Tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) chemiluminescence

Recent advances in CE analysis of antibiotics and its use as chiral selectors

Antibiotics are a class of therapeutic molecules widely employed in both human and veterinary medicine. This article reviews the most recent advances in the analysis of antibiotics by CE in pharmaceutical, environmental, food, and biomedical fields. Emphasis is placed on the strategies to increase sensitivity as diverse off-line, in-line, and on-line preconcentration approaches and the use of different detection systems. The use of CE in the microchip format for the analysis of antibiotics is also reviewed in this article. Moreover, since the use of antibiotics as chiral selectors in CE has grown in the last years, a new section devoted to this aspect has been included. This review constitutes an update of previous published reviews and covers the literature published from June 2011 until June 2013.

Ruthenium polypyridine complexes combined with oligonucleotides for bioanalysis: a review

Ruthenium complexes are among the most interesting coordination complexes and they have attracted great attention over the past decades due to their appealing biological, catalytic, electronic and optical properties. Ruthenium complexes have found a unique niche in bioanalysis, as demonstrated by the substantial progress made in the field. In this review, the applications of ruthenium complexes coordinated with polypyridine ligands (and analogues) in bioanalysis are discussed. Three main detection methods based on electrochemistry, electrochemiluminescence, and photoluminscence are covered. The important targets, including DNA and other biologically important targets, are detected by specific biorecognition with the corresponding oligonucleotides as the biorecognition elements (i.e., DNA is probed by its complementary strand and other targets are detected by functional nucleic acids, respectively). Selected examples are provided and thoroughly discussed to highlight the substantial progress made so far. Finally, a brief summary with perspectives is included.

Red-green-blue electrogenerated chemiluminescence utilizing a digital camera as detector

Exploiting the distinct excitation and emission properties of concomitant electrochemiluminophores in conjunction with the inherent color selectivity of a conventional digital camera, we create a new strategy for multiplexed electrogenerated chemiluminescence detection, suitable for the development of low-cost, portable clinical diagnostic devices. Red, green and blue emitters can be efficiently resolved over the three-dimensional space of ECL intensity versus applied potential and emission wavelength. As the relative contribution ratio of each emitter to the photographic RGB channels is constant, the RGB ECL intensity versus applied-potential curves could be effectively isolated to a single emitter at each potential.

Development of ruthenium(II) complexes as topical antibiotics against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus

A series of ruthenium(II) bis(2,2'-bipyridyl) complexes containing N-phenyl-substituted diazafluorenes (Ru-C1, Ru-C6, Ru-C7 and Ru-F) was synthesized and their potential antibacterial activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was investigated. The Ru-C7 complex showed significant improvement in both minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC, 6.25 μg mL(-1)) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC, 25 μg mL(-1)) towards MRSA when compared with those of methicillin (positive control) (MIC = 25 μg mL(-1) and MBC = 100 μg mL(-1)). The Ru-C7 complex possessed much stronger antibacterial effects than the Ru-C6 complex (MIC, 25 μg mL(-1), MBC, >100 μg mL(-1)). Both Ru-C6 and Ru-C7 complexes were also demonstrated to be biologically safe when tested on normal human skin keratinocytes.

Comprehensive sample analysis using high performance liquid chromatography with multi-detection

Herein we assess the separation space offered by a liquid chromatography system with an optimised uni-dimensional separation for the determination of the key chemical entities in the highly complex matrix of a tobacco leaf extract. Multiple modes of detection, including UV-visible absorbance, chemiluminescence (acidic potassium permanganate, manganese(IV), and tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(III)), mass spectrometry and DPPH radical scavenging were used in an attempt to systematically reduce the data complexity of the sample whilst obtaining a greater degree of molecule-specific information. A large amount of chemical data was obtained, but several limitations in the ability to assign detector responses to particular compounds, even with the aid of complementary detection systems, were observed. Thirty-three compounds were detected via MS on the tobacco extract and 12 out of 32 compounds gave a peak height ratio (PHR) greater than 0.33 on one or more detectors. This paper serves as a case study of these limitations, illustrating why multidimensional chromatography is an important consideration when developing a comprehensive chemical detection system.

