Analysis of membrane transport mechanisms of endogenous substrates using chromatographic techniques

Membrane transporters are expressed in various bodily tissues and play essential roles in the homeostasis of endogenous substances and the absortion, distribution and/or excretion of xenobiotics. For transporter assays, radioisotope‐labeled compounds have been mainly used. However, commercially available radioisotope‐labeled compounds are limited in number and relatively expensive. Chromatographic analyses such as high‐performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet absorptiometry and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry have also been applied for transport assays. To elucidate the transport properties of endogenous substrates, although there is no difficulty in performing assays using radioisotope‐labeled probes, the endogenous background and the metabolism of the compound after its translocation across cell membranes must be considered when the intact compound is assayed. In this review, the current state of knowledge about the transport of endogenous substrates via membrane transporters as determined by chromatographic techniques is summarized. Chromatographic techniques have contributed to our understanding of the transport of endogenous substances including amino acids, catecholamines, bile acids, prostanoids and uremic toxins via membrane transporters.     

Bioremediation of Aged Petroleum Oil Contaminated Soil: From Laboratory Scale to Full Scale Application

Large quantity of aged petroleum oil contamination such as dehydrated oil sludge, generated in the disposal process of oil-containing sewage in Indonesia. This study aims to investigate the OSCS removal by mean of bioremediation technique. Results found that petrofilic consortia and biosurfactants addition increased the removal efficiency up to 46% and 85%, respectively. At full scale application, this technique succeed in removing of 46 g TPH per kg soil from 4 883 m³ of OSCS during 16 mo of treatment. These results suggest that petrofilic consortia and biosurfactants addition stimulate the biodegradation and overcome the limitation of OSCS degradation process.     

高中化学“物质转化及反应调控”项目式学习*——我是米酒酿造师

以“我是米酒酿造师——如何在家中酿造出美味可口的米酒”为项目主题,在化学、生物学科融合的大背景下,开展“物质转化及反应调控”的教学。通过“了解米酒酿造的原理、探究米酒酿造的影响因素、设计米酒酿造的方案”等3个核心活动,落实典型有机化合物的性质、有机化合物之间的转化等核心知识;在解决实际问题的过程中体会控制变量思想在科学探究中的重要作用,体会调控化学反应的速率和限度的重要意义。     

In vivo solid phase microextraction sampling of human saliva for non-invasive and on-site monitoring

On-site sample preparation is an analytical approach based on direct sampling from the system under investigation. It has the advantage of combining sampling and sample preparation into a single step, thus generally is fast, minimizes the potential sources of error and eliminates the risks for analytes instability. For such analysis solid phase microextraction in thin film geometry (TF-SPME) can provide robust and convenient in vivo sampling, offering in the same time faster analysis and higher extraction recovery (i.e., better sensitivity) due to large surface to volume ratio.     

An on-line solid phase extraction-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of perfluoroalkyl substances in the Antarctic ice core samples

An on-line solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography-tandemmass spectrometry method for the analysis of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in water samples was developed. The optimal analytical conditions were obtained through the optimization of the extraction efficiency of online solid phase extraction column, sample loading rate and loading volume, and the concentration of ammonium acetate in mobile phase. Under the optimal condition, the analytical method displayed good linearity (r² > 0.99) for 12 PFASs (C5-C14 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and C6/C8 perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids) over a concentration range of 0.5-100 ng/L. The limits of quantitation for samples were between 0.025 ng/L and 0.5 ng/L and the relative standard deviations (RSD) of five consecutive analyses were less than 10% for 1 ng/L standard solution. Satisfactory results were obtained using this analytical method for the analysis of perfluoroalkyl substances in Antarctic ice core samples. The recoveries of all perfluoroalkyl substances were in a range of 73%-117% when the sampleswere spiked with standards at the concentrations of 2.5 ng/L and 25 ng/L.     

