Biomedical subjects

Braden C Giordano

Publications and source records attributed to Braden C Giordano.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Microchip-based macroporous silica sol-gel monolith for efficient isolation of DNA from clinical samples.

Effective microchip extraction of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from crude biological matrixes has been demonstrated using silica beads or hybrid phases composed of beads and sol-gel. However, the use of monolithic sol-gels alone for extraction of human genomic DNA has been more difficult to define. Here we describe, for the first time, the successful use of monolithic tetramethyl orthosilicate-based sol-gels for effective micro-solid-phase extraction (muSPE) of DNA in a glass microchip format. A functional monolithic silica phase with micrometer-scale pores in the silica matrix resulted from addition of poly(ethylene glycol), a poragen, to the precursor mixture. This allowed a monolithic sol-gel bed to be established in a microchip channel that provided large surface area for DNA extraction with little flow-induced back pressure. DNA extraction efficiencies for simple systems (lambda-phage DNA) were approximately 85%, while efficiencies for the reproducible extraction of human genomic DNA from complex biological matrixes (human blood) were approximately 70%. Blockage of the sol-gel pores by components in the lysed blood was observed in repeat extraction on a single device as a decrease in the extraction efficiency. The developed muSPE protocol was further evaluated to show applicability to clinical samples and bacterial cultures, through extraction of PCR-amplifiable DNA.

DNA↗

PubMed2006

Aptamer-based detection and quantitative analysis of ricin using affinity probe capillary electrophoresis.

The ability to detect sub-nanomolar concentrations of ricin using fluorescently tagged RNA aptamers is demonstrated. Aptamers rival the specificity of antibodies and have the power to simplify immunoassays using capillary electrophoresis. Under nonequilibrium conditions, a dissociation constant, Kd, of 134 nM has been monitored between the RNA aptamer and ricin A-chain. With use of this free-solution assay, the detection of 500 pM (approximately 14 ng/mL) or 7.1 amol of ricin is demonstrated. The presence of interfering proteins such as bovine serum albumin and casein do not inhibit this interaction at sub-nanomolar concentrations. When spiked with RNAse A, ricin can still be detected down to 1 nM concentrations despite severe aptamer degradation. This approach offers a promising method for the rapid, selective, and sensitive detection of biowarfare agents.

Aptamers, Nucleotide↗

PubMed2006

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography and capillary electrochromatography of nitroaromatic explosives in seawater.

The ability to separate nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives in seawater sample matrices is demonstrated using both MEKC and CEC. While several capillary-based separations exist for explosives, none address direct sampling from seawater, a sample matrix of particular interest in the detection of undersea mines. Direct comparisons are made between MEKC and CEC in terms of sensitivity and separation efficiency for the analysis of 14 explosives and explosive degradation products in seawater and diluted seawater. The use of high-salt stacking with MEKC results, on average, in a three-fold increase in the number of theoretical plates, and nearly double resolution for samples prepared in 25% seawater. By taking advantage of long injection times in conjunction with stacking, detection limits down to sub mg/L levels are attainable; however, resolution is sacrificed. CEC of explosive mixtures using sol-gels prepared from methyltrimethoxysilane does not perform as well as MEKC in terms of resolving power, but does permit extended injection times for concentrating analyte onto the head of the separation column with little or no subsequent loss in resolution. Electrokinetic injections of 8 min at high voltage allow for detection limits of explosives below 100 microg/L.

Borates↗

PubMed2006

Method for determining intracapillary solution temperatures: application to sample zone heating for enhanced fluorescent labeling of proteins.

A fundamental premise in CE relies heavily on the assumption that temperature within the capillary is accurately known and controlled. Theoretical calculations for sample zone and BGE temperature during voltage application are presented. We propose that transient elevation of the sample zone temperature allowed for denaturing and renaturing of proteins in the presence of a fluorescent dynamic labeling reagent. Comparison with the extent of labeling possible with standard on-column dynamic labeling in the absence of elevated temperatures showed order-of-magnitude increases in the fluorescence detection sensitivity of proteins with low surface hydrophobicity. As a result, this represents an example where excess heating in the sample zone during electrophoresis can be exploited advantageously.

