Quantitative screening of genes regulating tryptophan hydroxylase transcription in Caenorhabditis elegans using microfluidics and an adaptive algorithm

Research published in Integrative Biology by Hyewon Lee, Matthew M. Crane, Yun Zhang and Hang Lu at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Harvard University (Integr. Biol., 2013, 5, 372-380) recently published that tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl-1-trichlorosilane (T2492) from UCT Specialties (United Chemical Technologies) was used in research developing a quantitative genetic screening process based on a simple adaptive algorithm using a single-layer multifluidic device. Conventional UV photolithography was used to transfer microarray features onto the transparency. The T2492 kept the PDMS from adhering to the masters. The resultant PDMS layer was cut into shape, punched for holes and bonded onto a cover slip to make complete devices.

UCT Specialties continues to manufacture high quality specialty silanes, silicones, catalysts and coatings for a vast variety of manufacturing markets. This expertise, coupled with our excellence in the Solid Phase Extraction chromatography markets demonstrates UCT's leadership for all your silicon related chemistry products.

UCT Salutes TIAFT 50th Anniversary London

UCT is proud to salute TIAFT's 50th anniversary conference held in London on the 26th and 27th April 2013 by being present at this auspicious gathering of world class forensic scientists and guests of honor. UCT's booth (#3) will be staffed by Hocine Omari, a senior member of UCT's international sales team, who will be on hand to discuss UCT's products throughout the meeting. Please come by and say hello, and Happy Birthday TIAFT!

UCT Clean Screen DAU and Post Mortem Analysis of MDPV

MDPV, a bathsalt type drug, has become widely known in the drugs and driving world as  a psychoactive, synthetic analog of the central nervous system stimulant cathinone. It's recent popularity as a recreational drug in the United States has led to numerous reports to poison control centers across the country.  As with other synthetic cathinones, the recreational use of MDPV has resulted in death.

Forensic toxicologists working with these drugs in the post mortem area are now being  challenged with developing highly efficient methods of extraction, analysis, and interpretation of the results across many biological samples such as whole blood, urine, and tissue material.  UCT is known for its manufacturing of the finest sorbent, Clean Screen DAU, for GC-MS and LC-MS/MS types of analysis where clean extracts mean lower limits of detection, less matrix effect and higher recoveries and reproducibility.  In a recent paper in Journal of Analytical Toxicology (April 2013), the forensic toxicology laboratory at Cuyhoga County (Ohio), led by Dr. John Wyman, D-ABFT, employed UCT's Clean Screen DAU to screen samples by GC-MS, but to also quantify MDPV in blood, liver, kidney and bile samples by LC-MS/MS.  The use of the Clean Screen DAU SPE was shown to be able to accommodate samples of post mortem blood as well as the post mortem tissue samples. When forensic toxicologists seek the finest SPE sorbents, they look to UCT for the best, as demonstrated in this article.