Surfactant-assisted emulsification dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction using 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone as a chelating agent coupled with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry for the speciation of chromium in water and rice samples.

A novel method was developed by SAE-DLLME for chromium speciation in water and rice samples using 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) as a chelating reagent by ETAAS. The speciation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was achieved by complexation of Cr(III)-TTA and the total Cr was measured after reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr. The calibration graph was linear in the range of 0.02-2.50 µg L-1, with a detection limit of 0.0052 µg L-1. The %RSD was in range of 2.90-3.30% at 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 µg L-1 of Cr(III), n = 5 and the EF was 54.47. The method was applied to chromium speciation and total chromium determination in real samples and gave recoveries in the range of 96.2-103.5% and 97.1-102.7% for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in water samples and 93.7-103.5% of total Cr in rice samples. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by analysis of SRM 1573a with good agreement compared to the certified value.

Iron oxide functionalized graphene oxide as an efficient sorbent for dispersive micro-solid phase extraction of sulfadiazine followed by spectrophotometric and mode-mismatched thermal lens spectrometric determination.

A simple and rapid dispersive micro-solid phase extraction (DMSPE) combined with mode-mismatched thermal lens spectrometry as well as fiber optic linear array spectrophotometry was developed for the separation, extraction and determination of sulfadiazine. Graphene oxide was synthesized using the modified Hummers method and functionalized with iron oxide nanoparticles by means of a simple one step chemical coprecipitation method. The synthesized iron oxide functionalized graphene oxide was utilized as an efficient sorbent in DMSPE of sulfadiazine. The retained analyte was eluted by using 180µL of a 6:4 mixture of methanol/acetic acid solution and was spectrophotometrically determined based on the formation of an azo dye through coupling with thenoyltrifluoroacetone. Under the optimized conditions, with the application of spectrophotometry technique and with a sample volume of 100mL, the method exhibited a linear dynamic range of 3-80µg L(-1) with a detection limit of 0.82µg L(-1), an enrichment factor of 200 as well as the relative standard deviations of 2.6% and 4.3% (n=6) at 150µg L(-1) level of sulfadiazine for intra- and inter-day analyses, respectively. Whereas, through the application of the thermal lens spectrometry and a sample volume of 10mL, the method exhibited a linear dynamic range of 1-800µg L(-1) with a detection limit of 0.34µg L(-1) and the relative standard deviations of 3.1% and 5.4% (n=6) at 150µg L(-1) level of sulfadiazine for intra- and inter-day analyses, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of sulfadiazine in milk, honey and water samples.

Fluorescence enhancement effect of Eu(III)-thenoyltrifluoroacetone-cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide in water-dissolved organic matter extracted from wheat straw.

The fluorescence spectral characteristics of water-dissolved organic matter extracted from wheat straw (DOM-WS) were studied using three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy. The results indicated that 3D-EEM spectra of DOM-WS showed four different fluorophores: humic-like, visible fulvic-like, UV fulvic-like and protein-like substances. It is interesting that DOM-WS can obviously enhance the fluorescence intensity of Eu(III)-thenoyltrifluoroacetone-cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide system. On the basis of this study, a new fluorescence method for the determination of trace amounts of Eu(III) was developed. Under the optimal conditions, the enhanced fluorescence intensity was in proportion to the concentration of Eu(III) in the range of 8.0×10(-8)-8.0×10(-7)mol/L. The detection limit (S/N=3) was 1.1×10(-9)mol/L. This method was applied to the analysis of Eu(III) concentration in standard sample and obtained satisfactory results. It may be a new way to use wheat straw effectively.

Estimation of Eu(3+) in bulk uranium by ligand sensitized fluorescence in dimethyl sulphoxide.

Ligand sensitized fluorescence of europium ion using thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) as a sensitizing ligand and dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) as a solvent is studied for the first time. TTA ligand enhances the fluorescence of Eu(3+) by a factor of 40000 in DMSO. Linearity is obtained for a concentration range of 0.076-7.6ng/mL of Eu(3+) with a detection limit of 7.6pg/mL. The quenching of Eu(3+)-TTA fluorescence by uranium matrix was studied in different solvents and found to be less in DMSO. Consequently, estimation of Eu(3+) in a large excess of uranium becomes a possibility without the need to separate uranium from the solution, which has been demonstrated in this paper. Satisfactory results are obtained when Eu(3+) is present at a concentration of 0.6µg/g in uranium.

