Chemometric tools improving the determination of anti-inflammatory and antiepileptic drugs in river and wastewater by solid-phase microextraction and liquid chromatography diode array detection

An analytical method for the simultaneous determination of seven non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (naproxen, ketoprofen, diclofenac, piroxicam, indomethacin, sulindac and diflunisal) and the anticonvulsant carbamazepine in river and wastewater is reported. The method involves pre-concentration and clean-up by solid-phase microextraction using polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene fibers, followed by liquid chromatography with diode array detection analysis. Owing to the fact that river water samples did not contain interferences and no sensitivity changes due to sample matrix were observed, external calibration was implemented. Standardization was also applied in order to carry out the prediction step by preparing only two diluted standards that were subjected to the pre-concentration step and a set of standards prepared in solvent. For the analysis of wastewater samples, in contrast, it was necessary to implement standard addition calibration in combination with the multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) algorithm, which allowed us to overcome matrix effect and exploit the second order advantage. Recoveries ranging from 72% to 125% for all pharmaceuticals proved the accuracy of the proposed method in river water samples. On the other hand, wastewater sample recoveries ranged from 83% to 140% for all pharmaceuticals, showing an acceptable performance – considering this sample contains no modeled interferences.     

以泡沫镍载NiCo2O4纳米线阵列为阴极催化剂的Al-H2O2半燃料电池

研究了以泡沫镍载NiCo2O4纳米线阵列为阴极催化剂的Al-H2O2半燃料电池的性能. 以无模板生长法制备了泡沫镍载NiCo2O4纳米线阵列阴极材料, SEM测定结果表明, NiCo2O4纳米线几乎垂直于泡沫镍载体表面生长. 以电压和功率密度-电流密度曲线研究了H2O2浓度、电解液流速和温度对电池性能的影响, 结果显示, 以铝片为阳极, 0.6 mol/L H2O2为氧化剂的电池的开路电压约为1.40 V; 在室温和57 ℃下, 电流密度为98和172 mA/cm2时, 最大功率密度分别达到79和120 mW/cm2.  在5000 s的测试时间内, 0.70 V的恒电流密度和75 mA/cm2 的恒电压值几乎为一常数, 这表明以泡沫镍载NiCo2O4纳米线阵列为催化剂电还原H2O2具有很好的活性、稳定性和传质性能.     

不同形态铈改性的TiO2纳米管阵列的制备及其可见光光电响应性质

采用电化学阴极还原和阳极氧化法,制备了还原态铈和氧化态铈改性的TiO2纳米管阵列,通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和X射线衍射(XRD)表征样品形貌和晶相,得出还原态铈以单质铈纳米纤维形式存在于TiO2纳米管内及表面,单质铈改性的TiO2纳米管经阳极氧化后,以CeO2和单质Ce形式共存.测定样品的光电流响应并计算样品的能带宽度.结果表明:单质铈改性的TiO2纳米管阵列在可见光区光电流响应较TiO2纳米管增强,单质铈添加存在最佳值,在10 mmol·L-1溶液中制备的单质铈改性的TiO2纳米管阵列光电流响应最强,能带宽度E9减少到2.88 eV,并且随着单质铈含量的增加,载流子浓度增大,且平带电位向负向移动.单质铈改性的样品经阳极氧化后,样品在紫外光区和可见光区光电流响应都增强,但其在可见光区的响应强度要小于单质铈改性的TiO2纳米管在可见光区的响应强度.     

A multiple coupling approach to produce high-performance SERS substrates

In this work, large area gold-nanoparticle-cluster pillar array with a gold mirror as high-performance SERS substrate was facilely fabricated by combined use of nanosphere lithography and self-assembly approach.     

Microsensor Chip Integrated with Gold Nanoparticles‐Modified Ultramicroelectrode Array for Improved Electroanalytical Measurement of Copper Ions

This paper presents a microsensor chip integrated with a gold nanoparticles‐modified ultramicroelectrode array (UMEA) as the working electrode for the detection of copper ions in water. The microsensor chip was fabricated with Micro‐Electromechanical System technique. Gold nanoparticles were electrodeposited onto the surface of UMEA at a constant potential of ?0.3 V. The ratio d/R_b of interelectrode spacing (d) over the individual electrode’s radius (R_b) was investigated to improve the electrochemical performance. The UMEA with a d/R_b of 20 showed the best hemispherical diffusion mode, resulted in fast response time and high current response. The gold nanoparticles increased the active surface area of UMEA by not changing the geometries of UMEA, and the current response was increased further. Incorporating the optimized characteristic of UMEA and gold nanoparticles, the microsensor showed a good linear range from 0.5 to 200 µg L^?1 of copper ions in the acetate buffer solutions with the method of square wave stripping voltammetry. Compared with the gold nanoparticles‐modified disk electrode, the gold nanoparticles‐modified UMEA showed higher sensitivity (0.024 µA mm^?2 µg^?1 L) and lower limit of detection (0.2 µg L^?1). Water samples from river water and tap water were analyzed by the microsensor chip with recovery ranging from 100.7 % to 107.8 %.     

