A fully validated method for the simultaneous determination of 11 antihistamines in breast milk by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Antihistamines are excreted into breast milk in small amounts; however, there are no adequate published studies or data concerning their effects on newborns and safety during breastfeeding. Thus, the development of sensitive and specific methodologies for the determination of antihistamines in breast milk is critical. A simple and sensitive GC–MS method for the simultaneous determination of 11 antihistamines (diphenhydramine, orphenadrine, chlorpheniramine, dimethindene, meclozine, hydroxyzine, loratadine, desloratadine, cetirizine, rupatadine and ebastine) in breast milk was developed and validated. The antihistamines were solid‐phase extracted and derivatized with acetic anhydride and n‐propanol. Diazepam‐d₅, hydroxyzine‐d₄ and cetirizine‐d₈ were used as internal standards. Absolute recovery values for all analytes ranged from 70.5 to 120.0%, while the limits of detection and quantification for all analytes were 1.50 and 5.00 ng/mL, respectively. All calibration curves were linear (R² ≥ 0.990) within the range 5.00–1000.0 ng/mL. Accuracy (E_r) ranged between −7.6 and 7.0%, while precision (RSD) was <12% for all antihistamines. The developed method is suitable for the investigation of antihistamine‐related clinical cases, as well as for pharmacokinetic and breastfeeding safety studies.     

Reversed Capillary Electrochromatography: Investigation of Peak Symmetry for Eluting Curves of Solutes

Summary A clean method without use of organic solvents has been developed for isolation and high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) determination of oxytetracycline (OTC) and sulphadimidine (SDD) in cow's milk. Isolation is rapid and simple—homogenization with an inorganic acid solution by means of a handy ultrasonic homogenizer, which is easy-to-use and portable, followed by centrifugation. Reversed-phase HPLC was performed on a C₄ column, with 1.25 mmol L⁻¹ succinic acid solution as mobile phase, and identification was by means of a photodiode-array detector. Separation of the analytes was achieved in less than 8 min. Significant linearity was established over the concentration range of 0.1–1.0 μg mL⁻¹ for both target compounds (r>0.99,P<0.01). Average recoveries of OTC and SDD (each spiked at 0.1–1.0 μg mL⁻¹) were ≥88.8, and inter- and intra-assay variability was ≤2.8%. The total time required for analysis of one sample was <20 min. The limits of quantitation of the method (μg mL⁻¹ in milk) were 0.044 for OTC and 0.023 for SDD. No organic solvent was used at any stage of the analysis.     

Determination of trace dimethoate in milk and river water by kinetic spectrophotometry using malachite green and potassium periodate

In the present study, a new sensitive and simple kinetic-spectrophotometric method for the determination of the insecticide dimethoate [O,O-dimethyl-S-(N-methyl-carbomoylmethyl)-phosphoro-dithioate] is developed. The method is based on the inhibition effect of dimethoate on the oxidation of malachite green (MG) by potassium periodate (KIO₄) in the presence of Mn(II) ions. Inhibition kinetics of this catalytic reaction was investigated in the presence of dimethoate and the possibility of its analytical application was evaluated. The important variables that affected the reaction rate were investigated and the optimum conditions giving maximum sensitivity were established. Dimethoate was determined with linear calibration graph in the interval from 4.58 to 41.22 μg/mL. The optimized conditions yielded a theoretical detection limit of 1.24 μg/mL based on the 3S _b criterion. The RSDs of the method (n = 5) were 1.2–4.9% for the concentration interval of dimethoate from 4.58 to 41.22 μg/mL. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the change in absorbance over time at 615 nm. The method was applied to the determination of dimethoate in waters and milk, and was compared with the spectrophotometric method. The quantitive method developed on the basis of inhibition kinetics is practical, fast and economical. For this reason, it is open for new application fields.     

Development and Validation of a Stability-Indicating LC Method to Quantify Hydrochlorothiazide in Oral Suspension for Pediatric Use

A stability-indicating reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (LC) method was developed and validated for the determination of hydrochlorothiazide in an oral suspension. Isocratic chromatography was performed on a C₁₈ column with 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer pH 3.0/acetonitrile (70:30 v/v) as mobile phase, at a flow rate of 1.3 mL min⁻¹, and UV detection at 254 nm. The method was linear (r ² = 0.9998), accurate (mean recovery = 100.3%), and precise (RSD <2%). It was also validated for specificity and robustness. The method was successfully applied for the quality control analysis of a new pharmaceutical formulation of HCTZ for pediatric use.     

