A technique for capillary joining in capillary electrophoresis

Summary Aspects of cracking and joining capillaries have been investigated. Capillary coupling was achieved using various methods. The most successful used hydrofluoric acid-etched capillaries to form male and female ends which were then joined together. This type of joint was used to connect sections of capillary of similar and different internal diameters with minimal loss in resolution, peak width and number of theoretical plates. (Uridine and hypoxanthine was used as a test mixture). For hypoxanthine on a 50 m/50 m etched joined capillary 10 cm from the detector window the number of theoretical plates was 96.6% of that for hypoxanthine on an unbroken capillary. Following the relative success of capillary joining, a coupled capillary flowcell (50 m/200 m) was produced and evaluated.     

The Use of Supported Liquid Membranes in the Extraction of Macrolides in Biomatrices

Supported liquid membranes (SLMs) have been used in a sample pre-treatment and/or clean-up technique for the continuous extraction of a mixture of three macrolide compounds, namely tylosin tartrate, erythromycin and spiramycin from different biomatrices. The matrices from which extraction was done include cows milk, bovine kidney, and liver tissues. The supported liquid membrane used to trap these compounds was made up of 1-decanol:n-undecane (1:1). Several factors affecting the extraction efficiency during SLM enrichment, such as donor pH, acceptor buffer pH, and enrichment time were studied. High performance liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer operating in electrospray mode was used as a detection method for these antibiotic compounds with their minor structural components. Fragmentation behavior in ESI-MS (full scan) and ESI-MS/MS modes for these compounds has been studied, and the data obtained was used in selected ion monitoring after LC/MS. The detection limits obtained were 0.01ppb for tylosin tartrate, 0.03ppb for erythromycin and 0.08ppb for spiramycin.     

Characterization and purification of supramolecular metal complexes using gel-permeation chromatography

Gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) has been used to analyze transition-metal-based squares, triangles, and related supramolecular complexes. Using rhenium-containing molecular squares of different sizes, a linear calibration curve has been established, which was used for confirming the relative sizes of other assemblies. GPC can also discriminate cyclic trimers and tetramers of a dirhodium building block. Preparative GPC has been used to resolve macroscopic samples of a rhenium-based supramolecular mixture into pure syn and anti isomers. A mixture of "triangle" and "square" has also been successfully separated.     

Preparation and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Iodine-125 Labeled Alphamethyl-L-Tyrosine

A prompt gamma-ray neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) system was used to calibrate and validate a Monte Carlo model as a proof of principle for the quantification of chlorine in soil. First, the response of an n-type HPGe detector to point sources of ⁶⁰Co and ¹⁵²Eu was determined experimentally and used to calibrate an MCNP4a model of the detector. The refined MCNP4a detector model can predict the absolute peak detection efficiency within 12% in the energy range of 120–1400 keV. Second, a PGNAA system consisting of a light-water moderated ²⁵²Cf (1.06 g) neutron source, and the shielded and collimated HPGe detector was used to collect prompt gamma-ray spectra from Savannah River Site (SRS) soil spiked with chlorine. The spectra were used to calculate the minimum detectable concentration (MDC) of chlorine and the prompt gamma-ray detection probability. Using the ²⁵²Cf based PGNAA system, the MDC for Cl in the SRS soil is 4400 g/g for an 1800-second irradiation based on the analysis of the 6110 keV prompt gamma-ray. MCNP4a was used to predict the PGNAA detection probability, which was accomplished by modeling the neutron and gamma-ray transport components separately. In the energy range of 788 to 6110 keV, the MCNP4a predictions of the prompt gamma-ray detection probability were generally within 60% of the experimental value, thus validating the Monte Carlo model.     

1,3-Diphosphapropenes for novel chemistry of metal complexes

2-Methyl-3,3-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenyl)-1,3-diphosphapropene was obtained as a chelate ligand for palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes. Sulfurization of 2-methyl-1,3-diphosphapropene mainly gave 3-thioxo-1,3-diphosphapropene which bears a PC-PS skeleton and was used as a ligand of transition-metal complexes. A doubly-sulfurized product of the 1,3-diphosphapropene, 1,3-dithioxo-1,3-diphosphapropene, was isolated and characterized. The palladium(II) complexes containing the ligated 1,3-diphosphapropenes were used for catalytic reactions such as cross-couplings and direct conversion of allyl alcohol to allylaniline.     

