Far-ultraviolet absorbance detection of sugars and peptides by high-performance liquid chromatography

ATR-far-ultraviolet spectroscopy: a challenge to new σ chemistry

This review reports the recent progress on ATR-far ultraviolet (FUV) spectroscopy in the condensed phase. ATR-FUV spectroscopy for liquids and solids enables one to explore various topics in physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, nanoscience and technology, materials science, electrochemistry, and organic chemistry. In this review, we put particular emphasis on the three major topics: (1) studies on electronic transitions and structures of various molecules, which one cannot investigate via ordinary UV spectroscopy. The combined use of ATR-FUV spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations allows for the investigation of various electronic transitions, including σ, n-Rydberg transitions. ATR-FUV spectroscopy may open a new avenue for σ-chemistry. (2) ATR-FUV spectroscopy enables one to measure the first electronic transition of water at approximately 160 nm without peak saturation. Using this band, one can study the electronic structure of water, aqueous solutions, and adsorbed water. (3) ATR-FUV spectroscopy has its own advantages of the ATR method as a surface analysis method. ATR-FUV spectroscopy is a powerful technique for exploring a variety of top surface phenomena (∼50 nm) in adsorbed water, polymers, graphene, organic materials, ionic liquids, and so on. This review briefly describes the principles, characteristics, and instrumentation of ATR-FUV spectroscopy. Next, a detailed description about quantum chemical calculation methods for FUV and UV regions is given. The recent application of ATR-FUV-UV spectroscopy studies on electronic transitions from σ orbitals in various saturated molecules is introduced first, followed by a discussion on the applications of ATR-FUV spectroscopy to studies on water, aqueous solutions, and adsorbed water. Applications of ATR-FUV spectroscopy in the analysis of other materials such as polymers, ionic liquids, inorganic semiconductors, graphene, and carbon nanocomposites are elucidated. In addition, ATR-FUV-UV-vis spectroscopy focusing on electrochemical interfaces is outlined. Finally, FUV-UV-surface plasmon resonance studies are discussed.

Mapping and quantifying neuropeptides in the enteric nervous system

Neuropeptides are a highly diverse group of signaling molecules found in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral organs, including the enteric nervous system (ENS). Increasing efforts have been focused on dissecting the role of neuropeptides in both neural- and non-neural-related diseases, as well as their potential therapeutic value. In parallel, accurate knowledge on their source of production and pleiotropic functions is still needed to fully understand their implications in biological processes. This review will focus on the analytical challenges involved in studying neuropeptides, particularly in the ENS, a tissue where their abundance is low, together with opportunities for further technical development.

Ultraviolet dosage and decontamination efficacy were widely variable across 14 UV devices after testing a dried enveloped ribonucleic acid virus surrogate for SARS-CoV-2

Aims: The dosages and efficacy of 14 ultraviolet (UV) decontamination technologies were measured against a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate virus that was dried onto different materials for laboratory and field testing. Methods and results: A live enveloped, ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus surrogate for SARS-CoV-2 was dried on stainless steel 304 (SS304), Navy Top Coat-painted SS304 (NTC), cardboard, polyurethane, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) materials at > 8.0 log10 plaque-forming units (PFU) per test coupon. The coupons were then exposed to UV radiation during both laboratory and field testing. Commercial and prototype UV-emitting devices were measured for efficacy: four handheld devices, three room/surface-disinfecting machines, five air disinfection devices, and two larger custom-made machines. UV device dosages ranged from 0.01 to 729 mJ cm-2. The antiviral efficacy among the different UV devices ranged from no decontamination up to nearly achieving sterilization. Importantly, cardboard required far greater dosage than SS304. Conclusion: Enormous variability in dosage and efficacy was measured among the different UV devices. Porous materials limit the utility of UV decontamination. Significance and impact of the study: UV devices have wide variability in dosages, efficacy, hazards, and UV output over time, indicating that each UV device needs independent technical measurement and assessment for product development prior to and during use.