Square‐Wave Voltammetry of Electroinactive Surfactants

Under the influence of previously published and some new theoretical results, potential‐ dependent adsorption and desorption of model electroinactive surfactants Triton X‐100 (T‐X‐100 or polyethylene glycol p‐(1,1,3,3‐tetramethylbutyl)‐phenyl ether) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the static mercury drop electrode (SMDE) were studied by square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). Although (according to the theory) the resulting current – potential curve should consist of two highly separated peaks, only desorption signal could be seen on each experimentally obtained voltammogram, most probably because of the limitations concerning the available potential range. Different properties of the recorded peak are in good agreement with the theory indicating that square‐wave voltammetry could be treated as a potential tool for tensammetric studies of electroinactive surface active substances.     

Selective reagent ionisation‐time of flight‐mass spectrometry: a rapid technology for the novel analysis of blends of new psychoactive substances

In this study we demonstrate the potential of selective reagent ionisation‐time of flight‐mass spectrometry for the rapid and selective identification of a popular new psychoactive substance blend called ‘synthacaine’, a mixture that is supposed to imitate the sensory and intoxicating effects of cocaine. Reactions with H₃O⁺ result in protonated parent molecules which can be tentatively assigned to benzocaine and methiopropamine. However, by comparing the product ion branching ratios obtained at two reduced electric field values (90 and 170 Td) for two reagent ions (H₃O⁺ and NO⁺) to those of the pure chemicals, we show that identification is possible with a much higher level of confidence then when relying solely on the m/z of protonated parent molecules. A rapid and highly selective analytical identification of the constituents of a recreational drug is particularly crucial to medical personnel for the prompt medical treatment of overdoses, toxic effects or allergic reactions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Isotope‐Filtered 4D NMR Spectroscopy for Structure Determination of Humic Substances

Humic substances, the main component of soil organic matter, could form an integral part of green and sustainable solutions to the soil fertility problem. However, their global‐scale application is hindered from both scientific and regulatory perspectives by the lack of understanding of the molecular make‐up of these chromatographically inseparable mixtures containing thousands of molecules. Here we show how multidimensional NMR spectroscopy of isotopically tagged molecules enables structure characterization of humic compounds. We illustrate this approach by identifying major substitution patterns of phenolic aromatic moieties of a peat soil fulvic acid, an operational fraction of humic substances. Our methodology represents a paradigm shift in the use of NMR active tags in structure determination of small molecules in complex mixtures. Unlike previous tagging methodologies that focused on the signals of the tags, we utilize tags to directly probe the identity of the molecules they are attached to.     

国内非牛顿流体力学进展

非牛顿流体;;本构方程;;流变测量;;流动稳定性;;收缩流动;;聚合物加工;;石油工业;;生物流体力学     

On the swelling behavior of poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels exposed to perfluoroalkyl acids

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have rapidly accumulated in the environment due to their widespread use prior to commercial discussion in the early 21st century, and their slow degradation has magnified concerns of their potential toxicity. Monitoring their distribution is, therefore, necessary to evaluate and control their impact on the health of exposed populations. This investigation evaluates the capability of a simple polymeric detection scheme for PFAS based on crosslinked, thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogels. Surveying swelling perturbations induced by several hydrotropes and comparable hydrocarbon analogs, tetraethylammonium perfluorooctane sulfonate (TPFOS) showed a significantly higher swelling ratio on a mass basis (65.5 ± 8.8 at 15°C) than any of the other analytes tested. Combining swelling with the fluorimetric response of a solvachromatic dye, nile red, revealed the fluorosurfactant to initiate observable aggregation (i.e., its critical aggregation concentration) at 0.05 mM and reach saturation (i.e., its charge neutralization concentration) at 0.5 mM. The fluorosurfactant was found to homogeneously distribute throughout the polymer matrix with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, marking the swelling response as a peculiar nexus of fluorinated interfacial positioning and delocalized electrostatic repulsion. Results from the current study hold promise for exploiting the physiochemical response of PNIPAM to assess TPFOS's concentration.