Diamond-coated 'black silicon' as a promising material for high-surface-area electrochemical electrodes and antibacterial surfaces.

This report describes a method to fabricate high-surface-area boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes using so-called 'black silicon' (bSi) as a substrate. This is a synthetic nanostructured material that contains high-aspect-ratio nano-protrusions, such as spikes or needles, on the Si surface produced via plasma etching. We now show that coating a bSi surface composed of 15 µm-high needles conformably with BDD produces a robust electrochemical electrode with high sensitivity and high electroactive area. A clinically relevant demonstration of the efficacy of these electrodes is shown by measuring their sensitivity for detection of dopamine (DA) in the presence of an excess of uric acid (UA). Finally, the nanostructured surface of bSi has recently been found to generate a mechanical bactericidal effect, killing both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria at high rates. We will show that BDD-coated bSi also acts as an effective antibacterial surface, with the added advantage that being diamond-coated it is far more robust and less likely to become damaged than Si.

PbO2-based graphite-epoxy electrode for potentiometric determination of acids and bases in aqueous and aqueous-ethanolic media.

The construction and analytical evaluation of a PbO2-based graphite-epoxy electrode sensitive to H3O+, based on incorporation of lead(IV) oxide in a graphite-epoxy matrix, are described. The data obtained from a variety of acid-base titrations in aqueous and aqueous-ethanolic media were compared with those obtained by use of a glass electrode under the same conditions. The proposed electrode provides a linear response in the pH range from 1 to 11 with a slope of -58.7+/-0.3 mV pH(-1) and -60.8+/-0.2 mV pH(-1) in aqueous and ethanolic media, respectively. The response time was less than 15 s and the lifetime of the electrode was at least eight months (ca. 5000 determinations) and its performance is good in pH determination and end-point detection in potentiometric acid-base titrations in both aqueous and aqueous-ethanolic media.

Flow injection potentiometric determination of bismuth(III) in anti-acid formulations.

A flow injection potentiometric procedure is proposed for determining bismuth(III) in anti-acid formulations. In this work, a tubular electrode coated with an ion-pair formed between [Bi(EDTA)](-) and tricaprylylmethylammonium cation (Aliquat 336) in a poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) was constructed and used in a single channel flow injection system. The effect of membrane composition, pH and flow injection parameter over the Bi(III) tubular electrode response (slope (mV/decade)) was initially evaluated in quintuplicate in 0.5 mol l(-1) EDTA solution as carrier. The best response (-59.6+/-0.9 mV/decade) was attained with the 5% m/m ion-pair; 65% m/m o-nitrophenyl octyl ether (o-NPOE) and 30% m/m PVC in pH 6-9. The electrode showed a linear response to E (mV) versus log [Bi(EDTA)](-) in the bismuth(III) concentration range from 2.0x10(-5) to 1.0x10(-2) mol l(-1) and a useful lifetime of at least 5 months (more than 1000 determinations for each polymeric membrane). The detection limit was 1.2x10(-5) mol l(-1) and the R.S.D. was less than 2.0% for a solution containing 5.0x10(-4) mol l(-1) bismuth(III) (n=10). Several species such as Cd(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Mg(II), Cr(III) and Al(III) at 1.0x10(-3) mol l(-1) concentration in 0.5 mol l(-1) EDTA solution did not cause any interference. The frequency rate was 90 determinations per hour and the results obtained for bismuth(III) in anti-acid formulations using this flow procedure and those obtained using a spectrophotometric procedure are in agreement at the 95% confidence level.

Flow injection determination of levodopa in tablets using a solid-phase reactor containing lead(IV) dioxide immobilized.

A flow injection spectrophotometric procedure was developed for determining levodopa in tablets. The determination of this drug was carried out by reacting it with lead(IV) dioxide immobilized in polyester resin packed in a solid-phase reactor and the dopachrome yielded was monitored at 520 nm. The analytical curve for levodopa was linear in the concentration range from 1.0x10(-4) to 1.0x10(-3) mol l(-1) with a detection limit of 8.0x10(-5) mol l(-1). The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was 0.2% for a solution containing 4.0x10(-4) mol l(-1) levodopa (n=10), and 90 determinations per hour were obtained.

Focused-microwave-assisted reaction in flow injection spectrophotometry: a new liquid-vapor separation chamber for determination of reducing sugars in wine.

The usefulness of an unsegmented liquid/vapor phases flow injection system for determining reducing sugars in wines using a focalized poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) coiled reactor positioned at the output antenna of a domestic microwave oven at 700 W is demonstrated. In this system, sample or reference solution is mixed to 2.5 mol l(-1) sodium hydroxide and 6.8 mmol l(-1) potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) solutions previously merged in a confluence point and the reducing sugars (glucose plus fructose) were oxidized by potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) solution into the PTFE coiled reactor positioned in the microwave oven cavity. After phases separation at a proposed separation chamber (SC), the decrease of K(3)Fe(CN)(6) concentration in the liquid phase was measured at 420 nm. Using this SC, a favorable dispersion profile and a decrease of hydrodynamic pressure were observed. The flow procedure presented similar sensitivities to glucose and fructose in the experimental conditions adopted, allowing the determination of the reducing sugars content (fructose plus glucose concentrations) in the concentration range from 40 to 400 mumol l(-1) with a detection limit of 9 mumol l(-1). The RSD was 1.9% for a 120 mumol l(-1) fructose solution (n=12) and the analytical frequency was 54 h(-1). The results obtained for reducing sugars in several wines using the proposed flow system and those obtained using the Somogyi-Nelson batch procedure were in agreement at the 95% confidence level.

Chronoamperometric determination of paracetamol using an avocado tissue (Persea americana) biosensor.

A biosensor based on vaseline/graphite modified with avocado tissue (Persea americana) as the source of polyphenol oxidase was developed and used for the chronoamperometric determination of paracetamol in pharmaceutical formulations. This enzyme catalyses the oxidation of paracetamol to N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine whose electrochemical reduction back to paracetamol was obtained at a potential of -0.12 V. After addition of paracetamol reference solutions in glass cell and stirring for 60 s for the accumulation of N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine at the electrode surface under open-circuit conditions, the current response was monitored by 120 s without stirring. The currents obtained at 70 s were proportional to the paracetamol concentration from 1.2x10(-4) to 5.8x10(-3) mol l(-1) (r=0.9927) with a detection limit of 8.8x10(-5) mol l(-1). The recovery of paracetamol from two samples ranged from 97.9 to 100.7% and a relative standard deviation lower than 0.5% for a solution containing 5.0x10(-3) mol l(-1) paracetamol in 0.10 mol l(-1) phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0; n=10) was obtained. The results obtained for paracetamol in pharmaceutical formulations using the proposed biosensor and those obtained using a pharmacopoeial procedure are in agreement at the 95% confidence level.

The use of filter paper plasticized with polyvinyl alcohol-glutaraldehyde in ELISA.

F1-antigen purified from Yersinia pestis was covalently linked to 5-mm diameter filter paper discs plasticized with polyvinyl alcohol-glutaraldehyde. These discs were used both for ELISA and dot-ELISA for the detection of anti-F1 IgG in rabbits. The best conditions were achieved using 1.25 microg of F1 antigen/disc, 3% w/v skim milk in PBS as blocking agent, anti-IgG peroxidase conjugate diluted 12,000 times, and serum from rabbits immunized or not against Y. pestis, diluted 6,400 times. The absorbance values obtained from the comparative study between this procedure and conventional ELISA were not significantly different but the low cost of the reagents employed in ELISA using the filter paper discs plasticized with polyvinyl alcohol-glutaraldehyde makes this method economically attractive.

The use of filter paper plasticized with polyvinyl alcohol-glutaraldehyde in ELISA

F1-antigen purified from Yersinia pestis was covalently linked to 5-mm diameter filter paper discs plasticized with polyvinyl alcohol-glutaraldehyde. These discs were used both for ELISA and dot-ELISA for the detection of anti-F1 IgG in rabbits. The best conditions were achieved using 1.25 µg of F1 antigen/disc, 3 percent w/v skim milk in PBS as blocking agent, anti-IgG peroxidase conjugate diluted 12,000 times, and serum from rabbits immunized or not against Y. pestis, diluted 6,400 times. The absorbance values obtained from the comparative study between this procedure and conventional ELISA were not significantly different but the low cost of the reagents employed in ELISA using the filter paper discs plasticized with polyvinyl alcohol-glutaraldehyde makes this method economically attractive.

Potentiometric determination of acids and bases using a silica gel based carbon-epoxy indicator electrode.

The construction and the application of a silica gel based carbon-epoxy indicator electrode for the potentiometric determination of acids and bases are described. The effect of composition of silica gel and carbon-epoxy, slope (mV/pH), linear response (pH range) and the use for acid-base titrations were investigated. The data obtained for the acid-base titrations were compared with those obtained using a glass electrode in the same conditions. The electrode showed a linear response in the pH 2 to 13 range with a slope of -40.5 +/- 0.4 mV/pH (at 25 degrees C) and a response time of less than 15 s. The lifetime of the electrode was higher than one year (over 6000 determinations) with a decrease of only 5% of the initial potentiometric response. The silica gel based carbon-epoxy electrode showed excellent results in the end-point indication potentiometric titrations in determination of acids and bases. The miniaturization of the proposed electrode for flow injection analysis was investigated.

Construction and analytical application of a biosensor based on stearic acid-graphite powder modified with sweet potato tissue in organic solvents.

A biosensor based on stearic acid-graphite powder modified with sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) tissue as peroxidase source was constructed and applied in organic solvents. Several parameters were studied to evaluate the performance of this biosensor such as stearic acid-graphite powder and tissue composition, type and concentration of supporting electrolyte, organic solvents, water/organic solvent ratio (% v/v) and hydrogen peroxide concentration. After selection of the best conditions, the biosensor was applied for the determination of hydroquinone in cosmetic creams in methanol. At the peroxidase electrode hydroquinone is oxidized in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and the radical formed was reduced back electrochemically at -180 mV vs Ag/AgCl (3.0 mol L(-1) KCl). The reduction current obtained was proportional to the concentration of hydroquinone from 6.2 x 10(-5) to 1.5 x 10(-3) mol L(-1) (r = 0.9990) with a detection limit of 8.5 x 10(-6) mol L(-1). The recovery of hydroquinone from two samples ranged from 98.8 to 104.1% and an RSD lower than 1.0% for a solution containing 7.3 x 10(-4) mol L(-1) hydroquinone and 1.0 x 10(-3) mol L(-1) hydrogen peroxide in 0.10 mol L(-1) tetrabutylammonium bromide methanol-phosphate buffer solution (95:5% v/v) (n = 10) was obtained.

Biosensor based on paraffin/graphite modified with sweet potato tissue for the determination of hydroquinone in cosmetic cream in organic phase.

An organic-phase biosensor based on paraffin/graphite modified with sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) tissue as the source of peroxidase was developed and used for determining hydroquinone in cosmetic creams. This enzyme in the presence of hydrogen peroxide catalyses the oxidation of hydroquinone to p-quinone which electrochemical reduction back to hydroquinone was obtained at a peak potential of -0.22 V. The recovery of hydroquinone from two samples ranged from 99.1 to 104.1% and a rectilinear analytical curve for hydroquinone concentration from 7.5x10(-5) to 1.6x10(-3) M (r=0.9991) were obtained. The detection limit was 8.1x10(-6) M and relative standard deviation was <1.0% for a solution containing 7.3x10(-4) M hydroquinone and 1.0x10(-3) M hydrogen peroxide in 0.10 M tetrabutylammonium bromide methanol-phosphate buffer solution (95:5% v/v) (n=10). The results obtained for hydroquinone in cosmetic creams using the proposed biosensor are in close agreement with those obtained using a Pharmacopoeia procedure at the 95% confidence level.

Flow injection spectrophotometric determination of reducing sugars using a focalized coiled reactor in a domestic microwave oven.

A flow injection (FI) spectrophotometric procedure for determining reducing sugars content in sugar cane juices using a focalized PTFE coiled reactor positioned at the output antenna of a domestic microwave oven at 700 W is proposed. In this system, sample solution converge to 1.0 mol l(-1) NaOH and 5.2 mmol l(-1) K(3)Fe(CN)(6) solutions previously mixed and the decrease of hexacyanoferrate(III) concentration was monitored at 420 nm. Under best analytical conditions, there was a direct relationship between absorbance decrease and reducing sugar content (fructose plus glucose concentrations) in the concentration range from 50 to 1200 micromol l(-1) with a detection limit of 15 micromol l(-1). The relative standard deviations (rds) were less than 1.4% for ten injection of 400 and 800 micromol l(-1) fructose solution and the analytical frequency was 70 h(-1). A paired t-test showed that all results obtained for sugar cane juices using this FI procedure and the Somogyi-Nelson batch procedure agree at the 95% confidence level.

