Syftet med undersökningen var att komma fram till hur man med hjälp av laborationer kan entusiasmera elever till att bli intresserade av kemi. Undersökningen utfördes i form av en enkät bland elever på gymnasiet (år 1-3). Enkäten hade en öppen struktur med dels öppna frågor men även frågor med flervalsalternativ. Elevsvaren har sammanställts i kategorier och diskuteras utifrån aktuell forskning. Resultatet visade att gymnasieeleverna efterfrågar laborationer med tydlig koppling till vardagen. De efterfrågar också en tydlig koppling mellan teori och laboration. Eleverna gav också uttryck för att det är viktigt med kunskaper i kemi för att påverka utvecklingen i framtiden samt kunna granska vad som skrivs och sägs i media. En slutsats av undersökningen är att man i elevgruppen finner elever med en inställning som tyder på att kemi anses som viktigt, men att man som lärare måste koppla laborationerna till såväl elevernas vardag som till teorin. Det innebär att en laboration om t.ex. syror och baser kan leda till att eleven lär sig såväl om försurning som om den mer teoretiska delen av kemin. För att sådana laborationer ska bli genomförbara krävs det noggrann förberedelse av läraren. Det är också viktigt i samband med laborationer att det förs diskussioner kring experimentets slutsats så att eleven med hjälp av t.ex. laborationen om syror och baser kan förklara försurning och hur det påverkar naturen, men även få stöd i sin teoretiska förståelse för syra-basreaktioner. På så sätt kan eleven använda sig av sin nyvunna kunskap från laborationen i ett större sammanhang.

Contaminated soils and sediments have been identified as significant secondary sources of organic contaminants.  Leaching tests may be useful tools to estimate the mobility of contaminants via the water phase and thereby the risk for groundwater and surface water contamination. The influence of soil composition (peat and clay content) on the leachability was investigated in batch leaching experiments for chemically diverse hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs: PCP, PAHs, HCB, HCHs, PCBs, and TCDD/Fs). The above mentioned compounds were analyzed by both GC-LRMS (gas chromatography coupled with low resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) and GC-HRMS (gas chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry). Also the the leachability of eleven selected PCBs from naturally aged soil (Västervik, Sweden) was investigated in relation to the composition and concentration of dissolved organic matter at different pH (2 to 9), using a pH static test with initial acid/base addition. The the composition and of dissolved organic matter (DOM) at different pH values was explored by FTIR spectroscopy. The results were evaluated by orthogonal projections to latent structures (OPLS). Generally, for all model compounds studies, the Kd-values showed a variability of 2-3 orders of magnitude depending on the matrix composition. The Kd-values of moderately hydrophobic compounds, (e.g. HCHs, PCP and Phe), were correlated mainly with the organic matter content of soil. For more hydrophobic compounds (e.g.BaA, HCB and PCB 47), the leachability decreased as the proportions of  OM and clay contents increased. The Kd-values of 1,3,6,8-TCDD and 1,3,6,8-TCDF were  positively correlated with peat content but negatively correlated with clay content, while for PCB 153 and PCB 155 the correlations were reversed. The log Kd-values of all target PCBs decreased with increased pH values and the log Kd-values were highly correlated with the concentration of total organic carbon (TOC) in the leachates. The FTIR analysis of DOM showed that the least chlorinated and hydrophobic PCB congeners (i.e. PCB 28) might be associated with the hydrophilic fraction (i.e. carboxylic groups) of DOM. Our study demonstrated how complex interaction between the organic matter, clay components, pH and DOC influences the leachability of HOCs in a compound-specific manner.

