Multi-analyte quantification in bioprocesses by Fourier-transform-infrared spectroscopy by partial least squares regression and multivariate curve resolution

This paper presents the quantification of Penicillin V and phenoxyacetic acid, a precursor, inline during Pencillium chrysogenum fermentations by FTIR spectroscopy and partial least squares (PLS) regression and multivariate curve resolution – alternating least squares (MCR-ALS). First, the applicability of an attenuated total reflection FTIR fiber optic probe was assessed offline by measuring standards of the analytes of interest and investigating matrix effects of the fermentation broth. Then measurements were performed inline during four fed-batch fermentations with online HPLC for the determination of Penicillin V and phenoxyacetic acid as reference analysis. PLS and MCR-ALS models were built using these data and validated by comparison of single analyte spectra with the selectivity ratio of the PLS models and the extracted spectral traces of the MCR-ALS models, respectively. The achieved root mean square errors of cross-validation for the PLS regressions were 0.22 g L⁻¹ for Penicillin V and 0.32 g L⁻¹ for phenoxyacetic acid and the root mean square errors of prediction for MCR-ALS were 0.23 g L⁻¹ for Penicillin V and 0.15 g L⁻¹ for phenoxyacetic acid. A general work-flow for building and assessing chemometric regression models for the quantification of multiple analytes in bioprocesses by FTIR spectroscopy is given.     

Soft modelling for the resolution of highly overlapped voltammetric peaks: application to some Pb-phytochelatin systems

A differential pulse polarographic (DPP) study of the Pb²⁺/Cys-Gly, Pb²⁺/γ-Glu-Cys, Pb²⁺/PC₂ and Pb²⁺/PC₃ systems is performed, being PC₂ and PC₃ the phytochelatins of general structure (γ-Glu-Cys)_n-Gly, with n = 2 and 3, respectively. Analysis of DPP data is assisted by multivariate curve resolution with alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) method in order to establish the complexes formation sequence and their final stoichiometries. DPP signals of these systems present, besides overlapping of peaks due to free metal ion and metal complexes, interference of mercury anodic signals. Despite these complications, MCR-ALS allows us to propose a model of complexation for each system, and some tentative structures for the complexes.     

Homopolymer and copolymers of 4-nitro-3-methylphenyl methacrylate with glycidyl methacrylate: Synthesis, characterization, monomer reactivity ratios and thermal properties

The novel methacrylic monomer, 4-nitro-3-methylphenyl methacrylate (NMPM) was synthesized by reacting 4-nitro-3-methylphenol dissolved in ethyl methyl ketone (EMK) with methacryloyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine as a catalyst. The homopolymer and copolymers of NMPM with glycidyl methacrylate having different compositions were synthesized by free radical polymerization in EMK solution at 70 ± 1 °C using benzoyl peroxide as free radical initiator. The homopolymer and the copolymers were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic techniques. The solubility tests were tested in various polar and non-polar solvents. The molecular weight and polydispersity indices of the copolymers were determined using gel permeation chromatography. The glass transition temperature of the copolymers increases with increase in NMPM content. The thermogravimetric analysis of the polymers performed in air showed that the thermal stability of the copolymer increases with NMPM content. The copolymer composition was determined using ¹H NMR spectra. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined by the application of conventional linearization methods such Fineman-Ross (r₁ = 1.862, r₂ = 0.881), Kelen-Tudos (r₁ = 1.712, r₂ = 0.893) and extended Kelen-Tudos methods (r₁ = 1.889, r₂ = 0.884).     

