Technologies (MisST) nanosatellite for conducting automated biological experiments. The payload (two fused 10-cm cubes) includes 1) an integrated fluidics system that maintains organism viability and supports growth and 2) a fixed-focus imager with fluorescence and scattered-light imaging capabilities. The payload monitors temperature, pressure and relative humidity, and actively controls temperature. C. elegans (nematode, 50 m diameter x 1 mm long) was selected as a model organism due to previous space science experience, its completely sequenced genome, size, hardiness, and the variety of strains available. Three strains were chosen: two green GFP-tagged strains and one red tdTomato-tagged strain that label intestinal, nerve, and pharyngeal cells, respectively. The integrated fluidics system includes bioanalytical and reservoir modules. The former consists of four 150 L culture wells and a 4x5 mm imaging zone the latter includes two 8 mL fluid reservoirs for reagent and waste storage. The fluidic system is fabricated using multilayer polymer rapid prototyping: laser cutting, precision machining, die cutting, and pressure-sensitive adhesives it also includes eight solenoid-operated valves and one mini peristaltic pump. Young larval-state (L2) nematodes are loaded in C. elegans Maintenance Media (CeMM) in the bioanalytical module during pre-launch assembly. By the time orbit is established, the worms have grown to sufficient density to be imaged and are fed fresh CeMM. The strains are pumped sequentially into the imaging area, imaged, then pumped into waste. Reagent storage utilizes polymer bags under slight pressure to prevent bubble formation in wells or channels. The optical system images green and red fluorescence bands by excitation with blue (473 nm peak) and amber (587 nm peak) LEDs it achieves 8 m lateral resolution using a CMOS imaging chip (as configured for serial data speeds) or 4 m resolution using USB imaging chips. The imager consists of a modified commercial off-the-shelf CMOS chip camera, amber, blue and white LEDs, as well as a relay lens and dual-band filters to obviate moving parts while supporting both fluorescence wavelengths.

  10. Electrochemically reduced graphene oxide/Poly-Glycine composite modified electrode for sensitive determination of l-dopa.

    PubMed

    Palakollu, Venkata Narayana; Thapliyal, Neeta; Chiwunze, Tirivashe E; Karpoormath, Rajshekhar; Karunanidhi, Sivanandhan; Cherukupalli, Srinivasulu

    2017-08-01

    A facile preparation strategy based on electrochemical technique for the fabrication of glycine (Poly-Gly) and electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) composite modified electrode was developed. The morphology of the developed composite (ERGO/Poly-Gly) was investigated using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The composite modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was characterized using fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The electrochemical characterization results revealed that ERGO/Poly-Gly modified GCE has excellent electrocatalytic activity. Further, it was employed for sensing of l-dopa in pH5.5. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used for the quantification of l-dopa as well as for the simultaneous resolution of l-dopa and uric acid (UA). The LOD (S/N=3) was found to be 0.15μM at the proposed composite modified electrode. Determination of l-dopa could also be achieved in the presence of potentially interfering substances. The sensor showed high sensitivity and selectivity with appreciable reliability and precision. The proposed sensor was also successfully applied for real sample analysis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Silicon-on-insulator sensors using integrated resonance-enhanced defect-mediated photodetectors.

    PubMed

    Fard, Sahba Talebi; Murray, Kyle; Caverley, Michael; Donzella, Valentina; Flueckiger, Jonas; Grist, Samantha M; Huante-Ceron, Edgar; Schmidt, Shon A; Kwok, Ezra; Jaeger, Nicolas A F; Knights, Andrew P; Chrostowski, Lukas

    2014-11-17

    A resonance-enhanced, defect-mediated, ring resonator photodetector has been implemented as a single unit biosensor on a silicon-on-insulator platform, providing a cost effective means of integrating ring resonator sensors with photodetectors for lab-on-chip applications. This method overcomes the challenge of integrating hybrid photodetectors on the chip. The demonstrated responsivity of the photodetector-sensor was 90 mA/W. Devices were characterized using refractive index modified solutions and showed sensitivities of 30 nm/RIU.

  12. Tomography of a Probe Potential Using Atomic Sensors on Graphene.

    PubMed

    Wyrick, Jonathan; Natterer, Fabian D; Zhao, Yue; Watanabe, Kenji; Taniguchi, Takashi; Cullen, William G; Zhitenev, Nikolai B; Stroscio, Joseph A

    2016-12-27

    Our ability to access and explore the quantum world has been greatly advanced by the power of atomic manipulation and local spectroscopy with scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopes, where the key technique is the use of atomically sharp probe tips to interact with an underlying substrate. Here we employ atomic manipulation to modify and quantify the interaction between the probe and the system under study that can strongly affect any measurement in low charge density systems, such as graphene. We transfer Co atoms from a graphene surface onto a probe tip to change and control the probe's physical structure, enabling us to modify the induced potential at a graphene surface. We utilize single Co atoms on a graphene field-effect device as atomic scale sensors to quantitatively map the modified potential exerted by the scanning probe over the whole relevant spatial and energy range.

  13. Leak Detection and Location of Water Pipes Using Vibration Sensors and Modified ML Prefilter.

    PubMed

    Choi, Jihoon; Shin, Joonho; Song, Choonggeun; Han, Suyong; Park, Doo Il

    2017-09-13

    This paper proposes a new leak detection and location method based on vibration sensors and generalised cross-correlation techniques. Considering the estimation errors of the power spectral densities (PSDs) and the cross-spectral density (CSD), the proposed method employs a modified maximum-likelihood (ML) prefilter with a regularisation factor. We derive a theoretical variance of the time difference estimation error through summation in the discrete-frequency domain, and find the optimal regularisation factor that minimises the theoretical variance in practical water pipe channels. The proposed method is compared with conventional correlation-based techniques via numerical simulations using a water pipe channel model, and it is shown through field measurement that the proposed modified ML prefilter outperforms conventional prefilters for the generalised cross-correlation. In addition, we provide a formula to calculate the leak location using the time difference estimate when different types of pipes are connected.

  14. Leak Detection and Location of Water Pipes Using Vibration Sensors and Modified ML Prefilter

    PubMed Central

    Shin, Joonho; Song, Choonggeun; Han, Suyong; Park, Doo Il

    2017-01-01

    This paper proposes a new leak detection and location method based on vibration sensors and generalised cross-correlation techniques. Considering the estimation errors of the power spectral densities (PSDs) and the cross-spectral density (CSD), the proposed method employs a modified maximum-likelihood (ML) prefilter with a regularisation factor. We derive a theoretical variance of the time difference estimation error through summation in the discrete-frequency domain, and find the optimal regularisation factor that minimises the theoretical variance in practical water pipe channels. The proposed method is compared with conventional correlation-based techniques via numerical simulations using a water pipe channel model, and it is shown through field measurement that the proposed modified ML prefilter outperforms conventional prefilters for the generalised cross-correlation. In addition, we provide a formula to calculate the leak location using the time difference estimate when different types of pipes are connected. PMID:28902154

  15. Automated synthesis of new ferrocenyl-modified oligonucleotides: study of their properties in solution

    PubMed Central

    Navarro, Aude-Emmanuelle; Spinelli, Nicolas; Moustrou, Corinne; Chaix, Carole; Mandrand, Bernard; Brisset, Hugues

    2004-01-01

    We have developed new ferrocenyl-modified oligonucleotide (ODN) probes for electrochemical DNA sensors. A monofunctional ferrocene containing phosphoramidite group has been prepared, and a new bisfunctional ferrocene containing phosphoramidite and dimethoxytrityl (DMT) groups has been developed. These ferrocenyl-phosphoramidites have been directly employed in an automated solid-phase DNA synthesizer using phosphoramidite chemistry. The advantages of this method are that it allows a non-specialist in nucleotide chemistry to access labeled ODNs and that it has demonstrated good results. ODNs modified at the 3′ and/or 5′ extremities have been prepared, with the incorporation of the ferrocenyl group into the chain. The 5′ position appears to be more important due to its particular behavior. The thermal stability and electrochemical properties of these new ODN ferrocenes were analyzed before and after hybridization with different ODNs. The feasibility of using these new ferrocenyl-labeled ODNs in DNA sensors has been demonstrated. PMID:15466597

  16. Flow injection amperometric detection of insulin at cobalt hydroxide nanoparticles modified carbon ceramic electrode.

    PubMed

    Habibi, Esmaeil; Omidinia, Eskandar; Heidari, Hassan; Fazli, Maryam

    2016-02-15

    Cobalt hydroxide nanoparticles were prepared onto a carbon ceramic electrode (CHN|CCE) using the cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique. The modified electrode was characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that CHN with a single-layer structure was uniformly electrodeposited on the surface of CCE. The electrocatalytic activity of the modified electrode toward the oxidation of insulin was studied by CV. CHN|CCE was also used in a homemade flow injection analysis system for insulin determination. The limit of detection (signal/noise [S/N] = 3) and sensitivity were found to be 0.11 nM and 11.8 nA/nM, respectively. Moreover, the sensor was used for detection of insulin in human serum samples. This sensor showed attractive properties such as high stability, reproducibility, and high selectivity. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Insects modify their behaviour depending on the feedback sensor used when walking on a trackball in virtual reality.

    PubMed

    Taylor, Gavin J; Paulk, Angelique C; Pearson, Thomas W J; Moore, Richard J D; Stacey, Jacqui A; Ball, David; van Swinderen, Bruno; Srinivasan, Mandyam V

    2015-10-01

    When using virtual-reality paradigms to study animal behaviour, careful attention must be paid to how the animal's actions are detected. This is particularly relevant in closed-loop experiments where the animal interacts with a stimulus. Many different sensor types have been used to measure aspects of behaviour, and although some sensors may be more accurate than others, few studies have examined whether, and how, such differences affect an animal's behaviour in a closed-loop experiment. To investigate this issue, we conducted experiments with tethered honeybees walking on an air-supported trackball and fixating a visual object in closed-loop. Bees walked faster and along straighter paths when the motion of the trackball was measured in the classical fashion - using optical motion sensors repurposed from computer mice - than when measured more accurately using a computer vision algorithm called 'FicTrac'. When computer mouse sensors were used to measure bees' behaviour, the bees modified their behaviour and achieved improved control of the stimulus. This behavioural change appears to be a response to a systematic error in the computer mouse sensor that reduces the sensitivity of this sensor system under certain conditions. Although the large perceived inertia and mass of the trackball relative to the honeybee is a limitation of tethered walking paradigms, observing differences depending on the sensor system used to measure bee behaviour was not expected. This study suggests that bees are capable of fine-tuning their motor control to improve the outcome of the task they are performing. Further, our findings show that caution is required when designing virtual-reality experiments, as animals can potentially respond to the artificial scenario in unexpected and unintended ways. © 2015. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

  18. A microvolume molecularly imprinted polymer modified fiber-optic evanescent wave sensor for bisphenol A determination.

    PubMed

    Xiong, Yan; Ye, Zhongbin; Xu, Jing; Liu, Yucheng; Zhang, Hanyin

    2014-04-01

    A fiber-optic evanescent wave sensor for bisphenol A (BPA) determination based on a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-modified fiber column was developed. MIP film immobilized with BPA was synthesized on the fiber column, and the sensor was then constructed by inserting the optical fiber prepared into a transparent capillary. A microchannel (about 2.0 μL) formed between the fiber and the capillary acted as a flow cell. BPA can be selectively adsorbed online by the MIP film and excited to produce fluorescence by the evanescent wave produced on the fiber core surface. The conditions for BPA enrichment, elution, and fluorescence detection are discussed in detail. The analytical measurements were made at 276 nm/306 nm (λ(ex)/λ(em)), and linearity of 3 × 10(-9)-5 × 10(-6) g mL(-1) BPA, a limit of detection of 1.7 × 10(-9) g mL(-1) BPA (3σ), and a relative standard deviation of 2.4% (n = 5) were obtained. The sensor selectivity and MIP binding measurement were also evaluated. The results indicated that the selectivity and sensitivity of the proposed fiber-optic sensor could be greatly improved by using MIP as a recognition and enrichment element. Further, by modification of the sensing and detection elements on the optical fiber, the proposed sensor showed the advantages of easy fabrication and low cost. The novel sensor configuration provided a platform for monitoring other species by simply changing the light source and sensing elements. The sensor presented has been successfully applied to determine BPA released from plastic products treated at different temperatures.

  19. Bluetooth Roaming for Sensor Network System in Clinical Environment.

    PubMed

    Kuroda, Tomohiro; Noma, Haruo; Takase, Kazuhiko; Sasaki, Shigeto; Takemura, Tadamasa

    2015-01-01

    A sensor network is key infrastructure for advancing a hospital information system (HIS). The authors proposed a method to provide roaming functionality for Bluetooth to realize a Bluetooth-based sensor network, which is suitable to connect clinical devices. The proposed method makes the average response time of a Bluetooth connection less than one second by making the master device repeat the inquiry process endlessly and modifies parameters of the inquiry process. The authors applied the developed sensor network for daily clinical activities in an university hospital, and confirmed the stabilitya and effectiveness of the sensor network. As Bluetooth becomes a quite common wireless interface for medical devices, the proposed protocol that realizes Bluetooth-based sensor network enables HIS to equip various clinical devices and, consequently, lets information and communication technologies advance clinical services.

  20. Modifying the University of Missouri corn canopy sensor algorithm using soil and weather information

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Corn production across the U.S. Corn belt can be often limited by the loss of nitrogen (N) due to leaching, volatilization and denitrification. The use of canopy sensors for making in-season N fertilizer applications has been proven effective in matching plant N requirements with periods of rapid N ...

  1. System and method for cognitive processing for data fusion

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Duong, Tuan A. (Inventor); Duong, Vu A. (Inventor)

    2012-01-01

    A system and method for cognitive processing of sensor data. A processor array receiving analog sensor data and having programmable interconnects, multiplication weights, and filters provides for adaptive learning in real-time. A static random access memory contains the programmable data for the processor array and the stored data is modified to provide for adaptive learning.

  2. Low-coherence interferometric sensor system utilizing an integrated optics configuration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Plissi, M. V.; Rogers, A. J.; Brassington, D. J.; Wilson, M. G. F.

    1995-08-01

    The implementation of a twin Mach-Zehnder reference interferometer in an integrated optics substrate is described. From measurements of the fringe visibilities, an identification of the fringe order is attempted as a way to provide an absolute sensor for any parameter capable of modifying the difference in path length between two interfering optical paths.

  3. Prussian Blue Coated Electrode as a Sensor for Electroinactive Cations in Aqueous Solutions

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Byrd, Houston; Chapman, Blake E.; Talley, Christopher L.

    2013-01-01

    Prussian Blue (PB) is an excellent material as a sensor for electroinactive cations because of its electrochemical behavior and its zeolytic character. A simple 3-h laboratory designed for a quantitative analysis or an instrumental methods course is reported. This laboratory studies the transport of various cations into a PB-modified electrode…

  4. Gold-copper bimetallic nanoparticles supported on nano P zeolite modified carbon paste electrode as an efficient electrocatalyst and sensitive sensor for determination of hydrazine.

