A novel method for sensing of methimazole using gold nanoparticle‐catalyzed chemiluminescent reaction

Based on the inhibition effect of methimazole (MMI) on the reaction of luminol–H₂O₂ catalyzed by gold nanoparticles, a novel chemiluminescence (CL) method was developed for the determination of MMI. Under the optimum conditions, the relative CL intensity was linearly related to MMI concentration in the range from 5.0 × 10^?8 to 5.0 × 10^?5 mol L^?1. The detection limit was 1.6 × 10^?8 mol L^?1 (S/N = 3), and the RSD for 6.0 × 10^?6 mol L^?1 MMI was 4.83 (n = 11). This method has high sensitivity, wide linear range, inexpensive instrumentation and has been applied to detect MMI in pharmaceutical tablets and pig serum samples. Furthermore, a possible reaction mechanism is discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Amino acids as novel nucleophiles for silver nanoparticle‐luminol chemiluminescence

The use of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) as reductants in chemiluminescence (CL) has been reported only rarely owing to their high oxidation potentials. Interestingly, nucleophiles could dramatically lower the oxidation potential of Ag NPs, such that in the presence of nucleophiles Ag NPS could be used as reductants to induce the CL emission of luminol, an important CL reagent widely used in forensic analysis for the detection of trace amounts of blood. Although nucleophiles are indispensible in Ag NP‐luminol CL, only inorganic nucleophiles such as Cl^‐, Br^‐, I^‐ and S₂O₃^2‐ have been shown to be efficient. The effects of organic nucleophiles on CL remain unexplored. In this study, 20 standard amino acids were evaluated as novel organic nucleophiles in Ag NP‐luminol CL. Histidine, lysine and arginine could initiate CL emission; the others could not. It is proposed that the different behaviors of 20 standard amino acids in the CL reactions derive from the interface chemistry between Ag NPs and these amino acids. UV/vis absorption spectra were studied to validate the interface chemistry. In addition, imidazole and histidine were chosen as a model pair to compare the behavior of the monodentate nucleophile with that of the corresponding multidentate nucleophile in Ag NP‐luminol CL. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chemiluminescence immunoassay for the rapid and sensitive detection of antibody against porcine parvovirus by using horseradish peroxidase/detection antibody‐coated gold nanoparticles as nanoprobes

A rapid, simple, facile, sensitive and enzyme‐amplified chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) method to detect antibodies against porcine parvovirus has been developed. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the detection antibody were simultaneously co‐immobilized on the surface of gold nanoparticles using the electrostatic method to form gold nanoparticle‐based nanoprobes. This nanoprobe was employed in a sandwich‐type CLIA, which enables CL signal readout from enzymatic catalysis and results in signal amplification. The presence of porcine parvovirus infection was determined in porcine parvovirus antibodies by measuring the CL intensity caused by the reaction of HRP–luminol with H₂O₂. Under optimal conditions, the obtained calibration plot for the standard positive serum was approximately linear within the dilution range of 1:80 to 1:5120. The limit of detection for the assay was 1:10,240 (S/N = 3), which is much lower than that typically achieved with an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (1:160; S/N = 3). A series of repeatability measurements using 1:320‐fold diluted standard positive serum gave reproducible results with a relative standard deviation of 4.9% (n = 11). The ability of the immunosensor to analyze clinical samples was tested on porcine sera. The immunosensor had an efficiency of 90%, a sensitivity of 93.3%, and a specificity of 87.5% relative to the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay results. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chemiluminescence intensities and spectra of luminol oxidation by sodium hypochlorite in the presence of hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide amplifies the chemiluminescence in the oxidation of luminol by sodium hypochlorite. A linear relationship between concentration of hydrogen peroxide and light intensity was found in the concentration range 5 × 10^?8?7.5 × 10^?6 mol/l. At 7.5 × 10^?6 mol/l H₂O₂ the chemiluminescence is amplified 550—fold. The chemiluminescence spectra of these reactions have a wavelength maximum at 431 nm independent of the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. The results indicate that hydrogen peroxide is a necessary component in the chemiluminescent oxidation of the luminol by sodium hypochlorite.     

