Analysis of Polar Thermally Labile Pesticides using Different Solid-Phase Extraction (SPE) Materials with GC and HPLC Techniques

Abstract

In the present study, an efficient method for extraction, separation and determination of a limited number (30) of polar pesticides in aqueous matrices has been developed. Pesticides were extracted with high recoveries (usually >85%) from 1 L water samples, using the solid-phase extraction (SPE) technique. Affinities to different SPE materials (C-18 and XAD resins) have been studied for all pesticides. Special attention has been paid to the following 5 pesticides (which have classified by the EC as compounds which are particularly difficult to analyse): benazolia, bromofenoxim, ethofumesate, fenamiphos and phenmediphain. Thermally labile compounds have been determined with high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and UV detection in comparison to TSP-LC-MS. Absolute limits of detection (LODs) for the HPLC technique are usually below 1 ng at 220 nm. Thermospray LC-MS determination shows usually limits of detection of 1-10 ng (SCAN) and 60-800 pg (SIM). All pesticides, which are amenable to GC have been detected in a comparative study with the following detectors: flame ionization detector (FID), nitrogen-phosphorus detector (NPD), electron capture detector (ECD) and atomic emission detector (AED). Element-specific detection of various functional groups of these pesticides has been achieved using GC-AED. Thus, while the FID has the lowest specificity, the AED is the most specific detector. LODs are usually < 300 pg (FID < 20 pg, NPD < 1 pg, ECD < 1 pg, AED < 300 pg). Spiked river water samples (from the River Leine and River Weser in Lower Saxony, Germany) have been used to test the employed method. With the spiked surface water samples recoveries were usually >80%.     

Quantitation of perfluoroalkyl acids,parabens and cotinine from single low volume serum sample by validated analytical method

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we present the results of an analytical method that has been recently developed, validated and successfully applied in a biomonitoring approach. In the environmental pollutant studies it is desirable that the analytical method can determine multiple classes of compounds from a single, small volume sample. The presented analytical method with a simple sample pre-treatment allows the quantitation of 13 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), 6 parabens and cotinine (used as nicotine biomarker) from a single, small volume of 100 µL serum sample by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS). The limits of quantitation (LOQ) for PFAAs, parabens and cotinine were 0.10–0.50, 0.20–0.80 and 0.10 ng/mL, respectively. Besides sensitivity the method has excellent trueness/accuracy and repeatability. The trueness of the method for the determination of PFAAs ranged from 95% to 106% and the repeatability (as RSD %) from 0.6% to 5.6%. The accuracy and RSD for parabens were 73–120% and 1.3–9.7%, respectively, and 100–106% and 1.3–3.5 % for cotinine. Biomonitoring data reveals the presence of several PFAAs and parabens in serum samples of Finnish population. The total concentrations for PFAAs and parabens were from 2.0 to 33 ng/mL and from <LOQ to 1100 ng/mL, respectively. Nearly all non-smokers had the serum cotinine concentration below 1.0 ng/mL, which can be suggested as the cut point for cotinine concentration to identify smoking.     

An evaluation of antifouling booster biocides in Gran Canaria coastal waters using SPE-LC MS/MS

A solid phase extraction (SPE) technique for seawater samples coupled to quantification using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is described to quantify relevant antifouling booster biocides of ecotoxicological concern (Diuron, TCMTB, Irgarol 1051 and Dichlofluanid). The optimised methodology provides a sensitive, easy to use and efficient analytical procedure with detection limits in the range of between 0.1 and 0.2?ng?L^?1 and appropriate reproducibility (with analytical standard deviations of less than 10%). Spiked recoveries for all compounds exceeded 72%. The method was tested through a thorough monitoring regime of commercial port and marinas on the island of Gran Canaria (off the north-west coast of Africa) over a period of several months in 2008. Results provide the first data for antifouling booster biocides in the Canary Islands. Concentrations of Diuron and Irgarol 1051 in samples ranged between 2 and 195?ng?L^?1 and 2 and 146?ng?L^?1, respectively. TCMTB and Dichlofluanid were not detected.     

