A New Generation Colorimetric Method for Lead Analysis: APTAMER MODIFIED GOLD NANOPARTICLES
Lead is a toxic element which is used in the production of chemicals, dyes, accumulators and various industrial areas. It may cause complications even extended to death when it is taken consistently in high amounts. Lead poisoning is in the first place among the occupational diseases. It is gaining importance to develop new and sensitive methods for lead analysis. Because lead poisoning can progress without any symptoms and poisoning level (10µg/dL) is low. Disadvantages of the systems used for lead analysis are such as longer detection time, being expensive and difficult to implement. The aim of this project is to develop a new generation method in order to detect lead in blood, based on aptamer modified gold nanoparticles. We detected the lead in terms of color change obtained in gold nanoparticle solutions, with composite biochemosensor that is prepared with 20 & 80 nm sized gold nanoparticles and TBA(Thrombin Binding Aptamer). While immobilizing TBA to the gold nanoparticles, we benefitted from the magnificent surface affinity of the –SH (Thiol) groups that modified to the TBA. Gold nanoparticles that are used in development of our biotechnological method do not stimulate the immune system. The preparation of aptamers in completely sterile medium provides us to use our system in the lead detection of blood. Our method can also be used in the lead detection of mediums such as waste water, food and soil. We have developed a biochemosensor that can be used to detect the presence and absence of Pb2+ by taking into consideration the toxic effect in the human body. Also we detected the presence of lead colorimetrically, in low concentration levels and wide interval values of 4.4 – 11 µg/dL. The developed system is first that; it provides TBA to be used with its complimentary sequence detects the presence of lead colorimetrically and can be used in physiological media such as blood. Also our system can detect lead in amounts that are lower than the poisoning threshold.
Interaction of the unsaturated sulfones with azinium ylides
1. Introduction In Japan the energy self-efficiency is very low: only 6%. Hydrogen (H2) has been expected as a new and alternative energy source to imported one, such as petroleum resources. Now hydrogen energy comes into the practical use in the field of the fuel cell. Hydrogen must be extracted from other sources, for example, water, fossil fuel, and so on. Hydrogen is obtained from water by using electronic or thermal or photo energy in most cases, whereas it is well-known that hydrogen is given by the oxidation reaction of silicon in alkaline aqueous solution: Si + 2OH- + H2O → SiO32- + 2H2 Free silicon (Si) is not only used in the steel refining, aluminum-casting in the field of fine chemical industries but also is used as a material in semiconductor electronics. However, a lot of used silicon is thrown away as a waste, being not reused and recycled. In this study we try to apply a waste silicon to obtain hydrogen based on the above reaction. The purpose of the study is to develop a safe and convenient manufacturing method to generate hydrogen for an energy source of the fuel cell.
An investigation of the inhibitory potential of Dronedarone on CYP2J2 mediated astemizole metabolism
Dronedarone is an anti-arrhythmic drug approved in 2009 for paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation. It is less toxic than its predecessor Amiodarone as it does not cause systemic toxicity but has the same pharmacological activity. However the administration of dronedarone to permanent AF and heart failure patients leads to increased risk of stroke and cardiac death. The exact mechanism of the toxicity is currently unknown. Extrahepatic Cytochrome P450 enzymes play a dominant role in organ-specific drug metabolism and toxicity. Cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP2J2) enzyme, a predominant enzyme found in human cardiac myocytes, metabolizes endogenous arachidonic acid (AA) into epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) which play an important role in maintaining normal cardiac physiology. Inhibition of CYP2J2 and perturbation of AA metabolic pathway could result in exacerbation of cardiac failure. This research aims to find out whether dronedarone inhibits CYP2J2 in a suitable cell model (H9C2) using astemizole as a probe substrate. Our in-house studies using recombinant CYP2J2 enzyme have shown that dronedarone potently inhibits CYP2J2. Rat myoblast cells (H9C2) will be seeded in 12-well plate and differentiated for 4 days. The cells will be then treated with different concentrations of astemizole and incubated for 24 h. The cells will then be harvested, lysed, and the cell lysate will be analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS). Using multi-reaction monitoring (MRM) on the LCMS, astemizole concentration as well as its CYP2J2-specific metabolite O-desmethylastemizole concentrations will be measured. The presence of O-desmethylastemizole confirms the metabolism of astemizole by CYP2J2 in H9C2 cells. By plotting a Michaelis-Menten kinetics curve, we will be able to determine the Michaelis constant (KM) and maximum rate of reaction (Vmax). H9C2 cells will be then treated with fixed concentration of astemizole while varying the dronedarone concentration. A decrease in metabolite O-desmethylastemizole conce ntration, indicates inhibition of CYP2J2 metabolism by dronedarone. Using this data, Lineweaver-Burke graph will be plotted, to determine the mode and potency of the inhibition. Our preliminary studies showed that the KM value was 2.7μM. This study will be useful in understanding if dronedarone inhibits CYP2J2 which may lead to clinically significant drug-drug interactions, one of the dangers of polypharmacy. Finally this study will shed a new light on the mechanisms for dronedarone mediated cardiac failure exacerbation.
An optimal-route algorithm for an intermodal Metro Manila trip planners using multiple parameters
Parameters of traffic, road availability, and fare were integrated into a web-based application for determining the best public transport routes within Metro Manila in order to assist commuters in their travel planning, whether for business or for pleasure. A user-friendly interface was developed to obtain a user’s place of origin and destination, as well as preferences in travel time, mode of transportation, and cost of journey. By accessing the traffic roadway network of the metropolis, a real-time situation of road availability was obtained, and used in a modified Dijkstra’s shortest-path algorithm to produce a model of a real-time adaptive transport network of Metro Manila. From the model, an optimal route that considers the user’s preferences can be determined. This project will be immensely useful in helping both businessmen and tourists in planning their routes that will save on time and money.
Biodegrable Roof
It became necessary to implement a project for the use of vegetable waste generated in the process of handling plantain cultivation, harvest and postharvest, since in Mexico at harvest large quantities of vegetable waste is produced, since only the fruit is used wasting the Pseudostem with leaves and spine. Based on this information, you can take advantage of banana fiber as raw materials in the manufacture of biodegradable sheets and support options that are feasible and possible to make alternative. This is an inexpensive process, also friendly with the environment, so that thousands of banana plants that bear fruit after they become sterile and are discarded without realizing their Pseudostem.