Elemental Analysis and Forensic Comparison of Soils by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)

The elemental analysis of soil is useful in forensic and environmental sciences. Methods were developed and optimized for two laser-based multi-element analysis techniques: laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). This work represents the first use of a 266 nm laser for forensic soil analysis by LIBS. Sample preparation methods were developed and optimized for a variety of sample types, including pellets for large bulk soil specimens (470 mg) and sediment-laden filters (47 mg), and tape-mounting for small transfer evidence specimens (10 mg). Analytical performance for sediment filter pellets and tape-mounted soils was similar to that achieved with bulk pellets. An inter-laboratory comparison exercise was designed to evaluate the performance of the LA-ICP-MS and LIBS methods, as well as for micro X-ray fluorescence (μXRF), across multiple laboratories. Limits of detection (LODs) were 0.01-23 ppm for LA-ICP-MS, 0.25-574 ppm for LIBS, 16-4400 ppm for µXRF, and well below the levels normally seen in soils. Good intra-laboratory precision (≤ 6 % relative standard deviation (RSD) for LA-ICP-MS; ≤ 8 % for µXRF; ≤ 17 % for LIBS) and inter-laboratory precision (≤ 19 % for LA-ICP-MS; ≤ 25 % for µXRF) were achieved for most elements, which is encouraging for a first inter-laboratory exercise. While LIBS generally has higher LODs and RSDs than LA-ICP-MS, both were capable of generating good quality multi-element data sufficient for discrimination purposes. Multivariate methods using principal components analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were developed for discriminations of soils from different sources. Specimens from different sites that were indistinguishable by color alone were discriminated by elemental analysis. Correct classification rates of 94.5 % or better were achieved in a simulated forensic discrimination of three similar sites for both LIBS and LA-ICP-MS. Results for tape-mounted specimens were nearly identical to those achieved with pellets. Methods were tested on soils from USA, Canada and Tanzania. Within-site heterogeneity was site-specific. Elemental differences were greatest for specimens separated by large distances, even within the same lithology. Elemental profiles can be used to discriminate soils from different locations and narrow down locations even when mineralogy is similar.

Improved Dynamic Headspace Sampling and Detection using Capillary Microextraction of Volatiles Coupled to Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

Sampling and preconcentration techniques play a critical role in headspace analysis in analytical chemistry. My dissertation presents a novel sampling design, capillary microextraction of volatiles (CMV), that improves the preconcentration of volatiles and semivolatiles in a headspace with high throughput, near quantitative analysis, high recovery and unambiguous identification of compounds when coupled to mass spectrometry. The CMV devices use sol-gel polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coated microglass fibers as the sampling/preconcentration sorbent when these fibers are stacked into open-ended capillary tubes. The design allows for dynamic headspace sampling by connecting the device to a hand-held vacuum pump. The inexpensive device can be fitted into a thermal desorption probe for thermal desorption of the extracted volatile compounds into a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The performance of the CMV devices was compared with two other existing preconcentration techniques, solid phase microextraction (SPME) and planar solid phase microextraction (PSPME). Compared to SPME fibers, the CMV devices have an improved surface area and phase volume of 5000 times and 80 times, respectively. One (1) minute dynamic CMV air sampling resulted in similar performance as a 30 min static extraction using a SPME fiber. The PSPME devices have been fashioned to easily interface with ion mobility spectrometers (IMS) for explosives or drugs detection. The CMV devices are shown to offer dynamic sampling and can now be coupled to COTS GC-MS instruments. Several compound classes representing explosives have been analyzed with minimum breakthrough even after a 60 min. sampling time. The extracted volatile compounds were retained in the CMV devices when preserved in aluminum foils after sampling. Finally, the CMV sampling device were used for several different headspace profiling applications which involved sampling a shipping facility, six illicit drugs, seven military explosives and eighteen different bacteria strains. Successful detection of the target analytes at ng levels of the target signature volatile compounds in these applications suggests that the CMV devices can provide high throughput qualitative and quantitative analysis with high recovery and unambiguous identification of analytes.

