Vu Thi Thu Ha

Square wave voltammetric detection of Anthrax utilizing a peptide for selective recognition of a protein biomarker

A short chain peptide (16mer) has been successfully utilized for the selective electrochemical detection of the protein biomarker, protective antigen (PA), for the diagnosis of Anthrax. The major motivation of using a peptide instead of an antibody for the development of a biosensor is that there are advantages associated with the smaller size, better biological stability and easy synthesizability of a peptide. PA-selective peptide was synthesized and conjugated on a binding layer previously immobilized onto gold electrode. The same sensing scheme using a conventional antibody instead of a peptide was also tested for the purpose of comparison. Since the size of the peptide is approximately 1-2 orders of magnitude smaller than that of the antibody, a more populated immobilization of peptide on the sensing layer is possible and will eventually lead to improved sensitivity for PA detection. The selectivity of the peptide-based sensor was evaluated by observing the reduction peaks of samples containing PA with different concentrations of bovine serum albumin (BSA). The resulting responses were interference-free from BSA. The results of this study demonstrate the strong analytical potential of a peptide-based biosensor for diverse applications, especially in disease diagnosis where detection of a specific protein biomarker is particularly demanding.

Spirally oriented Au microelectrode array sensor for detection of Hg (II)

A simple and reproducible carbon microelectrode array (CMA), designed to eliminate diffusive interference among the microelectrodes, has been fabricated and used as a frame to build a gold (Au) microelectrode array (GMA) sensor. To prepare the CMA initially, rather than use an uncontrollable large number of carbon fibers, only 60 carbon fibers of regular size were used to ensure manageable and reproducible arrangement for array construction. In addition, for efficient spatial arrangement of the microelectrode and easy sensor preparation, carbon fibers were oriented in a spiral fashion by rolling around a Cu wire. The distance between carbon fibers was carefully determined to avoid overlap among individual diffusion layers, one of the important factors governing steady-state current response and sensor-to-sensor reproducibility. After the preparation of a spirally arranged CMA, Au was electrochemically deposited on the surface of individual carbon electrodes to build a final GMA sensor. Then, the GMA sensor was used to measure Hg(2+) in a low concentration range. Simultaneously, multiple GMA sensors were independently prepared to examine reproducibility in sensor fabrication as well as electrochemical measurement (sensor-to-sensor reproducibility). Overall, highly sensitive detection of Hg(2+) was possible using the proposed GMA sensor due to efficient arrangement of microelectrodes and the sensor-to-sensor reproducibility was superior owing to simplicity in sensor fabrication.

Vascular L-Type Ca2+ Channel Blocking Activity of Sulfur-Containing Indole Alkaloids from Glycosmis petelotii

In the search for novel natural compounds endowed with potential antihypertensive activity, a new sulfur-containing indole alkaloid, N-demethylglypetelotine (2), and its known analogue glypetelotine (1), were isolated from the leaves of Glycosmis petelotii. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. The two alkaloids were assessed for vasorelaxing activity on rat aorta rings and for L-type Ba(2+) current [I(Ba(L))] blocking activity on single myocytes isolated from rat tail artery. Both glypetelotine and N-demethylglypetelotine inhibited phenylephrine-induced contraction with IC50 values of 20 and 50 μM, respectively. The presence of endothelium did not modify their spasmolytic effect. Neither glypetelotine nor N-demethylglypetelotine affected Ca(2+) release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum induced by phenylephrine. The spasmolytic effect of glypetelotine increased with membrane depolarization. In the presence of 60 mM K(+), both compounds inhibited, in a concentration-dependent manner, the contraction induced by cumulative addition of Ca(2+), this inhibition being inversely related to Ca(2+) concentration. Glypetelotine and, less efficiently N-demethylglypetelotine, inhibited I(Ba(L)), the former compound also affecting I(Ba(L)) kinetics. In conclusion, glypetelotine is a novel vasorelaxing agent which antagonizes L-type Ca(2+) channels.

Alkylphloroglucinol derivatives and triterpenoids with soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitory activity from Callistemon citrinus.

Phytochemical analysis of the leaves and stems of Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Skeels led to the isolation of two new alkylphloroglucinols, gallomyrtucommulone E and F (1 and 2), along with four other known alkylphloroglucinol derivatives, gallomyrtucommulone A (3), endoperoxide G3 (4), myrtucommulone B (5), callistenone B (6) and five known triterpenoids, including betulinic acid (7), 3β-acetylmorolic acid (8), 3β-hydroxy-urs-11-en-13(28)-olide (9), diospyrolide (10) and ursolic acid (11). The structures of the natural compounds were determined from the spectroscopic evidences including 1D-/2D-NMR and HR-MS spectrometry. All the isolated compounds were assessed for the effects on the sEH inhibitory activity. The acylphloroglucinols myrtucommulone B (5)/callistenone B (6) (in mixture), and two triterpenoids, ursolic acid (11) and 3β-hydroxy-urs-11-en-13(28)-olide (9) displayed strong inhibition of sEH activity, with IC50 values of 0.7, 11.2 and 24.8 μM, respectively.

Morinlongosides A-C, Two New Naphthalene Glycoside and a New Iridoid Glycoside from the Roots of Morinda longissima.

Two new naphthalene glycosides, morinlongosides A and B (1, 2) and a new iridoid glycoside, morinlongoside C (3), together with four known ones, geniposidic acid (4), (3R)-3-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-l-octen-3-ol (5), lucidin-3-O-β-primeveroside (6), and morindone-6-O-β-gentiobioside (7), were isolated from the roots of Morinda longissima Y. Z. RUAN. The structures of all isolated compounds (1-7) were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data (high resolution (HR)-MS, one and two dimensional (1/2D)-NMR).

Synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of 2-aza-anthraquinones

2-Aza-anthraquinones can be found in nature. Many of these azaanthraquinones derivatives have indeed been discovered to possess diverse and pronounced biological activities, including antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antiviral and anticancer properties. These compounds have been shown to be an intercalating agent to DNA. In continuation of our synthetic interest in physiologically active quinone derivatives, the present report describes the synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of 2-aza-anthraquinones. The biological assessment of all these compounds demonstrated a significant cytotoxic effect of 2-azaanthraquinones against different cancer cell lines.

Surface morphologies of gold nanoparticles electrodeposited on glassy carbon electrode and applicability in detection of Hg(II) at trace concentration

In the present study, we showed the variation of surface morphologies of gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) obtained by electrochemical method via controlling the electrochemical deposition time and stirring condition. The size in diameter of gold particles was not significantly changed with the variation of these conditions, whereas their surface coverage was strongly dependent. This behavior governed the enhancement of the peak current on the differential pulse voltammograms for reduction of Hg(II) bound to 4-pyridineethanethiolate self-assembled on gold particles through chemical preconcentration. This result clearly proves the applicability of the modified electrode in detection of Hg(II) at trace concentration. Keywords: Self-assembled monolayers, gold nanoparticles, 4-pyridineethanethiol.