Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopic method for the determination of zerumbone in human plasma and its application to pharmacokinetics

A rapid, sensitive, specific and selective LC-MS/MS method for the determination of zerumbone (ZER) in human plasma using 2,4-diamino-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine (DMTZ) as an internal standard (IS) has been developed and validated. ZER was chromatographed on C8 column using a mobile phase of acetonitrile/water (80:20, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.25 ml min(-1) . Quantitation was achieved using ESI+ interface, employing multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode at m/z 219 > 81 and 218 > 134 for ZER and IS, respectively. The calibration standards were linear over a range of 5-3000 ng ml(-1) (r(2)=0.9994) with an LLOQ of 5 ng ml(-1) (RSD %; 11.4% and bias%; 9.5%). Intra- and inter-day precision of ZER assay ranged from 0.18 to 3.56% with accuracy (bias) that varied between -5.09 and 4.3%, demonstrating good precision and accuracy. Recoveries of ZER and the IS from human plasma were above 85%. The developed method was validated for the determination of ZER in rat plasma. Linearity, stability of ZER and the ME on rat plasma were discussed. The applicability of the developed method was demonstrated by measuring ZER in rat plasma samples following intravenous and intraperitoneal administration of ZER prepared in hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), respectively, in 20 mg kg(-1) and this study indicated a clear significant difference (p<0.05) in pharmacokinetic parameters of ZER in ZER/HPβCD complex compared with ZER in CMC preparation.     

Sol–gel synthesis and characterization of unexpected rod-like crystal fibers based on SiO2–(1-x)CaO–xSrO–P2O5 dried-gel

Sol–gel technique has several benefits for the preparation of glass, and morphology can be better controlled compared to conventional methods. In this research, new sol–gel derived bioactive glasses based on SiO₂–CaO–SrO–P₂O₅ dried-gel were synthesized and characterized. Herein, a series of 58S bioactive glasses with the composition of 60%SiO₂–36%(CaO/SrO)–4%P₂O₅ (mol%) were synthesized, and the effect of adding strontium (Sr) to the glass structure SiO₂–(1-x)CaO–xSrO–P₂O₅ (where x = 0, 0.5, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1) was investigated by gradually substitution of Sr with calcium (Ca). The obtained results indicated that the Sr free sample totally takes amorphous state indicative of the internal disorder, glassy nature and non-crystalline states of this material. Surprisingly, after further addition of Sr to the glass structure, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs showed unexpected significant rod-like crystal fibers, and the major diffraction peaks of Sr(NO₃)₂, SrCO₃ and Sr₂Si₂O₄ became sharper and more apparent up to the final addition of Sr. The complicated and contradictory results underscore the need for better knowledge of how impurities act upon by growing rod-like crystals. In addition, totally understanding the effect of Sr on the morphology of samples from the bottom up is a daunting challenge.     

Facile route to synthesis of functionalised poly(methylalkoxy)siloxane under mild and aerobic conditions in the presence of platinum catalysts

A facile and high yield method of synthesis of novel and functional poly(methylalkoxy) siloxanes is reported. The Si–H groups of poly(methylhydrogen) siloxanes (PMHS) were treated with various simple (primary, secondary, tertiary) alcohols (1a–10a) in the presence of platinum based catalysts (Speier’s and Karstedt’s catalysts). Also oxyethylene, aldehyde, epoxide, halogen and allyl grafted polysiloxane were smoothly and quantitatively prepared by the alcoholysis between linear siloxanes polymer and functional alcohols (11a–20a) with use of Karstedt’s catalysts. It is found that alcoholysis reaction in the presence of the Karstedt’s catalyst proceed faster than Speier’s catalyst .In addition, the rate of alcoholysis reaction is dependent on amount of the catalyst and reaction temperature. The polymers prepared were characterized by IR, NMR spectroscopy and GPC analysis.     

One-pot, novel chemical modification of glycidyl methacrylate copolymers with very bulky organosilicon side chain substituents

Glycidyl methacrylate (GM) random copolymers with styrene and methylstyrene (in a 1:1 and 1:3 mole ratio) were synthesized by solution free radical polymerizations at 70 ± 1 °C using α,α′-azoisobutyronitrile as an initiator. The copolymer compositions were obtained using related ¹H NMR spectra and the polydispersity indices of the copolymers determined using gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Both types of polymer could be modified by incorporation of the highly sterically demanding tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl substituent (Me₃Si)₃C-(Tsi = trisyl) through the ring opening reaction of the epoxy groups in copolymers. Chemical modification was determined by ¹H NMR and infrared spectroscopies. The glass transition temperature T_g of all copolymers was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The T_g value of the copolymers containing bulky trisyl groups was found to increase with incorporation of trisyl groups in polymer structures. The presence of trisyl groups in the polymer side chain created new macromolecules with novel modified properties and potential use as membranes for fluid separation.     

