Themed collection Analytical Sciences in the UK
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An overview of recent developments in the analytical detection of new psychoactive substances (NPSs)
New psychoactive substances (NPSs) are a class of compounds that have been recently made available for abuse. Following an unprecedented increase in the number of NPSs in the last 5 years this mini-review overviews this recent emerging research area and the analytical approaches reported.
Analyst, 2015,140, 4932-4948
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5AN00797F
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Nano-enabled bioanalytical approaches to ultrasensitive detection of low abundance single nucleotide polymorphisms
A survey of the recent, significant developments on nanomaterials enabled ultrasensitive DNA and gene mutation assays is presented.
Analyst, 2015,140, 3872-3887
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02304H
A short review of applications of liquid chromatography mass spectrometry based metabolomics techniques to the analysis of human urine
Mass spectrometry based metabolomics profiling.
Analyst, 2015,140, 2907-2915
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02294G
The in vitro identification and quantification of volatile biomarkers released by cystic fibrosis pathogens
The in vitro identification of volatile biomarkers is the first stage in the development of an exhaled breath test for the identification of a cystic fibrosis pathogen.
Anal. Methods, 2015,7, 818-824
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AY02981J
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Chemical analysis of multicellular tumour spheroids
Analytical chemistry applied to 3D tissue culture models.
Analyst, 2015,140, 3910-3920
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5AN00524H
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Calculation of Raman optical activity spectra for vibrational analysis
This review provides the necessary knowledge to accurately model ROA spectra of solvated systems and interpret their vibrational characteristics.
Analyst, 2015,140, 2944-2956
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02357A
Glyconanoparticles for colorimetric bioassays
This tutorial review focusses on the design and application of glyconanoparticles for the colorimetric detection of lectins, toxins and viruses.
Analyst, 2015,140, 59-70
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN01466A
Solution-based nanosensors for in-field detection with the naked eye
Nanomaterials are revolutionising analytical applications with low-cost tests that enable detecting a target molecule in a few steps and with the naked eye.
Analyst, 2015,140, 3308-3317
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02297A
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SIFT-MS and FA-MS methods for ambient gas phase analysis: developments and applications in the UK
The origins of SIFT created to study interstellar chemistry and SIFT-MS developed for ambient gas and exhaled breath analysis and the UK centres in which these techniques are being exploited.
Analyst, 2015,140, 2573-2591
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02049A
Vibrational spectroscopic methods for cytology and cellular research
The use of vibrational spectroscopy, FTIR and Raman, for cytology and cellular research has the potential to revolutionise the approach to cellular analysis.
Analyst, 2014,139, 4411-4444
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN00636D
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High resolution Raman spectroscopy mapping of stem cell micropatterns
We report on the use of high resolution Raman spectroscopy mapping combined with a micro-engineered stem cell platform.
Analyst, 2015,140, 1798-1803
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02346C
Bacterial meningitis pathogens identified in clinical samples using a SERS DNA detection assay
Application of a SERS DNA detection assay for the identification of bacterial meningitis pathogens in clinical samples.
Anal. Methods, 2015,7, 1269-1272
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5AY00063G
An integrated ceramic, micro-fluidic device for the LC/MS/MS analysis of pharmaceuticals in plasma
A capillary scale ceramic microfluidic LC/MS/MS system was successfully employed for the analysis of pharmaceutical compounds in plasma.
Analyst, 2015,140, 5546-5556
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5AN00646E
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Forensic electrochemistry: indirect electrochemical sensing of the components of the new psychoactive substance “Synthacaine”
For the first time a novel indirect, independently validated, electrochemical protocol for the sensing of MPA and 2-AI (“Synthacaine”) is reported.
Analyst, 2015,140, 5536-5545
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5AN00858A
Characterising cytotoxic agent action as a function of the cell cycle using fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy
Infrared spectral signatures of drug–cell interaction, suggest that both the stages of proliferation and the degree of apoptosis need to be taken into account to elucidate the fine biochemical details of the immediate cellular response to the drug.
