• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.56-69
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• 2022

Silk is a unique natural biopolymer with outstanding biocompatibility, high mechanical strength, and superior optical transparency. Due to its excellent properties, silk has been widely reported as an ideal biomaterial for several biomedical applications. Recently, fluorescent silk protein, a variant of native silk, has been reported as a biophotonic material with the potential for bioimaging and biosensing. Despite the realization of fluorescent silk, the traditional degumming process of fluorescence silk is crude and often results in fluorescence loss. The loss of fluorescent properties is attributed to the sensitivity of silk fibroin to temperature and solvent concentration during degumming. However, there is no comprehensive information on the influence of these processing parameters on fluorescence evolution and decay during fluorescent silk processing. Therefore, we conducted a spectroscopic study on fluorescence decay as a function of temperature, concentration, and duration for fluorescent silk cocoon degumming. Sodium carbonate solution was tested for degumming the fluorescent silk cocoons with different concentrations and temperatures; also, sodium carbonate solution is combined with Alcalase enzyme and triton x-100 to find optimal degumming conditions. Additionally, we conducted a molecular dynamics study to investigate the fundamental effect of temperature on the stability of the fluorescent protein. We observed degumming temperature as the prime source of fluorescent intensity reduction. From the MD study, fluorescence degradation originated from the thermal agitation of fluorescent protein Cα atoms and fluctuations of amino acid residues located in the chromophore region. Overall, degumming fluorescent silk with sodium carbonate and Alcalase enzyme solution at 25 ℃ preserved fluorescence.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.105-110
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• 2018

Objectives : We tried to observe the fluorescence anisotropy and intensity of ethidium ion in the intercalating binding interaction between DNA and ethidium ions in the presence of berberine, and then tried to explain the effect of berberine on the intercalating interaction of ethidium ion with DNA. Methods : DNA(calf thymus DNA), berberine and ethidium bromide(EtBr) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Co. Proper amount of each compound was dissolved in 20 mM sodium phosphate buffer(pH 7.0) containing 100 mM of NaCl to prepare stock solutions. Collections of the fluorescence anisotropy and intensity data were performed on JASCO FP-8300 spectrofluorometer equipped with a polarizer and a Peltier temperature controller. The excitation of ethidium ion was done at 550 nm and the emission data were collected at 600 nm. For Stern-Volmer plot, the fluorescence data were collected at $18^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$. Results : According to the results of this research, the weak competitive binding pattern between ethidium ion and berberine appeared in binding with DNA at low ratio of DNA to ethidium ion. But at high ratio of DNA to ethidium ion, this weak competition disappeared. Instead, berberine might bind to DNA by intercalating way. In other words, berberine could de-intercalate ethidium ion from DNA at low concentration of DNA relative to ethidium ion, but could not at high concentration of DNA relative to ethidium ion. In addition, the mechanism of fluorescence quenching of ethidium ion could also proceed differently, depending on the ratio of the amount of DNA to that of ethidium ion. Conclusions : The effect of berberine on the DNA-ethidium ion intercalating interaction could work differently, depending on the relative ratio of the amount of DNA to that of ethidium ion. This study also showed that fluorescence anisotropy analysis is very useful method to obtain detailed information for investigation of the complex binding interactions. In order to fully understand the mechanism of action of the pharmacological effect by berberine, studies on the effect of berberine on the action of proteins such as various enzymes closely related to berberine-induced medicinal effects should be continued.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.2725-2730
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• 2013

Single C-reactive protein (CRP) molecules, which are non-specific acute phase markers and products of the innate immune system, were quantitatively detected on a gold-nanopatterned biochip using evanescent field-enhanced fluorescence imaging. The $4{\times}5$ gold-nanopatterned biochip (spot diameter of 500 nm) was fabricated by electron beam nanolithography. Unlabeled CRP molecules in human serum were identified with single-molecule sandwich immunoassay by detecting secondary fluorescence generated by total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. With decreased standard CRP concentrations, relative fluorescence intensities reduced in the range of 33.3 zM-800 pM. To enhance fluorescence intensities in TIRF images, the distance between biochip surface and CRP molecules was optimally adjusted by considering the quenching effect of gold and the evanescent field intensity. As a result, TIRF only detected one single-CRP molecule on the biochip the first time.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1.1-11
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• 1992

To find heavy metal-specific effects on the photosynthetic apparatus of higher plants, we investigated effects of $CuCl_2$, HgCl_2$ and $ZnCl_2$ on electron transport activity and chlorophyll fluorescence induction kinetics of chloroplasts isolated from barley seedlings. Effects on some related processes such as germination, growth and photosynthetic pigments of the test plants were also studied. Germination and growth rate were inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by these metals. Mercury was shown to be the most potent inhibitor of germination, growth and biosynthesis of photosynthetic pigments of barley plants. In the inhibition of electron transport activity, quantum yield of PS II, and chlorophyll fluorescence induction kinetics of chloroplasts isolated from barley seedlings, mercury chloride showed more pronounced effects than other two metals. Contrary to the effects of other two metals, mercury chloride increased variable fluorescence significantly and abolished qE in the fluorescence induction kinetics from broken chloroplasts of barley seedlings. This increase in variable fluorescence is due to the inhibition of the electron transport chain after PS ll and the following dark reactions. The inhibition of qE could be attributed to the interruption of pH formation and do-epoxidation of violaxathin to zeaxanthin in thylakoids by mercury. This unique effect of mercury on chlorophyll fluorescence induction pattern could be used as a good indicator for testing the presence and/or the concentration of mercury in the samples contaminated with heavy metals.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.2011-2014
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• 2010

