Analytical applications of liquid-phase chemiluminescence

Rapid highly sensitive general protein quantification through on-chip chemiluminescence

Protein detection and quantification is a routinely performed procedure in research laboratories, predominantly executed either by spectroscopy-based measurements, such as NanoDrop, or by colorimetric assays. The detection limits of such assays, however, are limited to μ M concentrations. To establish an approach that achieves general protein detection at an enhanced sensitivity and without necessitating the requirement for signal amplification steps or a multicomponent detection system, here, we established a chemiluminescence-based protein detection assay. Our assay specifically targeted primary amines in proteins, which permitted characterization of any protein sample and, moreover, its latent nature eliminated the requirement for washing steps providing a simple route to implementation. Additionally, the use of a chemiluminescence-based readout ensured that the assay could be operated in an excitation source-free manner, which did not only permit an enhanced sensitivity due to a reduced background signal but also allowed for the use of a very simple optical setup comprising only an objective and a detection element. Using this assay, we demonstrated quantitative protein detection over a concentration range of five orders of magnitude and down to a high sensitivity of 10 pg mL - 1 , corresponding to pM concentrations. The capability of the platform presented here to achieve a high detection sensitivity without the requirement for a multistep operation or a multicomponent optical system sets the basis for a simple yet universal and sensitive protein detection strategy.

Stopped-flow chemiluminescence determination of the anticancer drug capecitabine: Application in pharmaceutical analysis and drug-delivery systems

Capecitabine is a chemotherapeutic agent used for the treatment of patients with metastatic cancers. This study aimed at determining the drug capecitabine in a simple chemiluminescence (CL) system of acidic potassium permanganate using the stopped-flow injection technique. Statistical methods were used to detect optimum conditions. The method showed two linear calibration ranges from 6.7 × 10^-6 to 6.7 × 10^-5 mol L^-1 and from 6.7 × 10^-5 to 2.7 × 10^-3 mol L^-1 with a detection limit of 1.5 × 10^-6 mol L^-1 . Chitosan-modified magnetic nanoparticles were studied in the drug-delivery experiments. According to the pH sensitivity of chitosan and low pH values in tumour cells, the chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles could provide a good targeting drug-delivery system to tumour sites. To evaluate the applicability of the method, the capecitabine-loaded magnetic chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized with two different cross-linkers; loading and releasing rates of the drug were investigated using the proposed CL method and an ultraviolet-visible light spectrophotometric method (absorption at 305 nm). The results showed a good correlation between the two methods, and it was found that the synthesized chitosan-modified magnetic nanoparticles could be used for pH-dependent release of capecitabine in cancer cells. Moreover, determination of capecitabine in tablets and synthetic samples was performed.

Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Based Chemiluminescence Method for Detection of Nitrofurans

In this study, a molecularly imprinted polymer capable of simultaneously recognising seven nitrofurans is synthesised. The polymer particles coated the wells of a conventional 96-well microplate as the recognition element. After sample loading, the analytes were absorbed and a highly sensitive imidazole-enhanced bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate–H2O2 system was added to excite light emission. After optimisation of several parameters, the chemiluminescence method was used to determine the seven nitrofurans in animal feeds. Results showed that the method achieved ultrahigh sensitivity for the seven drugs with limits of detection of 5–12pgmL−1, and one assay was finished within 10min. In addition, the polymer-coated plate could be reused five times. The recoveries from the standard fortified blank feed samples were in the range of 74.8–97.4%. From a comparison with a high performance liquid chromatography method, the molecularly imprinted polymer based chemiluminescence method could be used as a simple, rapid, sensitive, and recyclable tool to monitor the abuse of nitrofurans in animal feeds.

