Theoretical prediction of the native fluorescence of pharmaceuticals

At present, to search fluorescent compounds or to increase the native fluorescence is an active research line specially and not only with analytical purposes. On some analytical areas and from the early times of applications of fluorescence (mid-fifties) the fluorimeter was defined as the suitable detector for determination of pharmaceuticals and subsequently, this detection mode has been widely applied. Therefore, it is mandatory to develop new strategies to discover or to enhance in a simple way the native fluorescence of organic compounds to increase the number of analytes to be determined by direct fluorescence.In the present paper are studied further applications of a new tool suitable to increase the research in analytical field. Calculations on molecular connectivity and discriminant analysis are applied to a certain number of pharmaceuticals (and some pesticides) on which fluorescence behaviour was observed in an experimental screening or obtained from scientific literature. The screening tests were based on the on-line fluorimetric measurement by using a continuous-flow assembly. The screening comprised pre-selected compounds with different molecular structures. The theoretical predictions agree with the empirical results from the screening test.     

Perry G. Wang (Ed.): Monolithic chromatography and its modern applications

Organic micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), and pesticides, are important environmental contaminants. To obtain more information regarding their presence in marine organisms, an increasing demand exists for reliable analytical methods for quantification of these micropollutants in biotic matrices. Therefore, we developed extraction procedures and new analytical methods for the quantification of 14 pesticides, 10 PFCs, and 11 pharmaceuticals in tissue of marine organisms, namely blue mussels (Mytilus edulis). This paper presents these optimized analytical procedures and their application to M. edulis, deployed at five stations in the Belgian coastal zone. The methods consisted of a pressurized liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry for pharmaceuticals and pesticides, and of a liquid extraction using acetonitrile and SPE, followed by liquid chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry for PFCs. The limits of quantification of the three newly optimized analytical procedures in M. edulis tissue varied between 0.1 and 10 ng g(-1), and satisfactory linearities (≥0.98) and recoveries (90-106%) were obtained. Application of these methods to M. edulis revealed the presence of five pharmaceuticals, two PFCs, and seven pesticides at levels up to 490, 5, and 60 ng g(-1), respectively. The most prevalent micropollutants were salicylic acid, paracetamol, perfluorooctane sulfonate, chloridazon, and dichlorvos.     

Recent trends in solid phase spectrometry: 2003-2009. A Review

Around 100 papers published from 2003 to the present are reviewed concerning analytical methods for the direct light measurement of a solid phase in which a target colored or fluorescent analyte is concentrated. Recent attention has been paid to the development of flow injection-solid phase spectrometry as a simple and inexpensive tool for routine analysis of organic compounds or pharmaceuticals. Due to some improvements in flow injection analysis, such as sequential injection and lab-on-a-valve, it is possible not only to reduce the reagent consumption but also to devise fully automatic and miniaturized systems with minimal maintenance needs. This may have the potential of becoming one of the green analytical methods. Flow injection-solid phase spectrometry is expected to be applied to the speciation of trace chemical components (e.g., specific determination of trace metal ions in different existent oxidation states) in real samples in the environment.     

Determination of pesticides and Pharmaceuticals from Fish Cultivation Water by parallel solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS)

A screening method for multiple classes of pesticides and pharmaceuticals from fish cultivation water was established using liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS). Parallel solid-phase extraction (SPE) with different adsorbents was selected for extracting and purifying analytes with different properties. This method allowed for efficient and economical screening of a virtually unlimited number of compounds without reference standards. In order to evaluate the feasibility of this method, 25 pesticides and pharmaceuticals with different properties were selected. The screening detection limit of this method was 0.015?µg L^?1, which was lower than the maximum residue limits. This value showed that the method was suitable for screening organic contaminants in fish cultivation water. In a simulation experiment, the organic contaminants with high intensity (atrazine and carbendazim) were identified by retention time, accurate mass, isotopic pattern, and the main fragment ions. Moreover, the information about the organic contaminants and MS² spectra was added into a database. Since the QTOF-MS data were traceable, they were saved and could be reexamined for compounds that previously were unexpected. This method provides insight into the screening and identification of organic contaminants in water samples, as well as risk assessment and fishery accident identification.     