Over the years, colorimetric reagents and immunology have been widely used in screening tests for illicit drugs; however, the test kits are not always convenient for field use and often require the user to mix and develop a specific set of reagents. In our project, we have been working on alternative platforms based on paper microfluidic devices (uPADs) for field testing. These devices utilize wax channels printed on paper to direct the analyte towards a specific set of chemical reagents. Using the procedure, we have developed a six-channel chip that adapts known colorimetric reagents targeting cocaine, opiates, amphetamines and ketamine for multiplex detection. For more sensitive and specific determinations than the colorimetric reagents, we have also developed a paper device that utilizes the interaction between gold nanoparticles and drug specific aptamers. The µPADs using colorimetric reagent are designed as a six-channel multiplexed system. Sequences of different reagents applied to each channel to produce a series of reactions and the color changes appear at the end of each channel. The entire process takes less than five minutes. The adjusted reagents produce specific color changes for seized drugs on the paper microfluidic devices. Procedures have been developed for the detection of cocaine, ketamine, codeine, ephedrine, morphine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, and MDMA. These devices have been tested for sensitivity, specificity and stability against a variety of potential interferences and test conditions. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)/ aptamers µPADs were developed to detect cocaine. The presence of cocaine cause the binding with aptamers, and the gold nanoparitcles produced a salt-indicated aggregations and gave a color change of AuNPs from red to black. The absence of cocaine allowed the aptamers freely to bind gold nanoparticles, and no color change occured. The device had a preliminary validation of sensitvity and specificity against a variety of potential interferences. The use of paper microfluidic devices permits the development of rapid, inexpensive and easily operated tests for drug samples in the field. They present a safe and convenient presumptive tool that can be used in the field.

Ionic-type transistors are important devices for precise chemical control and biosensing applications. Previous work by Tybrandt et al. has demonstrated a novel approach to constructing an ionic transistor using conducting polymers poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and quarternized- polyvinyl benzyl chloride (q-PVBC). This approach could be combined with the 3D stamp method of generating concentration gradients in supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) as shown by Liu et al. to create a charged lipid-based ionic polar junction transistor. An electric potential applied across the SLB would drive charged lipids towards the opposite electrode, thus generating current flow across the SLB. Incorporation of a charged-lipid functionalized PEDOT derivative as demonstrated by Johansson et al. would allow a longer period of current flow before charge carriers are depleted. Such a device could offer novel approaches to biosensing.

Designer drugs are compounds which have been synthetically derived from illicit drugs. After consumption, drugs and their metabolites are introduced into the sewage water which is treated and disposed into the environment. A combined target, suspect and non-target workflow was created to detect designer drugs in environmental water samples. Multiple water samples were spiked with an unknown mixture of drugs and metabolites to assess the efficiency of the method. Samples were collected from sewage influent and effluent pipes, downstream from a sewage outfall and reclaimed water. Analysis was conducted with high resolution MS using the QExactive Orbitrap. Screening was performed using a database compiled in-house using TraceFinder EFS. Structure confirmation was achieved using MassFrontier. Target drugs and their metabolites were detected in sewage influent but not in sewage effluent, downstream of the effluent pipe, or in reclaimed water. The workflow was adequate to detect designer drugs in multiple water matrices at concentrations as low as 20ppt.

Benzodiazepines are among the most prescribed compounds for anti-anxiety and are present in many toxicological screens. These drugs are also prominent in the commission of drug facilitated sexual assaults due their effects on the central nervous system. Due to their potency, a low dose of these compounds is often administered to victims; therefore, the target detection limit for these compounds in biological samples is 10 ng/mL. Currently these compounds are predominantly analyzed using immunoassay techniques; however more specific screening methods are needed. The goal of this dissertation was to develop a rapid, specific screening technique for benzodiazepines in urine samples utilizing surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), which has previously been shown be capable of to detect trace quantities of pharmaceutical compounds in aqueous solutions. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy has the advantage of overcoming the low sensitivity and fluorescence effects seen with conventional Raman spectroscopy. The spectra are obtained by applying an analyte onto a SERS-active metal substrate such as colloidal metal particles. SERS signals can be further increased with the addition of aggregate solutions. These agents cause the nanoparticles to amass and form hot-spots which increase the signal intensity. In this work, the colloidal particles are spherical gold nanoparticles in aqueous solution with an average size of approximately 30 nm. The optimum aggregating agent for the detection of benzodiazepines was determined to be 16.7 mM MgCl2, providing the highest signal intensities at the lowest drug concentrations with limits of detection between 0.5 and 127 ng/mL. A supported liquid extraction technique was utilized as a rapid clean extraction for benzodiazepines from urine at a pH of 5.0, allowing for clean extraction with limits of detection between 6 and 640 ng/mL. It was shown that at this pH other drugs that are prevalent in urine samples can be removed providing the selective detection of the benzodiazepine of interest. This technique has been shown to provide rapid (less than twenty minutes), sensitive, and specific detection of benzodiazepines at low concentrations in urine. It provides the forensic community with a sensitive and specific screening technique for the detection of benzodiazepines in drug facilitated assault cases.

