In-vitro and in-vivo evaluation of the molecular mechanisms involved in the toxicity associated to CdSe/ZnS quantum dots exposure.

The use of different types of quantum dots is growing in recent times in both the technology and biomedical industries. Such is the extension of the use of these quantum dots that they have become potential emerging contaminants, which makes it necessary to evaluate their potential toxicity and the impact they may have on both health and the environment. Although studies already exist in this regard, the molecular mechanisms by which CdSe/ZnS quantum dots exert their toxic effects are still unknown. For this reason, in this study, a comprehensive proteomic approach has been designed, applying the SILAC strategy to an in-vitro model (hepatic cells) and the super-SILAC alternative to an in-vivo model, specifically zebrafish larvae. This integral approach, together with additional bioanalytical assays, has made it possible for the identification of proteins, molecular mechanisms and, therefore, biological processes that are altered as a consequence of exposure to CdSe/ZnS quantum dots. It has been demonstrated, on the one hand, that these quantum dots induce hypoxia and ROS generation in hepatic cells, which leads to apoptosis, specifically through the TDP-43 pathway. On the other hand, it has been shown that exposure to CdSe/ZnS quantum dots has a high impact on developing organisms, inducing serious neural and developmental problems in the locomotor system.

SILAC-based quantitative proteomics identifies size-dependent molecular mechanisms involved in silver nanoparticles-induced toxicity.

Silver nanoparticles are currently one of the most widely used metallic nanoparticles. Due to their antibacterial properties, they are applied in textiles, house-holds items, and medical devices, among many other products. Understanding the potential toxicity associated with silver nanoparticles and the differential effect that nanoparticles of different size might induce is crucial, due to the increasing human and environmental exposure to this type of nanoparticles. In this work, we explored the different biomolecular mechanisms underlying the toxicity of silver nanoparticles in a size-dependent manner. Quantitative proteomic analysis of hepatic cells exposed to 10 and 60 nm silver nanoparticles demonstrated the alteration of a different set of proteins depending on the particle size. We demonstrated that while 10 nm silver nanoparticles induce nucleolar stress and ribosome biogenesis halt, both types of nanoparticles induce DNA damage and oxidative stress but through different pathways. In addition, both types of nanoparticles also affected cell proliferation, disrupted the cell cycle and ultimately, induced apoptosis. The alteration of different cellular mechanisms in a size-dependent manner, have relevant implications not only from a toxicity point of view, but also for the potential applications of silver nanoparticles.

Pressurised liquid-liquid extraction. An approach to the removal of inorganic non-metal species from used industrial oils.

Modified pressurised hot water is used for the development of a high pressure liquid-liquid extraction method for the decontamination of used industrial oils from inorganic non-metal species (chlorine, fluorine and sulphur). The oils were subjected to dynamic extraction with water modified with 5% v/v HNO3 at 200 degrees C as extractant. Under these working conditions the analytes were transferred to the aqueous phase. Spontaneous separation of the two immiscible liquid phases (the used oil and extract) takes place in the collection flask after extraction. The treated and untreated oil samples were oxidised and the chloride, fluoride and sulphate thus formed were determined by ion-chromatography. The method was applied to four oil samples from different locations in Spain. A residence time of approximately =10 min provided oil samples from which 88.3%, 89.4% and 89.4% of chloride, fluoride and sulphate, respectively, have been removed with respect to the initial concentration of each analyte in the oil. The repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD), was of 11.9%, 13.7% and 7.2% for Cl(-), F(-) and SO4(2-), respectively; whilst the within-laboratory reproducibility yielded RSDs of 6.2%, 7.9% and 6.2% for the same analytes. The proposed approach has proved to be efficient, simple, easily transferable to industrial scale, cheap, fast and environmentally friendly.

Ultrasound-assisted Soxhlet extraction: an expeditive approach for solid sample treatment. Application to the extraction of total fat from oleaginous seeds.

