O aprimoramento das técnicas analíticas viabilizou a metabolômica, uma área da ciência que busca compreender, de forma comparativa, os metabólitos envolvidos nas vias bioquímicas. A metabolômica está inserida no contexto das \"ômicas\", que teve início na \"Era Genômica\", a qual permitiu a identificação de diversos genes. Em seguida, o interesse dos pesquisadores centrou no estudo dos metabólitos (metabolômica) mostrando ser uma ferramenta valiosa na pesquisa do transplante renal, que exige um tratamento medicamentoso por meio de imunossupressores. A combinação destes imunossupressores pode minimizar a rejeição do órgão transplantado, reforçando a necessidade de um estudo metabolômico, a fim de avaliar e comparar as mudanças ocorridas após o transplante em nível molecular, melhorando o conhecimento sobre a influência destes regimes e dando subsídios sobre prognósticos possíveis na área de transplante renal. Nesta tese foram avaliadas 2 terapias: Everolimo/ Prednisona/Tacrolimo (grupo 1) e Micofenolato mofetil/Prednisona/Tacrolimo (grupo 2) a partir de uma abordagem untargeted. No presente trabalho foram coletadas amostras de urina de pacientes ao longo de 6 meses. Foi necessário determinar a melhor condição para análise das amostras de urina dos pacientes. Desta forma, foram realizados estudos sobre alguns parâmetros que impactam no preparo de amostra abordando a influência da urease, tipos e proporção de solventes para precipitação de proteína, seleção do melhor agente derivatizante e tratamento de dados. A avaliação da medida de qualidade dos tratamentos com urease foi feita a partir do desvio padrão relativo (RSD) dos valores de intensidade de pico. A concentração de 10 mg mL-1 apresentou o melhor resultado. O estudo mostrou também que o teor de ureia na urina pode influenciar na identificação dos compostos. O número de compostos identificados foi menor quando a urina não foi tratada com urease, com aproximadamente 10 compostos a menos em relação à amostra tratada com a enzima, na mesma concentração de ureia adicionada. Dos solventes orgânicos testados para precipitação de proteínas nas amostras de urina, o isopropanol mostrou ser o solvente mais adequado na proporção 1:6 urina:solvente (v/v), utilizando-se 100 &#181;L de urina. Foram testados dois protocolos de derivatização para análises por GC-MS: metoximação e sililação utilizando BSTFA e cloroformiato de metila. A comparação mostrou que o procedimento por BSTFA, com 40 metabólitos identificados, foi superior ao cloroformiato de metila, com 13 compostos identificados. No tratamento de dados com o software XCMS, os seguintes parâmetros foram avaliados: largura a meia altura do pico (fwhm), largura da banda (bw) e threshold (sntresh). Para avaliar a melhor combinação destes parâmetros, foi feita uma variação univariada destes valores. A qualidade do resultado de cada combinação foi monitorada pelos valores gerados de número de missing values, quantidade de picos com RSD <15% e número de valores duplicados. Os valores ótimos foram obtidos para a combinação: fwhm=4, bw=2 e threshold=5. A abordagem do estudo dos dois grupos de pacientes baseou-se inicialmente na comparação entre o dia 7 da terapia com os demais períodos (dia 14, mês 1, mês 3 e mês 6) e posteriormente avaliou-se a evolução temporal. A partir do mês 3 os valores de correlação e predição dos modelos de PLS-DA são melhores e já é eficaz na diferenciação entre os dois grupos. Foram observadas perturbações no metabolismo de carboidratos em ambos os grupos, como açúcares, glicerol e N-acetil-D-manosamina. No grupo 1, foram observados metabólitos discriminantes da classe dos poliois e das vias do ciclo do ácido cítrico e degradação de xenobióticos, enquanto que, no grupo 2, foi observada alteração do hidroxibutirato, um corpo cetônico. Neste grupo, foi observado também um aumento do ácido hipúrico, ácido acetamido butírico, ácido benzoico, entre outros. Nesta tese foi possível demonstrar que a metabolômica é uma ferramenta importante para comparar metabólitos discriminantes entre dois regimes imunossupressores, sendo um estudo piloto que visa fornecer subsídios para avaliação da influência destas terapias no prognóstico de transplante renal. / The improvement of analytical techniques enabled the emergence of metabolomics, which aims to compare the metabolites involved in biochemical pathways, in certain biological conditions. Metabolomics is inserted in the \"omics\" context, which began in the \"Genomic Age\", and allowed the identification of several genes. After that, the researchers focused on the study of metabolites. Among several applications, metabolomics can be a valuable tool in renal transplant research, which requires a drug treatment through immunosuppressants. The combination of these immunosuppressants can minimize toxicity and rejection of the transplanted organ, reinforcing the need for a metabolomic study, in order to evaluate and compare changes after transplantation at the molecular level, improving knowledge about the influence of these regimens and giving subsidies on prognosis in the area of renal transplantation. In this thesis two immunosuppressive therapies were evaluated by an untargeted approach: Everolimus/Prednisone/Tacrolimus (group 1) and Mycophenolate mofetil/Prednisone/Tacrolimus (group 2). In this study, urine samples were collected from patients over 6 months. It was necessary to determine the best condition for analysis of patients\' urine samples. Thus, studies were carried out on some parameters that impact on sample preparation, evaluating the