Diode Array Research Articles

Biodegradability of Dietary Supplements: Advanced Analytical Methods to Study the Environmental Fate of Artificial Sweeteners and Dyes

Artificial sweeteners (ASs) and dyes are widely used in foods, beverages and pharmaceutical and are recognized as emerging environmental contaminants due to their persistence and widespread occurrence. These substances often pass through the human body unchanged and resist wastewater treatment processes, leading to continuous introduction into aquatic environments and potential long-lasting term environmental effects.This study investigated, for the first time, the biodegradability of nine commercial dietary supplements, both natural and those containing ASs and synthetic dyes, using the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 301F ready biodegradation test (RBT), which is a respirometry-manometric method. While the products showed good biodegradability, those containing ASs and dyes were further studied to determine their fate at the end of the RBT. The study involved developing and validating a chromatographic method to quantitatively determine the presence of Acesulfame K (1), Sucralose (2), Tartrazine (3) and Carmoisine (4) in the RBT mineral medium, using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with two detectors: a high-resolution mass-spectrometer with quadrupole time-of-flight (qToF) and a UV-Vis diode array detector (DAD). Results indicated that these additives were not readily biodegraded, highlighting a potential significant environmental concern. This issue extends beyond dietary supplements to all Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCP) including drugs and medical devices.The findings underscore the importance of raising cultural awareness about the environmental impact of persistent substances, encouraging the healthcare chain and patients to make informed choices. From a One Health perspective, reducing environmental contamination can lead to positive outcomes for human health.

Analyzing the presence of ten synthetic colors in selected food and drink samples using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography diode array detection analysis

AbstractColoring agents in foods and drinks have been popular for centuries. This study aims to analyze the presence of ten synthetic colors (namely, (allura red (E129), amaranth (E123), sunset yellow (E110), tetrazine (E102), fast green (E143), ponceau 4R (New Coccine) (E124), erythrosin B (E127), brilliant blue FCF (E133), brilliant black (E151) and carmoisine (E122))) in food and drink samples using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography diode array detection (UHPLC-DAD). The present analytical method was carried out using Agilent Poroshell 120 HPH-C18 column, 3 × 100 mm, 2.7 µm, and a mobile phase consisting of 10 mM Na2HPO4, pH 7, mixed with methanol as a time-increment gradient solution until the time was 20 min, then decreased with time until the time was 26 min. The pH was set by orthophosphoric acid at 7 and 5 μL injection volume, 0.50 mL flow rate, and the elution systems were monitored at 428 nm for E102, 518 nm for E124, E110, E129, E122, 530 nm for E151, E127, 622 nm for E143, and E133, respectively. The limit of detection and quantification for all colors ranged from 0.017 to 0.025 and 0.057 and 0.082 mg L−1, respectively. The correlation coefficient values ranged between 0.9991 and 1.0. The selectivity of the assay revealed no interference from other components in the analyzed samples. The percent recovery and precision (intra- and inter-day) of the spiked samples were within the acceptable limits of the ICH guidelines. Five analytical parameters were employed, and the results showed a new, novel, and robust method according to ICH guidelines for analyzing these colors. While most of the investigated food and drinks fell within the accepted range, some fell outside. The current sample preparation and analytical methods are comprehensive and universal for extracting and measuring synthetic colors in various food and drink samples.

Mathematical Modelling and Chemical Analysis to Characterise Anthocyanin Self-association Interactions Influencing Colour Expression and Stability in Young Red Wines