Roadside Drug Testing Approaches

The purpose of this review is to present an overview of roadside drug testing, driving enforcement, and drunk/drug driving detection around the world. Drunk and drug driving is a severe problem, not only in the UAE, but also around the world. This has important implications for road safety as drunk or drug driving may increase the chances of a driver’s involvement in a road crash when compared to a drug-free driver. Recently, due to increases in drug-impaired drivers’ crash involvement, many mobile roadside drug testing devices have been introduced to the market. These devices use oral fluid, urine or blood matrices. These are on-the-spot tests, which are easy to use and are applied by law enforcement agencies and the public. Law enforcement agencies most commonly use oral fluid to detect the presence of illicit drugs in drivers. This review discusses all the available devices in the market used by the authorities. It also describes the type of drugs widely abused by drivers along with behavioral testing methods. The different types of matrices used for roadside drug testing are also evaluated. Sample collection, storage, and pre-treatment methods are discussed, followed by the confirmatory analysis of positive samples. This article will significantly help law enforcement agencies compare and evaluate all the reliable roadside testing devices and new emerging confirmatory devices available to them in the market. This will help them make an informed decision on which device to adapt to their individual needs.     

Phytochemical Profiling of Lavandula coronopifolia Poir. Aerial Parts Extract and Its Larvicidal,Antibacterial, and Antibiofilm Activity Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Infections associated with the emergence of multidrug resistance and mosquito-borne diseases have resulted in serious crises associated with high mortality and left behind a huge socioeconomic burden. The chemical investigation of Lavandula coronopifolia aerial parts extract using HPLC–MS/MS led to the tentative identification of 46 compounds belonging to phenolic acids, flavonoids and their glycosides, and biflavonoids. The extract displayed larvicidal activity against Culex pipiens larvae (LC₅₀ = 29.08 µg/mL at 72 h). It significantly inhibited cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase (CYP450), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and carboxylesterase (CarE) enzymes with the comparable pattern to the control group, which could explain the mode of larvae toxification. The extract also inhibited the biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by 17–38% at different Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) (0.5–0.125 mg/mL) while the activity was doubled when combined with ciprofloxacin (ratio = 1:1 v:v). In conclusion, the wild plant, L. coronopifolia, can be considered a promising natural source against resistant bacteria and infectious carriers.     

A Dilute and Shoot Strategy for Determining Alternaria Toxins in Tomato-Based Samples and in Different Flours Using LC-IDMS Separation

Alternaria toxins are emerging mycotoxins whose regulation and standardization are in progress by the European Commission and the European Committee for Standardization. This paper describes a dilute and shoot approach to determine five Alternaria toxins in selected food samples using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The strategy involves sample extraction with acidified aqueous methanol, followed by a solvent change accomplished via sample evaporation and reconstitution. The quantification is based on isotope dilution, applying all corresponding isotopically labeled internal standards to compensate possible matrix effects of the analysis. The main advantages of the present method over other existing methods includes simple and effective sample preparation, as well as detection with high sensitivity. The five-fold sample dilution can decrease matrix effects, which were evaluated with both external and internal standard methods. The results demonstrated a limit of quantification lower than 1.0 µg/kg for all five analytes for the first time. The newly presented method showed acceptable accuracy (52.7–111%) when analyzing naturally contaminated and spiked standard samples at the described levels. The method was validated for tomato-based and flour samples (wheat, rye, and maize). The absolute recovery ranged from 66.7% to 91.6% (RSD < 10%). The developed method could be an alternative approach for those laboratories that exclude sample cleanup and pre-concentration of state-of-the-art instruments with enhanced sensitivity.     

