Weijun Kang

DETERMINATION OF CR(III) AND CR(VI) IN ENVIRONMENTAL WATERS BY DERIVATIVE FLAME ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY USING FLOW INJECTION ON-LINE PRECONCENTRATION WITH DOUBLE-MICROCOLUMN ADSORPTION

The species of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in water samples were determined by flow injection on-line preconcentration and separation on two-microcolumn system-derivative flame atomic absorption spectrometry during a collaborative analysis for certification. The Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in water samples were retained on two microcolumns with ion exchange resin and were eluted directly to nebulizer by 15% HNO3 and 8% NH4NO3, respectively. The characteristic concentration (at the sensitivity grade of 2 mV min−1 for 1 min of preconcentration time) for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were 0.130 and 0.0985 μg l−1, in the order which were 332- and 431-fold better than those of FAAS, and 45- and 47-fold better than those of FI-FAAS, respectively. The relative standard deviations were 3.27% and 3.66% with corresponding detection limits (3σ) of 0.244 and 0.235 μg l−1, respectively. The linear ranges of determinations for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were 0∼100 μgm l−1 with correlation coefficients of 0.9984 to 0.9996. The satisfactory recovery of 94.4%∼106% for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) could be obtained from water samples.

Highly selective and sensitive determination of several antioxidants in human breast milk using high-performance liquid chromatography based on Ag(III) complex chemiluminescence detection

Ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA) and glutathione (GSH) are the most important water-soluble antioxidants. The concentrations of GSH and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and their molar ratio are the indicators of oxidative stress. Little is known about the contents of UA, GSH and GSSG in human milk; a reliable and sensitive method to monitor the concentrations of the four compounds simultaneously in human milk is of critical importance. A new method for separation and quantification of these water-soluble antioxidants by HPLC coupled with Ag(III) chemiluminescence detector has been developed in this work with better recoveries. The antioxidants contents were determined in different times of lactation utilizing this method. The results show that the levels of AA, UA, GSH and GSH/GSSG of human colostrum are significantly higher than those of mature milk (P<0.05). It is concluded that colostrum contains more water-soluble antioxidants than mature milk.

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of the drug intermediate 1-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperidine by Bis(hydrogenperiodato)argentate(III)

1-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperidine (HEP) is involved in many drugs and drug leads, but its oxidation mechanisms are poorly understood. The oxidation of HEP by bis(hydrogenperiodato)-argentate(III) ([Ag(HIO6)2]5-;) in aqueous alkaline medium was shown, by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), to generate piperidine and formaldehyde as the major products. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically in the 25.0 to 40.0 oC range revealing that the oxidation followed a first-order kinetics in [Ag(III)] and a fractional-order in [HEP]. A rate law and a reaction mechanism were proposed based on the study of the dependency of the pseudo-first-order rate constants, kobsd, on [OHˉ] and on [IO4ˉ]tot (total concentration of periodate). The mechanism involves the formation of a periodato-Ag(III)-HEP ternary complex, whose decomposition generates Ag(I) by means of two pathways: one independent and another facilitated by OHˉ. The reaction rate constants and associated equilibrium constants as well as the activation parameters of the rate-determining steps were calculated.

Trace level determination of 5-hydroxytryptamine and its related indoles in amniotic fluid by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