influence of urease, types and proportion of solvents for protein precipitation, selection of the best derivatizing agent, and data treatment. The evaluation of the quality measure of the urease treatments was made from the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the peak intensity values. The concentration of 10 mg mL-1 presented the best result. The study also showed that urine urea content may influence the identification of the compounds. The number of identified compounds was lower when urine was not treated with urease, with approximately 10 compounds less than the enzyme-treated sample, at the same concentration of urea added. In the evaluation of the organic solvents tested for protein precipitation in the urine samples, isopropanol was the most suitable solvent in the ratio 1: 6 urine:solvent (v/v), using 100 &#181;L of urine. Two derivatization protocols were tested for GC-MS analysis: metoximation and silylation with BSTFA and methyl chloroformate. The comparison between the two derivatization protocols showed that the BSTFA procedure, with 40 identified metabolites, was superior to methyl chloroformate with 13 compounds identified. In data processing with the XCMS software, the following parameters were evaluated: full width at half maximum of the peak (fwhm), bandwidth (bw) and threshold (sntresh). To evaluate the best combination of these parameters, a univariate variation of these values was made. The quality of the result of each combination was monitored by the number of missing values, number of peaks with RSD <15%, and number of duplicate values. The optimal values were obtained for the combination: fwhm=4, bw=2 and threshold =5. The study of the two groups of patients was initially based on the comparison between day 7 of the therapy with the other periods (day 14, month 1, month 3 and month 6) and later the temporal evolution was evaluated. From month 3 the values of correlation and prediction of the PLS-DA models are better and already effective in the differentiation between the two groups. Disorders in carbohydrate metabolism were observed in both groups with sugars and glycerol and N-acetyl-D-mannosamine as discriminant metabolites. In group 1, discriminant metabolites of the class of polyols and citric acid cycle pathways and degradation of xenobiotics were observed, and in group 2 alteration of hydroxybutyrate, a ketone body, was observed. In this group an increase of hippuric acid, acetamido butyric acid, benzoic acid, among others, was also observed. In this thesis it was possible to demonstrate that metabolomics is an important tool to compare discriminant metabolites between two immunosuppressive regimens, being a pilot study that aims to provide future subsidies to evaluate the influence of these therapies on the renal transplant prognosis

Técnicas modernas de preparo de amostra têm sido utilizadas na determinação de diferentes classes de compostos em diversos tipos de matrizes. Essas técnicas podem ser divididas em dois grandes grupos, as baseadas em solvente e as baseadas sorvente, foco do trabalho. Dentre os materiais sorventes mais estudados atualmente, os derivados de grafeno têm se destacado devido a suas propriedades físico-químicas favoráveis para realizar sorção com uma grande variedade de compostos de interesse. Por isso, no presente trabalho são apresentadas possibilidades de utilização de materiais baseados em grafeno nas seguintes técnicas de preparo de amostras: microextração por sorvente empacotado (MEPS), extração \"\"on-line\"\" e extração sortiva em barra de agitação (SBSE). Para a técnica MEPS, foi realizado a síntese de óxido de grafeno e grafeno suportados por ligação covalente em aminopripil sílica. Esses materiais foram empregados como sorventes para determinação de parabenos em amostras de água. O método desenvolvido apresentou limites de quantificação (LOQ) que variaram de <a name=\"_Hlk498351551\">0,2 a 0,3 &mu;g/L, coeficientes de variação (CV) &lt; 19,2% e exatidão de 82,3 a 119,2%. Os materiais utilizados na técnica MEPS também foram utilizados para empacotar colunas de extração \"on-line\" e realizar uma comparação entre as fases sintetizadas. O método de extração \"on-line\" apresentou LOQ de 0,5 &mu;g/L, exatidão de 88,2 à 107,2 e CV &lt; 16%. A comparação entre as colunas de extração empacotadas com o grafeno e seu óxido suportados na aminopropil sílica mostrou que o grafeno suportado na sílica apresenta maior retenção para os parabenos mais apolares. Com relação ao desenvolvimento de barras de SBSE revestidas com grafeno, o método desenvolvido empregando as barras de SBSE apresentou valores de LOQ que variaram de 2 à 8 &mu;g/L, exatidão de 81,9 à 126,3% e CV &lt; 30%. Além disso, avaliou-se o uso do grafeno e óxido de grafeno ligado a sílica com grupamentos amino variando algumas condições de síntese e testando esses materiais para analitos das classes das triazinas, sulfonamidas e anti-inflamatórios não esteroidais. Também são apresentados testes iniciais realizados para um novo modo de extração proposto, similar a técnica SBSE, avaliando a extração de parabenos e anti-inflamatórios não esteroidais. / Modern sample preparation techniques have been applied to the determination of different compounds class in several matrices. These techniques might be divided into two groups, solvent and sorbent based, the last being the goal of this work. Nowadays, among the most studied materials the graphene based ones has been highlighted due to its physical chemical properties favorable to sorption process of a variety of interested