Muskelstyrka och muskelmassa avtar med stigande ålder och är associerat med mortalitet, svaghet, osteoporos, fall och frakturer. Hos yngre individer har magnesiumtillskott signifikant ökat muskelstyrka. Det rekommenderade dagliga intaget (RDI) av magnesium enligt Nordiska näringsrekommendationer (NNR) är lägre än rekommendationen av U.S Food and Nutrition Board (FNB). Syftet med detta litteraturarbete var att studera publicerad litteratur inom ämnet magnesium och muskler med avsikt att undersöka ifall ett ökat magnesiumintag hos individer över medelåldern påverkar muskelstyrka och relativ muskelmassa samt undersöka vilka livsmedel som ur ett ekonomiskt perspektiv kan konsumeras för att bidra till att NNR´s RDI uppnås. Litteratursökning identifierade sex artiklar som var relevanta för frågeställningen ”Kan en högre dos magnesium öka muskelstyrka?”. Samma artiklar användes för ytterligare en frågeställning; ”Kan en högre dos magnesium förbättra relativ muskelmassa?”. Litteratursökning för den andra frågeställningen identifierade inte fler artiklar som var relevanta för frågeställningen. För den tredje frågeställningen ”Vilka livsmedel kan med fördel ur ett ekonomiskt perspektiv bidra till ett högre intag av magnesium?” användes information från Livsmedelsverkets livsmedelsdatabas och medelvärdet av tre livsmedelsbutikers jämförelsepriser. Sammanställningen av den forskning som finns visade att en kost som uppnår NNR´s dagsrekommendation främjar muskelstyrka men det gjorde inte ett högre intag av magnesium via kosttillskott. Ett ökat intag av både dietärt och supplementärt magnesium observerades främja relativ muskelmassa men det verkar som att dietärt magnesium har högre biotillgänglighet än magnesium i kosttillskott. De mest ekonomiska livsmedlen som kan konsumeras för att bidra till en högre dos magnesium i kosten var fullkornsprodukter som frukostflingor, pasta och hårt bröd. / Muscle strength and muscle mass declines with increasing age. This is associated with mortality, frailty, osteoporosis, falls and fractures. Magnesium supplementation has been shown to increase muscle strength significantly in young subjects. The recommended daily amount of magnesium according to Nordic nutrition recommendations (NNR) is lower than that of U.S. Food and Nutrition Board (FNB). The aim of this thesis work was to study published literature on the subject magnesium and muscle in order to investigate if an increased magnesium intake in subjects middle aged or older affects muscle strength and relative muscle mass and to evaluate which common foods contributes the most to achieve the RDI of NNR from an economic point of view. Searches identified six articles relevant to the issue “Could an increased dose of magnesium improve muscle strength?”. The same articles were used to answer a second issue; “Could an increased dose of magnesium improve relative muscle mass?”. Searches for the second issue did not yield more articles relevant to the issue. For the third issue; “Which foods has, from an economic point of view, an advantage in contributing to a higher magnesium intake?” information from the Swedish food agency´s food database was used and the mean cost from three different food chains comparison prizes. A compilation of data from the published scientific studies showed that a diet which fulfills the recommended daily amount of magnesium according to NNR promotes muscle strength in subjects middle aged or older; however, an increased amount of magnesium taken as a supplement did not show any significant increase in muscle strength. An increased intake of both dietary and supplementary magnesium promoted relative muscle mass, but the bioavailability of dietary magnesium seems to be higher than the bioavailability of supplements. The most economic groceries which contributes to a higher dose of magnesium in the diet was full grain products such as breakfast cereals, pasta and hard bread.

