Uncovering the fragmentation and separation characteristics of sophorolipid biosurfactants with LC-MS-ESI.

Unlabelled: The application of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (MS) is a challenging area of research for structural identification of sophorolipids, owing to the large number of possible variations in structure and limited knowledge on the separation and fragmentation characteristics of the variants. The aims of this work was to provide a comprehensive analysis of the expected characteristics and fragmentation patterns of a wide range of sophorolipid biosurfactant congeners, providing a methodology and process alongside freely available data to inform and enable future research of commercial or novel sophorolipids. Samples of acidic and lactonic sophorolipid standards were tested using reverse-phase ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and identified using electrospray ionization MS.

Determining the accuracy and suitability of common analytical techniques for sophorolipid biosurfactants.

To determine the performance of a sophorolipid biosurfactant production process, it is important to have accurate and specific analytical techniques in place. Among the most popular are the anthrone assay, gravimetric quantification (hexane:ethyl acetate extraction), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The choice of analytical tool varies depending on cost, availability, and ease of use; however, these techniques have never been compared directly against one another.

Novel ophthalmological features in hereditary endotheliopathy with retinopathy, nephropathy and stroke syndrome.

The ophthalmic features are reported of a member of an Australian pedigree with three affected individuals spanning two generations with a hereditary endotheliopathy syndrome resulting in retinopathy, leukoencephalopathy and nephropathy. The index case initially presented with asymptomatic retinopathy, cerebral microvascular disease, nephropathy and raised inflammatory markers. The clinical, neuro-radiological, biochemical and histopathological findings in this patient are consistent with a diagnosis of hereditary endotheliopathy, retinopathy, nephropathy and stroke (HERNS).