An investigation into the suitability of time-of-flight mass spectrometry in forensic toxicology

Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry is one of the most powerful tools in the toxicologist’s arsenal to detect a wide variety of compounds from many different matrices. However, the huge number of potentially abused substances and new substances especially designed as intoxicants poses a problem in a forensic toxicology setting. Most methods are targeted and designed to cover a very specific drug or group of drugs while many other substances remain undetected. High resolution mass spectrometry, more specifically time-of-flight mass spectrometry, represents an extremely powerful tool in analysing a multitude of compounds not only simultaneously but also retroactively. The data obtained through the time-of-flight instrument contains all compounds made available from sample extraction and chromatography, which can be processed at a later time with an improved library to detect previously unrecognised compounds without having to analyse the respective sample again. The aim of this project was to determine the utility and limitations of time-of-flight mass spectrometry as a general and easily expandable screening method. The resolution of time-of-flight mass spectrometry allows for the separation of compounds with the same nominal mass but distinct exact masses without the need to separate them chromatographically. To simulate the wide variety of potentially encountered drugs in such a general screening method, seven drugs (morphine, cocaine, zolpidem, diazepam, amphetamine, MDEA and THC) were chosen to represent this variety in terms of mass, properties and functional groups. Consequently, several liquid-liquid and solid phase extractions were applied to urine samples to determine the most general suitable and unspecific extraction. Chromatography was optimised by investigating the parameters pH, concentration, organic solvent and gradient of the mobile phase to improve data obtained by the time-of-flight instrument. The resulting method was validated as a qualitative confirmation/identification method. Data processing was automated using the software TargetAnalysis, which provides excellent analyte recognition according to retention time, exact mass and isotope pattern. The recognition of isotope patterns allows excellent recognition of analytes even in interference rich mass spectra and proved to be a good positive indicator. Finally, the validated method was applied to samples received from the A& E Department of Glasgow Royal Infirmary in suspected drug abuse cases and samples received from the Scottish Prison Service, which we received from their own prevalence study targeting drugs of abuse in the prison population. The obtained data was processed with a library established in the course of this work.

傅立叶变换离子回旋共振质谱在含糖小分子分析中的应用

傅立叶变换离子回旋共振质谱是一种近些年来逐渐发展起来的新型质谱仪器，由于该类质谱检测器的设计和检测原理与传统质谱有着根本的区别，通过它获取的数据具有高分辨和高质量测量精度的特点。通常，超过100000以上的分辨本领能够对质谱中非常临近的质谱峰进行区分，并结合串联质谱中的高质谱测量精度数据，可以给出明确的串联质谱碎裂途径。 本论文选择4对具有同分异构特点的二糖黄酮进行了系统研究，实验采取负离子模式的电喷雾傅立叶变换离子回旋共振质谱，结合持续非共振辐照碰撞诱导解离模式，对同分异构体的区分进行了研究。在实验过程中，建立了一种全新的质量校正方法，使得质谱测量平均误差小于1.00 ppm1。首次直接利用子离子的结构信息，确定了负离子模式下二糖黄酮的去质子化位点。实验中还发现，RDA解离途径仅仅当二糖黄酮的苷元是黄烷酮并且B环上没有过多的富电子基团的情况下才能发生，同时，具有α1→2糖连接的二糖黄酮在串联质谱中能够发生多键解离，并采用Gaussian 03 程序利用 B3LYP/6-31G方法对其进行了理论计算。为了进一步讨论α1→2糖连接二糖黄酮的串联质谱特点，在温和实验条件下，对上述化合物进行了氢氘交换实验。实验中首次发现温和条件下，黄酮的氢氘交换位点依赖于苷元结构，除了糖链上羟基和苷元上的酚羟基能够发生氢氘交换外，苷元为黄烷酮的二糖黄酮中，C（3）、C（6）和C（8）上的氢能够被直接交换掉，而苷元为黄酮骨架的二糖黄酮则在此位点不发生氢氘交换反应，并依据高质量测量精度数据对其子离子产生途径进行研究。 论文还系统研究了由葡萄糖缩合而成的二糖，4对二糖异构体负离子模式电喷雾傅立叶变换离子回旋共振质谱研究表明，其离子化过程中，生成的去质子化的二聚体是主要气相离子，依据单糖的实验和计算化学结果，论文中提出二糖化合物的离子化模型。计算化学的结果还证实，构成二聚体的单体直接具有强烈的相互作用，能够在串联质谱中产生共价键解离的子离子，而不是简单的单体解离。利用SORI CID还对二糖化合物的糖连接位点和糖苷键构型进行了区分研究。 论文的最后一部分研究了人工合成类肝素类化合物DHα、THα 和 THβ的结构表征，在极其温和的负离子模式电喷雾质谱条件下，类肝素化合物仍然容易发生多个SO3中性丢失。串联质谱中的子离子通过傅立叶变换离子回旋共振质谱高质量精度测量数据进行了确认。实验对研究类肝素类化合物的质谱表征提供了借鉴。

