Electrochemical preparation of silver nanostructure on the planar surface for application in metal-enhanced fluorescence

We introduce a fast and simple method, named the potentiostatic electrodeposition technique, to deposit metal particles on the planar surface for application in metal-enhanced fluorescence. The as-prepared metallic surfaces were comprised of silver nanostructures and displayed a relatively homogeneous morphology. Atomic force microscopy and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy were used to characterize the growth process of the silver nanostructures on the indium tin oxide (ITO) surfaces. A typical 20-fold enhancement in the intensity of a nearby fluorophore, [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+), could be achieved on the silvered surfaces. In addition, the photostability of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) was found to be greatly increased due to the modification of the radiative decay rate of the fluorophore. It is expected that this electrochemical approach to fabricating nanostructured metallic surfaces can be further utilized in enhanced fluorescence-based applications.

Bimolecular quadruplexes and their transitions to higher-order molecular structures detected by ESI-FTICR-MS

Four individual quadruplexes, which are self-assembled in ammonium acetate solution from telomeric sequences of closely related DNA strands - d(G(4)T(4)G(4)), d(G(3)T(4)G(4)), d(G(3)T(4)G(3)), and d(G(4)T(4)G(3)) - have been detected in the gas phase using electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICR-MS). The bimolecular quadruplexes associate with the same number of NH4+ in the gas phase as NMR shows that they do in solution. The quadruplex structures formed in solution are maintained in the gas phase. Furthermore, the mass spectra show that the bimolecular quadruplexes generated by the strands d(G(3)T(4)G(3)) and d(G(4)T(4)G(3)) are unstable, being converted into trimolecular and tetramolecular structures with increasing concentrations of NH4+ in the solution. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra reveal structural changes during the process of strand stoichiometric transitions, in which the relative orientation of strands in the quadruplexes changes from an antiparallel to a parallel arrangement. Such changes were observed for the strand d(G(4)T(4)G(3)), but not for the strand d(G(3)T(4)G(3)). The present work provides a significant insight into the formation of various DNA quadruplexes, especially the higher-order species.

Synthesis of CdTe nanocrystals using Te nanorods as the Te source and the formation of microtubes with red fluorescence

Here, we report an alternative route to the preparation of highly luminescent CdTe nanocrystals (NCs) using Te nanorods instead of freshly prepared NaHTe as the Te source via a one-pot route under hydrothermal conditions. Furthermore, microtubes with red fluorescence were generated via simply aging the above CdTe NC suspension under ambient conditions.

Molecular "Wiring" glucose oxidase in supramolecular architecture

Supramolecular organized multilayers were constructed by multiwalled carbon nanotubes modified with ferrocene-derivatized poly(allylamine) redox polymer and glucose oxidase by electrostatic self-assembly. From the analysis of voltammetric signals and fluorescence results, a linear increment of the coverage of enzyme per bilayer was estimated, which demonstrated that the multilayer is constructed in a spatially ordered manner. The cyclic voltammograms obtained from the indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes coated by the (Fc-PAH@CNT/GOx)(n) multilayers revealed that bioelectrocatalytic response is directly correlated to the number of deposited bilayers; that is, the sensitivity is tunable by controlling the number of bilayers associated with ITO electrodes. The incorporation of redox-polymer-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNT) into enzyme films resulted in a 6-10-fold increase in the glucose electrocatalytic current; the bimolecular rate constant of FADH(2) oxidation (wiring efficiency) was increased up to 12-fold. Impedance spectroscopy data have yielded the electron diffusion coefficient (D-e) of this nanostructure to be over 10(-8) cm(2) s(-1), which is typically higher than those systems without CNT by at least a factor of 10, indicating that electron transport in the new supramolecular architecture was enhanced by communication of the redox active site of enzyme, redox polymer, and CNT.

Synthesis and characterization of Tb3+ trimesic acid fluorescence system

The luminescent complex of Tb3+-trimesic acid was synthesized in an alcohol and water mixed solvent. The chemical components of the complex TbL.5H(2)O was characterized by the element analysis, thermal analysis and FTIR. The results of the XRD patterns and SEM photographs indicate that the complex is composed of a lot of bar-shaped crystal grain with 5 similar to 10 mum long. The results of the photoluminescence show that the complex emitted the characteristic green fluorescence of Tb3+.

