Isolation of new quinidine metabolites and simultaneous determination of quinidine and its metabolites in blood and urine by direct injection HPLC analysis

Summary New quinidine metabolites, including 10,11-dihydrodiol quinidine N-oxide, 10,11-dihydrodiol quinidine and their glucuronides, were found in human urine. A quinidine monitoring HPLC method including these metabolites, is proposed by the direct injection of body fluid samples onto the precolumn for deproteinization followed by reverse phase separation in the analytical column with a column switching technique. The recovery of spiked quinidine and its metabolites in plasma was quantitative (98–102%) with good reproducibility (C.V.: 1.6–4.0%). Several clinical samples such as whole blood and urine were analyzed by the present method.     

On line trace enrichment for isolation of vitamin B2 in food samples

Summary Vitamin B₂ was enriched by liquid-solid extraction from large volumes of aqueous samples on a short precolumn. The enriched compounds were transferred onto an analytical reversed-phase column and separated by ion-pair chromatography. The equipment used provides the possibility of automation for routine analysis.Dedicated to Professor J. F. K. Huber on the occasion of the 60th birthday.     

Ionic-conductivity switching of vinyl malachite green leuconitrile copolymers based on photoinduced carrier generation

Copolymers of bis[4-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenyl]-4-vinylphenylmethanenitrile (vinyl Malachite Green leuconitrile) with methyl methacrylate or ω-methoxyoligo(oxyethylene) methacrylate have been synthesized, aiming at designing one-component-type organic polymers for photoswitchable ion-conducting films. The triphenylmethanenitrile copolymers with ω-methoxyoligo(oxyethylene) methacrylate were found to undergo ionic-conductivity switching by turning on and off UV light at ambient temperature, owing to their low glass transition temperature. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Photoinduced processes within compact dyads based on triphenylpyridinium-functionalized bipyridyl complexes of ruthenium(II)

As an alternative to conventional charge-separation functional molecular models based on long-range ET within redox cascades, a "compact approach" has been examined. To this end, spacer elements usually inserted between main redox-active units within polyad systems have been removed, allowing extended rigidity but at the expense of enhanced intercomponent electronic communication. The molecular assemblies investigated here are of the P-(theta (1))-A type, where the theta (1) twist angle is related to the degree of conjugation between the photosensitizer (P, of {Ru(bpy)(3)}(2+) type) and the electron-acceptor (A). 4-N- and 4-N-,4'-N-(2,4,6-triphenylpyridinio)-2,2'-bipyridine ligands (A(1)-bpy and A(2)-bpy, respectively) have been synthesized to give complexes with Ru(II), 1-bpy and 2-bpy, respectively. Combined solid-state analysis (X-ray crystallography), solution studies ((1)H NMR, cyclic voltammetry) and computational structural optimization allowed verifying that theta (1) angle approaches 90 degrees within 1-bpy and 2-bpy in solution. Also, anticipated existence of strong intercomponent electronic coupling has been confirmed by investigating electronic absorption properties and electrochemical behavior of the compounds. The capability of 1-bpy and 2-bpy to undergo PET process was evaluated by carrying out their photophysical study (steady state emission and time-resolved spectroscopy at both 293 and 77 K). The conformational dependence of photoinduced processes within P-(theta (1))-A systems has been established by comparing the photophysical properties of 1-bpy (and 2-bpy) with those of an affiliated species reported in the literature, 1-phen. A complementary theoretical analysis (DFT) of the change of spin density distribution within model [1-bpy(theta (1))](-) mono-reduced species as a function of theta (1) has been undertaken and the possibility of conformationally switching emission properties of P was derived.     

Rapid measurement of fish freshness indices by an amperometric flow-injection system with a 16-way switching valve and immobilized enzyme reactors

A novel flow-injection system is proposed for the rapid measurement of the fish freshness indices K₁ and K₂: K₁=[([HxR+[Hx])×100/([IMP]+[HxR]+[Hx])] and K₂=[[Hx]×100/([HxR]+[Hx])], where [IMP], [HxR] and [Hx] are inosine-5′-monophosphate, inosine and hypoxanthine concentrations, respectively. For the estimation of index K₁, 5′-nucleotidase immobilized reactor and nucleoside phosphorylase (NP)/xanthine oxidase (XO) coimmobilized reactor were incorporated in series in the flow-injection line made up by a 16-way switching valve with two sample loops. For the estimation of index K₂, NP and XO immobilized reactors were also incorporated in the similar flow-line. Two sample portions passed through the flow-line with different residence times so that two peaks were obtained. The first and second peaks obtained in the K₁-determining system corresponded to the total of HxR and Hx and the total of Hx, HxR and IMP, respectively. Similarly, the first and second peaks obtained in the K₂-determining system corresponded to Hx and the total of Hx and HxR, respectively. Therefore, the indices K₁ and K₂ can be estimated by

where i₁ and i₂ present the peak current of the first and second peaks, respectively, and f the ratio of the peak currents of the first and second peaks for a Hx standard solution. A sea bream was selected as a model fish and it was stored at 4 °C after death. A good correlation was found between the index K₁ and the storage time over a period of 400 h, with a correlation coefficient of 0.992, but no correlation between the index K₂ and the storage time. The measurements could be performed at a rate of 22 samples per hour with satisfactory precision (0.6–1.2% R.S.D.), without calibration for each species, accurate weighing of fish meat and any interferences in fish meat.     

