Tracking and imaging nano-plastics in fresh plant using cryogenic laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Tracking and imaging of nano-plastics are extremely challenging, especially in fresh biological samples. Here, we propose a new strategy in which polystyrene (PS) was doped with the europium chelate Eu (DBM)3bpy to quantify, track, and in situ image nano-plastics in fresh cucumber based on inherent metals using cryogenic laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (cryo-LA-ICP-MS). The cryogenic conditions provide a stable condition for imaging fresh cucumber, suppressing the evaporation of water in fresh plants, and maintaining the original structure of plants with respect to room temperature imaging in LA-ICP-MS. The plants were cultivated in two types of nano-plastics solutions with low (50 mg/L) and high (200 mg/L) concentrations for 9 days. The results showed that nano-plastics mainly enrich the roots and have negative effects, which decrease the trace elements of Zn, Mn, and Cu in cucumber. Smaller PS particles are able to penetrate the plant more easily and inflict serious damage. Novel imaging method provides a novel insight into the tracking and imaging of nano-plastics in fresh plant samples. The results illustrated that nano-plastics deposition on plants has the potential to have direct ecological effects as well as consequences for potential health.

Preparation of doxycycline-imprinted magnetic microspheres by inverse-emulsion suspension polymerization for magnetic dispersion extraction of tetracyclines from milk samples.

A magnetic dispersion extraction method was developed based on a molecularly imprinted magnetic microsphere (MIMM) for the selective clean-up and enrichment of tetracycline antibiotics from milk samples. The MIMMs were prepared by inverse-emulsion suspension polymerization, using doxycycline, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylic acid, and surface-modified Fe3 O4 as a template molecule, crosslinker, functional monomer, and magnetic component, respectively. Synthesis and extraction conditions were optimized for obtaining excellent affinity and high selectivity. The magnetism, covering amount, and selectivity of the magnetic microspheres were characterized by a vibrating sample magnetometer, thermogravimetric analysis, and a competitive recognition experiment. The MIMMs were applied to separate tetracycline antibiotics from milk samples by magnetic dispersion extraction, and an enrichment factor of 9.28 and a good sample clean-up were obtained. The average recoveries of four tetracycline antibiotics were obtained in the range of 74.5-93.8% with a precision of 1.2-5.2%. The LODs and LOQs of the proposed method were in the range of 7.4-19.4 and 24.7-64.7 µg/kg, respectively. The results indicated that magnetic dispersion extraction using MIMMs is a powerful tool for food-sample pretreatment with high selectivity and a simplified procedure.

Europium-Pyridinedicarboxylate-Adenine Light-Up Fluorescence Nanoprobes for Selective Detection of Phosphate in Biological Fluids.

Phosphate (Pi) plays important roles in various physiological processes. Its quantification in biological fluids is highly crucial for timely warning of Pi accumulation. Herein, an europium (Eu)-based coordination polymer nanoprobe (Eu/DPA/Ade) is prepared by coordinating 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (2,6-DPA) and adenine (Ade) with Eu3+. Eu/DPA/Ade exhibits light-up fluorescence response to Pi. The strong coordinating interaction between Eu3+ and O atoms in the Pi group not only shortens the Eu3+-ligand distance to improve the energy transfer from 2,6-DPA to Eu3+ but also attenuates the fluorescence quenching from water molecules in the coordinating sphere of Eu3+. Eu/DPA/Ade produces red emission at λem 618 nm via the "antenna effect". The coligand Ade further promotes the fluorescent emission. The selective recognition of Pi within 10-60 µM is achieved with a detection limit of 4.65 µM. In addition, a certain level of Pi (100-170 µM) causes an exponential increment on the fluorescence of Eu/DPA/Ade and makes it feasible for visual estimation of Pi under irradiation by an ultraviolet lamp at 254 nm. The quantitative detection and visual estimation of Pi in human urine and saliva have been demonstrated.

Synthesis and application of molecularly imprinted poly(methacrylic acid)-silica hybrid composite material for selective solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography determination of oxytetracycline residues in milk.

A novel molecularly imprinted organic-inorganic hybrid composite material (MIP-HCM) was developed based on molecular imprinting technique in combination with hybrid composite synthesis and sol-gel technology for selective solid-phase extraction (SPE) of tetracyclines residues in milk. The MIP-HCM was prepared using oxytetracycline as the template, methacrylic acid as organic functional monomer, tetraethoxysilane as inorganic precursor and methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane as the coupling agent. Synthesis conditions are optimized by changing some factors to obtain sorbent with the controllable adsorption capacity, selectivity, hardness and toughness. Binding study demonstrated that the imprinted hybrid composites showed excellent affinity and high selectivity to oxytetracycline. An enrichment factor of 18.8 along with a good sample clean-up was obtained under the optimized SPE conditions. The average recoveries of three tetracyclines antibiotics spiked milk at 0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 mg kg⁻¹ were in the range of 80.9-104.3% with the precision of 1.5-5.0%. The limits of detection and quantitation of the proposed method were in a range of 4.8-12.7 µg kg⁻¹ and 16.0-42.3 µg kg⁻¹, respectively.