Flow chemiluminescence sensor for determination of clenbuterol based on molecularly imprinted polymer

In this paper, a novel flow chemiluminescence (CL) clenbuterol sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) on line enrichment nanogram clenbuterol and chemiluminescence reaction of potassium permanganate and formaldehyde in the polyphosphate enhanced by clenbuterol. Clenbuterol in the urine was selectively adsorbed on the clenbuterol-imprinted polymer, which was packed into the flow cell. The formaldehyde and the polyphosphate with potassium permanganate flowed through the flow cell and reacted with the on line adsorbed clenbuterol and produced strong CL. The results show that the sensor was reversible. The CL intensity was linear with clenbuterol concentration from 1.0 × 10⁻⁹ g/mL to 5.0 × 10⁻⁸ g/mL. The detection limit was 3.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ g/mL. The R.S.D. for ng/mL clenbuterol was less than 5% (n = 3). The present method offered a high selectivity and sensitivity that made the quantitative analysis of trace clenbuterol (ng/mL) in the animal urine sample.     

Determination of β2-Agonists in Porcine Urine by Molecularly Imprinted Solid Phase Extraction Followed Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry Detection

A novel, sensitive, and robust method has been developed to detect 9 β₂-agonists in porcine urine to monitor illegal use of β₂-agonists in swine rearing. The method based on the molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) rapid extraction followed ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) detection. The cleaning efficiency of MIP cartridges was demonstrated by comparing with common ion exchange solid phase extraction. The presented method was validated in accordance with the European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The linearity, decision limit (CCα), detection capability (CCβ), recovery, precision, robustness, and stability were studied in detail. CCα and CCβ values were from 0.006 ng/mL to 0.03 ng/mL and from 0.02 ng/mL to 0.08 ng/mL, respectively. The mean recoveries and repeatability varied from 68.8% to 94.2% and from 2.8% to 10.1%. The proposed method was applied to test 170 porcine urine samples from the Shaanxi province in China and two urine samples were confirmed as clenbuterol positive and the concentrations of clenbuterol in positive urine samples were about 0.08 ng/mL and 0.1 ng/mL, respectively. The developed method was demonstrated to be more sensitive and robust for the determination of 9 β₂-agonists in porcine urine. The method was proven to be simple and easy in operation with high selectivity and good reproducibility.     

Molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction for the selective determination of bromhexine in human serum and urine with high performance liquid chromatography

In this work, a novel method is described for the determination of bromhexine in biological fluids using molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction as the sample cleanup technique combined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The water-compatible molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared using methacrylic acid as functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker, chloroform as porogen and bromhexine as the template molecule. The novel imprinted polymer was used as a solid-phase extraction sorbent for the extraction of bromhexine from human serum and urine. Various parameters affecting the extraction efficiency of the polymer have been evaluated. The optimal conditions for molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) consisted of conditioning 1 mL methanol and 1 mL of deionized water at neutral pH, loading of 5 mL of the water sample (25 μg L⁻¹) at pH 6.0, washing using 2 mL acetonitrile/acetone (1/4, v/v) and elution with 3× 1 mL methanol/acetic acid (10/1, v/v). The MIP selectivity was evaluated by checking several substances with similar molecular structures to that of bromhexine. Results from the HPLC analyses showed that the calibration curve of bromhexine using MIP from human serum and urine is linear in the ranges of 0.5-100 and 1.5-100 μg L⁻¹ with good precisions (3.3% and 2.8% for 5.0 μg L⁻¹), respectively. The recoveries for serum and urine samples were higher than 92%.     

