A flow-based procedure with solenoid micro-pumps for the spectrophotometric determination of uric acid in urine

The determination of uric acid in urine shows clinical importance, once it can be related to human organism dysfunctions, such as gout. An analytical procedure employing a multicommuted flow system was developed for the determination of uric acid in urine samples. Cu(II) ions are reduced by uric acid to Cu(I) that can be quantified by spectrophotometry in the presence of 2,2′-biquinoline 4,4′-dicarboxylic acid (BCA). The analytical response was linear between 10 and 100 μmol L^− 1 uric acid with a detection limit of 3.0 μmol L^− 1 (99.7% confidence level). Coefficient of variation of 1.2% and sampling rate of 150 determinations per hour were achieved. Per determination, 32 μg of CuSO₄ and 200 μg of BCA were consumed, generating 2.0 mL of waste. Recoveries from 91 to 112% were estimated and the results for 7 urine samples agreed with those obtained by the commercially available enzymatic kit for determination of uric acid. The procedure required 100-fold dilution of urine samples, minimizing sample consumption and interfering effects. In order to avoid the manual dilution step, on-line sample dilution was achieved by a simple system reconfiguration attaining a sampling rate of 95 h^− 1.     

New Disposable Electrochemical Paper‐based Microfluidic Device with Multiplexed Electrodes for Biomarkers Determination in Urine Sample

A disposable electrochemical paper‐based analytical device was constructed based on use of sequential analysis with multiplexed working electrodes and applied for the determination of glucose, creatinine, and uric acid. The device was constructed with 16 microfluidic channels, with 16 working electrodes arranged in four set with four components surrounding the sample injection hole. In addition, a commercial multiplexing module was used, which allowed for multiplexing of the 16 working electrodes. This design allowed for radial and homogeneous sample elution to each sensing spot for high throughput analysis. In the multiplexed determinations, distinct electrochemical procedures were employed for each analyte. Furthermore, each working electrode spot was modified to increase the respective analytical signals. For glucose detection, the sensor was based on electron mediation by ferrocenecarboxylic acid over the modified surface with glucose oxidase. The principle for creatinine detection was based on electrochemical reduction of non‐complexed Fe³⁺ in excess after complex formation between Fe³⁺ and creatinine in the chemical step. The anodic peak current responses for uric acid detection increased due to working electrode surface modification with carbon black nanoparticles. In the multiplexed analysis, the device provided limits of detection of 0.120 mmol L^?1, 0.084 mmol L^?1, and 0.012 mmol L^?1 for glucose, creatinine, and uric acid, respectively. The developed device was successfully applied in the analyses of real urine samples.     

A Multicommutated Flow System Based on an Opened‐Loop with Micropump Propulsion

Abstract

A multicommutated flow system using an opened‐loop configuration and incorporating micropump propulsion was developed and applied in the determination of highly concentrated species in wastewater samples.

The developed flow system enabled a suitable dilution level to be attained and continuously monitoring of the analytical process. A synergetic effect was also obtained with the continuous removal of the dispersed front and trailing zones of the sample plug.

The developed strategy was evaluated on the determination of iron in high concentrated wastewater samples without any pre‐treatment. The continuous sample recirculation permitted an increase in linear range up to 10 g · l^?1.     

Determination of Uric Acid in Human Urine by Ion‐exclusion Chromatography with UV Detection Using Pure Water as Mobile Phase

A simple, rapid and accurate ion‐exclusion chromatographic method coupled with a UV detector for the determination of uric acid in human urine samples has been developed. The separation was carried out on an ion‐exclusion column using only pure water as mobile phase. The detection wavelength was 254 nm and urine sample was injected directly without any pretreatment. Furthermore, the retention behavior of uric acid on the ion‐exclusion column was researched when pure water and 1 mmol·L^?1 HCl were used as mobile phase, respectively. The stability of uric acid was also further investigated within 28 days. In this method, the linear range of the calibration curve for uric acid was 0.25–100 mg·L^?1, and the detection limit calculated at S/N=3 was 0.02 mg·L^?1. The proposed ion‐exclusion chromatographic method has been used for the determination of uric acid in human urine.     