Portable microfluidic system for determination of urinary creatinine

A simple, low cost and portable microfluidic system based on a two-point alkaline picrate kinetic reaction has been developed for the determination of urinary creatinine. The creatinine reacts with picric acid under alkaline conditions, forming an orange-red colour, which is monitored on PDMS microchip using a portable miniature fibre optic spectrometer at 510 nm. A linear range was displayed from 0 to 40 mg L⁻¹ creatinine (r² = 0.997) with a detection limit of 3.3 mg L⁻¹ (S/N = 3). On-chip absorbance signals are reproducible, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 7.1%, when evaluated with 20 mg L⁻¹ creatinine (n = 10). The standard curves in which the intra-run CVs (4.7-6.8%) and inter-run CVs (7.9%) obtained were performed on three different days and exhibited good reproducibility. The method was highly correlated with the conventional spectrophotometric method when real urine samples were evaluated (r² = 0.948; n = 15).     

Q-mode curve resolution of UV-vis spectra for structural transformation studies of anthocyanins in acidic solutions

Chemometric analysis of ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectra for pH values 1.0, 3.3, 5.3, and 6.9 was used to investigate the kinetics and the structural transformations of anthocyanins in extracts of calyces of hibiscus flowers of the Hibiscus acetosella Welw. ex Finicius for the first time. Six different species were detected: the quinoidal base (A), the flavylium cation (AH⁺), the pseudobase or carbinol pseudobase (B), cis-chalcone (C_C), trans-chalcone (C_t), and ionized cis-chalcone (⁻CC). Four equilibrium constant values were calculated using relative concentrations, hydration, pK_h = 2.60 ± 0.01, tautomeric, K_T = 0.14 ± 0.01, acid-base, pK_a = 4.24 ± 0.04, and ionization of the cis-chalcone, pKCC=8.74±1.5×1⁰−2. The calculated protonation rate of the tautomers is KH+=0.08±7.6×10⁻³. These constants are in excellent agreement with those measured previously in salt form. From a kinetic viewpoint, the situation encountered is interesting since the reported investigation is limited to visible light absorption in acid medium. These models have not been reported in the literature.     

The WCl6-e-Al-CH2Cl2 catalyzed polypentenamer formation via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP)

The synthesis of polypentenamer by an electrochemically generated metathesis polymerization catalyst from methylene chloride solution of WCl₆ was investigated. The active species formed by electroreduction of this salt under controlled potential of +900 mV at a platinum cathode with an aluminum anode were found to catalyze the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of cyclopentene, monocyclic olefin of relatively low strain, in high yield (89%) and at short period (32 min) under mild conditions. The effect of reaction parameters, e.g., olefin/catalyst ratio, reaction time, electrolysis time, catalyst aging, on the polymerization yield have been studied. The resulting polymer has been characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, IR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) techniques. Analysis of the polypentenamer microstructure by means of ¹³C NMR spectroscopy indicates that the polymer contains a mainly trans stereoconfiguration of the double bonds (σ_c = 0.31) and a slightly blocky distribution (r_tr_c > 1) of cis and trans double bond dyads (r_tr_c = 1.44). However, this electrochemical system is reluctant to facilitate the competing vinyl type addition polymerization reactions.     

Artificial neural networks study of the catalytic reduction of resazurin: stopped-flow injection kinetic-spectrophotometric determination of Cu(II) and Ni(II)

An artificial neural network (ANN) procedure was used in the development of a catalytic spectrophotometric method for the determination of Cu(II) and Ni(II) employing a stopped-flow injection system. The method is based on the catalytic action of these ions on the reduction of resazurin by sulfide. ANNs trained by back-propagation of errors allowed us to model the systems in a concentration range of 0.5-6 and 1-15 mg l⁻¹ for Cu(II) and Ni(II), respectively, with a low relative error of prediction (REP) for each cation: REP_Cu(II) = 0.85% and REP_Ni(II) = 0.79%. The standard deviations of the repeatability (s_r) and of the within-laboratory reproducibility (s_w) were measured using standard solutions of Cu(II) and Ni(II) equal to 2.75 and 3.5 mg l⁻¹, respectively: s_r[Cu(II)] = 0.039 mg l⁻¹, s_r[Ni(II)] = 0.044 mg l⁻¹, s_w[Ni(II)] = 0.045 mg l⁻¹ and s_w[Ni(II)] = 0.050 mg l⁻¹. The ANNs-kinetic method has been applied to the determination of Cu(II) and Ni(II) in electroplating solutions and provided satisfactory results as compared with flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry method. The effect of resazurin, NaOH and Na₂S concentrations and the reaction temperature on the analytical sensitivity is discussed.     

