Analyst Blog

Liu et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 4943

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

In a HOT new Analyst article, Yu-Chuan Liu and collaborators from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, have reported the preparation of highly sensitive substrates for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy.  The surface enhancement of Raman scattering relies on the use of suitably roughened metal surfaces.  Liu et al. used electrochemical underpotential deposition (UPD) of silver onto gold nanoparticles on a platinum substrate via sonoelectrochemical deposition-dissolution cycles to prepare the SERS active substrates.  The use of Rhodamine 6 G as a model analyte revealed that the UPD silver on gold substrates show marked SERS enhancement when compared with bulk silver coating or gold nanoparticles alone [a limit of detection of 2 × 10^-14 M is reported].  SERS is now used as a detection technique across a range of disciplines and the simple preparation of ultra-sensitive substrates will, potentially, have wide-ranging impact. This paper will be free to read until Oct 29th.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering-active gold nanoparticles modified with a monolayer of silver film
Chun-Chao Chang, Kuang-Hsuan Yang, Yu-Chuan Liu, Chung-Chin Yu and Yi-Hao Wu
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4943-4950
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35912J

By Pui Sai Lau, Web Writer

Zenhausern et al., Analyst, 2012, Advance Article

Miniature. Fast. Automated. User-friendly. Low cost. These are characteristics that describe the ideal analytical device for many applications such as point-of-care diagnostics. Rapid advancement has been made in microfluidics and micro total analysis systems over the past twenty years, which has resulted in substantial improvements to common procedures like PCR analysis. Frederic Zenhausern and colleagues from the University of Arizona, USA, have made further progress by optimizing the efficiency of multiplexed PCR on an microfluidic device to yield high-quality DNA analysis. Find out all the details by accessing the link below, it will be free to read until Oct 19th:

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, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35768B

It’s a bumper list of HOT articles that we have in this current issue of Analyst!

Chung et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 4921

We have our cover article from Yu-Chang Tyan and Tze-Wen Chung and their study on a proposed a new approach for the detection of proteins to assess the response of fibroblasts to a material surface.

Assessing the responses of cellular proteins induced by hyaluronic acid-modified surfaces utilizing a mass spectrometry-based profiling system: Over-expression of CD36, CD44, CDK9, and PP2A
Ming-Hui Yang, Shiang-Bin Jong, Chi-Yu Lu, Yu-Fen Lin, Pei-Wen Chiang, Yu-Chang Tyan and Tze-Wen Chung
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4921-4933
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35368G

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

Tracing nanoparticles in vivo: a new general synthesis of positron emitting metal oxide nanoparticles by proton beam activation
Carlos Pérez-Campaña, Vanessa Gómez-Vallejo, Abraham Martin, Eneko San Sebastián, Sergio E. Moya, Torsten Reese, Ronald F. Ziolo and Jordi Llop
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4902-4906
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35863H

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering-active gold nanoparticles modified with a monolayer of silver film
Chun-Chao Chang, Kuang-Hsuan Yang, Yu-Chuan Liu, Chung-Chin Yu and Yi-Hao Wu
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4943-4950
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35912J

Llop et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 4902

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

Implementation of a semi-automated strategy for the annotation of metabolomic fingerprints generated by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry from biological samples
Frédérique Courant, Anne-Lise Royer, Sylvain Chéreau, Marie-Line Morvan, Fabrice Monteau, Jean-Philippe Antignac and Bruno Le Bizec
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4958-4967
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35865D

Sensitive spectrofluorometry of cellular prion protein based on the on–off interaction between fluorescent dye-labelled aptamers and multi-walled carbon nanotubes
Lei Zhan, Li Peng, Yan Yu, Shu Jun Zhen and Cheng Zhi Huang
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4968-4973
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35924C

Chen & Wang et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 4974

Fenton’s reagent-tuned DNA-templated fluorescent silver nanoclusters as a versatile fluorescence probe and logic device
Li-Pei Zhang, Xiao-Xing Zhang, Bo Hu, Li-Ming Shen, Xu-Wei Chen and Jian-Hua Wang
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4974-4980
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36049G

Intramolecular vibrational coupling in water molecules revealed by compatible multiple nonlinear vibrational spectroscopic measurements
Shuji Ye, Sulan Ma, Feng Wei and Hongchun Li
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4981-4987
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35684H

These HOT papers will be free to read until Oct 19th.

