Selective liquid-chromatographic determination of native fluorescent biogenic amines in human urine based on fluorous derivatization

A liquid chromatographic (LC) derivatization method for simple and selective determination of catecholamines and indoleamines in human urine has been developed. This method uses "fluorous interaction" in which perfluoroalkyl compounds show affinity with each other. The amino groups of native fluorescent analytes are precolumn derivatized with a non-fluorescent fluorous isocyanate, 2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl isocyanate, and the fluorous-labeled analytes are retained in the fluorous LC column, whereas underivatized substances are not. Only the retained fluorous-fluorescent analytes are detected fluorometrically at appropriate retention times, and retained amines without fluorophores are not detected. In this study, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and metanephrine were used as the representative of catecholamines. Tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptophan, and 5-hydroxytryptamine were used as the representative indoleamines. This method was applied to determine eight biogenic amines in urine from healthy humans. The fluorous-labeled amines could be separated by fluorous LC column under conditions of isocratic elution within 35 min and simultaneously determined without interference from contaminants in biological samples. The detection limits for eight biogenic amines were 31-640 fmol on column. Calibration curves of them were linear over the range of at least 10-100 nmol/mL urine (r2 > 0.9989) with good repeatability.     

Reaction of tanshinones with biogenic amine metabolites in vitro

The reaction of cryptotanshinone and tanshinone IIA with several biogenic amine metabolites involved in the pathogenic pathways of hepatic encephalopathy are investigated and eleven 1,2,3,4,-tetrahydrophenanthrene derivatives, 2–10, 14 and 16, are obtained. The probable mechanisms on reaction are discussed.     

Are Biogenic and Pyrogenic Mesoporous SiO2 Nanoparticles Safe for Normal Cells?

Silicon dioxide, in the form of nanoparticles, possesses unique physicochemical properties (size, shape, and a large surface to volume ratio). Therefore, it is one of the most promising materials used in biomedicine. In this paper, we compare the biological effects of both mesoporous silica nanoparticles extracted from Urtica dioica L. and pyrogenic material. Both SEM and TEM investigations confirmed the size range of tested nanoparticles was between 6 and 20 nanometers and their amorphous structure. The cytotoxic activity of the compounds and intracellular ROS were determined in relation to cells HMEC-1 and erythrocytes. The cytotoxic effects of SiO₂ NPs were determined after exposure to different concentrations and three periods of incubation. The same effects for endothelial cells were tested under the same range of concentrations but after 2 and 24 h of exposure to erythrocytes. The cell viability was measured using spectrophotometric and fluorimetric assays, and the impact of the nanoparticles on the level of intracellular ROS. The obtained results indicated that bioSiO₂ NPs, present higher toxicity than pyrogenic NPs and have a higher influence on ROS production. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles show good hemocompatibility but after a 24 h incubation of erythrocytes with silica, the increase in hemolysis process, the decrease in osmotic resistance of red blood cells, and shape of erythrocytes changed were observed.     

Analysis of biogenic carbonyl compounds in rainwater by stir bar sorptive extraction technique with chemical derivatization and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry

Stir bar sorptive extraction is a powerful technique for the extraction and analysis of organic compounds in aqueous matrices. Carbonyl compounds are ubiquitous components in rainwater, however, it is a major challenge to accurately identify and sensitively quantify carbonyls from rainwater due to the complex matrix. A stir bar sorptive extraction technique was developed to efficiently extract carbonyls from aqueous samples following chemical derivatization by O‐(2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxylamine hydrochloride. Several commercial stir bars in two sizes were used to simultaneously measure 29 carbonyls in aqueous samples with detection by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. A 100 mL aqueous sample was extracted by stir bars and the analytes on stir bars were desorbed into a 2 mL solvent solution in an ultrasonic bath. The preconcentration Coefficient for different carbonyls varied between 30 and 45 times. The limits of detection of stir bar sorptive extraction with gas chromatography mass spectrometry for carbonyls (10–30 ng/L) were improved by ten times compared with other methods such as gas chromatography with electron capture detection and stir bar sorptive extraction with high‐performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The technique was used to determine carbonyls in rainwater samples collected in York, UK, and 20 carbonyl species were quantified including glyoxal, methylglyoxal, isobutenal, 2‐hydroxy ethanal.     

Targeting programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) with biogenic compounds in ARDS by Gaussian process‐based QSAR virtual screening

The programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) has recently been recognized as a new and attractive target of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Here, we attempted to discover new and potent PDCD4 mediator ligands from biogenic compounds using a synthetic strategy of statistical virtual screening and experimental affinity assay. In the procedure, a Gaussian process‐based quantitative structure‐activity relationship regression predictor was developed and validated statistically based on a curated panel of structure‐based protein‐ligand affinity data. The predictor was integrated with pharmacokinetics analysis, chemical redundancy reduction, and flexible molecular docking to perform high‐throughput virtual screening against a distinct library of chemically diverse, drug‐like biogenic compounds. Consequently, 6 hits with top scores were selected, and their binding affinities to the recumbent protein of human PDCD4 were identified, 3 out of which were determined to have high or moderate affinity with K_d at micromolar level. Structural analysis of protein‐ligand complexes revealed that hydrophobic interactions and van der Waals contacts are the primary chemical forces to stabilize the complex architecture of PDCD4 with these mediator ligands, while few hydrogen bonds, salt bridges, and/or π‐π stacking at the complex interfaces confer selectivity and specificity for the protein‐ligand recognition. It is suggested that the statistical Gaussian process‐based quantitative structure‐activity relationship screening strategy can be successfully applied to rational discovery of biologically active compounds. The newly identified molecular entities targeting PDCD4 are considered as promising lead scaffolds to develop novel chemical therapeutics for acute respiratory distress syndrome.     

