Antifungal Imidazole‐Decorated Cationic Amphiphiles with Markedly Low Hemolytic Activity

Herein we report that an imidazole‐decorated cationic amphiphile derived from the pseudo‐disaccharide nebramine has potent antifungal activity against strains of Candida glabrata pathogens. In combination with the natural bis‐benzylisoquinoline alkaloid tetrandrine the reported antifungal cationic amphiphile demonstrated synergistic antifungal activity against Candida albicans pathogens. This unique membrane disruptor caused no detectible mammalian red blood cell hemolysis at concentrations up to more than two orders of magnitude greater than its minimal inhibitory concentrations against the tested C. glabrata strains. We provide evidence that potency against C. glabrata may be associated with differences between the drug efflux pumps of C. albicans and C. glabrata. Imidazole decorated‐cationic amphiphiles show promise for the development of less toxic membrane‐disrupting antifungal drugs and drug combinations.     

An Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Immunosensor for Nonylphenol Leachate from Instant Noodle Containers in Southeast Asia

Nonylphenols (NPNs) are persistent endocrine disruptors and their release into the environment is causing increasing concern about their impact on human health. Herein, an ultrasensitive electrochemical immunosensor was developed for the detection of NPNs in the leachates from 61 instant noodle containers (INCs) from 8 countries across Southeast Asia. Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) were self-assembled with reduced graphene oxide (rGO; polyethylenimine–rGO) and used to modify a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), which showed excellent electrical conductivity. An anti-NPN antibody was then immobilized on the AuNCs and, if it specifically bound NPN, the reduction in conductivity of the GCE was remarkable. The designed immunosensor has a low detection limit (5.25 ng L⁻¹) and high sensitivity for NPNs in the leachates of INCs. Remarkably, the leaching of estrogen-like compounds from different plastics of INCs and the correlation between NPN content and total estrogenic activity were thoroughly investigated. High temperatures caused polyethylene and polystyrene INCs to release more estrogen-like compounds than that of polypropylene INCs; this increased release of NPNs was associated with higher estrogen activity in living cells. These data fill the gap in human and environmental exposure to estrogen-like compounds through INCs.     

Influence of β-cyclodextrin complexation on photochemistry of bisphenols in aqueous solutions

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Label-free immunosensor for monitoring vitellogenin as a biomarker for exogenous oestrogen compounds in amphibian species

A label-free, optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy based immunosensor was developed for frog (Bombina orientalis) vitellogenin (Vtg) determination in biological samples as a biomarker for exogenous oestrogen compounds. Antibody against Vtg was produced in rabbits immunised with purified lipovitellin (Lpv), a precursor of Vtg, from the homogenised ovary of oriental fire-bellied toads (B. orientalis). The purified protein and Lpv/Vtg-specific serum were applied in both competitive and direct immunoassay formats using optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy immunosensor. When measuring Vtg in direct manner, the Lpv antibody (1.76 µg mL^?1) was immobilised on the sensor surface, and the linear measuring range for Vtg was 0.1–10 µg mL^?1. During the competitive measurement, 100 ng mL^?1 Lpv was applied for the immobilisation. The linear measuring range for Vtg was 0.5–50 ng mL^?1. We studied the relative substrate specificity of the antibody, and it was concluded that the method is suitable for the sensitive and selective determination of Vtg levels in toads. Heart, liver and gonad samples from male animals were spiked with Vtg and were analysed using the newly developed method, and female toads and spawn samples were tested and compared to the calibration curve obtained by the spiked samples.     

Imprinted silica nanoparticles coated with N‐propylsilylmorpholine‐4‐carboxamide for the determination of m‐cresol in synthetic and real samples

m‐Cresol‐imprinted silica nanoparticles coated with N‐propylsilylmorpholine‐4‐carboxamide have been developed that contain specific pockets for the selective uptake of m‐cresol. Silica nanoparticles were synthesized by a sol–gel process followed by functionalization of their surface with N‐propylsilylmorpholine‐4‐carboxamide. The formation of m‐cresol‐imprinted silica nanoparticles was confirmed by UV‐Vis spectrophotometry, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Electron microscopic studies revealed the formation of monodispersed imprinted silica nanoparticles with spherical shape and an average size of 83 nm. The developed nanoparticles were filled in a syringe and used for the extraction of m‐cresol from aqueous samples followed by quantification using high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. Various adsorption experiments showed that developed m‐cresol‐imprinted silica nanoparticles exhibited a high adsorption capacity and selectivity and offered a fast kinetics for rebinding m‐cresol. The chromatographic quantification was achieved using mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile/water (70:30 v/v) at an isocratic flow rate of 1.0 mL/min using a reversed‐phase C₁₈ column and detection at λ_max = 275 nm. The limits of detection and quantification were 1.86 and 22.32 ng/mL, respectively, for the developed method. The percent recoveries ranged from 96.66–103.33% in the spiked samples. This combination of this nanotechnique with molecular imprinting was proved as a reliable, sensitive and selective method for determining the target from synthetic and real samples.     

