Layer-by-layer functionalized porous Zinc sulfide nanospheres-based solid-phase extraction combined with liquid chromatography time-of-flight/mass and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the specific enrichment and identification of alkaloids from Crinum asiaticum var. sinicum

The current widely utilized polymer or C8, C18 end-capped material-based sorbents for solid-phase extraction could not capture alkaloids well only based on “like dissolves like” principle. In this paper, a layer-by-layer functionalized porous Zinc sulfide nanospheres-based solid-phase extraction (SPE) combined with liquid chromatography time-of-flight/mass spectrometry (LC-TOF/MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed for the specific enrichment and identification of alkaloids from complex matrixes, Crinum asiaticum var. sinicum crude extracts. The functionalized porous Zinc sulfide nanospheres were prepared by the amidation reaction of poly-(acrylic acid) (PAA) homopolymer with amino groups onto the porous ZnS nanospheres. Tandem LC-TOF/MS spectrometry presented that the almost all of the twenty-three main peaks in elution fraction from the SPE could be inferred as alkaloids with ion of mass according to the nitrogen rule and hit formula with Peak View1.2@software from AB SCIEX, and seven alkaloids including two new found chemical entities were directly identified from their GC-MS spectra and retention indices. We believe that this SPE protocol can also be utilized in the future to selectively enrich alkaloids from extracts of other plant species.     

Calibration of the complex matrix effects on the sampling of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in milk samples using solid phase microextraction

Solid phase microextraction (SPME), a simple, fast and promising sampling technique, has been widely used for complex sample analysis. However, complex matrices could modify the absorption property of coatings as well as the uptake kinetics of analytes, eventually biasing the quantification results. In the current study, we demonstrated the feasibility of a developed calibration method for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in complex milk samples. Effects of the complex matrices on the SPME sampling process and the sampling conditions were investigated. Results showed that short exposure time (pre-equilibrium SPME, PE-SPME) could increase the lifetime of coatings, and the complex matrices in milk samples could significantly influence the sampling kinetics of SPME. In addition, the optimized sampling time, temperature and dilution factor for PAHs were 10 min, 85 °C and 20, respectively. The obtained LODs and LOQs of all the PAHs were 0.1–0.8 ng/mL and 1.4–4.7 ng/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the accuracy of the proposed PE-SPME method for milk sampling was validated by the recoveries of the studied compounds in two concentration levels, which ranged from 75% to 110% for all the compounds. Finally, the proposed method was applied to the screening of PAHs in milk samples.     

Synthesis of a novel electrode material containing phytic acid-polyaniline nanofibers for simultaneous determination of cadmium and lead ions

The development of nanostructured conducting polymers based materials for electrochemical applications has attracted intense attention due to their environmental stability, unique reversible redox properties, abundant electron active sites, rapid electron transfer and tunable conductivity. Here, a phytic acid doped polyaniline nanofibers based nanocomposite was synthesized using a simple and green method, the properties of the resulting nanomaterial was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). A glassy carbon electrode modified by the nanocomposite was evaluated as a new platform for the simultaneous detection of trace amounts of Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). The synergistic contribution from PANI nanofibers and phytic acid enhances the accumulation efficiency and the charge transfer rate of metal ions during the DPASV analysis. Under the optimal conditions, good linear relationships were obtained for Cd²⁺ in a range of 0.05–60 μg L⁻¹, with the detection limit (S/N = 3) of 0.02 μg L⁻¹, and for Pb²⁺ in a range of 0.1–60 μg L⁻¹, with the detection limit (S/N = 3) of 0.05 μg L⁻¹. The new electrode was successfully applied to real water samples for simultaneous detection of Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ with good recovery rates. Therefore, the new electrode material may be a capable candidate for the detection of trace levels of heavy metal ions.     

Synthesis and characterization of serial random and block-copolymers based on lactide and glycolide

The objective of this study is to investigate the properties of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) with different composition ratios and PLGA-PEG-PLGA copolymers synthesized by ring-opening polymerization method. Their compositions, crystallization properties, thermal and degradation behaviors, hydrophilicity and biocompatibility were studied. Our results demonstrate that poly(lactide-co-glycolide) with a 90% lactide and PLGA-PEG-PLGA show some crystallization properties. While as the decrease of lactide content in polymers, poly(lactide-co-glycolide) become amorphous, whereas, their hydrophilicity have been improved on the contrary. Compared to poly(lactide-co-glycolide), the PLGA-PEG-PLGA copolymer has a better hydrophilicity for the existence of polyethylene glycol block. Furthermore, both these polymers display easy controlled degradation properties and good cell compatibility.     

Generation of Oxazolidine‐2,4‐diones Bearing Sulfur‐Substituted Quaternary Carbon Atoms by Oxothiolation/Cyclization of Ynamides

A novel method for metal‐free oxothiolation of ynamides to construct oxazolidine‐2,4‐diones bearing sulfur‐substituted quaternary carbon atoms has been developed. It represents a rare C?O bond cleavage of ynamides, as well as a facile and tandem approach for the formation of C?O, C?S, and C?Cl bonds. This redox‐neutral protocol can be applied to the synthesis of multisubstituted oxazolidine‐2,4‐diones with good chemoselectivity and good yields of isolated products under mild conditions.     

Point‐to‐Plane Nonhomogeneous Electric‐Field‐Induced Simultaneous Formation of Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs) and Lipid Tubes

It is well‐known that homogeneous electric fields can be used to generate giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Herein we report an interesting phenomenon of formation of GUVs and lipid tubes simultaneously using a nonhomogeneous electric field generated by point‐to‐plane electrodes. The underlying mechanism was analyzed using finite element analysis. The two forces play main roles, that is, the pulling force (F) to drag GUVs into lipid tubes induced by fluid flow, and the critical force (Fc) to prevent GUVs from deforming into lipid tubes induced by electric fields. In the center area underneath the needle electrode, the GUVs were found because F is less than Fc in that region, whereas in the edge area the lipid tubes were obtained because F is larger than Fc. The diffusion coefficient of lipid in the tubes was found to be 4.45 μm² s^?1 using a fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) technique. The method demonstrated here is superior to conventional GUV or lipid tube fabrication methods, and has great potential in cell mimic or hollow material fabrication using GUVs and tubes as templates.     

From Binuclear Complexes to Molecular Necklaces: Incorporating Flexible Ligands into Rotaxanes

The conversion of binuclear complexes into larger molecular necklaces can be achieved through rigidifying flexible ligands by threading them through a crown ether to form either an interpenetrated [2]pseudorotaxane or a permanently interlocked [2]rotaxane. The resulting complexes and assemblies are characterized by ¹H and DOSY NMR in solution and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction in the solid‐state.     

Two new abietane diterpenoid glycosides from Clinopodium chinense

Two new abietane diterpenoid glycosides, named clinopoditerpenes B (1) and C (2), were isolated from Clinopodium chinese. The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectral analysis. Compound 1 exhibited cardioprotective effect against H₂O₂-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells.