Electrochemical Cholesterol Sensor Based on Tin Oxide‐Chitosan Nanobiocomposite Film

A chitosan (CS)‐tin oxide (SnO₂) nanobiocomposite film has been deposited onto an indium‐tin‐oxide glass plate to immobilize cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) for cholesterol detection. The value of the Michaelis–Menten constant (K_m) obtained as 3.8 mM for ChOx/CS‐SnO₂/ITO is lower (8 mM) than that of a ChOx/CS/ITO bioelectrode revealing enhancement in affinity and/or activity of ChOx towards cholesterol and also revealing strong binding of ChOx onto CS‐SnO₂/ITO electrode. This ChOx/CS‐SnO₂/ITO cholesterol sensor retains 95% of enzyme activity after 4–6 weeks at 4 °C with response time of 5 s, sensitivity of 34.7 μA/mg dL^?1 cm² and detection limit of 5 mg/dL.     

Chemiluminescent Detection of Gatifloxacin Residue in Milk

Abstract

An indirect competitive chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CL-ELISA) for detection of gatifloxacin residue in milk was developed in this study. Compared with conventional colorimetric ELISA using the same antibody, the developed CL immunoassay shows a significant improvement in sensitivity and detectability with an IC₅₀ of 0.4 ng mL^?1 and a detection limit of 0.001 ng mL^?1 and thus is suitable to be used as a highly sensitive screening method to detect and regulate illegal use of gatifloxacin in food and food products. The test kit was applied to detect milk samples spiked by gatifloxacin, and satisfactory results were obtained.     

Determination of Danofloxacin and Marbofloxacin in Milk Samples by Micellar Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection

Abstract

A simple, rapid, and sensitive analytical method has been developed for the determination of two fluoroquinolones, danofloxacin and marbofloxacin, in bovine milk samples. Separation and quantification were performed by micellar liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (MLC?FD), using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a surfactant. The influence of the principal factors, namely, the micelle concentration, the amount of organic modifier, tail‐reducing agents, the pH, and the temperature were studied. The suitable condition was found to be 75 mM SDS?10 mM phosphate buffer–18 mM tetrabutylammonium bromide/3% (v/v) 1‐propanol at pH 3.0 for the separation of marbofloxacin, danofloxacin, and tosufloxacin (internal standard) in about 20 min. The linear concentration range of application was 1.8–30.0 ng · mL^?1 for danofloxacin and 16–120 ng · mL^?1 for marbofloxacin, and the relative standard deviation ranged between 4.9 and 2.7%. The limit of detection found for danofloxacin was 0.5 ng · mL^?1 and 5 ng · mL^?1 for marbofloxacin. These values were lower than the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by the European Union for these compounds in bovine milk. It was applied to check the eventual existence of these compounds above these limits on commercial milk samples. The validation method was completed with spiked milk samples. Recovery levels obtained were 90.3–108.2%.     

Optimization of Continuous Flow Hydride Generation Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry for Sensitivity Improvement of Bismuth

Experimental variables in continuous flow hydride generation inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (CF-HG-ICP-OES) were optimized for determination of bismuth. Concentrations of NaBH₄, HCl, and NaOH, flow rates of NaBH₄, sample solution, waste and carrier argon, radio frequency power, lengths of reaction, and stripping coils were optimized to obtain lower detection limits. Under optimum conditions, the detection limit was calculated as 0.16 ng mL^?1, and the calibration plot was linear between 1.0–50.0 ng mL^?1. An improvement in detection limit of 5.75 times by CF-HG-ICP-OES was reached vs. ICP-OES. Relative standard deviation (RSD) for ten replicate measurements of 10.0 ng mL^?1 Bi was calculated as 3.9%. Effect of possible interferic ions on Bi signal was evaluated. Accuracy of method was verified by using a standard reference material, SRM 1643e. Results found for Bi were in satisfactory agreement with certified values. The proposed method was then employed to determine trace concentration of Bi in milk samples. Bi amounts in samples were found in the range from lower than the quantitation limit to 14.5 ng mL^?1, whereas Bi concentrations were lower than the detection limit in three samples.     

