Um método cromatográfico foi desenvolvido para determinação dos antidepressivos mais prescritos no Brasil e seus produtos de biotransfomação (amitriptilina, imipramina, clomipramina, desmetilclomipramina, desipramina, nortriptilina, fluoxetina, norfluoxetina e sertralina) em sangue total por cromatografia em fase gasosa com detector de nitrogênio e fósforo. A extração em fase sólida (EFS) com o cartucho abselutTM NEXUS foi empregada de forma inovadora. O procedimento de extração consistiu na diluição de 0,5mL de sangue total em tampão (pH 9,5), aplicação da amostra no cartucho, remoção de interferentes usando tampão (pH 9,5) e eluição dos analitos com diclorometano/ isopropanol (17/3 v/v); a etidocaína foi adotada como padrão interno. Os limites de detecção (LD) e quantificação (LIQ) encontrados foram de 0,1mg/L a 0,4mg/L e de 0,4mg/L a 1,6mg/L, respectivamente. O método foi preciso, específico e linear na faixa de concentração estudada (do LIQ até 12mg/L). A recuperação média de todos os analitos foi 65,5%. O método foi aplicado em amostras de âmbito forense e de emergência clínica. / A gas chromatographic method was developed to determine antidepressants most prescribed in Brazil and their metabolites (amitriptyline, imipramine, clomipramine, desmethylclomipramine, desipramine, nortriptyline, fluoxetine, norfluoxetine, and sertralina) in whole blood, using solid phase extraction and gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection. The solid-phase extraction (SPE) with abselutTM NEXUS was applied in an innovative manner. The extraction procedure consists of the dilution of 0.5mL of whole blood in buffer (pH 9.5), application of the sample in the cartridge, washing with buffer (pH 9.5) and elution of the analytes with dichloromethane/isopropanol (17/3, v/v). The limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LLOQ) were from 0.1mg/L to 0.4mg/L and from 0.4mg/L to 1.6mg/L, respectively. Etidocaine was used as internal standard. The method was precise, specific and linear in the studied concentration (range from LLOQ to 12mg/L). The average recovery of all analytes was 65,5%. Forensic and clinical emergency samples were submitted to the validated method.

Um método cromatográfico foi desenvolvido para determinação dos antidepressivos mais prescritos no Brasil e seus produtos de biotransfomação (amitriptilina, imipramina, clomipramina, desmetilclomipramina, desipramina, nortriptilina, fluoxetina, norfluoxetina e sertralina) em sangue total por cromatografia em fase gasosa com detector de nitrogênio e fósforo. A extração em fase sólida (EFS) com o cartucho abselutTM NEXUS foi empregada de forma inovadora. O procedimento de extração consistiu na diluição de 0,5mL de sangue total em tampão (pH 9,5), aplicação da amostra no cartucho, remoção de interferentes usando tampão (pH 9,5) e eluição dos analitos com diclorometano/ isopropanol (17/3 v/v); a etidocaína foi adotada como padrão interno. Os limites de detecção (LD) e quantificação (LIQ) encontrados foram de 0,1mg/L a 0,4mg/L e de 0,4mg/L a 1,6mg/L, respectivamente. O método foi preciso, específico e linear na faixa de concentração estudada (do LIQ até 12mg/L). A recuperação média de todos os analitos foi 65,5%. O método foi aplicado em amostras de âmbito forense e de emergência clínica. / A gas chromatographic method was developed to determine antidepressants most prescribed in Brazil and their metabolites (amitriptyline, imipramine, clomipramine, desmethylclomipramine, desipramine, nortriptyline, fluoxetine, norfluoxetine, and sertralina) in whole blood, using solid phase extraction and gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection. The solid-phase extraction (SPE) with abselutTM NEXUS was applied in an innovative manner. The extraction procedure consists of the dilution of 0.5mL of whole blood in buffer (pH 9.5), application of the sample in the cartridge, washing with buffer (pH 9.5) and elution of the analytes with dichloromethane/isopropanol (17/3, v/v). The limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LLOQ) were from 0.1mg/L to 0.4mg/L and from 0.4mg/L to 1.6mg/L, respectively. Etidocaine was used as internal standard. The method was precise, specific and linear in the studied concentration (range from LLOQ to 12mg/L). The average recovery of all analytes was 65,5%. Forensic and clinical emergency samples were submitted to the validated method.

