A dielectric analysis of liquid and glassy solid glucose/water solutions

Broadband dielectric properties of honey: effects of temperature

Dielectric properties of jujube honey were investigated at 298-358 K by broadband dielectric measurements. Four relaxation processes were observed and analyzed, which are caused by long range correlation of density fluctuation, cooperative motions of molecules, rotational polarization of bound water and collective reorientation of free water, respectively. The results of temperature dependence of dielectric parameters show that with increasing temperature, the interaction among the molecules e.g. water, fructose and glucose molecules etc. weaken, and the honey gradually forms a complete sugar solution. At a given temperature, the penetration depth at 27 MHz is much greater than that at 915 MHz and 2.45 GHz. And based on the calculated penetration depth, dielectric heating at 27 MHz seems to has more advantages for large volume of materials.

Fundamental monomeric biomaterial diagnostics by radio frequency signal analysis

We present a new diagnostic technique of fundamental monomeric biomaterials that do not rely on any enzyme or chemical reaction. Instead, it only uses radio frequency (RF) signal analysis. The detection and classification of basic biomaterials, such as glucose and albumin, were demonstrated. The device was designed to generate a strong resonance response with glucose solution and fabricated by simple photolithography with PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane) well. It even was used to detect the level of glucose in mixtures of glucose and albumin and in human serum, and it operated properly and identified the glucose concentration precisely. It has a detection limit about 100μM (1.8mg/dl), and a sensitivity about 58MHz per 1mM of glucose and exhibited a good linearity in human blood glucose level. In addition, the intrinsic electrical properties of biomaterials can be investigated by a de-embedding technique and an equivalent circuit analysis. The capacitance of glucose containing samples exhibited bell-shaped Gaussian dispersion spectra around 2.4GHz. The Albumin solution did not represent a clear dispersion spectra compared to glucose, and the magnitude of resistance and inductance of albumin was higher than that of other samples. Other parameters also represented distinguishable patterns to classify those biomaterials. It leads us to expect future usage of our technique as a pattern-recognizing biosensor.

Recent advances in noninvasive glucose monitoring

The race for the next generation of painless and reliable glucose monitoring for diabetes mellitus is on. As technology advances, both diagnostic techniques and equipment improve. This review describes the main technologies currently being explored for noninvasive glucose monitoring. The principle of each technology is mentioned; its advantages and limitations are then discussed. The general description and the corresponding results for each device are illustrated, as well as the current status of the device and the manufacturer; internet references for the devices are listed where appropriate. Ten technologies and eleven potential devices are included in this review. Near infrared spectroscopy has become a promising technology, among others, for blood glucose monitoring. Although some reviews have been published already, the rapid development of technologies and information makes constant updating mandatory. While advances have been made, the reliability and the calibration of noninvasive instruments could still be improved, and more studies carried out under different physiological conditions of metabolism, bodily fluid circulation, and blood components are needed.

Dynamics of the slow mode in the family of six-carbon monosaccharides monitored by dielectric spectroscopy

Broadband dielectric measurements performed on D-glucose, L-sorbose, D-fructose and D-galactose revealed that, except for the structural relaxation process, one can detect in the liquid phase of these carbohydrates a much slower relaxation mode. Recently we have demonstrated that in D-glucose this relaxation mode might be related to the long range correlation of density fluctuations (LRCDF), also called Fischer clusters (FC). Based on the dielectric data obtained for the four monosaccharides we were able to make a more general conclusion about the characteristic dielectric features of the slow mode in the whole family of carbohydrates. We found out that the timescale separation between structural and considered relaxation reaches up to six decades at the glass transition temperature and the dielectric strength decreases significantly with lowering temperature. Another very interesting feature of the slow process is that it can be described by an almost exponential response function. We have found out that the fragility of the slow process lies within the range m = 44-50. Finally, we have also shown that there is a close link between structural and slow relaxation.

Translational and rotational dynamics of monosaccharide solutions

Molecular dynamics computer simulations have been carried out on aqueous solutions of glucose at concentrations bracketing those previously measured with quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS), in order to investigate the motions and interactions of the sugar and water molecules. In addition, QENS measurements have been carried out on fructose solutions to determine whether the effects previously observed for glucose apply to monosaccharide solutions. The simulations indicate a dynamical analogy between higher solute concentration and lower temperature that could provide a key explanation of the bioprotective phenomena observed in many living organisms. The experimental results on fructose solutions show qualitatively similar behavior to the glucose solutions. The dynamics of the water molecules are essentially the same, while the translational diffusion of the sugar molecules is slightly faster in the fructose solutions.