Monitoring of sulfonamide antibacterial residues in milk and egg by polymer monolith microextraction coupled to hydrophilic interaction chromatography/mass spectrometry

A simple, rapid, and sensitive method for the determination of traces of thirteen sulfonamide antibacterials in milk and eggs is presented. This method is based on the combination of polymer monolith microextraction (PMME) technique with hydrophilic interaction chromatography/mass spectrometry (HILIC/MS). The extraction was performed with a poly(methacrylic acid-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) monolithic capillary column while the subsequent separation was carried out on a Luna NH₂ column by HILIC. To obtain optimum results, several parameters relating to HILIC and PMME were investigated. After optimization, acetonitrile (contain 0.05% formic acid, v/v) was used as the elution solution, which was well compatible with the mobile phase in HILIC. Good linearities were obtained for thirteen SAs with the correlation coefficients (R²) above 0.997. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) of the method were found to be 0.4–5.7 ng mL⁻¹ of SAs in whole milk and 0.9–9.8 ng g⁻¹ of SAs in eggs. The recoveries of thirteen SAs in two matrices ranged from 80.4 to 119.8%, with relative standard deviations less than 11.8%.     

Development of an Electroanalytical Method for the Quantification of Zearalenone (ZEA) in Maize Samples

The application of electroanalytical techniques to detect and quantify zearalenone (ZEA) mycotoxin that frequently contaminates maize and foodstuff is studied in this work. Rice and maize grains were inoculated with Fusarium fungus to obtain ZEA in artificially infected samples. The electro‐oxidation of ZEA adsorbed on the surface of glassy carbon (GC) electrodes in 20% acetonitrile (ACN)+80% 1 M HClO₄ (aqueous solution) reaction medium was studied by using square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). Studies were conducted to find the most favorable accumulation potential (E_acc) and accumulation time (t_acc) to perform the ZEA preconcentration on the electrode surface. It was found that E_acc was any value in the range from 0.00–0.90 V and the best t_acc was 120 s, respectively, for ZEA separated from extracting solution by TLC (ZEA_TLC) while E_acc=0.90 V corresponded to ZEA in non separated matrix solution (ZEA_matrix). The ZEA quantitative determination was performed by SWV combined with the standard addition method. Linear plots were obtained from the net peak current (I_{p, n}) vs c*_ZEA in the concentration range from 20 to 3184 ppb. Detection limit of 30 ppb at a signal to noise ratio of 3 : 1 was obtained. On the other hand, recovery experiments were performed on uncontaminated maize samples spiked with ZEA.     

Once again about determination and detection limits

The papers takes stock of different methods for evaluating the detection (c _min) and determination (c _lim) limits of components described in the literature and presents a comparative analysis of the results of such evaluations. It is shown that use of the data on the fluctuations of the blank experiment, in spite of their wide application for such evaluations, gives ambiguous estimates for c _min and c _lim. The most correct method for evaluating the specified parameters is the experimental determination of the actual analyte concentration (content) from the empirical concentration dependence of the relative standard deviation. In case when this estimation method cannot be used, it is recommended to evaluate c _lim by the lower boundary of the calibration graph. The article may be useful for inexperienced analysts experimenters in choosing a method for evaluating the results obtained.     

纳米TiO2膜用于光催化氧化测定化学需氧量的研究

A photocatalytic oxidation method for determination of chemical oxygen demand （COD） using nano-TiO2 film, based on the use of a nano-TiO2-Ce（SO4）2 system and electrochemical detection, was proposed. The technique was originated from the direct determination of the Ce（Ⅲ） concentration change resulting from photocatalytic oxidation of organic compounds. Ce（Ⅲ）, which was produced by photocatalytic reduction of Ce（SO4）2, could be measured at a multi-walled carbon nanotubes （MWNT） chemically modified electrode （CME）. The COD values by this method were calculated from the differential pulse voltammetry （DPV） current of Ce（Ⅲ） at the CME. Under the optimal operation conditions, the detection limit of 0.5 mg·L^-1 COD with the linear range of 1-600 mg·L^-1 was achieved. This method was also applied to determination of various COD of ground water and wastewater samples. The resuits were in good agreement with those from the conventional COD methods, i.e., permanganate and dichromate ones.     

Validation of a chiral capillary electrochromatographic method for metoprolol on a teicoplanin stationary phase

Summary A chiral capillary electrochromatographic (CEC) method for determination of the enantiomeric purity of either enantiomer of metoprolol has been validated. High resolution and efficiency separations (R _s =2.5 and 80000 plates m⁻¹, respectively) were achieved by use of a teicoplanin chiral stationary phase in the polar organic mode. Method validation showed that detection linearity, robustness, accuracy, and repeatability were adequate. The method was also shown to be sufficiently sensitive for the determination of a minor enantiomer; the limit of quantitation (LOQ) was determined to be 0.09% of the peak area of the enantiomer under investigation. A similar commercial column was subsequently evaluated by use of the validated method and found to yield results for metoprolol comparable with those obtained on the homepacked columns. Acceptable separations on this commercial column were also obtained for other β-blocking drugs; those for alprenolol were particularly noteworthy (R _S =3.8 and 265000 plates m⁻¹).     

New determination method of the neutron diffraction system resolution at the Algerian Es-Salam research reactor

The aim of this article is to determine the resolution of the neutron diffraction system (NDS) installed around the Algerian Es Salam research reactor. By using a new method based on neutron radiography technique we have measured the beam divergence at the exit of Soller Collimator (α₂) and hence determine effective collimations. The determination of the adequate resolution of our NDS is performed on experimental results obtained from neutron diffraction patterns for different collimation divergences (α₂) and (α₃) values obtained from several apertures sizes (S ₂) and (S ₃).     

A Validated HPLC Method with Fluorescence Detection for the Determination of Droperidol in Pharmaceutical Tablets,Human Serum,and Human Milk

A sensitive and simple HPLC method with fluorimetric detection has been developed for determination of droperidol in pharmaceutical tablets, human serum, and human milk. Chromatography was performed on a 100 mm × 3 mm i.d. C₁₈ column with methanol–water, 30:70 (v/v), pH 3.5, as mobile phase at a flow-rate of 0.8 mL min⁻¹. The injection volume was 5 μL and detection was by monitoring emission at 324 nm after excitation at 283 nm. Droperidol and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (internal standard) eluted after 5.3 and 6.1 min, respectively. The method was validated over the concentration range 1.14 × 10⁻⁷ to 9.12 × 10⁻⁶ M. Selectivity was good and the limits of detection and quantitation of the method were approximately 3.54 × 10⁻⁸ and 1.07 × 10⁻⁷ M, respectively, corresponding to 13 and 40 ng mL⁻¹. The applicability of the method to determination of droperidol in pharmaceuticals, human serum, and human milk was demonstrated.

     

Determination of Aflatoxin M1 in Milk by a Magnetic Nanoparticle-Based Fluorescent Immunoassay

A sensitive and rapid magnetic nanoparticle-based fluorescent immunoassay for the determination of aflatoxin M1 in raw milk was developed. Aflatoxin M1 was converted to aflatoxin M1-o-carboxymethyl oxime. The aflatoxin M1-oxime was used for the preparation of aflatoxin M1-oxime-fluoresceinamine conjugate through the carbodiimide reaction. The aflatoxin M1-oxime-fluoresceinamine conjugate was characterized by ultraviolet–visible and infrared spectroscopy. Magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) were synthesized and modified by 3-(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane. The size of initial (139?nm) and functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (147?nm) was determined by particle analysis. The optimal mass of immobilized antibody (25?µg) and optimal concentration of aflatoxin M1-oxime-fluoresceinamine conjugate (15?µg?mL^?1) for magnetic nanoparticle-based fluorescent immunoassay were determined. The developed immunoassay provided a linear aflatoxin M1 concentration range from 3.0 to 100?pg?mL^?1 in bovine milk. The detection limit was 2.9?pg?mL^?1. The results of aflatoxin M1 magnetic nanoparticle-based fluorescent immunoassay in heat-treated milk and phosphate-buffered saline at pH 6.6 were compared. The influence of the somatic cell count, pH, and fat concentration in bovine milk on the aflatoxin M1 immunoassay was investigated. The influence of the milk species on the immunoassay was also characterized. The high fat concentration ovine milk depressed the sensitivity of the aflatoxin M1 immunoassay.     

Rapid analysis of aflatoxin M1 in milk using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction coupled with ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

A simple, rapid, and sensitive method based on simultaneous protein precipitation and extraction of aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) followed by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) and ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) analysis was developed for the determination of AFM₁ in milk samples. In order to precipitate the proteins and extract AFM₁ from milk, a sample pretreatment using acetonitrile and NaCl as the extraction/denaturant solvent and salting-out agent, respectively, was optimised. Subsequently, the acetonitrile (upper) phase, containing AFM₁, was used as the disperser solvent in DLLME, and extractant (chloroform) and water were added in turn to the extract to perform the DLLME process. The main parameters affecting the extraction efficiency of the whole analytical procedure, such as acetonitrile volume, amount of salt, type and volume of extractant and water volume, were carefully optimised by experimental design. Under optimum conditions, the developed method provides an enrichment factor of 33 and detection and quantification limits (0.6 and 2.0 ng kg^?1, respectively) below the maximum levels imposed by current regulations for AFM₁ in milk and infant milk formulae. Recoveries (61.3–75.3 %) and repeatability (RSD?<?10, n?=?3), tested in different types of milk at four AFM₁ levels, met the performance criteria required by EC Regulation No. 401/2006. Moreover, the matrix effect on the signal intensity of the analyte was negligible. The proposed method provides a rapid extraction and an accurate determination of AFM₁ in milk and formula milk using a simple and inexpensive sample preparation procedure.

Observation of nicotinic acid in nicorandil samples and simultaneous determination of nicorandil and its three degradation products in raw drug and tablet form by high performance liquid chromatography

Nicotinic acid (NA) as a degradation product of nicorandil (NIC) was identified and quantified by HPLC-DAD and GC / MS. In the present paper a rapid, sensitive, precise and specific HPLC-DAD method was developed for the simultaneous determination of NIC, NA and two known degradation products, nitrate (NI) and de-nitrated nicorandil [N-(2-hydroxyethyl) nicotinamide] (HEN) in raw drug and tablet form. The present method was performed on an ODS C₁₈ column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) using detection at 204 nm and employing nicotinamide (NT) as internal standard. The procedure was validated by evaluating linearity, accuracy and recovery and applied to monitor the increased level of NI, HEN and NA as a function of NIC storage time at room temperature.     

Sensitive and rapid amperometric magnetoimmunosensor for the determination of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis>

The preparation and characteristics of a disposable amperometric magnetoimmunosensor, based on the use of functionalized magnetic beads (MBs) and gold screen-printed electrodes (Au/SPEs), for the specific detection and quantification of Staphylococcal protein A (ProtA) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is reported. An antiProtA antibody was immobilized onto ProtA-modified MBs, and a competitive immunoassay involving ProtA antigen labelled with HRP was performed. The resulting modified MBs were captured by a magnetic field on the surface of tetrathiafulvalene-modified Au/SPEs and the amperometric response obtained at −0.15 V vs the silver pseudo-reference electrode of the Au/SPEs after the addition of H₂O₂ was used as transduction signal. The developed methodology showed very low limits of detection (1 cfu S. aureus/mL of raw milk samples), and a good selectivity against the most commonly involved foodborne pathogens originating from milk. These features, together with a short analysis time (2 h), the simplicity, and easy automation and miniaturization of the required instrumentation make the developed methodology a promising alternative in the development of devices for on-site analysis.     

高效液相色谱化学发光法检测牛奶中残留四环素类化合物的研究

基于四环素类抗生素药物中的四环素(TC)、土霉素(OTC)、金霉素(CTC)和多西环素(DC)能够强烈增敏通过恒电流电解方法在线电生BrO^－和鲁米诺之间产生的化学发光, 提出了一种高效液相色谱(HPLC)化学发光(CL)法检测4种四环素类抗生素药物的新方法. 以Nucleosil RP-C₁₈ (250 mm×4.6 mm, i.d., 5 μm, pore size, 100 Å)为色谱柱, 0.05 mol• L^－1磷酸二氢钾(pH 2.5)-乙腈(30∶70, V∶V)为流动相, 流速1.2 mL/min, 柱温25 ℃, 同时分离检测四种抗生素的总时间为11 min. 研究并优化了流动相、电生试剂化学发光检测的条件. 四种抗生素的检出限为0.002～0.008 μg•mL^－1 (3σ), 对0.01 μg•mL^－1的四种抗生素测定的相对标准偏差为2.0%～3.6% (n＝11). 该方法已成功应用于牛奶中残留四环素类抗生素含量的分析.     

A matrix effect and accuracy evaluation for the determination of elements in milk powder LIBS and laser ablation/ICP-OES spectrometry

Laser ablation coupled to inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (LA-ICP-OES) and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) were investigated for the determination of Ca, Mg, Zn and Na in milk samples. The accuracy of both methods was evaluated by comparison of the concentration found using LA-ICP-OES and LIBS with classical wet digestion associated with ICP-OES determination. The results were not fully acceptable, with biases from less than 1% to more than 60%. Matrix effects were also investigated. The sample matrix can influence the temperature, electron number density (n _e) and other excitation characteristics in the ICP. These ICP characteristics were studied and evaluated during ablation of eight milk samples. Differences in n _e (from 8.9 to 13.8 × 10¹⁴ cm⁻³) and rotational temperature (ranging from 3,400 to 4,400 K) occurred with no correlation with trueness. LIBS results obtained after classical external calibration procedure gave degraded accuracy, indicating a strong matrix effect. The LIBS measurements clearly showed that the major problem in LA-ICP was related to the ablation process and that LIBS spectroscopy is an excellent diagnostic tool for LA-ICP techniques.     

Effect of simultaneous cooling on microwave-assisted wet digestion of biological samples with diluted nitric acid and O2 pressure

The present work evaluates the influence of vessel cooling simultaneously to microwave-assisted digestion performed in a closed system with diluted HNO₃ under O₂ pressure. The effect of outside air flow-rates (60–190 m³ h⁻¹) used for cooling of digestion vessels was evaluated. An improvement in digestion efficiency caused by the reduction of HNO₃ partial pressure was observed when using higher air flow-rate (190 m³ h⁻¹), decreasing the residual carbon content for whole milk powder from 21.7 to 9.3% (lowest and highest air flow-rate, respectively). The use of high air flow-rate outside the digestion vessel resulted in a higher temperature gradient between liquid and gas phases inside the digestion vessel and improved the efficiency of sample digestion. Since a more pronounced temperature gradient was obtained, it contributed for increasing the condensation rate and thus allowed a reduction in the HNO₃ partial pressure of the digestion vessel, which improved the regeneration of HNO₃. An air flow-rate of 190 m³ h⁻¹ was selected for digestion of animal fat, bovine liver, ground soybean, non fat milk powder, oregano leaves, potato starch and whole milk powder samples, and a standard reference material of apple leaves (NIST 1515), bovine liver (NIST 1577) and whole milk powder (NIST 8435) for further metals determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Results were in agreement with certified values and no interferences caused by matrix effects during the determination step were observed.     

A competitive immunoassay with a surrogate calibrator curve for aflatoxin M1 in milk

A green enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) in milk was developed and validated with a surrogate calibrator curve. Polyclonal anti-idiotype (anti-Id) antibody, used as an AFM₁ surrogate, was generated by immunizing rabbits with F(ab′)₂ fragments from the anti-AFM₁ monoclonal antibody (mAb). The rabbits exhibited high specificity to the anti-AFM₁ mAb, and no cross-reactivity to either of the other anti-aflatoxin mAbs or the isotype matched mAb was observed. After optimizing the physicochemical factors (pH and ionic strength) that influence assay performance, a quantitative conversion formula was developed between AFM₁ and the anti-Id antibody (y = 31.91x − 8.47, r = 0.9997). The assay was applied to analyze AFM₁ in spiked milk samples. The IC₅₀ value of the surrogate calibrator curve was 2.4 μg mL⁻¹, and the inter-assay and intra-assay variations were less than 10.8%; recovery ranged from 85.2 to 110.9%. A reference high-performance liquid chromatography method was used to validate the developed method, and a good correlation was obtained (y = 0.81x + 9.82, r = 0.9922).     

Determination of organic micro-pollutants such as personal care products, plasticizers and flame retardants in sludge

In this study, a method for the determination of organic micro-pollutants, i.e. personal care products such as synthetic musk fragrances, household bactericides, organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers, as well as phthalates in sludge, has been developed. This method is based on lyophilisation and accelerated solvent extraction followed by clean-up steps, i.e. solid phase extraction and size exclusion chromatography. The determination is performed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Stable isotope-labelled compounds such as musk xylene (MX D₁₅), tri-n-butylphosphate (TnBP D₂₇) and triphenylphosphate (TPP D₁₅) were used as internal standards. Recovery rates were determined to be 36–114% (with typical relative standard deviation of 5% to 23%) for the target compounds. The limit of detection was 3–30 ng g⁻¹, and the limit of quantification was 10–100 ng g⁻¹ dry matter.