Application of microemulsions for the removal of synthetic resins from paintings on canvas

Abstract

Traditional cleaning methods with organic solvents often are not suitable for removal of aged resin so researchers have to find new formulations. In this work, a case study is reported in which new microemulsions were applied on the surface of a painting covered by some aged resin layers used during a previous restoration. Based on the quality of the intervention and the analysis of a sample of the varnish carried out with both MALDI-TOF and ATR-IR spectrometers, it was conjectured that this undesired material could be an acrylic polymer. So it was chosen to use xylene, ethyl acetate and propylene carbonate (XYL and EAPC) microemulsions (O/W oil in water). The first is able to solubilise only acrylic polymers, the second may solve both acrylic and vinyl resins. The first has had the greatest effect allowing complete varnish removal and original artwork restoration.     

Recent Trends in Validation of Bioanalytical Methods

Abstract

The assessment of the quality levels of pharmaceutical formulations is done through various validation parameters. Validation of these analytical test procedures is the process by which it is established that the test methods meet the requirements for the intended analytical application. The validation criterion also applies to bioanalytical methods used for non‐human pharmacology/toxicology studies and preclinical studies. Bioanalytical method validation includes all the procedures, which demonstrate that a particular method used for quantitative measurement of analytes in a given biological matrix, such as blood, plasma, serum, or urine, is reliable and reproducible for the intended use.     

Liquid crystal phases in confined geometries

ABSTRACT

The orientation control of liquid crystal (LC) phases is essential for fundamental studies as well as practical applications. Surface treatment and topographic confinement have emerged as two of the most effective tools to control ordering and orientation of various types of LC phases. This review is intended to give an overview of the LC phases controlled in confined geometries at micro- and nanometre scales, in which the orientation control methods and the effective analytical techniques will be covered. Finally, the review closes with the applications using such confined LC phases.     

A Fast,Simple Method for Analysis of Phenoxy Acid Salt and Ester Formulations by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Salt formulations of 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), 2,4,5-T (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and dichlorprop [2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propanoic acid] have been analysed by reversed-phase HPLC using a C18-column with 50:50 (v/v) acetonitrile/2% acetic acid as eluant. Internal and external standard HPLC methods are compared.

Ester formulations of 2,4-D and 2,4,5–T are analysed, without hydrolysis, on the same column using 60:40 (v/v) acetonitrile/2% acetic acid as eluant. The method has been used in this laboratory to determine free phenoxy acid in ester formulations, and for the identification of esters in mixed ester formulations.

The methods are fast and accurate, and offer some advantages over previously-described methods.     

Determination of pK a Values of Cefdinir and Cefixime by LC and Spectrophotometric Methods and Their Analysis in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

The pK _a values of cefdinir and cefixime, which are used in the treatment of bacterial infections, have been determined precisely in water and methanol?Cwater binary mixtures (20% v/v) using spectrophotometric titration and LC, respectively. A simple, fast and precise isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic (LC) procedure has been developed for the determination of cefdinir and cefixime in drug formulations. This method was validated successfully for specificity, precision, linearity, range, accuracy, limit of detection, and limit of quantitation as per the ICH guidelines. The proposed method can be used for routine analysis of studied cephalosporin compounds and as an alternative tool for drug quality control laboratories.     

Comparison of three analytical methods for quality control of clozapine tablets

Three different analytical methods for the quality control of clozapine in commercial formulations were developed and compared: a liquid chromatographic (LC) method with UV detection, a capillary zone electrophoretic (CZE) method, and a linear scan voltammetric (LSV) method. The isocratic LC procedure used a C18 reversed-phase column; the CZE method used an uncoated fused-silica capillary and phosphate buffer containing polyvinylpyrrolidone as the background electrolyte; the LSV method analyzed clozapine solutions with acidic phosphate buffer as the supporting electrolyte. The 3 methods gave similar and satisfactory results, in terms of precision and accuracy. Repeatability and intermediate precision were good (RSD% < 2.2) and accuracy, resulting from recovery studies, was between 98 and 102%. The rapidity of analysis was high for all 3 methods, especially for the LSV.     

