Development of a negligible depletion-solid phase microextraction method to determine the free concentration of chlorpromazine in aqueous samples containing albumin

The addition of proteins to in vitro systems influences the free concentration of the test compound in the medium. The objective of this study was to set up a negligible depletion-solid phase microextraction method, coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography (nd-SPME-HPLC) to measure the free concentration of chlorpromazine (CPZ) in medium containing albumin. The nd-SPME method was optimized for coating thickness (polyacrylate coating) and exposure time, and potential effects from the addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied. It was shown that the addition of albumin did not cause fouling or influenced the uptake kinetics of CPZ into the fiber. At a realistic in vivo albumin concentration of 40 g/L of albumin, 94% of CPZ was protein bound. This is in line with findings in vivo, reporting a protein binding for CPZ of 92-99%. The nd-SPME-HPLC method described in this study can be used to measure the free concentration of chlorpromazine in medium containing proteins. These findings can be used to correct in vitro data for protein binding of chlorpromazine and this information is essential for the extrapolation to in vivo data.     

The many facets of a definition: The case of periodicity

This paper was triggered by an authentic conversation between two mathematics teacher educators who debated whether a constant function is a periodic function, within the framework of a professional development program for secondary mathematics teachers. Their initial conversation led to deep mathematical and pedagogical musing surrounding mathematical definitions. In this paper, we present various aspects of a mathematical definition, including the role and nature of definitions in school mathematics, critical versus preferable features of a definition, and the arbitrariness underlying the choice of definition. We discuss the interplay between logical and pedagogical considerations with respect to definitions, drawing on the definition of a periodic function as an example.     

A bisphosphonate monoamide analogue of DOTA: a potential agent for bone targeting

A new macrocyclic DOTA-like ligand (BPAMD) for bone imaging and therapy containing a monoamide bis(phosphonic acid) bone-seeking group was designed and synthesized. Its lanthanide(III) complexes were prepared and characterized by 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy. The Gd(III)-BPAMD complex was investigated in detail by 1H and 17O relaxometric studies to inspect parameters relevant for its potential application as an MRI contrast agent. Sorption experiments were conducted with Gd(III) and Tb(III) complexes using hydroxyapatite (HA) as a model of bone surface. Very effective uptake of the Gd-BPAMD complex by the HA surface was observed in NMR experiments. Radiochemical studies with the (160Tb-BPAMD)-HA system proved the sorption to be remarkably fast and strong on one hand and fully reversible on the other hand. The strong (Gd-BPAMD)-HA interaction was also supported by 1H NMRD measurements in the presence of a hydroxyapatite slurry, which showed an increase of the rotational correlation time upon adsorption of the complex on the HA surface, resulting in a significant relaxivity enhancement. The amide-bis(phosphonate) moiety is the only factor responsible for the binding of the complex to HA.     

Evaluation of the sensitivity of miniaturized liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry for pharmaceutical analysis

LC-ESI-MS is applied frequently in pharmaceutical analysis. The sample amount is generally not restricted, however with LC-ESI-MS, a lack of sensitivity may still be observed with standard-bore LC columns in isocratic mode. Therefore, it was investigated whether increased sensitivity could be achieved by using miniaturized LC-ESI-MS. Seven columns ranging from 0.1 to 4.6 mm ID were tested using several instrument setups. For proper comparison, a sensitivity gain factor (SGF) was introduced. The SGF expresses the extra sensitivity that may be obtained on top of the normal increase of peak concentration, which can be expected when the column ID is reduced. Desogestrel, mirtazapine, and sugammadex sodium were used as test compounds. For desogestrel and sugammadex sodium, the SGF increased up to a factor of 5-13 when the column ID was reduced, indicating enhanced ionization efficiencies at lower flow rates. Optimum sensitivity was found for the 0.3 mm column coupled in combination with a microinjection valve and a dedicated low flow rate interface. For mirtazapine, no increase of SGF was observed when the column ID was decreased. Apparently, the ionization efficiency of this compound is not affected by the flow rate and the spray quality.     

Energy transfer in single hydrogen-bonded water molecules.