Analyst, 2015,140, 4453-4464
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5AN00671F
Detection limits of organic compounds achievable with intense, short-pulse lasers
Many organic molecules have strong absorption bands which can be accessed by ultraviolet short pulse lasers to produce efficient ionization.
Analyst, 2015,140, 4270-4276
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5AN00529A
Automated multiwell fluorescence lifetime imaging for Förster resonance energy transfer assays and high content analysis
An HCA-FLIM instrument is presented alongside exemplar oligomerisation, intermolecular and intramolecular FRET assays that require robust measurement of small lifetime changes.
Anal. Methods, 2015,7, 4071-4089
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5AY00244C
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Application of vibrational spectroscopy techniques to non-destructively monitor plant health and development
Characterisation of plant leaf growth employing vibrational spectroscopy approaches.
Anal. Methods, 2015,7, 4059-4070
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5AY00377F
Development of a disposable bile acid biosensor for use in the management of cholestasis
Measurement of serum bile acid concentration is a valuable tool for the management of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and is also useful in the monitoring of other liver diseases.
Anal. Methods, 2015,7, 3714-3719
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5AY00372E
Magnetic high throughput screening system for the development of nano-sized molecularly imprinted polymers for controlled delivery of curcumin
A novel format of the microtitre plate equipped with magnetic inserts allows rapid and cost-effective development of the controlled release materials.
Analyst, 2015,140, 3113-3120
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02292K
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A novel method for the analysis of clinical biomarkers to investigate the effect of diet on health in a rat model
We demonstrate differentiation between two diets fed to rats across time via instrumentation combined with multivariate data analysis.
Analyst, 2015,140, 3028-3038
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5AN00182J
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Conformational dynamics of α-synuclein: insights from mass spectrometry
Different mass spectrometry approaches are combined to investigate the conformational flexibility of α-synuclein.
Analyst, 2015,140, 3070-3081
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02306D
Simple preparation of positively charged silver nanoparticles for detection of anions by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Modification of Ag colloids with thiocholine bromide switches the zeta potential from ca. −50 mV to ca. +50 mV, giving SERS substrates which promote adsorption of anions.
Analyst, 2015,140, 2988-2994
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02305F
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Certified ion implantation fluence by high accuracy RBS
1% Implanter Performance: RBS/measured fluence ratio for 16 implants (1015 As cm−2) over 2 years.
Analyst, 2015,140, 3251-3261
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02316A
A step towards mobile arsenic measurement for surface waters
GSH modified QDs are used for selective As3+ measurement for river waters in a mobile phone camera-linked unit.
Analyst, 2015,140, 2644-2655
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02368D
Azide and trans-cyclooctene dUTPs: incorporation into DNA probes and fluorescent click-labelling
Azidomethyl and cyclooctene dUTPs have been incorporated into DNA by various polymerase enzymes and labelled with cyclooctyne and tetrazine fluorophores.
Analyst, 2015,140, 2671-2678
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5AN00158G
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Real-world carbon nanoparticle exposures induce brain and gonadal alterations in zebrafish (Danio rerio) as determined by biospectroscopy techniques
Differential tissue-specific effects of nanoparticles: biospectroscopy as a toxicity-sensing tool.
Analyst, 2015,140, 2687-2695
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02227K
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Desalting large protein complexes during native electrospray mass spectrometry by addition of amino acids to the working solution
A simple method for mitigating the adverse effects of salt adduction during native protein mass spectrometry by addition of amino-acids.
Analyst, 2015,140, 2679-2686
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02334J
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Simultaneous intracellular redox potential and pH measurements in live cells using SERS nanosensors
In this paper we have presented the first example of multiplexing pH and redox responsive SERS nanosensors for intracellular live single cell measurement on a cell by cell basis.
Analyst, 2015,140, 2330-2335
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02365J
Evaluation of different tissue de-paraffinization procedures for infrared spectral imaging
Differential distribution of paraffin in a normal colon tissue section after various de-Waxing procedures in comparison to a paraffinized tissue.
