Mixed micelle cloud point-magnetic dispersive μ-solid phase extraction of doxazosin and alfuzosin

Surfactant-functionalised magnetic ferum oxide coupled with high performance liquid chromatography for the extraction of phenol

The usage of phenols in the marketplace has been increasing tremendously, which has raised concerns about their toxicity and potential effect as emerging pollutants. Phenol's structure has closely bonded phenyl and hydroxy groups, thereby making its functional characteristics closely similar to that of alcohol. As a result, phenol is used as a base compound for commercial home-based products. Hence, a simple and efficient procedure is required to determine the low concentration of phenols in environmental water samples. In this research, a method of combining magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with surfactant Sylgard 309 was developed to overcome the drawbacks in the classical extraction methods. In addition, this developed method improved the performance of extraction when MNPs and the surfactant Sylgard 309 were used separately, as reported in the previous research. This MNP-Sylgard 309 was synthesised by the coprecipitation method and attracts phenolic compounds in environmental water samples. Response surface methodology was used to study the parameters and responses in order to obtain an optimised condition using MNP-Sylgard 309. The parameters included the effect of pH, extraction time, and concentration of the analyte. Meanwhile, the responses measured were the peak area of the chromatogram and the percentage recovery. From this study, the results of the optimum conditions for extraction using MNP-Sylgard 309 were pH 7, extraction time of 20 min, and analyte concentration of 10.0 μg mL^-1. Under the optimized conditions, MNP-Sylgard 309 showed a low limit of detection of 0.665 μg mL^-1 and the limit of quantification was about 2.219 μg mL^-1. MNP-Sylgard 309 was successfully applied on environmental water samples such as lake and river water. High recovery (76.23%-110.23%) was obtained.

Cloud Point Extraction in the Determination of Drugs in Biological Matrices

Cloud point extraction (CPE) is a simple, safe and environment-friendly technique used in the preparation of various samples. It was primarily developed for the assessment of environmental samples, especially analyzed for metals. Recently, this technique has been used in the extraction and determination of various chemical compounds (e.g., drugs, pesticides and vitamins), in various matrices (e.g., human plasma, human serum, milk and urine). In this review, we show that CPE is a reliable method of extraction and can be used in analytical laboratories in combination with other techniques that can be used in the determination of drugs and other chemicals in the human biological matrix. According to the literature, a combination of different methods provides good recovery and can be used in the simultaneous determination of many drugs in a single analysis. CPE can be optimized by changing its conditions (e.g., type of surfactant used, incubation temperature, pH and the addition of salts). In this review, we present the optimized CPE methods used in the determination of various pharmaceuticals and describe how the conditions affect the performance of extraction. This data might support future designing of the new CPE applications that are simple and more accurate. We compared CPE with other extraction methods and also showed the advantages and disadvantages of various extraction techniques along with a discussion on their environmental impact. According to the publications reviewed, it is obvious that CPE is an easy, safe, rapid and inexpensive method of extraction.

Mending the fluorescence of two α-blockers through a semiquinoid formation: Hyphenated with experimental design optimization

Herein, a selective and rapid spectrofluorimetric method coupled with experimental design approach for reliable and efficient determination of two α-blockers, namely: terazosin hydrochloride (TER) and doxazosin mesylate (DOX) in their marketed tablets was developed. The presented method adopts formation of a semi-quinoid form of the studied drugs in borate buffer. The effects of parameters influencing fluorescence intensity including pH, the volume of buffer and diluting solvent were optimized using an experimental design methodology. The optimum conditions were found to be pH: 9.8, the volume of buffer: 2.0 mL and diluting solvent: water. Under the optimum experimental conditions, a large enhancement of the studied drugs fluorescence was obtained, measured at 387 after excitation at 246 nm for either TER or DOX with limits of detection 0.05 and 0.14 ng mL^-1 and limits of quantification 0.14 and 0.43 ng mL^-1 in the concentration ranges of 0.2-30.0 ng mL^-1 and 0.5-30.0 ng mL^-1 for TER and DOX, respectively. The presented method was validated according to the ICH guidelines. Furthermore, it extended to perform the content uniformity testing and analysis of the studied drugs in spiked human plasma with % recovery (96.00 ± 0.45-101.42 ± 1.20%, n = 3).

