Chaperone activities of bovine and camel beta-caseins: Importance of their surface hydrophobicity in protection against alcohol dehydrogenase aggregation.

Beta-casein (beta-CN) showing properties of intrinsically unstructured proteins (IUP) displays many similarities with molecular chaperones and shows anti-aggregation activity in vitro. Chaperone activities of bovine and camel beta-CN were studied using alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) as a substrate. To obtain an adequate relevant information about the chaperone capacities of studied caseins, three different physical parameters including chaperone constant (k(c), microM(-1)), thermal aggregation constant (k(T), degrees C(-1)) and aggregation rate constant (k(t), min(-1)) were measured.

Molecularly imprinted polymer based potentiometric sensor for the determination of hydroxyzine in tablets and biological fluids.

Molecular imprinting is a useful technique for the preparation of functional materials with molecular recognition properties. In this work, a biomimetic potentiometric sensor, based on a non-covalent imprinted polymer, was fabricated for the recognition and determination of hydroxyzine in tablets and biological fluids. The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized by precipitation polymerization, using hydroxyzine dihydrochloride as a template molecule, methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylat (EGDMA) as a cross-linking agent.

Schiff's Bases and Crown Ethers as Supramolecular Sensing Materials in the Construction of Potentiometric Membrane Sensors.

Ionophore incorporated PVC membrane sensors are well-established analyticaltools routinely used for the selective and direct measurement of a wide variety of differentions in complex biological and environmental samples. Potentiometric sensors have someoutstanding advantages including simple design and operation, wide linear dynamic range,relatively fast response and rational selectivity. The vital component of such plasticizedPVC members is the ionophore involved, defining the selectivity of the electrodes' complexformation.

Molecular geometry, vibrations and electrode potentials of 2-(4,5-dihydroxy-2-methylphenyl)-2-phenyl-2H-indene-1,3-dione; experimental and theoretical attempts.

The electrode potential of 2-(4,5-dihydroxy-2-methylphenyl)-2-phenyl-2H-indene-1,3-dione (DMPID) in acetonitrile has been calculated. The calculations were performed using ab initio molecular orbital calculations (HF), and density functional theory (DFT) with the inclusion of entropic and thermochemical corrections to yield free energies of redox reactions. The electrode potential of DMPID was also obtained experimentally with the aid of an electrochemical technique (cyclic voltammetry).

Myoglobin immobilization on electrodeposited nanometer-scale nickel oxide particles and direct voltammetry.

Prosperity of information on the reactions of redox-active sites in proteins can be attained by voltammetric studies in which the protein sample is located on a suitable surface. This work reports the presentation of myoglobin/nickel oxide nanoparticles/glassy carbon (Mb/NiO NPs/GC) electrode, ready by electrochemical deposition of the NiO NPs on glassy carbon electrode and myoglobin immobilization on their surfaces by the potential cycling method. Images of electrodeposited NiO NPs on the surface of glassy carbon electrode were obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Lanthanide Recognition: an Asymetric Erbium Microsensor Based on a Hydrazone Derivative.

N'-(2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethylidene)benzohydrazide (HDB) was found tohave a very selective and sensitive behavior towards erbium(III) ions, in comparison tothirteen lanthanide ions, inner transition and representative metal ions and was hence usedas a neutral ion carrier in construction of an Er(III) microelectrode. Theoretical calculationsand conductance studies of HDB to erbium and some other metal ions were carried out andconfirmed selectivity toward Er(III) ions.The best performance was obtained with a membrane contain 3% potassium tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate (KTpClPB) as an anionic additive, 72% dibutyl phthalate (DBP) assolvent mediator, 5% HDB, and 20% poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC).

Ion recognition: application of symmetric and asymmetric schiff bases and their complexes for the fabrication of cationic and anionic membrane sensors to determine ions in real samples.

Schiff base compounds refer to the branch of supra-molecules and can be used as sensing material in the construction of potentiometric ion selective electrodes (ISEs). This relatively modern field has been subject to extensive research in the period of 1999-2007 when more than 100 ISEs employing Schiff bases were constructed. The quantitative high-throughput detection of 29 cations and 7 anions has been demonstrated in various scientific branches, such as biomedicine, pharmacy, biochemistry, pharmacology, environmental chemistry, food technology, and agriculture.

Efficient Ce(NO3)3 x 6H2O-catalyzed solvent-free synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones.

