Sensoric potential of gold�Csilver core�Cshell nanoparticles

The sensitivities of five different core-shell nanostructures were investigated towards changes in the refractive index of the surrounding medium. The shift of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) maximum served as a measure of the (respective) sensitivity. Thus, gold-silver core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared with different shell thicknesses in a two-step chemical process without the use of any (possibly disturbing) surfactants. The measurements were supported by ultramicroscopic images in order to size the resulting core-shell structures. When compared to sensitivities of nanostructures reported in the literature with those of the (roughly spherical) gold-silver core-shell NPs, the latter showed comparable (or even higher) sensitivities than gold nanorods. The experimental finding is supported by theoretical calculation of optical properties of such core-shell NP. Extinction spectra of ideal spherical and deformed core-shell NPs with various core/shell sizes were calculated, and the presence of an optimal silver shell thickness with increased sensitivity was confirmed. This effect is explained by the existence of two overlapping plasmon bands in the NP, which change their relative intensity upon change of refractive index. Results of this research show a possibility of improving LSPR sensor by adding an extra metallic layer of certain thickness.     

Elucidation of the Structures of Metabolites of Picroside II in Rat Bile by LC�CESI�CIT�CMS

Picroside II is one of the main active constituents of Picrorhiza kurroa, which has hepatoprotective, anticholestatic, antioxidant, and immune-modulating activity. To gain an understanding of the biotransformation of picroside II in vivo, liquid chromatography?Celectrospray ionization ion-trap mass spectrometry (LC?CESI?CIT?CMS) was used to investigate the metabolism of picroside II in rats after intravenous administration of a single dose. This method could simultaneously determine picroside II and its metabolites in rat bile. The bile samples were purified by use of a C₁₈ solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge and were separated on a Hypersil ODS2 C₁₈ analytical column. Two phase II metabolites of picroside II in rat bile were characterized, and elucidation of their structures was performed by comparing changes in molecular masses (??M), retention times, and MS² spectral patterns of metabolites with those of the parent drug. Two metabolites identified for the first time in this research were glucuronide and sulfate conjugates.     

Determination of Pilocarpine in Human Plasma by LC�CAPCI�CMS�CMS and Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study

A sensitive, specific and rapid high performance liquid chromatography?Catmospheric pressure chemical ionization source-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS-MS) method for the determination of pilocarpine in human plasma was developed and validated. The method is based on liquid?Cliquid extraction, followed by a reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separation, and detected by means of tandem mass spectrometry. The linear calibration curve covered a concentration range of 2?C500 ??g L^?1. The intra- and inter-day precisions for pilocarpine were <10% and the accuracies were between 90 and 110%. The method was applied successfully to a pharmacokinetic study involving 20 healthy Chinese male volunteers after oral administration of 6 mg pilocarpine.     

Determination of Volatile Nitrosamines in Latex Products by HS-SPME�CGC�CMS

Nitrosamines which have been detected in various latex products are carcinogens. The method for determination of volatile nitrosamines in latex products was developed using a combination of headspace solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography?Cmass spectrometry (GC?CMS). A carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS) fiber was used for HS-SPME involving the following variables: (1) agitation conditions, (2) extraction temperature (3) extraction time, and (4) salt concentration. The instrument performances of three detection systems including GC combined thermal energy analyzer, nitrogen chemiluminescence detector and MS were evaluated. The agitation conditions including magnetic stirring and ultrasonication were investigated by the comparison of extraction efficiency of HS-SPME for nitrosamines. Obtained optimal detection conditions of nitrosamines were HS-SPME at 45 °C for 60 min assisted with magnetic stirring and saturated NaCl followed by GC?CMS. To evaluate this method performance, the commercial products including eleven latex products (gloves, balloons and condoms) and four liquid silicone nipples were analyzed with the method. The results revealed that the method is suitable for simple and effective determination of nitrosamines in latex products. The advantage of this HS-SPME?CGC?CMS method is simple treatment, fast analysis, adequate sensitivity and without organic solvent.     