One‐step synthesis of cationic gold nanoclusters with high catalytic activity on luminol chemiluminescence reaction

The present study reports a one‐step synthesis method for the preparation of cationic gold nanoclusters (Au NCs). Polyethyleneimine (PEI), a positively charged hyperbranched polyamine, was selected as the capping reagent. Glutathione showed a synergistic effect on the formation of the small size of cationic Au NCs. The prepared cationic Au NCs have a size less than 2 nm and carry a positive charge in solution with pH less than 11. The cationic PEI–Au NCs‐triggered luminol chemiluminescence (CL) reactions showed slow and intense CL profiles. The maximum CL intensity can be obtained within 10 min and the CL signal maintained almost the same within 30 min. A linear increase of CL intensity was observed in the presence of an increasing concentration of cationic Au NCs ranging from 0.030 μM to 15 μM. The linear response of the cationic Au NCs in the CL reaction and the glow‐type CL profile make the proposed CL reaction have broad application prospects in the field of biological analysis and CL imaging.     

A simple and sensitive flow injection chemiluminescence immunoassay for chloramphenicol based on gold nanoparticle‐loaded enzyme

A simple and ultrasensitive flow injection chemiluminescence competitive immunoassay based on gold nanoparticle‐loaded enzyme for the detection of chloramphenicol (CAP) residues in shrimp and honey has been developed. Due to their good biocompatibility and large specific surface area, carboxylic resin beads can be used as solid phase carriers to immobilize more coating antigens (Ag). In addition, gold nanoparticles could provide an effective matrix for loading more CAP antibody and horseradish peroxidase, which would effectively catalyze the system of luminol–p‐iodophenol (PIP)–H₂O₂. A competitive immunoassay strategy was used for detection of CAP, in which CAP in the sample would compete with the coating Ag for the limited antibodies, leading to a chemiluminescence (CL) signal decrease with increase in CAP concentration. A wide linear range 0.001–10 ng ml^?1 (R² = 0.9961) was obtained under optimized conditions, and the detection limit (3σ) was calculated to be 0.33 pg ml^?1. This method was also been successfully applied to determine CAP in shrimp and honey samples. The immunosensor proposed in this study not only has the advantages of high sensitivity, wider linear range, and satisfactory stability, but also expands the application of flow injection CL immunoassay in antibiotic detection.     

Trace analysis of N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine using luminol–H2O2 chemiluminescence system catalyzed by silver nanoparticles

N‐Acetyl‐L‐cysteine (NAC) can inhibit the luminol–H₂O₂, reaction, which is catalyzed by silver nanoparticles. Based on this phenomenon a new method was developed for NAC determination. Under optimum conditions, a linear relationship between chemiluminescence intensity and NAC concentration was found in the range 0.034–0.98 µg/mL. The detection limit was 0.010 µg/mL (S/N =3), and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was <5% for 0.480 µg/mL NAC (n =5). This simple, sensitive and inexpensive method has been applied to measure the concentration of NAC in pharmaceutical tablets. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rapid determination of isoamyl nitrite in pharmaceutical preparations by flow injection analysis with on‐line UV irradiation and luminol chemiluminescence detection

Isoamyl nitrite is used as a therapeutic reagent for cardiac angina and as an antidote for cyanide poisoning, but it is abused because of its euphoric properties. Therefore, a method to determine isoamyl nitrite is required in many fields, including pharmaceutical and forensic studies. In this study, a simple, rapid and sensitive method for the determination of isoamyl nitrite was developed using a flow injection analysis system equipped with a chemiluminescence detector and on‐line photoreactor. This method is based on on‐line ultraviolet irradiation of isoamyl nitrite and subsequent luminol chemiluminescence detection without the addition of an oxidant. A linear standard curve was obtained up to 1.0 μM of isoamyl nitrite with a detection limit (blank + 3SD) of 0.03 μM. The method was successfully applied to determine isoamyl nitrite content in pharmaceutical preparations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Potassium permanganate–glutaraldehyde chemiluminescence system catalyzed by gold nanoprisms toward selective determination of fluoride