Investigation of ractopamine‐imprinted polymer for dispersive solid‐phase extraction of trace β‐agonists in pig tissues

Ractopamine, as an alternative β‐agonist to clenbuterol, is more and more used as leanness‐enhancing agent in the swine industry. This work presents a new molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) using ractopamine as template for dispersive solid‐phase extraction of trace ractopamine and the structural related β‐agonists in animal tissues. The binding properties and selectivity of MIP were investigated. High selectivity in polar environment was found, since the extraction capacity of ractopamine with the MIP was 4.5‐fold as much as that with the non‐imprinted polymer in acetonitrile. Cross‐selectivity investigation indicates that the MIP preferentially binds the template and then the structural analogues according to their molecular similarity. Thermodynamic and kinetic investigation was performed to interpret the specific adsorption and molecular recognition of the MIP for ractopamine. Standard free energy, standard enthalpy, and standard entropy were determined. Related information suggested that adsorption of ractopamine onto MIP was an exothermic, spontaneous process. The MIP can be applied as dispersive solid‐phase extraction material for enrichment of ractopamine, isoxsuprine, fenoterol and clenbuterol in complex samples before HPLC analysis. The method revealed detection limits of 0.20–0.90 μg/L, recoveries of 83.8–115.2 and 85.2–110.2% for the spiked pig muscle and pig liver, respectively, with the RSD from 2.5 to 8.8%.     

Separation and Determination of Clenbuterol,Cimaterol and Salbutamol by Capillary Electrophoresis with Amperometric Detection

Capillary electrophoresis with amperometric detection was applied to determine some β₂‐agonists, such as clenbuterol, cimaterol and salbutamol in this paper. The working electrode used was a 0.3 mm diameter carbon disk electrode. In this work, the pH 6.0–6.4 borax‐potassium dihydrogen phosphate was used as running buffer (150 mmol/L), 10 kV as the separation voltage and 1.05 V (vs. Ag/AgCl, 3 mol/L KCl) as the detection potential. Under the optimum conditions, the analytes were baseline separated within 16 min. Linear range for cimaterol, clenbuterol and salbutamol was 1.0–2000, 2.0–2000 and 1.0–2000 ng/mL, respectively. The detection limits (define as 3σ/k) were 0.5, 1.0 and 0.4 ng/mL for cimaterol, clenbuterol and salbutamol, respectively. The developed method has been applied to determine these three analytes in feed and urine by standard addition. The mean recoveries for these three analytes ranged from 89.0% to 102.0%.     

Uniform-sized molecularly imprinted polymer for metsulfuron-methyl by one-step swelling and polymerization method

Uniform-sized molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) beads for metsulfuron-methyl (MSM) were firstly prepared by one-step swelling and polymerization method using 4-vinylpyridine (4-VPY) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) as functional monomer and cross-linker, respectively. The preparation was optimized by varying the ratio of MSM to 4-VPY. The chromatographic behaviors of MSM and other structurally related sulfonylureas (SUs) on the resultant MIP column were evaluated. The imprinted polymer revealed specific affinity to the template and the fair resolution of SUs was also obtained. Furthermore, the uniform-sized MSM-MIP was used as the solid phase extraction (SPE) material to enrich MSM in real water samples before reversed-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) analysis. The recovery of MSM from 100 mL of drinking water at a 50 ng/L spike level was 99.59% with R.S.D. of 1.13%. The detection limit was about 6.0 ng/L of MSM when enriching a 100 mL water sample.     

Comparative analytical quantitation of clenbuterol in biological matrices using GC-MS and EIA

A simple and sensitive procedure utilizing GC-MS for the identification and quantitation of clenbuterol in biofluids and tissues is described. This improved method utilizes trimethylboroxine for the derivatization of clenbuterol, requires only 1 mL/g of biological sample, and most importantly does not require an extra cleaning step for urine specimens prior to extraction. Linear quantitative response curves have been generated for derivatized clenbuterol over a concentration range of 5-200 ng/mL. The extraction efficiency at four representative points of the standard curve exceeded 90% in both specimen types (plasma and urine). Linear regression analyses of the standard curve in both specimen types exhibited correlation coefficients ranging from 0.997 to 1.000. The Limit of detection (LOD) and Limit of quantitation (LOQ) values for plasma specimens were determined to be 0.5 and 1.5 ng/mL respectively. For urine specimens, LOD and LOQ values were 0.2 and 0.7 ng/microL respectively. Percentage recoveries ranged from 91 to 95% for urine and 89 to 101% for plasma. Precision and accuracy (within-run and between-run) studies reflected a high level of reliability and reproducibility of the method. In addition to its reliability, sensitivity and simplicity, this modified procedure is more efficient and cost effective, requiring less time, only 1 mL of sample, and minimal amounts of extraction solvents. The applicability of the method for the detection and quantitation of clenbuterol in biological tissues of rats treated with the drug was demonstrated successfully. For comparative analysis of clenbuterol in plasma and liver samples, both GC-MS and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) methods are found to be suitable. Due to potential antibody-cross reactivity with EIA, the GC-MS method is the method of choice for most samples because of its specificity. However, the EIA method is considered the method of choice for analysis of clenbuterol found in concentrations below the limits of quantitation by GC-MS due to its sensitivity.     

