The application of the brönsted concept to the calculation of pH in systems involving two acid-base couples : Systems involving two independent acid-base couples

The BRÖNSTED concept has been applied to the derivation of a single equation which is valid for the calculation of pH in any system containing two independent acid-base couples in an amphiprotic solvent. Bxamples of the application of this equation to a few representative systems have been given. The advantages of the method of approach which, has been outlined have been emphasized.     

The application of the perrin–agishev model for calculation of the translational diffusion coefficients of liquid dichloroalkanes

The article presents the translational diffusion coefficients calculated for dichloroalkanes series C _n H_{2 n} Cl₂ (where n =?6, 8, 10, 12) in the liquid state, with the use of the Perrin and Agishev model. It has been shown that the molecules of dichloroalkanes assume a mutually parallel arrangement in three possible coordinations. The model of arrangement, orientations and packing of the molecules has been presented. The activation parameters of the compounds studied have been discussed. The physical and structural properties of the liquids studied (macroscopic density, electron density and molecular weight) are correctly described within the van der Waals model predicting their orientations and packing. The formulae linking the diffusion, viscosity and temperature for the liquids have been presented. The assumption that each molecule can be approximated by an ellipsoid of the semiaxes lengths a, b and c has been justified. The translations become slower with increasing volume and weight of the molecule. The diffusion coefficients decrease with increasing molecular weight.     

A new method to analyze polarization curves — its application for the determination of kinetic parameters for oxygen reduction

A new method has been developed to analyze current–potential curves. The treatment was applied to determine the kinetic parameters of oxygen reduction. The reduction of oxygen was studied on thin-film platinum electrodes in alkaline solution. For the purpose of comparison the kinetic parameters were determined by the traditional method of constructing Tafel plots.     

The structures,binding energies and vibrational frequencies of Ca3 and Ca4 — An application of the CCSD(T) method

Summary The Ca₃ and Ca₄ metallic clusters have been investigated using state-of-the-artab initio quantum mechanical methods. Large atomic natural orbital basis sets have been used in conjunction with the singles and doubles coupled-cluster (CCSD) method, a coupled-cluster method that includes a perturbational estimate of connected triple excitations, denoted CCSD(T), and the multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) method. The equilibrium geometries, binding energies and harmonic vibrational frequencies have been determined with each of the methods so that the accuracy of the coupled-cluster methods may be assessed. Since the CCSD(T) method reproduces the MRCI results very well, cubic and quartic force fields of Ca₃ and Ca₄ have been determined using this approach and used to evaluate the fundamental vibrational frequencies. The infrared intensities of both thee mode of Ca₃ and thet ₂ mode of Ca₄ are found to be small. The results obtained in this study are compared and contrasted with those from our earlier studies on small Be and Mg clusters.Dedicated to Prof. Klaus Ruedenberg on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

Non-aqueous electrolytes for isotachophoresis of weak bases and its application to the comprehensive preconcentration of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids in column-coupling ITP/CE–MS

Isotachophoresis (ITP) has long been used alone but also as a preconcentration technique for capillary electrophoresis (CE). Unfortunately, up to now, its application is restricted to relatively strong acids and bases as either the degree of (de)protonation is too low or the water dissociation is too high, evoking zone electrophoresis. With the comprehensive ITP analysis of all 20 proteinogenic amino acids as model analytes, we, here, show that non–aqueous ITP using dimethylsulfoxide as a solvent solves this ITP shortcoming. Dimethylsulfoxide changes the pH regime of analytes and electrolytes but, more importantly, strongly reduces the proton mobility by prohibiting hydrogen bonds and thus, the so-called Zundel–Eigen–Zundel electrical conduction mechanism of flipping hydrogen bonds. The effects are demonstrated in an electrolyte system with taurine or H⁺ as terminator, and imidazole as leader together with strong acids such as oxalic and even trifluoroacetic acid as counterions, both impossible to use in aqueous solution. Mass spectrometric as well as capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C⁴D) are used to follow the ITP processes. To demonstrate the preconcentration capabilities of ITP in a two-dimensional set-up, we, here, also demonstrate that our non-aqueous ITP method can be combined with capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry in a column-coupling system using a hybrid approach of capillaries coupled to a microfluidic interface. For this, C⁴D was optimized for on-chip detection with the electrodes aligned on top of a thin glass lid of the microfluidic chip.     

