Variable low-mass filtering using an electrodynamic ion funnel

An adjustable low-mass filter has been developed for an electrospray ionization (ESI) source to block ions associated with unwanted background species from entering the mass spectrometer. The low-mass filter is made by using an adjustable potential energy barrier from the conductance-limiting plate of an electrodynamic ion funnel, which prohibits species with higher ion mobilities from exiting the ESI source. We show that this arrangement provides a linear voltage adjustment for low-mass filtering from m/z 0 to 500. Mass filtering above m/z 500 is also performed; however, higher-mass species are attenuated. The mass filter was tested with a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis of a bovine serum albumin (BSA) tryptic digest and resulted in the ability to block low-mass, background species, which accounted for 40-70% of the total ion current immediately behind the ESI source during peak elution and detection.     

EPR spin probe and spin label studies of some low molecular and polymer micelles

The rotational mobility of spin probes of different shape and size in low molecular and polymer micelles has been studied. Several probes having nitroxide fragment localized either in the vicinity of micelle interface or in the hydrocarbon core have been used. Upon increasing the number of carbon atoms in hydrocarbon chain of detergent from 7 to 13 (sodium alkyl sulfate micelles) or from 12 to 16 (alkyltrimethylammonium bromide micelles) the rotational mobility of spin probes is decreased by the factor 1.5–2.0. The spin probe rotational mobility in polymer micelles (the complexes of alkyltrimethylammonium bromides and polymethacrylic or polyacrylic acids) is less than mobility in free micelles of the same surfactants. The study of EPR-spectra of spin labeled polymethacrylic acid (PMA) indicated that formation of water soluble complexes of polymer and alkyltrimethylammonium bromides in alkaline solutions (pH 9) does not affect the polymer segmental mobility. On the other hand, the polymer complexes formation in slightly acidic water solution (pH 6) breaks down the compact PMA conformation, thus increasing the polymer segmental mobility. Possible structures of polymer micelles are discussed.     

The photosensitizing effect of the photoproduct of protoporphyrin IX

The photodynamic effect of a photoproduct of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was investigated in WiDr cells, a human adenocarcinoma cell line. The fluorescence excitation and emission spectra of PpIX and the photoproduct were measured. After 1, 3 or 5 min exposure of the ALA-incubated cells to 140 mW/cm² light at 635 nm, the photoproduct — the chlorin photoprotoporphyrin (Ppp), had an emission band around 670 nm. The Ppp excitation peak at 670 nm is well separated from the PpIX peak at 635 nm. The outcome of photodynamic therapy (PDT) was determined by measuring intracellular fluorescence intensity of propidium iodide (PI) 2 h following PDT and methylene blue (MB) staining 24 h following PDT. A significant increase in the fluorescence intensity of PI was noted when the ALA-loaded cells were exposed to 670 nm light after exposure to 635 nm, indicating enhanced cell membrane inactivation induced by the photodynamic action of the photoproduct. However, the fraction of the cells that survived following the same treatment as measured by MB staining was not significantly affected based on an analysis of variance. The fluorescence of PpIX decayed significantly during 635 nm light exposure. Exposure to light at 670 nm does not lead to any photodegradation of PpIX. The fluorescence of Ppp was bleached during 670 nm light exposure. Exposure of Ppp at 670 nm gives no PpIX back. Thus, the phototransformation of PpIX to Ppp is probably not a reversible process.     

Separation of bacteria by capillary electrophoresis

Differences in the surface charges of bacteria can be exploited for their separation by capillary electrophoresis. Because of their low electrophoretic mobility, the separation is not always easy to perform, especially in the presence of the electroosmotic flow. Elimination of electroosmotic flow by capillary wall modification with γ‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate followed by acrylamide bonding permits separation over a distance of 8.5 cm.     

Closed tube sample introduction for gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry analysis of water contaminated with a chemical warfare agent surrogate compound

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is a proven technology for detection of vapor phase chemical warfare agents. The technology is suitable for field portable instrumentation due to its small size, high sensitivity, speed of analysis, and low power consumption. However, it suffers from a limited dynamic range and potential difficulties in identifying compounds in complex matrices. The use of gas chromatography (GC) coupled to IMS can overcome the difficulty of chemical identification in mixtures by separating the sample into individual components before detection. Using this approach, IMS technology has previously been adapted to detect biological aerosols using an open tube pyrolyzer and a short GC column (Py-GC-IMS). The open sample introduction tube of a Py-GC-IMS instrument would be a convenient configuration to accept aerosol particulates, and while viewed as needed for aerosol trapping, is not optimal for liquid chemical analyses. To examine the usefulness of an existing Py-GC-IMS system for analysis of chemicals in water, an existing open-port sample interface was replaced with a septum-equipped closed tube injector to contain analyte vapors resulting from liquid injection. Tributylphosphate (TBP) was used as a surrogate chemical warfare agent, and aqueous injections into both closed and open tube assemblies were performed. Sample introduction into the closed tube inlet was also accomplished using solid phase microextraction (SPME) preconcentration. The limit of detection for TBP using an open tube, closed tube, and closed tube configuration with SPME sample introduction was 0.980, 0.196, and 0.0098 mg/L, respectively.     