With increasing pressure on economical production of crops, more fertilizers are being applied to the soil each year to increase crop yields. Economical production of crops with applications of fertilizer requires an evaluation of the essential elements of the various crops so applications of fertilizer will not exceed the law of diminishing returns. Because varying soil, moisture, and climatic conditions influence the response to added fertilizers, some workers (18, 26, 38) have contended that the only reliable way of determining the fertilization needs of a crop is to conduct a trial on the particular farm. The length of time involved to determine the fertilizer requirements of a crop, along with the fact that climatic conditions change, limits the value of this method. With observation type trials, yield increases are easily over-looked and the expense involved in conducting a properly designed trial is beyond the scope of the farmers.

This dissertation describes the synthesis and characterization of fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) in order to optimize their biomedical utility for imaging and sensing applications. While both direct and indirect bandgap semiconductor NPs have been studied, control over their emission properties vary. Quantum confinement (QC), which primarily controls the emission wavelength of nanosized semiconductors, dictates that as the size of semiconductor NPs decrease, the magnitude of the bandgap increases, resulting in changes in the observed emission wavelength: smaller NPs have a larger bandgap, and thus a bluer emission. However, surface, interfacial, or shell defects can act as non-radiative or radiative recombination sites for excitons formed within the NP; the latter results in emission competition with the bandgap transition, as described Chapters 1 and 2. Because the emission wavelengths of direct bandgap semiconductor NPs correlate with size according to the expectations of QC, and are stable in aqueous environments with high quantum efficiencies (quantum yield, QY), current research focuses on their potential biomedical applications. Chapter 3 describes red-emitting CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) that exhibit a concentration-dependent decrease in fluorescence intensity in response to the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT). A mechanistic study was performed to understand a 5-HT-dependent decrease in QD emission and calibration curves relating QD intensity loss to 5-HT concentration in ensemble and single QD studies were generated. Unfortunately, the known toxicity of CdSe-based QDs has generated interest in more benign semiconductor NPs to replace these QDs in biological applications, while maintaining the same degree of control over the emission color and QY. Bulk indirect bandgap semiconductors, such as Si, have low efficiency inter-band transitions, and Si NPs are known to contain radiative defects that can alter the emission wavelength from QC-based size expectations; these competitive emission pathways must be controlled in order for Si NPs to be successfully used in biological applications. In general, synthetic methods that gives precise control over both the particle size and surface termination are needed in order to produce emission controlled Si NPs. Relative to groups II and VI QDs, synthetic routes to prepare Si NPs are few in numbers, and the size vs. defect emission events are difficult to assign. Not only do these assignments vary amongst reports, but they also vary with particle size, solvent, sample age, and identities of the surface ligands. Si NPs have been prepared through two synthetic routes using the Zintl salt, sodium silicide (NaSi) and ammonium bromide (NH4Br) as precursors. Chapter 4 describes the synthesis performed in the solvent N,N,-dimethylformamide (DMF). This reaction produces blue-emitting Si NPs (5.02 ± 1.21 nm) that bear partial hydride surface termination. However, it was determined that the solvent was able to interact with the Si NP surface, and prevent subsequent functionalization. This observation was used advantageously, and Chapter 5 describes a one-pot Zintl salt metathesis of Si NPs (3.9 + 9.8 nm) performed in a bi-functional (amine or carboxylic acid) solvent ligand, where the observations indicated that the solvent ligands coordinate to the Si NP. The emission maxima of the Si NPs prepared from the Zintl salt metathesis exhibited a dependence on the excitation energy, and is indicative of emission that is influenced by QC, which likely originates from deeply oxide embedded 1-2 nm crystalline cores. The Si NPs prepared from the one-pot Zintl salt metathesis were exposed to metals salt ions of varying reduction potentials to determine the band edges by what will or will not be reduced (Chapter 6). By monitoring the emission intensity of the Si NPs, in addition to the UV-Vis of the metal ions, the band edge of Si NPs may be determined. The value of the band edge may lend insight into the origin of Si NP emission. To utilize fluorescent Si NPs for biological applications, red emission is strongly preferred. Unfortunately, when preparing aqueous Si NPs, red emission usually changes to blue, likely from the oxidation of the Si NP surface. Therefore, the red emission needs to be efficiently protected from surface oxidants. Because both increased chain lengths and steric modalities have been found to protect the emission properties of Si NPs, red-emitting, ester-functionalized Si NPs (5.51+1.35 nm) with varying chain lengths and ester termination moieties were prepared to determine the best method of preserving the observed red emission in the presence of potential alcoholic oxidants. By determining the best was to protect Si NPs emission, the red-emission from Si NPs may be preserved for biological applications.

