Implementation of simple and effective fine droplet formation-based spray-assisted liquid phase microextraction for the simultaneous determination of twenty-nine endocrine disruptor compounds and pesticides in rock, soil, water, moss, and feces samples from antarctica using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

This study established the simultaneous determination of the selected endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) and pesticides in rock, soil, water, moss, and feces samples collected from the Antarctic region. The spray-assisted droplet formation-based liquid phase microextraction (SADF-LPME) coupled to GC-MS system was developed and validated for the screening and monitoring of 29 selected EDCs and pesticides. Binary solvent system, 1:1 (v/v) dichlormethane: 1,2-dichloroethane mixture was employed as an extraction solvent and sprayed onto sample or standard solutions using a straightforward and practical spray apparatus. The factors affecting the extraction process such as extraction solvent type and ratio, extraction solvent volume (spray repetition), vortexing period, and sample pH were properly optimized. Analytical figures of the merit of the method were recorded under the optimal extraction/chromatographic conditions. The LOD, LOQ, and enhancement factor were in the range of 1.0 to 6.6 ng/g, 3.2 to 22.1 ng/g, and 3.7 to 158.9, respectively. The method demonstrated a good linear working range for all the selected analytes with proper coefficients of determination. The usability and reliability of the microextraction strategy was confirmed using seawater, moss, and soil samples, and the %recoveries were within an acceptable range (> 70%) for all examined samples. The environmental samples collected from the Horseshoe and Faure Islands of the Antarctica region were analyzed to assess the potential pollution of EDCs and pesticides. This method has the potential to be employed for the analysis of EDCs in routine analytical laboratories and for controlling and screening the organic pollutant content of different environmental samples.

In Vitro Cytotoxicity Studies on Human Thyroid Gland Undifferentiated Carcinoma Cells Using the Nickel Complex of (Z)-3-Bromo-5-((p-tolylimino)methyl)phenol.

Metal complexes for medical applications are the promising area of research and metallo-drugs have been developed and evaluated to enhance the efficiency of drugs and minimize their side effects. This study describes the synthesis of a Schiff base ligand (Z)-3-bromo-5-((p-tolylimino)methyl)phenol from the reaction of 5-bromosalicilaldehyde and p-toluidine, and its subsequent complexation with nickel. Characterization and cell viability studies were performed for both Schiff base ligand and its metal complex with 1H-NMR, FTIR, TG analysis, and UV-VIS spectrometry. With the aim of proving the Ni complex formation, quantitative analysis was done with flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The recovery result obtained for the formed complex was 103.9%. The cell viability of human thyroid gland undifferentiated carcinoma cells (8305C) treated with the Ni-ligand complex was determined as 12.7 ± 0.17%. It was observed that the nickel complex could be a significant anticancer agent as tested by the MTT assay method. Graphical Abstract .

Trace determination of nickel in water samples by slotted quartz tube-flame atomic absorption spectrometry after dispersive assisted simultaneous complexation and extraction strategy.

This study presents a new method for the determination of nickel in aqueous samples by slotted quartz tube-flame atomic absorption spectrometry (SQT-FAAS) after a dispersive assisted simultaneous complexation and extraction (DASCE) process. Synthesized ligand was directly dissolved in the extraction solvent to eliminate the complex formation step prior to the extraction. All parameters of the SQT-FAAS and DASCE method were systematically optimized to improve the detection power of nickel for trace determinations. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the optimized method (DASCE-SQT-FAAS) recorded 137-fold enhancement in detection power over the conventional FAAS. The limits of detection and quantification were determined to be 1.6 µg/L and 5.2 µg/L, respectively. The calibration plot was linear over a wide concentration range and the precision for replicate measurements was appreciably high. Nickel was not detected in five different water samples but spiked recovery tests for three samples yielded results that were close to 100%, confirming the method's accuracy and applicability to the matrices tested.