Simultaneous determination of four trace estrogens in feces,leachate, tap and groundwater using solid–liquid extraction/auto solid‐phase extraction and high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A simple and selective high‐performance liquid chromatography method coupled with fluorescence detection was developed for the simultaneous measurement of trace levels of four estrogens (estrone, estradiol, estriol and 17α‐ethynyl estradiol) in environmental matrices. For feces samples, solid–liquid extraction was applied with a 1:1 v/v mixture of acetonitrile and ethyl acetate as the extraction solvent. For liquid samples (e.g., leachate and groundwater), hydrophobic/lipophilic balanced automated solid‐phase extraction disks were selected due to their high recoveries compared to conventional C₁₈ disks. Chromatographic separations were performed on a reversed‐phase C₁₈ column gradient‐eluted with a 45:55 v/v mixture of acetonitrile and water. The detection limits were down to 1.1 × 10^?2 (estrone), 4.11 × 10^?4 (estradiol), 5.2 × 10^?3 (estriol) and 7.18 × 10^?3 μg/L (17α‐ethynyl estradiol) at excitation/emission wavelengths of 288/310 nm, with recoveries in the range of 96.9 ± 3.2–105.4 ± 3.2% (n = 3). The method was successfully applied to determine estrogens in feces and water samples collected at livestock farms and a major river in Northeast China. We observed relatively high abundance and widespread distribution of all four estrogens in our sample collections, implying the urgency for a comprehensive and intricate investigation of estrogenic fate and contamination in our researched area.     

表面活性剂存在下雌激素的直接电化学分析

雌二醇（E2）、雌三醇（E3）和雌酮（E1）是人体内3种重要的雌激素,它们在妇女的生殖生育方面发挥重要的作用。人体雌激素缺乏或过乘会导致诸多疾病。雌激素的检测方法已有不少报道,如气相色谱－质谱（GC－MS）、液相色谱（LC）以及化学发光免疫法等。E2,E1和E3的结构相似,且均具有疏水性及非电活性,用电化学直接测定十分困难,一般只能间接测定。本文报道了一种新的电化学分析方法。该方法对三种雌激素有十分灵敏的伏安响应,可用于微量测定。     

A TD‐DFT Study on the Effect of Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding on the Photophysical Properties of N‐Methyl‐1,8‐naphthalimide

The effect of intermolecular hydrogen bonding on the photophysical properties of N‐methyl‐1,8‐naphthalimide ( 2 ) has been investigated by time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) method. The UV and IR spectra of 2 monomer and its hydrogen‐bonded complexes formed with 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol (TFE) 2 +TFE and 2 +2TFE have been calculated, which confirm the presence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions between the carbonyl groups of the aromatic imide and the hydroxyl group of the polyfluorinated alcohol. The absorption and fluorescence intensities going from 2 monomer via hydrogen‐bonded complex 2 +TFE to 2 +2TFE were found to be gradually enhanced with the wavelength gradually red‐shifted. The enhancements of the fluorescence intensities from 2 monomer to hydrogen‐bonded complexes 2 +TFE and 2 +2TFE were attributed to the decrease of the intersystem crossing (ISC) efficiency from the first excited singlet state S₁ ¹(ππ*) to the second excited triplet state T₂ ³(nπ*), whose energy was increased relative to its ground state due to the intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions.     

Studies on Steroids. CLXXVIII. Separation of Estrogen Glucuronides by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Separation of monoglucuronides of estrone, estradiol, estriol and 16-epiestriol by high-performance liquid chromatography on a reversed-phase column has been carried out. The effects of pH and salt concentration of a mobile phase on the k' value were investigated with a TSK GEL LS-410 ODS-SIL column. Isomeric monoglucuronides of estriol and 16-epiestriol were distinctly separated on this column when 0.7% disodium hydrogen phosphate (pH 3.0)/tetrahydrofuran was used as a mobile phase.     