Cerium(III) nitrate hexahydrate efficiently catalyzes the three-component Biginelli reaction under solvent-free conditions of an aldehyde, a beta-keto ester or beta-diketone and urea or thiourea to afford the corresponding 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones or -thiones in excellent yields.

Development of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as a simple, rapid and highly sensitive method for the determination of phthalate esters in water samples.

A simple, rapid and efficient method, the dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) in conjunction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), has been developed for the extraction and determination of phthalate esters (dimethyl phthalate, diallyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate, dicyclohexyl phthalate and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) in water samples. Factors relevant to the microextraction efficiency, such as the kind of extraction, the disperser solvent and their volume, the salt effect and the extraction time were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized extraction conditions (extraction solvent: chlorobenzene, volume, 9.

Use of organofunctionalized nanoporous silica gel to improve the lifetime of carbon paste electrode for determination of copper(II) ions.

A new functionalized nanoporous silica gel with dipyridyl group (DPNSG) was synthesized. Then, the potentiometric response of the copper(II) ion was investigated at a carbon paste electrode chemically modified with this newly designed functionalized nanoporous silica gel. The electrodes with DPNSG proportions of 15.

Structural study of 2-(1-oxo-1 H-inden-3-yl)-2H-indene-1,3-dione by DFT calculations, NMR and IR spectroscopy.

Computational studies have been carried out at the DFT-B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory on the structural and spectroscopic properties of 2-(1-oxo-1 H-inden-3-yl)-2H-indene-1,3-dione (OID). Experimental studies were conducted on these parameters, including X-ray, FT-IR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The optimized geometries of OID and its bonding characteristics as well as IR and NMR spectra have been calculated and analyzed.

Determination of gadolinium(III) ions in soil and sediment samples by a novel gadolinium membrane sensor based on 6-methyl-4-{[1-(2-thienyl)methylidene]amino}3-thioxo-3,4-dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-5-(2H)-one.

Highly selective and sensitive poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane electrodes based on 6-methyl-4-{[1-(2-thienyl)methylidene]amino}3-thioxo-3,4-dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-5-(2H)-one (MATDTO) as new carriers for gadolinium ion-selective electrode was reported. The membrane solutions containing PVC, o-nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE) as plasticizer, sodium tetraphenyl borate (NaTPB) as lipophilic ionic additive, and MATDTO, displays a calibration response for Gd3+ ions over a wide concentration range of 1.0x10(-6)-1.

Fast Fourier transformation with continuous cyclic voltammetry at an Au microelectrode for the determination of morphine in a flow injection system.

For the fast morphine monitoring in flow injection systems a highly sensitive method is being introduced in this work. The fast Fourier transformation with continuous cyclic voltammetry (FFTCV) in a flowing solution as a detection system was applied for the prompt morphine monitoring. Here it should be stressed that this technique is simple, precise, accurate, time saving and economical.

The mechanisms underlying the effect of alpha-cyclodextrin on the aggregation and stability of alcohol dehydrogenase.

High concentrations of proteins and enzymes have to be stored for extended periods of time. Under such conditions, at least three major factors contribute to aggregation and loss of protein function: hydrophobicity, propensity to form non-native beta-sheet structure and net charge of the polypeptide chain. Here we evaluate these thermal aggregation factors for horse liver ADH (alcohol dehydrogenase) and the effect of alpha-CyD (alpha-cyclodextrin) on the ADH aggregation, by using fluorescence, CD, UV-visible spectrophotometry, the DLS (dynamic light scattering) technique and the enzymatic activity assay.

Fundamental studies of the cytochrome c immobilization by the potential cycling method on nanometer-scale nickel oxide surfaces.

This work describes the performance of cytochrome c/nickel oxide nanoparticles/glassy carbon electrode, prepared by the electrochemical deposition of the nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) on the glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface and the cytochrome c immobilization on the nickel oxide nanoparticle surfaces. An extensive sample examination with the help of the SEM and AFM presented the existence of different geometrical shapes of the nickel oxide particles. These geometrical structures could lead to the better immobilization of proteins on their surfaces.

Solid phase extraction for evaluation of occupational exposure to Pb (II) using XAD-4 sorbent prior to atomic absorption spectroscopy.

Lead is an important constituent widely used in different industrial processes. For evaluation of workers' exposure to trace toxic metal of Pb (II), solid-phase extraction (SPE) was optimized. SPE using mini columns filled with XAD-4 resin was developed with regard to sample pH, ligand concentration, loading flow rate, elution solvent, sample volume, elution volume, the amount of resins, and sample matrix interferences.