Systematic Liquid Chromatographic Separation of Poly-, Oligo-, and Monosaccharides

Abstract

High speed separations of poly-, oligo-, and monosaccharides were achieved on Chromosorb LC 9, Toyo Soda Starch Gel TSKLS17OP5, and Hitachi 3013N packings. Post column reaction system with tetrazolium blue was used to obtain a low detection limit for oligo-, and monosaccharides. Polysaccharides were analysed within 20 min by gel permeation chromatography over TSKLS17OP5 gel. DP 30 oligosaccharide was eluted in 30 min on Chromosorb LC 9 using a gradient of acetonitrile/water. Finally monosaccharides were separated in 25 min on Hitachi 3013N macroporous anion exchange resin.     

New extractive spectrophotometric methods for the determination of nortriptyline hydrochloride in pure form and pharmaceutical dosages

Two simple, rapid and sensitive extractive spectrophotometric methods have been developed for the assay of nortriptyline hydrochloride (NTPH) in pure and pharmaceutical formulations. These methods are based on the formation of chloroform soluble ion-association complexes of NTPH with bromocresol green (BCG) and with methyl orange (MO) in KCl-HCl buffer of pH 2. The colored species exhibited absorption maxima at 416 and 422 nm for BCG and MO with molar absorptivity values of 2.88 × 10⁴ and 2.29 × 10⁴ L/mol cm, respectively. Reaction conditions were optimized to obtain the maximum color intensity. Various analytical parameters have been evaluated and the results have been validated by statistical data. The methods were successfully applied to the analysis of NTPH in pharmaceutical formulations. The article is published in the original.     

Synthesis and properties of liquid crystalline urethane methacrylates for dental composite applications

Three novel liquid crystalline methacrylates have been synthesized and characterized to be tested as comonomers in light‐curing dental resin‐based composites. The selected formulations consist of an alkylammonium or cholesteryl urethane methacrylate and 2,2‐bis[4‐(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methacryloyloxypropyl)phenyl]propane (BisGMA) or a BisGMA derivate modified with urethane methacrylate groups, further diluted with triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) and reinforced with 70% filler (zirconium silicate nanopowder, silanized filler). This study addresses the relationships between the LC monomer structure, photopolymerization rates (by differential scanning photo calorimetry), and specific properties of the dental resin composites (volumetric shrinkage, water sorption, water solubility, and hydrophobicity). The investigation of LC properties by differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing microscopy indicated that the LC mesophase is stable to room temperature (cationic monomers) or at 40 °C (cholesteryl methacrylate). It was found that the polymerization rate for LC urethane methacrylates used in combination with BisGMA/TEGDMA (0.122–0.136 s^?1) is higher than that of the mesogenic monomers alone (0.085–0.107 s^?1). The structures of the urethane monomers and, consequently, the viscosity of the comonomer mixture influence both the rate and the degree of conversion (44.8–67.5 %) of the photopolymerization process. Polymerization shrinkage measured by pycnometry showed lower values for LC monomers (3.25–3.43 vol %) comparatively with the monomer mixture (5.19–6.65 vol %). Preliminarily, the effect of ammonium groups from two resin composites incorporating alkylammonium structures (4.5 wt %) was tested on Streptococcus mutans, and distinct zone of inhibition was observed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Second-Derivative Spectrophotometric Determination of Some Benzenoid Drugs

Abstract

A rapid second-derivative spectrophotometric assay procedure has been described for the determination of some benzenoid drugs in pharmaceutical dosage forms. Spectral interference from formulation excipients in simple uv spectrophotometric methods has been eliminated by the application of the proposed method. The different assay parameters, linearity and precision of the method have been assessed. The assay results obtained for eight batches of the pharmaceutical formulations of these drugs are in accord with the declared amounts. The high specificity, ease and simplicity offered by second-derivative spectrophotometry permit unit dose assay of these formulations.     

