Quantification of fenoprofen in human plasma using UHPLC–tandem mass spectrometry for pharmacokinetic study in healthy subjects

A rapid, simple and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) method has been developed to quantify fenoprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug in human plasma for a pharmacokinetic study in healthy subjects. Owing to high levels of protein binding, protein precipitation followed by solid-phase extraction was employed for the extraction of fenoprofen and fenoprofen-d3 (used as internal standard) from 200 μL human plasma. Separation was performed on a BEH C₁₈ (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) column using methanol−0.2% acetic acid in water (75:25, v/v) under isocratic elution. Electrospray ionization was operated in the negative mode for sample ionization. Ion transitions used for quantification in the selected reaction monitoring mode were m/z 241/197 and m/z 244/200 for fenoprofen and fenoprofen-d3, respectively. Under the optimized conditions, fenoprofen showed excellent linearity in the concentration range 0.02–20 μg/mL (r² ≥ 0.9996), adequate sensitivity, favorable accuracy (96.4–103.7%) and precision (percentage coefficient of variation ≤4.3) with negligible matrix effect. The validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of fenoprofen in healthy subjects. The significant features of the method include higher sensitivity, small plasma volume for processing and a short analysis time.     

Quantitative determination of potential genotoxic impurity 3-aminopyridine in linagliptin active pharmaceutical ingredient using HILIC–UV

This study aimed to develop an analytical method to determine the quantity of the impurity 3-aminopyridine (3AP). 3-Aminopyridine is a reactive reagent in the synthesis of linagliptin. The method was sensitive at level of 30.0 ppm of 3AP relative to linagliptin. The analysis was carried out using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography. The analytical column was Tracer Extrasil Silica (150 × 4.0 mm, 3 μm). A mobile phase of water–acetonitrile (10:90, v/v) containing 10.0 mM ammonium acetate was prepared and adjusted to pH 6.0. A UV detector was used to detect the amount of 3AP at a wavelength of 298 nm. Validation of the method was performed as per the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use in terms of detection limit, quantitation limit, linearity, accuracy, precision, specificity and robustness. The calibration curve was linear (r² = 0.999) for 3AP concentration in the range of 30.0–450.0 ppm. This method showed a good sensitivity with a detection limit and a quantitation limit of 7.5 and 25.0 ppm, respectively.     

A molecular fluorophore in citric acid/ethylenediamine carbon dots identified and quantified by multinuclear solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance

The composition of fluorescent polymer nanoparticles, commonly referred to as carbon dots, synthesized by microwave-assisted reaction of citric acid and ethylenediamine was investigated by ¹³C, ¹³C{¹H}, ¹H─¹³C, ¹³C{¹⁴N}, and ¹⁵N solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. ¹³C NMR with spectral editing provided no evidence for significant condensed aromatic or diamondoid carbon phases. ¹⁵N NMR showed that the nanoparticle matrix has been polymerized by amide and some imide formation. Five small, resolved ¹³C NMR peaks, including an unusual ═CH signal at 84 ppm (¹H chemical shift of 5.8 ppm) and ═CN₂ at 155 ppm, and two distinctive ¹⁵N NMR resonances near 80 and 160 ppm proved the presence of 5-oxo-1,2,3,5-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-7-carboxylic acid (IPCA) or its derivatives. This molecular fluorophore with conjugated double bonds, formed by a double cyclization reaction of citric acid and ethylenediamine as first shown by Y. Song, B. Yang, and coworkers in 2015, accounts for the fluorescence of the carbon dots. Cross-peaks in a ¹H─¹³C HETCOR spectrum with brief ¹H spin diffusion proved that IPCA is finely dispersed in the polyamide matrix. From quantitative ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR spectra, a high concentration (18 ± 2 wt%) of IPCA in the carbon dots was determined. A pronounced gradient in ¹³C chemical-shift perturbations and peak widths, with the broadest lines near the COO group of IPCA, indicated at least partial transformation of the carboxylic acid of IPCA by amide or ester formation.     