Molecularly imprinted polymers for the selective determination of trace bisphenol A in river water by electrochemiluminescence

The detection of bisphenol A (BPA) is very important for public health and environmental monitoring. In this work, BPA was found to be able to significantly quench the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of the Ru(bpy)32+/2-(dibutylamino)ethanol (DBAE) system. Molecularly imprinted polymer was synthesized as solid-phase extraction sorbents, which were used for the selective extraction and purification of BPA. Under optimal conditions, the inhibited ECL intensity versus the logarithm of the concentration of BPA was in good linear relationship over a concentration range from 2.2 × 10−10 to 1.1 × 10−7 mol/L. The limit of detection was 4.5 × 10−11 mol/L (S/N = 3). The developed method was successfully applied for determination of BPA in river water with high sensitivity and reliability. Further, a possible mechanism for the quenching effects of the Ru(bpy)32+/DBAE system by BPA was also proposed.

CoFe2O4 nanoparticles as oxidase mimic-mediated chemiluminescence of aqueous luminol for sulfite in white wines

Recently, the intrinsic enzyme-like activity of nanoparticles (NPs) has become a growing area of interest. However, the analytical applications of the NP-based enzyme mimetic are mainly concentrated on their peroxidase-like activity; no attempts have been made to investigate the analytical applications based on the oxidase mimic activities of NPs. For the first time, we report that CoFe(2)O(4) NPs were found to possess intrinsic oxidase-like activity and could catalyze luminol oxidation by dissolved oxygen to produce intensified chemiluminescence (CL). The effect of sulfite on CoFe(2)O(4) NP oxidase mimic-mediated CL of aqueous luminol was investigated. It is very interesting that when adding sulfite to the luminol-CoFe(2)O(4) system, the role of sulfite in the luminol-CoFe(2)O(4) NP-sulfite system depends on its concentration. At a relatively low concentration level, sulfite presents an inhibition effect on the luminol-CoFe(2)O(4) NP system. However, it does have an enhancement effect at a higher concentration level. Investigations on the effect of the solution pH and luminol and CoFe(2)O(4) NP concentrations on the kinetic characteristics of the studied CL system in the presence of trace sulfite suggested that the enhancement and inhibition of the luminol-CoFe(2)O(4) NP-sulfite CL system also depended on the solution pH. It seems that the concentrations of luminol and CoFe(2)O(4) NPs did not influence the CL pathway. The possible mechanism of the luminol-CoFe(2)O(4) NP-sulfite CL system was also discussed. On this basis, a flow injection chemiluminescence method was established for the determination of trace sulfite in this study. Under the optimal conditions, the proposed system could respond down to 2.0 × 10(-8) M sulfite. The method has been applied to the determination of trace sulfite in white wine samples with satisfactory results. The results given by the proposed method are in good agreement with those given by the standard titration method.

An electrochemiluminescence strategy based on aptamers and nanoparticles for the detection of cancer cells

A PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-free electrochemiluminescence (ECL) strategy based on aptamers and ECL nanoprobes was developed for rapid collection and detection of Ramos cells. The ECL nanoprobes consisted of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), linker DNA and tris-(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium (TBR)-labeled signal DNA. The linker DNA and signal DNA were modified on the surface of the AuNPs through AuS bonds. The linker DNA can hybridize partly with the aptamers loaded on the magnetic beads to construct the magnetic biocomplex. In the presence of the cancer cells, the aptamers conjugated with the cancer cells with higher affinity. The ECL nanoprobe released from the biocomplex and subsequently hybridized with the capture DNA modified on the Au electrode. The ECL intensity of the TBR loaded on the nanoprobes directly reflected the amount of the cancer cells. With the use of the developed ECL probe, a limit of detection as low as 50 Ramos cells per mL could be achieved. The proposed methods based on ECL should have wide applications in the diagnosis of cancers due to their high sensitivity, simplicity and low cost.