Size-separation characterization of starch and glycogen for biosynthesis�Cstructure�Cproperty relationships

Starch and glycogen are highly branched polymers of glucose of great importance to humans in managing and mitigating nutrition-related diseases, especially diabetes and obesity, and in industrial uses, for example in food and paper-making. Size-separation characterization using multiple-detection size-exclusion chromatography (SEC, also known as gel-permeation chromatography, GPC) is able to furnish substantial amounts of information on the relationships between the biosynthesis, processing, structure, and properties of these biopolymers, and achieves superior characterization for use in industrial product and process improvements. Multi-detector SEC is able to give much more information about structure than simple averages such as total molecular weight or size; the detailed information yielded by this technique has already given new information on important biosynthesis-structure-property reactions, and has considerable potential in this field in the future. However, it must be used with care to avoid artifacts arising from incomplete dissolution of the substrate and shear scission during separation. It is also essential in interpreting data to appreciate that this size-separation technique can only ever give size distributions, never true molecular weight distributions. Other size-separation techniques, particularly field-flow fractionation, require substantial technical development to be used on undegraded native starches.     

Uncertainty Analysis of Chlormequat Residue in Fruits by LC�CMS�CMS

A method for determination of chlormequat (CCC) residue in fruits by liquid chromatography?Ctandem mass spectrometry (LC?CMS?CMS) was developed. Residue of CCC was extracted from samples with methanol?Cwater (v/v, 1:1) containing 1.0% acetic acid, cleaned up by strong cationic exchange (SCX) cartridge, and then determined by LC?CMS?CMS. The method showed good linearity over the concentration range 0.002?C5.0 mg kg^?1 with correlation coefficient above 0.997. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) for CCC were 5 × 10^?4 mg kg^?1 (S/N = 3) and 0.002 mg kg^?1 (S/N = 10), respectively. Recoveries for CCC at three spiked levels (0.025, 0.050, and 0.20 mg kg^?1) were in the range 80?C102%. Estimation of measurement uncertainty was calculated for CCC at the level of 0.025 mg kg^?1 in fruits. The results demonstrated that the uncertainty of recovery was the main contribution to the combined standard uncertainty. The relative combined standard uncertainties associated with the method ranged from 11 to 13%, depending on the sample matrices.     

GC�CMS and GC�CNPD Determination of Formaldehyde Dimethylhydrazone in Water Using SPME

Formaldehyde dimethylhydrazone (FADMH) is one of the important transformation products of residual rocket fuel 1,1-dimethylhydrazine (1,1-DMH). Thus, recent studies show that FADMH toxicity is comparable to that of undecomposed 1,1-DMH. In this study, a new method for quantification of FADMH in water based on solid phase microextraction (SPME) in combination with gas chromatography (GC) with mass spectrometric (MS) and nitrogen-phosphorus detection (NPD) is presented. Effects of SPME fiber coating type, extraction and desorption temperatures, extraction time, and pH on analyte recovery were studied. The optimized method used 65 micron polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene fiber coating for 1?min headspace extractions at 30?°C. Preferred pH and desorption temperature from the SPME fiber are >8.5 and 200?°C, respectively. Detection limits were estimated to be 1.5 and 0.5?μg?L(-1) for MS and NPD, respectively. The method was applied to laboratory-scale experiments to quantify FADMH. Results indicate applicability for in situ sampling and analysis and possible first-time detection of free FADMH in water.     

Quantification of Doxorubicin in Pegylated Polymer Micelles in Rat Plasma by Methanol Precipitation�CUltrasonic Emulsion Breaking Method and UPLC�CMS�CMS

This study established a new methanol precipitation?Cultrasonic emulsion breaking method for extraction of doxorubicin from polymeric micelles and developed a UPLC?CMS/MS method for the determination of doxorubicin in rat plasma. The emulsion breaking efficiency of methanol is up to 99.2%. The plasma samples were analyzed by UPLC/MS/MS using positive electrospray ionization mode in the multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The calibration curves were linear over the range 5?C1,000 ng mL^?1 with the lower limit of quantification of 5 ng mL^?1. The intra- and inter-day precisions of QC samples were all <10.0%. The chromatographic separation was 2.5 min. The developed method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of doxorubicin in rats following intravenous administration.     