&NA; 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) and its derivatives are endogenously active substances involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes. A novel method of detetermining 5‐hydroxyindole ethanol (5‐HTOL), 5‐hydroxyindole acetic acid (5‐HIAA), 5‐hydroxytryptophan (5‐HTP) and 5‐HT in amniotic fluid by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was established based on a modified method of derivatization by silanization, in combination with solid‐phase extraction pretreatment. Good linearity was achieved in the tested calibration range. The limits of detection (LOD) were 0.05, 0.08, 0.56, 0.43 &mgr;g/L for 5‐HTOL, 5‐HIAA, 5‐HTP and 5‐HT, respectively. Accuracy (92.4‐103.3) and precision (RSD < 5.4%) for all analytes was also determined. Then the method was used to analyze samples of amniotic fluid from 12 patients carrying foetuses with trisomy 21 and 12 healthy controls. Compared with normal fetuses, the levels of 5‐HTOL, 5‐HTP and 5‐HT in the amniotic fluid were significantly altered in the fetuses with trisomy 21 (P < 0.01); the level of 5‐HIAA showed no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). This is a rapid, sensitive and reliable method for the determination of 5‐HTOL, 5‐HIAA, 5‐HTP and 5‐HT, and the study provide both potential trisomy 21 markers and elucidation of the physiological and pathological roles of 5‐HT. Graphical abstract Figure. No caption available. Highlights5‐HT and its related indoles play important physiological roles.A novel GC–MS method of detecting 5‐HTOL, 5‐HIAA, 5‐HTP and 5‐HT in amniotic fluid was established.5‐HT and its related indoles in the T21 had been explored by the proposed method.The sensitive method may be used in studies focusing on clinical pathogenesis of T21.

Investigation of a novel Ag(III) chemiluminescence system and its mechanism for determination of uric acid in human urine

A simple and sensitive method based on flow-injection chemiluminescence analysis coupled with luminol-Ag(III) complex was developed for the determination of uric acid (UA) in human urine. The method was based on the chemiluminescence (CL) reaction of luminol with Ag(III) in alkaline solution. UA in the urine can dramatically enhance CL intensities. In optimum conditions, the relative CL intensity had a linear relationship with UA concentration in the range of 1.0 × 10-8 to 5.0 × 10-6 mol L-1 with a detection limit of 2.0 × 10-9 mol L-1 (3σ). The relative standard deviation (n = 11) was 0.71% for 1.0 × 10-7 mol L-1 UA. Possible reaction mechanisms for the CL system were suggested based on the UV absorption spectra, CL spectra, and the free radical trapping experiment performed in this work.

Cytotoxicity of Aconitum alkaloid and its interaction with calf thymus DNA by multi-spectroscopic techniques

The cytotoxicities of three aconitum alkaloids- aconitine, hypaconitine and mesaconitine, and their abilities to bind DNA have been explored. Rat myocardial cells H9c2 were treated with aconitum alkaloids and assessed the cytotoxicities by using MTT assay and flow cytometry. Apoptosis was evidenced by the results of the annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) assay. Aconitine was found to be the most toxic in rat myocardial cells H9c2 in three aconitum alkaloids. At the same time, DNA adducts were isolated and then analyzed by UV-Vis spectroscopy after exposure to alkaloids, which indicated that three alkaloids could bind to DNA in rat myocardial cells H9c2. Furthermore, their binding modes were investigated by UV-Visible, fluorescence, DNA melting studies and ionic strength effect. Results indicated that the interaction between three alkaloids and DNA were intercalation coupled with electrostatic effect. The estimated binding constants were between 4.83 × 105 M−1 to 9.85 × 105 M−1 for three alkaloids at 298 K.

Development of a derivatization method for the quantification of hydrogen sulfide and its application in vascular calcification rats

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) plays major functional and structural roles in diverse physiological functions and the pathogenesis of a variety of disorders in biological matrices. The significance of H2S has prompted the development of sensitive and selective methods to determine its concentration in biological samples. The fluorescent reagent monobromobimane (MBB) has been widely used to measure various thiol-containing species through alkylation. MBB may prevent the oxidation of sulfide and the reaction of sulfide with several different species (such as superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite). An isomers of MBB, 3-(bromomethyl)-2, 6, 7-trimethyl-1H, 5H-pyrazolo [1,2-a] pyrazole-1, 5-dione (MMB), is cheaper than MBB and its use in the analysis of H2S has not previously been reported. In the present study, we compared the derivatization reactions of hydrogen sulfide with MMB and MBB and developed a sensitive method to quantify H2S in blood. In our method, H2S was incubated in the dark with excess MMB in 0.1M Tris-HCl buffer (pH 10.1) at 50°C for 120min. 50μL aliquots of the derivatized product were analyzed using HPLC system with gradient elution of 0.1% (v/v) formic acid-acetonitrile. The limit of detection for the derivatized product was 0.03nmol/mL. The derivatization reaction was suitable for detecting low concentrations of H2S. The derivate product is stable over time, permitting batch storage and analysis.

