Zenon Łukaszewski

Determination of nonylphenol and short-chained nonylphenol ethoxylates in drain water from an agricultural area.

Water samples from agricultural drains were tested for the presence of nonylphenol and nonylphenol mono- and diethoxylates. The analytes belong to biodegradation products of long-chained nonylphenol ethoxylates, which are used as additives in pesticide formulations. Quantification of these analytes was performed by HPLC with fluorescence detection after isolation by using multi-capillary polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) trap extraction. This newly developed technique allowed obtaining about 90% recovery of these analytes in synthetic samples and several percent lower recovery in real samples. Also, no additional sample cleaning was needed before chromatographic analysis. The limit of quantitation for all the analytes was 0.1 microg L(-1). The nonylphenol, nonylphenol mono- and diethoxylates were detected at the concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 6.0 microg L(-1), from 0.2 to 0.7 microg L(-1) and from below 0.02 to 0.4 microg L(-1), respectively. Concentrations of nonylphenol and its derivatives were higher in samples taken in spring than in summer.

Surface plasmon resonance imaging biosensor for cathepsin G based on a potent inhibitor: development and applications.

A specific surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRI) array biosensor for the determination of the enzymatically active cathepsin G (CatG) has been developed. For this purpose, a specific interaction between an inhibitor immobilized onto a chip surface and CatG in an analyzed solution was used. The MARS-115 CatG peptidyl inhibitor containing the 1-aminoalkylphosphonate diaryl ester moiety at the C terminus and N-succinamide with a free carboxylic function was synthesized and covalently immobilized onto the gold chip surface via the thiol group (cysteamine). Atomic force microscopy was used for the observation of surface changes during the subsequent steps of chip manufacture. Optimal detection conditions were chosen. High specificity of synthesized inhibitor to CatG was proved. The precision, as well as the accuracy, was found to be well suited to enzyme determination. The sensor application for the determination of CatG in white blood cells and saliva was shown for potential diagnosis of leukemia and oral cavity diseases during the early stages of those pathological states.

Investigations on the biodegradation of alkylpolyglucosides by means of liquid chromatography–electrospray mass spectrometry

The biodegradation of alkylpolyglucosides (APGs) was studied under the conditions of the OECD Screening Test with activated sludge as an inoculum. An influence of alkyl and sugar chain length on the biodegradation rate and a central scission pathway of the biodegradation were investigated. The liquid chromatography–electrospray mass spectrometry technique was used for alkylpolyglucoside analysis and for identification and semiquantitative determination of metabolites. It was found that APGs with a longer alkyl chain were biodegraded faster than those with a shorter one. However, a longer sugar chain caused slower biodegradation of APGs. The central scission pathway of biodegradation was also confirmed.

Mass spectrometric behaviour of carboxylated polyethylene glycols and carboxylated octylphenol ethoxylates.

The mass spectrometric behaviour of mono- and di-carboxylated polyethylene glycols (PEGCs and CPEGCs) and carboxylated octylphenol ethoxylates (OPECs) is discussed. The tendency for ionisation (deprotonation, protonation and cationisation by alkali–metal cations) of carboxylated PEGs was compared with that of non-carboxylated analogues by using both secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and electrospray ionisation (ESI). The fragmentation of the PEGCs and CPEGCs is discussed and also compared with their neutral analogues, PEGs. B/E linked-scan mass spectra were recorded, using secondary-ion mass spectrometry as a method for ion generation, for deprotonated and protonated molecules as well as for molecules cationised by alkali–metal cations. The fragmentation behaviour of PEGs is found to be different from that of CPEGCs, The presence of carboxyl groups may be confirmed not only by the determination of molecular weights of the ethoxylates studied, but also on the basis of the fragment ions formed. The metastable decomposition of the [OPEC-H]− ions proceeds through the cleavage of the bond between the octylphenol moiety and the ethoxylene chain and leads to the octylphenoxyl anions. It permits determination of the mass of the hydrophobic moiety of the studied carboxylated alkylphenol ethoxylate. ESI mass spectra recorded in the negative-ion mode were found to be more suitable than SI mass spectra for the determination of the average molecular weight of carboxylated ethoxylates.

Determination of cathepsin G in endometrial tissue using a surface plasmon resonance imaging biosensor with tailored phosphonic inhibitor

OBJECTIVE Cathepsin G is a serine peptidase whose physiological role is mainly associated with an early immune response, anti-microbial activity as well as platelet activation or hydrolysis of coagulation factors. In addition, since the activity of cathepsin G has been associated with the development of various pathological disorders, the measurement of its activity in patient samples is of high interest. Unfortunately, the usefulness of common immunological methods is limited, since they cannot distinguish between catalytically active and inactive protease. STUDY DESIGN Here we present the application of recently developed Surface Plasmon Resonance-based biosensor for the detection of active cathepsin G in human endometrium samples. The key element of the system is based on the irreversible binding of cathepsin G to its specific phosphonic-type inhibitor immobilized on the surface of the gold chip. The concentration of cathepsin G was measured in tissue samples from the group of patients with endometriosis as well as in the control group. RESULTS The level of cathepsin G ascertained in endometrium tissue samples was over twice as high for the group of patients suffering from endometriosis as compared to the control group, with the median values of 0.5 pmol/mg and 0.2 pmol/mg, respectively. CONCLUSION The SPR sensor armed with a specific irreversible phosphonic inhibitor represents a highly useful tool for the determination of catalytically active cathepsin G concentration in endometrial tissue.