Thesis (Ph. D.)--Miami University, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 2003. / Title from first page of PDF document. Document formatted into pages; contains xvi, 254 p. : ill. Includes bibliographical references.

Capillary-based analytical methodologies were developed to meet the need for metabolite determination in two major areas. The first area is the determination of free bilirubin in sera for the management of jaundiced neonates under critical conditions. Three sensitive detection techniques were investigated, Quantum dots (QD) mediated fluorescence, Chemiluminescence (CL) and Microelectrode detection. Four different types of QDs were synthesized for the direct bilirubin determination. The CAH-capped CdTe QDs were selected as it shows the best performance compared to organic dyes and other QDs. Its optimized preparation conditions are: refluxing solution containing Cd/Te/CAH (1:0.5:2.4 w/w) for 4 hours at 100 °C. From Transmission Electron Microscope characterization, nano-size QDs with an uniform size distribution, high luminescence and good stability were obtained. The optimized detection conditions were: incubation of bilirubin with CAH-capped CdTe QDs (5 10-6 mol/L) in water at pH=5.6 and 20 oC for 8 min prior to spectrofluorometric determination (λex=473 nm and λem=580 nm). A linear working range from 0.043-0.86 μg/mL with 0.9943 correlation coefficient and 2 ng/mL detection limit (LOD, S/N=3) were achieved. Results from nFIA-CL indicate a quick response within seconds though a poorer LOD (S/N=3) of 15 μg/mL for the direct bilirubin determination. The third technique investigated used an enzyme microelectrode and it was found to be able to couple with capillary electrophoresis (CE) in frontal analysis (FA) for the determination of free bilirubin in serum samples. Making use of the micron size of the carbon-fiber electrode, a new MCNTs (Multi-wall Carbon Nanotubes) modified CFMEs (Carbon fiber microelectrodes) was fabricated within a microchip-CE device with three guided channels to enable electrodes alignment. Method to immobilize bilirubin oxidase (BOD) onto the CFMEs surface by the carbodiimide chemistry achieved the highest detection sensitivity. Under optimized conditions (sample introduced by hydrodynamic injection at △H (20 cm), and a running/detection buffer (10 mM phosphate) at pH 7.4, working potential for amperometric detection at +0.8 V), a linear working range between 1-40 μg/mL and a detection limit (S/N=3) at 0.15 μg/mL for free bilirubin was achieved. The second area for metabolite determination was developing a new analytical method for the management of APL (acute promyelocytic leukemia) patients under arsenic treatment, a drug required continued monitoring. The analytical requirements include a high detection sensitivity and the capability to provide timely results for multiple drug residues. Using a 20 mM phosphate as the running buffer and 0.05mM CTAH (Cetyl-trimethyl-ammonium hydroxide) as an additive for EOF reversal, co-EOF (co-electroosmotic flow) stacking was established to enhance up to 200 times of the detection limit for arsenite. Satisfactory baseline separation for arsenite, arsenate, MMA (Methylarsonic acid) and DMA (Dimethylarsinic acid) was achieved with linear working ranges (correlation coefficients > 0.999) from 1-50 μg/mL for arsenate and DMA, 0.5-50 μg/mL for MMA as well as 0.1-50 μg/mL for arsenite. Detection limits (S/N=3, n=3) achievable for arsenate, arsenite, MMA and DMA were found to be 0.41 μg/mL, 0.01 μg/mL, 0.04 μg/mL and 0.32 μg/mL respectively at levels meeting the requirement for APL patient urine monitoring. / published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