Lichen-based biosensor for the determination of benzene and 2-chlorophenol: microcalorimetric and amperometric investigations

Preliminary microcalorimetric studies have been performed to analyse the response of a whole epiphytic lichen tissue (Evernia prunastri) to 2-chlorophenol (2Cl-), a pollutant of oil mill waste-water, in order to evaluate whether the tissue might be used to assess the toxic characteristics of polluted waters. The obtained results (lichen viability expressed in hours, enthalpy variations for the 2Cl-/lichen interactions) were used to create a lichen-based biosensor that uses an amperometric oxygen electrode (a Clark electrode) as a transducer. The lichen catalyses aromatic ring cleavage (via pyrocatechase enzymes present in the lichen), and transforms aromatic substances like 2Cl- into muconic acid (C₆H₆O₄). Following a full electroanalytical characterisation, the performance of the proposed lichen biosensor was compared to that of a biosensor based on Pseudomonas putida cells, which was originally constructed to monitor benzene in different matrices (water, air, petrol and oil) and was tested in our laboratory previously.     

Analysis of reduced glutathione using a reaction with 2,4′-dichloro-1-(naphthyl-4-ethoxy)-s-triazine (EDTN)

A fluorescent adduct was formed between 2,4-dichloro-l-(naphthyl-4-ethoxy)-s-triazine (EDTN) and reduced glutathione in a reaction at 37 °C and pH 9.2. This reaction was used as the basis of an assay for reduced glutathione. The fluorescence was examined at an excitation wavelength of 319 nm and an emission wavelength of 425 nm after extraction of residual unreacted EDTN with methylene dichloride and subsequent dilution of the aqueous phase with ethanol containing 0.01 percent Triton X-100. The reaction rate was low at pH 7 but was accelerated by addition of preparations containing the enzyme glutathione-S-transferase. The adduct gave a discrete peak using isocratic elution with HPLC on a Nova-pak C₁₈ 3 m reverse phase column and a solvent system of methanol: 0.1 M phosphate buffer pH 6.3 (4060). An analytical concentration range of 24 to 240 M reduced glutathione was obtained with an ultraviolet detection system but the concentration range was 7.5 to 75 M when a fluorescence detection system was used. Adducts of other mercapturic acid pathway thiol compounds were not formed at 37 °C under the conditions used and hence did not interfere in the assay. They were formed by heating EDTN and the respective thiol compound at 60 °C for 30 min and they clearly separated from the reduced glutathione compound on HPLC analysis. A strong reaction was observed with digitonin while solutions of tyrosine, at 10 mM concentration, also reacted but these reactants are unlikely to interfere with reduced glutathione analysis in biological systems. When adduct formation was used to estimate reduced glutathione concentrations in some mammalian and plant tissues the reaction using 2,4-dichloro-l-(naphthyl-4-ethoxy)-s-triazine and HPLC separation gave the same results as ano-phthaldialdehyde assay for liver and muscle but the HPLC method gave slightly lower values for other mammalian and plant tissues. The differences were attributed to other material in the tissue extracts which was fluorescing at the same wavelengths as the reduced glutathione adduct.     

Characterization of proteins separated by displacement chromatography using low angle laser light scattering photometry

Summary -Lactoglobulin A and B (-LACT) were separated by displacement chromatography (DSC) on an ionexchange column using dextran sulfate as the displacer. A LALLS photometer and a UV detector, in series, were used to determine the molecular weight (MW) of the proteins, on-line. The results indicate that both, -LACT A and B, were present as dimers in the buffer used for the mobile phase. The MWs of the proteins were about 6–8% higher than the theoretical MW of a dimer (37,000). Additional control studies have shown the presence of a high molecular weight species in both the proteins, which could possibly be an aggregate. This species was observed in the LALLS signal but was nearly absent in the UV signal. Our work has demonstrated the feasibility of interfacing LALLS with displacement chromatography for detecting impurities or aggregates which may be difficult to detect by conventional detectors used for chromatography.     

Evaluation of instrumentation used for high performance thin-layer chromatography of aflatoxins

Summary Instrumentation used for high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) of aflatoxins has been evaluated. Optimum sensitivity, accuracy and precision resulted when a combination of a fully automated TLC sampler, an unsaturated conventional TLC glass chamber and a monochromatic densitometer were employed. Benzene: acetonitrile (98: 2 v/v) was found to be the most suitable sample application solvent. These findings are being used to develop a rapid, simple and reproducible method for the analysis of aflatoxins.Part 1 of a series Development of rapid methods for the analysis of aflatoxin in agricultural produce.     

