Development Of Analytical Techniques Research Articles

A Review of Wastewater-Based Epidemiology Studies for the Assessment of Over-the-Counter Medicines Used as Recreational Drugs: The Example of Dextromethorphan.

The 'recreational use' of selected over-the-counter (OTC) medicines is an unofficial activity. The traditional surveys assessing the use of drugs are affected by the bias of underreporting and are thus unreliable. The development of analytical techniques helps to monitor the substances at trace levels, such as in wastewater, and might be applied to estimate the consumption of an analyte of interest and ensure additional, evidence-based information complementary to population surveys. We reviewed studies focused on evaluating the estimated consumption of drugs as a reliable and unbiased source of evidence-based information (called wastewater-based epidemiology, WBE) to monitor the scale of this phenomenon. We found there is a need to test not only narcotics in the environment but also medicines that may be abused or recreationally used. The reviewed studies show methods that might provide reliable information about consumption of drugs, narcotics, and OTC medications for proposing targeted, preventive actions. Moreover, as all the selected studies were based on mass spectrometry, there is a potential to include the dextromethorphan and/or related compounds as part of the screening for narcotics and OTC drugs that can be socially harmful, overused, or misused. This article reviews the analytical methods for detecting dextromethorphan and/or its transformation products in environmental water samples.

Current problems in the field of structure, properties of minerals and methods of their investigation

The main goal of research into the structure and properties of minerals, as well as their crystal chemistry and physics, consists in obtaining fundamental information about the actual atomic and electronic structure of mineral objects and physical regularities of their transformations under the influence of external factors (temperature, pressure, radiation, and environmental chemistry). Such information forms the basis for mineral typification and restoration of mineral crystallization conditions and their evolution in a certain geological situation. This information is widely used in petrogenetic and geochronological constructions. Such studies are also relevant to the development of nature-like technologies for obtaining new promising functional materials. Knowledge of the structure, crystal chemistry, and physics of minerals, typomorphism of their spectroscopic properties, as well as the development of analytical techniques and methods for the synthesis of mineral-like materials are of particular significance. This thematic issue of the Lithosphere journal aims to review of these problems in the context of the materials reported at the XIII All-Russian Scientific Conference “Minerals: Structure, Properties, Research Methods” held in 2023 at the Institute of Geology and Geochemistry of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Yekaterinburg.

Developments in analytical techniques for mycotoxin determination: an update for 2022-23

Abstract This review summarises developments published in the period from mid-2022 to mid-2023 on the analysis of a variety of matrices for mycotoxins. Important developments in all aspects of mycotoxin determination, from sampling and quality assurance/quality control of analytical results, to the various detection and quantitation technologies ranging from single mycotoxin biosensors to comprehensive instrumental methods are presented and discussed. This non-exhaustive summary and associated discussion covers such technology as chromatography with targeted or non-targeted high resolution mass spectrometry, detection other than mass spectrometry such as fluorescence or diode array detection, biosensors, as well as assays using alternatives to antibodies. This collaborative critical review intends to guide readers to relevant research by briefly presenting the most important developments in mycotoxin determination published in the past year. This review also relays limitations of the presented methodologies, in order to provide a thorough assessment of the analytical developments.

Biosensing Platforms for Cardiac Biomarker Detection.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a cardiovascular disease that occurs when there is an elevated demand for myocardial oxygen as a result of the rupture or erosion of atherosclerotic plaques. Globally, the mortality rates associated with MI are steadily on the rise. Traditional diagnostic biomarkers employed in clinical settings for MI diagnosis have various drawbacks, prompting researchers to investigate fast, precise, and highly sensitive biosensor platforms and technologies. Biosensors are analytical devices that combine biological elements with physicochemical transducers to detect and quantify specific compounds or analytes. These devices play a crucial role in various fields including healthcare, environmental monitoring, food safety, and biotechnology. Biosensors developed for the detection of cardiac biomarkers are typically electrochemical, mass, and optical biosensors. Nanomaterials have emerged as revolutionary components in the field of biosensing, offering unique properties that significantly enhance the sensitivity and specificity of the detection systems. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the advancements and applications of nanomaterial-based biosensing systems. Beginning with an exploration of the fundamental principles governing nanomaterials, we delve into their diverse properties, including but not limited to electrical, optical, magnetic, and thermal characteristics. The integration of these nanomaterials as transducers in biosensors has paved the way for unprecedented developments in analytical techniques. Moreover, the principles and types of biosensors and their applications in cardiovascular disease diagnosis are explained in detail. The current biosensors for cardiac biomarker detection are also discussed, with an elaboration of the pros and cons of existing platforms and concluding with future perspectives.