Electrophoresis, Capillary↗

PubMed2006

Microchip-based CEC of nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives using silica-based sol-gel stationary phases from methyl- and ethyl-trimethoxysilane precursors.

Microchip-based CEC of nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives with UV absorbance detection is described. The stationary phase was deposited in the microchip using the sol-gel process. Unique to this work, is the exclusive use of alkylated-trimethoxysilane precursors in the gel solution. Using alkylated precursors allows for the synthesis of a hydrophobic stationary phase in a single step. Three sol-gel formulations of increasing hydrophobicity and suitable for the separation of explosives are established from methyl- and ethyl-trimethoxysilane precursors. Increasing the alkyl-chain length improved the resolution significantly, allowing for the separation of up to seven analytes. Direct injection onto the head of the stationary phase for long injection times, results in sub-mg/L detection limits with little effect on separation efficiency.

Aniline Compounds↗

PubMed2004

Microchip laser-induced fluorescence detection of proteins at submicrogram per milliliter levels mediated by dynamic labeling under pseudonative conditions.

We have previously demonstrated on-column dynamic labeling of protein-SDS complexes on capillaries and microchips for laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection using both a commercially available fluor and a protein separation buffer. Upon binding to hydrophobic moieties (of the analyte or separation buffer), the fluor undergoes a conformational change allowing fluorescence detection at 590 nm following excitation with 488-nm light. Our original work showed on-chip limits of detection (LOD) comparable with those using UV detection (1 x 10(-5) M) on capillaries-falling significantly short of the detection limits expected for LIF. This was largely a function of the physicochemical characteristics of the separation buffer components, which provided significant background fluorescence. Having defined the contributing factors involved, a new separation buffer was produced which reduced the background fluorescence and, consequently, increased the available dye for binding to protein-SDS complexes, improving the sensitivity in both capillaries and microchips by at least 2 orders of magnitude. The outcome is a rapid, sensitive method for protein sizing and quantitation applicable to both capillary and microchip separations with a LOD of 500 ng/mL for bovine serum albumin. Interestingly, sensitivity on microdevices was improved by inclusion of the dye in the sample matrix, while addition of dye to samples in conventional CE resulted in a drastic reduction in sensitivity and resolution. This can be explained by the differences in the injection schemes used in the two systems. The linear range for protein quantitation covered at least 2 orders of magnitude in microchip applications. On-chip analysis of human sera allowed abnormalities, specifically the presence of elevated levels of gamma-globulins, to be determined.

Blood Proteins↗

PubMed2003

Microchip-based purification of DNA from biological samples.

A microchip solid-phase extraction method for purification of DNA from biological samples, such as blood, is demonstrated. Silica beads were packed into glass microchips and the beads immobilized with sol-gel to provide a stable and reproducible solid phase onto which DNA could be adsorbed. Optimization of the DNA loading conditions established a higher DNA recovery at pH 6.1 than 7.6. This lower pH also allowed for the flow rate to be increased, resulting in a decrease in extraction time from 25 min to less than 15 min. Using this procedure, template genomic DNA from human whole blood was purified on the microchip platform with the only sample preparation being mixing of the blood with load buffer prior to loading on the microchip device. Comparison between the microchip SPE (microchipSPE) procedure and a commercial microcentrifuge method showed comparable amounts of PCR-amplifiable DNA could be isolated from cultures of Salmonella typhimurium. The greatest potential of the microchipSPE device was illustrated by purifying DNA from spores from the vaccine strain of Bacillus anthracis, where eventual integration of SPE, PCR, and separation on a single microdevice could potentially enable complete detection of the infectious agent in less than 30 min.

Adsorption↗