Analytical Methods Blog

Picture of 5 interconnecting microfluidic components

A new and fast microchip-inspired analytical device based on standard Plexiglas tubes has been developed by researchers in Brazil.
The team, led by Carlos Garcia from the University of Sao Paulo, propose a device based on 5 plastic microfluidic components that serve as both the injector and the reservoir. The plastic components are connected with standard capillary tubes that easily enable the in-channel detection of analytes by a variety of techniques including electrophoresis. To demonstrate the applicability of this design, the researchers performed efficient analysis of inorganic cations by capillary electrophoresis on soil samples.
The microchip-capillary electrophoresis devices commercially available at the moment are still expensive and do not always offer the best analytical performances. This new microfluidic device developed using cheap and simple fabrication materials is an attractive approach for portable and rapid analytical instrumentation.

To read the full article, free to read until March 6th, please access the link below:

Microfab-less microfluidic capillary electrophoresis devices
Thiago P. Segato ,  Samir A. Bhakta ,  Matthew T. Gordon ,  Emanuel Carrilho ,  Peter A. Willis ,  Hong Jiao and Carlos D. Garcia
Anal. Methods, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3AY26392D

Take a look at this great list of selected HOT articles recently published in Analytical Methods! Topics include nanoparticle-based colorimetric anticancer drug detection methods and ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for multiple bile acids detection.

Check out also the new review by Edward Randviir and Craig Banks on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. All these papers will be free for you to read until February 18th. 

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy: An Overview of Bioanalytical Applications
Edward P Randviir and Craig E Banks
Anal. Methods, 2013, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/C3AY26476A

Application of an electronic tongue towards the analysis of brandies
Xavier Cetó ,  Matias Llobet ,  Joan Marco and Manel del Valle
Anal. Methods, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY26066B

Potential of solid sampling high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry to monitor the Ag body burden in individual Daphnia magna specimens exposed to Ag nanoparticles
Martín Resano ,  Ana C. Lapeña and Miguel A. Belarra
Anal. Methods, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY26456K

Self-powered herbicide biosensor utilizing thylakoid membranes
Michelle Rasmussen and Shelley D. Minteer
Anal. Methods, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3AY26488B

Quantification of Multiple Bile Acids in Uninephrectomized Rats Using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Carlos A Penno ,  Denis Arsenijevic ,  Thierry Da Cunha ,  Gerd A Kullak-Ublick ,  Jean-Pierre Montani and A Odermatt
Anal. Methods, 2013, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/C3AY26520J

Colorimetric anticancer drug detection by gold nanoparticle-based DNA interstrand cross-linking
Xiaoji Xie ,  Renren Deng ,  Feng Liu ,  Wei Xu ,  Sam Fong Yau Li and Xiaogang Liu
Anal. Methods, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3AY26422J

Detection of selenium using graphite-based sensors

Researchers from the Manchester Metropolitan University reported the first example of graphite-based sensors to detect selenium in drinking water.
Selenium is a trace mineral nutrient essential as for all animals, but it is extremely toxic if the intake dose exceeds 400 µg per day. Both the European Union and United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have set the limits for selenium in drinking water to of 10 µg/L and 50 µg/L respectively.

Today, the gold-based electrodes which are traditionally used to detect selenium are very expensive. With this work, Craig Banks and his group address the problem proposing a graphite based sensor to detect selenium in water. They fabricated special screen-printed graphite electrodes and detected low concentrations of selenium in their laboratory tap water, with a limit of detection which fell below those set by the EPA. According to the authors, this new graphite-based sensor could represent an appealing alternative to the gold based electrodes currently used.

To know more about this work, click on the link below. This paper will be free to read until January 24th.

Electroanalytical sensing of selenium(IV) utilising screen printed graphite macro electrodes
Athanasios V. Kolliopoulos ,  Jonathan P. Metters and Craig E. Banks
Anal. Methods, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY26041G

Take a look at the new detection methods described in these HOT articles in Analytical Methods! They include detection of medicinal products such as ginseng using near infrared spectral fingerprints and determination of lead in animal bone powder by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. These papers will be free to read until January 24th.

Expeditious identification and semi-quantification of Panax ginseng using near infrared spectral fingerprints and multivariate analysis
Juan Ricardo Lucio-Gutiérrez ,  Jordi Coello and S Maspoch
Anal. Methods, 2012, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY26235E

The feasibility of wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for the assessment of lead concentration in animal bone powder
José A. A. Brito ,  Inês I. B. Cavaleiro ,  Tânia A. P. Fernandes and Luísa M. L. Gonçalves
Anal. Methods, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY26455B

Determination of lead in animal bone powder

More articles for you to enjoy:

Novel pH sensor based on anthraquinone–ferrocene modified free standing gold nanowire array electrode
Louise Devlin ,  Mamun Jamal and Kafil Mahmood Razeeb
Anal. Methods, 2012, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY26264A

Combining enzymatic 18O-labeling and 2-D LC-MS/MS for study of protein interactions in primary T cells
Diana Lang ,  Sabine Anker ,  Benno Kuropka and Eberhard Krause
Anal. Methods, 2012, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY26298C

We have some new HOT articles for you to enjoy this week!

A new method to trace caffeine in complicated samples, a biosensing assay for DNA detection based on silver nanoparticles, and obelin mutants used as reporters in bioluminescent dual-analyte binding assay are the discoveries outlined in these papers.