Development of a UPLC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of atorvastatin, 2-hydroxy atorvastatin,and naringenin in rat plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic interaction studies

Recent studies have revealed that the combination therapy of atorvastatin (ATV) with naringenin (NG) can offer meaningful benefits in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, while decreasing adverse side effects. To investigate whether there are pharmacokinetic interactions among ATV, its metabolite 2-hydroxy atorvastatin (2-ATV), and NG, in the current study, we developed and validated a simple, rapid, and specific UPLC–MS/MS method to simultaneously determine the concentrations of these analytes in the rat plasma. Sample preparation was performed using simple protein precipitation. Chromatographic analysis was carried out on an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (1.7 μm, 2.1 × 100 mm) using gradient elution mode, and these three analytes were detected using a Xevo® TQD triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer, in the positive ion electrospray ionization interface. The developed method showed good linearity over the following concentrations in rat plasma samples: 3–1200 ng/ml (r = 0.9965) for ATV, 1.5–600 ng/ml (r = 0.9934) for 2-ATV, and 3–1200 ng/ml (r = 0.9964) for NG. The assays were validated and satisfied the acceptance criteria recommended by U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines. Upon successful application of the method to a pharmacokinetic interaction study, the results indicated that NG significantly enhanced the bioavailability of ATV and 2-ATV.     

The difference between cholesterol-and glycyrrhizin-γ-cyclodextrin complexes— an analysis by MD simulations in vacuo and in aquo and the calculation of solvation free energies with AMSOL

Glycyrrhizin forms very stable, freely water-soluble inclusion complexes with cyclodextrin. In contrast, the [cholesterol//γ-cyclodextrin] complex is very sparingly soluble in aquo. The molecular dynamics simulations and AMSOL calculations reported in this paper support these experimental findings: cholesterol is much less soluble than glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetinic acid, diglucuronic acid and γ-cyclodextrin. The [glycyrrhizin//γ-cyclodextrin] complex is the most stable one. The previously reported unusually large dipole moments of cyclodextrins were only found in the simulations; AMSOL calculations suggest a dipole moment of about 2 Debye for γ-cyclodextrin. The simulations illustrate how the guest molecules become included in the cyclodextrin cavity.     

Sensitive HPLC–fluorescence detection of morphine labeled with DIB-Cl in rat brain and blood microdialysates and its application to the preliminarily study of the pharmacokinetic interaction between morphine and diclofenac

A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)–fluorescence method for determination of morphine (Mor) in rat brain and blood microdialysates was developed using 4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzoyl chloride (DIB-Cl) as a label. Mor was labeled with DIB-Cl under mild reaction conditions (at room temperature for 10 min). The separation of DIB-Mor was carried out on an octadecylsilica (ODS) column with CH₃CN/0.1 M acetate buffer (pH 5.4) within 14 min. The detection limits of Mor in brain and blood microdialysates at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 were 0.4 and 0.6 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the preliminarily study of potential pharmacokinetic interaction between Mor and diclofenac.     

New two stages high order symmetric six-step method with vanished phase–lag and its first,second and third derivatives for the numerical solution of the Schrödinger equation

In the present paper, we obtain and analyze, for the first time in the literature, a new two-stages high order symmetric six-step method. The specific characteristics of the new proposed method are the highest possible algebraic order, the elimination of the phase–lag and its first, second and third derivatives. Additionally, for the new method we give the analysis of the method (both error and stability and interval of periodicity analysis) and the comparison of the effectiveness of the new developed method with the effectiveness of well known methods and very recently produced methods in the literature. The comparison is based on the numerical solution of the Schrödinger equation. The theoretical achievements and the numerical results show the effectiveness of the new developed method in comparison with other well known or recently developed numerical methods.     

A new two stages tenth algebraic order symmetric six-step method with vanished phase-lag and its first and second derivatives for the solution of the radial Schrödinger equation and related problems

The presentation, development and analysis of a new two-stages tenth algebraic order symmetric six-step method is introduced, for the first time in the literature, in this paper. More specifically, we present the development of the new method (requesting the highest algebraic order and the elimination of the phase-lag and its first and second derivatives), the analysis (error analysis and stability and interval of periodicity analysis) and the evaluation of the new developed method comparing its efficiency with the efficiency of well known methods and very recently produced methods in the literature on the approximate solution of the resonance problem of the one dimensional (or radial) Schrödinger equation. From the developments achieved and the results presented, we prove that the new obtained method is most more effective than other well known or recently developed methods of the literature.     

Development of an ion-exchange method for separation of radioiodine from tellurium and antimony and its application to the production of 124I via the 121Sb(α,n)-process

A novel anion-exchange chromatographic method for separation of radioiodine from an antimony target irradiated with ³He- or α-particles was developed, with separation yield of radioiodine amounting to 90 ± 5 % and its decontamination factor from the Te and Sb radionuclides to ~10⁴. The optimized separation method developed was then applied to the production of ¹²⁴I via the ¹²¹Sb(α,n)¹²⁴I process using a highly enriched ¹²¹Sb target. Quality control tests showed that the separated ¹²⁴I occurred >99 % as iodide and the longer lived impurities ¹²⁶I and ¹²⁵I amounted to 0.16 % and <0.05 %, respectively. The trace level of inactive Sb impurity was determined by ICP–OES.     

