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Biomedical subjects

J H Luong

Publications and source records attributed to J H Luong.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Derivatization, stabilization and detection of biogenic amines by cyclodextrin-modified capillary electrophoresis-laser-induced fluorescence detection.

o-Phthalaldehyde (OPA) derivatives of eight biogenic amines were stabilized at 5 degrees C by forming inclusion complexes with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MBCD). The derivatives were separated and detected by cyclodextrin-modified capillary electrophoresis (CE) with UV or laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection. Using a borate buffer, pH 9.0 consisting of ethanol and a mixture of negatively charged sulfobutylether-beta-cyclodextrin and neutral MBCD, baseline separation of the eight OPA derivatives was achieved within 25 min with high separation efficiencies. The detection limits (S/N=3) obtained by UV and LIF detection were determined to be 10 microM and 0.250 microM, respectively. Glutamic acid was added after the initial derivatization step to neutralize residual OPA which otherwise caused a significant interference, particularly when analysis was performed around the detection limit of the OPA derivatives. Important biogenic amines in fish, wine and urine were then derivatized and determined by CE-LIF. In the case of sole and rainbow trout, the results obtained were validated by an enzymatic assay using putrescine oxidase.

Biogenic Amines↗

Development of rotating electrochemical detectors for capillary electrophoresis.

A rotating disk electrode (RDE) has been evaluated and optimized for the detection of electroactive species separated by capillary electrophoresis (CE). With catechol as a working model, the limit of detection was estimated to be 0.3 microM, i.e., approximately 2.5-fold better than that of the stationary disk electrode (0.7 microM). Separation efficiency was significantly improved as exemplified by an increase of theoretical plates from 26,000 plates/m at 0 rpm to 67,000 plates/m at 500 rpm. Of particular importance was the capability of RDE to alleviate electrode passivation and electrical interference associated with high separation potential fields. Therefore, rotation amperometry was especially useful for analytes such as phenolic compounds that tended to rapidly foul the electrode surface. The RDE/ CE system was capable of separation and determination of pentachlorophenol in contaminated soils, and the result obtained agreed well with conventional liquid chromatography, an EPA recommended procedure.

Journal Article↗

Monitoring motility, spreading, and mortality of adherent insect cells using an impedance sensor.

An emerging sensor technology referred to as electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) has been extended for monitoring the behavior of insect cells including attachment, motility, and mortality. In ECIS, adherent cells were cultured on an array of eight small gold electrodes deposited on the bottom of tissue culture wells and immersed in a culture medium. Upon the attachment and spreading of cells on the gold electrode, the impedance increased because the cells acted as insulating particles to restrict the current flow. Experimental data revealed that insect cells interacted differently with various proteins used to precoat the gold electrode with concanavalin A as the best promoter to accelerate the rate of cell attachment. After the cells were fully spread, the measured impedance continued to fluctuate to reflect the constant motion and metabolic activity of the cells. As the cell behavior was sensitive to external chemicals, the applicability of ECIS for inhibition assays was demonstrated with HgCl2, trinitrotoluene, trinitrobenzene (TNB), and 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene as model systems. Unlike conventional assays, the quantitative data obtained in this study are taken in real time and in a continuous fashion to depict cell motility and mortality.

Animals↗

Mediated microbial biosensor using a novel yeast strain for wastewater BOD measurement.

Two new yeast strains (SPT1 and SPT2) were isolated and immobilized on glassy carbon electrodes to form microbial biosensors for estimation of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). Ferricyanide was proven to be the most efficient mediator to shuttle electrons from the redox center of reduced microbial enzymes to the electrode in the presence of excess glucose/glutamic acid (GGA). With a 3-fold greater metabolic assimilation capability and greater responses to various effluent samples, SPT1 was selected for sensor-BOD measurements. BOD estimations for the GGA standard resulted in an extended linear range: 2-100 mg/l. Response reproducibility was +/-10% for a GGA standard containing 10 mg BOD/l. For analysis of pulp mill effluents, the BOD detection limit was 2 mg/l with a response time of 5 min.