Conventional Soxhlet extraction assisted in the cartridge by ultrasound has been developed and used to extract the total fat content from oleaginous seeds such as sunflower, rape and soybean seeds. The application of ultrasound to the sample cartridge enormously decreases the number of Soxhlet extraction cycles needed for quantitative extraction of the fat, thus reducing the extraction time at least to half the time needed by the conventional procedures. The results agree well with those obtained by conventional Soxhlet extraction and the ISO reference method, both in terms of efficiency and precision. The repeatability of the proposed approach, expressed as relative standard deviation, was 0.9%; the within-laboratory reproducibility was 1.3%. Qualitative analysis of the extracted fat showed that the application of ultrasound does not change the composition of the oil.

Screening method for linear alkylbenzene sulfonates in sediments based on water Soxhlet extraction assisted by focused microwaves with on-line preconcentration/derivatization/detection.

A screening method for linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) in sediments has been developed. Soxhlet extraction with water assisted by focused microwaves provides recoveries better (>90%) than obtained by conventional Soxhlet extraction (70-80%). Coupling of the extractor with an on-line preconcentration/derivatization/detection manifold through a flow injection (FI) interface allows a fully automated screening approach. A yes/no answer can be obtained in less than 2 h (for the whole analytical process), a short time compared with the at least 24 h of Soxhlet extraction (without final detection). Due to the use of water as leaching agent, the proposed method is environmentally friendly.

Demetalization of oils resulting from recycled tires by liquid-liquid extraction using modified superheated water An environmentally friendly approach.

An approach based on continuous pressurized liquid-liquid extraction with 20% HNO(3)/1M KCl/10(-3)M EDTA as extractant has been developed for the extraction of metals from the oil resulting from recycled tires. A multivariate optimization of the main variables affecting the extraction process has been performed. The method has been applied to three oil samples with different contents in V, Ni, Zn, Fe and Cu. The target metals have been determined in both untreated and treated oil by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) in order to obtain the extraction efficiency. Under the optimum conditions, recoveries higher than 90% have been obtained with a repeatability and within-laboratory reproducibility, expressed as relative standard deviations, ranging from 2.75 to 6.91 and 2.97 to 8.16%, respectively. For applications where the demetalization does not require being complete, a study of the demetalization degree achieved depending on the extraction temperature and extractant composition has also been performed. This study provides useful data about the cheapest working conditions to be used in order to obtain a given demetalization level.

Focused microwave-assisted Soxhlet extraction: devices and applications.

An overview of a new extraction technique called focused microwave-assisted Soxhlet extraction (FMASE) is here presented. This technique is based on the same principles as conventional Soxhlet extraction but using microwaves as auxiliary energy to accelerate the process. The different devices designed and constructed so far, their advantages and limitations as well as their main applications on environmental and food analysis are discussed in this article.

Continuous microwave-assisted extraction coupled with derivatization and fluorimetric monitoring for the determination of fluoroquinolone antibacterial agents from soil samples.

An automated screening approach for fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotics (norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin) in soil samples has been developed. The proposed approach consists on dynamic microwave-assisted extraction and subsequent real-time on-line monitoring of the analytes extracted; thus, the extraction is halted when complete leaching of the analytes has been reached (independently of the sample matrix), avoiding extraction times in excess. The end of the extraction allowed quantifying the total content of the analytes. The extraction was carried out using pure water as extractant and consisted of a number of extraction cycles (depending on the sample matrix) in which the sample was subjected to microwave irradiation while the direction of the extractant was changed in an iterative manner. The target analytes were fluorometrically monitored after derivatization with a terbium (Tb3+)/tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO)/cetylpyridinium chloride (CPCl)/acetate buffer solution. Optimum conditions for analytes extraction and formation of FQ-Tb3+-TOPO ternary complexes have been obtained using the experimental design methodology. The mean recoveries from soil samples spiked with 5 and 0.5 microg/g of each analyte were (95.2+/-4.16%) and (98+/-5.21%), respectively. The within-laboratory reproducibility and repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation, were 7.29 and 5.80%, respectively. The approach only allows monitoring of the overall content of the species that yield fluorescent complexes with the derivatizing reagent, so the use of chromatography is mandatory for individual separation/quantification of the target compounds.

Comparison of the static, dynamic and static-dynamic pressurised liquid extraction modes for the removal of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soil with on-line filtration-preconcentration.

The three operational modes of pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) (namely, static, dynamic and static-dynamic) have been applied for the extraction of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from both spiked and natural contaminated soils. A comparison of the three modes in terms of experimental set-up used, extraction time needed for total removal of the analytes and precision has been carried out. The use of a flow-injection manifold as interface between every pressurised extractor and a filtration-preconcentration system has allowed the partial automation of the proposed approaches. Efficiencies close to 100% have been provided by the three operational modes. However, the static-dynamic mode has been proved as the most suitable alternative providing the shortest extraction time (25 min) versus the static (30 min) and the dynamic (50-70 min) modes. Gas chromatography with MS-MS ion preparation mode has been used providing both high selectivity (no interferences were observed) and sensitivity (detection limits of low pg). The comparison of the proposed approaches with the reference method 3540 of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has shown that both methods provide similar efficiencies with an important shortening in the extraction time (25-70 min by PLE versus 24 h by the EPA method). The use of water as leaching agent has avoided the use of organic solvents providing an environmentally friendly method.

Static pressurised liquid extraction of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soils with on-line filtration-preconcentration prior to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry detection.

Nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been extracted from both spiked and natural contaminated soils by using static pressurised liquid extraction. The variables governing the extraction (namely, pressure, extraction time, temperature and number of static extraction cycles) have been optimised using the experimental design methodology. A laboratory-made pressurised liquid extractor has been used allowing its coupling to a filtration-preconcentration system through a flow injection interface, thus providing a partially automated approach. Gas chromatography with MS-MS ion preparation mode has been used for individual separation-identification/quantification providing both high selectivity (no interferences were observed) and sensitivity (detection limits of low pg). The comparison of the proposed approach with the reference EPA Method 3540 has shown that both methods provide similar efficiencies but with dramatic saving of time by the former (30 min vs. 24 h). The use of water as leaching agent avoids the use of organic solvents, thus providing an environmentally friendly method.

Extraction of polychlorinated biphenyls from soils by automated focused microwave-assisted Soxhlet extraction.

The application of a new focused microwave-assisted Soxhlet extractor for the extraction of polychlorinated biphenyls from differently aged soils is here presented. The new extractor overcomes the disadvantages of previous devices based on the same principle and enables a fully automated extraction of two samples simultaneously. The variables affecting the extraction step (namely, power of irradiation, irradiation time, extractant volume, extractant composition and number of extraction cycles) have been optimized using experimental design methodology. The optimized method has also been applied to a certified reference material (CRM910-050 "real" contaminated soil) for quality assurance validation. Quantification of the target compounds has been performed by GC with ion-trap MS. The mass spectrometer was operated in the electron-ionization mode, with selected-ion monitoring at m/z 152, 186, 292, 326 and 498. The results obtained have demonstrated that this approach is as efficient as conventional Soxhlet but with a drastic reduction of both extraction time (70 min vs. 24 h for the "real" contaminated soil) and organic solvent disposal, as 75-80% of the extractant is recycled.

Automated fast extraction of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soil by focused microwave-assisted Soxhlet extraction prior to gas chromatography--electron-capture detection.

An approach for the automated fast extraction of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitroPAHs) from soil, using a focused microwave-assisted Soxhlet extractor, is proposed. The main factors affecting the extraction efficiency (namely: irradiation power, irradiation time, number of cycles and extractant volume) were optimised by using experimental design methodology. The reduction of the nitro-PAHs to amino-PAHs and the derivatisation of the reduced analytes with heptafluorobutyric anhydride was mandatory prior to the separation-determination step by gas chromatography--electron-capture detection. The proposed approach has allowed the extraction of these pollutants from spiked and "real" contaminated soils with extraction efficiencies similar to those provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency methods 3540-8091, but with a drastic reduction in both the extraction time and sample handling, and using less organic solvent, as 75-85% of it was recycled.

Rapid analytical method for the determination of pesticide residues in sunflower seeds based on focused microwave-assisted Soxhlet extraction prior to gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A rapid analytical method for determination of organochlorine pesticide residues in sunflower seeds based on focused microwave-assisted Soxhlet extraction has been developed. The main factors affecting the extraction efficiency--namely microwave power, irradiation time, volume of extractant and number of cycles--were optimized by a two-level factorial fractional design. After extraction, a liquid-liquid extraction and a clean-up step including the use of Florisil macrocolumns were required prior to injection of the extracts into the chromatograph in order to isolate the pesticide residues from the lipid fraction of the original extract. The MS-MS ion preparation mode was selected due to the high sensitivity and selectivity it provides. Seed samples were used collected near a crop subjected to aerial pesticide application. Residues of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers and endosulfan were found in the seeds although they were not subjected to pesticide application, thus showing the spray-drift contamination. The validation of the proposed approach was carried out by comparison with the ISO 659-1988 reference extraction method obtaining similar, or even better efficiencies by the proposed approach.

Static extraction with modified pressurized liquid and on-line fluorescence monitoring. Independent matrix approach for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from environmental solid samples.

The coupling of a static pressurized liquid extractor to a flow injection manifold has allowed real-time on-line fluorescence monitoring of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) extracted from environmental solid samples, which can be used for either screening or semiquantitative purposes. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was added to the water for favoring the extraction of the low-polar analytes. Different solid samples such as sandy soil, river sediments, trout and sardine spiked with the target PAHs were subjected to several 15-min static extraction cycles with SDS-water, at 200 degrees C. The results obtained demonstrated that fluorometric monitoring of static pressurized liquid extraction constitutes an approach as efficient as conventional Soxhlet for the extraction of PAHs from solid samples but with the following positive features: (a) drastic reduction of the extraction time as the extraction kinetics can be monitored and thus the end of the leaching step determined independently of the sample matrix; (b) use of water as extractant thus given place to an environmentally friendly method; and (c) coupling of static extraction to subsequent dynamic steps. The method has been applied to a certified reference material (CRM 524, BCR, industrial soil/organics) for quality assurance/validation. The total content of each analyte was determined by HPLC-fluorimetric detection.

Continuous ultrasound-assisted extraction of hexavalent chromium from soil with or without on-line preconcentration prior to photometric monitoring.

A continuous ultrasound-assisted extractor was coupled to a photometric detector in order to obtain a fully automated approach for the determination of CrVI in soil. The use of a flow injection (FI) manifold as interface between the extractor and the photometric detector allowed the monitoring of CrVI after extraction in a continuous manner. The coloured complex formed between 1,5-diphenylcarbazide (DPC) and CrVI was used as recommended in EPA method 7196A because it is one of the most sensitive and selective reactions for CrVI determination. A preconcentration minicolumn packed with a strong anion-exchange resin was placed between the extractor and the detector, providing a more sensitive method. The linear dynamic ranges were 1-10 and 0.25-7.5 mg l-1 for the methods without (method A) and with preconcentration (method B), respectively. The limits of detection were 4.52 ng for method A and 1.23 ng for method B. Both methods were applied to a natural contaminated soil and the results obtained agreed well with those obtained by the reference EPA method 3060A. The influence of different amounts of CrIII in the samples was also studied and the results showed that the proposed methods did not disturb the original species distribution.

Pressurized hot water extraction with on-line fluorescence monitoring: a comparison of the static, dynamic, and static-dynamic modes for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from environmental solid samples.