Determination of phenylglyoxylic acid in urine using a multi-pumping flow system

In this work a simple, fast and fully automated analytical methodology for the spectrophotometric determination of phenylglyoxylic acid is proposed. Phenylglyoxylic acid is a metabolite of styrene that is excreted in urine, being used as an indicator of styrene occupational exposure. The developed procedure was based on the phenylglyoxylic acid ability to inhibit the formation of the peroxovanadium cation produced by the reaction between vanadate and H₂O₂. The analytical process was implemented in a multi-pumping flow system that employs multiple solenoid actuated micro-pumps as the only active components. This enabled the reproducible insertion and efficient mixing of low volumes of sample and reagents as well as the transportation of the sample zone towards detection. Thus an easily controlled, low cost, compact and reliable analytical system was implemented. A linear working range for phenylglyoxylic acid concentrations up to 700?mg?L^?1 (r ^2?=?0.995, n?=?7), was obtained, with a detection limit of 37?mg?L^?1. The system handles about 43 determinations per hour yielding precise results (relative standard deviation?<?5%, n?=?10). The developed methodology was applied to the determination of phenylglyoxylic acid in urine samples and the obtained results were in agreement with those furnished by the comparison method with relative percentage deviations lower than 6.6%.     

Uric Acid Determination by Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry on Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes Based Screen‐Printed Electrodes

A sensitive electroanalytical methodology for the determination of uric acid in real samples using adsorptive voltammetry at a multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) modified screen printed electrode (SPCE) is presented. Adsorption of uric acid takes place at open circuit potential at an optimized pH 5.0. Studies about the effect of accumulation time and scan rate on the analytical signal were developed and confirm the adsorption nature of the electrodic process. Quantitative analysis of uric acid by using its oxidation process at +0.18 V (vs. an Ag pseudoreference electrode) was carried out with an accumulation time of 5 min. Thus, a linear voltammetric based reproducible determination of uric acid (RSD 5 %) in the range 1–100 µM was obtained. The method was then successfully used for the determination of uric acid in real clinical samples of urine without detection of interferences. The proposed methodology only requires a dilution of the real sample and present advantages as low cost and easy handling for non specialized technicians.     

Simultaneous Determination of Dopamine and Uric Acid by Electrocatalytic Oxidation on a Carbon Paste Electrode Using Pyrogallol Red as a Mediator

A sensitive and selective electrochemical method for the simultaneous determination of dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA) was developed using a pyrogallol red modified carbon paste electrode. Under the optimized conditions, the peak current was linearly dependent on 1.0–700.0 μmol L^?1 DA and 50.0–1000.0 μmol L^?1 UA. The detection limits for DA and UA were 0.78 μmol L^?1 and 35 μmol L^?1, respectively. Finally, this method was also examined for the determination of DA and uric acid in real samples such as drugs and urine.     

Study of On-Line Fluorimetric Determination of Oxazepam. Application to the Screening of 1,4-Benzodiazepines Giving Oxazepam as Metabolite in Urine

An automated, rapid, and sensitive flow injection method was developed for the fluorimetric determination of oxazepam and afterward applied for the screening of benzodiazepines with oxazepam as a common metabolite in urine. This method is based on the hydrolysis of oxazepam to the corresponding benzophenone and subsequent cyclization to form the fluorescent molecule 2-chloro-9(10H)-acridinone. Both reactions were allowed to proceed in a two channel flow injection manifold. The physical and chemical variables affecting the method were optimized and a linear calibration graph obtained. Oxazepam was detectable in the 40–700 ng mL^?1 range. The detection limit of this method was 35 ng mL^?1 for k = 3 and the throughput was 25 samples h^?1. The method was successfully applied for the screening of oxazepam in urine samples collected at different times after the single oral administration of Valium and Tranxilium by two healthy volunteers.     