Biosensing Techniques↗

In-line coupling capillary electrochromatography with amperometric detection for analysis of explosive compounds.

Amperometric detection at a bare gold electrode has been in-line coupled with capillary electrochromatography (CEC) for analysis of nitroaromatic and nitroamine explosives in contaminated soils and ground water. The CEC column packed with 3 microm C18 particles performed best using a mobile phase containing 70-80% methanol, 30 or 20% water, 5 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 10mM 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES). In contrast, the separation column packed with 1.5 km C18 particles exhibited the best separation when only 30% methanol was added to a mobile phase containing 70% water, 7 mM SDS, and 10 mM MES. The detection, based on electrochemical reduction of the explosives (-0.7 or -1 V vs. Ag/AgCl, depending upon the level of methanol in the mobile phase), was compatible with such mobile phases. The detection limits for 13 explosives ranged from 100 to 200 ppb, i.e., about twofold better than those obtained with electrokinetic chromatography (EKC)/amperometric detection. From an operational viewpoint, exhaustive column conditioning was a prerequisite and care should be taken to prevent bubble formation and current breakdown during the course of separation. The CEC column equipped with amperometric detection successfully measured explosives in ground water and extracts prepared from contaminated soils and the results obtained agreed well with those of the U.S. Environmental protection Agency (EPA) method.

Azocines↗

Nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis equipped with amperometric detection for analysis of chlorinated phenolic compounds.

Nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE) equipped with amperometric detection has been developed for separation and detection of an 11-member model mixture of chlorinated phenolic compounds. With triacetyl-beta-cyclodextrin (TACD) as a novel selectivity selector, acetonitrile proved to be an excellent solvent for this water-insoluble cyclodextrin derivative. Resolution of the analytes was achieved by using an optimized acetonitrile medium consisting of 500 mM acetic acid, 10 mM sodium acetate, 12 mM TACD and 50 mM tetrabutylammonium perchlorate. Separation of analytes was attributed to differential electrostatic and/or inductive interactions of the analytes with the TACD/TBA+ complex and charged tetrabutylammonium phases. A simple end-column amperometric detector (Pt vs. Ag/AgCl, poised at +1.6 V) in conjunction with NACE was used to analyze chlorophenols. Amperometric detection of such target compounds in acetonitrile-based media offers high sensitivity and alleviates electrode fouling compared to aqueous buffers. The detection limits obtained, ranging from 30 nM to 500 nM, are 3-8-fold lower than those obtained with aqueous buffers.

Chlorophenols↗

Determination of explosives in soil and ground water by liquid chromatography-amperometric detection.

Electrochemical reduction of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and several nitroaromatics has been exploited toward the development of an amperometric detector for liquid chromatography (LC). Up to a ten-fold increase in sensitivity was accomplished for the explosives using amperometric detection instead of conventional UV measurement. A working glassy carbon electrode (poised at -0.80 V vs. Ag/AgCl) offered a detection limit of 9, 44 and 550 nM for trinitrobenzene, TNT and 1,4-dinitrobenzene, respectively. Separation of eleven TNT-related compounds in a mixture was achieved within 15 min using a C18 column and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-50 mM phosphate buffer pH 5 (1:2, v/v) and 18 mM sodium dodecylsulfate. The LC-amperometric detection system was applicable for analyzing soil extracts and ground water and the results obtained agreed well with that of the US Environmental Protection Agency recommended procedure. Extension to analysis of HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine) and RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine) was accomplished with a silver working electrode instead of a glassy carbon electrode installed in a thin channel cell.

Carbon↗

Separation of resin acids using cyclodextrin-modified capillary electrophoresis.

