Nanocarbon Materials Modified with the Zinc Complex of Protoporphyrin IX,Recognized Antibiotics in Water Samples

The complex between protoporphyrin IX and zinc was immobilized on nanocarbon paste and on nanodiamond paste to design two stochastic microsensors. The microsensors were used for the recognition and analysis of antibiotics: amoxicillin, ampicillin, and biotin in water samples. Stochastic sensors provided different signatures for the three antibiotics making possible their simultaneous recognition and assay in water samples. Low limits of determination 0.3 pg/mL for amoxicillin and ampicillin, and 0.21 pg/mL for biotin were obtained when nanocarbon paste was used, and 0.03 pg/mL for amoxicillin, 0.30 pg/mL for ampicillin, and 2.14 fg/mL for biotin were obtained when nanodiamond paste was used. Recoveries higher than 99.32 % with RSD lower than 1.00 % were obtained for the assay of the antibiotics in water samples.     

Biosynthesis of sulfated glycopeptide antibiotics by using the sulfotransferase StaL

The unique glycopeptide antibiotic A47934, produced by Streptomyces toyocaensis, possesses a nonglycosylated heptapeptide core that is sulfated on the phenolic hydroxyl of the N-terminal 4-hydroxy-L-phenylglycine residue. Genetic and biochemical experiments confirmed that StaL is a sulfotransferase capable of sulfating the predicted crosslinked heptapeptide substrate to produce A47934 both in vivo and in vitro. Incubation of purified His(6)-StaL with various substrates in vitro revealed substrate specificity and yielded two sulfo-glycopeptide antibiotics: sulfo-teicoplanin aglycone and sulfo-teicoplanin. Quantification of the antibacterial activity of desulfo-A47934, A47934, teicoplanin, and sulfo-teicoplanin demonstrated that sulfation slightly increased the minimum inhibitory concentration. This unique modification by sulfation expands glycopeptide diversity with potential application for the development of new antibiotics.     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Some Phenolic Antibiotics in Dosage Forms

 A simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of some phenolic antibiotics namely: cefadroxil, amoxicillin and vancomycin. The method is based on the measurement of the orange yellow species produced when the drugs are coupled with diazotized benzocaine in triethylamine medium. The method is applicable over the range of 0.8–12 μg/ml for cefadroxil, 2–16 μg/ml for amoxicillin and 2–18 μg/ml for vancomycin. The formed compounds absorb at 455 nm for both cefadroxil and amoxicillin and at 442 nm for vancomycin. The proposed method has detection limits of 0.018 μg for cefadroxil, 0.0034 μg for amoxicillin and 0.0156 μg for vancomycin. The stoichiometric ratio for the studied compounds was found to be 1:1 and a proposal of the reaction pathway was made. The proposed method was applied for the analysis of the cited drugs in their pharmaceutical preparations. The results are in good agreement with those obtained by the official methods. Received February 7, 2000. Revision June 14, 2000.     

CoMFA modeling of enzyme kinetics: K(m) values for sulfation of diverse phenolic substrates by human catecholamine sulfotransferase SULT1A3

Three-dimensional QSAR models were developed for predicting kinetic Michaelis constant (K(m)) values for phenolic substrates of human catecholamine sulfating sulfotransferase (SULT1A3). The K(m) values were correlated to the steric and electronic molecular fields of the substrates utilizing Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA). The evaluated SULT1A3 substrate data set consisted of 95 different substituted phenols, catechols, catecholamines, steroids, and related structures for which the K(m) values were available. The data set was divided in three different subgroups in the initial analysis: (1). for the first CoMFA model substrates with only one reacting hydroxyl group were selected (n = 51), (2).the second model was build with structurally rigid substrates (n = 59), and (3). finally all substrates of the data set were included in the analysis (n = 95). Substrate molecules were aligned using the aromatic ring and the reacting hydroxyl group as a template. After the initial analysis different substrate alignment rules based on the existing knowledge of the SULT1A3 active site structure were evaluated. After this optimization a final CoMFA model was built including all 95 substrates of the data set. Cross-validated q(2) values (leave-one-out and leave-n-out) and coefficient contour maps were calculated for all derived CoMFA models. All four CoMFA models were statistically significant with q(2) values up to 0.624. These predictive QSAR models will provide us information about the factors that affect substrate binding at the active site of human catecholamine sulfotransferase SULT1A3.     

