Capillary Electrophoresis as a Complementary Analytical Tool for the Separation and Detection of Nanoplastic Particles.

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is presented as a technique for the separation of polystyrene nanoparticles (NPs, particle diameters ranging from 30 to 300 nm) through a bare fused silica capillary and ultraviolet detection. The proposed strategy was also assessed for other types of nanoplastics, finding that stronger alkaline conditions, with an ammonium hydroxide buffer (7.5%, pH = 11.

An ICP-MS-Based Analytical Strategy for Assessing Compliance with the Ban of E 171 as a Food Additive on the EU Market.

A method was developed for the determination of total titanium in food and food supplements by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after microwave-assisted acid digestion of samples. Five food supplements, including one certified reference material, and 15 food products were used for method development. Key factors affecting the analytical results, such as the composition of the acid mixture for sample digestion and the bias from spectral interferences on the different titanium isotopes, were investigated.

Contributions of Capillary Electrophoresis in Analytical Nanometrology: A Critical View.

An overview on the increasing role of capillary electrophoresis in characterization and direct analysis of nanomaterials is herein presented. The niche of electrophoretic approaches in nanometrology is so relevant that nonmetallic, metal, metal oxide nanoparticles, and quantum dots have been analyzed to be targeted via capillary electrophoresis with conventional detection systems or coupling arrangements aimed at increasing selectivity and sensitivity toward either pristine or conjugated nanoparticles. Moreover, parameters altering intrinsic properties of nanoparticles may be optimized to gather the desired results and identify nanomaterials according to their size, shape, or associations with binding agents.

A new nanometrological strategy for titanium dioxide nanoparticles screening and confirmation in personal care products by CE-spICP-MS.

A new nanometrological approach was developed for screening of titania nanoparticles by capillary electrophoresis after adsorption of a target analyte namely l-cysteine onto the nanoparticles in a sodium phosphate buffer, followed by titanium elemental analysis by means of inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and size distribution measurements by single-particle mode. This analytical strategy involved a first screening of nanotitania in actual samples by electrophoresis, sensitivity being enhanced by cysteine which acts as a nanoparticles stabiliser. Detection and quantitation limits were 0.

Magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotube poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) for propranolol extraction and separation by capillary electrophoresis.

Aim: The preparation of magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotube poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) for propranolol magnetic solid-phase extraction is described.

Materials & Methods: A study comparing propranolol adsorption and desorption was performed with only magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and different poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) with and without magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Enantiomeric separation of propranolol took place by cyclodextrin-modified capillary electrophoresis and the method was validated in spiked human urine samples.

Magnetic nanocellulose hybrid nanoparticles and ionic liquid for extraction of neonicotinoid insecticides from milk samples prior to determination by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A simple and rapid microextraction procedure is reported on the use of ionic liquid in combination with magnetic nanocellulose hybrid nanoparticles. The procedure is ultrasound-assisted and applicable to selective preconcentration of neonicotinoid insecticides from milk samples, prior to being analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The extraction procedure uses small volume of organic solvents (<1 mL), and there is no need for centrifugation.

Use of capillary electrophoresis for characterisation of vinyl-terminated Au nanoprisms and nanooctahedra.

It is described a simple, rapid and efficient methodology to characterise and separate gold nanoprisms and nanooctahedra by capillary electrophoresis. This technique is suitable to distinguish between morphologies and it can be used as a powerful separation tool after a customised synthesis of both structures. This synthesis was carried out by amending two parameters, temperature and pH, and a sharp decrease was found in nanotriangles when temperature was increased from 70 up to 95°C.

Analysis of silica nanoparticles by capillary electrophoresis coupled to an evaporative light scattering detector.

A simple and rapid methodology has been developed to identify and separate silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) of different sizes in aqueous solution by capillary zone electrophoresis coupled to an evaporative light scattering detector (CE-ELSD). SiO2NPs were separated using 3 mM ammonium acetate buffer, containing 1% methanol at pH 6.9.

Integument Mycobiota of Wild European Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) from Catalonia, Spain.

There are some reports about the risk of manipulating wild hedgehogs since they can be reservoirs of potential zoonotic agents like dermatophytes. The aim of this study was to describe the integument mycobiota, with special attention to dermatophytes of wild European hedgehogs. Samples from spines and fur were cultured separately in Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) with antibiotic and dermatophyte test medium (DTM) plates.