    PubMed

    Amiripour, Fatemeh; Azizi, Seyed Naser; Ghasemi, Shahram

    2018-06-01

    In this report, a facile, efficient and low cost electrochemical sensor based on bimetallic Au-Cu nanoparticles supported on P nanozeolite modified carbon paste electrode (Au-Cu/NPZ/CPE) was constructed and its efficiency for determination of hydrazine in trace level was studied. For this purpose, agro waste material, stem sweep ash (SSA) was employed as the starting material (silica source) for the synthesis of nano P zeolite (NPZ). After characterization of the synthesized NPZ by analytical instruments (scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy), construction of Au-Cu/NPZ/CPE was performed by three steps procedure involving preparation of nano P zeolite modified carbon paste electrode (NPZ/CPE), introducing Cu +2 ions into nano zeolite structure by ion exchange and electrochemical reduction of Cu +2 ions upon applying constant potential. This procedure is followed by partial replacement of Cu by Au due to galvanic replacement reaction (GRR). The electrochemical properties of hydrazine at the surface of Au-Cu/NPZ/CPE was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), amperometry, and chronoamperometry methods in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (PBS). It was found that the prepared sensor has higher electrocatalytic activity at a relatively lower potential compared to other modified electrodes including Au/NPZ/CPE, Cu/NPZ/CPE, Au-Cu/CPE and etc. Moreover, the proposed electrochemical sensor presented the favorable analytical properties for determination of hydrazine such as low detection limit (0.04 µM), rapid response time (3 s), wide linear range (0.01-150 mM), and high sensitivity (99.53 µA mM -1 ) that are related to the synergic effect of bimetallic of Au-Cu, porous structure and enough surface area of NPZ. In addition, capability of Au-Cu/NPZ/CPE sensor was successfully tested in real samples with good accuracy and precision. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. Highly selective and sensitive sensor based on an organic electrochemical transistor for the detection of ascorbic acid.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Lijun; Wang, Guiheng; Wu, Di; Xiong, Can; Zheng, Lei; Ding, Yunsheng; Lu, Hongbo; Zhang, Guobing; Qiu, Longzhen

    2018-02-15

    In this study, an organic electrochemical transistor sensor (OECT) with a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-modified gate electrode was prepared for the detection of ascorbic acid (AA). The combination of the amplification function of an OECT and the selective specificity of MIPs afforded a highly sensitive, selective OECT sensor. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were carried out to monitor the stepwise fabrication of the modified electrodes and the adsorption capacity of the MIP/Au electrodes. Atomic force microscopy was employed for examining the surface morphology of the electrodes. Important detection parameters, pH and detection temperature were optimized. With the change in the relative concentration of AA from 1μM to 100μM, the MIP-OECT sensor exhibited a low detection limit of 10nM (S/N > 3) and a sensitivity of 75.3μA channel current change per decade under optimal conditions. In addition, the MIP-OECT sensor exhibited excellent specific recognition ability to AA, which prevented the interference from other structurally similar compounds (e.g., aspartic acid, glucose, uric acid, glycine, glutathione, H 2 O 2 ), and common metal ions (K + , Na + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , and Fe 2+ ). In addition, a series of vitamin C beverages were analyzed to demonstrate the feasibility of the MIP-OECT sensor. Using the proposed principle, several other sensors with improved performance can be constructed via the modification of organic electrochemical transistors with appropriate MIP films. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Identifying Gel-Separated Proteins Using In-Gel Digestion, Mass Spectrometry, and Database Searching: Consider the Chemistry

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Albright, Jessica C.; Dassenko, David J.; Mohamed, Essa A.; Beussman, Douglas J.

    2009-01-01

    Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry is an important bioanalytical technique in drug discovery, proteomics, and research at the biology-chemistry interface. This is an especially powerful tool when combined with gel separation of proteins and database mining using the mass spectral data. Currently, few hands-on…

  7. Luminescent 1-hydroxy-2-pyridinone chelates of lanthanides

    DOEpatents

    Raymond, Kenneth N.; Xu, Jide; Moore, Evan G.; Werner, Eric J.

    2013-10-15

    The present invention provides luminescent complexes between a lanthanide ion and an organic ligand which contains 1,2-hydroxypyridinone units. The complexes of the invention are stable in aqueous solutions and are useful as molecular probes, for example in medical diagnostics and bioanalytical assay systems. The invention also provides methods of using the complexes of the invention.

  8. CHEMICALLY ACTIVATED LUCIFASE GENE EXPRESSION (CALUX) CELL BIOASSAY ANALYSIS FOR THE ESTIMATION OF DIOXIN-LIKE ACTIVITIY: CRITICAL PARAMETERS OF THE CALUX PROCEDURE THAT IMPACT ASSAY RESULTS

    EPA Science Inventory

    The Chemically Activated Luciferase gene expression (CALUX) in vitro cell bioassay is an emerging bioanalytical tool that is increasingly being used for the screening and relative quantification of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds. Since CALUX analyses provide a biological respo...

  9. Luminescent 1-hydroxy-2-pyridinone chelates of lanthanides

    DOEpatents

    Raymond, Kenneth N.; Xu, Jide; Moore, Evan G.; Werner, Eric J.

    2017-01-31

    The present invention provides luminescent complexes between a lanthanide ion and an organic ligand which contains 1,2-hydroxypyridinone units. The complexes of the invention are stable in aqueous solutions and are useful as molecular probes, for example in medical diagnostics and bioanalytical assay systems. The invention also provides methods of using the complexes of the invention.

  10. Surface modification of amine-functionalised graphite for preparation of cobalt hexacyanoferrate (CoHCF)-modified electrode: an amperometric sensor for determination of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA).

    PubMed

    Prabakar, S J Richard; Narayanan, S Sriman

    2006-12-01

    A cobalt hexacyanoferrate (CoHCF)-modified graphite paraffin wax composite electrode was prepared by a new approach. An amine-functionalised graphite powder was used for the fabrication of the electrode. A functionalised graphite paraffin wax composite electrode was prepared and the surface of the electrode was modified with a thin film of CoHCF. Various parameters that influence the electrochemical behaviour of the modified electrode were studied by varying the background electrolytes, scan rates and pH. The modified electrode showed good electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) under optimal conditions and showed a linear response over the range from 7.9 x 10(-7) to 1.9 x 10(-4) M of BHA with a correlation coefficient of 0.9988. The limit of detection was 1.9 x 10(-7) M. Electrocatalytic oxidation of BHA was effective at the modified electrode at a significantly reduced potential and at a broader pH range. The utility of the modified electrode as an amperometric sensor for the determination of BHA in flow systems was evaluated by carrying out hydrodynamic and chronoamperometric experiments. The modified electrode showed very good stability and a longer shelf life. The modified electrode was applied for the determination of BHA in spiked samples of chewing gum and edible sunflower oil. The advantage of this method is the ease of electrode fabrication, good stability, longer shelf life, low cost and its diverse application for BHA determination.

  11. A non-enzymatic amperometric hydrogen peroxide sensor based on iron nanoparticles decorated reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite.

    PubMed

    Amanulla, Baishnisha; Palanisamy, Selvakumar; Chen, Shen-Ming; Velusamy, Vijayalakshmi; Chiu, Te-Wei; Chen, Tse-Wei; Ramaraj, Sayee Kannan

    2017-02-01

    A simple and facile green process was used for the synthesis of iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposite by using Ipomoea pes-tigridis leaf extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The as-prepared rGO/FeNPs nanocomposite was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The nanocomposite was further modified on the glassy carbon electrode and used for non-enzymatic sensing of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). Cyclic voltammetry results reveal that rGO/FeNPs nanocomposite has excellent electro-reduction behavior to H 2 O 2 when compared to the response of FeNPs and rGO modified electrodes. Furthermore, the nanocomposite modified electrode shows 9 and 6 folds enhanced reduction current response to H 2 O 2 than that of rGO and FeNPs modified electrodes. Amperometric method was further used to quantify the H 2 O 2 using rGO/FeNPs nanocomposite, and the response was linear over the concentration ranging from 0.1μM to 2.15mM. The detection limit and sensitivity of the sensor were estimated as 0.056μM and 0.2085μAμM -1 cm -2 , respectively. The fabricated sensor also utilized for detection of H 2 O 2 in the presence of potentially active interfering species, and found high selectivity towards H 2 O 2 . Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  12. Improved chemical identification from sensor arrays using intelligent algorithms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Roppel, Thaddeus A.; Wilson, Denise M.

    2001-02-01

    Intelligent signal processing algorithms are shown to improve identification rates significantly in chemical sensor arrays. This paper focuses on the use of independently derived sensor status information to modify the processing of sensor array data by using a fast, easily-implemented "best-match" approach to filling in missing sensor data. Most fault conditions of interest (e.g., stuck high, stuck low, sudden jumps, excess noise, etc.) can be detected relatively simply by adjunct data processing, or by on-board circuitry. The objective then is to devise, implement, and test methods for using this information to improve the identification rates in the presence of faulted sensors. In one typical example studied, utilizing separately derived, a-priori knowledge about the health of the sensors in the array improved the chemical identification rate by an artificial neural network from below 10 percent correct to over 99 percent correct. While this study focuses experimentally on chemical sensor arrays, the results are readily extensible to other types of sensor platforms.

  13. 76 FR 4443 - Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Modified or Altered System of Records

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-01-25

    ... located nearby. The computer room is protected by an automatic sprinkler system, automatic sensors (e.g... 1974; Report of Modified or Altered System of Records AGENCY: National Center for HIV, STD and TB... Services (DHHS). ACTION: Notification of Proposed Altered System of Records. SUMMARY: The Department of...

  14. A Facile Electrochemical Preparation of Reduced Graphene Oxide@Polydopamine Composite: A Novel Electrochemical Sensing Platform for Amperometric Detection of Chlorpromazine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Palanisamy, Selvakumar; Thirumalraj, Balamurugan; Chen, Shen-Ming; Wang, Yi-Ting; Velusamy, Vijayalakshmi; Ramaraj, Sayee Kannan

    2016-09-01

    We report a novel and sensitive amperometric sensor for chlorpromazine (CPZ) based on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and polydopamine (PDA) composite modified glassy carbon electrode. The RGO@PDA composite was prepared by electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO) with PDA. The RGO@PDA composite modified electrode shows an excellent electro-oxidation behavior to CPZ when compared with other modified electrodes such as GO, RGO and GO@PDA. Amperometric i-t method was used for the determination of CPZ. Amperometry result shows that the RGO@PDA composite detects CPZ in a linear range from 0.03 to 967.6 μM. The sensor exhibits a low detection limit of 0.0018 μM with the analytical sensitivity of 3.63 ± 0.3 μAμM-1 cm-2. The RGO@PDA composite shows its high selectivity towards CPZ in the presence of potentially interfering drugs such as metronidazole, phenobarbital, chlorpheniramine maleate, pyridoxine and riboflavin. In addition, the fabricated RGO@PDA modified electrode showed an appropriate recovery towards CPZ in the pharmaceutical tablets.

  15. Laser Doppler velocimetry using a modified computer mouse

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zaron, Edward D.

    2016-10-01

    A computer mouse has been modified for use as a low-cost laser Doppler interferometer and used to measure the two-component fluid velocity of a flowing soap film. The mouse sensor contains two vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, photodiodes, and signal processing hardware integrated into a single package, approximately 1 cm2 in size, and interfaces to a host computer via a standard USB port. Using the principle of self-mixing interferometry, whereby laser light re-enters the laser cavity after being scattered from a moving target, the Doppler shift and velocity of scatterers dispersed in the flow are measured. Observations of the boundary layer in a turbulent soap film channel flow demonstrate the capabilities of the sensor.

  16. Cyclic voltammetry deposition of copper nanostructure on MWCNTs modified pencil graphite electrode: An ultra-sensitive hydrazine sensor.

    PubMed

    Heydari, Hamid; Gholivand, Mohammad B; Abdolmaleki, Abbas

    2016-09-01

    In this study, Copper (Cu) nanostructures (CuNS) were electrochemically deposited on a film of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified pencil graphite electrode (MWCNTs/PGE) by cyclic voltammetry method to fabricate a CuNS-MWCNTs composite sensor (CuNS-MWCNT/PGE) for hydrazine detection. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used for the characterization of CuNS on the MWCNTs matrix. The composite of CuNS-MWCNTs was characterized with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The preliminary studies showed that the proposed sensor have a synergistic electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of hydrazine in phosphate buffer. The catalytic currents of square wave voltammetry had a linear correlation with the hydrazine concentration in the range of 0.1 to 800μM with a low detection limit of 70nM. Moreover, the amperometric oxidation current exhibited a linear correlation with hydrazine concentration in the concentration range of 50-800μM with the detection limit of 4.3μM. The proposed electrode was used for the determination of hydrazine in real samples and the results were promising. Empirical results also indicated that the sensor had good reproducibility, long-term stability, and the response of the sensor to hydrazine was free from interferences. Moreover, the proposed sensor benefits from simple preparation, low cost, outstanding sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility for hydrazine determination. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  17. Identifying Objective Physiological Markers and Modifiable Behaviors for Self-Reported Stress and Mental Health Status Using Wearable Sensors and Mobile Phones: Observational Study.

    PubMed

    Sano, Akane; Taylor, Sara; McHill, Andrew W; Phillips, Andrew Jk; Barger, Laura K; Klerman, Elizabeth; Picard, Rosalind

    2018-06-08

    Wearable and mobile devices that capture multimodal data have the potential to identify risk factors for high stress and poor mental health and to provide information to improve health and well-being. We developed new tools that provide objective physiological and behavioral measures using wearable sensors and mobile phones, together with methods that improve their data integrity. The aim of this study was to examine, using machine learning, how accurately these measures could identify conditions of self-reported high stress and poor mental health and which of the underlying modalities and measures were most accurate in identifying those conditions. We designed and conducted the 1-month SNAPSHOT study that investigated how daily behaviors and social networks influence self-reported stress, mood, and other health or well-being-related factors. We collected over 145,000 hours of data from 201 college students (age: 18-25 years, male:female=1.8:1) at one university, all recruited within self-identified social groups. Each student filled out standardized pre- and postquestionnaires on stress and mental health; during the month, each student completed twice-daily electronic diaries (e-diaries), wore two wrist-based sensors that recorded continuous physical activity and autonomic physiology, and installed an app on their mobile phone that recorded phone usage and geolocation patterns. We developed tools to make data collection more efficient, including data-check systems for sensor and mobile phone data and an e-diary administrative module for study investigators to locate possible errors in the e-diaries and communicate with participants to correct their entries promptly, which reduced the time taken to clean e-diary data by 69%. We constructed features and applied machine learning to the multimodal data to identify factors associated with self-reported poststudy stress and mental health, including behaviors that can be possibly modified by the individual to improve these measures. We identified the physiological sensor, phone, mobility, and modifiable behavior features that were best predictors for stress and mental health classification. In general, wearable sensor features showed better classification performance than mobile phone or modifiable behavior features. Wearable sensor features, including skin conductance and temperature, reached 78.3% (148/189) accuracy for classifying students into high or low stress groups and 87% (41/47) accuracy for classifying high or low mental health groups. Modifiable behavior features, including number of naps, studying duration, calls, mobility patterns, and phone-screen-on time, reached 73.5% (139/189) accuracy for stress classification and 79% (37/47) accuracy for mental health classification. New semiautomated tools improved the efficiency of long-term ambulatory data collection from wearable and mobile devices. Applying machine learning to the resulting data revealed a set of both objective features and modifiable behavioral features that could classify self-reported high or low stress and mental health groups in a college student population better than previous studies and showed new insights into digital phenotyping. ©Akane Sano, Sara Taylor, Andrew W McHill, Andrew JK Phillips, Laura K Barger, Elizabeth Klerman, Rosalind Picard. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 08.06.2018.

  18. Porous Silicon Structures as Optical Gas Sensors.

    PubMed

    Levitsky, Igor A

    2015-08-14

    We present a short review of recent progress in the field of optical gas sensors based on porous silicon (PSi) and PSi composites, which are separate from PSi optochemical and biological sensors for a liquid medium. Different periodical and nonperiodical PSi photonic structures (bares, modified by functional groups or infiltrated with sensory polymers) are described for gas sensing with an emphasis on the device specificity, sensitivity and stability to the environment. Special attention is paid to multiparametric sensing and sensor array platforms as effective trends for the improvement of analyte classification and quantification. Mechanisms of gas physical and chemical sorption inside PSi mesopores and pores of PSi functional composites are discussed.

  19. Gold-on-Polymer-Based Sensing Films for Detection of Organic and Inorganic Analytes in the Air

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Manatt, Kenneth; Homer, Margie; Ryan, Margaret; Kisor, Adam; Shevade, Abhijit; Jewell, April; Zhou, Hanying

    2008-01-01

    A document discusses gold-on-polymer as one of the novel sensor types developed for part of the sensor development task. Standard polymer-carbon composite sensors used in the JPL Electronic Nose (ENose) have been modified by evaporating 15 nm of metallic gold on the surface. These sensors have been shown to respond to alcohols, aromatics, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and elemental mercury in the parts-per-million and parts-per-billion concentration ranges in humidified air. The results have shown good sensitivity of these films operating under mild conditions (operating temperatures 23-28 C and regeneration temperature up to 40 C). This unique sensor combines the diversity of polymer sensors for chemical sensing with their response to a wide variety of analytes with the specificity of a gold sensor that shows strong reaction/binding with selected analyte types, such as mercury or sulfur.

