Recognition and optical sensing of amines by a quartz-bound 7-chloro-4-quinolylazopillar[5]arene monolayer.

Covalent bonding of 7-chloro-4-quinolylazo-octamethoxypillar[5]arene molecules to silylated quartz substrates readily produced a new chromogenic reusable pillararene-coated quartz slide, for the direct UV detection of "transparent" analytes in solution. This device provides an analyte-selective optical response towards linear (di)amines with a highly reproducible optical read-out.

Nerve Gas Simulant Sensing by a Uranyl-Salen Monolayer Covalently Anchored on Quartz Substrates.

A uranyl complex monolayer that easily allows the optical detection of a nerve gas simulant, namely, dimethyl methylphosphonate, is reported. Both UV/Vis spectroscopy and photoelectron data confirm that the functional hybrid material coordinates a Lewis base by means of the P=O group, which interacts with the uranium equatorial site available for complexation.

Communication between Discrete Nanostructures Triggered by Fine Tuning of an External Stimulus.

The design of molecular architectures able to transfer mass to each other is a field of extreme importance. In the present study it is shown that two especially designed covalently assembled nanostructures can interchange Cu(2+) ions upon an external OH(-) trigger. The obtained solid interfaces are of interest for signaling, communication, memory storage and optical devices.

Solid nanoarchitecture--Cu(II) solution: dynamics of the chemical communication.

Molecular monolayers and similar nanoarchitectures represent a promising future of the nanotechnology. Many of these systems behave as stimuli responsive materials since they undergo readable changes upon external stimuli. Therefore, chemical communication between these systems and the surrounding environment is a field extremely important. In the present study we explored by optical read-out the chemical communication between a porphyrin monolayer covalently bound to a quartz substrate (hardware) and copper(II) ions (stimulus). Different physical states can be safely distinguished since the intensity of the Soret band (output) associated with a calculated distribution diagram provided the degree of porphyrin complexation and, therefore, of the state of the optically active system as a result of a solution mediated interfacial communication.

Spectroscopic and morphological characterization of inflow cannulas of left ventricular assist devices.

Despite the consistent clinical data on the positive effects of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) in the treatment of refractory heart failure, unfortunately these devices yet show some limitations such as the risk of stroke, infection, and device malfunction. The complex interplay between blood and the foreign material has a major role in the occurrence of these complications and biocompatibility of the inflow cannula would be pivotal in these terms. In this study, we carried out an in-depth physicochemical characterization of two commercially available LVADs by means of field emission gun scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, and X-ray photoelectron spectra. Our results show that, despite both pumps share the same physicochemical concepts, major differences can be identified in the surface nature, morphology, and chemical composition of their inflow cannulas.