Cannabinoids detected in exhaled breath condensate after cannabis use.

Cannabinoids can be detected in breath after cannabis use, but different breath matrices need to be explored as studies to date with filter-based devices that collect breath aerosols have not demonstrated that breath-based measurements can reliably identify recent cannabis use. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is an unexplored aqueous breath matrix that contains condensed volatile compounds and water vapor in addition to aerosols. EBC was collected from participants both before and at two time points (0.7 ± 0.2 h and 1.7 ± 0.3 h) after observed cannabis use. Eleven different cannabinoids were monitored with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Five different cannabinoids, including Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), were detected in EBC collected from cannabis users. THC was detected in some EBC samples before cannabis use, despite the requested abstinence period. THC was detected in all EBC samples collected at 0.7 h post use and decreased for all participants at 1.7 h. Non-THC cannabinoids were only detected after cannabis use. THC concentrations in EBC samples collected at 0.7 h showed no trend with sample metrics like mass or number of breaths. EBC sampling devices deserve further investigation with respect to modes of cannabis use (e.g, edibles), post use time points, and optimization of cannabinoid recovery.

THC in breath aerosols collected with an impaction filter device before and after legal-market product inhalation-a pilot study.

An accurate cannabis breathalyzer based on quantitation of the psychoactive cannabinoid Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) could be an important tool for deterring impaired driving. Such a device does not exist. Simply translating what is known about alcohol breathalyzers is insufficient because ethanol is detected as a vapor. THC has extremely low volatility and is hypothesized to be carried in breath by aerosol particles formed from lung surfactant. Exhaled breath aerosols can be recovered from electrostatic filter devices, but consistent quantitative results across multiple studies have not been demonstrated. We used a simple-to-use impaction filter device to collect breath aerosols from participants before and after they smoked a legal market cannabis flower containing ∼25% Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. Breath collection occurred at an intake session (baseline-intake) and four weeks later in a federally-compliant mobile laboratory 15 min before (baseline-experimental) and 1 h after cannabis use (post-use). Cannabis use was in the participant's residence. Participants were asked to follow a breathing maneuver designed to increase aerosol production. Breath extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry with multiple reaction monitoring of two transitions for analytes and their deuterated internal standards. Over more than 1 yr, 42 breath samples from 18 participants were collected and analyzed in six batches. THC was quantified in 31% of baseline-intake, 36% of baseline-experimental, and 80% of 1 h post-use breath extracts. The quantities observed 1 h post-use are compared to those reported in six other pilot studies that sampled breath at known intervals following cannabis use and are discussed with respect to participant characteristics and breath sampling protocols. Larger studies with verified abstinence and more post-use timepoints are necessary to generate statistically significant data to develop meaningful cannabis breathalyzer technology.

The need for multicomponent gas standards for breath biomarker analysis.

Exhaled breath is a non-invasive, information-rich matrix with the potential to diagnose or monitor disease, including infectious disease. Despite significant effort dedicated to biomarker identification in case control studies, very few breath tests are established in practice. In this topical review, we identify how gas standards support breath analysis today and what is needed to support further expansion and translation to practice. We examine forensic and clinical breath tests and discuss how confidence has been built through unambiguous biomarker identification and quantitation supported by gas calibration standards. Based on this discussion, we identify a need for multicomponent gas standards with part-per-trillion to part-per-million concentrations. We highlight National Institute of Standards and Technology gas standards developed for atmospheric measurements that are also relevant to breath analysis and describe investigations of long-term stability, chemical reactions, and interactions with gas cylinder wall treatments. An overview of emerging online instruments and their need for gas standards is also presented. This review concludes with a discussion of our ongoing research to examine the feasibility of producing multicomponent gas standards at breath-relevant concentrations. Such standards could be used to investigate interference from ubiquitous endogenous compounds and as a starting point for standards tailored to specific breath tests.

Dynamic vapor microextraction of ignitable liquid from casework containers.