A cyclodextrin-modified capillary electrophoretic method has been developed for the analysis of eleven common resin acids using a pH 4.5, 20 mM sodium acetate buffer containing 10% acetonitrile, 20 mM methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MECD) and 30 mM sulfobutylether-beta-cyclodextrin (SBCD) as buffer modifiers. At pH below their pKa (< 5.7-6.4) the resin acids were virtually unionized and insoluble; however, they formed water-soluble inclusion complexes with MECD (20 mM) or SBCD (30 mM) even at pH 4.5. The analytes were separated in 25 min and, with the exception of two pairs, 12- or 14-chlorodehydroabietic/12,14-dichlorodehydroabietic acid and dehydroabietic/palustric acid, the remaining resin acids were baseline-separated. Analysis time was significantly shortened (< 12 min) at pH 9.25 using 30 mM SBCD and 20 mM MECD in 20 mM sodium borate. Resin acids were baseline-separated with the exception of two pairs, pimaric/sandaracopimaric acid and 12- or 14-chlorodehydroabietic/abietic acid. The addition of 7.5% methanol to the running buffer resolved the abietic acid peak. Both HPLC and micellar capillary electrokinetic chromatography using 20 mM deoxycholic acid, 10% acetonitrile in 20 mM sodium borate, pH 9.25, failed to resolve the resin acids. The simple capillary electrophoretic method developed would be useful for the rapid separation and characterization of several important resin acids in pulp mill effluents and other contaminated samples.

Acetonitriles↗

Mixed-mode separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in electrokinetic chromatography.

A mixed-mode separation technique has been developed and optimized for the separation of the 16 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The procedure utilized two different buffer additives as pseudo-stationary phases with different selectivities towards the analytes. Sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate (DOSS) displayed selectivities for PAHs which were somewhat similar to the C18 phase in reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). High acetonitrile content required for an effective separation prevented the formation of micelles as confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy. Consequently, the separation could be attributed to the solvophobic association of the PAH molecules with hydrophobic chains of the DOSS surfactant. In another mode of separation, sulfobutylether-beta-cyclodextrin (SB-beta-CD) separated the 16 PAHs on the formation of inclusion complexes with the PAHs, and exhibited different selectivities for the PAHs compared to DOSS. SB-beta-CD and DOSS were then combined in the running buffer to form a mixed pseudo-stationary phase for the separation of the 16 PAHs. Due to the different selectivities of SB-beta-CD and DOSS for the PAHs, the separation of the 16 PAHs was appreciably improved compared to that using DOSS or SB-beta-CD alone. All the 16 PAHs were baseline-resolved using an optimized running buffer containing 22.5 mM DOSS, 15 mM SB-beta-CD, 15% acetonitrile and 5 mM hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin in 6 mM borate at pH 9.

Chromatography↗

The combined effect of acetonitrile and urea on the separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate in electrokinetic chromatography.

Sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate (DOSS) or sodium di-2-ethylhexyl sulfosuccinate, a relatively nontoxic and negatively charged surfactant, was selected and optimized for the capillary electrophoretic separation of the 16 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This pseudostationary phase displayed selectivities for PAHs which were somewhat similar to the C18 phase in reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). At high DOSS concentrations (> 30 mM), the hydrophobic interaction between DOSS and PAHs was pronounced and led to stronger retention of the latter. Consequently, acetonitrile was added to the running buffer to facilitate the elution of hydrophobic PAHs. In the absence of micelles, the separation mechanism was attributed to the solvophobic association of the PAH molecules with hydrophobic chains of the DOSS surfactant and there was a linear correlation between log k (retention factor) and the double bond number of the PAH. However, separations performed in an optimized buffer containing both DOSS and acetonitrile were not able to provide satisfactory performance. The separation of the 16 PAHs was then appreciably improved by adding urea to the running buffer to widen the separation window. At a high sample loading with UV detection, except for benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene and benzo[k]fluoranthene, all other PAHs were practically baseline-resolved using an optimized running buffer containing 50 mM DOSS, 35% acetonitrile and 5 M urea in 8-10 mM borate, pH 9. Laser-induced fluorescence permitted a very low sample loading and under such a running condition, a baseline resolution was obtained for these three most difficult PAHs. The addition of urea at this level, however, exhibited a noticeable quenching effect on the PAH fluorescent signal.

