Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry最新文献

As an important medicinal plant, ginseng has various pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory. The magnitude of these pharmacological activities is closely related to ginseng quality, so to improve the pharmacological activities of ginseng, it is first necessary to improve its quality. In addition to ginseng variety, cultivation, origin, harvest time, and other factors, the impact of processing on ginseng quality is also crucial. This article reviews the different methods of ginseng processing and their impact on ginseng quality, and proposes some strategies to improve ginseng quality through processing methods, aiming to provide technological support for the high-quality development of the ginseng industry.

The increasing amount of pharmaceutical chemicals in wastewater is a concern for both public health and the environment. This research investigates the effectiveness of a new composite material made of alginate-activated carbon in removing caffeine and paracetamol from wastewater simultaneously. The composite material, produced using a simple technique, demonstrates excellent removal rates and exceptional adsorption properties for both medicinal chemicals. The structural stability and integrity of the composite are confirmed through comprehensive characterization methods including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and BET surface area analysis. The study uses batch adsorption experiments to assess the impact of various factors, such as pH, initial concentration, and contact time, on the efficiency of caffeine and paracetamol removal. The highest values for the adsorption process were 89.63% for Paracetamol and 97.32% for Caffeine, achieved under optimal experimental conditions (pH 7, 0.1 g dose of adsorbent at elevated temperature). Additionally, Kinetic studies and thermodynamic parameters such as ΔS°, ΔGº, and ΔH° were calculated, indicating that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous for paracetamol, and exothermic and non-spontaneous for caffeine. Seven non-linear equilibrium isotherm models were utilized to fit the experimental data for paracetamol and caffeine at pH 7 showing maximum adsorption capacities ($q_{\max }$) of 606.80 and 725.05 mg/g for Paracetamol and Caffeine, respectively with a high regression coefficient (R²) of 0.99 using alginate-activated carbon as an adsorbent, The results demonstrate the potential of alginate-activated carbon as an effective adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of various pharmaceutical pollutants, highlighting the synergistic adsorption effects of the composite material. The study also examines the safety of the composite material, particularly in the context of potential medical applications. The study emphasizes the potential for sustainable and repeated use of the activated carbon/alginate composite, demonstrating that it maintains both its structural integrity and adsorption effectiveness after multiple cycles of use. This study evaluated the suitability of the suggested analytical method using BAGI, a metric with a unique formula. The BAGI is a complementary tool to GAPI, Complex GAPI, AGREE, AGREE prep, and ESA. A major focus is on the practical elements of white analytical chemistry centered around "blue”.

Guasha is a widely applied non-pharmacological therapy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which has been proved to be effective in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). The objective of this study was to explore the mechanisms of Guasha therapy in the pathological processes including neuroinflammation in PD. After 3 Guasha courses, a reduction in α-synuclein aggregation and alleviation of microglia activation were observed in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Furthermore, levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IFN-γ in the SNpc decreased, while plasma TGF-β, IL-4 and IL-10 increased. Moreover, both TH protein and mRNA levels in the SNpc, as well as dopamine levels in the striatum, exhibited an increase. The proteomics analysis results based on plasma-derived exosomes revealed a total of 943 differentially expressed proteins identified. Compared to the model group, the Guasha group screened for 82 differential proteins, with 30 upregulated and 52 downregulated. The improvement of pathological changes in the PD model mice treated with Guasha primarily involves biological processes such as oxidative stress, immune response and inflammation, and cellular structure regulation. It involves signaling pathways related to aldosterone synthesis and secretion, adrenergic signaling in myocardial cells, COVID-19-related inflammatory signaling, and neurotrophic signaling. Collectively, the mechanisms of Guasha for treating PD might be closely related to inhibiting microglial cell activation-mediated neuroinflammation, regulating oxidative stress, cellular structure, aldosterone synthesis and secretion-mediated electrolyte balance, as well as noradrenergic signaling-mediated neuroprotection. These findings provided new insight for Guasha in treating PD and would potentially enhance therapeutic interventions.