D-Fagomine lowers postprandial blood glucose and modulates bacterial adhesion.

D-Fagomine is an iminosugar originally isolated from seeds of buckwheat (Fagopyrum sculentum Moench), present in the human diet and now available as a pure crystalline product. We tested D-fagomine for activities connected to a reduction in the risk of developing insulin resistance, becoming overweight and suffering from an excess of potentially pathogenic bacteria. The activities were: intestinal sucrase inhibition in vitro (rat mucosa and everted intestine sleeves), modulation of postprandial blood glucose in rats, bacterial agglutination and bacterial adhesion to pig intestinal mucosa.

Antifungal activity of extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis and Thymus vulgaris against Aspergillus flavus and A. ochraceus.

The antifungal activity of ethanolic extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis and Thymus vulgaris were tested against strains of Aspergillus flavus and A. ochraceus, since these two species are common contaminants of cereals and grains and are able to produce and accumulate mycotoxins. The methodology used is based on measuring the inhibition halos produced by discs impregnated with the extracts and establishing their Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) as well as the Minimum Fungicide Concentration (MFC).

Mycobiota and concentration of ochratoxin A in concentrated poultry feed from Venezuela.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency distribution of mycobiota and the concentration of Ochratoxin A (OTA) in 50 samples from one company of commercial brand poultry feed produced in Venezuela. The concentration of OTA in the samples analyzed was determined using the competitive ELISA method. The most frequently isolated genera of moulds were Aspergillus (36%) and Penicillium (20%).

Ostertagia ostertagi antibodies in milk samples: relationships with herd management and milk production parameters in two Mediterranean production systems of Spain.

The present study analyzed Ostertagia ostertagi antibodies by indirect ELISA in milk samples in two cattle systems in Mediterranean Spain to indirectly monitor gastrointestinal nematode (GI) parasitism effects on production. Individual samples from 10 animals and the corresponding milk herd samples were collected from 133 herds in Girona (intensive management) and 123 herds in Minorca (extensive management). Both locations showed high and significant positive relationships between average optical density ratios (ODR) of individual animals and ODR in their milk tank.

Effect of plant extract supplementation on Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella carcass isolation in young Holstein bulls fed a high-concentrate diet.

Ninety Holstein bulls were used in a complete randomized design to study the effect of a blend of plant extract (PE) supplementation on jejunum, cecum, and rectum microbiota (Escherichia coli and lactic acid bacteria [LAB]) and hide and carcass contamination (identification of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella). Three treatments--control (CTR), monensin (MON), and PE--were tested.

Mediterranean theileriosis and other tick transmitted piroplasmoses in cattle in Minorca (Balearic Islands, Spain): the effect of tick control on prevalence levels analyzed by reverse line blot (RLB) macroarrays.

Mediterranean theileriosis, caused by Theileria annulata, is endemic in Minorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). The present study analyzes the prevalence of piroplasm infections in cattle in Minorca using reverse line blot (RLB) macroarrays, as well as the effect of herd tick control on those prevalence levels. One hundred and nineteen animals from 12 herds were sampled in representative areas of the island.

Low seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection associated with the limousin breed in cow-calf herds in Andorra, Europe.

Neospora caninum seroprevalence and risk factors affecting seroprevalence in beef cattle in Andorra were investigated. Antibodies to N. caninum were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay performed on a yearly basis in 1,758 animals older than 6 mo, belonging to 26 herds.

First report of Neospora caninum abortion in a beef cow-calf herd from Andorra, Europe.

Neospora caninum-associated abortion was diagnosed in a 7-mo gestational age beef cow fetus from Andorra. The fetus had a multifocal necrotizing encephalitis and nonpurulent multifocal myocarditis. The diagnosis was confirmed by demonstration of N.

Helminths isolated from the digestive tract of diurnal raptors in Catalonia, Spain.

The prevalence of parasitic helminths in the digestive tract of 119 diurnal raptors (Falconiformes), which had died in a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Catalonia, was studied. The birds belonged to 13 species, with 100 of them (84 per cent) being kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), buzzards (Buteo buteo), sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus) and goshawks (Accipiter gentilis). Ninety-five of the birds (79.