Development of a Solid‐Phase Extraction‐Enzyme‐Linked Immunosorbent Assay Method with a New Sorbent of Multiwall Carbon Nanotube for the Determination of Estrone in Water

Abstract

A sensitive solid‐phase extraction‐enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (SPE‐ELISA) method was developed to analyze the estrone in environmental water. A new SPE sorbent of the multiwall carbon nanotube was tested and proved to have similar adsorbability for estrone comparing to the commercial C₁₈ SPE. A specific polyclonal antibody for estrone (A‐E1) and a broad‐spectrum antibody for estrone, estradiol and estriol (A‐E2) were produced. For A‐E1, the limit detection of estrone was 0.04 µg/l and for A‐E2 were 0.07, 0.04 and 0.2 µg/l of estrone, estradiol and estriol, respectively. Different river water samples were analyzed by ELISA and HPLC method.     

Isocratic reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography determination of twelve natural corticosteroids in serum with on-line ultraviolet and fluorescence detection

An isocratic reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography procedure utilizing ultraviolet and fluorescence detectors linked in series is described for the analysis of cortisone (E), cortisol (F), corticosterone (B), 11-deoxycortisol (S), 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC), androstenedione (A), testosterone (T), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), progesterone (P), estriol, estradiol, estrone, prednisone acetate and dexamethasone acetate in serum. Serum specimens were extracted with ethyl ether. The optimized mobile phase was methanol + tetrahydrofuran + water (26:18:56, v/v/v). A Shim-pack ODS column was used. The recoveries were 80 to 103%. Intra- and inter-day coefficient of variance were less than 8%. The detection limit is 0.5 pmol per injection volume for estriol, estradiol, E, F and B; 1 pmol for S, A, DOC and estrone; 2 pmol for T and 17-OHP; and 4 pmol for P. Serum from normal subjects and patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21- or 17-hydroxylase deficiency were measured, as well as samples of maternal and umbilical cord serum.     

Determination of Estrogens by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Pre-Label Derivatization with 2-(4-Carboxy)-5,6-Dimethylbenzimidazole (II): Shortening of Analysis Time and Application to Monitoring Estrogen in Serum From In-Vitro Fertilization Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET) Patients

Abstract

We report a sensitive high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for determination of free and conjugated estrogens (estrone, estradiol and estriol) by a fluorescent pre-labeling regent, 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole, with modification of previous work. The modified method was also tried, in preliminary work, for diagnosis of the in-vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET) process. The reagent volumes were changed to one-tenth, derivatization conditions were changed to mild conditions at 40 C, and a solid-phase extraction process by SEP-PAK could be omitted after restudy of reaction conditions. As a result analysis time could be shorted within 40 min. The proposed HPLC method was applied to monitoring of free and conjugated estrogens in the patients who attend in-vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET). The subsequent increase of free and conjugated estrone, estradiol and estriol was observed with the progress of follicle growth following ovulation stage in the IVF-ET process. We tried to plot estrogens for assist of clinical diagnosis of IVF-ET. The free estrone: 200-600 pg/ml, estradiol: 200-600 pg/ml and estriol: 100-300 pg/ml, conjugate estrone: 1000-5000 pg/ml, estradiol: 3000-8000 pg/ml and estriol: 2000-7000 pg/ml) in the patients without hormone disease were observed before human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation (hCG) on IVF-ET process. It was expected that free estrogen values, especially E1 and E3 could be use as validation products for diagnosis of hormone disease in IVF-ET process.     

On a possible excited state proton transfer in N-formylkynurenine derivatives

It is shown that intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the

and the ortho carbonyl on the side chain of N'formylkynurenine and some parent compounds plays an important role on their spectroscopic properties. The fluorescence emissionλ_max is shifted by about 4000 cm^?1 in going from polar to non-polar solvents. This abnormally red-shifted fluorescence is attributed to an excited state proton transfer from the formamido to the ortho carbonyl of the side chain.     

Benzothiadiazole-based dyes that emit red light in solution,solid, and liquid state

In this paper, we report the preparation and red-light-emitting behavior of benzothiadiazole–tris(alkyloxy)phenylethene dyes. In solution, we observed an efficient red light emission with high fluorescence quantum yields (up to 0.78). With increase in solvent polarity, the emission bands shifted to longer wavelengths accompanied by a large Stokes shift of up to 152 nm. A moderate fluorescence quantum yield of 0.52 could be achieved even in the polar solvent dimethylformamide. Red light emission with good fluorescence quantum yields (up to 0.50) was also observed in the bulk solid, liquid, and film state.     