Analyst, 2015,140, 2369-2375
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02122C
The voltammetric behaviour of lead at a hand drawn pencil electrode and its trace determination in water by stripping voltammetry
This paper describes the development and characterisation of an unmodified hand drawn pencil electrode for the differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetric determination of lead in an environmental water sample.
Anal. Methods, 2015,7, 2437-2443
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AY02987A
A method for the direct injection and analysis of small volume human blood spots and plasma extracts containing high concentrations of organic solvents using revered-phase 2D UPLC/MS
This methodology provides increased assay sensitivity and facilitates small volume biofluid analysis in high percent organic samples.
Analyst, 2015,140, 1921-1931
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02090A
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Making colourful sense of Raman images of single cells
We demonstrate how changes in the application of colour shading can dramatically alter Raman images of single human keratinocytes cells.
Analyst, 2015,140, 1852-1858
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02298J
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Novel organic solvents for electrochemistry at the liquid/liquid interface
The 5-nonanone organic phase has been shown to be a stable solvent for use in electrochemistry, ion and electron transfer has been studied at the organic/water interface.
Analyst, 2015,140, 1947-1954
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN02250E
Analysis of interaction between the apicomplexan protozoan Toxoplasma gondii and host cells using label-free Raman spectroscopy
Raman micro-spectroscopy was used to characterize time- and spatially-dependent molecular interactions between intracellular pathogens and the host cells.
Analyst, 2015,140, 756-764
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN01810A
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Development of Transmission Raman Spectroscopy towards the in line, high throughput and non-destructive quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical solid oral dose
Transmission Raman Spectroscopy and photon diode enhancer facilitates faster scanning and quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical tablets.
Analyst, 2015,140, 107-112
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN01798F
Real-time microfluidic recombinase polymerase amplification for the toxin B gene of Clostridium difficile on a SlipChip platform
A SlipChip platform with six parallel 500 nL reaction chambers was fabricated using rapid prototyping in acrylic. We demonstrated real-time RPA with 1 fg (1000 copies) of DNA.
Analyst, 2015,140, 258-264
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN01683A
A TEM protocol for quality assurance of in vitro cellular barrier models and its application to the assessment of nanoparticle transport mechanisms across barriers
A comprehensive transmission electron microscopy imaging protocol to characterise in vitro human cell barriers and study mechanisms of nanoparticle transport.
Analyst, 2015,140, 83-97
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN01276C
Concentration dependence of translational diffusion coefficients for globular proteins
This investigation examines published results of traditional diffusion experiments on ovalbumin and bovine serum albumin to determine the extent to which assumed concentration independence of the translational diffusion coefficient is a reasonable approximation in the analysis of boundary spreading in sedimentation velocity experiments on proteins.
Analyst, 2014,139, 6242-6248
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN01060D
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Historical textile dyeing with Genista tinctoria L.: a comprehensive study by UPLC-MS/MS analysis
A new UPLC-PDA MS/MS method has been applied to reference and historical yarns dyed with dyer's greenweed (Genista tinctoria L.). The effect of photo-degradation and textile preparation techniques (such as over-dyeing) on the dye fingerprint was investigated and the results correlated with those obtained from historical samples from the Burrell and Bodleian collections, UK.
Anal. Methods, 2014,6, 8915-8923
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AY01509F
A smart ink for the assessment of low activity photocatalytic surfaces
New ink for testing low activity photocatalytic materials like self cleaning tiles.
Analyst, 2014,139, 5409-5414
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN01375A
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Switching specific biomolecular interactions on surfaces under complex biological conditions
Electrically switchable surfaces based on oligopeptides are ubiquitous in both switching specific protein interactions in highly fouling media while still offering the non-specific protein-resistance to the surface.
Analyst, 2014,139, 5400-5408
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4AN01225A
About this collection
This collection of articles from Analyst and Analytical Methods , Guest Edited by Duncan Graham and Craig Banks, highlights the excellent research being conducted in the fundamental and applied analytical sciences. Providing a highly visible collection of some of the best and diverse analytical research from UK based scientists in academia, industry and government institutions across disciplines such as chemistry, physics, engineering and clinical sciences.