Ion mobility,phase transitions,and ion transport in potassium-ammonium hexafluorozirconates

The mobility of fluoride and ammonium ions (180–480 K) in compounds K_{2? n} (NH4)_nZrF₆ (0.2 ≤ n ≤ 1.70) was investigated by ¹⁹F and ¹H NMR. Correlations have been found between the composition of the cation sublattice, the character of ion motions, and phase transition temperature in these compounds. The hightemperature modifications with n ≥ 0.85 of the compounds are characterized by translational diffusion of fluoride and ammonium ions and by uniaxial anisotropy of the ¹⁹F magnetic shielding tensor. The electrophysical characteristics of these compounds were studied in the temperature range 300–480 K.     

New antiproliferative 14,15-secopregnane glycosides from Solenostemma argel

Eight new 14,15-secopregnane glycosides, namely argelosides C-J, possessing two ketal functions involved in three five-membered rings, have been isolated from the hairy seeds of Solenostemma argel. Their structures have been established by MS and NMR experiments, combined with quantum mechanical calculations of the ¹³C chemical shifts for the interpretation of the experimental data. On the basis of the obtained results, the structures of argelosides A and B have been revised. Additionally, the effect of these compounds on the VEGF-induced in Kaposi's sarcoma cell proliferation was evaluated. Results indicated that all the compounds reduced the cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.     

Nitroxide spin probe study of probe size,hydrogen bonding and polymer matrix rigidity effects on poly(acrylic acid)/poly(ethylene oxide) complexes

An electron spin resonance (ESR) spin probe study was performed on 1 : 1 by weight poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) complex over the 100–450 K temperature range with a series of tetramethylpiperidyloxy‐based spin probes. Measurements of the parameters T_5mT, Ta and Td demonstrated the effects of probe size and the strength of hydrogen bonding. The probes in the series Tempone, Tempo, Tempol and Tamine (respectively 4‐oxo‐, unsubstituted, 4‐hydroxy‐ and 4‐amino‐2,2,6,6,‐tetramethylpiperidine ‐1‐oxyl) displayed noticeable increases in the hydrogen‐bonding effect, as indicated by Ta and Td. These increases correlated with increasing hydrogen bond acceptor strength. On the other hand, as the probe size became larger, T_5mT gradually increased due to the free volume decrease. These effects were analyzed using the established theoretical relationship of T_5mT to probe volume expressed by f. Meanwhile, in order to investigate the effect of polymer matrix rigidity, a similar study was performed with a nitroxide spin probe, 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidine‐1‐oxyl (Tempo), on PAA/PEO complexes of different weight compositions. The quantitative fast motion fraction in the composite ESR spectrum was calculated. The influence of changes in the composition of PAA on the molecular mobility was characterized by changes of the spectral parameters and τ_c. The molecular mobility was shown to diminish with increasing content of PAA in PAA/PEO blends duo to the restriction of the polymer matrix rigidity increase. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Perfluoro-1,3,5-tris(p-oligophenyl)benzenes: Amorphous Electron-Transport Materials with High-Glass-Transition Temperature and High Electron Mobility

Perfluoro-1,3,5-tris(p-quaterphenyl)benzene (PF-13Y) and perfluoro-1,3,5-tris(p-quinquephenyl)benzene (PF-16Y) have been synthesized and characterized. They showed higher glass transition temperatures compared with perfluoro-1,3,5-tris(p-terphenyl)benzene (PF-10Y). Organic light-emitting diodes were fabricated using these materials as the electron-transport layers. PF-13Y and -16Y are better electron transporters than PF-10Y. The electron mobilities of PF-10Y and Alq₃ were measured by the time-of-flight technique. PF-10Y showed higher electron mobilities (10⁻⁴ cm²/V s) and weaker electric field dependence compared with Alq₃.     

Effect of electrolyte type on the electrokinetic behavior of sulfonated polystyrene model colloids

Sulfonated polystyrene latex particles were prepared by a two-stage shot-growth emulsion polymerization process in the absence of emulsifier. Sodium styrene sulfonate (NaSS) was used as an ionic co-monomer to produce a series of latex particles with the same particle size but with different surface charge densities. The electrophoretic mobility of this functionalized model colloid was studied in the presence of various types of inorganic electrolytes. The _e curves of these latexes exhibit a pronounced maximum at high electrolyte concentrations: 5·10^–2 M for 11 electrolytes and 10^–2 M for 21 and 12 electrolytes. When a 31 electrolyte (LaCl₃) was used, the electrophoretic mobility changed to positive values at high concentration due to the specific adsorption of lanthanum species. The experimental results for the electrokinetic characterization of these sulfonated polystyrene model colloids suggest that the surface of the particles is covered by a layer of oligomers or polymer chains which shift the shear plane toward the bulk solution, increasing the anomalous surface conductance of the polystyrene microsphere-electrolyte solution interface.