Molecularly imprinted polymer-assisted sample clean-up of ochratoxin A from red wine: merits and limitations

A new analytical method for the determination of the carcinogenic mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) in red wines has been developed involving a two-dimensional solid-phase extraction (SPE) clean-up protocol on C18-silica and a target-selective molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). Prior removal of the interfering acidic matrix compounds by C18 solid-phase extraction was crucial for a successful clean-up as direct sample loading onto the MIP led to poor recoveries. The combined solid-phase extraction protocol afforded extracts suitable for sensitive ochratoxin A quantification by HPLC-fluorescence detection. Preliminary validation of the method performance with spiked (0.033-1.0 ng OTA/ml) and commercial red wines provided recoveries >90% and < 10%, with limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.01 and 0.033 ng/ml. However, a similarly favorable performance characteristics was observed in control experiments in which the MIP was replaced by the corresponding non-imprinted polymer (NIP). These findings provide evidence that under the employed experimental conditions specific analyte binding to imprinted binding sites plays a minor role in selective OTA retention. In the framework of this study, other problems inherent to MIP-based solid-phase extraction have been addressed. These include the reproducible preparation of MIP materials with consistent molecular recognition characteristics, the potential for repeated use of MIP, unfavorable polymer swelling in application-relevant solvents, potential sample contamination by template bleeding, and slow analyte binding kinetics.     

Molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction for the selective determination of valnemulin in feeds with high performance liquid chromatography

A simple, sensitive and reproducible high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for determining valnemulin in feeds. Feed samples were extracted with ethyl acetate under alkaline condition, cleaned up by molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction, and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The characteristics of the synthesized polymer were evaluated and the loading capacity of the polymer was about 1000 μg analyte/g imprinted polymer. The new procedure for the feed sample cleanup using the prepared polymer cartridge gave higher recoveries and fewer matrix interferences. The assay exhibited a linear dynamic range of 5.0-200 mg kg(-1) with the correlation coefficient above 0.9993. Recoveries of valnemulin from feed samples spiked at 5.0, 20 and 50 mg kg(-1) ranged between 76.0% and 94.4% with relative standard deviations of less than 9%. The limit of detection for valnemulin in feeds was 1 mg kg(-1).     

Molecularly imprinted polymer cartridges coupled on-line with high performance liquid chromatography for simple and rapid analysis of dextromethorphan in human plasma samples

In this paper, a novel method is described for automated determination of dextromethorphan in biological fluids using molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) as a sample clean-up technique combined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The water-compatible molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared using methacrylic acid as functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker, chloroform as porogen and dextromethorphan as template molecule. These imprinted polymers were used as solid-phase extraction sorbent for the extraction of dextromethorphan from human plasma samples. Various parameters affecting the extraction efficiency of the MIP cartridges were evaluated. The high selectivity of the sorbent coupled to the high performance liquid chromatographic system permitted a simple and rapid analysis of this drug in plasma samples with limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 0.12 ng/mL and 0.35 ng/mL, respectively. The MIP selectivity was evaluated by analyzing of the dextromethorphan in presence of several substances with similar molecular structures and properties. Results from the HPLC analyses showed that the recoveries of dextromethorphan using MIP cartridges from human plasma samples in the range of 1-50 ng/mL were higher than 87%.     

Molecularly imprinted polymer of 5-methyluridine for solid-phase extraction of pyrimidine nucleoside cancer markers in urine

Normal and modified urinary nucleosides represent potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. To selectively extract modified nucleosides, we developed a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) of 5-methyluridine as selective material for molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE). The MIPs were obtained from vinyl-phenylboronate ester derivative of the template, acrylamide and pentaerythritol triacrylate co-polymer, and were tested in batch and cartridge experiments with aqueous samples. Our results indicated that the imprinted polymer was selective for pyrimidine nucleosides with a K(d) and a B(max) of 46 microM and 18 micromol/g, respectively. Finally, a MISPE of the most common pyrimidine nucleoside cancer markers in urine sample was realized.     

Enantioselective separation and electrochemical sensing of D- and L-tryptophan at ultratrace level using molecularly imprinted micro-solid phase extraction fiber coupled with complementary molecularly imprinted polymer-fiber sensor

Highly efficient enantioselective separation and quantitative recoveries of D- and L-tryptophan in aqueous and real samples can be achieved, with a monolithic molecularly imprinted polymeric fiber that serves both for micro-solid phase extraction and ultratrace sensing, without any false-positive (non-specific) contribution and cross-reactivity, in the range of 0.15-30.00 ng mL(-1) with detection limit as low as 0.0261 ng mL(-1) (relative standard deviation=0.64%, signal/noise=3). The proposed method combining molecularly imprinted micro-solid phase extraction fiber and a complementary molecularly imprinted polymer-carbon composite fiber sensor is proven to be useful for clinical diagnosis of stress-related diseases caused by acute tryptophan depletion.     

Solid-phase extraction of tramadol from plasma and urine samples using a novel water-compatible molecularly imprinted polymer

In this study, a novel method is described for the determination of tramadol in biological fluids using molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) as the sample clean-up technique combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The water-compatible molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared using methacrylic acid as functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker, chloroform as porogen and tramadol as template molecule. The novel imprinted polymer was used as a solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbent for the extraction of tramadol from human plasma and urine. Various parameters affecting the extraction efficiency of the polymer have been evaluated. The optimal conditions for the MIP cartridges were studied. The MIP selectivity was evaluated by checking several substances with similar molecular structures to that of tramadol. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for tramadol in urine samples were 1.2 and 3.5 μg L⁻¹, respectively. These limits for tramadol in plasma samples were 3.0 and 8.5 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The recoveries for plasma and urine samples were higher than 91%.     

Quantitative HPLC-UV method for the determination of firocoxib from horse and dog plasma

A sensitive reversed-phase HPLC-UV method was developed for the determination of firocoxib, a novel and highly selective COX-2 inhibitor, in plasma. A 1.0 mL dog or horse plasma sample is mixed with water and passed through a hydrophobic-lipophilic copolymer solid-phase extraction column to isolate firocoxib. Quantitation is based on an external standard curve. The method has a validated limit of quantitation of 25 ng/mL and a limit of detection of 10 ng/mL. The validated upper limit of quantitation was 2500 ng/mL for horses and 10,000 ng/mL for dogs. The average recoveries ranged from 88-93% for horse plasma and 96-103% for dog plasma. The coefficient of variation in all cases was less than 10%. This method is suitable for the analysis of clinical samples from pharmacokinetic and bioequivalence studies and drug monitoring.     

Class-specific molecularly imprinted polymers for the selective extraction and determination of sulfonylurea herbicides in maize samples by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A novel method based on the molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) procedure has been developed for the simultaneous determination of concentrations of sulfonylurea herbicides such as chlorsulfuron (CS), monosulfuron (MNS), and thifensulfuron methyl (TFM) in maize samples by liquid chromatography–tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for sulfonylurea herbicides was synthesized by precipitation polymerization using chlorsulfuron as the template molecule, 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DEAMA) as the functional monomer, and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TRIM) as the cross-linker. The selectivities of the chlorsulfuron template and its analogs on the molecularly imprinted polymer were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The extraction and purification procedures for the solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge with a molecularly imprinted polymer as the adsorbent for the selected sulfonylurea herbicides were then established. A molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction method followed by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of chlorsulfuron, monosulfuron, and thifensulfuron methyl was also established. The mean recoveries of these compounds in maize were in the range 75–110% and the limits of detection (LOD) of chlorsulfuron, monosulfuron, and thifensulfuron methyl were 0.02, 0.75, and 1.45 μg kg⁻¹, respectively. It was demonstrated that the MISPE–HPLC–MS/MS method could be applied to the determination of chlorsulfuron, monosulfuron, and thifensulfuron methyl in maize samples.     