Nos últimos anos, a pesquisa ambiental tem se defrontado com a questão dos chamados disruptores endócrinos (EDCs). A estes compostos, tais como: produtos farmacêuticos, hormônios naturais e sintéticos, pesticidas, substâncias tensoativas, polímeros de baixa massa molecular e diversos outros contaminantes orgânicos presentes em efluentes municipais e industriais, atribui-se à capacidade de alterar o funcionamento do sistema endócrino. Estrogênios e progestogênios, naturais ou sintéticos, são excretados pela urina de mamíferos, e uma pequena porção nas fezes, e via efluentes de estações de tratamento de esgoto (ETE) entram em vias aquáticas, podendo causar alterações em organismos aquáticos, tais como feminização ou hermafroditismo. Neste contexto, no presente trabalho foi descrito uma metodologia analítica para a extração em fase sólida empregando cartucho C18, dos hormônios naturais, estrona (E1) e 17?-estradiol (E2), e dos hormônios sintéticos, levonorgestrel e 17?-etinilestradiol (EE2) (presentes em anticoncepcionais orais), a partir de uma matriz de esgoto sintético. Foram utilizados dois sistemas cromatográficos neste estudo, ambos de mesmo modelo (SLC-10A, Shimadzu), os quais consistiram em um injetor manual (seringa), com um volume de injeção ajustado para 20µL, e duas bombas modelo LC-10ADVP (Shimadzu). Foram utilizados dois tipos de detectores, um sistema DAD modelo SPD-M10AVP (Shimadzu) e um espectrofluorímetro modelo RF-551 versão 2.4 (Shimadzu). A separação foi feita em coluna C18 (250 X 4,6 mm, 5 µm) com um fluxo de 1 mL min-1. A condição ideal para separação foi o modo isocrático: 48/52 ACN:H2O. O comprimento de onda selecionado para quantificação no sistema de detecção DAD foi: 240nm para o levonorgestrel e 280nm para E1, E2 e EE2. No detector espectrofluorímetro, os comprimentos de onda selecionados para a excitação e emissão dos analitos E1, E2 e EE2 foram: 280nm e 306nm, respectivamente. Para se efetuar o estudo de recuperação, uma matriz simulando esgotos sanitários foi utilizada com o intuito de se ter uma amostra controle (testemunha) livre dos analitos de interesse, devido à dificuldade em se obter uma amostra de esgoto “real" livre destes hormônios. As amostras de esgoto sintético foram fortificadas em três níveis de concentração. Tomou-se 5 replicatas de 100,0mL de amostra testemunha (esgoto sintético) para cada nível de fortificação, estas amostras foram dopadas com os hormônios estudados. Após adaptações de metodologias descritas na literatura, a extração foi feita segundo o procedimento: condicionamento do cartucho (500mg/6mL) com 7mL de acetonitrila, 5mL de metanol e 5mL de água em uma razão de fluxo de 3mL min-1; percolagem de 250,0mL de amostras de esgoto bruto e efluentes tratados pela ETE-Araraquara com fluxo de 1mL min-1; secagem do cartucho por 1 hora a vácuo; eluição dos analitos com 6mL de acetonitrila com fluxo de 1mL min-1; secagem do extrato eluído em corrente de nitrogênio; reconstituição da amostra em 0,5mL de metanol. As amostras de esgoto sintético foram dopadas com os padrões estudados, para análise realizada no sistema DAD, a 0,250?g L-1 para levonorgestrel e 2,50?g L-1 para E1, E2 e EE2 (nível 1); 0,375 ?g L-1 para levonorgestrel e 3,75 ?g L-1 para E1, E2 e EE2 (nível 2); 0,500?g L-1 para levonorgestrel e 5,00?g L-1 para E1, E2 e EE2 (nível 3). Para análise realizada no sistema fluorescente, as amostras de esgoto sintético foram dopadas com os padrões estudados a 0,750?g L-1 para E1; 0,150?g L-1 para E2 e 0,250?g L-1 para EE2 (nível 1); 1,00 ?g L-1 para E1; 0,150?g L-1 para E2 e 0,200?g L-1 para EE2 (nível 2); 1,25?g L-1 para E1; 0,250?g L-1 para E2 e 0,300 ?g L-1 para EE2 (nível 3). Valores de recuperação entre 83-123% com coeficientes de variação menores do que 13,5% foram obtidos para todos os hormônios analisados pelos dois sistemas de detecção (DAD e Fluorescente). Esses dados demonstram a eficiência do método quanto à exatidão e precisão para os níveis de fortificação estudados. O método proposto foi utilizado para avaliar a presenças dos hormônios em afluentes (esgoto bruto) e efluentes da ETE-Araraquara. As amostras coletadas na ETE foram analisadas em triplicata. Foi identificado e quantificado o hormônio natural E2 (31ng L-1) em amostras obtidas antes do tratamento de esgoto. Não foram detectadas concentrações dos analitos em amostras obtidas após o tratamento. / In recent years environmental research has been faced with the issue of the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Such compounds, such as: pharmaceutical products, natural and synthetic hormones, pesticides, tensive active substances, low mass molar polymers and many other organic contaminants that appear in municipal and industrial effluents, have the capacity of altering the manner in which the endocrine system works. Natural or synthetic estrogens and progestogens are excreted through the urine of mammals, and a small portion through faeces, and via effluents from sewage treatment plants (STP) flow into aquatic ducts, with the possibility of causing alterations in the aquatic organisms, such as feminization or hermaphroditism. Within this context, the present work describes an analytic methodology for solid phase extraction (SPE) using C18 cartridge of the natural hormones, estrone (E1) and 17?