Study of a new electromagnetic sensor for glycaemia measurement:in vitroresults on blood pig

In this paper, we develop a non-invasive method to measure glycaemia levels. The method is based on an electromagnetic sensor associated with a specific electronic card. Results obtained on whole pig blood show the influence of the temperature and the linearity between the glucose concentration and the process card signal output. Measurements are reproducible and the resolution obtained permits determination of the glucose level around 0.1 g l(-1).

Study of the solid-matrix phosphorescence properties of a heterocyclic aromatic amine and the heat capacities of glucose glasses as the temperature decreases

The heat capacities were obtained from 294 to 133 K for four glucose-glass systems. Two of the glasses were prepared from crystalline glucose. One of the glasses contained the heavy-atom salt NaI and the other glass did not contain NaI. The other two glasses were similar, but they were prepared from glucose melts. Correlations were developed between the solid-matrix phosphorescence (SMP) lifetimes and intensities of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in the glucose glasses and the heat capacities of the glucose sugar glasses as the temperature was lowered. Several plots of reciprocal SMP lifetime versus reciprocal temperature and reciprocal SMP lifetime versus reciprocal heat capacity were compared. Also, the reciprocal SMP intensity versus reciprocal temperature plots were compared with the corresponding reciprocal SMP intensity versus reciprocal heat capacity plots. In addition, basic photo-physical equations were used to develop relationships among the lifetime data, the intensity data, and the heat capacity data. The heat capacity data and SMP lifetime data, obtained as the temperature was lowered, were discussed in relationship to low-frequency vibrational modes and beta-relaxation phenomena in the glucose glasses. The discussion of these phenomena offered explanations for some of the loss of the excited triplet-state energy of PhIP in the glucose sugar glasses.

Hydrogen bond dynamics and water structure in glucose-water solutions by depolarized Rayleigh scattering and low-frequency Raman spectroscopy

The effect of glucose on the relaxation process of water at picosecond time scales has been investigated by depolarized Rayleigh scattering (DRS) experiments. The process is assigned to the fast hydrogen bonding dynamics of the water network. In DRS spectra this contribution can be safely separated from the slower relaxation process due to the sugar. The detected relaxation time is studied at different glucose concentrations and modeled considering bulk and hydrating water contributions. As a result, it is found that in diluted conditions the hydrogen bond lifetime of proximal water molecules becomes about three times slower than that of the bulk. The effect of the sugar on the hydrogen bond water structure is investigated by analyzing the low-frequency Raman (LFR) spectrum sensitive to intermolecular modes. The addition of glucose strongly reduces the intensity of the band at 170 cm(-1) assigned to a collective stretching mode of water molecules arranged in cooperative tetrahedral domains. These findings indicate that proximal water molecules partially lose the tetrahedral ordering typical of the bulk leading to the formation of high density environments around the sugar. Thus the glucose imposes a new local order among water molecules localized in its hydration shell in which the hydrogen bond breaking dynamics is sensitively retarded. This work provides new experimental evidences that support recent molecular dynamics simulation and thermodynamics results.

Non-invasive glucose monitoring: assessment of technologies and devices according to quantitative criteria

Aim of this review was to describe the main technologies for non-invasive glucose monitoring and the corresponding most relevant devices. The review tries to overcome the limitations of previous reviews on this topic, such as the lack of objective criteria for inclusion or exclusion of technologies or devices, and the poor organization of the information, which often does not allow easy comparison between technologies and devices. In this review, the information is concise and organized into specific categories, and hence it becomes easy to compare advantages and disadvantages of the different technologies and devices. For technologies, the categories of information considered are the technology name, the underlying physical principle, the technology limitations and the measurement sites on the human body. For devices, the categories of information are the device name, its approval condition (FDA Approval and/or CE Mark), the technology on which it is based, a device general description, the tests performed on the device, the corresponding results, safety information, aspects affecting usability, current status of the device and the manufacturer, an Internet reference for the device. A total of 14 technologies and 16 devices are included. Conclusions of the review were that, despite some interesting and promising technologies and devices, a satisfactory solution to the non-invasive glucose monitoring problem still requires further efforts.

β-Relaxation of Insulin Molecule in Lyophilized Formulations Containing Trehalose or Dextran as a Determinant of Chemical Reactivity

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether the degradation rate of insulin in lyophilized formulations is determined by matrix mobility, as reflected in glass transition temperature (Tg), or by beta-relaxation, as reflected in rotating-frame spin-lattice relaxation time (T1rho).

METHODS

The storage stability of insulin lyophilized with dextran was investigated at various relative humidities (RH; 12-60%) and temperatures (40-90 degrees C) and was compared with previously reported data for insulin lyophilized with trehalose. Insulin degradation was monitored by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Furthermore, the T1rho of the insulin carbonyl carbon in the lyophilized insulin-dextran and insulin-trehalose systems was measured at 25 degrees C by 13C solid-state NMR, and the effect of trehalose and dextran on T1rho was compared at various humidities.