We also have an interesting review article on the current trends in liquid extraction procedures for analysis of cosmetics.

Classic and new techniques used in cosmetic analysis

Noelia Cabaleiro and colleagues offer an overview on the technique used today, alternatively to the classic sample preparation procedures. Recent techniques such as microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) are described.

Coming along with Analytical Methods Issue 1, here is a great list of HOT papers for you to have a read. These articles cover a large variety of fields, including new methods for discrimination of brain tumours, development of paper-based sensing platforms, novel methodologies for forensic investigations, and improved measurements of volatile organic compounds.

We also have some interesting data on novel detection systems such as detection of thrombin using silver nanoparticles, new ways to detect prion proteins, and the setup of a three-dimensional hydrogel oligonucleotide microarray to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Sensitive detection of prion protein through long range resonance energy transfer between graphene oxide and molecular aptamer beacon
Hong Lin Zhuang ,  Shu Jun Zhen ,  Jian Wang and Cheng Zhi Huang
Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 208-212
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY26156A

Direct determination of nickel in xylene solutions of raw material for catalytic cracking with application of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry
Zofia Kowalewska
Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 192-201
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY25920F

3D-microarray for detection of SNPs

Fabricating three-dimensional hydrogel oligonucleotide microarrays to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms.
Xia Liu ,  Tao Li ,  Dianjun Liu and Zhenxin Wang
Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 285-290
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY25904D

In addition, we present an interesting paper by Jose Garcia who explains how we will be able to detect nanomolar concentrations of Hg by the naked eye.

Sub-ppm quantification of Hg(II) in aqueous media using both the naked eye and digital information from pictures of a colorimetric sensory polymer membrane taken with the digital camera of a conventional mobile phone
Hamid El Kaoutit ,  Pedro Estévez ,  Félix C. García ,  Felipe Serna and José M. García
Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 54-58
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY26307F

Take a look at all these innovative papers and enjoy the first issue of Analytical Methods in 2013!

Hg concentration measured using conventional cameras

Progress on the analytical methodology for biological volatile organic compounds
Zhuomin Zhang ,  Yunjian Ma and Gongke Li
Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 20-29
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY26082D

A compact comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) approach for the analysis of biogenic VOCs
Samuel J. Edwards ,  Alastair C. Lewis ,  Stephen J. Andrews ,  Richard T. Lidster ,  Jacqueline F. Hamilton and Christopher N. Rhodes
Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 141-150
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY25710F

Development of EPA Method 525.3 for the analysis of semivolatiles in drinking water
Paul E. Grimmett and Jean W. Munch
Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 151-163
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY25880C

Diagnostic segregation of human brain tumours using Fourier-transform infrared and/or Raman spectroscopy coupled with discriminant analysis
Ketan Gajjar ,  Lara D. Heppenstall ,  Weiyi Pang ,  Katherine M. Ashton ,  Júlio Trevisan ,  Imran I. Patel ,  Valon Llabjani ,  Helen F. Stringfellow ,  Pierre L. Martin-Hirsch ,  Timothy Dawson and Francis L. Martin
Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 89-102
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY25544H

Paper-based electroanalytical sensing platforms
Jonathan P. Metters ,  Said M. Houssein ,  Dimitrious K. Kampouris and Craig E. Banks
Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 103-110
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY26396C

Simultaneous determination of pentachlorophenol, niclosamide and fenpropathrin in fishpond water using an LC-MS/MS method for forensic investigation
Haipeng Jiang ,  Yinhua Zhang ,  Xiangguo Chen ,  Jizhong Lv and Jing Zou
Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 111-115
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY25685A

Photonic and magnetic dual responsive molecularly imprinted polymers: preparation, recognition characteristics and properties as a novel sorbent for caffeine in complicated samples
Shoufang Xu ,  Jinhua Li ,  Xingliang Song ,  Junshen Liu ,  Hongzhi Lu and Lingxin Chen
Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 124-133
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY25922B

A sensor probe for the continuous in situ monitoring of ammonia leakage in secondary refrigerant systems
Raman Subramanian ,  Karl Crowley ,  Aoife Morrin and Anthony J. Killard
Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 134-140
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY25688F

Xanthone based Pb2+ selective turn on fluorescent probe for living cell staining
Debasis Karak ,  Arnab Banerjee ,  Sisir Lohar ,  Animesh Sahana ,  Subhra Kanti Mukhopadhyay ,  Sushanta. S. Adhikari and Debasis Das
Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 169-172
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY25935D

Study on the supramolecular interaction of astemizole with cucurbit[7]uril and its analytical application
Guang-Quan Wang ,  Li-Ming Du ,  Yu-Hua Guo ,  Yan-Fang Qin ,  Jun-Wen Wang and Hao Wu
Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 173-179
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY25929J

Evaluation of a drop-on-demand micro-dispensing system for development of artificial fingerprints
Jessica L. Staymates ,  Matthew E. Staymates and Greg Gillen
Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 180-186
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY26167G

Identification and quantification of methylated PAHs in sediment by two-dimensional gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
Ewa Skoczynska ,  Pim Leonards and Jacob de Boer
Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 213-218
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY25746G

Resonant waveguide grating (RWG): overcoming the problem of angular sensitivity by conical, broad-band illumination for fluorescence measurements
Tarmo Nuutinen ,  Petri Karvinen ,  Jussi Rahomäki and Pasi Vahimaa
Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 281-284
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY25470K