Studies on the metabolism and degradation of vancomycin in simulated in vitro and aquatic environment by UHPLC-Triple-TOF-MS/MS

Vancomycin is one of the most commonly used glycopeptide antiobiotics, and as such is an important emerging environmental contaminant. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), such as antibiotics, are problematic since wastewater treatment processes are not completely effective at removing these chemical compounds. Since wastewater treatment processes are not completely effective, vancomycin occurs in surface water. Vancomycin and its metabolites in vivo and degradation products in aquatic environment may lead to undesirable ecological effects that threaten the environment or cause undesirable reactions that affect human health. We aimed to study vancomycin metabolism in vitro and its natural degradation in aquatic environment, as well as explore for related metabolites and degradation products. Accordingly, we established four systems, using a constant temperature oscillator at 37 °C for 10 days for vancomycin in activated rat liver microsomes (experimental system), inactivated rat liver microsomes (control system), phosphate buffer saline (PBS system) and pure water (pure water system), as well as an additional system of activated rat liver microsomes without vancomycin (blank system). The metabolism and degradation of vancomycin were studied using a high resolution and high sensitivity ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)-Triple-time of flight (TOF)-mass spectrometry (MS) method in positive ion mode. The compared result of activated rat liver microsomes system and inactivated rat liver microsomes system confirms that vancomycin is not metabolized in the liver. Vancomycin was degraded in the four non-blank incubation systems. The MetabolitePilot 2.0 software was used for screening the probable degradation products, as well as for establishing its associated degradation pathways. Eventually, four degradation products were identified and their chemical structures were deduced. The results of this study provide a foundation for evaluation of the effects of vancomycin and its degradation products on environmental safety and human health in the future.

Derivatization method for the quantification of lactic acid in cell culture media via gas chromatography and applications in the study of cell glycometabolism

Lactic acid represents an important metabolite that reflects mitochondria function and may further serve as energy source for cancer cells. In light of this physiological and pathological significance, we developed a novel and sensitive gas chromatography method to detect lactic acid in cell culture media. Here, ethyl chloroformate was selected as derivative reagent and the derivatization process was further optimized in terms of number of reagents and reaction time as well as extraction reagents. Under optimal conditions, good linearity was achieved in the tested calibration range. The limit of detection (LOD) was determined to be 0.67 μmol/L, the recovery rates were 99.6%-106% and the precision rate RSD was <5.49%. Furthermore, this method has been applied to quantify the secretion of lactic acid in cells exposed to mono‑2‑ethylhexyl phthalate at different doses and in cancer cells over time. Taken in concert, our method proved to be both sensitive and reliable and may be applied for studies on mitochondrial function and cell glycolysis conditions.

Development of a Method for Rapid Determination of Morpholine in Juices and Drugs by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

A reliable derivatization method has been developed to detect and quantify morpholine in apple juices and ibuprofen with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Morpholine can react with sodium nitrite under acidic condition to produce stable and volatile N-nitrosomorpholine derivative. In this experiment, various factors affecting the derivatization and extraction process were optimized, including volume and concentration of hydrochloric acid, quantity of sodium nitrite, derivatization temperature, derivatization time, extraction reagents, and extraction time. The derivative was extracted with dichloromethane and determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The linearity range of morpholine was 10–500 μg·L−1 with good correlation, and limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) were 7.3 μg·L−1 and 24.4 μg·L−1, respectively. Low, medium, and high concentrations of morpholine were added in apple juices and ibuprofen samples to evaluate standard recovery rate and relative standard deviation. The spiked recovery rate ranged from 94.3% to 109.0%, and the intraday repeatability and interday reproducibility were 2.0%–4.4% and 3.3%–7.0%, respectively. The developed method has good accuracy and precision. This quantitative method for morpholine is simple, sensitive, rapid, and low cost and can successfully be applied to analyze the residual morpholine in apple juices and drug samples.