Electrostatic Selectivity of Volatile Organic Compounds Using Electrostatically Formed Nanowire Sensor.

For the past several decades, there is growing demand for the development of low-power gas sensing technology for the selective detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), important for monitoring safety, pollution, and healthcare. Here we report the selective detection of homologous alcohols and different functional groups containing VOCs using the electrostatically formed nanowire (EFN) sensor without any surface modification of the device. Selectivity toward specific VOC is achieved by training machine-learning based classifiers using the calculated changes in the threshold voltage and the drain-source on current, obtained from systematically controlled biasing of the surrounding gates (junction and back gates) of the field-effect transistors (FET). This work paves the way for a Si complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-based FET device as an electrostatically selective sensor suitable for mass production and low-power sensing technology.

Exploration of pH-dependent behavior of the anion receptor pocket of subdomain IIA of HSA: determination of effective pocket charge using the Debye-Hückel limiting law.

Protein-ligand electrostatic interaction can be looked upon as ion receptor-ligand interaction, and the binding cavity of protein can be either an anion or cation receptor depending on the charge of the guest. Here we focus on the exploration of pH-modulated binding of a number of anionic ligands, specific to the subdomain IIA cavity of HSA, such as carmoisine, tartrazine, cochineal red, and warfarin. The logarithm of the binding constant is found to vary linearly with the square-root of ionic strength, indicating applicability of the Debye-Hückel limiting law to protein-ligand electrostatic binding equilibrium, and concludes that the subdomain IIA cavity is an anion receptor. The present approach is very unique that one can calculate the effective charge of the protein-based anion receptor pocket, and the calculated charge has been found to vary between +1 and +3 depending on the pH and ligand itself. The study also indicates that in such cases of specific ligand binding the pocket charge rather than the overall or surface charge of the macromolecule seems to have a paramount role in determining the strength of interaction. For the first time, it is demonstrated that the Debye-Hückel interionic interaction model can be successfully applied to understand the protein-based receptor-ligand electrostatic interaction in general.

pH-insensitive electrostatic interaction of carmoisine with two serum proteins: a possible caution on its uses in food and pharmaceutical industry.

Here we have investigated the binding of carmoisine, a water-soluble azo food colorant, with serum proteins (HSA and BSA) by fluorescence and UV-VIS spectroscopy, circular dichroism and molecular docking studies. Results indicate that fluorescence quenching of protein has been due to site-specific binding of the dye with biomacromolecules. Site marker competitive binding and molecular docking explorations show that interaction occurs in the sub-domain ІІA of HSA and the sub-domains ІІA and ІB in the case of BSA. Conformational investigation indicates that dye binding modifies the secondary structure of proteins and this also alters the microenvironment of the tryptophan(s). The interaction is found to be pH-insensitive which can have relevance to the toxicological profiles of the dye, and ionic strength dependence of binding can be exploited in protein purification mediated by such food colorants.

Modulation of accessibility of subdomain IB in the pH-dependent interaction of bovine serum albumin with Cochineal Red A: a combined view from spectroscopy and docking simulations.

Our recent report on the binding of Cochineal Red A, a food dye, with HSA and BSA at pH 7.4 has revealed that electrostatic forces is the principal cause of interaction. In that study issues relating to complications arising out of modulation of dye binding affinity of BSA with pH had not been explored. Here we have further explored the interaction of Cochineal Red A with BSA in pH range 4.8-7.8. Surprisingly, this system behaves differently in the texture of interaction pattern at two extremes of studied pH range, unlike HSA. Importantly, the charge on the amino acid side chains in the binding pocket is likely to play a significant role.

Spectroscopic investigation of the effect of salt on binding of tartrazine with two homologous serum albumins: quantification by use of the Debye-Hückel limiting law and observation of enthalpy-entropy compensation.

Formation of ion pair between charged molecule and protein can lead to interesting biochemical phenomena. We report the evolution of thermodynamics of the binding of tartrazine, a negatively charged azo colorant, and serum albumins with salt. The dye binds predominantly electrostatically in low buffer strengths; however, on increasing salt concentration, affinity decreases considerably. The calculated thermodynamic parameters in high salt indicate manifestation of nonelectrostatic interactions, namely, van der Waals force and hydrogen bonding. Site-marker competitive binding studies and docking simulations indicate that the dye binds with HSA in the warfarin site and with BSA at the interface of warfarin and ibuprofen binding sites. The docked poses indicate nearby amino acid positive side chains, which are possibly responsible for electrostatic interaction. Using the Debye-Hückel interionic attraction theory for binding equilibria, it is shown that, for electrostatic binding the calculated free energy change increases linearly with square root of ionic strength. Also UV-vis, fluorescence, CD data indicate a decrease of interaction with salt concentration. This study quantitatively relates how ionic strength modulates the strength of the protein-ligand electrostatic interaction. The binding enthalpy and entropy have been found to compensate one another. The enthalpy-entropy compensation (EEC), general property of weak intermolecular interactions, has been discussed.

Optical spectroscopic exploration of binding of Cochineal Red A with two homologous serum albumins.

Cochineal Red A is a negatively charged synthetic azo food colorant and a potential carcinogen. We present here the study of binding of Cochineal Red A with two homologous serum albumins, human (HSA) and bovine (BSA), in aqueous pH 7.4 buffer by optical spectroscopic techniques. Protein intrinsic fluorescence quenching by Cochineal Red A occurs through ground-state static interaction and its binding with BSA is stronger than with HSA. The magnitudes of thermodynamic parameters suggest that dye binding occurs principally via electrostatic complexation. Site-marker competitive binding shows that Cochineal Red A binds primarily to site I of serum albumins. Circular dichroic spectra indicate that dye binding results in some conformational modification of serum albumins. Increased ionic strength of the medium results in lowering of binding. This study provides an important insight into possible means of removal of dye toxicity.