Rebecca Brodie, Deputy Editor – Page 5

Author Archive

Analyst Issue 24 now online

15 Nov 2012

Morphological analysis of vibrational hyperspectral imaging data

Filik et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 5723

Some wonderful covers in this latest issue of Analyst. The colourful outside front cover comes from Jacob Filik at Diamond Light Source Ltd., UK, who together with colleagues from the UK have prepared a study that demonstrates the use of standard morphological image processing techniques to reduce the hyperspectral image data of samples, containing discrete particles or domains, to a single average spectrum per particle.

Morphological analysis of vibrational hyperspectral imaging data
Jacob Filik, Abigail V. Rutter, Josep Sulé-Suso and Gianfelice Cinque
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5723-5729
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35914F

Three-dimensional Raman spectroscopic imaging of protein crystals deposited on a nanodroplet

Miyazaki et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 5730

The informative inside front cover comes from a team of scientists from Japan. Masaya Miyazaki from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and colleagues has been imaging protein crystals deposited on a nanodroplet through the use of Raman spectroscopy. Acquiring a high quality protein crystal is important to be able to determine its structure. This is often the first step in novel drug design.

Three-dimensional Raman spectroscopic imaging of protein crystals deposited on a nanodroplet
Satoshi Nitahara, Masatoshi Maeki, Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Kenichi Yamashita, Masaya Miyazaki and Hideaki Maeda
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5730-5735
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35942A

A new combination MALDI matrix for small molecule analysis: application to imaging mass spectrometry for drugs and metabolites

Kim et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 5757

On the back cover we are showcasing research of the analysis of small molecules including drugs and their metabolites by MALDI imaging mass spectrometry from the laboratory of Kwang Pyo Kim at the Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea

A new combination MALDI matrix for small molecule analysis: application to imaging mass spectrometry for drugs and metabolites
Selina Rahman Shanta, Tae Young Kim, Ji Hye Hong, Jeong Hwa Lee, Chan Young Shin, Kyun-Hwan Kim, Young Hwan Kim, Sang Kyung Kim and Kwang Pyo Kim
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5757-5762
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35782H

These papers will be free to read for 6 weeks.

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Biosensing in the Brain: Continuous Monitoring of Cerebral Glucose

13 Nov 2012

By Polly-Anna Ashford, Web Writer

Biofuel cell-based self-powered biogenerators for online continuous monitoring of neurochemicals in rat brain

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

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Post-translational subtyping and differentiation of breast cancer cells

06 Nov 2012

Fluorescent polymer-based post-translational differentiation and subtyping of breast cancer cells

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

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A New Biosensor for Rapid Detection of Listeria

01 Nov 2012

A bacteriophage endolysin-based electrochemical impedance biosensor for the rapid detection of Listeria cells

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

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What’s HOT in Analyst Issue 23?

01 Nov 2012

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

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

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Analyst Issue 23 now online

30 Oct 2012

Outside front cover, Analyst, 2012, Issue 23

Zenhausern et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 5510

We enter the world of forensics for the outside front cover for this most recent issue of Analyst. Frederic Zenhausern and colleagues from the University of Arizona, USA, report on a prototype of a PCR on a plastic mircofluidic device.

Optimization of multiplexed PCR on an integrated microfluidic forensic platform for rapid DNA analysis
Matthew D. Estes, Jianing Yang, Brett Duane, Stan Smith, Carla Brooks, Alan Nordquist and Frederic Zenhausern
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5510-5519
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35768B

Inside front cover, Analyst, 2012, Issue 23

Ghafari & Hanley, Analyst, 2012, 137, 5520

From Homanaz Ghafari and Quentin S. Hanley at Nottingham Trent University, UK, comes our inside front cover. This paper reports on optically sectioned planar format assays detected using quantum dot (QD) reporters arrayed along the optical z-axis on mica or glass substrates to form volume encoded arrays.

Analysis of layered assays and volume microarrays in stratified media
Homanaz Ghafari and Quentin S. Hanley
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5520-5526
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35767D

These papers will be free to read for 6 weeks.

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Reminder: SPEC 2012 – Optical Diagnosis themed issue

30 Oct 2012

SPEC 2012-Shedding New Light on Disease, Thailand, November 11-16 2012.

The SPEC 2012 conference will be held later this year in Chiang Mai, Thailand, November 11-16. This year entitled “Shedding New Light on Disease” it is being chaired by Bayden Wood and Don McNaughton from Monash University, Australia.

As with previous SPEC conferences, Analyst is publishing a themed issue on Optical Diagnosis to feature papers from the conference and to highlight the latest advances in diagnosis and novel biomedical applications of infrared and Raman spectroscopy. You can read the editorial from the last themed issue on Optical Diagnosis here, and read the issue here.

This themed issue is scheduled to be published in the middle of 2013. The deadline for submission is 1 February 2013.