Evaluation of water-compatible molecularly imprinted polymers as solid-phase extraction sorbents for the selective extraction of sildenafil and its desmethyl metabolite from plasma samples

The evaluation of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as selective sorbents for the solid-phase extraction of sildenafil and its principal metabolite, desmethylsildenafil, was investigated. Two MIPs were synthesised using structural analogues of sildenafil as templates, and a comparison of the performance of the two MIP sorbents in organic and aqueous media was performed. Additionally, the feasibility of applying molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) to the clean-up of plasma samples containing sildenafil and desmethylsildenafil was investigated. A preliminary, quantitative MISPE for the determination of both compounds in plasma was also performed. The results showed that the MIPs used for the selective extraction of sildenafil gave better compound recovery when aqueous samples were used in comparison to organic-based samples. A preliminary, quantitative MISPE of sildenafil and desmethylsildenafil indicated that the imprinted materials could be used successfully as SPE sorbents for sample pre-treatment for the determination of sildenafil, and related compounds, in plasma.     

Molecularly imprinted core‐shell magnetic nanoparticles for selective extraction of triazines in soils

In this work, a propazine‐imprinted polymer was synthesized on the surface of modified magnetic nanoparticles to be used in the solid‐phase extraction of triazines in soil samples. The effect of different solvents on the selective extraction of target analytes was assessed to establish the optimum rebinding conditions. The obtained magnetic molecularly imprinted particles exhibited high selectivity for triazines and were easily collected and separated by an external magnetic field without additional centrifugation or filtration steps. Under optimum conditions, a magnetic molecularly imprinted solid‐phase extraction method was developed allowing the extraction of several triazines (desisopropylatrazine, desethylatrazine, simazine, atrazine, and propazine) from soil samples and their subsequent final determination by high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode‐array detection. Recoveries for the triazines studied were within the range 5.4% to 40.6%, with relative standard deviations lower than 7.0% (n = 3). The detection limits were within 0.1 to 3 ng g⁻¹, depending upon the triazine and the type of soil used.     

Determination of phenformin hydrochloride using molecular imprinting technology coupled with flow-injection chemiluminescence

A novel method was developed using molecular imprinting technology (MIT) coupled with flow‐injection chemiluminescence (FI‐CL) for highly sensitive detection of phenformin hydrochloride (PH). The phenformin imprinted polymer was synthesized with methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a cross‐linker. Newly synthesized molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) particles were packed into a column as a selective recognition element for determination of PH. A CL method for the determination of PH was developed based on the CL reaction of PH with N‐bromosuccinimide sensitized by eosin Y in basic media. The optimization of detection conditions was investigated. The CL intensity responded linearly to the concentration of PH in the range 0.09–2.0 µg/mL, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9920. The detection limit was 0.031 µg/mL. The relative standard deviation for the determination of 1.0 µg/mL PH solution was 1.0% (n = 11). The method was applied to the determination of PH in urine samples, with satisfactory results. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Task-specific ionic liquid-assisted extraction and separation of astaxanthin from shrimp waste

Astaxanthin, as an outstanding antioxidant reagent, was successfully extracted from shrimp waste by the ionic liquids based ultrasonic-assisted extraction. Seven kinds of imidazolium ionic liquids with different cations and anions were investigated in this work and one task-specific ionic liquid in ethanol with 0.50 mol L⁻¹ was selected as the solvent. At the optimized ultrasonic extraction conditions, the extraction amount of astaxanthin increased 98% (92.7 μg g⁻¹) compared to the conventional method (46.7 μg g⁻¹). Furthermore, the extracted solution was isolated through the solid-phase extraction with a molecularly imprinted polymer sorbent. After loading the samples on molecularly imprinted polymer cartridge, the different washing and elution solvents, such as water, methanol, n-hexane, acetone and dichloromethane, were evaluated, and finally, astaxanthin was separated from the shrimp waste extract.     