AbstractAnthocyanins are phenolic compounds that provide colour to young red wines following extraction from grape skins, and their reaction kinetics are not well understood as they exist within a complex pH-dependent multistate system. For commercial wineries to best control anthocyanin colour expression that is a major determinant for red wine quality, there is a critical need for behaviours of all pH-dependent monomeric and self-associated anthocyanins to be considered together. In response, the current study employed mathematical and experimental techniques to reveal kinetic and steady-state behaviours of all species of a model anthocyanin, malvidin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (M3G), within three Shiraz red wines throughout fermentation. Investigator-developed models represented the following: (i) acid–base reactions that form red, purple, and blue anthocyanin monomers; (ii) hydration reactions that result in monomeric colour loss; and (iii.) physical self-association interactions that temporally stabilise anthocyanin colour. Simulations were validated experimentally using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC–DAD) and colourimetric analysis of wine samples. Moreover, a unique predictive modelling framework was developed that takes in measured values for anthocyanin concentration, pH, and temperature at the onset of fermentation, and output data describing corresponding wine colour expression and stability characteristics that would arise after fermentation has progressed. Results of the current study elucidate complex reaction kinetics occurring between anthocyanin species under dynamic red wine conditions and provide meaningful predictions for future wine colour and shelf-life characteristics. Outputs may be used to inform key winemaking decisions influencing red wine quality and to optimise the use of winery resources throughout the fermentation process.

Assessment of miligram(Mg) content of some notable analgesics used by residents of Maiduguri Metropolis: evidence from high performance liquid chromatographic technique

Diclofenac sodium and paracetamol are Over the counter (OTC) medications used as analgesic and antipyretic agents to relieve pains, fever and headaches. The aim of this work was determine the mg content of paracetamol and diclofenac sodium in selected samples across the Maiduguri metropolis using High Performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. For paracetamol samples an intersil ODS-3V column (150 mm × 4.6 mm; 5 μm pore size) was used at the temperature of 35oC the mobile phase was methanol: water (20:80) using isocratic elution at the flow rate of 2 mL/min, injection volume of 10 μL and a diode array detector. For diclofenac sodium samples, the chromatographic conditions were the same except the mobile phase which was methanol: water (63:37), flow rate of 0.8 mL min, injection volume of 20 μL and column temperature was set at 30 oC. A total of 45 samples were analysed; which comprised of paracetamol tablet, paracetamol syrup and diclofenac sodium tablet which were randomly selected from three different sources; hospital pharmacy, community pharmacy and drug patent stores. The percentage mg content for paracetamol tablets ranged from 48 to 83 % while that of the paracetamol syrups ranged from 72 to 120 % and finally diclofenac sodium tablets ranged from 73 to 174 %. Adopting the United State Pharmacopoeia (USP) as reference for assessment tool, it was observed that all the paracetamol tablet samples failed, 4 out of 15 paracetamol syrup samples failed, and 11 out of 15 diclofenac sodium tablet samples failed. There was statistical significance (p< 0.05) between class of drug and percentage mg content but there was no significance (p< 0.05) between source of drug and percentage constituent. HPLC technique was used successfully for quantitative determination of paracetamol and diclofenac sodium dosage forms.

Enhancing Signal-to-Noise Ratio in Vehicle-to-Vehicle Visible Light Communication Systems Through Diverse LED Array Transmitter Geometries

In this paper, a novel method is introduced to enhance the performance of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) visible light communication (VLC) by employing different transmitter (Tx) light-emitting diode (LED) array arrangements with different LED orientations. Improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is crucial for V2V VLC systems to provide long communication ranges. For this purpose, six transmitter configurations are proposed: single-LED transmitters, as well as 3 × 3 square-, single hexagonal-, octagonal-, 5 × 5 square-, and honeycomb hexagonal-shaped LED arrays. Indoor VLC studies using LED arrays offer a uniform SNR, while outdoor studies focus on optimizing the receiver side to enhance system performance. This paper optimizes system performance by increasing the SNR and communication range of V2V VLC systems by changing the geometry of the Tx LED array and LED orientations. A V2V VLC system using on–off keying (OOK) is modeled in MATLAB, and the SNR and bit error rate (BER) are simulated for different Tx configurations. Our results show that the honeycomb hexagonal transmitter design provides a 19% improvement in system performance with a spacing of 1 cm, and maintains a 16% improvement when the array size is reduced by a factor of 100, making it smaller than one of the smallest industrial headlight modules.

