Simultaneous separation of nitrofuran antibiotics and their metabolites by using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

Mixtures comprising nitrofuran antibiotics (NFA) and nitrofuran metabolites (NFM) were resolved for the first time by using MEKC. Sodium deoxycholate (SDC) was chosen as the micelle-forming surfactant. Optimization of separation conditions was achieved by using a central composite experimental design (CCD) approach. Experimental parameters such as concentration ratio of borate to phosphate in the buffer, pH of the running electrolyte and voltage were investigated. The effect of concentration of the surfactant on resolution was significant. Under optimal conditions of 80 mM SDC, pH 9.0, (20 mM borate + 20 mM phosphate) and 16 kV, the resolution between eight consecutive peak pairs ranged from 1.9 to 11.8. Due to the absence of a UV-active chromophore in the metabolites, they were derivatized with 2-nitrobenzaldehyde (2-NBA). In order to mimic a proposed extraction procedure for the analysis of both NFA and/or derivatized NFM in a sample, aqueous samples (prederivatized with 2-NBA) were extracted by using C(18) SPE cartridges. After washing with H(2)O, the cartridges were eluted with a small portion of organic solvent with weak elution characteristics to remove excess 2-NBA (hexane was chosen). Target analytes were then recovered with ACN. Excellent reproducibility of migration time (t(mig)) was achieved for all analytes using the developed MECC approach, with absolute t(mig) <1% RSD and t(mig) ratio <0.2% RSD, and peak area ratio was 4% RSD. The LOD for each compound, calculated by extrapolating to an S/N of 3, were found to be 0.19-2.0 microg/mL.     

Stabilizer‐Free Poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) Nanoparticles Conjugated with Quantum Dots as a Potential Carrier Applied in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

We report that human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were successfully labeled with poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) nanoparticles (PLGA NPs) surface‐conjugated quantum dots (QDs) (PLGA‐QD NPs) via endocytosis pathway. These NPs were not toxicity even treated with PLGA‐QD NPs at high concentrations for at least four weeks. Besides, PLGA‐QD NPs‐labeled hMSCs did not change their proliferation and differentiation capability toward the cell fates of adipocytes, osteocytes, and chrondrocytes. It's known that PLGA has been widely employed to act as delivery carrier which encapsulates drugs and releases them under a controlled way. Currently, we have also demonstrated that FITC‐loaded PLGA‐QD NPs degraded in hMSCs to achieve intracellular release of FITC. The aim of this research is to investigate viability, proliferation and differentiation capability and the potential for gene delivery of MSCs labeled with PLGA‐QD NPs. In addition to PLGA‐QD NPs, QDs alone were used to serve as a control set for comparison.     

On-line procedures for the phase-transfer-catalyzed dansylation of phenolic steroids — Application to biological samples

Summary Commercially available equipment from two manufacturers served to set up an automated system for the precolumn phase-transfer-catalyzed dansylation of phenolic steroids, using ethynyl estradiol (EE) and estradiol (E) as model compounds. Using different mixing techniques, the on-line determination of EE and E in 200l untreated urine samples was achieved at a rate of 3–8 analyses per hour. Detection limits were calculated to be 3–5 ng/ml. Calibration curves in urine were linear over two orders of magnitude with r=0.999 (n=5) for EE and r=0.999 (n=6) for E. The repeatability of the determination of EE in urine (1g/ml) was 3.9% (RSD; n=20) and of E (1.5l/ml) 3.8% (RDS; n=10). The use of plasma instead of urine in the on-line procedures was not possible due to rapid formation of emulsions, but E and EE were determined in 100l plasma samples using a mild off-line mixing procedure in 10min. Detection limits were calculated to be ca 10ng/ml.A reaction detector, based on a solvent-segmented system, was developed for the on-line post-column dansylation of phenols and was coupled with a reversed-phase LC system. The highly selective system showed excellent linearity over at least two orders of magnitude with r=0.9999 (n=6) for both phenol and 2,5-dimethylphenol. The reproducibility was good with RSD values of around 2%. Detection limits for loop injections from standard solutions were calculated to be between 4 and 11ng.     

Microfluidic channel fabrication in dry film resist for production and prototyping of hybrid chips

Microfluidic networks are patterned in a dry film resist (Ordyl SY300/550) that is sandwiched in between two substrates. The technique enables fabrication of complex biochips with active elements both in the bottom and the top substrate (hybrid chips). The resist can be double bonded at relatively low temperatures without the use of extra adhesives. A postbake transfers the resist into a rigid structure. The resist is qualified in terms of resolution, biocompatibility and fluidic sealing. Fabrication in both a fully equipped cleanroom setting as well as a minimally equipped laboratory is described. The technique is applied for dielectrophoresis-based cell separation systems and a fuel cell reaction chamber with micropillars. The dry film resist can be considered a cheap and fast alternative to SU-8.     