Gold and silver nanoparticles (NPs) are shown to exert a positive effect on the chemiluminescence (CL) reaction of permanganate aldehydes. Interestingly, between various shapes examined, Au nanoprisms have the highest beneficial effect. This effect is even more notable in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant. UV‐vis spectra and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the NP shapes and sizes. Furthermore, it was observed that iron(III) ions can slightly increase CL emission of this system. This intensification is very effective in the presence of fluoride ions (F^–). These observations form the basis of the method for the high sensitive determination of F^– in the 6–1200 nmol L^–1 concentration range, with a detection limit of 2.1 nmol L^–1. The proposed method has good precision and was satisfactorily used in the selective determination of low concentrations of fluoride ion in real samples. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A lab‐on‐a‐chip device for analysis of amlodipine in biological fluids using peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence system

A highly sensitive, rapid and economical method for the determination of amlodipine (AM) in biological fluids was developed using a peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (CL) system in a lab‐on‐a‐chip device. Peroxyoxalate‐CL is an indirect type of CL that allows the detection of native fluorophores or compounds derivatized with fluorescent labels. Here, fluorescamine was reacted with AM, and the derivatization product was used in a bis‐(2,4,6‐trichlorophenyl)oxalate‐CL system. Fluorescamine reacts selectively with aliphatic primary amine at neutral or basic pH. As most of the calcium channel blocker and many cardiovascular drugs do not contain primary amine, the developed method is highly selective. The parameters that influenced the CL signal intensity were studied carefully. These included the chip geometry, pH, concentration of reagents used and flow rates. Moreover, we confirmed our previous observation about the effects of imidazole, which is commonly used in the bis‐(2,4,6‐trichlorophenyl)oxalate‐CL system as a catalyst, and found that the signal was significantly improved when imidazole was absent. Under optimized conditions, a calibration curve was obtained with a linear range (10–100 µg/L). The limit of detection was 3 µg/L, while the limit of quantification was 10 µg/L. Finally the method was applied for the determination of AM in biological fluids successfully. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A validated silver‐nanoparticle‐enhanced chemiluminescence method for the determination of citalopram in pharmaceutical preparations and human plasma

A simple and sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) method was developed for the determination of citalopram in pharmaceutical preparations and human plasma. The method is based on the enhancement of the weak CL signal of the luminol–H₂O₂ system. It was found that the CL signal arising from the reaction between alkaline luminol and H₂O₂ was greatly increased by the addition of silver nanoparticles in the presence of citalopram. Prepared silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Various experimental parameters affecting CL intensity were studied and optimized for the determination of citalopram. Under optimized experimental conditions, CL intensity was found to be proportional to the concentration of citalopram in the range 40–2500 ng/mL, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9997. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of the devised method were 3.78 and 12.62 ng/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the developed method was found to have excellent reproducibility with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.65% (n = 7). Potential interference by common excipients was also studied. The method was validated statistically using recovery studies and was successfully applied to the determination of citalopram in the pure form, in pharmaceutical preparations and in spiked human plasma samples. Percentage recoveries were found to range from 97.71 to 101.99% for the pure form, from 97.84 to 102.78% for pharmaceutical preparations and from 95.65 to 100.35% for spiked human plasma. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics for on‐line control of glucose fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

This work presents the use of Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics for on‐line control of the fermentation process of glucose by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In a first approach, an on‐line determination of glucose, ethanol, glycerol, and cells was accomplished using multivariate calibration based on partial least squares (PLS). The PLS models presented values of root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.53, 0.25, and 0.02% for glucose, ethanol and glycerol, respectively, and RMSEP of 1.02 g L^?1 for cells. In a second approach, multivariate control charts based on multiway principal component analysis (MPCA) were developed for detection of fermentation fault‐batch. Two multivariate control charts were developed, based on the squared prediction error (Q) and Hotelling's T². The use of the Q control chart in on‐line monitoring was efficient for detection of the faults caused by temperature, type of substrate and contamination, but the T² control chart was not able to monitor these faults. On‐line monitoring by Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with chemometric procedures allows control of the fermentative process with advantages in relation to reference methods, which require pretreatment, manipulation of samples and are time consuming. Also, the use of multivariate control charts made possible the detection of faults in a simple way, based only on the spectra of the system. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2012     

Sensitive and selective determination of fluvoxamine maleate using a sensitive chemiluminescence system based on the alkaline permanganate–Rhodamine B–gold nanoparticles reaction

A high‐yield chemiluminescence (CL) system based on the alkaline permanganate–Rhodamine B reaction was developed for the sensitive determination of fluvoxamine maleate (Flu). Rhodamine B is oxidized by alkaline KMnO₄ and a weak CL emission is produced. It was demonstrated that gold nanoparticles greatly enhance this CL emission due to their interaction with Rhodamine B molecules. It is also observed that sodium dodecyl sulfate, an anionic surfactant, can strongly increase this enhancement. In addition, it was demonstrated that a notable decrease in the CL intensity is observed in the presence of Flu. This may be related to Flu oxidation with KMnO₄. There is a linear relationship between the decrease in CL intensity and the Flu concentration over a range of 2–300 µg/L. A new simple, rapid and sensitive CL method was developed for the determination of Flu with a detection limit (3s) of 1.35 µg/L. The proposed method was used for the determination of Flu in pharmaceutical and urine samples. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chemiluminescence in the presence of ferritin

The ability of ferritins with differing iron contents to catalyze the oxidation of luminol by hydrogen peroxide was studied. The least efficient catalysts were iron-rich ferritins, and the most potent were those with iron to protein ratios of less than 0.1.     

Improving enantiomeric resolutions by avoiding peak distortion effects in on‐line coupled liquid chromatography to gas chromatography

In this work, we study the effect of different variables affecting elution profile distortion on the enantiomeric resolution eventually achievable when working with on‐line coupled liquid chromatography to gas chromatography (LC‐GC). Specifically, the proposed configuration combines achiral reversed‐phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) and chiral gas chromatography (enantio‐GC), with heptakis‐(2,3,6‐tri‐O‐methyl)‐β‐cyclodextrin as enantioselective stationary phase to analyse target fractions transferred (from LC to GC) via the through oven transfer adsorption desorption (TOTAD) interface. The high degree of orthogonality resulting from the combination of two chromatographic columns having very different separation mechanisms (and also requiring mobile phases in distinct physical states), as well as integration of the sample preparation step in the first dimension of the system, significantly contributed to exploit the performance of the proposed two‐dimensional approach. Occasional adverse effects, which may result in severe peak distortions during LC‐GC analysis and could be explained by flow instabilities due to viscous fingering, are circumvented by using the outstanding capacity of the TOTAD interface for achieving effective elimination of the eluent arriving from the LC preseparation.     

Data reconciliation of concentration estimates from mid‐infrared and dielectric spectral measurements for improved on‐line monitoring of bioprocesses

Real‐time data reconciliation of concentration estimates of process analytes and biomass in microbial fermentations is investigated. A Fourier‐transform mid‐infrared spectrometer predicting the concentrations of process metabolites is used in parallel with a dielectric spectrometer predicting the biomass concentration during a batch fermentation of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Calibration models developed off‐line for both spectrometers suffer from poor predictive capability due to instrumental and process drifts unseen during calibration. To address this problem, the predicted metabolite and biomass concentrations, along with off‐gas analysis and base addition measurements, are reconciled in real‐time based on the closure of mass and elemental balances. A statistical test is used to confirm the integrity of the balances, and a non‐negativity constraint is used to guide the data reconciliation algorithm toward positive concentrations. It is verified experimentally that the proposed approach reduces the standard error of prediction without the need for additional off‐line analysis. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009     

