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.

Front cover: Schwab et al, Analyst, 2012, 137, 2541-2544

The latest issue of Analyst is now online, and we’re all about urgency as two exciting Communications feature on the covers.

On the front cover is work from Marcos Eberlin of the University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil and his colleagues.  They describe a simplified, fully portable version of Venturi easy ambient sonic-spray ionization (V-EASI) that now eliminates the need of laboratory gas cylinders and regulators.  This source, they say, seems to be one of the easiest to assemble and use, most economical yet effective and versatile platforms for ambient desorption/ionization mass spectrometry analysis of both solid and liquid samples.  Did you know that Marcos is an Associate Editor for our sister journal RSC Advances? Find out more here.

Communication: Easy dual-mode ambient mass spectrometry with Venturi self-pumping, canned air, disposable parts and voltage-free sonic-spray ionization
Nicolas V. Schwab, Andreia M. Porcari, Mirela B. Coelho, Eduardo M. Schmidt, Jose L. Jara, Jesui V. Visentainer and Marcos N. Eberlin
Analyst, 2012,137, 2537-2540
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN16312H

Some of you may think that our inside front cover looks familiar, and you’d be right…

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Wang et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 2322-2327

Take a look at our latest issue, now available for you to browse.

Work from Editorial Board member Professor Boris Mizaikoff of the University of Ulm is on the front cover, the inside front cover shows a striking image related to a paper on protein visualisation, and the back cover highlights a strategy for fabrication of nanoparticle-protein conjugates.

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Front cover: Taira et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 2006-2010

The latest issue of Analyst is now available for you to browse, and we head east for all three covers.

There’s nanoparticle-assisted laser desorption/ionisation MS from Japan, electrochemical biosensing from Korea, and microextraction from Taiwan.

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The latest issue of Analyst is now available online and we have three exciting covers for you to admire.

The colourful front cover is from Hai Luo and colleagues from Peking University. They have studied the complexation reactions of insulin and other proteins with metal ions that are generated from the surface of substrates during laser irradiation as part of the process of laser desorption spray post-ionization mass spectrometry (LDSPI-MS).

By studying the type of sample plate material, laser and metal ions involved, they were able to make recommendations to optimise analysis to get the best possible results.

Unexpected complexation reaction during analysis of proteins using laser desorption spray post-ionization mass spectrometry, Jia Liu, Chengsen Zhang, Jiamu Sun and Hai Luo
Analyst, 2012, 137, 1764-1767, DOI: 10.1039/C2AN16090K

The inside front cover from Hong Chen and Lin Yuan of Soochow University and co-workers has an informative image of a new sandwich ELISA method that has been developed for cancer detection.

Their work has found that an ELISA plate in sandwich format that is modified with a gold nanoparticle layer has an amplified signal and a lower limit of detection compared to other assays. This new assay was tested on a representative biomarker in human plasma and showed superior performance.

Sensitive sandwich ELISA based on a gold nanoparticle layer for cancer detection
Feng Zhou, Mengmeng Wang, Lin Yuan, Zhenping Cheng, Zhaoqiang Wu and Hong Chen
Analyst, 2012, 137, 1779-1784, DOI: 10.1039/C2AN16257A

On the back cover Gobind Das and colleagues from the Nanostructures Division of the Italian Institute of Technology have fabricated a new honey-combed nano-patterned substrate to be used in SERS biosensors.  Further work in optimisation is ongoing to produce an inexpensive and disposable biosensor device.

Fabrication of large-area ordered and reproducible nanostructures for SERS biosensor application
Gobind Das, Niranjan Patra, Anisha Gopalakrishnan, Remo Proietti Zaccaria, Andrea Toma, Sanjay Thorat, Enzo Di Fabrizio, Alberto Diaspro and Marco Salerno
Analyst, 2012, 137, 1785-1792, DOI: 10.1039/C2AN16022F

All three cover articles will be free to access for 6 weeks.

Gilchrist et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 1576-1583

Our latest issue is now online, with three excellent cover articles for you to enjoy.

The dramatic front cover features work from Leon Barron and colleagues at King’s College London.  They used capillary-scale ion chromatography and suppressed conductivity detection to probe gunshot residue, sweat and latent fingerprints in order to detect low molecular weight anions at the fg–pg level.

Find out how their work could help forensic analysis, and see what features on the other two covers of this issue