Luminescent solid phase for sialic acid determination: a promising sensor for milk-adulterated samples.

This article presents the synthesis, characterization and spectroscopic study of silica modified with thenoyltrifluoroacetonate (SilTTA) and coordinated to an europium (III) ion, for the determination of sialic acid (NANA). Elemental analysis and infrared spectroscopy suggest silica functionalization, as well as coordination of beta-diketone to the lanthanide ion. The emission spectra of compound-free and coordinated Eu-SilTTA to NANA showed significant changes with respect to the maximum emission and spectral profile, suggesting that the NANA ion is coordinated to the Eu(III). The values of the phenomenological intensity parameters show an increase in polarizability around the Eu(III) in the case of Eu-SilTTA coordinated to NANA, as expected, since water molecules are less polarizable than sialic acid. The results of the batch assay showed that luminescent silica can be used for sialic acid determination in milk-adulterated samples, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992; and a detection limit of 0.4 mg/L; relative standard deviation (RSD%) = 0.0028.

Synthesis and characterization of Y(1-x) Eu(x) (TTA)3 (Phen) organic luminescent thin films.

Yttrium is stoichiometrically doped into europium by mole percentage, during the synthesis of Y(1-x) Eu(x) (TTA)3 (Phen), using solution techniques (where x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.8, TTA = thenoyltrifluoroacetone and Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline).These complexes were characterized using different techniques such as X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis, optical absorption and emission spectra. Thin films of the doped Eu-Y complexes were prepared on a glass substrate under a high vacuum of 10(-6) Torr. The photoluminescence spectra of these thin films were recorded by exciting the sample at a wavelength of 360 nm. The emission peak for all the synthesized complexes centered at 611 nm; maximum emission intensity was obtained from Y0.6 Eu0.4 (TTA)3 (Phen). The results proved that these doped complexes are more economical than pure Eu(TTA)3 (Phen) and are best suited as red emissive material for energy-efficient and eco-friendly organic light-emitting diodes and displays.

Communication: excitation band modulation with high-order photonic band gap in PMMA:Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2 opals.

Changes in the excitation spectra of luminescent species inserted in photorefractive crystals as a function of changes in the high-order photonic band gap (PBG) have not been previously observed. In this communication, we present our results monitoring the excitation band of Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2 inserted in the PMMA opal photonic crystals as a function of the changes in the high-order PBG of the crystals. We find shifts in the complex excitation band and changes in the integrated emission intensity that correlates with shifts in the high-order PBG through coupling to the excitation transition.

Esterase inhibitors as ester-containing drug stabilizers and their hydrolytic products: potential contributors to the matrix effects on bioanalysis by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE: Esterase inhibitors are widely used to stabilize ester-containing drugs in biological matrices for quantitative liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) assays. These co-existing inhibitors could cause matrix effects on bioanalysis and jeopardize the assay performance. We therefore developed an LC/MS/MS methodology to monitor the fate of inhibitors and evaluate their matrix effects, which is described in this study. METHODS: Human plasma containing 20 mM of diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), paraoxon, eserine, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) or 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA) was extracted by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and analyzed by an LC/MS/MS assay for BMS-068645 (a model drug) with additional pre-optimized selected reaction monitoring (SRM) transitions using positive/negative electrospray ionization (ESI) mode for each inhibitor. Hydrolytic products were characterized by product ion or neutral loss scan LC/MS/MS analysis. The matrix effect contribution from each inhibitor was evaluated by post-column infusion of BMS-068645. RESULTS: In the extracted samples by LLE, SRM chromatograms revealed the presence of paraoxon, eserine and TTFA with peak intensity of >2.50E08. Three DFP hydrolytic products, diisopropyl phosphate (DP), triisopropyl phosphate (TP) and DP dimer, and one PMSF hydrolytic product, phenymethanesulfonic acid (PMSA), were identified in the extracted samples. In post-column infusion profiles, ion suppression or enhancement was observed in the retention time regions of eserine (~10% suppression), paraoxon (~70% enhancement) and DP dimer (~20% suppression). CONCLUSIONS: The SRM transitions described here make it possible to directly monitor the inhibitors and their hydrolytic products. In combination with post-column infusion, this methodology provides a powerful tool to routinely monitor the matrix effects-causing inhibitors, so that their matrix effects on the bioanalysis can be evaluated and minimized.

Two thiophenes compounds are partial peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α/γ dual agonists.

In our previous study, two synthetic thiophenes such as IMB-05 and IMB-15 were found as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists and exhibited beneficial effects on glucose tolerance of diabetic mice in vivo. In the present study, their effect on the transactivity of other nuclear receptors was further investigated. IMB-05 and IMB-15 could not only activated PPARγ but also efficiently activate PPARα in GAL4-hPPARα/γ (ligand binding domain (LBD)) chimeric receptor assay and PPAR response element (PPRE)-luc reporter gene assay with EC(50) values of 1.8-5.2 µM, whereas no activity was observed in other nuclear receptor assays. In addition, the maximal efficacy of IMB-05 and IMB-15 in activating PPARα/γ was approximately 30% of that observed with Wy14643 and rosiglitazone. These data indicate that the two thiophene derivatives are novel class of partial PPARα/γ dual agonists, which may be the mechanism underlying their regulatory effects on glucose homeostasis.

Synthesis and characterization of a Eu-containing polymer precursor featuring thenoyltrifluoroacetone and 5-acrylamido-1,10-phenanthroline.

A polymerizable ligand, 5-acrylamido-1,10-phenanthroline (L), was synthesized. Its Eu(III) complex with 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (HTTA) was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, MS, and (1)H NMR spectra. The photophysical properties of the complex were studied in detail by using UV, luminescence spectra, luminescence lifetime and quantum yield. The complex shows a remarkable luminescence quantum yield at room temperature (40.1%) upon ligand excitation and a long (5)D(0) lifetime (590 µs), which makes it not only a promising light-conversion molecular device but also an excellent luminescent polymer precursor.

Photoactive europium(III) centered mesoporous hybrids with 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone functionalized SBA-16 and organic polymers.

A series of novel ternary organic-inorganic mesoporous polymeric hybrids TTFA-S16-Eu-PMMA, TTFA-S16-Eu-PMAA, and TTFA-S16-Eu-PVP (TTFA = 2-Thenoyltrifluoroacetone; PMMA = polymethyl methacrylate; PMAA = polymethacrylic acid; PVP = polyvinylpyrrolidone) have been assembled by the Eu(3+) complex covalently attaching to the TTFA directly functionalized ordered mesoporous SBA-16 and organic polymer. FTIR, UV, XRD, TEM, N(2) adsorption measurements, photoluminescent spectra, and TG plots were characterized, and the results reveal that they all have high surface area, uniformity in the mesostructure, and good crystallinity. In addition, the ternary rare earth mesoporous polymeric hybrids show an overall increase in luminescent lifetime and quantum efficiency compared to binary rare earth mesoporous hybrid TTFA-S16-Eu, especially the mesoporous hybrid with PVP exhibits the highest luminescence quantum efficiency and longest lifetime.

The luminescence response of Eu(III)-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate complexes upon preresonant excitation with femtosecond laser pulses.

The luminescence of thenoyltrifluoroacetonate (TTA) coordination complexes of trivalent europium ion (Eu(III)) in aqueous solutions and in solid-state polymeric films is probed upon single- and two-photon preresonant excitation with Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser. Particularly, diamine-liganded Eu(III)(TTA)(3) and poly(oxyethylene phosphate)tris(beta-diketonate)Eu(III) complexes are examined aiming their possible applications as luminescent labels for sensing and imaging of biological molecules. Even at a pre-resonance, the excitation of these compounds with high-intensity, broadband light of frequency-doubled Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser centered around 400 nm results in a luminescence response suitable for fluorometric applications.

Time-resolved fluorescence based DNA detection using novel europium ternary complex doped silica nanoparticles.

A two-probe tandem DNA hybridization assay including capture DNA(1), probe DNA(2), and target DNA(3) was prepared. The long-lived luminescent europium complex doped nanoparticles (NPs) were used as the biomarker. The complex included in the particle was Eu(TTA)(3)(5-NH(2)-phen)-IgG (ETN-IgG), the europium complex Eu(TTA)(3)(5-NH(2)-phen) linking an IgG molecule. Silica NPs containing ETN-IgG were prepared by the reverse microemulsion method, and were easy to label oligonucleotide for time-resolved fluorescence assays. The luminophores were well-protected from the environmental interference when they were doped inside the silica network. The sequences of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli genes were designed using software Primer Premier 5.0. Amino-modified capture DNA(1) was covalently immobilized on the common glass slides surface. The detection was done by monitoring the fluorescence intensity from the glass surface after the hybridization reaction with the NPs labeled probe DNA(2) and complementary target DNA(3). The sensing system presented short hybridization time, satisfactory stability, sensitivity, and selectivity. This approach was successfully employed for preliminary application in the detection of pure cultured E. coli, it might be an effective tool for pathogen DNA monitoring.

A novel nonenzymatic fluorescent sensor for glucose based on silica nanoparticles doped with europium coordination compound.

Amino-functionalized luminescent silica nanoparticles (LSNPs) doped with the europium(III) mixed complex, Eu(TTA)(3)phen with 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) and 1,10-phenanthroline(phen) were synthesized successfully using an revised Stöber method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and fluorescence spectroscopy were performed for characterizing the synthesized nanoparticles. In the presence of glucose, the fluorescence intensity of the amino-functionalized LSNPs was enhanced due to the enhanced fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Based on fluorescence-enhancing effect, a simple and sensitive method for the determination of glucose was proposed. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the enhanced fluorescence intensity ratio (DeltaF/F(0)) was linear with the concentration of glucose (c) in the range of 0.0-180 microg ml(-1) with a detection limit of 0.8 microg ml(-1) (S/N=3). The R.S.D. values were 0.33% and 0.37% at the levels of 22.5 and 100 microg ml(-1), respectively. The proposed method was applied to the determination of glucose in synthetic samples with satisfactory results. The proposed method was also performed to the analysis of blood glucose in human serum samples and the results were in good agreement with clinical data provided by the hospital, which indicates that the method presented here is not only simple, sensitive, but also reliable and suitable for practical applications.

1H-NMR studies on the ternary complexes of rare-earth ions with thenoyltrifluoroacetone and polyethers in dichloromethane.

The structures of the ternary complexes of lanthanoid and yttrium (Ln3+)-thenoyltrifluoroacetonates (tta-) with polyether (POE) in organic phase were investigated by 1H-NMR spectroscopy, where the POEs are crown ethers (18-crown-6 and benzo-18-crown-6) and monodispersed linear polyethers (DEOn: HO-(CH2CH2O-)nC12H25, where n=4, 6, 8). The changes in chemical shift of methylene protons of POE by addition of the adduct complex [Ln(tta)3(POE)] were measured at various Ln3+-to-POE concentration ratios. Chemical shift changes for each proton of POE by the formation of [Ln(tta)3(POE)] were determined. Results revealed that oxygen atoms at the hydroxyl terminal of linear POE have higher tendency to coordinate to the metal ion in [Ln(tta)3] complex. Three (for La3+) or two (for Lu3+ or Y3+) oxygen atoms of the POE coordinate to the metal ion without substitution of tta- ligands to satisfy the metal ion's coordination number of nine or eight, respectively. In the case of 18-membered crown ether complexes, La3+ is incorporated inside the cavity of the POE, displacing one of the three tta- from the inner coordination sphere while the other two remain coordinated to the metal ion. On the other hand, for the adduct of Y3+ complex with crown ether, all three tta- ligands are directly coordinating to the metal ion.

Resonance light-scattering enhancement effect of the protein-Y3+-TTA-SLS system and its analytical application.

In this paper, a sensitive resonance light scattering (RLS) method for the determination of protein is reported. In the Tris-HCl (pH 7.50) buffer, protein enhanced the RLS intensity of the Y(3+)-2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA)-sodium dodecyl sulphate (SLS) system. The enhanced RLS intensities were in proportion to the concentrations of proteins in the range 8.0 x 10(-9)-1.0 x 10(-5) g/mL for BSA, 1.0 x 10(-8)-1.0 x 10(-5) g/mL for HSA and 1.0 x 10(-8)-1.0 x 10(-6 )g/mL for EA, and their detection limits were 5.0, 5.4 and 6.7 ng/mL, respectively. Actual samples were satisfactorily determined. The interaction mechanism was also studied.

Spectrofluorimetric determination of 5-hydroxytryptamine using chlorosulphonylthenoyltrifluoroacetone-europium probe.

A new spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the determination of trace amounts of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Using chlorosulphonylthenoyltrifluoroacetone (CTTA)-europium (Eu(3+)) ion as a fluorescent probe in a buffer solution at pH 11.0, 5-HT can remarkably enhance the fluorescence intensity of the CTTA-Eu(3+) complex at lambda = 612 nm; the enhanced fluorescence intensity of Eu(3+) is proportional to the concentration of 5-HT. Optimum conditions for the determination of 5-HT were also investigated. The linear range and detection limit for the determination of 5-HT were 1.0 x 10(-7)-1.2 x 10(-5) mol/L and 8.5 x 10(-8) mol/L, respectively. This method is simple, practical and relatively free of interference from coexisting substances, and can be applied to assess 5-HT in urine samples.

Enhanced luminescence of Eu(3+) by Y(3+) in ternary complexes Eu(X)Y(1-X)(TTA)3Dipy.

Rare-earth ternary complexes Eu(X)Y(1-X)(TTA)3Dipy {X=0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 0.9, 1.0, using thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) as ligand and 2,2'-dipyridyl (Dipy) as synergic agent} were synthesized. Characterization with X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR and elemental analysis had also been carried out. The photophysical properties of these complexes were studied in detail with ultraviolet absorption spectra and fluorescent spectra. It is found that the enhanced luminescence of Eu(3+) ions by Y(3+) ions occurs in ternary complexes. And we monitored the spectra of Eu(X)Y(1-X)(TTA)3Dipy (PVK:Eu/BCP/AlQ/Al) at the different rate (rpm). The results showed that the Y(3+) ion acts as an energy transfer bridge that helps energy transfer from PVK to Eu(3+).

Synthesis, spectral, and thermal characterizations of Ni(II) and Cu(II) beta-diketone complexes with thenoyltrifluoroacetone ligand.

Two kinds of nickel(II) and copper(II) beta-diketone complexes derived from thenoyltrifluoroacetone ligand with blue-violet light absorption were synthesized by reacting free ligand and different metal(II) ions in sodium methoxide solution. Their structures were postulated based on elemental analysis, ESI-MS, FT-IR spectra and UV-vis electronic absorption spectra. Smooth films on K9 glass substrates were prepared using the spin-coating method. Their solubility in organic solvents, absorption properties of thin film and thermal stability of these complexes were evaluated.

The sensitive determination of nucleic acids using a fluorescence-quenching method.

Experiments indicated that nucleic acids can quench the fluorescence of the Eu3+ -2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA)-1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) system. Based on this, a sensitive method for the determination of nucleic acids was proposed. The experiments indicated that under the optimum conditions, the quenched fluorescence intensity was in proportion to the concentration of nucleic acids in the range 1.0 x 10(-11)-1.0 x 10(-6) g/mL for yeast RNA (yRNA), 5.0 x 10(-11)-5.0 x 10(-7) g/mL for fish sperm (fsDNA) and 1.0 x 10(-10)-1.5 x 10(-6) g/mL for calf thymus DNA (ctDNA). Their detection limits were 3.0 x 10(-12), 4.0 x 10(-12) and 5.0 x 10(-11) g/mL, respectively. Therefore, the proposed method is one of the most sensitive methods available. The interaction between nucleic acids and Eu3+ -TTA-Phen is also discussed.