First field application of a thermal desorption resonance-enhanced multiphoton-ionisation single particle time-of-flight mass spectrometer for the on-line detection of particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The on-line analysis of single aerosol particles with mass spectrometrical methods is an important tool for the investigation of aerosols. Often, a single laser pulse is used for one-step laser desorption/ionisation of aerosol particles. Resulting ions are detected with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. With this method, the detection of inorganic compounds is possible. The detection of more fragile organic compounds and carbon clusters can be accomplished by separating the desorption and the ionisation in two steps, e.g. by using two laser pulses. A further method is, using a heated metal surface for thermal desorption of aerosol particles. If an ultraviolet laser is used for ionisation, a selective ionisation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and alkylated PAH is possible via a resonance-enhanced multiphoton-ionisation process. Laser velocimetry allows individual laser triggering for single particles and additionally delivers information on aerodynamic particle diameters. It was shown that particles deriving from different combustion sources can be differentiated according to their PAH patterns. For example, retene, a C₄-alkylated phenanthrene derivative, is a marker for the combustion of coniferous wood. In this paper, the first field application of a thermal desorption resonance-enhanced multiphoton-ionisation single particle time-of-flight mass spectrometer during a measurement campaign in Augsburg, Germany in winter 2010 is presented. Larger PAH-containing particles (i.e. with aerodynamic diameters larger than 1 μm), which are suspected to be originated by re-suspension processes of agglomerated material, were in the focus of the investigation. Due to the low concentration of these particles, an on-line virtual impactor enrichment system was used. The detection of particle-bound PAH in ambient particles in this larger size region was possible and in addition, retene could be detected on several particles, which allows to identify wood combustion as generic source of these particles. The observed diurnal distribution of these larger particles, however, support the origin by traffic induced re-suspension of sedimented/agglomerated material.     

Phase-resolved real-time breath analysis during exercise by means of smart processing of PTR-MS data

Separation of inspiratory, mixed expired and alveolar air is indispensable for reliable analysis of VOC breath biomarkers. Time resolution of direct mass spectrometers often is not sufficient to reliably resolve the phases of a breathing cycle. To realise fast on-line breath monitoring by means of direct MS utilising low-fragmentation soft ionisation, a data processing algorithm was developed to identify inspiratory and alveolar phases from MS data without any additional equipment. To test the algorithm selected breath biomarkers (acetone, isoprene, acetaldehyde and hexanal) were determined by means of quadrupole proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) in seven healthy volunteers during exercise on a stationary bicycle. The results were compared to an off-line reference method consisting of controlled alveolar breath sampling in Tedlar® bags, preconcentration by solid-phase micro extraction (SPME), separation and identification by GC-MS. Based on the data processing method, quantitative attribution of biomarkers to inspiratory, alveolar and mixed expiratory phases was possible at any time during the experiment, even under respiratory rates up to 60/min. Alveolar concentrations of the breath markers, measured by PTR-MS ranged from 130 to 2,600 ppb (acetone), 10 to 540 ppb (isoprene), 2 to 31 ppb (acetaldehyde), whereas the concentrations of hexanal were always below the limit of detection (LOD) of 3 ppb. There was good correlation between on-line PTR-MS and SPME-GC-MS measurements during phases with stable physiological parameters but results diverged during rapid changes of heart rate and minute ventilation. This clearly demonstrates the benefits of breath-resolved MS for fast on-line monitoring of exhaled VOCs.