Comparison of supercritical fluid and Soxhlet extractions for the quantification of hydrocarbons from Euphorbia macroclada

This study compares conventional Soxhlet extraction and analytical scale supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) for their yields in extracting of hydrocarbons from arid-land plant Euphorbia macroclada. The plant material was firstly sequentially extracted with supercritical carbon dioxide, modified with 10% methanol (v/v) in the optimum conditions that is a pressure of 400 atm and a temperature of 50 °C and then it was sonicated in methylene chloride for an additional 4 h. E. macroclada was secondly extracted by using a Soxhlet apparatus at 30 °C for 8 h in methylene chloride. The validated SFE was then compared to the extraction yield of E. macroclada with a Soxhlet extraction by using the Student’s t-test at the 95% confidence level. All of extracts were fractionated with silica-gel in a glass column to get better hydrocarbon yields. Thus, the highest hydrocarbons yield from E. macroclada was achieved with SFE (5.8%) when it compared with Soxhlet extractions (1.1%). Gas chromatography (GC) analysis was performed to determine the quantitative hydrocarbons from plant material. The greatest quantitative hydrocarbon recovery from GC was obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide extract (0.6 mg g⁻¹).     

Multi-criteria decision making in micellar liquid chromatographic separation of chlorophenols

Simultaneous optimization of separation quality and analysis time of the micellar liquid chromatography of nine chlorophenol isomers was investigated. The effect on retention of three experimental parameters was studied using multivariate analysis. The factors studied were the concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate, propanol content, and pH of the mobile phase. The experiments were performed according to the face-centered cube central composite design and the inverse form of the experimental retention times of analytes was fitted to polynomial models. The results of the analysis of variance showed that the models obtained explain over 99% of the variance observed in the chromatograms. The good predictive ability of the models was verified by high correlation coefficient (R2 > 0.99) and F ratio values for the plots of predicted cross-validated versus experimental retention times. The study showed that the use of the Pareto-Optimality method, an approach from multi-criteria decision making, allows selection of the best possible combinations of separation quality and analysis time in micellar liquid chromatography of chlorophenols.     

Glass transition temperature modification of acrylic and dienic type copolymers of 4-chloromethyl styrene with incorporation of (Me3Si)3C- groups

The new functional styrenic monomer, 4-trisylmethyl styrene (TsiMS) [Tsi=trisyl=tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl], was synthesized by reacting 4-chloromethyl styrene (CMS) with trisyllithium (TsiLi) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvent in the presence of copper chloride (CuCl). Attempt for the free radical polymerization of TsiMS by α,α^′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) as an initiator at 70 ± 1 °C failed for several periods of times. This result showed that the trisyl group is a highly sterically hindered substituent and, subsequently, TsiMS becomes resistant for polymerization. Therefore, for preparation of new methacrylic, acrylic and dienic copolymers of TsiMS, we firstly synthesized the copolymers of CMS with different monomers such as methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethyl methacrylate (EMA), methyl acrylate (MA), ethyl acrylate (EA), n-butyl acrylate (BA) and isoprene (IP) by free radical polymerization method in toluene solution at 70 ± 1 °C using AIBN initiator to give the copolymers I-VI in good yields. The copolymer compositions were obtained using related ¹H NMR spectra and the polydispersity indices of the copolymers determined using gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The trisyl groups were then covalently attached to the obtained copolymers as side chains by reaction between excess of TsiLi and benzyl chloride bonds of CMS units, to give the copolymers - in 80-92% yields. All the resulted polymers were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic techniques. The solubility of all the copolymers was examined in various polar and non-polar solvents. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of all copolymers was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) apparatus. The T_g value of copolymers containing bulky trisyl groups was found to increase with incorporation of trisyl groups in polymer structures. The presence of trisyl groups in polymer side chains, create new macromolecules with novel modified properties.     

Preparation of tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl (“trisyl”) derivatives of silicon

Treatment of (Me₃Si)₃CLi (“trisyl”lithium, TsiLi) with appropriate silicon halides has given a range of compounds of the type (Me₃Si)₃CSiRR′X; e.g., TsiSiCl₃, TsiSiMeCl₂, TsiSiMe₂X (X = Cl, OMe), TsiSiPh₂X (X = F, Cl, OMe), and TsiSiPhMeH. The trisyl group causes very large steric hindrance to nucleophilic displacements at the silicon to which it is attached, so that (unless one or more hydride ligands are present) most of the common displacements at silicon do not occur. However, halides can be reduced to hydrides by LiAlH₄, and the hydrides can be converted into halides in electrophilic displacements by hallogens. The presence of even one hydride ligand markedly reduces the hindrance, so that, for example, TsiSiPhHI reacts with refluxing methanol to give TsiSiPhH(OMe).