Spectrophotometric Multicommutated Flow System for the Determination of Hypochlorite in Bleaching Products

Abstract

A multicommutation flow system for the spectrophotometric determination of hypochlorite in bleaching products is proposed. In this system, N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPD) reacts with hypochlorite, and the product was monitored at 515 nm. The analytical curve for hypochlorite was linear in the concentration range from 2.68 × 10^?5 to 1.88 × 10^?4 mol L^?1 (2–14 mg L^?1) with a detection limit of 6.84 × 10^?6 mol L^?1 (0.51 mg L^?1). The sampling rate was 45 h^?1, and a relative standard deviation of 1.4% (n = 10) was obtained. The recovery of this analyte ranged from 97.2% to 102.5%, and the results found using the proposed spectrophotometric multicommutated flow system agreed with the data obtained using a reference method (iodometric titration) at the 95% confidence level.     

Automatic Multipumping Flow System for Handling Viscous Solutions: Application to the Spectrophotometric Determination of Trimipramine

Abstract

The present work describes the implementation, by using MultiPumping Flow Analysis System (MPFS), of a spectrophotometric method for the determination of trimipramine in commercially available pharmaceutical formulations, based on the reaction with ammonium monovanadate in acidic medium yielding a colored compound with a maximum of absorbance at 620 nm. The improved flow mixing conditions during sample and reagents insertion and transport, as a result of the chaotic movement of the solutions originated by the MPFS pulsed flow, assured a fast reaction zone homogenization in a reduced residence time, which was particularly advantageous for carrying out analytical determinations that involved highly viscous solutions, as is the case of the sulfuric acid solution used in the determination of trimipramine, without impairing the sampling rate.

A linear working range for trimipramine concentrations of up to 50 mg L^?1 (r = 0.9998; n = 6) was obtained, and the determined detection limit was about 1.15 mg L^?1. The sampling rate was approximately 50 determinations per hour. The obtained results were in agreement with those furnished by the reference procedure, with relative deviations lower than 4.7%. With the developed MPFS, the consumption of the reagents ammonium monovanadate and sulfuric acid was reduced by approximately 41.02% and 54.29%, respectively, compared with a previously proposed multicommutated flow analysis system.     

Determination of ammonium ion in a flow-injection system with a gas-diffusion membrane : Selection of Optimal Conditions for the pH Indicator

The spectrophotometric determination of ammonium ion in water by flow-injection analysis with a membrane-separator and a pH indicator for detection is studied in detail. The relations derived facilitate the selection of appropriate solution compositions or the prediction of sensitivity. It is shown that 1.5×10^?5 M bromocresol purple (pH 6.8) as acceptor solution gives the maximal sensitivity in the flow system with a laboratory-made separation unit. Application of ultrasonic radiation in the separation step and the use of different flow rates for the donor and acceptor streams may result in increased permeation of ammonia and a correspondingly high sensitivity. By modifying the acceptor solution so that the sensitivity is decreased, more concentrated samples such as urine can be analyzed by direct injection without prior dilution. In this procedure, the sample rate was 60 h^?1 for ammonium concentration of more than 10^?5 M and 30–40 h^?1 for concentrations in the range 3×10^?7?10^?5 M. The detection limit was about 3×10^?7 M.     

Biparametric multicommutated flow analysis system for determination of human serum phosphoesterase activity

A multicommutated flow analysis (MCFA) system constructed of microsolenoid valves and pumps offering simultaneous determination of activity of acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in human serum samples has been developed. The MCFA system is based on optoelectronic flow-through detector made of two light emitting diodes and operating according to paired emitter detector diode (PEDD) principle. This photometric PEDD device has been dedicated for detection of p-nitrophenol (NP) generated in the course of enzymatic hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate and optimized for the determination of NP in human serum samples. The developed PEDD-based MCFA system allows independent optimization of conditions for reaction and detection steps of photometric ACP and ALP bioassays. Moreover, it allows elimination of photometric interferences from serum matrix components according to two-points kinetic mode of measurement. The single measurement cycle takes 12 min, consists of four measurements (two for each phosphoesterase) and enables determination of serum ACP and ALP activities at physiological and pathological levels. The real analytical utility of the developed MCFA system has been confirmed by analysis of control sera as well as real human serum samples from healthy persons and oncological patients.     