  20. Optimization and validation of highly selective microfluidic integrated silicon nanowire chemical sensor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ehfaed, Nuri. A. K. H.; Bathmanathan, Shillan A. L.; Dhahi, Th S.; Adam, Tijjani; Hashim, Uda; Noriman, N. Z.

    2017-09-01

    The study proposed characterization and optimization of silicon nanosensor for specific detection of heavy metal. The sensor was fabricated in-house and conventional photolithography coupled with size reduction via dry etching process in an oxidation furnace. Prior to heavy metal heavy metal detection, the capability to aqueous sample was determined utilizing serial DI water at various. The sensor surface was surface modified with Organofunctional alkoxysilanes (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) to create molecular binding chemistry. This has allowed interaction between heavy metals being measured and the sensor component resulting in increasing the current being measured. Due to its, excellent detection capabilities, this sensor was able to identify different group heavy metal species. The device was further integrated with sub-50 µm for chemical delivery.

  1. Continuous monitoring of L-glutamate released from cultured nerve cells by an online sensor coupled with micro-capillary sampling.

    PubMed

    Niwa, O; Horiuchi, T; Torimitsu, K

    1997-01-01

    A small volume L-glutamate online sensor was developed in order to monitor changes in the local concentration of L-glutamate released from cultured nerve cells. Syringe pump in the suction mode is used to sample extracellular fluid continuously from a glass micro-capillary and the concentration of L-glutamate can be determined by using a glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with an Os-polyvinylpyridine mediator bottom film containing horseradish peroxidase and a bovine serum albumin top layer containing L-glutamate oxidase. The overall efficiency of L-glutamate detection with a sensor is 71% under optimum conditions due to an efficient enzymatic reaction at the modified electrode in the thin layer radial flow cell. As a result, we achieved a detection limit of 7-15 nM and a linear range of 50 nM to 10 microM. In an in vitro experiment, the extracellular fluid near a particular nerve cell can be sampled with this micro-pipet and continuously introduced into the modified GC electrode in the radial flow cell via suction provided by a syringe pump. The nerve cells are stimulated by the KCl in a glass capillary and the L-glutamate concentration change can be monitored by changing the distance between the sampling pipet and the nerve cells.

  2. Modified Au nanoparticles-imprinted sol-gel, multiwall carbon nanotubes pencil graphite electrode used as a sensor for ranitidine determination.

    PubMed

    Rezaei, B; Lotfi-Forushani, H; Ensafi, A A

    2014-04-01

    A new, simple, and disposable molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor for the determination of ranitidine was developed on pencil graphite electrode (PGE) via cyclic voltammetry (CV). The PGEs were coated with MWCNTs containing the carboxylic functional group (f-MWCNTs), imprinted with sol-gel and Au nanoparticle (AuNPs) layers (AuNP/MIP-sol-gel/f-MWCNT/PGE), respectively, to enhance the electrode's electrical transmission and sensitivity. The thin film of molecularly imprinted sol-gel polymers with specific binding sites for ranitidine was cast on modified PGE by electrochemical deposition. The AuNP/MIP-sol-gel/f-MWCNT/PGE thus developed was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and CV. The interaction between the imprinted sensor and the target molecule was also observed on the electrode by measuring the current response of 5.0mMK3[Fe(CN)6] solution as an electrochemical probe. The pick currents of ranitidine increased linearly with concentration in the ranges of 0.05 to 2.0μM, with a detection limit of (S/N=3) 0.02μM. Finally, the modified electrode was successfully employed to determine ranitidine in human urine samples. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Flow injection amperometric sensor with a carbon nanotube modified screen printed electrode for determination of hydroquinone.

    PubMed

    Upan, Jantima; Reanpang, Preeyaporn; Chailapakul, Orawon; Jakmunee, Jaroon

    2016-01-01

    Flow injection amperometric (FI-Amp) sensor was developed for sensitive and selective determination of hydroquinone. A simple screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE) was modified with various nanomaterials for improvement of sensitivity on the determination of quinone. As a result, the appropriate sensitivity is obtained from the SPCE modified with carbon nanotube (CNT) which indicated that CNT contributed to the transfer of electron to quinone. The reproducibility (n=9) and repeatability (n=111) of SPCE-CNT were obtained at 4.4% and 3.6%RSD, respectively. The SPCE-CNT electrode and enzymatic column were incorporated to the FI-Amp system to determine hydroquinone. Laccase was immobilized on silica gel using a cross-linking method by glutaraldehyde modification and then packed in the column. The laccase column has high efficiency for catalytic oxidation of hydroquinone to quinone, which further detects by amperometric detection. Parameters affecting response of the proposed sensor, i.e., pH, ionic strength, and temperature have been optimized. The proposed system provided a wide linear range between 1 and 50 µM with detection limit of 0.1 µM. Satisfactory recoveries in the range of 91.2-103.8% were obtained for the analysis of water sample. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Plain to point network reduced graphene oxide - activated carbon composites decorated with platinum nanoparticles for urine glucose detection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hossain, Mohammad Faruk; Park, Jae Y.

    2016-02-01

    In this study, a hydrothermal technique was applied to synthesize glucose-treated reduced graphene oxide-activated carbon (GRGO/AC) composites. Platinum nanoparticles (PtNP) were electrochemically deposited on the modified GRGO/AC surface, and chitosan-glucose oxidase (Chit-GOx) composites and nafion were integrated onto the modified surface of the working electrode to prepare a highly sensitive glucose sensor. The fabricated biosensor exhibited a good amperometric response to glucose in the detection range from 0.002 mM to 10 mM, with a sensitivity of 61.06 μA/mMcm2, a short response time (4 s) and a low detection limit of 2 μM (signal to noise ratio is 3). The glucose sensor exhibited a negligible response to interference and good stability. In addition, the glucose levels in human urine were tested in order to conduct a practical assessment of the proposed sensor, and the results indicate that the sensor had superior urine glucose recognition. These results thus demonstrate that the noble nano-structured electrode with a high surface area and electrocatalytic activity offers great promise for use in urine glucose sensing applications.

  5. Development of a biochemical oxygen demand sensor using gold-modified boron doped diamond electrodes.

    PubMed

    Ivandini, Tribidasari A; Saepudin, Endang; Wardah, Habibah; Harmesa; Dewangga, Netra; Einaga, Yasuaki

    2012-11-20

    Gold-modified boron doped diamond (BDD) electrodes were examined for the amperometric detection of oxygen as well as a detector for measuring biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) using Rhodotorula mucilaginosa UICC Y-181. An optimum potential of -0.5 V (vs Ag/AgCl) was applied, and the optimum waiting time was observed to be 20 min. A linear calibration curve for oxygen reduction was achieved with a sensitivity of 1.4 μA mg(-1) L oxygen. Furthermore, a linear calibration curve in the glucose concentration range of 0.1-0.5 mM (equivalent to 10-50 mg L(-1) BOD) was obtained with an estimated detection limit of 4 mg L(-1) BOD. Excellent reproducibility of the BOD sensor was shown with an RSD of 0.9%. Moreover, the BOD sensor showed good tolerance against the presence of copper ions up to a maximum concentration of 0.80 μM (equivalent to 50 ppb). The sensor was applied to BOD measurements of the water from a lake at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia, with results comparable to those made using a standard method for BOD measurement.

  6. Plain to point network reduced graphene oxide - activated carbon composites decorated with platinum nanoparticles for urine glucose detection

    PubMed Central

    Hossain, Mohammad Faruk; Park, Jae Y.

    2016-01-01

    In this study, a hydrothermal technique was applied to synthesize glucose-treated reduced graphene oxide-activated carbon (GRGO/AC) composites. Platinum nanoparticles (PtNP) were electrochemically deposited on the modified GRGO/AC surface, and chitosan-glucose oxidase (Chit-GOx) composites and nafion were integrated onto the modified surface of the working electrode to prepare a highly sensitive glucose sensor. The fabricated biosensor exhibited a good amperometric response to glucose in the detection range from 0.002 mM to 10 mM, with a sensitivity of 61.06 μA/mMcm2, a short response time (4 s) and a low detection limit of 2 μM (signal to noise ratio is 3). The glucose sensor exhibited a negligible response to interference and good stability. In addition, the glucose levels in human urine were tested in order to conduct a practical assessment of the proposed sensor, and the results indicate that the sensor had superior urine glucose recognition. These results thus demonstrate that the noble nano-structured electrode with a high surface area and electrocatalytic activity offers great promise for use in urine glucose sensing applications. PMID:26876368

  7. Electrochemical determination of L-phenylalanine at polyaniline modified carbon electrode based on β-cyclodextrin incorporated carbon nanotube composite material and imprinted sol-gel film.

    PubMed

    Hu, Yu-fang; Zhang, Zhao-hui; Zhang, Hua-bin; Luo, Li-juan; Yao, Shou-zhuo

    2011-04-15

    A sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor based on a polyaniline modified carbon electrode for the determination of L-phenylalanine has been proposed by utilizing β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) incorporated multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) and imprinted sol-gel film. The electrochemical behavior of the sensor towards L-phenylalanine was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and amperometric i-t curve. The surface morphologies of layer-by-layer assembly electrodes were displayed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The response mechanism of the imprinted sensor for L-phenylalanine was based on the inclusion interaction of β-CD and molecular recognition capacity of the imprinted film for L-phenylalanine. A linear calibration plot was obtained covering the concentration range from 5.0 × 10(-7) to 1.0 × 10(-4) mol L(-1) with a detection limit of 1.0 × 10(-9) mol L(-1). With excellent sensitivity, selectivity, stability, reproducibility and recovery, the electrochemical imprinted sensor was used to detect L-phenylalanine in blood plasma samples successfully. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Note: Compact and light displacement sensor for a precision measurement system in large motion

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lee, Sang Heon, E-mail: shlee@andong.ac.kr

    We developed a compact and light displacement sensor applicable to systems that require wide range motions of its sensing device. The proposed sensor utilized the optical pickup unit of the optical disk drive, which has been used applied to atomic force microscopy (AFM) because of its compactness and lightness as well as its high performance. We modified the structure of optical pickup unit and made the compact sensor driver attachable to a probe head of AFM to make large rotation. The feasibilities of the developed sensor for a general probe-moving measurement device and for probe-rotating AFM were verified. Moreover, amore » simple and precise measurement of alignment between centers of rotator and probe tip in probe-rotation AFM was experimentally demonstrated using the developed sensor.« less

  9. Chemical Sensors Based on Cyclodextrin Derivatives.

    PubMed

    Ogoshi, Tomoki; Harada, Akira

    2008-08-25

    This review focuses on chemical sensors based on cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives. This has been a field of classical interest, and is now of current interest for numerous scientists. First, typical chemical sensors using chromophore appended CDs are mentioned. Various "turn-off" and "turn-on" fluorescent chemical sensors, in which fluorescence intensity was decreased or increased by complexation with guest molecules, respectively, were synthesized. Dye modified CDs and photoactive metal ion-ligand complex appended CDs, metallocyclodextrins, were also applied for chemical sensors. Furthermore, recent novel approaches to chemical sensing systems using supramolecular structures such as CD dimers, trimers and cooperative binding systems of CDs with the other macrocycle [2]rotaxane and supramolecular polymers consisting of CD units are mentioned. New chemical sensors using hybrids of CDs with p-conjugated polymers, peptides, DNA, nanocarbons and nanoparticles are also described in this review.

  10. Low-cost and disposable sensors for the simultaneous determination of coenzyme Q10 and α-lipoic acid using manganese (IV) oxide-modified screen-printed graphene electrodes.

    PubMed

    Charoenkitamorn, Kanokwan; Chaiyo, Sudkate; Chailapakul, Orawon; Siangproh, Weena

    2018-04-03

    In this work, for the first time, manganese (IV) oxide-modified screen-printed graphene electrodes (MnO 2 /SPGEs) were developed for the simultaneous electrochemical detection of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and α-lipoic acid (ALA). This sensor exhibits attractive benefits such as simplicity, low production costs, and disposability. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to characterize the electrochemical behavior of the analyte and investigate the capacitance and electroactive surface area of the unmodified and modified electrode surfaces. The electrochemical behavior of CoQ10 and ALA on MnO 2 /SPGEs was also discussed. Additionally, square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) was used for the quantitative determination of CoQ10 and ALA. Under optimal conditions, the obtained signals are linear in the concentration range from 2.0 to 75.0 μg mL -1 for CoQ10 and 0.3-25.0 μg mL -1 for ALA. The low limits of detection (LODs) were found to be 0.56 μg mL -1 and 0.088 μg mL -1 for CoQ10 and ALA, respectively. Moreover, we demonstrated the utility and applicability of the MnO 2 /SPGE sensor through simultaneous measurements of CoQ10 and ALA in dietary supplements. The sensor provides high accuracy measurements, exhibiting its high potential for practical applications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. An ultrasensitive and selective electrochemical sensor for determination of estrone 3-sulfate sodium salt based on molecularly imprinted polymer modified carbon paste electrode.

    PubMed

    Song, Han; Wang, Yuli; Zhang, Lu; Tian, Liping; Luo, Jun; Zhao, Na; Han, Yajie; Zhao, Feilang; Ying, Xue; Li, Yingchun

    2017-11-01

    A highly sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor based on carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) has been developed for the determination of estrone 3-sulfate sodium salt (ESS). MIPs were prepared in polar medium via bulk polymerization and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry was performed to the study preparation process and binding behavior of the MIP-modified CPE (MIP/CPE) toward ESS. The conditions for preparing MIPs and MIP/CPE as well as ESS detection were optimized. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the detection linear range for ESS is 4 × 10 -12 to 6 × 10 -9  M with a limit of detection of 1.18 × 10 -12  M (S/N = 3). In addition, the sensor exhibits high binding affinity toward ESS over its structural analogues with excellent repeatability and stability. The fabricated MIP/CPE was then successfully employed to detect ESS in pregnant mare urine (PMU) without any pretreatment, and the average recoveries were from 99.6 to 104.9% with relative standard deviation less than 3.0%. High-performance liquid chromatography was adopted as a reference to validate the established approach in detecting ESS and their results showed good agreement. The as-prepared sensor has high potential to be a decent tool for on-site determination of ESS in PMU in a fast and convenient manner. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

  12. Voltammetric Determination of Penicillamine Using a Carbon Paste Electrode Modified with Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes In the Presence of Methyldopa as a Mediator.

    PubMed

    Safari, Fardin; Keyvanfard, Mohsen; Karimi-Maleh, Hassan; Alizad, Khadijeh

    2017-01-01

    A multiwall carbon nanotubes-modified carbon paste electrode (MWCNTs/MCPE) was fabricated and used to study the electrooxidation of penicillamine (PA) by electrochemical methods in the presence of methyldopa (MDOP) as a homogeneous mediator. The electrochemical oxidation of PA on the new sensor has been carefully studied. The kinetic parameters such as electron transfer coefficient, α, and catalytic reaction rate constant, K / h , were also determined using electrochemical approaches. The electrocatalytic oxidation peak current of PA showed a linear dependent on the PA concentrations and linear calibration curves were obtained in the ranges of 0.2-250.0 µM of PA concentration with square wave voltammetry (SWV) method. The detection limit (3σ) was determined as 0.1 µM. This sensor was also examined as a fast, selective, simple and precise new sensor for voltammetric determination of PA in real samples such as drug and urine.