Marineosins A and B are two spiroaminal-ring containing tripyrrole compounds isolated from the marine actinomycete, Streptomyces CNQ-617, and were found to possess potent and selective cytotoxic activity against leukemia and melanoma. Marineosins belong to the prodiginines class of natural products, examples of which are undecylprodiginine and streptorubin B. Unlike marineosins, prodiginines structures are characterized by the presence of fully conjugated tripyrrole nucleus linked to an alkyl chain (that lacks any oxygen). Cyclic prodiginines arise from an oxidative cyclization of the alkyl chain onto the tripyrrole, a step catalyzed by Rieske-oxygenase like enzymes such as RedG. The biosynthesis of prodiginines is directed via the red gene cluster. The unique structural differences between marineosin and other prodiginines spurred the proposal of a number of hypotheses for its biosynthesis, none of which have been experimentally tested. A red gene cluster homolog which has only one extra dehydratase-encoding gene; marA has been identified from the genomic library of Streptomyces CNQ-617, and the identified cluster was proposed to direct the biosynthesis of marineosin. In this study, the identified putative gene cluster was expressed in the heterologous host, S. venezuelae, and marineosin production in the new strain; JND2 was confirmed via LC/MS and 1H-NMR. The new engineered strain also produces a myriad of marineosin related shunt metabolites and pathway intermediates. This study hence presents the first identified gene cluster proved to direct the biosynthesis of marineosin; the mar gene cluster and proves that the cloned cluster encodes most, if not all the enzymes required to direct the biosynthesis of marineosin. Deletion of the Rieske-oxygenase encoding gene; marG (a RedG homolog) from the mar gene cluster led to the accumulation of 2-hydroxyundecylprodiginine; G410 with an m/z 410.28 and molecular formula C25H35O2N3. This data proves that MarG is not responsible for the introduction of the spiromaminal ring oxygen on the alkyl chain, but is required for catalyzing macrocyclic ring formation between C-8 and C-9 of G410. Undecylprodiginine production in marG deletion mutant was not observed which indicates that undecylprodiginine is likely not an intermediate along the pathway for marineosin biosynthesis, and indicates that the spiroaminal ring oxygen is introduced early in the pathway, possibly due to the incorporation of a 3-hydroxy-butyric acid starter unit. Deletion of the dehydratase-encoding gene; marA, from the mar gene cluster led to the accumulation of compounds JN408 and JN422 with m/z 408.26 and 422.24 and molecular formulae C25H33O2N3, and C25H31O3N3, respectively. Purification and structure elucidation of JN408 proves it to be an oxidized marineosin analog which has fully aromatic tripyrrole rings while; purification and structure elucidation of JN422 proves it to be a 9-keto-JN408 derivative. Both JN408 and JN422 compounds have a spiroaminal ring which indicates that MarA does not catalyze spiroaminal ring formation but catalyzes the reduction of pyrrole ring B of JN408 to yield marineosin. Therefore, we are proposing that MarA acts as a dehydrogenase, rather than a dehydratase. We are proposing that the intramolecular spiroaminal ring formation is catalyzed by either MarG or occurs non-enzymatically. JN422 is a shunt metabolite produced due to promiscuous activity of either MarG or an unidentified oxidase in the mar cluster, possibly MarT. From the data generated in this study, we present the first experimentally supported pathway for the biosynthesis of marineosin and the opportunity to generate novel compounds with potentially useful biological activities.