compounds. The present work shows possibilities to employ graphene based materials in the follow sample preparation techniques: microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS), \"on-line\" extraction, and stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE). For MEPS, the materials graphene oxide and graphene supported on aminopropyl silica through covalent bounds were synthesized. These materials were employed as sorbent to determine parabens in water samples. The developed method showed limits of quantification (LOQ) ranging from 0,2 a 0,3 &mu;g/L, coefficients of variation (CV) &lt; 19,2% and accuracy ranging from 82,3 à 119,2%. The synthetized materials used in MEPS were also used and compared to an \"on-line\" method employing an extraction column packed with them. The \"on-line\" method showed LOQ of 0,5 &mu;g/L, accuracy ranging from 88,2 to 107,2 and CV &lt; 16%. The comparison between packed column with graphene and graphene oxide supported on aminopropyl silica showed that graphene had a higher retention for parabens with high Log Kow. The method developed with SBSE bars coated with graphene showed LOQ ranging from 2 to 8 &mu;g/L, accuracy ranging from 81,9 to 126,3% and CV &lt; 30%. Moreover, the employment of graphene oxide and graphene synthetized by changing some synthesis conditions and testing these materials to extract triazines, sulfonamides, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was also evaluated. In addition, are presented the preliminary tests regarding to a new extraction mode, similar to SBSE. These tests were done for parabens and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Submitted by Rosivalda Pereira (mrs.pereira@ufma.br) on 2017-06-02T19:35:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 AnaLeonardo.pdf: 617676 bytes, checksum: b538fd3ffdb436a8e246ec2a0e138840 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-02T19:35:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AnaLeonardo.pdf: 617676 bytes, checksum: b538fd3ffdb436a8e246ec2a0e138840 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-22 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPQ) / Most analytical methods require a sample preparation to make it compatible with the technique and the equipment used. This paper proposes a comparison between alkaline solubilization using TMAH 25% and acid extraction with heating using HNO3 0.1 mol L -1 as preparation of biodiesel samples in order to determine sodium. The analytical technique used in this study was Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry - FAAS. The biodiesel samples used were synthesized from three commercially available oils: babassu oil, corn and soybeans. The interlaboratory biodiesel sample used to compare the proposed method with the official NBR 15556:2008, was provided by Laboratory of Analysis and Research in Analytical Chemistry of Petroleum and Biofuels - LAPQAP/UFMA. The final solution after solubilization with 25% TMAH in methanol was incompatible with FAAS technique. The high viscosity of the sample influenced directly in the aspiration causing significant variations in the readings and making it impossible to continue the analysis. Acid extraction HNO3 0.1mol.L -1 yielded better results, in addition, the physical conditions of the final solution were consistent with FAAS. The LOD and LOQ values were respectively 0.02 and 0.07 mg.Kg-1 for sodium. The obtained recoveries were between 102 and 110% at three different levels of fortification. In comparison with the dilution of biodiesel in xylene established by official standards, quantified concentrations showed values very close. The simplicity, accuracy, precision, less toxicity and low cost of the acidic extraction method suggest that this may be a good alternative for treating biodiesel sample to determine sodium. / A maioria dos métodos analíticos precisa de um preparo da amostra para torná-la compatível com a técnica e o equipamento utilizado. Este trabalho propõe uma comparação entre a solubilização alcalina usando TMAH 25% e a extração ácida com aquecimento usando HNO3 0,1 mol.L-1 como preparo das amostras de biodiesel visando a determinação de sódio. A técnica analítica utilizada no presente trabalho foi Espectrometria de Absorção Atômica com Chama FAAS. As amostras de biodiesel utilizadas foram sintetizadas a partir de três óleos vegetais disponíveis no comércio: babaçu, milho e soja. O Biodiesel interlaboratorial usado na comparação do método proposto com a norma oficial NBR 15556:2008, foi cedido pelo Laboratório de Análise e Pesquisa em Química Analítica de Petróleo e Biocombustíveis - LAPQAP/UFMA. A solução final após a solubilização com TMAH 25% em metanol foi incompatível com FAAS. A alta viscosidade da amostra influenciou diretamente na aspiração causando variações significativas nas leituras impossibilitando a continuidade das análises. A extração ácida com HNO3 0,1mol.L-1 proporcionou melhores resultados, além disso, as condições físicas da solução final foram consistentes com FAAS. Os valores de LD e LQ foram respectivamente: 0,02 e 0,07 mg.Kg-1 para sódio. A recuperação obtida foi entre 102 e 110 % em três níveis diferentes de fortificação. Na comparação com a diluição do biodiesel em xileno estabelecido pelas normas oficiais, as concentrações quantificadas apresentaram valores bem próximos. A simplicidade, exatidão, precisão, menor toxicidade e baixo custo do método de extração ácida, sugerem que esta pode ser uma boa alternativa de tratamento de amostra de biodiesel para determinação de sódio.

