Analyst Blog

Analyst Issue 7 now online!

05 Mar 2013

Analyst Issue 7 is now available online! Take a look at our new wonderful covers featuring the latest discoveries in the field of analytical chemistry.

Julia Laskin and her group used nanospray desorption electrospray ionization for spatial profiling of chemical gradients generated by microbial communities on plate, and detected metabolites and lipids on the colonies and the surrounding agar. This methodology, just featured on the outisde front cover of Issue 7, might facilitate future studies on interactions between bacterial colonies.

Spatially resolved analysis of glycolipids and metabolites in living Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 using nanospray desorption electrospray ionization
Ingela Lanekoff , Oleg Geydebrekht , Grigoriy E. Pinchuk , Allan E. Konopka and Julia Laskin
Analyst, 2013,138, 1971-1978
DOI: 10.1039/C3AN36716A

Our inside front cover shows the work of Ahu Arslan Yildiz and colleagues from the Institute of Material Research and Engineering in Singapore. The researchers analysed the human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channel, which is known to be involved in inherited or drug-induced long QT syndrome. Surface Plasmon Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Imaging Surface Plasmon resonance techniques were used to investigate the interactions between hERG and the drug. According to the study, this new approach could be applied to other membrane proteins for drug screening or other prorein-related interactions.

Biomimetic membrane platform containing hERG potassium channel and its application to drug screening
Ahu Arslan Yildiz , CongBao Kang and Eva-Kathrin Sinner
Analyst, 2013,138, 2007-2012
DOI: 10.1039/C3AN36159D

Finally, our outside back cover presents the Tutorial Review written by Sergei Kazarian and Andrew Chan from Imperial College London, who outline the most recent advances and applications of attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy imaging in biomedical studies. In addition, future developments in the area are discussed.

ATR-FTIR spectroscopic imaging: recent advances and applications to biological systems
Sergei G. Kazarian and K. L. Andrew Chan
Analyst, 2013,138, 1940-1951
DOI: 10.1039/C3AN36865C

In addition, take a look below at our selected HOT articles of the issue. These papers will be free for you to enjoy until March 25th.

Facile formation of folic acid-modified dendrimer-stabilized gold–silver alloy nanoparticles for potential cellular computed tomography imaging applications
Hui Liu , Mingwu Shen , Jinglong Zhao , Jingyi Zhu , Tingting Xiao , Xueyan Cao , Guixiang Zhang and Xiangyang Shi
Analyst, 2013,138, 1979-1987
DOI: 10.1039/C3AN36649A

Label-free, disposable fiber-optic biosensors for DNA hybridization detection
Ming-jie Yin , Chuang Wu , Li-yang Shao , Wing Kin Edward Chan , A. Ping Zhang , Chao Lu and Hwa-yaw Tam
Analyst, 2013,138, 1988-1994
DOI: 10.1039/C3AN36791F

Novel switchable sensor for phosphate based on the distance-dependant fluorescence coupling of cysteine-capped cadmium sulfide quantum dots and silver nanoparticles
Guang-Li Wang , Huan-Jun Jiao , Xiao-Ying Zhu , Yu-Ming Dong and Zai-Jun Li
Analyst, 2013,138, 2000-2006
DOI: 10.1039/C3AN36878E

Comments Off on Analyst Issue 7 now online!

Analysing bacterial metabolites

05 Mar 2013

By Aliya Anwar.

A mass-spectrometry technique that can characterise and spatially resolve the metabolites produced by bacteria could lead to a better understanding of how different microbes interact with each other, and how their chemistry could be harnessed industrially.

Of the thousands of chemical metabolites produced by bacteria, only a tiny fraction are accessible to the organic chemist using traditional synthetic techniques. Microbes can defend against attack with their own herbicides, pesticides and antibiotics, and encourage plants and animals that are beneficial to their survival by producing stimulants or substances that inhibit pathogens.

To read the full article please visit Chemistry World.

Spatially resolved analysis of glycolipids and metabolites in living Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 using nanospray desorption electrospray ionization
Ingela Lanekoff, Oleg Geydebrekht, Grigoriy E. Pinchuk, Allan E. Konopka and Julia Laskin
Analyst, 2013,138, 1971-1978
DOI: 10.1039/C3AN36716A

Comments Off on Analysing bacterial metabolites

Recognising coeliac disease

28 Feb 2013

By Aliya Anwar.

An immunosensor that recognises the specific immune response to gluten, generated by coeliac disease sufferers, has been developed by scientists in Spain and Portugal.

