The concept of integrated sensors in the Biotage® Extrahera™ system to perform live-monitoring of pressure inside SPE-columns is investigated. A test-rig containing the components necessary to simulate the pressure-cycle in the system is constructed and a printed-circuit board assembly is designed and implemented into its 24-column format. Liquid samples with varying viscosity are then synthesized using water and glycerol, which are used in a simplified 2-step SPE-process during which the pressure inside the columns is logged. The results obtained showed that the concept is viable and methods for clog detection as well as state assessment are discussed. However, it was established that the solution needs further testing involving complete SPE-processes with real samples before any detailed algorithms can be presented. A pre-study is finally done regarding solutions for minimizing the design to allow for implementation into the system's more spatially restricted 96-column format.

In this study, the effects of certain chromatographic conditions on various modified and unmodified oligonucleotides were investigated. At the forefront of this study was the investigation of a new Ion-pair Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (IP-RPLC) method, that had the potential to replace a previously established triethylammonium acetate (TEAA) IP-RPLC method developed for oligonucleotide separations. This method, utilising the counter ion dibutyl amine (DBA) and a Tris-buffer at pH 8, produced promising results indicating that the strong binding strength of DBA creates a hybrid IEX/RPLC separation method – the separation of oligonucleotides is dynamically based on both charge and length. Higher concentrations of DBA appear to produce better results that include improved efficiency, increased retention and even the potential discovery of hidden impurities. In conjugation with Ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) systems, sub-2 µm particle columns and gradient optimisations, separations of complex oligonucleotides could be achieved in short analysis times. Furthermore, effective separations at the analytical level can be applied and adapted to larger scale Prep-LC, potentially also improving the purification process of crude oligonucleotide samples. Further development and validation are, however, required for any future work with this method. / I denna studie har effekten av vissa kromatografiska förhållanden på olika modifierade och icke-modifierade oligonukleotider undersökts. I framkanten av denna studie var undersökningen av en ny IP-RPLC metod, vilken har potential att ersätta den tidigare etablerade trietylammonium acetat (TEAA) IP-RPLC metoden, vilken utvecklats för separationen av oligonukleotider. Denna metod, vilken använder dibutylamin (DBA) som motjon och en Tris-buffert vid pH 8, gav lovande resultat vilka indikerar att den starka bindningsstyrkan av DBA skapar en hybrid IEX/RPLC separationsmetod – separationen av oligonkuleotider styrs både av dess laddning och dess längd. Höga koncentrationer av DBA verkade ge bättre resultat som inkluderar hög effektivitet, ökad retention och även den potentiella upptäckten av gömda föroreningar. I samband med UHPLC systemer, kolonner med mindre än 2µm i partikelstorlek och optimiserade gradienter, separationer av komplexa oligonukleotider erhölls på korta analystider. Effektiva separationer vid den analytiska nivån kan appliceras och adapteras till storskalig preparative-LC, med potential att kunna förbättra reningsprocessen för syntetiserade oligonukleotider. Vidare utveckling och validering krävs för framtida användning av denna metod.

En nyligen genomförd studie visade att reaktioner mellan vissa radikaler och omättade alkener är snabbare vid rumstemperatur än vad man tidigare har trott. Dessa reaktioner är viktiga för atmosfäriska oxidationscykler och följaktligen var syftet med detta masterprojekt att beräkna hastighetskonstanterna för dessa reaktioner mellan metyljodid och 1-jodidpentan med tetrametyletylen, isopren och limonen vid rumstemperatur genom att kvantifiera respektive epoxid; tetrametyloxiran, isoprenmonoxid och limonen 1,2 epoxid, som producerades. För att uppfylla syftet utfördes experiment på referensföreningarna tetrametyletylen, isoprenmonoxid, limonen och limonen 1,2 epoxid och på prover tagna från en kolonnflödesreaktor. Dessa experiment genomfördes för att kunna utveckla en lämplig provtagningsmetod och analysmetod med termisk desorptionsenhet samt gaskromatografi och masspektrometri (TD-GCMS). Slutsatsen som drogs var att Tenax® TA adsorbentrör är kompatibla med dessa ämnen och att den föreslagna TD-GCMS metoden är effektiv. Dessutom drogs slutsatsen att tetrametyloxiran inte hittades i reaktorproverna (varken i alkenproverna eller reaktorproverna), vilket resulterade i att hastighetskonstanten inte kunde beräknas. Dessutom var kvantifiering av reaktorproverna inte möjlig. / A recent study has shown that the reaction between some radicals and unsaturated alkenes is faster at room temperature than previously believed. These reactions are important for atmospheric oxidation cycles and therefore the purpose of this master project was to measure the rate coefficients for the reactions between methyl iodine and 1-iodopentane with tetramethylethylene, isoprene and limonene at room temperature by quantifying the respective epoxide; tetramethyloxirane, isoprene monoxide and limonene 1,2 epoxide, produced. In order to fulfill the purpose, experiments were conducted using the reference compounds of tetramethylethylene, isoprene monoxide, limonene and limonene 1,2 epoxide and on column flow reactor samples produced in the above mentioned reactions. These were performed in order to be able to develop an appropriate sampling method, and analysis method using thermal desorption unit gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (TD-GCMS). It was concluded that Tenax® TA adsorbent tubes are compatible with these substances and that the TD-GCMS method suggested is appropriate. It was also concluded that no tetramethyloxirane was found in the reactor samples (neither in alkene samples nor after the reactions), resulting in that it was not possible to calculate the rate coefficient. Moreover, the quantification of the reactor samples was not possible.