Investigation on preparation and fluorescence properties of oxy-fluoride glass co-doped with Er3+ and Yb3+

The glass sample based on the composition of 45PbF(2)-45GeO(2)-10WO(3) co-doped with Yb3+/Er3+ was prepared by the fusion method in two steps: melted at 950 degreesC for 20 similar to 25 min then annealed at 380 degreesC for 4 h. Through the V-prism it is found that the refractive index of host glass and the sample are 1.517 and 1.65 respectively. The transmittance was observed by using the ultraviolet-visible-infrared spectrometer in the wavelength range from 0.35 to 2.5mum. The transmittaitce of the host glass is beyond 73%. That of the sample is beyond 50% and there are characteristic absorption peaks of rare-earth ions. The emission spectrum was measured by using the Hitachi F-4500 fluorescent spectrometer pumped by 980 nm semiconductor laser. There are a strong emission peak at 530 nm and a weak peak at 650 nm.

Synthesis and fluorescence of europium-doped barium fluoride cubic nanocolumns

Europium-doped barium fluoride cubic nanocolumns were synthesized from the quaternary water in oil reverse microemulsions In this process, the aqueous cores of water/cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)/n-butanol/n-octane reverse microemulsions were used as microreactors for the precipitation of europium doped barium fluoride. XRD analysis shows that under the dopant concentration of 0.06% (molar fraction), the products are single phase. The result products are cubic column-like with about 30 similar to 50 nm edge length of cross section, and about 200 nm of length obtained from the transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Under the 0.06 % (molar fraction) of dopant concentration I the fluorescence of Eu2+ and Eu3+ under the 589 of excitation wavelength is observed.

Synthesis and fluorescence properties of Eu2+-doped KMgF3 nanoparticles

The phase diagram of a cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide( CTAB)/n-butanol/n-octane/KNO3-Mg( NO3)(2) system was drawn. Nanoparticles of Eu2+-doped KMgF3 were prepared from the quaternary microemulsions of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide(CTAB), n-butanol, n-octane and water. The X-ray diffraction(XRD) patterns were indexed to a pure KMgF3 cubic phase. The environmental scanning electron microscopic (ESEM) images show the presence of spherical Eu2+-doped KMgF3 nanoparticles with a diameter of ca. 20 nm. The emission of KMgF3: Eu2+ nanoparticles peaks at 360 mn. The excitation band was observed at 250 nm with a blue shift of ca. 70 nm compared with that of KMgF3: Eu2+ single crystal. The preparation method of nano-KMgF3: Eu2+/PMMA composite films was inquired into.

Synthesis and characterization of a time-resolved fluorescence analysis chelate reagent-BCPDA

In this paper, we report on a solid phase time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay chelate reagent-4,7-bis(chlorosulfophenyl)1, 10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylic acid (BCPDA), which is suitable as a fluorescent labeling agent. The five step synthesis product of BCPDA was presented for improving the purity of the product based on the three step synthesis product. The approach involves chlorization, hydrolyzing the ester, preparing disodium, carboxylate to diacid, sulfonation. The yield of five step product is 99 %, 45 %, 94 %, 95 %, 80 % respectively. The structure and purity of product was characterized by the melting point, IR,H-1 NMR, UV spectrum, element analysis, and proved to be consistent with the structure predictal.

Study on photochemical fluorescence enhancement of terbium-fleroxacin complex

The sensitized fluorescence intensity of terbium ion can be notably enhanced when the Tb3+-fleroxacin complex is exposed to 365 nm light. By the measurements of fluorescence spectra, phosphorescence spectra, fluorescence quantum yield and fluorescence lifetime of the system, it is proved that irradiation makes the complex undergo a photochemical reaction and produces a new terbium complex which is more favorable to intramolecular energy transfer. The mechanism of the photochemical fluorescence enhancement was discussed.

The LB films of dansyl chloride labeled octadecylamine and its fluorescence lifetime

Octadecylamine was derivatized with dansyl chloride (5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl chloride) In order to simplify and understand the LB films of fluorescent probe labeling proteins. its monolayer and multilayers in the absence and presence of stearic acid were deposited by LB technique. Fluorescence spectra and lifetimes of the fluorescent products were studied to elucidate the microenvironment of molecules in the LB films.