Analyst Blog

Endometriosis affects around 10% of young women resulting in a wide range of symptoms. Currently diagnosis can only be performed by laparoscopic surgery.

A potential non-invasive method to detect endometriosis by acquiring a spectral signature of the uterus has been developed by Francis Martin and colleagues from Lancaster University. They used infrared spectroscopy together with computational analysis to analyse the difference between uterine tissue affected by endometriosis and normal tissue in the uterus.

Read Elinor Richards’ news story in Chemistry World, and access the full article for free below:

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy discriminates a spectral signature of endometriosis independent of inter-individual variation
Karen T. Cheung, Júlio Trevisan, Jemma G. Kelly, Katherine M. Ashton, Helen F. Stringfellow, Siân E. Taylor, Maneesh N. Singh, Pierre L. Martin-Hirsch and Francis L. Martin
Analyst, 2011, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/c0an00972e

Scientists from Fuzhou University, China, report the proof-of-concept of an enzyme-free amperometric immunoassay that uses gold nanoflower-labeled detection antibodies in this communication.  The gold nanoflowers achieve signal amplification by causing catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol and redox cycling of p-aminophenol to p-quinone imine.

Immunoassay using gold nanoflower-labeled detection antibodies

Interested in knowing more? Read the article for free until April 29th.

A graphene-based Au(111) platform for electrochemical biosensing based catalytic recycling of products on gold nanoflowers
Bingqian Liu, Dianping Tang, Juan Tang, Biling Su, Qunfang Li and Guonan Chen
Analyst, 2011
DOI: 10.1039/C0AN00921K

Scientists from Spain have used a lab on a chip device to quickly analyse levels of zearalenone, a contaminant, in infant foods with a detection limit below legislative requirements.

Alberto Escarpa and his team from Alcala University, in Madrid, have made a microfluidic device that can detect zearalenone levels to well below the maximum legal amount.

Read Elinor Richards’ full news story in Chemistry World, and access the full paper for free below:

Integrated electrokinetic magnetic bead-based electrochemical immunoassay on microfluidic chips for reliable control of permitted levels of zearalenone in infant foods
Mirian Hervás, Miguel A. López and Alberto Escarpa
Analyst, 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C1AN15081B

Three HOT articles from Analyst covering sampling bias, copper sensing and PDMS functionalisation for a photnoic lab-on-a-chip device.  All articles are free to read until 8th April.

Michael H. Ramsey and co-workers from Sussex and London describe a new method for estimating the uncertainty of analytical measurements caused by bias in sampling. Improved evaluation of measurement uncertainty from sampling by inclusion of between-sampler bias using sampling proficiency testing Michael H. Ramsey, Bastiaan Geelhoed, Roger Wood and Andrew P. Damant Analyst, 2011, Advance Article DOI: 10.1039/C0AN00705F
	Based on the Cu(I)-catalyzed alkyne–azide cycloaddition reaction, a novel ultra-high sensitive and selective ECL sensor for Cu(II) was developed and is reported in this paper from Guonan Chen and co-workers from Fuzhou University in China. Development of ultra-high sensitive and selective electrochemiluminescent sensor for copper(II) ions: a novel strategy for modification of gold electrode using click chemistry Suyan Qiu, Sen Gao, Xi Zhu, Zhenyu Lin, Bin Qiu and Guonan Chen Analyst, 2011, Advance Article DOI: 10.1039/C0AN00846J
César Fernández-Sánchez and co-workers from Spain and Germany report on a comparative study of different approaches for the selective immobilisation of biomolecules on the surface of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). The motivation of this work is to set a robust and reliable protocol for the easy implementation of a biosensor device in a PDMS-based photonic lab-on-a-chip (PhLoC). Selective functionalisation of PDMS-based photonic lab on a chip for biosensing Bergoi Ibarlucea, César Fernández-Sánchez, Stefanie Demming, Stephanus Büttgenbach and Andreu Llobera Analyst, 2011, Advance Article DOI: 10.1039/C0AN00941E

In this HOT communication, Zongxiu Nie and his team from China and Taiwan report the development of a miniature cylindrical ion trap mass spectrometer (CIT-MS) equipped with laser-induced acoustic ionization and a charge detector.  They describe its use in the measurement of the total dry mass of red blood cells after calibration with standard polystyrene beads.

The novel miniature CIT-MS has, compared with a previous lab scale quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer (QIT-MS), smaller volume, simpler ion trap fabrication and overall instrument construction, requires a lower trapping voltage and has reduced weight, power and cost. The new miniaturized instrument has potential for applications in field-portable, biological and aerosol analysis.

Interested in knowing more? Read for free until April 4th.

Characterization of bioparticles using a miniature cylindrical ion trap mass spectrometer operated at rough vacuum
Zhiqiang Zhu, Caiqiao Xiong, Gaoping Xu, Hao Liu, Xiaoyu Zhou, Rui Chen, Wen-Ping Peng and Zongxiu Nie
Analyst, 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0AN00911C

This study describes the development of an effective detection probe for the visualisation of organophosphorous pesticides based on the rare combination of both colorimetric and fluorescent output.

Haibing Li and co-workers at the Central China Normal University developed a versatile yet simple strategy for the fabrication of a highly selective and sensitive fenamithion probe based on Rhodamine B modified silver nanoparticles. They propose and prove a novel amino-containing analyte-induced etching mechanism to explain their results. This system allows prompt on-site and real-time detection of the pesticide, fenamithion, in real vegetable and water samples, with high sensitivity and excellent anti-disturbance ability.

Interested in knowing more? Read the article for free until March 1st.

Dual-signal fenamithion probe by combining fluorescence with colorimetry based on Rhodamine B modified silver nanoparticles
Zhimin Cui, Cuiping Han and Haibing Li
Analyst, 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0AN00617C