Vanliga fenoliska antioxidanter som används i polymerer orsakar färgändringar i polymeren. Detta arbete berör antioxidanter med jämförelsevis begränsad färgändring, med fokus på att utveckla metoder för analys av dessa. UV-stabilisatorerna UV2, UV5, UV1, UV4, UV3 och UV6 är också inkluderade i detta arbete. Metodutvecklingen involverade både kapillärelektrofores och ”matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry” (MALDI-TOF). Den bästa metoden för analys av de flesta av additiven inkluderade MALDI-TOF med 2’,6’-dihydroxyacetophenon (10 mg/ml) i TA50 som matris och hexafluoroisopropanol som lösningsmedel. När en metod för detektion av analyterna hade tagits fram, så inleddes utveckling av en metod för extraktion av additiv från polymera material. Extraktion av UV5 var framgångsrik vid användning av toluen vid 80 °C i ultraljudsbad i tre timmar. Det extraherade UV5 detekterades sedan med metoden som hade utvecklats för det rena additivet. / Ordinary phenolic antioxidants used in polymers give rise to color formations. This work concerns antioxidants with limited color-formations in comparison, with the focus being development of methods for analysis of these. Also included in this work are the high molecular weight UV-stabilizers UV2, UV5, UV1, UV4, UV3 and UV6. The method development involved both capillary electrophoresis and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). The best method for analysis of most additives involved using MALDI-TOF with a matrix consisting of 2’,6’-dihydroxyacetophenone (10 mg/ml) in TA50 and with hexafluoro isopropanol as the solvent. When a method for detection of the analytes had been obtained, a method for extraction of the additives from polymers was developed. UV5 was successfully extracted using toluene as the extracting solvent at 80 °C under sonication for three hours. The extracted UV5 was then detected using the method developed for the pure additive.

In this thesis the possibilities of using capillary electrophoresis as a separation technique for analysis of proteins and microbubbles is presented. A complete analytical process consists of five necessary steps of which one is the actual analysis step. For this step a suitable analytical technique is needed. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is one of the common analytical separation techniques used for analysis of a diversity of analytes, and can be both used in routine analysis and for research purposes. The reason for using CE, compared to other liquid-based separation techniques, is mainly short analysis time, high resolution, and negligible sample volumes and solvent waste. Depending on the characteristics of the analytes, and the sample matrix, different modes of CE can be used, where capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) is the most employed one. The basic principle of CZE is separation of the analytes due to differences in total mobility, which is dependent on the charge and size of the analytes, and the electroosmotic flow (EOF). The EOF can be controlled by several parameters e.g. choice of background electrolyte (BGE), and the optimization of the parameters has been discussed throughout the thesis. To improve the properties of the BGE, an ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) water solution was used as BGE for CE analysis in Paper I. The precision of the EOF with this method was determined by adjusting the pH of the BGE, the concentration of EAN in the BGE, and the electric field. Model proteins were thereafter analysed using the optimal parameters yielding a precision sufficient for routine control. One example of the applications of CE is separation of novel contrast agents, which consist of polyvinyl alcohol microbubbles (PVA-MBs). In Paper II, a method for analysis of PVA-MBs in biological samples using CE with UV-detection was developed. It was also established that intact PVA-MBs could be distinguished from ultrasound degraded PVA-MBs in the same set-up. / <p>QC 20171012</p>

