Trace determination of peptides in water samples using packed capillary liquid chromatography with UV and MS detection and characterization of peptide oxidation products by MS

A capillary liquid chromatographic column switching method has been developed for fast and sensitive determination of peptides in water samples. Sample volumes of 1 mL were loaded onto a (320 m I.D. ×30 mm) 10 m Kromasil C₁₈ pre-column, providing on-line analyte enrichment, prior to back-flushed elution onto a (320 m I.D. ×150 mm) 3.5 m Kromasil C₁₈ analytical column. Loading flow rates of 250 L/min and a mobile phase composition of acetonitrile/water/trifluoroacetic acid (22/77.9/0.1, v/v) provided a total analysis time of less than 25 minutes for the test peptides angiotensin II, bombesin, bradykinin, corazonin, neurotensin and substance P, using temperature programmed elution. In addition, solvent gradient elution and combined solvent gradient elution and temperature programming were explored. Using on-capillary UV detection at 210 nm resulted in a concentration limit of detection (cLOD) of about 1 ng/mL. The method was validated over the concentration range 1–100 ng/mL, yielding a coefficient of correlation of 0.997 or better. The within-assay (n=6) and between-assay (n=6) precisions of peak areas were on average 6% RSD and 5% RSD, respectively.When the method was applied to spiked chlorinated tap water samples, it was found that peptides containing methionine, tryptophan and cystine were oxidized. Identification of the oxidation products of the peptides in hypochlorite-treated water was done with positive electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection.     

The effects of 1-hydroxyethane-(1,1-diphosphonic acid) on the adsorptive partitioning of metal ions onto gamma-AlOOH

1-Hydroxyethane-(1,1-diphosphonic acid) (HEDP) is extensively used in many technical applications. This work, as a first stage, examines the adsorption of aqueous HEDP, Cu(II), and Zn(II) onto boehmite (gamma-AlOOH) as single solutes. These processes can be described by the formation of inner-sphere complexes by the surface complexation model with constant capacitance. Uncomplexed HEDP is adsorbed as a mononuclear complex over the entre pH range. Four mononuclear surface complexes with different protonation levels are required to obtain a good fit of the experimental data for the pH range studied. Cu(II)- and Zn(II)-HEDP complexes at equimolar concentrations are studied at high and low surface density. The results indicate that the presence of HEDP significantly promotes metal adsorption at low pH in defects of surface sites. However, metal adsorption exhibits the same trend in the absence and presence of HEDP when the surface sites are in excess. The constant capacitance model successfully describes the experimental data through a ligand-like adsorption complex at low pH. At high pH, the model predicts separate adsorption of divalent metal and HEDP onto different surface sites as the preferred adsorption form.     

Temperature-promoted large-volume solute enrichment in column-switching miniaturized liquid chromatography: determination of an antioxidant

A two-valve sub-ambient temperature-promoted reversed-phase packed-capillary liquid-chromatography column-switching system has been tailored for sensitive determination of hydrophobic compounds. Such compounds are not easily dissolved in solvent mixtures of non-eluting properties that traditionally are used for solute enrichment in reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Enrichment-column solute focusing of large sample volumes was promoted by use of sub-ambient temperatures only, allowing the use of sample solvents that were stronger or equal to the mobile phase solvent strength. Subsequent column switching and enrichment-column temperature increment provided efficient low-dispersion back-flushed enrichment-column solute desorption onto the analytical column, where the solute was subjected to temperature-programmed gradient action. The antioxidant, Irganox 1076 (octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate) extracted from low density polyethylene with 100% acetonitrile served as a hydrophobic model compound. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile containing 10 mM triethylamine and formic acid, and the 0.25 mm id enrichment-column and analytical column in lengths of 27 and 250 mm, respectively, were packed with 3.5 microm Kromasil C18 particles. Sample volumes of up to 500 microL were successfully focused on the enrichment column at 5 degrees C using loading flow rates of up to 40 microL min(-1) prior to temperature programming to 90 degrees C. The concentration limit of detection of Irganox 1076 was 6 ng mL(-1) when using an injection volume of 500 microL. The within-assay precision was in the range 3.5-6.8% (n = 6) while the between-day precision was 7.5% (n = 3) relative standard deviation. The method was linear within the investigated mass range 3-100 ng (R2 = 0.9993).     

