Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to films. The films can include polyamic acid (PAA). Methods of making and using the film for food product coverings is also included.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to films. The films can include polyamic acid (PAA). Methods of making and using the film for food product coverings is also included.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to films. The films can include polyamic acid (PAA). Methods of making and using the film for food product coverings is also included.

Abstract: Embodiments of a filter device utilize a membrane comprising poly(amic) acid. The membrane has a porous structure with pores configured to filter nano-sized particles, e.g., less than 100 nm. In one embodiment, the filter device can comprises a substrate (e.g., filter paper) and the membrane disposed on the substrate. This configuration is useful to capture, isolate, and detect nano-particles.

Abstract: A portable biosensor system includes at least one capillary tube extending longitudinally along a major axis between a proximal inlet end and a distal end. The at least one capillary tube has an interior surface coated with a capture material and forms a waveguide. At least one collimated light emitting diode is disposed proximate and perpendicular to the major axis of the at least one capillary tube and is positioned relative to the at least one capillary tube so that energy enters the at least one capillary tube from its exterior along the entire length of the at least one capillary tube to project a line of energy along substantially the entire longitudinal extent of the at least one capillary tube. A photosensor is disposed proximate the distal end of the at least one capillary tube for receiving emissive radiation therefrom. The photosensor generates an output voltage (or, optical output) representative of the emissive radiation, and a means for measuring the output voltage is provided.

Abstract: A portable, lightweight, rugged, easy-to-operate biosensor useful for rapidly detecting cells, viruses, antibodies, and other proteins. A capillary tube has a capture antibody immobilized on its interior surface. The specific capture antibody is selected based upon a desired target analyte to be detected. A sample potentially containing the target antigen is introduced into the capillary tube. Thereafter, a second antibody labeled with a fluorescent dye is introduced. Upon excitation by electromagnetic energy, typically supplied by a laser, the fluorescence of the sample is captured and analyzed. The apparatus is extremely compact and rugged making it ideal for field use. In addition, accurate results may be obtained by relatively unskilled operators directly from a self-contained readout. Optionally, an external device (e.g., a computer) may be connected to the apparatus via an optional interface.

Abstract: A portable, lightweight, rugged, easy-to-operate biosensor useful for rapidly detecting cells, viruses, antibodies, and other proteins. A capillary tube has a capture antibody immobilized on its interior surface. The specific capture antibody is selected based upon a desired target analyte to be detected. A sample potentially containing the target antigen is introduced into the capillary tube. Thereafter, a second antibody labeled with a fluorescent dye is introduced. Upon excitation by electromagnetic energy, typically supplied by a laser, the fluorescence of the sample is captured and analyzed. The apparatus is extremely compact and rugged making it ideal for field use. In addition, accurate results may be obtained by relatively unskilled operators directly from a self-contained readout. Optionally, an external device (e.g., a computer) may be connected to the apparatus via an optional interface.

Abstract: A portable, lightweight, rugged, easy-to-operate biosensor useful for rapidly detecting cells, viruses, antibodies, and other proteins. A capillary tube has a capture antibody immobilized on its interior surface. The specific capture antibody is selected based upon a desired target analyte to be detected. A sample potentially containing the target antigen is introduced into the capillary tube. Thereafter, a second antibody labeled with a fluorescent dye is introduced. Upon excitation by electromagnetic energy, typically supplied by a laser, the fluorescence of the sample is captured and analyzed. The apparatus is extremely compact and rugged making it ideal for field use. In addition, accurate results may be obtained by relatively unskilled operators directly from a self-contained readout. Optionally, an external device (e.g., a computer) may be connected to the apparatus via an optional interface.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor usable and accurate in solutions of up to pH 14 is featured. The sensor is fabricated by immobilizing a layer of polystyrene mixed with a fluorophore (e.g., Ruthenium tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) dichloride) in a solvent such as dichloromethane. The mixture may be coated onto a structure such as a stainless steel sensor probe. In typical use, the inventive sensor probe is inserted into a flow cell through which the solution to be monitored flows. A blue LED light source having a wavelength of approximately 470 nm, and a spectrophotometer detector complete the sensor system. In operation, the fluorophore layer of the probe is illuminated by a blue LED light and the fluorescence is reflected back to the spectrophotometer. The monitored solution, typically an electroless gold plating bath, is pumped from the process equipment through the flow cell, and then back to the solution's origin.

Abstract: The detection of gallium in biological samples is required due to its role in the diagnosis of tumor and for possible treatment of malignancies. However, the use of purely instrumental techniques is unsuitable for detection of low levels of gallium in biological matrices. New protein conjugates have been synthesized based on 4-(2-pyridylazo) ligands. The conjugates detect gallium in biological matrices using a non antibody-based sandwich assay format. The recovery level is between 97-101.3 with a relative standard deviation of less than 5%. The assay results in a detection limit of 5×10−8 M and a remarkable selectivity for gallium(III) relative to other metals investigated. The new method provides adequate accuracy for gallium applicable for animal physiology and clinical toxicology.

Abstract: Methods and devices are described for rapidly and simultaneously detecting, quantifying, and imaging gases, odors, malodors, volatiles and semi-volatiles using gas chromatography coupled with arrays of organic conducting polymers. The methods utilize changes in the polymer conductivity as a function of temperature to detect volatile organic molecules upon adsorption to the polymers. By raising the sensor temperature, adsorbed materials are further desorbed. This eliminates the fundamental problems of sensor fouling resulting from exposure to sulfur, nitrogen or ketone containing malodors. In a second embodiment, the resulting gas effluents from the sensor array are mixed with air, oxygen or hydrogen to produce a cloud of luminance that is detected by a charge-coupled device.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, a target analyte in solution is detected by exposing the solution to an electrode that includes a conducting electroactive polymer to which a periodic alternating voltage is coupled. Upon exposure to the analyte, an electrode characteristic is varied, which variation is detected by measuring electrode current as a function of time and as a function of the periodic alternating voltage. The alternating voltage waveform has an oxidizing time period and a reduction time period, which periods and waveform duty cycle may be controlled to enhance electrode sensitivity, selectivity, and to substantially eliminate electrode fouling and data hysteresis. In a second embodiment, a receptor is bound to the electrode, to which is coupled an alternating voltage waveform that permits a mating target substance to reversibly bind to the receptor such that measurement of electrode current provides a measure of such reversible binding.