Analyst Blog

Front cover: Nagatani et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 3422-3426

In the latest issue of Analyst, the front cover features work from Eiichi Tamiya of Osaka University, Japan, and co-workers. They have detected the influenza virus using an amplified DNA detection lateral flow immunoassay (ADLFIA).

The sensitivity of their method is comparable to agarose gel electrophoresis but can be observed by the naked eye. The authors say this work is a step forward in their efforts towards a battery powered portable PCR chip, and a battery powered portable PCR chip with ADLFIA has the potential to give the portable system a diagnostic test.

Detection of influenza virus using a lateral flow immunoassay for amplified DNA by a microfluidic RT-PCR chip
Naoki Nagatani, Keiichiro Yamanaka, Hiromi Ushijima, Ritsuko Koketsu, Tadahiro Sasaki, Kazuyoshi Ikuta, Masato Saito, Toshiro Miyahara and Eiichi Tamiya
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3422-3426
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN16294F

On the inside front cover Christopher Szakal and colleagues at NIST, USA who present a novel method for correlating and classifying ion-specific time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) images within a multispectral dataset by grouping images with similar pixel intensity distributions.

Konicek et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 3479-3487

They say that this algorithm should extend well into three-dimensional datasets, allowing for classification of chemical species as a function of depth into a sample.

Automated correlation and classification of secondary ion mass spectrometry images using a k-means cluster method
Andrew R. Konicek, Jonathan Lefman and Christopher Szakal
Analyst, 2012, 137, 3479-3487
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN16122B

Both these cover articles are free to access for 6 weeks.

Don’t forget to take a look at this issue’s HOT articles too, featuring the use of ligand–receptor interactions in ¹³C MRI, metal–organic framework MIL-101(Cr) microcrystals for rapid magnetic solid-phase extraction, odorant biosensors, SR-FTIR micro-imaging of latent fingerprints, a new fluorescent and colorimetric Cu²⁺ probe, and an efficient fluorescent probe mimicking multiple logic gates and a molecular-keypad lock.

Potyrailo et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 2777-2781

Take a look at the latest issue of Analyst.

Featured on the front cover is work from Radislav Potyrailo of GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York, USA, and co-workers. They demonstrate roll-to-roll (R2R) fabrication of highly selective, battery-free radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors on a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymeric substrate. Their RFID sensing concept features 16-bit resolution provided by the sensor reader, granting a highly desired independence from costly proprietary RFID memory chips with a low-resolution analog input. Future steps are being planned for field-testing of these sensors in numerous conditions.

Multivariable passive RFID vapor sensors: roll-to-roll fabrication on a flexible substrate
Radislav A. Potyrailo, Andrew Burns, Cheryl Surman, D. J. Lee and Edward McGinniss
Analyst, 2012, 137, 2777-2781
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN16278D

On the inside front cover, Hans-Peter Loock and colleagues from Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada, look at online monitoring of the contamination of fuel with lubricants. They demonstrate that fiber-based Cavity-Ring-Down (CRD) absorption spectroscopy, and fluorescence Excitation–Emission Matrix (EEM) spectroscopy can provide the information that is needed to detect and quantify contamination and degradation products in machinery fluids.

Omrani et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 2782-2790

Fluorescence excitation–emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy and cavity ring-down (CRD) absorption spectroscopy of oil-contaminated jet fuel using fiber-optic probes
Hengameh Omrani, Jack A. Barnes, Alexander E. Dudelzak, Hans-Peter Loock and Helen Waechter
Analyst, 2012, 137, 2782-2790
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35091B

Both these cover articles will be free to access for 6 weeks.