A high concentration of genistein down-regulates activin A, Smad3 and other TGF-β pathway genes in human uterine leiomyoma cells

Previously, we found that high doses of genistein show an inhibitory effect on uterine leiomyoma (UtLM) cell proliferation. In this study, using microarray analysis and Ingenuity Pathways Analysis™, we identified genes (up- or down-regulated, ≥ 1.5 fold, P ≤ 0.001), functions and signaling pathways that were altered following treatment with an inhibitory concentration of genistein (50 µg/ml) in UtLM cells. Downregulation of TGF-β signaling pathway genes, activin A, activin B, Smad3, TGF-β2 and genes related to cell cycle regulation, with the exception of the upregulation of the CDK inhibitor P15, were identified and validated by real-time RT-PCR studies. Western blot analysis further demonstrated decreased protein expression of activin A and Smad3 in genistein-treated UtLM cells. Moreover, we found that activin A stimulated the growth of UtLM cells, and the inhibitory effect of genistein was partially abrogated in the presence of activin A. Overexpression of activin A and Smad3 were found in tissue samples of leiomyoma compared to matched myometrium, supporting the contribution of activin A and Smad3 in promoting the growth of UtLM cells. Taken together, these results suggest that down-regulation of activin A and Smad3, both members of the TGF-β pathway, may offer a mechanistic explanation for the inhibitory effect of a high-dose of genistein on UtLM cells, and might be potential therapeutic targets for treatment of clinical cases of uterine leiomyomas.     

高度有序的二氧化钛纳米管阵列的制备及其光催化活性的研究

采用电化学阳极氧化法在钛表面构筑了一种结构有序、微米级的TiO₂纳米管阵列膜层. 考察了制备电压、氧化时间、溶液搅拌等实验参数对TiO₂纳米管阵列形貌和尺寸的影响. 应用SEM和XRD对膜层的形貌和晶型进行了分析和表征, 并通过TiO₂纳米管阵列膜对甲基橙的光催化降解, 研究了TiO₂纳米管阵列膜层结构与光催化活性的关系. 结果表明: 阳极电压和溶液搅拌对制备TiO₂纳米管阵列的结构起到关键的作用. 控制20 V电压制备的TiO₂纳米管阵列膜, 管长达2.6～3.3 μm, 经500 ℃热处理后具有最高的光催化活性, 其光催化性能明显优于一般的TiO₂纳米颗粒膜.     

Simplified Solid-Phase Extraction Procedure and Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Celecoxib in Rat Serum

A simplified solid phase extraction method, eliminating a preliminary protein precipitation has been developed for the determination of celecoxib in rat plasma. The technique included a solid phase extraction of the serum samples on a [poly (divinylbenzene-co-N-vinylpyrrolidone)] sorbent. After conditioning, the cartridge was loaded with 0.5 mL of acidified serum containing internal standard. Elution was made with 1 mL of a mixture of acetonitrile and methanol (1/1, v/v). After evaporation of the eluate to dryness and reconstitution with methanol, the samples were analyzed on an octadecyl bonded phase with several mobile phases containing acetonitrile and a phosphate buffer. Detection was carried out using a Photodiode Array Detector. Full validation of the proposed method was provided (linearity range: 0.01–2 mg. L^–1, average extraction efficiency: 92.4%; average intra-day variability: 4.6% with an accuracy of 94.8%; average interday variability: 5% with an accuracy of 95.3%, limit of detection: 0.005 mg. L^–1, limit of quantification: 0.002 mg. L^–1). The proposed method was successfully utilised to quantify celecoxib in rat plasma for a pharmacokinetic study.Revised: 26 January and 23 April 2004     

Simultaneous Titration of Ternary Mixtures of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II) with Potentiometric Electronic Tongue Detection

An automatic titration method is reported to resolve ternary mixtures of transition metals (Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Cu²⁺) employing electronic tongue detection and a reduced number of pre‐defined additions of EDTA titrant. Sensors used were PVC membrane selective electrodes with generic response to heavy‐metals, plus an artificial neural network response model. Detection limits obtained were ca. 1 mg L^?1 for the three target ions and reproducibilities 3.0 % for Pb²⁺, 4.1 % for Cd²⁺ and 5.2 % for Cu²⁺. The system was applied to contaminated soil samples and high accuracy was obtained for the determination of Pb²⁺. In the determination Cd²⁺ and Cu²⁺, sample matrix showed a significant effect.