-estradiol (E2), and the synthetic hormones levonorgestrel and 17?-ethinylestradiol (EE2) (found in oral contraceptives) from a synthetic waste matrix. Two chromatographic systems were used in this study, both from the same model (SLC-10A, Shimadzu), a DAD system model SPD-M10AVP (Shimadzu) and a spectrofluorimeter model RF-551 type 2.4 (Shimadzu). Separation was performed in column C18 (250 X 4,6 mm, 5 ?m) with a flux of 1 mL min-1. The ideal separation condition was the isocratic mode: 48/52 ACN:H2O. To carry out the recuperation study, a matrix simulating sewers was used with the objective of having a control sample (witness) free of the samples under scrutiny of the difficulty in obtaining a “real" sewage sample free of these hormones. The samples of synthetic sewage were boosted in three levels of concentration. Recuperation values between 83-123% with variation coefficients lower than 13,5% were obtained for all studied hormones by both systems of detections (DAD and Fluorescent). These data demonstrate the efficiency of the method concerning the accuracy and precision for the fortification levels that were studied. The proposed method was used to assess the presence of hormones in inffluents (raw sewage) and effluents of Araraquara-STP. The natural hormone E2 (31ng L-1) was identified and quantified in samples obtained prior to sewage treatment. No concentrations of analytes in the samples were obtained after the treatment.

Microfluidics is a vibrant and expanding field that has the potential for solving many analytical challenges. Microfluidics shows promise to provide rapid, inexpensive, efficient, and portable diagnostic solutions that can be used in resource-limited settings. Microfluidic devices have gained immense interest as diagnostic tools for various diseases through biomarker analysis. My dissertation work focuses on developing electrokinetically operated integrated microfluidic devices for the analysis of biomarkers indicative of preterm birth risk. Preterm birth (PTB), a birth prior to 37 weeks of gestation, is the most common complication of pregnancy and the leading cause of neonatal deaths and newborn illnesses. In this dissertation, I have designed, fabricated and developed several microfluidic devices that integrate various sample preparation processes like immunoaffinity extraction, preconcentration, fluorescent labeling, and electrophoretic separation of biomarkers indicative of PTB risk. I developed microchip electrophoresis devices for separation of selected PTB biomarkers. I further optimized multiple reversed-phase porous polymer monoliths UV-polymerized in microfluidic device channels for selective retention and elution of fluorescent dyes and PTB biomarkers to facilitate on-chip labeling. Successful on-chip fluorescent labeling of multiple PTB biomarkers was reported using these microfluidic devices. These devices were further developed using a pH-mediated approach for solid-phase extraction, resulting in a ~50 fold enrichment of a PTB biomarker. Additionally, this approach was integrated with microchip electrophoresis to develop a combined enrichment and separation device that yielded 15-fold preconcentration for a PTB peptide. I also developed an immunoaffinity extraction device for analyzing PTB biomarkers directly from a human serum matrix. A glycidyl methacrylate monolith was characterized within microfluidic channels for immobilization of antibodies to PTB biomarkers. Antibody immobilization and captured analyte elution protocols were optimized for these monoliths, and two PTB biomarker proteins were successfully extracted using these devices. This approach was also integrated with microchip electrophoresis for combined extraction and separation of two PTB biomarkers in spiked human serum in <30 min. In the future, these optimized microfluidic components can be integrated into a single platform for automated immunoaffinity extraction, preconcentration, fluorescent labeling, and separation of PTB biomarkers. This integrated microfluidic platform could significantly improve human health by providing early diagnosis of PTBs.

