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Huang LL, Chua ZQ, Buchowiecki K, Raju CM, Urban PL. Hydrogel-enzyme micropatch array format for chemical mapping: A proof of concept. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 239:115599. [PMID: 37611447 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Conventional sensing methods report on concentrations of analytes in a single point of sampled medium or provide an average value. However, distributions of substances on surfaces of sampled objects often exhibit intricate inhomogeneities. In order to obtain snapshots of the chemical distributions on surfaces, we have developed enzyme-loaded hydrogel arrays (5 × 5 and 10 × 10). The acrylic 10 × 10 array base contains 100 holes, which are filled with agarose hydrogel containing assay enzymes and substrates. Such arrays can be exposed to the analyzed surfaces to collect minute amounts of analytes. Following a brief incubation, they are subsequently visualized in a custom-built array reader device. The reader incorporates a light-emitting diode-based light source, miniature camera, and Raspberry Pi single-board computer. Two Python programs capture and analyze the images of the array to extract pixel saturation values corresponding to individual hydrogel micropatches. The method has been thoroughly optimized for mapping of glucose and lactic acid. The optimized parameters were: contact time, agarose concentration, substrate concentration, enzyme concentration ratio, and enzyme concentration. The array biosensor was further tested by mapping glucose distribution in fruit/vegetable cross-sections (apple, guava, and cucumber) and lactic acid distribution in cheese. We think that this new hydrogel-based chemical mapping method can find applications in studies related to food science, plant physiology, clinical chemistry, and forensics; wherever the distributions of analytes on the tested surfaces need to be assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Li Huang
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan
| | - Zi Qing Chua
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan
| | - Krzysztof Buchowiecki
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan
| | - Chamarthi Maheswar Raju
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan
| | - Pawel L Urban
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan; Frontier Research Center on Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Matters, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan.
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Lin YH, Tu WC, Urban PL. Kinetic Profiling of Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Biocatalysts in Continuous Flow by Online Mass Spectrometry. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2023; 34:109-118. [PMID: 36515652 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.2c00283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Enzyme kinetics is normally assessed by performing individual kinetic measurements using batch-type reactors (test tubes, microtiter plates), in which enzymes are mixed with different substrates. Some drawbacks of conventional methods are the large amounts of experimental materials, long analysis times, and limitations of spectrophotometry. Therefore, we have developed a method for facile determination of enzyme kinetics using online flow-based mass spectrometry. A concentration ramp of substrate or product was created by dynamically adjusting flow rates of pumps delivering stock solution of substrate and diluent. Precise kinetic measurements were performed by reaction product quantification and initial rate calculation. In the presence of ascending substrate concentrations, the rate of a target enzyme (penicillinase)-catalyzed hydrolysis was varied. By measuring the reaction product continuously, Michaelis constants (KM) could be calculated. The enzyme kinetic measurements for hydrolysis of penicillins were conducted based on this simple, rapid, and low sample consumption online flow device. In the homogeneous reaction, the KM values for amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin G, and penicillin V were 254.9 ± 14.5, 29.2 ± 0.3, 2.6 ± 0.1, and 5.4 ± 0.1 μM, respectively. In the heterogeneous reaction, the KM values for amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin G, and penicillin V were 408.9 ± 75.1, 114.4 ± 8.0, 21.8 ± 0.7, and 83.3 ± 4.8 μM, respectively. Apart from enzyme assay, the showcased method for the generation of temporal concentration ramps can be utilized to perform rapid quantity calibrations for mass spectrometric analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Hsuan Lin
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu300044, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chien Tu
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu300044, Taiwan
| | - Pawel L Urban
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu300044, Taiwan
- Frontier Research Center on Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Matters, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu300044, Taiwan
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Abstract
With the rapid development of high technology, chemical science is not as it used to be a century ago. Many chemists acquire and utilize skills that are well beyond the traditional definition of chemistry. The digital age has transformed chemistry laboratories. One aspect of this transformation is the progressing implementation of electronics and computer science in chemistry research. In the past decade, numerous chemistry-oriented studies have benefited from the implementation of electronic modules, including microcontroller boards (MCBs), single-board computers (SBCs), professional grade control and data acquisition systems, as well as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). In particular, MCBs and SBCs provide good value for money. The application areas for electronic modules in chemistry research include construction of simple detection systems based on spectrophotometry and spectrofluorometry principles, customizing laboratory devices for automation of common laboratory practices, control of reaction systems (batch- and flow-based), extraction systems, chromatographic and electrophoretic systems, microfluidic systems (classical and nonclassical), custom-built polymerase chain reaction devices, gas-phase analyte detection systems, chemical robots and drones, construction of FPGA-based imaging systems, and the Internet-of-Chemical-Things. The technology is easy to handle, and many chemists have managed to train themselves in its implementation. The only major obstacle in its implementation is probably one's imagination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurpur Rakesh D Prabhu