A comparison of the feasibility of the three operational modes of pressurized hot solvent extraction (PHSE) (namely, static, where a fixed extractant volume is used; dynamic, where the extractant continually flows through the sample; and static-dynamic mode, which consists of a combination of the two previous modes) for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from environmental solid samples (such as soil, sediment, trout, and sardine) has been performed. In all cases, a sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) aqueous solution was used as leaching agent. The use of a flow injection manifold between the extractor and a molecular fluorescence detector allowed real-time on-line fluorescence monitoring of the PAHs extracted from the samples, thus working as a screening system and providing qualitative and semiquantitative information on the target analytes extracted from both natural and spiked samples. The on-line monitoring option allowed the extraction kinetics to be monitored and the end of the leaching step to be determined independently of the sample matrix, thereby reducing extraction times. Efficiencies close to 100% have been provided by the three modes, which differ in the extraction time required for total removal of the target compounds. The time needed for the dynamic mode was shorter than that for the static mode. However, the establishment of a static extraction step prior to dynamic extraction was the key to shorten the time required for complete extraction. The method has been applied to a certified reference material (CRM 524, BCR, industrial soil/organics) for quality assurance/validation.

Coupling continuous subcritical water extraction, filtration, preconcentration, chromatographic separation and UV detection for the determination of chlorophenoxy acid herbicides in soils.

Subcritical water extraction has been coupled with filtration, preconcentration and chromatographic analysis for the determination of acid herbicides in different types of soil. Two experimental designs were used for the optimization of the leaching step. The use of water as extractant in the continuous mode at a flow-rate of 1 ml/min and 85 degrees C was sufficient for quantitative extraction of the analytes. A static extraction time was unnecessary for reducing the extraction time to 1 h. A minicolumn containing C18-Hydra as sorbent proved an excellent material for the quantitative preconcentration of the herbicides prior to individual chromatographic separation. A flow-injection manifold was used as interface for coupling the four steps, thus allowing automation of the whole analytical process. Recoveries of the target analytes ranged between 94.2 and 113.1%, and repeatabilities, expressed as relative standard deviations, were between 0.61 and 6.83%.

Study of the feasibility of focused microwave-assisted soxhlet extraction of N-methylcarbamates from soil.

A study of the feasibility of a focused microwave-assisted Soxhlet device for the extraction of N-methylcarbamates from soil has been performed. The main factors contributing to the extraction efficiency-namely microwave power, irradiation time and number of cycles--were optimized by means of a two-level full factorial design. The extracts were analysed by HPLC-post-column fluorescence derivatization-detection at excitation wavelength 340 nm and emission wavelength 445 nm. The method has allowed the extraction of carbamate pesticides from contaminated soil with quantitative recoveries, similar to those provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency method 8318, without degradation of the target compounds during the extraction and using less organic solvent, as 75-80% of the extractant was recycled.

Extraction of fat-soluble vitamins.

An overview of the different extraction procedures of fat-soluble vitamins from human fluids, foods and pharmaceutical preparations is presented. Methods using organic solvent extraction (both liquid-liquid and solid-liquid extraction), supercritical fluid extraction and solid-phase extraction for the different types of both vitamins and matrices are discussed.

Water soxhlet extraction assisted by focused microwaves: a clean approach.

A prototype of a Soxhlet extractor that enables the use of water as extractant and application of focused microwaves on the cartridge zone has been designed and checked. The approach consists of a single unit in which the shortening of the distillation glassware allows reception of the water vapor in a refrigerant connected to the top of the sample cartridge vessel, its condensation, and dropping on the solid sample. When the water into the cartridge has reached a given level, irradiation with focused microwaves during an optimized time accelerates the leaching of the target analytes. Then, a valve is actuated and the extract is driven to the distillation flask where the leached species are concentrated as new vapor is formed and sent to the refrigerant and then to the cartridge. This new hybrid discontinuous-continuous approach has been used for leaching acid herbicides from different types of soil. The time required for total removal of the target compounds was 48 min. A flow injection manifold made posible the integration of the subsequent steps (preconcentration, chromatographic separation, UV detection) for the determination of the analytes, the recoveries of which range from 105.24 to 96.44%.