Morphologically controlled preparation of CuO nanostructures under ultrasound irradiation and their evaluation as pseudocapacitor materials.

Various morphologies of copper oxide (CuO) nanostructures have been synthesized by controlling the reaction parameters in a sonochemical assisted method without using any templates or surfactants. The effect of reaction parameters including molar ratio of the reactants, reaction temperature, ultrasound exposure time, and annealing temperature on the composition and morphology of the product(s) has been investigated. The prepared samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It has been found that Cu2(OH)3NO3 nanoplatelets are achieved in mild conditions which can be then converted to various morphologies of CuO nanostructures by either using high concentrations of OH(-) (formation of nanorods), prolonging sonication irradiation (nanoparticles), or thermal treatment (nanospheres). Application of the prepared CuO nanostructures was evaluated as supercapacitive material in 1 M Na2SO4 solution using cyclic voltammetry (CV) in different potential scan rates ranging from 5 to 100 mV s(-1). The specific capacitance has been calculated using CV curves. It has been found that the pseudocapacitor performance of CuO can be tuned via employing morphologically controlled samples. Accordingly, the prolonged sonicated sample (nanoparticles) showed the high specific capacitance of 158 F.g(-1).

Is there any interaction between telomeric DNA structures, G-quadruplex and I-motif, with saffron active metabolites?

Telomeric DNA contains some unique secondary structures, such as G-quadruplex and I-motif. These structures may be stabilized or changed by binding to specific proteins or small molecules. Herein, we report the in vitro effect of crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin, and safranal on these structures. Circular dichroism (CD) data indicate that crocetin has higher affinity for these structures. Safranal and crocin induce little change in the I-motif and G-quadruplex, respectively. The molecular docking confirms the experimental data and indicates the minor groove binding of ligands with G-quadruplex. The possibility for application of these ligands as sequence-specific drugs should be further investigated.

Electrochemical DNA nano-biosensor for the study of spermidine-DNA interaction.

An electrochemical DNA nano-biosensor is prepared by immobilization of double stranded DNA (dsDNA) onto a mixed self-assembled monolayer (SAM) composed of azide- and hydroxyl-terminated thiols. The SAMs- and dsDNA-modified gold electrodes were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The interaction of spermidine with DNA was studied by differential pulse voltammetry at the DNA-modified electrode. The decrease in the guanine oxidation peak current was used to study the interaction. The binding constant (K), obtained by differential pulse voltammetry, was 1.85 x 10(5)M(-1). A linear dependence of the guanine peak currents was observed in the range of 1.6-70.4 microM spermidine, with a detection limit of 0.72 microM and r=0.994 by using differential pulse voltammetry.

Enhancing extraction rate in solid-phase microextraction by using nano-structured polyaniline coating.

The decrement of equilibrium extraction time without losing extraction efficiency in solid-phase microextraction (SPME) was achieved using nano-structured coating. Polyaniline (PANI) was used as an extraction phase for the comparison of extraction capacity and equilibrium extraction time of nano- and micro-structured coatings. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were used as model compounds to examine the extraction properties of nano- and micro-structured coatings. The results revealed that nano-structured PANI coating showed higher extraction rate and shorter desorption time than micro-structured coating, because of the larger surface area. In order to evaluate the extraction capability of prepared nano-structured PANI coating, headspace-SPME method was used for the determination of PCBs in sediment samples by GC-electron capture detector. The proposed method was validated using the certified reference material.

Impedance studies of a nano-structured conducting polymer and its application to the design of reliable scaffolds for impedimetric biosensors.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) as a powerful, non-invasive and informative technique was used to obtain important information about kinetics of doping process in conducting polymers. Polypyrrole (PPy) and its derivatives can form conducting polymer films which represent excellent charge transfer behaviors during doping processes. It can also have a wide range of applications in bioelectrochemistry. In the present study the conducting polymer of alpha-carboxy pyrrole (alpha-COOH-PPy), appended onto the underlying film of PPy, was prepared by electrochemical methods and its behavior was analyzed using EIS. From highly accurate fitting of impedance results it was found that the charging mechanism is governed by the diffusion process. In addition, the impedance analyses provided values for the bulk polymer parameters including diffusion coefficient (D), equilibrium capacitance (C(0)) and diffusion resistance (R(0)). The surface morphology of the polymeric film was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The film was then used to immobilize the cytochrome C (cyt-C) and to perform its electrochemical studies. The modified cyt-C/alpha-COOH-PPy electrode was used for electrocatalytic reduction of H(2)O(2) in solution and its viability as a new impedimetric biosensor was examined. Based on the calibration curve obtained for the proposed impedimetric biosensor, the limit of detection and relative standard deviation were evaluated as 0.25 micromolL(-1) and 7%, respectively. Finally, the prolonged stability test was performed and high stability and reproducibility of the new biosensor was confirmed.