Determination of lipoic acid in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

A selective and sensitive method for the determination of lipoic acid in human plasma samples has been developed. After enzymatic hydrolysis of the sample, the liberated lipoic acid was extracted by a solid-phase cartridge and measured by HPLC using electrochemical detection. The detection limit was 1 ng/ml lipoic acid in plasma. The calibration curve was non-linear in the range 0.01–50 μg/ml but could be described by a power function. The average extraction recoveries were 82.5 and 85.1% at the 25 and 2500 ng/ml levels, respectively. Coefficients of variation for both within-day and day-to-day analysis were between 2.1 and 9.4%. The assay method is sensitive, reproducible and suitable for disposition studies of lipoic acid in humans.     

Molecularly imprinted polymer for analysis of zidovudine and stavudine in human serum by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) using zidovudine (AZT) as template and methacrylic acid as monomer was prepared. The synthesis of the MIP was performed in acetonitrile. The synthesized material was then tested for the solid-phase extraction of AZT from different media (pure organic solvents and hydro-organic mixtures). An optimised procedure was developed for the selective extraction of AZT with a recovery of 96% using the MIP and only 3% on a non-imprinted polymer used as control polymer. A specific capacity of 0.2 μmol g^?1 was determined. The specificity of the MIP was evaluated by studying the retention behaviour of two others nucleoside analogues. The feasibility of the MIP to selectively extract AZT and stavudine (d4T) from human serum was also demonstrated with recoveries of 80 and 85% respectively. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) and the lower limits of detection (LLOD) for AZT were 5.10^?7 and 10^?7 M respectively.     

Molecularly imprinted microspheres as SPE sorbent for selective extraction of four Sudan dyes in catsup products

A highly selective molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) ultraviolet-visible detection was developed for the simultaneous isolation and determination of four Sudan dyes (I, II, III and IV) in catsup products. The novel molecularly imprinted microspheres (MIM) were synthesized by aqueous suspension polymerization using phenylamine and naphthol as template, which showed high affinity to Sudan dyes in aqueous solution. In order to develop a selective extraction protocol for simultaneous determination the four Sudan dyes from catsup products, the molecular recognition properties of MIM as a SPE sorbent were evaluated. Under the optimized condition, good linearity was obtained from 0.01 to 2.5 μg g(-1) (r(2)≥ 0.9990) with the relative standard deviations of less than 3.4%. This proposed MISPE-HPLC procedure eliminated the effect of template leakage on quantitative analysis and could be applied to direct determination of four Sudan dyes in complicated food samples.     

A surface acoustic wave sensor functionalized with a polypyrrole molecularly imprinted polymer for selective dopamine detection

A surface acoustic wave sensor operating at 104 MHz and functionalized with a polypyrrole molecularly imprinted polymer has been designed for selective detection of dopamine (DA). Optimization of pyrrole/DA ratio, polymerization and immersion times permitted to obtain a highly selective sensor, which has a sensitivity of 0.55°/mM (≈550 Hz/mM) and a detection limit of ≈ 10 nM. Morphology and related roughness parameters of molecularly imprinted polymer surfaces, before and after extraction of DA, as well as that of the non imprinted polymer were characterized by atomic force microscopy. The developed chemosensor selectively recognized dopamine over the structurally similar compound 4‐hydroxyphenethylamine (referred as tyramine), or ascorbic acid,which co‐exists with DA in body fluids at a much higher concentration. Selectivity tests were also carried out with dihydroxybenzene, for which an unexpected phase variation of order of 75% of the DA one was observed. Quantum chemical calculations, based on the density functional theory, were carried out to determine the nature of interactions between each analyte and the PPy matrix and the DA imprinted PPy polypyrrole sensing layer in order to account for the important phase variation observed during dihydroxybenzene injection. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new molecularly imprinted polymer for the selective extraction of naproxen from urine samples by solid-phase extraction