Advanced HPLC Method with Diode Array Detection Using a Phenyl-Bonded Column for Simultaneous Quantitation of Three Sunscreen Filters in a Moisturizing Sunscreen Cream for Acne-Prone Skin

This study introduces a novel, robust, and efficient method for the simultaneous quantitative determination of three sunscreen filters, namely, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, octyl methoxycinnamate, and avobenzone, in a moisturizing sunscreen cream specifically designed for acne-prone skin. The method employs high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode-array detection, providing a reliable separation of the analytes. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a Fortis Phenyl analytical column (150.0 × 2.1 mm, 5 μm), with isocratic elution at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The mobile phase was composed of a 57/43 (v/v) mixture of acetonitrile/45 mM aqueous ammonium formate solution, ensuring sufficient resolution and peak symmetry for the target compounds. The method was validated comprehensively for critical performance parameters, including linearity, precision, accuracy, and robustness. Linearity was established across a suitable range for all three analytes, with high correlation coefficients. Precision was confirmed with intra-run and total precision coefficients of variation of ≤4.6%, while accuracy assessments yielded a percent recovery between 98.6 and 100.4, for all quality control levels. Additionally, the method was able to effectively separate the sunscreen filters from other cosmetic ingredients, such as [β-(1.3), (1.6)-D-glucan], low molecular weight (LMW) hyaluronic acid and plant extracts ensuring specificity in complex formulations. This straightforward and time efficient sample preparation process, involving methanol extraction followed by serial dilution, makes the method suitable for routine quality control in cosmetic laboratories. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of two different lots of a commercial sunscreen cream, achieving excellent recovery for all filters, ranging between 94.6% and 99.8%, thus demonstrating its reliability and applicability for the quality control of cosmetics.

Fast and green methodology based on miniaturised liquid–liquid extraction with a hydrophobic natural deep eutectic solvent of opium alkaloids from poppy seed beverages

Currently, the development of environmentally friendly analytical methodologies is a challenge for analytical chemistry. Therefore, the search for solvents to extract analytes of interest from complex matrices has progressed considerably in recent years. In the present work, 15 hydrophobic natural deep eutectic solvents (HNADES) consisting of a mixture of different donors and acceptors in different ratios have been prepared and compared to evaluate the most efficient extraction of opium alkaloids (OA) from fortified water samples. After selecting the most effective one consisting in a mixture of thymol and camphor in the ratio 1:1 ([Thy]:[Cam] 1:1), a rapid analytical methodology to determine OA in poppy seed beverages was optimised and validated for the first time. It was based on a miniaturised liquid–liquid extraction (m-LLE) with 0.5 mL of sample and 0.5 mL of HNADES by vortexing for 1 min, followed by 1 min centrifugation and subsequent analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The validation was successful, showing extraction efficiencies between 91 and 107 % for all analytes, low limits of quantification (0.1 µg/mL for all analytes, except for morphine, 0.4 µg/mL) and precision values below 15 %. In addition, the greenness of the method was evaluated, obtaining a 0.79 on the AGREEprep metric scale. Therefore, it was demonstrated that the methodology developed to analyse OAs in poppy seed beverage was efficient, fast, simple and environmentally friendly.

Design of Nanosecond Pulse Laser Diode Array Driver Circuit for LiDAR

The pulse laser emission circuit plays a crucial role as the emission unit of time-of-flight (TOF) LiDAR. This paper proposes a nanosecond-level pulse laser diode array drive circuit for LiDAR, primarily aimed at addressing the issue of high-speed scanning drive for the laser diode array at the emission end of solid-state LiDAR. Based on the single pulse laser diode drive circuit, this paper innovatively designs a circuit that includes modules such as a boost circuit, linear power supply, high-speed gate driver, GaN field-effect transistor, and pulse narrowing circuit, realizing an 8-channel laser diode array drive circuit. This circuit can achieve a pulse laser array drive with a single channel operating frequency of greater than 100 kHz, an output pulse width of less than 5 ns, a peak power greater than 75 W, and a channel switching time that does not exceed 1 μs. A field programmable gate array (FPGA) is used to control the operation of this circuit and perform a series of performance tests. Experimental results show that this circuit has a high repetition rate, large output power, a narrow pulse width, and fast switching speeds, making it highly suitable for use in the optical emission module of solid-state LiDAR.

