Recent developments in solid-phase microextraction

The main objective of this review is to describe the recent developments in solid-phase microextraction technology in food, environmental and bioanalytical chemistry applications. We briefly introduce the historical perspective on the very early work associated with the development of theoretical principles of SPME, but particular emphasis is placed on the more recent developments in the area of automation, high-throughput analysis, SPME method optimization approaches and construction of new SPME devices and their applications. The area of SPME automation for both GC and LC applications is particularly addressed in this review, as the most recent developments in this field have allowed the use of this technology for high-throughput applications. The development of new autosamplers with SPME compatibility and new-generation metal fibre assemblies has enhanced sample throughput for SPME-GC applications, the latter being attributed to the possibility of using the same fibre for several hundred extraction/injection cycles. For LC applications, high-throughput analysis (>1,000 samples per day) can be achieved for the first time with a multi-SPME autosampler which uses multi-well plate technology and allows SPME sample preparation of up to 96 samples in parallel. The development and evolution of new SPME devices such as needle trap, thin-film microextraction and cold-fibre headspace SPME have offered significant improvements in performance characteristics compared with the conventional fibre-SPME arrangement. Figure Photo of a high-throughput multi-fibre SPME PAS autosampler     

固相微萃取研究进展

<正>固相微萃取(solid-phase microextraction,SPME)是20世纪80年代末发展起来的一种新型样品前处理方法,最先由Waterloo大学的Pawliszyn等提出。固相微萃取技术的发展主要体现在新型涂层材料的出现及其在环境、食品、生物等领域应用的不断深入两个方面。     

Recent developments in enzymatic chlorination

While the existence of chlorinated natural products has been known for over 100 years, our understanding of the enzymology of biological chlorination reactions has been limited to chloroperoxidases, which are now known not to play a significant role in chlorometabolite biosynthesis. The discoveries of new classes of halogenases, described in this Highlight, have shed new light on the mechanisms of enzymatic chlorination of aromatic and aliphatic compounds.     

Recent developments in matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction

Matrix solid-phase dispersion is a sample preparation strategy widely applied to solid, semisolid or viscous samples, including animal tissues and foods with a high lipidic content. The process consists in blending the matrix onto a solid support, allowing the matrix cell disruption and the subsequent extraction of target analytes by means of a suitable elution solvent. First introduced in 1989, MSPD employment and developments are still growing because of the feasibility and versatility of the process, as evidenced by the several reviews that have been published since nineties. Therefore, the aim of the present review is to provide a general overview and an update of the last developments of MSPD.     

Recent developments in polymer-based sorbents for solid-phase extraction

A review with 136 references on the principles and recent developments in the solid-phase extraction based on polymer sorbents is presented. New polymer-based materials, chromatographic modes, experimental configurations are described and their advantages for a rapid sample preparation of certain classes of compounds with different functional groups are discussed and compared to silica-based sorbents.     

Recent developments in solid-phase microextraction coatings and related techniques

During the last decade, solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has gained widespread acceptance for analyte matrix separation and preconcentration. Relatively few data are currently available dealing with in-house production of fibres with tailor-made properties to be used for SPME, though recently the number of publications evaluating new coatings has been considerably growing. This review, centred on publications that appeared during the last five years, is resuming different approaches which can be used for fibre production and further summarises alternative techniques closely related to SPME, such as in-tube extraction or single-drop microextraction (SDME). The aim is to give the reader a concise overview of recent developments in new coating procedures and materials, including the respective applications.     

Recent developments in solid-phase microextraction for on-site sampling and sample preparation

On-site sampling and sample preparation favor portable, solventless or even solvent-free techniques. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has these advantages. This review focuses on developments between 2007 and early 2011 in microextraction techniques for on-site sampling and sample preparation, including fiber SPME, stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), thin-film microextraction (TFME) and different types of in-needle SPME. The major trends in on-site applications of SPME appear to be fiber and thin-film SPME, microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) and the sorbent-packed needle-trap device (NTD). We discuss and compare several aspects of these types of SPME in on-site applications. We also describe sorbent phases for SPME that benefit on-site applications. Finally, we provide a perspective on SPME-based techniques for on-site applications.     

Recent developments and applications of EMMA in enzymatic and derivatization reactions

This review provides systematic coverage of examples in the field of in-capillary electrophorecially mediated microanalysis (EMMA). The recent developments and applications in the time period up to mid 2011 have been described, as well as relevant older papers. The basic principles and modes of in-capillary assays have been demonstrated. An overview is also given of the various injection, separation and detection modes implemented in combination with EMMA. The review is presented in two parts mainly dealing with (i) enzymatic and (ii) derivatization or chemical reactions. Finally, the future trends of CE in performing and monitoring reactions have been drawn.     