Zeólitas e carvão ativado são materiais eficazes para o tratamento de efluentes devido a sua grande área superficial e possibilidades de funcionalização, que permitem o desenvolvimento de novos materiais derivados visando a processos de concentração/remoção de contaminantes, por exemplo, em águas. A preparação de nanocompósitos magnéticos e sua aplicação na remoção seletiva de poluentes em meio aquoso tornou-se viável devido as interações distintas que ocorrem entre zeólita e carvão ativado com compostos orgânicos, íons metálicos e compostos nitrogenados. Assim, novos materiais voltados para sistemas de tratamento de águas residuais e monitoramento ambiental foram desenvolvidos com base em materiais bem estabelecidos. Os nanocompósitos foram caracterizados estrutural e morfologicamente por técnicas de microscopia eletrônica de varredura, termogravimetria, espectroscopia no infravermelho, espalhamento de luz, difração de raios x, bem como suas capacidades de adsorção. Foi avaliado também a viabilidade de aplicações em métodos analíticos, como pré-concentração por extração em fase sólida magnética (M-SPE), e, para tratamento de efluentes em amostras reais. Contaminação por cromo (VI), outras espécies potencialmente tóxicas e amônio foram removidos de águas residuais, gerando produtos tratados com níveis de contaminantes suficientemente baixos para atenderem as recomendações da EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) e CONAMA (Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente), permitindo seu descarte na natureza. Os materiais demonstraram ser adequados para pré-concentração rápida, eficiente, economicamente competitiva e ambientalmente amigável de amostras por M-SPE para quantificação analítica de espécies orgânicas ou inorgânicas, por técnicas analíticas convencionais. Assim, foi demonstrado a possibilidade de determinação simultânea de elementos potencialmente tóxicos e de outros cátions metálicos em concentrações traço (ppb), diretamente no material compósito magnético, por espectroscopia de fluorescência de raios X de energia dispersiva (EDX), além da quantificação de traços de compostos orgânicos semi-voláteis por cromatografia emfase gasosa com detector por espectrometria de massas, aumentando a sensibilidade para além do limite nominal de detecção por essas técnicas. / Zeolites and activated carbon are effective materials for the treatment of effluents due to their large surface area and functionalisation possibilities, which allow the development of new derived materials aiming at the concentration/removal of contaminants from water, for example. The preparation of magnetic nanocomposites and their application in the selective removal of pollutants in aqueous media has become feasible due to the distinct interactions that occur between zeolite and activated carbon with organic compounds, metal ions and nitrogen compounds. Thus, new materials for wastewater treatment and environmental monitoring systems were developed based on well-established materials. The nanocomposites were structural and morphologically characterized by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, infrared spectroscopy, light scattering, x-ray diffraction, as well as their adsorption capacities, viability of applications in analytical methods such as preconcentration by extraction in magnetic solid phase, M-SPE, were evaluated, and the composite materials Cmag and Zmag applied for treatment of real samples. Chromium (VI) contamination, heavy metal cations and ammonium were removed from wastewater, generating treated products with levels of contaminants low enough to meet the EPA and CONAMA recommendations, allowing their disposal in the wild. The materials have been shown to be suitable for rapid, efficient, economically competitive and environmentally friendly preconcentration of samples per M-SPE for analytical quantification of organic or inorganic species by conventional analytical techniques. Thus, it was demonstrated the possibility of simultaneous analysis of heavy metals and other metal cations in trace concentrations (ppb), directly in the magnetic composite material, by dispersive energy X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (EDX), in addition to the quantification of traces of volatile organic compounds (VOC) by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detector, increasing the sensitivity beyond the nominal limit of detection by these techniques.