Methods of biological fluids sample preparation – biogenic amines,methylxanthines, water‐soluble vitamins

In recent years demands on the amount of information that can be obtained from the analysis of a single sample have increased. For time and economic reasons it is necessary to examine at the same time larger number of compounds, and compounds from different groups. This can best be seen in such areas as clinical analysis. In many diseases, the best results for patients are obtained when treatment fits the individual characteristics of the patient. Dosage monitoring is important at the beginning of therapy and in the full process of treatment. In the treatment of many diseases biogenic amines (dopamine, serotonin) and methylxanthines (theophylline, theobromine, caffeine) play an important role. They are used as drugs separately or in combination with others to support and strengthen the action of other drugs – for example, the combination of caffeine and paracetamol. Vitamin supplementation may be also an integral part of the treatment process. Specification of complete sample preparation parameters for extraction of the above compounds from biological matrices has been reviewed. Particular attention was given to the preparation stage and extraction methods. This review provides universal guidance on establishing a common procedures across laboratories to facilitate the preparation and analysis of all discussed compounds. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Transformation of Cell‐Derived Microparticles into Quantum‐Dot‐Labeled Nanovectors for Antitumor siRNA Delivery

Cell‐derived microparticles (MPs) have been recently recognized as critical intercellular information conveyors. However, further understanding of their biological behavior and potential application has been hampered by the limitations of current labeling techniques. Herein, a universal donor‐cell‐assisted membrane biotinylation strategy was proposed for labeling MPs by skillfully utilizing the natural membrane phospholipid exchange of their donor cells. This innovative strategy conveniently led to specific, efficient, reproducible, and biocompatible quantum dot (QD) labeling of MPs, thereby reliably conferring valuable traceability on MPs. By further loading with small interference RNA, QD‐labeled MPs that had inherent cell‐targeting and biomolecule‐conveying ability were successfully employed for combined bioimaging and tumor‐targeted therapy. This study provides the first reliable and biofriendly strategy for transforming biogenic MPs into functionalized nanovectors.     

绿色合成氧化铈构建导尿管抗菌水凝胶涂层

因导尿管引起的微生物感染严重危害患者健康,并容易导致细菌耐药性。基于纳米材料的抗菌涂层是应对导尿管感染的最有效策略之一。本文利用绿色小球藻自身及其分泌物的还原性环境,制备合成高表面活性的纳米氧化铈Bio-CeO₂,能够高效产生活性氧自由基,实现对大肠杆菌、铜绿假单胞菌等致病菌的抑制和杀伤。在这种绿色合成的模拟酶纳米材料基础上,将其与壳聚糖、京尼平等生物基材料协同作用,在导尿管表面构建稳定的抑菌水凝胶涂层。结果显示,包覆有Bio-CeO₂水凝胶抗菌涂层的硅胶导尿管比裸导管的抑菌效果显著增强,尤其是在低浓度的过氧化氢溶液环境下,对铜绿假单胞菌的抑菌效率可提升至54%,这为未来新型广谱抗菌导尿管的设计和感染性疾病的预防控制提供了潜在新材料和技术手段。     

Supramolecular Assembly Induced Emission of Thiazole Orange with Sulfobutylether β-cyclodextrin: A Stimuli-Responsive Fluorescence Sensor for Tyramine

Modulation and control of stimuli responsive features of molecular assemblies in organized assemblies/cavitand macrocycles have received immense attention in many areas. In this study, we have established the formation of a discrete molecular assembly of thiazole orange (TO) dyes at the portals of the sulfobutylether β-cyclodextrin (SBE₇βCD) macrocycle leading to the evolution of a strong and distinct emission band from aggregated TO. The supramolecular assembly promoted portal aggregation of TO in its 1 : 4 (SBE₇βCD : TO) composition, characterized by absorption, fluorescence, circular dichroism, ITC and ¹H NMR measurements, was probed to be selectively responsive to tyramine among other biogenic amines/neurotransmitters. For the first time, the different extent of emission quenching of SBE₇βCD : TO assembly in the presence of biogenic amines/neurotransmitters is translated to achieve a selective on-off fluorescence sensor for the detection of tyramine against other neurotransmitters with a limit-of-detection (LOD) as low as ∼575 nM (79 ppb). The emission features of the assembly with changes in temperature is found to be highly reproducible even after several temperature cycles and is promising to design an optical supramolecular thermometer in the ambient temperature range.     

Monitoring of biogenic amines and drugs of various therapeutic groups in urine samples with use of HPLC

A high‐performance liquid chromatography method for simultaneous separation and determination of biogenic amines [dopamine, epinephrine, serotonin and its six metabolites (normetanephrine, metanephrine, 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenylglycol, homovanilic acid and 5‐hydroxyindoloacetic acid)] with drugs from different therapeutically groups [analgesics (paracetamol, metamizol), diuretics (furosemide) and antibiotics (cefazolin, fluconazole)] was developed. A chromatographic column with pre‐column with octadecylsilane phase (C_18e) and two detectors – diode array serial connected and fluorescence – was used. Gradient elution of mixture of acetate buffer (pH 4.66) and methanol as a mobile phase was applied. The limit of detection (LOD) of 8–10 ng/mL and limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 24–30 ng/mL for biogenic amines, as well as the LOD of 50–100 ng/mL and the LOQ of 150–300 ng/mL for drugs, were determined. The applied sample preparation method allowed recoveries of 93% for the biogenic amines and 92% for the drugs to be achieved. The developed procedure has been applied to simultaneous determination of the examined compounds in urine samples and could be used in clinical analysis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.