Metal-Organic Framework-Polymer Composite as a Highly Efficient Sorbent for Sulfonamide Adsorption and Desorption: Effect of Coordinatively Unsaturated Metal Site and Topology.

In this study, we first demonstrated the effect of two types of metal-organic framework-polymer (MOF-polymer) monoliths on in-tube solid-phase microextraction (IT-SPME) of sulfonamides. Sulfonamides were successfully adsorbed onto MIL-101(Cr)-polymer but were difficult to elute due to these sulfonamides could interact via Lewis acid-base interaction with the presence of Cr(III) coordinatively unsaturated metal sites (CUS). Moreover, the cage-type topology of MIL-101(Cr) that could produce multiple pathways thus complicates the desorption of the test analytes from the sorbent. Contrastingly, MIL-53(Al)-polymer provided weaker Al(III) CUS, and its one-dimensional channel pore structure could provide an unhindered pathway for sulfonamides transfer during elution. After optimizing the IT-SPME condition such as MOF content, pH of sample matrix, column length, extraction flow rate, and elution volume, the calculated extraction recovery of sulfonamides in MIL-53(Al)-polymer as analyzed by microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC) were in the range of 40%-90% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) below 5% and a reusability of at least 30 times.

Fast multipoint immobilized MOF bioreactor.

An enzyme-NBD@MOF bioreactor with exemplary proteolytic performance, even after successive reuse and storage, was produced through a novel, rapid and simple multipoint immobilization technique without chemical modification of the solid support. Enzyme loading and distribution could be directly monitored from the fluorescence emission of the bioreactor. The dye molecular dimension plays a role in its overall performance.

Metal-organic frameworks: new matrices for surface-assisted laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry.

The cage-type MIL-100(Fe) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were used as matrices for surface assisted laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry. The unique 3D cage frameworks and the iron-center feature good reproducibility of MS intensity and a high signal-to-noise ratio compared to organic or other nanoparticle matrices.

Poly(triallyl isocyanurate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate-co-alkyl methacrylate) stationary phases in the chromatographic separation of hydrophilic solutes.

This study describes the ability of triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC)-co-methacrylate ester polymer monoliths as stationary phases for the separation of hydrophilic compounds (phenolic acids, amino acids and catecholamines) in capillary electrochromatography (CEC) and ultra high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC). Several TAIC-co-methacrylate ester polymer monoliths prepared by single-step in situ copolymerization of TAIC, ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS), with or without alkyl methacrylates were characterized by examining the SEM image, surface area, contact angle, and the thermal decomposition temperature. Compared to the conventional methacrylate ester-based monoliths, these proposed monoliths possessed hydrophilic character thus increased wettability which improved chromatographic separation selectivity of polar phenolic acids. Among the proposed TAIC-co-methacrylate monoliths, poly(TAIC-co-EDMA-AMPS-co-stearyl methacrylate (SMA)) showed separation selectivity with an increased analyte resolution from 0.0 to 0.92 for 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and vanillic acid, which were consistently difficult to resolve in the reversed-phase chromatographic mechanism of these monoliths in aqueous mobile phases. Moreover, stable ionization efficiencies were observed when this monolith was combined with ESI-MS detector possibly because an organic solvent-rich sheath liquid was used in the CEC-MS. This study demonstrates the potentiality of novel TAIC-co-methacrylate polymer monoliths in hydrophilic solute separation either in CEC or UHPLC mode.

Novel trypsin-FITC@MOF bioreactor efficiently catalyzes protein digestion.

A simple nanoporous metal organic framework (MOF) bioreactor preparation via a low energy 30 minute vortex as driving force to immobilize trypsin enzyme is presented. No chemical modifications were employed thus organic wastes were eliminated. The digestion efficiency of this trypsin bioreactor is exceptionally high, even when reused. This "green" synthesis procedure produced a "green" bioreactor.

Ionic liquids as porogens in the microwave-assisted synthesis of methacrylate monoliths for chromatographic application.