RESULTS

The degradation rate of insulin lyophilized with dextran was not significantly affected by the Tg of the matrix, even at low humidity (12% RH), in contrast to that of insulin lyophilized with trehalose. The insulin-dextran system exhibited a substantially greater degradation rate than the insulin-trehalose system at a given temperature below the Tg. The difference in degradation rate between the insulin-dextran and insulin-trehalose systems observed at 12% RH was eliminated at 43% RH. In addition, the T1rho of the insulin carbonyl carbon at low humidity (12% RH) was prolonged by the addition of trehalose, but not by the addition of dextran. This difference was eliminated at 23% RH, at which point the solid remained in the glassy state. These findings suggest that the beta-relaxation of insulin is inhibited by trehalose at low humidity, presumably as a result of insulin-trehalose interaction, and thus becomes a rate determinant. In contrast, dextran, whose ability to interact with insulin is thought to be less than that of trehalose, did not inhibit the beta-relaxation of insulin, and thus, the chemical activational barrier (activation energy) rather than beta-relaxation becomes the major rate determinant.

CONCLUSIONS

Beta-relaxation rather than matrix mobility seems to be more important in determining the stability of insulin in the glassy state in lyophilized formulations containing trehalose and dextran.

Dynamics of water in supercooled aqueous solutions of glucose and poly(ethylene glycol)s as studied by dielectric spectroscopy

The dielectric behaviour of aqueous solutions of glucose, poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) 200 and 600, and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) has been examined at different concentrations in the frequency range of 10(6)-10(-3) Hz by dielectric spectroscopy and by using differential scanning calorimetry down to 77 K from room temperature. The shape of the relaxation spectra and the temperature dependence of the relaxation rates have been critically examined along with temperature dependence of dielectric strength. In addition to the so-called primary (alpha-) relaxation process, which is responsible for the glass-transition event at T(g), another relaxation process of comparable magnitude has been found to bifurcate from the main relaxation process on the water-rich side, which continues to the sub-T(g) region, exhibiting relaxation at low frequencies. The sub-T(g) process dominates the dielectric measurements in aqueous solutions of higher PEGs, and the main relaxation process is seen as a weak process. The sub-T(g) process was not observed when water was replaced by methanol in the binary mixtures. These observations suggest that the sub-T(g) process in the aqueous mixtures is due to the reorientational motion of the 'confined' water molecules. The corresponding dielectric strength shows a noticeable change at T(g), indicating a hindered rotation of water molecules in the glassy phase. The nature of this confined water appears to be anomalous compared to most other supercooled confined liquids.

Glass Transition-Related Changes in Molecular Mobility below Glass Transition Temperature of Freeze-Dried Formulations, as Measured by Dielectric Spectroscopy and Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

The purpose of this study was to explore why changes in the molecular mobility associated with glass transition, the timescale of which is on the order of 100 s, can be detected by measuring the nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation times that reflect molecular motions on the order of 10 kHz and 1 MHz. The molecular motions in freeze-dried dextran 40k, dextran 1k, isomaltotriose (IMT), and alpha-glucose comprising a common unit but with different glass transition temperatures, were investigated by dielectric spectroscopy (DES) in the frequency range of 0.01 Hz to 100 kHz and in the temperature range of -20 degrees to 200 degrees C, in order to compare with the molecular motions reflected in nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation times. The alpha-relaxation process for freeze-dried alpha-glucose was visualized by DES, whereas those for freeze-dried dextran 40k, dextran 1k, and IMT were too slow to be visualized by DES. The latter freeze-dried cakes exhibited quasi-dc polarization because of proton-hopping-like motion rather than alpha-relaxation process. The correlation time (tau(c)) for the backbone carbon of dextran 40k and IMT, calculated from the measured value of spin-lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame, was found to be close to the relaxation time of proton-hopping-like motion determined by DES (tau(DES)) at temperatures around glass transition temperature. The timescales of molecular motions reflected in the tau(c) and tau(DES) were significantly smaller than that of motions leading to molecular rearrangement (molecular rearrangement motions), which correspond to alpha-relaxation. However, the shapes of temperature dependence for the tau(c) and tau(DES) were similar to that of the calorimetrically determined relaxation time of molecular rearrangement motions. Results suggest that the molecular motions reflected in the tau(c) and tau(DES) are linked to molecular rearrangement motions, such that enhancement of molecular rearrangement motions enhances the molecular motions reflected in the tau(c) and tau(DES). Thus, the tau(DES) and tau(c) can reflect changes in molecular mobility leading to unwanted changes in amorphous formulations, and are thought to be a useful measure for evaluating the stability of formulations.