A DNA probe labeled with a 4-([4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]azo)benzoic acid (DABCYL) quencher and a carboxyfluorescein (FAM) donor at its 5'- and 3'-termini can be used for the detection of Hg(2+) ions and phenylmercury ions (PhHg(+)). This DNA probe possesses a random coil structure that changes into a hairpin-like structure upon binding Hg(2+) and PhHg(+) ions. As a result, the fluorescence of th...

In this work, we reported for the first time, a facile and one step synthesis of gold nanoparticles from HAuCl(4), employing tetraphenylborate as the reducing agent. The synthesis is not only facile but also yields "dumb-bell-shaped"particles. This shape appears to arise from a possible emulsion of the products of oxidation/decomposition of tetraphenylborate by HAuCl(4), surrounding the particl...

Polymer-supported pendant urea groups have been demonstrated to be very efficient in selective removal of mercuric ions from aqueous solutions. Methyl methacrylate (0.5 mol)–glycidyl methacrylate (0.4 mol)–divinylbenzene (0.1 mol) terpolymer beads have been prepared by suspension polymerisation. Urea functions have been incorporated into the bead polymer (210–420 mm) via a two-step modification...

We report the rapid and highly sensitive trace analysis of mercury(ii) ions in water using a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based microdroplet sensor. Aptamer-modified Au/Ag core-shell nanoparticles have been fabricated and utilized as highly functional sensing probes. All detection processes for the reaction between mercury(II) ions and aptamer-modified nanoparticles were performed i...

BACKGROUND Nowadays, removal of heavy metals from the environment is an important problem due to their toxicity. OBJECTIVES In this study, a modified method was used to synthesize chitosan-coated magnetite nanoparticles (CCMN) to be used as a low cost and nontoxic adsorbent. CCMN was then employed to remove Hg(2+) from water solutions. MATERIALS AND METHODS To remove the highest percentage ...

A novel, simple, signal-enhanced electrochemical sensor was designed for sensitive and selective determination of mercury ions by using target-triggered conformational change of DNA pseudoknots with the assistance of auxiliary DNA strands.

Renal disposition of administered inorganic mercury was studied in rats that had undergone an acute bilateral ureteral ligation shortly before being injected with a nontoxic 0.5-micromol/kg iv dose of inorganic mercury with or without 2.0 micromol/kg glutathione (GSH) or cysteine. Ureteral ligation and induction of "stop-flow" conditions were carried out to decrease glomerular filtration rate t...

Tetraethyl-, tetrapropyl-, and tetrabutylammonium ions are capillary-active on the interface water-mercury. In the adsorbed state they increase Brdicka and presodium currents. These currents drop sharply at potentials where tetrabutylammonium ions are desorbed, these potentials being -1.60, -1.66, -1.72, and -1.79 V versus the saturated calomel electrode (SCE) at tetrabutylammonium concentratio...

Colorimetric detection of mercury ions (Hg(2+)) with the naked eye was accomplished within 1 min by a combination of non-crosslinking aggregation of double-stranded DNA-carrying gold nanoparticles and complex formation of thymine-Hg(2+)-thymine.

Mercury in dentistry has re-emerged as a contentious issue in public health, predominantly because so many people are inadvertently exposed to mercury in order to obtain the benefits of dental amalgam fillings, and the risks remain difficult to interpret. This commentary aims to examine the issues involved in public policy assessment of the continued use of dental amalgam in dentistry. More tha...