CYP450 biosensors based on screen-printed carbon electrodes for the determination of cocaine

A new electrochemical method has been described and characterized for the determination of cocaine using screen-printed biosensors. The enzyme cytochrome P450 was covalently attached to screen-printed carbon electrodes. Experimental design methodology has been performed to optimize the pH and the applied potential, both variables that have an influence on the chronoamperometric determination of the drug. This method showed a reproducibility of 3.56% (n = 4) related to the slopes of the calibration curves performed in the range from 19 up to 166 nM. It has been probed the used of this kind of biosensors in the determination of cocaine in street samples, with an average capability of detection of 23.05 ± 3.53 nM (n = 3, α = β = 0.05).     

Rational in silico design of aptamers for organophosphates based on the example of paraoxon

Poisoning by organophosphates (OPs) takes one of the leading places in the total number of exotoxicoses. Detoxication of OPs at the first stage of the poison entering the body could be achieved with the help of DNA- or RNA-aptamers, which are able to bind poisons in the bloodstream. The aim of the research was to develop an approach to rational in silico design of aptamers for OPs based on the example of paraoxon. From the published sequence of an aptamer binding organophosphorus pesticides, its three-dimensional model has been constructed. The most probable binding site for paraoxon was determined by molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) methods. Then the nucleotides of the binding site were mutated consequently and the values of free binding energy have been calculated using MD trajectories and MM-PBSA approach. On the basis of the energy values, two sequences that bind paraoxon most efficiently have been selected. The value of free binding energy of paraoxon with peripheral anionic site of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been calculated as well. It has been revealed that the aptamers found bind paraoxon more effectively than AChE. The peculiarities of paraoxon interaction with the aptamers nucleotides have been analyzed. The possibility of improving in silico approach for aptamer selection is discussed.     

选择性提取单取代磺酰脲除草剂的印迹聚合物的合成及评价

以丙烯酰胺为功能单体合成了新型的单嘧磺隆印迹聚合物,用平衡吸附及液相色谱的方法研究了印迹聚合物对于印迹分子及其结构类似化合物NK#94827的识别特性及亲和能力.研究结果表明,以丙烯酰胺为功能单体得到的印迹聚合物对NK#94827具有较强的识别能力;为印迹聚合物应用于环境样品中NK#94827及其结构类似化合物的分析打下了基础.     

A highly selective and sensitive cocaine aptasensor based on covalent attachment of the aptamer-functionalized AuNPs onto nanocomposite as the support platform

Based on the conformational changes of the aptamer-functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto MWCNTs/IL/Chit nanocomposite as the support platform, we have developed a sensitive and selective electrochemical aptasensor for the detection of cocaine. The 5′-amine-3′-AuNP terminated aptamer is covalently attached to a MWCNTs/IL/Chit nanocomposite. The interaction of cocaine with the aptamer functionalized AuNP caused the aptamer to be folded and the AuNPs with negative charge at the end of the aptamer came to the near of electrode surface therefore, the electron transfer between ferricyanide (K₃Fe(CN)₆) as redox probe and electrode surface was inhibited. A decreased current of (K₃Fe(CN)₆) was monitored by differential pulse voltammetry technique. In an optimized condition the calibration curve for cocaine concentration was linear up to 11 μM with detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio of 3) of 100 pM. To test the selectivity of the prepared aptasensor sensing platform applicability, some analgesic drugs as the interferes were examined. The potential of the aptasensor was successfully applied for measuring cocaine concentration in human blood serum. Based on our experiments it can be said that the present method is absolutely beneficial in developing other electrochemical aptasensor.     

