Detection Of Endocrine Disruptors Research Articles

Preparation and evaluation of Fe3O4@C@NiCo-LDH@CDs composites for magnetic solid-phase extraction of trace endocrine disruptors.

The widespread use of endocrine disruptors (EDPs) has certain potential hazards to organisms and environments, and it is particularly important to develop effective pretreatment methods before detection of EDPs in complex samples. In this work, a novel magnetic nanocomposite decorated with layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and carbon dots (CDs) was designed and prepared for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of EDPs (bisphenol S, bisphenol F, bisphenol A, bisphenol AF, diethylstilbestrol and 4-cumylphenol) combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) detection. The prepared composites were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the adsorption mechanism towards these EDPs might be mainly based on hydrogen bonds and π-π conjugation. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed method showed limits of detection within 0.05-0.50 μg L-1 and limits of quantitation within 0.2-2.0 μg L-1, and good linearity (R2 ≥ 0.9975) was presented in the range of 0.2-200 μg L-1. Finally, the Fe3O4@C@NiCo-LDH@CDs composite-based MSPE-HPLC-UV method was applied for enrichment and determination of EDPs in water, milk, and tea beverage samples with recoveries in the range of 81.2-119.8% and relative standard deviations below 9.7%.

Degradation and Detection of Endocrine Disruptors by Laccase-Mimetic Polyoxometalates.

Endocrine disruptors are newly identified water contaminants and immediately caught worldwide concern. An effort has been made to degrade endocrine disruptors in the water body by relying on laccase-assisted approaches, including laccase-mediated catalytic systems, immobilized laccase catalytic systems, and nano-catalytic systems based on atypical protein enzymes. Analogous to laccases, polyoxometalates (POMs) have a similar size as these enzymes. They are also capable of using oxygen as an electron acceptor, which could assist the removal of endocrine disruptors in water. This perspective begins with a brief introduction to endocrine disruptors and laccases, summarizes current approaches employing laccases, and focuses on the nano-catalytic systems that mimic the function of laccases. Among the inorganic nanoparticles, POMs meet the design requirements and are easy for large-scale production. The catalytic performance of POMs in water treatment is highlighted, and an example of using polyoxovanadates for endocrine disruptor degradation is given at the end of this perspective. Exploring laccase-mimetic POMs will give key insights into the degradation of emergent water contaminants.

Magnetotactic bacteria: Characteristics and environmental applications

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are a group of Gram-negative prokaryotes that respond to the geomagnetic field. This unique property is attributed to the intracellular magnetosomes, which contains membrane-bound nanocrystals of magnetic iron minerals. This review summarizes the most recent advances in MTB, magnetosomes, and their potential applications especially the environmental pollutant control or remediation. The morphologic and phylogenetic diversity of MTB were first introduced, followed by a critical review of isolation and cultivation methods. Researchers have devoted to optimize the factors, such as oxygen, carbon source, nitrogen source, nutrient broth, iron source, and mineral elements for the growth of MTB. Besides the applications of MTB in modern biological and medical fields, little attention was made on the environmental applications of MTB for wastewater treatment, which has been summarized in this review. For example, applications of MTB as adsorbents have resulted in a novel magnetic separation technology for removal of heavy metals or organic pollutants in wastewater. In addition, we summarized the current advance on pathogen removal and detection of endocrine disruptor which can inspire new insights toward sustainable engineering and practices. Finally, the new perspectives and possible directions for future studies are recommended, such as isolation of MTB, genetic modification of MTB for mass production and new environmental applications. The ultimate objective of this review is to promote the applications of MTB and magnetosomes in the environmental fields.

Detection of endocrine disruptors - from simple assays to whole genome scanning

Endocrine disruptors frequently bear little structural relationship to the hormone whose actions they disrupt. Consequently, the threat of an uninvestigated chemical cannot easily be assessed. Here three different approaches to assessment are discussed. The first presumes an endocrine-disrupting property, following which a cell model capable of responding to such a hormone is used. Although simple and cheap, it provides limited data. A second approach involves multiple assays to detect multiple hormones. Increasing the amount of data increased the difficulty in assessing the significance of results. To meet this problem, cluster analysis based on a simple mathematical matrix was adopted. The matrix was used to determine (i) a limited number of assays to identify a maximum number of endocrine disruptors and (ii) the chemicals with the most wide-ranging effects. A third approach was a whole genome expression analysis based on expression of mRNAs in human TE671 medulloblastoma cells. Expression of individual mRNAs was assessed using the Affymetrix GeneChip(®) Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 chip. The significance of differential expressed genes was assessed based on gene ontology and pathways analyses using DAVID and GenMaPP programs. The results illustrated the very wide-ranging effects of these chemicals across the genome.