Coeliac disease is a chronic intolerance to gluten – a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats – that leads to inflammation of the small intestine. This can cause malnutrition and diarrhoea in sufferers.

To read the full article please visit Chemistry World.

An electrochemical deamidated gliadin antibody immunosensor for celiac disease clinical diagnosis
Marta M. P. S. Neves , María Begoña González-García , Henri P. A. Nouws and Agustín Costa-García
Analyst, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3AN36728B

Comments Off on Recognising coeliac disease

Analyst paper highly commended in GSK 3Rs prize

27 Feb 2013

By Rebecca Brodie, Deputy Editor.

The 3Rs prize has been running since 2004, sponsored by GSK it is the annual prize of the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research. It aims to highlight the best original contribution to science that benefits the 3Rs globally (to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research).

High-throughput 3D spheroid culture and drug testing using a 384 hanging drop array

The paper from Shuichi Takayama, University of Michigan, USA, has been highly commended by the judges in this years 3Rs prize:

In his paper he describes a 3D cell culture used to test anti-cancer drugs, which was shown to be more representative of clinical responses than standard 2D ‘flat’ cell cultures. This new testing method has the potential to replace and reduce the use of animals in pharmaceutical testing.

Click on the link below to read this highly commended paper. It will be free to read until March 15th.

High-throughput 3D spheroid culture and drug testing using a 384 hanging drop array
Yi-Chung Tung, Amy Y. Hsiao, Steven G. Allen, Yu-suke Torisawa, Mitchell Ho and Shuichi Takayama
Analyst, 2011, 136, 473-478
DOI: 10.1039/C0AN00609B

Comments Off on Analyst paper highly commended in GSK 3Rs prize

A new switchable sensor for phosphate in water

26 Feb 2013

By Jennifer A. Dougan, Web Writer.

Jennifer A. Dougan is a guest web-writer for Analyst. She is currently a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at Imperial College London, UK.

Schematic interaction between Ce3+ and phosphate

Guang-Li Wang and co-workers, from the Jiangnan University, China, have developed an assay to detect the level of phosphate in water.

Ce³⁺ ions are used to aggregate citrate-capped silver nanoparticles with cysteine-capped quantum dots, thereby causing efficient quenching of the fluorescence signal. However, when phosphate is introduced to the system it interacts with the Ce³⁺ ions causing the quenched aggregates to redisperse and switching the fluorescent signal from “off” to “on”. This work has potential applications for the environmental analysis of groundwater.

To read more about this work, please access this Analyst HOT article below. It will be free to read until March 8th.

Comments Off on A new switchable sensor for phosphate in water

Correlated Imaging for Chemical Analysis

26 Feb 2013

By Paola Quattroni, Development Editor.

Schematic picture of a hybrid instrument correlating different spectral imaging modes

Scientists use chemical imaging to address a variety of issues visualising the arrangement of atoms, the content of single cells or the colourless gases released into Earth’s atmosphere by cities of kilometre scale. Many analytical techniques have been developed to date and researchers are now interested in combining the different imaging modalities to increase and improve the information gathered from imaging experiments.

In this new Critical Review just published in Analyst Paul Bohn and his group at the University of Notre Dame, USA, explore all the latest imaging techniques and introduce the new area of Raman imaging and mass spectrometry in the field of correlated imaging.

To know more, please access the full article below. It will be free to read until March 8th.

Correlated imaging – a grand challenge in chemical analysis
Rachel Masyuko , Eric J. Lanni , Jonathan V. Sweedler and Paul W. Bohn
Analyst, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3AN36416J

Comments Off on Correlated Imaging for Chemical Analysis

Raman spectroscopy for bedside cancer diagnosis

26 Feb 2013

By Aliya Anwar.

Currently the only way to identify whether a suspicious lump is something to be concerned about is to have it removed surgically and then examined by histological review. But a new diagnostic technique based around Raman spectroscopy could provide a faster diagnosis without the need for such invasive procedures.

Raman Spectroscopy has been used previously to distinguish benign and metastatic axillary lymph nodes (in the breast) and mediastinal nodes (in the oesophagus). Now Nicholas Stone and co-workers at the University of Exeter, UK have now applied the technique to distinguish between different cancerous conditions of lymph nodes in the head and neck.

Doctors coudl soon be using Raman spectroscopy to peform 'optical biopsies' of tumours © Shutterstock

To read the full article please visit Chemistry World.