  13. A New Electrochemical Sensor Based on Task-Specific Ionic Liquids-Modified Palm Shell Activated Carbon for the Determination of Mercury in Water Samples

    PubMed Central

    Ismaiel, Ahmed Abu; Aroua, Mohamed Kheireddine; Yusoff, Rozita

    2014-01-01

    In this study, a potentiometric sensor composed of palm shell activated carbon modified with trioctylmethylammonium thiosalicylate (TOMATS) was used for the potentiometric determination of mercury ions in water samples. The proposed potentiometric sensor has good operating characteristics towards Hg (II), including a relatively high selectivity; a Nernstian response to Hg (II) ions in a concentration range of 1.0 × 10−9 to 1.0 × 10−2 M, with a detection limit of 1 × 10−10 M and a slope of 44.08 ± 1.0 mV/decade; and a fast response time (∼5 s). No significant changes in electrode potential were observed when the pH was varied over the range of 3–9. Additionally, the proposed electrode was characterized by good selectivity towards Hg (II) and no significant interferences from other cationic or anionic species. PMID:25051034

  14. Submillimetre wave imaging and security: imaging performance and prediction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Appleby, R.; Ferguson, S.

    2016-10-01

    Within the European Commission Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), CONSORTIS (Concealed Object Stand-Off Real-Time Imaging for Security) has designed and is fabricating a stand-off system operating at sub-millimetre wave frequencies for the detection of objects concealed on people. This system scans people as they walk by the sensor. This paper presents the top level system design which brings together both passive and active sensors to provide good performance. The passive system operates in two bands between 100 and 600GHz and is based on a cryogen free cooled focal plane array sensor whilst the active system is a solid-state 340GHz radar. A modified version of OpenFX was used for modelling the passive system. This model was recently modified to include realistic location-specific skin temperature and to accept animated characters wearing up to three layers of clothing that move dynamically, such as those typically found in cinematography. Targets under clothing have been modelled and the performance simulated. The strengths and weaknesses of this modelling approach are discussed.

  15. Voltammetric Determination of Penicillamine Using a Carbon Paste Electrode Modified with Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes In the Presence of Methyldopa as a Mediator

    PubMed Central

    Safari, Fardin; Keyvanfard, Mohsen; Karimi-Maleh, Hassan; Alizad, Khadijeh

    2017-01-01

    A multiwall carbon nanotubes-modified carbon paste electrode (MWCNTs/MCPE) was fabricated and used to study the electrooxidation of penicillamine (PA) by electrochemical methods in the presence of methyldopa (MDOP) as a homogeneous mediator. The electrochemical oxidation of PA on the new sensor has been carefully studied. The kinetic parameters such as electron transfer coefficient, α, and catalytic reaction rate constant, K/h, were also determined using electrochemical approaches. The electrocatalytic oxidation peak current of PA showed a linear dependent on the PA concentrations and linear calibration curves were obtained in the ranges of 0.2-250.0 µM of PA concentration with square wave voltammetry (SWV) method. The detection limit (3σ) was determined as 0.1 µM. This sensor was also examined as a fast, selective, simple and precise new sensor for voltammetric determination of PA in real samples such as drug and urine. PMID:29201090

  16. Advanced figure sensor operations and maintenance manual

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Robertson, H. J.

    1972-01-01

    This manual contains procedures for installing, operating, and maintaining the optical figure sensor and its associated electronic controls. The optical figure sensor, a system of integrated components, comprises: (1) a phase measuring modified interferometer employing a single frequency 6328 A laser, and a Vidissector; (2) a two-axis automatic thermal compensation control mount; (3) a five degree of freedom manual adjustment stand; and (4) a control console. This instrument provides real time output data of optical figure errors for spherical mirrors, and is also capable of measuring aspherical mirrors if a null corrector is added.

  17. Welding technology transfer task/laser based weld joint tracking system for compressor girth welds

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Looney, Alan

    1991-01-01

    Sensors to control and monitor welding operations are currently being developed at Marshall Space Flight Center. The laser based weld bead profiler/torch rotation sensor was modified to provide a weld joint tracking system for compressor girth welds. The tracking system features a precision laser based vision sensor, automated two-axis machine motion, and an industrial PC controller. The system benefits are elimination of weld repairs caused by joint tracking errors which reduces manufacturing costs and increases production output, simplification of tooling, and free costly manufacturing floor space.

  18. Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor using a Raspberry Pi embedded system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Contreras-Martinez, Ramiro; Garduño-Mejía, Jesús; Rosete-Aguilar, Martha; Román-Moreno, Carlos J.

    2017-05-01

    In this work we present the design and manufacture of a compact Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor using a Raspberry Pi and a microlens array. The main goal of this sensor is to recover the wavefront of a laser beam and to characterize its spatial phase using a simple and compact Raspberry Pi and the Raspberry Pi embedded camera. The recovery algorithm is based on a modified version of the Southwell method and was written in Python as well as its user interface. Experimental results and reconstructed wavefronts are presented.

  19. Graphene/graphite paste electrode incorporated with molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles as a novel sensor for differential pulse voltammetry determination of fluoxetine.

    PubMed

    Alizadeh, Taher; Azizi, Sorour

    2016-07-15

    Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) nanoparticles including highly selective recognition sites for fluoxetine were synthesized, utilizing precipitation polymerization. Methacrylic acid and vinyl benzene were used as functional monomers. Ethylene glycol dimethacrylate was used as cross-linker agent. The obtained polymeric nanoparticles were incorporated with carbon paste electrode (CPE) in order to construct a fluoxetine selective sensor. The response of the MIP-CP electrode to fluoxetine was remarkably higher than the electrode, modified with the non-imprinted polymer, indicating the excellent efficiency of the MIP sites for target molecule recognition. It was found that the addition of a little amount of graphene, synthesized via modified hummer's method, to the MIP-CP resulted in considerable enhancement in the sensitivity of the electrode to fluoxetine. Also, the style of electrode components mixing, before carbon paste preparation, was demonstrated to be influential factor in the electrode response. Some parameters, affecting sensor response, were optimized and then a calibration curve was plotted. A dynamic linear range of 6×10(-9)-1.0×10(-7)molL(-1) was obtained. The detection limit of the sensor was calculated equal to 2.8×10(-9)molL(-1) (3Sb/m). This sensor was used successfully for fluoxetine determination in the spiked plasma samples as well as fluoxetine capsules. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. A different approach for the analysis of grapes: Using the skin as sensing element.

    PubMed

    Muñoz, Raquel; García-Hernández, Celia; Medina-Plaza, Cristina; García-Cabezón, Cristina; Fernández-Escudero, J A; Barajas, Enrique; Medrano, Germán; Rodriguez-Méndez, María Luz

    2018-05-01

    In this work, an alternative method to monitor the phenolic maturity of grapes was developed. In this approach, the skins of grapes were used to cover the surface of carbon paste electrodes and the voltammetric signals obtained with the skin-modified sensors were used to obtain information about the phenolic content of the skins. These sensors could easily detect differences in the phenolic composition of different Spanish varieties of grapes (Mencía, Prieto Picudo and Juan García). Moreover, sensors were able to monitor changes in the phenolic content throughout the ripening process from véraison until harvest. Using PLS-1 (Partial Least Squares), correlations were established between the voltammetric signals registered with the skin-modified sensors and the phenolic content measured by classical methods (Glories or Total Polyphenol Index). PLS-1 models provided additional information about Brix degree, density or sugar content, which usually used to establish the harvesting date. The quality of the correlations was influenced by the maturation process and the structural and mechanical skin properties. Thus the skin sensors fabricated with Juan García and Prieto Picudo grapes (that showed faster polyphenolic maturation and a higher amount of extractable polyphenols than Mencía), showed good correlations and therefore could be used to monitor the ripening. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. RuO2 pH Sensor with Super-Glue-Inspired Reference Electrode

    PubMed Central

    Wajrak, Magdalena; Alameh, Kamal

    2017-01-01

    A pH-sensitive RuO2 electrode coated in a commercial cyanoacrylate adhesive typically exhibits very low pH sensitivity, and could be paired with a RuO2 working electrode as a differential type pH sensor. However, such sensors display poor performance in real sample matrices. A pH sensor employing a RuO2 pH-sensitive working electrode and a SiO2-PVB junction-modified RuO2 reference electrode is developed as an alternative high-performance solution. This sensor exhibits a performance similar to that of a commercial glass pH sensor in some common sample matrices, particularly, an excellent pH sensitivity of 55.7 mV/pH, a hysteresis as low as 2.7 mV, and a drift below 2.2 mV/h. The developed sensor structure opens the way towards the development of a simple, cost effective, and robust pH sensor for pH analysis in various sample matrices. PMID:28878182

  2. RuO₂ pH Sensor with Super-Glue-Inspired Reference Electrode.

    PubMed

    Lonsdale, Wade; Wajrak, Magdalena; Alameh, Kamal

    2017-09-06

    A pH-sensitive RuO₂ electrode coated in a commercial cyanoacrylate adhesive typically exhibits very low pH sensitivity, and could be paired with a RuO₂ working electrode as a differential type pH sensor. However, such sensors display poor performance in real sample matrices. A pH sensor employing a RuO₂ pH-sensitive working electrode and a SiO₂-PVB junction-modified RuO₂ reference electrode is developed as an alternative high-performance solution. This sensor exhibits a performance similar to that of a commercial glass pH sensor in some common sample matrices, particularly, an excellent pH sensitivity of 55.7 mV/pH, a hysteresis as low as 2.7 mV, and a drift below 2.2 mV/h. The developed sensor structure opens the way towards the development of a simple, cost effective, and robust pH sensor for pH analysis in various sample matrices.

  3. A Thin Film Multifunction Sensor for Harsh Environments

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wrbanek, John D.; Fralick, Gustave C.; Martin, Lisa C.; Blaha, Charles A.

    2001-01-01

    The status of work at NASA Glenn Research Center to develop a minimally intrusive integrated sensor to provide realtime measurement of strain, heat flux and flow in high temperature environments is presented in this paper. The sensor can be beneficial as a single package to characterize multiple stress and strain modes simultaneously on materials and components during engine development and validation. A major technical challenge is to take existing individual gauge designs and modify them into one integrated thin film sensor. Ultimately, the goal is to develop the ability to deposit the sensors directly onto internal engine parts or on a small thin substrate that can be attached to engine components. Several prototype sensors constructed of platinum, platinum-rhodium alloy, and alumina on constant-strain alumina beams have been built and bench-tested. The technical challenges of the design. construction, and testing are discussed. Data from the preliminary testing of the sensor array is presented. The future direction for the sensor development is discussed as well.

  4. Statistical Data Analyses of Trace Chemical, Biochemical, and Physical Analytical Signatures

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Udey, Ruth Norma

    Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry measurement results are most meaningful when interpreted using rigorous statistical treatments of the data. The same data set may provide many dimensions of information depending on the questions asked through the applied statistical methods. Three principal projects illustrated the wealth of information gained through the application of statistical data analyses to diverse problems.

  5. 75 FR 80508 - Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-12-22

    ..., Member Conflict: Diabetes, Obesity and Nutrition. Date: January 10, 2011. Time: 1p.m. to 5 p.m. Agenda...: Enabling Bioanalytical and Imaging Technologies. Date: December 29, 2010. Time: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Agenda: To... Hematology SEP. Date: January 10-11, 2011. Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant...

  6. Development and evaluation of a polydiacetylene based biosensor for the detection of H5 influenza virus.

    PubMed

    Jiang, Lixiang; Luo, Jing; Dong, Wenjie; Wang, Chengmin; Jin, Wen; Xia, Yuetong; Wang, Haijing; Ding, Hua; Jiang, Long; He, Hongxuan

    2015-07-01

    H5N1 avian influenza has caused serious economic losses as well as posed significant threats to public health, agriculture and wildlife. It is important to develop a rapid, sensitive and specific detection platform suitable for disease surveillance and control. In this study, a highly sensitive, specific and rapid biosensor based on polydiacetylene was developed for detecting H5 influenza virus. The polydiacetylene based biosensor was produced from an optimized ratio of 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, with the anti-H5 influenza antibody embedded onto the vesicle surface. The optimized polydiacetylene vesicle could detect H5 influenza virus sensitively with a detection limit of 0.53 copies/μL, showing a dramatic blue-to-red color change that can be observed directly by the naked eye and recorded by a UV-vis spectrometer. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the biosensor were also evaluated. The sensor could specifically differentiate H5 influenza virus from H3 influenza virus, Newcastle disease virus and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. Detection using tracheal swabs was in accord with virus isolation results, and comparable to the RT-PCR method. These results offer the possibility and potential of simple polydiacetylene based bio-analytical method for influenza surveillance. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  7. Perspectives on bioanalytical mass spectrometry and automation in drug discovery.

    PubMed

    Janiszewski, John S; Liston, Theodore E; Cole, Mark J

    2008-11-01

    The use of high speed synthesis technologies has resulted in a steady increase in the number of new chemical entities active in the drug discovery research stream. Large organizations can have thousands of chemical entities in various stages of testing and evaluation across numerous projects on a weekly basis. Qualitative and quantitative measurements made using LC/MS are integrated throughout this process from early stage lead generation through candidate nomination. Nearly all analytical processes and procedures in modern research organizations are automated to some degree. This includes both hardware and software automation. In this review we discuss bioanalytical mass spectrometry and automation as components of the analytical chemistry infrastructure in pharma. Analytical chemists are presented as members of distinct groups with similar skillsets that build automated systems, manage test compounds, assays and reagents, and deliver data to project teams. The ADME-screening process in drug discovery is used as a model to highlight the relationships between analytical tasks in drug discovery. Emerging software and process automation tools are described that can potentially address gaps and link analytical chemistry related tasks. The role of analytical chemists and groups in modern 'industrialized' drug discovery is also discussed.

  8. Solid state light engines for bioanalytical instruments and biomedical devices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jaffe, Claudia B.; Jaffe, Steven M.

    2010-02-01

    Lighting subsystems to drive 21st century bioanalysis and biomedical diagnostics face stringent requirements. Industrywide demands for speed, accuracy and portability mean illumination must be intense as well as spectrally pure, switchable, stable, durable and inexpensive. Ideally a common lighting solution could service these needs for numerous research and clinical applications. While this is a noble objective, the current technology of arc lamps, lasers, LEDs and most recently light pipes have intrinsic spectral and angular traits that make a common solution untenable. Clearly a hybrid solution is required to service the varied needs of the life sciences. Any solution begins with a critical understanding of the instrument architecture and specifications for illumination regarding power, illumination area, illumination and emission wavelengths and numerical aperture. Optimizing signal to noise requires careful optimization of these parameters within the additional constraints of instrument footprint and cost. Often the illumination design process is confined to maximizing signal to noise without the ability to adjust any of the above parameters. A hybrid solution leverages the best of the existing lighting technologies. This paper will review the design process for this highly constrained, but typical optical optimization scenario for numerous bioanalytical instruments and biomedical devices.

  9. Bio-analytical method development and validation of Rasagiline by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry detection and its application to pharmacokinetic study

    PubMed Central

    Konda, Ravi Kumar; Chandu, Babu Rao; Challa, B.R.; Kothapalli, Chandrasekhar B.

    2012-01-01

    The most suitable bio-analytical method based on liquid–liquid extraction has been developed and validated for quantification of Rasagiline in human plasma. Rasagiline-13C3 mesylate was used as an internal standard for Rasagiline. Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18 (2.1 mm×50 mm, 3.5 μm) column provided chromatographic separation of analyte followed by detection with mass spectrometry. The method involved simple isocratic chromatographic condition and mass spectrometric detection in the positive ionization mode using an API-4000 system. The total run time was 3.0 min. The proposed method has been validated with the linear range of 5–12000 pg/mL for Rasagiline. The intra-run and inter-run precision values were within 1.3%–2.9% and 1.6%–2.2% respectively for Rasagiline. The overall recovery for Rasagiline and Rasagiline-13C3 mesylate analog was 96.9% and 96.7% respectively. This validated method was successfully applied to the bioequivalence and pharmacokinetic study of human volunteers under fasting condition. PMID:29403764

  10. A novel liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) based bioanalytical method for quantification of ethyl esters of Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and its application in pharmacokinetic study.