Sensitive and Convenient Yeast Reporter Assay for High-Throughput Analysis by Using a Secretory Luciferase from Cypridina noctiluca

The yeast reporter assay has been widely used in various applications such as detection of endocrine disruptors and analysis of protein-protein interactions by the yeast two-hybrid system. The molecular characteristics of the reporter enzyme are critical determinants for this assay. We herein report the establishment of a novel yeast reporter assay using a secretory luciferase, Cypridina noctiluca luciferase (CLuc), as an alternative to the conventional beta-galactosidase. The CLuc reporter assay in yeast is more sensitive and convenient than the conventional assay. A yeast high-throughput reporter assay was established with a laboratory automation system, and the transcriptional activity of hundreds of yeast promoter fragments was comprehensively determined. Our results indicate that the yeast CLuc reporter assay is a promising tool for large-scale and sensitive analysis in the development of new drugs and in various fields of biotechnology research.

Miniaturisation of a capillary electrophoresis microchip for the sensing of endocrine disruptors

Although capillary electrophoresis amperometric detector (CE-AD) involving double-T microchannel configuration is a powerful analytical tool in terms of sensitivity and selectivity, its long microchannel configuration hinders further miniaturisation. Therefore a twisted CE microchannel configuration was used in the present study to fabricate CE-AD devices for detection of endocrine disruptors. The analyte separation time varied slightly for the twisted microchannel structure, whereas the detector sensitivities were similar for the two configurations. The conventional indium tin oxide amperometric detector in the device with twisted microchannel configuration was later modified with Prussian blue to enhance the sensitivity of detection.

Pharmaceuticals and Endocrine Disruptors: Implications for Water Sustainability (part II)

The availability of safe freshwater is diminishing at an alarming rate globally. Increasing human population is stressing water supplies and contributing to water pollution. Population density increases and climate changes including epic droughts in certain parts of the world have led to the utilization of non-conventional water resources. These resources include desalinated sea water and recycled water to meet potable water needs. The water quality in many parts of the world is changing. The burgeoning human population taxes not only water resources but also food supplies, leading to rising demands for irrigation water and consequently to greater potential for water contamination by pesticides, fertilizers, and naturally occurring constituents. The public perception of water is shifting, with growing public awareness of certain groups of contaminants due to media coverage and non-government organization (NGO) concerns. Modern analytical technology has permitted the discovery that minute concentrations of contaminants of distinctly human origin occur in the water cycle. Many of these so-called “contaminants of emerging concern” have been, and will continue to be, detected in potable water supplies. Without question, the propensity for the contamination of fresh water will rise as human population continues to grow. Water treatment technology also continues to evolve. Advanced water treatment processes can provide effective and efficient contaminant removal. This presentation will describe the history, current status, and future implications that the detection of endocrine disruptors and pharmaceuticals will have on water and energy sustainability, with a particular emphasis on water treatment technologies.

Gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric method for separation and detection of endocrine disruptors from environmental water samples

The simultaneous determination of endocrine disruptors (phenols) has been developed using a GC–MS method. Endocrine disruptors in various water samples, were extracted using a liquid–liquid extraction process. Acidification pH 2.0–3.0 and salting (NaBr) of water samples really enhance the extraction process. The extraction of endocrine disruptors was done and experimented twice with 50 ml of “dichloromethane”. The volume was concentrated from 100 to 1 ml. Internal standard of anthracene was also added to the concentrated volumes followed by derivatization with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) to form phenol-trimethylsilylate (phenol-TMS) derivative. The phenol-TMS derivative was analyzed by GC–MS method. The applied concentrated range was over 10–1000 ng/ml for the total phenols. The recovery test ranged from 59.5 to 88.6% with relative standard deviations between 1.6 and 10.3% of 500 ng/ml of the standard phenols spiked to the water sample and the detection limit was 1 ng/ml. The proposed method was applied satisfactory to the determination of total endocrine disruptors in synthetic mixtures and different types of water sample, such as river, tap and distilled waters, previously spiked with different amounts of these chemicals.