Autonomous in situ analysis and real-time chemical detection using a backpack miniature mass spectrometer: concept, instrumentation development, and performance.

A major design objective of portable mass spectrometers is the ability to perform in situ chemical analysis on target samples in their native states in the undisturbed environment. The miniature instrument described here is fully contained in a wearable backpack (10 kg) with a geometry-independent low-temperature plasma (LTP) ion source integrated into a hand-held head unit (2 kg) to allow direct surface sampling and analysis. Detection of chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulants, illicit drugs, and explosives is demonstrated at nanogram levels directly from surfaces in near real time including those that have complex geometries, those that are heat-sensitive, and those bearing complex sample matrices.

Bis[2-(3-carboxyphenoxy)carbonylethyl]phosphinic acid (m-BCCEP): a novel affinity cross-linking reagent for the beta-cleft modification of human hemoglobin.

The design and synthesis of bis[2-(3-carboxyphenoxy)carbonylethyl]phosphinic acid (m-BCCEP, 1) as a site-directed affinity reagent for cross-linking human hemoglobin have been reported as part of our long-term goal to generate artificial blood for emergency transfusions. Molecular modeling techniques were used to design the reagent, employing crystal coordinates of human hemoglobin A(0) imported from the Protein Data Bank. It was synthesized in four steps commencing from 3-hydroxybenzoic acid.

High-throughput carbohydrate microarray profiling of 27 antibodies demonstrates widespread specificity problems.

Progress toward understanding the biological roles of carbohydrates has been remarkably slow, and efforts to exploit this class of biopolymers as diagnostic and therapeutic targets have proven extremely challenging. Both basic and clinical research rely heavily on identifying and monitoring expression levels of carbohydrates. Over the last 30 years, the majority of expression information has been derived from antibody- and lectin-binding studies.

A novel site-directed affinity reagent for cross-linking human hemoglobin: bis[2-(4-phosphonooxyphenoxy)carbonylethyl]phosphinic acid.

Bis[2-(4-phosphonooxyphenoxy)carbonylethyl]phosphinc acid (BPPCEP) was prepared and evaluated as a site-directed affinity reagent for cross-linking human hemoglobin. It was synthesized in four steps starting from 4-benzyloxyphenol and was converted to its pentasodium salt so as to afford efficient cross-linking in an aqueous medium. The reagent was found to specifically cross-link human hemoglobin A(0) in the beta-cleft chains under oxygenated reaction conditions at neutral pH.