A novel fluorescent aptasensor based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles for the selective detection of sulfadiazine in edible tissue

Sulfadiazine (SDZ) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections in animals, and SDZ residues in food can be harmful to human health. As a result, an aptasensor based on silica nanoparticles was developed for the rapid detection of SDZ. An aptamer that specifically binds to SDZ was obtained using graphene oxide-SELEX and further truncated to a 13 nt sequence (SDZ30-1:5′-AACCCAATGGGAT-3′), which has a high affinity (K_d = 65.72 nM). In addition, it was found by molecular simulation that a steric hindrance could prevent the target molecule from entering the binding pocket formed by the key base “TGG”, which affects the total binding free energy of SDZ30-1 and the target molecule, thereby affecting the affinity of SDZ30-1 to the target. The SDZ30-1 was selected as the fluorescent probe to establish an aptasensor for the detection of SDZ residues in milk and honey. The aptasensor exhibited a wide dynamic linear range (3.125 – 100 ng/mL) and a limit of detection (LOD = 1.68 ng/mL). The aptasensor in spiked samples recovered at a rate of 95.12 – 105.47%, with a coefficient of variation of less than 13.18 %. The results of aptasensor were positively correlated with those of HPLC (R² > 0.8687). Based on the above results, it could be inferred that the aptasensor can be used sensitively and rapidly for the detection of SDZ residues in edible tissue.     

Novel anion receptors: hybrid materials based on quaternary ammonium salts for selective extraction of dichromate ions

Novel hybrid materials were obtained by modification of three (poly)amine-appended mesoporous silica gels. For all matrices of different side chain lengths, the process proceeded with excellent modification rates. The free analogues of these hybrid materials, podand-type receptors, were also prepared employing a very similar procedure. The organosilicas synthesized were characterized by NMR, infrared spectroscopy, and semi-empirical methods. Their anion exchange properties were conveniently investigated using precise, but also time and cost-efficient titration experiments, and the products were found to be powerful complexing agents for dichromate ions.     

Analysis of cocaine and two metabolites in dried blood spots by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection: a novel test for cocaine and alcohol intake

An original HPLC method coupled to spectrofluorimetric detection is presented for the simultaneous analysis in dried blood spots (DBS) of cocaine and two important metabolites, namely benzoylecgonine (its main metabolite) and cocaethylene (the active metabolite formed in the presence of ethanol). The chromatographic analysis was carried out on a C8 column, using a mobile phase containing phosphate buffer (pH 3.0)-acetonitrile (85:15, v/v). Native analyte fluorescence was monitored at 315 nm while exciting at 230 nm. A fast and feasible sample pre-treatment was implemented by solvent extraction, obtaining good extraction yields (>91%) and satisfactory precision values (RSD<4.8%). The method was successfully applied to DBS samples collected from some cocaine users, both with and without concomitant ethanol intake. The results were in good agreement with those obtained from plasma samples subjected to an original solid-phase extraction procedure on C8 cartridges. The method has demonstrated to be suitable for the monitoring of cocaine/ethanol use by means of DBS or plasma testing. Assays are in progress to apply this method on the street, for the control of subjects suspected of driving under the influence of psychotropic substances.     

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.     

New extraction sorbent based on aptamers for the determination of ochratoxin A in red wine

A new solid phase extraction method based on aptamers, an oligosorbent, was developed and applied to the determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) from red wine. Two solid supports were chosen to immobilize OTA aptamer by covalent binding (cyanogen bromide-activated sepharose) or noncovalent binding (streptavidin-activated agarose). The resulting oligosorbents were evaluated in terms of retention, selectivity, and capacity. To assess the selectivity of the resulting oligosorbents, control supports made only of a solid support without immobilized aptamers were simultaneously studied. After optimization of the selective extraction procedure, extraction recoveries close to 100% were obtained on both materials. No retention was observed on the control supports. A similar capacity was also found for both oligosorbents. However, the immobilization by covalent bonding appeared more robust for the determination of OTA in the wine. A conventional sorbent and an immunoaffinity column were also applied to the determination of OTA in red wine to compare the potential of the various approaches for the treatment of such complex samples.     