Determination of bisphenol A in human breast milk by HPLC with column-switching and fluorescence detection

A highly sensitive HPLC method was developed for the determination of xenoestrogenic compound, bisphenol A (BPA) in human breast milk samples. After a two-step liquid-liquid extraction, BPA was derivatized with fluorescent labeling reagent, 4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzoyl chloride (DIB-Cl). The excess fluorescent reagent could be removed effectively using a column-switching system. The separation of DIB-BPA from endogenous materials in milk was carried out on two C(18) columns and fluorescence intensity was monitored at 475 nm with the excitation of 350 nm. A good linearity (r = 0.994) was observed of BPA in the concentration range of 0.2-5.0 ng mL(-1) in breast milk, and the detection limit was 0.11 ng mL(-1) at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Intra- and inter-day precision (RSD, %) were less than 8.7 and 10.4, respectively. Twenty-three breast milk samples of healthy lactating women were analyzed for the BPA concentration; the mean value was 0.61 +/- 0.20 ng mL(-1), with no correlation to the lipid content of milk samples.     

Simultaneous determination of capecitabine and its metabolite 5-fluorouracil by column switching and liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric method was developed and validated for the quantitation of capecitabine and its metabolite 5-fluorouracil in human plasma. The simultaneous determination of both analytes was achieved by a column switching method using a trapping column and two analytical columns with different stationary phases. Isocratic elution was used for the separation of capecitabine on a C18 column whereas 5-fluorouracil was separated using gradient elution on an non-polar carbon phase. The calibration curves were linear for both compounds with a correlation factor (R2) > 0.9993 for 5-fluorouracil and >0.9942 for capecitabine. The assay was validated in the concentration range 5.00-1000 ng ml(-1) for both compounds. The intra-day precision was better than 10% for 5-fluorouracil and better than 11% for capecitabine whereas the inter-day precision was better than 8% for 5-fluorouracil and better than 14% for capecitabine.     

An automated analyzer for vancomycin in plasma samples by column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection

An automated analyzer for vancomycin in rat plasma by column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection was developed. The method includes in-line extraction of vancomycin by ion-exchange cartridge column and a separation on a reversed-phase column with UV detection at 215 nm. Plasma samples were diluted by mobile phase solution and directly injected to HPLC. Vancomycin was quantitatively recovered from rat plasma samples. The separation was completed within 15 min. The calibration curve was linear over the range from 0.5 to 100 microg/mL with the detection and quantification limits of 0.5 microg/mL (2.5 ng on column; signal-to-noise ratio = 3). The values of precision in intra- and inter-day assays (n = 3) were less than 1.92 and 3.69%, respectively. This method does not require time-consuming pre-treatment and is suitable for the routine assay of plasma samples.     

Optical Switching in VO2 Thin Films

Vanadium dioxide thin films have been deposited from vanadium alkoxides VO(OR)3. An amorphous film is formed that transforms into crystalline VO2 upon heating at 500°C under a reducing atmosphere. Optically transparent VO2 thin films are then obtained that exhibit both electrical and optical switching around 70°C. The switching temperature together with the shape of the hysteresis loop can be modified by doping VO2 films with foreign cations. Doped MxVO2 (M = W6+, Nb5+, Ti4+, Cr3+ or Al3+) thin films have been prepared under the same conditions by mixing the vanadium alkoxide and a metal salt in an alcoholic solution. The switching temperature decreases when the film is doped with high-valent cations (W6+) and increases with low-valent cations (Al3+, Cr3+). The transition temperature first decreases and then increases when TiIV is added to the VO2 film while the width of the hysteresis loop is significantly reduced.     

Computer-aided selection and optimization of chromatographic columns and conditions for multicolumn analysis procedures

Clearly, the usefulness of a computer-aided column design program will depend on its ability to predict quickly and accurately, a design which will yield chromatograms closely approximating those obtained experimentally. Such a computer model for designing and specifying operating conditions for optimum performance of either single or serially coupled columns with different stationary phases is described herein. Tests have been performed in order to verify the accuracy of the model. In addition to single column optimization and the design of column combinations which can be used to achieve separations difficult or impossible on a single phase alone, the model has proven quite useful as an aid to the design and development of multicolumn analysis procedures that involve critical timing of valve-switching sequences.