Den presenterade studien hade som syfte att utveckla en extraktions-, provpreparerings- och analysmetod för jorden, i vilken gräset Cyperus rotundus växer, i ett försök att identifiera möjliga äggläggningsattraherande ämnen för myggan Anopheles gambiae. Högupplösande vätskekromatografi med hydrofob stationär fas (RP-HPLC, en.) med Masspektrometri med Elektrosprejjonisering (ESI-MS, en.) användes för separation och detektion av de extraherade proverna. Ett flertal extraktionssatser gjordes, där parametrar och tekniker ändrades under utvecklingen av arbetet. Ultraljudsassisterad extraktion (UAE) av jord i en 50:50 (v/v) blandning av metanol och vatten visades vara mest effektiv av de undersökta metoderna. Upprening av jordextraktioner med fastfasextraktion (SPE, en.) visades ha en positiv inverkan på signalintensiteten i kromatogrammen såväl som att reducera intensiteten av de systemtoppar som eluerar vid dödtiden. Detta indikerar att de poläraste ämnena har renats bort. En jämförelse gjordes mellan en extraktion av jord som legat i blöt i fem dagar och jord som extraherats utan att blötläggas. En skillnad kunde ses och visades genom att jämföra kromatogram och masspektra från de två proverna. Tandem-MS-experiment gjordes för ett flertal prekursorjoner med avsikt att identifiera ämnena genom jämförelse med databaserna Human Metabolome Database (HMDB), Metlin och Massbank, men inga överrensstämmande jämförelser kunde göras. Tandem-MS-resultaten användes även för att jämföra efter varandra följande kromatografiska toppar med liknande MS1-spektrum. En identifieringsmetod bör utvecklas innan metoden som presenterats i detta arbete valideras och vidareutvecklas. / The present study aimed to develop an extraction, sample preparation and analysis method for the rhizosphere soil of the grass Cyperus rotundus in an attempt to identify possible oviposition attractants of the Anopheles gambiae mosquito. Reversed Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) coupled online with Electrospray Ionization Mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used for the separation and detection of the extracted samples. Multiple extraction batches were done, altering parameters and techniques along the way. Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) of the soil with a 50:50 (v/v) mixture of methanol and water was determined to be the most effective of the attempted methods. Purifying soil extracts with Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) showed to have an impact on the signal intensities in the chromatogram as well as reducing the intensity of system peaks eluting at the dead-time. This indicates that more polar compounds were removed during the SPE purification. A comparison was done between an extraction of soil soaked in water for five days and soil extracted without prior wetting. A difference could be seen and was shown by comparing chromatograms and mass spectra from the two samples. Tandem MS experiments were done for multiple precursor ions in order to identify the compounds by comparison in databases Human Metabolome Database (HMDB), Metlin and Massbank, but no matches in the databases were found. The tandem MS results were also used for comparison of consecutive chromatographic peaks with similar MS1-spectra. An identification method should be developed before the method presented in this work is validated and optimized further.

The concept of glycemic index (GI) describes postprandial blood glucose concentration. Diets with a low GI can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, type II diabetes and certain cancers. Bread is the main source of carbohydrates in the Swedish traditional diet, and is classified as a food with a medium to high GI. Previous studies on the subject resulted in lower GI value when adding bean extract and sourdough. The aim of the study was to develop a low GI wheat sourdough bread containing white bean flour, and to investigate the effects of different preparations, soaked, soaked and boiled, soaked and microwaved, of white bean and bread making on the content of resistant starch (RS). Three bread prototypes, containing different amounts of beans that had been soaked for 14 hours and microwaved for 6 minutes, plus a control bread were prepared in a food laboratory. RS was quantified in ingredients, dough and bread, and the in vitro GI ​​was determined for all breads. The GI for all bread prototypes was &gt; 70, and was categorized as high GI, but the in vitro glycemic load (GL) was categorized as medium (11-16). The quantification of RS content was affected by the activity of the a-amylase inhibitor found in raw white beans. Without heat preparation, the a-amylase inhibitor is active, which results in a falsely high result for RS. The process of producing a bread with a low GI using white bean flour did not succeed in this study, even though a high RS content should result in low GI. The development of low GI sourdough bread with white bean flour requires extended studies. / Begreppet glykemiskt index (GI) beskriver postprandial blodsockerkoncentration. Dieter med lågt GI kan minska risken för kranskärlssjukdom, diabetes typ II och vissa cancerformer. Bröd är den främsta källan till kolhydrater i den svenska traditionella kosten, och klassas som ett livsmedel med medelhögt till högt GI. Tidigare studier inom ämnet har visat att vid tillsats av bönextrakt och surdeg till bröd, erhålls ett lägre GI-värde. Syftet med studien var att utveckla ett vetesurdegsbröd med lågt GI innehållande mjöl från vita bönor, samt att undersöka hur innehållet av resistent stärkelse (RS) påverkas av olika beredningar av vita bönor, blötläggning, blötläggning och kokning, blötläggning och mikrovågsvärmning, samt brödtillverkning. Tre brödprototyper, innehållande olika mängd av mjöl från vita bönor som har blötlagts i 14 timmar och mikrovågsvärmda i 6 minuter, plus ett kontrollbröd framställdes i ett livsmedelslaboratorium. RS kvantifierades i ingredienser, deg och bröd, och in vitro GI bestämdes för alla bröd. GI för alla brödprototyper var &gt; 70, och kategoriserades som högt GI, men den in vitro glykemiska belastningen (GL) kategoriserades som medium (11-16). Kvantifieringen av RS-innehållet påverkades av aktiviteten hos a-amylasinhibitorn som finns i råa vita bönor. Utan värmeberedning är a-amylashämmaren aktiv, vilket ger ett felaktigt högt resultat för RS. Processen att framställa ett bröd med lågt GI med mjöl från vita bönor lyckades inte i denna studie, även om en hög RS-halt borde resultera i lågt GI. Det krävs fler utökade studier för att framställa ett surdegsbröd med lågt GI, innehållande mjöl från vita bönor.