Mechanistic modeling of the reaction kinetics of phenyl glycidyl ether (PGE) + aniline using heat flow and heat capacity profiles from modulated temperature DSC

Modulated temperature DSC (MTDSC) has been performed on phenyl glycidyl ether (PGE) + aniline in order to obtain the non-reversing heat flow and heat capacity profiles simultaneously in a wide range of cure temperatures and mixture compositions. The epoxy (PGE) conversion as determined from the former signal corresponds to the one obtained from separate high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), while the latter signal contains information on the individual reaction steps. Optimized kinetic parameters using a mechanistic approach, including both reactive and non-reactive complexes can successfully simulate MTDSC measurements for isothermal reaction temperatures ranging from 50 to 120 °C and for non-isothermal experiments with mixture compositions corresponding to concentrations of aniline in a range from 1.68 to 6.53 mol kg⁻¹. Concentration profiles for three mixture compositions as obtained from HPLC are also well predicted. The activation energies for the primary amine and secondary amine-epoxy reaction catalyzed by hydroxyl groups are 50 and 52 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively, while the initiation of the reaction corresponds to the primary amine-epoxy reaction catalyzed by primary amine groups with an activation energy of 72 kJ mol⁻¹. A negative substitution effect can be calculated at 0.18 from the ratio of secondary amine to primary amine-epoxy reaction rate constants.     

Reactivity ratios in conventional and nickel-mediated radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and functionalized methacrylate monomers

Copolymerization of an excess of methyl methacrylate (MMA) relative to 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was carried out in toluene at 80 °C according to both conventional and controlled Ni-mediated radical polymerizations. Reactivity ratios were derived from the copolymerization kinetics using the Jaacks method for MMA and integrated conversion equation for HEMA (r_MMA = 0.62 ± 0.04; r_HEMA = 2.03 ± 0.74). Poly(ethylene glycol) α-methyl ether, ω-methacrylate (PEGMA, M_n = 475 g mol⁻¹) was substituted for HEMA in the copolymerization experiments and reactivity ratios were also determined (r_MMA = 0.75 ± 0.07; r_PEGMA ∼ 1.33). Both the functionalized comonomers were consumed more rapidly than MMA indicating the preferred formation of heterogeneous bottle-brush copolymer structures with bristles constituted by the hydrophilic (macro)monomers. Reactivity ratios for nickel-mediated living radical polymerization were comparable with those obtained by conventional free radical copolymerization. Interactions between functional monomers and the catalyst (NiBr₂(PPh₃)₂) were observed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Kinetic approach for the enzymatic determination of levodopa and carbidopa assisted by multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares

A combination of kinetic spectroscopic monitoring and multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) was proposed for the enzymatic determination of levodopa (LVD) and carbidopa (CBD) in pharmaceuticals. The enzymatic reaction process was carried out in a reverse stopped-flow injection system and monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy. The spectra (292-600 nm) were recorded throughout the reaction and were analyzed by multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares. A small calibration matrix containing nine mixtures was used in the model construction. Additionally, to evaluate the prediction ability of the model, a set with six validation mixtures was used. The lack of fit obtained was 4.3%, the explained variance 99.8% and the overall prediction error 5.5%. Tablets of commercial samples were analyzed and the results were validated by pharmacopeia method (high performance liquid chromatography). No significant differences were found (α = 0.05) between the reference values and the ones obtained with the proposed method. It is important to note that a unique chemometric model made it possible to determine both analytes simultaneously.     

