Recent developments and applications of capillary and microchip electrophoresis in proteomics and peptidomics (2015–mid 2018)

This review summarizes recent developments and applications of capillary and microchip electroseparation methods in proteomic and peptidomic analyses since the year 2015 to ca. mid 2018. Sample preparation procedures for the removal of interfering components or for pre‐fractionation and preconcentration of proteins and peptides of interest are discussed. The innovations in coupling of capillary or microchip electroseparation methods with different modes of mass spectrometry detection are covered. In addition, significant recent applications of capillary electromigration methods in both bottom‐up and top‐down proteomics as well as in determinations of post‐translational modifications of proteins are presented. Moreover, several examples of the utilization of capillary electromigration methods coupled with mass spectrometry detection for clinical proteomics and peptidomics are described.     

Recent advances in the preparation of hybrid nanoparticles in miniemulsions

In this review, we summarize recent advances in the synthesis of hybrid nanoparticles in miniemulsions since 2009. These hybrid nanoparticles include organic–inorganic, polymeric, and natural macromolecule/synthetic polymer hybrid nanoparticles. They may be prepared through encapsulation of inorganic components or natural macromolecules by miniemulsion (co)polymerization, simultaneous polymerization of vinyl monomers and vinyl-containing inorganic precursors, precipitation of preformed polymers in the presence of inorganic constituents through solvent displacement techniques, and grafting polymerization onto, from or through natural macromolecules. Characterization, properties, and applications of hybrid nanoparticles are also discussed.     

Recent developments in chiral analysis of β‐blocker drugs by capillary electromigration techniques

The latest developments in chiral analysis of β‐blocker drugs by capillary electromigration techniques are reviewed in this article. Following the previous review by Aturki et al. [Electrophoresis 2011, 32, 2602–2628], this review includes the papers published during the period from January 2011 to December 2013. During this time, some novel chiral selectors were reported and applied to improve the enantioseparation of β‐blocker drugs and structurally related compounds. These chiral selectors include CDs and their derivatives, macrocyclic antibiotics, tartrate complexs, the monolithic molecularly imprinted polymer, and the polymeric surfactants. In addition, this article summarizes the methodological improvements for enhancing sensitivity in chiral analysis of β‐blockers and structurally related compounds by CE. The involved authors described the use of online sample preconcentration techniques to increase the detection sensitivity in the enantiomeric analysis of a broad range of samples.     

On the stability of miniemulsions in the presence of RAFT agents

The colloidal stability of miniemulsions in the presence of RAFT or other control agents for controlled free radical polymerization is examined. A derivation, based on Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner (LSW) theory, is proposed here to evaluate the effect of a RAFT agent on the diffusional stability of the miniemulsions before the onset of polymerization. Results indicate that, depending on the hydrophobicity of the control agent, its presence may augment or detract from the effectiveness of the costabilizer in preventing diffusional instability due to Ostwald ripening.     

Recent developments in radioimmunoassay

Recent developments in the radioimmunoassay of steroid and peptide hormones are discussed. The modern requirement for the rigorous demonstration and maintainance of accuracy is emphasized. The future of immunoassay in clinical chemistry is discussed with special reference to quality control and automation.     

Recent developments in isotachophoresis

This paper is summarizing the contributions to the analytical capillary isotachophoresis published during the period 1981-1984. It characterizes the present state of the method and covers theory, fundamental analytical aspects, instrumentation and applications. Special attention was payed to the fundamental analytical aspects, and a detailed discussion is given of the selection of electrolyte systems, stability of zones and separability of substances. The present commercial instrumentation is also briefly described.     

Recent developments of monolithic and open‐tubular capillary electrochromatography (2017–2019)

Capillary electrochromatography, which combined the high selectivity of high‐performance liquid chromatography and the high separation efficiency of capillary electrophoresis, is an attractive separation tool. In this review, the developments on monolithic and open tubular capillary electrochromatography during 2017 to August 2019 are summarized. Considering the development of novel stationary phases is the most active research field in capillary electrochromatography, monolithic capillary electrochromatography is classified according to the polymer‐based and hybrid monolithic columns, while open‐tubular capillary electrochromatography is categorized by cyclodextrin, silica, polymer, nanomaterials, microporous materials, and biomaterials‐based open tubular columns.     