An Overview of the Analytical Methods for the Determination of Organic Ultraviolet Filters in Cosmetic Products and Human Samples

UV filters are a group of compounds commonly used in different cosmetic products to absorb UV radiation. They are classified into a variety of chemical groups, such as benzophenones, salicylates, benzotriazoles, cinnamates, p-aminobenzoates, triazines, camphor derivatives, etc. Different tests have shown that some of these chemicals are absorbed through the skin and metabolised or bioaccumulated. These processes can cause negative health effects, including mutagenic and cancerogenic ones. Due to the absence of official monitoring protocols, there is an increased number of analytical methods that enable the determination of those compounds in cosmetic samples to ensure user safety, as well as in biological fluids and tissues samples, to obtain more information regarding their behaviour in the human body. This review aimed to show and discuss the published studies concerning analytical methods for the determination of organic UV filters in cosmetic and biological samples. It focused on sample preparation, analytical techniques, and analytical performance (limit of detection, accuracy, and repeatability).     

Ultraviolet Photo-Induced Fluorescence Followed by Laser Excitation (UV-PIF-LE) for the Determination of Pesticides in Natural Waters

Abstract

A new method was developed for determining trace amounts of pesticides, using an ultraviolet (UV) lamp to obtain photo-induced fluorescent (PIF) compounds, and then using laser excitation (LE) by a tunable source to excite and simultaneously characterize their fluorescence over a short acquisition time using an intensified charge-coupled device camera. This new UV-PIF-LE method was applied to determine isoproturon, oxadiazon, and fipronil in natural waters. This approach represents an improvement on the previously published direct laser photo-induced fluorescent (DL-PIF) approach that utilized the inclusion of a supplementary UV irradiation device in the experimental setup, permitting the separation of the formation and detection steps for the PIF analytes. This evolution improves the selectivity and increases the sensitivity while maintaining a short analysis time. The UV-PIF-LE method gave very good results with satisfactory analytical performance for the determination of the selected pesticides. This approach also demonstrated good reproducibility, with relative square deviation values between 3.3% and 6.3%, for spiked river water and seawater samples with detection limits in the ng mL^?1 range.     

Recent trends in the liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of organic contaminants in environmental samples

An overview of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry methods used for the determination of trace organic contaminants in environmental samples is presented. Among the organic contaminants the focus is given on five groups of emerging contaminants that raised most concern as environmental contaminants and therefore attracted attention of a research community: pharmaceuticals, drugs of abuse, polar pesticides, perfluorinated compounds and nanoparticles. Various aspects of current LC–MS methodology, using tandem and hybrid MS instruments, including sample preparation, are discussed.     

对几种氨基甲酸酯类农药的荧光特性研究

研究了有机物分子结构与荧光产生之间的关系。利用这一理论分析了西维因、克百威、残杀威等几种常用的氨基甲酸酯类农药的分子结构并揭示了它们的荧光光学特性,从而确定了氨基甲酸酯类农药产生荧光的特性,为进一步利用荧光分析法对氨基甲酸酯类农药进行检测提供理论依据。并且利用稳态荧光光谱仪对西维因和克百威标准溶液进行了荧光光谱实验,结果表明,氨基甲酸酯类农药在一定的溶剂条件下是能够受激发荧光的,是可以利用荧光光谱分析法来对它们进行检测．     

Photocontrolled Release of Chemicals from Nano‐ and Microparticle Containers

A benzoin‐derived diol linker was synthesized and used to generate biocompatible polyesters that can be fully decomposed on demand upon UV irradiation. Extensive structural optimization of the linker unit was performed to enable the defined encapsulation of diverse organic compounds in the polymeric structures and allow for a well‐controllable polymer cleavage process. Selective tracking of the release kinetics of encapsulated model compounds from the polymeric nano‐ and microparticle containers was performed by confocal laser scanning microscopy in a proof‐of‐principle study. The physicochemical properties of the incorporated and released model compounds ranged from fully hydrophilic to fully hydrophobic. The demonstrated biocompatibility of the utilized polyesters and degradation products enables their use in advanced applications, for example, for the smart packaging of UV‐sensitive pharmaceuticals, nutritional components, or even in the area of spatially selective self‐healing processes.     

