Interactions of Schiff-base ligands with gold nanoparticles: structural, optical and electrocatalytic studies

Reagent-Less and Robust Biosensor for Direct Determination of Lactate in Food Samples

Lactic acid is a relevant analyte in the food industry, since it affects the flavor, freshness, and storage quality of several products, such as milk and dairy products, juices, or wines. It is the product of lactose or malo-lactic fermentation. In this work, we developed a lactate biosensor based on the immobilization of lactate oxidase (LOx) onto N,N′-Bis(3,4-dihydroxybenzylidene) -1,2-diaminobenzene Schiff base tetradentate ligand-modified gold nanoparticles (3,4DHS–AuNPs) deposited onto screen-printed carbon electrodes, which exhibit a potent electrocatalytic effect towards hydrogen peroxide oxidation/reduction. 3,4DHS–AuNPs were synthesized within a unique reaction step, in which 3,4DHS acts as reducing/capping/modifier agent for the generation of stable colloidal suspensions of Schiff base ligand–AuNPs assemblies of controlled size. The ligand—in addition to its reduction action—provides a robust coating to gold nanoparticles and a catalytic function. Lactate oxidase (LOx) catalyzes the conversion of l-lactate to pyruvate in the presence of oxygen, producing hydrogen peroxide, which is catalytically oxidized at 3,4DHS–AuNPs modified screen-printed carbon electrodes at +0.2 V. The measured electrocatalytic current is directly proportional to the concentration of peroxide, which is related to the amount of lactate present in the sample. The developed biosensor shows a detection limit of 2.6 μM lactate and a sensitivity of 5.1 ± 0.1 μA·mM⁻¹. The utility of the device has been demonstrated by the determination of the lactate content in different matrixes (white wine, beer, and yogurt). The obtained results compare well to those obtained using a standard enzymatic-spectrophotometric assay kit.

Structural revisions of small molecules reported to cross-link G-quadruplex DNA in vivo reveal a repetitive assignment error in the literature

Two molecules of mistaken identity are addressed. Uncovering these assignment errors led us to formulate more general guidelines about additional misassignments in cases of published bis-imines derived from 1,2-phenylenediamine and hydroxybenzaldehydes having no substituent in ortho-positions. The main purpose of this article is to highlight this repetitive assignment error in the literature and thus increase the likelihood of correct assignments in future papers.

Multi-tasking Schiff base ligand: a new concept of AuNPs synthesis

Multi-tasking 3,4-dihydroxysalophen Schiff base tetradentate ligand (3,4-DHS) as reductant, stabilizer, and catalyst in a new concept of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesis is demonstrated. 3,4-DHS is able to reduce HAuCl4 in water, acting also as capping agent for the generation of stable colloidal suspensions of Schiff base ligand-AuNPs assemblies of controlled size by providing a robust coating to AuNPs, within a unique reaction step. Once deposited on carbon electrodes, 3,4-DHS-AuNPs assemblies show a potent electrocatalytic effect towards hydrazine oxidation and hydrogen peroxide oxidation/reduction.

Silver nanoparticles as highly efficient and selective optical probe for sulphide via dendrimer formation in aqueous medium

1-[(4-Nitrophenyl)azo]-2-naphthol capped AgNPs were evaluated as a colorimetric sensor for S²⁻ in aqueous medium over pH 4 to 10 with a nanomolar detection limit. The TEM, SEM and AFM images revealed the transition of spherical AgNPs into dendrimers.

Interaction of Schiff base ligand with tin dioxide nanoparticles: optical studies

Interaction between 1,4 Bis ((2-Methyl) thio) Phenylamino methyl benzene (BMTPMB) Schiff base with tin dioxide nanoparticles (SnO2 NPs) of various concentrations in methanol have been studied using UV-Visible and Fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. The low value of Stern-Volmer quenching constant and non-linear plot of Benesi-Hildebrand equation suggests the less affinity of SnO2 NPs towards the adsorption of BMTPMB Schiff base. The Scott equation has been employed to determine molar absorptivity of the Schiff base-NPs system.