分子印迹电位型传感器快速检测猪尿液中的克伦特罗

以盐酸克伦特罗为模板分子,采用沉淀聚合法合成了克伦特罗的分子印迹聚合物,并以其为离子载体,制得分子印迹聚合物膜克伦特罗离子选择性电极。在最优实验条件下,电极对克伦特罗阳离子的检出限可达7.0×10-8mol/L,线性范围为1.0×10-7～1.0×10-4mol/L,能斯特斜率为55.7 mV/decade。此电极具有优越的选择性、快速的响应时间以及良好的稳定性;已成功应用于实际猪尿样品中克伦特罗的测定,加标回收率为98%～107%,检测时间小于3 min。     

Evaluation of methods aimed at complete removal of template from molecularly imprinted polymers.

Polymers imprinted with clenbuterol were used to study the influence of various post-polymerization treatments [e.g., thermal annealing, microwave assisted extraction (MAE), Soxhlet extraction and supercritical fluid template desorption] on the bleeding of residual template. The aim of the study was to reduce the bleeding to levels that would allow the use of the materials as affinity phases for extraction of clenbuterol from bovine urine at concentrations below 1 ng ml-1. After treatment, the clenbuterol imprinted polymers were packed into solid-phase extraction columns and the bleeding was estimated by quantifying the amount of template released in 10 ml of methanol-acetic acid (9 + 1 v/v). This was followed by an assessment of selectivity and recovery in comparison with non-treated material. The lowest bleeding level was found after MAE using 100% trifluoroacetic acid for 3 x 20 min at 100 degrees C. The collected eluate contained in this case 3 ng ml-1 of clenbuterol. The same material was subsequently used for the extraction of clenbuterol from spiked bovine urine. The resulting selectivity and recovery were lower compared with those obtained using the untreated material. A milder but still efficient method to reduce the bleeding level was found to be MAE with formic acid. In this case a bleeding level of 14 ng ml-1 was found after only a 1 h extraction time. In a second model system, using a polymer imprinted with L-phenylalanine anilide, the bleeding was reduced to a similar level by extensive on-line washing in good swelling solvents containing acid or base additives and after thermal annealing of the polymers in the dry state.     

A new molecularly imprinted polymer for selective extraction of cotinine from urine samples by solid-phase extraction

Cotinine, the main metabolite of nicotine in human body, is widely used as a biomarker for assessment of direct or passive exposure to tobacco smoke. A method for molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) of cotinine from human urine has been investigated. The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) with good selectivity and affinity for cotinine was synthesized using cotinine as the template molecule, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linker. The imprinted polymer was evaluated for use as a SPE sorbent, in tests with aqueous standards, by comparing recovery data obtained using the imprinted form of the polymer and a non-imprinted form (NIP). Extraction from the aqueous solutions resulted in more than 80% recovery. A range of linearity for cotinine between 0.05 and 5 μg mL⁻¹ was obtained by loading 1 mL blank urine samples spiked with cotinine at different concentrations in acetate buffer of pH 9.0, and by using double basic washing and acidic elution. The intra-day coefficient of variation (CV) was below 7% and inter-day CV was below 10%. This investigation has provided a reliable MISPE–HPLC method for determination of cotinine in human urine from both active smokers and passive smokers. Figure     

