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As a part of our objective to build an immunosensor for the detection of the pesticide atrazine (ATZ) in environmental samples, we studied the self-assembling process of the disulfide derivative of the pesticide atrazine on a gold substrate. Atrazine-based self-assembled monolayers were characterized by ellipsometry, scanning tunneling microscopy, polarization-modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM IRRAS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements. Two different time constants for the adsorption process were observed, depending on the experimental method used. The QCM data reflect adsorption kinetics of the original disulfide compound, whereas ellipsometry and ex situ PM IRRAS refer to the formation of thiolate (ATZS) monolayers. In situ QCM data demonstrated the suitability of such monolayers for the detection of atrazine in aqueous samples. Exposure of the ATZS sensing surface to an anti-atrazine antibody (anti-ATZ IgG) resulted in complete coverage of the surface by antibody, whereas approximately half of the antibody molecules were displaced from the QCM sensor surface by further addition of atrazine into the solution.

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Single-molecule conductance in a series of extended viologen molecules was measured at room temperature using a gold-molecule-gold scanning tunneling microscopy break junction arrangement. Conductance values for individual molecules change from 4.8 ± 1.2 nS for the shortest compound to 2.9 ± 1.0 nS for the compound with six repeating units and length of 11 nm. The latter value is almost 3 orders of magnitude higher than that reported for all-carbon-based aromatic molecular wires of comparable length. On the basis of the length of the molecules, an attenuation factor of only 0.06 ± 0.004 nm(-1) (0.006 ± 0.0004 Å(-1)) was obtained. To the best of our knowledge, this is the smallest value reported for the conductance attenuation in a series of molecular wires.

RESUMEN

The natural flavonoid compounds quercetin (3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) and luteolin (3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone) are important bioactive compounds with antioxidative, anti-allergic, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, both are unstable when exposed to atmospheric oxygen, which causes degradation and complicates their analytical determinations. The oxidative change of these flavonoids was observed and followed by UV-visible spectrophotometry, both in aqueous and ethanolic solutions. The distribution of the degradation products in aqueous media was monitored by LC-MS and LC-DAD analysis. The amounts of oxidative reaction products increase with the exposure time. The oxidative degradation reduces the pharmacological efficiency of these antioxidants and renders analytical determination inaccurate. The oxidative changes in flavonoid test solutions can explain the inconsistent dissociation constants reported in the literature. Dissociation constants of quercetin and luteolin were determined both by alkalimetric titration and by UV-visible spectrophotometry under deaerated conditions. The values pK(1) = 5.87 ± 0.14 and pK(2) = 8.48 ± 0.09 for quercetin, and pK(1) = 5.99 ± 0.32 and pK(2) = 8.40 ± 0.42 for luteolin were found.

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A transfer of fullerene C(60) to water was achieved by sonication of a two-phase system of water and C(60) in organic solvents, namely, benzene and toluene. Resulting aqueous dispersions were analyzed electrochemically, spectroscopically, by MALDI-MS and AFM methods. Samples prepared from benzene yield the formal redox potential very close to a value expected from the correlation of redox potentials and solvent donor numbers. However, these samples are not stable and C(60) precipitates out of the aqueous dispersion. Sonication of the toluene/water system produces stable system, in which the measured formal redox potential of C(60) is less negative. Stabilization of C(60) clusters in water is achieved by the presence of an organic amphiphile and spectroscopic methods indicate the presence of benzoate formed during sonication of a toluene/water mixture.

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Cytotoxic properties of radiosensitizers are due to the fact that, in the metabolic pathway, these compounds undergo one-electron reduction to generate radical anions. In this study we focused our interest on the electrochemical transfer of the first electron on radiosensitizer Etanidazole (ETN) and, consequently, on the ETN radical-anion formation in the buffered aqueous media. ETN was electrochemically treated in the broad pH range at various scan rates. Three reduction peaks and one oxidation peak were found. At strong alkaline pH the four-electron reduction peak was separated into one-electron and three-electron reductions. Under these conditions the standard rate constant k(0) for the redox couple ETN-NO(2)+e(-) <--> ETN-NO(2)(*-) was calculated. Moreover, the value of a so called E(7)(1) potential that accounts for the energy necessary to transfer the first electron to an electroactive group at pH=7 in aqueous medium to form a radical anion was also determined. The obtained value of E(7)(1) indicates that lower energy compared to the other possible chemical radiosensitizers is necessary for the system to transfer the first electron to ETN. On the other hand, the necessity of the strong alkaline pH may decrease the ability of ETN to act as hypoxic radiosensitizer in the human body.

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We report on an electrochemical conversion of N2 to NH3 at ambient pressure and 60 degrees C, which is mediated by reduced C(60) inside the molecular cavity of gamma-cyclodextrin.