Novel application of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for the characterization of drying oils in art: Elucidation on the composition of original paint materials used by Edvard Munch (1863–1944)

Modern oil paints, introduced at the beginning of the 20th century, differ from those classically used in antiquity in their chemical and compositional features. The main ingredients were still traditional drying oils, often used in mixtures with less expensive oils and added with several classes of additives. Consequently, detailed lipid profiling, together with the study of lipid degradation processes, is essential for the knowledge and the conservation of paint materials used in modern and contemporary art.     

Desirability-based optimization and its sensitivity analysis for the perindopril and its impurities analysis in a microemulsion LC system

In the current paper the application of multiobjective optimization (MOOP) technique, via Derringer's desirability function, to a microemulsion liquid chromatographic (MELC) method is described. Chromatographic separation of perindopril tert-butylamine and its four impurities was selected as the case study. Central composite design (CCD) with fractional factorial design, ± 0.5 α star design and four replications in central point was applied for a response surface study, in order to examine in depth the effects of the most important factors. As factors that influence the system mostly (i) content of ethyl acetate and (ii) butyl acetate in composite internal phase, (iii) content of sodium dodecyl sulfate (surfactant) and (iv) n-butanol (co-surfactant), as well as (v) pH of the mobile phase were selected. Retention factor of (a) perindoprilat and (b) impurity Y 31 and (c) resolution factor for impurities Y 32 and 33 were chosen for simultaneous optimization. By adjustment of the importance coefficients and weights, according to defined objectives, the optimal mobile phase composition was predicted to be: 0.24% w/v butyl acetate, 0.3% w/v ethyl acetate, 2% w/v SDS, 7.75% w/v n-butanol and pH of the mobile phase 3.7. The sensitivity analysis of desirability function for these optimal conditions was conducted for the first time in LC separations, by applying a sensitivity procedure. The performed sensitivity analysis confirmed that the higher overall desirability does not necessarily mean a better solution. The accuracy of prediction might be affected if the optimal levels of input variables, achieved from several design points, end up with equal settings and different corresponding overall desirability. In our study this was not the issue, which confirmed the adequacy of predicted optimum.     

Simultaneous Determination of Pb and Cd Traces in Water Samples by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry Using a Modified GC Electrode

The determination of Pb and Cd with a Nafion‐modified glassy carbon electrode and Cu‐DPABA complex (Cu‐DPABA–NA/GCE; DPABA is methyl 3,5‐bis{bis‐[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]amino}methyl‐benzoate) as an alternative electrode for anodic stripping voltammetry was described. Pb and Cd were accumulated in acetate buffer pH 4 at a potential of ?1.4 V (vs. Ag/AgCl electrode) for 120 s followed by a DPASV scan from ?1.2 to ?0.2 V. Under optimum conditions the calibration curves were linear in the range of 4.8×10^?9–5.0×10^?5 and 5.0×10^?9–5×10^?5 mol L^?1 for Pb and Cd, respectively. Detection limits were 1.8×10^?9 and 1.2×10^?9 mol L^?1 for Pb and Cd, respectively. Different parameters and conditions, such as membrane ingredients, accumulation time, potential and pH value were optimized. A study of interfering substances was also performed. A significant increase in current was achieved at the modified electrode in comparison with the bare glassy carbon electrode. The validation of the proposed method was made by Pb and Cd determination in the certified reference material Groundwater CRM 610 (BCR, Community Bureau of Reference, Brussels, Belgium). The electrode was successfully applied for determination of Pb and Cd in river water with a high content of organic contaminants without any pretreatment.     

Validation of an oil-in-water microemulsion liquid chromatography method for analysis of perindopril tert-butylamine and its impurities

This paper describes the development and validation of a microemulsion liquid chromatography (MELC) method for simultaneous determination of perindopril tert-butylamine and its impurities in bulk active substances and the pharmaceutical dosage form of tablets. An appropriate resolution with reasonable retention times was obtained for a microemulsion containing 0.24% (w/v) butyl acetate, 0.30% (w/v) ethyl acetate, 2% (w/v) sodium dodecyl sulfate, 7.75% (w/v) n-butanol, and 20.0 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate, the pH of which was adjusted to 3.70 with 85% orthophosphoric acid. Separations were performed on a Nucleosil 120-5 butyl modified (C4), 250 x 4 mm, 5 microm particle size silica column at 40 degrees C, with a mobile phase flow rate of 1.25 mL/min. UV detection was performed at 254 nm. The established method was subjected to method validation, and required validation parameters were defined. Robustness testing, an important part of method validation, was performed as well. Since robustness validation can be conducted using different experimental designs, the Plackett-Burman design was applied due to its possibility of testing many factors at the same time. The validated MELC method was found to be suitable for the simultaneous determination of perindopril tert-butylamine and its impurities in pharmaceuticals.     

