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Thin-film solid-phase extraction to measure fugacities of organic chemicals with low volatility in biological samples.

To investigate the environmental fate, food chain bioaccumulation, and toxicity of organic chemicals, it is often preferable to measure the chemical's fugacity rather than its concentration. However, simple methods to do this are rare. This paper presents a novel yet simple method to measure fugacities of a range of poorly volatile hydrophobic organic chemicals ranging in octanol-air partition coefficients from 10(5.6) to 10(9.2). Thin films of ethylene vinyl acetate coated on glass surfaces are used as solid-phase samplers of contaminated biological tissues. The technique is applied to fish tissue samples and spiked fish diets to determine method feasibility, equilibration times, reproducibility, and property characteristics of the thin films. It is concluded that the method provides an attractive technique to measure chemical fugacities in biological tissues without requiring solvent extractions and cleanup. The method is further expected to be applicable to investigate the fugacity of semivolatile and poorly volatile organic chemicals in air, water, sediments, and soil.

Chemistry Techniques, Analytical↗

Determination of halogens, with special reference to iodine, in geological and biological samples using pyrohydrolysis for preparation and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and ion chromatography for measurement.

A method for determining iodine, bromine, chlorine and fluorine in geological and biological materials is described. In a quartz tube, solid material was heated to 1100 degrees C under a wet oxygen flow (pyrohydrolysis). By this process the halogens (I, Br, Cl, F) were separated from the matrix and then collected in a receiver solution. The chemical yield of iodine was determined by a radioactive tracer. ICP-MS and ion chromatographic measurements were used for the determination of the halogens. The method was optimized by investigating different experimental conditions. All four halogens can be trapped in the receiver solution from one combustion procedure. Precision and accuracy were evaluated by the analysis of environmental standard reference materials (rock, soil, milk, leaves, marine tissue). The concentrations in the materials analysed were in the ranges 0.006-50 mg kg-1 for I, 0.06-1300 mg kg-1 for Br, 50-1100 mg kg-1 for F and 400-11000 mg kg-1 for Cl. The lower values represent the practical detection limit of this method. The results obtained by the proposed method and the certified values are in good agreement.

Chromatography↗

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of the new hypoxic cell radiosensitiser, Ro 03-8799, in biological samples.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method of analysis with UV detection has been developed to measure levels of a new radiosensitiser, Ro 03-8799 and its N-oxide metabolite, in biological fluids and tissues. The accuracy and precision of the method have been determined in both plasma and urine, where the limits of quantitation are 100 and 500 ng/ml, respectively. Typical results are presented from a human volunteer study where samples were analysed by this method. Important aspects of the method, involving both sample handling techniques and chromatographic conditions are discussed.

Animals↗

The estimation of magnesium in small biological samples by flame spectrophotometry.

Studies of human magnesium metabolism in this laboratory called for a simple and reliable method of estimating the magnesium content of large numbers of small biological specimens (Montgomery, 1960). It has been found that a technique involving the Unicam S.P. 900 flame spectrophotometer fulfils this need. Estimations have been made on serum, red cells, urine, and acid digests of muscle and faeces. A standard instrument was used, burning acetylene and air, with a new standard atomiser containing a metal jet. Readings were made at the atomic line of 285.2 mmu.

Body Fluids↗

(1)H relaxation times of metabolites in biological samples obtained with nondestructive ex-vivo slow-MAS NMR.

Methods suitable for measuring (1)H relaxation times such as T(1), T(2) and T(1rho) of metabolites in small, intact biological objects including live cells, excised organs and tissues, oil seeds etc. are developed in this work. This was achieved by combining inversion-recovery, spin-echo, or a spin-lock segment with the phase-adjusted spinning sideband (PASS) technique, which was applied at low sample-spinning rates. Here, PASS was used to produce high-resolution (1)H spectra in a nondestructive way so that the relaxation parameters of individual metabolite could be determined. The methodologies were demonstrated by measuring (1)H T(1), T(2), and T(1rho) of metabolites in excised rat liver at a spinning rate of 40 Hz.