Homobimetallic zinc(II) dithiocarbamates: synthesis,characterization and in vivo antihyperglycemic activity

This article presents structural characteristic and in vivo antihyperglycemic activities of three new homobimetallic Zn(II) dithiocarbamates (1–3) with general formula [ZnL₂]₂, where L is 4-(3-methoxyphenyl)piperazine-1-carbodithioate (1), 4-(4-methoxyphenyl)piperazine-1-carbodithioate (2) and 4-benzhydrylpiperazine-1-carbodithiaoate (3). These complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, multinuclear NMR (¹H and ¹³C), and X-ray single crystal analysis. The latter technique has confirmed the homobimetallic nature of 1 and 2 in which Zn ions are linked via sulfurs to form a four-membered ring Zn₂S₂. Non-covalent intermolecular interactions give a supramolecular ladder-like zigzag chain (1) and layered structure (2). The antihyperglycemic activities revealed that the blood glucose lowering ability follows the trend: glibenclamide (83.0 mg dL^?1) > 3 (97.6 mg dL^?1) > 2 (100.4 mg dL^?1) > 1 (141.4 mg dL^?1).     

Nanostructured Iron Oxide Platform for Impedimetric Cholesterol Detection

A nanostructured iron oxide (NanoFe₃O₄, particle size ca. 25 nm and roughness ca. 21 nm) film deposited onto a hydrolyzed indium‐tin‐oxide (ITO) coated glass plate has been used to immobilize cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) to fabricate an impedimetric cholesterol sensor. Electrochemical studies reveal that surface charged Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles provide better conformation for ChOx loading resulting in enhanced electron transfer between ChOx and the electrode. Impedimetric response studies of the ChOx/NanoFe₃O₄/ITO bioelectrode exhibit improved linearity (2.5–400 mg/dL), low detection limit (0.25 mg/dL), fast response time (25 s), high sensitivity (86 Ω/mg dL^?1/cm^?2) and a low value of the Michaelis‐Menten constant (K_m, 0.8 mg/dL) with a regression coefficient of 0.997.     

Indirect Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Detection of Tylosin in Milk and Water Samples

A specific polyclonal antibody was prepared based on a new hapten with stable structure. Based on this, an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) was established for determination of tylosin residues in food and environmental samples. The experimental conditions were optimized as follows: the coating antigen and antibody were respectively diluted by 6000 times and 2000 times, and the competitive reaction time was 40 min. Under the optimized conditions, the method showed a detection limit of 0.07 ng mL^?1, an IC₅₀ of 1.39 ng mL^?1 and a linear range of 0.17–11.0 ng mL^?1. The recoveries of spiked raw milk and water samples were ranged from 78.4% to 105.6%, with the RSDs of less than 15%. Good correlation between icELISA and HPLC method was obtained for spiked samples (R² = 0.97). This method was suitable for the determination of tylosin residues in milk and water samples.     

Electrochemical Behaviour of Loprazolam and its Determination in Pharmaceutical Formulations

Abstract

The electrochemical behaviour of Loprrzoiam has been determined in aqueous solution at 37 > Cusing DC polarography, differential pulse polarography and voltammetry and linear sweep cyclic voltammetry. Loprazolam can be quantitavely determined up to 3.9 10^?6 M at pH 6.5 using DP polarography, the detection limit being established at 1.6 10^?7 M. The method developed was applied to the determination of the compound in its formulations, Somnovit 1 mg, obtaining errors lower than 4%.     

Determination of Chlorpyrifos by a Multicommutated Photochemically Induced Fluorescence Optosensor

Abstract

We propose a multicommutated flow-through optosensor for the quantitation of the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos in dried chili peppers. We used photochemically induced fluorescence detection to overcome the negligible native fluorescence of the target pesticide. Firstly, the photodegradation of chlorpyrifos was performed online with an ultraviolet lamp. Then, the fluorescent photoproduct was retained on a solid support (Sephadex QAE A-25) inside the flow-cell in order to record the analytical signal. The online photodegradation and preconcentration of the photoproduct on the solid support were critical for the automation, speed, and high sensitivity obtained. A QuEChERS procedure was selected for sample treatment, obtaining recovery yields close to 100%. The method proposed presents a quantitation limit of 18?mg?kg^?1 in real samples, hence fulfilling the maximum residue limit of Codex Alimentarius, 20?mg?kg^?1. Therefore, this approach offers a novel method for screening purposes in the agricultural and food industries.     

