Simultaneous extraction and preconcentration of three beta (β)-blockers in biological samples with an efficient magnetic dispersive micro-solid phase extraction procedure employing in situ sorbent modification

A critical review of pesticides in aquatic environment: Current trends, environmental impacts, and advances in analytical extraction techniques

Pesticides are applied in agricultural fields to manage pests and diseases that threaten crop health and productivity. However, their presence in natural water systems is a significant concern due to their persistent composition and complex molecular structures. Additionally, their toxic and recalcitrant nature poses potential risks, leading to chronic health effects in humans. Typically detected in trace concentrations, pesticides present analytical challenges owing to their intricate chemical structures and diverse physical properties. Recent research highlights notable advancements in conventional pesticide extraction methods, aiming to develop eco-friendly and cost-effective techniques with high enrichment and recovery rates. This review begins by exploring the latest trends and ongoing research related to the occurrence and extraction of pesticides from various aquatic environments. The study then discusses the innovative extraction techniques currently employed for pesticide removal. Among liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) techniques, methods such as ionic liquid-based extraction (IL-LPME), deep eutectic solvent-based extraction (DES-LPME), air-assisted extraction, solidification of a floating organic drop (SFO), and ultrasound-assisted LPME are gaining attention due to their ease of handling, operational simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. In the, solid-phase extraction (SPE) field, researchers have increasingly utilized approaches like magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE), green sorbents, metal-organic framework (MOF) based extraction, cartridge-based SPE, and carbon nanotube-based SPE as the most widely adopted methods. These methods are preferred for their benefits, including efficient separation, rapid analysis, and environmentally sustainable practices. The latter sections of this review present a detailed comparative analysis of these extraction methods, evaluating critical parameters such as operational time, cost, chemical and energy consumption, and analytical accuracy.

Nanomaterial-based magnetic solid-phase extraction in pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) holds significant scientific and technological interest as a novel sample preparation method for complex samples due to its easy operation, swift separation, high adsorption efficiency, and environmental friendliness. As the core of MSPE, magnetic sorbents have captured tremendous attention in recent years. Various promising nanomaterials, such as metal-organic frameworks and covalent organic frameworks, have been synthesized and utilized as sorbents in pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis. This review intends to (1) summarize recent progress of magnetic sorbents applied in this area and discuss their advantages, disadvantages, possible interaction mechanisms with the target substances; (2) explore their innovative applications in the analysis of pharmaceuticals, proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, nucleosides, metabolites, and other disease biomarkers from 2021 to 2024; (3) present the integration of MSPE with emerging analytical technologies; and (4) discuss the current challenges and future perspectives. It is expected to provide references and insights for the development of novel magnetic sorbents and their applications in bioanalysis.

Enhancing photocatalytic degradation of beta-blocker drugs using TiO2 NPs/zeolite and ZnO NPs/zeolite as photocatalysts: optimization and kinetic investigations

This study delves into the development and optimization of photocatalysts, namely ZnO NPs/Zeolite and TiO2 NPs/Zeolite, for the degradation of two beta-blocker drugs, including Atenolol (AT) and Metoprolol (ME). Structural and morphological analyses of the catalysts were conducted, and optimal conditions for drug degradation were determined using a Box-Behnken design. The results underscored the significant influence of pH, catalyst amount, drug concentration, and H2O2 concentration on the degradation process using ZnO NPs/Zeolite and TiO2 NPs/Zeolite as the catalysts. The optimal values of drug concentration, pH, catalyst amount, and H2O2 concentration, were determined to be 32 and 33 mg L-1, 4.2 and 4.6, 428 and 386 mg, and 2.6 and 2.5 mM utilizing ZnO NPs/Zeolite and TiO2 NPs/Zeolite as the catalyst, respectively. Following optimization, the kinetics of the photodegradation process were investigated, revealing promising rates and half-life times for both drugs. The pseudo-first-order rate constants for Atenolol and Metoprolol degradation were 0.064 ± 0.007 min-1 and 0.065 ± 0.004 min-1 with ZnO NPs/Zeolite and 0.071 ± 0.007 min-1 and 0.071 ± 0.006 min-1 with TiO2 NPs/Zeolite, respectively. Furthermore, ZnO NPs/Zeolite and TiO2 NPs/Zeolite demonstrated reusability up to 5 and 6 times, respectively, without significant activity loss. The comparative analysis highlighted the superior performance of TiO2 NPs/Zeolite over ZnO NPs/Zeolite, attributed to lower consumption, shorter degradation time, improved reusability, and compatibility with milder acidic conditions. Overall, the research showcases the potential of ZnO NPs/Zeolite and TiO2 NPs/Zeolite as an effective and sustainable solution for removing Metoprolol and Atenolol contaminants.

Magnetic particle spray mass spectrometry for the determination of beta-blockers in plasma samples

Magnetic particle spray mass spectrometry (MPS-MS), an innovative ambient ionization technique proposed by our research group, was employed to determine beta-blockers in human plasma samples. A dispersive solid phase extraction of atenolol, metoprolol, labetalol, propranolol, nadolol, and pindolol was carried out using magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (M-MIP) particles that were attached to the tip of a metal probe, which was placed in the mass spectrometer inlet. A solvent (1% formic acid in methanol) was dispensed on the particles, and the Taylor cone was formed around them (in high voltage). The analytes were desorbed/ionized and determined by a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. M-MIP was synthesized with oxprenolol as a pseudo-template, demonstrating good selectivity to beta-blockers compared with no-analog molecules, with an adsorption process occurring in monolayers, according to isotherm studies. Kinetic experiments indicated chemisorption as the predominant M-MIP/analyte interaction. The analytical curves were linear (R2 > 0.98), and the limit of quantification was 3 µg L-1 for all the analytes. Limits of detection ranged from 0.64 to 2.41 µg L-1. Precisions (relative standard deviation) and accuracies (relative error) ranged from 3.95 to 21.20% and -17.05 to 18.93%, respectively. MPS-MS proved to be a simple, sensitive, and advantageous technique compared with conventional approaches. The analyses were fast, requiring no chromatographic separation and without ionic suppression. The method is aligned with green chemistry principles, requiring minimal sample, solvent, and sorbent amounts. MPS-MS successfully integrates sample preparation and ambient ionization mass spectrometry and holds great potential for application with other sorbents, samples, and analytes.