Submitted by Leticia Schettini (leticia@ufrrj.br) on 2016-10-04T13:00:01Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Thais Paes Ferreira.pdf: 1131707 bytes, checksum: c98267296d6293f703188fe1291622db (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-04T13:00:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Thais Paes Ferreira.pdf: 1131707 bytes, checksum: c98267296d6293f703188fe1291622db (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-05-11 / Fluazuron is a benzoylphenylurea acarine growth inhibitor that is marketed for the control of cattle tick. Although the growth regulators are widely studied class, the number of papers describing analytical methods for determining the fluazuron in plasma samples is reduced. The development of a simple and fast analytical method for quantifying fluazuron in bovine plasma by HPLC-UV enables the evaluation of drug plasma profile and can be applied on bioavailability analysis of formulations containing fluazuron. In recent years there has been a technological breakthrough for chromatographic instrumentation, providing rapid, robust and sensitive methods, but the pretreatment of the sample stage becomes the limiting factor in this process. New extraction methods have been developed, however are often complex, expensive methods and are not as sophisticated to handle complex matrices, such as plasma. The aim of this study was a comparative study of three extraction methods: LLE, SPE and matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD). Pooled plasma samples were used as biological material, partly as raw samples and partly spiked with concentrations of fluazuron. For each extraction method (with exception of DMFS) was conducted using various solvents (ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, diethyl ether, hexane and acetonitrile) in order to evaluate the best extractor solvent. After the extractions the samples were concentrated and analyzed by HPLC/UV. The chromatographic separation was achieved on Kromasil C18 column preceded by guard column of matching chemistry, with mobile phase of acetonitrile: water (80:20, v/v) at flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The comparative analysis of the extraction procedures was based on selectivity, precision and accuracy of the method. Results showed that LLE not presented accuracy (< 80 and >120%) and precision (CV > 15%) with any solvent tested. SPE method showed good accuracy (80-120%) and precision (CV < 15%) for ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and diethyl ether. MSPD method using ethyl acetate solvent showed good accuracy and precision. However, SPE also allows a lower solvent consumption and shorter analysis time. The validation of the analytical method showed linearity, selectivity, precision, accuracy and, absence matrix effects and residual, thus proving it as suitable for routine analysis; This method showed to be an important investigative tool in the analysis of fluazuron plasma concentration in cattle. Fluazuron topical administration in bovine reached the systemic circulation (Cmax=62,8 ng/mL), was absorbed (tmax=48 hs), while maintaining quantifiable blood plasma levels for up to 14 days after the treatment with a 2,5 mg/Kg dosage. / Fluazuron ? um inibidor do crescimento da classebenzoilfenilur?ia, sendo comercializado para o controle de carrapatos do gado. Embora a classe de reguladores de crescimento sejam amplamente estudada, o n?mero de artigos que descrevem os m?todos anal?ticos para a determina??o do fluazurom em amostras de plasma ? escasso. O desenvolvimento de um m?todo anal?tico simples e r?pido para quantificar fluazuron em plasma bovino por CLAEUV permite a avalia??o do perfil plasm?tico do f?rmaco e pode ser aplicado na an?lise de biodisponibilidade de formula??es contendo fluazurom. Nos ?ltimos anos, tem acontecido um avan?o tecnol?gico para a instrumenta??o cromatogr?fica, proporcionando m?todos r?pidos, eficazes e sens?veis, mas a etapa de pr?-tratamento da amostra torna-se o fator limitante neste processo. Novos m?todos de extra??o t?m sido desenvolvidos, no entanto, muitas das vezes s?om?todos complexos, caros e n?o t?o sofisticados para matrizes complexas como o plasma. O objetivo deste estudo foi um estudo comparativo de tr?s m?todos de extra??o: extra??o l?quido-l?quido (ELL), extra??o em fase s?lida (EFS) e dispers?o de matriz em fase s?lida (DMFS). Ums mistura de amostras de plasma foi utilizada como material biol?gico, uma parte como amostra bruta e outra parcialmente enriquecida com concentra??es de fluazuron. Para cada m?todo de extra??o (exceto DMFS) foram analisadosdiversos solventes (acetato de etila, diclorometano, ?ter diet?lico, hexano e acetonitrila), a fim de avaliar o melhor solvente extrator. Ap?s as extra??es, as amostras foram concentradas e analisadas por CLAE/UV. A separa??o cromatogr?f ica foi obtida na coluna Kromasil C18 precedida de pr?