Internal Standard Quantitative Method Of Tetrodotoxin By Capillary Electrophoresis

ABSTRACT

An internal standard quantitative method of tetrodotoxin by capillary electrophoresis was developed, ephedrine hydrochloride being chosen as the internal standard of tetrodotoxin. The calibration curve was built with the correlation coefficient of 0.9997, and the linear range was from 0.01 mg.ml^?1 to 10.0 mg-ml^?1 with the detection limit of 1.0 x 10^?3 mg.m1^?1. RSD of the migration time of ephedrine hydrochloride and tetrodotoxin were all less than 1.0 %. The method was applied to determine tetrodotoxin in the poisonous frilled fish samples.     

Acute kidney injury caused by the intraperitoneal injection of Bothrops jararaca venom in rats

Abstract

We examined the ability of Bothrops jararaca venom (12.5?mg/kg) injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) to cause acute kidney injury (AKI) in rats. Blood urea and creatinine (AKI biomarkers, in g dL^?1) were elevated after 2?h in venom-treated rats (urea: from 0.41?±?0.1 to 0.7?±?0.03; creatinine from 46.7?±?3.1 to 85?±?6.7; p?<?0.05; n?=?3 each), with no change in circulating reduced glutathione. Venom-treated rats survived for ～6?h, at which point platelets were reduced (×10³ µL^?1; from 763.8?±?30.2 to 52.5?±?18.2) whereas leukocytes and erythrocytes were slightly increased (from 4.7?±?0.3 to 6.6?±?0.1?×?10³?µL^?1 and from 8.38?±?0.1 to 9.2?±?0.09?×?10⁶?µL^?1, respectively; p?<?0.05); blood protein (5.2?±?0.4?g dL^?1) and albumin (2.7?±?0.1?g dL^?1) were normal, whereas blood and urinary urea and creatinine were increased. All parameters returned to normal with antivenom given 2?h post-envenomation. The i.p. injection of venom caused AKI similar to that seen with other routes of administration.     

Dispersive solid-phase extraction based on butylamide silica for the determination of sulfamethoxazole in milk samples by capillary electrophoresis

A new method based on the combination of dispersive solid-phase extraction and capillary electrophoresis is proposed for the determination of sulfamethoxazole in milk samples. Butylamide silica was synthesized and used as extractant. Factors involved in sample treatment method such as: butylamide silica amount, NaOH concentration in methanol, sample volume, and dispersion time were evaluated using a Taguchi parameter design. Under optimal conditions, average recoveries ranged from 73 to 85% with a limit of detection of 0.05?mg?L^?1 were achieved. The proposed method is a useful technique for cleanup milk samples.     

Headspace single-drop microextraction coupled with gas chromatography electron capture detection of butanone derivative for determination of iodine in milk powder and urine

A new detection method using headspace single-drop microextraction (HS-SDME) coupled to gas chromatography (GC) was established to determine the iodine in milk powder and urine. The derivative from the reaction between iodine and butanone in the acidic media was extracted into a micro-drop then determined by GC-ECD. With the optimisation of HS-SDME and derivatisation, the calibration curve showed good linearity within the range of 0.004–0.1 μg mL^?1 (0.004–0.1 μg g^?1) (R ² = 0.9991), and the limits of detection for milk powder and urine were 0.0018 μg g^?1 and 0.36 μg L^?1, respectively. The mean recoveries of milk powder and urine were 90.0–107 % and 89.4–101 % with mean RSD of 1.7–3.4 % and 2.7–3.3 %, respectively. This detection method affords a number of advantages, such as being simple, rapid, and inexpensive, with low organic solvent consumption, and is remarkably free from interference effects, rendering it an efficient method for the determination of iodine in milk powder and urine samples.     

Determination of Total Nitrogen in Environmental Samples: Validation by Comparison of Techniques and Intralaboratory Studies

Abstract

A rapid, microwave-based extraction method was employed to oxidize all forms of nitrogen to nitrate in environmental samples using persulfate. The digest was then analyzed spectrophotometrically after an offline reduction of nitrate to nitrite using a cadmium reductor column was completed. The precision of the method was tested at the 0.5 mg l^?1 level and was 5.2% (N = 10). The detection limit based on S/N = 3 was calculated to be 0.15 mg l^?1. The method was thoroughly validated by comparison of analytical techniques and intralaboratory comparison studies.     

Flotation Spectrophotometric Determination of Aluminium with Alizarin

ABSTRACT

Aluminium was determined in a weakly alkaline medium by reaction with alizarin at trace level. Flotation of the complex was carried out with heptane, followed by dissolution in N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) for subsequent spectrophotometric determination. The molar absorptivity was 2.92×10⁵ mol^? cm^? at 518 run. Beer's law was obeyed in the range 5–80 μg/1 and the detection limit was 0.4μg/l.