Energy transfer chemiluminescence for ratiometric pH imaging

Chemiluminescence imaging offers a low background and high sensitivity approach to imaging analytes in living cells and animals. Intensity-based measurements have been developed, but require careful consideration of kinetics, probe localization, and fluctuations in quantum yield, all of which complicate quantification. Here, we report a ratiometric strategy for quantitative chemiluminescence imaging of pH. The strategy relies on an energy transfer cascade of chemiluminescence emission from a spiroadamantane 1,2-dioxetane to a ratiometric pH indicator via fluorescent dyes in Enhancer solutions. Monitoring the pH-dependent changes in chemiluminescence emission at multiple wavelengths enables ratiometric imaging and quantification of pH independent from variations due to kinetics and probe concentration.

Chemi- and Bioluminescence of Cyclic Peroxides

Bioluminescence is a phenomenon that has fascinated mankind for centuries. Today the phenomenon and its sibling, chemiluminescence, have impacted society with a number of useful applications in fields like analytical chemistry and medicine, just to mention two. In this review, a molecular-orbital perspective is adopted to explain the chemistry behind chemiexcitation in both chemi- and bioluminescence. First, the uncatalyzed thermal dissociation of 1,2-dioxetane is presented and analyzed to explain, for example, the preference for triplet excited product states and increased yield with larger nonreactive substituents. The catalyzed fragmentation reaction and related details are then exemplified with substituted 1,2-dioxetanone species. In particular, the preference for singlet excited product states in that case is explained. The review also examines the diversity of specific solutions both in Nature and in artificial systems and the difficulties in identifying the emitting species and unraveling the color modulation process. The related subject of excited-state chemistry without light absorption is finally discussed. The content of this review should be an inspiration to human design of new molecular systems expressing unique light-emitting properties. An appendix describing the state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical methods used to study the phenomena serves as a complement.

Flow analysis with chemiluminescence detection: Recent advances and applications

This article highlights the most important developments in flow analysis with chemiluminescence (CL) detection, describing different flow systems that are compatible with CL detection, detector designs, commonly applied CL reactions and approaches to sample treatment. Recent applications of flow analysis with CL detection (focusing on outputs published since 2010) are also presented. Applications are classified by sample matrix, covering foods and beverages, environmental matrices, pharmaceuticals and biological fluids. Comprehensive tables are provided for each area, listing the specific sample matrix, CL reaction used, linear range, limit of detection and sample treatment for each analyte. Finally, recent and emerging trends in the field are also discussed.

Trace Analysis of Sinomenine Hydrochloride Using CdTe/CdS Quantum Dots-enhanced Chemiluminescence

A novel flow-injection chemiluminescence (FI-CL) method was described for the determination of sinomenine hydrochloride (SIN). The method was based on the inhibitory effect of SIN on the CL reaction of luminol and K3Fe(CN)6 in an alkaline solution, which was sensitized by CdTe/CdS quantum dots (QDs). Under the optimized conditions, the linear range for the determination of SIN was 1.0 × 10(-8) to 1.4 × 10(-6) mol/L. The detection limit was 7.5 × 10(-9) mol/L, and the relative standard deviation was 2.47% (n = 11). The current CL method was applied to determine SIN in pharmaceutical formulations and biological fluids with satisfactory results. The possible CL reaction mechanism was discussed briefly.

The chemiluminescence determination of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide using luminol-AgNO3-silver nanoparticles system

A highly sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) method for the determination of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (2-CEES) was presented. It was found that 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (2-CEES) could inhibit the CL of the luminol-AgNO3 system in the presence of silver nanoparticles in alkaline solution, which made it applicable for determination of 2-CEES. The presented method is simple, convenient, rapid and sensitive. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.0001-1ngmL(-1), with the correlation coefficient of 0.992; while the limit of detection (LOD), based on signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of 3, was 6×10(-6)ngmL(-1). Also, the relative standard deviation (RSD, n=5) for determination of 2-CEES (0.50ngmL(-1)) was 3.1%. The method was successfully applied for the determination of 2-CEES in environmental aqueous samples.

