Analyst Blog

By Polly-Anna Ashford, Web Writer

Mao et al., Analyst, 2013, Advance Article

The study of neurochemistry offers a powerful insight into the mechanisms and molecules responsible for brain function. Lanqun Mao and co-workers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, have developed a simple approach towards the continuous monitoring of glucose in the brain of a living rat. Their technique couples in vivo microdialysis with biofuel cell technology, using a self-powered biogenerator as the detector for neurochemical sensing. This method is shown to be highly specific for the analyte of choice, with no interference from other chemicals commonly present such as dopamine or uric acid. Biofuel cells are of particular interest to scientists because they harness the energy produced by biochemical reactions in living systems. As this report shows, their use in biosensing opens up the potential for greater investigation of brain function at the molecular level. This paper will be free to read until Nov 28th.

Biofuel cell-based self-powered biogenerators for online continuous monitoring of neurochemicals in rat brain
Hanjun Cheng, Ping Yu, Xulin Lu, Yuqing Lin, Takeo Ohsaka and Lanqun Mao
Analyst, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36385B

Mallik et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 5487

By Jennifer A. Dougan, Imperial College London, Web Writer

Sanku Mallik and co-workers from North Dakota State University have developed a method for the post-translational discrimination of breast cancer cell sub-types. The researchers have achieved this by use of water soluble fluorescent polymers which are designed to interact with proteins, enzymes and amino acids. The fluorescence spectra from the polymers when exposed to the conditioned culture media of different cells lines were subject to linear discriminant analysis and used to discriminate between four cell lines and between breast cancer and other tissue types. Although the particular proteins or other biomolecular species and interactions responsible for the spectral changes have not yet been elucidated, this report is an interesting post-translational alternative to standard molecular biology techniques. This paper will be free to read until Nov 20th.

Fluorescent polymer-based post-translational differentiation and subtyping of breast cancer cells
Michael D. Scott, Rinku Dutta, Manas K. Haldar, Anil Wagh, Thomas R. Gustad, Benedict Law, Daniel L. Friesner and Sanku Mallik
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5487-5490
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35877H

Qu et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 5483

Trying to incorporate quantum dots into biological systems has proven difficult due to their lack of biocompatibility and the toxicity of heavy metals inside cells. Recently developed carbon nanodots retain the advantages of quantum dots, but can function in biological media. Xianogang Qu and researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences incorporated carbon nanodots in a thrombin detection assay using DNA aptamers. Thrombin contains two binding sites that are recognized by different aptamers on both a silica nanoparticle and carbon nanodot. The multi-binding site capabilities of aptamers allow for greater sensitivity when compared to single site antibodies, and the fluorescent signal of the carbon nanodot is only detected when bound to thrombin on the silica nanoparticle. Click on the paper below to read more, it will be free to read until November 16th.

Aptamer carbon nanodot sandwich used for fluorescent detection of protein
Bailu Xu, Chuanqi Zhao, Weili Wei, Jinsong Ren, Daisuke Miyoshi, Naoki Sugimoto and Xiaogang Qu
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5483-5486
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36174D

Zourob et al., Analyst, 2012, Advance Article

By Polly-Anna Ashford, Web Writer

First discovered in the 1920s, Listeria remains a prolific food and water borne bacteria with a significant mortality rate. Scientists led by Mohammed Zourob at the National Institute of Scientific Research (INRS), Quebec, in collaboration with ETH Zürich, have developed a new screen printed gold electrode for the specific detection of Listeria via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Current methods of detection using culturing techniques are time-consuming and difficult to automate. In this Analyst paper, the authors report the immobilisation of endolysin protein onto a gold surface, which is characterised and monitored using the simple, low cost EIS technique. This method allows the rapid detection of Listeria in either pure culture or samples of artificially contaminated milk.

A bacteriophage endolysin-based electrochemical impedance biosensor for the rapid detection of Listeria cells
Mona Tolba, Minhaz Uddin Ahmed, Chaker Tlili, Fritz Eichenseher, Martin J. Loessner and Mohammed Zourob
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35988J

Analyst, 2012, Issue 23

In this latest issue of Analyst we have four wonderful HOT articles for you to read. Topics range from sample preparation, protein detection, cancer cell research and peptide enrichment. Take a look at the papers below, they will be free to read until November 16.

Applications of reversible covalent chemistry in analytical sample preparation
David Siegel
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5457-5482
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35697J

Aptamer carbon nanodot sandwich used for fluorescent detection of protein
Bailu Xu, Chuanqi Zhao, Weili Wei, Jinsong Ren, Daisuke Miyoshi, Naoki Sugimoto and Xiaogang Qu
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5483-5486
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36174D

Fluorescent polymer-based post-translational differentiation and subtyping of breast cancer cells
Michael D. Scott, Rinku Dutta, Manas K. Haldar, Anil Wagh, Thomas R. Gustad, Benedict Law, Daniel L. Friesner and Sanku Mallik
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5487-5490
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35877H

Affinity surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry for peptide enrichment
Yannick Coffinier, Nhung Nguyen, Hervé Drobecq, Oleg Melnyk, Vincent Thomy and Rabah Boukherroub
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5527-5532
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35803D