Synthesis and study of a molecularly imprinted polymer for specific solid‐phase extraction of vinflunine and its metabolite from biological fluids

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized in order to specifically extract vinflunine, an anticancer agent, and its metabolite (4‐O‐deacetylvinflunine) from bovine plasma and artificial urine by solid‐phase extraction (SPE). Vinorelbine, a non‐fluorinated analogue of vinflunine, was selected as a template for MIP synthesis. The selectivity of MIP versus the template (vinorelbine) and other alkaloids (catharanthine, vinblastine, vincristine, vinflunine and 4‐O‐deacetylvinflunine) was shown by a SPE protocol carried out with non‐aqueous samples. A second protocol was developed for aqueous samples with two consecutive washing steps (AcOH–NH₂OH buffer (pH 7, I=10 mM)–MeOH mixture 95:5 v/v and ACN–AcOH mixture 99:1 v/v) and an elution step (MeOH–AcOH mixture 90:10 v/v). Thus, MIP‐SPE of bovine plasma brought high recoveries, 81 and 89% for vinflunine and its metabolite, respectively. This protocol was slightly modified for artificial urine samples in order to obtain a good MIP/NIP selectivity; furthermore, elution recoveries were 73 and 81% for vinflunine and its metabolite, respectively. Repeatability was assessed in both biological matrices and RSD (%) were inferior to 4%. The MIP also showed a suitable linearity (r² superior to 0.99), between 0.25 and 10 μg/mL for plasma, and between 1 and 5 μg/mL for artificial urine.     

Determination of cibenzoline in plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography

A rapid, sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay was developed for the determination of cibenzoline (CipralanTM) in human plasma and urine. The assay involves the extraction of the compound into benzene from plasma or urine buffered to pH 11 and HPLC analysis of the residue dissolved in acetonitrile-phosphate buffer (0.015 mol/l, pH 6.0) (80:20). A 10-microns ion-exchange (sulfonate) column was used with acetonitrile-phosphate buffer (0.015 mol/l, pH 6.0) (80:20) as the mobile phase. UV detection at 214 nm was used for quantitation with the di-p-methyl analogue of cibenzoline as the internal standard. The recovery of cibenzoline in the assay ranged from 60 to 70% and was validated in human plasma and urine in the concentration range of 10-1000 ng/ml and 50-5000 ng/ml, respectively. A normal-phase HPLC assay was developed for the determination of the imidazole metabolite of cibenzoline. The assays were applied to the determination of plasma and urine concentrations of cibenzoline and trace amounts of its imidazole metabolite following oral administration of cibenzoline succinate to two human subjects.     

Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles for dispersive micro solid-phase extraction and determination of buprenorphine in human urine samples by HPLC-FL

A simple, sensitive and accessible while reliable method was developed and validated for quantitation of buprenorphine (Bup) as a highly lipophilic drug in human urine samples. The proposed method is based on a rapid and easy dispersive micro solid-phase extraction procedure using magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (MMIPNPs), magnetite (Fe₃O₄) cores surrounded by polyamidoamine and Bup as template, followed by high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis with fluorescence detector (HPLC-FL). The prepared MMIPNP adsorbent was characterized by different techniques. Transmission electron microscopy images show that the Fe₃O₄ core nanoparticles are well enwrapped by MIP layers. In determination process, Bup could be quantitatively extracted using MMIPNPs and then can be easily desorbed by mixture of sodium hydroxide (0.1 mol/L) and methanol (1:9, v/v) solution before injection to HPLC. The relative recoveries of Bup were found to be 97.4–100.3%, and the linear dynamic range was within the ranges of 1–1000 ng/mL with R² of 0.9998. Remarkably high quality of 0.21 and 0.71 ng/mL was obtained as the limit of detection and limit of quantification, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied for determination of Bup in infected human urine samples.     