Multiple monolithic fiber solid‐phase microextraction based on a polymeric ionic liquid with high‐performance liquid chromatography for the determination of steroid sex hormones in water and urine

The development of a simple and sensitive analytical approach that combines multiple monolithic fiber solid‐phase microextraction with liquid desorption followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection is proposed for the determination of trace levels of seven steroid sex hormones (estriol, 17β‐estradiol, testosterone, ethinylestradiol, estrone, progesterone and mestranol) in water and urine matrices. To extract the target analytes effectively, multiple monolithic fiber solid‐phase microextraction based on a polymeric ionic liquid was used to concentrate hormones. Several key extraction parameters including desorption solvent, extraction and desorption time, pH value and ionic strength in sample matrix were investigated in detail. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the limits of detection were found to be in the range of 0.027–0.12 μg/L. The linear range was 0.10–200 μg/L for 17β‐estradiol, 0.25–200 μg/L estriol, ethinylestradiol and estrone, and 0.50–200 μg/L for the other hormones. Satisfactory linearities were achieved for analytes with the correlation coefficients above 0.99. Acceptable method reproducibility was achieved by evaluating the repeatability and intermediate precision with relative standard deviations of both less than 8%. The enrichment factors ranged from 54‐ to 74‐fold. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of steroid sex hormones in environmental water samples and human urines with spiking recoveries ranged from 75.6 to 116%.     

Solvent‐Dependent Fluorescence Lifetimes of Estrone, 17β‐Estradiol and 17α‐Ethinylestradiol

The fluorescence lifetimes of the estrogens, estrone, 17β‐estradiol and 17α‐ethinylestradiol, were studied in various solvents. The fluorescence lifetimes of 17β‐estradiol and 17α‐ethinylestradiol decreased from 4.7 to 0.9 ns as the solvent hydrogen bond accepting ability increased, in good agreement with other phenolic molecules. Estrone's two fluorescence bands had distinct lifetimes, with the 304 nm band having a lifetime shorter than 200 ps, reflecting efficient energy transfer to the carbonyl group, which had lifetimes ranging from 4.4 to 4.9 ns depending on the solvent. Solvent effects on the ¹ππ*, ¹πσ* and ¹nπ* states that are relevant to estrogen photophysics can adequately explain these trends. The solvent dependence on the excited states of these potent endocrine disruptors has significant implications for their photochemistry.     

Comparison of High Performance Liquid Chromatography Methods with Different Detectors for Determination of Steroid Hormones in Aqueous Matrices

This paper presents the development and comparison of procedures for the qualitative and quantitative determination of five estrogenic compounds (17-α-ethynylestradiol, estrone, estradiol, estriol, and progesterone) in drinking water and wastewater samples. Five extraction columns and two disks were tested for their efficiency. The C₁₈ columns were superior on the basis of cost for solid phase extraction of drinking water or sewage. However, the best recoveries were achieved using extraction disks. High-performance liquid chromatography with diode array, fluorescence, and tandem mass spectrometry detectors were compared for selectivity, repeatability, and linearity of response. Solid phase extraction with high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry was the most sensitive, efficient, and precise for the determination of hormones in drinking water and wastewater. This method satisfied analytical validation criteria and was characterized by a low limit of detection at the pg-ng/L level. The study also considered challenges that emerged for steroidal hormone determination in aqueous samples.     

Solvent effect on the photophysical properties of the anticancer agent ellipticine

This paper investigates how solution conditions, especially solvent polarity and hydrogen bonding, affect the fluorescence of ellipticine, a natural plant alkaloid with anticancer activity. A total of 16 solvents that cover a wide range of polarities were tested. The ultraviolet (UV) absorption and fluorescence emission of ellipticine were found to be solvent dependent. The absorption and emission maximum shifted to higher wavelengths (red shift) with increased solvent polarity. The difference in absorption and emission maximum (Stokes' shift) was large, approximately 10,000-11,000 cm-1, in polar solvents (with orientation polarizability Deltaf>0.2) but unusually small, approximately 8900 cm-1, in nonpolar solvents (hexane and cyclohexane). Large Stokes' shifts were due to an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), which was enabled by large solvent polarity and hydrogen bonding of ellipticine with the solvents. Two transitions were found in the Lippert-Mataga plot between (1) nonpolar and semipolar solvents and between (2) semipolar and polar solvents. The first transition reflected the formation of hydrogen bonds between ellipticine and the solvents whereas the second transition indicated that ellipticine underwent an ICT. In addition, the larger extinction coefficients and the longer lifetime of ellipticine obtained in protic solvents were attributed to the formation of stronger hydrogen bonds. The photophysical response of ellipticine to changes in solvent polarity and hydrogen bond formation could be used to infer the location of ellipticine in a heterogeneous medium, namely liposomes in aqueous solution. A relatively large red shift of emission in liposomes indicated that ellipticine may be in a more polar environment with respect to the lipid bilayer, possibly close to the hydrophilic interface.     

