Hideyuki Itabashi

Intracellular and in vivo oxygen sensing using phosphorescent Ir(III) complexes with a modified acetylacetonato ligand.

Small luminescent molecular probes based on the iridium(III) complex BTP, (btp)2Ir(acac) (btp = benzothienylpyridine, acac = acetylacetone) have been developed for sensing intracellular and in vivo O2. These compounds are BTPSA (containing an anionic carboxyl group), BTPNH2 (containing a cationic amino group), and BTPDM1 (containing a cationic dimethylamino group); all substituents are incorporated into the ancillary acetylacetonato ligand of BTP. Introduction of the cationic dimethylamino group resulted in an almost 20-fold increase in cellular uptake efficiency of BTPDM1 by HeLa cells compared with BTP. The phosphorescence intensity of BTPDM1 internalized in living cells provided a visual representation of the O2 gradient produced by placing a coverslip over cultured monolayer cells. The intracellular O2 levels (pO2) inside and outside the edge of the coverslip could be evaluated by measuring the phosphorescence lifetime of BTPDM1. Furthermore, intravenous administration of 25 nmol BTPDM1 to tumor-bearing mice allowed the tumor region to be visualized by BTPDM1 phosphorescence. The lifetime of BTPDM1 phosphorescence from tumor regions was much longer than that from extratumor regions, thereby demonstrating tumor hypoxia (pO2 = 6.1 mmHg for tumor and 50 mmHg for extratumor epidermal tissue). Tissue distribution studies showed that 2 h after injection of BTPDM1 into a mouse, the highest distribution was in liver and kidney, while after 24 h, BTPDM1 was excreted in the feces. These results demonstrate that BTPDM1 can be used as a small molecular probe for measuring intracellular O2 levels in both cultured cells and specific tissues and organs.

Cloud point extraction of Cu(II) using a mixture of triton X-100 and dithizone with a salting-out effect and its application to visual determination

A method for the separation and concentration of trace copper(II) ion (Cu(II)) via cloud point extraction (CPE) using a nonionic surfactant with a salting-out effect was developed and applied as a technique for the visual determination of Cu(II). Triton X-100 (TX-100), which has a cloud point at 64-67 °C in aqueous solutions, was used as the nonionic surfactant for the CPE of Cu(II). Although CPE with TX-100 requires heating of the solution to separate the surfactant-rich phase from the aqueous phase, the new method achieves phase separation at 15-30 °C owing to the addition of a large amount of salt to the solution, which lowers the cloud point. The compound 1,5-diphenylthiocarbazone (dithizone) was selected as the chelating agent for complexation and transfer of Cu(II) to the surfactant-rich phase. The extractability of Cu(II) (initial concentration: 10 μM) was 96.6±2.1% when Na2SO4 was added to a 20% TX-100/4 μM dithizone solution (pH 2). Using this method, the visual determination of Cu(II) was possible for concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 10 μM. In addition, the extraction system was successfully applied to the visual determination of Cu(II) in a river water sample.

Indirect spectrophotometric determination of complexing agents by flow-injection analysis based on redox reaction of copper(II) with iron(II)

Abstract An indirect spectropotometric continuous-flow method is presented for the determination of trace amounts of complexing agents such as EDTA, DTPA, CyDTA, EDTA-OH, NTA, citrate and pyrophosphate. It is based on the accelerating effect of complexing agents on the rate of the redox reaction of copper(II) with iron(II) in the presence of neocuproine. In this redox system, a copper(I)—neocuproine complex (λ max =454 nm) is produced, the concentration of which is proprotional to the concentration of the complexing agent. Complexing agents at the 10 −6 –10 −5 mol l −1 level can be determined at a rate of 180 samples h −1 . The determination of EDTA, NTA and pyrophosphate in mixtures was also studied.

Ion-exclusion/cation-exchange chromatographic determination of common inorganic ions in human saliva by using an eluent containing zwitterionic surfactant.

Ion-exclusion/cation-exchange chromatography with an eluent containing the bile salt-type zwitterionic surfactant CHAPS was performed in order to evaluate variations in anion (SO(4)(2-), NO(3)(-), and SCN(-)) and cation (Na(+), K(+), NH(4)(+), Mg(2+), and Ca(2+)) concentrations in human saliva. CHAPS prevents the adsorption of proteins to the stationary phase, i.e., weakly acidic cation-exchange resin, since it aggregates proteins without denaturing them. Addition of 1mM CHAPS to the eluent comprising 6mM tartaric acid and 7 mM 18-crown-6 yielded reproducible separations of anions and cations in protein-containing saliva. The resolutions of anions and cations were not significantly affected by the addition of CHAPS to the eluent. The concentrations of Na(+) and K(+) varied before and after meals; or that of SCN(-), upon smoking. The relative standard deviations of peak areas ranged from 0.3 to 5.1% in 1 day (n=20) and from 1.4 to 5.8% over 6 days (n=6).

Ion-exclusion/adsorption chromatography of dimethylsulfoxide and its derivatives for the evaluation to quality-test of TiO2-photocatalyst in water

Ion-exclusion/adsorption chromatography of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and its derivatives, i.e., methanesulfinic acid (MSI), methanesulfonic acid (MSA) and sulfuric acid (SA), was developed in order to clear the decomposition mechanism of DMSO on quality-test of TiO(2)-photocatalyst in water. The separation was achieved by the adsorption effect for DMSO and ion-exclusion effect for MSI, MSA and SA under optimum conditions, using a weakly acidic cation-exchange resin column with 20mM succinic acid as the eluent. In this system, DMSO and MSI with UV at 195nm and MSA and SA with conductivity detection were consecutively determined by single injection and single separation column. This method was used to monitor the artificial decomposition of DMSO induced by a photocatalyst. The concentration of DMSO by active oxygens (e.g., OH radical) generated from surface of photocatalyst was found to be decreased through the stoichiometric reaction in the order of MSI, MSA and SA.