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Figure Experimental setup showing bicycle ergometer and analytical pathways: Right side PTR-MS: identification of respiratory phases by means of the new algorithm. Left side: confirmation of PTR-MS data for exhaled isoprene by means of GC-MS analysis

     

Flexible and hydrophobic Zn-based metal-organic framework

A zinc-based metal-organic framework Zn(2)(adb)(2)(dabco)·4.5 DMF (K) (DUT-30(Zn), DUT = Dresden University of Technology, adb = 9,10-anthracene dibenzoate, dabco =1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide) was synthesized using a solvothermal route. This MOF exhibits six crystallographic guest dependent phases. Two of them were characterized via single crystal X-ray analysis. The as-synthesized phase K crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Fmmm, with a = 9.6349(9), b = 26.235(3), and c = 28.821(4) ? and consists of two interpenetrated pillar-layer networks with pcu topology. When the substance loses 0.5 DMF molecules per formula unit, a phase transition from the kinetic phase K to a thermodynamic phase T occurs. Zn(2)(adb)(2)(dabco)·4 DMF (T) crystallizes in the tetragonal space group I4/mmm, with a = 19.5316(8) and c = 9.6779(3) ?. During the evacuation the DUT-30(Zn) undergoes again the structural transformation to A. The activated compound A shows the gate pressure effect in the low pressure region of nitrogen physisorption isotherm and has a BET surface area of 960 m(2 )g(-1) and a specific pore volume of 0.43 cm(3) g(-1). Furthermore, DUT-30(Zn) exhibits a hydrogen storage capacity of 1.12 wt % at 1 bar, a CO(2) uptake of 200 cm(3) g(-1) at -78 °C and 0.9 bar, and a n-butane uptake of 3.0 mmol·g(-1) at 20 °C. The N(2) adsorption process was monitored in situ via X-ray powder diffraction using synchrotron radiation. A low temperature induced transformation of phase A to phase V could be observed if the compound was cooled under vacuum to -196 °C. A further crystalline phase N could be identified if the framework was filled with nitrogen at -196 °C. Additionally, the treatment of activated phase A with water leads to the new phase W.     

Large-Scale Production of the Immunomodulator c-di-GMP from GMP and ATP by an Enzymatic Cascade

(3'-5')-Cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) is a bacterial second messenger with immunomodulatory activities in mice suggesting potential applications as a vaccine adjuvant and as a therapeutic agent. Clinical studies in larger animals or humans will require larger doses that are difficult and expensive to generate by currently available chemical or enzymatic synthesis and purification methods. Here we report the production of c-di-GMP at the multi-gram scale from the economical precursors guanosine monophosphate (GMP) and adenosine triphosphate by a "one-pot" three enzyme cascade consisting of GMP kinase, nucleoside diphosphate kinase, and a mutated form of diguanylate cyclase engineered to lack product inhibition. The c-di-GMP was purified to apparent homogeneity by a combination of anion exchange chromatography and solvent precipitation and was characterized by reversed phase high performance liquid chormatography and mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and further compositional analyses. The immunomodulatory activity of the c-di-GMP preparation was confirmed by its potentiating effect on the lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin 1β, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin 6 messenger RNA expression in J774A.1 mouse macrophages.     

Application of parallel computing to speed up chemometrics for GC×GC-TOFMS based metabolic fingerprinting

Parallel computing was tested regarding its ability to speed up chemometric operations for data analysis. A set of metabolic samples from a second hand smoke (SHS) experiment was analyzed with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS). Data was further preprocessed and analyzed. The preprocessing step comprises background correction, smoothing and alignment of the chromatographic signal. Data analysis was performed by applying t-test and partial least squares projection to latent structures discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The optimization of the algorithm for parallel computing led to a substantial increase in performance. Metabolic fingerprinting showed a discrimination of the samples and indicates a metabolic effect of SHS.     

Application of a ligand-based theoretical approach to derive conversion paths and ligand conformations in CYP11B2-mediated aldosterone formation