西藏产雪莲花的化学成分研究

本学位论文报道了作为传统藏药材广泛使用的西藏产雪莲花化学成分的研究。论文由五章组成，第一章是三种西藏产雪莲花的化学成分的系统分离纯化和结构鉴定；第二章为西藏产雪莲花化学成分的液-质及串联质谱联用分析；第三章提出了以HPLC和TLC为检测方法的雪莲花药材质量标准草案；第四章给出了对西藏产雪莲花挥发油化学成分的气-质联用分析结果；第五章概述了雪莲花的化学成分及药理研究进展。 第一章包括三个部分。第一部分报道了绵头雪莲花(Saussurea laniceps Hand.-Mazz.)全草乙醇提取物化学成分的分离鉴定。采用正相硅胶柱层析及凝胶柱层析等分离方法，从西藏产绵头雪莲花的乙醇提取物中共分离鉴定出15个化合物。其中11个化合物为首次从该植物中分离得到，当中2个化合物系在凤毛菊属植物中首次发现。第二部分报道了水母雪莲花(Saussurea medusa Maxim.)全草乙醇提取物的化学成分。采用正、反相硅胶柱层析及凝胶柱层析等分离方法，共分离鉴定出15个化合物，其中1个为新化合物，另有4个化合物为首次从该植物中分离得到。新化合物结构通过质谱和一维及二维核磁共振等波谱解析方法及碱水解反应确定为巴豆酰基-高车前苷(M-7)。第三部分报道了三指雪莲花 (Saussurea tridactyla Sch.-Bip. ex Hook. f.)全草乙醇提取物的化学成分。采用正相硅胶柱层析及凝胶柱层析等分离方法，共分离鉴定出7个化合物，其中1个化合物为首次从该植物中分离得到。 第二章也包括三个部分。首先是采用液-质联用(HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn)分析方法，对7个西藏不同产地的三指雪莲花化学成分进行了分析，通过与标准品的 UV和MS数据比较，共鉴定出14个峰，并对其中8个共有成分进行了定量测定。其次是关于八种西藏产雪莲花化学成分的液-质联用(HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn)分析，通过与标准品的UV和MS数据比较，共鉴定出15个峰，并对其中8个共有成分进行了定量检测。最后通过对八种西藏产雪莲花主要化学成分的多级串联质谱(ESI-MSn)分析，快速、灵敏地鉴定出10个黄酮和3个香豆素化学成分。 第三章同样包括三个部分。首先是以绵头雪莲花中主要香豆素成分东莨菪素和伞形花内酯为对照品，通过TLC定性检测和HPLC含量测定，草拟出较严谨的药材质量标准。其次是将绵头雪莲花、三指雪莲花和雪兔子作为一个药材看待，草拟了以东莨菪素和伞形花内酯的TLC检测为指标的药材质量标准。最后是针对水母雪莲花，以主要黄酮成分芹菜素-7-O-b-D-葡萄糖苷为对照品作TLC检测，并草拟出该药材的质量标准草案。 第四章报道了西藏产雪莲花挥发油的化学成分分析。采用传统水蒸气蒸馏法分别从八种雪莲花全草中提取挥发油，利用气相色谱-质谱联用技术分别从水母雪莲花、绵头雪莲花、槲叶雪莲花、云状雪兔子、拉萨雪兔子、小果雪兔子、雪兔子和三指雪莲花中分别鉴定出83、83、56、34、21、20、24和20个化学成分，分别占其挥发油总量的70.7%、76.0%、82.2%、55.4%、49.7%、70.4 %、76.2%和 76.7%。 第五章为综述，总结和概括了雪莲花的化学和药理研究进展。 The dissertation reports the investigation of the chemical constituents of the genus Saussurea. Quite a lot of species in this genus are traditional Tibetan medicinal plants, and hence have been widely used in traditional Tibetan medicine. This dissertation consisted of five chapters. The first chapter is on the chemical constituents of three Saussurea plants. The second section is about the analysis of chemical constituents of Saussurea plants using HPLC-MS and ESI-MS/MS. In the third chapter, we proposed quality-control standards for the Genus Saussurea based on TLC (thin layer chromatography) and HPLC. The fourth chapter is about chemical compositions of the essential oil from the whole plant of Saussurea plants. The last chapter reviews the research progress of the Genus Saussurea. The first chapter consists of three parts. The first part is about chemical constituents of ethanol extracts from whole plant of Saussurea laniceps Hand.-Mazz. Fifteen compounds were isolated by column chromatography on normal phase silica gel and Sephadex LH-20. Among them, eleven compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time, and two compounds were isolated from Genus Saussurea for the first time. The second part is about chemical constituents of ethanol extracts from whole plant of Saussurea medusa Maxim. Fifteen compounds were isolated by column chromatography on normal phase, reversed phase silica gel and Sephadex LH-20. Five of them were isolated from this plant for the first time, and there is one new flavonoid glucoside which was identified as 6″-O-crotonoyl-homoplantaginin (M-7) based on the evidence of one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry analysis, and alkaline hydrolysis reaction. The last part is about chemical constituents of ethanol extracts from whole plant of Saussurea tridactyla Sch.