On-line coupling of solid-phase extraction with mass spectrometry for the analysis of biological samples. II. Determination of clenbuterol in urine using multiple-stage mass spectrometry in an ion-trap mass spectrometer

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was coupled to ion-trap mass spectrometry to determine clenbuterol in urine. For SPE a cartridge exchanger was used and, after extraction, the eluate was directly introduced into the mass spectrometer. For two types of cartridges, i.e. C18 and polydivinylbenzene (PDVB), the total SPE procedure (including injection of 1 mL urine, washing, and desorption) has been optimised. The total analysis, including SPE, elution, and detection, took 8.5 min with PDVB cartridges, while an analysis time of 11.5 min was obtained with C18 cartridges. A considerable amount of matrix was present after extraction of urine over C18 cartridges, resulting in significant ion suppression. With PDVB cartridges, the matrix was less prominent, and less ion suppression was observed. For single MS, a detection limit (LOD) of about 25 ng/mL was found with PDVB cartridges. With C18 cartridges an LOD of only about 50 ng/mL could be obtained. Applying tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) did not lead to an improved LOD due to an interfering compound. However, a considerable improvement in the LOD was obtained with MS3. The selectivity and sensitivity were increased by the combination of efficient fragmentation of clenbuterol and reduction of the noise. Detection limits of 2 and 0.5 ng/mL were obtained with C18 and PDVB cartridges, respectively. The ion suppression was 4 to 45% (concentration range: 250 to 1.0 ng/mL) after extraction of urine using PDVB cartridges, and up to 70% ion suppression was observed using C18 cartridges. With MS4, no further improvement in selectivity and sensitivity was achieved, due to inefficient fragmentation of clenbuterol and no further reduction of noise.     

Selective sample pretreatment by molecularly imprinted polymer monolith for the analysis of fluoroquinolones from milk samples

Water-compatible pefloxacin-imprinted monoliths synthesized in a water-containing system were used for the selective extraction of fluoroquinolones (FQs). The MIP monolith was synthesized by using methacrylic acid as the functional monomer, di(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate as a cross-linker and methanol–water (10:3, v/v) as the porogenic solvent. The ability of the derivated MIP for selective recognition of FQs (ciprofloxacin, difloxacin, danofloxacin and enrofloxacin) and quinolones (flumequine, and oxolinic acid) was evaluated. The derivated monolith showed high selectivity and was able to distinguish between FQs and quinolones. A simple rapid and sensitive method using polymer monolith microextraction (PMME) based on the MIP monolith combined with HPLC with fluorescence detection was developed for the determination of four FQs from milk samples. Owing to the unique porous structure and flow-through channels in the network skeleton of the MIP monolith, phosphate buffer diluted milk samples were directly supplied to PMME; allowing non-specific bound proteins and other biological matrix to be washed out, and FQs to be selectively enriched. The limit of detection of the method was 0.4–1.6 ng/mL and recovery was 92.4–98.2% with relative standard deviations less than 5.9%.     

Molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction for the selective HPLC determination of ractopamine in pig urine

A method was developed for the determination of ractopamine in pig urine using molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) as the sample clean-up technique combined with high-performance liquid chromatography. The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized in acetonitrile-triethylamine system using ractopamine (RAC) as the template and acrylamide as the monomer. The binding capacity of the polymer toward RAC was found to be about 2.57 mg of ractopamine/g of polymer. The optimal procedures for MISPE consisted of conditioning with 3 mL methanol, equilibrating with 3 mL of water, loading volume of <10 mL of aqueous sample (pH 7), washing with 3 mL water and 3 mL methanol, and eluting with 5 mL of 5% ammonia in methanol. In the four spiked samples with the levels of 0.01, 0.1, 1.0 and 5.0 μg/mL, the mean recoveries of analyte on the MIP were higher than 90% with relative standard deviation <10%, and significant differences between imprinted and non-imprinted materials were observed. The MIP selectivity was evaluated by checking 11 drugs with similar and different molecular structures to that of RAC. The characteristics of three-dimensional cavities and hydrogen bond interaction were regarded as the main factors that dominated the retention of RAC on the MISPE cartridge.     