Bulk derivatization and direct injection of human cerebrospinal fluid for trace‐level quantification of endogenous estrogens using trap‐and‐elute liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

Although there are existing methods for determining estrogen in human bodily fluids including blood plasma and serum, very little information is available regarding estrogen levels in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is critical to assess in studies of neuroprotective functions and diffusion of neuroprotective estrogens across the blood–brain barrier. To address this problem, a liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantification of four endogenous estrogens (estrone, 17α‐estradiol, 17β‐estradiol, and estriol) in human CSF was developed. An aliquot (300 μL) of human CSF was bulk derivatized using dansyl chloride in the sample and 10 μL was directly injected onto a restricted‐access media trap column for protein removal. No off‐line sample extraction or cleanup was needed. The limits of detection of estrone, 17α‐estradiol, 17β‐estradiol, and estriol were 17, 28, 13, and 30 pg/mL, respectively, which is in the parts‐per‐trillion regime. The method was then applied to human CSF collected from ischemic trauma patients. Endogenous estrogens were detected and quantified, demonstrating the effectiveness of this method.     

Determination of natural and synthetic estrogens and their conjugates in sewage sludge by pressurized liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

In this study we present a pressurized liquid extraction/liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (PLE/LC-MS-MS) method to determine a group of estrogens and conjugated estrogens in sewage sludge. Parameters that affect the extraction step such as extraction solvent, temperature, pressure, static extraction time, number of cycles, purge time and flush volume have been optimized. In the LC-MS-MS system, electrospray ionization and a triple quadrupole analyzer have been used, and the multiple reaction monitoring mode has enabled low levels of target analytes to be detected. All recoveries were higher than 81% except for estrone 3-glucoronide and estradiol 17-glucoronide which were not extracted and consequently, they were not considered in the present study. The repeatability and reproducibility between days expressed as %RSD (n=3), were lower than 6% and 9%, respectively. The method developed allowed the target analytes to be quantified at low levels of microg/kg. The limits of detection were lower than 26 microg/kg of dry weight (d.w.) of sewage sludge, except for 17 alpha-estradiol, 17beta-estradiol, 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol and estradiol 17-acetate whose values were between 150 and 175 microg/kg (d.w.). The method was applied to determine these compounds in sewage sludge from two domestic sewage treatment plants. Estrone 3-sulfate, estradiol 3-sulfate, diethylstilbestrol, estrone and estriol were determined in some samples and estriol showed the highest value (406 microg/kg d.w.).     

Development of a novel luminol chemiluminescent method catalyzed by gold nanoparticles for determination of estrogens

It has been found that gold nanoparticles (nano-Au) enhance the chemiluminescence (CL) of the luminol–hydrogen peroxide system and that estrogens inhibit these CL signals in alkaline solution. CL spectra, UV–visible spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to investigate the mechanism of the CL enhancement. On the basis of the inhibition, a flow-injection CL method has been established for determination of three natural estrogens. Under the optimized conditions, the linear range for determination of the estrogens was 0.07 to 7.0 μmol L⁻¹ for estrone, 0.04 to 10 μmol L⁻¹ for estradiol, and 0.1 to 10 μmol L⁻¹ for estriol. The detection limits were 3.2 nmol L⁻¹ for estrone, 7.7 nmol L⁻¹ for estradiol, and 49 nmol L⁻¹ for estriol, with RSD of 2.9, 2.6, and 1.8%, respectively. This method has been used for analysis of estrogens in commercial tablets and in urine samples from pregnant women.     