-Bip. ex Hook. f.. Seven compounds were isolated by column chromatography on normal phase silica gel and Sephadex LH-20. There is one compound which was isolated from this plant for the first time. The second chapter consists of three parts. In the first part, we analyzed the chemical constituents of S. tridactyla collected from seven different places in Tibet using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn. Fourteen peaks in the HPLC were identified by comparison of UV and MS spectra with those of authentic compounds, among which eight common peaks were quantified. In the second part, we analyzed the chemical constituents of eight Saussurea species using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn method. Fifteen peaks in the HPLC were identified by comparison of UV and MS spectra with those of authentic compounds and eight main peaks of them were quantified. In the last part, we analyzed the chemical compounds of the above eight Saussurea plants directly by ESI-MS/MS. Thirteen major compounds, including 10 flavonoids and 3 coumarins were easily rapidly identified. The third chapter consists of three parts. In the first part, we proposed a comparative high quality-control standard for S. laniceps, based on quality detection by TLC and quantity analysis by HPLC using two major compounds (umbelliferone and scopoletin) as standard compounds. In the second part, in viewing S. laniceps, S. tridactyla and S. gossypiphora as the members of one family of medicinal herbs, we suggested a quality-control standard based on the TLC detection of the two major compounds (umbelliferone and scopoletin). In the last part, we proposed a quality-control standard for S. medusa based on the TLC detection of its major component (apigenin 7-O-glucoside). The four chapter analyzed the chemical constituents of essential oil of eight Saussurea species. The essential oils were extracted from the whole plants of these samples with water stream distillation. By GC-MS analysis, we identified eighty-three compounds from S. medusa, eighty-three from S. laniceps, fifty-six from S. quercifolia, thirty-four from S. aster, twenty-one from S. kingii, twenty from S. simpsoniana, twenty-four from S. gossypiphora, and twenty from S. tridactyla respetively, which accounted for 70.7%, 76.0%, 82.2%, 55.4%, 49.7%, 70.4 %, 76.2% and 76.7% of the total essential oil, respectively. The last chapter reviews the research progress of the Genus Saussurea.

An introduction to the trapping of clusters with ion traps and electrostatic storage devices

This paper presents an introduction to the application of ion traps and storage devices for cluster physics. Some experiments involving cluster ions in trapping devices such as Penning traps, Paul traps, quadrupole or multipole linear traps are briefly discussed. Electrostatic ion storage rings and traps which allow for the storage of fast ion beams without mass limitation are presented as well. We also report on the recently developed mini-ring, a compact electrostatic ion storage ring for cluster, molecular and biomolecular ion studies.

米托蒽醌与双链及三链核酸相互作用的电喷雾质谱研究

The interaction of mitoxantrone (MXT) with duplex and triplex DNA, contain repeating sequence CTCT, CCTT and CTT were studied by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICR-MS). The 1:3 specific complexes of mitoxantrone and duplex DNA and 1:2 specific complexes of mitoxantrone and triplex DNA were observed. The results show that mitoxantrone has no remarkable sequence selectivity, however it has distinct structure selectivity, and destabilization the triplex.

Screening and Structural Characterization of alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors from Hawthorn Leaf Flavonoids Extract by Ultrafiltration LC-DAD-MSn and SORI-CID FTICR MS

In vitro a-glucosidase inhibition assays and ultrafiltration liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ultrafiltration LC-DAD-ESI-MSn) were combined to screen a-glucosidase inhibitors from hawthorn leaf flavonoids extract (HLFE). As a result, four compounds were identified as alpha-glucosidase inhibitors in the HLFE, and their structures were confirmed to be quercetin-3-O-rha-(1-4)-glc-rha and C-glycosylflavones (vitexin-2 ''-O-glucoside, vitexin-2 ''-O-rhamnoside and vitexin) by high-resolution sustained off resonance irradiation collision-induced dissociation (SORI-CID) data obtained by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR MS).

Evaluation of Effects of Bivalent Cations on the Formation of Purine-rich Triple-Helix DNA by ESI-FT-MS

The GGA triplet repeats are widely dispersed throughout eukaryotic genomes. (GGA)n or (GGT)n oligonucleotides can interact with double-stranded DNA containing (GGA:CCT)n to form triple-stranded DNA. The effects of 8 divalent metal ions (3 alkaline-earth metals and 5 transition metals) on formation of these purine-rich triple-helix DNA were investigated by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FT-MS). In the absence of metal ions, no triplex but single-strand, duplex, and purine homodimer ions were observed in mass spectra. The triple-helix DNA complexes were observed only in the presence of certain divalent ions. The effects of different divalent cations on the formation of purine-rich triplexes were compared. Transition-metal ions, especially Co2+ and Ni2+, significantly boost the formation of triple-helix DNA, whereas alkaline-earth metal ions have no positive effects on triplex formation. In addition, Ba2+ is notably beneficial to the formation of homodimer instead of triplex.

Bimolecular quadruplexes and their transitions to higher-order molecular structures detected by ESI-FTICR-MS

Four individual quadruplexes, which are self-assembled in ammonium acetate solution from telomeric sequences of closely related DNA strands - d(G(4)T(4)G(4)), d(G(3)T(4)G(4)), d(G(3)T(4)G(3)), and d(G(4)T(4)G(3)) - have been detected in the gas phase using electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICR-MS). The bimolecular quadruplexes associate with the same number of NH4+ in the gas phase as NMR shows that they do in solution. The quadruplex structures formed in solution are maintained in the gas phase. Furthermore, the mass spectra show that the bimolecular quadruplexes generated by the strands d(G(3)T(4)G(3)) and d(G(4)T(4)G(3)) are unstable, being converted into trimolecular and tetramolecular structures with increasing concentrations of NH4+ in the solution. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra reveal structural changes during the process of strand stoichiometric transitions, in which the relative orientation of strands in the quadruplexes changes from an antiparallel to a parallel arrangement. Such changes were observed for the strand d(G(4)T(4)G(3)), but not for the strand d(G(3)T(4)G(3)). The present work provides a significant insight into the formation of various DNA quadruplexes, especially the higher-order species.

Bridging the Gap between Ionic Liquids and Molten Salts: Group 1 Metal Salts of the Bistriflamide Anion in the Gas Phase

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry experiments showed that liquid Group 1 metal salts of the bistriflamide anion undergoing reduced-pressure distillation exhibit a remarkable behavior that is in transition between that of the vapor-liquid equilibrium characteristics of aprotic ionic liquids and that of the Group 1 metal halides: the unperturbed vapors resemble those of aprotic ionic liquids, in the sense that they are essentially composed of discrete ion pairs. However, the formation of large aggregates through a succession of ion-molecule reactions is closer to what might be expected for Group I metal halides. Similar experiments were also carried out with bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl}amine to investigate the effect of H+, which despite being the smallest Group 1 cation, is generally regarded as a nonmetal species. In this case, instead of the complex ion-molecule reaction pattern found for the vapors of Group I metal salts, an equilibrium similar to those observed for aprotic ionic liquids was observed.

Síntese de derivados oligoméricos de porfirinas e ftalocianinas

A presente dissertação contempla estudos de funcionalização de 5,10,15,20- tetrafenilporfirina via grupos nitro e amino e a preparação de sistemas porfirina-ftalocianina. Este trabalho encontra-se dividido em quatro partes. Na primeira parte descrevem-se as características gerais de porfirinas e ftalocianinas bem como algumas metodologias de síntese utilizadas na sua preparação e suas potenciais aplicações. Na segunda parte desta dissertação descreve-se a funcionalização de 5,10,15,20-tetrafenilporfirina com arilaminas recorrendo a duas rotas sintéticas diferentes. A reacção de 2-nitro-5,10,15,20-tetrafenilporfirina com anilina ou aminas aromáticas substituídas com grupos dadores de electrões permitiu, através do ataque do nucleófilo ao carbono beta-pirrólico onde está ligado o grupo nitro, ataque ipso, a obtenção de derivados do tipo 2-arilaminoporfirinas e derivados porfirínicos de anéis fundidos, sendo estes últimos resultantes da ciclização oxidativa de 2-arilaminoporfirinas. A reacção entre (2-amino- 5,10,15,20-tetrafenilporfirinato)níquel(II) e brometos de arilo na presença de paládio, reacção de aminação de Buchwald-Hartwig, permitiu, após descomplexação, a preparação de novos derivados do tipo 2- arilaminoporfirinas com grupos substituintes dadores e aceitadores de electrões. Um dos derivados porfirínicos de anéis fundidos foi submetido a reacção de complexação com diferentes iões metálicos e foram estudadas as respectivas propriedades fotoquímicas e electroquímicas. Esses estudos revelaram que estes compostos são bons geradores de oxigénio singuleto e que sofrem processos de oxidação-redução electroquimicamente reversíveis. Esta metodologia foi estendida ainda a brometos de hetarilo (derivados de piridina e tiofeno). Recorrendo ao acoplamento, em condições de Buchwald-Hartwig, de complexos metálicos da 5,10,15,20-tetrafenilporfirina, funcionalizados com grupos amino e bromo, preparam-se dímeros porfirina-amino-porfirina, cujos espectros electrónicos revelam a existência de uma boa “comunicação electrónica” entre as duas subunidades. A terceira parte descreve a síntese de sistemas porfirina-ftalocianina. Recorrendo à condensação estatística entre a 5,10,15,20-tetrafenilporfirina substituída com um grupo ftalonitrilo na posição beta-pirrólica com ftalonitrilo ou ftalonitrilo substituído foram obtidas díades porfirina-ftalocianina onde as duas subunidades se encontram directamente ligadas ou fundidas. Os porfirinilftalonitrilos necessários para a síntese das diferentes díades foram preparados através da reacção de adição do fumaronitrilo à 5,10,15,20- tetrafenilporfirina funcionalizada com o grupo 1,3-butadienilo ou vinilo, seguida de oxidação do aducto resultante. O acoplamento catalisado por paládio entre (2-bromo-5,10,15,20- tetrafenilporfirinato)zinco(II) e [9(10),16(17),23(24)-tri-terc-butil-2- etinilftalocianinato]zinco(II) permitiu a síntese de uma díade porfirinaftalocianina com as duas unidades ligadas por um grupo etinilo. Uma pentíade porfirina-ftalocianina foi obtida através da ciclotetramerização de um dos porfirinilftalonitrilos. A comparação dos espectros electrónicos das diferentes classes de sistemas revela que as correspondentes propriedades electrónicas são altamente afectadas pela distância entre as subunidades e também pelo número de cromóforos presentes no sistema. Os estudos fotofísicos de alguns dos novos compostos acima referidos permitiram verificar a ocorrência eficiente de transferência de energia da subunidade porfirínica para a da ftalocianina, capacidade essa que permitirá a estes sistemas serem usados para modelar o processo fotossintético. Na última parte descrevem-se, pormenorizadamente, todas as experiências efectuadas e as caracterizações espectroscópicas, nomeadamente de espectroscopia de ressonância magnética nuclear (RMN), espectrometria de massa e espectrofotometria de UV-vis, dos compostos sintetizados. Nalguns casos recorreu-se ainda a técnicas de RMN bidimensionais como COSY, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY e ROESY.