In vitro PHOTOSENSITIZING PROPERTIES OF RHODAMINE 123 ON DIFFERENT HUMAN TUMOR CELL LINES

Abstract— In this study, human tumor cell lines of different origin (colon carcinoma HT29, breast carcinoma MCF7 and malignant melanoma M14) were incubated for 24 h at 37*deg;C with Rhodamine 123 (Rh123) at concentrations ranging up to 4 μg/ml;. Immediately after drug removal, light irradiation was delivered at 500 W/m² for 5 min using an argon laser. After irradiation, viable cells were counted and assayed for colony formation. When only Rh123 was administered, a 50% survival was obtained at about 2.77 μg/ml and 1.48 μg/ml; for HT29 and MCF7, respectively. After light irradiation, 50% survival doses decreased to 0.47 μg/ml and 0.18 μg/ml for the two carcinoma cell lines, respectively. In the case of malignant melanoma, the decrease in survival was relatively lower than those obtained with carcinoma cells: 50% survival dose was 3.54 μg/ml with Rh123 alone and 1.32 μ/ml after irradiation. The lower sensitivity of M14 melanoma cells seems to be related to different uptake and release of drug by these cells with respect to carcinoma lines.     

Laser flash photolysis kinetic studies of enol ether radical cations. Rate constants for heterolysis of alpha-methoxy-beta-phosphatoxyalkyl radicals and for cyclizations of enol ether radical cations

Two series of enol ether radical cations were studied by laser flash photolysis methods. The radical cations were produced by heterolyses of the phosphate groups from the corresponding alpha-methoxy-beta-diethylphosphatoxy or beta-diphenylphosphatoxy radicals that were produced by 355 nm photolysis of N-hydroxypryidine-2-thione (PTOC) ester radical precursors. Syntheses of the radical precursors are described. Cyclizations of enol ether radical cations 1 gave distonic radical cations containing the diphenylalkyl radical, whereas cyclizations of enol ether radical cations 2 gave distonic radical cation products containing a diphenylcyclopropylcarbinyl radical moiety that rapidly ring-opened to a diphenylalkyl radical product. For 5-exo cyclizations, the heterolysis reactions were rate limiting, whereas for 6-exo and 7-exo cyclizations, the heterolyses were fast and the cyclizations were rate limiting. Rate constants were measured in acetonitrile and in acetonitrile solutions containing 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, and several Arrhenius functions were determined. The heterolysis reactions showed a strong solvent polarity effect, whereas the cyclization reactions that gave distonic radical cation products did not. Recombination reactions or deprotonations of the radical cation within the first-formed ion pair compete with diffusive escape of the ions, and the yields of distonic radical cation products were a function of solvent polarity and increased in more polar solvent mixtures. The 5-exo cyclizations were fast enough to compete efficiently with other reactions within the ion pair (k approximately 2 x 10(9) s(-1) at 20 degrees C). The 6-exo cyclization reactions of the enol ether radical cations are 100 times faster (radical cations 1) and 10 000 times faster (radical cations 2) than cyclizations of the corresponding radicals (k approximately 4 x 10(7) s(-1) at 20 degrees C). Second-order rate constants were determined for reactions of one enol ether radical cation with water and with methanol; the rate constants at ambient temperature are 1.1 x 10(6) and 1.4 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1), respectively.     

The impact of column inner diameter on chromatographic performance in temperature gradient liquid chromatography

The impact of column inner diameter on chromatographic performance in temperature gradient liquid chromatography has been investigated in the present study. Columns with inner diameters of 0.32, 0.53, 3.2 and 4.6 mm were compared with respect to retention and efficiency characteristics using temperature gradients from 30 to 90 degrees C with temperature ramps of 1, 5, 10 and 20 degrees C min(-1). The columns were all of 15 cm length and were packed with 3 microm Hypersil ODS particles. Alkylbenzenes served as model compounds, and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-water (50:50, v/v). The study revealed that the column ID is not a critical limiting factor when performing temperature programming in LC, at least for columns narrower than 4.6 mm inner diameter in the temperature interval 30-90 degrees C. The retention times for all components on all columns were highly comparable, with similar peak profiles without any signs of peak splitting. The use of mobile phase pre-heating when using the larger bore columns was avoided by starting the temperature gradients close to ambient. However, the relative apparent efficiency was inversely proportional to column inner diameter, making the capillary columns generally more functional towards temperature gradients than the larger bore columns with respect to chromatographic efficiency. In addition, the capillary columns possessed higher robustness towards temperature programming than the conventional columns.     