Prepartum supplementation of dairy cows with inorganic selenium, organic selenium or rumen-protected choline does not affect carotenoid composition or colour characteristics of bovine colostrum or transition milk.

Minerals are supplemented routinely to dairy cows during the dry period to prevent metabolic issues postpartum. However, limited information exists on the impacts of mineral supplementation on colostrum carotenoids. This study aimed to determine the effects of prepartum supplementation with three micro-nutrients; inorganic selenium (INORG), organic selenium (ORG) or rumen-protected choline (RPC) on the carotenoid content of bovine colostrum and transition milk (TM) from pasture-based dairy cows. A total of 57 (12 primiparous and 45 multiparous) Holstein-Friesian (HF) and HF × Jersey (JEX) cows were supplemented daily for 49 ± 12.9 d before calving. Colostrum samples were collected from all cows immediately postpartum and TM one to five (TM1-TM5) were collected from a sub-set of 15 cows (five per treatment group) at each consecutive milking postpartum. Carotenoid concentration was determined using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography - diode array detection (UHPLC-DAD). With the use of transmittance, the colour index and colour parameters a*, b* and L* were used to determine colour variations over this period. Prepartum supplementation did not have a significant effect on colostrum β-carotene concentration or colour. Positive correlations between β-carotene and colour parameter b* (R2 = 0.671; P < 0.001) and β-carotene and colour index (R2 = 0.560; P < 0.001) were observed. Concentrations of β-carotene were highest in colostrum (1.34 μg/g) and decreased significantly with each milking postpartum (TM5 0.31 μg/g). Breed had a significant effect on colostrum colour with JEX animals producing a greater b* colostrum than HF animals (P = 0.030). Primiparous animals produced colostrum with the weakest colour compared to second or ≥third parity animals (P = 0.042). Despite statistical increases in the b* parameter in colostrum from JEX cows and multiparous cows, β-carotene concentrations did not significantly increase suggesting that other factors may influence colostrum colour. The b* parameter may be used as an indicator for estimating carotenoid concentrations in colostrum and TM, particularly when assessed via transmittance spectroscopy.

Application of Fabric Phase Sorptive Extraction as a Green Method for the Analysis of 10 Anti-Diabetic Drugs in Environmental Water Samples

Due to the increased prevalence of diabetes, the consumption of anti-diabetic drugs for its treatment has likewise increased. Metformin is an anti-diabetic drug that is commonly prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes and has been frequently detected in surface water and wastewaters, thus representing an emerging contaminant. Metformin can be prescribed in combination with other classes of anti-diabetic drugs; however, these drugs are not sufficiently investigated in environmental samples. Fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) has emerged as a simple and green method for the extraction of analytes in environmental samples. In this study, FPSE coupled with a high-performance liquid chromatography diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) was employed for the simultaneous analysis of different classes of anti-diabetic drugs (metformin, dapagliflozin, liraglutide, pioglitazone, gliclazide, glimepiride, glargine, repaglinide, sitagliptin, and vildagliptin) in environmental water samples. Four different fabric membranes were synthesized but the microfiber glass filter coated with sol-gel polyethylene glycol (PEG 300) was observed to be the best FPSE membrane. The parameters affecting the FPSE process were optimized using a combination of one-factor-at-a-time processes and the design of experiments. The FPSE was evaluated as a green extraction method, based on green sample preparation criteria. The FPSE-HPLC-DAD method achieved acceptable validation results and was applied for the simultaneous analysis of anti-diabetic drugs in surface and wastewater samples. Glimepiride was detected below the quantification limit in both lake and river water samples. Dapagliflozin, liraglutide, and glimepiride were detected at 69.0 ± 1.0 μg·L−1, 71.9 ± 0.4 μg·L−1, and 93.9 ± 1.3 μg·L−1, respectively, in the city wastewater influent. Dapagliflozin and glimepiride were still detected below the quantification limit in city wastewater effluent. For the hospital wastewater influent, metformin and glimepiride were detected at 1158 ± 21 μg·L−1 and 28 ± 0.8 μg·L−1, respectively, while only metformin (392.6 ± 7.7 μg·L−1) was detected in hospital wastewater effluent.