Discrimination between benign, primary and secondary malignancies in lymph nodes from the head and neck utilising Raman spectroscopy and multivariate analysis
Gavin Rhys Lloyd, Linda E. Orr, Jonathan Christie-Brown, Keith McCarthy, Simon Rose, Michael Thomas and Nicholas Stone
Analyst, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36579K

Comments Off on Raman spectroscopy for bedside cancer diagnosis

Showcase your own research at the Analytical Research Forum 2013 (ARF13): extended deadline

21 Feb 2013

By Paola Quattroni, Development Editor.

The deadline for submitting oral abstracts has been extended to 4 March 2013

This is the premier Analytical Science meeting of the RSC designed primarily for early-career analytical scientists (including PhD students and postdoctoral fellows) to present their latest results in the context of the wider analytical science community.

Oral and poster contributions from students and young researchers are welcome. Prizes for the best contributions will be awarded.

An added feature this year will be a tour of the GSK site in Stevenage, which is where the lectures and poster presentations will take place.

Don’t miss the opportunity! Submit your abstract now!

Check out the event website to find out more – http://rsc.li/arf13

Comments Off on Showcase your own research at the Analytical Research Forum 2013 (ARF13): extended deadline

Analyst Issue 6 NOW online

20 Feb 2013

By Paola Quattroni, Development Editor.

The new issue of Analyst is now available online. Take a look at our wonderful covers and discover all about the latest research behind them.

Our outside front cover shows the work of Igor Lednev and his group from the State University of New York, USA. The researchers analyse biological specimens using surface- and tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS and TERS) and investigate the lack amide I band, commonly used as a marker for interpretation of the secondary protein structure.

Amide I vibrational mode suppression in surface (SERS) and tip (TERS) enhanced Raman spectra of protein specimens
Dmitry Kurouski , Thomas Postiglione , Tanja Deckert-Gaudig , Volker Deckert and Igor K. Lednev
Analyst, 2013,138, 1665-1673
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36478F

Our interesting inside front cover showcases work from Luigi Sanguigno from the Italian Institute of Technology, who describes how fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) can be misleading in 2D systems. This study highlights the alignment issues and the effects of thermal fluctuations related to FCS in 2D systems and proposes elimination of systematic errors due to the misalignments of membranes.

Accounting for misalignments and thermal fluctuations in fluorescence correlation spectroscopy experiments on membranes
Luigi Sanguigno , Chiara Cosenza , Filippo Causa and Paolo Antonio Netti
Analyst, 2013,138, 1674-1681
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36681A

The outside back cover of this issue introduces negative mode probe electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PESI-MS) as a tool for biomolecular analysis and cancer dignostics. Mridul Kanti Mandal and colleagues from the University of Yamanashi, Japan, analysed several combinations of solvents and probes to optmise the conditions of ionization for biomolecules such as peptides, proteins and lipids.

Biomolecular analysis and cancer diagnostics by negative mode probe electrospray ionization
Mridul Kanti Mandal , Subhrakanti Saha , Kentaro Yoshimura , Yasuo Shida , Sen Takeda , Hiroshi Nonami and Kenzo Hiraoka
Analyst, 2013,138, 1682-1688
DOI: 10.1039/C3AN36554A

In addition, along with our new covers we also have some selected HOT articles for you to enjoy. These papers will be free to read for the next 10 days.

Take a look at Issue 6 now!

A mixed alkanethiol based immunosensor for surface plasmon field-enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy in serum
Andreas Scholten , Bernhard Menges , Martin Juebner , Markus A. Rothschild and Katja Bender
Analyst, 2013,138, 1705-1712
DOI: 10.1039/C3AN35657D

A Hg2+-mediated label-free fluorescent sensing strategy based on G-quadruplex formation for selective detection of glutathione and cysteine
Jingjin Zhao , Chunfei Chen , Liangliang Zhang , Jianhui Jiang , Guoli Shen and Ruqin Yu
Analyst, 2013,138, 1713-1718
DOI: 10.1039/C3AN36657J

Iodine excitation in a dielectric barrier discharge micro-plasma and its determination by optical emission spectrometry
Yong-Liang Yu , Shuai Dou , Ming-Li Chen and Jian-Hua Wang
Analyst, 2013,138, 1719-1725
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36780G

Comments Off on Analyst Issue 6 NOW online

Top ten most accessed articles in January

Analyst Issue 7 now online!

Analysing bacterial metabolites

Recognising coeliac disease

Analyst paper highly commended in GSK 3Rs prize

A new switchable sensor for phosphate in water

Correlated Imaging for Chemical Analysis

Raman spectroscopy for bedside cancer diagnosis

Showcase your own research at the Analytical Research Forum 2013 (ARF13): extended deadline

Analyst Issue 6 NOW online

Links

Categories

Archives

Meta