<p>A solid phase extraction (SPE) method was developed for simultaneous extraction of dicarboxylic acids and diols formed during hydrolysis of poly(butylene succinate), PBS, and poly(butylene adipate), PBA. The developed SPE method and subsequent GC-MS analysis were used to extract, identify and quantify low molecular weight products migrating from linear and branched poly(butylene adipate) (PBA) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) during aging in aqueous media. The combination of SPE and GC-MS proved to be a sensitive tool, able to detect small differences in the degradation rate during early stages of hydrolysis before any significant differences were observed by weight loss and molecular weight measurements. The detected low molecular weight products included monomers i.e. adipic acid and 1,4-butanediol for the PBA polymers and succinic acid and 1,4-butanediol for PBS. Several dimers and trimers i.e. hydroxybutyl adipate, hydroxybutyl succinate, di(hydroxybutyl) adipate, di(hydroxybutyl) succinate and hydroxybutyl disuccinate were also detected. Best extraction efficiency for 1,4-butanediol and succinic acid was achieved with a hydroxylated polystyrene-divinylbenzene resin as solid phase. Linear range for the extracted analytes was 1-500 ng/ml for adipic acid and 2-500 ng/ml for 1,4-butanediol and succinic acid. Detection and quantification limits for all analytes were between 1-2 ng/ml (S/N=3) and 2-7 ng/ml (S/N=10) respectively. Relative standard deviations were between 3 % and 7 %. Comparison of measured weight loss and the amount of monomeric products showed that weight loss during early stages of hydrolysis was mainly caused by the release of water-soluble oligomers that on prolonged ageing were further hydrolyzed to monomeric species. Significant differences in degradation rate could be assigned to degree of branching, molecular weight, aging temperature and degradation medium.</p><p>Linear and branched PBA was mixed with PVC in solution cast films to study the effects of molecular weight and branching on plasticizer efficiency. Used as polymeric plasticizer, PBA formed a semi-miscible two-phase system with PVC where the amorphous part exhibited one single glass transition temperature and the degree of polyester crystallinity was dependent on molecular weight, degree of branching and blend composition. Plasticizing efficiency was favored by higher degree of branching and a 40 weight-percent polyester composition.</p>

In this thesis, it is shown how aflatoxins can be determined in biological material. The thesis is a summary of five papers. Aflatoxins are carcinogenic mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus moulds. Methods were developed for the determination of aflatoxins in samples of airborne dust and human urine collected at feed factories. For the dust samples from such agricultural products as copra, cotton seed and maize, methods were developed for the determination of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2. For urine samples, methods were developed for analysing the four aflatoxins above that naturally occur in dust, and the metabolites aflatoxins M1 and Q1. Sample preparation of dust samples included solvent extraction, filtration and immunoaffinity column extraction. Urine samples were cleaned up using immunoaffinity column extraction or solid-phase extraction using ethyl bonded-phase columns. All extractions with these columns were automated by means of a laboratory robot. Reversed-phase liquid chromatography was used to separate the aflatoxins in the cleaned-up extracts. Detection was performed by fluorescence after post-column derivatization by addition of bromine. Parameters for the derivatization were studied using factorial designs. To confirm the identity of aflatoxins in naturally contaminated airborne dust samples and spiked urine, liquid chromatography was combined with electrospray mass spectrometry. The detection limits of the aflatoxins in dust samples were in the range 1.8-3.1 ng/g in 10-mg dust samples using fluorescence detection. Aflatoxins were determined in spiked urine down to the 6.8-18 pg/ml level. In naturally contaminated dust of copra and cotton seed, aflatoxins were detected with a content of 9-50 pg/mg of aflatoxin Bi. No aflatoxins could be detected in any urine sample obtained from feed factory workers that were less than 6.8 pg/ml of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 and less than 18 pg/ml of aflatoxins M1 and Q1. / <p>Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Univ., härtill 5 uppsatser</p> / digitalisering@umu

