Simple LC Method with Chemiluminescence Detection for Simultaneous Determination of Arbutin and l-Ascorbic Acid in Whitening Cosmetics

Simultaneous determination of arbutin (ART) and l-ascorbic acid (AA) by HPLC with chemiluminescence detection is proposed for the first time. This method is based on the CL reaction of acidic potassium permanganate with ART and AA in the presence of formaldehyde as enhancer. The separation was performed on a C₁₈ column with a 90:10 (v/v) mixture of 0.02 M phosphate buffer and methanol as mobile phase. The effects of several conditions on HPLC resolution and CL emission were studied systematically. The linear ranges were 0.5–50 and 1–200 μg mL⁻¹ for ART and AA, respectively. The detection limits were 0.2 and 0.3 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of ART and AA in whitening cosmetics.     

Enantiomeric differentiation of amino acids by a chiral crown ether derived fromd-mannose studied by the liquid membrane technique

Chiral 18-crown-6 incorporating ad-mannopyranoside unit displays noticeable enantioselectivity in the recognition of amino acids and their sodium and potassium salts in transport experiments across a liquid membrane containing the carrier.d-phenylalanine andd-phenylglycine were transported faster than their correspondingl-enantiomers, whereas the enantioselectivity was reversed with tryptophan.     

Quantitative determination of protein of bacterial origin on the basis ofd-aspartic acid andd-glutamic acid content

Summary In recent decades several methods have been developed for determination of the proportion of nitrogen-containing substances passed from the rumen into the abomasum, or small intestine, which are of microbial origin. Recently, when examining thed-amino acid content of foodstuffs, particularly milk and milk products, it was observed that, in addition tod-alanine (d-Ala,d-glutamic acid (d-Glu) andd-aspartic acid (d-Asp) can also be detected in similar quantities, primarily in products which have links with bacterial activity. This gave rise to the idea of examining the diaminopimelic acid (DAPA),d-Glu, andd-Asp content of bacteria extracted from the rumen of cattle, and that of chyme from the same cattle, to establish whetherd-Asp andd-Glu can be used to estimate protein of bacterial origin. The investigations performed have provided evidence that bothd-Asp andd-Glu might be appropriate for determination of protein of bacterial origin. The results obtained using these two bacterial markers (d-Asp andd-Glu) proved to the approximately 10% lower than those obtained using DAPA; this was not because of to error attributable to the new markers but rather to the unreliability of determination using DAPA Analyses performed on samples of known bacterial protein content indicate thatd-Asp andd-Glu gave almost identical results for bacterial protein content which were very close to the theoretical (calculated) values. Presented at Balaton Symposium '01 on High-Performance Separation Methods, Siófok, Hungary, September 2–4, 2001.     

A Validated Chiral LC Method for the Determination of Enantiomeric Purity of Pemetrexed Disodium on an Amylose-Based Chiral Stationary Phase

A simple and new isocratic normal phase chiral HPLC method has been developed for the determination of enantiomeric purity of pemetrexed disodium (l-enantiomer) in bulk drugs with a short run time of about 20 min. Chromatographic separation of l and d-enantiomers of pemetrexed disodium was achieved on an amylose based chiral stationary phase using a mobile phase consists of hexane, ethanol and trifluoro acetic acid. The resolution between the enantiomers was found to be more than 2.0. The system precision and method precision were found to be within 5% RSD for the distomer (d-enantiomer) at its specification level (i.e. not more than 1.0% w/w). The limit of detection and limit of quantification of distomer were 1.6 and 5 μg mL⁻¹, respectively for 10 μL injection volume. The percentage recovery of distomer was ranged from 90.6 to 105.7 in bulk drug samples. The test solution was found to be stable in the diluent for 48 h. The method was found to be specific for the enantiomers of pemetrexed disodium and can be conveniently used for the quantification of undesired d-enantiomer present in the bulk drug samples of pemetrexed disodium.     

l-Glutamate biosensor for estimation of the taste of tomato specimens

An amperometric biosensor has been developed for measurement of Umami, or the taste based on the amount of L-glutamate, in tomato foods. The biosensor is based on an enzyme-mediator system in which L-glutamate oxidase is used for biochemical oxidation of L-glutamate and a tetrafulvalene-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TTF-TCNQ) paste, prepared from the mixture of TTF-TCNQ salt, graphite powder, and silicone oil, serves as the mediator. The limit of detection, calculated by use of a four-parameter logistic model, was 0.05 mmol L(-1), and the limit of quantification was 0.15 mmol L(-1). The correlation coefficient (R2) was 0.990 and the relative standard deviation was no more than 1% (n=5). The response time (tau (95)) was 20-50 s, depending on concentration. The repeatability of the sensor was better than 5% (n=10). The sensor developed was stable for more than ten days.     