Utilizing a nanocomposite aerogel grafted with Fe3O4@GO for the extraction and determination of metoprolol in exhaled breath condensate

This article presents a solid-phase extraction method combined with a spectrofluorometric method for the extraction/pre-concentration and determination of metoprolol (MET) in exhaled breath condensate. The extraction sorbent is an agarose aerogel nanocomposite grafted with graphene oxide (GO) Fe3O4. The size and morphology of the nanosorbent were characterized via X-ray crystallography, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. Factors affecting the extraction/determination of MET were optimized using the one-at-a-time method. Under optimized experimental conditions, the calibration graph was linear in the range of 0.005 to 2.0 μg mL-1 with a detection limit of 0.001 μg mL-1. The method was successfully applied for the determination of MET in biological samples taken from patients receiving MET.

MXene nanosheets woven in polyacrylonitrile nanofiber yarns aligned spider web as a highly efficient sorbent for in-tube solid phase microextraction of beta-blockers from biofluids

The use of electrospinning has received much attention in the production of nanofiber webs due to its advantages such as flexibility and simplicity. The direct electrospinning of nanofibers in an aligned or twisted form and the production of nanofiber yarns can turn nanofibers into woven fabrics, which leads to an increase in the diversity of nanofiber applications and improves their end-use possibilities. In this work, a victorious nanofiber yarn spinning system was used with the help of a rotating funnel. Yarn formation was studied using a composited polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/MXene polymer solution ejected from two oppositely charged nozzles. Finaly their application for packed-in-tube solid-phase microextraction of β-blocker drugs from biofluids was demonstrated. The separation and quantification of analytes were performed by HPLC-UV instrument. The 3D-yarn PAN/MXene sorbent exhibited high flexibility, porosity, sorbent loading, mechanical stability, and a long lifetime. The characterization of the final nanofiber was carried out utilizing Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray mapping, transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffraction analysis. Various parameters that affect the extraction efficiency, such as extraction time, pH, ionic strength and flow rate of sample solution, and type, volume and flow rate of eluent, were investigated and optimized. Under optimized conditions, the limits of detection were obtained in the range of 1.5-3.0 μg L-1. This method demonstrated appropriate linearity for β-blockers in the range of 5.0-1000.0 μg L-1, with coefficients of determination greater than 0.990. The inter- and intra-assay precisions (RSDs, for n = 3) are in the range of 2.5-3.5%, and 4.5-5.2%, respectively. Finally, the validated method was put in an application for the analysis of atenolol, propranolol and betaxolol in human urine and saliva samples at different hours and acceptable relative recoveries were obtained in the range of 89.5% to 110.4%.

Lab-in-syringe automated protein precipitation and salting-out homogenous liquid-liquid extraction coupled online to UHPLC-MS/MS for the determination of beta-blockers in serum

A sample preparation method involving tandem implementation of protein precipitation and salting-out homogenous liquid-liquid extraction was developed for the determination of beta-blockers in serum. The entire procedure was automated using a computer-controlled syringe pump following the Lab-In-Syringe approach. It is based on the denaturation of serum proteins with acetonitrile followed by salt-induced phase separation upon which the proteins accumulate as a compact layer at the interphase of the solutions. The extract is then separated and diluted in-syringe before being submitted to online coupled UHPLC-MS/MS. A 1 mL glass syringe containing a small stir bar for solution mixing at up to 3000 rpm, was used to deal with sample volumes as small as 100 μL. A sample throughput of 7 h^-1 was achieved by performing the chromatographic run and sample preparation procedure in parallel. Linear working ranges were obtained for all analytes between 5 and 100 ng mL^-1, with LOD values ranging from 0.4 to 1.5 ng mL^-1. Accuracy values in the range of 88.2-106% and high precision of <11% RSD suggest applicability for routine analysis that can be further improved using deuterated standards.

An Update on the Use of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers in Beta-Blocker Drug Analysis as a Selective Separation Method in Biological and Environmental Analysis

Beta-blockers are antihypertensive drugs and can be abused by athletes in some sport competitions; it is therefore necessary to monitor beta-blocker levels in biological samples. In addition, beta-blocker levels in environmental samples need to be monitored to determine whether there are contaminants from the activities of the pharmaceutical industry. Several extraction methods have been developed to separate beta-blocker drugs in a sample, one of which is molecularly imprinted polymer solid-phase extraction (MIP-SPE). MIPs have some advantages, including good selectivity, high affinity, ease of synthesis, and low cost. This review provides an overview of the polymerization methods for synthesizing MIPs of beta-blocker groups. The methods that are still widely used to synthesize MIPs for beta-blockers are the bulk polymerization method and the precipitation polymerization method. MIPs for beta-blockers still need further development, especially since many types of beta-blockers have not been used as templates in the MIP synthesis process and modification of the MIP sorbent is required, to obtain high throughput analysis.