The comparison of sample extraction procedures for the determination of cations in soil by IC and ICP-AES

This paper presents the extraction of cations from a soil sample, type ranker on serpentinite, in deionized water, by use of three different extraction techniques. The first extraction technique included the use of a rotary mixer, the second technique involved the use of a microwave digestion system with different extraction temperatures, and the third technique employed an ultrasonic bath with different extraction times. Ion chromatography was used for determining the concentration of Li, Na, K, Ca, Mg and ammonium ions in soil extracts with subsequent determination of concentrations for all cations, except for ammonium ion extraction, conducted by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry. The results of cation extractions showed that microwave assisted extraction was most efficient for the Li, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Co, Mn, Ni, Pb and ammonium ions. Use of a rotary mixer for extraction was most efficient for Cd and Zn ions, while use of ultrasound bath was most efficient for Cr, Cu, Fe and Al ions. Several times higher amount of cations extracted by the most efficient, compared to the second best technique, under optimal conditions, were noticed in the case of: Ca, Mg, Co, Mn, Fe, Al, and Zn ions.     

Tetrastrontium-digalliumoxide (Sr4Ga2O7)—synthesis and crystal structure of a mixed anion strontium gallate related to perovskite

Crystal growth experiments yielded single crystals of Sr₄Ga₂O₇. The title compound is monoclinic, space group P1c1, , , , β=90.643(6)°, , Z=16 (R1=0.041 for 7155 observed reflections and 660 parameters). The crystals showed twinning by pseudo-merohedry. Furthermore, the diffraction data exhibited the typical features of a superstructure. Sr₄Ga₂O₇ can be classified as a mixed anion gallate comprising insular [GaO₄]-groups and [Ga₃O₁₀]-trimers. Both anion groups are located in layers perpendicular to [100]. 32 symmetrically independent Sr-cations crosslink between the tetrahedral anion groups. Alternatively, the compound can be described as a 3×4×4 superstructure of ABO₃ perovskite, with 22.2% vacancies in the oxygen sublattice. The relationship with perovskite can be expressed in the following crystal chemical formula: Sr(Ga_2/3Sr_1/3)(O_7/9□_2/9)₃. A discussion of the structure in the context with other similar defect perovskites in presented.     

Kinetic and mechanistic study on the reactions of [Pt(bpma)(H2O)]2+ and [Pd(bpma)(H2O)]2+ with some nucleophiles. Crystal structure of [Pd(bpma)(py)](ClO4)2

Substitution reactions of the complexes [Pd(bpma)(H2O)]2+ and [Pt(bpma)(H2O)]2+, where bpma = bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, with TU, DMTU and TMTU for both complexes and Cl-, Br-, I- and SCN- for the platinum complex, were studied in aqueous 0.10 M NaClO4 at pH 2.5 using a variable-temperature stopped-flow spectrophotometer. The pKa value for the coordinated water molecule in [Pd(bpma)(H2O)]2+ (6.67) is a unit higher than that of [Pt(bpma)(H2O)]2+. The observed pseudo-first-order rate constants k(obs) (s(-1)) obeyed the equation k(obs) = k2[Nu] (Nu = nucleophile). The second-order rate constants indicate that the Pd(II) complex is a factor of 10(3) more reactive than Pt(II) complex. The nucleophile reactivity attributed to the steric hindrance in case of TMTU and the inductive effect for DMTU was found to be DMTU > TU > TMTU for [Pt(bpma)(H2O)]2+ and DMTU approximately TU > TMTU for [Pd(bpma)(H2O)]2+. The trend for ionic nucleophile was I- > SCN- > Br- > Cl-, an order linked to their polarizability and the softness or hardness of the metal. Activation parameters were determined for all reactions and the negative entropies of activation (Delta S++) support an associative ligand substitution mechanism. The X-ray crystal structure of [Pd(bpma)(py)](ClO4)2 was determined; it belongs to the triclinic space group P1 and has one formula unit in the unit cell. The unit cell dimensions are a = 8.522(2), b = 8.627(2), c = 16.730(4) A; alpha = 89.20(2), beta = 81.03(2), gamma = 60.61(2) degrees ; V = 1055.7(5) A3. The structure was solved using direct methods in WinGX's implementation of SHELXS-97 and refined to R = 0.054. The coordination geometry of [Pd(bpma)(py)]2+ is distorted square-planar. The Pd-N(central) bond distance, 1.996(3) A, is shorter than the other two Pd-N distances, 2.017(3) and 2.019(3) A. The Pd-N(pyridine) distance is 2.037(3) A.     