Flow injection turbidimetric determination of thiamine in pharmaceutical formulations using silicotungstic acid as precipitant reagent.

A simple flow injection system is proposed for the determination of thiamine in pharmaceutical formulations. The determination is based on the precipitation reaction of thiamine with silicotungstic acid in acidic medium to form a thiamine silicotungstate suspension that is measured at 420 nm. Adding 0.05% (w/v) poly(ethyleneglycol) in the carrier solution (0.5 mol l(-1) hydrochloric acid), an improvement in the sensitivity, repeatability and baseline stability of the flow injection system was obtained. The calibration graph was linear in the thiamine concentration range from 5.0x10(-5) to 3.0x10(-4) mol l(-1) with a detection limit of 1.0x10(-5) mol l(-1). The relative standard deviations for ten successive measurements of 1.0x10(-4) mol l(-1) and 2.5x10(-4) mol l(-1) thiamine were less than 1% and an analytical frequency of 90 h(-1) was obtained.

Asynchronous merging zones system: spectrophotometric determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in pharmaceutical products.

An asynchronous merging zones was proposed with simultaneous introduction of the sample and of the modifier reagent, ascorbic acid in the studied case, for sequential determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in pharmaceutical products. The sample and reagent attained a merging point at different times owing to the use of a delay reactor in the reagent channel. By inserting a large sample and controlling the dispersion in the flow system, Fe(II) and Fe(III) were sequentially measured in the front and in the rear of the sample zone, respectively. The results obtained for Fe redox speciation in pharmaceutical products are in agreement at a 95% confidence level with those obtained with a manual spectrophotometric procedure. The analytical frequency with the proposed flow analysis system was 54 samples h(-1), i.e. 108 determinations h(-1).

Spectrophotometric determination of methyldopa and dopamine in pharmaceutical formulations using a crude extract of sweet potato root (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) as enzymatic source.

A rapid, precise and low cost spectrophotometric method is proposed for the determination of methyldopa and dopamine in pharmaceutical formulations. The crude extract of sweet potato root (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) was used as an enzymatic source of polyphenol oxidase (PPO; EC.1.14.18.1). This enzyme catalyses the oxidation of catecholamines to the corresponding methyldopaquinone and dopaminequinone. Those compounds are converted by a rapid spontaneous auto-oxidation to methyldopachrome and dopaminechrome which have a strong absorption at 480 or 470 nm, respectively. The calibration graphs are linear from 2.0x10(-4) to 6.0x10(-3) M. The results obtained by the proposed enzymatic method are in close agreement with those obtained using a Pharmacopoeia procedure and also with the label values. The detection limit (three times the signal blank/slope) was 3.4x10(-5) and 3.0x10(-5) M for methyldopa and dopamine, respectively, the recovery of methyldopa and dopamine from three samples ranged from 97.5 to 102.9% of the added amount.

Spectrophotometric flow injection determination of l-ascorbic acid with a packed reactor containing ferric hydroxide.

A flow injection system with spectrophotometric detection is proposed for determining l-ascorbic acid in pharmaceutical formulations. In this system a column containing Fe(OH)(3) immobilized in polyester resin (packed reactor) is inserted before the detector. Fe(III)-1,10-phenanthroline complex is reduced by l-ascorbic acid to produce Fe(II)-1,10-phenanthroline complex which is monitored at 510 nm. Under the optimum analytical conditions, the linearity of the calibration equation for l-ascorbic acid ranged from 5.0x10(-6) to 6.0x10(-5) M of added amount. The detection limit was 5.0x10(-7) M and recoveries between 98.5-102.0% were obtained. No interference was observed from the common excipients of pharmaceutical formulations and other active substances such as acetylsalicylic acid, caffeine and thiamine.

Flow injection spectrophotometric determination of L-Dopa and carbidopa in pharmaceutical formulations using a crude extract of sweet potato root [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] as enzymatic source.

