Unraveling the Electrical and Magnetic Properties of Layered Conductive Metal-Organic Framework With Atomic Precision.

This paper describes structural elucidation of a layered conductive metal-organic framework (MOF) material Cu (C O ) by microcrystal electron diffraction with sub-angstrom precision. This insight enables the first identification of an unusual π-stacking interaction in a layered MOF material characterized by an extremely short (2.73 Å) close packing of the ligand arising from pancake bonding and ordered water clusters within pores.

Protein capture and SERS detection on multiwavelength rainbow-trapping width-graded nano-gratings.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates with multiwavelength rainbow-trapping properties hold the potential for a one-size-fits-all platform for rapid and multiplexed disease detection. We present the first report on the utilization of rainbow-trapping width-graded nano-gratings, a new class of chirped metamaterials, to detect protein biomarkers. Using cytochrome c (Cc), a charged analyte with inherent difficulty in adsorbing onto sputtered silver films, we investigated methods of binding Cc on the silver nano-grating in order to improve the SERS signal strength at both 532 and 638 nm excitation.

High performance ionic-liquid-gated air doped diamond field-effect transistors.

We report successful fabrication of high performance ion-gated field-effect transistors (FETs) on hydrogenated diamond surface. Investigations on the hydrogen (H)-terminated diamond by Hall effect measurements shows Hall mobility as high as ∼200 cm V s. In addition we demonstrate a rapid fabrication scheme for achieving stable high performance devices useful for determining optimal growth and fabrication conditions.

Optimized oxygen deprived low temperature sputtered WO thin films for crystalline structures.

We report a detailed analysis on the effects of processing parameters for sputtered tungsten trioxide (WO) thin nanoscale films on their structural, vibrational and electrical properties. The research aims to understand the fundamental aspects of WO sputtering at relatively low temperatures and in an oxygen deprived environment targeting applications of temperature and oxygen sensitive substrates. Structural analysis indicates that films deposited at room temperature, or substrate temperatures at or below 400 °C with low oxygen partial pressure are amorphous.

Indium Dopant Concentration Effects on Zinc Oxide Nanowires.

We report in detail the effects of varying the concentration of indium as a dopant in ZnO on the structural, vibrational, and optical properties of ZnO nanowires. A highly versatile route to dope zinc oxide nanowires by using vapor-liquid-solid growth is employed. It is observed that the ratio of indium in ZnO reactant has a large impact on properties of indium-doped ZnO nanowires.

Antioxidant activity of an ethnobotanically important plant Quisqualis indica Linn.

The antioxidant potential of leaf, stem, root and flower extracts of Quisqualis indica Linn. was assessed to verify its ethnopharmacological importance. Both polar and non-polar solvents like n-hexane, chloroform, ethanol and distilled water were used to obtain crude extracts.

Phytochemical screening, GC-MS analysis and in vitro antioxidant activity of pollen of Centella asiatica (Linn) urban a traditional medicinal plant.

In the present study the crude extracts of pollen of Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urban were explored for their antioxidant potential using Ferric Reducing Power, Metal Chelating Activity and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity assays. In crude extracts of pollen antioxidant components were initially extracted in methanol and further fractionated in solvents of different polarity, such as n-Hexane, Chloroform, Ethyl Acetate and Water exhibited reasonable antioxidant activity.

Modulation of voltage-gated conductances of retinal horizontal cells by UV-excited TiO nanoparticles.

This study examines the ability of optically-excited titanium dioxide nanoparticles to influence voltage-gated ion channels in retinal horizontal cells. Voltage clamp recordings were obtained in the presence and absence of TiO and ultraviolet laser excitation. Significant current changes were observed in response to UV light, particularly in the -40 mV to +40 mV region where voltage-gated Na and K channels have the highest conductance.

A Graphene and Aptamer Based Liquid Gated FET-Like Electrochemical Biosensor to Detect Adenosine Triphosphate.

Here we report successful demonstration of a FET-like electrochemical nano-biosensor to accurately detect ultralow concentrations of adenosine triphosphate. As a 2D material, graphene is a promising candidate due to its large surface area, biocompatibility, and demonstrated surface binding chemistries and has been employed as the conducting channel. A short 20-base DNA aptamer is used as the sensing element to ensure that the interaction between the analyte and the aptamer occurs within the Debye length of the electrolyte (PBS).

Detection of Interferon gamma using graphene and aptamer based FET-like electrochemical biosensor.

One of the primary goals in the scientific community is the specific detection of proteins for the medical diagnostics and biomedical applications. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is associated with the tuberculosis susceptibility, which is one of the major health problems globally. We have therefore developed a DNA aptamer-based electrochemical biosensor that is used for the detection of IFN-γ with high selectivity and sensitivity.

Biomedical Applications of Quantum Dots, Nucleic Acid-Based Aptamers, and Nanostructures in Biosensors.

This review is a survey of the biomedical applications of semiconductor quantum dots, nucleic acid-based aptamers, and nanosensors as molecular biosensors. It focuses on the detection of analytes in biomedical applications using (1) advances in molecular beacons incorporating semiconductor quantum dots and nanoscale quenching elements; (2) aptamer-based nanosensors on a variety of platforms, including graphene; (3) Raman scattering and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) using nanostructures for enhanced SERS spectra of biomolecules, including aptamers; and (4) the electrical and optical properties of nanostructures incorporated into molecular beacons and aptamer-based nanosensors. Research done at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is highlighted throughout since it emphasizes the specific approaches taken by the bioengineering department at UIC.

In vitro antioxidant potential and free radical scavenging activity of various extracts of pollen of Typha domigensis Pers.

Antioxidant potential of the pollen of Typha domigensis Pers. using Ferric Reducing ower, Metal Chelating Activity and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) assays has been carried out in the current research work. The antioxidant components were initially extracted from the pollen in methanol and were further fractionated in solvents of different polarity such as n-Hexane, Chloroform, Ethyl Acetate and Water.

N-[4-(4-Chloro-benzene-sulfonamido)-phenyl-sulfon-yl]acetamide.

In the title compound, C(14)H(13)ClN(2)O(5)S(2), the dihedral angles between the central benzene ring and the pendant chloro-benzene ring and the N-acetyl group are 82.35 (5) and 79.71 (6)°, respectively, and the overall conformation of the mol-ecule approximates to a U shape.

N-[4-(Ethyl-sulfamo-yl)phen-yl]acetamide.

The title compound, C(10)H(14)N(2)O(3)S, crystallized with two mol-ecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit. The terminal methyl group of the ethyl-sulfonamide moiety in mol-ecule B is disordered over two sets of sites with an occupancy ratio of 0.61 (1):0.