Dynamic vapor microextraction (DVME) is a headspace concentration method that can be used to collect ignitable liquid (IL) from fire debris onto chilled adsorbent capillaries. Unlike passive headspace concentration onto activated carbon strips (ACSs) that must be eluted with a toxic solvent (carbon disulfide), DVME employs a relatively benign solvent (acetone) to recover the adsorbed IL residue, and each headspace collection is monitored for breakthrough. Here, for the first time, we extend DVME to casework containers while exploring a realistic range of oven temperatures and collection volumes. We investigated metal cans sealed with friction lids (container 1), metal cans sealed within polymer bags (container 2), and glass jars sealed with two-piece lids (container 3). Without additional containment, container 1 was found to leak so excessively that flow through the capillary was unreliable. Therefore, for containers 2 and 3 only, we determined the total number of target compounds collected from 50% weathered gasoline for oven temperatures from 54 °C to 96 °C and collection volumes from 47 standard cubic centimeters (scc) to 90 scc. Only high-volatility species with retention times (tR)< n-decane on a non-polar column were recovered from polymer bags, whereas headspace concentration from glass jars led to the recovery of target compounds across the entire volatility range. DVME at 90 °C from 2-mL containers showed that the presence of polymer bag material leads to IL vapor losses, particularly for low-volatility species with tR> n-decane. DVME was strongly influenced by the casework container, whereas oven temperature and collection volume had a minor influence for the IL samples explored here.

Preservation of vapor samples on adsorbent alumina capillaries and implications for field sampling.

Dynamic vapor microextraction (DVME) is a vapor preconcentration method that employs a capillary trap coated with an adsorbent, followed by solvent elution to recover the sample. DVME has been developed for applications in the laboratory, including highly precise vapor pressure measurements, and in the field. When vapor collection is conducted outside the laboratory, samples must almost always undergo some interval of storage representing the time between collection and analysis. This interval may be hours, days, or longer, depending on the situation. Regardless, in all situations there must be confidence that the integrity of the samples is maintained until processing and analysis. In this paper, we present results of two studies that tested the stability of a 50% weathered gasoline headspace sample on alumina PLOT (porous layer open tubular) capillaries stored at room temperature for periods from 24 h up to 20 wk. We used principal component analysis (PCA) to reduce the dimensionality of the chromatographic and mass spectral data and elucidate trends in stability with respect to the complex sample's range of hydrocarbon classes and molecular weights. Both analyses identified changes over storage periods of six weeks or more. The hydrocarbon class analysis, which used selected ion monitoring (SIM) data as input, proved more sensitive to changes over shorter storage periods. Sample integrity was preserved for at least 24 h, but losses, especially of high-volatility compounds, occurred by 168 h (7 d). Near total loss of sample occurred by 20 wk. These findings, which are specific to the sample, adsorbent, and storage conditions, will guide choices in experimental and instrumental design to ensure that data from future field studies is reliable.

Predicting Sorbent-Air Partition Coefficients for Terpenoids at Multiple Temperatures.

Partition coefficients describe the relative concentration of a chemical equilibrated between two phases. In the design of air samplers, the sorbent-air partition coefficient is a critical parameter, as is the ability to extrapolate or predict partitioning at a variety of temperatures. Our specific interest is the partitioning of plant-derived terpenes (hydrocarbons formed from isoprene building blocks) and terpenoids (with oxygen-containing functional groups) in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sorbents. To predict K P D M S / A I R as a function of temperature for compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, we developed a group contribution model that explicitly incorporates the van't Hoff equation. For the 360 training compounds, predicted K P D M S / A I R values strongly correlate (R2 > 0.987) with K P D M S / A I R values measured at temperatures from 60 °C to 200 °C. To validate the model with available literature data, we compared predictions for 50 additional C10 compounds, including 6 terpenes and 22 terpenoids, with K P D M S / A I R values measured at 100 °C and determined an average relative error of 3.1 %. We also compared predictions with K P D M S / A I R values measured at 25 °C. The modeling approach developed here is advantageous for properties with limited experimental values at a single temperature.