Chemiluminescence determination of folic acid by a flow injection analysis assembly

A flow injection (FI) method is reported for the determination of folic acid by chemiluminescence method. This method is based on the reaction of folic acid with Ru(bipy)(3)(2+) and Ce(IV) to produce chemiluminescence. The calibration curve was linear over the range of 2.5×10(-5)-3.1×10(-7) mol/L with a detection limit of 2.3×10(-8) mol/L (S/N=3). The relative standard deviation of 1.0×10(-6) mol/L folic acid was found 3.5% (n=11). The influences of potential interfering substances were studied. The recovery was higher than 95.3%. The method was accurate, sensitive, and effective for assay of folic acid. This CL method was successfully applied to the determination of folic acid in pharmaceutical preparations. The mechanism of CL reaction was also studied.

Chemiluminescent identification and quantification of artemisinin and relevant sesquiterpene lactone derivatives

A simple, sensitive, and rapid chemiluminescence method was developed for the detection and quantification of selected derivatives of artemisinin. It was found that the chemiluminescence (CL) signal resulting from the alkaline luminol reaction of the artemisinin derivatives in the presence of hematin was linear over a wide concentration range. We report results that suggest that a visual test or a test involving digital image capture may be used in addition to a field-ready instrumental approach to combat drug counterfeiting of malarial therapies.

A study of peroxyoxalate-chemiluminescence of 4,4'-bis{[4,6-bis (2-hydroxyethyl)amino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino}stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid-disodium salt as a novel blue fluorescer

The chemiluminescence arising from the reaction of bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate (TCPO) with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of brightener 4,4'-bis{[4,6-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino}stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid-disodium salt (Triazinyl) has been studied. The influence of concentration of TCPO, hydrogen peroxide, Triazinyl, base catalysts and temperature on the resulting chemiluminescence was investigated. The kinetic parameters for the peroxyoxalate-chemiluminescence (PO-CL) of Triazinyl were evaluated from computer fitting of the resulting intensity-time plots. The activation energies, E(a), were evaluated from temperature dependence of the corresponding rise and fall rate constants.

On-capillary Chemiluminescence Detection for Capillary Electrophoresis with a Single Capillary

On-capillary chemiluminescence detection for capillary electrophoresis with a single capillary was reported. A hole (about 30 microm diameter) was made on the capillary wall at about 50.5 cm from the inlet end. Hydrogen peroxide solution could enter the capillary from the hole, and mixed with luminol and copper(II) to produce chemiluminescence. The chemiluminescence was detected by a PMT under the hole. Several factors that influenced chemiluminescence intensity were investigated. The detection limits for luminol and N-(4-aminolbutyl)-N-ethylisoluminol (ABEI) were 1 x 10(-11) and 2 x 10(-10) mol L(-1), respectively. The method features simple construction and no dead volume.

Development of a novel luminol chemiluminescent method catalyzed by gold nanoparticles for determination of estrogens

It has been found that gold nanoparticles (nano-Au) enhance the chemiluminescence (CL) of the luminol-hydrogen peroxide system and that estrogens inhibit these CL signals in alkaline solution. CL spectra, UV-visible spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to investigate the mechanism of the CL enhancement. On the basis of the inhibition, a flow-injection CL method has been established for determination of three natural estrogens. Under the optimized conditions, the linear range for determination of the estrogens was 0.07 to 7.0 micromol L(-1) for estrone, 0.04 to 10 micromol L(-1) for estradiol, and 0.1 to 10 micromol L(-1) for estriol. The detection limits were 3.2 nmol L(-1) for estrone, 7.7 nmol L(-1) for estradiol, and 49 nmol L(-1) for estriol, with RSD of 2.9, 2.6, and 1.8%, respectively. This method has been used for analysis of estrogens in commercial tablets and in urine samples from pregnant women.

