Quantitative analysis of 23-hydroxybetulinic acid in mouse plasma using electrospray liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

23-Hydroxybetulinic acid is a newly isolated derivative of betulinic acid. The agent exhibits potential anti-tumor activity and functions in this regard via apoptosis. In support of pharmacokinetic and toxicological evaluations, a new assay based on liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was developed for the quantitative analysis of 23-hydroxybetulinic acid. Sample preparation consisted of extraction of the plasma by the addition of methylene chloride followed by centrifugation. Aliquots of the supernatant were analyzed using an isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system coupled to a negative ion electrospray mass spectrometer. Molecules of 23-hydroxybetulinic acid and the internal standard limonin were detected using selected ion monitoring at m/z 471 and 469, respectively. The limit of detection of 23-hydroxybetulinic acid was 0.05 pg (0.11 fmol) injected on-column (10 pg/mL, 5 microL injection volume), and the limit of quantitation was 10 pg (21.19 fmol, 2 ng/mL, 5 muL injection volume). 23-Hydroxybetulinic acid was stable in plasma samples at -20 degrees C for at least 3 weeks. The intra-day and inter-day coefficients of variation of the assay were 3.0 and 4.8%, respectively. The utility of the assay was demonstrated by measuring 23-hydroxybetulinicacid in mouse plasma following intragastric administration (IG) in vivo. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using the 3P97 pharmacokinetic software package. A two-compartment, first-order model was selected for pharmacokinetic modeling. The result showed that after IG of 200 mg/kg 23-hydroxybetulinic acid, the plasma concentrations reached peaks at 2 h with C(max) of 3.1 microg/mL. The 200 mg/kg 23-hydroxybetulinic acid suspension IG doses were found to have long elimination half-lives of 25.6 h and low bioavailability of 2.3%. No interference was noted due to endogenous substances. These analytical methods should be of value in future studies related to the development and characterization of 23-hydroxybetulinic acid.     

Rapid determination of volatile constituents of Michelia alba flowers by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with solid-phase microextraction

The volatile constituents of Michelia alba flowers, including fresh flowers, frozen flowers and withered flowers, were investigated by GC-MS. The volatiles in a simulated natural environment were sampled by solid-phase microextraction (SPME), with a 100 microm polydimethylsiloxane fiber at 25+/-5 degrees C for 4 h. The fibers were desorbed in a GC injection liner at 250 degrees C for 3 min. With headspace SPME-GC-MS analysis, 61 peaks were separated. The main compounds in headspace of fresh Michelia alba flowers included alpha-myrcene, (S)-limonene, (R)-fenchone, linalool, camphor, caryophyllene, germacrene D, etc., a greater number of compounds than for frozen flowers and withered flowers. At the same time, the biomarkers of fresh flowers were compared with the frozen flowers and withered flowers. In this study, headspace SPME-GC-MS afforded a simple and more sensitive sampling method for fresh Michelia alba flowers and other fresh flowers.     

Stochastic resonance is applied to quantitative analysis for weak chromatographic signal of glyburide in plasma

Based on the theory of stochastic resonance, a new method carried on the quantitive analysis to weak chromatographic signal of glyburide in plasma, which was embedded in the noise background and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of HPLC-UV is enhanced remarkably. This method enhances the quantification limit to 1 ng ml⁻¹, which is the same as HPLC-MS, and makes it possible to detect the weak signal accurately by HPLC-UV, which was not suitable before. The results showed good recovery and linear range from 1 to 50 ng ml⁻¹ of glyburide in plasma and the method can be used for quantitative analysis of glyburide.     

