Simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid,dopamine and uric acid based on tryptophan functionalized graphene

A new type of tryptophan-functionalized graphene nanocomposite (Trp-GR) was synthesized by utilizing a facile ultrasonic method via π–π conjugate action between graphene (GR) and tryptophan (Trp) molecule. The material as prepared had well dispersivity in water and better conductivity than pure GR. The surface morphology of Trp-GR was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The electrochemical behaviors of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), and uric acid (UA) were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) on the surface of Trp-GR. The separation of the oxidation peak potentials for AA–DA, DA–UA and UA–AA was about 182 mV, 125 mV and 307 mV, which allowed simultaneously determining AA, DA, and UA. Differential pulse voltammetery (DPV) was used for the determination of AA, DA, and UA in their mixture. Under optimum conditions, the linear response ranges for the determination of AA, DA, and UA were 0.2–12.9 mM, 0.5–110 μM, and 10–1000 μM, with the detection limits (S/N = 3) of 10.09 μM, 0.29 μM and 1.24 μM, respectively. Furthermore, the modified electrode was investigated for real sample analysis.     

Analysis of Cembranoids in Flue‐cured Tobacco by Accelerated Solvent Extraction and Gas Chromatography‐Mass Spectrometry‐Selected Ion Monitoring

An efficient and sensitive analytical method based on accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry‐selected ion monitoring (GC‐MS‐SIM) was developed and validated for analysis of cembranoids in flue‐cured tobacco leaves. Extraction efficiency of different pretreatment methods including liquid‐solid extraction (LSE), ultrasound‐assisted extraction (UAE), Soxlet extraction and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) was compared and ASE was chosen as the optimal extraction method. During ASE procedure, effect of four parameters on extraction efficiency was considered and the experimental conditions were selected as follows: extraction solvent: dichloromethane; oven temperature: 50 °C; static time: 5 min and number of cycles: 2. Working standards of cembranoids were isolated by silica gel column chromatography and the identification was performed by mass spectrometry. Performance characteristics such as linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), precision and recovery were studied. The LOD and LOQ values were ranging from 5.0 × 10^?3 to 6.9 × 10^?3 μg/mL and 1.7 × 10^?2 to 2.3 × 10^?2 μg/mL for all analytes. At three different spiked levels, recoveries for CBT‐ol, α‐CBT‐diol and β‐CBT‐diol were 94.6%‐105.1%, 93.0%‐97.2% and 88.7%‐107.5% while the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were in the ranges of 3.9%‐6.2%, 1.8%‐8.7% and 1.7%‐6.0%, respectively. The proposed analytical methodology was successfully applied in the analysis of cembranoids in tobacco samples.     

LC–MS–MS Method to Simultaneously Determine Six Probe Drugs for CYP450 Isozymes in Human Liver Microsomes

Here, we report a rapid and specific method based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS) capable of quantifying six CYP450-specific probe substrates in human liver microsomal incubation mixtures simultaneously. These analytes were prepared by single-step extraction and detected in one run by switching polarity of electrospray ionization mode three times. Following optimization of the chromatographic conditions, the peaks were well separated, and retention times ranged between 2.0 and 8.4 min. The total run time for a single injection was within 9 min. This method was fully validated over linear range of 18.8–3,000.0 ng mL^?1 for diclofenac, 0.8–3,000.0 ng mL^?1 for dapson, 1.5–3,000.0 ng mL^?1 for dextromethorphan, 2.0–4,000.0 ng mL^?1 for omeprazole, 75.0–3,000.0 ng mL^?1 for chlorzoxazone and 0.8–3,000.0 ng mL^?1 for phenacetin using diazepam as internal standard. Samples were prepared by protein precipitation and analyzed on the LC–MS–MS equipped with ESI interface. For each analyte, inter- and intra-day precision (RSD%) were <15 % and accuracy was within 85–115 %. The specificity, precision, accuracy, stabilities and matrix effect were evaluated.     

Quantification of Ocular Biologically Effective UV Exposure for Different Rotation Angle Ranges Based on Data from a Manikin

Human outdoor activities are randomly orientated at different angles to the sun. To quantify the ocular UV and biologically effective UV (UVBE; i.e. the ocular UV irradiance exposure for photokeratitis (UVpker), photoconjunctivitis (UVpcon), and cataract (UVcat)) exposure for different rotation angle ranges, a rotating manikin was used to monitor the ocular UV exposure at different rotation angles in clear skies during July 2010 in Sanya, China. As a result, the ocular UV and UVBE irradiance was directly influenced by the rotation angle variations, primarily for the 120° rotation angle ranges facing the morning and afternoon sun when the solar elevation was lower than 60°; during these times, the UV and UVBE spectral irradiance decreased as the rotation angle increased. When compared to the 360° rotation angle ranges (which were considered to be the average exposure situation), the cumulative ocular UVBE for 60°, 120° and 180° rotation angle ranges were maximally 91% (UVcat), 94% (UVpker) and 121% (UVpcon); 71% (UVcat), 74% (UVpker) and 95% (UVpcon); 42%(UVcat), 45%(UVpker) and 55% (UVpcon) higher respectively. Meanwhile, the cumulative ocular UVBE for the 180° rotation angle ranges facing away from the sun were 46% (UVpker), 59% (UVpcon) and 45% (UVcat) lower.     