固相萃取-胶束电动色谱法测定牛奶中的4种β-内酰胺类抗生素

建立了同时分离检测牛奶中的氨苄西林、阿莫西林、青霉素V和头孢氨苄4种β-内酰胺类抗生素的固相萃取-胶束电动色谱法。牛奶样品经沉淀蛋白后,采用HLB固相萃取柱净化浓缩;以含十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)的磷酸盐为缓冲液,胶束电动色谱分离,210 nm波长下检测。分离电压为18 kV,于9 min内达到基线分离。各组分在0.5～20 mg/L范围内呈良好的线性关系,相关系数(r2)为0.9943～0.9976;检出限为0.16～0.20 mg/L;除了阿莫西林外,回收率均大于70%。该方法准确可靠,重复性好,灵敏度高,可以用于牛奶中β-内酰胺类抗生素的定量检测。     

Identification of dimer impurities in ampicillin and amoxicillin by capillary LC and tandem mass spectrometry

A micro-scale liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for the identification of polymerized impurities in ampicillin and amoxicillin in aqueous solution. Ampicillin and amoxicillin are broad-spectrum antibiotics and widely used for the treatment of human and animal infections. In this study ampicillin, amoxicillin, and their dimers were trapped in a 5-cm capillary column containing C18 sorbents. The analytes were separated on a reversed-phase column and introduced into the mass spectrometer via a nanospray ion source. An isocratic mobile phase consisting of 1% formic acid-acetonitrile (50:50, v/v) was used. For identification, the fragment ions of the analytes were monitored. The aim of the present study was to develop an optimized quality control method for the analysis of high molecular weight impurities of ampicillin and amoxicillin.     

Confirmatory determination of six penicillins in honey by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry

A confirmatory method for 6 penicillin antibiotics (amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin G, oxacillin, cloxacillin, and dicloxacillin) in honey is presented that allows determination and confirmation of identity of the antibiotics at trace levels. The method includes the use of a stable isotope-labeled internal standard benzyl (d7-phenyl) penicillate and removal of sugar and other substances by solvent and solid-phase extraction. The honey extracts are then analyzed for penicillin residues by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. Mass spectral acquisition was achieved in an electrospray positive ion mode by applying multiple reaction monitoring of 2 or 3 fragment ion transitions to provide a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. Typical recoveries of 6 penicillins at fortification levels of 6, 16, 40, and 80 microg/kg ranged from 51.4 to 132.9%. The recoveries varied with the individual penicillins and were affected by different honey matrixes. The ion ratios were consistent and could be used for confirmation of identity of the penicillins. The method limits of detection (microg/kg) were 0.25 for amoxicillin, 0.19 for ampicillin, 0.068 for penicillin G, 0.028 for oxacillin, 0.052 for cloxacillin, and 0.085 for dicloxacillin. The method limits of confirmation (microg/kg) were 0.44 for amoxicillin, 0.52 for ampicillin, 0.23 for penicillin G, 0.14 for oxacillin, 0.14 for cloxacillin, and 0.15 for dicloxacillin when a sample size of 5 g honey was used.     

