Fingerprint analysis of Ligusticum chuanxiong using hydrophilic interaction chromatography and reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Fingerprint analysis is considered one of the most powerful approaches to quality control in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). In this study, a binary chromatographic fingerprint analysis was developed using hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) and reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) to gain more chemical information about polar compounds and weakly polar compounds. This method was used to construct a chromatographic fingerprint of Ligusticum chuanxiong. The two chromatographic methods demonstrated good precision, reproducibility, and stability, with relative standard deviations of <2% for retention time and 7% for peak area for both HILIC and RPLC separations. Data from the analysis of 14 samples by HILIC and RPLC were processed with similarity analysis, with correlation coefficients and congruence coefficients. This binary fingerprint analysis, using two chromatographic modes, is a powerful tool for characterizing the quality of samples, and can be used for the comprehensive quality control of TCMs.     

Online process control of acidic texturisation baths with ion chromatography

Etching of silicon with mixtures of hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid is a widely used process in silicon solar cell fabrication. One precondition for an optimized usage of the acidic etching baths is the exact knowledge of the chemical bath composition. In this paper, we investigated a fast and online-capable method for the total analysis of all bath constituents by ion chromatography. The chromatographical system consists of a low-volume injection valve, which injects the concentrated samples directly into the KOH-based eluent. After separation and detection of nitrate and fluoride, a post-column derivatization with sodium molybdate is applied to detect the hexafluorosilicic acid, which enriches in the texturisation bath during the etching process. The results of the presented approach are discussed and compared with already published chromatographical and titration methods found in literature.     

An innovative method for quality control of conjugated Haemophilus influenzae vaccines: A short review of two-dimensional nanoparticle electrophoresis

This article provides an overview of a 2D agarose electrophoretic procedure for the characterization of semi-synthetic Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis vaccines that were prepared for the immunization of small children. The analysis of such vaccines has been particularly challenging because the vaccine particles (i) are highly negatively charged, (ii) are as large as or even larger than intact viruses, and (iii) have a continuous (polydisperse) size distribution because of randomizing steps in the vaccine production (sonification and crosslinking). As a result of these characteristics, 1D electrophoresis of the vaccines produced smears without discernable peaks, but with a second dimension of separation a characteristic vaccine fingerprint was obtained. Whereas O’Farrell gels can accomplish a 2D separation according to size and charge for samples with protein-sized particles, nondenaturing 2D agarose electrophoresis achieves a similar result for much larger virus-sized particles. The separation principle, however, is different. Even though the 2D electrophoretic method was developed from 1983 to 1995, it remains a promising tool for vaccine quality control and for predicting vaccine effectiveness. Modern technology makes the analysis significantly more practical and affordable than it was more than 10 years ago, and the method is applicable to a variety of conjugated vaccines and complex mixtures of virus-sized particles.     

Shape‐Controlled Synthesis of Metal Nanocrystals: Simple Chemistry Meets Complex Physics?

Nanocrystals are fundamental to modern science and technology. Mastery over the shape of a nanocrystal enables control of its properties and enhancement of its usefulness for a given application. Our aim is to present a comprehensive review of current research activities that center on the shape‐controlled synthesis of metal nanocrystals. We begin with a brief introduction to nucleation and growth within the context of metal nanocrystal synthesis, followed by a discussion of the possible shapes that a metal nanocrystal might take under different conditions. We then focus on a variety of experimental parameters that have been explored to manipulate the nucleation and growth of metal nanocrystals in solution‐phase syntheses in an effort to generate specific shapes. We then elaborate on these approaches by selecting examples in which there is already reasonable understanding for the observed shape control or at least the protocols have proven to be reproducible and controllable. Finally, we highlight a number of applications that have been enabled and/or enhanced by the shape‐controlled synthesis of metal nanocrystals. We conclude this article with personal perspectives on the directions toward which future research in this field might take.     