Identifying novel disease genes and revealing the pathomechanism of monogenic diseases.

Diseases are caused by genetic and/or environmental factors. It is important to understand the pathomechanism of monogenic diseases that are caused only by genetic factors, especially prenatal- or childhood-onset diseases for pediatricians. Identifying "novel" disease genes and elucidating how genomic changes lead to human phenotypes would develop new therapeutic approaches for rare diseases for which no fundamental cure has yet been established. Genomic analysis has evolved along with the development of analytical techniques, from Sanger sequencing (first-generation sequencing) to techniques such as comparative genomic hybridization, massive parallel short-read sequencing (using a next-generation sequencer or second-generation sequencer) and long-read sequencing (using a next-next generation sequencer or third-generation sequencer). I have been researching human genetics using conventional and new technologies, together with my mentors and numerous collaborators, and have identified genes responsible for more than 60 diseases. Here, an overview of genomic analyses of monogenic diseases that aims to identify novel disease genes, and several examples using different approaches depending on the disease characteristics are presented.

Praziquantel Fifty Years on: A Comprehensive Overview of Its Solid State.

This review discusses the entire progress made on the anthelmintic drug praziquantel, focusing on the solid state and, therefore, on anhydrous crystalline polymorphs, amorphous forms, and multicomponent systems (i.e., hydrates, solvates, and cocrystals). Despite having been extensively studied over the last 50 years, new polymorphs and the greater part of their cocrystals have only been identified in the past decade. Progress in crystal engineering science (e.g., the use of mechanochemistry as a solid form screening tool and more strategic structure-based methods), along with the development of analytical techniques, including Synchrotron X-ray analyses, spectroscopy, and microscopy, have furthered the identification of unknown crystal structures of the drug. Also, computational modeling has significantly contributed to the prediction and design of new cocrystals by considering structural conformations and interactions energy. Whilst the insights on praziquantel polymorphs discussed in the present review will give a significant contribution to controlling their formation during manufacturing and drug formulation, the detailed multicomponent forms will help in designing and implementing future praziquantel-based functional materials. The latter will hopefully overcome praziquantel's numerous drawbacks and exploit its potential in the field of neglected tropical diseases.

"Development And Assessment of Immediate Release Nitrofurantoin Tablet and Sustained Release Trimethoprim Tablet: Formulation, Characterization and Comparative Evaluation"