185nm UV降解水中4-CP、4-NP和Rh B的研究

本文以对氯苯酚(4-CP)、对硝基苯酚(4-NP)和罗丹明B(Rh B)为模型有机物(以4-CP和4-NP为小分子模型有机物,以Rh B为大分子模型有机物),分别研究了185 nm UV对水中这3种模型有机物的降解规律、性能和效果.研究结果表明,185 nm UV直接对水中4-CP、4-NP和Rh B有很好的降解效果.研究内容包括:185 nm UV降解模型有机物的浓度、TOC(Total organic carbon)浓度、185 nm UV降解模型有机物过程中溶液pH及电导率变化、以及降解模型有机物过程中产生的无机离子等几个方面.     

LC-MS analysis in the aquatic environment and in water treatment technology – a critical review

Environmental contaminants of recent concern are pharmaceuticals, estrogens and other endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) such as degradation products of surfactants, algal and cyanobacterial toxins, disinfection by-products (DBPs) and metalloids. In addition, pesticides (especially their transformation products), microorganisms, and humic substances (HS), in their function as vehicles for contaminants and as precursors for by-products in water treatment, traditionally play an important role. The present status of the application of LC-MS techniques for these water constituents are discussed and examples of application are given. Solid-phase extraction with various non-selective materials in combination with liquid chromatography (LC) on reversed-phase columns have been the most widely used methods for sample preconcentration and separation for different compound classes like pesticides, pharmaceuticals or estrogens. Electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure ionization (APCI) are the most frequently used ionization techniques for polar and ionic compounds, as well as for less polar non-ionic ones. The facilities of LC-MS have been successfully demonstrated for different compound classes. Polar compounds from pharmaceuticals used as betablockers, iodinated X-ray contrast media, or estrogens have been determined without derivatization down to ultratrace concentrations. LC-MS can be viewed as a prerequisite for the determination of algal and cyanobacterial toxins and the homologues and oligomers of alkylphenol ethoxylates and their metabolites. Tandem mass spectrometric techniques and the use of diagnostic ions reveal their usefulness for compound-class specific screening and unknown identification, and are also valid for the analysis of pesticides and especially for their transformation products. Structural information has been gained by the application of LC-MS methods to organometallic species. New insights into the structural variety of humic substances have been made possible by FT-ICR-MS due to its ultrahigh mass resolution. Finally, exciting possibilities for rapid detection and identification of microorganisms have been made possible by MALDI and LC-MS methods.     

Molecular chemistry of organic aerosols through the application of high resolution mass spectrometry

Understanding the molecular composition and fundamental chemical transformations of organic aerosols (OA) during their formation and aging is both a major challenge and the area of great uncertainty in atmospheric research. Particularly, little is known about fundamental relationship between the chemical composition and physicochemical properties of OA, their atmospheric history, evolution, and the impact on the environment. Ambient soft-ionization methods combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) analysis provide detailed information on the molecular content of OA that is pivotal for improving the understanding of their complex composition, multi-phase aging chemistry, direct (light absorption and scattering) and indirect (aerosol-cloud interactions) effects on atmospheric radiation and climate, health effects. The HR-MS methods can detect thousands of individual OA constituents at once, provide their elemental formulae from accurate mass measurements and structural information based on tandem mass spectrometry. Integration with additional analytical tools, such as chromatography and UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, makes it possible to further separate OA compounds by their polarity and ability to absorb solar radiation. The goal of this perspective is to describe contemporary HR-MS methods, review recent applications in field and laboratory studies of OA, and explain how the information obtained from HR-MS methods can be translated into an improved understanding of OA chemistry.     