Selective spectrophotometric determination of phenolic β-lactam antibiotics in pure forms and in their pharmaceutical formulations

Four simple and selective spectrophotometric methods were developed for the quantitative determination of some phenolic β-lactam antibiotics (amoxicillin trihydrate, cefoperazone sodium, cefadroxil monohydrate, and cefprozil anhydrous) in pure forms as well as in their pharmaceutical formulations through their nitration and subsequent complexation with an nucleophilic reagent (method I), nitrosation and subsequent metal chelation (method II), coupling with diazo reagent (method III), and reaction with copper and extraction of the resulting chelate into chloroform (method IV). The reaction conditions were studied and optimized. Beer’s plots were obeyed in a general concentration range of 5-30 ug ml⁻¹ with correlation coefficients not less than 0.9997 for the four drugs. The methods are successfully applied to the analysis of pharmaceutical formulations containing amoxicillin, either alone or in combination with potassium clavulanate. They were also applied to the analysis of the other three studied drugs in vials, capsules, tablets, and suspensions with good recovery; percentage ranged from 99.0 (±1.42) to 100.2 (±1.25) in method I, 99.0 (±0.82) to 100.5 (±0.92) in method II, 99.5 (±0.09) to 100.8 (±0.98) in method III, and 99.3 (±0.01) to 100.2 (±0.05) in method IV. Interferences from other antibiotics and additives were investigated.     

Simultaneous determination of β-lactamic antibiotics by a new high-performance low-pressure chromatographic system using a multisyringe burette coupled to a monolithic column (MSC)

A technique based on multisyringe chromatography (MSC) was developed to determine three beta-lactamic antibiotics. Amoxicillin (AMOXI), ampicillin (AMPI) and cephalexin (CEPHA) were analyzed using a system with a very simple design and very low-cost equipment consisting of a multisyringe module, three low-pressure solenoid valves, a monolithic Chromolith Flash RP-18e column and a diode array spectrophotometric detector monitoring at 250 nm. Mobile phases containing methanol:acetic acid (0.1 M)-sodium acetate (0.1 M), pH 6.2, were tested for various ratios of methanol:acetic acid-sodium acetate, but a ratio of 10:90 gave optimum results with a flow rate of 2 ml min(-1). Validation parameters were evaluated for amoxicillin. The response to amoxicillin was linear over the range 0.04-0.4 mg/mL, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9996; precisions, evaluated as the repeatability for 0.04, 0.16 and 0.4 mg/mL amoxicillin, were 0.6%, 0.1% and 0.6%, respectively. Recovery from a generic formulation of amoxicillin was evaluated. The method showed selectivity in the presence of excipients commonly used in capsules, and satisfactory specificity was observed for amoxicillin and hydrolytic degradation products. The linearity was also evaluated for cephalexin and ampicillin. The conditions selected for MSC separation were compared with those for a HPLC system, and similar results were obtained in terms of chromatographic parameters but a difference in retention times was observed.     

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of amphoteric beta-lactam antibiotics: effects of columns, ion-pairing reagents and mobile phase pH on their retention times

The separation of five amino beta-lactam antibiotics by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography was studied as an insight into their retention behaviour. These five amphoteric compounds are cephradine, cephalexine, cefaclor, ampicillin and amoxicillin. Both octadecylsilane-bonded silica (C18) columns and phenyl-bonded silica (phenyl) columns were used, with mobile phase pH values between 2.5 and 7.4. In the absence of ion-pairing reagents the retention times for all the five compounds were the shortest at pH 4-6. The phenyl column was found to improve the separation between cephradine and ampicillin at pH values lower than 3, when these two compounds appeared as fused peaks on the C18 on C18 columns, with mobile phases both with and without ion-pairing reagents, were compared. The addition of 0.005 or 0.02 M tetraethylammonium acetate to the mobile phase did not result in significant ion-pair formation, except at pH values higher than 5.5. A strong ion-pairing effect was obtained at pH values higher than 6 with 0.005 or 0.02 M tetrabutylammonium phosphate, and the retention was decreased at pH values lower than 4. On the other hand, 0.005 M heptanesulphonic acid exhibited an ion-pair retention effect at pH values lower than 5. The molecular structures and pK(a) values were used to account for the retention behaviour of these antibiotics in the various mobile phases.     

