Activity of microemulsion-based nanoparticles at the human bio-nano interface: concentration-dependent effects on thrombosis and hemolysis in whole blood

Background: Although microemulsion-based nanoparticles (MEs) may be useful for drug delivery or scavenging, these benefits must be balanced against potential nanotoxicological effects in biological tissue (bio-nano interface). We investigated the actions of assembled MEs and their individual components at the bio-nano interface of thrombosis and hemolysis in human blood. Methods: Oil-in-water MEs were synthesized using ethylbutyrate, sodium caprylate, and pluronic F-68 (ME4) or F-127 (ME6) in 0.9% NaCl_w/v. The effects of MEs or components on thrombosis were determined using thrombo-elastography, platelet contractile force, clot elastic modulus, and platelet counting. For hemolysis, ME or components were incubated with erythrocytes, centrifuged, and washed for measurement of free hemoglobin by spectroscopy. Results and conclusions: The mean particle diameters (polydispersity index) for ME6 and ME4 were 23.6 ± 2.5 nm (0.362) and 14.0 ± 1.0 nm (0.008), respectively. MEs (0, 0.03, 0.3, 3 mM) markedly reduced the thromboelastograph maximal amplitude in a concentration-dependent manner (49.0 ± 4.2, 39.0 ± 5.6, 15.0 ± 8.7, 3.8 ± 1.3 mm, respectively), an effect highly correlated (r2 = 0.94) with similar changes caused by pluronic surfactants (48.7 ± 10.9, 30.7 ± 15.8, 20.0 ± 11.3, 2.0 ± 0.5) alone. Neither oil nor sodium caprylate alone affected the thromboelastograph. The clot contractile force was reduced by ME (27.3 ± 11.1–6.7 ± 3.4 kdynes/cm², P = 0.02, n = 5) whereas the platelet population not affected (175 ± 28–182 ± 23 10⁶/ml, P = 0.12, n = 6). This data suggests that MEs reduced platelet activity due to associated pluronic surfactants, but caused minimal changes in protein function necessary for coagulation. Although pharmacological concentrations of sodium caprylate caused hemolysis (EC₅₀ = 213 mM), MEs and pluronic surfactants did not disrupt erythrocytes. Knowledge of nanoparticle activity and potential associated nanotoxicity at this bio-nano interface enables rational ME design for in vivo applications.     

On-line coupling between chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry — a current assessment

The current state of on-line coupling between liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is reviewed. The applications can be divided into three subgroups by changing the importance of the coupling partners. An overview is given of applications in these subgroups, of its use as preconcentration and matrix elimination techniques, for the elimination of spectral interferences and as a tool for speciation analysis. A discussion of current and future development areas in on-line HPLC-ICP-MS is also included.     

On-line coupling of ion chromatography and atomic spectrometry for ultra trace analysis in high purity molybdenum- and tungsten-silicide

The well-established technique of on-line coupling ion chromatography and atomic spectrometry for ultra trace analysis in high purity molybdenum and tungsten is extended to include the silicides MoSi(x) and WSi(x). An additionally included matrix elimination step allows an almost interference-free trace analysis in the silicide matrices. Reproducibility and accuracy of the on-line method were checked by comparison with several other methods, such as isotope dilution, radiochemical neutron activation analysis, direct determination by atomic absorption analysis and not at least with glow discharge mass spectrometry. The results show the high potential of the on-line method for reaching detection limits in the pg g(-1) range, but they show also remaining problems with contamination and system calibration.     

Erratum zu: Stöchiometrie und Kinetik der Karl-Fiseher-Reaktion in Methanol als Reaktionsmedium

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry -     

Germanium dioxide as internal standard for simplified trace determination of bromate, bromide, iodate and iodide by on-line coupling ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The use of elemental mass spectrometry as detection for ion chromatography allows sensitive determination of several bromine and iodine species at a reasonable time scale. Lowest concentrations observable are 66 ng L(-1) for bromate, 45 ng L(-1) for iodate, 74 ng L(-1) for bromide and 151 ng L(-1) for iodide. A major drawback of previous IC-ICP-MS applications is the high consumption of time and thus the running costs. The use of GeO2 as internal standard not only allows improved external calibration, but also semiquantitative determination of bromate, bromide, iodate and iodide without any calibration procedure. Furthermore, GeO2 can be used for all known types of anion exchange columns regardless of their construction principles. It is shown, that the analyte-to-GeO2 ratio of four bromine and iodine species was nearly constant over 4 months and almost independent from the ICP-MS instrumental settings. The quantification by means of the analyte-to-GeO2 ratio for samples taken from a bromate round robin test shows that the values obtained are in excellent agreement with calibration curve and isotope dilution results.     

Unbounded dissipative compressed Toeplitz operators

Denote by the collection of all closed densely defined linear maps commuting with the adjoint of the compression of the standard unilateral shift on the Hardy space to a shift coinvariant subspace. Necessary and sufficient conditions for a linear map in the class to be dissipative are given.     

Synthesis of a series of monomeric styrene sulfobetaine precursors

Procedures for the synthesis of five sulfobetaine monomers as styrene derivatives are given. The five molecules form a homologous row differing in the distance between the inner quaternary amine and the outer sulfonic acid from one methylene group to five methylene groups. Syntheses are achieved by a sequence of nucleophilic substitutions starting from commercially available precursors.     

Spacer-modified stationary phases for anion chromatography: Alkyl- and carbonylalkylspacers – A comparison

A comparison of two separation columns for high-capacity anion chromatography is presented. The distinctive feature of both packing materials is the structure of the alkyl-chain (spacer-group) between the polymer-backbone and the functional group. All other parameters, e.g. exchange capacity, functionality and length of the spacer-arm, are identical. The retention behavior of the so-called standard-anions is investigated on both columns under identical chromatographic conditions using an experimental design technique in the course of which the composition of the elution system applied is varied. The statistical treatment of the retention data offers the possibility to explain the different chromatographic behavior of both stationary phases, at least qualitatively.     

Das Atomgewicht des Rhodiums

Ohne Zusammenfassung