Targeted delivery of proteins into desired cell groups is crucial for disease therapy and cellular functionalization. However, current delivery methods face severe side effects and off-target problems, making it difficult to achieve cell-targeted protein delivery. Herein, we developed a user-friendly membrane fusion liposome for cancer cell-targeted protein delivery. Phosphorothioated DNA-mediated membrane fusion was employed as an efficient transmembrane delivery approach. The phosphorothioated DNA was capped with the AS1411 aptamer, which specifically recognizes nucleolar proteins on the cancer cell membrane, enabling a controllable delivery of proteins into targeted cancer cells. This delivery system exhibited commendable biocompatibility and targeted delivery ability, thereby realizing highly effective cancer cell inhibition in vitro. The in vivo results further suggested that the membrane protein-responsive membrane fusion delivery system offers a new avenue for highly biocompatible and targeted protein delivery.

Highly selective, sensitive, and fast hydrogen sensing technology is becoming increasingly important in the processes of production, transportation, and usage of hydrogen energy. Field-effect transistor (FET) is the basic element of modern IC. When serving as a gas sensor, FET poses advantages of small size, high sensitivity, and low power consumption. This article reviews the latest developments in FET hydrogen sensors based on channel materials from traditional silicon, III-V compound semiconductors to novel channel materials carbon nanotubes, graphene, and two-dimensional black phosphorus. Firstly, the structure of FET sensors was investigated. Then the sensitive materials severing as gate were reviewed and efforts to improve the performance was summarized. Then, we discuss the sensitive materials that are currently available, with a focus on the interaction mechanisms between hydrogen and the sensitive materials. Lastly, methods to enhance sensor performance by modifying the physical and chemical properties of the sensitive materials are presented. Finally, the article provides an outlook on the future development of FET type hydrogen gas sensing.

Simultaneous and rapid detection of various mycotoxins in food holds significant practical importance in the field of food processing and safety. In this study, a fluorescent aptasensor based on functionalized graphene oxide (FGO) is developed for simultaneous detection of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) and aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁). The two aptamers specific to AFB₁ and AFM₁ are labeled with Cy3 and Cy5 respectively. Both the aptamers can be adsorbed onto the surface of FGO through π-π stacking, resulting in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the fluorophore and FGO. The absence of target leads to quenching of fluorescence while presence of either aflatoxin causes interaction between corresponding aptamer and target, leading to release from FGO surface thereby turning on fluorescence signal. The limit of detection (LOD) for AFB₁ is determined as 8.7 pg/mL whereas for AFM₁ it is found to be 20.1 pg/mL, demonstrating fast and sensitive detection capability using this approach. Furthermore, the aptasensor exhibits good specificity and selectivity even under influence from other common interfering toxins. With its simplicity in operation and portability features, this sensor has potential applications for establishing sensitive and portable on-site detection methods for various mycotoxins.

Protein-small molecule interactions play an important role in the life activities of organisms. Since protein/small molecule interactions are important for elucidating the diverse uses and their mechanisms in the fields of biological life multiplicity, disease cure, drug development, etc., methods to accurately detect protein/small molecule interactions have attracted much attention. This paper reviews the recent advances in interaction detection methods based on optical, thermodynamic, chromatographic and other principles. The structural types of small molecules for which the methods are mainly suitable and the principles of method selection are discussed, and the prospects for the combined application of different methods in the field of complex small molecule drugs are also envisaged.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive fibrotic disease with an unclear etiology and no effective treatment. This study aims to elucidate the pathogenic mechanism networks involving multiple targets and pathways in IPF. Extracts and metabolites of Astragali Radix (AR) and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (ASR), two well-known traditional Chinese medicines, have demonstrated therapeutic effects on IPF. However, the underlying mechanisms of AR and ASR remain unclear. Utilizing network pharmacology analysis, the disease targets associated with IPF were obtained from the GeneCards database and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database. Targets of AR and ASR were identified using the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform and Swiss Target Prediction. A proteinprotein interaction (PPI) network was subsequently constructed and analyzed using the STRING database and Cytoscape software. Gene ontology enrichment (GO) analysis and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis were conducted using DAVID. Additionally, a component-target-pathway network was employed to identify the main active components, and molecular docking was performed between these components and proteins encoded by key targets. Finally, in vitro studies were conducted based on network pharmacology. A total of 260 common targets between IPF and drug targets were identified and included in the PPI network, in which TNF, IL-6, STAT3, AKT1, VEGFA, SRC, EGFR, INS, JUN, and IL1B were predicted as key targets. These 260 targets were enriched in the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, FOXO signaling pathway, and Pathways in cancer. Docking scores ranged from –4.1 to –9.5 kcal/mol, indicating a strong binding affinity between the main active compounds and key targets. In vitro studies have indeed shown that Quercetin and Magnolol can alleviate the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the A549 cells caused by IL-6. The treatment with AR and ASR resulted in a reduction of mRNA levels for key targets HIF-1α and α-SAM. Additionally, the protein expression levels of P-JAK2/ JAK2, P-STAT3/ STAT3, and α-SMA/ β-Actin were also reduced. These results support the therapeutic potential of AR and ASR in ameliorating pulmonary fibrosis and provide insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in their therapeutic effects.