Flow-injection chemiluminescence determination of penicillin antibiotics in drugs and human urine using luminol-Ag(III) complex system

A chemiluminescent (CL) system based on the reaction of an Ag(III) complex with luminol in alkaline medium is presented. Gamma order of magnitude penicillin species antibiotics could dramatically enhance CL intensities. Coupled with flow injection analysis (FIA), a novel sensitive chemiluminescent analytical technique for some penicillin antibiotics in drugs and urine samples is introduced. Under optimum conditions, benzylpenicillin sodium, amoxicillin, ampicillin and cloxacillin sodium were determinated. Detection limits of this method are 70 ng/mL for benzylpenicillin sodium, 67 ng/mL for amoxicillin, 169 ng/mL for ampicillin and 64 ng/mL for cloxacillin sodium. For the spiked urine samples, the recoveries of the four drugs were in the range of 106–112% for benzylpenicillin sodium, 104–110% for amoxicillin, 104–106% for ampicillin, and 103–105% for cloxacillin sodium. Based on the fluorescence spectra, free radical trapping experiment, and chemiluminescent spectra, a possible reaction mechanism is suggested.     

Flow injection chemiluminescence analysis of some penicillins by their sensitizing effect on the potassium permanganate-glyoxal reaction.

A new chemiluminescence method using flow injection is described for the determination of four penicillins, namely: phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium, amoxicillin, ampicillin, and ampicillin sodium. The method is based on sensitizing effect of these drugs on the chemiluminescence reaction of potassium permanganate in sulfuric acid with glyoxal. The different experimental parameters affecting the chemiluminescence intensity were carefully studied and incorporated into the procedure. The method allows the determination of 0.1-1.0 microg/ml phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium, 0.1-1.0 microg/ml amoxicillin, 0.1-1.0 microg/ml ampicillin, and 0.1-1.0 microg/ml ampicillin sodium. The method was successfully applied to the determination of four penicillin antibiotics in pharmaceutical preparations.     

Determination of beta-lactam antibiotics in water by fluorescence quenching of mercurochrome, and application for simple investigation of potency

The fluorescence quenching reaction between fluorescein mercury or halogeno-fluorescein mercury compounds (fl. Hg, 2,7- or 2,4-dichloro-fl.Hg, 3',4',5',6'-tetrachloro-fl.Hg, mercurochrome) and beta-lactam antibiotics (ampicillin (AB-PC) and cephalexin (CEX] was investigated, and mercurochrome was selected for the detection of beta-lactam antibiotics; the detection limit was about 0.8 micrograms/ml. A fluorimetric assay of beta-lactam antibiotics was established by measuring the fluorescence of mercurochrome and mercurochrome-beta-lactam antibiotics solutions in weakly basic media to determine the degree of fluorescence quenching. The maximum emission wavelength of mercurochrome solution was at 544 nm with excitation at 470 nm. The calibration graphs were linear over the ranges of about 0-6 micrograms/ml beta-lactam antibiotics penicillins (AB-PC, penicillin G, sulbenicillin, amoxicillin, cyclacillin, oxacillin, hetacillin and piperacillin) and cepham antibiotics (CEX, cefazolin, cephaloglycin, cephaloridine and cefpyramide), and the relative standard deviation was 2.7% for 1.4 micrograms/ml of AB-PC (n = 5). This fluorescence quenching reaction between mercurochrome and beta-lactam antibiotics was applied in a survey of decomposition and remaining potency of beta-lactam antibiotics.     

Determination of some frequently used antibiotics in waste waters using solid phase extraction followed by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array and mass spectrometry detection

This study is focused on the determination of some important antibiotics from different classes in waste water samples using solid phase extraction followed by high performance liquid chromatography with two detectors, diode array and mass spectrometer in positive ionisation mode. The investigated antibiotics include three penicillins (amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin G), two cephalosporins (ceftazidime, ceftriaxone), and two tetracyclines (tetracycline, doxycycline). The studied antibiotics were extracted from waste water samples using hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced cartridges. The extraction of antibiotics from water matrices was tested at several pH values. The best recoveries were obtained at pH 3 and 7 respectively. Depending on the nature of antibiotic, the limits of detection and quantification were obtained in the range of 0.07–0.92 µg mL^?1 and 0.21–2.77 µg mL^?1 respectively. Influent and effluent waste water samples were collected from a Waste Water Treatment Plant from Romania in order to detect the studied antibiotics. The antibiotics detected in the influent waste water samples were ceftriaxone (334 µg L^?1), tetracycline (146 µg L^?1) and doxycycline (110 µg L^?1). In effluent waste water samples no target antibiotics were detected.      