Exploiting monosegmented flow analysis to perform in-line standard additions using a single stock standard solution in spectrophotometric sequential injection procedures

The robustness of sequential injection analysis (SIA) was combined with the monosegmented flow analysis (MSFA) approach, in which there is no dispersion of the reaction zone with carrier, to develop a methodology to perform in-line dilution. This approach allows one to know accurately the dilution of sample and reagent inside the monosegment, without the need for determination of dispersion coefficients. As a consequence, the methodology allowed the mechanization of procedures to perform standard additions and to construct analytical curves using a single stock standard solution, with very simple and conventional computation of the sample concentration. The method was illustrated with experiments using the bromothymol blue (BTB) dye, in which no reactions are involved, as well as with the spectrophotometric methodology for determination of Fe(II) using o-1,10-phenanthroline as chromogenic reagent. The resulting method presented a sampling frequency of 30 analyses per hour and a detection limit of 25 μg l⁻¹.     

Determination of gatifloxacin in drug formulations,human urine,and serum samples using energy transfer chemiluminescence coupled with flow-injection analysis

A simple and sensitive method for the determination of gatifloxacin (GFLX) is developed by using flow injection analysis with potassium permanganate-sodium sulfite chemiluminescence (CL) detection based on the energy transfer from GFLX to terbium(III). Intense signal instead of the weak CL produced by potassium permanganate-sulfite-GFLX system can be observed when Tb(III) is added to the system. A narrow and intense emission band at 545 nm arising from the excited-state Tb(III) was obtained. Under the optimum conditions, a linear range was 5.0 × 10^?8 to 8.0 × 10^?6 M and the detection limit was 3.2 × 10^?9 M. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of gatifloxacin in drug formulations, urine and serum samples. There was no interference from some common excipients used in pharmaceutical preparations. The possible energy transfer mechanisms in the lanthanide complexes were discussed.     

An Electrochemical Biosensor with Uricase Immobilized on Functionalized Gold Coated Copper Wire Electrode for Urinary Uric Acid Assay

A new second generation uricase electrode for urinary uric acid determination has been developed by chemically binding both uricase and redox mediator to inexpensive copper wire through simple electrodeposition of gold on copper surface and subsequent functionalization of the gold with L‐methionine. During a 209‐day testing period, the overall electrode performance exhibits in average a low oxidation potential of 0.33 V, a response time of 5 s, a widest linear calibration concentration range (0–2.38 mM, r²>0.9952), a sensitivity of 50 μA mM^?1, and a detection limit of 2.4 μM. The measurement accuracy and precision for the determination of uric acid in human urine specimens were 85.6–95.5 % and 0.3–2.4 %, respectively. The developed uricase electrode is potential for clinical applications.     

Simultaneous Determination of Ascorbic Acid and Uric Acid by Using a PVC/TTF‐TCNQ Composite Electrode as Detector in a FIA System

A PVC/TTF‐TCNQ composite electrode has been employed as detector in a flow injection system. The proposed method allows the simultaneous detection of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) in mixtures by using a FIA system in a simple manner, without pre‐treatment or modified electrode. This method is based on the amperometric determination of (a) ascorbic acid at 0.15 V and (b) both analytes at 0.35 V, being the response linear in the range 1×10^?2–4×10^?4 M for both analytes with detection limits (S/N=3) of 1.2×10^?4 M and 8.1×10^?5 M for AA and UA, respectively.     

Determination of uric acid and creatinine in human urine using hydrophilic interaction chromatography

Uric acid is the end-product of purine metabolism and a major antioxidant in humans. The concentrations of uric acid in plasma and urine are associated with various diseases and routinely measured in clinical and biomedical laboratories using enzymatic conversion and colorimetric measurement. In this study a hydrophilic interaction chromatographic (HILIC) method was developed for simultaneous determination of uric acid and creatinine, a biomarker of urine dilution and renal function, in human urine. Urine samples were pretreated by dilution, protein precipitation, centrifugation and filtration. Uric acid and creatinine were separated from other components in urine samples and quantified using HILIC chromatography. A linear relationship between the ratio of the peak area of the standards to that of the internal standard and the concentration of the standards was obtained for both uric acid and creatinine with the square of correlation coefficients >0.999 for both analytes. The detection limits were 0.04 μg/mL for creatinine and 0.06 μg/mL for uric acid. The described HILIC method has proved to be simple, accurate, robust and reliable.     

Analysis of Free and Total Glycerol in Biodiesel Using an Electrochemical Assay Based on a Two‐Enzyme Oxygen‐Electrode System

In this work, an electroenzymatic methodology based on two coupled enzymatic activities (glycerokinase and glycerol‐3‐phosphate oxidase) was developed using an oxygen Clark‐type electrode for the determination of free and total glycerol in biodiesel samples. The enzymatic conversion of glycerol consumes oxygen, which is measured amperometrically in a Clark‐type electrode and correlated with the concentration of glycerol in the sample. The electroenzymatic method proposed showed a good linear correlation coefficient (R=0.9990) with a linear response in the concentration range of 6.25×10^?5 to 6.25×10^?4% (w/v) and limits of detection and quantification at 1.0×10^?5% and 3.0×10^?5% (w/v), respectively. Good correlations were found between the results obtained in this work and those by the gas chromatography technique (R=0.9994). The proposed method was shown to be promising for the analysis of glycerol in biodiesel samples, with a simple and inexpensive methodology compared with the gas chromatography technique.     

Amperometric Biosensor Based on Enzymatic Reactor for Choline Determination in Flow Systems

A simple, selective and stable biosensor with the enzymatic reactor based on choline oxidase (ChOx) was developed and applied for the determination of choline (Ch) in flow injection analysis with amperometric detection. The enzyme ChOx was covalently immobilized with glutaraldehyde to mesoporous silica powder (SBA‐15) previously covered by NH₂‐groups. This powder was found as an optimal filling of the reactor. The detection of Ch is based on amperometric monitoring of consumed oxygen during the enzymatic reaction, which is directly proportional to Ch concentration. Two arrangements of an electrolytic cell in FIA, namely wall‐jet cell with working silver solid amalgam electrode covered by mercury film and flow‐through cell with tubular detector of polished silver solid amalgam were compared. The experimental parameters affecting the sensitivity and stability of the biosensor (i. e. pH of the carrier solution, volume of reactor, amount of the immobilized enzyme, the detection potential, flow rate, etc.) were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the limit of detection was found to be 9.0×10^?6 mol L^?1. The Michaelis‐Menten constant for covalently immobilized ChOx on SBA‐15 was calculated. The proposed amperometric biosensor with the developed ChOx‐based reactor exhibits good repeatability, reproducibility, long‐term stability, and reusability. Its efficiency has been confirmed by the successful application for the determination of Ch in two commercial pharmaceuticals.     

Selective Detection of Dopamine Using Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified by a Combined Electropolymerized Permselective Film of Polytyramine and Polypyrrole‐1‐propionic Acid

A sensitive and selective electrochemical method for the determination of dopamine using a combined electropolymerized permselective film of polytyramine and polypyrrole‐1‐propionic acid on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode was developed. The formation of a “layer‐by‐layer” film has allowed for selective detection of dopamine in the presence of 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (L‐DOPA), DOPAC, ascorbic acid, uric acid, epinephrine and norepinephrine. The modified electrodes exhibited a detection limit of 100 nM with linearity ranging from 5×10^?6 to 5×10^?5 M. No cleaning step was required during the course of repeated measurement.