The green chemistry method for analyzing changes in the concentration of substances during a reaction process is an energy-saving and interesting experimental process. In this paper, the performance of electrolysis of methylene blue (MB) in NaCl electrolyte was studied using a smartphone-based paper microzones method (PMZs), and paper microzone platform was made by discarded label stickers. The linear range spanned from 1.25 to 15 mg/L for the concentration-absorbance correspondence measured via spectrophotometry, and from 1.25 to 17.5 mg/L for the concentration-R-value correspondence measured via the PMZs method. The findings revealed that the limit of detection (LOD) value of the PMZs method was 0.494 mg/L, and the limit of quantification (LOQ) value was 1.497 mg/L. Moreover, the accuracy ranking of the measured MB electrolytic change process across different channels was as follows: Red>Grey>Green>Blue. PMZs method also showed well reliability in measuring actual dye polluted wastewater. The results demonstrate the sensitivity and precision of the PMZs method, as indicated by the low LOD and LOQ values. Additionally, the accuracy ranking provides valuable insight into the performance of the method across different color channels, shedding light on the potential applications and limitations of the PMZs technique in color-based electrochemical analyses. The electrolysis reaction led to a red-shift in the absorption characteristics of MB in NaCl electrolyte, resulting in a notable change in its light absorption properties. This information is crucial for researchers and practitioners seeking to employ the PMZs method for accurate and reliable color measurements in various scientific and industrial settings.

Water pollution is currently a major problem worldwide. Given its detrimental effects on health, Hg(II) is considered an extremely hazardous heavy metal contaminant, even at low doses. Heterocyclic compounds have been thoroughly evaluated as the chemosensor agents for Hg(II) detection. However, they suffer from poor sensitivity. In this study, we prepared two fluorescence chemosensor agents from vanillin via several steps, i.e., etherification, Claisen–Schmidt, and cyclocondensation reactions to yield N-phenyl- and N-pyridine-pyrazoline compounds. Products characterization was accomplished via spectroscopic techniques. Chalcone, N-phenyl-, and N-pyridine-pyrazoline derivatives were successfully obtained at 87.04%, 90.91%, and 91.73% yields, with limits of detection of 156,840, 65.810, and 161.011 nM, respectively. These results show that the conversion of chalcone to pyrazoline structure improved the sensitivity for Hg(II) detection at the nanomolar level, which is 2384 times lower than that for chalcone. Further spectroscopic investigations through Job's plot, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and proton-nuclear magnetic resonance analyses revealed that Hg(II) ions were chelated with two nitrogen atoms of pyrazoline. Thus, this phenomenon can explain the considerable sensitivity enhancement for Hg(II) detection. N-Phenyl-pyrazoline is the more sensitive chemosensor to Hg(II) compared with N-pyridine-pyrazoline because the more nitrogen groups in the binding site, the less selective and sensitive the compound. This finding is also supported by the higher binding constant value of N-phenyl-pyrazoline (9.416 × 10² mol⁻¹) than N-pyridine-pyrazoline (1.771 × 10² mol⁻¹). Furthermore, N-phenyl-pyrazoline can be applied in the direct quantification of Hg(II) in tap and groundwater samples with a validity parameter in a range of 80.97%–103.54%.