Volumetric and conductometric studies on the interactions of dipeptides with sodium acetate and sodium butyrate in aqueous solutions at T = 298.15 K

Densities and conductivity data for the sodium carboxylate (sodium acetate and sodium butyrate)–dipeptides {(glycyl-l-glutamine and l-alanyl-l-glutamine) + water} systems were determined at T = 298.15 K. The apparent molar volumes of the peptides and the molar conductivity (Λ) of sodium acetate and sodium butyrate have been calculated. These data have been utilized to deduce the standard partial molar volumes (), standard partial molar volumes of transfer for dipeptide from water to aqueous sodium carboxylate solutions (Δ_tV^°), volumetric interaction coefficient, the limiting molar conductivity (Λ_°), and Walden product (Λ_°η). Both and Δ_tV^° for the dipeptides increase with increasing concentration of sodium carboxylate. The interpretation is that this result arises from the dominant interactions of the sodium carboxylate with the charged group and polar groups of peptides. The decrease in Λ_° of sodium carboxylate with increasing dipeptide concentration and nonconstant Walden product are attributed to the interactions of sodium carboxylate with peptide and friction resistance of the solvent medium.     

Determination of serum <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-lactic and <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-lactic acids in normal subjects and diabetic patients by column-switching HPLC with pre-column fluorescence derivatization

d-Lactic and l-lactic acids were simultaneously determined by means of a column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. As a fluorescence reagent, 4-nitro-7-piperazino-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-PZ) was employed for the fluorescence derivatization of lactic acid. The proposed HPLC system adopted both octylsilica (Cadenza CD-C8) and amylose-based chiral columns (CHIRALPAK AD-RH), which proved to give a sufficient enantiomeric separation of the lactic acid derivatives with a separation factor () of 1.32 and a resolution (R_s) of 1.98. Moreover, the features of the first elution of d-lactic acid peak in the proposed HPLC were convenient for the determination of trace amount of serum d-lactic acid, which is known to increase under diabetes. Intra-day and inter-day accuracies were in the range of 90.5–101.2 and 89.0–100.7%, and the intra-day and inter-day precisions were 0.3–1.2 and 0.4–4.8%, respectively. The proposed method was applied to determine d-lactic and l-lactic acids in human serum of normal subjects and diabetic patients, showing that both d-lactic and l-lactic acid concentrations were significantly increased in the serum of diabetic patients (n=31) as compared with normal subjects (n=21). This fact was found for the first time owing to the development of the proposed HPLC method which is able to determine d-lactic and l-lactic acid simultaneously. Finally, serum d-lactic acid concentrations determined by the proposed HPLC method were compared with those from a reported enzymatic assay, and the smaller p value between normal subjects and diabetic patients was shown by the proposed HPLC method.     

Determination of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">D</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">L</Emphasis>-amino acids produced by cyanobacteria using gas chromatography on Chirasil-Val after derivatization with pentafluoropropyl chloroformate

A rapid and simple method was developed for the determination of free amino acids (AAs) released from cyanobacteria. The procedure involves trapping of AAs from the centrifuged cyanobacterial culture fluid on a cation-exchange resin, their release together with the resin by direct treatment with the reaction medium, followed by immediate derivatization with a corresponding chloroformate. The extractive alkylation transfers the analytes into an organic phase, an aliquot of which is subjected to GC analysis. Identification and quantification of AAs was performed by GC/MS and GC/FID, respectively, using propyl chloroformate (PCF) as the derivatization reagent. For chiral analysis, the cyanobacteria extracts were treated with 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl chloroformate (PFPCF) to create more volatile analytes. Separation of the AA enantiomers was accomplished on a Chirasil-Val capillary column and the D/L enantiomeric ratios were determined. AAs of cyanobacteria are considered to be important for the assessment of energy flow in an aquatic food web, nutrition value of cyanobacteria in a food web and for cell–cell communication within cyanobacteria. The highest levels of AAs were found in the summer period at the beginning of the season (July). In the September and October samples, the amount of AAs was lower, the number of D-AAs decreased and the D/L ratio was higher than in the July sample. Based on the obtained results it can be assumed that young populations excrete AAs in higher concentrations and a different composition compared to actively growing populations. Figure PFPCF derivatization scheme     

Excess volumes of aqueous mixtures of the zwitterion and the acid chloride salt of L-amino acids

The apparent molar volumes of the zwitterion (HL) and the chloride salt form (H₂LCl) and their mixtures (HL/H₂LCl) of glycine, L-serine and L-proline have been measured in aqueous solutions at 25°C. From these experimental data the excess apparent molar volumes of the HL/H₂LCl mixtures have been calculated. An attempt is made to explain these excess volume properties in terms of intermolecular hydrogen bond formation between the solute molecules HL and H₂LCl when forming the dimer H₃L₂Cl.     