分散液相微萃取/液相色谱串联质谱法快速测定猪尿中的盐酸克伦特罗与氯霉素

采用分散液相微萃取净化技术,建立了快速测定猪尿中盐酸克伦特罗和氯霉素残留的高效液相色谱-串联质谱分析方法.取5 mL猪尿样品,分别加入5 ngD9-盐酸克伦特罗和D5-氯霉素内标,调节pH至10.0,加入10％ NaC1,经250 μL三氯甲烷和750 μL异丙醇分散萃取后离心,转移下层沉淀,氮吹后以甲醇水溶液定容,采...     

Rapid determination of clenbuterol residues in urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with on-line automated sample processing using immunoaffinity chromatography

A liquid chromatographic column-switching system for automated sample pretreatment and determination of clenbuterol in calf urine, using an immunoaffinity precolumn with Sepharose-immobilized polyclonal antibodies against clenbuterol, is described. A second precolumn packed with C18-bonded silica was used for the reconcentration of desorbed clenbuterol prior to the analytical separation. Urine, after 2-fold dilution with buffer (pH 7.4), was loaded directly onto the immuno precolumn, where clenbuterol was trapped by the immobilized antibodies. This immuno precolumn has been used for more than 200 runs with standard solutions and samples. Bound analyte was desorbed with 0.01 M acetic acid and transferred, via the second precolumn, to the analytical column. The total runtime per sample was 35 min. Using a sample load of 27 ml of dilute urine and UV detection at 244 nm, the detection limit was 0.5 ng/ml. The mean recovery of clenbuterol added to a blank urine sample at the 5 ng/ml level was 82 +/- 2% (n = 5) as determined with standard solutions loaded onto the same system. Urine samples from treated animals were analysed and the clenbuterol concentrations were comparable to those obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography using solid-phase extraction for sample clean-up.     

A selective molecularly imprinted polymer-solid phase extraction for the determination of fenitrothion in tomatoes

A new and selective sorbent for molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) was developed and applied for the determination of residues of fenitrothion (FNT) in tomatoes, using HPLC coupled to photodiode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Using FNT as the template molecule, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linker, toluene as the porogenic solvent, and bulk polymerization as the synthetic method, a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized. In order to choose the medium which promotes the best molecular recognition of FNT by the MIP, the adsorption of FNT by the MIP was studied in different media containing acetonitrile and toluene. Besides FNT, three structurally related compounds were used to evaluate the selectivity of the FNT-molecularly imprinted polymer. The MIP exhibited the highest selective rebinding to FNT. The method developed was validated, using fortified blank tomato samples. The extraction efficiency was 96%. The limits of detection and quantitation were 0.050 and 0.130 μg g⁻¹, respectively. The intra-day precision was 5.9% and the inter-day precision 8.1%. The accuracy was higher than 89% for a concentration level around the maximum residue limit of 0.5 μg g⁻¹.     

分子烙印聚合物固定相分离咖啡因和茶碱的研究

分子烙印是一种新兴的分子识别技术,利用该技术可制备对烙印分子具有“预定”识别能力的高分子聚合物,即分子烙印聚合物（MIP）,从而可以对性质和组成相近的组如对映体等进行分离^[1,2],咖啡因与茶碱的分子烙印聚合物的制备以及二者分析已有报道^[3-9],但存在两种完全相反的结论。一种观点认为,即使以咖啡因为烙印分子,所制备的聚合物对咖啡因分子的选择性吸附能力也小于茶碱^[3-6]。而另一种观点则认为,在一定条件下,如以咖啡因分子为烙印分子的烙印聚合物对咖啡因分子具有更强的吸附能力^[7-9]。本文分别采用茶碱和咖啡因作为烙印分子,以甲基丙烯酸等为功能单体,在不同条件下制备了多种非共价型分子烙印聚合物,并系统地考察了其作 为HPLC固定相对咖啡因和茶碱的分离能力,同时也对烙印分子应具备的条件加以探讨。