Calculating nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shifts in solvated systems

The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shift is extremely sensitive to molecular geometry, hydrogen bonding, solvent, temperature, pH, and concentration. Calculated magnetic shielding constants, converted to chemical shifts, can be valuable aids in NMR peak assignment and can also give detailed information about molecular geometry and intermolecular effects. Calculating chemical shifts in solution is complicated by the need to include solvent effects and conformational averaging. Here, we review the current state of NMR chemical shift calculations in solution, beginning with an introduction to the theory of calculating magnetic shielding in general, then covering methods for inclusion of solvent effects and conformational averaging, and finally discussing examples of applications using calculated chemical shifts to gain detailed structural information.     

Benchtop NMR analysis of piperazine-based drugs hyperpolarised by SABRE

Piperazine-based drugs, such as N-benzylpiperazine (BZP), became attractive in the 2000s due to possessing effects similar to amphetamines. Herein, BZP, in addition to its pyridyl analogues, 2-, 3-, and 4-pyridylmethylpiperidine (2-PMP, 3-PMP, and 4-PMP respectively) was subjected to the hyperpolarisation technique Signal Amplification By Reversible Exchange (SABRE) in order to demonstrate the use of this technique to detect these piperazine-based drugs. Although BZP was not hyperpolarised via SABRE, 2-PMP, 3-PMP, and 4-PMP were, with the ortho- and meta-pyridyl protons of 4-PMP showing the largest enhancement of 313-fold and 267-fold, respectively, in a 1.4-T detection field, following polarisation transfer at Earth's magnetic field. In addition to the freebase, 4-PMP.3HCl was also appraised by SABRE and was found not to polarise, however, the addition of increasing equivalents of triethylamine (TEA) produced the freebase, with a maximum enhancement observed upon the addition of 3 equivalents of TEA. Further addition of TEA led to a reduction in the observed enhancement. SABRE was also employed to polarise 4-PMP.3HCl (~20% w/w) in a simulated tablet to demonstrate the forensic application of the technique (138-fold enhancement for the ortho-pyridyl protons). The amount of 4-PMP.3HCl present in the simulated tablet was quantified via NMR using D₂O as a solvent and compared well to complimentary gas chromatography–mass spectrometry data. Exchanging D₂O for CD₃OD as the solvent utilised for analysis resulted in a significantly lower amount of 4-PMP.3HCl being determined, thus highlighting safeguarding issues linked to drug abuse in relation to determining the amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient present.     

Micro/Nanoengineered α-Fe2O3 Nanoaggregate Conformably Enclosed by Ultrathin N-Doped Carbon Shell for Ultrastable Lithium Storage and Insight into Phase Evolution Mechanism

The Fe-based transition metal oxides are promising anode candidates for lithium storage considering their high specific capacity, low cost, and environmental compatibility. However, the poor electron/ion conductivity and significant volume stress limit their cycle and rate performances. Furthermore, the phenomena of capacity rise and sudden decay for α-Fe₂O₃ have appeared in most reports. Here, a uniform micro/nano α-Fe₂O₃ nanoaggregate conformably enclosed in an ultrathin N-doped carbon network (denoted as M/N-α-Fe₂O₃@NC) is designed. The M/N porous balls combine the merits of secondary nanoparticles to shorten the Li⁺ transportation pathways as well as alleviating volume expansion, and primary microballs to stabilize the electrode/electrolyte interface. Furthermore, the ultrathin carbon shell favors fast electron transfer and protects the electrode from electrolyte corrosion. Therefore, the M/N-α-Fe₂O₃@NC electrode delivers an excellent reversible capacity of 901 mA h g⁻¹ with capacity retention up to 94.0 % after 200 cycles at 0.2 A g⁻¹. Notably, the capacity rise does not happen during cycling. Moreover, the lithium storage mechanism is elucidated by ex situ XRD and HRTEM experiments. It is verified that the reversible phase transformation of α↔γ occurs during the first cycle, whereas only the α-Fe₂O₃ phase is reversibly transformed during subsequent cycles. This study offers a simple and scalable strategy for the practical application of high-performance Fe₂O₃ electrodes.     