    PubMed

    Viswanathan, Sekarbabu; Verma, P R P; Ganesan, Muniyandithevar; Manivannan, Jeganathan

    2017-07-15

    Omega-3 fatty acids are clinically useful and the two marine omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are prevalent in fish and fish oils. Omega-3 fatty acid formulations should undergo a rigorous regulatory step in order to obtain United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approval as prescription drug. In connection with that, despite quantifying EPA and DHA fatty acids, there is a need for quantifying the level of ethyl esters of them in biological samples. In this study, we make use of reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC-MS)technique for the method development. Here, we have developed a novel multiple reaction monitoring method along with optimized parameters for quantification of EPA and DHA as ethyl esters. Additionally, we attempted to validate the bio-analytical method by conducting the sensitivity, selectivity, precision accuracy batch, carryover test and matrix stability experiments. Furthermore, we also implemented our validated method for evaluation of pharmacokinetics of omega fatty acid ethyl ester formulations. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. SiC nanoparticles-modified glassy carbon electrodes for simultaneous determination of purine and pyrimidine DNA bases.

    PubMed

    Ghavami, Raouf; Salimi, Abdollah; Navaee, Aso

    2011-05-15

    For the first time a novel and simple electrochemical method was used for simultaneous detection of DNA bases (guanine, adenine, thymine and cytosine) without any pretreatment or separation process. Glassy carbon electrode modified with silicon carbide nanoparticles (SiCNP/GC), have been used for electrocatalytic oxidation of purine (guanine and adenine) and pyrimidine bases (thymine and cytosine) nucleotides. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques were used to examine the structure of the SiCNP/GC modified electrode. The modified electrode shows excellent electrocatalytic activity toward guanine, adenine, thymine and cytosine. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was proposed for simultaneous determination of four DNA bases. The effects of different parameters such as the thickness of SiC layer, pulse amplitude, scan rate, supporting electrolyte composition and pH were optimized to obtain the best peak potential separation and higher sensitivity. Detection limit, sensitivity and linear concentration range of the modified electrode toward proposed analytes were calculated for, guanine, adenine, thymine and cytosine, respectively. As shown this sensor can be used for nanomolar or micromolar detection of different DNA bases simultaneously or individually. This sensor also exhibits good stability, reproducibility and long lifetime. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Characteristics of Hydrogen Sensors Based on Thin Tin Dioxide Films Modified with Gold

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Almaev, A. V.; Gaman, V. I.

    2017-11-01

    Effect of hydrogen in the concentration range from 10 to 2000 ppm on the characteristics of sensors based on thin films of tin dioxide modified with gold (Au/SnO2:Sb, Au) is studied in the thermo-cyclic mode at temperatures from 623 to 773 K and absolute humidity from 2.5 to 20 g/m3. Experimental data are discussed using expressions obtained within the framework of a model that takes into account the presence of three types of adsorbed particles (O¯, OH, and OH¯) on the surface of SnO2 nanocrystals. The characteristics of the sensors based on thin Pt/Pd/SnO2:Sb films (the first series) are compared with those of Au/SnO2:Sb, Au films (the second series). It is found that the degree of dissociation of molecular hydrogen into atoms during adsorption on the sensor under interaction with Au particles on the SnO2 surface is 4 times greater than that under interaction with Pt/Pd particles. The degree of dissociation of H2O molecules into hydrogen atoms and hydroxyl groups in pure moist air on the surface of the sensors of the second series is 1.6 times greater than that for the sensors of the first series. Thus, gold is a more effective stimulator of the dissociation of H2 and H2O molecules than platinum and palladium. A formula is obtained that describes more accurately the dependence of the response of the sensors of both series to the effect of hydrogen on the concentration of this gas and on the temperature of the measuring devices.

  13. Perovskite LaTiO₃-Ag0.2 nanomaterials for nonenzymatic glucose sensor with high performance.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yin-zhu; Zhong, Hui; Li, Xiao-mo; Jia, Fei-fei; Shi, Yi-xiang; Zhang, Wei-guang; Cheng, Zhi-peng; Zhang, Li-li; Wang, Ji-kui

    2013-10-15

    In this paper, a nonenzymatic glucose biosensor based on perovskite LaTiO3-Ag0.2(LTA) modified electrode was presented. The morphology and the composition of the perovskite LaTiO₃-Ag0.2 nanomaterials were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) respectively. The LaTiO₃-Ag0.2(LTA) composite was investigated by electrochemical characterization using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Under optimal conditions, CV and chronoamperometry (I-t) study revealed that, compared with the bare glassy carbon electrode (GCE), the modified electrode showed a remarkable increase in the efficiency of the electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose, starting at around +0.70 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The prepared sensor exhibited a high sensitivity of 784.14 µAmM⁻¹ cm⁻², a low detection limit of 2.1×10⁻⁷ M and a wide linear range from 2.5 µM to 4 mM (R=0.9997). More importantly, the LTA modified electrode was also relatively insensitive to commonly interfering species such as ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA), dopamine (DA) in high potential. Moreover, the nonenzymatic sensor was applied to the determination of glucose in human serum samples and the results were in good agreement with clinical data. Electrodes modified with perovskite nanomaterials are highly promising for nonenzymatic electrochemical detection of glucose because of their high sensitivity, fast response, excellent stability and good reproducibility. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. A method of calibrating wind velocity sensors with a modified gas flow calibrator

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stump, H. P.

    1978-01-01

    A procedure was described for calibrating air velocity sensors in the exhaust flow of a gas flow calibrator. The average velocity in the test section located at the calibrator exhaust was verified from the mass flow rate accurately measured by the calibrator's precision sonic nozzles. Air at elevated pressures flowed through a series of screens, diameter changes, and flow straighteners, resulting in a smooth flow through the open test section. The modified system generated air velocities of 2 to 90 meters per second with an uncertainty of about two percent for speeds below 15 meters per second and four percent for the higher speeds. Wind tunnel data correlated well with that taken in the flow calibrator.

  15. Development of a Portable DNA Sensor System

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-12-01

    limited by the rate of collision of the redox label with the electrode. Sensor data collected using both methylene blue and ferrocene were very...results using ferrocene exhibit flatter baselines. Also ferrocene’s single electron transfer reaction makes a probe that is more easily modeled...Therefore, electron transfer rates were measured in the presence and absence of target using ferrocene -modified probes. The measurements and model

  16. Porous Silicon Structures as Optical Gas Sensors

    PubMed Central

    Levitsky, Igor A.

    2015-01-01

    We present a short review of recent progress in the field of optical gas sensors based on porous silicon (PSi) and PSi composites, which are separate from PSi optochemical and biological sensors for a liquid medium. Different periodical and nonperiodical PSi photonic structures (bares, modified by functional groups or infiltrated with sensory polymers) are described for gas sensing with an emphasis on the device specificity, sensitivity and stability to the environment. Special attention is paid to multiparametric sensing and sensor array platforms as effective trends for the improvement of analyte classification and quantification. Mechanisms of gas physical and chemical sorption inside PSi mesopores and pores of PSi functional composites are discussed. PMID:26287199

  17. Fabrication of nitric oxide-releasing polyurethane glucose sensor membranes

    PubMed Central

    Koh, Ahyeon; Riccio, Daniel A.; Sun, Bin; Carpenter, Alexis W.; Nichols, Scott P.; Schoenfisch, Mark H.

    2011-01-01

    Despite clear evidence that polymeric nitric oxide (NO) release coatings reduce the foreign body response (FBR) and may thus improve the analytical performance of in vivo continuous glucose monitoring devices when used as sensor membranes, the compatibility of the NO release chemistry with that required for enzymatic glucose sensing remains unclear. Herein, we describe the fabrication and characterization of NO-releasing polyurethane sensor membranes using NO donor-modified silica vehicles embedded within the polymer. In addition to demonstrating tunable NO release as a function of the NO donor silica scaffold and polymer compositions and concentrations, we describe the impact of the NO release vehicle and its release kinetics on glucose sensor performance. PMID:21795038

  18. Simultaneous determination of hydroxylamine and phenol using a nanostructure-based electrochemical sensor.

    PubMed

    Moghaddam, Hadi Mahmoudi; Beitollahi, Hadi; Tajik, Somayeh; Malakootian, Mohammad; Maleh, Hassan Karimi

    2014-11-01

    The electrochemical oxidation of hydroxylamine on the surface of a carbon paste electrode modified with carbon nanotubes and 2,7-bis(ferrocenyl ethyl)fluoren-9-one is studied. The electrochemical response characteristics of the modified electrode toward hydroxylamine and phenol were investigated. The results showed an efficient catalytic activity of the electrode for the electro-oxidation of hydroxylamine, which leads to lowering its overpotential. The modified electrode exhibits an efficient electron-mediating behavior together with well-separated oxidation peaks for hydroxylamine and phenol. Also, the modified electrode was used for determination of hydroxylamine and phenol in some real samples.

  19. Chemical Sensors Based on IR Spectroscopy and Surface-Modified Waveguides

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lopez, Gabriel P.; Niemczyk, Thomas

    1999-01-01

    Sol-gel processing techniques have been used to apply thin porous films to the surfaces of planar infrared (IR) waveguides to produce widely useful chemical sensors. The thin- film coating serves to diminish the concentration of water and increase the concentration of the analyte in the region probed by the evanescent IR wave. These porous films are composed of silica, and therefore, conventional silica surface modification techniques can be used to give the surface a specific functional character. The sol-gel film was surface-modified to make the film highly hydrophobic. These sensors were shown to be capable of detecting non-polar organic analytes, such as benzonitrile, in aqueous solution with detection limits in the ppb range. Further, these porous sol-gel structures allow the analytes to diffuse into and out of the films rapidly, thus reaching equilibrium in less than ten seconds. These sensors are unique because of the fact that their operation is based on the measurement of an IR absorption spectrum. Thus, these sensors are able to identify the analytes as well as measure concentration with high sensitivity. These developments have been documented in previous reports and publications. Recently, we have also targeted detection of the polar organic molecules acetone and isopropanol in aqueous solution. Polar organics are widely used in industrial and chemical processes, hence it is of interest to monitor their presence in effluents or decontamination process flows. Although large improvements in detection limits were expected with non-polar organic molecules in aqueous solutions using very hydrophobic porous sol-gel films on silicon attenuated total reflectance (Si ATR) waveguides, it was not as clear what the detection enhancements might be for polar organic molecules. This report describes the use of modified sol-gel-coated Si ATR sensors for trace detection and quantitation of small polar organic molecules in aqueous solutions. The detection of both acetone and isopropanol molecules in aqueous solution has been previously reported for chalcogenide fiber optic sensors. The sol-gel film was produced using a mixture of ethyltriethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane and the surface modification was carried out using trimethylchlorosilane. We have demonstrated that this film concentrates the target polar analytes from aqueous solution in the region probed by the evanescent wave to improve detection limits by as much as a factor of 450.

  20. Respiratory monitoring by porphyrin modified quartz crystal microbalance sensors.

    PubMed

    Selyanchyn, Roman; Korposh, Serhiy; Wakamatsu, Shunichi; Lee, Seung-Woo

    2011-01-01

    A respiratory monitoring system based on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor with a functional film was designed and investigated. Porphyrins 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-sulfophenyl)-21H,23H-porphine (TSPP) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-sulfophenyl)-21H, 23H-porphine manganese (III) chloride (MnTSPP) used as sensitive elements were assembled with a poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDDA). Films were deposited on the QCM resonators using layer-by-layer method in order to develop the sensor. The developed system, in which the sensor response reflects lung movements, was able to track human respiration providing respiratory rate (RR) and respiratory pattern (RP). The sensor system was tested on healthy volunteers to compare RPs and calculate RRs. The operation principle of the proposed system is based on the fast adsorption/desorption behavior of water originated from human breath into the sensor films deposited on the QCM electrode.

  1. Gas identification by dynamic measurements of SnO2 sensors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vorobioff, Juan; Rodriguez, Daniel; Boselli, Alfredo; Lamagna, Alberto; Rinaldi, Carlos

    2011-09-01

    It is well know that the use of chambers with the sensors in the e-nose improves the measurements, due to a constant gas flow and the controlled temperature sensors[1]. Normally, the chamber temperature is above room temperature due to the heat generated by the heater of sensors. Also, the chamber takes a long time to reach a stable equilibrium temperature and it depends on enviromental conditions. Besides, the temperature variations modify the humidity producing variations in resistance measurements[2]. In this work using a heater system that controls the temperature of the chamber, the desorption process on SnO2 sensor array was study[3]. Also, it was fitted the data signal sensors using a two exponential decay functions in order to determine the desorbing constant process. These constants were used to classify and identify different alcohols and their concentrations.

  2. Respiratory Monitoring by Porphyrin Modified Quartz Crystal Microbalance Sensors

    PubMed Central

    Selyanchyn, Roman; Korposh, Serhiy; Wakamatsu, Shunichi; Lee, Seung-Woo

    2011-01-01

    A respiratory monitoring system based on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor with a functional film was designed and investigated. Porphyrins 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-sulfophenyl)-21H,23H-porphine (TSPP) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-sulfophenyl)-21H, 23H-porphine manganese (III) chloride (MnTSPP) used as sensitive elements were assembled with a poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDDA). Films were deposited on the QCM resonators using layer-by-layer method in order to develop the sensor. The developed system, in which the sensor response reflects lung movements, was able to track human respiration providing respiratory rate (RR) and respiratory pattern (RP). The sensor system was tested on healthy volunteers to compare RPs and calculate RRs. The operation principle of the proposed system is based on the fast adsorption/desorption behavior of water originated from human breath into the sensor films deposited on the QCM electrode. PMID:22346621

  3. Applications of Ionic Liquids for the Development of Optical Chemical Sensors and Biosensors.

    PubMed

    Muginova, Svetlana V; Myasnikova, Dina A; Kazarian, Sergei G; Shekhovtsova, Tatiana N

    2017-01-01

    This paper reviews the primary literature reporting the use of ionic liquids (ILs) in optical sensing technologies. The optical chemical sensors that have been developed with the assistance of ILs are classified according to the type of resultant material. Key aspects of applying ILs in such sensors are revealed and discussed. They include using ILs as solvents for the synthesis of sensor matrix materials; additives in polymer matrices; matrix materials; modifiers of the surfaces; and multifunctional sensor components. The operational principles, design, texture, and analytical characteristics of the offered sensors for determining CO 2 , O 2 , metal ions, CN - , and various organic compounds are critically discussed. The key advantages and disadvantages of using ILs in optical sensing technologies are defined. Finally, the applicability of the described materials for chemical analysis is evaluated, and possibilities for their further modernization are outlined.

  4. A New Sensitive Sensor for Simultaneous Differential Pulse Voltammetric Determination of Codeine and Acetaminophen Using a Hydroquinone Derivative and Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes Carbon Paste Electrode

    PubMed Central

    Garazhian, Elahe; Shishehbore, M. Reza

    2015-01-01

    A new sensitive sensor was fabricated for simultaneous determination of codeine and acetaminophen based on 4-hydroxy-2-(triphenylphosphonio)phenolate (HTP) and multiwall carbon nanotubes paste electrode at trace levels. The sensitivity of codeine determination was deeply affected by spiking multiwall carbon nanotubes and a modifier in carbon paste. Electron transfer coefficient, α, catalytic electron rate constant, k, and the exchange current density, j 0, for oxidation of codeine at the HTP-MWCNT-CPE were calculated using cyclic voltammetry. The calibration curve was linear over the range 0.2–844.7 μM with two linear segments, and the detection limit of 0.063 μM of codeine was obtained using differential pulse voltammetry. The modified electrode was separated codeine and acetaminophen signals by differential pulse voltammetry. The modified electrode was applied for the determination of codeine and acetaminophen in biological and pharmaceutical samples with satisfactory results. PMID:25945094

  5. Microminiature high-resolution linear displacement sensor for peak strain detection in smart structures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Arms, Steven W.; Guzik, David C.; Townsend, Christopher P.

    1998-07-01

    Critical civil and military structures require 'smart' sensors in order to report their strain histories; this can help to insure safe operation after exposure to potentially damaging loads. A passive resetable peak strain detector was developed by modifying the mechanics of a differential variable reluctance transducer. The peak strain detector was attached to an aluminum test beam along with a bonded resistance strain gauge and a standard DVRT. Strain measurements were recorded during cyclic beam deflections. DVRT output was compared to the bonded resistance strain gauge output, yielding correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9989 to 0.9998 for al teste, including re-attachment of the DVRT to the specimen. Peak bending strains were obtained by the modified peak detect DVRT to the specimen. Peak bending strains were obtained by the modified peak detect DVRT and this was compared to the peak bending strains as measured by the bonded strain gauge. The peak detect DVRT demonstrated an accuracy of approximately +/- 5 percent over a peak range of 2000 to 2800 microstrain.