Recent advances in the formation mechanisms of organized mesoporous materials

Since the discovery of the organized mesoporous solids by Mobil Oil Co. scientists, numerous patents and papers dealing with the synthesis, mechanisms of formation, properties and applications of these exciting solids have been published. A better understanding in the mechanisms of formation has been achieved through the use of in situ techniques of investigation. It appears that the mechanism depends much on the experimental conditions of synthesis. Even if the interaction between the inorganic precursor and the organic template is the key factor in the control of the formation of these materials, none of the proposed mechanisms provides an exclusive and definitive answer.     

Recent developments in positron research

Positrons are proving to be powerful analysis tool in the field of materials research and development. Due to positrons highly interactive nature and how they affect their surroundings when they become trapped in a defect, positron spectroscopy is a fast growing field. Positron spectroscopy may be utilized to detect and analyze defects on and near the surfaces of many materials used in engineering applications today. This spectroscopy technique is very useful in the silicon and semiconductor industry for locating and analyzing the low amount of defects present in those materials. The research in this field is growing every year, with more types of positron sources being developed and more complete systems being operated. This article attempts to provide a recent review of the research in the positron fields of materials analysis and spectroscopy research.     

Recent developments in HYPERMET PC

HYPERMET PC is a user-friendly -ray spectrum analysis software package developed at Budapest, mainly for the purpose of prompt- neutron activation analysis (PGAA). The peak fitting algorithm is an improved version of the well-known HYPERMET code, and contains a partial peak-parameter calibration to describe peak shapes more accurately in the wide energy range typical for prompt- spectra. A nuclide identification routine has also been developed using a new PGAA library, shown in a parallel paper. The new module for quantitative PGAA includes all the features necessary to obtain concentration values for elements.     

Recent developments in solid-phase microextraction

The main objective of this review is to describe the recent developments in solid-phase microextraction technology in food, environmental and bioanalytical chemistry applications. We briefly introduce the historical perspective on the very early work associated with the development of theoretical principles of SPME, but particular emphasis is placed on the more recent developments in the area of automation, high-throughput analysis, SPME method optimization approaches and construction of new SPME devices and their applications. The area of SPME automation for both GC and LC applications is particularly addressed in this review, as the most recent developments in this field have allowed the use of this technology for high-throughput applications. The development of new autosamplers with SPME compatibility and new-generation metal fibre assemblies has enhanced sample throughput for SPME-GC applications, the latter being attributed to the possibility of using the same fibre for several hundred extraction/injection cycles. For LC applications, high-throughput analysis (>1,000 samples per day) can be achieved for the first time with a multi-SPME autosampler which uses multi-well plate technology and allows SPME sample preparation of up to 96 samples in parallel. The development and evolution of new SPME devices such as needle trap, thin-film microextraction and cold-fibre headspace SPME have offered significant improvements in performance characteristics compared with the conventional fibre-SPME arrangement. Figure Photo of a high-throughput multi-fibre SPME PAS autosampler     

Recent developments in enzymatic chlorination

While the existence of chlorinated natural products has been known for over 100 years, our understanding of the enzymology of biological chlorination reactions has been limited to chloroperoxidases, which are now known not to play a significant role in chlorometabolite biosynthesis. The discoveries of new classes of halogenases, described in this Highlight, have shed new light on the mechanisms of enzymatic chlorination of aromatic and aliphatic compounds.     

Recent developments in miniemulsion polymerization

Some developments in miniemulsion polymerization aiming at taking advantage of its unique mechanisms minimizing the drawbacks of this technique are discussed. The discussion includes preparation of highly concentrated latexes, miniemulsion polymerization in continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs), and elimination of the low-molecular-weight hydrophobe.