Effect of the sixth axial ligand in CS-ligated iron(II)octaethylporphyrinates: structural and Mössbauer studies

The effect of a sixth ligand in a series of low-spin thiocarbonyl-ligated iron(II)octaethylporphyrinates has been investigated. Six-coordinate complexes have been synthesized and characterized by M?ssbauer and infrared spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray structure determinations. The results are compared with the five-coordinate parent complex. The crystal structures of [Fe(OEP)(CS)(1-MeIm)] and [Fe(OEP)(CS)(Py)] are reported and discussed. The 1-methylimidazole and pyridine derivatives exhibit Fe-C(CS) bond distances of 1.703(4) and 1.706(2) A that are significantly longer than the 1.662(3) A reported for five-coordinate [Fe(OEP)(CS)] (Scheidt, W. R.; Geiger, D. K. Inorg. Chem. 1982, 21, 1208). The trans Fe-N(ligand) distances of 2.112(3) and 2.1550(15) A observed for the 1-methylimidazole and pyridine complex are approximately 0.13 A longer than those observed for analogous bis-ligated complexes and are consistent with a significant structural trans effect for the CS ligand. M?ssbauer investigations carried out for five- and six-coordinate thiocarbonyl derivatives with several different sixth axial ligands reveal interesting features. All derivatives exhibit very small isomer shift values, consistent with a very strong interaction between iron and CS. The five-coordinate derivative has delta(Fe) = 0.08 mm/s, and the six-coordinate complexes exhibit delta(Fe) = 0.14 to 0.19 mm/s at 4.2 K. The five-coordinate complex shows a large quadrupole splitting (DeltaE(q) = 1.93 mm/s at 4.2 K) which is reduced on coordination of the sixth ligand (DeltaE(q) = 0.42-0.80 mm/s at 4.2 K). Addition of a sixth ligand also leads to a small decrease in the value of nu(CS). Correlations in structural, IR, and M?ssbauer results suggest that the sixth ligand effect is primarily induced by changes in sigma-bonding. The structure of [Fe(OEP)(CS)(CH(3)OH)] is briefly reported. Crystal data: [Fe(OEP)(CS)(1-MeIm)] crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/n, Z = 4, a = 9.5906(5) A, b = 16.704(4) A, c = 23.1417(6) A, beta = 100.453(7) degrees. [Fe(OEP)(CS)(Py)] crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, Z = 5, a = 13.9073(6) A, b = 16.2624(7) A, c = 22.0709(9) A, alpha = 70.586(1) degrees, beta = 77.242(1) degrees, gamma = 77.959(1) degrees. [Fe(OEP)(CS)(CH(3)OH)] crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, Z = 1, a = 9.0599(5) A, b = 9.4389(5) A, c = 11.0676(6) A, alpha = 90.261(1) degrees, beta = 100.362(1) degrees, gamma = 114.664(1) degrees.     

The Pharmacokinetics in Mice and Cell Uptake of Thymus Immunosuppressive Pentapeptide Using LC-MS/MS Analysis

Thymus immunosuppressive pentapeptide (TIPP) is a novel anti-inflammatory peptide with high efficacy and low toxicity. This study aims to establish a selective LC-MS/MS method for analyzing the analyte TIPP in biological samples, laying the foundation for further PK and PD studies of TIPP. Protein precipitation was conducted in acetonitrile supplemented with 2% formic acid and 25 mg/mL dithiothreitol as a stabilizer, which was followed by backwashing the organic phase using dichloromethane. The chromatographic separation of TIPP was achieved on a C18 column with a gradient elution method. During positive electrospray ionization, TIPP was analyzed via multiple-reaction monitoring. The linear relationships between the concentration of TIPP and peak area in murine plasma cell lysates, supernatants, and the final cell rinse PBS were established within the ranges of 20–5000 ng/mL, 1–200 ng/mL, 10–200 μg/mL, and 0.1–20 ng/mL, respectively (r² > 0.99). Validated according to U.S. FDA guidelines, the proposed method was proved to be acceptable. Such a method had been successfully applied to investigate the pharmacokinetics of TIPP in mice via subcutaneous injection. The plasma half-life in mice was 5.987 ± 1.824 min, suggesting that TIPP is swiftly eliminated in vivo. The amount of TIPP uptake by RBL-2H3 cells was determined using this method, which was also visually verified by confocal. Furthermore, the effective intracellular concentration of TIPP was deduced by comparing the intracellular concentration of TIPP and degrees of inflammation, enlightening further investigation on the intracellular target and mechanism of TIPP.     