Several imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) with varying cation alkyl chain length (C(4)-C(10)) and anion type (tetrafluoroborate ([BF(4)](-)), hexafluorophosphate ([PF(6)](-)) and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Tf(2)N](-))) were used as reaction media in the microwave polymerization of methacrylate-based stationary phases. Scanning electron micrographs and backpressures of poly(butyl methacrylate-ethylene dimethacrylate) (poly(BMA-EDMA)) monoliths synthesized in the presence of these ionic liquids demonstrated that porosity and permeability decreased when cation alkyl chain length and anion hydrophobicity were increased. Performance of these monoliths was assessed for their ability to separate parabens by capillary electrochromatography (CEC). Intra-batch precision (n=3 columns) for retention time and peak area ranged was 0.80-1.13% and 3.71-4.58%, respectively. In addition, a good repeatability of RSD(Retention time)=<0.30% and ~1.0%, RSD(Peak area)=<1.30% and <4.3%, and RSD(Efficiency)=<0.6% and <11.5% for intra-day and inter-day, respectively exemplify monolith performance reliability for poly(BMA-EDMA) fabricated using 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C(6)mim][BF(4)]) porogen. This monolith was also tested for its potential in nanoLC to separate protein digests in gradient mode. ILs as porogens also fabricated different alkyl methacrylate (AMA) (C4-C18) monoliths. Furthermore, employing binary IL porogen mixture such as 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C(4)mim][BF(4)]) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C(4)mim][Tf(2)N]) successfully decreased the denseness of the monolith, than when using [C(4)mim][Tf(2)N] IL alone, enabling a chromatographic run to be performed with 1:1 ratio produced baseline separation for the analytes. The combination of ILs and microwave irradiation made polymer synthesis very fast (~10min), entirely green (organic solvent-free) and energy saving process.

Capillary electrophoresis-laser-induced fluorescence detection of rat brain catecholamines with microwave-assisted derivatization.

In this study, a rapid and sensitive method is described for the catecholamines detection in rat brain. CE with LIF detection for the determination of FITC derivatized catecholamines (dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) was demonstrated. Conventional water bath and microwave-assisted derivatization methods were employed and a significant reduction in the derivatization time from 2 h for the conventional water bath at room temperature (ca. 25°C) to 2 min for the microwave-assisted derivatization was achieved. Online sample concentration of field-amplified sample stacking (FASS) method was employed to achieve higher sensitivities (the detection limits obtained in the normal injection mode ranged from 2.6 to 4.5 ng L⁻¹ and in the FASS mode ranged from 22 to 34 pg L⁻¹). Furthermore, this microwave-assisted derivatization CE-LIF method successfully determined catecholamines in rat brain with as low as 100 ng L⁻¹ (FASS mode) to 10 µg L⁻¹ (normal injection mode). This CE-LIF method provided better detection ability when compared to the best reports on catecholamines analyses.

Capillary electrochromatography-mass spectrometry determination of melamine and related triazine by-products using poly(divinyl benzene-alkene-vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium chloride) monolithic stationary phases.

In this study, a capillary electrochromatography (CEC) method coupled either with UV or mass spectrometric detection was developed for the detection of trace-amounts of melamine and its related by-products (ammeline, ammelide, and cyanuric acid). A series of poly(divinyl benzene-alkene-vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium chloride) monolithic columns, which were prepared by a simple in situ polymerization with divinyl benzene (DVB), vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium chloride (VBTA) and different types of alkene monomers such as 1-octene, 1-dodecene or 1-octadecene were used as separation columns, with the poly(DVB-1-dodecene-VBTA) monolith as the optimal chromatographic material because it provided a better separation. The detection limits of four melamine derivatives were in the ranged of 0.6-2.18 mg L(-1) by the optimal CEC-UV mode, and were reduced from 2.2 to 19.4 µg L(-1) by the optimal CEC-MS mode. Finally, the proposed CEC methods successfully determined melamine contaminations (0.1 mg L(-1) per analyte) in several dairy products as test samples with analyte recovery range of 69-85% (intra-day) and 68-75% (inter-day), and with peak area reproducibility range of 4.3-8.6% and 8.7-15.6% for intra-day and inter-day, respectively. This is the first report for CEC separation coupled with MS detection applied in trace melamine residue analyses with a faster separation and comparable or even better detection ability than previous GC-MS, CE-MS, as well as LC-MS methods.