The research includes an examination of material properties, an investigation into the compatibility of the drug and excipients, the development of analytical techniques, and the determination of tablet production methods for immediate and sustained release layers. The methodology for material characterization encompassed the analysis of the pharmaceuticals' solubility in various aqueous solutions and buffers. The evaluation of the compatibility between excipients and medications was conducted utilizing FT-IR spectroscopy. Furthermore, calibration curves were devised by the research team for Nitrofurantoin and Trimethoprim, enabling the quantification of these pharmaceutical substances via UV spectrophotometry. The preparation of the tablets involved the utilization of direct compression and moist granulation methods, respectively, for the immediate and sustained release layers. This required the application of a variety of excipients and polymers. The tablets underwent a thorough evaluation in a controlled laboratory environment, which encompassed assessments of their dimensions, resistance to deformation, mass variability, and susceptibility to fracturing, concentration of active component, breakdown time, and solubility. The findings demonstrated that the regression coefficients in the calibration curves were substantial, thereby validating the accuracy of the drug concentration estimations. The results of the solubility studies indicate that Nitrofurantoin becomes more soluble in acidic environments. However, it should be noted that the solubility of both Trimethoprim and Nitrofurantoin is influenced by various solvents and buffers. An investigation into the compatibility of pharmaceuticals and the excipients was conducted through the utilization of FT-IR spectroscopy to ascertain such compatibility or interaction. A micromeritics analysis of granule flow parameters unveiled batch-specific variations in flow characteristics which will impact the manufacturing procedure. Upon scrutinizing the tablets, discrepancies in multiple measurements were discovered among various samples, suggesting the possibility of atypical tablet characteristics. Nitrofurantoin and Trimethoprim exhibited a progressive release from their tablets over time in various samples, as indicated by the drug release profiles observed in vitro; this suggests that the tablets have distinct release kinetics. Nevertheless, the medication release data exhibited irregularities in its presentation, such as sporadic inputs, absent values, and potentially erroneous statistics. The presence of these inconsistencies has the potential to compromise the dependability and comprehension of the results. In brief, the research provides extensive knowledge regarding the development, examination, and assessment of Nitrofurantoin rapid release tablets and Trimethoprim sustained release tablets.

Analytical Techniques for Performance Evaluation of Fountain-Coded File Distribution in Packet Radio Networks

Convenient analytical techniques are developed for use in preliminary design of systems and protocols for the delivery of fountain-coded files from a source node to a destination node with the assistance of a relay node. Each node has a half-duplex packet radio, and the time-varying disturbance on each link is represented by a lumpable finite-state Markov chain. The analytical techniques include the use of first passage times and recurrence times in the derivation of an exact expression for the completion time of file transfer over a radio link and the application of results on Markov-correlated Bernoulli trials to obtain exact expressions for completion times of relay-aided file transfer in wireless networks. In the development of analytical techniques, we employ capacity-achieving channel codes and ideal fountain codes; however, we present simulation results for packet radios that employ practical channel codes and for which the fountain code is a standard systematic raptor code.

Developments in analytical techniques for chemostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy, and geochemical fingerprinting studies: Current status and future trends

Chemostratigraphy utilizes the elemental, isotopic, and mineralogical compositions of sediments and rocks to understand the conditions of deposition and diagenesis, variations in paleo-redox conditions, climate, provenance, tectonic setting, and reservoir characteristics. This utility is based on the occurrences and stratigraphic variations of concentrations of certain elements, isotopes, minerals, and some organic compounds in sedimentary rocks. Significant progress has been made in the elemental, isotopic, and mineralogical determination techniques over the last couple of decades and this development is critically helpful to the applications of chemostratigraphy in widely varying fields including, but not limited to stratigraphy, depositional and diagenetic modelling, petroleum exploration, reservoir characterization, forensics, etc. Currently, highly precise data on about 60 elements in the range Li–U can be obtained very rapidly on a routine basis in different types of sediment samples such as drill cuttings, sediment cores, or hand specimens using various analytical techniques such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), high resolution ICP-MS (HR-ICP-MS), and Mattauch–Herzog geometry ICP-MS (MH-ICP-MS). Elemental data as ratios of certain elements or proxy values in profile form with depth, isotope values, and certain ratios are used for understanding various geological processes in the earth's history. Mineralogical studies using techniques such as x-ray diffraction spectrometry (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy have proven to be very powerful for identifying different sedimentary successions belonging to different ages. There have been notable advances in the measurement of isotopic concentrations and isotopic ratios both in stable isotopes and radiogenic isotopes. Certain analytical techniques such as laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) are able to distinguish different rock types, their geographic sources, and the geological processes associated with their formation in a field setting in real-time. In addition to the instrumental developments, substantial progress is made in other critical areas such as sample preparation, sample decomposition, analytical protocols, development of international certified geochemical reference materials (CRMs), and quality issues in general. Until recently, the general approach in elemental and mineralogical chemostratigraphic studies was to follow time taking process of collecting the sediment/drill core samples in the field and bringing them to the laboratory to generate the analytical data. This is very expensive, time-consuming, and difficult for covering large areas. But, rapid advances in the area of analytical instrumentation saw some instruments such as x-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), LIBS, visible and near-infrared spectrophotometer, and Raman spectrometer dramatically shrunk in size and have become portable, and changed this scenario completely and increased on-site applications in chemostratigraphy studies. In this review, these developments in analytical instrumentation in general together with some key applications in chemostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy, and geochemical fingerprinting have been summarized.

Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Cucurbitacins and Dihydrocucurbitacins from the Tuber of Citrullus naudinianus.

The vast pool of structurally and functionally distinct secondary metabolites (i.e., natural products (NPs)) is constantly being expanded, a process also driven by the rapid progress in the development of analytical techniques. Such NPs often show potent biological activities and are therefore prime candidates for drug development and medical applications. The ethyl acetate extract of the tuber of Citrullus naudinianus (C. naudinianus), an African melon with edible fruits and seeds, shows in vitro immunomodulatory activity presumably elicited by cucurbitacins that are known major constituents of this plant. Further potentially immunomodulatory cucurbitacins or cucurbitacin derivatives were assumed to be in the tuber. Given the typically high content of cucurbitacins with similar physicochemical features but often distinct bioactivities, an efficient and reliable separation process is a prerequisite for their detailed characterization and assessment in terms of bioactivity. We therefore developed a detection method to screen and differentiate cucurbitacins via high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS). In order to confirm the identification, the fragmentation patterns of two cucurbitacins and one 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin were also investigated. Six characteristic fragments were identified and three of them were employed for the identification of cucurbitacins and 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacins in the extract. As a result, in addition to eight previously reported cucurbitacins from this plant four distinct 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacins (B, D, E, and I) were putatively identified and newly found in the ethyl acetate extract of the tuber of C. naudinianus. The established methodology enables rapid and efficient LC-MS-based analysis and identification of cucurbitacins and 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacins in plant extracts.

Local elasticity evaluation of acid-denatured collagen by photoacoustic spectroscopy.

While there are various analytical methods for elasticity evaluation, those with micrometer-order spatial resolution are still under developing. As some of biological tissues such as capillary vessels and cochlea are very small and/or highly heterogeneous, development of analytical techniques with such high spatial resolution has been desired for biological and medical purposes. Especially, the elasticity of capillary vessels (several micrometer in diameter) would be an important indicator to find out early diseases. To measure the local elasticity for such small and/or heterogeneous samples, we have proposed an approach based on a temporal waveform of photoacoustic (PA) signal, i.e., time-domain PA. As the time-domain PA contains both the vibrating frequency and the sound propagation time after the excitation, itprovides the information on the local elasticity (from the frequency) at a specific depth (from the propagation time) of samples. In the present study, the signal from collagen sheets were obtained and analyzed as models of blood vessel walls and scaffolds for regenerative medicine. In contrast to previous studies using the agarose gel which showed a single frequency peak, the signal from the collagen sheets was mainly composed of two frequency peaks, assignable to surface and bulk vibration. Further, the bulk vibration was found to sensitively reflect the elasticity of the samples. Since the PA effect can be induced only at the position where the light absorber exists, the analytical method proposed here would allow us to measure the local elasticity and its spatial distribution in blood vessels and other tissues.

Steps to Regulatory Science

The research achievements in the field of regulatory science from the beginning of my research are described in an overview. First, I was interested in the complexity of development and pursued my studies on the mechanisms of DNA replication and repair, the mutagenicity of air pollutants, and the oncogene. After researching new phenomena based on the discovery of basic research in molecular/biochemistry, my research interests turned to the field of regulatory science which applies scientific evidence to social systems. I was able to successfully contribute to the field of drinking water quality in Japan through the establishment of drinking water quality standards and standard values, primarily for organic and agricultural chemicals, the development of analysis techniques, and the creation of an organization for ensuring safety. Research on the water quality in public water areas, which are also the sources of drinking water, was another subject in which I was involved. I took part in developing the concept and evaluation methodology for the environmental impact assessment of active pharmaceutical ingredients as well as conducting environmental monitoring on urban rivers in Japan. I have also been engaged in studies on the security and safety of human health with an ecosystem conservation background. It has been a great pleasure to collaborate on research projects with so many people toward a common aim.