Kinetics and mechanism of catalytic oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds with dioxygen in the Pd-containing aqua system

The oxidation of lower aliphatic alcohols C₁–C₄ with dioxygen to form the corresponding carbonyl compounds in the presence of the PdII tetraaqua complexes and Fe^II-Fe^III aqua ions in an aqueous medium was studied at 40–80 °C. The introduction of an aromatic compound (acetophenone, benzonitrile, phenylacetonitrile, o-cyanotoluene, nitrobenzene) and Fe^II aqua ion instead of the Fe^III aqua ion into the reaction system increases substantially the catalytic activity and the yield of the carbonyl compound. The key role of the Pd species in the intermediate oxidation state stabilized by the aromatic additive in the catalytic cycle of alcohol oxidation with dioxygen to the carbonyl compound was shown. An increase in the kinetic isotope effect with an increase in the temperature of methanol oxidation indicates a change in the rate-determining step of alcohol oxidation with dioxygen in the presence of Pd^II-Fe^II-Fe^III and the aromatic compound. At temperatures below 60 °C, the catalytically active palladium species are mainly formed upon the reduction of the Pd^II tetraaqua complex with the Fe^II aqua ion, whereas at higher temperatures the reaction between the alcohol and Pd^II predominates. The mechanism and kinetic equation of the process were proposed. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 842–848, May, 2007.     

Change in regioselectivity in the monoreduction of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene with titanium(III) and vanadium(II) ions in the presence of iron(II) and copper(II) salts

Small additives of iron(II) or copper(II) salts change the regioselectivity of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene monoreduction with titanium(III) chloride affording predominantly less accessible 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene over 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (from 25% when the reduction occurs in the absence of the iron and copper salts to 70% in the presence of these salts). A possible mechanism of the process is discussed. Dedicated to Academician N. K. Kochetkov on the occasion of his 90th birthday. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1172–1176, May, 2005.     

A new method for microcapsule characterization

Numerous microcapsule systems have been developed for a wide range of applications, including the sustained release of drugs, cell transplantation for therapy, cell immobilization, and other biotechnological applications. Despite the fact that microcapsule membrane is a dominant factor governing overall microcapsule performance, its characterization is challenging. We report a new method for characterizing microcapsule membranes, using the most common alginate-poly-l-lysine-alginate (APA) microcapsule as an example. Our data demonstrate that genipin, a naturally derived reagent extracted from gardenia fruits, interacts with poly-l-lysine (PLL) and generates fluorescence. This fluorescence allows clear visualization and easy analysis of the PLL membrane in the APA microcapsules using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The results also show that PLL binding correlates to the reaction variables during PLL coating such as PLL concentration and coating time. In addition, five other different microcapsule formulations consisting of PLL and/or chitosan membranes were examined, and the results imply that this method can be extended to characterize a variety of microcapsule membranes. These findings suggest that genipin can serve as a fluorogenic marker for rapid characterization of microcapsule membranes, a superior method that would have important implications for microcapsule research and potential in many other applications.     

Application of l-cysteine-capped nano-ZnS as a fluorescence probe for the determination of proteins

Nanometer-sized l-cysteine-capped ZnS particles have been synthesized and used as a fluorescence probe to investigate the effect of proteins on fluorescent intensity. With =190 nm, maximum and constant synchronous fluorescence enhancement was produced at 267 nm and pH 5.12 in the presence of proteins. A highly sensitive synchronous fluorescence method for the rapid determination of proteins has been developed. Under optimum conditions, calibration graphs are linear over the range 0.03–8.0 g mL^–1 for bovine serum albumin (BSA), 0.01–6.0 g mL^–1 for human serum albumin (HSA), 0.05–8.0 g mL^–1 for -globulin (-G), and 0.04–4.0 g mL^–1 for ovalbumin, respectively. The relative standard deviations of seven replicate measurements were 1.75% for 1.0 g mL^–1 BSA, 1.90% for 1.0 g mL^–1 HSA, 1.65% for 1.0 g mL^–1 -G, and 2.32% for 1.0 g mL^–1 ovalbumin.     

A study of Co/Mo/Al2O3 hydrodesulphurization catalysts and related model compounds byxps and x-ray absorption spectroscopy (xanes andexafs )

A detailed investigation of sulphided Co/Mo/Al₂O₃ catalysts, their oxide precursors and several model oxides and sulphides of cobalt and molybdenum has been carried out using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray absorption spectroscopy (xanes andexafs). Octahedrally coordinated Co(II) and Mo(IV) are shown to be present in a sulphidic environment on the surfaces of these catalysts. The surface species contain an excess of sulphur, probably involving disulphide linkages. The surface compositions of the catalysts examined conform to the general formula Co¹¹ Mo _2n ^IV (2n + 3)S ₂ ²⁻ (2n -2)S²⁻.     