La单掺4H-SiC电子结构和光学性质的第一性原理研究

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理计算方法，对未掺杂及La掺杂4H-SiC的电子结构和光学性质进行理论计算。计算结果表明，未掺杂4C-SiC其禁带宽度为2.257 eV。La掺杂后带隙宽度下降为1.1143eV，导带最低点为G点，价带最高点为F点，是P型间接半导体。掺杂La原子在价带的低能区间贡献比较大，而对价带的高能区和导带的贡献比较小。未掺杂4H-SiC在光子能量为6.25 eV时，出现一个介电峰，这是由于价带电子向导带电子跃迁产生。而La掺杂后，出现3个介电峰，分别对应的光子能量为0.47eV、2.67eV、6.21eV，前两个介电峰是由于价带电子向杂质能级跃迁产生，第三个介电峰是由于价带电子向导带电子跃迁产生。La掺杂后4H-SiC变成负介电半导体材料。未掺杂4h-SiC的静态介电常数为2.01，La掺杂的静态常数为12.01。     

Eu^3+激活氟氧硼酸锗酸盐闪烁玻璃的发光性能

采用传统高温熔融法合成了玻璃组成为B2O3-GeO2-15GdF3-(40-x)Gd2O3-xEu2O3(0≤x≤10)的Eu^3+激活氟氧硼酸锗酸盐闪烁玻璃。在硼锗酸盐玻璃基质中,Gd2O3和GdF3稀土试剂的总含量高达55%,从而确保其密度高于6.4 g/cm^3。闪烁玻璃的光学性能通过光学透过光谱、光致发光光谱、X射线激发发射(XEL)光谱和荧光衰减曲线来表征。玻璃中Gd^3+→Eu^3+离子的能量传递通过激发光谱、发射光谱和Gd^3+-Eu^3+离子间距得到证明,同时也确定了在紫外线和X射线激发下Eu^3+激活氟氧硼酸锗酸盐闪烁玻璃的最佳浓度。Judd-Ofelt理论分析了玻璃中Eu―O键的共价性随Eu^3+掺杂浓度增加而显著增强。Eu^3+激活氟氧硼酸锗酸盐闪烁玻璃在80~470 K温度范围内荧光衰减曲线和发射光谱的温度依赖关系最终证实了其具有较好的发光稳定性。     

激光雷达辅助驾驶道路参数计算方法研究

针对特定场景辅助驾驶的需求，构建道路场景车载激光雷达三维扫描系统，并设计基于三维激光点云的道路参数提取与计算方法，包括路面宽度、横杆或桥梁或隧道限高、拐弯半径等等，为辅助判断道路的可通过性提供决策依据。测试和对比实验表明，所设计算法效果稳定、精度良好，在效率和自动化程度上有一定优势，可为辅助驾驶提供非常有益的决策参数。     

Assessing the nucleophilic character of 2-amino-4-arylthiazoles through coupling with 4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan: Experimental and theoretical approaches based on structure-reactivity relationships

A kinetic study of the reactions of potentially bioactive 2-amino-4-arylthiazoles with highly reactive 4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan (DNBF) is reported herein in acetonitrile solution. The complexation reaction was followed by recording the UV–vis spectra with time at λ_max = 482 nm. Electronic effects of substituents influencing the rate of reaction have been studied using structure-reactivity relationships. It is shown that the Hammett plot relative to the reaction of DNBF with 2-amino-4-(4-chlorophenyl)thiazole exhibit positive deviation from the log k₁ versus σ correlation, while it showed excellent linear correlation in terms of Yukawa–Tsuno equation. It has be noticed that the nonlinear Hammett plot observed for 2-amino-4-(4-chlorophenyl) thiazole is not attributed to a change in rate-determining step but is due to nature of electronic effect of substituent caused by the resonance of stabilization of substrates. The second-order rate constant (k₁) relating to the bond C–C and C-N forming step of the complexation processes of DNBF with 4-substituted-aminothiazoles and 2-amino-5-methyl-4-phenylthiazole, respectively, is fit into the linear relationship log k = s_N (N + E), thereby permitting the assessment of the nucleophilicity parameter (N) of the 2-amino-4-arylthiazoles of the range (4.90 < N < 6.85). 2-amino-4-arylthiazoles is subsequently ranked by positioning its reactivity on the general nucleophilicity scale developed recently by Mayr and coworkers (2003) leading an interesting and a direct comparison over a large domain of π-, σ -, and n-nucleophiles. The global electrophilicity/nucleophilicity reactivity indexes of the 2-amino-4-arylthiazoles have been investigated by means of a density functional theory (DFT) method. .