The reliability of the procedure was confirmed by determination of a sample of milk with Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric method (GFAAS). The precision and accuracy of the method were both acceptable via F and tests at the 95% confidence level.     

Label-free optical biosensor for detection and quantification of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac in milk without any sample pretreatment

A label-free optical biosensor for detection and quantification of diclofenac in bovine milk has been developed. This was achieved by using reflectometric interference spectroscopy as detection method. In a first step, the immunosensor was developed and optimised in buffer concerning sensitivity, selectivity, stability and reproducibility. By comparing recovery rates—not only the good intra- but also the good inter-chip—reproducibility could be proven. Consequently, the assay was transferred in the more complex matrix milk. By utilising an optimised surface modification and evaluation method, matrix effects could successfully be prevented or circumvented. As a result, the developed immunosensor does not need sample pretreatment at all. By obtaining a limit of detection of 0.112 μg L^?1 (0.108 μg kg^?1), the capability of the developed biosensor is comparable or better than those of standard detection methods. Moreover, the presented biosensor reaches the range of the maximum residue limit (0.1 μg kg^?1) set by the European Union. Thus, for the first time, diclofenac was successfully quantified at relevant levels in milk by using an optical biosensor.     

Development of a new HPLC diagnostic method for galactosemia using 8-amino-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid

Summary In a metabolic pathway from galactose to glucose-1-phosphate, there are three major enzymes, galactokinase, galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase (GALT) and UDP-galactose-4-epimerase. The deficiency of one of these enzymes causes accumulation of galactose in blood, which provides a pathognomonic marker. A new reversed-phase HPLC method with fluorescence detector has been developed for the measurement of galactose in 50μL of blood on Guthrie filter paper using 8-amino-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid (8,2-ANS) as derivatization reagent for the diagnosis of Galactosemia. Galactose was extracted from blood spotted on filter paper and derivatized with 8,2-ANS to produce Schiff bases, and reduced with sodium cyanoborohydride. Linear range was from 2 mg dL⁻¹ to 20 mg dL⁻¹ (r=0.9998). Detection limit (S/N=3) of this method was 90 ng dL⁻¹. The mean recovery of galactose was 102.7% (SD =0.3%, n=14). The normal range of blood galactose in Korean neonates (specimen collected within 7 days after birth) was below 6 mg dL⁻¹ (n=5 for each gender) without any gender difference. When applied to 11 anonymous blood spots of heterogeneous genotypes of GALT deficiency all of the patients' blood samples showed abnormal elevation of galactose. The results indicate that the new method using 8,2-ANS yields consistent and correct galactose determination that is simple and practical as a rapid first screening tool for patients with galactosemia.     

Rapid Determination of Free Amino Acids in Milk by Microchip Electrophoresis Coupled with Laser‐induced Fluorescence Detection

A simple and sensitive method for determination of free amino acids in milk by microchip electrophoresis (MCE) coupled with laser‐induced fluorescence (LIF) detection was developed. Seven kinds of standard amino acids were derivated with sulfoindocyanine succinimidyl ester (Cy5) and then perfectly measured by MCE‐LIF within 150 s. The parameters of MCE separation were carefully investigated to obtain the optimal conditions: 100 mmol·L^?1 sodium borate solution (pH 10.0) as running buffer solution, 0.8 kV as injection voltage, 2.2 kV as separation voltage etc. The linear range of the detection of amino acids was from 0.01 µmol·L^?1 to 1.0 µmol·L^?1 and the detection limit was as low as about 1.0 nmol·L^?1. This MCE‐LIF method was applied to the measurements of free amino acids in actual milk samples and satisfactory experimental results were achieved.     

Intramolecular Charge Transfer (ICT) Based Two-photon Fluorescent Probe for Bisulfite with Bioimaging Applications

Abstract

A two-photon fluorescent probe has been adopted for bisulfite based on an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism. The fluorescence intensity of the probe decreased by 837 fold following treatment with HSO₃^? and the detection limit was 42?nM. This probe showed excellent properties such as high photostability, good two-photon properties, and large Stokes shifts. More importantly, this approach offers a rapid, highly selective, and sensitive method to determine HSO₃^? in buffer solutions and real samples. Furthermore, the probe was successfully used for two-photon fluorescence visualization of trace SO₂ derivatives in biological systems.