辉光等离子体辅助化学气相沉积低温合成金刚石薄膜的研究

采用辉光放电等离子体增强化学气相沉积 (GP CVD)技术在低温条件下合成了高品质的亚微米金刚石薄膜 ,并通过对合成过程的实时发射光谱诊断确定了 [CH4 H2 ]系统参与金刚石合成反应的主要荷能粒子。对合成过程的研究表明 :采用这种技术能使电子增强热丝化学气相沉积 (EACVD)合成高品质金刚石薄膜的温度从 85 0℃降至 (340± 5 )℃ ;薄膜低温合成中的主要荷能粒子为CH3 、CH ,CH+ 、H 等 ,其中过饱和原子氢保证了高品质金刚石薄膜的合成 ;根据光诊断和探针测量的结果推断近表面辉光放电可在基片表面形成电偶极层 ,该偶极层是进行超常态反应的必要环境 ,并在低温合成中起重要作用     

Theoretical analysis on double Rayleigh backscattering noise in optical fibreRaman amplifiers and its suppression

In this paper, amplified double Rayleigh backscattering noise (DRB) in the optical fibre Raman amplifier is analysed. Expressions are presented for both forward pumping and backward pumping schemes. Calculation is performed to show the effective suppression of DRB noise by employing an optical isolator. The optimal position for the isolator is determined and is found to be insensitive to the power levels of the signals and pumps. The results show that a reduction of the DRB noise by almost 2 to 3 orders can be reached.     

二维铁电材料α-In2Se3 表面分子束外延生长Pb 纳米岛的STM 研究

铁电材料拥有自发电极化, 不同的极化方向会对异质结的电子结构产生可逆的和非易失性的影响. 本工作采用分子束外延技术在二维铁电材料α-In2Se3 衬底上成功制备了 Pb 纳米岛构建 Pb/α-In2Se3 超导铁电异质结,并通过扫描隧道显微镜表征了其表面原子结构与电子结构. 进一步的扫描隧道谱测量显示不同层厚 Pb 岛的量子阱态消失, 并且我们在4.5 K 的温度下没有观察到超导能隙, 表明铁电衬底会影响 Pb 岛的电子结构, 甚至其超导特性. 这些发现为理解铁电衬底对超导性的影响提供了参考, 并为调控低维量子材料中的电子结构及超导性提供了新的思路.     

基于数学形态学的表面原子熔融相的 STM图像识别算法

高温扫描隧道显微镜(HT-STM)可以实时原位地捕捉到表面原子的熔化相变过程.在这一原位变温实验中,快速可靠地识别出每帧STM图像中的熔融相十分关键.传统的手工统计方法存在效率低下、随意性大等问题.我们发展出一套基于数学形态学的算法,来自动快速地识别.与人工方法相比,该算法消除了人为主观误差,使确定的边界更加准确、光滑,处理效率提高了266倍.     

β-胡萝卜素分子的黄琨因子的温度特性

β-胡萝卜素具有光采集、光防护功能, 又是重要的光电材料, 它在外场下的分子结构和性能变化既有理论意义也有应用价值。测量了β-胡萝卜素在环己醇中68～26 ℃温度范围内的紫外-可见吸收、拉曼光谱。实验结果表明随着温度的降低, 黄琨因子和碳碳键每个振动模的电子-声子耦合常数减小, 紫外-可见吸收光谱红移, 碳碳键拉曼散射截面增加。用线性链状多烯分子的“相干弱阻尼电子-晶格振动模型”、“有效共轭长度模型”等理论给予了解释。随着温度的降低,β-胡萝卜素分子的热无序减小,分子结构有序性增加,π电子离域扩展,有效共轭长度增加,导致紫外-可见吸收光谱红移和强的拉曼活性。相干弱阻尼电子-晶格振动增强,使碳碳键拉曼散射截面增加。引用带有量纲的电子-声子相互作用常数,既可以与黄昆因子建立关系式,计算出碳碳键每个振动模的数值,也可以表征分子的有效共轭长度,π电子离域程度及拉曼散射截面的大小等。