Nicolae Leopold

Quantification of carbohydrates in fruit juices using FTIR spectroscopy and multivariate analysis

A combination of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and multivariate statistics was applied as screening tool for the quantitative determination of carbohydrates, such as glucose, fructose and sucrose, in 28 processed commercial fruit juices and 5 genuine juices obtained from squeezed fruits. A number of 13 mixtures of glucose, fructose and sucrose standard solutions were prepared at different concentrations, scanned by attenuated total reflectance (ATR) FTIR spectroscopy and analyzed in the 900 and 1400 cm−1 spectral range. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the standard carbohydrate solutions enabled a better understanding of the main sources of variability affecting the FTIR spectra. Also, PCA enabled the grouping of apple, orange and peach juices. Calibration models for each carbohydrate, using partial least squares (PLS) regression were developed and used for prediction purposes. Cross-validation procedures indicated correlations of 0.88, 0.92 and 0.98 for glucose, fructose and sucrose, respectively, between HPLC measured values and FTIR first derivative spectra estimates. Carbohydrates in the expected concentration ranges were found for most of the pure fruit labelled juices. The samples with 4–50% pure fruit juice content showed discrepancies from average concentration values of authentic juices, mainly a high sucrose concentration can flag sucrose addition to maintain the juice sweetness intensity. The present results confirmed the efficiency of FTIR spectroscopy, in combination with multivariate statistics, as a rapid, reliable and cost-effective tool for routine monitoring of multiple constituents in fruit juices, as quality indicators.

Vibrational spectroscopy of betulinic acid HIV inhibitor and of its birch bark natural source

Raman and IR spectra of betulinic acid (BA) (3beta-hydroxy-20(19) lupaen-28 oic acid) and of the natural birch bark have been successfully recorded and discussed. A high selectivity of the Raman technique was remarked for evidencing the betulin in the birch bark. Surface enhanced Raman spectrum (SERS) of BA on colloidal silver has been obtained. The presence and shifting of the symmetric stretching mode of the COO group in the SERS spectrum suggests a chemisorption of the steroid structure on the metallic particles.

SERS and DFT investigation of 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol and its metal complexes with Al(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II)

The development of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) as a prospective analytical methodology for detection of metal ions was shown in recent years by several studies on metal complexes. In this work, 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) and its Al(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II) complexes were studied by FTIR, FT-Raman and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopies. Molecular geometry optimization, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) distribution and vibrational frequencies calculations were performed using the hybrid B3LYP exchange-correlation functional for the PAN molecule and its bidentate complexes. The calculated MEP distributions indicated the atoms with highest electronegativity, the adsorption to the silver surface occurring through these atoms. Based on experimental and theoretical data we were able to identify unique and representative features, useful for the identification of each PAN-metal complex.

IR absorption and reflectometric interference spectroscopy (RIfS) combined to a new sensing approach for gas analytes absorbed into thin polymer films.

Hydrophobic polymer layers (3 microm) were spin-coated on Si or Ge plates and placed in a flow through gas chamber. FTIR reflection spectra of the layers were recorded showing the characteristic IR absorption bands of the polymer and the interference pattern generated by layered structure of the polymer film. Upon exposure of the polymer layer to gaseous analytes enrichment in the polymer film occurred. This was evidenced by the appearance of analyte specific absorption particular in the mid-IR part of the spectrum, as well as by a shift in the interference pattern across the whole spectrum. Qualitative information concerning the analyte was accessible in the mid-IR part of the spectrum, whereas quantitative assessment was obtained from the interference pattern. Polyetherurethane, polydimethylsiloxane, Makrolon and polyisobutylene polymer layers were tested for such IR-RIfS measurements, whereas toluene, o-dichlorobenzene, m-xylene, ethyl acetate and cyclohexane were employed as analytes. There was no influence of water vapour neither on the IR absorptions nor the interference pattern as hydrophobic polymers were used.

Raman and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of tempyo spin labelled ovalbumin

Abstract Tempyo labelled ovalbumin at different pH values was prepared and investigated using Raman and SERS spectroscopy. Raman spectra of tempyo labelled ovalbumin in the pH range from 6.7 to 11 were compared to those of the corresponding free ovalbumin. In the basic pH range from 6.7 to 11 the molecular conformation was found to be unaffected by the tempyo presence. Adsorption versatility to the colloidal Ag particles of pure- and tempyo labelled ovalbumin was also found to be unchanged in this basic pH range. As the SERS binding site of protein the α-helix conformation is favourable.