Flow injection analysis of ultratrace orthophosphate in seawater with solid-phase enrichment and luminol chemiluminescence detection

Solid-phase extraction technique had been applied to extract molybdophosphoric heteropoly acid (MoP) paired with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) from seawater matrix using C18 sorbent. Chemiluminescence emission could be generated via MoP reaction with alkaline luminol. Based on these, a novel on-line solid-phase extraction method coupled with flow injection (FI) analysis and luminol chemiluminescence detection had been established to determine ultratrace orthophosphate in seawater. The MoP-CTAB compound could be efficiently extracted on an in-line Sep-Pak C18 cartridge, and rapidly eluted by 0.3 mol l(-1) sulphuric acid-ethanol solution. Then the compound was reduced by luminol to produce chemiluminescence light, which could be detected using a luminescence analyzer. Experimental parameters were optimized using a univariate experimental design. Using artificial seawater with salinity of 35 as a matrix, the standard curve with a linear range between 0.005 and 0.194 micromol l(-1) had been obtained, and the recovery and the detection limit of the proposed method were found to be 92.5% and 0.002 micromol l(-1), respectively. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.), which was determined over eight hour, was 4.66% (n=7) for the artificial seawater at a concentration of 0.097 micromol l(-1) orthophosphate. Si of 200 micromol l(-1) would not interfere with the detection of 0.012 micromol l(-1) orthophosphate compound. Three typical seawater samples were analyzed using both the proposed method and the magnesium hydroxide-induced coprecipitation (MAGIC) method, and the results of the two methods showed no significant difference using the t test. Compared to the MAGIC method, the proposed method was more sensitive, time saving and easy for on-line analysis.

Flow-injection chemiluminescent determination of cefprozil using Tris (2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium (II)-permanganate system

A rapid and sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) method using flow-injection (FI) has been developed for the determination of a second generation cephalosporin, cefprozil. The method is based on the CL reaction of cefprozil with acidic potassium permanganate and tris (2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium (II), Ru (bipy)3(2+). The CL intensity is greatly enhanced when quinine sulfate is used as a sensitizer. After optimization of the different experimental parameters, a calibration graph was obtained over a concentration range of 0.1-3.0 microg ml(-1) with minimum detectability of 0.005 microgml(-1) (S/N=3). The correlation coefficient was 0.9998 (n=6) with a relative standard deviation (%R.S.D.) of 1.63% for 2.0 microgml(-1). The proposed method was successfully applied to commercial tablets. The average percentage recovery (n=6) was 99.9+/-1.40.

Chemiluminescence accompanied by the reaction of gold nanoparticles with potassium permanganate

It was found that potassium permanganate (KMnO(4)) could react with gold nanoparticles in a strong acid medium to generate particle size-dependent chemiluminescence (CL). For gold nanoparticles with the size of 2.6 or 6.0 nm, the reaction was fast and could produce the excited state Mn(II) with light emission around 640 nm. For gold nanoparticles larger than 6.0 nm, no light emission was observed due to a much slower reaction rate. The CL intensity was found to increase linearly with the concentration of 2.6 nm gold nanoparticles. The effects of the acid medium, concentration of KMnO(4) and presence of N(2) and O(2) were investigated. UV-Vis absorption spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) measured before and after the CL reaction were analyzed. A CL mechanism has been proposed suggesting that the potassium permanganate was reduced by gold nanoparticles in the strong acid medium to the excited state Mn(II), yielding light emission. The results bestow new light on the size-dependent chemical reactivities of the gold nanoparticles and on nanoparticle-induced chemiluminescence. The CL reaction was considered to be of potential use for bioanalysis applications.

Ultrasound-enhanced flow injection chemiluminescence for determination of hydrogen peroxide

A novel ultrasonic flow injection chemiluminescence (FI-CL) manifold for determining hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been designed and evaluated. Chemiluminescence obtained from the luminol-H2O2-cobalt(II) reaction was enhanced by applying 120 W of ultrasound for a period of 4 s to the reaction coil in the FI-CL system and this enhancement was verified by comparison with an identical manifold without ultrasound. The system was developed for determining ultra-trace levels of H2O2 and a calibration curve was obtained with a linear portion over the range of 10-200 nmol L(-1) H2O2 (correlation coefficient 0.9945). The detection limit (3sigma) and the quantification limit (LOQ) were found to be 1 x 10(-9) and 3.3 x 10(-9) mol L(-1) respectively and the relative standard deviation was 1.37% for 2 x 10(-7) mol L(-1) H2O2 (n = 10). The method was applied to the determination of trace amounts of H2O2 in purified water and natural water samples without any special pre-treatments.