Tyrimo objektas – kraujo plazma su vaistinių medžiagų mišiniu (buspirono hidrochloridu ir fluoksetino hidrochloridu). Šio tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti tinkamiausias ekstrakcijos sąlygas, reikalingas vaistų mišinio (buspirono ir fluoksetino) išskyrimui iš kraujo plazmos bei pritaikyti efektyviosios skysčių chromatografijos metodiką vaistų mišinio veikliųjų junginių identifikavimui ir kiekio nustatymui. Darbo uždaviniai buvo pritaikyti ir validuoti efektyviosios skysčių chromatografijos metodiką; išskirti buspirono ir fluoksetino vaistų mišinį iš kraujo plazmos skysčių – skysčių (SSE) ir kietafazės ekstrakcijos (KFE) metodais; optimizuoti geriausią ekstrakcijos metodą. Tyrimo metu buvo pritaikyta ESC metodika buspirono ir fluoksetino identifikavimui ir kiekio nustatymui. Atlikta ESC metodikos validacija: įrodytas specifiškumas, rezultatų glaudumas, remiantis koreliacijos koeficientu (R2) įvertintas metodikos teisiškumas, buspirono ir fluoksetino koreliacijos koeficientai atitinkamai lygūs 0,9997 ir 0,9998. Nustatytos aptikimo ribos (buspironui 0,4 µg/ml, fluoksetinui 0,75 µg/ml) ir nustatymo ribos (buspironui 0,75 µg/ml, fluoksetinui 1 µg/ml). Vaistinių medžiagų mišinys išskirtas iš kraujo plazmos SSE ir KFE metodais. Nustatyta, kad KFE yra greitesnis ir tikslesnis metodas lyginant su SSE, todėl KFE pasirinkta tolesniam metodo optimizavimui. Eksperimentai atlikti su 6 organiniais tirpikliais (metanoliu, etanoliu, propanoliu, trichlormetanu, dichlormetanu ir acetonitrilu)... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The object of study – human plasma with the mix of two drugs (buspirone hydrochloride and fluoxetine hydrochloride). The aim of this study was to determine extraction conditions for buspirone and fluoxetine isolation from human plasma and to apply high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for quantitative analysis of the drugs after extraction. The objective was to apply and validate HPLC procedure; to extract buspirone and fluoxetine from human plasma by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and solid phase extraction (SPE); to optimize efectiveness extraction method. The HPLC method for identification and quantitative analysis of drugs was optimized. The mobile phase was 0,1 per cent of trifluoroacetic acid and acetonitrile.Validation of the HPLC method was carried out. The specificity, precision, linearity, limits of detection (buspirone 0,4 µg/ml, fluoxetine 0,75 µg/ml) and quantification (buspirone 0,75 µg/ml, fluoxetine 1 µg/ml) were determined. Validate HPLC method was applied for analysis of buspirone and fluoxetine after extraction. Drugs were extracted from human plasma by LLE and SPE methods. The best recovery of analites gave SPE methods. The recoveries of the drugs using six different organic solvents (methanol, propanol, ethanol, trichloromethane, dichloromethane, acetonitrile) were examined. Selected the most appropriate environment (acidify) for methanol and the methanol percentage of the elution solvent (80 per cent). Selected two of the most appropriate... [to full text]

Advantages such as chemical, mechanical and thermal stability together with high selectivity for the templated analyte render molecularly imprinted polymers MIPs interesting alternatives to routinely applied separation materials or antibodies. Nevertheless, many factors such as the choice of functional monomer, cross-linker, and porogenic solvent, as well as the ratio between template, functional monomer, and cross-linker will affect the resulting imprinting efficiency and polymer particle size and morphology. The research described in this thesis contributes to the development of new synthetic strategies for the generation of imprinted micro- and nanospheres for 17beta-estradiol (E2) focusing on accurate control and optimization of the governing parameters for precipitation polymerization, including the polymerization temperature and the cross-linker, yielding a one-step synthetic approach with superior control on the bead diameter, shape, monodispersity and imprinting efficiency. Thus synthesized imprinting materials for E2 were successfully applied in HPLC separation, solid phase extraction and radioligand binding assays. As the optimization of imprinted materials is based on fundamental understanding of the binding site properties, the investigations is aimed at establishing a more rational basis for further tailoring imprinted materials to the desired analytical application. The relationships between the particle porosity and rebinding properties were detailed, providing useful guidelines for controlling the particle properties for the desired application including, SPE pre-concentration, HPLC separations, and biomimetic binding assays. Furthermore, analytical techniques (1H-NMR and IR, etc.) and molecular modeling were combined in this thesis to facilitate advanced understanding of the fundamental principles governing selective recognition of molecularly imprinted polymers at a molecular level. The molecular interactions involved in the templating process of molecularly imprinted polymers based on the self-assembly approach were simulated in molecular dynamic simulation model by building a modeling system include all the imprinting components with correct ratio, which has never been reported before. Molecular level interactions such as hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking interactions as well as the free energy governing complex formation of E2 with the functional monomers 4-vinylpyridine (4VP) and methacrylic acid (MAA), and the cross-linker divinylbenzene (DVB) were discussed.