Rapid Synthesis and Correlative Measurements of Electrocatalytic Nickel/Iron Oxide Nanoparticles.

Electrocatalytic core-shell nanoparticles, such as nickel/iron oxides for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline electrolytes, require rapid synthesis and measurement for practical use. To meet this challenge, we investigated a novel process of adding Ni(II) species to Fe nanoparticles immediately after synthesis, which we expected to yield Ni-rich shells around Fe-rich cores. Cyclic voltammetry showed that the overpotential decreased as the molar ratio of Ni to Fe in the synthesis vessel increased from 0.2 mol Ni:1 mol Fe to 1.5 mol Ni:1 mol Fe, consistent with an increase of Ni composition. Unexpectedly, the overpotential increased abruptly at 2.0 mol Ni:1 mol Fe. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that this synthesis ratio resulted in less Ni at the nanoparticle surfaces than lower synthesis ratios. These results demonstrate the sensitivity of rapid electrochemical measurements to surface composition, and the limits of Ni(II) adsorption and reduction to rapidly form Ni-rich shells around Fe-rich cores. Cyclic voltammetry also showed that the onset of the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) correlates with the oxidation of Ni(OH)2 to NiOOH. Therefore, tuning materials to improve performance as OER catalysts also improves their performance as MOR catalysts.

Direct nuclear magnetic resonance observation of odorant binding to mouse odorant receptor MOR244-3.

Mammals are able to perceive and differentiate a great number of structurally diverse odorants through the odorant's interaction with odorant receptors (ORs), proteins found within the cell membrane of olfactory sensory neurons. The natural gas industry has used human olfactory sensitivity to sulfur compounds (thiols, sulfides, etc.) to increase the safety of fuel gas transport, storage, and use through the odorization of this product. In the United States, mixtures of sulfur compounds are used, but the major constituent of odorant packages is 2-methylpropane-2-thiol, also known as tert-butyl mercaptan. It has been fundamentally challenging to understand olfaction and odorization due to the low affinity of odorous ligands to the ORs and the difficulty in expressing a sufficient number of OR proteins. Here, we directly observed the binding of tert-butyl mercaptan and another odiferous compound, cis-cyclooctene, to mouse OR MOR244-3 on living cells by saturation transfer difference (STD) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. This effort lays the groundwork for resolving molecular mechanisms responsible for ligand binding and resulting signaling, which in turn will lead to a clearer understanding of odorant recognition and competition.

Gold Nanoparticle Quantitation by Whole Cell Tomography.

Many proposed biomedical applications for engineered gold nanoparticles require their incorporation by mammalian cells in specific numbers and locations. Here, the number of gold nanoparticles inside of individual mammalian stem cells was characterized using fast focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy based tomography. Enhanced optical microscopy was used to provide a multiscale map of the in vitro sample, which allows cells of interest to be identified within their local environment. Cells were then serially sectioned using a gallium ion beam and imaged using a scanning electron beam. To confirm the accuracy of single cross sections, nanoparticles in similar cross sections were imaged using transmission electron microscopy and scanning helium ion microscopy. Complete tomographic series were then used to count the nanoparticles inside of each cell and measure their spatial distribution. We investigated the influence of slice thickness on counting single particles and clusters as well as nanoparticle packing within clusters. For 60 nm citrate stabilized particles, the nanoparticle cluster packing volume is 2.15 ± 0.20 times the volume of the bare gold nanoparticles.

Citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles as negative controls for measurements of neurite outgrowth.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are promising candidates for medical diagnostics and therapeutics, due to their chemical stability, optical properties, and ease of functionalization. Citrate-stabilized reference materials also have potential as negative controls in toxicology studies of other nanoparticles. Here we examine the impact of 30 nm particles on the in vitro development of rat-cortex neural progenitor cells (NPCs), which mimic aspects of the developing neurological environment. AuNPs dispersed in a low serum culture medium initially agglomerated, but then remained stable during a three day incubation period, and agglomerated only slightly during a ten day incubation period, as determined by dynamic light scattering. Transmission electron microscopy indicated the presence of individual nanoparticles at all time points examined. Fixed cells were cross-sectioned by ion milling and imaged by scanning electronmicroscopy and helium-ion microscopy to evaluate particle incorporation. Individual nanoparticles could be resolved inside cross-sectioned cells. AuNPs were incubated with developing NPCs for ten days at concentrations of 0.5 µg/mL Au, 0.1 µg/mL Au, or 0.05 µg/mL Au. Adenosine triphosphate levels, as determined by bioluminescence measurements sensitive to low cell numbers, were not affected by AuNPs and the particles did not interfere with the assay. Multiple endpoints of neurite outgrowth were not altered by AuNPs, in particular, total neurite outgrowth per cell, a sensitive measure of neuronal development. Slide-level comparisons demonstrated the consistent response of NPCs to gold nanoparticles and a positive control chemical, neuroactive lithium. These results indicate that 30 nm citrate-stabilized AuNPs could serve as negative-control reference materials for in vitro measurements of neurite outgrowth.

Three-dimensional hydrogel constructs for exposing cells to nanoparticles.

In evaluating nanoparticle risks to human health, there is often a disconnect between results obtained from in vitro toxicology studies and those from in vivo activity, prompting the need for improved methods to rapidly assess the hazards of engineered nanomaterials. In vitro studies of nanoparticle toxicology often rely on high doses and short exposure periods due to the difficulty of maintaining monolayer cell cultures over extended time periods as well as the difficulty of maintaining nanoparticle dispersions within the culture environment. In this work, tissue-engineered constructs are investigated as a platform for providing doses of nanoparticles over different exposure periods to cells within a three-dimensional environment that can be tuned to mimic in vivo conditions. Uptake of quantum dots (QDs) by model neural cells was first investigated in a high-dose exposure scenario, resulting in a strong concentration-dependent uptake of carboxyl-functionalised QDs. Poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel scaffolds with varying mesh sizes were then investigated for their ability to support cell survival and proliferation. Cells were co-encapsulated with carboxyl-functionalised poly(ethylene glycol)-coated QDs at a lower dose than is typical for monolayer cultures. Although the QDs leach from the hydrogel within 24 h, they are also incorporated by cells within the scaffold, enabling the use of these constructs in future studies of cell behaviour and function.

Neurite outgrowth and differentiation of rat cortex progenitor cells are sensitive to lithium chloride at non-cytotoxic exposures.

Neuron-specific in vitro screening strategies have the potential to accelerate the evaluation of chemicals for neurotoxicity. We examined neurite outgrowth as a measure of neuronal response with a commercially available rat cortex progenitor cell model, where cells were exposed to a chemical during a period of cell differentiation. In control cultures, the fraction of beta-III-tubulin positive neurons and their neurite length increased significantly with time, indicating differentiation of the progenitor cells. Expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein, an astrocyte marker, also increased significantly with time. By seeding progenitor cells at varying densities, we demonstrated that neurite length was influenced by cell-cell spacing. After ten days, cultures seeded at densities of 1000 cells/mm(2) or lower had significantly shorter neurites than cultures seeded at densities of 1250 cells/mm(2) or higher. Progenitor cells were exposed to lithium, a neuroactive chemical with diverse modes of action. Cultures exposed to 30 mmol/L or 10 mmol/L lithium chloride (LiCl) had significantly lower metabolic activity than control cultures, as reported by adenosine triphosphate content, and no neurons were observed after ten days of exposure. Cultures exposed to 3 mmol/L, 1 mmol/L, or 0.3 mmol/L LiCl, which encompass lithium's therapeutic range, had metabolic activity similar to control cultures. These cultures exhibited concentration-dependent decreases in neurite outgrowth after ten days of LiCl exposure. Neurite outgrowth results were relatively robust, regardless of the evaluation methodology. This work demonstrates that measurement of neurite outgrowth in differentiating progenitor cell cultures can be a sensitive endpoint for neuronal response under non-cytotoxic exposure conditions.