Activated carbon/diatomite-based magnetic nanocomposites for magnetic solid-phase extraction of S-phenylmercapturic acid from human urine

In this study, activated carbon/diatomite-based magnetic nancomposites (denoted as AC/DBMNs) were synthesized and applied as an adsorbent for magnetic solid-phase extraction of S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) from human urine prior to high-performance liquid chromatography. The surface morphologies and structures of AC/DBMNs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area, vibrating sample magnetometer and ζ-potential measurements. The experimental parameters including sample volume, sample pH, adsorbent amount, extraction time, elution solvent and desorption time were investigated in detail. Under the optimum conditions, the method exhibited good linearity (r > 0.9993) within the concentration ranges of 0.03-1.0 mg/L. Moreover, the limits of detection and quantification were 0.01 and 0.03 mg/L, respectively. The enrichment factor was 5, and good recoveries (88.9-97.3%) with relative standard deviations in the range of 5.6-6.8% (n = 6) for inter-day and 6.3-8.1% (n = 6) for intra-day were achieved. The developed method was successfully applied to the analysis of S-PMA in urine samples. In addition, this accurate and sensitive method has great potential to be applied in the early screening and clinical diagnosis of the workers exposed to benzene.

Twenty years of supramolecular solvents in sample preparation for chromatography: achievements and challenges ahead

Supramolecular solvents (SUPRAS) have progressively become a suitable alternative to organic solvents for sample preparation in chromatographic analysis. The inherent properties of these nanostructured solvents (e.g. different polarity microenvironments, multiple binding sites, possibility of tailoring their properties, etc.) offer multiple opportunities for the development of innovative sample treatment platforms not approachable by conventional solvents. In this review, major achievements attained in the combination SUPRAS-chromatography in the last 20 years as well as the challenges that should be addressed in the near future are critically discussed. Among achievements, particular attention is paid to the theoretical and practical knowledge gained that has helped make substantial progress in the area. In this respect, advances in the understanding of the mechanisms involved in SUPRAS formation and SUPRAS-solute interactions driving extractions are discussed, with a view to the setting up of knowledge-based extraction procedures. Likewise, the strategies followed to improve the compatibility of SUPRAS extracts with liquid and gas chromatography and adapt SUPRAS-based extractions to different formats are presented. Ongoing efforts to apply SUPRAS in multicomponent extractions and synthesize tailored SUPRAS for the development of innovative sample treatments are highlighted. Among challenges identified, discussion is focused on the automation of SUPRAS-based sample treatment and the elucidation of SUPRAS nanostructures, which are considered essential for their acceptance in routine labs and the design of tailored SUPRAS with programmed functions. Graphical abstract.

An efficient spectrofluorimetric method adopts doxazosin, terazosin and alfuzosin coupling with orthophthalaldehyde: Application in human plasma

A new, selective and sensitive spectrofluorimetric method was designed for the quantitation of doxazosin (DOX), terazosin (TER) and alfuzosin (ALF) in their dosage forms and human plasma. The method adopts efficient derivatization of the studied drugs with ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA), in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol in borate buffer (pH9.7) to generate a highly fluorescent isoindole derivatives, which can strongly enhance the fluorescence intensities of the studied drugs, allowing their sensitive determination at 430nm after excitation at 337nm. The fluorescence-concentration plots were rectilinear over the ranges (10.0-400.0) ng/mL. Detection and quantification limits were found to be (0.52-3.88) and (1.59-11.76) ng/mL, respectively. The proposed method was validated according to ICH guidelines, and successfully applied for the determination of pharmaceutical preparations of the studied drugs. Moreover, the high sensitivity of the proposed method permits its successful application to the analysis of the studied drugs in spiked human plasma with % recovery (96.12±1.34-100.66±0.57, n=3). A proposal for the reaction mechanism was presented.