Sensitive determination of cinnarizine in human plasma by high performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection

Summary A sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of cinnarizine in human plasma. Cinnarizine and clocinizine (internal standard) were extracted from acidified plasma (pH 4.7) into carbon tetrachloride and the organic layer was evaporated. The products were separated on a Microspher C18 (3 m) column, using a mixture of 0.04 % triethylamine in 0.01 M ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (NH₄H₂PO₄), pH adjusted to 4.2 with orthophosphoric acid (H₃PO₄), and acetonitrile (2080, v/v) as mobile phase, at a flow rate of 1 ml/min at 40°C. Fluorescence detection (_ex = 245 nm, _em = 310 nm) was used; the detection limit was 0.5 ng/ml under the conditions used, and the calibration curve linear in the concentration range evaluated (1–60 ng/ml). The assay has been used to measure cinnarizine concentrations in plasma after oral administration to volunteers.     

Effect of self-assembly aggregation on physical properties of non-aqueous ionogels based on LMWG

In recent years the low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWG) started to be used as a hardener for liquid electrolytes to create ionogels (OIG). The characteristic properties of gels created by LMWG, like thermal reversibility, very low critical concentration of the gelator, and huge versatility of possible compounds that can be used, were thought to give them advantage over commercial polymer gel electrolytes (PGE). However, the PGE are still dominating, mainly thanks to its superior mechanical resistance and wide temperature range when compared to OIG. The narrow temperature range of the gel phase existence in case of OIGs is the biggest disadvantage. This paper reports the interdisciplinary study on physical properties of created ionogels with nonaqueous electrolyte solutions of quaternary ammonium salts (TAMBr, TEABr, TBABr) and low-molecular-weight gelators for different molar concentrations of the electrolyte. It will be shown how the self-assembly aggregation phenomenon can be used to extend the temperature range of the ionogel phase existence. The thermal scanning conductometry (TSC) method was used to investigate the electric properties of the ionogels. To investigate the transport properties of the cations and solvent molecules in the gel and sol phase, the NMR diffusometry method was used. For identification of intermolecular interaction in studied systems, the NMR spectroscopy method was used and to study how the different salts influence on the properties of used solvent, the tuning-fork vibration viscosimetry method was used.

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An enhanced thermal stability effect in renewable organic ionic gels (OIGs) achieved by controlling the self-assembly process during gelation stage.

     

The in vitro Pulmonary Deposition of a Budesonide γ-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex

The interest in dry powder inhalers (DPIs) has recently increasedbecause the problems associated with the propellants used in pressurized metered-dose inhalers (PMDIs) will be avoided. Cyclodextrins (CDs) may be used as excipients in inhalation powders;e.g., in order to increase the solubility, stability and absorption of an inhaled drug. In thepresent study, the effect of complexation of budesonide with -CD on its pulmonary deposition wasstudied in vitro. In the presence of -CD, the aqueous solubility of budesonidefollowed B_S-type phase-solubility behaviour. A precipitationcomplexation method was used to prepare the solid budenoside/-CD complexes. The pulmonary in vitrodeposition of budenoside was evaluated after inhalation of plain budesonide and budenoside/-CDcomplexes (lactose carrier used in both formulations) by using the ``Andersen' cascadeimpactor. The novel Taifun® was used as the DPI. The respirable fractionsof the emitted budesonide dose (initially and after the storage in 40 °C, RH 75%) werecomparable for both plain budesonide and budesonide/-CD complexes. The present studyindicates that a drug/CD-complex can be used in inhalation powderswithout lowering the pulmonary deposition of the drug.     

Complex Forming Ability of a Family of Isolated Cyclosophoraoses with Ergosterol and Its Monte Carlo Docking Computational Analysis

Neutral cyclosophoraoses (unbranched cyclic -1,2-d-glucans) produced by the Rhizo-bium meliloti 2011 were prepared by size exclusion and anion-exchange chromatographic techniques. The degree of polymerization (DP) of isolated cyclosophoraoses was determined by matrix associated laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI/MS) techniques. A family of purified neutral cyclosophoraoses (DP 17–27) was used as a host for the inclusion complexation with hardly soluble ergosterol. High performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis showed that it induced much enhanced solubility of ergosterol compared to -cyclodextrin. In order to understand the molecular basis of the complex forming ability of cyclosophoraoses, a Monte Carlo (MC) docking-minimization method was used for host-guest complex formation of cyclosophoraoses or -cyclodextrin with ergosterol. From the MC simulation we propose the `hand-shake' mechanism for complexation of cyclosophoraoses with ergosterol.     

Direct analysis of thin-layer chromatographic spots of narcotics by means of diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

The technique of diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (DRIFT) as an in situ detection method was used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of drugs (heroin, cocaine and codeine) separated by thin layer chromatography.It was found that at a given interferometer throughput and detector sensitivity the quality of the spectrum depends strongly in the type of the chromatographic thin layer used. A detection limit of approx. 2 g was attained on a microcrystalline cellulose thin layer with a dynamically aligned Bio-Rad Digilab FTS 60A/896 type interferometer and room temperature DTGS detector. A reliable qualitative analysis can be made with as little as 10 to 15 g drug per spot.     