  6. A voltammetric determination of caffeic acid in red wines based on the nitrogen doped carbon modified glassy carbon electrode.

    PubMed

    Karikalan, Natarajan; Karthik, Raj; Chen, Shen-Ming; Chen, Hsi-An

    2017-04-05

    We reported an electrochemical determination of caffeic acid (CA) based on the nitrogen doped carbon (NDC). The described sensor material was prepared by the flame synthesis method, which gave an excellent platform for the synthesis of carbon nanomaterials with the hetero atom dopant. The synthesized material was confirmed by various physical characterizations and it was further characterized by different electrochemical experiments. The NDC modified glassy carbon electrode (NDC/GCE) shows the superior electrocatalytic performance towards the determination of CA with the wide linear concentration range from 0.01 to 350 μM. It achieves the lowest detection limit of 0.0024 μM and the limit of quantification of 0.004 μM. The NDC/GCE-CA sensor reveals the good selectivity, stability, sensitivity and reproducibility which endorsed that the NDC is promising electrode for the determination of CA. In addition, NDC modified electrode is applied to the determination of CA in red wines and acquired good results.

  7. Modeling Sensor Reliability in Fault Diagnosis Based on Evidence Theory

    PubMed Central

    Yuan, Kaijuan; Xiao, Fuyuan; Fei, Liguo; Kang, Bingyi; Deng, Yong

    2016-01-01

    Sensor data fusion plays an important role in fault diagnosis. Dempster–Shafer (D-R) evidence theory is widely used in fault diagnosis, since it is efficient to combine evidence from different sensors. However, under the situation where the evidence highly conflicts, it may obtain a counterintuitive result. To address the issue, a new method is proposed in this paper. Not only the statistic sensor reliability, but also the dynamic sensor reliability are taken into consideration. The evidence distance function and the belief entropy are combined to obtain the dynamic reliability of each sensor report. A weighted averaging method is adopted to modify the conflict evidence by assigning different weights to evidence according to sensor reliability. The proposed method has better performance in conflict management and fault diagnosis due to the fact that the information volume of each sensor report is taken into consideration. An application in fault diagnosis based on sensor fusion is illustrated to show the efficiency of the proposed method. The results show that the proposed method improves the accuracy of fault diagnosis from 81.19% to 89.48% compared to the existing methods. PMID:26797611

  8. Utility of Von Pechman synthesis of coumarin reaction for development of spectrofluorimetric method for quantitation of salmeterol xinafoate in pharmaceutical preparations and human plasma.

    PubMed

    Awad, Mohamed; Hammad, Mohamed A; Abdel-Megied, Ahmed M; Omar, Mahmoud A

    2018-04-30

    Simple, precise and selective spectrofluorimetric technique was evolved for quantitation of selective β 2 agonist drug namely salmeterol xinafoate (SAL). Utilizing its phenolic nature, a method was described based on the reaction of the studied drug with ethyl acetoacetate (EAA) to yield extremely fluorescent coumarin product which can be detected at 480 nm (λ ex  = 420 nm). The procedure obeys Beer's law with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.9999 in the concentration range between 500 and 5000 ng ml -1 with and 177 ng ml -1 for limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ), respectively. Diverse reaction variables influencing the firmness and formation of the coumarin product were accurately examined and modified to ensure greatest sensitivity of the procedure. The proposed technique was performed and examined according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for bio-analytical methods and was efficiently applied for quantitation of SAL in both pharmaceutical preparations (% recovery = 100.06 ± 1.07) and spiked human plasma (% recovery = 96.64-97.14 ± 1.01-1.52). Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  9. Automated sample preparation using membrane microtiter extraction for bioanalytical mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Janiszewski, J; Schneider, P; Hoffmaster, K; Swyden, M; Wells, D; Fouda, H

    1997-01-01

    The development and application of membrane solid phase extraction (SPE) in 96-well microtiter plate format is described for the automated analysis of drugs in biological fluids. The small bed volume of the membrane allows elution of the analyte in a very small solvent volume, permitting direct HPLC injection and negating the need for the time consuming solvent evaporation step. A programmable liquid handling station (Quadra 96) was modified to automate all SPE steps. To avoid drying of the SPE bed and to enhance the analytical precision a novel protocol for performing the condition, load and wash steps in rapid succession was utilized. A block of 96 samples can now be extracted in 10 min., about 30 times faster than manual solvent extraction or single cartridge SPE methods. This processing speed complements the high-throughput speed of contemporary high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) analysis. The quantitative analysis of a test analyte (Ziprasidone) in plasma demonstrates the utility and throughput of membrane SPE in combination with HPLC/MS. The results obtained with the current automated procedure compare favorably with those obtained using solvent and traditional solid phase extraction methods. The method has been used for the analysis of numerous drug prototypes in biological fluids to support drug discovery efforts.

  10. Aptamers: multifunctional molecules for biomedical research.

    PubMed

    Banerjee, Jayeeta; Nilsen-Hamilton, Marit

    2013-12-01

    Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides that fold into well-defined three-dimensional shapes, allowing them to bind their targets with high affinity and specificity. They can be generated through an in vitro process called "Systemic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment" and applied for specific detection, inhibition, and characterization of various targets like small organic and inorganic molecules, proteins, and whole cells. Aptamers have also been called chemical antibodies because of their synthetic origin and their similar modes of action to antibodies. They exhibit significant advantages over antibodies in terms of their small size, synthetic accessibility, and ability to be chemically modified and thus endowed with new properties. The first generation of aptamer drug "Macugen" was available for public use within 25 years of the discovery of aptamers. With others in the pipeline for clinical trials, this emerging field of medical biotechnology is raising significant interest. However, aptamers pose different problems for their development than for antibodies that need to be addressed to achieve practical applications. It is likely that current developments in aptamer engineering will be the basis for the evolution of improved future bioanalytical and biomedical applications. The present review discusses the development of aptamers for therapeutics, drug delivery, target validation and imaging, and reviews some of the challenges to fully realizing the promise of aptamers in biomedical applications.

  11. AUV SLAM and Experiments Using a Mechanical Scanning Forward-Looking Sonar

    PubMed Central

    He, Bo; Liang, Yan; Feng, Xiao; Nian, Rui; Yan, Tianhong; Li, Minghui; Zhang, Shujing

    2012-01-01

    Navigation technology is one of the most important challenges in the applications of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) which navigate in the complex undersea environment. The ability of localizing a robot and accurately mapping its surroundings simultaneously, namely the simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) problem, is a key prerequisite of truly autonomous robots. In this paper, a modified-FastSLAM algorithm is proposed and used in the navigation for our C-Ranger research platform, an open-frame AUV. A mechanical scanning imaging sonar is chosen as the active sensor for the AUV. The modified-FastSLAM implements the update relying on the on-board sensors of C-Ranger. On the other hand, the algorithm employs the data association which combines the single particle maximum likelihood method with modified negative evidence method, and uses the rank-based resampling to overcome the particle depletion problem. In order to verify the feasibility of the proposed methods, both simulation experiments and sea trials for C-Ranger are conducted. The experimental results show the modified-FastSLAM employed for the navigation of the C-Ranger AUV is much more effective and accurate compared with the traditional methods. PMID:23012549

  12. AUV SLAM and experiments using a mechanical scanning forward-looking sonar.

    PubMed

    He, Bo; Liang, Yan; Feng, Xiao; Nian, Rui; Yan, Tianhong; Li, Minghui; Zhang, Shujing

    2012-01-01

    Navigation technology is one of the most important challenges in the applications of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) which navigate in the complex undersea environment. The ability of localizing a robot and accurately mapping its surroundings simultaneously, namely the simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) problem, is a key prerequisite of truly autonomous robots. In this paper, a modified-FastSLAM algorithm is proposed and used in the navigation for our C-Ranger research platform, an open-frame AUV. A mechanical scanning imaging sonar is chosen as the active sensor for the AUV. The modified-FastSLAM implements the update relying on the on-board sensors of C-Ranger. On the other hand, the algorithm employs the data association which combines the single particle maximum likelihood method with modified negative evidence method, and uses the rank-based resampling to overcome the particle depletion problem. In order to verify the feasibility of the proposed methods, both simulation experiments and sea trials for C-Ranger are conducted. The experimental results show the modified-FastSLAM employed for the navigation of the C-Ranger AUV is much more effective and accurate compared with the traditional methods.

  13. Electrochemical sensor for ranitidine determination based on carbon paste electrode modified with oxovanadium (IV) salen complex.

    PubMed

    Raymundo-Pereira, Paulo A; Teixeira, Marcos F S; Fatibello-Filho, Orlando; Dockal, Edward R; Bonifácio, Viviane Gomes; Marcolino, Luiz H

    2013-10-01

    The preparation and electrochemical characterization of a carbon paste electrode modified with the N,N-ethylene-bis(salicyllideneiminato)oxovanadium (IV) complex ([VO(salen)]) as well as its application for ranitidine determination are described. The electrochemical behavior of the modified electrode for the electroreduction of ranitidine was investigated using cyclic voltammetry, and analytical curves were obtained for ranitidine using linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) under optimized conditions. The best voltammetric response was obtained for an electrode composition of 20% (m/m) [VO(salen)] in the paste, 0.10 mol L(-1) of KCl solution (pH 5.5 adjusted with HCl) as supporting electrolyte and scan rate of 25 mV s(-1). A sensitive linear voltammetric response for ranitidine was obtained in the concentration range from 9.9×10(-5) to 1.0×10(-3) mol L(-1), with a detection limit of 6.6×10(-5) mol L(-1) using linear sweep voltammetry. These results demonstrated the viability of this modified electrode as a sensor for determination, quality control and routine analysis of ranitidine in pharmaceutical formulations. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  14. A Facile Electrochemical Preparation of Reduced Graphene Oxide@Polydopamine Composite: A Novel Electrochemical Sensing Platform for Amperometric Detection of Chlorpromazine

    PubMed Central

    Palanisamy, Selvakumar; Thirumalraj, Balamurugan; Chen, Shen-Ming; Wang, Yi-Ting; Velusamy, Vijayalakshmi; Ramaraj, Sayee Kannan

    2016-01-01

    We report a novel and sensitive amperometric sensor for chlorpromazine (CPZ) based on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and polydopamine (PDA) composite modified glassy carbon electrode. The RGO@PDA composite was prepared by electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO) with PDA. The RGO@PDA composite modified electrode shows an excellent electro-oxidation behavior to CPZ when compared with other modified electrodes such as GO, RGO and GO@PDA. Amperometric i-t method was used for the determination of CPZ. Amperometry result shows that the RGO@PDA composite detects CPZ in a linear range from 0.03 to 967.6 μM. The sensor exhibits a low detection limit of 0.0018 μM with the analytical sensitivity of 3.63 ± 0.3 μAμM–1 cm–2. The RGO@PDA composite shows its high selectivity towards CPZ in the presence of potentially interfering drugs such as metronidazole, phenobarbital, chlorpheniramine maleate, pyridoxine and riboflavin. In addition, the fabricated RGO@PDA modified electrode showed an appropriate recovery towards CPZ in the pharmaceutical tablets. PMID:27650697

  15. Regulatory mechanisms of thiol-based redox sensors: lessons learned from structural studies on prokaryotic redox sensors.

    PubMed

    Lee, Sang Jae; Kim, Dong-Gyun; Lee, Kyu-Yeon; Koo, Ji Sung; Lee, Bong-Jin

    2018-05-17

    Oxidative stresses, such as reactive oxygen species, reactive electrophilic species, reactive nitrogen species, and reactive chlorine species, can damage cellular components, leading to cellular malfunction and death. In response to oxidative stress, bacteria have evolved redox-responsive sensors that enable them to simultaneously monitor and eradicate potential oxidative stress. Specifically, redox-sensing transcription regulators react to oxidative stress by means of modifying the thiol groups of cysteine residues, functioning as part of an efficient survival mechanism for many bacteria. In general, oxidative molecules can induce changes in the three-dimensional structures of redox sensors, which, in turn, affects the transcription of specific genes in detoxification pathways and defense mechanisms. Moreover, pathogenic bacteria utilize these redox sensors for adaptation and to evade subsequent oxidative attacks from host immune defense. For this reason, the redox sensors of pathogenic bacteria are potential antibiotic targets. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of thiol-based redox sensors in bacteria will provide insight and knowledge into the discovery of new antibiotics.

  16. Recent progress on mid-IR sensing with optical fibers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kellner, Robert A.; Gobel, R.; Goetz, R.; Lendl, B.; Edl-Mizaikoff, B.; Tacke, Maurus; Katzir, Abraham

    1995-09-01

    Chemical sensors are analytical systems for the evaluation of compound- or ion-specific or - selective signals produced by specific or selective chemical reactions taking place at the interface between the chemically modified sensor surface and the substrate. The well known electrochemical sensing schemes have greatly contributed that sensors are considered now as the 'third supporting pillar of analytical chemistry' besides chromatography and spectroscopy. The aim of this paper is to describe the novel capabilities of chemical modified IR-transparent fibers as chemical IR-sensors for the on-line analysis of chlorinated hydrocarbons and organic compounds in aqueous solutions and gaseous mixtures, glucose, and sucrose in aqueous solution as developed in our laboratory. Moreover, the relative merits of this new method wil be depicted in comparison to other sensing techniques. Optical fiber sensors are novel analysis systems, based on molecular spectroscopy in the UV/VIS/IR-range. They benefit from the tremendous development in the field of optical fibers, an offspring of the telecommunication industry and the electronic revolution during the last few years. With the development of new materials besides the well known quartz fibers for the UV/VIS/NIR-range the optical window for fiber optic sensors was enlarged from 0,2 to 20 micrometers recently. The fiber length was increased recently to up to 2 meters for silver halides and approximately 10 meters for chalcogenides. New applications for environmental, food, and clinical sensing as well as process analysis are the driving force for modern research in IR-optical fiber sensors using mainly sapphire (Al2O3), chalcogenide (As-Se-Te) and silver halide (AgBr/AgCl) fibers and flow injection analysis (FIA) systems. Few representative examples for each of the various optical sensor types will be presented. Particular attention will be given to the use of silver halide fibers for the simultaneous determination of traces of chlorinated hydrocarbons in water and to FIA-systems for the process analysis of beverages.

  17. Basement Membrane-Based Glucose Sensor Coatings Enhance Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Vivo.

    PubMed

    Klueh, Ulrike; Qiao, Yi; Czajkowski, Caroline; Ludzinska, Izabela; Antar, Omar; Kreutzer, Donald L

    2015-08-25

    Implantable glucose sensors demonstrate a rapid decline in function that is likely due to biofouling of the sensor. Previous efforts directed at overcoming this issue has generally focused on the use of synthetic polymer coatings, with little apparent effect in vivo, clearly a novel approach is required. We believe that the key to extending sensor life span in vivo is the development of biocompatible basement membrane (BM) based bio-hydrogels as coatings for glucose sensors. BM based bio-hydrogel sensor coatings were developed using purified BM preparations (ie, Cultrex from Trevigen Inc). Modified Abbott sensors were coated with Cultrex BM extracts. Sensor performance was evaluated for the impact of these coatings in vitro and in vivo in a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) mouse model. In vivo sensor function was assessed over a 28-day time period expressed as mean absolute relative difference (MARD) values. Tissue reactivity of both Cultrex coated and uncoated glucose sensors was evaluated at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post-sensor implantation with standard histological techniques. The data demonstrate that Cultrex-based sensor coatings had no effect on glucose sensor function in vitro. In vivo glucose sensor performance was enhanced following BM coating as determined by MARD analysis, particularly in weeks 2 and 3. In vivo studies also demonstrated that Cultrex coatings significantly decreased sensor-induced tissue reactions at the sensor implantation sites. Basement-membrane-based sensor coatings enhance glucose sensor function in vivo, by minimizing or preventing sensor-induced tissues reactions. © 2015 Diabetes Technology Society.