Multicommutated flow system for the determination of glucose in honey with immobilized glucose oxidase reactor and spectrophotometric detection

A new automated method for the determination of glucose in honey is proposed. The method is based on multicommutated flow analysis (MCFA) and employs an immobilized glucose oxidase reactor and spectrophotometric detection at 505 nm of the red quinoneimine formed (Trinder's method).The calibration curve obeyed a second order equation in the range 0-0.14 g L⁻¹ (h = −2.2199 C² + 1.3741C + 0.0077, r² = 0.9991, where h is the peak height (absorbance) and C the concentration in g L⁻¹). The method was validated analyzing eight commercial samples, both by the AOAC 954.11 and 977.20 official methods. According to Student's t-test of mean values, at the confidence level of 95% the results obtained with the proposed method were in agreement with those obtained by the official methods. Precision (s_r(%), n = 10) was 3% and the sampling frequency of the system was 20 samples h⁻¹.     

Spectrometric study of the interaction between Alpinetin and bovine serum albumin using chemometrics approaches

The binding interaction of Alpinetin (APT) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied by fluorescence, UV-visible and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS) under simulated physiological conditions. The measured complex spectra were resolved by multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS), yielding a host of data and information, which otherwise would have been impossible to obtain. The extracted profiles corresponded to the spectra of the single species in the APT/BSA mixture. In addition, the presence of the APT-BSA complex was demonstrated, and it was shown that the associated quenching of the fluorescence from the BSA protein resulted from the formation of APT-BSA complex via a static mechanism. The binding constant (K_a(ave) = 2.34 × 10⁶ L mol⁻¹) and the number of sites (n = 1) were obtained by fluorescence methods as were the thermodynamic parameters (ΔH⁰, ΔS⁰ and ΔG⁰). This work suggested that the principal binding between APT to BSA was facilitated by hydrophobic interactions. The thermodynamic parameters for APT were compared to those from the structurally similar Chrysin and Wogonin molecules. It appeared that the entropy parameters were relatively more affected by the small structural changes. SFS from the interaction of BSA and APT showed that the ligand affected the conformation of BSA. The competitive interaction of APT and site makers with BSA indicated site I as the binding area of APT in BSA.     

Curing kinetics of arylamine-based polyfunctional benzoxazine resins by dynamic differential scanning calorimetry

In this study, the curing kinetics of polyfunctional benzoxazine resins based on arylamine, i.e. aniline and 3,5-xylidine, designated as BA-a and BA-35x, respectively, were investigated. Non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at different heating rates is used to determine the kinetic parameters and the kinetic models of the curing processes of the arylamine-based polyfunctional benzoxazine resins were proposed. Kissinger, Ozawa, Friedman, and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa methods were utilized to determine the kinetic parameters of the curing reaction. BA-a resin shows only one dominant autocatalytic curing process with the average activation energy of 81-85 kJ mol⁻¹, whereas BA-35x exhibits two dominant curing processes signified by the clear split of the curing exotherms. The average activation energies of low-temperature curing (reaction (1)) and high-temperature curing (reaction (2)) were found to be 81-87 and 111-113 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The reaction (1) is found to be autocatalytic in nature, while the reaction (2) exhibits nth-order curing kinetics. In addition, the predicted curves from our kinetic models fit well with the non-isothermal DSC thermogram.     

On-line sorption preconcentration of metals based on mixed micelle cloud point extraction prior to their determination with micellar chemiluminescence: Application to the determination of chromium at ng l levels

The on-line incorporation of cloud point extraction (CPE) to flow injection analysis (FIA) is modified to extract and preconcentrate metal species rapidly, avoiding the formation of hydrophobic complexes, using a mixed micellar medium. Coupling the procedure with chemiluminescence (CL) detection based on the catalytic activity of metal species on the luminol-hydrogen peroxide reaction and enhancing the signal with the presence of a micellar carrier containing bromide ions produces a powerful tool for the preconcentration and determination of metal species at ng l⁻¹ levels. As an analytical demonstration ultratrace concentrations of chromium were conveniently detected and quantified in samples with a complex matrix such as seawater and wastewater. The figures of merit for the determination of chromium were: 0.9-1.6% R.S.D. (n=5) with detection and quantification limits 0.5 and 2.0 ng l⁻¹, respectively. The calibration graph was rectilinear from 2 to 200 ng l⁻¹ (r=0.9996, n=6). Several other metal ions were determined in ideal situations, with analogous results.     

