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Biomedical subjects

Marc D Porter

Publications and source records attributed to Marc D Porter.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

High-speed electrochemically modulated liquid chromatography.

The performance advantages of carrying out electrochemically modulated liquid chromatography (EMLC) at elevated temperatures and mobile-phase flow rates are investigated. EMLC has the unique ability to manipulate analyte retention and enhance separation efficiencies through changes in the potential applied to a conductive stationary phase. Operation of high-performance liquid chromatography systems at elevated column temperatures also provides pathways to improve chromatographic performance by enhancing analyte diffusivity and facilitating the use of higher mobile-phase flow rates than conventionally attainable. The results show that performing EMLC separations at elevated temperatures (e.g., 100 degrees C) reduces the analysis time of a mixture of aromatic sulfonates in a mixed mobile phase by more than a factor of 20. Moreover, use of higher operating temperatures enables the separation of this mixture with an entirely aqueous mobile phase in less than 2 min.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Nanoparticle coding: size-based assays using atomic force microscopy.

Described herein is a novel strategy for the construction and interrogation of an assay platform based on (1) the size encoding of labeled nanoparticles; (2) the high imaging resolution of atomic force microscopy; and (3) evaporatively driven self-assembly of dense nanoparticle layers. This strategy employs two different sized nanoparticles that couple in the presence of a target analyte. In this example, one set of particles is a few hundred nanometers in size and acts as a capture substrate, while a second set of smaller particles serve as the analyte label. Thus, by forming an evaporatively assembled layer from a mixture of the two particle dispersions, the imaged size of the smaller particles when bound to the larger capture particles identifies the presence of the analyte. This letter demonstrates the feasibility of our bar-code strategy by concept tests using the binding specificity of biotin-modified silica nanoparticles (300-nm diameter) with streptavidin-labeled gold nanoparticles (10-nm diameter). The potential to extensively multiplex this assay strategy is briefly discussed.

Journal Article↗

Multiplexed colorimetric solid-phase extraction: determination of silver(I), nickel(II), and sample Ph.

This paper reports the design and ground-based testing of a multiplexed colorimetric solid-phase extraction (MC-SPE) platform for the rapid determination of multiple water quality parameters in a simple set of operational steps. Colorimetric solid-phase extraction (C-SPE) is an analytical platform that combines impregnated colorimetric reagents on a solid-phase extraction membrane and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to quantify trace analytes in water. In extending C-SPE to MC-SPE, a filter holder that incorporates discrete analysis channels and a jig that facilitates the concurrent operation of multiple syringes have been designed, enabling the simultaneous determination of three different measures of water quality. Separate, single-parameter membranes, placed in a readout cartridge create unique, parameter-specific addresses at the exit of each channel. Following sample exposure, the diffuse reflectance spectrum of each address is collected serially and the Kubelka-Munk function is used to quantify each water quality parameter via calibration curves. Performance evaluations of the MC-SPE platform were conducted using sample pH, silver(I), and nickel(II). Determinations of silver(I) (0.05-0.5 ppm) and nickel(II) (1.8-5.0 ppm) follow established C-SPE methods on reversed-phase extraction membranes using 5-(p-dimethylaminobenzylidene)rhodanine and dimethylglyoxime, respectively, as colorimetric reagents. Sample pH (2.5-5.0) is measured using an anion-exchange membrane impregnated with fluorescein. These determinations require approximately 120 s to complete using a total sample volume of 3.0 mL. The extension of MC-SPE to the determination of a greater number of analytes and its potential application to space and earth-bound monitoring needs are briefly discussed.

Journal Article↗

Novel biosensor chip for simultaneous detection of DNA-carcinogen adducts with low-temperature fluorescence.

A monoclonal antibody (MAb)-gold biosensor chip with low-temperature laser-induced fluorescence detection for analysis of DNA-carcinogen adducts is described. Optimization of the detection limit, dynamic range, and biosensing applicability of the MAb-gold biosensor chip was achieved by: (1) using dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate (DSP)) as a protein linker and (2) employing recombinant protein A to provide oriented immobilization of the MAbs. The use of DSP, which has a short methylene chain length, led to faster protein binding kinetics and higher protein surface density than a longer dithiobis(succinimidyl undecanoate) (DSU) linker. The incorporation of recombinant protein A increased the distance between the oriented MAb-bound analytes and the gold surface. The increased distance minimized fluorescence quenching, resulting in about a 10-fold increase in the fluorescence signal in comparison with a chip without protein A. The improved chip architecture was used to demonstrate that biosensing of two structurally similar benzo[a]pyrene (BP)-derived DNA adducts, BP-6-N7Gua and BP-diolepoxide-10-N2dG, bound to two specific MAbs immobilized from a mixture at the same address on the chip, is feasible. These mutagenic adducts are formed by one-electron oxidation and monooxygenation pathways, and are depurinating and stable DNA adducts, respectively. It is shown that the DNA adducts can be easily identified at the same address using time-resolved, low-temperature laser-based fluorescence spectroscopy. The current limit of detection is in the low femtomole range. These results indicate that a single biosensor chip consisting of a Au/DSP/protein A/MAb nano-assembly, with analyte-specific MAbs and low-temperature fluorescence detection should be suitable for simultaneous detection and quantitation of the above adducts, as well as the luminescent antigens for which selective MAbs exist.

Benzo(a)pyrene↗

Femtomolar detection of prostate-specific antigen: an immunoassay based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering and immunogold labels.

