Determination of amoxicillin residues in animal tissues by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

Trace levels of amoxicillin residues were determined in animal tissues by liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence detection. An improved solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure requiring less flammable solvent (diethyl ether) was developed for sample preparation. Muscle samples of beef, pork, chicken, and tilapia were extracted with a phosphate buffer followed by the modified SPE procedure for cleanup and concentration prior to the LC-fluorescence analysis. Average recoveries of fortified amoxicillin at 5, 10, and 20 micrograms/kg ranged from 83.9 to 85.8% in beef, 86.1 to 88.1% in pork, 81.7 to 82.9% in chicken, and 92.5 to 95.4% in tilapia. Relative standard deviations were < 4%.     

Synthesis and structural studies of polynuclear ruthenium clusters derived from reactions of 1,2,3,4-tetraphenyl-1,2,3,4-tetraphospholane with [Ru3(CO)12]

Reactions of 1,2,3,4-tetraphenyl-1,2,3,4-tetraphospholane (I) with triruthenium dodecacarbonyl at different temperatures result in the cleavage of P-P bonds and even P-C bond(s) in I to afford a series of new ruthenium cluster derivatives containing phosphido and phosphinidene ligands: a penta-ruthenium wing-tip bridged butterfly cluster [Ru₅(CO)₁₁(μ₄-PPh)(μ₃-PPh){(μ₄-η²-(PPh)₂CH₂}] (1), a hepta-ruthenium polyhedral (consisting of two fused square pyramids with a co-apex) cluster [Ru₇(CO)₁₅(μ₄-PPh)₂{(μ₂-PPh)₂CH₂}](2), a linked penta-ruthenium cluster [Ru₄(CO)₁₀(μ₄-PPh)(μ₃-PPh)₂(μ₃-η²-PPhCH₂)Ru(CO)₃] (3), and a hepta-nuclear polyhedral (consisting of two fused square pyramids with different apexes) cluster [Ru₇(CO)₁₅(μ₄-PPh)₂{(μ₂-PPh)₂CH₂}](4). Clusters 2 and 4 are isomeric and differ only in the connection of the two square pyramids in the Ru₇ polyhedron. All the newly obtained clusters have been fully characterized by spectroscopic (IR, FABMS, ¹H- and ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy) and analytical techniques, and their molecular structures are established by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Application of capillary electrophoresis to process monitoring in the manufacturing of semisynthetic penicillins

Application of capillary electrophoresis to monitoring the concentration of material penicillin and the intermediates in the manufacturing process of semisynthetic penicillins was investigated. Factors affecting the precision of analysis were screened and optimised by orthogonal array designs. Compared to conventional HPLC methods, the capillary electrophoresis method gives better resolution and faster sample throughput. Other advantages of the capillary electrophoresis method over HPLC methods include much less consumption of buffer solution and the absence of organic solvents in the analysis.     

Stereochemical Aspects in the Asymmetric Michael Addition of Chiral Imines to Substituted Electrophilic Alkenes

The Michael-type addition of chiral imines, derived from racemic alpha-substituted cyclanones and optically active 1-phenylethylamine, to electrophilic alkenes, in neutral conditions, constitutes one of the most efficient methods for the stereocontrolled construction of quaternary carbon centers. In order to create an additional stereogenic center at the alpha- or beta-position to the quaternary one, the behavior of a variety of alpha- and beta-substituted alkenyl acceptors was examined. In general, these additions are highly regioselective, the alkylation taking place predominantly, if not exclusively, at the more substituted alpha-side of the imine function; however, in some cases (electrophilic alkenes 28 and 49), significant amounts (10-15%) of regioisomeric adducts were obtained. With the exception of methyl propiolate 52, a remarkable control of the absolute configuration of the adducts were always observed with these Michael acceptors. According to the general rule we have previously proposed, the alkylation process takes place preferentially on the less hindered pi-face of the more substituted secondary enamine, in tautomeric equilibrium with the starting imine. An excellent diastereocontrol was always obtained by using the present alpha- and beta-substituted alkenes. These stereochemical outcomes can be interpreted by invoking that the reaction proceeds through a compact approach of the reactants, the hydrogen atom at the nitrogen center of the enamine being transferred to the alpha-vinylic carbon atom of the acceptor, concertedly with the creation of the C-C bond. In this respect the "endo-approach" 58, in which the electron-withdrawing group of the acceptor faced to the nitrogen atom of the enamine (case of acceptors 10, methyl methacrylate, 24, 28, 43, 47, and 49) largely prevails over the "exo-approach" 59 (case of acceptor 38). This predominant "endo-preference" can be reasonably interpreted in terms of a cooperative effect between steric and stereoelectronic factors.     

Oxidative addition of substituted arsines and stibines with bis(trifluoromethyl)nitroxyl

Reactions of bis(trifluoromethyl)nitroxyl with a number of methyl- and trifluoromethyl- substituted arsines and stibines at room temperature lead to the formation of pentavalent arsenic and antimony derivatives, namely (CH₃)_3?n(CF₃)_nM[ON(CF₃)₂]₂ (M = As, n = 0, 1, 2; M = Sb, n = 0, 1). The derivatives yield bis(trifluoromethyl)- hydroxylamine and the corresponding dichlorides on treatment with hydrogen chloride. A free radical mechanism is proposed for the oxidative addition reactions.     