-coluna de fase qu?mica correspondente, com fase m?vel de acetonitrila: ?gua (80:20, v/v) a um fluxo de 1,0 mL /min. A an?lise comparativa dos procedimentos de extra??o foi baseada na seletividade, precis?o e exatid?o do m?todo. Os resultados mostraram que a precis?o ELL n?o apresentou exatid?o (<80 e> 120%) e precis?o (CV> 15%) com nenhum dos solventes analisados. O m?todo EFS mostrou boa exatid?o (80-120%) e precis?o (CV <15%) para o acetato de etila, diclorometano e ?ter diet?lico. O m?todo de DMFS utilizando o solvente acetato de etila mostrou boa exatid?o e precis?o. No entanto, a EFS tamb?m permite um menor consumo de solventes e um tempo curto de an?lise; A valida??o do m?todo anal?tico mostrou linearidade, seletividade, precis?o, exatid?o e, aus?ncia de efeitos de matriz e residual, demonstrando-se adequado para an?lises de rotina; Este m?todo mostrou-se uma ferramenta de investiga??o importante na an?lise de concentra?? plasm?tica em bovinos. Fluazuron administrado por via t?pica em bovinos atingiu a circula??o sist?mica (Cmax = 62,8 ng /ml) e foi absorvido (Tm?x = 48 Hs), se mantendo quantificav?l em n?veis plasm?ticos por at? 14 dias ap?s o tratamento com uma dosagem de 2,5 mg / kg.

A crescente demanda por analises rápidas, simples e eco-fiendly tem feito da busca pela miniaturização e automatização dos procedimentos de preparo de amostra uma necessidade permanente na academia e na indústria. Atualmente, embora existam diversas técnicas miniaturizadas de preparo de amostra, estas ainda são utilizadas de forma manual na maioria das situações, pois o acesso às possibilidades de automatização em muitos laboratórios de química é ainda bastante limitado. Afortunadamente, as plataformas de robótica Open-Source estão se tornado uma alternativa interessante no desenvolvimento lab made de todo tipo de instrumentos e sistemas automatizados. Esta tese apresenta três exemplos de desenvolvimento no laboratóriode sistemas robotizados para a automatização de técnicas miniaturizadas de preparo de amostras. Num primeiro estudo, foi projetado, construído e programado um robô cartesiano capaz de operar simultaneamente seis microsseringas de extração. Este sistema foi posto à prova na automatização da microextração por sorvente empacotado (MEPS) e validado na extração de HPAs em amostras de esgoto sanitário, demostrando alta precisão, exatidão e frequência de análise. Um segundo robô cartesiano, equipado com uma única unidade de extração, foi projetado, construído e programado para conseguir pela primeira vez a integração on-line da microextração em fase liquida (LPME) com a análise mediante cromatografia líquida. Este sistema possibilitou o desenvolvimento de um método para determinação de triazinas, com tempo de total de análise de 10 minutos, incluindo o preparo da amostra e a separação/detecção dos analitos. Finalmente, por integração de técnicas em fluxo, ferramentas de robótica Open-Source e impressão 3D, a microextração líquido-líquido dispersiva baseada na solidificação da fase orgânica (DLLME-SFO) foi completamente automatizada pela primeira vez. O sistema assim desenvolvido foi validado no desenvolvimento de um método para a determinação de parabenos em produtos de cuidado pessoal, águas, urina e saliva, demostrando de esta forma, o grande potencial das tecnologias modernas no desenvolvimento de novos, versáteis e eficientes sistemas automatizados nos laboratórios de química. / The growing demand for rapid, simple and eco-friendly analyzes has made the search for miniaturization and automation of sample preparation procedures a permanent necessity. Although, nowadays there are a number of miniaturized sample preparation techniques, they are used manually in most situations. The access to automation tools is limited yet, in many chemistry laboratories. Fortunately, Open-Source robotics platforms have become an interesting alternative in the lab-made development lab made instruments and automated systems. This thesis presents three examples of laboratory development of robotic systems for the automation of miniaturized sample preparation techniques. In a first study, a cartesian robot capable of simultaneously operating six extraction microsystems was designed, constructed and programmed. This system was tested in the automation of microextraction by packaged sorbent (MEPS) and validated in the extraction of HPAs in sanitary sewage samples, demonstrating high accuracy and throughput analysis. A second cartesian robot, equipped with a single extraction unit, was designed, constructed and programmed to accomplish for the first time the online integration of the liquid phase microextraction (LPME) and the liquid chromatography analysis. This system allowed the development of a method for the determination of triazines, with an analysis time of 10 minutes, including sample preparation and separation / detection of the analytes. Finally, by integrating flow techniques, Open-Source robotics tools and 3D printing, dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on solidification of floating organic drop (DLLME-SFO) was completely automated for the first time. The developed system was validated in the development of a method for the determination of parabens in personal care products, water, urine and saliva, thus demonstrating the great potential of modern technologies in the development of new, versatile and efficient automated systems in chemistry laboratories.