  18. Toxicity characterization of urban stormwater with bioanalytical tools.

    PubMed

    Tang, Janet Y M; Aryal, Rupak; Deletic, Ana; Gernjak, Wolfgang; Glenn, Eva; McCarthy, David; Escher, Beate I

    2013-10-01

    Stormwater harvesting has become an attractive alternative strategy to address the rising demand for urban water supply due to limited water sources and population growth. Nevertheless, urban stormwater is also a major source of surface water pollution. Runoff from different urban catchments with source contributions from anthropogenic activities and various land uses causes variable contaminant profiles, thus posing a challenging task for environmental monitoring and risk assessment. A thorough understanding of raw stormwater quality is essential to develop appropriate treatment facilities for potential indirect potable reuse of stormwater. While some of the key chemical components have previously been characterized, only scarce data are available on stormwater toxicity. We benchmarked stormwater samples from urban, residential and industrial sites across various Australian capital cities against samples from the entire water cycle, from sewage to drinking water. Six biological endpoints, targeting groups of chemicals with modes of toxic action of particular relevance for human and environmental health, were investigated: non-specific toxicity (Microtox and combined algae test), the specific modes of action of phytotoxicity (combined algae test), dioxin-like activity (AhR-CAFLUX), and estrogenicity (E-SCREEN), as well as reactive toxicity encompassing genotoxicity (umuC) and oxidative stress (AREc32). Non-specific toxicity was highly variable across sites. The baseline toxicity equivalent concentrations of the most polluted samples were similar to secondary treated effluent from wastewater treatment plants. Phytotoxicity results correlated well with the measured herbicide concentrations at all sites. High estrogenicity was found in two sampling events and could be related to sewage overflow. Genotoxicity, dioxin-like activity, and oxidative stress response were evident in only three of the samples where the stormwater drain was beside a heavy traffic road, confirming that road runoff is the potential source of contaminants, while the bioanalytical equivalent concentrations (BEQ) of these samples were similar to those of raw sewage. This study demonstrates the benefit of bioanalytical tools for screening-level stormwater quality assessment, forming the basis for the evaluation of future stormwater treatment and reuse schemes. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Development of a bioanalytical test battery for water quality monitoring: Fingerprinting identified micropollutants and their contribution to effects in surface water.

    PubMed

    Neale, Peta A; Altenburger, Rolf; Aït-Aïssa, Selim; Brion, François; Busch, Wibke; de Aragão Umbuzeiro, Gisela; Denison, Michael S; Du Pasquier, David; Hilscherová, Klára; Hollert, Henner; Morales, Daniel A; Novák, Jiří; Schlichting, Rita; Seiler, Thomas-Benjamin; Serra, Helene; Shao, Ying; Tindall, Andrew J; Tollefsen, Knut Erik; Williams, Timothy D; Escher, Beate I

    2017-10-15

    Surface waters can contain a diverse range of organic pollutants, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals and industrial compounds. While bioassays have been used for water quality monitoring, there is limited knowledge regarding the effects of individual micropollutants and their relationship to the overall mixture effect in water samples. In this study, a battery of in vitro bioassays based on human and fish cell lines and whole organism assays using bacteria, algae, daphnids and fish embryos was assembled for use in water quality monitoring. The selection of bioassays was guided by the principles of adverse outcome pathways in order to cover relevant steps in toxicity pathways known to be triggered by environmental water samples. The effects of 34 water pollutants, which were selected based on hazard quotients, available environmental quality standards and mode of action information, were fingerprinted in the bioassay test battery. There was a relatively good agreement between the experimental results and available literature effect data. The majority of the chemicals were active in the assays indicative of apical effects, while fewer chemicals had a response in the specific reporter gene assays, but these effects were typically triggered at lower concentrations. The single chemical effect data were used to improve published mixture toxicity modeling of water samples from the Danube River. While there was a slight increase in the fraction of the bioanalytical equivalents explained for the Danube River samples, for some endpoints less than 1% of the observed effect could be explained by the studied chemicals. The new mixture models essentially confirmed previous findings from many studies monitoring water quality using both chemical analysis and bioanalytical tools. In short, our results indicate that many more chemicals contribute to the biological effect than those that are typically quantified by chemical monitoring programs or those regulated by environmental quality standards. This study not only demonstrates the utility of fingerprinting single chemicals for an improved understanding of the biological effect of pollutants, but also highlights the need to apply bioassays for water quality monitoring in order to prevent underestimation of the overall biological effect. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Bioprofiling of Salvia miltiorrhiza via planar chromatography linked to (bio)assays, high resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Azadniya, Ebrahim; Morlock, Gertrud E

    2018-01-19

    An affordable bioanalytical workflow supports the collection of data on active ingredients, required for the understanding of health-related food, superfood and traditional medicines. Targeted effect-directed responses of single compounds in a complex sample highlight this powerful bioanalytical hyphenation of planar chromatography with (bio)assays. Among many reports about biological properties of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge root (Danshen) and their analytical methods, the highly efficient direct bioautography (DB) workflow has not been considered so far. There was just one TLC-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) method with a poor zone resolution apart from our two HPTLC-DB studies, however, all methods were focused on the nonpolar extracts of Danshen (tanshinones) only. The current study on HPTLC-UV/Vis/FLD-(bio)assay-HRMS, followed by streamlined scale-up to preparative layer chromatography (PLC)- 1 H-NMR, aimed at an even more streamlined, yet comprehensive bioanalytical workflow. It comprised effect-directed screening of both, its polar (containing phenolics) and nonpolar extracts (containing tanshinones) on the same HPTLC plate, the biochemical and biological profiling with four different (bio)assays and elucidation of structures of known and unidentified active compounds. The five AChE inhibitors, salvianolic acid B (SAB), lithiospermic acid (LSA) and rosmarinic acid (RA) as well as cryptotanshinone (CT) and 15,16-dihydrotanshinone I (DHTI) were confirmed, but also unidentified inhibitors were observed. In the polar extracts, SAB, LSA and RA exhibited free radical scavenging properties in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay. CT, DHTI and some unidentified nonpolar compounds were found active against Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis and Gram-negative Aliivibrio fischeri (LOD 12 ng/band for CT, and 5 ng/band for DHTI). For the first time, the most multipotent unidentified active compound zone in the B. subtilis, A. fischeri and AChE fingerprints of the nonpolar Danshen extract was identified as co-eluted band of 1,2-dihydrotanshinone and methylenetanshinquinone in the ratio of 2:1. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Nanoporous Au-based chronocoulometric aptasensor for amplified detection of Pb(2+) using DNAzyme modified with Au nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Chen; Lai, Cui; Zeng, Guangming; Huang, Danlian; Tang, Lin; Yang, Chunping; Zhou, Yaoyu; Qin, Lei; Cheng, Min

    2016-07-15

    The authors herein described an amplified detection strategy employing nanoporous Au (NPG) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to detect Pb(2+) ions in aqueous solution. The thiol modified Pb(2+)-specific DNAzyme was self-assembled onto the surface of the NPG modified electrode for hybridizing with the AuNPs labeled oligonucleotide and for forming the DNA double helix structure. Electrochemical signal, redox charge of hexaammineruthenium(III) chloride (RuHex), was measured by chronocoulometry. Taking advantage of amplification effects of the NPG electrode for increasing the reaction sites of capture probe and DNA-AuNPs complexes for bringing about the adsorption of large numbers of RuHex molecules, this electrochemical sensor could detect Pb(2+) quantitatively, in the range of 0.05-100nM, with a limit of detection as low as 0.012nM. Selectivity measurements revealed that the sensor was specific for Pb(2+) even with interference by high concentrations of other metal ions. This sensor was also used to detect Pb(2+) ions from samples of tap water, river water, and landfill leachate samples spiked with Pb(2+) ions, and the results showed good agreement with the found values determined by an atomic fluorescence spectrometer. This simple aptasensor represented a promising potential for on-site detecting Pb(2+) in drinking water. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. An ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescent sensor based on a pencil graphite electrode modified with CdS nanorods for detection of chlorogenic acid in honeysuckle.

    PubMed

    Zheng, Ruijuan; Zhong, Jianhai; Zhao, Chenhao; Lang, Xiaoling; Hu, Zhibiao; Luo, Jiangshui

    2017-08-01

    In this paper, a novel and ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescent sensor employing a solvothermal-synthesized CdS nanorod-modified pencil graphite electrode (CdS/PGE) for the determination of chlorogenic acid (CA) is fabricated. In the first step, the PGE surface is modified using CdS nanorods. In the next step, the developed electrode is used to detect CA using a electrochemiluminescent (ECL) technique, in which potassium persulfate (K 2 S 2 O 8 ) served as a co-reactant. The possible ECL mechanism is investigated, and the influences of pH and cyclic voltammetric scanning rate on the signal response are studied. The ECL intensity decreases quantitatively in relation to the concentration of the target molecule. Under optimized conditions, the linear correlation between the quenched ECL intensity and the logarithm of CA concentration is observed in the range from 2 × 10 -9 to 8 × 10 -7  mol L -1 with a limit of detection of 1 × 10 -9  mol L -1 . This proposed method is applied to the analysis of CA in honeysuckle flower, giving recoveries of 99-107%. The experimental results demonstrate that this ECL sensor shows good stability and reproducibility. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  3. Investigation of gas surface interactions at self-assembled silicon surfaces acting as gas sensors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Narducci, Dario; Bernardinello, Patrizia; Oldani, Matteo

    2003-05-01

    This paper reports the results of an investigation aimed at using self-assembled monolayers to modify the supramolecular interactions between Si surfaces and gaseous molecules. The specific goal is that of employing molecularly imprinted silicon surfaces to develop a new class of chemical sensors capable to detect species with enhanced selectivity. Single-crystal p-type (0 0 1) silicon has been modified by grafting organic molecules onto its surface by using wet chemistry synthetic methods. Silicon has been activated toward nucleophilic attack by brominating its surface using a modified version of the purple etch, and aromatic fragments have been bonded through the formation of direct Si-C bonds onto it using Grignard reagents or lithium aryl species. Formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) was verified by using vibrational spectroscopy. Porous metal-SAM-Si diodes have been successfully tested as resistive chemical sensors toward NO x, SO x, CO, NH 3 and methane. Current-voltage characteristics measured at different gas compositions showed that the mechanism of surface electron density modulation involves a modification of the junction barrier height upon gas adsorption. Quantum-mechanical simulations of the interaction mechanism were carried out using different computational methods to support such an interaction mechanism. The results obtained appear to open up new relevant applications of the SAM techniques in the area of gas sensing.

  4. Comparison of Uncalibrated Rgbvi with Spectrometer-Based Ndvi Derived from Uav Sensing Systems on Field Scale

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bareth, G.; Bolten, A.; Gnyp, M. L.; Reusch, S.; Jasper, J.

    2016-06-01

    The development of UAV-based sensing systems for agronomic applications serves the improvement of crop management. The latter is in the focus of precision agriculture which intends to optimize yield, fertilizer input, and crop protection. Besides, in some cropping systems vehicle-based sensing devices are less suitable because fields cannot be entered from certain growing stages onwards. This is true for rice, maize, sorghum, and many more crops. Consequently, UAV-based sensing approaches fill a niche of very high resolution data acquisition on the field scale in space and time. While mounting RGB digital compact cameras to low-weight UAVs (< 5 kg) is well established, the miniaturization of sensors in the last years also enables hyperspectral data acquisition from those platforms. From both, RGB and hyperspectral data, vegetation indices (VIs) are computed to estimate crop growth parameters. In this contribution, we compare two different sensing approaches from a low-weight UAV platform (< 5 kg) for monitoring a nitrogen field experiment of winter wheat and a corresponding farmers' field in Western Germany. (i) A standard digital compact camera was flown to acquire RGB images which are used to compute the RGBVI and (ii) NDVI is computed from a newly modified version of the Yara N-Sensor. The latter is a well-established tractor-based hyperspectral sensor for crop management and is available on the market since a decade. It was modified for this study to fit the requirements of UAV-based data acquisition. Consequently, we focus on three objectives in this contribution: (1) to evaluate the potential of the uncalibrated RGBVI for monitoring nitrogen status in winter wheat, (2) investigate the UAV-based performance of the modified Yara N-Sensor, and (3) compare the results of the two different UAV-based sensing approaches for winter wheat.

  5. Fabrication of 3D Carbon Microelectromechanical Systems (C-MEMS).

    PubMed

    Pramanick, Bidhan; Martinez-Chapa, Sergio O; Madou, Marc; Hwang, Hyundoo

    2017-06-17

    A wide range of carbon sources are available in nature, with a variety of micro-/nanostructure configurations. Here, a novel technique to fabricate long and hollow glassy carbon microfibers derived from human hairs is introduced. The long and hollow carbon structures were made by the pyrolysis of human hair at 900 °C in a N2 atmosphere. The morphology and chemical composition of natural and pyrolyzed human hairs were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), respectively, to estimate the physical and chemical changes due to pyrolysis. Raman spectroscopy was used to confirm the glassy nature of the carbon microstructures. Pyrolyzed hair carbon was introduced to modify screen-printed carbon electrodes ; the modified electrodes were then applied to the electrochemical sensing of dopamine and ascorbic acid. Sensing performance of the modified sensors was improved as compared to the unmodified sensors. To obtain the desired carbon structure design, carbon micro-/nanoelectromechanical system (C-MEMS/C-NEMS) technology was developed. The most common C-MEMS/C-NEMS fabrication process consists of two steps: (i) the patterning of a carbon-rich base material, such as a photosensitive polymer, using photolithography; and (ii) carbonization through the pyrolysis of the patterned polymer in an oxygen-free environment. The C-MEMS/NEMS process has been widely used to develop microelectronic devices for various applications, including in micro-batteries, supercapacitors, glucose sensors, gas sensors, fuel cells, and triboelectric nanogenerators. Here, recent developments of a high-aspect ratio solid and hollow carbon microstructures with SU8 photoresists are discussed. The structural shrinkage during pyrolysis was investigated using confocal microscopy and SEM. Raman spectroscopy was used to confirm the crystallinity of the structure, and the atomic percentage of the elements present in the material before and after pyrolysis was measured using EDX.

  6. Novel Approach of a Phage-Based Magnetoelastic Biosensor for the Detection of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in Soil.

    PubMed

    Park, Mi-Kyung; Chin, Bryan A

    2016-12-28

    To date, there has been no employment of a magnetoelastic (ME) biosensor method to detect Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in soil. The ME biosensor method needs to be investigated and modified for its successful performance. The filtration method, cation-exchange resin method, and combinations of both methods were employed for the extraction of S . Typhimurium from soil. The number of S . Typhimurium and the resonant frequency shift of the ME sensor were then compared using a brilliant green sulfa agar plate and an HP 8751A network analyzer. A blocking study was performed using bovine serum albumin (BSA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and casein powder suspension. Finally, the modified ME biosensor method was performed to detect S . Typhimurium in soil. The number of S . Typhimurium was significantly decreased from 7.10 log CFU/soil to 4.45-4.72 log CFU/soil after introduction of the cation-exchange resin method. The greatest resonant frequency shift of the measurement sensor was found when employing centrifugation and filtration procedures. The resonant frequency shift of the PEG-blocked measurement sensor was 3,219 ± 755 Hz, which was significantly greater than those of the BSA- and casein-blocked ME sensor. The optimum concentration of PEG was determined to be 1.0 mg/ml after considering the resonant shift and economic issue. Finally, the modified ME biosensor method was able to detect S . Typhimurium in soil in a dose-response manner. Although these modifications of the ME biosensor method sacrificed some advantages, such as cost, time effectiveness, and operator friendliness, this study demonstrated a novel approach of the ME biosensor method to detect S . Typhimurium in soil.

  7. A simple ultrasensitive electrochemical sensor for simultaneous determination of gallic acid and uric acid in human urine and fruit juices based on zirconia-choline chloride-gold nanoparticles-modified carbon paste electrode.