Fine-tuning water exchange on Gd(III) poly(amino carboxylates) by modulation of steric crowding

In the objective of optimizing water exchange rate on stable, nine-coordinate, monohydrated Gd(III) poly(amino carboxylate) complexes, we have prepared monopropionate derivatives of DOTA4- (DO3A-Nprop4-) and DTPA5- (DTTA-Nprop5-). A novel ligand, EPTPA-BAA(3-), the bisamylamide derivative of ethylenepropylenetriamine-pentaacetate (EPTPA5-) was also synthesized. A variable temperature 17O NMR study has been performed on their Gd(III) complexes, which, for [Gd(DTTA-Nprop)(H2O)]2- and [Gd(EPTPA-BAA)(H2O)] has been combined with multiple field EPR and NMRD measurements. The water exchange rates, k(ex)(298), are 8.0 x 10(7) s(-1), 6.1 x 10(7) s(-1) and 5.7 x 10(7) s(-1) for [Gd(DTTA-Nprop)(H2O)]2-, [Gd(DO3A-Nprop)(H2O)]- and [Gd(EPTPA-BAA)(H2O)], respectively, all in the narrow optimal range to attain maximum proton relaxivities, provided the other parameters (electronic relaxation and rotation) are also optimized. The substitution of an acetate with a propionate arm in DTPA5- or DOTA4- induces increased steric compression around the water binding site and thus leads to an accelerated water exchange on the Gd(III) complex. The k(ex) values on the propionate complexes are, however, lower than those obtained for [Gd(EPTPA)(H2O)]2- and [Gd(TRITA)(H2O)]- which contain one additional CH(2) unit in the amine backbone as compared to the parent [Gd(DTPA)(H2O)]2- and [Gd(DOTA)(H2O)]-. In addition to their optimal water exchange rate, [Gd(DTTA-Nprop)(H2O)]2- has, and [Gd(DO3A-Nprop)(H2O)]- is expected to have sufficient thermodynamic stability. These properties together make them prime candidates for the development of high relaxivity, macromolecular MRI contrast agents.     

地质样品中岩性自动分类X－射线荧光光谱分析研究

鉴于地质样品岩性变化大，容易引起对Ｘ－射线荧光分析准确度的影响，尤其是主、次量元素受影响更大，因此，作者提出了岩性自动分类，交互有效－基本参数法分析地质样品中主、次量元素，并与原有的经验系数和其它方法进行了比较．结果表明本方法的准确度更好些，对岩性的变化具有更好的适应能力     

Filter-based microfluidic device as a platform for immunofluorescent assay of microbial cells

A filter-based microfluidic device was combined with immunofluorescent labeling as a platform to rapidly detect microbial cells. The coin-sized device consisted of micro-chambers, micro-channels and filter weirs (gap = 1-2 microm), and was demonstrated to effectively trap and concentrate microbial cells (i.e., Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia), which were larger in size than the weir gap. After sample injection, a staining solution containing fluorescently-labeled antibodies was continuously provided into the device (flow rate = 20 microl min(-1)) to flush the microbial cells toward the weirs and to accelerate the fluorescent labeling reaction. Using a staining solution that was 10 to 100 times more dilute than the recommended concentration used in a conventional glass method, those target cells with a fluorescent signal-to-noise ratio of 12 could be microscopically observed at single-cell level within 2 to 5 min prior to secondary washing.     

Study on surfactant coating of polymeric nanoparticles for controlled delivery of anticancer drug

Biodegradable nanoparticles loaded with anticancer drug paclitaxel and appropriately coated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene glycol (PEG) as well as d--tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) were produced and characterised by various analysis techniques such as laser light scattering (LLS) for particle size and size distribution, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) for particle morphology, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier Transform Infrared-Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS) for surface chemistry, and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for drug encapsulation efficiency (EE) and in vitro release kinetics. The emphasis was given to the possible effects of surface coating on the physicochemical and pharmaceutical properties of paclitaxel loaded nanoparticles. It was found that the type and amount of the surfactant could significantly affect the drug EE in the nanoparticles, the particles characteristics and their in vitro release behaviour. The surfactants dominated on the nanoparticles surface and the coated nanoparticles displayed in spherical shape with relative smooth surface within the resolution scope of the equipment. The particle size and size distribution showed close relation to the surface coating, which may also be responsible for the drug encapsulation efficiency and the in vitro release kinetics. A favourable formulation of drug loaded nanoparticles of desired properties could be obtained by optimising the fabrication parameters.     

Spectroscopic probing of the effect of alkanols on the properties of the head group region in reverse micelles of AOT-heptane-water

The effects of addition of alkanols (ethanol, n-hexanol, and 3-ethyl-3-pentanol) on the micropolarity and microviscosity of the head group region in reverse micelles of AOT-heptane-water have been investigated by fluorescence probing methods (ANS fluorescence yield and TMADPH fluorescence anisotropy), complemented by the use of the solvatochromic probe E(T)(30) in absorption spectroscopy. For all the alkanols considered, ANS fluorescence in AOT reverse micelles (at W=3) is quenched by additive incorporation, being the effect elicited almost independent of the alkanol chain length and topology. As sensed by the E(T)(30) parameter, the micropolarity of the micelle surface increases, remains unmodified, and decreases upon addition of ethanol, 3-ethyl-3-pentanol, and hexanol, respectively. While ethanol barely modifies the fluorescence anisotropy of TMADPH, 3-ethyl-3-pentanol and n-hexanol addition strongly decrease it. The similarity of the tendencies of ANS data to TMADPH anisotropies and the differences between ANS data and E(T)(30) values would indicate that, at least for 3-ethyl-3-pentanol and n-hexanol, microviscosity, rather than micropolarity, must be considered to interpret the effect of the alkanols upon the fluorescent behavior of ANS.