The pluvinage method for alkali dimers: Calculations for the Σ excited states of Na2 up to the (3p + 3p) dissociation limit

Twenty-six Σ potential curves of Na₂ are computed using a correlated orbital method. Rydberg series are seen converging to a bonding or antibonding Na₂⁺ curve. Crossings with the Na₂⁺ X ²Σ_g⁺ curve occur for the 8 ¹Σ_g⁺, 6 ¹Σ_u⁺, 6 ³Σ_u⁺, 7 ³Σ_u⁺, 1 ¹Σ_u⁻, 8 ³Σ_u⁺ curves at internuclear distances R = 5.4, 6.5, 6.6, 8.2, 9.0 and 9.4 au, respectively.     

A MSALL quantitative method for the determination of Poloxamer 188 in rat plasma by UHPLC–Q-TOF/MS and its application to pharmacokinetic study

Poloxamer (PL)188 is a commonly used pharmaceutical excipient with unique physicochemical properties. In this study, an MS^ALL quantitative method for the determination of PL188 in rat plasma by UHPLC–Q-TOF/MS was developed and validated. PL188 was analyzed on PLRP-S reversed-phase column (50 × 4.6 mm, 8 μm, 1,000 Å) with mobile phase 0.1% formic acid–water and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile–isopropanol (2:3, v/v). The liner range was 0.1–10.0 μg/ml. A pharmacokinetic study was performed on rats at a dose of 5 mg/kg by intravenous injection. The pharmacokinetic parameters of intravenous injection were as follows: half-life was 2.0 ± 1.1 h, volume of distribution was 5.1 ± 3.2 L/kg, area under the concentration–time curve was 3.0 ± 0.6 μg/L h and clearance was 1.7 ± 0.3 L/h/kg. The results indicated that PL188 could be rapidly distributed to tissues with a high clearance rate. This study can provide a good reference for the further study of PL188.     

LC–MS/MS method for the quantification of masitinib in RLMs matrix and rat urine: application to metabolic stability and excretion rate

Masitinib (MST) is a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric method (LC–MS/MS) was developed for the quantification of MST in rat liver microsomes (RLMs) matrix. The developed method was applied to metabolic stability and excretion rate studies. Reversed phase liquid chromatography was used for resolution of MST and bosutinib (IS) using C₁₈ (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm). Binary solvent system consisted of 35% solvent A (0.1% formic acid in H₂O, pH: 3.2) and 65% solvent B (acetonitrile) used as mobile phase at flow rate of 0.25 mL with a total run time of 5 min. Injection volume was 5 µL. Generation of ions was done in positive ESI source and quantification of MST and IS were done using MRM mode. The developed method showed a linearity in the range of 5–200 ng/mL (r² ≥ 0.9992) with LOQ and LOD of 0.25 and 0.76 ng/mL in RLMs. The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy ranged from 0.95 to 1.49 and ? 5.22 to 1.13%, respectively in RLMs. Rate of disappearance of MST during incubation with RLMs was almost linear allover incubation time. In vitro t_1/2 was 50.38 min and CL_in was 3.11 ± 0.2. The developed method was applied also to measure the rate of masitinib excretion in rat urine. The method can used for further pharmacokinetic studies of MST.     

The application of scanning electrochemical microscopy to the discovery of Pd–W electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction that demonstrate high activity, stability, and methanol tolerance

An array of Pd–W alloys was fabricated, and the electrocatalytic activity of the alloys for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic media was screened by scanning electrochemical microscopy. The Pd_0.7W_0.3 showed the highest activity for the ORR, close to that for Pd_0.8Co_0.2 and Pt. A Pd–W electrocatalyst loaded on carbon black was formed by the NaBH₄-reduction method, exhibiting high activity and stability, suggesting that it is a good candidate for the proton exchange membrane fuel cell cathode.     

A rapid UHPLC–MS/MS method for the quantification of ARQ531 in rat plasma: Validation and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A simple and sensitive ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric (UHPLC–MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of ARQ531, a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor in rat plasma. After protein precipitation with acetonitrile, the samples were separated on a UPLC BEH C₁₈ column with 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.4 ml/min. The mass detection was performed on a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer by multiple reaction monitoring with precursor-to-product ion transitions of m/z 479.1 > 365.1 and m/z 441.2 > 138.1 for ARQ531 and internal standard, respectively. Good linearity (correlation coefficient > 0.9988) was achieved over the concentration range of 0.5–1,000 ng/ml and the lower limit of quantitation was 0.5 ng/ml. The accuracy ranged from −13.50 to 11.35% and the precision was <8.87%. The extraction recovery was >85.56%. ARQ531 was demonstrated to be stable under the tested conditions. The validated method was further applied to a pharmacokinetic study of ARQ531 in rats after intravenous (1 mg/kg) and oral (1, 3 and 10 mg/kg) administration. The results demonstrated that ARQ531 displayed linear pharmacokinetic profiles over the oral dose range of 1–10 mg/kg and good oral bioavailability (>50%).     