Detection of Nandrolone and Boldenone Abuse in the Ovine by GC�CMS�CMS

Under European legislation, the use of anabolic steroids as growth promoters in meat production is prohibited. Currently, there is no internationally accepted method used for the detection of the potentially endogenous steroids nandrolone and boldenone in the ovine. In the current study, a multi-residue GC?CMS?CMS-based urinary assay has been validated for boldenone as well as the nandrolone metabolites 5??-estrane-3??,17??-diol and epinandrolone. Using a standard addition calibration line approach in pooled bovine urine, the method was linear between the endogenous concentrations and those augmented with 6,000 pg mL^?1. The method was then applied to populations of wether (n = 242) and ewe (n = 237) ovine animals in order to establish urinary thresholds for detecting nandrolone and boldenone abuse. A statistical model (the Chebyshev inequality) was used to produce threshold concentrations for each analyte. Adjustment of the nandrolone metabolite data for specific gravity, a measure of the hydration status of the animal, allowed the effective thresholds to be reduced; potentially leading to a lower number of false positives. Furthermore, the proposed epinandrolone confirmatory thresholds (38,628 and 57,950 pg mL^?1 in wethers and ewes, respectively) were found to be effective in detecting abuse of nandrolone for at least 1 month post-dose of this steroid. However, further studies would be required to assess the efficacy of the proposed boldenone confirmatory thresholds (19,857 and 56,080 pg mL^?1 in wethers and ewes, respectively) since data on its excretion following administration to the ovine are lacking.     

Rapid Simultaneous Determination of Eight Benzimidazoles in Animal Feed by LC�CMS�CMS

A rapid, sensitive and reliable LC?CMS?CMS method for the determination of eight benzimidazoles in animal feed was developed and validated. Samples were extracted with acidic acetonitrile. The extract was diluted with 0.1% formic acid in water, and analyzed by LC?CMS?CMS on a Waters XBridge? C₁₈ column with acetonitrile/0.1% formic acid in water as mobile phase. The samples were quantified with the matrix standard calibration curve method. Good linearity was obtained for eight benzimidazoles at a concentration of 0.005?C2.5 ??g mL^?1 with a linear relative coefficient more than 0.990. Recoveries of 84.0?C104.0% with CVs of 2.50?C7.50% were obtained. Limit of detection was 2.1?C63.0 ??g kg^?1. The method demonstrated to be suitable for the determination of eight benzimidazoles in animal feed samples.     

LC�CMS�CMS Quantitative Determination of Gefitinib in Human Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid

A specific, sensitive, and rapid method based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC?CMS?CMS) was developed for determination of gefitinib in human serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The analyte was detected by tandem mass spectrometry operating in positive electrospray ionization mode with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Gefitinib was extracted from serum or CSF samples with ethyl acetate using icotinib as internal standard. The method was validated over the concentration range of 1.00?C1,000 ng mL^?1 in human serum and 0.05?C50.0 ng mL^?1 in CSF. For both matrices, inter- and intraday precision (CV%) were less than 15% and accuracy was within 85?C115%. Average extraction recoveries were 78.9 and 61.8% in human serum and CSF, respectively. Linearity, recovery, matrix effects, and stability were validated in the two matrices. The method was successfully used for analysis of clinical samples from lung cancer patients with brain metastases treated with gefitinib in the dosage range of 250?C500 mg day^?1.     

Analysis of Fluoroquinolones in Animal Feed Based on Microwave-Assisted Extraction by LC�CMS�CMS Determination

An environmentally friendly method for the determination of fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotics including enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, fleroxacin and sparfloxacin in four feeds is proposed. Disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA)?CMcllvaine buffer (0.1 mol L^?1, pH 4.0) was used as an extracting solvent and the extraction process was accelerated by microwave irradiation. No organic solvents were used in the extraction procedure. The extract obtained was then cleaned up and concentrated by an Oasis hydrophilic?Clipophilic balance (HLB) solid-phase extraction cartridge. The relative intra- and inter-day standard deviations obtained were in the range of 3.7?C9.1 and 2.1?C11.4%, respectively. In the three fortified levels of blank feed sample (30, 100 and 500 ng g^?1), recoveries of FQs ranging from 61.1 to 97.9% were obtained. The analytes desorbed from HLB were analyzed by liquid chromatography?Ctandem mass spectrometry. The limit of detection was in the range of 5.0?C9.1 ng g^?1. The method presented here can be considered a promising alternative to traditional techniques using shaking or stirring for extraction, being more effective, and producing less pollution.     

