Jeremy D. Kilburn

Self-powered wireless carbohydrate/oxygen sensitive biodevice based on radio signal transmission

Here for the first time, we detail self-contained (wireless and self-powered) biodevices with wireless signal transmission. Specifically, we demonstrate the operation of self-sustained carbohydrate and oxygen sensitive biodevices, consisting of a wireless electronic unit, radio transmitter and separate sensing bioelectrodes, supplied with electrical energy from a combined multi-enzyme fuel cell generating sufficient current at required voltage to power the electronics. A carbohydrate/oxygen enzymatic fuel cell was assembled by comparing the performance of a range of different bioelectrodes followed by selection of the most suitable, stable combination. Carbohydrates (viz. lactose for the demonstration) and oxygen were also chosen as bioanalytes, being important biomarkers, to demonstrate the operation of the self-contained biosensing device, employing enzyme-modified bioelectrodes to enable the actual sensing. A wireless electronic unit, consisting of a micropotentiostat, an energy harvesting module (voltage amplifier together with a capacitor), and a radio microchip, were designed to enable the biofuel cell to be used as a power supply for managing the sensing devices and for wireless data transmission. The electronic system used required current and voltages greater than 44 µA and 0.57 V, respectively to operate; which the biofuel cell was capable of providing, when placed in a carbohydrate and oxygen containing buffer. In addition, a USB based receiver and computer software were employed for proof-of concept tests of the developed biodevices. Operation of bench-top prototypes was demonstrated in buffers containing different concentrations of the analytes, showcasing that the variation in response of both carbohydrate and oxygen biosensors could be monitored wirelessly in real-time as analyte concentrations in buffers were changed, using only an enzymatic fuel cell as a power supply.

Identification of Major Phenolic Compounds from Nephelium lappaceum L. and Their Antioxidant Activities

Nephelium lappaceum is a tropical fruit whose peel possesses antioxidant properties. Experiments on the isolation and identification of the active constituents were conducted, and on their antioxidant activity using a lipid peroxidation inhibition assay. The methanolic extract of N. lappaceum peels exhibited strong antioxidant properties. Sephadex LH-20 chromatography was utilized in the isolation of each constituent and the antioxidant properties of each was studied. The isolated compounds were identified as ellagic acid (EA) (1), corilagin (2) and geraniin (3). These compounds accounted for 69.3% of methanolic extract, with geraniin (56.8%) as the major component, and exhibited much greater antioxidant activities than BHT in both lipid peroxidation (77-186 fold) and DPPH• (42-87 fold) assays. The results suggest that the isolated ellagitannins, as the principal components of rambutan peels, could be further utilized as both a medicine and in the food industry.

Monolayer anthracene and anthraquinone modified electrodes as platforms for Trametes hirsuta laccase immobilisation

Surface modification techniques are essential to the construction of enzyme based elements of biofuel cells and biosensors. In this article we report on the preparation and characterisation of modified carbon electrodes which were used as supports for the immobilisation of laccase from Trametes hirsuta. The electrodes were electrochemically modified with diamine or diazonium linkers followed by attachment of either anthracene or anthraquinone head groups using solid phase chemical methodology. These well defined surfaces were found to effectively bind laccase and to provide direct electrical contact to the enzyme active site, as evidenced by XPS, EIS and voltammetry, respectively. The influence of the type of linker and head group on enzyme binding and bioelectrocatalytic activity are evaluated.

A highly enantioselective receptor for N-protected glutamate and anomalous solvent-dependent binding properties

The development of enantioselective receptors continues to be a challenging endeavor for supramolecular chemists, and enantioselective recognition of biologically relevant molecules in competitive solvents is particularly demanding.[1] Although numerous receptors have been developed for dicarboxylic acids and dicarboxylates,[2] only a few enantioselective receptors for chiral dicarboxylic acids (in the neutral diprotonated form) have been described,[3] and very few examples of enantioselective receptors for chiral dicarboxylates have been reported.[4] We recently described an acyclic monothiourea receptor 1a, which bound a range of N-protected amino acid carboxylate salts with modest enantioselectivity.[5] Building on this work, we have now prepared macrocyclic receptor 2, which features two thiourea moieties flanked by carboxypyridines and separated by a chiral diamine. The receptor was designed to produce a chiral pocket for dicarboxylates by forming up to eight hydrogen-bonding interactions with the carboxylate oxygen atoms and intramolecular hydrogen bonding with the pyridine unit to help preorganize[6] the receptor (Scheme 1). Binding measurements, by NMR titration and isothermal

Covalent modification of glassy carbon surface with organic redox probes through diamine linkers using electrochemical and solid-phase synthesis methodologies