A flow injection (FI) spectrophotometric method is proposed for the determination of L-dopa and carbidopa in pharmaceutical formulations. After selection of the extraction medium (e.g., buffer-to-tissue ratio, pH, buffer concentration, protective agents and/or stabilizers) and storage conditions, crude extract of sweet potato root [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] was used as an enzymatic source of polyphenol oxidase (Tyrosinase; catechol oxidase; EC.1.14.18.1) directly in the carrier. This enzyme catalyses the oxidation of these catecholamines to the corresponding dopaquinone. Further, dopaquinone undergoes a rapid spontaneous auto-oxidation to leucodopachrome, which is in turn oxidized to dopachrome; this last compound has a strong absorption at 480 and 360 nm for L-dopa and carbidopa, respectively. For the optimum extraction conditions found the enzyme activity of the crude extract did not vary for at least 5 months when stored at 4 degrees C and decreased by only 4-5% during an 8 h working period at 25 degrees C. The results obtained for L-dopa and carbidopa by the proposed enzymatic FI method were in close agreement with the label values (r1 = 0.9699 and r2 = 0.9999) and also with those obtained using a pharmacopeial method (r3 = 0.9675). The throughput was 26 samples h-1, and 2.30 ml of crude extract were consumed in each determination, corresponding to only 72 mg of the original sweet potato root. The detection limit (three times the signal blank/slope) was 1.5 x 10(-5) and 2.0 x 10(-5) mol l-1 for L-dopa and carbidopa, respectively; the recovery of L-dopa and carbidopa from three samples ranged from 98.6 to 106.3% of the added amount.

Ion-selective electrode for bismuth(III) in ethylenediamintetraacetate medium.

A coated graphite-epoxy ion-selective electrode for bismuth(III), based on the ion-pair between the [Bi(EDTA)](-) anion and tricaprylylmethylammonium cation (Aliquat 336S) incorporated onto a poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) matrix is constructed. A thin membrane film of this ion-pair, dibutylphthalate (DBPh) or ortho-nitrophenyloctylether (o-NPOE) in PVC was deposited directly onto a Perspex(R) tube which contained a graphite-epoxy conductor substrate attached to the end of a glass tube. The coating solution was prepared by dissolving 30% (w/w) of PVC in 10 ml of tetrahydrofuran following addition of 65% (w/w) DBPh or o-NPOE and 5% (w/w) of the ionic pair. The effect of pH, EDTA concentration and some cation and anion on the electrode response is investigated. The bismuth(III) ion-selective electrode shows a linear response in the bismuth(III) concentration range from 1.0 x 10(-8) to 1.0 x 10(-1) mol 1(-1) and 1.0 x 10(-7) to 1.0 x 10(-1) mol 1(-1) and a slope of 56.8 and 59.2 mV dec.(-1) for the polymeric membranes containing DBPh and o-NPOE, respectively. The lifetime of this electrode was superior to 1 year (over 1600 determinations for each polymeric membrane), with practical detection limits of 6.3 x 10(-9) and 4.4 x 10(-8) mol 1(-1) with these plasticizers. Application of this electrode with bismuth(III) determination in a stomach anti-acid sample is described.

Flow injection spectrophotometric determination of aspartame in dietary products.

A flow injection spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of aspartame in dietary products using ninhydrin as a colorimetric reagent. The reaction was conducted in a 1 + 1 v/v methanol-isopropanol medium also containing potassium hydroxide. The absorbance measurements were made at 603 nm. The results obtained for the determination of aspartame in table sweetener, pudding, gelatin, and refreshment (i.e., a powder dissolved in water for drinking) are in good agreement with the results obtained using a conventional manual procedure (correlation coefficient, r = 0.9984). Thirty-six results were obtained per hour, and the relative standard deviation was less than 3.5% (n = 6) for all samples. The detection limit (three times the signal blank/slope) was 3.8 x 10(-5) mol l-1 of aspartame.

Flow injection potentiometric determination of saccharin in dietary products with relocation of filtration unit.

A flow injection potentiometric procedure for saccharin determination in dietary products is proposed. Saccharin is precipitated as mercurous saccharinate and the excess of the mercurous cation is potentiometrically measured using a silver wire coated with a mercury film as the working electrode. A filter unit is used to avoid contact between the precipitate and the electrode surface. With relocation in the flow manifold, the accumulated precipitate is removed on-line. Sucrose, glucose, aspartame, sodium cyclamate and sodium benzoate do not interfere when present in amounts similar to those observed in commercial products. Results are comparable with those obtained by UV-spectrophotometry and the correlation coefficient between methods is equal to 0.9930. A linear relationship between DeltaE (mV) and the logarithm of saccharin concentration was obtained in the saccharin concentration range 2 x 10(-3) - 1 x 10(-2)M. The sampling frequency is 60/hour and only 0.76 mg of Hg(2+)(2) is consumed in each determination.