The biosynthesis of the mineralocorticoid hormone aldosterone involves a multistep hydroxylation of 11-deoxycorticosterone at the 11- and 18-positions, resulting in the formation of corticosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone, the final precursor of aldosterone. Two members of the cytochrome P450 11B family, CYP11B1 and CYP11B2, are known to catalyze these 11- and 18-hydroxylations, however, only CYP11B2 can oxidize 18-hydroxycorticosterone to aldosterone. It is unknown what sequence of hydroxylations leads to the formation of 18-hydroxycorticosterone. In this study we have investigated which of the possible conversion paths towards formation of 18-hydroxycorticosterone and aldosterone are most likely from the ligand perspective. Therefore, we combined quantum mechanical investigations on the steroid conformations of 11-deoxycorticosterone and its ensuing reaction intermediates with Fukui indices calculations to predict the reactivity of their carbon atoms for an attack by the iron-oxygen species. Both F(-) and F(0) were calculated to account for different mechanisms of substrate conversion. We show which particular initial conformations of 11-deoxycorticosterone and which conversion paths are likely to result in the successful synthesis of aldosterone, and thereby may be representative for the mechanism of aldosterone biosynthesis by CYP11B2. Moreover, we found that the most likely path for aldosterone synthesis coincides with the substrate conformation proposed in an earlier publication. To summarize, we show that on a theoretical and strictly ligand-directed basis only a limited number of reaction paths in the conversion of 11-deoxycorticosterone to aldosterone is possible. Despite its theoretical nature, this knowledge may help to understand the catalytic function of CYP11B1 and CYP11B2.     

A crossed molecular beam study on the reaction of methylidyne radicals [CH(X(2)Π)] with acetylene [C(2)H(2)(X(1)Σ(g)(+))]-competing C(3)H(2) + H and C(3)H + H(2) channels

We carried out the crossed molecular beam reaction of ground state methylidyne radicals, CH(X(2)Π), with acetylene, C(2)H(2)(X(1)Σ(g)(+)), at a nominal collision energy of 16.8 kJ mol(-1). Under single collision conditions, we identified both the atomic and molecular hydrogen loss pathways forming C(3)H(2) and C(3)H isomers, respectively. A detailed analysis of the experimental data suggested the formation of c-C(3)H(2) (31.5 ± 5.0%), HCCCH/H(2)CCC (59.5 ± 5.0%), and l-HCCC (9.0 ± 2.0%). The reaction proceeded indirectly via complex formation and involved the unimolecular decomposition of long-lived propargyl radicals to form l-HCCC plus molecular hydrogen and HCCCH/H(2)CCC plus atomic hydrogen. The formation of c-C(3)H(2) was suggested to be produced via unimolecular decomposition of the cyclopropenyl radical, which in turn could be accessed via addition of the methylidyne radical to both carbon atoms of the acetylene molecule or after an initial addition to only one acetylenic carbon atom via ring closure. This investigation brings us closer to unraveling of the reaction of important combustion radicals-methylidyne-and the connected unimolecular decomposition of chemically activated propargyl radicals. This also links to the formation of C(3)H and C(3)H(2) in combustion flames and in the interstellar medium.     

Microstructure of supercritical CO2-in-water microemulsions: a systematic contrast variation study

Microemulsions of the type H(2)O-scCO(2)-surfactant are potential candidates for novel solvent mixtures in the field of green chemistry. Furthermore, scCO(2)-microemulsions are highly interesting from a fundamental point of view since their properties such as the bending elastic constants can be strongly influenced solely by varying the pressure without changing the components. With this motivation we studied the phase behavior and the microstructure of water-rich scCO(2)-microemulsions. Such microemulsions were formulated using the technical grade non-ionic surfactants Zonyl FSO 100 and Zonyl FSN 100. At elevated pressures the temperature dependent phase behavior of these systems follows the general patterns of non-ionic microemulsions. Small angle neutron scattering experiments were conducted to determine the length scales and the topology of the microstructure of these systems. Having determined the exact scattering length densities and the composition of the respective sub-phases by a systematic contrast variation we could show that these systems consist of CO(2)-swollen microemulsion droplets that are dispersed in a continuous aqueous-phase. The scattering data were analyzed using a newly derived form factor for polydisperse, spherical core/shell particles with diffuse interfaces. The underlying analytical density profiles could be confirmed applying the model-free Generalized Indirect Fourier Transformation (GIFT) to the scattering data. Following the general patterns of non-ionic microemulsions the radius of the microemulsion droplets is found to increase almost linearly upon the addition of CO(2).