Analyst Blog

This study describes the development of an effective detection probe for the visualisation of organophosphorous pesticides based on the rare combination of both colorimetric and fluorescent output.

Haibing Li and co-workers at the Central China Normal University developed a versatile yet simple strategy for the fabrication of a highly selective and sensitive fenamithion probe based on Rhodamine B modified silver nanoparticles. They propose and prove a novel amino-containing analyte-induced etching mechanism to explain their results. This system allows prompt on-site and real-time detection of the pesticide, fenamithion, in real vegetable and water samples, with high sensitivity and excellent anti-disturbance ability.

Interested in knowing more? Read the article for free until March 1st.

Dual-signal fenamithion probe by combining fluorescence with colorimetry based on Rhodamine B modified silver nanoparticles
Zhimin Cui, Cuiping Han and Haibing Li
Analyst, 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0AN00617C

Scientists from Korea have immobilised a reactive antibody onto the surface of a microfluidic sensor to allow immunosensing with minimal steps to analyse a fluctuating analyte concentration continuously. They found that the antibody showed rapid kinetic properties in both the association and dissociation reactions, and also had a high binding affinity.

When monitoring the analyte level in the sample, the binder was able to be continuously recycled without interrupting the analytical conditions, according to the researchers.  The continuous immunosensor displayed characteristics that were suitable for in vitro disease diagnosis so could be used as a novel analytical tool for a direct online clinical decision, they added.

Minimum-step immuno-analysis based on continuous recycling of the capture antibody
Hyun-Kyu Cho, Sung-Min Seo, Il-Hoon Cho, Sung-Ho Paek, Dong-Hyung Kim and Se-Hwan Paek
Analyst, 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0AN00811G

Chemiluminescence has been extensively used for analytical purposes but very limited research has been devoted to the theoretical basics of the technique. In this study by Paul S. Francis and co-workers in Australia, a combination of electrochemical, spectroscopic and computational techniques are used to explore the properties of ruthenium complexes designed for coupling with other molecules or surfaces for electrochemiluminescence applications. 

Interested in knowing more?  Read for free here until 21st March!

Simultaneous control of spectroscopic and electrochemical properties in functionalised electrochemiluminescent tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complexes
Gregory J. Barbante, Conor F. Hogan, David J. D. Wilson, Naomi A. Lewcenko, Frederick M. Pfeffer, Neil W. Barnett and Paul S. Francis
Analyst, 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0AN00952K

In this study, Xing-guo Chen and co-workers in Lanzhou, China, established a new flow injection–capillary electrophoresis (FI–CE) system in which a cross-H-channel interface was constructed for coupling FI with CE. Compared with typical FI–CE, the advantages of this new technique include lower sample solution requirement, shorter analysis time, and higher sensitivity.

Interested in knowing more?  Read the full text here; free until 18^th March!

A novel cross-H-channel interface for flow injection-capillary electrophoresis to reduce sample requirement and improve sensitivity
Hua-dong Zhu, Wenjuan Lü, Hong-hong Li, Yan-hua Ma, Shao-qiang Hu, Hong-li Chen and Xing-guo Chen
Analyst, 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0AN00592D

Read this communication by Stefan Glöggler and colleagues on an application of low-field NMR combined with Signal Amplification by Reversible-Exchange (SABRE) to detect traces of drugs.  They were able to selectively enhance the signal of drug molecules in proton rich standard solutions that would otherwise mask the ¹H NMR signal of the drug.

The article will be free to access until the 18th March.  How do you think mobile NMR machines will be used for trace drug detection and differentiation in the future?  Leave your comments below or tweet us @analystrsc.

Selective drug trace detection with low-field NMR
Stefan Glöggler, Meike Emondts, Johannes Colell, Rafael Müller, Bernhard Blümich and Stephan Appelt
Analyst, 2011
DOI: 10.1039/C0AN01048K

The work could open up a whole new area of medical diagnostics and health research

Take a look at this Spectroscopy Now article, which highlights work from Robert Peverall and colleagues on the detection of trace species in breath using near infrared Fourier transform broadband cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy.

The paper is in the latest issue of Analyst, and can be accessed using the link below:

Trace species detection in the near infrared using Fourier transform broadband cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy: initial studies on potential breath analytes
W. Denzer, G. Hancock, M. Islam, C. E. Langley, R. Peverall, G. A. D. Ritchie and D. Taylor
Analyst, 2011, 136, 801-806
DOI: 10.1039/C0AN00462F

Let us know your thoughts on this exciting piece of research by posting a comment below, or tweet us @analystrsc.