A new ytterbium(III) PVC membrane electrode based on 6-methy-4-{[1-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylidene]amino}-3-thioxo-3,4dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-5(2H)-one.

This study presents the development of an original electrode, employing 6-methy-4-{[1-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylidene]amino}-3-thioxo-3,4dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-5(2H)-one (PMTO) as a suitable ionophore. Interestingly, the electrode performance provided a very good response for Yb(3+) in a wide concentration range (from 1.0x10(-6) to 1.

Electrochemical behavior of caffeic acid at single-walled carbon nanotube:graphite-based electrode.

The performance of a single-walled carbon nanotube:graphite-based electrode, prepared by mixing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and graphite powder, is described. The resulting electrode shows an excellent behavior for the redox of caffeic acid (CA), an important biological molecule. Due to the existing resemblance between electrochemical and biological reactions, it can be assumed that the oxidation mechanisms on the electrode and in the body share similar principles.

A new method for the determination of haemoglobin concentration using a bromide-modified silver electrode.

A bromide-mediated silver electrode was applied to the measurement of haemoglobin. Bromide ions showed very good redox behaviour with the silver electrode. The cathodic and anodic peak potentials were related to the concentration of bromide ions involved in making the bromide-modified silver electrode.

Spectroscopic studies of the effects of glycation of human serum albumin on L-Trp binding.

Modification of proteins by nonenzymatic glycation is one of the underlying factors that contribute to the development of the complications of diabetes. Human serum albumin (HSA) is one of the major targets of interaction with glucose through the Maillard reaction. The effects of 1 and 5 mg/ml glucose concentrations, which are consistent with blood glucose levels found in diabetic patients, on human serum albumin were studied by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy in sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.

A novel method for fast determination of ranitidine in its pharmaceutical formulations by fast continuous cyclic voltammetry.

Introduction: A novel method for the determination of Ranitidine in flow injection systems was developed.

Methods: Some investigations were also done to find the effects of various parameters on the sensitivity of the method. The conditions producing optimal performance were a pH value of 2, a scan rate value of 100 V/s, accumulation potential of (-100) mV, and accumulation time of 0.

Novel method for the fast determination of ultra trace amount of nortriptyline in its pharmaceutical formulations by fast fourier transform continuous cyclic voltammetric technique at Au microelectrode in flowing solutions.

In this work a novel method for the determination of nortriptyline in flow-injection systems has been developed. The proposed method was used for the fast determination of nortriptyline in its pharmaceutical formulations. The developed technique is very simple, precise, accurate, time saving, and economical, compared to all of the previously reported methods.

A sub-second fast Fourier transform-adsorptive voltammetric technique for the nano-level determination of guthion at a gold microelectrode in flowing solutions.

This research demonstrates the quick guthion monitoring with the help of a sensitive method called fast Fourier transformation continuous cyclic voltammetry (FFTCV). Fortunately, FFTCV illustrates the benefits of precision, determination speed, cost-effectiveness, accuracy and simplicity, in comparison with formerly reported techniques. In particular, this method was applied to a gold microelectrode in flowing solutions to detect the guthion concentration in its formulations.

Development of fast Fourier transformation continuous cyclic voltammetry as a highly sensitive detection system for ultra trace monitoring of penicillin V.

Fast continuous cyclic voltammetry was used as a detection method for penicillin V in a flow injection system. Additionally, a special computer-based numerical calculation method (using fast Fourier transformation) providing enhancement of the analyte signal and noise reduction is introduced here. During the measurements, the potential waveform (consisting of the potential steps of cleaning, stripping, and the potential ramp) was continuously applied to an Au disk microelectrode (12.

A green method for the electroorganic synthesis of new 1,3-Indandione derivatives.

This is an environmentally friendly method in the field of electroorganic reactions under controlled potential electrolysis, without toxic reagents at a carbon electrode in an undivided cell which involves the (EC) mechanism reaction and comprises two steps alternatively; (i) electrochemical oxidation and (ii) chemical reaction. In particular, the electrochemical oxidation of 4-tert-butylcatechol, 4-methylcatechol and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid in the presence of 2-phenyl-1,3-indandione has been studied in a water-acetonitrile (90 : 10) mixture. The research includes the use of a variety of experimental techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry, controlled-potential electrolysis, and spectroscopic identification of products (FT-IR, (1)H-NMR, and MS spectrometry).