Les catécholamines et les indolamines font partie de la famille des neurotransmetteurs. Un déséquilibre dans leur concentration peut être associé à différentes maladies telles les maladies de Parkinson et Alzheimer, la dépression ou la schizophrénie. C’est pourquoi le développement de méthodes de dosage spécifiques et très sensibles du fait de leurs très faibles teneurs dans les fluides biologiques est nécessaire. Dans un premier temps nous avons développé une méthode chromatographique en appariement d’ions (IP-LC) utilisant des colonnes C18 de nouvelle génération (monolithique et « fused core ») et l’acide nonafluoropentanoïque, comme agent d’appariement d’ions volatil. Cette méthode est compatible avec une détection SM en mode d’ionisation positive. Dans un deuxième temps, différents systèmes en mode HILIC ont été évalués. Le choix raisonné de la phase stationnaire offrant la meilleure séparation du mélange de catécholamines a pu être réalisé après avoir testé l’influence sur la séparation des différents groupements fonctionnels disponibles : groupement soit neutre (greffage diol, amide, ou cyano), soit positivement chargé (greffage amino ou triazole) soit négativement chargé (silice vierge avec particules totalement poreuses ou partiellement poreuses « fused core ») ou zwitterionique (greffage sulfobetaïne). La méthode HILIC présente l’avantage d’être compatible aussi bien avec une détection SM en mode d’ionisation positive que négative. Les deux méthodes (IP-LC et HILIC) ont été comparées en termes de résolution, efficacité et limites de détection (LOD), linéarité et répétabilité. Les LODs obtenues sont comprises entre 1 et 100 ng.mL-1. Pour pouvoir doser des teneurs plus faibles, une méthode de pré-concentration de l’échantillon a été développée en associant 2 supports différents (Oasis HLB et PGC). La méthode optimisée SPE-CPL-MS/MS a été enfin appliquée à un extrait de cerveau de mouton. / As neurotransmitters, catecholamines play an important role in the control and regulation of numerous brain functions. They are also believed to be implicated in different neurodegenerative disorders. First an ion pairing chromatography method using nonafluoropentanoic acid as volatile ion paring agent was developed on the new generation of C18 columns (monolith and fused core). This method is compatible with MS detection in positive ionization mode. Secondly an HILIC method was optimized using different commercially available HILIC supports, they can be classified as follows: neutral (diol, amide, and cyano bounded), positively charged (amino, triazole bounded), negatively charged (bare silica as wholly porous particles or fused core particles columns) and zwitterionic (sulfobetaine bounded). Our studies lead us to a better understanding of the HILIC retention mechanism and also to the selection of the most appropriated column for catecholamine analysis. Only the HILIC system was compatible with both positive and negative ionization modes. The two chromatographic systems were then compared in terms of resolution, efficiency, detection and quantification limits (LOD/LOQ), calibration linearity and repeatability. The LODs obtained were in the range of 1-100 ng.mL-1. A simple pre-concentration method using Oasis HLB and PGC solid phase extraction cartridges has been optimized in order to enhance the LODs. Finally the optimized SPE-LC-MS/MS method has been applied to the identification of these compounds present in brain extracts.