No presente trabalho, um sistema em fluxo operando sob altas temperaturas e pressão foi avaliado, com o objetivo de solubilizar amostras de sucos, leite e sangue de bovinos para a determinação de constituintes inorgânicos. O sistema emprega uma bomba de alta pressão utilizada em cromatografia líquida para o transporte dos líquidos através de um tubo capilar metálico aquecido e de um capilar restritor de menor diâmetro interno, com a finalidade de se obter digeridos ácidos das amostras em estudo. A eficiência da digestão foi avaliada a partir da determinação do carbono residual, realizada por espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma de argônio indutivamente acoplado. Espectrometria de absorção atômica com chama e geração de hidretos voláteis foi usada para as determinações de selênio. Foram exploradas diferentes configurações relacionadas ao sistema, tais como emprego de um capilar restritor e da bobina digestora construída em aço inoxidável com diferentes comprimentos, pressões de trabalho e formas de introdução das amostras, além da proposta alternativa para a inserção de amostras que permitiu contornar a inconveniente precipitação das proteínas antes da entrada das amostras no sistema. Para isso, configuração que possibilitou mistura entre a amostra e os reagentes por confluência no interior do sistema sem prévia mistura foi avaliada. Os resultados indicaram a viabilidade do sistema, com a redução do carbono residual em mais de 60 %. Porém, problemas relacionados a perdas de elementos por volatilização necessitam ser contornados. / A flow injection system, operated under high temperature and high pressure conditions has been evaluated concerning the dissolution of fruit juices and samples of bovine milk and blood for the determination of inorganic constituents. In this system, a high pressure liquid chromatography pump was used for the transportation of liquid samples through a stainless steel heated capillary and finally through a restrictor capillary, which has a shorter inner diameter, so that the digestion of the samples could be attained. The residual carbon contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Hydride generation flame atomic absorption spectrometry was used for selenium determinations. Different configurations for the flow system were evaluated, such as variable lengths for the restrictor and digestion capillaries. Different working pressures as well as different ways for the sample introduction were tried out, being reached an alternative that avoided the precipitation of proteins before the introduction of the samples in the system. For this purpose, a configuration in which the contact between sample and reagents occurs inside the system, with no previous mixture, was evaluated. The results indicated the viability of the system which used the confluence configuration. Although digestion efficiency of 60 % was observed for milk samples, problems related to volatilization have to be circumvented.

To understand the cellular processes, knowledge of the localization and function of proteins are essential. There are several high throughput ventures examining the human proteome. However, there are some bottlenecks in these ventures. For example the production and expression of soluble proteins for analysis. Another obstacle for affinity proteomics is the generation of high quality antibodies, invaluable tools in biotechnological applications. The objective in this thesis was to facilitate protein purification and sample preparation before analysis and downstream applications. We also aimed to attain more information on what constitutes an ideal immunogen, and on how different immune systems respond to a common amino acid sequence.   In one of the projects an automated purification set-up was developed to ensure high recovery of up to milligram amounts of protein with high purity. The system allowed up to 60 recombinant proteins to be purified under both native and denaturing conditions. In another project, the same developed set-up was additionally shown to work with an alternative chromatography resin with small adjustments. Instead of immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography, used in the first project, ion exchange chromatography was applied under denaturing conditions, with good results. To further automate the production line in high throughput projects, an automated sample preparation was set up for mass spectrometry and e.g. gel electrophoresis analysis. We showed that a crude cell lysate could be used as input in the magnetic bead based system, and totally absent from manual handling, the output was purified and buffer exchanged samples ready for mass spectrometry analysis, as well as a fraction of sample that could be used for complementary analyses, for example gel electrophoresis to determine the protein concentration and purity.   The other objective was – as noted – to gain better comprehension of antibody generation to foreign proteins, and to shed more light over how to design a good antigen. First was a solubility assay developed that determined the remaining fraction of soluble protein after reduction of the concentration of denaturing agent. The assay was performed in a 96 deep well plate, and only instrumentation available in a standard laboratory was necessary. The fact that the assay could be automated on a pipetting robot, increased the throughput and reduced the necessary manual handling. Obtained information on antigen solubility was correlated to the cognate antibody titers. At average the antibody yield was higher when a soluble antigen was used for immunization. Also, the probability of failing in eliciting an immune response was increased if an insoluble antigen was used. However, the antibody titers in each solubility class were highly diverse, and thus also some insoluble antigens were found that provoked the