A Comparison of Two Methods for the Determination of Total Acidity of Humic Substances

Abstract

Two methods of total acidity determination for humic substances are compared: (1) the traditional barium hydroxide method, and (2) a direct potentiometric titration after elution of humic substances through a cation exchange resin. The first method always gave higher results than the second method. A poor analytical precision observed for the former method was attributed to carbonation. Low-molecular-weight phenolic acids of known total acidity were also analyzed by the two methods. The first method most likely underestimates results when weakly acidic compounds do not precipitate as barium salts. The low values shown by the second method are partially due to adsorption of humic material on the resin and, possibly, to insufficient protonation of acidic groups during resin elution.     

HPLC analysis of aspartame and saccharin in pharmaceutical and dietary formulations

Summary A reversed-phase HPLC method has been developed suitable for a reliable quality control of pharmaceutical and dietary formulations containing the synthetic sweeteners aspartame and saccharin. The proposed method is able to separate acesulfame, aspartame and saccharin, and their impurities such as 5-benzyl-3,6-dioxo-2-piperazineacetic acid (the major degradation product of aspartame) and 4-sulphamoylbenzoic acid,o- andp-toluenesulphonamides (the synthesis impurities of saccharin). A convenient solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure using C-18 sorbent, was also developed for the determination of potential saccharin impurities.     

Chromatography of Epoxy Resins

Abstract

This review covers the literature in the field of chromatographic analysis of epoxy resins and epoxy resin formulations from about 1970 to the present. Although exhaustive reviews of general chromatographic techniques have recently been published [1–9], and size exclusion chromatography has received additional coverage in journals and monographs on polymers [5–7], no reviews specifically devoted to the application of chromatographic techniques to epoxy resins have appeared.     

Effect of Methacrylated Hyperbranched Polymers on the Fracture Properties of Denture Base Materials

Hyperbranched polymers have the potential to reinforce crosslinked polymeric materials. In this study several concentrations of a methacrylated hyperbranched polyether are formulated with a denture base resin and cured. The denture base resin is a polymethyl methacrylate based resin. The fracture toughness of each of these concentrations was measured and compared to control. Only the 1% concentration had a significantly higher fracture toughness compared to the control. This is similar to other results that are found in the literature.     

Determination of Mefenamic Acid and Paracetamol by First Derivative Spectrophotometry

Abstract

A direct and simple first derivative spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of mefenamic acid and paracetamol in pharmaceutical formulations. A methanolic hydrochloric acid solution was used as solvent for extracting the drugs from the formulations and subsequently the samples were evaluated directly by derivative spectrophotometry. Simultaneous determination of both drugs can be carried out using the zero-crossing and the graphical methods. The methods do not require simultaneous equations to be solved. The calibration graphs were linear in the ranges from 1.8 × 10^?6 to 1.6 × 10^?4 M of mefenamic acid and from 4.1×10^?6 to 1.4 × 10^?4 M of paracetamol. The ingredients commonly found in commercial pharmaceutical formulations do not interfere. The proposed method was applied to the determination of these drugs in tablets.     

Nematic phase transition and texture dynamics

ABSTRACT

Research advances over the past decade in the areas of nematic phase transition and texture dynamics are reviewed. Research studies applying theoretical techniques able to resolve the length and time scales inherent to liquid crystal (LC) dynamics are focused on: coarse-grained molecular dynamics and continuum mechanics. The focus on LC dynamics is due to their importance in both fundamental and technological processes involving complex LC textures and texture transitions. Meta-stable textures frequently occur in soft matter systems, thus knowledge of LC textures that result in free energy minima for a specific system is not sufficient to characterise its behaviour. Resolution of dynamics enables researchers to predict with more accuracy observable LC textures and texture transitions. As is reflected in the reviewed research, LC dynamics simulations have enabled both validation of simulations with existing experimental observations and predictive results, which augment direct experimentation. While the outlook is positive as a result of this, several key challenges stymie further progress: (i) the availability of validated open-source software implementing nematic dynamics simulation methods, (ii) development of suitable visualisation and characterisation methods for transient three-dimensional LC textures, and (iii) inclusion of thermal fluctuations in nematic dynamics models.     