The fluorescence intensity of a single-stranded oligonucleotide containing a fluorene-labeled deoxyuridine $(U^{Fl})$ unit increases by only 1.5-fold upon formation of its perfectly matched duplex. To increase the fluorescence signal during hybridization, we positioned a quencher strand containing a deoxyguanine (dG) nucleobase, functioning as an internal quencher, opposite to the $U^{Fl}$ unit to reduce the intrinsic fluorescence upon hybridization with a probe. From an investigation of the optimal length of the quencher strand and the effect of the neighboring base sequence, we found that a short strand (five-nucleotide) containing all natural nucleotides and dG as an internal quencher was effective at reducing the intrinsic fluorescence of a linear beacon; it also exhibited high total discrimination factors for the formation of perfectly matched and single base-mismatched duplexes. Such assays that function based on clear changes in fluorescence in response to single-base nucleotide mutations would be useful tools for accelerating diagnoses related to various diseases.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.519-523
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• 2011

We studied the detection of the Hg(II) concentration in an aqueous solution using rhodamine dyes on citrate-reduced Au nanoparticles (NPs). The quenching effect from Au NPs was found to decrease as the Hg(II) concentration increased under our experimental conditions. As the fluorescence signals intensified, the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) intensities reduced on the contrary due to less rhodamine dyes on Au NPs as the Hg(II) concentration increased. The rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) and rhodamine 123 (Rh123) dyes were examined via fluorescence and SERS measurements depending on Hg(II) concentrations. Fast and easy fluorescence detection of an Hg (II) concentration as low as a few ppm could be achieved by naked eye using citrate-reduced Au NPs.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2005

The mechanism of interaction of two drugs viz., amoxicillin and cloxacillin with bovine serum albumin has been investigated using fluorescence absorption and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The quenching mechanism of fluorescence of bovine serum albumin by amoxicillin and cloxacillin was discussed. The binding sites number n and apparent binding constant Kwere measured by fluorescence quenching method. The thermodynamic parameters obtained from data at different temperatures were calculated. The distance r between donor (bovine serum albumin) and acceptor (amoxicillin and cloxacillin) was obtained according to Forster theory of non-radiative energy transfer. The effect of common ions on binding constant was also investigated. The results of synchronous fluorescence spectra, UV-vis absorption spectra and circular dichroism of BSA in presence of amoxicillin and cloxacillin show that the conformation of bovine serum albumin changed

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.495-510
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• 2022

In this study, fluorescence hyperspectral imaging (FHSI) was used for the rapid, non-destructive detection of fake, manmade eggs from real eggs. To identify fake eggs, protoporphyrin IX (PpIX)-a natural pigment present in real eggshells-was utilized as the main indicator due to its strong fluorescence emission effect. The fluorescence images of real and fake eggs were acquired using a line-scan-based FHSI system, and their fluorescence features were analyzed based on spectroscopic techniques. To improve the detection performance and accuracy, an optimal waveband combination was investigated with analysis of variance (ANOVA), and its fluorescence ratio images (588/645 nm) were created for visualization of the real eggs between two different egg groups. In addition, real and fake eggs were scanned using a one-waveband (645 nm) handheld fluorescence imager that can perform real-time scanning for on-site applications. Then, the results of the two methods were compared with one another. The outcome clearly shows that the newly developed FHSI system and the fluorescence handheld imager were both able to distinguish real eggs from fake eggs. Consequently, FHSI showed a better performance (clearer images) compared to the fluorescence handheld imager, and the outcome provided valuable information about the feasibility of using FHSI imaging with ANOVA for the discrimination of real and fake eggs.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.535-543
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• 2014

This work, which was about the synthesis of naphthalimidopropyl acrylate and GMA copolymers and their physical properties, investigated the compositions of the copolymer, the reactivity ratios of the monomer, resonance effect (Q), polar effect (e) and fluorescence of naphthalene. Azobisisobutyronitronitryl (AIBN) as an initiator was employed at $60^{\circ}C$ with dimethylformamide (DMF) of solvent for the copolymerization of NIPA. $r_1$ was found to be higher than $r_2$ from the reactivity ratios of the monomer obtained from Fineman-Ross (F-R), Kelen-$T{\ddot{u}}d{\ddot{o}}s$(K-T) methods. NIPA was found to be more copolymerized than GMA. $r_1{\cdot}r_2$ product was lower than 1, copolymerization was maked random-alternating type. The fluorescence spectrum of these polymers showed a weak monomer fluorescence band at 380 nm and a strong excimer fluorescence band at about 460 nm. Fluorescence life time of NIPA monomer showed fluorescence cover with UV 355 nm at room temperature, and life time showed $5.1449{\times}10^{-7}s$.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.637-645
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• 1994

The effect of various drugs on the stability of the liposomal membrane of phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol was studied, employing the fluorescence self-quenching method. Calcein was entrapped into the phospholipid small unilamellar vesicles and the leakage of the fluorescence probe was monitored on adding the drug to the system. The results of the experiments showed that phenothiazine derivatives, some potent local anesthetics and surface active agents were very effective in inducing the leakage of calcein from the liposome. The leakage-inducing activity of these drug substances has been ascribed to their surface activity and the perturbation of the liposomal membrane by these substances. On the other hand drug substance with low surface activity or without amphiphilic moieties did not show any effect or only small effect on the leakage of calcein from the liposomes. The effect of lipid concentration on the stability of the liposomes was also investigated to show that the higher concentrations of lipid more drug was required to induce the leakage. The effect of surface charges of vesicles was also studied, and the results showed that the charge on the liposomes enhanced the stability of the liposomes against the leakage-inducing activity of these drug substances.