Determination of carcinogenic herbicides in milk samples using green non-ionic silicone surfactant of cloud point extraction and spectrophotometry

A new cloud point methodology was successfully used for the extraction of carcinogenic pesticides in milk samples as a prior step to their determination by spectrophotometry. In this work, non-ionic silicone surfactant, also known as 3-(3-hydroxypropyl-heptatrimethylxyloxane), was chosen as a green extraction solvent because of its structure and properties. The effect of different parameters, such as the type of surfactant, concentration and volume of surfactant, pH, salt, temperature, incubation time and water content on the cloud point extraction of carcinogenic pesticides such as atrazine and propazine, was studied in detail and a set of optimum conditions was established. A good correlation coefficient (R² ) in the range of 0.991-0.997 for all calibration curves was obtained. The limit of detection was 1.06 µg l^-1 (atrazine) and 1.22 µg l^-1 (propazine), and the limit of quantitation was 3.54 µg l^-1 (atrazine) and 4.07 µg l^-1 (propazine). Satisfactory recoveries in the range of 81-108% were determined in milk samples at 5 and 1000 µg l^-1, respectively, with low relative standard deviation, n = 3 of 0.301-7.45% in milk matrices. The proposed method is very convenient, rapid, cost-effective and environmentally friendly for food analysis.

Highly Sensitive Fluorescence Methods for the Determination of Alfuzosin, Doxazosin, Terazosin and Prazosin in Pharmaceutical Formulations, Plasma and Urine

Polymeric ionic liquid-coated magnetic nanoparticles have been successfully prepared as adsorbents for the magnetic solid-phase extraction of four drugs, namely alfuzosin, doxazosin, terazosin and prazosin, from pharmaceutical preparations, urine samples and plasma samples. The four drugs were detected by fluorescence spectrophotometer. Several extraction parameters, including the pH of the solution; the type, ratio and volume of the desorbing reagent; the amount of adsorbent; the time of the extraction and desorption processes; and the addition of NaCl, were investigated and optimized. Linear responses were determined for the four drugs in the concentration range of 0.5 - 45 ng mL(-1). The limit of detection values for alfuzosin, doxazosin, terazosin and prazosin, which were defined as three times the standard deviation of a blank sample, were determined to be 0.035, 0.034, 0.027 and 0.028 ng mL(-1) (n = 11), respectively. Furthermore, this new method gave preconcentration factors of 114.5, 111.3, 111.1 and 108.5 for these four drugs.

Novel magnetic g-C3N4/α-Fe2O3/Fe3O4 composite for the very effective visible-light-Fenton degradation of Orange II

A novel magnetic heterogeneous g-C₃N₄/α-Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ catalyst was successfully synthesized through a simple hydrothermal method. The structure, morphology, and optical properties of the catalyst were characterized. The photocatalytic activity of the heterogeneous g-C₃N₄/α-Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ catalyst for the photo-Fenton degradation of Orange II in the presence of H₂O₂ irradiated with visible light (λ > 420 nm) at neutral pH was evaluated. The g-C₃N₄/α-Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ photocatalyst was found to be an excellent catalyst for the degradation of Orange II and offers great advantages over the traditional Fenton system (Fe(ii/iii)/H₂O₂). The results indicated that successfully combining monodispersed Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and g-C₃N₄/α-Fe₂O₃ enhanced light harvesting, retarded photogenerated electron–hole recombination, and significantly enhanced the photocatalytic activity of the system. The g-C₃N₄/α-Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ (30%) sample gave the highest degradation rate constant, 0.091 min⁻¹, which was almost 4.01 times higher than the degradation rate constant for α-Fe₂O₃ and 2.65 times higher than the degradation rate constant for g-C₃N₄/α-Fe₂O₃ under the same conditions. A reasonable mechanism for catalysis by the g-C₃N₄/α-Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ composite was developed. The g-C₃N₄/α-Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ composite was found to be stable and recyclable, meaning it has great potential for use as a photo-Fenton catalyst for effectively degrading organic pollutants in wastewater.

A novel magnetic heterogeneous g-C₃N₄/α-Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ catalyst was firstly synthesized and exhibited very effective visible-light-Fenton degradation of Orange II at neutral pH.