Various mono-Boc-protected diamines have been covalently grafted to glassy carbon electrodes by electrochemical oxidation of the free amine. After deprotection of the Boc group, anthraquinone and nitrobenzene probes were coupled to the linkers using solid-phase coupling reactions. X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry were used to monitor the coupling efficiency, effect of linker length on the surface coverage and electron transfer between the attached redox probes and electrode. The anthraquinone surface coverage was found to decrease as the chain length of alkyl diamine linker increased and the electron transfer kinetics were found to be faster for the lower coverages and the longer, more flexible linkers. In the case of nitrobenzene, there was only a slightly change in coverage with increasing linker length. This electrochemical attachment of protected diamine linkers followed by solid-phase coupling provides a very versatile methodology for attaching a wide range of molecular architectures onto glassy carbon surfaces.

Covalent Tethering of Organic Functionality to the Surface of Glassy Carbon Electrodes by Using Electrochemical and Solid-Phase Synthesis Methodologies

Organic linkers such as (N-Boc-aminomethyl)phenyl (BocNHCH2C6H4) and N-Boc-ethylenediamine (Boc-EDA) have been covalently tethered onto a glassy carbon surface by employing electrochemical reduction of BocNHCH2C6H4 diazonium salt or oxidation of Boc-EDA. After removal of the Boc group, anthraquinone as a redox model was attached to the linker by a solid-phase coupling reaction. Grafting of anthraquinone to electrodes bearing a second spacer such as 4-(N-Boc-aminomethyl)benzoic acid or N-Boc-beta-alanine was also performed by following this methodology. The surface coverage, stability and electron transfer to/from the tethered anthraquinone redox group through the linkers were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The effects of pH and scan rate were studied, and the electron-transfer coefficient and rate constant were determined by using Lavirons equation for the different types of linker. The combination of electrochemical attachment of protected linkers and subsequent modifications under the conditions of solid-phase synthesis provides a very versatile methodology for tailoring a wide range of organic functional arrangements on a glassy carbon surface.

Microwave assisted free radical cyclisation of alkenyl and alkynyl isocyanides with thiols

Alkenyl and alkynyl isocyanides were synthesised and then reacted, using microwave flash-heating technology, with thiophenol, 2-mercaptoethanol and ethanethiol, in the presence of a radical initiator, to give highly functionalised pyrrolines and pyroglutamates. Direct comparison with results obtained using traditional heating techniques showed the advantage of using the microwave technology in terms of faster reactions and better yields.

Mass transport controlled oxygen reduction at anthraquinone modified 3D-CNT electrodes with immobilized Trametes hirsuta laccase

Carbon nanotubes covalently modified with anthraquinone were used as an electrode for the immobilization of Trametes hirsuta laccase. The adsorbed laccase is capable of oxygen reduction at a mass transport controlled rate (up to 3.5 mA cm(-2)) in the absence of a soluble mediator. The storage and operational stability of the electrode are excellent.

Synthesis of spirocycles by radical cyclisations of methylenecyclopropane derivatives

The radical cyclisations of methylenecyclopropane derivatives 8, 11, 12, 14 and 16 have been studied, and provide a route to spirocyclic systems.

Electrochemical and solid-phase synthetic modification of glassy carbon electrodes with dihydroxybenzene compounds and the electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH

We report the preparation, using electrochemical and solid-phase synthesis, and characterisation of a 26 member library of 13 dihydroxybenzene derivatives covalently attached to glassy carbon through ethylenediamine (EDA) and C(6)H(4)CH(2)NH linkers. First, Boc-protected EDA or Boc-NHCH(2)C(6)H(4) were electrochemically attached to the GC surface. After Boc-deprotection, dimethoxybenzoyl chlorides were coupled to the EDA and C(6)H(4)CH(2)NH linkers using solid-phase synthesis followed by deprotection of the methoxy groups to give the corresponding dihydroxybenzene compounds. Surface coverage and electrochemical parameters of the dihydroxybenzene modified electrodes were evaluated in parallel using cyclic voltammetry. The mid-peak potentials, E(mp), and surface coverages for the 13 dihydroxybenzene derivatives were found to be independent of the choice of linker. The mid-peak potentials of the immobilised dihydroxybenzene derivatives varied between 0.0 and 260 mV vs. SCE and their surface coverages varied between 0.07 and 1.1 nmol cm(-2), depending on the pattern of substitution of the dihydroxybenzene ring. The electrocatalytic activities of the library were evaluated for mediation of NADH oxidation, and the ortho-dihydroxybenzene derivatives were found to have higher catalytic activity.