Rapid quantification of pharmaceuticals and pesticides in passive samplers using ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry

The presence of both pharmaceuticals and pesticides in the aquatic environment has become a well-known environmental issue during the last decade. An increasing demand however still exists for sensitive and reliable monitoring tools for these rather polar contaminants in the marine environment. In recent years, the great potential of passive samplers or equilibrium based sampling techniques for evaluation of the fate of these contaminants has been shown in literature. Therefore, we developed a new analytical method for the quantification of a high number of pharmaceuticals and pesticides in passive sampling devices. The analytical procedure consisted of extraction using 1:1 methanol/acetonitrile followed by detection with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution and high mass accuracy Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Validation of the analytical method resulted in limits of quantification and recoveries ranging between 0.2 and 20 ng per sampler sheet and between 87.9 and 105.2%, respectively. Determination of the sampler-water partition coefficients of all compounds demonstrated that several pharmaceuticals and most pesticides exert a high affinity for the polydimethylsiloxane passive samplers. Finally, the developed analytical methods were used to measure the time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations of the targeted pollutants in passive samplers, deployed at eight stations in the Belgian coastal zone. Propranolol, carbamazepine and seven pesticides were found to be very abundant in the passive samplers. These obtained long-term and large-scale TWA concentrations will contribute in assessing the environmental and human health risk of these emerging pollutants.     

Application of ultrasound-assisted extraction to the determination of contaminants in food and soil samples

The application of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) to the sample preparation of environmental and food samples has increased in the last years. This technique has been used in the development of methods for the analysis of numerous contaminants, including organic compounds (pesticides, pharmaceuticals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polyhalogenated flame retardants, etc.) and heavy metals. The aim of this work is to review the application of this extraction procedure to the analysis of contaminants in food and soil and the comparison of its use with other well-established extraction procedures. The advantages and disadvantages of this technique together with the possibility of coupling UAE with other analytical techniques will be also discussed.     

Applications of adsorptive stripping voltammetry for the trace analysis of metals, pharmaceuticals and biomolecules

 A review with 159 references is presented on the applications of adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) for determining trace metal ions in different environmental samples (e.g. water, soil, plant, biological fluids). The analytical applications of AdSV to biologically active organic compounds (e.g. pharmaceuticals, pesticides, biomolecules) are also discussed. Received: 18 December 1995/Revised: 8 January 1997/Accepted: 12 January 1997     

Microwave-assisted extraction: Application to the determination of emerging pollutants in solid samples

Flame retardants, surfactants, pharmaceutical and personal care products, among other compounds, have been the object of numerous environmental studies. In this chapter, the application of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) in the development of analytical methods for several groups of organic compounds with growing concern as emerging pollutants has been considered. Compared to other extraction techniques, optimization of MAE experimental conditions is rather easy owing to the low number of influential parameters (i.e. matrix moisture, nature of the solvent, time, power, and temperature in closed vessels). The great reduction in the extraction time and solvent consumption, as well as the possibility of performing multiple extractions, increasing the sample throughput, can also be highlighted among MAE advantages. In summary, the study of several applications of MAE to environmental problems demonstrates that this technique constitutes a good alternative for the determination of organic compounds in environmental samples. It can be used as a rapid screening tool, and also to obtain detailed information on the sources, behaviour and fate of emerging pollutants in environmental matrices.     

Applications of adsorptive stripping voltammetry for the trace analysis of metals, pharmaceuticals and biomolecules

 A review with 159 references is presented on the applications of adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) for determining trace metal ions in different environmental samples (e.g. water, soil, plant, biological fluids). The analytical applications of AdSV to biologically active organic compounds (e.g. pharmaceuticals, pesticides, biomolecules) are also discussed. Received: 18 December 1995/Revised: 8 January 1997/Accepted: 12 January 1997     

Prediction of solvents suitable for crystallization of small organic molecules

Selection of suitable solvent is essential for crystallization of pharmaceuticals. Based on chemical structures of 6397 compounds and 15 single solvents that were used to obtain their single crystals, correlations between the molecular characteristics and the solvents have been investigated by cheminformatics methods. Decision-tree and Bayesian-probability methods have been applied to make classification models. These two models are complementary in character in the present case. It has been proven that the prediction of the solvent rankings for particular compounds by use of the classification models is satisfactory from the practical point of view. The present study has demonstrated that cheminformatics methods could greatly help rational crystallization of small organic molecules such as pharmaceuticals.