As permanent tattoos are becoming more popular and common, an increased number of allergic reactions to tattoos is reported. The purpose of this project was to analyze tattoo inks for hazardous substances, and whether they comply to current Swedish and European legislative requirements. The tattoo inks were qualitatively analyzed for pigments, and quantitatively analyzed for metals. A total of 73 tattoo inks were collected from various sources such as a tattoo ink supplier, online retailers, and provided directly from tattoo artists. The labels of each tattoo ink bottle were inspected to investigate their compliance with the Council of Europe and the Swedish Medical Products Agency. Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF-MS) was used to qualitatively analyze 20 selected tattoo inks for different pigments. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to quantitatively analyze trace metals in 70 of the samples. A large majority (90%) of the tested samples violated the requirements and criteria in the European resolution ResAP 2008(1), such as information on name and address of the manufacturer, minimum date of durability, sterility, batch number, and storage. Patch and allergy testing were incorrectly recommended for many samples in a way that is not accepted by dermatologists. In a worst-case scenario, this testing could be a sensitizing step. Also, it can not prevent future allergic reactions from occurring or provide any juridical insurance. Only one brand, World Famous, fulfilled the requirements for labeling for six of the seven samples (one sample failed due to a faulty declared pigment). The brands Tang Dragon and Dynamic did not fulfill any of the requirements listed in ResAP 2008(1). The list of ingredients was incorrect for all samples from Tang Dragon (bought prior to 2019 online). Also, six of the other 50 samples from different brands (World Famous, Intenze, Fusion Tattoo Ink, Eternal Ink, Solid Ink) declared at least one pigment incorrectly in their ingredients list. 25% of the declared and theoretically detectable pigments were detected by means of MALDI-ToF-MS, whereas the other pigments were either absent or below the limit of detection. Future analyses should include an MS/MS analysis. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was identified qualatively in 15 of the 20 samples analyzed with MALDI-ToF-MS but was not listed in any of the ingredients lists. ICP-QQQ-MS is a very sensitive technique and could both detect and verify the presence of all metal-containing pigments, as well as the level of impurities. Copper was clearly more present in green and blue colors, regardless of the brand. The metal content was evidently dependent on the brand for arsenic, aluminum, bismuth, chromium, nickel, zinc, and strontium. Elevated levels of barium and strontium (partially very high levels: up to 727 mg/kg barium and up to 8.06 g/kg strontium) were found in several samples. High amounts of aluminum (4 to 11,0 g/kg) and titanium (as judged from white precipitates and ingredients lists) were present in most samples. Nickel (0.1 to 41 mg/kg) and chromium (0.1 to 139 mg/kg) were also present in the samples. Some other impurities were also present (arsenic – 3.8 mg/kg, mercury – 1.6 mg/kg, and lead – 5.4 mg/kg for one sample, respectively). Known sensitizing pigments were declared and partially confirmed by MALDI-ToF-MS in 17 of 53 samples of the brands Radiant Colour, Eternal Ink, Fusion Tattoo Ink, and Kuro Sumi. Four samples (from Intenze, Eternal Ink, and Kuro Sumi) also declared pigments listed as non-suitable substance according to the European Commission regulation on cosmetic products from 2009.