Acetonitriles↗

Achiral selectivity in cyclodextrin-modified capillary electrophoresis.

Torus-shaped, circular, and hydrophilic cyclodextrins (CD) have been frequently used in capillary electrophoresis (CE) as buffer modifiers to effect chiral separation of enantiomers of drugs and specialty chemicals. Although less common, both neutral and charged cyclodextrins have also been exploited in CE to optimize the achiral separations of peptides, proteins, small molecules and a variety of positional isomers. Nonionic CDs are only useful for separations of net charged analytes through judicious partitioning of such guest molecules into their hydrophobic cavity of the former. However, they can be used with a surfactant for an effective resolution of neutral solutes as a result of a differential partitioning of such solutes in the micellar and the cyclodextrin-modified buffer phase. Ionic cyclodextrins, particularly, negatively charged derivatives with their own electrophoretic mobilities, increase the separation window and enable better resolution of analytes which weakly complex with or are poorly differentiated by neutral cyclodextrins.

Cyclodextrins↗

The effect of cyclodextrin modifiers on electrophoretic separation of aromatic hydrocarbons.

Cyclodextrin-modified capillary electrophoresis has been developed for separation and analysis of benzene and its derivatives. The procedure used a mixture of negatively charged sulfobutyl ether-beta-cyclodextrin (SB beta CD) and neutral hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP beta CD) to effect differential distribution (partitioning) of the aromatic hydrocarbons between the buffer and CD phases. In 80 mM phosphate buffer, containing 15 mM SB beta CD and 5 mM HP beta CD, benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and three xylene isomers (BTEXs) were well resolved with a number of theoretical plates well above 100,000, for 50 cm of effective length. Some halogenated benzenes were also observed to separate well from the BTEX components to indicate their suitability as an internal standard for BTEX analyses. Equilibrium complexation models were used for investigating the effect of the cyclodextrin(s) at different concentrations and temperature on the electrophoretic mobility.

2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin↗

Sulfobutylether-beta-cyclodextrin-mediated capillary electrophoresis for separation of chlorinated and substituted phenols.

Cyclodextrin-mediated capillary electrophoresis has been developed for separation and analysis of chlorinated as well as substituted phenolic compounds. The procedure used a negatively charged sulfobutylether-beta-cyclodextrin (SB-betaCD) to effect differential partitioning of the phenols between the buffer and CD phases. In 50 mM phosphate buffer containing as low as 1 mM SB-betaCD, 25 phenolic compounds including 11 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) priority phenols were separated with theoretical plate numbers well above 100,000, for 50 cm of effective length in most cases. An equilibrium complexation model was used for investigating the effect of pH as well as different cyclodextrin concentrations on the electrophoretic mobility. The cyclodextrin-mediated capillary electrophoresis system was also applicable for separating and quantifying the level of pentachlorophenol in contaminated soil samples.

Chlorophenols↗

Developments and applications of biosensors in food analysis.

The food industry needs suitable analytical methods for process and quality control; that is, methods that are rapid, reliable, specific and cost-effective in their provision of information about physical and chemical characteristics of food. Apart from a few important analytes, such as sugars, alcohols, amino acids, flavours and sweeteners, food applications mainly focus on the determination of contaminants. However, very few biosensors play a prominent role in food processing or quality control. Considerable effort must be made to develop biosensors that are inexpensive, reliable, and robust enough to operate under realistic conditions.

Animals↗

An improved enzymatic assay for glucose determination in blood serum using a 1,1'-dimethylferricinium dye.