Arabinose utilization by xylose-fermenting yeasts and fungi

Various wild-type yeasts and fungi were screened to evaluate their ability to fermentl-arabinose under oxygen-limited conditions when grown in defined minimal media containing mixtures ofl-ara-binose,d-xylose, andd-glucose. Although all of the yeasts and some of the fungi consumed arabinose, arabinose was not fermented to ethanol by any of the strains tested. Arabitol was the only major product other than cell mass formed froml-arabinose; yeasts converted arabinose to arabitol at high yield. The inability to fermentl-arabinose appears to be a consequence of inefficient or incomplete assimilation pathways for this pentose sugar.     

Determination of Enantiomeric Purity and Absolute Configuration of β-Lactams by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography on Chiral Columns

Enantiomers of β-lactams bearing aryl, furyl or styryl substituents in the 4-position were chromatographically separated by means of high-performance liquid chromatography on chiral column packed with amino acid-derived chiral stationary phase. Separation factors are generally modest. To improve further the resolution of enantiomers, the rings of these β-lactams were opened with octanol in acidic conditions and converted into N-3,5- dinitrobenzoyl ester derivatives of the resulting β-amino acids. Enantiomers of these derivatives are efficiently separated on an amide-derived chiral stationary phase. The chromatographic separations enable accurate determination of optical purity of the chiral β- lactams, prepared from homochiral ester enolate-imine condensation. The absolute configuration of the major enantiomer of the β-amino acid derivatives was determined from elution order on a chiral column.     

l-DOPA production by immobilized tyrosinase

The production of l-DOPA using l-tyrosine as substrate, the enzyme tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1) as biocatalyst, and l-ascorbate as reducing agent for the o-quinones produced by the enzymatic oxidation of the substrates was studied. Tyrosinase immobilization was investigated on different supports and chemical agents: chitin flakes activated with hexamethylenediamine and glutaraldehyde as crosslinking agent, chitosan gel beads, chitosan gel beads in the presence of glutaraldehyde, chitosan gel beads in the presence of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and chitosan flakes using glutaraldehyde as crosslinking agent. The last support was considered the best using as performance indexes the following set of immobilization parameters: efficiency (90.52%), yield (11.65%), retention (12.87%), and instability factor (0.00). The conditions of immobilization on chitosan flakes were optimized using a two-level full factorial experimental design. The independent variables were enzyme-support contact time (t), glutaraldehyde concentration (G), and the amount of enzyme units initially offered (U _C). The response variable was the total units of enzymatic activity shown by the immobilized enzyme (U _IMO). The optimal conditions were t=24 h, G=2% (v/v), and U _C=163.7 U. Under these conditions the total units of enzymatic activity shown by the immobilized enzyme (U _IMO) was 23.3 U and the rate of l-DOPA production rate was 53.97 mg/(L·h).     

高效液相色谱法测定布诺酚的光学纯度

用正相高效液相色谱法配合衍生化法准确地测定了抗炎镇痛药布诺酚的光学纯度。方法的平均标准偏差为０．０６４％,准确度为９９．７１％～１００．２９％。     

A Validated Chiral HPLC Method for the Determination of Enantiomeric Purity of R-β-amino-β-(4-methoxyphenyl) Propionic Acid

A normal phase chiral LC method for chiral purity evaluation of β-amino-β-(4-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid was developed on donor–acceptor (pirkle) column. The chiral stationary phase used was a 250 × 4.6 mm (R, R) Whelk-01 with 5 μm particle size, which was accompanied with a 1 cm long guard column. The “hybrid” pi-electron donor–acceptor based stationary phase (R, R) Whelk-01 was found to be enantiomeric selective for (R) and (S) enantiomers of β-amino-β-(4-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid with a resolution >2.5. The concentration of 2-propanol and TFA in the mobile phase plays an important role on the chrmatographic efficiency and resolution between the enantiomers. The limit of detection and limit of quantification of (S) enantiomer was 0.3 and 1.0 μg mL^-1 for 20 μL injection volume. The percentage RSD of the peak area of six replicate injections of (S) enantiomer at LOQ concentration was 4.5. The percentage recovery of (S) enantiomer from (R) enantiomer samples ranged from 92 to 100. The test solution was observed to be stable up to 24 h after the preparation. The developed method was also checked by different analysts and on different lots of columns, reagents and it was proved to be rugged. The developed normal phase chiral LC method can be used for the determination of the enantiomeric purity of R-β-amino-β-(4-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid.