Analyst Blog

2p or not 2p: that is the title…

17 Oct 2012

…of a recent paper from the RSC’s Analyst, followed by the tagline ‘tuppence-based SERS for the detection of illicit materials’.

In the paper, scientists from Manchester explain how they used a UK two pence piece (a.k.a. tuppence) to do some drug detection work!

Royston Goodacre and team from University of Manchester altered the surface of a copper two pence piece with silver to make it suitable for the vibrational spectroscopic technique surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), which they then used to differentiate between the drugs: 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone), 5,6-methylenedioxy-2-aminoindane (MDAI) and 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA).

To read the full article please visit Chemistry World

2p or not 2p: Tuppence-based SERS for the detection of illicit materials
Samuel Mabbott, Axel Eckmann, Cinzia Casiraghi and Royston Goodacre
Analyst, 2012, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35974J, Paper

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Analyst Issue 22 now online!

16 Oct 2012

By Rebecca Brodie, Deputy Editor.

The latest issue of Analyst has now gone online, so take a look at the wonderful covers and the work that inspired them!

Oustide front cover, Analyst, Issue 22, 2012

Kranz et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 5208

On the front cover we have an image from Editorial Board member Boris Mizaikoff, Christine Kranz and colleagues from the University of Ulm. Their group designed a miniaturized cell stretching device for mechanically stimulating living cells at physiologically relevant levels applicable to a wide variety of adherent cell types. Click on the link below to read more.

Combining atomic force-fluorescence microscopy with a stretching device for analyzing mechanotransduction processes in living cells
E. Hecht, P. Knittel, E. Felder, P. Dietl, B. Mizaikoff and C. Kranz
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5208-5214
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36001B

Inside front cover, Analyst, Issue 22, 2012

Wong et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 5215

Our inside front cover comes from Pak Kin Wong, The University of Arizona, USA, who together with colleagues reports on a hybrid electrokinetic technique that can manipulate mammalian cells in physiological fluids. Cells can be adjusted for separation and focusing applications. Click below to find out more.

Electrokinetic focusing and separation of mammalian cells in conductive biological fluids
Jian Gao, Reza Riahi, Mandy L. Y. Sin, Shufeng Zhang and Pak Kin Wong
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5215-5221
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35707K

El-Safty et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 5278

On the back cover, we showcase research feature from the Sherif A. El-Safty Laboratory, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan. Uniform, 3D mesopore, ordered monoliths lead to tailored mesocaptor design of heavy metals. A multi-capture system enabled optical separation, and detection of ultra-trace level of ions in drinking water. This captor would develop a simple technique for wastewater treatment and management.

Optical mesosensors for monitoring and removal of ultra-trace concentration of Zn(II) and Cu(II) ions from water
Sherif A. El-Safty, M. A. Shenashen, M. Ismael, M. Khairy and Md. R. Awual
Analyst, 2012, 137, 5278-5290
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35484E

All of these cover articles will be free to read for 6 weeks.

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Surface-enhanced Raman scattering-active gold nanoparticles modified with a monolayer of silver film

16 Oct 2012

By Rebecca Brodie, Deputy Editor.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering-active gold nanoparticles modified with a monolayer of silver film

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

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Point of Care Diagnostics Workshop – 4 Dec 2012, London UK

09 Oct 2012

By Rebecca Brodie, Deputy Editor.

Point-of-Care Diagnostics Workshop
4 December 2012, Burlington House, London, UK

Point-of-care diagnostic (POC) test devices provide rapid results on an ever expanding range of medical tests, helping to streamline healthcare and improve clinical outcomes. Research on microfluidics for POC applications has increased markedly in recent years, fuelled by an interest in constructing field-deployable analytical instruments. The interest in POC microfluidic-based devices has been intense and has cut across all major disciplines in lab-on-a-chip research, including engineering (biomedical, chemical, electrical, and mechanical), chemistry, and physics. For further details please visit the website.

Abstract submission deadline: 31 October 2012. Abstract submission is now available online.

Application deadline: 31 October 2012. Application is now available online.

Workshop format
The aims of this Joint Biochemical Society/Royal Society of Chemistry workshop are to provide participants with a better understanding of the challenges involved in translating research outputs into application and to help encourage collaborations with industry and clinicians on POC. The workshop will bring together researchers who work at the interface between biology, chemistry and the wider life and medical sciences. Participants will be encouraged to participate in oral presentations, as well as in discussion groups intended to help move this area forward.

Speakers
Dr Ana Alfirevic, University of Liverpool, UK
Professor Andrew de Mello, ETH Zürich, Switzerland

Attendance is by application only and will be FREE of charge for Biochemical Society and Royal Society of Chemistry members.

This workshop is the fourth of a series entitled “Analytical Tools for the Life Sciences”, a collaborative project between the Biochemical Society and Royal Society of Chemistry members.

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Mastering Big Ideas for Small Devices

08 Oct 2012

By Rebecca Brodie, Deputy Editor.

By Pui Sai Lau, Web Writer

Optimization of multiplexed PCR on an integrated microfluidic forensic platform for rapid DNA analysis

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

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HOT articles in Analyst this September

03 Oct 2012

By Aliya Anwar.

An cover Take a look below at some wonderful HOT articles we’ve recently published this month in Analyst. There are papers covering a large variety of fields, including metabolomics, sample preparation, fluorimetry and electrochemiluminescent sensing. These HOT papers will be free to read for two weeks.

Selective fluorometric detection of pyrophosphate by 3-hydroxyflavone-diphenyltin(IV) complex in aqueous micellar medium
Raul Villamil-Ramos , Víctor Barba and Anatoly K. Yatsimirsky
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35999E

Morphological analysis of vibrational hyperspectral imaging data
Jacob Filik , Abigail V. Rutter , Josep Sulé-Suso and Gianfelice Cinque
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35914F

Layer-by-layer self-assembled graphene oxide/silica microsphere composites as stationary phase for high performance liquid chromatography
Xiaojing Liang , Shujuan Liu , Xinwang Song , Yangwen Zhu and Shengxiang Jiang
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36091H

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

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

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

One-step immobilization of Ru(bpy)32+ in a silica matrix for the construction of a solid-state electrochemiluminescent sensor with high performance
Jing Li , Fang-Nan Xiao and Xing-Hua Xia
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35980D

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

An cover 2

Applications of reversible covalent chemistry in analytical sample preparation
David Siegel
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35697J

Tactile multisensing on flexible aluminum nitride
Simona Petroni , Francesco Guido , Bruno Torre , Andrea Falqui , Maria Teresa Todaro , Roberto Cingolani and Massimo De Vittorio
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36015B

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HOT articles in Issue 21 of Analyst

03 Oct 2012

By Rebecca Brodie, Deputy Editor.

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

Outside front cover, Analyst, Issue 21, 2012

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

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.

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Biological fate of nanoparticles in the body

03 Oct 2012

By Aliya Anwar.

Metal oxide nanoparticles are currently used for a variety of applications including diagnostics and biomedicine. However, these nanoparticles are extremely difficult to detect and measure once they are distributed in a biological system. Now, Spanish scientists have developed a novel way for measuring their biodistribution.

Positron emission tomography image of the 18F-labelled metal oxide nanoparticles in vivo

Until now, labelling techniques have relied upon the functionalisation of the surface of the nanoparticle, which may alter the behaviour of the nanoparticle. Jordi Llop at the Centre for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials-CIC biomaGUNE, in San Sebastian, and co-workers, have developed a unique approach to avoid this by preparing metal oxides enriched with ¹⁸O. The ¹⁸O is incorporated to allow for more efficient cyclotron-mediated conversion to the radioactive ¹⁸F which can then be traced in vivo.

To read the full article please visit Chemistry World

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

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Seeing cells under stress

02 Oct 2012

By Aliya Anwar.

An analytical platform that imposes controlled mechanical strain onto live cells whilst monitoring changes in cell morphology and molecular signalling has been developed by scientists in Germany. Cellular processes induced by mechanical forces are crucial for bone healing and lung function. Understanding these processes could help to prevent and aid the development of therapies for mechanically induced lung and cardiovascular diseases and injuries.

Christine Kranz and colleagues from the University of Ulm combined fluorescence microscopy with atomic force microscopy to analyse the cells. They integrated a motorised cell stretching device into the system. ‘We combined the stretching device with biosensor technology, enabling localised measurements of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), for example, which is among the most important signalling molecule associated with mechanical stress,’ says Kranz. ‘Consequently, detecting ATP at the surface of mechanically stimulated cells facilitates investigation of the signalling cascades involved.’

The assembly includes a cell-stretching device, an atomic force microscopy head and an objective of the inverted microscope

To read the full article please visit Chemistry World.

Combining atomic force-fluorescence microscopy with a stretching device for analyzing mechanotransduction processes in living cells
E. Hecht , P. Knittel , E. Felder , P. Dietl , B. Mizaikoff and C. Kranz
Analyst, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36001B

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2p or not 2p: that is the title…

Analyst Issue 22 now online!

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering-active gold nanoparticles modified with a monolayer of silver film

Point of Care Diagnostics Workshop – 4 Dec 2012, London UK

Mastering Big Ideas for Small Devices

HOT articles in Analyst this September

Top ten most accessed articles in August

HOT articles in Issue 21 of Analyst

Biological fate of nanoparticles in the body

Seeing cells under stress

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