Electrochemical studies of DNA immobilization onto the azide-terminated monolayers and its interaction with taxol.

A surface modification procedure for the creation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) that can be used as a scaffold for double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) incorporation onto the gold surfaces is described. The SAMs of an azidohexane thiol derivative were prepared on the Au electrode and then used for the immobilization of dsDNA. The electrochemical characteristics of dsDNA onto the SAM-modified gold electrode were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and the surface concentration of dsDNA onto the SAMs surface was estimated. The interaction of dsDNA with the anticancer drug, taxol (paclitaxel), was also studied on the surface of DNA/SAM/Au electrode. The observed decrease in the guanine oxidation peak current was used to monitor the interaction of taxol with DNA. The resulting Langmuir isotherm for taxol binding to DNA at the modified electrode was used to evaluate the binding constant of taxol-DNA. The results obtained supported the groove binding interaction of taxol with DNA. The modified electrode was used as a sensitive sensor for quantification of taxol in human serum sample.

A novel flow injection potentiometric graphite coated ion-selective electrode for the low level determination of uranyl ion.

Solution studies on the binding properties of uranyl ion toward four different recently synthesized benzo-substituted macrocyclic diamides L1-L4 revealed the occurrence of a 1:1 complexation of the ligands with UO(2)(2+) ion, with a stability order of L2>L1>L4>L3. Consequently, L2 was used as a suitable neutral ionophore for the preparation of novel polymeric membrane (PME) and coated graphite (CGE) UO(2)(2+)-selective electrodes. The electrodes exhibit a Nernstian behavior for UO(2)(2+) ions over wide concentration ranges (1.0 x 10(-6) - 1.0 x 10(-1) M for PME and 1.0 x 10(-7) - 1.0 x 10(-1) M for CGE) and very low limits of detection (8.0 x 10(-7) M for PME and 7.3 x 10(-8) M for CGE). The proposed potentiometric sensors manifest advantages of fast response and, most importantly, good selectivity with respect to many alkali, alkaline earth, transition, and heavy metal ions. The potentiometric responses of the electrodes are independent of the pH of the test solution in the pH range 2.9-3.7. The CGE was used in flow injection potentiometry and resulted in well defined peaks for uranyl ions with stable baseline, excellent reproducibility and very high sampling rate of 170 injections per hour. The proposed FIP system was used for the determination of trace uranyl ions in real and synthetic samples.

PVC membrane potentiometric sensor based on 5-pyridino-2,8-dithia[9](2,9)-1,10-phenanthroline-phane for selective determination of neodymium(III).

Spectrofluorometric studies on the binding properties of 5-pyridino-2,8-dithia[9](2,9)-1,10-phenanthrolinephane (L) toward La3+, Sm3+, Gd3+, Yb3+, and Nd3+ in methanol solution revealed the occurrence of both 1:1 and 2:1 (ligand/metal) complexation with a stability order of Nd3+ > Yb3+ > Gd3+ > Sm3+ > La3+. Consequently, L was used as a suitable neutral ionophore for the preparation of a novel polymeric membrane-selective electrode for Nd3+ ion. The electrode exhibited a Nernstian response over a wide concentration range (1.0 x 10(-6)-1.0 x 10(-2) M) with a low limit of detection of 7.9 x 10(-7) M. The electrode possesses a fast response time of <5 s and can be used for at least 9 weeks without observing any considerable deviation. The proposed electrode revealed a very good selectivity for Nd3+ over a wide variety of alkali, alkaline earth, transition, and heavy metal ions, including members of the lanthanide family other than Nd3+. The potentiometric response of the electrode is independent of the pH of test solution in the pH range 4.0-6.5. The proposed electrode was successfully applied to the recovery of Nd3+ ion from tap water samples and, also, as an indicator electrode, in potentiometric titration of neodymium(III) ions.

Dodecyl benzene sulfonate anion-selective electrode based on polyaniline-coated electrode.