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Two-in-One Electrochemical Sensor

23 Oct 2012

Structures of decamethylferrocene and bisferrocene

Compton et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 4951

By Pui Sai Lau, Web Writer

Electrochemistry continues to provide solutions to biosensing dilemmas namely due to its high reproducibility and low cost. However, electrochemical measurements can be influenced by changes in the local environment such as temperature and humidity. Richard G. Compton and his colleagues from the UK have developed a voltammetric sensing method to simultaneously detect temperature and humidity. Find out more about their discovery by accessing the link below, the paper will be free to read until Nov 6th:

A simultaneous voltammetric temperature and humidity sensor
Linhongjia Xiong, Ai M. Fletcher, Stephen G. Davies, Sarah E. Norman, Christopher Hardacre and Richard G. Compton
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4951-4957
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35939A

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Analyst Issue 22 HOT papers

18 Oct 2012

We have a bumper crop of nine HOT articles in this new issue 22 of Analyst!

Combining atomic force-fluorescence microscopy with a stretching device for analyzing mechanotransduction processes in living cells

Kranz et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 5208

From the outside front cover we have Boris Mizaikoff, Christine Kranz and colleagues paper on a miniaturized cell stretching device for mechanically stimulating living cells at physiologically relevant levels applicable to a wide variety of adherent cell types.

Combining atomic force-fluorescence microscopy with a stretching device for analyzing mechanotransduction processes in living cells
E. Hecht, P. Knittel, E. Felder, P. Dietl, B. Mizaikoff and C. Kranz
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5208-5214
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36001B

We also have a number of exciting papers on a range of topics including;

Peroxidase mimicking DNA–gold nanoparticles for fluorescence detection of the lead ions in blood
Chi-Lin Li, Chih-Ching Huang, Wei-Hsi Chen, Cheng-Kang Chiang and Huan-Tsung Chang
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5222-5228
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35599J

Selective fluorometric detection of pyrophosphate by 3-hydroxyflavone-diphenyltin(IV) complex in aqueous micellar medium
Raul Villamil-Ramos, Víctor Barba and Anatoly K. Yatsimirsky
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5229-5236
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35999E

Layer-by-layer self-assembled graphene oxide/silica microsphere composites as stationary phase for high performance liquid chromatography
Xiaojing Liang, Shujuan Liu, Xinwang Song, Yangwen Zhu and Shengxiang Jiang
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5237-5244
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36091H

One-step immobilization of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ in a silica matrix for the construction of a solid-state electrochemiluminescent sensor with high performance
Jing Li, Fang-Nan Xiao and Xing-Hua Xia
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5245-5250
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35980D

Rossi et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 5251

Nanopatterned submicron pores as a shield for nonspecific binding in surface plasmon resonance-based sensing
Sabina Rebe Raz, Gerardo R. Marchesini, Maria G. E. G. Bremer, Pascal Colpo, Cesar Pascual Garcia, Guido Guidetti, Willem Norde and Francois Rossi
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5251-5259
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35521C

Tactile multisensing on flexible aluminum nitride
Simona Petroni, Francesco Guido, Bruno Torre, Andrea Falqui, Maria Teresa Todaro, Roberto Cingolani and Massimo De Vittorio
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5260-5264
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36015B

Protection and functionalisation of silver as an optical sensing platform for highly sensitive SPR based analysis
Gowri Manickam, Ram Gandhiraman, Rajani K. Vijayaraghavan, Laura Kerr, Colin Doyle, David E. Williams and Stephen Daniels
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5265-5271
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35826C

Platinum nanoparticles intermediate layer in solid-state selective electrodes
Beata Paczosa-Bator, Leszek Cabaj, Robert Piech and Krzysztof Skupień
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5272-5277
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35933B

These papers will be free to read until Oct 31st.

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Analyst Issue 22 now online!

16 Oct 2012

The latest issue of Analyst has now gone online, so take a look at the wonderful covers and the work that inspired them!

Oustide front cover, Analyst, Issue 22, 2012

Kranz et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 5208

On the front cover we have an image from Editorial Board member Boris Mizaikoff, Christine Kranz and colleagues from the University of Ulm. Their group designed a miniaturized cell stretching device for mechanically stimulating living cells at physiologically relevant levels applicable to a wide variety of adherent cell types. Click on the link below to read more.

Inside front cover, Analyst, Issue 22, 2012

Wong et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 5215

Our inside front cover comes from Pak Kin Wong, The University of Arizona, USA, who together with colleagues reports on a hybrid electrokinetic technique that can manipulate mammalian cells in physiological fluids. Cells can be adjusted for separation and focusing applications. Click below to find out more.

Electrokinetic focusing and separation of mammalian cells in conductive biological fluids
Jian Gao, Reza Riahi, Mandy L. Y. Sin, Shufeng Zhang and Pak Kin Wong
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5215-5221
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35707K

El-Safty et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 5278

On the back cover, we showcase research feature from the Sherif A. El-Safty Laboratory, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan. Uniform, 3D mesopore, ordered monoliths lead to tailored mesocaptor design of heavy metals. A multi-capture system enabled optical separation, and detection of ultra-trace level of ions in drinking water. This captor would develop a simple technique for wastewater treatment and management.

Optical mesosensors for monitoring and removal of ultra-trace concentration of Zn(II) and Cu(II) ions from water
Sherif A. El-Safty, M. A. Shenashen, M. Ismael, M. Khairy and Md. R. Awual
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5278-5290
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35484E

All of these cover articles will be free to read for 6 weeks.

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