immune system. To further examine the differences between different B cell repertoires, a massive epitope mapping was performed with more than 400 different antisera reacting to the same amino acid sequence. Antigenic hot spot regions were discovered, as well as regions depleted in antibody recognition. However, in one third of the antisera the most abundant antigenic region did not elicit any binding of antibodies. This further validates the conclusion that good antigen design is essential, however is it not certain the outcome of immunizations can ever be determined a priori due to the variability between hosts. An alternative to immunization is selection of affinity reagents by phage display. In the last project an initial parallelized set-up selected antibody fragments that showed high specificity and were compatible with several biotechnological applications, making the set-up a promising alternative to conventional immunization in proteome-wide endeavors. / QC 20101102

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) detection of heavy metals is a cost- and time-effective method for investigation of polluted areas. Compared to laboratory analysis, XRF analysis is limited by high detection limits and uncertainties in some situations. Preparation of samples is known to affect the results of measurements. The purpose of this thesis is to bring a deeper understanding of how different factors affect the results of XRF-analysis. A large number of measurements have been made with the instruments Niton XLt 700 and Niton Xli 700. Results from measurements of lead, zinc and copper have been analysed. This study has shown that a greater moisture content will give a lower measured concentration for the same sample. If the moisture content is known, it is possible to make good approximations of concentrations in dry samples. No obvious differences were found between different metals. Proper homogenisation of samples was found to be one of the most critical issues. It should be noted that laboratories do not usually homogenise samples prior to analysis, so samples sent for laboratory verification should therefore be homogenised before sending. Sample preparation, including drying, sieving to finer grain-sizes and analysing in a special sample cup was found to increase the measured concentrations and decrease the variation between measurements. The concentrations differed with different sample matrices and with sample preparation. Because of the differences, measurements should always be correlated with laboratory analysis before any conclusions can be made. In situations when metals are well within detection range of the XRF instrument, the only preparation needed is in most cases homogenisation. If metal levels are just at the limit, or just below the detection limit, further preparations of samples should be made. When drying samples makes detection possible, more preparation is usually not worth the effort. If detection limits still are a problem after drying, the samples should be sieved and analysed in sample cups. In situations where concentrations still are below the detection limit when analysing in sample cups, or if the measurements are disturbed for other reasons, another method than XRF-analysis must be used. When XRF analysis is possible, the method is preferable compared to only laboratory analysis. This cost- and time effective method makes a larger number of measurements possible, and gives a more complete overview of a polluted area. / Analys med röntgenfluorescensdetektor (XRF) är en snabb och kostnadseffektiv fältmetod för detektion av tungmetaller i mark. Nackdelen är att mätningarna inte är tillförlitliga i alla sammanhang och att detektionsgränsen för många ämnen är förhållandevis hög. Det är sedan tidigare känt att olika former av provbearbetning påverkar mätresultaten. I detta examensarbete har undersökts hur olika faktorer påverkar mätresultaten vid analys av jordprover med XRF instrument. Faktorerna som undersökts är inverkan av vattenkvot, kornstorlek, provpåsar och olika provbearbetningsmetoder. Vid provbearbetningsförsöken skickades prover även in till externt laboratorium för jämförande analys. Metaller som undersökts är bly, zink och koppar. Vid undersökningen konstaterades att en ökad vattenkvot ger upphov till lägre mätvärden. Vid kännedom om vattenkvot kan halt per torrsubstans med god överensstämmelse uppskattas utifrån mätningar på fuktiga prov. Är precisionskraven stora och vattenkvoten varierande och okänd bör dock proverna torkas innan mätningar görs. Ingen avsevärd skillnad sågs mellan de olika metaller som undersöktes. Vid undersökningen om provbearbetningens betydelse visade det sig att homogeniseringen av proverna är mycket viktig, inte minst av prover som skickas till laboratorieanalys. Ökad provbearbetning med torkning och siktning till mindre kornstorlek tenderar att ge högre mätvärden med XRF instrument. Storleksmässigt är mätvärden vid obearbetade prov mest överensstämmande med laboratorieanalys. Mest skiljer sig analys på finsiktade prover i provkopp. Korrelationsmässigt finns i en del fall en tendens till bättre överensstämmelse med mer bearbetade prov. Den största vinsten med ökad bearbetning av prover konstaterades i detta arbete vara att mark med lägre metallkoncentrationer då kan analyseras. I de fall där halterna av metaller ligger väl inom XRF instrumentets detektionsområde visade det sig att det oftast är tillräckligt att endast homogenisera proverna innan analys görs. I de fall där koncentrationen av metaller är på gränsen till vad XRF instrumentet kan detektera rekommenderas att proverna torkas, eller om nödvändigt torkas, siktas och analyseras i provkopp. Där nivåerna av metaller ligger under detektionsgränsen för XRF instrument trots provbearbetning, eller där andra ämnen till exempel järn stör mätningarna, måste en annan analysmetod väljas.