Application of a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer for the selective extraction and trace detection of lamotrigine in urine and plasma samples

Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers have been synthesized for the selective preconcentration and trace determination of lamotrigine (LTG) in urine and plasma samples. The magnetic nanoparticles were modified by tetraethyl orthosilicate and 3‐methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane before imprinting. The magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers were prepared via surface molecular imprinting technique, using Fe₃O₄ as a magnetic component, LTG as template molecule, methacrylic acid as a functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross‐linker, and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as a radical initiator in methanol/acetonitrile (50:50, v/v) as the porogen. The obtained sorbent was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and thermal analysis. Separation of the sorbent from the sample solution was simply achieved by applying an external magnetic field. Determination of the extracted drug was performed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. Under the optimum extraction conditions, the method detection limits were 0.7 μg/L (based on S/N of 3) for urine samples and 0.5 μg/L for plasma samples. A linear dynamic range of 1–1000 μg/L was obtained for LTF in plasma and urine samples. Finally, the applicability of the proposed method was evaluated by extraction and determination of LTG in urine and plasma samples.     

Development of a sample preparation procedure of sewage sludge samples for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons based on selective pressurized liquid extraction

An automated, simple and sensitive method based on selective pressurized liquid extraction (SPLE) was developed for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sewage sludge samples. The new sample preparation procedure consists of on-line clean-up by inclusion of sorbents in the extraction cell, and combines elevated temperatures and pressures with liquid solvents to achieve fast and efficient removal of target analytes from complex sewage sludge matrices. The effects of various operational parameters (e.g. sample pretreatment, extraction solvent, temperature, pressure, static time, etc.) on the performance of SPLE procedure were carefully investigated, obtaining the best results when SPLE conditions were fixed at 140 °C, 1500 psi, static time of 5 min and n-hexane as extraction solvent. A new programmed temperature vaporization–gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method based on large volume injection (PTV–LVI–GC–MS/MS) was also developed and analytical determinations were performed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection and GC–MS/MS. The extraction yields for the different compounds obtained by SPLE ranged from 84.8% to 106.6%. Quantification limits obtained for all of these studied compounds (between 0.0001 and 0.005 μg g⁻¹, dry mass) were well below the regulatory limits for all compounds considered. To test the accuracy of the SPLE technique, the optimized methodology was applied to the analysis of a certified reference material (sewage sludge (BCR088)) and a reference material (sewage sludge (RTC-CNS312-04)), with excellent results.     

Molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction for the selective HPLC determination of alpha-tocopherol in bay leaves

A new sorbent for molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction (MISPE) was synthesized to extract and purify α-tocopherol (α-TP) from vegetable sources. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) were synthesized using methacrylic acid (MAA) as functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinking agent using a photo-polymerization procedure. A thermo-polymerization was also performed but no imprinting effect in the resulting materials was raised.The proposed MISPE protocol could overcome the drawback of traditional detection methods, which require pre-treatments of the samples. The possibility to obtain the selective recognition of α-TP from natural samples in aqueous mixtures represents one of the main advantages of our materials. Our procedure involves the direct HPLC injection of eluate without any treatment and above all the use of no toxic and biocompatible organic solvents.After the evaluation of the selectivity of the α-TP imprinted polymers, the performance of these materials as solid phase extraction (SPE) sorbents was investigated. Our MISPE-HPLC procedure has a high sensitivity, LOD and LOQ were 3.49 × 10⁻⁷ and 1.16 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹, respectively, as well as good precision (intraday precision below 3.3% and interday precisions below 6.5%) and recovery (60%). Thus, it can be successfully used for the purification of α-TP from bay leaves.     

Effects of support and metal loading on the characteristics of Co based catalysts for selective hydrogenation of citral

Silica-, alumina- and titania-supported Co catalysts with different metal loadings were tested for selective citral hydrogenation in liquid phase. Temperature programmed desorption of hydrogen (H₂-TPD) indicated that the catalysts with the highest unsaturated alcohols selectivities present particular H-Co species. Electron diffraction and XRD measurements revealed that these species would be linked to the presence of Co⁰ hexagonal phase. According to the results obtained by TEM and cyclohexane dehydrogenation, these two properties would be present on large Co particles.     

Molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction coupled with HPLC for the selective determination of monobutyl phthalate in bottled water

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was prepared using monobutyl phthalate as template. The synthesis was optimized by using different porogens and functional monomers. The MIP was used as a selective sorbent in molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MIP-SPE) for pre-concentration and determination of monobutyl phthalate (mBP) from the bottled water. The difference in recognition selectivity of the polymer columns was observed in HPLC system, and the effect of the mobile phase on the performance of MIP columns was also investigated. Control of the MIP-SPE process is seen as important in helping to facilitate the selective extraction of mBP from water samples. Thereafter, the choice of washing solvent, eluting solvent amount, pH of loading sample, flow rate of loading solution and the loading sample volume was presented. The optimized procedure was described as follows: 25 mL spiked aqueous solution was percolated through the MIP-SPE cartridge at the flow rate of 1.5 mL/min. After rinsing with acetonitrile/methanol mixture (1:1, v/v), the bound analyte was desorbed with 3 mL methanol. The developed MIP-SPE method was demonstrated to be applicable for the analysis of mBP in the bottled water.     

基于杂交链式反应和共价有机框架的新型荧光传感器用于ctDNA的高灵敏和选择性检测

共价有机框架是近年来发展起来的一种高度结晶的多孔聚合物,由有机单元连接形成。由于其优异的孔隙率,模块性,结晶性和生物相容性,在传感领域显示出良好的应用前景。本文开发了一种基于杂交链式反应 (HCR) 和共价有机框架的新型荧光传感平台,用于高灵敏的检测循环肿瘤DNA (ctDNA)。ctDNA可以作为HCR的激活剂,通过触发发夹1 (H1) 和发夹2 (H2) 的自主交叉打开,激活HCR形成延伸的有缺口的双链DNA,导致荧光信号的变化,从而实现ctDNA的定量检测。HCR产物和荧光信号分别采用琼脂糖凝胶电泳和荧光光谱进行表征。ctDNA浓度在0-10 nM范围内,ctDNA的浓度与荧光信号呈良好的线性关系,检测限为1.3 nM。该方法对ctDNA具有满意的选择性,并在人类血清样品中显示出良好的性能。该荧光传感平台为ctDNA的检测提供了新思路,在癌症早期诊断中显示出潜在的应用前景。     

Preparation and application of magnetic molecularly imprinted nanoparticles for the selective extraction of osthole in Libanotis Buchtomensis herbal extract

In this work, novel magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers were prepared for the selective extraction of osthole from Libanotis Buchtomensis herbal extract. During the synthesis process, double bonds grafted on the surface of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles could not only drive the temple molecules to locate onto the surface of vinyl‐functionalized magnetic nanoparticles by π–π conjugation, which makes the distribution of binding sites ordered, but also direct the occurrence of imprinting polymerization at the surface of magnetic nanoparticles by the copolymerization of vinyl terminal groups with functional monomers and cross‐linking agent. The characteristics of the resulting polymers were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. Adsorption kinetics, isotherms, selectivity, reproducibility, and reusability were discussed, which suggest that the obtained nanomaterials possess rapid binding kinetics, high adsorption capacity of 17.65 mg/g, and favorable selectivity for the target molecule. Satisfactory reproducibility and reusability were verified as well. Meanwhile, the resultant imprinted nanoparticles were successfully applied to selectively separate osthole from the herbal extract, which show great potential in extracting active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine.     