A Reversible DNA Logic Gate Platform Operated by One‐ and Two‐Photon Excitations

We demonstrate the use of two different wavelength ranges of excitation light as inputs to remotely trigger the responses of the self‐assembled DNA devices (D‐OR). As an important feature of this device, the dependence of the readout fluorescent signals on the two external inputs, UV excitation for 1 min and/or near infrared irradiation (NIR) at 800 nm fs laser pulses, can mimic function of signal communication in OR logic gates. Their operations could be reset easily to its initial state. Furthermore, these DNA devices exhibit efficient cellular uptake, low cytotoxicity, and high bio‐stability in different cell lines. They are considered as the first example of a photo‐responsive DNA logic gate system, as well as a biocompatible, multi‐wavelength excited system in response to UV and NIR. This is an important step to explore the concept of photo‐responsive DNA‐based systems as versatile tools in DNA computing, display devices, optical communication, and biology.     

Evaluation and optimization of synthetic routes from dihydroartemisinin to the alkylamino-artemisinins artemiside and artemisone: A test of N-glycosylation methodologies on a lipophilic peroxide

10-Alkylamino-artemisinins including artemiside and artemisone display enhanced activities against malaria. Earlier, dihydroartemisinin (DHA) TMS ether was converted by trimethylsilyl bromide into the 10-β-bromide that with amine nucleophiles provided the amino-artemisinins. In an attempt to develop more economic approaches, direct N-glycosylation of DHA was examined but 2-deoxyartemisinin was invariably obtained. However, hydroxyl group activation by conversion into the 10β-halide in non-polar solvents with anhydrous HCl and Group I and II metal halides, oxalyl chloride or thionyl chloride with catalytic DMSO, and oxalyl bromide did succeed. The β-halides were converted in situ by thiomorpholine into artemiside, and by thiomorpholine-1,1-dioxide into artemisone respectively in scalable reactions. Hydrogen peroxide-acetonitrile or the urea-hydrogen peroxide complex efficiently oxidized the sulfide artemiside to the sulfone artemisone. Overall, a generalized approach to 10-alkylamino-artemisinins is now available.     

添加Ru的Mo/HZSM-5催化体系上的甲烷无氧脱氢芳构化

研究了在Ｍｏ／ＨＺＳＭ５催化剂中添加过渡金属阳离子以改变催化剂的反应性能，提高甲烷无氧脱氢芳构化的反应活性和稳定性．在添加第二组分的催化剂中，ＭｏＲｕ／ＨＺＳＭ５具有最佳的反应活性和稳定性．Ｒｕ的加入使甲烷的转化率由原来的６％～７％提高到９８％．采用比表面积及孔分布测定，Ｘ射线衍射，程序升温还原，程序升温氨脱附和差热分析等表征方法研究了ＭｏＲｕ／ＨＺＳＭ５催化剂的物理化学性质．结果表明，Ｒｕ的加入引起Ｍｏ／ＨＺＳＭ５催化剂强酸酸量的下降，并促进了Ｍｏ物种的还原．     

Anti-tack action of polyvinylpyrrolidone on hydroxypropylmethylcellulose solution

The anti-tack action of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) solution was elucidated using a probe test method. The influence of PVP of varying molecular weights at various PVP concentrations and solution temperatures on the tackiness of HPMC solution was studied. The viscosity, surface tension, cloud point and solution spectroscopy of HPMC solutions and glass transition temperature of HPMC films, with and without PVP, were investigated. The tackiness of HPMC solutions in response to the addition of PVP, at different concentrations of HPMC and using HPMC with varying contents of hydroxypropyl/methoxyl substitution, was also evaluated. PVP is a commonly used binder and adhesive. However, it reduced the tack of the HPMC solution when used at low concentrations, without affecting the state of hydration of HPMC. Lower molecular weight PVP was more effective as an anti-tack agent owing to suitable hydrodynamic size to intersperse among the HPMC chains. The degree of reduction in tack values was more pronounced for HPMC that showed a greater extent of interaction between polymer chains such as when high concentration of HPMC or low solution temperature was employed. This indicated that the tack reduction property of PVP relied on its ability to interact with the HPMC chains. The profile of reduction in tack values was affected by the contents of HPMC substitution and was a result of net reduction in the extent of hydrogen bonding between HPMC chains. It was significantly correlated to the changes of viscosity and surface tension of the HPMC solutions but not to the glass transition temperatures of the polymers prepared as solid films. The results suggested that the anti-tack action of PVP was attributed to its ability to interact with HPMC chains in the aqueous medium and consequently to reduce the extent of HPMC-HPMC bonding.     

Formation of free radicals during the oxidation of N-methylhydroxyurea with dioxovanadium(V) ions

Unlike the oxidation of hydroxyurea with dioxovanadium(V) ions, which proceeds through the formation of a single free radical, oxidation of N-methylhydroxyurea is characterized by consecutive formation of two oxygen-based free radicals, as recorded by EPR spectroscopy. Although the consumption of overall five V(V) ions per N-methylhydroxyurea molecule has been determined, the formation of NO, or was not observed. These results are in accordance with a previous suggestion that nitric oxide transfer requires an unsubstituted acylhydroxylamine group.