Comparison of the in Vitro Uptake and Toxicity of Collagen- and Synthetic Polymer-Coated Gold Nanoparticles

We studied the physico-chemical properties (size, shape, zeta-potential), cellular internalization and toxicity of gold nanoparticles (NPs) stabilized with the most abundant mammalian protein, collagen. The properties of these gold NPs were compared to the same sized gold NPs coated with synthetic poly(isobutylene-alt-maleic anhydride) (PMA). Intracellular uptake and cytotoxicity were assessed in two cell lines (cervical carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma cells) by employing inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis and a cell viability assay based on 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), respectively. We found that the collagen-coated gold NPs exhibit lower cytotoxicity, but higher uptake levels than PMA-coated gold NPs. These results demonstrate that the surface coating of Au NPs plays a decisive role in their biocompatibility.

Prediction of Total Antioxidant Capacity of Fruit Juices Using FTIR Spectroscopy and PLS Regression

The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of 23 fruit juice samples was determined using the TEAC assay, and also, it was predicted by FTIR–PLS, the plot of measured and predicted values showing a good correlation (R = 0.97). Thus, FTIR spectroscopy is a promissory technique for rapid screening of TAC of fruit juices.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering and DFT investigation of Eriochrome Black T metal chelating compound.

The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of Eriochrome Black T (EBT) and its Cu(II), Fe(III), Mn(II) and Pb(II) complexes were recorded using a hydroxylamine reduced silver colloid. Molecular geometry optimization, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) distribution and vibrational frequencies calculation were performed at B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory for the EBT molecule and its Cu(EBT), Fe(EBT) and Mn(EBT) metal complexes. Differentiation between EBT complexes of Cu(II), Fe(III), Mn(II) and Pb(II) is shown by the SERS spectral features of each complex.

Diversity and Biomineralization Potential of the Epilithic Bacterial Communities Inhabiting the Oldest Public Stone Monument of Cluj-Napoca (Transylvania, Romania)

In this study, we investigated the biomineralization potential and diversity of the epilithic bacterial communities dwelling on the limestone statue of Saint Donatus, the oldest public monument of Cluj-Napoca city (Transylvania region, NW Romania). Their spatial distribution together with phylogenetic and metabolic diversity, as well as their capacity to precipitate calcium carbonate was evaluated by combining molecular and phenotypic fingerprinting methods with X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron-microscopy analyses. The results of real-time quantitative PCR, molecular fingerprinting and community-level physiological profiling showed that diverse and abundant bacterial assemblages that differ in relation to their collection site colonized the statue. The cultivation and molecular identification procedures allowed the characterization of 79 bacterial isolates belonging to Proteobacteria (73.4%), Firmicutes (19%), and Actinobacteria (7.6%). Amongst them, the 22 strains identified as being capable of calcium carbonate precipitation were found to belong mostly to Bacillus and Pseudomonas genera. We found that bacteria acted as nucleation sites, inducing the formation of nanoscale aggregates that were shown to be principally composed of vaterite. Furthermore, we expanded the current knowledge on culturable diversity of carbonatogenic bacteria by providing evidence for biogenic vaterite/calcite formation mediated by: Pseudomonas synxantha, P. graminis, Brevibacterium iodinum, Streptomyces albidoflavus, and Stenotrophomonas chelatiphaga. Overall, this study highlights the need to evaluate the carbonatogenetic potential of all the bacterial communities present on stone artwork prior to designing an efficient conservation treatment based on biomineralization.

Surface-enhanced Raman and DFT study on zidovudine

This work presents a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and density functional theory (DFT) study on neutral and deprotonated molecular forms of zidovudine. A pKa value of 9.55 was found for this compound, the deprotonation occurring at the imide nitrogen of the pyrimidine ring. The characteristic bands of the SERS spectra were assigned considering both, the calculated vibrational wavenumbers and Raman intensity pattern. The adsorption geometry on the silver surface of zidovudine was derived based on the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) and the selective Raman bands enhancement.