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The novel heteronuclear complexes [{cis-PtCl (NH₃)(μ-pyrazine)ZnCl (terpy)}](ClO₄)₂ (Pt-L1-Zn) and [{cis-PtCl (NH₃)(μ-4,4′-bipyridyl)ZnCl (terpy)}](ClO₄)₂ (Pt-L2-Zn) (where terpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine, L1 = pyrazine, L2 = 4,4′-bipyridyl) were synthesized and characterized. The pK_a values were determined, and based on them it was established that the π-acceptor ability of the pyrazine bridging ligand is more affective on lower pK_a values. The kinetic measurements of the substitution reactions with biologically relevant ligands, such as guanosine-5′-monophosphate (5′-GMP), inosine-5′-monophosphate (5′-IMP) and glutathione (GSH), were studied at pH 7.4. The reactions were followed under pseudo-first-order conditions by UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The order of reactivity of the investigated biomolecules for the first reaction is 5′-GMP > 5′-IMP > GSH, while for the second is 5′-IMP > GSH. Pt-L1-Zn complex is more reactive than Pt-L2-Zn. The cytotoxic activity of heteronuclear Pt-L1-Zn and Pt-L2-Zn complexes was determined on human colorectal cancer cell line (HCT-116) and human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231). Both complexes significantly reduced cell viability on tested cell lines and exerted significant cytotoxic effects, with better effect on HCT-116 cells than cisplatin, especially after 72 hr (IC₅₀ < 0.52 μM). The Pt-L2-Zn complex showed higher activity against human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) than cisplatin after 72 hr. The higher reactivity toward DNA constituent and significant cytotoxic activity may be attributed to the different geometry, Lewis acidity of different metal centers, as well as, to choice of bridging ligands.     

Lipophilicity and bio‐mimetic properties determination of phytoestrogens using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography

This paper presents lipophilicity and bio‐mimetic property determination of 15 phytoestrogens, namely biochanin A, daidzein, formononetin, genistein, genistein‐4,7‐dimethylether, prunetin, 3,4,7‐trihydroxyisoflavon, 4,6,7‐trihydroxyisoflavon, 4,6,7‐trimethoxyisoflavon, daidzin, genistin, ononin, sissotrin, coumestrol and coumestrol dimethylether. High‐performance liquid chromatography with fast gradient elution and Caco‐2 cell line were used to determine the physicochemical properties of selected phytoestrogens. Lipophilicity was determined on octadecyl‐sylane stationary phase using pH 2.0 and pH 7.4 buffers. Immobilized artificial membrane chromatography was used for prediction of interaction with biological membranes. Protein binding was measured on human serum albumin and α‐1‐acid‐glycoprotein (AGP) stationary phases. Caco‐2 assay was used as a gold standard for assessing in vitro permeability. The obtained results differentiate phytoestrogens according to their structure where aglycones show significantly higher lipophilicity, immobilized artificial membrane partitioning, AGP binding and Caco‐2 permeability compared with glucosides. However, human serum albumin binding was very high for all investigated compounds. Furthermore, a good correlation between experimentally obtained chromatographic parameters and in silico prediction was obtained for lipophilicity and human serum albumin binding, while the somewhat greater difference was obtained for AGP binding and Caco‐2 permeability.     

Effects of various drugs on alcohol-induced oxidative stress in the liver

The major aim of this work was to investigate how alcohol-induced oxidative stress in combined chemotherapy changes the metabolic function of the liver in experimental animals. This research was conducted to establish how bromocriptine, haloperidol and azithromycin, applied to the experimental model, affected the antioxidative status of the liver. The following parameters were determined: reduced glutathione, activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, peroxidase, catalase, xanthine oxidase and lipid peroxidation intensity. Alanine transaminase was measured in serum. Alcohol stress (AO group) reduced glutathione and the activity of xanthine oxidase and glutathione peroxidase, but increased catalase and alanine transaminase activity. The best protective effect was achieved with the bromocriptine (AB1 group), while other groups had similar effects on the studied parameters.