Flow injection determination of anisidine value in palm oil samples using a triiodide potentiometric detector

A flow injection analysis (FIA) procedure for the determination of anisidine value (AV) in palm olein using a triiodide detector is described. Undiluted oil sample and chloramine-T reagent were added to a reaction chamber, and reaction was accelerated by applying a short vortex action (typically for 30 s). After allowing the emulsified oil phase to be separated from the aqueous phase (bottom layer), an aliquot of the aqueous phase (containing unreacted chloramine-T) was aspirated into a carrier stream that contained I⁻ where the chloramine-T oxidized the I⁻ to form I₃⁻ which was finally detected by a flow-through triiodide potentiometric detector. Variables that affect the FIA signals such as size of the reaction chamber, oil and reagent flow rates, chloramine-T concentration, vortex time, time for phase separation, carrier stream pH and injected volume were studied. The optimized FIA procedure is linear over 1.0-23.0 AV. The method exhibits good repeatabililty (R.S.D. of ±3.16% (n = 4) for the determination of 5.0 AV) and a sampling rate of 40 samples per hour was achieved. Good correlation (r² = 0.996 (n = 4)) between the proposed method and the manual American Oil Chemists’ Society procedure was found when applied to the determination of twenty different types of palm olein samples.     

Sample cleanup-free determination of mycophenolic acid and its glucuronide in serum and plasma using the novel technology of ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is an immunosuppressant drug which powerfully inhibits lymphocyte proliferation. Since the early 1990s it has been used to prevent rejection in organ transplantation. The requirement of therapeutic drug monitoring shown in previous studies raises the necessity of acquiring accurate and sensitive methods to measure MPA and its major metabolite mycophenolic acid glucuronide (MPAG).The authors developed a sample cleanup-free, rapid, and highly specific method for simultaneous measurement of MPA and MPAG in human plasma and serum using the novel technology of ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. MPA- and MPAG-determinations were performed during a 2.0-min run time. Multiple calibration curves for the analysis of MPA and MPAG exhibited consistent linearity and reproducibility in the range of 0.05-100 (r > 0.999) mg L⁻¹ and 4-4000 mg L⁻¹ (r > 0.999), respectively. Limits of Detection were 0.014 mg L⁻¹ for MPA and 1.85 mg L⁻¹ for MPAG. Lower Limits of Quantification were 0.05 mg L⁻¹ for MPA and 2.30 mg L⁻¹ for MPAG. Interassay imprecision was <10% for both substances. Mean recovery was 103.6% (range 78.1-129.7%) for MPA and 111.1% (range 73.0-139.6%) for MPAG. Agreement was good for MPA and MPAG between the presented method and a validated HPLC-MS/MS method. The Passing-Bablok regression line for MPA and MPAG was HPLC-MS/MS = 1.14 UPLC-MS/MS—0.14 [mg L⁻¹], r = 0.96, and HPLC-MS/MS = 0.77 UPLC-MS/MS + 0.50 [mg L⁻¹], r = 0.97, respectively. This sample cleanup-free and robust LC-MS/MS assay facilitates the rapid, accurate and simultaneous determination of MPA and MPAG in human body fluids.     