Effect of enzymatic sulfation on biochemical and pharmacological properties of catecholamines and tyrosine-containing peptides.

Substrate specificity of a novel sulfotransferase produced by Eubacterium A-44 isolated from human feces has been studied. Phenolic drugs, catecholamines, were good acceptors of this bacterial enzyme. With regard to dopamine, sulfation mostly occurred at the 4-aromatic hydroxy group. We also investigated the effects of enzymatic sulfation on pharmacologically active phenolic compounds. Sulfation of phenolic compounds generally led to inactivation (e.g. tyramine and Leu-enkephalin), with the exception of cholecystokinin (CCK) and some gastrointestinal peptides. Proteolytic hydrolysis in vitro did not occur at the C-terminal of the sulfated tyrosine residues of peptides such as Leu-enkephalin and kyotorphin. These results suggest that the sulfation by bacterial enzyme plays an important role in detoxification, activation and stability of phenolic compounds in the human body.     

Computational thermal and kinetic analysis

The complexation of β-lactam antibiotics, amoxicillin (AMPC), ampicillin (ABPC) and benzylpenicillin (PCG), with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) was studied at various pH values using microcalorimetry, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and molecular dynamic simulation. In the strong acid solution, two different types of inclusion complex with a 1:1 stoichiometry, Complex I with a phenyl ring of β-lactam antibiotics penetrated into the cavity of HPCD and Complex II with a penam included in the cavity, were formed by hydrophobic interaction, and Complex II was more stable than Complex I. In aqueous solution at pH≥4.5, only Complex I was formed, where the penam of PCG was more deeply penetrated into the cavity to keep it stable than those of AMPC and ABPC. The charged carboxyl-group on the penam was less affinity to form Complex II.     

Synergistic Effect between Amoxicillin and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Reduced by Oak Gall Extract against Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a global health threat, and the World Health Organization has included H. pylori among 12 bacterial species that require high priority future strategies for the development of new antibiotics due mainly to its high rates of resistance. Metallic nanoparticles are known for their antimicrobial properties. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) as biocompatible antimicrobials. Green synthesis of ZnONPs was performed based on Oak galls extract (OGE) and was characterized by UV, IR, DLS, TEM, and SEM measurements. In addition, LC-MS/MS was used for the identification of OGE constituents. A checkerboard assay was used to evaluate the activity of synthesized Qi-ZnONPs and OGE against H. pylori, and their synergistic effects with amoxicillin were evaluated. LC-MS/MS analyses identified 20 compounds as major gallic acid conjugates. The ZnONPs had average particle sizes of 5.5 nm (DLS) and 7.99 nm (TEM). Both OGE and Qi-ZnONPs exhibited moderate activity against H. pylori. Amoxicillin and Qi-ZnONPs combinations (1:2 and 1:4 amoxicillin:/Qi-ZnONPs) significantly decreased the MIC₉₀ by two-fold and four-fold, respectively, and FIC values for the combinations were more significant than with OGE alone. OGE is rich in phenolics. The synergism between Qi-ZnONPs and amoxicillin can provide an alternative safe agent of low cost to combat H. Pylori infections.     