Animals↗

Improved protocols for quantitative determination of metabolites from biological samples using high performance ionic-exchange chromatography with conductimetric and pulsed amperometric detection.

Simple and reliable protocols are described for an extensive analysis of metabolites in extracts from different biological sources. The separation was performed by high performance ionic-exchange chromatography (HPIC) at alkaline pH using two types of chromatography columns and two detection methods. Organic acids and inorganic anions were separated on an ionPac AS11 column using a 0.5 to 35 mM Na0H gradient. Detection limits in the range of milligrams per liter were achieved by use of a conductivity detector equipped with an anion self-regenerating suppressor. Twelve phosphorylated compounds belonging to the glycolytic and the pentose phosphate pathways could be resolved on a CarboPac PA1 column using a Na0H/Na-acetate gradient. Quantification was achieved by pulsed amperometry with detection limits in the micromolar range. Cell extracts obtained by extraction in boiling buffered ethanol described previously could be directly injected onto HPIC columns for the separation of metabolites because the extraction procedure affected neither the retention time nor the stability of most of the metabolites, and yielded very clean chromatograms. These improved protocols were applied for a dynamic analysis of intracellular metabolites in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in response to a glucose pulse.

Journal Article↗

An extremely simple and fast microlitre method for the determination of total carbon dioxide in biological samples.

For those clinical laboratories equipped with a microprocessor-controlled gas analyser, an extremely simple method is described for the determination of the total carbon dioxide content in various biological fluids. Since this method needs only 20 microL of blood plasma or is less dependent on the original total carbon dioxide content, it is especially suited for paediatric purposes. With our procedure the time necessary for one determination equals the time for one capillary blood gas analysis.

Blood Gas Analysis↗

Supercritical fluid extraction of steroids from biological samples and first experience with solid-phase microextraction-liquid chromatography.

Modern extraction techniques, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) were used for isolation of four corticosteroids from biological matrices. SFE was applied for extraction from solid matrices--hydromatrix and pig muscle. The effects of various extraction conditions were studied. Good recoveries of corticosteroids from hydromatrix were obtained under moderate extraction conditions and without modification of carbon dioxide. On the contrary, the best recoveries from spiked pig muscle were obtained with modified carbon dioxide. SPME was used for extraction from liquid samples--water and urine. The eventuality of the use of this fast solvent-free technique in steroid analysis is demonstrated. Several extraction conditions were optimized. Extracted steroids were analyzed by HPLC-UV and a special SPME-HPLC interface was used for combination with SPME.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Real-time monitoring of the hybridization reaction: application to the quantification of oligonucleotides in biological samples.

We describe here a competitive hybridization assay using TRACE technology which can be used for real-time monitoring of oligonucleotide hybridization. This assay quantifies all kinds of oligonucleotides in biological fluids without extraction. The assay makes use of two different probes and involves a fluorescent transfer process. As fluorescence measurements are not destructive, they can be sequentially repeated, thereby allowing comparison of the hybridization kinetics and binding strength of chemically modified backbone oligonucleotides (>0.5 nM) in biological media. The assay was validated for pharmacokinetic analysis of phosphodiester and phosphorothioate oligonucleotides in plasma and in different organs (liver, kidneys, lungs, spleen) at low concentrations (0.4 mg/kg, corresponding to clinical doses). Respective sensitivities for phosphodiester and phosphorothioate were 0.2 and 0.8 pmol/ml in plasma and 2 and 8 pmol/g in tissues, which allow to recover intact phosphorothioate sequences in some organs even after 24 h.

Animals↗

Gas--liquid chromatographic evaluation of lofemizole in biological samples for pharmacokinetic investigations. Comparison of two analytical methods.

The present paper reports the analytical conditions allowing lofemizole, a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, to be evaluated in biological fluids for pharmacokinetic and bioavailability investigations. The first approach led to an N-methyl derivative of lofemizole which could be successfully analysed by gas--chromatography employing a flame-ionization detector, reaching a sensitivity of 2 micrograms/ml. The second approach led to the N-(2-chlorobenzoyl) derivative of lofemizole which was suitable for pharmacokinetic investigation using gas--liquid chromatography with electron-capture detection, and reaching a much higher sensitivity of 10 ng/ml of plasma. Recovery of the extraction, reproducibility and specificity were all satisfactory with both methods. Since the first method employing flame-ionization detection was suitable for pharmacokinetic investigations in animal species, this paper describes both methods on a comparative basis.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Manual and automated enrichment procedures for biological samples using lipophilic gels.

Aspects of the use of lipophilic gels in manual sample preparation procedures are reviewed. Neutral gels with a controlled hydrophobicity are used for sorbent extraction of non-polar and medium polarity compounds from biological fluids. Acidic amphiphilic compounds can be extracted as ion-pairs with decyltrimethylammonium ions. Solvent or detergent extracts of tissues or faeces can be mixed with hydrophobic gels for transfer of analytes from a solvent to a gel phase, permitting subsequent sample preparation in gel bed systems. Hydrophobic gels, alkyl-bonded silica and polystyrene matrices can be used in series for extraction of compounds with a wide range of polarities. Group fractionations are performed on neutral and ion-exchanging lipophilic gels to yield fractions of neutral, basic and acidic metabolites within selected polarity ranges. Selective isolation of phenolic acids on a strong anion exchanger, of ethynylic steroids on a strong cation exchanger in silver form and of oximes of ketonic steroids on a strong cation exchanger in hydrogen form is possible. A computerized system for automatic sample preparation is also described. It consists of an extraction bed, a cation-exchange column and an anion-exchange column. The pumps and switching valves are arranged so that the columns can operate in series or parallel for isolation of neutral, basic and acidic metabolites of amphiphilic compounds and for regeneration of the column beds. Fractions can be collected, or the effluent from the column beds can be diluted with water to permit sorption on a solid phase. The applicability of the automated method to the analysis of bile acids and metabolites of mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is demonstrated.

Animals↗

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for the determination of selenium in biological samples.

The determination of selenium by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), using an enriched stable isotope 76Se as internal standard, is described. Reference values for selenium in human biological fluids (serum, red blood cells and urine) are reported. With the advent of new compact capillary GC-MS (benchtop) instruments, this method will be very simple and accurate for routine analysis.

Adolescent↗

Three-dimensional distributions of elements in biological samples by energy-filtered electron tomography.

By combining electron tomography with energy-filtered electron microscopy, we have shown the feasibility of determining the three-dimensional distributions of phosphorus in biological specimens. Thin sections of the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans were prepared by high-pressure freezing, freeze-substitution and plastic embedding. Images were recorded at energy losses above and below the phosphorus L2,3 edge using a post-column imaging filter operating at a beam energy of 120 keV. The unstained specimens exhibited minimal contrast in bright-field images. After it was determined that the specimen was sufficiently thin to allow two-window ratio imaging of phosphorus, pairs of pre-edge and post-edge images were acquired in series over a tilt range of +/-55 degrees at 5 degrees increments for two orthogonal tilt axes. The projected phosphorus distributions were aligned using the pre-edge images that contained inelastic contrast from colloidal gold particles deposited on the specimen surface. A reconstruction and surface rendering of the phosphorus distribution clearly revealed features 15-20 nm in diameter, which were identified as ribosomes distributed along the stacked membranes of endoplasmic reticulum and in the cytoplasm. The sensitivity of the technique was estimated at < 35 phosphorus atoms per voxel based on the known total ribosomal phosphorus content of approximately 7000 atoms. Although a high electron dose of approximately 10(7)e/nm2 was required to record two-axis tilt series, specimens were sufficiently stable to allow image alignment and tomographic reconstruction.

Animals↗

Determination of N,N',N"-triethylenthiophosphoramide in biological samples using capillary gas chromatography.