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan.,Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan
| | - Pawel L Urban
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan.,Frontier Research Center on Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Matters, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
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Elpa DP, Prabhu GRD, Wu SP, Tay KS, Urban PL. Automation of mass spectrometric detection of analytes and related workflows: A review. Talanta 2019; 208:120304. [PMID: 31816721 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2019.120304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The developments in mass spectrometry (MS) in the past few decades reveal the power and versatility of this technology. MS methods are utilized in routine analyses as well as research activities involving a broad range of analytes (elements and molecules) and countless matrices. However, manual MS analysis is gradually becoming a thing of the past. In this article, the available MS automation strategies are critically evaluated. Automation of analytical workflows culminating with MS detection encompasses involvement of automated operations in any of the steps related to sample handling/treatment before MS detection, sample introduction, MS data acquisition, and MS data processing. Automated MS workflows help to overcome the intrinsic limitations of MS methodology regarding reproducibility, throughput, and the expertise required to operate MS instruments. Such workflows often comprise automated off-line and on-line steps such as sampling, extraction, derivatization, and separation. The most common instrumental tools include autosamplers, multi-axis robots, flow injection systems, and lab-on-a-chip. Prototyping customized automated MS systems is a way to introduce non-standard automated features to MS workflows. The review highlights the enabling role of automated MS procedures in various sectors of academic research and industry. Examples include applications of automated MS workflows in bioscience, environmental studies, and exploration of the outer space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Decibel P Elpa
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Rd., Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan; Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Gurpur Rakesh D Prabhu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Rd., Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan; Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Pao Wu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Rd., Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan.
| | - Kheng Soo Tay
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Pawel L Urban
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan; Frontier Research Center on Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Matters, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan.
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Prabhu GRD, Witek HA, Urban PL. Telechemistry: monitoring chemical reactionsviathe cloud using the Particle Photon Wi-Fi module. REACT CHEM ENG 2019. [DOI: 10.1039/c9re00043g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A popular electronic module and the associated Internet-of-Things tools provide chemists with more control over long-term experimental procedures and enhance lab work safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurpur Rakesh D. Prabhu
- Department of Applied Chemistry
- National Chiao Tung University
- Hsinchu
- Taiwan
- Department of Chemistry
| | - Henryk A. Witek
- Department of Applied Chemistry
- National Chiao Tung University
- Hsinchu
- Taiwan
- Center for Emergent Functional Matter Science
| | - Pawel L. Urban
- Department of Chemistry
- National Tsing Hua University
- Hsinchu
- Taiwan
- Frontier Research Center on Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Matters
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Furter JS, Hauser PC. Interactive control of purpose built analytical instruments with Forth on microcontrollers - A tutorial. Anal Chim Acta 2018; 1058:18-28. [PMID: 30851850 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2018.10.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The use of the computer language Forth for controlling experimental analytical instruments built in laboratories is described. Forth runs on a microcontroller and as it is an interpreted language the user can directly communicate with it by employing a terminal emulator program running on a personal computer. Thus the user can test attached hardware, such as pumps, valves, electronic pressure regulators, detectors and chemical sensors, directly from the keyboard. This overcomes the lack of interactivity, a significant shortcoming, of the computer languages C and C++, the default on such microcontroller platforms as the Arduinos, which have become very popular in recent years for laboratory applications. Common examples of purpose built experimental analytical laboratory instruments are sequential injection analysis systems, microfluidic devices, or automated sample extraction systems. Application examples from our laboratory are given, namely the regulation of mass-flow controllers for gases, the sequencing of an experimental capillary electrophoresis instrument and the acquisition of a signal from an alcohol sensor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine S Furter
- University of Basel, Department of Chemistry, Klingelbergstrasse 80, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Peter C Hauser
- University of Basel, Department of Chemistry, Klingelbergstrasse 80, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
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