Physico-chemical properties of Brazilian cocoa butter and industrial blends. Part I - Chemical composition, solid fat content and consistency

A comparative study of the primary properties of six cocoa butter samples, representative of industrial blends and cocoa butter extracted from fruits cultivated in different geographical areas in Brazil is presented. The samples were evaluated according to fatty acid composition, triacylglycerol composition, regiospecific distribution, melting point, solid fat content and consistency. The results allowed for differentiating the samples according to their chemical compositions, thermal resistance properties, hardness characteristics, as well as technological adequacies and potential use in regions with tropical climates.

The IgA1 immune complex-mediated activation of the MAPK/ERK kinase pathway in mesangial cells is associated with glomerular damage in IgA nephropathy

IgA nephropathy (IgAN), the most common primary glomerulonephritis worldwide, has significant morbidity and mortality as 20-40% of patients progress to end-stage renal disease within 20 years of onset. In order to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in the progression of IgAN, we systematically evaluated renal biopsies from such patients. This showed that the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway was activated in the mesangium of patients presenting with over 1 g/day proteinuria and elevated blood pressure, but absent in biopsy specimens of patients with IgAN and modest proteinuria (<1 g/day). ERK activation was not associated with elevated galactose-deficient IgA1 or IgG specific for galactose-deficient IgA1 in the serum. In human mesangial cells in vitro, ERK activation through mesangial IgA1 receptor (CD71) controlled pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and was induced by large-molecular-mass IgA1-containing circulating immune complexes purified from patient sera. Moreover, IgA1-dependent ERK activation required renin-angiotensin system as its blockade was efficient in reducing proteinuria in those patients exhibiting substantial mesangial activation of ERK. Thus, ERK activation alters mesangial cell-podocyte crosstalk, leading to renal dysfunction in IgAN. Assessment of MAPK/ERK activation in diagnostic renal biopsies may predict the therapeutic efficacy of renin-angiotensin system blockers in IgAN. Kidney International (2012) 82, 1284-1296; doi:10.1038/ki.2012.192; published online 5 September 2012

High-resolution MALDI-FT-ICR MS imaging for the analysis of metabolites from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded clinical tissue samples.

We present the first analytical approach to demonstrate the in situ imaging of metabolites from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human tissue samples. Using high-resolution matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-FT-ICR MSI), we conducted a proof-of-principle experiment comparing metabolite measurements from FFPE and fresh frozen tissue sections, and found an overlap of 72% amongst 1700 m/z species. In particular, we observed conservation of biomedically relevant information at the metabolite level in FFPE tissues. In biomedical applications, we analysed tissues from 350 different cancer patients and were able to discriminate between normal and tumour tissues, and different tumours from the same organ, and found an independent prognostic factor for patient survival. This study demonstrates the ability to measure metabolites in FFPE tissues using MALDI-FT-ICR MSI, which can then be assigned to histology and clinical parameters. Our approach is a major technical, histochemical, and clinicopathological advance that highlights the potential for investigating diseases in archived FFPE tissues.