Richard Bayford and Andrew Tizzard, Analyst, 2012, 137, 4635

By Laura Ruvuna, Web Writer

In this HOT article, Richard Bayford and Andrew Tizzard at Middlesex University review the current progress of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) in biological imaging. Unlike traditional imaging techniques, EIT does not use radiation and achieves a higher depth penetration, which is crucial for early disease detection.
EIT creates a map of a region based on the impedance of current through tissue, and the resulting measurements are processed through a series of algorithms to produce an image. Thus far, EIT has been utilized for a range of diseases including tumor imaging, cardiothoracic monitoring of blood clots, and studying areas of the brain in epilepsy. To read about additional applications of EIT, see more below. This paper will be free to read until Oct 15th.

Bioimpedance imaging: an overview of potential clinical applications
Richard Bayford and Andrew Tizzard
Analyst, 2012, 137, 4635-4643
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35874C

Smith et al., Analyst, 2012, Advance Article

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

Deficiencies of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzymes have been linked to Parkinson’s disease, alcoholic liver disease and Alzheimer’s disease amongst others. David Smith and co-workers have been studying the activity of this class of enzyme in cell cultures by analysing the volatile components they produce by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS). Click here to read more about this study, by the researchers from Keele University, and the opportunity to extend the scope of this methodology to other volatile components for drug screening and the prevention or treatment of disease.

A study of enzymatic activity in cell cultures via the analysis of volatile biomarkers
Thomas W. E. Chippendale, Bin Hu, Alicia J. El Haj and David Smith
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35815H

Permentier et al., Analyst, 2012, Advance Article

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

Testing drug metabolism by in vitro electrochemistry as a mimic for the in vivo action of enzymes is an established technique in drug metabolism and toxicological studies. These investigations are an important part of the drug discovery and development process.  Using lidocaine as a model substrate to test the applicability of their new electrochemical techniques, Hjalmar P. Permentier‘s group from the Analytical Biochemistry and Mass Spectrometry Core Facility at the University of Groningen have successfully expanded their electrochemical toolbox to more closely mimic the action of Cytochrome P450s.  Using a Pt electrode and electrocatalytic oxidation of H₂O₂, 3-hydroxylation of lidocaine has been observed, thereby extending the scope and validity of in vitro electrochemical-imitation of Cytochrome P450 enzymatic action.

Electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrogen peroxide on a platinum electrode in the imitation of oxidative drug metabolism of lidocaine
Eslam Nouri-Nigjeh, Andries P. Bruins, Rainer Bischoff and Hjalmar P. Permentier
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35388A

Analyzing gold nanoparticles

Compton et al., Analyst, 2012, Advance Article

From Richard G. Compton‘s group at the University of Oxford, comes this paper on the characterization of gold nanoparticles. The reactivity and properties of nanoparticles are defined by their composition, size and morphology, therefore accurate characterization of nanoparticles is important. The method is fast, cheap, and can be performed in situ.

Facile in situ characterization of gold nanoparticles on electrode surfaces by electrochemical techniques: average size, number density and morphology determination
Ying Wang, Eduardo Laborda, Chris Salter, Alison Crossley and Richard G. Compton
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36050K

Interpreting proteomic data

Wang, Zhang & Sun et al., Analyst, 2012, Advancce Article

Xijun Wang, Aihua Zhang and Hui Sun with co-workers from the Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine have been working on the characterization and identification of candidate proteins involved in given diseases. Click through to read more.

Network generation enhances interpretation of proteomics data sets by a combination of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry
Xijun Wang, Aihua Zhang, Hui Sun, Gelin Wu, Wenjun Sun and Guangli Yan
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35891C