Uichi Akiba

Development of electrochemical reporter assay using HeLa cells transfected with vector plasmids encoding various responsive elements

Electrochemical assay using HeLa cell lines transfected with various plasmid vectors encoding SEAP (secreted alkaline phosphatase) as the reporter has been performed by using SECM (scanning electrochemical microscopy). The plasmid vector contains different responsive elements that include GRE (glucocorticoid response elements), CRE (cAMP responsive elements), or kappaB (binding site for NFkappaB (nuclear factor kappa B)) upstream of the SEAP sequence. The transfected HeLa cells were patterned on a culture dish in a 4x4 array of circles of diameter 300 microm by using the PDMS (poly(dimethylsiloxane)) stencil technique. The cellular array was first exposed to 100 ng mL(-1) dexamethasone, 10 ng mL(-1) forskolin, or 100 ng mL(-1) TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor alpha) after which it was further cultured in an RPMI culture medium for 6 h. After incubation, the cellular array was soaked in a measuring solution containing 4.7 mM PAPP (p-aminophenylphosphate) at pH 9.5, following which electrochemical measurements were performed immediately within 40 min. The SECM method allows parallel evaluation of different cell lines transfected with pGRE-SEAP, pCRE-SEAP, and pNFkappaB-SEAP patterned on the same solid support for detection of the oxidation current of PAP (p-aminophenol) flux produced from only 300 HeLa cells in each stencil pattern. The results of the SECM method were highly sensitive as compared to those obtained from the conventional CL (chemiluminescence) protocol with at least 5x10(4) cells per well.

Channel structure for guest inclusion based on hexameric assembly of thiacalix[4]arene analogue

The generation of hexameric channels by self assembly of 5,11,17,23-tetrabromo-25,26,27,28-tetrapropoxythiacalix[4]arene (1) was successfully performed. The structure of the hexameric assembly (2) was provided by single crystal X-ray analysis, in which hydrogen bonding, π–π stacking interaction, S⋯H–C interaction and S–π interaction were recognized between base and adjoining thiacalix[4]arene stacking.

Highly selective separation and recovery of Pd(II) from the automotive catalyst residue with the thiocarbamoyl substituted azothiacalix[4]arene derivative

ABSTRACT New ligand, namely, 5, 11, 17, 23-tetrakis-((p-chlorophenyl) azo)-25,26,27,28-tetrakis ((dimethylthio carbamoyl)oxy) thiacalix[4]arene (CADTTCA), has been investigated for separation and recovery of Pd(II) through solvent extraction technique. Experimental parameters such as contact time, diluents, effect of H+ and Cl− concentration, and acid durability have been thoroughly investigated. The loading capacity toward Pd(II) was determined to be 113 mg/L using 0.25 mM CADTTCA. The extractant showed high selectivity and extractability for Pd(II) than the other metal ions present in automotive catalyst residue (ACR) solution containing platinum group (PGMs) metal ions (i.e., Pd(II), Pt(IV), Rh(II), La(III), Al(III) and Ce(III)). The recovery percentage of Pd(II) was 98% after five extraction-scrubbing-stripping cycles. The probable extraction mechanisms were established through the FT-IR spectral analysis.