A new dodecyl benzene sulfonate (DBS(-)) ion-selective electrode based on polyaniline is reported. The films of polyaniline doped with DBS(-) were prepared electrochemically on platinum electrodes in the solution containing 1.0x10(-3)M aniline and 7.0x10(-3)M DBS(-). The optimum potentiometric response was obtained for prepared polymeric film by passing electricity of 7.5Ccm(-2). The electrode exhibits an excellent Nernstian slope of -59.1+/-0.3mV per decade for DBS(-) ion over a wide concentration range (5.0x10(-6) to 4.1x10(-3)M) with a low detection limit (1.0x10(-6)M). The proposed electrode revealed good sensitivities for DBS(-) ion over a wide variety of other anions and can be used in the wide pH range of 5-10. It shows good stability, good reproducibility, wide range of pH independency and fast response (<20s) without using internal solution. This electrode could be used for the determination of DBS(-) in the real samples.

PVC membrane and coated graphite potentiometric sensors based on Et4todit for selective determination of samarium(III).

Solution studies on the binding properties of 4,5,6,7-tetrathiocino[1,2-b:3,4-b']diimidazolyl-1,3,8,10-tetraethyl-2,9-dithione (Et(4)todit) toward a number of cationic species including some lanthanide ions revealed the occurrence of a selective 1:1 complexation of the ligand with Sm(3+) ion. Consequently, Et(4)todit was used as a suitable neutral ionophore for the preparation of novel polymeric membrane (PME) and coated graphite (CGE) Sm(3+)-selective electrodes. The electrodes exhibit a Nernstian behavior for Sm(3+) ions over wide concentration ranges (1.0 x 10(-5)-1.0 x 10(-1) M for PME and 1.0 x 10(-7)-1.0 x 10(-1) M for CGE) and very low limits of detection (8.0 x 10(-6) M for PME and 1.6 x 10(-8) M for CGE). The proposed potentiometric sensors manifest advantages of relatively fast response, and, most importantly, good selectivities relative to wide variety of other cations, including other lanthanide ions. The selectivity behavior of the proposed Sm(3+)-selective electrodes revealed a great improvement compared to the best previously reported electrode for samarium(III) ion. The potentiometric responses of the electrodes are independent of the pH of the test solution in the pH range 4.0-6.5. The electrodes were successfully applied to the recovery of Sm(3+) ion from tap water samples and also, as an indicator electrode, in potentiometric titration of samarium(III) ions.

Flow injection potentiometry by a new coated graphite ion-selective electrode for the determination of Pb(2+).

A new graphite coated electrode for the determination of Pb(2+) based on a recently synthesized ionophore 1-hydroxy-2-{2-[2-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-ethoxy]-ethoxy methyl}-anthracene-9,10-dione (L) has been developed. The electrode was used in flow injection potentiometry by a home-made flow cell. Under both the batch and flow conditions, the electrode revealed a near Nernstian response over a wide lead ion concentration range (10(-6) to 10(-1) M) and very low limit of detection. In flow injection potentiometry, excellent reproducibility (RSD%=0.49%), very high sampling rate (170 injections h(-1)) and stable baseline was observed in the presence of 10(-3) M KCl as ionic strength adjuster. The electrode showed high sensitivity and good selectivity for Pb(2+) over a wide variety of alkali, alkali earth and transition metal ions and the electrode can be used for at least 3 months without any considerable change in potential response. The proposed sensor was successfully applied to the direct determination of lead in real samples and also used for the titrimetric determination of phosphate ions by both batch and flow injection potentiometry.

Design of a new dodecyl sulfate-selective electrode based on conductive polyaniline.

A new, simple, sensitive, low cost and rapid potentiometric method for direct determination of ultra trace amounts of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with a new DS(-)-selective electrode is reported. The electrode was prepared by electropolymerization of aniline in acidified DS- ion on the surface of a Pt electrode. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used for electropolymerization of polyaniline (PA) in the potential range of -200 to +1000 mV vs. Ag/AgCl. This sensor showed a Nernstian behavior (59.0 +/- 2.3 mV/decade) over a very wide linear range (1.0 x 10(-9)-3.0 x 10(-6) M) with a detection limit of 1.0 x 10(-9) M. The response time of the electrode was 15 s for 1.0 x 10(-7) M of analyte; the electrode can be used for 4 weeks without any major deviation. This electrode can be used in the pH range of 3.5-9.8. The selectivity of electrode to DS- over some organic, inorganic and anionic surfactants was investigated with the fixed primary ion method. The results show that the electrode is highly selective to DS- ion over other ions. The proposed electrode was applied to the determination of DS- in real samples.