Valorization of Pineapple Core Waste for Sequential Extraction of Phenolic Compounds and Carotenoids: Optimization Through Ultrasound-Assisted Method and Box–Behnken Design

AbstractIn this study, a pioneering cascade method involving ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and Box–Behnken Design (BBD) was optimized to valorize pineapple core waste by the sequential extraction of, firstly phenolic compounds and, secondly, carotenoids. The effectiveness of the extraction was evaluated based on total polyphenol content (TPC) and antioxidant activity using 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Characterization of the carotenoids was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (HPLC–DAD). The initial characterization of dry pineapple core (DPC) samples revealed their nutritional composition, including protein, lipid, and carbohydrate weight percentages of 1.20 ± 0.05%, 5.3 ± 0.4%, and 88.6 ± 0.5%, respectively. The high extractives content (40.0 ± 4.5%) suggests a substantial presence of phenolic compounds, making the pineapple core a valuable source of natural antioxidants. The optimal UAE conditions for phenolic compound extraction were 70% amplitude, 5 min extraction time, and 2 cycles, yielding an antioxidant extract rich in phenolic compounds with a desirability value of 81.2%. Therefore, DPC was considered a valuable source of natural antioxidants. The extraction of β-carotene also showed promising results with optimal UAE conditions of 20% amplitude, 3 min extraction time, and 2 cycles. This research promotes the sustainable use of pineapple waste and demonstrates the potential to obtain valuable additives for the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, encouraging a more circular and efficient use of resources in the pineapple processing industry.

Multi‐Photon 3D Laser Micro‐Printed Plastic Scintillators for Applications in Low‐Energy Particle Physics

AbstractPlastic scintillators are inexpensive to manufacture and therefore a popular alternative to inorganic crystalline scintillators. For many applications, their advantages outweigh their lower light yield. Additionally, it is easier to structure plastic scintillators with well‐developed processing techniques which is of growing relevance in modern applications. One technique to structure plastic material is 3D printing, with noteworthy recent advances in one‐photon‐based approaches. However, some applications require high spatial resolution and optically smooth surfaces, which can be achieved by multi‐photon 3D laser micro‐printing. One application example is the improvement of sensitivity of the Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment. This improvement can be realized by printing a 3D scintillator structure as an active transverse energy filter directly onto the detector. Herein, the first two‐photon printable plastic scintillator providing a printing resolution in the micrometer regime is presented. Using the benefits of two‐photon grayscale lithography, optical‐grade surfaces are achieved. The light output is estimated to be 930 photons MeV−1. A prototype structure printed directly on a single‐photon avalanche diode array is demonstrated.

Separation of polyphenols by HILIC methods with diode array detection, charged aerosol detection and mass spectrometry: Application to grapevine extracts rich in stilbenoids