2-Amino-4-bromobutanoic Acid

(2S)- and (2R)-2-Amino-4-bromobutanoic acid were prepared starting from N-Boc-glutamic acid α tert-butyl ester. The double tert-butyl protection was necessary to prevent a partial racemisation during Barton’s radical decarboxylation used to transform the γ-carboxylic group into a bromide. This bromide reacted with different nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur nucleophiles to give nonnatural amino acids characterised by basic or heterocyclic side chains. The title compound was also used to prepare a conformationally constrained peptidomimetic.     

Rapid on-site TLC–SERS detection of four antidiabetes drugs used as adulterants in botanical dietary supplements

A novel facile method has been established for rapid on-site detection of antidiabetes chemicals used to adulterate botanical dietary supplements (BDS) for diabetes. Analytes and components of pharmaceutical matrices were separated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) then surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was used for qualitative identification of trace substances on the HPTLC plate. Optimization and standardization of the experimental conditions, for example the method used for preparation of silver colloids, the mobile phase, and the concentration of colloidal silver, resulted in a very robust and highly sensitive method which enabled successful detection when the amount of adulteration was as low as 0.001 % (w/w). The method was also highly selective, enabling successful identification of some chemicals in extremely complex herbal matrices. The established TLC–SERS method was used for analysis of real BDS used to treat diabetes, and the results obtained were verified by liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS). The study showed that TLC–SERS could be used for effective separation and detection of four chemicals used to adulterate BDS, and would have good prospects for on-site qualitative screening of BDS for adulterants.

Determination of free copper concentrations in natural waters by using supported liquid membrane extraction under equilibrium conditions

A method is described for measurement of freely dissolved copper concentrations in natural water samples using supported liquid membrane (SLM) extraction under equilibrium conditions, a technique denoted equilibrium sampling through membranes (ESTM). For this purpose, 1,10-dibenzyl-1,10-diaza-18-crown-6 as neutral carrier and oleic acid were used in the membrane phase. The main variables optimised were the carrier used to form the metal complexes, the organic solvent used in the membrane, the countercation, pH, the ligand used in the acceptor phase, the extraction time, and the flow rate of the donor phase. After the optimisation process an enrichment factor of 18.5 was obtained. Equilibrium conditions were reached after extraction for 60 min if a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^–1 or greater was used. When different ligands such as humic acids, phthalic acid, and EDTA were added to the sample solution, and sample pH ranged from 6 to 8, the results obtained for freely dissolved copper concentrations were in a good agreement with results from speciation calculations performed with Visual Minteq V 2.30, Cheaqs V L20.1, and WinHumic V. The developed technique was applied to analysis of stream and leachate water.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at     

Photodamaging Effects of Porphyrin in a Human Carcinoma Cell Line

A convenient procedure to visualize the photodynamic effect of porphyrins on cell lines is shown. 5,10,15,20-Tetra(4-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin (TMP) was used as photosensitizer. The culture flasks bearing a Hep-2 cell line were incubated for 24 h with 1 M of TMP. Under these conditions saturation of the TMP intracellular concentration is obtained. The irradiation of cell cultures for 30 min produces 90% cell mortality, while no toxicity was observed under dark conditions or under irradiation without TMP. This methodology can be used to demonstrate the photodynamic therapy (PDT) process in a laboratory experiment.     

Stripping voltammetric determination of trace amounts of mercury using a carbon paste electrode modified with 2-mercapto-4(3H)-quinazolinone

A carbon paste electrode modified with 2-mercapto-4(3H)-quinazolinone was used for the voltammetric determination of mercury(II). Mercury was preconcentrated onto the surface of the modified electrode only by the complexing effect of the modifier without application of potential (i.e. in open-circuit conditions). After exchange of the medium, the accumulated amount of mercury(II) was determined by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. The response depended on the concentration of mercury in the bulk solution, preconcentration time, and other parameters. The detection limit was 0.1 g 1^–1 Hg(II) for a preconcentration time of 15 min. Preconcentration for suitable times yielded a linear calibration graph from 0.5 to 6000 g 1^–1 Hg(II). For multiple determinations (5 runs), the relative standard deviation was 5% for a concentration of 100 g 1^–1 Hg(II). The proposed procedure was used to determine trace mercury in plant and sewage sludge samples with good results.On leave from Hainan University, Hainan Peoples Republic of China