Development of Techniques for Analysis of Nutraceuticals, With Specific Reference to Glucosamine and Coenzyme Q10

The reasoning of nutraceuticals, in the way that glucosamine and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) hold paramount significance on account of their potential strength benefits, This abstract argues for the development of techniques for the inclusive reasoning of these nutraceuticals, expounding their concentrations and kinds in miscellaneous formulations. Glucosamine, a widely used and easily consumed supplement, is famous for its allure in supporting joint fitness. CoQ10, in another way, is famous for its alluring antioxidant features and its part in the basic strength result. Reliable examination methods guarantee the productiveness and security of production containing these compounds. This study focused on the growth and addition of methods to measure and characterize glucosamine and CoQ10. Various chromatographic orders, including extreme-efficiency liquid chromatography (HPLC) and vapor chromatography (GC), have been used to obtain the correct measurement of these compounds in different matrices. Spectroscopic methods, including UV-Vis and bulk spectrometry, have been used to identify and prove the demeanor of glucosamine and CoQ10 in complex formulations. Special consideration has been given to sample preparation to extract and detach these compounds from different forms, such as capsules, tablets, and working foods. Additionally, confirmation of the grown forms following worldwide directions has been performed to guarantee veracity, accuracy, subtlety, and reproducibility.

Chemically and Physically Pretreated Straw in Moderate Conditions: Poor Correlation between Biogas Production and Commonly Used Biomass Characterization

Straw is a substantial agricultural by-product for biogas production. Hydrolysis of straw is found to be a rate-limiting step during its anaerobic digestion and could be enhanced by pretreatment. In this paper, the effect of various combinations of particle size reduction, autoclaving, and low-level Fenton reaction was studied on straw for biogas production. Grinding of straw contributed to the maximum increase in the biomethane potential. Only Fenton or only the autoclave process improves the kinetics slightly but does not considerably improve the biomethane potential. Combining autoclaving and low-concentration Fenton pretreatment considerably improves the BMP values. Lignin content, CHNSO elemental analysis, Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM), Simon’s staining, infrared spectroscopy (DRIFT and ATR), Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction analysis (WAXD) were used to characterize the physical and chemical changes of straw due to pretreatment. Results show a poor correlation between biogas production and the different physical and chemical biomass characteristics. It makes it difficult to explain the outcome of various pretreatment methods applied to biomass. Without further improvement and development of analytical techniques, the prediction of the biomethane potential of a feedstock with the aid of pretreatment can only be considered in case-by-case studies.

Saturated Linear Aliphatic γ- and δ-Lactones in Wine: A Review.

Saturated linear aliphatic lactones are widespread aroma compounds in wine, linked to stone fruit, dried red fruit, and coconut descriptors. Despite their ubiquity, bioproduction pathways associated with these compounds in wine are unclear, but higher concentrations have been linked to many common vitivinicultural practices, including grape variety, microbiological influence, oak- and bottle-aging, and wine styles such as late harvest, noble rot, and icewine. Development of analytical techniques has enabled increasingly accurate quantification of lactones in wine, shedding more light on their potential origins. This review provides an in-depth summary of the research into linear aliphatic lactones over the past 50 years and provides direction for possible future research to elucidate the biogenesis of these compounds and better estimate their impact on wine aroma.

Advances in Molecular and Microscale Characterization of Soil Organic Matter: Current Limitations and Future Prospects.