The preparation and adsorption properties of electrospun aramid nanofibers

The focus of this work is the preparation of aramid nanofibers via electrospinning technology and the study of their adsorption properties. In this article, aramid nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning aramid fibers solution with the addition of lithium chloride (LiCl). It showed a good adsorption capacity when methylene blue (MB) was used as the model target. There were much larger adsorption amounts and faster kinetics of uptaking target species of electrospun aramid nanofibers to MB than that of electrospun polyethersulfone (PES) nanofibers. Compared with activated carbon, aramid nanofibers also have a much faster adsorption rate to MB. Aramid nanofibers were subsequently used to effectively remove endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A (BPA), phenol (Phe), and p‐hydroquinone (BPhe) from their aqueous solutions. Additionally, molecule imprinted technology enhances aramid nanofibers with much higher adsorption amounts and special adsorption property for endocrine disruptors. These results showed that aramid nanofibers have the potential to be used in environmental applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

Development and validation of an LC‐MS/MS method for simultaneous quantitative analysis of free and conjugated bisphenol A in human urine

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental endocrine‐disrupting chemicals that is widely used in common consumer products. There is an increasing concern regarding human exposure to BPA owing to the potential adverse effects associated with its estrogenic activity. For assessing environmental exposure to BPA, it is essential to have a sensitive, accurate and selective analytical method, especially one that can detect low BPA levels in complex sample matrices. In this study, we developed and validated an accurate, sensitive, and robust liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous quantification of free BPA and BPA β‐d ‐glucuronide (BPA‐gluc) concentrations in human urine with only a single injection. Calibration curves were linear over a concentration range of 1–100 ng/mL for BPA and 10–1000 ng/mL for BPA‐gluc. The levels of the analytes were determined quantitatively with HPLC/ESI‐MS/MS by using negative electrospray ionization in the select ion monitoring mode and a pentaflouraphenyl propyl column. The validated method was applied to the analysis of spot urine specimens collected from randomly selected healthy human subjects. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of steroid oestrogens in wastewaters

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography method using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was developed and validated for the determination of steroid oestrogens in wastewater matrices. To date, analytical methods established in the literature for 17α-ethinylestradiol have been unable to achieve the proposed predicted no effect concentration of 0.1?ng?l^?1. The extensive sample pretreatment and analytical methodology proposed herein enable 17α-ethinylestradiol to be determined at very low background concentrations with a theoretical method detection limit of 0.06?ng?l^?1 which has been applied in real environmental matrices. During the validation process, a trickling filter wastewater treatment works was monitored to demonstrate the method's application. Oestrogen removal across the filters demonstrated good removals of natural free oestrogens (≥62.0%) with lower removals of the synthetic oestrogen 17α-ethinylestradiol (29.2%) from wastewaters at 10°C. The method's application illustrates its capability of detecting oestrogen concentrations in real wastewater samples comprising complex organics of comparatively high concentration. Furthermore, a complete process mass balance for 17α-ethinylestradiol is now attainable which has previously posed a challenge owing to the low environmental concentrations typically exhibited, but more significantly as a result of the lower sensitivity inherent in previously reported analytical methods.     

黄渤海近岸海域酚类内分泌干扰物分布特征及其来源解析

在黄渤海近岸海域采集了34个水体样品,利用HPLC-MS/MS分析了双酚A、辛基酚、壬基酚、2,4-二氯酚、对叔丁基苯酚和对特辛基苯酚等6种酚类内分泌干扰物的含量,并探讨了其分布特征及来源.结果表明,中国北部近岸海域6种酚类内分泌干扰物的含量范围在5.25～1351.20ng/mL之间.结合因子分析和层次聚类分析结果,说明渤海、黄海近岸海域中酚类化合物主要以辛基酚、壬基酚、2,4-二氯酚为主,局部海域伴有双酚A的高残留;从整个海域范围看,黄渤海近岸海域水体中酚类化合物污染状况具有区域特征,整体呈现出南高北低的特点,且酚类物质分布具有明显的地区特性,一定程度上具有聚集性;来源解析结果表明黄渤海近岸海域中酚类内分泌干扰物主要来源为生活污水和工业废水.     

Organometallic complexes with biological molecules: XVI. Endocrine disruption effects of tributyltin(IV)chloride on metamorphosis of the ascidian larva

The effects of tributyltin(IV)chloride (TBT) on the metamorphosis of ascidian larvae of Ciona intestinalis, 2 h after hatching, were investigated. Ascidians are protochordates that lack thyroid follicles and possess thyroid hormones (THs) and their precursors, 3‐monoiodo‐tyrosine (MIT) and 3,5‐diiodo‐tyrosine (DIT), in their endostyle. According to recent findings, these hormones are also present at larval stages, localize in mesenchymal cells and their function seems to be mainly related to larval transformations. Here, we investigate the effects of TBT on thyroxine (T₄) content and localization by exposing larvae of C. intestinalis for different times to TBT concentrations known to block metamorphosis. The result is a blocking of the retraction of the tail, and larval immobility. As detected by immmunohistochemistry, in normal larvae, T₄ is found in all mesenchymal cells spread out in the body cavity, under the adhesive papillae and around the intestine. By contrast, in larvae exposed to 10^?5 M and 10^?7 M TBT, T₄ is detected only in 5% and 25% of total mesenchymal cells respectively. Radioimmunoassay shows a 70% decrease of T₄ content in TBT‐exposed larvae, with respect to unexposed larvae. In addition, neosynthesis of THs is inhibited. Even if parallelism does not exist between the endocrine systems of invertebrates and vertebrates, however, a close similarity exists for functions such as reproduction and metabolism. Our results indicate that TBT could behave as an endocrine disrupter (ED) in ascidians and could impair T₄ metabolism. These findings suggest that the ED activity of TBT could be conserved from invertebrates to vertebrates. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.