Octapharma tillverkar Octagam, en lösning innehållande humant immunglobulin för intravenös administrering, vars huvudkomponent är immunglobulin G (IgG). Aggregerade IgG förknippas med aktivering av komplementsystemet i frånvaro av antigen. Denna ospecifika aktivering av komplement har tidigare rapporterats orsaka biverkningar hos patienter. För att undvika detta använder Octapharmas laboratorium för kvalitetskontroll en metod som kallas test av antikomplementär aktivitet, för kontroll av batcher av Octagam innan de släpps ut på marknaden. Denna metod har flera problem, t.ex. låg tillgänglighet av viktiga reagens. Syftet med detta projekt var därför att undersöka om en alternativ metod, CIC-C1q ELISA, kunde mäta aktiveringen av komplementsystemet på immunglobuliner genom att testa olika batcher av IgG och värmebehandlade IgG-prover för att bedöma om det fanns en korrelation mellan resultaten från de två metoderna. Resultaten visade att det inte fanns någon korrelation mellan ACA-testet och CIC-C1q ELISA. Varken normala IgG-batcher eller värmebehandlade prover uppvisade någon tydlig korrelation. Den enda fördelen som C1q kan ha är att den gav ett högt resultat för en batch som tidigare har rapporterats orsaka biverkningar hos patienter, medan svaret i ACA-testet var relativt normalt. CIC-C1q ELISA metoden har dock visat sig ha sina egna problem eftersom standardprover ger inkonsekventa värden och mer tester behöver utföras för att hitta spädnings-linjäritet. / Octapharma manufactures Octagam, a liquid preparation of highly purified human immunoglobulin for intravenous administration, the main component of which is immunoglobulin G (IgG). Aggregated IgG is associated with activation of the complement system in the absence of antigen. This non-specific activation of complement has been reported to cause adverse reactions in patients. To avoid this, Octapharma's quality control laboratory uses a method called the determination of anti-complementary activity (ACA) in Immunoglobulin, for control of all batches of Octagam before release. This method has several problems, such as low availability of critical reagents. Therefore, the aim of this project was to investigate whether an alternative method, CIC-C1q ELISA, could measure the activation of the complement system on immunoglobulins by testing different batches of IgG and heat-treated IgG samples to assess whether there is a correlation between the results of the two methods. The results showed that there was no correlation between the ACA test and the CIC-C1q ELISA. Neither normal IgG batches nor heat-treated samples showed a clear correlation. The only advantage the C1q may have is that it gives a high response for a batch that has been reported to cause adverse reactions in patients, while the response in the ACA test was relatively normal. If this can be demonstrated by testing similar batches, it may be beneficial to continue testing the C1q ELISA. However, this method has also been shown to have its own problems, such as the standard sample giving inconsistent values, and more work is needed to find the linearity of the dilution.

Carbon fiber (CF) is predominantly produced from fossil-based sources and is therefore an area of interest for further development towards a more sustainable society. The purpose of this thesis work was to investigate the possibility of producing precursor fibers (PFs) for CF production from a blend of renewable cellulose andlignin. Cellulose, which is used to some extent for CF production, was chosen, while the possibility of adding lignin was investigated in hope of increasing the gravimetric yield of the CF production. Blends of softwood kraft cellulose pulp (SKP) and softwood kraft lignin (SKL) were dissolved in an alkaline (NaOH) solvent system at different cellulose/lignin ratios. A total of eight dopes were prepared (SKP/SKL ratios of 100/0–60/40 wt./wt.) with total dope concentrations ranging from 4.5 wt.% to 9.2 wt.%. The addition of SKL resulted in dark colored dopes with viscosities of which mainly appeared to depend on the SKP concentration. The dopes were wet spun, resulting in continuously spun PFs. The PFs showed on an increasing pyrolysis yield with increased SKL content but decreasing mechanical properties. However, process optimization was not included in the work, subsequently leading to the assumption that greater values on mechanical properties can be achieved. A pure SKP PF and a SKP-SKL (70/30 wt./wt.) PF were successfully thermally converted into CFs by carbonization at 1000 °C. The PF containing SKL had a total gravimetric yield more than twice as high as the pure SKP PF, 28 wt.% and 12 wt.%, respectively. Thereby, the addition of SKL seems to have a positive impact on the CF yield when utilizing a NaOH(aq) solvent system. This thesis work has become a base for the future work towards the development of CFs from wet spun cellulose-lignin PFs in the NaOH(aq) solvent system.