Determination of ultratrace amounts of copper(II) by its catalytic effect on the oxidative coupling reaction of 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone with N-ethyl-N-(2-hydroxy-3-sulfopropyl)-3,5-dimethoxyaniline

A spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of ultratrace amounts of copper(II) based on its catalytic effect on the oxidative coupling reaction of 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone with N-ethyl-N-(2-hydroxy-3-sulfopropyl)-3,5-dimethoxyaniline to produce an intensely coloured dye (lambda(max) = 525 nm) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. In this reaction, pyridine acted as an effective activator for the catalysis of copper(II). By measuring the absorbance of the dye, copper(II) can be determined at the 0.002-0.1 ng cm(-3) (3.1 x 10(-11)-1.6 x 10(-9) mol dm(-3) level. The relative standard deviation for ten determinations of 0.06 ng cm(0-3) of copper(II) was 2.6%. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of copper(II) in tap water and biological material.

Flow injection determination of chromium(III) by pyrogallol chemiluminescence.

A flow injection method is proposed for the determination of nanogram amounts of chromium(III) using a pyrogallol chemiluminescence system. It is based on its catalytic effect on the oxidation of pyrogallol with periodate at a neutral medium. The addition of 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulphonic acid to the reaction system increased the chemiluminescence signal for chromium(III). The present method allows the determination of 5-100ng/ml of chromium(III). The relative standard deviation of 2.2% (n = 10) was obtained at 20 ng/ml of chromium(III) and the detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio = 2) was 1 ng/ml with the sampling frequency of 25/hr.

Photodecomposition of humic acid and natural organic matter in swamp water using a TiO2-coated ceramic foam filter: Potential for the formation of disinfection byproducts

This paper reports on the photodecomposition of aqueous humic acid (HA) by a TiO(2)-coated ceramic foam filter (TCF) reactor and on the potential for the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) upon chlorination of the photocatalytically treated solutions. This photocatalytic reactor can also be applied to the removal of natural organic matter (NOM) in swamp waters. The proposed photocatalytic reaction system was operated as per standardized methodologies. First, the ability of the TCF to decompose HA (a representative compound of NOM) was evaluated from the changes in the total organic carbon (TOC) and UV(254) with the reaction time. Remarkably, TOC removal and UV(254) values ranging from 44% to 61% and from 60% to 83%, respectively, were achieved. The potential for the formation of DBPs (total trihalomethane and total haloacetic acid) by chlorination of the phototreated solution was strongly dependent on the TOC removal and UV(254) values in the solution. The degree of photodecomposition of NOMs in the swamp water samples and the DBP formation potential showed similar trends as in the case of the standard solutions containing HA. The method used in this study could be effectively used to evaluate the efficiency of TCF for reducing HA and NOM, while suppressing the formation of DBP products.

Indirect Spectrophotometric Determination of Vanadium(IV) by Flow Injection Analysis Based on the Redox Reaction with Copper(II) in the Presence of Neocuproine

Abstract An indirect photometric method with a continuous-flow analysis is presented for the determination of trace amounts of vanadium(IV). It is based on the redox reaction of copper(II) with vanadium(1V) in the presence of neocuproine. In the presence of neocuproine, copper(I1) is reduced easily by vanadium(I V) to a copper(1)-neocuproine complex, which shows a n absorption maximum at 454 nm. By measuring t h e absorbance of the complex at this wavelength, vanadium(1V) in t h e range 2×10−6 - 8 × mol dm−5 mol dm−3 can be determined at a rate of 120 samples h−1. The fractional determination of vanadium(1V) and iron(I1) is also studied.

Capillary ion electrophoresis of inorganic anions and uric acid in human saliva using a polyvinyl alcohol coated capillary column and hexamethonium chloride as additive of background electrolyte

A combination of polyvinyl alcohol chemically coated capillary (PVA capillary) and background electrolyte (BGE) with ion-pair reagent (hexamethonium dichloride, HMC) was used on capillary ion electrophoresis-UV detection (CIE-UV) for analysis of Br⁻, I⁻, NO₂⁻, NO₃⁻, SCN⁻ and uric acid in human saliva. The PVA capillary prepared in our laboratory minimized electro-osmotic flow (EOF) at the BGE in pH 3-10, and did not affect the UV detection at 210 nm by the PVA-layer on capillary wall. Therefore, use of the PVA capillary was suitable for sensitive UV detection for analyte anions, as well as suppression of protein adsorption. In this study, we optimized the BGE of 10 mM phosphate plus 10 mM HMC with applying a voltage of -15 kV. HMC as an additive to BGE could manipulate the electrophoretic mobility of anions, without electrostatic adsorption to the PVA capillary. The CIE-UV could separate and determine analyte anions in human saliva containing proteins by the direct injection without pretreatments such as dilution or deproteinization within 13 min. The relative standard deviations (n=10) were ranged of 0.5-1.6% in migration times, 2.2-6.8% in peak heights and 2.8-8.4% in peak areas. The limits of detection (S/N=3) were ranged of 3.42-6.87 μM. The peak height of anions in this system was gradually decreased through the successive injections of saliva samples, but the problem was successfully solved by periodically conditioning the PVA capillary. The quantifiability of anions in human saliva samples by the CIE-UV was evaluated through the recoveries by standard addition methods and comparison of other representative analytical methods, as well as identification by ion chromatography (IC). From the anion analyses in 12 different saliva samples, the CIE-UV demonstrated that can obtain obvious differences in concentrations of SCN⁻ between of smoker and non-smoker and those of uric acid between male and female with satisfactory results.