Remarkably favorable hydration of carbonyl substituents in dicationic bis(arene) ruthenium complexes

The addition of water and methanol to the carbonyl substituents in the dicationic bis(arene)ruthenium complexes [(p-cymene)Ru(C6H5CHO)][OTf]2 (1) and [(p-cymene)Ru(C6H5C(O)CH3)][OTf]2 (2) is remarkably favorable-the equilibrium constants for these reactions are 1 million times greater than those for uncomplexed benzaldehyde and acetophenone. The addition of methanol to the carbonyl group in the o-anisaldehyde complex, [(p-cymene)Ru(C6H4{OCH3}CHO)][OTf]2 (6), occurs with a high degree of kinetic selectivity (94% de).     

NHC Polymeric Particles Obtained by Self-Assembly and Click Approach of Calix[4]Arene Amphiphiles as Support for Catalytically Active Pd Nanoclusters

A new polymeric NHC carrier was synthesized by sequential supramolecular self-assembly and copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) of amphiphilic imidazolium calix[4]arenes with octyl lipophilic fragments. Obtained polytriazole-imidazolium particles were found as monodisperse submicron particles, with the average diameter of 236 ± 34 nm and average molecular weight of 1380 ± 96 kDa. Successful CuAAC polymerization has been proved using IR spectroscopy and high-resolution ESI mass spectrometry. Polymeric particles, as well as aggregates made from precursor macrocycles, were decorated by Pd clusters (2 nm) for further catalytic investigations. Pd nanoclusters, supported on the polymeric surface, were found highly catalytically active in the model reduction of p-nitrophenol, giving reaction rates an order of magnitude higher compared to literature examples. The reaction was recycled using the same catalyst five times without any loss of activity.     

Temperature‐Programmed Packed Capillary Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Fourier‐Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Temperature‐programmed packed capillary liquid chromatography has been coupled off‐line to Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, utilizing a commercially available interface with a pneumatic nebulizer rebuilt to handle low flow rates at elevated temperatures. The modified interface showed excellent performance with regard to non‐aqueous reversed phase separations of polymer additives, resulting in constructed Gram‐Schmidt chromatograms comparable to chromatograms obtained using UV detection. The spray of the in‐house constructed nebulizer was not influenced by temperature changes of the column effluent, and hence temperature‐programmed gradient separations could be used successfully. The relative standard deviation of peak height was 4.4% (n = 5) and the mass limit of detection was determined to be about 40 ng, using a polymer antioxidant as model compound. The present instrumental coupling has been used for characterization of the antioxidant Irgafos P‐EPQ.     

Capillary Gas Chromatography Coupled with Microplasma Mass Spectrometry – Improved Ion Source Design Compatible with Bench-Top Mass Spectrometric Instrumentation

Capillary gas chromatography was performed with mass spectrometric detection using a novel microplasma ion source for operation in an element-selective mode. The ion source was a 350 kHz radio frequency helium plasma, which was sustained inside the 4 cm end of a 0.32 mm i.d. fused silica capillary column, and located inside the high vacuum chamber of the quadrupole mass spectrometer. Due to the low volume of the ion source, a stable low pressure discharge was produced utilizing only the 2.25 mL min⁻¹ of GC carrier gas (helium) for plasma support. Small amounts of oxygen (0.1–0.2% v/v) were added to the plasma gas in order to prevent carbon deposits and to enhance signal-to-noise ratios. Chlorine and bromine were selectively detected at the 5–20 pg s⁻¹ level (S/N = 2), and both produced a response that was linear within 3 orders of magnitude.