Inhibition and enhancement by organic compounds of luminol–KIO4–H2O2 chemiluminescence

The effects of 36 organic compounds on luminol-KIO(4)-H(2)O(2) chemiluminescence (CL) were studied. It was found that most of the tested compounds could inhibit or enhance the CL intensity. The activities of such inhibitors or enhancers were related to the pH of the CL system and the number and position of functional groups such as -OH and -NH(2) on aromatic rings. The mechanism of the CL inhibition and enhancement was considered. Based on the CL inhibition or enhancement, the possibility of analytical applications was explored. The results demonstrated that numerous compounds were detectable at the ng/mL level using the CL system.

Flow injection chemiluminescence determination of isoniazid using the lucigenin–periodate system

A weak chemiluminescence (CL) signal was observed during the mixing of isoniazid with lucigenin in alkaline aqueous solution. The CL signal was enhanced more than 100 times in the presence of potassium periodate. This CL system was developed for the determination of isoniazid using a flow injection mode. The CL intensity is proportional to the concentration of isoniazid in the range 0.005-1.0 mg/L. The limit of detection is 0.0034 mg/L and the relative standard deviation is 2.0% for 0.2 mg/L isoniazid solution in 11 repeated measurements. The method was applied to the determination of isoniazid in pharmaceutical preparations and satisfactory results were obtained.

Light Emission of Gold Nanoparticles Induced by the Reaction of Bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) Oxalate and Hydrogen Peroxide

Light emission at approximately 415 nm was observed for gold particles with diameters of 2.6-6.0 nm dispersed in a solution containing bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate and hydrogen peroxide. It was found that the light intensity was independent of the protecting reagents of the gold nanoparticles with similar size, the light intensity with gold nanoparticles of 5.0 and 6.0 nm in diameter was stronger than that with gold nanoparticles of 2.6 and 2.8 nm in diameter, and the light intensity increased linearly with the concentration of the gold nanoparticles using 6.0-nm gold nanoparticles. The gold nanoparticles were identified as emitting species, and the quantum yield was determined to be (2.8 +/- 0.3) x 10(-5) using 6.0-nm gold nanoparticles. The light emission is suggested to involve a sequence of steps: the oxidation reaction of bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate with hydrogen peroxide yielding an energy-rich intermediate 1,2-dioxetanedione, the energy transfer from this intermediate to gold nanoparticles, and the radiative relaxation of the as-formed exited-state gold nanoparticles. The observed luminescence is expected to find applications in the field of bioanalysis owing to the excellent biocompatibility and relatively high stability of gold nanoparticles.

Chemiluminescence determination of fluoroquinolone antibiotics using a soluble manganese (IV)-sulphite system

The reaction of soluble manganese (IV) with sulphite in acidic condition was found to elicit weak chemiluminescence (CL). The CL signal was remarkably enhanced in the presence of three fluoroquinolones, viz. norfloxacin, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. Based on these observations, a new flow-injection CL method was developed for the determination of these fluoroquinolones. The method allows determination in the range 5.0 x 10(-8)-1.0 x 10(-6) mol/L for norfloxacin, 1.0 x 10(-7)-8.0 x 10(-6) mol/L for ofloxacin and 1.0 x 10(-7)-3.0 x 10(-5) mol/L for ciprofloxacin, with detection limits of 3 x 10(-8) mol/L, 5 x 10(-8) mol/L and 3 x 10(-8) mol/L, respectively. The method was applied to the determination of fluoroquinolones in pharmaceutical preparations.