Performance evaluation of non-ionic silicone surfactants OFX 0309 and DC 193C as a new approach in cloud point extraction – spectrophotometry for determination of atrazine in water samples

Cloud point extraction (CPE) – spectrophotometric method had been adopted for the separation of atrazine using the non-ionic silicone surfactant, polysiloxane polyether, as a new approach of atrazine extractor in CPE. There were two types of polysiloxane polyether (DC 193C and OFX 0309) studied to investigate the effectiveness of these surfactants toward atrazine in CPE method. Various effects of operating parameters such as the concentration of surfactant and atrazine, addition of salt and change of temperature and pH on the extraction of atrazine have been studied in detail to find the optimum conditions. The limit of detections (LODs) and quantifications (LOQs) were in the range of 0.09–0.59 μg L⁻¹ and 0.31–1.95 μg L⁻¹ in water samples, respectively. The method recoveries at two spiked levels were 84–105% (CPE-OFX 0309) and 59–69% (CPE-DC 193C) with good correlation of determination (R²) ranging from 0.9927–0.9993 for both methods. The Langmuir isotherm has been used for solubilisation study of surfactant and atrazine. The thermodynamic parameters have been determined such as Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) which increases with temperature, value of enthalpy (ΔH°) and value of entropy (ΔS°) which increase with the surfactant hydrophobicity.

The principle of cloud point extraction (CPE) adopted for the separation of atrazine.

Enhanced dispersive solid phase extraction assisted by cloud point strategy prior to fluorometric determination of anti-hepatitis C drug velpatasvir in pharmaceutical tablets and body fluids

An innovative spectrofluorometric method was developed for the analysis of a recently FDA approved anti-hepatitis C velpatasvir (VELP). The developed method was relied on dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE) using synergistic effect of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and cobalt hydroxide nanoparticles (CHNPs) in addition to cloud point extraction (CPE) using polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) as non-ionic surfactant. This method combines the merits of preconcentration and interferences elimination achieved by dSPE and CPE, respectively. All relevant parameters such as surfactant concentration, ionic strength, pH, incubation time and others were thoroughly investigated and optimized. Fluorometric detection of VELP was carried out at excitation wavelength of 350 nm and emission wavelength of 415 nm. Under the optimum conditions, a linear calibration curve was achieved in the range of 0.5–45 ng mL⁻¹. Limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) based on three and ten times the standard deviation of the blank were 0.040 and 0.112 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. This method was successfully applied for determination of VELP in real samples such as tablets, human plasma and urine samples with good recoveries.

Highly sensitive and selective solid phase extraction method combined with cloud point extraction strategy was developed for analysis of velpatasvir in its pharmaceutical tablets and biological fluids.

Magnetic mixed hemimicelle solid-phase extraction based on mixed hemi-/ad-micelle SDS-coated magnetic nanoparticles Fe2-xAlxO3 (x = 0.4) for the fluorimetric determination of carvedilol in biological samples

Mixed hemi-/ad-micelle SDS-coated magnetic nanoparticles (Fe2-xAlxO3 (x = 0.4)) were used as an efficient adsorbent for the extraction and preconcentration of carvedilol (CVD) based on magnetic mixed hemimicelle solid-phase extraction. The Fe2-xAlxO3 magnetic nanoparticles not only have better stability and resistance to acidity, as well as alkalinity, but also are easy to prepare, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly. Several parameters that affected the extraction efficiency were investigated, including the type and volume of desorption solvent, extraction and desorption times, pH of the solution, zeta potential, and amounts of adsorbent and surfactant. Under the optimized extraction conditions, the developed method showed good linearity (R2 = 0.9998) within the range of 0.02–2.7 ng mL−1, and the limit of detection was 0.009 ng mL−1. The spiked recoveries of CVD in urine and plasma samples ranged from 101.50% to 111.00%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a mixed hemi-/ad-micelle solid-phase extraction method based on magnetic separation and nanoparticles has been used as a simple and sensitive method for the monitoring of CVD in biological samples.