The initial research of this thesis involves the evaluation of different strategies for developing diverse chemistries of highly stable coatings for the automated 96-blade (thin-film) solid phase microextraction (SPME) system. Thin-film geometry increases the volume of extractive phase, and consequently improves the sensitivity of the analysis. Sol-gel technology was used for the preparation of octadecyl (C18)-silica gel thin-film coating. The evaluation of the C18-silica gel SPME extractive phase resulted in stable physical and chemical characteristics and long-term reusability with a high degree of reproducibility. Biocompatible polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymer was used for the preparation of particle-based extractive phases in order to improve the biocompatible characteristics of SPME coatings for the extraction from biological samples. Three different immobilization strategies were evaluated for developing highly stable coatings for the automated 96-blade SPME system. The spraying was found to be the optimal method in terms of stability and reusability for long-term use. The optimized C18-PAN coating demonstrated improved biocompatibility, stability, and reusability for the extraction of benzodiazepines from human plasma in comparison with those of C18-silica gel coating. To improve the biocompatible properties of the C18-PAN SPME coating for long-term direct analysis from whole blood, different modification strategies were studied and evaluated. The modification of the coating with an extra layer of biocompatible polyacrylonitrile resulted in significant improvement in the blood compatibility in long-term use. ‘Extracted blood spot’ (EBS) sampling was introduced as a novel approach to overcome the limitations of dried blood spot sampling. EBS includes the application of a biocompatible SPME coating for spot sampling of blood or other biofluids. The compatibility of EBS sampling with different analytical methods was demonstrated. The utilization of EBS as a fast sampling and sample preparation method resulted in a significant reduction of matrix effects through efficient sample clean-up. Modified polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB)-PAN and phenylboronic acid (PBA)-PAN 96-blade SPME coatings were developed and evaluated for the extraction of analytes in a wide range of polarity. These coatings demonstrated efficient extraction recovery for both polar and non-polar groups of compounds, and presented chemical and mechanical stabilities and reproducible extraction efficiencies for more than 100 usages in biological sample.

Microfluidics promises to re-shape the current health-care system by transferring diagnostic tools from central laboratories to close vicinity of the patient (point-of-care). One of the most important operational steps in any diagnostic platform is sample preparation, which is the main subject in this thesis. The goal of sample preparation is to isolate targets of interest from their surroundings. The work in this thesis is based on three ways to isolate bacteria:  immune-based isolation, selective cell lysis, size-based separation. The first sample-preparation approach uses antibodies against lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which are surface molecules found on all gram-negative bacteria. There are two characteristics that make this surface molecule interesting. First, it is highly abundant: one bacterium has approximately a million LPS molecules on its cell-wall. Second, the molecule has a conserved region within all gram-negative bacteria, so using one affinity molecule to isolate disease-causing gram-negative bacteria is an attractive option, particularly from the point of view of sample preparation. The main challenge, however, is antigen accessibility. To address this, we have developed a treatment protocol that improves the capturing efficiency. The strategy behind selective cell lysis takes advantage of the differences between the blood-cell membrane and the bacterial cell-wall. These fundamental differences make it possible to lyse (destroy) blood-cells selectively while keeping the target of interest, here the bacteria, intact and, what is more important alive. Viability plays an important role in determining antibiotic susceptibility. Difference in size is another well-used characteristic for sample- separation. Inertial microfluidics can focus size-dependent particle at high flow-rates. Thus, particles of 10 µm diameter were positioned in precise streamlines within a curved channel.  The focused particles can then be collected at defined outlets.  This approach was then used to isolate white blood cells, which account for approximately 1% of the whole blood.  In such a device particles of 2µm diameter (size of bacteria) would not be focused and thereby present at every outlet. To separate bacteria from blood elasto-inertial microfluidics was used. Here, e blood components are diverted to center of the channels while smaller bacteria remain in the side streams and can subsequently be separated. / <p>QC 20141212</p>