A non-covalent molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesised using naproxen (a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)) as a template molecule. The MIP was chromatographically evaluated to confirm the imprinting effect, and was then applied as a selective sorbent in solid-phase extraction (SPE) to selectively extract naproxen. After this study, the MIP was used to extract naproxen from urine samples; it was demonstrated that by applying a selective washing step with acetonitrile (ACN) the compounds in the sample that were structurally related to naproxen could be eliminated.     

Investigation of matrix effects of urine on a molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction

This study investigates matrix effects on a molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) method developed for the clean-up of diphenyl phosphate (a hydrolysis product of the commonly used flame retardant and plasticizer, triphenyl phosphate) in urine samples. The influence of potentially interfering compounds that naturally occur in urine was examined with respect to extraction recovery, repeatability and selectivity. The components tested were NaCl, urea, creatinine and hippuric acid. The imprinted polymer was prepared using 2-vinylpyridine as the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as crosslinker and a structural analogue of the analyte as the template molecule. The recovery of diphenyl phosphate from water standards was over 90% using MISPE, compared to less than 25% using a non-imprinted SPE (NISPE) counterpart. The selectivity of MISPE compared to NISPE was achieved in a wash step with a basic modifier in methanol. The recovery and repeatability of the MISPE method were affected most by NaCl in the tested concentrations, while urea, creatinine and hippuric acid had no significant influence. NaCl most likely weakens the binding during the loading of the sample. This effect could be suppressed by diluting the sample with a citrate buffer at pH 4.0.     

Simultaneous analysis of fluoroquinolones and xanthine derivatives in serum by molecularly imprinted matrix solid-phase dispersion coupled with liquid chromatography

A new molecularly imprinted polymer was synthesized using ofloxacin and theophylline as template and methacryclic acid as function monomer and it was employed as a special dispersant of matrix solid-phase dispersion for selective extraction of fluoroquinolones (ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin) and xanthine (caffeine and theophylline) from human serum samples. To eliminate the influences of template leaking on quantitative analysis, acetonitrile-trifluoracetic acid (99:1, v/v) was used as the template removing solution. By using water and acetonitrile-trifluoracetic acid (99.5:0.5, v/v) as the washing and elution solvent, respectively, satisfactory recoveries and clean enough chromatogram could obtained. Good linearity of all the analytes was observed in a range of 0.35-150 μg g(-1) with the correlation coefficient (r(2))≥0.9991. The recoveries of spiked human serum samples were in a range of 89.5-104.0% for fluoroquinolones and xanthine derivatives with RSD less than of 5.0%.     

应用ELISA和ELFA定量检测牛奶中葡萄球菌肠毒素A方法的建立

探讨了Tecra SEs SET(ELISA法)和Vidas SET2(ELFA法)两种葡萄球菌肠毒素定性检测试剂盒用于定量检测牛奶中葡萄球菌肠毒素A(SEA)的可行性。根据GB/T27404-2008《实验室质量控制规范食品理化检测》的要求,对两种方法应用于定量检测时的检出限、校正曲线范围、相关系数和加标回收率指标进行了分析比较。实验结果显示,Tecra SEs SET对牛奶中SEA的检出限为0.79 ng/mL,校正曲线范围为0.79~10 ng/mL,相关系数r=0.997,SEA加标浓度为0.80、2.5和10 ng/mL时的回收率分别为110%、81%和100%。Vidas SET2的检出限为0.09 ng/mL,校正曲线范围为0.09~1.0 ng/mL,相关系数r=0.998,SEA加标浓度为0.1、0.25和1.0 ng/mL时的回收率分别为90%、95%和104%。上述结果结合对阳性样品的检测表明:这两种定性检测试剂盒能满足牛奶中SEA定量检测的要求。