Application of (S)‐TBMB carboxylic acid‐based on‐line HPLC‐exciton CD analysis to acyclic vicinal alcohols and amino alcohols

Applications of the on‐line HPLC‐exciton CD analysis using (S)‐2‐tert‐butyl‐2‐methyl‐1,3‐benzodioxole‐4‐carboxylic acid [(S)‐TBMBC‐OH] that can simultaneously determine the enantiomeric compositions and the absolute configuration of cyclohexane‐1,2‐diols and diamines as well as acyclic vicinal diols and amino alcohols were studied. Di‐O‐ or di‐N,O‐(S)‐TBMBC derivatives of acyclic terminal vicinal diols, 2‐hydroxy‐1‐amines, and nonterminal vicinal diols gave symmetrical exciton CD spectra between enantiomers, indicating their absolute configurations. However, Di‐N,O‐(S)‐TBMBC derivatives of 2‐amino‐1‐ols did not always give symmetrical exciton CD spectra between enantiomers, but their 2‐phthalimido‐1‐O‐(S)‐TBMBC derivatives gave symmetrical exciton CD spectra, indicating their absolute configurations. All these (S)‐TBMBC derivatives were separated by normal‐phase HPLC and unequivocally determined by the on‐line HPLC‐exciton CD analysis without recourse to reference samples. Chirality 11:149–159, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Biophysical effects in off‐resonant gold nanoparticle mediated (GNOME) laser transfection of cell lines,primary‐ and stem cells using fs laser pulses

Gold nanoparticle mediated (GNOME) laser transfection is a powerful technique to deliver small biologically relevant molecules into cells. However, the transfection of larger and especially negatively charged DNA remains challenging. The efficiency for pDNA was 0.57% using parameter that does not influence the endo‐ and exogenous DNA. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the actual molecule uptake process, the uptake efficiency was determined using molecules of different sizes. It was evaluated that uncharged dextran molecules (2000 kDa) were delivered with an efficiency of 68%. The intracellular distribution of injected molecules was visualized and larger molecules were primary found in the cytoplasm. Patch clamp measurements suggested a permeabilization time up to 15 minutes. The uptake efficiency depended on the size and charge of the molecule to deliver as well as the cell size. A minor role for transfection plays the cell type since primary stem cells were successfully transfected.

The perforation efficiency of semi‐adherent and suspension cells is influenced by the cell and molecule size.     

Turn‐off–on chemiluminescence determination of cyanide

A flow injection chemiluminescence (FI–CL) method was developed for the determination of cyanide (CN⁻) based on the recovered CL signal by Cu²⁺ inhibiting a glutathione (GSH)‐capped CdTe quantum dot (QD) and hydrogen peroxide system. In an alkaline medium, strong CL signals were observed from the reaction of CdTe QDs and H₂O₂, and addition of Cu²⁺ could cause significant CL inhibition of the CdTe QDs–H₂O₂ system. In the presence of CN⁻, Cu²⁺ can be removed from the surface of CdTe QDs via the formation of particularly stable [Cu(CN)_n]^(n‐1)– species, and the CL signal of the CdTe QDs–H₂O₂ system was efficiently recovered. Thus, the CL signals of CdTe QDs–H₂O₂ system were turned off and turned on by the addition of Cu²⁺ and CN⁻, respectively. Further, the results showed that among the tested ions, only CN⁻ could recover the CL signal, which suggested that the CdTe QDs–H₂O₂–Cu²⁺ CL system had highly selectivity for CN⁻. Under optimum conditions, the CL intensity and the concentration of CN⁻ show a good linear relationship in the range 0.0–650.0 ng/mL (R² = 0.9996). The limit of detection for CN⁻ was 6.0 ng/mL (3σ). This method has been applied to detect CN⁻ in river water and industrial wastewater with satisfactory results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.