On-Line SPE Coupled with LC�CAPCI�CMS for the Determination of Trace Explosives in Water

In this study, a rapid, sensitive, and fully automated on-line solid phase extraction (SPE)?Cliquid chromatography (LC)?Cmass spectrometry (MS) method for the analysis of explosive residues in water, was systematically investigated. First, separation of explosive residues was achieved by reverse-phase chromatography using an XDB-C18 column in 30 min with an eluent containing 0.1% acetic acid, 5 mM ammonium acetate, and methanol. Secondly, atmospheric pressures chemical ionization (APCI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) interfaced with the MS detector were used to examine the explosive residues, indicating that APCI?CMS was more suitable than ESI?CMS for the detection of explosives. Thirdly, the conditions for on-line SPE, including solvent pH and sample injected volume, were optimized. The calibration curves obtained for all explosives studied were linear in the concentration range 0.5?C50 ??g L^?1. The detection limits of this method ranged from 0.05 to 0.5 ??g L^?1 when 4000 ??L of sample was on-line pre-concentrated on C18 enrichment column. The recoveries from lake waters spiked with explosive standard solution ranged from 90.5 to 108.0%. The proposed method is simple, fast, and could be applied successfully to the analysis of explosive residues in contaminated water without any further pretreatment.     

Structure�Creactivity relationships in inorganic electrochemistry

Relationships between structure and electron transfer reactivity underlie many important electrochemical applications and provide fundamental insight to chemical and biological processes. The vast array of experimental techniques developed during the latter half of the twentieth century helped greatly to foster progress in this area, and the advent of powerful computational techniques such as density functional theory promises even more far-reaching developments. It is evident that molecular composition, geometric and electronic structure, and changes in these features influence the thermodynamics and kinetics of transition metal electron transfer reactions in predictable and understandable ways. Several examples drawn from the author??s research program to illustrate this premise include the influence of sulfur versus oxygen donation on molybdenum-centered electron transfer, reactions in which a change in metal atom spin state accompanies electron transfer, and concomitant multi-electron transfer and metal?Cmetal bond cleavage in binuclear, ligand-bridged complexes.     

HPLC�CMS�CMS for the Simultaneous Determination of Atorvastatin and Amlodipine in Plasma of Hypertensive Patients

Combination drug products containing amlodipine and atorvastatin are widely marketed and used in the treatment of concomitant hypertension and dyslipidemia. A rapid, simple and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography?Ctandem mass spectrometry (HPLC?CMS?CMS) method for determination of atorvastatin and amlodipine in plasma of hypertensive patients has been developed and validated to be used for therapeutic drug monitoring. The plasma samples were subjected to methanol protein precipitation. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 column using a gradient elution. The mobile phase consisted of 0.1% of formic acid in water and 0.1% of formic acid in acetonitrile and was pumped at a flow rate of 0.4 mL min^?1. Detection of analytes was achieved by tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI) interface in positive ion mode. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 0.46?C1,000 ng mL^?1. The intra- and inter-day precisions were within 12.2%, while the accuracy ranged from 92.7 to 108.1%. The validated LC?CMS?CMS method was successfully applied for the determination of atorvastatin and amlodipine in plasma of hypertensive patients.     

Simultaneous Determination of Hydrocodone, and Its Two Metabolites in Human Plasma by HPLC�CMS�CMS

A rapid, sensitive and specific assay method has been developed to simultaneously determine human plasma concentrations of hydrocodone and its metabolites, norhydrocodone, hydromorphone, using high-performance liquid chromatography with an electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC?CMS?CMS). Hydrocodone, its metabolites, and internal standard, hydrocodone-d ₃, norhydrocodone-d ₃, hydromorphone-d ₃, were separated from human plasma using solid-phase extraction (Empore MPC-SD Solid Phase Extraction Disk). The eluate was dried, reconstituted and injected into the LC?CMS?CMS system. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Kromasil 100-5SIL-Dimensions C₁₈ column (100 × 2.1 mm, 5.0 ??m, Thermo Hypersil-Keystone, USA) using a gradient mobile phase with 20 mmol L^?1 ammonium formate in water with 0.2% formic acid and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile. Detection and quantitation were performed by MS/MS using electrospray ionization and multiple reactions monitoring in the positive ion mode. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration ranges 0.05?C50 ng mL^?1 for hydrocodone (r ² = 0.9991) and norhydrocodone (r ² = 0.9990), and 0.01?C10 ng mL^?1 for hydromorphone (r ² = 0.9990). The limit of quantification was 0.05 ng mL^?1 for hydrocodone and norhydrocodone, and 0.01 ng mL^?1 for hydromorphone. The extraction recovery was above 64.36, 68.51 and 71.78% for hydrocodone, norhydrocodone and hydromorphone. The accuracy was higher than 99.06, 97.70 and 100.07% for hydrocodone, norhydrocodone and hydromorphone. The intra- and inter-day precisions were <5.80, 5.90 and 3.02% for hydrocodone, norhydrocodone and hydromorphone. The method was accurate, sensitive and simple and was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study after a single oral administration of hydrocodone bitartrate at a dose of 5 mg in 12 healthy Chinese volunteers.     