1,1'-dimethylferricinium (DMFe+), a stable and pH-insensitive blue dye, was prepared via enzymatic oxidation of a 1,1'dimethyl-ferrocene (DMFe):2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPCD) water-soluble inclusion complex, using bilirubin oxidase immobilized onto porous aminopropyl glass beads via glutaraldehyde activation. In the presence of glucose, DMFe+ was reduced to DMFe by reacting with the reduced glucose oxidase (FADH2), and the absorbance decrease was followed at 650 nm. In acetate pH 5.2 buffer, the response to glucose in blood serum was nonlinear, especially in the low concentration range, because of a competition for the reduced glucose oxidase between the DMFe+ dye and oxygen. At this pH, endogenous ceruloplasmin was also observed to oxidize residual DMFe (16%) in the dye preparation, causing an increase in absorbance at 650 nm. An assay protocol was then developed using maleate buffer, pH 6.5, to overcome these interferences as well as mutarotation of alpha-D-glucose. The results obtained for glucose in the blood serum samples agreed well with those of the reference hexokinase/glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase method.

Blood Glucose↗

Dual functionalities of 4-aminodiphenylamine in enzymatic assay and mediated biosensor construction.

4-Aminodiphenylamine (N-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine, CAS 101-54-2) and its water-soluble HCl salt (CAS 2198-59-6) were demonstrated to be efficient mediators for glucose oxidase, lactate oxidase, xanthine oxidase, and lysine oxidase. Using cyclic voltammetry, single oxidative peak potentials were observed for scans ranging from 0 to 0.5 V vs Ag/AgCl. The half-wave potential for both preparations was 0.11 V vs Ag/AgCl at pH 7 and decreased 59 mV per unit pH increase. Peak current data were analyzed to estimate diffusivities of 0.8 x 10(-5) cm2/s for soluble 4-ADPA HCl, and 2.36 x 10(-5) cm2/s for 4-ADPA solubilized in 2.5 mM 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin. The overall second-order kinetic constants (k) for the reaction of reduced glucose oxidase with oxidized 4-ADPA HCl and 4-ADPA in cyclodextrin were estimated to be 1.8 x 10(5) and 1.7 x 10(-5) M-1 s-1, respectively, using cyclic voltammetry measurements at varied scan rates and enzyme concentrations. Both preparations proved to be suitable electron acceptors for horseradish peroxidase, as indicated by changes in absorbance spectra upon oxidation or reduction. The electrochemical and spectral behavior of the preparations were applied in conjunction with glucose oxidase to devise mediated amperometric and hydrogen peroxide-coupled spectrophotometric assays for glucose. The results of both assays compared favorably with the hexokinase reference method.

Biosensing Techniques↗

Development of a flow injection analysis (FIA) immunosensor for the detection of Escherichia coli.

A flow injection immunoanalysis (FIA) system has been developed for the detection of Escherichia coli in artificially contaminated food samples. Anti-E. coli antibodies were covalently immobilized onto porous aminopropyl glass beads via glutaraldehyde activation to form an immunoreactor. After adsorption of the cells onto anti-E. coli antibody bound glass beads, 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide was injected into the system which was then hydrolyzed by the adsorbed E. coli cells containing beta-D-glucuronidase, an enzyme which is very specific to E. coli and to a few other strains of Shigella. Fluorescent 4-methylumbelliferone released from the enzymatic reaction was then detected by a fluorometer. Owing to the specificity of the antibody towards E. coli, the FIA system was very selective for detection of E. coli whereas Shigella boydii, another GUD-positive bacterium, did not give any response. The FIA system was successfully used for detecting as low as 5 x 10(7) CFU/ml E. coli in less than 30 min and was reusable for at least 300 repeated assays. The immunoreactor yielded reproducible results during 3 months of experimentation if stored overnight at 4 degrees C in carrier buffer containing 0.05 to 0.25% Tween 20.

Escherichia coli↗

Enzyme reactions in the presence of cyclodextrins: biosensors and enzyme assays.

Cyclodextrins, macrocyclic carbohydrates with apolar internal cavities, can form complexes with, and solubilize many normally water-insoluble compounds. Ferrocene and its derivatives, tetrathiafulvalene and tetramethylbenzidine, can function as redox mediators, but are insoluble in water; when they are complexed with cyclodextrins, they can be used in enzymatic assays and in the construction of mediated biosensors. In addition, the solubilization of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including the potent carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene, by cyclodextrins has enabled the detection of these important environmental contaminants.

Animals↗