Efficient and selective analytical method for the quantification of a β-adrenoceptor agonist,isoproterenol, by LC–MS/MS and its application to pharmacokinetics studies

Isoproterenol (ISO) is a synthetic catecholamine with a powerful cardiac stimulate, bronchial smooth and skeletal muscle relaxation, coronary artery and peripheral vasodilator effects. In this study, a simple, rapid, and selective liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry has been developed for the determination of ISO in rat plasma. Proteins were precipitated in plasma samples with 0.1?g?mL^?1 trichloroacetic acid and the ISO/internal standard (IS) were separated on a C₈ column. The ISO was detected by a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization source. The transitions of m/z 212.1?→?193.9 for ISO and m/z 285.2?→?193.2 for IS were conducted through multiple reaction monitoring mode. This method was linear over the range of 2–500?n?g?mL^?1. The intra- and inter-day assay precision were observed between 3 and 10%. The accuracy was within ±11%. Stability study results demonstrated that ISO was stable in the autosampler at 4°C for 24?hr, and for 8?hr at room temperature. Only one freeze–thaw cycle at ?80°C for 24?hr was found to be stable. The validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of ISO in rats following subcutaneous administration.     

Development and validation of a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantification of tamoxifen, anastrozole, and letrozole in human plasma and its application to a clinical study

There is substantial evidence that circulating estrogens promote the proliferation of breast cancer. Consequently, adjuvant hormonal treatment strategies targeting estrogen action have been established. Such hormonal therapies include selective estrogen receptor modulators, such as tamoxifen, which interfere at the estrogen receptors directly, or non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors, such as anastrozole and letrozole, which inhibit estrogen synthesis through blocking the aromatase, a key enzyme of estrogen production. Despite considerable therapeutic success, in several cases, the use of these drugs is limited by side effects that have been described to significantly impair the adherence of patients to endocrine treatment. However, objective data concerning patient adherence and its clinical relevance are limited. One promising approach to check patient-reported adherence is drug monitoring in human plasma. Therefore, a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method to determine the plasma concentrations of tamoxifen, anastrozole, and letrozole has been developed and fully validated according to guidelines for clinical and forensic toxicology. The validation criteria evaluated were selectivity, linearity, accuracy and precision, limit of quantification, recovery and matrix effects, sample stability, and carryover. The six-point calibration curves showed linearity over the range of concentrations from 25 to 500 ng/ml for tamoxifen, 5 to 200 ng/ml for anastrozole, and 10 to 300 ng/ml for letrozole. The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracies were always better than 15%. The validated procedure was successfully applied to a clinical study (Patient-Reported Outcomes in Breast Cancer Patients undergoing Endocrine Therapy, PRO-BETh). A major aim of PRO-BETh study is the comprehensive evaluation of adherence to treatment in pre- and post-menopausal women with breast cancer. Plasma samples of 310 breast cancer patients undergoing anti-estrogen therapy were analyzed. Eight samples did not contain a quantifiable amount of drug, strongly indicating non-adherence of the corresponding patients to adjuvant breast cancer treatment. Furthermore, plasma concentrations at the lower end of the observed plasma level distribution might represent a hint but not a confirmation for non-adherence in terms of non-daily and irregular intake of the prescribed drug.     

Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of sarpogrelate, a selective 5-HT(₂A) receptor antagonist, in plasma: application to a pre-clinical pharmacokinetic study

A simple LC‐MS/MS method was developed and validated for the estimation of sarpogrelate in 50 µL of rat plasma. The analyte and internal standard (IS) were extracted from rat plasma by acetonitrile precipitation and they were separated on a reversed‐phase C₈ column with gradient program. The MS acquisition was performed with multiple reaction monitoring mode using m/z 430.2 to m/z 135.0 for analyte and m/z 448.2 to m/z 285.3 for IS. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 1–1000 ng/mL with the correlation coefficient greater than 0.999. With dilution integrity up to 20‐fold, the upper limit of quantification was extendable up to 15,000 ng/mL. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of rat plasma samples after single dose oral administration of sarpogrelate at 5 mg/kg to rats for the determination of its pharmacokinetics. Following oral administration the maximum mean concentration in plasma (C_max, 11514 ng/mL) was achieved at 0.25 h (T_max) and the area under curve (AUC_0–24) was 11051 ± 3315 ng h/mL. The half‐life (t_1/2) and clearance (Cl) were 2.9 ± 1.1 h and 490 ± 171 mL/h/kg, respectively. We believe that development of a method in rodent plasma would facilitate the ease of adaptability of sarpogrelate in human plasma. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.