Elizabeth Contreras-López

Food Analysis by Microextraction Methods Based on the Use of Magnetic Nanoparticles as Supports: Recent Advances

In the last years, nanotechnology progress has impact several fields of food science. In food analysis, new nanomaterials have been developed in order to extract minority food components. Recently, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been used as sorbents in methodologies based on dispersive solid-phase microextraction. The main advantage of MNPs as sorbent is their magnetic behavior, which it allows to separate from the food matrix minor components with the aid of a magnet. This MNP property avoids tedious centrifugation and filtration steps, and in turn decreasing sample preparation times and source of errors. The MNPs as sorbent do not need to package in a column, and the separation process is quickly. Other advantages of MNPs in the microextraction of food components are low cost, high concentration factors, and low detection limits; this has allowed the diversification of its applications. Several methods and compounds have been used in the design and functionalization of MNPs, this review focuses in the description of these, especially for the analysis of contaminants (for example, pesticides, heavy metals, drugs, compounds produced during food processing, adulterants, among others).

Microextraction method of medium and long chain fatty acids from milk

The aim of this research was to develop a method for microextraction and quantification of long and medium chain fatty acids from milk. The proposed method was carried out on three steps: (1) lipids extraction from 10 μL of whole or skimmed milk containing omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) during 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, in 2 mL chloroform: methanol mixture (2:1); (2) acid methylation of FAs; and (3) quantification of FAs methyl esters by gas chromatography. Using this method, the percentage recovery of FAs was higher (67% for whole and 85% for skimmed milk) compared with AOAC method 905.02 recovery (49% and 83%, respectively). Good reproducibility and repeatability (<3%) were obtained. The method developed can be useful for researching and in routine quality control. Additionally, it is simpler, faster and cheaper than the reference procedure since it requires minimum sample and solvents volume as well as fewer steps.

Sequential Injection Magneto Chromatography Determination of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Pharmaceutical Formulations

A magnetic separation method based on the use of magnetic silica as the stationary phase in sequential injection chromatography was used for simultaneous determination of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (acetaminophen, naproxen, diclofenac, and ibuprofen) in tablets. The method is based on a thin layer paramagnetic stationary phase retained on the inner wall of a mini-column through the action of an external magnetic field. The influence of the variables involved was evaluated and the optimal conditions were found to be: a methyl-silica magnetic adsorbent was used as the stationary phase, the mobile phase was methanol-water (60:40, v/v), pH 2.5 adjusted with 98% phosphoric acid, a flow rate 0.60 ml min−1, and UV detection at 225 nm. Under these conditions, the linear range of the calibration curve ranged from 3–6 mg L−1 to 100 mg L−1 with limits of detection ranging between 1 to 2 mg L−1. The proposed method was validated by comparing the results obtained against those provided by high performance liquid chromatography; no significant differences were seen.

Purification of Anthocyanins with o-Dihydroxy Arrangement by Sorption in Cationic Resins Charged with Fe(III)

In the present work, a new purification method of anthocyanins with o-dihydroxy arrangement is proposed. This method is based on a ligand-exchange mechanism, using a cationic exchange resin loaded with metallic ions in order to increase the affinity of the resin to the anthocyanin(s) with o-dihydroxy arrangement. This method was used to purify the main anthocyanin (cyanidin-3-glucoside; Cy-3-glc) from the anthocyanic methanolic extract of blue corn. The best sorption result was using Fe(III) in its ion form. The purification procedure begins with the formation of a metal-anthocyanin complex (Cy-3-glc-Fe) which was optimal at pH 5, followed by a NaOH 0.1 M elution process in order to eliminate anthocyanins without o-dihydroxy arrangement, sugars, and organic acids. Finally, the pure anthocyanin is obtained by adding HCl 0.1 M which breaks the metal-anthocyanin complex.

Peptide separation of commercial fermented milk during refrigerated storage

Milk is an important source of bioactive compounds. Many of these compounds are released during fermentation and refrigerated storage. The aim of this study was to determine the release of peptides by lactic acid bacteria in commercial fermented milk during refrigerated storage. The size and profile of peptides were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and sizeexclusion HPLC. During electrophoresis, it was observed that the peptides were released from caseins, whereas β-lactoglobulin was the whey protein with the highest degradation. HPLC analysis confirmed the pattern of peptide formation observed in electrophoresis. Two fractions lower than 2 kDa with aromatic amino acids in their structure were separated. These results were consistent with those reported for structures of peptides with antihypertensive activity. Therefore, the presence of aromatic amino acids in the peptide fractions obtained increases the likelihood of finding peptides with such activity in refrigerated commercial fermented milk. In conclusion, during cold storage, peptides with different molecular weights are released and accumulated. This could be due to the action of proteinases and peptidases of the proteolytic system in lactic acid bacteria.

Evaluation of Natural Materials as Exogenous Carbon Sources for Biological Treatment of Low Carbon-to-Nitrogen Wastewater

In the bacterial processes involved in the mitigation of nitrogen pollution, an adequately high carbon-to-nitrogen (C : N) ratio is key to sustain denitrification. We evaluated three natural materials (woodchips, barley grains, and peanut shells) as carbon sources for low C : N wastewater. The amount of organic matter released from these materials to aqueous media was evaluated, as well as their pollution swapping potential by measuring the release of total Kjeldahl nitrogen, N-NH4 +, NO2 −, and NO3 −, and total phosphorous. Barley grains yielded the highest amount of organic matter, which also showed to be the most easily biodegradable. Woodchips and peanut shells released carbon rather steadily and so they would not require frequent replenishment from biological reactors. These materials produced eluates with lower concentrations of nutrients than the leachates from barley grains. However, as woodchips yielded lower amounts of suspended solids, they constitute an adequate exogenous source for the biological treatment of carbon-deficient effluents.

Evaluation of Consumption of Poultry Products Enriched with Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Anthropometric, Biochemical, and Cardiovascular Parameters

An alternative for prevention and treatment for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is increasing the intake of bioactive compounds as omega-3. However, several countries as Mexico do not consume regularly foods with high content of omega-3, mainly fish products due to cultural, social, and economic factors. Therefore, the addition of omega-3 in other food sources could contribute to completing the requirements established of these fatty acids. To evaluate the effect of the consumption of poultry products supplemented with omega-3 in healthy population, a phase 1, double blind randomized, controlled parallel-group trial was carried out. After 14 weeks, the supplemented group had an increase in HDL, reducing the atherogenic index. The supplementation with omega-3 in poultry products could contribute to a cardioprotective effect. It is necessary to complete studies with a higher evaluation period to determine the improvement in anthropometric and cardiovascular parameters.