Immunochemical detection of aminoglycosides in milk and kidney

In 1996, the European Union established provisional maximum residue limits (MRL) for gentamicin, neomycin, streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin in milk and tissue (0.1-5 mg kg-1). For the detection of these four aminoglycosides, three enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for applications in milk and kidney were developed. The screening of defatted and diluted milk resulted in limits of determination (LDM) of < 0.01 mg l-1. Kidney samples were deproteinized with a trichloroacetic acid solution (3%) and after filtration and the addition of buffer, aliquots were used in the ELISA. The LDM of the four aminoglycosides in kidney were < 0.05 mg kg-1. The ELISA were found suitable for the semi-quantitative screening of milk and kidney for the presence of the four aminoglycosides far below the MRL levels. In randomly taken milk samples (n = 776) and in kidneys derived from healthy pigs (n = 124), the aminoglycoside residues found were far below their established MRL. In eight out of the 94 kidney samples obtained from diseased animals after emergency slaughter, aminoglycoside residues were above the MRL.     

Electrochemical detection and characterization of nanoparticles: A potential tool for environmental purposes

The incorporation of engineered nanoparticles in commercial products and industrial processes has broadly increased in recent years, which raises concerns about their environmental impact. In this review, we present electrochemistry as a promising analytical tool towards the detection and characterization of nanoparticles for environmental purposes. Recent research has not only demonstrated the applicability of electrochemical methods for the quantification of nanoparticles in environmental samples, but also for the study of properties and transformations of nanoparticles. All these aspects are very relevant to understand their toxicity in the environment. In this context, we discuss several electrochemical methods to quantify and study the size and shape, surface properties, interparticle interactions, chemical reactivity and speciation of nanoparticles.     

Celiac disease diagnosis and gluten-free food analytical control

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy, characterized by an inappropriate T-cell-mediated immune response to the ingestion of certain dietary cereal proteins in genetically susceptible individuals. This disorder presents environmental, genetic, and immunological components. CD presents a prevalence of up to 1% in populations of European ancestry, yet a high percentage of cases remain underdiagnosed. The diagnosis and treatment should be made early since untreated disease causes growth retardation and atypical symptoms, like infertility or neurological disorders. The diagnostic criteria for CD, which requires endoscopy with small bowel biopsy, have been changing over the last few decades, especially due to the advent of serological tests with higher sensitivity and specificity. The use of serological markers can be very useful to rule out clinical suspicious cases and also to help monitor the patients, after adherence to a gluten-free diet. Since the current treatment consists of a life-long gluten-free diet, which leads to significant clinical and histological improvement, the standardization of an assay to assess in an unequivocal way gluten in gluten-free foodstuff is of major importance.     

Electroanalytical Study of the Pesticide Asulam

The electrochemical behaviour of the herbicide Asulam was studied by cyclic and square wave voltammetry. Asulam may be irreversibly oxidised at a glassy carbon electrode. Maximum currents were obtained at pH = 1.9 in aqueous electrolyte solution. Based on the electrochemical behaviour of Asulam, two analytical methodologies were developed for its determination in water samples, using square wave voltammetry (SWV) and flow injection analysis (FIA) coupled with an amperometric detector. Limits of detection of 7.1 2 10 m 6 mol L m 1 and 1.2 2 10 m 8 mol L m 1 for SWV and FIA respectively, were achieved. Repeatability was calculated by assessing the relative standard deviation (%) for 10 consecutive determinations of one sample. The found values were 2.1% for SWV and 5.0% for FIA. Validation of the results provided by SWV and FIA methodologies was performed by comparison with results from an HPLC-DAD technique. Good relative deviations were found (< 5%). Recovery trials were performed to assess the accuracy of the results and the obtained values were between 84% and 107% for both methods.     

Direct-gradient high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis and preliminary pharmacokinetics of flumequine and flumequine acyl glucuronide in humans: effect of probenecid.

A gradient high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis for the direct measurement of flumequine, with its acyl glucuronide, in plasma and urine of humans has been developed. In order to prevent hydrolysis and isomerization of flumequine acyl glucuronide, the samples were acidified by the oral intake of four 1.2-g amounts of ammonium chloride per day. In contrast to the acyl glucuronides of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, flumequine and its acyl glucuronide were stable in urine of pH 5.0-8.0. Flumequine acyl glucuronide is unstable at pH 1.5. In acidic urine (pH 5-6), almost no flumequine is excreted unchanged (1%): it is excreted chiefly as acyl glucuronide (84.2%). Probenecid co-medication reduces the renal excretion rate of flumequine acyl glucuronide from 662 to 447 micrograms/min (p = 0.00080), but not the percentage of glucuronidation.     

Electronic excitations during grazing scattering of hydrogen atoms on KI(001) and LiF(001) surfaces

The energy loss of hydrogen atoms with energies of 400 eV and 1 keV is studied in coincidence with the number of emitted electrons during grazing scattering from atomically clean and flat KI(001) and LiF(001) surfaces. The energy loss spectra for specific numbers of emitted electrons are analyzed in terms of a binary interaction model based on the formation of transient negative ions via local capture of valence band electrons from anion sites. Based on computer simulations we derive for this interaction scenario probabilities for the production of surface excitons, for electron loss to the conduction band of KI, for emission of electrons, and for formation of negative hydrogen ions. The pronounced differences of data obtained for the two surfaces are attributed to the different electronic structures of KI and LiF.     

14.5GHz紧凑型、低成本、全永磁ECR离子源

A compact 14.5GHz electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source for the production of slow, multiply charged ions has been constructed,with the plasma-confining magnetic field produced exclusively by permanent magnets.Microwave power of up to 175W in the frequency range from 12.75 to 14.SGHz is transmitted from ground potential via a PTFE window into the water-cooled plasma chamber which can be equipped with an aluminum liner.The waveguide coupling system serves also as biased electrode,and two remotely-controlled gas inlet valves connected via an insulating break permit plasma operation in the gas- mixing mode.A triode extraction system sustains ion acceleration voltages between 1kV and 10kV.The ECR ion source is fully computer-controlled and can be remotely operated from any desired location via Ethernet.     

Electrochemical Sensing Platforms for HER2‐ECD Breast Cancer Biomarker Detection

Screening and early diagnosis are crucial to increase the success of cancer patients’ treatments and improve the survival rate. To contribute to this success, distinct electrochemical immunosensing platforms were developed for the analysis of the ExtraCellular Domain of the Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2‐ECD) through sandwich assays on nanomaterial‐modified screen‐printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs). The most promising platforms showed to be SPCEs modified with (i) gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and (ii) multiwalled carbon nanotubes combined with AuNPs. The antibody‐antigen interaction was detected using a secondary antibody labelled with alkaline phosphatase and 3‐indoxyl phosphate and silver ions as the enzymatic substrate. The electrochemical signal of the enzymatically generated metallic silver was recorded by linear sweep voltammetry. Under the optimized conditions, linear calibration plots were obtained between 7.5 and 50 ng/mL and the total assay time was 2 h 20 min, achieving LODs of 0.16 ng/mL (SPCE‐MWCNT/AuNP) and 8.5 ng/mL (SPCE‐AuNP), which are well below the established cut‐off value of 15 ng/mL for this cancer biomarker.