Detection of Prorocentrum minimum (Pavillard) Schiller with an electrochemiluminescence-molecular probe assay

The occurrence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) caused by Prorocentrum minimum (Pavillard) Schiller is a crucial subject in the study of HABs. An electrochemiluminescence-molecular probe assay (ECL-MP) was developed to qualitatively and quantitatively detect P. minimum. It was based on the sandwich hybridization integrated with a nuclease protection assay (NPA-SH) and improved by electrochemiluminescence (ECL). An ECL analyzer was established in this study, and it was shown that this analyzer was stable and highly sensitive, with a detection range of 0.4 pmol to 4 nmol Ru(bpy)(3)Cl(2)·6H(2)O under optimal reaction conditions of 1.0 V, 1.0 mA, 1.5 mol·L(-1) TPrA, and pH 7.4. The optimal amount of magnetic beads for separation of labeled NPA probes in a 20-μL hybridization mixture was 4 μg. The ECL counts per second was linear with the number of P. minimum cells in a range of 6.25 × 10(2) to 4 × 10(4), and there was no significant difference between ECL-MP and microscopy, with a 95% confidence level (t test) when individual, mixed cultures and field samples were treated. This study provides a convenient method for fast and accurate detection of P. minimum in the marine environment.

Synthesis of heteroleptic pyrrolide/bipyridyl complexes of ruthenium(II)

The synthesis and characterization of the first heteroleptic pyrrolide/2,2′-bipyridyl complexes of ruthenium(II) are reported. Pyrroles substituted at the 2-position with X = O functionality react with Ru(bipy)2Cl2·2H2O to form complexes in which the pyrrolide ligands chelate to Ru(II). The library of pyrroles includes 2-formyl, 2-keto, 2-carboxylato, 2-sulfinyl, and 2-sulfonyl derivatives.

Cathodic electrochemiluminescence and reversible electrochemistry of [Ru(bpy)3](2+/1+) in aqueous solutions on tricresyl phosphate-based carbon paste electrode with extremely high hydrogen evolution potential

Many cathodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) systems require very negative potentials; it is difficult to achieve stable cathodic ECL in aqueous solutions because of hydrogen evolution and instability of intermediates. In this study, tricresyl phosphate-based carbon paste electrode (CPE) was used to achieve cathodic ECL. It exhibits no obvious hydrogen evolution even at a potential up to -1.6 V and dramatically stabilizes electrogenerated [Ru(bpy)3](+). Therefore, a reversible wave of [Ru(bpy)3](2+/1+) in aqueous solutions at carbon electrode has been observed for the first time, and cathodic ECL of [Ru(bpy)3](2+)/S2O8(2-) has been achieved. Under the optimum conditions, the plots of the ECL versus the concentration of S2O8(2-) are linear in the range of 10(-6) to 10(-2) M with the detection limit of 3.98 × 10(-7) M. Common anions have no effect on the ECL intensity of the [Ru(bpy)3](2+)/S2O8(2-) system. Since CPEs have been widely used, CPEs with high hydrogen evolution potential are versatile platforms for electrochemical study and cathodic ECL study.

Development of electrochemiluminescent inhibition method for determination of gentian violet in aquatic water

Gentian violet (GV) was found to quench the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of the tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II)/tris-n-propylamine (Ru(bpy)3(2+)-TPA) system at a glass carbon electrode (GCE). Based on the ECL signal changes, a simple and ultrasensitive detection method for GV in aquatic water was established. Under the optimized conditions, the quenched ECL intensity versus the logarithm of the concentration of GV was linear over a concentration range from 1.0×10(-10) to 5.0×10(-7) mol L(-1), and the limit of detection (LOD) was found to be 4.5×10(-12) mol L(-1) (S/N=3). The results obtained by the ECL system were better than other reported methods in literatures in terms of sensitivity or linear response range. The method was successfully applied to determine GV in aquatic water, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were found less than 6.3%, and the recoveries were obtained from 98.7 to 111.0%. Moreover, a possible mechanism of the quenching effect was primarily discussed based on UV-visible absorption spectra, cyclic voltammograms and IECL-E curves.