A sensitive assay for the determination of N,N',N"-triethylenthiophosphoramide (thioTEPA) in microvolumes of human plasma and urine has been developed. ThioTEPA was analysed using gas chromatography with selective nitrogen-phosphorus detection, after extraction with ethyl acetate from the biological matrix. Diphenylamine is the internal standard. The limit of quantitation was 0.1 ng/ml, using only 100 microl of sample; recoveries ranged between 85 and 100% and both accuracy and precision were less than 10%. Using a flame ionisation nitrogen-phosphorus detector, the assay was not linear over the concentration range of 2-1000 ng/ml for plasma and 10-1000 ng/ml for urine. Linearity was accomplished in the range of 1-1000 ng/ml for plasma and urine when a thermionic nitrogen/phosphorous detector was used. The stability of thioTEPA in plasma proved to be satisfactory over a period of 3 months, when kept at -20 degrees C, whereas it was stable in urine for at least 1 month at -80 degrees C. ThioTEPA plasma concentrations of two patients treated with thioTEPA are presented demonstrating the applicability of the assay.

Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating↗

Automated screening procedure using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for identification of drugs after their extraction from biological samples.

A novel analytical screening procedure has been developed, using computer-controlled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), to detect 120 drugs of interest to road safety. This paper describes GC-MS methodology suitable for use on extracts of biological origin, while extraction procedures will be the subject of a future communication. The method was devised to identify drugs in extracts of blood samples, as part of an investigation into the involvement of drugs, other than alcohol, in road accidents. The method could be adapted to screen for other substances. The method depends on a "macro" program which was written to automate the search of GC-MS data for target drugs. The strategy used was to initially search for each drug in the database by monitoring for a single characteristic ion at the expected retention time. If a peak is found in this first mass chromatogram, a peak for a second characteristic ion is sought within 0.02 min of the first and, if found, the ratio of peak areas calculated. Probable drug identification is based on the simultaneous appearance of peaks for both characteristic ions at the expected retention time and in the correct ratio. If the ratio is outside acceptable limits, a suspected drug (requiring further investigation) is reported. The search macro can use either full mass spectra or, for enhanced sensitivity, data from selected ion monitoring (which requires switching between groups of ions during data acquisition). Quantitative data can be obtained in the usual way by the addition of internal standards.

Drug Evaluation, Preclinical↗

Determination of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine, 2',3'-dideoxycytidine, 3'-fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine and 2',3'-dideoxyinosine in biological samples by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A simple and fast high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the determination of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT), 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC), 3'-fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine (FT) and 2',3'-dideoxy-inosine (ddI) in complex biological matrices is described. The method allows rapid nucleoside determination using a phenyl column within extra- as well as intracellular media without further sample pretreatment and extraction procedures. The lower limit of detection is ca. 0.05 micrograms/ml for each nucleoside, and the separation can easily be optimized for AZT, ddC, FT and ddI by variation of the methanolic part of the mobile phase and the detector wavelengths.

Animals↗

Identification of protein ligands in complex biological samples using intensity-fading MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

The easy detection of biomolecular interactions in complex mixtures using a minimum amount of material is of prime interest in molecular and cellular biology research. In this work, a mass spectrometry MALDI-TOF based approach, which we call intensity-fading (IF MALDI-TOFMS), and which was designed for just such a purpose, is reported. This methodology is based on the use of the MALDI ion intensities to detect quickly the formation of complexes between nonimmobilized biomolecules in which a protein is one of the partners (protein-protein, protein-peptide, protein-organic molecule, and protein-nucleic acid complexes). The complex is detected through the decrease (fading) of the molecular ion intensities of the partners as directly compared to the MALDI mass spectrum of the mixture (problem and control molecules) following the addition of the target molecule. The potential of the approach is examined in several examples of model interactions, mainly involving small nonprotein and protein inhibitors of proteases, at both the qualitative and semiquantitative levels. Using this method, different protein ligands of proteolytic enzymes in total extracts of invertebrate organisms have been identified in a simple way. The proposed procedure should be easily applied to the high-throughput screening of biomolecules, opening a new experimental strategy in functional proteomics.

Animals↗