Multiwalled carbon nanotubes dispersed in carminic acid for the development of catalase based biosensor for selective amperometric determination of H(2)O(2) and iodate.

We report the preparation of stable dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using carminic acid (CA) as a dispersing agent. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) results confirmed that MWCNT is well dispersed in CA aqueous solution and CA has been well adsorbed at MWCNT walls. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV-vis absorption spectra results also confirmed the adsorption of CA at MWCNT. To develop a highly selective amperometric biosensor for H(2)O(2) and iodate, the model enzyme catalase (CAT) was immobilized at CACNT modified glassy carbon electrode surface. The immobilized CAT exhibits well defined quasi reversible redox peaks at a formal potential (E°') of -0.559V in 0.05M pH 7 phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The proposed CAT/CACNT biosensor exhibits excellent amperometric response towards H(2)O(2) and iodate in the linear concentration range between 10µM to 3.2mM and 0.01-2.16mM. The sensitivity values are 287.98µAmM(-1)cm(-2) and 0.253mAmM(-1)cm(-2), respectively. Moreover, the developed CAT biosensor exhibits high affinity for H(2)O(2) and iodate with good selectivity.

A discharge adaptor interface for use in liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

A discharge adaptor, composed of a metal casing and platinum (Pt) wire needle, was directly attached to an electrospray ionization (ESI) probe tip, to transform the ionization into atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). Six generic drugs were analyzed with the developed discharge adaptor (DA) and two commercial interfaces. The DA interface produced more intense radical anions, [M]˙⁻, and less sodium adduct ions, [M + Na]⁺, than the ESI interface, whereas almost the same molecular ions were detected as the APCI interface. The effects of solvent and desolvation gas flow in the DA interface were similar to those in the ESI interface, but differed from those in the APCI interface. Better sensitivity of the tested drugs was obtained relative to the commercial APCI interface. For human plasma samples, the DA interface also demonstrated good tolerance to plasma matrices, linearity from 5 or 20 to 500 ng/mL (r² > 0.99) and ruggedness.

Thermally and electrically switchable gratings based on polymer-ball-type polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal films.

We focus on the fabrication and study of controllable holographic gratings based on azo-dye-doped and undoped polymer-ball-type polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal films. Experimental results indicate that the next step of photopolymerization of the sample with the illumination of Ar+ laser beams after UV curing causes a latent density grating to be recorded. This grating is formed by a selective secondary photopolymerization. Heating and applying a voltage change the structure of the liquid crystal and induce the appearance of the latent grating. Diffraction efficiencies versus temperature, voltage, and state of polarization are studied for both dye-doped and undoped cells and are found to be quite different. This discrepancy is attributable to the reorientation effect of liquid crystals through their interaction with the photo-induced adsorption of the doped dyes on the surface of polymer balls in the dye-doped cell.