We study the structure and dynamics of hydrogen-bonded complexes of H2O/HDO and acetone dissolved in carbon tetrachloride by probing the response of the O-H stretching vibrations with linear mid-infrared spectroscopy and femtosecond mid-infrared pump-probe spectroscopy. We find that the hydrogen bonds in these complexes break and reform with a characteristic time scale of approximately 1 ps. These hydrogen-bond dynamics are observed to play an important role in the equilibration of vibrational energy over the two O-H groups of the H2O molecule. For both H2O and HDO, the O-H stretching vibrational excitation relaxes with a time constant of 6.3+/-0.3 ps, and the molecular reorientation has a time constant of 6+/-1 ps.     

Complexation of Ln(III) and Ca(II) Cations with 3,4-Dicarboxyinulin and Model Compounds: Methyl 3,4-Dicarboxy-alpha-D-fructofuranoside and 3,4-Dicarboxynystose, As Studied by Multinuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Potentiometry

Complexes of Ln(III) and Ca(II) cations with 3,4-dicarboxyinulin (DCI) and model compounds, methyl 3,4-dicarboxy-alpha-D-fructofuranoside (DCF) and 3,4-dicarboxynystose (DCN) were studied using multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and potentiometric methods. Complexes of the model compounds with Ln(III) ions provided a feasible way in which to study complexation phenomena of the dicarboxyinulin/Ca(II) system using NMR techniques. Information on complex geometry was derived from the effect of Ln(III) ions on chemical shifts and longitudinal relaxation rates. Metal-ligand stoichiometries of 1:2 and 1:1, in which the ligand coordination was tridentate as well as tetradentate, were found. Potentiometric measurements carried out with Ca(II) yielded information on the stoichiometry as well as the cooperativity of metal ion binding by the ligands.     

Derivatization trends in capillary electrophoresis: an update

This survey as a sequel of two earlier reports gives an overview of recent developments, starting from 1999, in the use of derivatization protocols in capillary electrophoretic (CE) analysis. Derivatization is mainly used for enhancement of the detection sensitivity in CE, for which a combination of fluorescence labeling and laser-induced fluorescence detection is favorable. Moreover, especially in the field of saccharide assay, derivatization to introduce charge into the molecule, is common. Derivatization procedures are classified in tables, focused on precapillary, on-line, on-capillary and postcapillary arrangements and divided in sections concerning the functional group that is derivatized. The most frequently reported groups are amines and the reducing end of (oligo)saccharides, but thiols, carbonyl and carboxyl groups, steroids and inorganic ions have also been reported about. Other reasons for derivatization are to enhance chiral separation, introduction of a suitable charge into the molecule or to improve mass spectrometric detection. The use of derivatization techniques for special cases, such as the analysis of neurotransmitters, insulin antibodies and mitochondria has also been incorporated as well as a study on the adsorption of proteins onto capillary walls during CE in which derivatization plays a role.     

Spin polarization in the lowest triplet state of chlorophyll

Chlorophyll-b in glassy solution has a spin-polarized lowest triplet state at and above 77 K. The magnitude of the effect is different for MTHF and ethanol as solvents, in contrast to what is found for the porphin free base. Chlorophyll-a does not exhibit spin-polarization under identical conditions as for chlorophyll-b. Zero-field parameters are found to be:chlorophyll-a (MTHF) D = (281 ± 6) × 10^?4 cm^?1; E = (39 ± 3) × 10^?4 cm^?1;chlorophyll-b (MTHF) D = (289 ± 4) × 10^?4 cm^?1; E = (49 ± 3) × 10^?4 cm^?1,From ESR signal kinetics it follows that for chlorophyll-b, population and depopulation mainly involve the spin level y?, describing a spin moving in a plane perpendicular to the molecular plane:P_y ? P_x ? P_z; k_x = 240 ± 40 s^?1; k_y = 600 ± 120 s^?1; k_z ? 75 s^?1,where P_i and k_i denote populating and decay rates. Thus, the kinetic scheme for the chlorophyll triplet is different from that of porphyrins with heavier metal ions, but very similar to that of the porphin free base. The spin-lattice relaxation time is found to be anisotropic and shorter than the decay rates of individual spin levels. Nevertheless, spin polarization can be observed, essentially because the ESR signal amplitude depends on population differences.