A novel reagent for low-level detection in immunoadsorbent assays is described. The reagent consists of gold nanoparticles modified to integrate bioselective species (e.g., antibodies) with molecular labels for the generation of intense, biolyte-selective surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) responses in immunoassays and other bioanalytical applications. The reagent is constructed by coating gold nanoparticles (30 nm) with a monolayer of an intrinsically strong Raman scatterer. These monolayer-level labels are bifunctional by design and contain disulfides for chemisorption to the nanoparticle surface and succinimides for coupling to the bioselective species. There are two important elements in this label design; it both minimizes the separation between label and particle surface and maximizes the number of labels on each particle. This approach to labeling also exploits several other advantages of SERS-based labels: narrow spectral bandwidth, resistance to photobleaching and quenching, and long-wavelength excitation of multiple labels with a single excitation source. The strengths of this strategy are demonstrated in the detection of free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) using a sandwich assay format based on monoclonal antibodies. Detection limits of approximately 1 pg/mL in human serum and approximately 4 pg/mL in bovine serum albumin have been achieved with a spectrometer readout time of 60 s. The extension of the method to multianalyte assays (e.g., the simultaneous determination of the many complexed forms of PSA) is discussed.

Animals↗

Rapid determination of ions by combined solid-phase extraction--diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.

We introduce colorimetric solid-phase extraction (C-SPE) for the rapid determination of selected ions. This new technique links the exhaustive concentration of an analyte by SPE onto a membrane disk surface for quantitative measurement with a hand-held diffuse reflectance spectrometer. The concentration/measurement procedure is complete in approximately 1 min and can be performed almost anywhere. This method has been used to monitor iodine and iodide in spacecraft water in the 0.1-5.0 ppm range and silver(I) in the range of 5.0-1000 microg/l. Applications to the trace analysis of copper(II), nickel(II), iron(III) and chromium(VI) are described. Studies on the mechanism of extraction showed that impregnation of the disk with a surfactant as well as a complexing reagent results in uptake of additional water, which markedly improves the extraction efficiency.

Cations↗

Thin films of block copolymer blends for enhanced performance of acoustic wave-based chemical sensors.

The performance of quartz crystal oscillator-based volatile organic compound (VOC) sensors has been enhanced by using coatings made from poly(styrene-block-ethylene-co-butylene-block-styrene) block copolymers blended with resins and homopolymers. Enhanced performance is characterized by a wider operational temperature range (-10 to +50 degrees C) over which the sensors displayed, concurrently, an analyte sensitivity of >0.2 Hz/ppm toluene, minimal energy loss (resistance <120 ohms), and response times of <20 min (time required to reach 90% of full response). Atomic force microscopy images are consistent with a process in which the additive associates with the polystyrene portions of the microphase-separated block copolymer. This association reinforces the rigidity of the polystyrene network while allowing the rapid uptake of VOCs by the softer polyethylene/butylene phase.

Air Pollutants↗

Micropatterned substrates: approach to probing intercellular communication pathways.

Intercellular signaling is critical for the normal development and physiology of the central nervous system (CNS). To study such signaling, it is vital to control where and when the cells make contact with one another. It is also important to determine whether the process used for cell localization has an impact on signaling. This paper describes a technique that controls the location for cell growth in vitro and demonstrates that the technique has minimal (if any) impact on intercellular signaling. By using photolithographic methods, poly(dimethylsiloxane) molds were fabricated to function as templates for micrometer-level patterning of a nonadhesive agar (agarose) onto glass coverslips coated with a cell adhesive film (poly(L-lysine)). This process yields a surface composed of well-defined adhesive and nonadhesive microdomains. When endothelia or astrocytes are plated onto these substrates, confluent domains of endothelia or astrocytes grow on the poly(L-lysine) domains. Cocultures of astrocytes and neurons can also successfully be used to form interwoven networks on the adhesive domains. Moreover, studies of calcium signaling revealed that astrocytes grown on such patterns retain their native physiological activity. This conclusion is based on the observed propagation rate for calcium waves within individual astrocyte domains and across neighboring, but spatially disconnected, astrocyte domains. The potential to apply these micropatterned substrates as platforms for interrogating communication pathways in key components of the CNS is discussed.

Astrocytes↗

Rapid, specific determination of iodine and iodide by combined solid-phase extraction/diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.

A new, rapid methodology for trace analysis using solid-phase extraction is described. The two-step methodology is based on the concentration of an analyte onto a membrane disk and on the determination by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy of the amount of analyte extracted on the disk surface. This method, which is adaptable to a wide range of analytes, has been used for monitoring ppm levels of iodine and iodide in spacecraft water. Iodine is used as a biocide in spacecraft water. For these determinations, a water sample is passed through a membrane disk by means of a 10-mL syringe that is attached to a disk holder assembly. The disk, which is a polystyrene-divinylbenzene composite, is impregnated with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), which exhaustively concentrates iodine as a yellow iodine-PVP complex. The amount of concentrated iodine is then determined in only 2 s by using a hand-held diffuse reflectance spectrometer by comparing the result with a calibration curve based on the Kubelka-Munk function. The same general procedure can be used to determine iodide levels after its facile and exhaustive oxidation to iodine by peroxymonosulfate (i.e., Oxone reagent). For samples containing both analytes, a two-step procedure can be used in which the iodide concentration is calculated from the difference in iodine levels before and after treatment of the sample with peroxymonosulfate. With this methodology, iodine and iodide levels in the 0.1-5.0 ppm range can be determined with a total workup time of approximately 60 s with a RSD of approximately 6%.

Colorimetry↗