炔醇选择加氢催化剂研究进展

炔醇选择加氢制备相应的烯醇在医药、农药、食品添加剂、香精、香料和聚合物单体等众多高端精细化学品合成中是一个非常重要的化工过程.通过一系列复杂的平行和连续的反应,炔醇可加氢生产若干个关键中间体.提高对烯醇的选择性和保持催化剂的效率是工业生产的关键,也是一个巨大的挑战.迄今为止,各种有效的贵金属和非贵金属催化剂得到了广泛的发展,尤其是钯基和镍基多相催化剂取得了显著进展.从经典的Lindlar催化剂和Raney-Ni催化剂到生物基金属催化新材料,本文系统综述了近几十年炔醇选择加氢催化剂的设计,从催化剂本身的金属活性中心、助剂(第二金属、有机配体和稳定剂)的作用、载体的性质(孔结构、酸碱性、金属与载体强相互作用)以及反应条件等因素对催化活性、目标产物的选择性和稳定性的影响进行了系统的综述.借助先进的表征技术、理论计算和实验研究,本文还阐述了炔醇选择加氢反应的机理.研究发现:(1)在所有贵金属催化剂中,Pd基催化剂对炔醇半加氢制烯醇的效率最高,且选择性最好.稳定剂和抑制剂的加入可以提高中间体的选择性,但在一定程度上降低了催化活性.此外,Zn,In和Cu等第二金属的掺杂可以调节金属Pd的几何效应和电子结构,从而调节底物和中间产物的吸附,并抑制过度加氢.与传统的Lindlar型催化剂相比,这种Pd基合金或金属间化合物可广泛应用于炔醇的选择性加氢反应,显著提高烯醇的选择性,且不需要引入有毒添加剂.(2)Ni基材料作为可替代贵金属催化剂,可分别实现炔醇的高选择性加氢制备烯醇或烷醇.然而,与贵金属催化剂相比,其反应条件相对苛刻.炔醇加氢产物分布很大程度上取决于助剂的引入和载体的酸性.此外,碳物种易沉积在Ni表面造成活性位点被覆盖,且在水热环境下Ni颗粒因团聚而失活,因此,用于炔醇选择加氢反应的镍基催化剂稳定性仍有待提高.尽管炔醇选择加氢反应在学术界和工业界都有广泛研究,但对于这些催化体系,特别是催化剂的结构性能关系和反应机理,仍有待进一步明确.(1)原位表征技术和理论计算的发展,将有助于人们理解炔醇选择性加氢的催化过程,并指导研究者根据炔醇加氢的特点设计出具有良好选择性的高效催化剂.(2)烯醇类产品一般应用于医药中间体和高分子单体,对产品纯度要求较高.因此,在不引入有毒添加剂的情况下,设计高效、高选择性催化剂至关重要.(3)水相或醇相中炔醇选择加氢反应对催化剂的水热稳定性有很高的要求.通过锚定和包覆来增强金属与载体的相互作用,抑制金属纳米粒子的聚集和流失是一种有效的手段.此外,在炔醇选择加氢反应中引入耐水载体可以有效提高催化剂的稳定性.(4)短碳链炔醇催化选择加氢反应一直是研究的热点.然而,关于长碳链炔醇的选择加氢反应过程,国内外报道相对较少.基于长碳链炔醇底物分子的空间位阻效应,有必要设计具有特殊孔道结构的选择加氢催化剂.(5)目前,绝大多数炔醇选择加氢过程还处于间歇性操作.随着市场对烯醇的需求不断增加,为了获得高品质的产品,连续化操作将是一个必然趋势.     

Peptide synthesis catalysed by papain immobilised on polymer supports: Effect of the macromolecular structure and reaction conditions on synthesis

Papain immobilised on different types of polymeric supports was used for the synthesis of peptides in aqueous-organic solvent mixtures. The effects of the nature of the polymer support, degree of crosslinking, nature and length of the spacer grouping between the polymer backbone and the point of attachment of the enzyme, and reaction conditions like pH, concentration of nucleophile and the immobilised enzyme content on the course of the synthesis were investigated. Divinylbenzene-crosslinked polystyrene, divinylbenzenecrosslinked polyacrylamide and N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide-crosslinked polyacrylamide systems immobilised with papain were used for these studies. An increase in the length of the spacer arm and an increase in hydrophilicity invariably resulted in an increase in the yield of the peptide synthesis. Papain immobilised on polystyrene-PEG supports and tetraethyleneglycol-crosslinked polystyrene supports was determined to be more efficient in effecting peptide synthesis when compared to other polystyrene-based supports.