Analyses of sulfonamide antibiotics in meat samples by on-line concentration capillary electrochromatography-mass spectrometry.

In this work, a series of poly(divinylbenzene-alkyl methacrylate) monolithic stationary phases, which were prepared by single step in situ polymerization of divinylbenzene and various alkyl methacrylates (butyl-, octyl-, lauryl- or stearyl methacrylate), were developed as separation columns of nine common sulfonamide antibiotics for capillary electrochromatography (CEC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS). Results indicated that the sulfonamide's retention became weak with increased carbon chain length of alkyl methacrylate monomer (for example, t(R)=68 min and 21 min for butyl- and lauryl methacrylate, respectively). Among them, the poly(divinylbenzene-octyl methacrylate) (poly(DVB-OMA)) monolith was regarded as the optimal separation column as this provided better resolution within the shortest retention time. Moreover, the cross-sectional roughness of the monolithic column-end, that was used to couple to the ESI interface, strongly influenced the electrospray stability in the CEC-MS. Before the column was connected to the ESI-MS, a simple polishing was done to reduce the roughness of the column end that resulted to a great improvement in the signal stability. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the peak areas for the unpolished and polished ends of the poly(DVB-OMA) columns (n=5) were in the range of 46.1-60.2% and 8.9-16.4%, respectively. Furthermore, optimization of the mobile phase composition and the gradient elution strategy successfully determined the sulfonamide antibiotics in meat samples with as low as 10 µg/L level.

On-line concentration sample stacking coupled with water-in-oil microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography.

This study describes for the first time, the ability of a normal stacking mode (NSM) on-line concentration step coupled with water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC), using six common penicillin antibiotics (oxacillin, penicillin V, penicillin G, nafcillin, ampicillin, and amoxicillin) as test analytes. Optimization of penicillin separation in the conventional W/O MEEKC system demonstrated that change in the type and concentration of the oil phase (1-butanol) and column temperature had a pronounced effect on the separation. With the subsequent development of the NSM coupled with W/O MEEKC, improved separation and detection sensitivities were observed when an organic solvent plug (1-propanol; 1.04 cm) was placed between the W/O microemulsion and the sample solutions. This could be attributed to the solution viscosity difference between the aqueous sample zone and the organic solvent plug causing the penicillin to be stacked in this 1-propanol plug. The optimal NSM W/O MEEKC provided about 12-fold increase in detection sensitivity compared with conventional sample injection (50 mbar, 3 s). Finally, this proposed method was successfully applied in the analyses of several food samples (porcine organs) spiked with penicillin.

Analyses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by on-line concentration capillary electrochromatography using poly(stearyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) monolithic columns.

This study describes the ability of on-line concentration capillary electrochromatography (CEC) coupled with UV or mass spectrometry (MS) for the determination of nine common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in water samples. A series of poly(stearyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) (poly(SMA-DVB)) monolithic columns, which were prepared by single step in situ polymerization of divinylbenzene (DVB), stearyl methacrylate (SMA) and vinylbenzenesulfonic acid (VBSA, charged monomer), were developed as separation columns for the first time. The effects of polymerization condition of monolithic columns on analyte separations were examined, and the results indicated that separation performances were markedly improved in monolithic columns prepared with short reaction time (3 h) and low SMA:DVB ratio (40/60 ratio of SMA:DVB). Subsequently, an on-line concentration step of step-gradient elution was combined to this CEC system, and by optimizing the difference in eluent strength between the sample matrix and mobile phase, all NSAIDs detection sensitivity were improved (limit of detection (LOD) was 3.4-10 µg/L for UV, and 0.01-0.19 µg/L for MS). When compared to the best CE and LC reports on NSAIDs analyses so far, this on-line concentration CEC method provided better detection ability within shorter separation time (12 min) when either UV or MS detector was employed. This is the first report for on-line concentration CEC with MS detection applied in trace solute analyses of real samples.