The characterization of plant extracts is usually accomplished by reverse-phase liquid chromatography, but the development of new complementary approaches, such as HILIC, offers an orthogonal method. In this study, five HILIC stationary phases were evaluated to assess their ability to retain polyphenols. They were selected to cover the main different HILIC mechanisms: bare silica; silica with ethylene bridge; neutral amide; amino; zwitterionic. A total of 31 polyphenol standards were used for the screening, including 9 stilbenes, 8 flavonoids, 6 anthocyanins, and 8 phenolic acids. Three different detections were tested: diode array detector, charged aerosol detector and mass spectrometry.Results indicated that silica supports were not suitable for retaining polyphenols, with no or low retention observed except for anthocyanins. The effectiveness of stationary phases in retention of phenolics following the order related to increased retention: zwitterionic, amide, and amino.The choice of mobile phase also influenced retention. Mobile phases containing TFA as pH modifier limited retention, while formic acid was found to be more effective for polyphenol retention. Ammonium buffers also improved retention but often compromised peak shape. pH changes mainly impacted ionizable compounds, such as phenolic acids, by increasing their retention when they were ionized.DAD was wellsuited for detecting polyphenols that possess aromatic rings, though peak wavelengths depend on the structures of the polyphenols. CAD, while less sensitive than DAD and MS, provided an almost similar response for structurally related compounds, even with gradient elution. MS was the preferred detector for quantification when resolution between compounds was challenging, as it is often the case with natural extracts.The study successfully demonstrated that best HILIC conditions were obtained using an amino stationary phase composed of a polyethylenimine and formic acid-based mobile phase. These conditions were successfully applied to the analysis of stilbenoid-rich extracts from different parts of the vine. The elution order of stilbenoids followed the degree of polymerization. With CAD, the chromatographic profile was more representative of sample composition. It was demonstrated for the first time the interest of a combination of HILIC and CAD for analyzing stilbenes, offering a complementary approach to the classic RP analysis.

Combined Quantification and Characterization of Dissolved Organic Matter by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Using Charged Aerosol Detection.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a complex mixture of thousands of molecular formulas comprised of an unknown number of chemical compounds, the concentration and composition of which are critical to ecosystem function and biogeochemical cycling. Despite its importance, our understanding of the DOM composition is lacking. This is principally due to its molecular complexity, which means that no single method is capable of describing DOM in its entirety. Quantification is typically done by proxy (e.g., relative to carbon content) and does not necessarily match well to compositional data, due to incomplete analytical windows and selectivity of different analytical methods. We present an integrated liquid chromatography (LC)-diode array detector (DAD)-charged aerosol detector (CAD)-mass spectrometry (MS) pipeline designed to both characterize and quantify solid-phase extractable DOM (SPE-DOM) in a single analysis. We applied this method to a set of eight Swedish water bodies sampled in the summer and winter. Chromophoric SPE-DOM was proportionally higher in samples with higher SPE-DOM concentrations but remained relatively consistent between sampling occasions. Ionizable SPE-DOM was relatively consistent across sites but was proportionally higher in summer. Overall, the carbon content of DOM was very consistently ∼40% across sites in both summer and winter. These findings suggest that SPE-DOM concentration at these sites is driven by (presumably allochthonous) chromophoric inputs, with an increased relative contribution in summer of material that is more ionizable and less chromophoric and may be either autochthonous or selectively enriched from allochthonous sources. Thus, with minimal additional effort, this method provided further compositional insights not attained by any single analysis in isolation.

The determination of bisphenols contained in food-related products with increased accuracy provided by the H-point Standard Addition Method (HPSAM)-based methodology

The basic version of the H-point standard addition method and its variants have been developed with an increased number of measurement conditions (from two to five conditions allowed for differentiation of sensitivity). The methodology adapted to the signal increment and generalized versions was used for the determination of the harmful compounds from the group of bisphenols (bisphenol A, S, and F) using high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector. This approach in theoretical and experimental studies allowed for obtaining high-quality results after eliminating all types of interference effects: multiplicative, additive, and nonlinear. The analysis of food-related samples, such as store receipts and canned food, confirmed the effectiveness of the developed methodology. The analytical results were distinguished by very good accuracy (RE<5 %, RV∼100 %) and precision (CV≤4 %). The approach can be successfully applied to various analytical systems (RGB model) and is characterized by a high greenness value (AGREE approach).

