Development and validation of a gas chromatography mass spectrometry method for the analysis of phytoestrogens,phytosterols and mycotoxins in estuarine water samples

Many pollutants currently released into the environment may cause adverse effects on exposed organisms leading to disruption of the endocrine system. Among them are natural compounds such as phytoestrogens and phytosterols, found in various plants and mycotoxins produced by a wide range of fungal species. The presence of some classes of phytoestrogens and phytosterols has been demonstrated in environmental samples while little information can be found about the presence of mycotoxins. Due to the complexity of environmental matrices and the low concentrations normally found, sensitive and selective methods are required for an unequivocal quantification of this type of compounds. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an analytical method for the simultaneous quantification of seven phytoestrogens, two phytosterols and three mycotoxins in estuarine water samples. The method consisted of the preconcentration of estuarine water samples (1 L) on 200 mg OASIS HLB cartridges, followed by a clean-up step in 1 g silica cartridges and quantification by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry ion trap analyser. Validation parameters were evaluated and the method demonstrated to be selective and linear with correlations higher than 0.99. Method detection limits were in the ng L^?1 levels ranging from 18.0 to 90.0 ng L^?1, recovery rates ranged from 59.8% to 99.5% and precision (RSD) from 5.5% and 9.7%. The feasibility of the method was demonstrated in surface water samples from Douro River estuary, a polluted estuary, with reported incidence of endocrine-disrupting phenomena.     

A column-switching method for quantification of the enantiomers of omeprazole in native matrices of waste and estuarine water samples

This work reports the use of a two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) system for quantification of the enantiomers of omeprazole in distinct native aqueous matrices. An octyl restricted-access media bovine serum albumin column (RAM-BSA C₈) was used in the first dimension, while a polysaccharide-based chiral column was used in the second dimension with either ultraviolet (UV-vis) or ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (IT-MS/MS) detection. An in-line configuration was employed to assess the exclusion capacity of the RAM-BSA columns to humic substances. The excluded macromolecules had a molecular mass in the order of 18 kDa. Good selectivity, extraction efficiency, accuracy, and precision were achieved employing a very small amount (500 μL or 1.00 mL) of native water sample per injection, with detection limits of 5.00 μg L⁻¹, using UV-vis, and 0.0250 μg L⁻¹, using IT-MS/MS. The total analysis time was only 35 min, with no time spent on sample preparation. The methods were successfully applied to analyze a series of waste and estuarine water samples. The enantiomers were detected in an estuarine water sample collected from the Douro River estuary (Portugal) and in an influent sample from the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) of São Carlos (Brazil). As far as we are concerned, this is the first report of the occurrence of (+)-omeprazole and (−)-omeprazole in native aqueous matrices.     

Enantioselectivity in Drug Pharmacokinetics and Toxicity: Pharmacological Relevance and Analytical Methods

Enzymes, receptors, and other binding molecules in biological processes can recognize enantiomers as different molecular entities, due to their different dissociation constants, leading to diverse responses in biological processes. Enantioselectivity can be observed in drugs pharmacodynamics and in pharmacokinetic (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion), especially in metabolic profile and in toxicity mechanisms. The stereoisomers of a drug can undergo to different metabolic pathways due to different enzyme systems, resulting in different types and/or number of metabolites. The configuration of enantiomers can cause unexpected effects, related to changes as unidirectional or bidirectional inversion that can occur during pharmacokinetic processes. The choice of models for pharmacokinetic studies as well as the subsequent data interpretation must also be aware of genetic factors (such as polymorphic metabolic enzymes), sex, patient age, hepatic diseases, and drug interactions. Therefore, the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of a racemate or an enantiomerically pure drug are not equal and need to be studied. Enantioselective analytical methods are crucial to monitor pharmacokinetic events and for acquisition of accurate data to better understand the role of the stereochemistry in pharmacokinetics and toxicity. The complexity of merging the best enantioseparation conditions with the selected sample matrix and the intended goal of the analysis is a challenge task. The data gathered in this review intend to reinforce the importance of the enantioselectivity in pharmacokinetic processes and reunite innovative enantioselective analytical methods applied in pharmacokinetic studies. An assorted variety of methods are herein briefly discussed.     

Chiral Stationary Phases Based on Small Molecules: An Update of the Last 17 Years

A literature survey covering the report on Pirkle-type chiral stationary phases (CSPs) from January 2000 to March 2017 is presented in this review. More than 200 CSPs comprising small molecules as chiral selectors covalently bound to the chromatographic support have been reported in this period. The chemical nature of these new chiral selectors, new insights into the development strategies and their applications in liquid chromatography were emphasized.     

Pharmaceutical trace analysis in aqueous environmental matrices by liquid chromatography–ion trap tandem mass spectrometry

An analytical method based on solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with an ion trap analyser was developed and validated for the quantification of a series of pharmaceutical compounds with distinct physical–chemical characteristics in estuarine water samples. Method detection limits were between 0.03 and 16.4 ng/L. The sensitivity and the accuracy obtained associated with the inherent confirmatory potential of ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (IT-MS/MS) validates its success as an environmental analysis tool. Two MS/MS transitions were used to confirm compound identity. Almost all pharmaceuticals were detected at ng/L level in at least one sampling site of the Douro River estuary, Portugal.     

Small Molecules as Chromatographic Tools for HPLC Enantiomeric Resolution: Pirkle-Type Chiral Stationary Phases Evolution

This review focuses on the evolution of Pirkle-type chiral stationary phases (CSPs), based on chiral recognition mechanism of small molecules and applications directly related with Medicinal Chemistry. Therefore, the strategies to plan these chiral selectors for enantioseparation of diverse therapeutic classes of chiral drugs and the understanding of the recognition mechanism are emphasized. The planning of Pirkle and co-workers to design different classes of CSPs was initially based on NMR studies, following the principle of reciprocity together with chromatographic results and studies of chiral recognition phenomena. All those features are described and critically discussed in this review. Finally, based on general principles established by Pirkle’s work it can be inferred that diverse chiral small molecules can be successfully used as chromatographic tools for enantiomeric resolution. In this context, several research groups were inspired on Pirkle’s design to develop new CSPs. Xanthone derivatives bonded to chiral groups were also exploited as selectors for CSPs and are briefly reported.

     

Small Molecules as Chromatographic Tools for HPLC Enantiomeric Resolution: Pirkle-Type Chiral Stationary Phases Evolution

This review focuses on the evolution of Pirkle-type chiral stationary phases (CSPs), based on chiral recognition mechanism of small molecules and applications directly related with Medicinal Chemistry. Therefore, the strategies to plan these chiral selectors for enantioseparation of diverse therapeutic classes of chiral drugs and the understanding of the recognition mechanism are emphasized. The planning of Pirkle and co-workers to design different classes of CSPs was initially based on NMR studies, following the principle of reciprocity together with chromatographic results and studies of chiral recognition phenomena. All those features are described and critically discussed in this review. Finally, based on general principles established by Pirkle’s work it can be inferred that diverse chiral small molecules can be successfully used as chromatographic tools for enantiomeric resolution. In this context, several research groups were inspired on Pirkle’s design to develop new CSPs. Xanthone derivatives bonded to chiral groups were also exploited as selectors for CSPs and are briefly reported.