A handheld 3D-printed microchip for simple integration of the H2O2-producing enzymatic reactions with subsequent chemiluminescence detection: Application for sugars

Herein, a novel lab-on-a-chip (LoC) device fabricated by 3D printing based on H₂O₂-producing enzymatic reactions with sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) detection was developed to measure different sugars, including glucose, fructose, sucrose, and maltose, in honey, juice, and rice flour samples. The pumpless microchip included two main parts, separated by new cone-shape blocking valves; part A for sample introduction and subsequent enzymatic reaction, besides the CL reagent (luminol) container, and part B for detection. The specific enzyme(s) were embedded into the pores of the zinc zeolite-imidazole framework (ZIF-8) to improve their storage stability. By opening the valves, H₂O₂ produced by enzymatic reaction and luminol could flow through the designed channels into the detection zone on part B, where a 2D cobalt-imidazole framework was embedded to improve the luminol-H₂O₂ CL emission. The obtained signal was proportional to the considered sugar concentration, with the detection limits range of 20-268 µM.

Comparison of ultraviolet and refractive index detections in the HPLC analysis of sugars

Refractive index (RI) detection is the standard approach for quantitatively detecting sugars via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), while ultraviolet (UV) absorbance detection is the most commonly used detection method for general HPLC analysis. We compared the two detection approaches of UV and RI in the HPLC analysis of small sugars to investigate whether UV detection could be an alternative method to RI detection. UV detection was performed using a photodiode array scanning from 190 to 400 nm. We obtained comparable limit of detection (LOD) results for RI and UV detection in the HPLC analysis of monosaccharides, while HPLC-RI provided better LOD results than HPLC-UV in disaccharide analysis. Both HPLC-RI and HPLC-UV methods were applied to analyze a real honey sample, and similar results were obtained in terms of precision and recovery. The study conclusively shows that the UV-based HPLC analysis of sugars offers a sufficient alternative to RI-based HPLC analysis.

Enhanced Surface Plasmon Resonance Wavelength Shifts by Molecular Electronic Absorption in Far- and Deep-Ultraviolet Regions

In this study, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) wavelength shifts due to molecular electronic absorptions in the far-ultraviolet (FUV, < 200 nm) and deep-ultraviolet (DUV, < 300 nm) regions were investigated by attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy. Due to the strong absorption in the DUV region, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) significantly increased the SPR wavelength shift of Al film. On the other hand, no such shift enhancement was observed in the visible region for Au film because DMF does not have absorbance compared to non-absorbing materials such as water and alcohols. The enhanced SPR wavelength shift, caused by the overlap between SPR and molecular resonance wavelengths in FUV-DUV region, is expected to result in high sensitivity for resonant materials.

A simple and rapid detection assay for peptides based on the specific recognition of aptamer and signal amplification of hybridization chain reaction

A simple and rapid assay for the detection of peptides is designed based on the specific recognition of aptamer, the quenching effect of graphene oxide (GO) and the efficient signal amplification of hybrid chain reaction (HCR). In this assay, the hairpin structure of aptamer is opened after binding with targets, and the initiation sequence could be exposed to hairpin probe 1 (H1) to open its hairpin structure. Then the opened H1 will open the hairpin structure of hairpin probe 2 (H2), and in turn, the opened initiation sequence of H2 continues to open H1. As a result, the specific recognition of target and fluorescent signals are accumulated through the process in short 1h. Attentively, the aptamer can not only identify target peptides, but also initiate the HCR between H1 and H2. More importantly, the HCR is initiated only after the target recognition of aptamer. After HCR, the excess hairpin probes will be anchored on the GO surface, and the background is greatly reduced due to the quenching effect of GO. By using Mucin-1(MUC1) as a model peptide, the assay has a wide linear range as two orders of magnitude and the detection range is from 0.01 to 5nM with low detection limit of 3.33pM. Therefore, the simple and rapid detection of the target can be realized, and the novel assay has great potential in detecting various peptides and even cancer cells.