Recent analytical developments using chemiluminescence in solution

The rapid growth of analytical methods which utilize chemiluminescent techniques reflects their many advantages relative to conventional procedures. Measurement of light emission is simple and rapid and extremely high sensitivities may be achieved with inexpensive instrumentation and without resort to preconcentration. As a consequence, attention is now being directed towards expanding the scope of chemiluminescent analyses, both by study of previously unexploited fight-emitting processes and by modification to determine specific analytes of interest. This review describes the requirements and methodology, presents newer applications of established procedures and considers the potential of some new systems for chemiluminescent analysis.     

Azidopeptide nucleic acid. An alternative strategy for solid-phase peptide nucleic acid (PNA) synthesis

[reaction: see text] A practical and efficient method for PNA synthesis using an azide group to mask the N-terminus is reported. The deprotection was carried out in 5 min, while couplings were complete within 60 min. The near neutral conditions of the phosphine deprotection combined with the base-free coupling using hydroxybenzotriazole-activated monomers make this approach very mild.     

Recent developments in oligosaccharide synthesis: tactics,solid-phase synthesis and library synthesis

Oligosaccharides, commonly found on the cell surfaces, are deeply involved in a variety of important biological functions, yet demanding difficulties synthesizing such structures limit the investigation of their functions. Technologies to chemically synthesize these oligosaccharides have dramatically advanced during the last two decades mainly due to the introduction of good anomeric leaving groups. In addition, tactical analyses have been addressed to enhance the overall efficiency of oligosaccharide synthesis. Based on the advancement of solution-phase chemistry, solid-phase technologies are being investigated in connection with the current trend of combinatorial chemistry and high throughput screening. This review summarizes the necessary solution-phase methodologies, the status of solid-phase synthesis of oligosaccharides, and combinatorial synthesis of oligosaccharide libraries.     

Quantitative analysis of enzymatic assays using indoxyl-based substrates

Hydrolysis of indoxyl-based substrates by hydrolytic enzymes is a commonly used semiquantitative detection system that generates a water-insoluble indigo dye which is difficult to quantify. This work describes the quantitative analysis and enzyme kinetics for alkaline phosphatase (AP) and 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoxyl phosphate (BCIP) in solution obtained by applying known solubilization methodology from the textiles industry to the enzymatic product. This proposal is based on the reduction of the tetrahalo-indigo blue dye in a basic medium with the aim of generating its aqueous-soluble parent compound termed indigo white, which gives a rich yellow color in solution and is fluorescent. A quantitative ELISA (where a soluble end product is required) is accomplished for first time using BCIP as substrate.     

Integration of electrochemistry in micro-total analysis systems for biochemical assays: Recent developments

Micro-total analysis systems (μTAS) integrate different analytical operations like sample preparation, separation and detection into a single microfabricated device. With the outstanding advantages of low cost, satisfactory analytical efficiency and flexibility in design, highly integrated and miniaturized devices from the concept of μTAS have gained widespread applications, especially in biochemical assays. Electrochemistry is shown to be quite compatible with microanalytical systems for biochemical assays, because of its attractive merits such as simplicity, rapidity, high sensitivity, reduced power consumption, and sample/reagent economy. This review presents recent developments in the integration of electrochemistry in microdevices for biochemical assays. Ingenious microelectrode design and fabrication methods, and versatility of electrochemical techniques are involved. Practical applications of such integrated microsystem in biochemical assays are focused on in situ analysis, point-of-care testing and portable devices. Electrochemical techniques are apparently suited to microsystems, since easy microfabrication of electrochemical elements and a high degree of integration with multi-analytical functions can be achieved at low cost. Such integrated microsystems will play an increasingly important role for analysis of small volume biochemical samples. Work is in progress toward new microdevice design and applications.     

Recent advances in optical-based and force-based single nucleic acid imaging

The capability to image, as well as control and manipulate single molecules such as nucleic acids(DNA or RNA) can greatly enrich our knowledge of the roles of individual biomolecules in cellular processes and their behavior in native environments. Here we summarize the recent advances of single nucleic acid imaging based on optical observation and force manipulation. We start by discussing the superiority of single molecule image, the central roles nucleic acids play in biosystems, and the significance of single molecule image towards nucleic acids. We then list a series of representative examples in brief to illustrate how nucleic acid of various morphologies has been imaged from different aspects, and what can be learned from such characterizations. Finally,concluding remarks on parts of which should be improved and outlook are outlined.     

Recent developments in microarray-based enzyme assays: from functional annotation to substrate/inhibitor fingerprinting

Recent advances in proteomics have provided impetus towards the development of robust technologies for high-throughput studies of enzymes. The term “catalomics” defines an emerging ‘-omics’ field in which high-throughput studies of enzymes are carried out by using advanced chemical proteomics approaches. Of the various available methods, microarrays have emerged as a powerful and versatile platform to accelerate not only the functional annotation but also the substrate and inhibitor specificity (e.g. substrate and inhibitor fingerprinting, respectively) of enzymes. Herein, we review recent developments in the fabrication of various types of microarray technologies (protein-, peptide- and small-molecule-based microarrays) and their applications in high-throughput characterizations of enzymes.