Risk of Ocular Exposure to Biologically Effective UV Radiation in Different Geographical Directions

To quantify ocular exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and to assess the risk of eye damage in different geographical directions due to UVR exposure, we used a spectrometer and a manikin to measure horizontal ambient and ocular exposure UVR in different geographical directions at four different locations at the Northern Hemisphere. Describing the relationship of exposure to risk of eye damage requires the availability of UV hazard weighting function. So, we used the UV hazard weighting function (ICNIRP) proposed by International Commission on Non‐Ionizing Radiation Protection to determine the biologically effective UV irradiance (UVBE_eye) and then cumulative effective radiant exposure (H_eye) to shown the risk of eye. We found that in different geographical directions, distributions of ocular exposure to UVR were markedly different from those of horizontal ambient UVR. When the midday maximum SEA > 50°, eye received more UVR from the east and west directions during the morning and evening hours, respectively. However, when the midday maximum SEA < 50°, eye received more UVR from the south direction at noon. The results of this research indicate that the higher risk of eye caused by UVR varies according to the midday maximum SEA corresponding to different geographical direction.     

Investigation on “Excimer” Formation Mechanism of Linear Oligofluorenes‐Functionalized Anthracenes by Using Transient Absorption Spectroscopy

We study the photophysical characters of two oligofluorenes‐functionalized anthracenes molecules with different fluorine‐vinylene (FV) units, which exhibits that “excimer” state appears in the solution after photoexcitation. The dynamic data shows that two mechanisms are responsible for the generation of “excimer”. The fast one is controlled by the arene‐arene interaction between molecules and the slow one is influenced by the diffusion motion of molecules. Increasing the number of FV units may suppress the DM‐dependent “excimer” and enhance the yield of intrinsic fluorescence, which finally improves the fluorescence property of molecules in solution.     

Sinulariols A-S, 19-oxygenated cembranoids from the Chinese soft coral Sinularia rigida

Chemical examination of a Chinese soft coral Sinularia rigida resulted in the isolation and characterization of 19 new cembrane-type diterpenoids, designated as sinulariols A-S (1-19). Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic (2D NMR, IR, and MS) analysis in association with modified Mosher’s method. All compounds featured unusual 19-oxygenated functionalities, which are rarely found from cembranoid family. The biogenetic transformation of the isolated compounds is postulated. Part of the isolated cembranoids showed significant anti-fouling activity.     

Rational Construction of Polymeric Cadmium(II) Benzimidazole for Transition Metal Ion Exchange

A 1D double‐helical coordination polymer {[Cd(pbbm)₂]₂(ClO₄)₄(H₂O)₂}_n ( 1 ) was successfully constructed by the reaction of Cd(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O with 1,1′‐(1,5‐pentanediyl)bis‐1H‐benzimidazole (pbbm). Interestingly, polymer 1 exhibits highly selective capacity for the ionic exchange of Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ over Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions in the crystalline solid state when the crystals of 1 are immersed in the aqueous solutions of the perchlorate salts of Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, and Ni²⁺ ions, respectively, which indicates that central Cd^II ion exchange might be considered as being dominated by the coordination ability of metal ions to free functional groups, ionic radii of exchanged metal ions, and the solution concentration of adsorbed metal salts. The parent material‐ and ion‐exchange‐induced products are identified by FT‐IR spectroscopy, PXRD patterns as well as SEM and EDS measurements. In addition, the thermal stability of 1 was also investigated.     

Electrokinetic particle translocation through a nanopore containing a floating electrode

Electrokinetic particle translocation through a nanopore containing a floating electrode is investigated by solving a continuum model, composed of the coupled Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) equations for the ionic mass transport and the modified Stokes equations for the flow field. Two effects due to the presence of the floating electrode, the induced-charge electroosmosis (ICEO) and the particle-floating electrode electrostatic interaction, could significantly affect the electrokinetic mobility of DNA nanoparticles. When the electrical double layers (EDLs) of the DNA nanoparticle and the floating electrode are not overlapped, the particle-floating electrode electrostatic interaction becomes negligible. As a result, the DNA nanoparticle could be trapped near the floating electrode arising from the induced-charge electroosmosis when the applied electric field is relatively high. The presence of the floating electrode attracts more ions inside the nanopore resulting in an increase in the ionic current flowing through the nanopore; however, it has a limited effect on the deviation of the current from its base current when the particle is far from the pore.