Preliminary phytochemical screening and in vitro anti-helicobacter pylori activity of extracts of the stem bark of Bridelia micrantha (Hochst., Baill., Euphorbiaceae)

Helicobacter pylori is a major risk factor for gastritis, ulcers and gastric cancer. This study was aimed to determine the antimicrobial activity of the stem bark of Bridelia. micrantha on H. pylori isolated in South Africa. Extracts and clarithromycin were tested against 31 clinical strains, including a standard strain (NCTC 11638) of H. pylori, by measuring the diameters of the corresponding inhibition zones, followed by determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) (using metronidazole, and amoxicillin as control antibiotics) and the rate of kill. Preliminary phytochemical screening was also done. Inhibition zone diameters which ranged from 0-23 mm were observed for all five of the extracts and 0-35 mm for clarithromycin. Marked susceptibility of strains (100%) was noted for the acetone extract (P < 0.05), followed by ethyl acetate extract (93.5%). The MIC?? values ranged from 0.0048 to 0.156 mg/mL for the ethyl acetate extract and 0.0048 to 0.313 mg/mL for the acetone extract. The MIC?? values ranged from 0.0048 to 2.5 mg/mL for the ethyl acetate extract and 0.078 to > 0.625 mg/mL for the acetone extract, respectively. Insignificant statistical difference in potency was observed when comparing the crude ethyl acetate extract to metronidazole and amoxicillin (P > 0.05). Complete killing of strain PE430C by the ethyl acetate extract was observed at 0.1 mg/mL (2 × MIC) and 0.2 mg/mL (4 × MIC) at 66 and 72 h. For strain PE369C, 100% killing was observed at 0.1 mg/mL (2 × MIC) in 66 and 72 h. The ethyl acetate extract could thus be a potential source of lead molecules for the design of new anti-Helicobacter pylori therapies as this study further confirmed the presence of phytochemicals including alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, tannins and saponins.     

Analysis of antibiotics from liquid sample using electrospray ionization-ion mobility spectrometry

The recent findings of antibiotic residues in aquatic environment at trace level have gained much concern for the detrimental effect on ecological and human health due to bacterial resistance. Here, the feasibility of using electrospray ionization ion mobility spectrometry (ESI-IMS) for analysis antibiotics in liquid sample is demonstrated. Reduced mobilities and collision cross sections of 18 antibiotics are experimentally measured and compared with theoretical values according to mass-mobility correlation. Gentamicin is used as an example to investigate the capability of ESI-IMS for multi-component analysis of antibiotics. Mixtures of antibiotics at different concentrations are analyzed. The estimated detection limit for amoxicillin is 0.7 mg L⁻¹ (70 pg) and the linear range of response maintains over two orders. This method will be a potential technique for the analysis of antibiotics in aquatic environment.     

Trace determination of beta-lactam antibiotics in surface water and urban wastewater using liquid chromatography combined with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive and reliable method using liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry has been developed and validated for the trace determination of beta-lactam antibiotics in natural and wastewater matrices. Water samples were enriched by solid-phase extraction. The analytes included amoxicillin (AMOX), ampicillin (AMP), oxacillin (OXA), cloxacillin (CLOX) and cephapirin (CEP). Average recoveries of beta-lactams (BLs) in fortified samples were generally above 75% (except amoxicillin) with the standard deviations lower than 10% in water matrices. Amoxicillin was not quantified due to poor recovery (less than 40%) in the investigated water matrices. Matrix effects were found to be minimal when measuring these compounds in water matrices. The accuracy, within- and between-run precision of the assay fell within acceptable ranges of 15% absolute. The method detection limit (MDL) was estimated to range between 8 and 10 ng/L in surface water, 13 and 18 ng/L in the influent and 8 and 15 ng/L in the effluent from a wastewater treatment plant. A large number of actual water samples were analyzed using this method in order to evaluate the occurrence of the beta-lactams in a river and a wastewater treatment plant in northern Colorado. Most of the samples were negative for all analytes. These compounds were found at 15-17 ng/L in the three influent samples and at 9-11 ng/L in three surface water samples out of a total of 200 samples. This indicates that contamination by beta-lactam antibiotics is of minor importance to the small mixed-watershed.