黄芩苷的晶体结构研究

用乙醇-水溶液体系从黄芩中提取黄芩苷, 纯化得黄芩苷纯度为95.2%. 在步长0.0167°, 停留时间7.62 ms条件下对其粉末进行扫描, 获得较高质量粉末衍射谱图. 在运用密度泛函方法获得其分子低能量构象基础上, 采用直接空间搜索法解析其晶体结构, 得该样品属于单斜晶系, P21空间群, 晶胞参数为: a＝13.02 Å, b＝17.22 Å, c＝4.49 Å, α＝ γ＝90°, β＝95.40°, Z＝2, V＝1016.1 Å3. 结合自然键轨道理论分析, 表明结构中苷元部分杂环可能具有芳香性. 红外振动光谱结果发现, 共轭效应导致了羰基伸缩振动频率红移, 氢键的存在导致了羟基伸缩振动频率红移. 由分子间氢键的影响, 预测了其晶体生长特性.     

Explosives Sensing by Using Electron‐Rich Supramolecular Polymers: Role of Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Significant Enhancement of Sensitivity

We demonstrate here that supramolecular interactions enhance the sensitivity towards detection of electron‐deficient nitro‐aromatic compounds (NACs) over discrete analogues. NACs are the most commonly used explosive ingredients and are common constituents of many unexploded landmines used during World War II. In this study, we have synthesised a series of pyrene‐based polycarboxylic acids along with their corresponding discrete esters. Due to the electron richness and the fluorescent behaviour of the pyrene moiety, all the compounds act as sensors for electron‐deficient NACs through a fluorescence quenching mechanism. A Stern–Volmer quenching constant determination revealed that the carboxylic acids are more sensitive than the corresponding esters towards NACs in solution. The high sensitivity of the acids was attributed to supramolecular polymer formation through hydrogen bonding in the case of the acids, and the enhancement mechanism is based on an exciton energy migration upon excitation along the hydrogen‐bond backbone. The presence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the acids in solution was established by solvent‐dependent fluorescence studies and dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments. In addition, the importance of intermolecular hydrogen bonds in solid‐state sensing was further explored by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) experiments at the liquid–solid interface, in which structures of self‐assembled monolayer of the acids and the corresponding esters were compared. The sensitivity tests revealed that these supramolecular sensors can even detect picric acid and trinitrotoluene in solution at levels as low as parts per trillion (ppt), which is much below the recommended permissible level of these constituents in drinking water.     

高效液相色谱-二极管阵列/荧光检测器串联法同时测定精油中的七种性激素

建立了高效液相色谱法(HPLC)-二极管阵列检测器(DAD)/荧光检测器(FLD)串联技术同时测定精油中7种性激素(雌二醇、雌三醇、雌酮、睾酮、甲基睾酮、孕酮、己烯雌酚)的方法。样品先用正己烷溶解后,用90%的甲醇水溶液提取,弃去正己烷层,下层清液再用正己烷脱脂、净化2次,目标化合物以水-甲醇-乙腈(体积比为50:30:20)为流动相,经XTerraRP18色谱柱(250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm )分离,用DAD-FLD串联法进行检测。雌二醇、雌三醇、雌酮、己烯雌酚的DAD检测波长为197 nm,睾酮、甲基睾酮、孕酮的DAD检测波长为240 nm。雌二醇、雌三醇、雌酮同时用FLD定性定量,激发波长为280 nm,发射波长为310 nm。7种性激素分离效果良好并消除了样品中杂质峰的干扰。7种性激素除孕酮的回收率为79.5%以外,其余组分的平均回收率均在93%以上;相对标准偏差为0.90%～1.89%;检出限为0.010 ～1.0 mg/L。该方法简便、准确,可用于同时测定精油中的7种性激素。     

Excited state solvatochromic and prototropic behaviour of 4-aminodiphenylamine and 4,4'-diaminodiphenylamine--a comparative study by electronic spectra

Solvatochromic and prototropic behaviour of 4-aminodiphenylamine (4ADA) and 4,4'-diaminodiphenylamine (DADA) have been investigated in the solvents of different polarity and at various acid-base concentrations in the ground and excited states using absorption and fluorescence spectra. Solvatochromic shifts have been analysed and observed shifts are explained by the hydrogen bonding interactions. The prototropic study reveals that (i) absorption maximum of monocation of DADA is red shifted to its neutral form, and (ii) the fluorescence of 4ADA is red shifted on protonation. The abnormal fluorescence of 4ADA+ is found to be due to large solvent relaxation in polar medium.