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Laser-based techniques have become essential tools for probing biological molecules in systems that demand high spatial and temporal control. This dissertation presents the development of micro-analytical techniques based on multiphoton excitation (MPE) to promote highly localized, three-dimensional (3D) photochemistry of biologically relevant molecules on submicron dimensions. Strategies based on capillary electrophoresis (CE) have been developed for the rapid separation and spectroscopic analysis of short-lived photochemical reaction products. High-speed separation and analysis are achieved through a combination of very high electric fields and a laser-based optical system that uses MPE for both the generation and detection of hydroxyindole photoproducts on the time scale of microseconds. MPE was also used for the development of photolithographic techniques for the creation of microstructured protein-based materials with highly defined three-dimensional (3D) topographies. Specifically, a multiphoton lithographic (MPL) technique was developed that used a low-cost microchip laser for the rapid prototyping of 3D microarchitectures when combined with dynamic optical masking. Furthermore, MPL was used to create novel “smart” biomaterials that reproducibly respond with tunable actuation to changes in the local chemical and thermal environment. The utility of these materials for creating biocompatible cellular microenvironments was demonstrated and presents a novel approach for studying small populations of microorganisms. Finally, through the development of a multifocal approach that used multiple laser beams to promote the photocrosslinking of biological molecules, the speed and versatility of MPL was extended to allow both the parallel fabrication of 3D microstructures and the rapid creation of large-scale biomaterials with highly defined spatial features. / text

PART I. A modified Hadamard transform has been developed and applied to the analysis of biologically active species using capillary electrophoresis. Hadamard transformations, a matrix based multiplexing technique, when coupled with a capillary electrophoresis instrument capable of rapid sample injection, provides a means to semi-continuously inject samples. The multiple injections separate, interpenetrate, and are detected as the summation of the multiple injections. Deconvolution of the multiplexed signal by multiplication with the inverse of the injection matrix yields a single injection electropherogram that exhibits improved S/N. In modified Hadamard transform capillary electrophoresis (mHTCE), an injection sequence of half the length as conventional HTCE (cHTCE) is utilized. Modifying the manner in which the raw data is manipulated before deconvolution facilitates the reduced injection sequence. When coupled with software, mHTCE can reduce the collection time for a Hadamard sequence by up to 48%. The substantial time reduction afforded by mHTCE is utilized to demonstrate the first time-resolved application of Hadamard transformations for the analysis of neurotransmitters. Additionally, mHTCE has been demonstrated as a means to improve the sensitivity for analysis of amino acids and proteins including gamma-aminobutyric acid, dopamine, and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) with picomolar detection limits.Part II. Two-photon excitation provides a means to activate chemical and physical processes with high spatial resolution and improved depth penetration compared to one-photon excitation. When combined with three-dimensional lithographic microfabrication (3DLM), these advantages provide a means to fabricate complex structures through radical and cationic two-photon induced polymerization (TPIP). A strategy for realizing high-fidelity microstructures is reported that considers the inherent structural limitations of acrylate monomers. Utilizing this strategy, a series of high-fidelity microstructures is reported for application in microfluidic devices, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and microoptical devices such as photonic bandgap (PBG) crystals. Improved periodicity is reported here for f.c.c. PBG crystals compared to earlier examples through addition of micromechanical supports that provide increased strength to the high-aspect ratio crystals. To extend TPIP to cationic polymerization, a series of two-photon activatable photoacid generators has been developed. The new PAGs exhibit one to two orders of magnitude lower polymerization threshold intensities than conventional ultraviolet-sensitive initiators.

The objectives of the study were to measure the concentrations of albumin, transferrin, IgG and uric acid in 2nd trimester amniotic fluid (AF) and to establish if these concentrations were associated with infant birth outcomes. / Amniotic fluid samples (n=230) were collected from mothers undergoing routine amniocentesis (12-20 wk). Maternal characteristics like height, pre-pregnancy weight, age, smoking status, parity and infant gender, birth weight and gestational age were collected from questionnaires and obstetrical medical chart review. AF samples were analyzed by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). / The results showed that the 2nd trimester AF uric acid was a significant predictor of infant birth weight (grams) and transferrin was negatively associated with gestational age in term infants.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wyoming, 2005. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Feb. 22, 2008). Includes bibliographical references (p. 110-118).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 1998. / Title from document title page. "November 1998." Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 43 p. : ill. (some col.) Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 42-43).