Soil organic matter (SOM) comprises a continuum of organic materials from granular organic debris to small organic molecules and contains more organic carbon than global vegetation and the atmosphere combined. It has remarkable effects on soil ecological functions and the global carbon cycle as well as the fate of pollutants in the terrestrial ecosystem. Therefore, characterization of SOM is an important topic in soil science, ecology, and environmental science. Chemical complexity and spatial heterogeneity are by far the two biggest challenges to our understanding of SOM. Recent developments in analytical techniques and methods provide the opportunity to reveal SOM composition at the molecular level and to observe its distribution in soils at micro- and nanoscales, which have greatly improved our understanding of SOM. This paper reviews the outstanding advances in SOM characterization regarding these two issues from target and nontarget analyses comprising molecular marker analysis, ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry analysis, and in situ microscopic imaging techniques such as synchrotron-based spectromicroscopy, nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry, and emerging electron and optical microscopic imaging techniques. However, current techniques and methods remain far from unlocking the unknown properties of SOM. We systematically point out the limitations of the current technologies and outline the future prospects for comprehensive characterization of SOM at the molecular level and micro- and nanoscales, paying particular attention to issues of environmental concern.

Review on various analytical methodologies for Azithromycin

The azithromycin broad-spectrum macrolide antibiotic, is generally used to treat genitourinary, respiratory, and enteric infections. The development of analytical techniques and the different currently employed techniques for estimating azithromycin, both in pharmaceutical dose form or in bulk, are the primary focus of the current study. Analytical techniques are crucial for determining compositions as they allow us to employ state-of-the-art analytical equipment to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. Chromatographic, electrochemical, spectroscopic, and other methods can be used to analyse azithromycin. These methods aid in understanding key process factors and restricting the negative impact they have on accuracy and precision. Analytical technique development is required for maintaining high commercial product quality standards and to comply with rules and regulations. In response to the reference, regulatory bodies in various nations have developed policies and procedures for giving approval, authentication, and registration.

SACUBITRIL / VALSARTAN (ENTRESTO): A REVIEW ON DEVELOPMENT OF ANALYTICAL METHODS AND ITS ASSESSMENT IN PURE, BULK FORMULATION, BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS AND PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATION

This Review focuses on the Recent Developments in Analytical Techniques for Estimation of Valsartan and Sacubitril Alone or in combination with other drugs in various Biological media like Human plasma and urine. The main Objective of this Review is to Unify and Interpret widely Scattered information of reported studies on Potential, Reliable and efficient Analytical Methodologies which can Estimate All the Major Components of Antihypertensive drugs. The information and suggested outlined below may facilitate and guide further Needed studies to optimise the use of Analytical Techniques like HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography), HPTLC ( High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography), GC ( Gas Chromatography) etc. for determination of Antihypertensive Analytes in formulation. The presented work is focused on the use of different Analytical Methods for the estimation of Valsartan and Sacubitril in API as well as formulation. From the Reviewed Literature it is obvious that HPLC is a commonly Available method of testing in Pharmaceutical Laboratory.

Comparative analysis of aged documents by desorption electrospray ionization-Mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) imaging.

Document dating is an important and challenging task in the field of forensic science. With the development of analytical techniques, related methods are emerging for document dating studies. Desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) is an ambient ionization-MS technique that has been applied in the forensic discrimination of inks. This study focused on utilizing DESI-MS to distinguish between ink entries of different ages. Blue ballpoint ink and black gel ink samples were artificially aged by heat and light exposure and then screened by DESI-MS in the positive ion mode, with a methanol-water-formic acid solution (90:10:0.1%, v/v/v) as the desorption solvent. As a result, the artificially aged ink samples were directly differentiated from the reference ones in the chemical images of age-dependent compounds such as basic dyes or polyethylene glycol derivatives. The amount of ethoxylated fatty amine surfactants in copy paper was also found to decrease after artificial aging. Moreover, this method enabled us to visualize the differences between the composition of naturally aged and fresh ink samples. It has been proven to cause no apparent destruction of the samples. The identification of chronological changes in document materials suggests that the DESI-MS method is a promising approach for relative document dating.

ALTECH 2021 – Analytical Techniques for Precise Characterization of Nano Materials

ALTECH 2021 – Analytical Techniques for Precise Characterization of Nano Materials