Kinetic study of the simultaneous removal of ibuprofen, carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole, and diclofenac from water using biochar and activated carbon adsorption, and TiO2 photocatalysis

The growing number of pharmaceuticals released into the environment poses a threat not only to the aquatic environment but also to human health. This work introduces a novel approach for the simultaneous analysis of four pharmaceuticals—ibuprofen, carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole, and diclofenac—each with distinct chemical structures. The study explores the kinetic behavior of these compounds during their removal from water, employing biochar and activated carbon as adsorbents, as well as titanium dioxide (TiO2) for photocatalytic degradation. This utilizes two distinct approaches incorporating adsorption mechanisms. The concentrations of pharmaceuticals were simultaneously measured using High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detection (HPLC-DAD). In addition to adsorption, photocatalysis with varying dosages of TiO2 was investigated as an alternative method for pharmaceutical removal. The HPLC- DAD analysis enabled the simultaneous monitoring of all four pharmaceuticals in a single analysis. The Langmuir-Hinshelwood model was applied to the photocatalysis data to assess reaction kinetics. The results demonstrate the efficacy of both adsorption methods in removing pharmaceutical contaminants from water. Integrating both adsorption and photocatalysis experiments in one manuscript allows for a comprehensive evaluation of these methods' individual strengths in water treatment applications, providing insights into their combined potential for addressing pharmaceutical contamination in water resources. The calculated removal efficiencies, Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics, half-life values, and equilibrium adsorption capacities provide a comprehensive understanding of the efficiency and mechanisms involved in the removal processes, emphasizing the importance of addressing pharmaceutical contamination in water treatment strategies.

Applicability of QbD-assisted Analytical Method for Simultaneous Detection of Tetrahydrocurcumin and Folic Acid in Developed Nanostructured Lipid Carriers

Aims: Applicability of QbD-assisted analytical method for simultaneous detection of tetrahydrocurcumin and folic acid in developed nanostructured. Background: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a multifactorial disorder that involves chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and neuropathy. Current treatment therapies involving the use of growth factors and skin substitutes being costly, are out of reach for the majority of patients. The present research explored the usefulness of (5929IN008, application number 202211045937), a combination of tetrahydrocurcumin and folic acid-loaded nanostructured lipidic carriers. Objectives: To develop and validate a QbD-assisted method for simultaneous analysis of tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) and folic acid (FA). Applicability of the above method to determine total drug content (TDC) and entrapment efficiency (EE) of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) loaded THC and FA. Methods: A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed, optimized and validated using Box-Behnken design for improved method performance. Chromatographic separation was conducted on a Supelco 250 x 4.6 mm (5 μm) column with optimized mobile phase composition containing tetrahydrofuran: citric acid buffer pH 3.5 (50:50) at a flow rate of 0.4 mL.min-1 and diode array detection between 210 and 360 nm. Results: The method developed in a concentration range of 1 to 100 μg.mL-1 was found to be linear (R2 0.999, p≤0.001), accurate (99.10-101.70%) and precise with high recovery values in intra and inter-day results. The system adaptability and robustness evaluation revealed that the percent recovery ranged from 96.90 to 102.80%, and the percent relative standard deviation (%RSD) values were less than 2%. Moreover, the method was further applied for the determination of TDC (86±6% and 96±8%) and drug EE (81±21% and 73±13%) for THC and FA, respectively. Conclusion: The investigation indicated the applicability of the developed and validated method for the estimation of THC and FA in the developed nanostructured lipidic carriers.

Comparison of piperine content, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of Piper chaba root and stem