    PubMed

    Shahamirifard, Seyed Alireza; Ghaedi, Mehrorang; Razmi, Zahra; Hajati, Shaaker

    2018-08-30

    The determination of gallic acid (GA) and uric acid (UA) is essential due to their biological properties. Numerous methods have been reported for the analysis of GA and UA in various real samples. However, the development of a simple, rapid and practical sensor still remains a great challenge. Here, a carbon paste electrode (CPE) was modified by nanocomposite containing zirconia nanoparticles (ZrO 2 NPs), Choline chloride (ChCl) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to construct ZrO 2 -ChCl-AuNPs/CPE as electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous electro-oxidation of GA and UA. Characterization was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The modified electrode was investigated by different methods including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Kinetic parameters such as charge transfer coefficient, standard heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant and other parameters were calculated via voltammetry techniques. Differential pulse voltammetry was used for simultaneous determination of GA and UA applying the ZrO 2 -ChCl-AuNPs/CPE electrode. At the optimum conditions, this sensor showed a linear response in the ranges 0.22- 55 and 0.12-55 µM for GA and UA, respectively. In addition, low detection limits of 25 and 15 nM were obtained for GA and UA, respectively. Furthermore, ZrO 2 -ChCl-AuNPs/CPE was successfully applied for the independent determination of GA in green tea and fruit juice as well as the simultaneous determination of GA and UA in human urine samples. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Photopyroelectric response of PTCa∕PEEK composite.

    PubMed

    Estevam, Giuliano Pierre; de Melo, Washington Luiz Barros; Sakamoto, Walter Katsumi

    2011-02-01

    A pyroelectric composite made of calcium modified lead titanate ceramic and polyether-ether-ketone high performance polymer was obtained in the film form by hot pressing the ceramic/polymer mixture into the desired composition. After polarization with a suitable electric field, a ceramic composite film (60% vol.) exhibited a pyroelectric figure of merit three times higher than that of a lead zirconate titanate ceramic. The material was used as infrared radiation sensor. The voltage responsivity decreases with the inverse of the frequency showing the same behavior of the thermally thick sensor. The reproducibility of the sensor responses was observed.

  9. Tailor-made resealable micro(bio)reactors providing easy integration of in situ sensors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Viefhues, Martina; Sun, Shiwen; Valikhani, Donya; Nidetzky, Bernd; Vrouwe, Elwin X.; Mayr, Torsten; Bolivar, Juan M.

    2017-06-01

    Flow microreactors utilizing immobilized enzymes are of great interest in biocatalysis development. Most of the common devices are permanently closed, single-use systems, which allow limited physical and chemical surface modifications and evaluation methods. In this paper we will present resealable flowcells that overcome these limitations and moreover allow a quick and easy integration of sensor systems, because of the use of modular building blocks. The devices were utilized to study the enzyme activity of glucose oxidase immobilized on chemically modified glass surfaces under flow conditions, employing integrated optical oxygen sensors for on-line monitoring.

  10. Operationalizing Mobile Applications for Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief Missions

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-03-01

    FLAK, equipped with BGAN, WiMAX and meshed Wi-Fi gear. The group also brought power solutions such as solar cells, fuel cells, and wind turbines as...Open data kit sensors : Mobile data collection with wired and wireless sensors . Seattle, WA: Department of Computer Science and Engineering. Retrieved...activities taking place in the society. Over the years, communication has been modified from basic landlines to wireless schemes prevalent today, and

  11. Performance of a day time star sensor for a stabilized balloon platform

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rossi, E.; DiCocco, G.; Donati, A.

    1989-02-01

    A modified version of a CCD star tracker originally designed for use on the ROSAT X ray astronomy satellite, has been built for use on a three axis stabilized balloon platform. The first flight of this star sensor was planned for may 1988 from the NASA Balloon base at Palestine, Texas. The expected performance of this instrument is described along with the preflight results.

  12. Nonenzymatic amperometric determination of glucose by CuO nanocubes-graphene nanocomposite modified electrode.

    PubMed

    Luo, Liqiang; Zhu, Limei; Wang, Zhenxin

    2012-12-01

    Here, we report a nonenzymatic amperometric glucose sensor based on copper oxide (CuO) nanocubes-graphene nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (CuO-G-GCE). In this case, the graphene sheets were cast on the GCE directly. CuO nanocubes were obtained by oxidizing electrochemically deposited Cu on the graphene. The morphology of CuO-G nanocomposite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The CuO-G-GCE-based sensor exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity and high stability for glucose oxidation. Under optimized conditions, the linearity between the current response and the glucose concentration was obtained in the range of 2μM to 4mM with a detection limit of 0.7μM (S/N=3), and a high sensitivity of 1360μAmM(-1)cm(-2). The proposed electrode showed a fast response time (less than 5s) and a good reproducibility. The as-made sensor was applied to determine the glucose levels in clinic human serum samples with satisfactory results. In addition, the effects of common interfering species, including ascorbic acid, uric acid, dopamine and other carbohydrates, on the amperometric response of the sensor were investigated and discussed in detail. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. Enhanced photoelectrochemical DNA sensor based on TiO2/Au hybrid structure.

    PubMed

    Liu, Xing-Pei; Chen, Jing-Shuai; Mao, Chang-Jie; Niu, He-Lin; Song, Ji-Ming; Jin, Bao-Kang

    2018-05-23

    A novel enhanced photoelectrochemical DNA sensor, based on a TiO 2 /Au hybrid electrode structure, was developed to detect target DNA. The sensor was developed by successively modifying fluorine-tin oxide (FTO) electrodes with TiO 2 nanoparticles, gold (Au) nanoparticles, hairpin DNA (DNA1), and CdSe-COOH quantum dots (QDs), which acted as signal amplification factors. In the absence of target DNA, the incubated DNA1 hairpin and the CdSe-COOH QDs were in close contact with the TiO 2 /Au electrode surface, leading to an enhanced photocurrent intensity due to the sensitization effect. After incubation of the modified electrode with the target DNA, the hairpin DNA changed into a double helix structure, and the CdSe QDs moved away from the TiO 2 /Au electrode surface, leading to a decreased sensitization effect and photoelectrochemical signal intensity. This novel DNA sensor exhibited stable, sensitive and reproducible detection of DNA from 0.1 μM to 10 fM, with a lower detection limit of 3 fM. It provided good specificity, reproducibility, stability and is a promising strategy for the detection of a variety of other DNA targets, for early clinical diagnosis of various diseases. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Electrochemical nonenzymatic sensing of glucose using advanced nanomaterials.

    PubMed

    Dhara, Keerthy; Mahapatra, Debiprosad Roy

    2017-12-13

    An overview (with 376 refs.) is given here on the current state of methods for electrochemical sensing of glucose based on the use of advanced nanomaterials. An introduction into the field covers aspects of enzyme based sensing versus nonenzymatic sensing using nanomaterials. The next chapter cover the most commonly used nanomaterials for use in such sensors, with sections on uses of noble metals, transition metals, metal oxides, metal hydroxides, and metal sulfides, on bimetallic nanoparticles and alloys, and on other composites. A further section treats electrodes based on the use of carbon nanomaterials (with subsections on carbon nanotubes, on graphene, graphene oxide and carbon dots, and on other carbonaceous nanomaterials. The mechanisms for electro-catalysis are also discussed, and several Tables are given where the performance of sensors is being compared. Finally, the review addresses merits and limitations (such as the frequent need for working in strongly etching alkaline solutions and the need for diluting samples because sensors often have analytical ranges that are far below the glucose levels found in blood). We also address market/technology gaps in comparison to commercially available enzymatic sensors. Graphical Abstract Schematic representation of electrochemical nonenzymatic glucose sensing on the nanomaterials modified electrodes. At an applied potential, the nanomaterial-modified electrodes exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activity for direct oxidation of glucose oxidation.

  15. Magnetic nanoparticles for bio-analytical applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yedlapalli, Sri Lakshmi

    Magnetic nanoparticles are widely being used in various fields of medicine, biology and separations. This dissertation focuses on the synthesis and use of magnetic nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery and analytical separations. The goals of this research include synthesis of biocompatible surface modified monodisperse superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) by novel techniques for targeted drug delivery and use of SPIONs as analytical sensing tools. Surface modification of SPIONs was performed with two different co-polymers: tri block co-polymer Pluronics and octylamine modified polyacrylic acid. Samples of SPIONs were subsequently modified with 4 different commercially available, FDA approved tri-block copolymers (Pluronics), covering a wide range of molecular weights (5.75-14.6 kDa). A novel, technically simpler and faster phase transfer approach was developed to surface modify the SPIONs with Pluronics for drug delivery and other biomedical applications. The hydrodynamic diameter and aggregation properties of the Pluronic modified SPIONs were studied by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The coverage of SPIONs with Pluronics was supported with IR Spectroscopy and characterized by Thermo gravimetric Analysis (TGA). The drug entrapment capacity of SPIONs was studied by UV-VIS spectroscopy using a hydrophobic carbocyanine dye, which serves as a model for hydrophobic drugs. These studies resulted in a comparison of physical properties and their implications for drug loading capacities of the four types of Pluronic coated SPIONs for drug delivery assessment. These drug delivery systems could be used for passive drug targeting. However, Pluronics lack the functional group necessary for bioconjugation and hence cannot achieve active targeting. SPIONs were functionalized with octylamine modified polyacrylic acid-based copolymer, providing water solubility and facile biomolecular conjugation. Epirubicin was loaded onto SPIONs and the drug entrapment was studied by UVVIS spectrophotometry. In this study, the antisense oligonucleotide sequence to the anti-apoptopic protein survivin was coupled to SPIONs to provide molecular targeting and potential therapy for cancer cells. Successful coupling of antisense survivin to SPIONs was demonstrated by circular dichroism studies of the conjugate and its complementary sequence. Such multifunctional SPIONs can be used as active targeting agents for cancer cells, producing enhanced magnetic resonance imaging contrast and releasing chemotherapeutic agents to targeted cells. SPIONs also serve as an excellent platform for analytical sensing. Streptavidin modified SPIONs were used as substrates to immobilize biotinylated aptamers (single-stranded DNA). The binding affinity of such aptamers to its target was achieved by quantifying the amount of target released from the aptamer. This quantification was achieved using pH-mediated stacking capillary electrophoresis. SPIONs were shown to be more efficient compared to magnetic microbeads as the sensing elements. The binding affinity constant of the aptamer determined was almost 8-fold better than that obtained using magnetic microbeads.

  16. Femtosecond laser processing of optical fibres for novel sensor development

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kalli, Kyriacos; Theodosiou, Antreas; Ioannou, Andreas; Lacraz, Amedee

    2017-04-01

    We present results of recent research where we have utilized a femtosecond laser to micro-structure silica and polymer optical fibres in order to realize versatile optical components such as diffractive optical elements on the fibre end face, the inscription of integrated waveguide circuits in the fibre cladding and novel optical fibre sensors designs based on Bragg gratings in the core. A major hurdle in tailoring or modifying the properties of optical fibres is the development of an inscription method that can prove to be a flexible and reliable process that is generally applicable to all optical fibre types; this requires careful matching of the laser parameters and optics in order to examine the spatial limits of direct laser writing, whether the application is structuring at the surface of the optical fibre or inscription in the core and cladding of the fibre. We demonstrate a variety of optical components such as two-dimensional grating structures, Bessel, Airy and vortex beam generators; moreover, optical bridging waveguides inscribed in the cladding of single-mode fibre as a means to selectively couple light from single-core to multi-core optical fibres, and demonstrate a grating based sensor; finally, we have developed a novel femtosecond laser inscription method for the precise inscription of tailored Bragg grating sensors in silica and polymer optical fibres. We also show that this novel fibre Bragg grating inscription technique can be used to modify and add versatility to an existing, encapsulated optical fibre pressure sensor.

  17. Vertically grown zinc oxide nanorods functionalized with ferric oxide for in vivo and non-enzymatic glucose detection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Marie, Mohammed; Manoharan, Anishkumar; Kuchuk, Andrian; Ang, Simon; Manasreh, M. O.

    2018-03-01

    An enzyme-free glucose sensor based on vertically grown zinc oxide nanorods (NRs) functionalized with ferric oxide (Fe2O3) is investigated. The well-aligned and high density ZnO NRs were synthesized on an FTO/glass substrate by a sol-gel and hydrothermal growth method. A dip-coating technique was utilized to modify the surface of the as-grown ZnO NRs with Fe2O3. The immobilized surface was coated with a layer of nafion membrane. The fabricated glucose sensor was characterized amperometrically at room temperature using three electrodes stationed in the phosphate buffer solution, where ZnO NRs/Fe2O3/nafion membrane was the sensing or working electrode, and platinum plate and silver/silver chloride were used as the counter and reference electrodes, respectively. The proposed non-enzymatic and modified glucose sensor exhibited a high sensitivity in the order of 0.052 μA cm-2 (mg/dL)-1, a lower detection limit of around 0.95 mmol L-1, a sharp and fast response time of ˜1 s, and a linear response to changes in glucose concentrations from 100-400 mg dL-1. The linear amperometric response of the sensor covers the physiological and clinical interest of glucose levels for diabetic patients. The device continues to function accurately after multiple measurements with a good reproducibility. The proposed glucose sensor is expected to be used clinically for in vivo monitoring of glucose.

  18. Highly sensitive and selective determination of methylergometrine maleate using carbon nanofibers/silver nanoparticles composite modified carbon paste electrode.

    PubMed

    Kalambate, Pramod K; Rawool, Chaitali R; Karna, Shashi P; Srivastava, Ashwini K

    2016-12-01

    A highly sensitive and selective voltammetric method for determination of Methylergometrine maleate (MM) in pharmaceutical formulations, urine and blood serum samples has been developed based on enhanced electrochemical response of MM at carbon nanofibers and silver nanoparticles modified carbon paste electrode (CNF-AgNP-CPE). The electrode material was characterized by various techniques viz., X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The electrocatalytic response of MM at CNF-AgNP-CPE was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Under optimized conditions, the proposed sensor exhibits excellent electrochemical response towards MM. The DPV study shows greatly enhanced electrochemical signal for MM at CNF-AgNP-CPE lending high sensitivity to the proposed sensor for MM detection. The peak (Ip) current for MM is found to be rectilinear in the range 4.0×10(-8)-2.0×10(-5)M with a detection limit of 7.1×10(-9)M using DPV. The feasibility of the proposed sensor in analytical applications was investigated by conducting experiments on commercial pharmaceutical formulations, human urine and blood serum samples, which yielded satisfactory recoveries of MM. The proposed electrochemical sensor offers high sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility and practical utility. We recommend it as an authentic and productive electrochemical sensor for successful determination of MM. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  19. A controllable sensor management algorithm capable of learning

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Osadciw, Lisa A.; Veeramacheneni, Kalyan K.

    2005-03-01

    Sensor management technology progress is challenged by the geographic space it spans, the heterogeneity of the sensors, and the real-time timeframes within which plans controlling the assets are executed. This paper presents a new sensor management paradigm and demonstrates its application in a sensor management algorithm designed for a biometric access control system. This approach consists of an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm focused on uncertainty measures, which makes the high level decisions to reduce uncertainties and interfaces with the user, integrated cohesively with a bottom up evolutionary algorithm, which optimizes the sensor network"s operation as determined by the AI algorithm. The sensor management algorithm presented is composed of a Bayesian network, the AI algorithm component, and a swarm optimization algorithm, the evolutionary algorithm. Thus, the algorithm can change its own performance goals in real-time and will modify its own decisions based on observed measures within the sensor network. The definition of the measures as well as the Bayesian network determine the robustness of the algorithm and its utility in reacting dynamically to changes in the global system.

  20. Application of Notched Long-Period Fiber Grating Based Sensor for CO2 Gas Sensing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Chao-Wei; Chiang, Chia-Chin

    2016-01-01

    An inductively coupled plasma etching process to fabricate notched long-period fiber gratings for CO2 gas sensing is proposed in this article. In the gas sensing test, the 15% mixed CO2 gas was used for characterization of CO2 adsorption by the amine-modified nanoporous silica foams of the notched long-period fiber grating sensor. The results shows the spectra were changed with the CO2 gas flow within 13 min. During the absorption process, the transmission of the resonant dip was decreased by 2.884 dB. Therefore, the proposed notched long-period fiber grating gas sensor shows good performance and is suitable as a gas sensor for monitoring the CO2 adsorption process.

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