反相微乳液助水热法可控合成FeNi3合金纳米结构

利用水热法处理表面活性剂/正辛烷/正己醇/水四元微乳体系成功合成FeNi3合金纳米结构. 通过改变表面活性剂的用量和类型来调控产物粒径与形貌. 当表面活性剂为聚乙二醇4000(PEG4000)时, 产物为球状, 粒径约为75 nm. 当表面活性剂为十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)时, 产物为海胆状.单个海胆状颗粒是由许多纳米棒构成, 其直径约为42 nm, 长度为0.4-1.2 μm. 利用X射线粉末衍射(XRD), 穆斯堡尔谱, 扫描电子显微镜(SEM), 透射电子显微镜(TEM), 选区电子衍射(SAED), 多功能磁天平(MMVFTB)等测试手段对产物的组成、形貌和磁性能进行了表征. 球状和海胆状的FeNi3样品在室温下呈现典型的铁磁性特征, 其饱和磁化强度(Ms)值分别为114.4和97.4 emu·g-1, 矫顽力(Hc)值分别为94.0和329.0 Oe.     

Separation of peptides and proteins by capillary electrophoresis using acidic buffers containing tetraalkylammonium cations and cyclodextrins

A method for improving separations of peptides and other positively charged species in capillary zone electrophoresis with untreated capillaries using acidic buffers containing tetraalkylammonium cations is described. Tetramethylammonium and tetrabutylammonium cations dynamically modify the capillary surface, leading to a reversal in the direction of the electroosmotic flow. As a result, the adsorption of positively charged peptides and proteins is minimized, and resolution and peak capacity are improved as the migration of cationic analytes is counterbalanced by the electroosmotic flow. The combining effect of reversing electroosmotic flow and cyclodextrin inclusion complexation on separations of closely related peptides and a protein mixture, as well as tryptic digest of hemoglobin is demonstrated.     

Morphology Control over the Organic Nanoparticles of 1,3-Diphenyl-5-（9-anthryl）-2-pyrazoline

The organic nanoparticles of a blue-light-emitting molecule, 1,3-diphenyl-5-(9-anthryl)-2-pyrazuline, were prepared by reprecipitation method using acetonitrile as the solvent for the molecular precursor. Three morphologies, spherical, doughnut-shaped and cubic, could be observed on the silicon substrate forthe nanoparfides by the volume-controlled addition of acetonitrile. The evolution of particle morphology as a function of acetonitrile addition was attributed to the variation of the growth habits of the particles in the different environment. The nanoparticles exhibit the novel photoluminescence spectra as compared to those of monomer and the bulk crystals.     

尿素法合成高结晶度类水滑石

尿素的高温分解特性被用于控制层状化合物合成过程中的pH值。室温下尿素可与硝酸盐形成均一溶液，当其高温分解时可以保证溶液内部各点的pH值始终一致，因而可获得高结晶度的水滑石样品。利用该法可合成出Mg-Al、Zn-Al及Ni-Al类水滑石，但难以合成出Co-Al，Mn-Al及Co-Cr类水滑石，相信这与不同金属离子发生沉淀时所需的pH值有关。     

Investigation of polymer-protected noble metal nanoparticles by transmission electron microscopy: control of particle morphology and shape

 Noble metal nanoparticles were prepared by the in situ reduction of the respective metal salt precursors in the presence of various protective polymers. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been used to determine the particle shapes and morphologies. These are strongly influenced by the reduction methods and conditions chosen, but the choice of the protective polymer is equally important for controlling the particle morphologies and for the stabilization of the colloids. A whole spectrum of nanoparticle morphologies and shapes was obtained, ranging from nanoagglomerates which are nevertheless well-defined and well-stabilized to nanosized single crystals with triangular shape. Received: 2 February 1998 Accepted: 29 May 1998     

Rapid dissolution procedure for base-metals-bearing complex materials for quality control assessment

A less labour-intensive method, involving a mixture of 1.0 g MnO₂ + 20 mL HCl (11), is proposed for decomposing seven ores and six metallurgical products for accurate and precise estimation of copper, lead, zinc, cobalt and nickel for quality control assessment. Twentyone international reference materials were also analysed. Results of regression analyses are presented and intermethod comparison studies reveal that the probability of results being different compared with a reference method was less than 1%. Sample decomposition is straightforward and the method has been found to be very simple, rapid and easily adaptable, as it involves no separation of the analyte from the matrix elements.