Piper chaba (locally known as “Choi Jhal”) is used traditionally as spices and folk medicine in different parts of Bangladesh. One of the most important bioactive compounds in this plant is piperine. In this study, the amount of piperine in P. chaba root and stem was investigated and the optimal solvent for piperine extraction at room temperature was also studied. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was operated using a reverse phase column where methanol and water (70:30) were used as mobile phase. The detection was performed using photo diode array (PID) detector at a wavelength of 345 nm. The standard piperine showed linearity between 0.005 % and 0.04 % and the correlation co-efficient found for the linearity was 0.9933. The percentage of relative standard deviation (RSD) for both retention time and peak area were less than 2.0 %. The theoretical plate number (N) > 3000 and a tailing factor (T) < 1.5 were found in the acceptable range. The recovery percentage (%) of standard piperine was 99.16 %. Low value of co-efficient of variation and standard deviation are recognized for high precision of the method. The highest amount of piperine was found in root extracted with methanol (MR) amounting to 1.75 % in the root powder. The maximum amount of piperine in the stem was 1.59 % when extracted with methanol (MS). The piperine quantification in other extract like n-hexane root (HR), ethyl acetate root (ER), n-hexane stem (HS), ethyl acetate stem (ES) were 0.76 %, 1.69 %, 0.33 % and 1.46 % respectively. Methanol has given the highest yield of piperine compared to ethyl acetate and n-hexane for both root and stem. The developed method was simple, rapid, economic and validated in terms precision, accuracy and recovery. This selective method is found to be repeatable, accurate and successfully utilized for the Piper extract in marketed and pharmaceutical samples with well chromatographic conditions. The ethyl acetate extract of root and stem showed promising DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 39.62 ± 0.95 μg/mL and 43.85 ± 1.50 μg/mL respectively. The study reports potential antibacterial activity and antifungal activity of P. chaba root and stem extracts. These outcomes revealed that different extracts of P. chaba may be used as natural preservatives.

Development and validation of RP-HPLC method with UV-DAD detection for simultaneous determination of acesulfame K, sodium saccharin and aspartame in beverages

AbstractArtificial sweeteners are low-calorie substances used as food additives with aim to impart a sweet taste to beverages without adding significant calories. Due to the regulatory compliance regarding the type and the amount of artificial sweetener, and due to the large consumption of beverages and the effects of artificial sweeteners on human health, their identification and quantification is of a great importance. In this research simultaneous determination of acesulfame K (ACE-K), sodium saccharin (Na-SAC) and aspartame (ASP) as the most commonly used sweeteners in beverages was performed with a reversed – phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP – HPLC) with diode array detection (DAD). The best separation of the analytes was achieved on a Poroshell 120 EC-C18 (3.0 × 50 mm, 2.7 µm) column and isocratic elution with a mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and diluted phosphoric acid (pH = 3.8) with 7/93 volume ratio (V/V), and flow rate of 1 mL min−1. The chromatographic process was followed at 195, 220 and 230 nm, under constant column temperature (25 °C). Under these chromatographic conditions, the total time of analysis was less than 5 min. The developed method was validated for linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ). The LOD under established chromatographic conditions was 0.03, 0.07 and 0.17 mg L−1 for Na-SAC, ACE-K and ASP, respectively. The amount of artificial sweeteners in analyzed samples ranged from 30.32 to 148.37 mg L−1 for ACE-K, from 16.10 to 93.05 for Na-SAC, and from 6.06 to 512.72 for ASP. The validated method was successfully applied for determination of analytes in different commercially available beverages.

Harnessing blue light for cost-effective and eco-friendly antimicrobial solutions in poultry farming

Blue light in the visible spectrum naturally fights bacteria and effectively deactivates various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi using photodynamic processes. It works against drug-resistant strains within these species and is gentler on mammalian cells than ultraviolet rays or chemicals. This study evaluated blue light as an affordable way to sanitize surfaces in poultry settings, such as eggs and litter. The study used an light-emitting diode array to remove harmful Esche¬richia coli and Staphylococcus aureus from these items and observed how blue light affected their survival rates. Blue light (455 nm) at 30 mW/cm2 for one hour decreased the survival of S. aureus and E. coli on solid agar plates to 29.88% and 21.04%, respectively, compared to non-irradiated cultures. Similarly, on untreated surfaces (such as plastic used for feeding and drinking), the survival rates dropped to 25.8% and 15.6%, respectively. The survival percentages on treated eggs were 50% (S. aureus) and 48.2% (E. coli) and 59% (S. aureus) and 36.46% (E. coli) on treated litter. Hence, blue light technology offers a promising alternative to traditional antimicrobial methods by leveraging specific wavelengths to target microbial cells. This approach can significantly reduce the microbial load in poultry environments, enhancing food safety and animal health. This paper reports the first use of blue light as an antibacterial within poultry research in Iraq, offering a fresh approach to disinfection in this field.