Determination of Ethynylestradiol and Norethindrone in Synthetic Intestinal Fluid and in Timed-Release Oral Formulations

Abstract

High performance liquid chromatographic methods are described for the rapid assay of the antifertility steroids ethynylestradiol and norethindrone in sustained-release oral formulations. A novel method is reported for isolation of these hormones from the synthetic intestinal fluid used for in-vitro release rate studies.     

Wavelength accuracy testing of UV-visible detectors in liquid chromatography

Summary Wavelength accuracy is an important factor of LC detection which can have serious effects on detector response, analytical results, and inter-laboratory reproducibility. Current wavelength accuracy test procedures for LC detectors have serious limitations or are very elaborate. This paper describes two new test procedures which employ Tb⁺³ and Er⁺³ solutions, these ions have narrow well defined absorption bands, and provide suitable test points throughout the ultraviolet-visible spectrum. These new test methods are fast, simple, applicable to any detector, and cover the spectral regions most frequently employed in LC detection.     

Strategies for protein-based nanofabrication: Ni-NTA as a chemical mask to control biologically imposed symmetry

Background: Technologies that improve control of protein orientation on surfaces or in solution, through designed molecular recognition, will expand the range of proteins that are useful for biosensors, molecular devices and biomaterials. A limitation of some proteins is their biologically imposed symmetry, which results in indistinguishable recognition surfaces. Here, we have explored methods for modifying the symmetry of an oligomeric protein that exhibits useful self-assembly properties.Results:Escherichia coli glutamine synthetase (GS) contains 24 solvent-exposed histidines on two symmetry-related surfaces. These histidines drive a metal-dependent self-assembly of GS tubes. Immobilization of GS on the affinity resin Ni²⁺-NTA followed by on-column modification with diethyl pyrocarbonate affords asymmetrically modified GS that self-assembles only to the extent of ‘short’ dimeric GS tubes, as demonstrated by electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy. The utility of Ni²⁺-NTA as a chemical mask was also demonstrated for asymmetric modification of engineered cysteines adjacent to the natural histidines.Conclusions: Current genetic methods do not provide distinguishable recognition elements on symmetry-related surfaces of biologically assembled proteins. Ni²⁺-NTA serves as a mask to control chemical modification in vitro of residues within symmetry-related pairs, on proteins containing functional Histags. This strategy may be extended to modification of a wide range of amino acids with a myriad of reagents.     

Determination of Anafranil in Pharmaceuticals by Difference and Difference-Derivative Spectrophotometry

Abstract

Difference (ΔA) and difference first- (ΔD1) and second- (ΔD2) derivative spectrophotometric methods are described for the assay and quality control of anafranil, a powerful antidepressant, in pharmaceutical formulations.

The procedures are based upon the measurement of ΔA, ΔD1 and ΔD2 of anafranil in alkaline solutions against their acidic solutions as blanks.

Interferences of the excipients and diluents or irrelevant absorptions are nullified. Calibration graphs of ΔA, ΔD1 and ΔD2 versus the concentration of the drug showed linear relationships up to 10 μg/ml, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9998 to 0.9999.

Detection limits at p = 0.01 level of significance were calculated to be 0.060 (ΔA), 0.056 (ΔD1) and 0.063 (ΔD2) μg/ml. The limits of quantification were 0.45 (ΔA), 0.36 (ΔD1) and 0.81 (ΔD2) μg/ml.

The procedures have been successfully applied to the determination of anafranil in synthetic samples and in commercial pills and injections for this drug with high reliability and repeatability.