Determination of Fulvestrant in Rat Plasma by LC�CMS�CMS: Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study

A reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC?CMS?CMS) method was developed and validated for the determination of fulvestrant in rat plasma. Sample preparation involved a liquid-liquid extraction using 1.0 mL of n-hexane?Cisopropanol (90:10, v/v) to extract the analyte from 0.1 mL of rat plasma. The analytes were separated on a phenyl-based column using the mobile phase consisting of methanol/water containing 5 mM ammonium acetate at the flow rate of 0.3 mL min^?1. The analytes were monitored by tandem mass spectrometry under electrospray negative ionization mode. Linear calibration curves were generated over the fulvestrant concentration ranges of 0.05?C10.0 ng mL^?1 in rat plasma. The accuracy and within- and between-day precisions were within the generally accepted criteria for bioanalytical methods (<15%). This developed and validated assay method was successfully employed to characterize the plasma concentration-time profile of fulvestrant after its intramuscular administration in rats at a dose of 10 mg kg^?1.     

LC�CMS�CMS Quantitative Determination of Brivudine in Human Plasma and Its Application to Pharmacokinetic Studies

A sensitive and specific liquid chromatography?Celectrospray ionization?Ctandem mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for the identification and quantification of brivudine in human plasma using diclofenac as an internal standard. The method involves extraction with ethyl acetate. The analyte was separated on a C₁₈ column and analyzed in multiple reaction monitoring mode with a negative electrospray ionization interface using the [M?CH]^? ions, m/z 332.8??m/z 80.9 for brivudine, m/z 293.6??m/z 249.5 for diclofenac. The method was validated over the concentration range of 5.54?C2,836 ??g L^?1 for brivudine. The intra-and inter-day precisions were less than 8.91% in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD), and the accuracy was within ?4.22% in terms of relative error (RE). The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 5.54 ??g L^?1 with acceptable precision and accuracy. There were almost no matrix effects. Recovery of brivudine spiked in drug-free plasma was higher than 77.17%. The method was used to study the pharmacokinetic profile of brivudine in human plasma after oral administration of brivudine tablets.     

Supramolecular�Cbased dispersive liquid�Cliquid microextraction: A novel sample preparation technique for determination of inorganic species

A new simple and sensitive method has been developed for the determination of trace levels of inorganic species in environmental water samples. It is based on the use of supramolecular?Cbased dispersive liquid?Cliquid microextraction (SM?CDLLME) prior to microsample introduction into FAAS. The ions are micro?Cextracted with coacervates composed of reverse micelles made from decanoic acid and dispersed in tetrahydrofuran?Cwater mixtures. Cobalt ion was used as a model ion, and 1?C (2?Cpyridylazo)?C2?Cnaphthol as the complexing agent. SM?CDLLME results from a combination of DLLME with coacervation?Cbased microextraction. It combines the advantages of DLLME with those of preconcentration based on coacervation and reverse micelles. Factors affecting the extraction efficiency of Co and its subsequent determination by FAAS were optimized. Under the optimized conditions and using 5.00?mL sample only, the enhancement factor is 58, the limit of detection is 4.2???g L^?C1, and the relative standard deviations for 100???g L^?C1 and 30???g L^?C1 of Co are 2.1% and 3.8%, respectively (n?=?6). The accuracy of the method was confirmed by parallel analyses using the ASTM reference method.