Comparability of composition of carbon functional groups in humic acids between inverse-gated decoupling and cross polarization/magic angle spinning 13C nuclear magnetic resonance techniques

To find a certain relation between the composition of carbon functional groups of humic acids derived from liquid state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra acquired with inverse-gated decoupling (IGD), known as a quantitative pulse sequence, and that by solid-state ¹³C NMR with cross polarization/magic angle spinning (CPMAS) techniques, fifteen soil humic acid samples with a wide range of aromaticity were analyzed. Relationships between the proportions of humic acid carbon as alkyl, O-alkyl, and aromatic carbon assessed by the two methods could be regressed to y = ax (r = 0.932-0.956; P < 0.005), respectively. The contents of alkyl, O-alkyl, and aromatic carbon assessed by CPMAS method were larger than those found by IGD method. However, the differences between the two methods were small and exclusive regression to y = x was also significant (r = 0.775-0.941; P < 0.005). Aromaticity calculated from ¹³C CPMAS NMR data also did not differ significantly from those computed from ¹³C NMR spectra with IGD. These observations indicated the comparability of the relative content of carbon functional groups in humic acids except for carboxyl and carbonyl carbon.     

Flow-injection post chemiluminescence determination of atropine sulfate

A new post chemiluminescence (PCL) reaction was observed when atropine sulfate was injected into the reaction mixture after the finish of CL reaction of Ce(IV) and sodium sulfite. The possible mechanism for the PCL reaction was discussed via the investigation of the CL kinetic characteristics, the CL spectra, the UV absorption spectra and the fluorescence spectra of some related substances. The flow injection PCL method for the determination of atropine sulfate was established. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was 2.8% (n = 11, c = 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ g mL⁻¹). The PCL intensity responded linearly to the concentration of atropine sulfate in the range 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 5.0 × 10⁻⁵ g mL⁻¹ with a linear correlation of 0.9947. The detection limit was 4 × 10⁻⁷ g mL⁻¹ atropine sulfate. The method had been applied to the determination of atropine sulfate in the tablets and the results were consistent with the method of Chinese pharmacopoeia.     

Selective electrochemical sensing of calcium dobesilate based on the nano-Pd/CNTs modified pyrolytic graphite electrode

A new palladium nanoparticle functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes (nano-Pd/CNTs) modified pyrolytic graphite electrode (PGE) has been fabricated for electrochemical sensing of calcium dobesilate (CD) in pharmaceutical capsules. The nano-Pd/CNTs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The nano-Pd/CNTs composite showed a strong electrocatalytic property for CD. The anodic peak current is 6-fold than that obtained in bare PGE and the oxidation potential has an obvious shift to negative. The anodic peak current is proportional to the concentration of CD in the range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 7.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹, with a linear relative coefficient r = 0.999 and a detection limit 4.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ (S/N = 3). This kind of electrode shows good stability, sensitivity, reproducibility, large linear range and low detection limit towards electrochemical determination of CD. The proposed method provides a selective and sensitive electrochemical sensor of calcium dobesilate.     

Gas-diffusion flow injection assay for the selective determination of chlorine dioxide based on the fluorescence quenching of chromotropic acid

The present work reports the first spectrofluorimetric gas-diffusion flow injection (GD-FI) assay for the determination of chlorine dioxide in water samples (tap, mineral and soda water). The method is based on the fluorescence quenching of chromotropic acid (CA) (λ_ex. = 347 nm, λ_em. = 371 nm) caused by the analyte. The chemical and instrumental variables of the system were studied in terms of maximum sensitivity. The gas-diffusion cell was thermostated at 40 °C to enhance the vaporization of chlorine dioxide and thus the sensitivity of the method. The quenching effect of chlorine dioxide on CA was linear in the range 0.09-3.41 mg l^− 1, while the precisions either close to the quantitation limit or near to the middle of the linear section of the calibration graph were satisfactory in both cases (s_r = 2.6% and 1.5% (n = 10) at 0.17 and 1.71 mg l^− 1 level, respectively). The developed method proved to be adequately selective and sensitive with 3σ limit of detection equal to c_L = 0.03 mg l^− 1. The application of the assay to spiked tap, mineral and soda water samples yielded accurate results with recovery values in the range 94.1-105.9%.