Repurposing of Omarigliptin as a Neuroprotective Agent Based on Docking with A2A Adenosine and AChE Receptors,Brain GLP-1 Response and Its Brain/Plasma Concentration Ratio after 28 Days Multiple Doses in Rats Using LC-MS/MS

The authors in the current work suggested the potential repurposing of omarigliptin (OMR) for neurodegenerative diseases based on three new findings that support the preliminary finding of crossing BBB after a single dose study in the literature. The first finding is the positive results of the docking study with the crystal structures of A_2A adenosine (A2AAR) and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) receptors. A2AAR is a member of non-dopaminergic GPCR superfamily receptor proteins and has essential role in regulation of glutamate and dopamine release in Parkinson’s disease while AChE plays a major role in Alzheimer’s disease as the primary enzyme responsible for the hydrolytic metabolism of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine into choline and acetate. Docking showed that OMR perfectly fits into A2AAR binding pocket forming a distinctive hydrogen bond with Threonine 256. Besides other non-polar interactions inside the pocket suggesting the future of the marketed anti-diabetic drug (that cross BBB) as a potential antiparkinsonian agent while OMR showed perfect fit inside AChE receptor binding site smoothly because of its optimum length and the two fluorine atoms that enables quite lean fitting. Moreover, a computational comparative study of OMR docking, other 12 DPP-4 inhibitors and 11 SGLT-2 inhibitors was carried out. Secondly, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) concentration in rats’ brain tissue was determined by the authors using sandwich GLP-1 ELISA kit bio-analysis to ensure the effect of OMR after the multiple doses’ study. Brain GLP-1 concentration was elevated by 1.9-fold following oral multiple doses of OMR (5 mg/kg/day, p.o. for 28 days) as compared to the control group. The third finding is the enhanced BBB crossing of OMR after 28 days of multiple doses that had been studied using LC-MS/MS method with enhanced liquid–liquid extraction. A modified LC-MS/MS method was established for bioassay of OMR in rats’ plasma (10–3100 ng/mL) and rats’ brain tissue (15–2900 ng/mL) using liquid–liquid extraction. Alogliptin (ALP) was chosen as an internal standard (IS) due to its LogP value of 1.1, which is very close to the LogP of OMR. Extraction of OMR from samples of both rats’ plasma and rats’ brain tissue was effectively achieved with ethyl acetate as the extracting solvent after adding 1N sodium carbonate to enhance the drug migration, while choosing acetonitrile to be the diluent solvent for the IS to effectively decrease any emulsion between the layers in the stated method of extraction. Validation results were all pleasing including good stability studies with bias of value below 20%. Concentration of OMR in rats’ plasma were determined after 2 h of the latest dose from 28 days multiple doses, p.o, 5 mg/kg/day. It was found to be 1295.66 ± 684.63 ng/mL estimated from the bio-analysis regression equation. OMR passed through the BBB following oral administration and exhibited concentration of 543.56 ± 344.15 ng/g in brain tissue, taking in consideration the dilution factor of 10. The brain/plasma concentration ratio of 0.42 (543.56/1295.66) was used to illustrate the penetration power through the BBB after the multiple doses for 28 days. Results showed that OMR passed through the BBB more effectively in the multiple dose study as compared to the previously published single dose study by the authors. Thus, the present study suggests potential repositioning of OMR as antiparkinsonian agent that will be of interest for researchers interested in neurodegenerative diseases.     

Determination of Cytotoxic Activity of Selected Isoquinoline Alkaloids and Plant Extracts Obtained from Various Parts of Mahonia aquifolium Collected in Various Vegetation Seasons

Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that begins in cells known as melanocytes. While it is less common than the other forms of skin cancer, melanoma is more dangerous because of its ability to spread to other organs more rapidly if it is not treated at an early stage. The number of people diagnosed with melanoma has increased over the last few decades. The most widely used treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The search for new drugs to treat various cancers is one of the most important challenges of modern scientific research. Some isoquinoline alkaloids found in different plant species have strong cytotoxic effects on various cancer cells. We tested the effect of isoquinoline alkaloids and extracts obtained from various parts of Mahonia aquifolium collected in various vegetation seasons on human melanoma cancer cells and our data indicated that investigated extract induced significant reduction in cell viability of Human malignant melanoma cells (A375), human Caucasian malignant melanoma cell line (G361), and human malignant melanoma cell line (SKMEL3 cancer cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Differences in cytotoxic activity were observed for extracts obtained from various parts of Mahonia aquifolium. Significant differences were also obtained in the alkaloids content and cytotoxic activity of the extracts depending on the season of collection of plant material. Our investigations exhibit that these plant extracts can be recommended for further in vivo experiments in order to confirm the possibility of their use in the treatment of human melanomas.