Novel stable fluorophore, 6-methoxy-4-quinolone, with strong fluorescence in wide pH range of aqueous media, and its application as a fluorescent labeling reagent

Development and Validation of an Ultrasensitive LC-MS/MS Method for the Quantification of Melatonin in Human Saliva

A growing body of literature describes the potential effects of circadian disruption on human health. Indeed, psychiatric diseases, metabolic syndrome, and cancers may be linked to disturbance of the circadian rhythm. Currently, the best practice to assess circadian rhythm is the measurement of melatonin levels. Our goal was thus to develop and validate a highly sensitive LC-MS/MS method to follow salivary melatonin levels throughout the day and night. Our method reached a lower limit of the measuring interval (LLMI) of 0.8 pg/mL. To our knowledge, it is the most sensitive method allowing quantitation of melatonin in saliva. Saliva, obtained from passive drooling or salivette, was extracted by an efficient and quick liquid-liquid extraction with no further cleanup needed. The method was validated according to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) guidelines and provided excellent results regarding accuracy, precision, linearity, selectivity, and specificity. Comparison between radioimmunoassay and our method was performed and showed differences at low levels, most likely due to cross-reactivity with other indols. To assess daytime melatonin levels in humans, salivary melatonin levels of ten volunteers were monitored throughout the day and showed lower daytime levels than reported in previous studies.

Melatonin-Measurement Methods and the Factors Modifying the Results. A Systematic Review of the Literature

Melatonin plays an important role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle and adaptation to environmental changes. Concentration measurements in bioliquids such as serum/plasma, saliva and urine are widely used to assess peripheral rhythm. The aim of the study was to compare methods and conditions of determinations carried out with the identification of factors potentially affecting the measurements obtained. We have identified a group of modifiable and unmodifiable factors that facilitate data interpretation. Knowledge of modifiers allows you to carefully plan the test protocol and then compare the results. There is no one universal sampling standard, because the choice of method and biofluid depends on the purpose of the study and the research group.

4-Quinolone-Carboxamide and Carbothioamide Compounds as Fluorescent Sensors. New Fluorimetric Methods for Cu2+ and Fe3+ Determination in Tap Water and Soil

Ion sensor properties of the carboxamide and carbothioamide compounds carrying 4-quinolone group were investigated by means of emission spectrometry in methanol-water (1:1). The compounds were selectively complexed with Cu²⁺, Pd²⁺, and Fe³⁺ among many metal ions. The complex stoichiometry and the stability constant were determined by fluorimetric measurements. The carboxamide compound having phenyl group (QPO) showed sensitivity for Fe³⁺ ion with a linear range between 0.1 and 0.7 mg/L. The new method was applied in the determination of iron in the spiked tap water samples and the sandy-soil reference material. A modified standard addition method was used to remove the matrix effect. Limit of detection was 0.03 mg/L for the Fe³⁺ determination method. The carboxamide compound with benzyl group (QBO) showed sensitivity for Cu²⁺ ion with linear range 0-0.4 mg/L. There was no matrix effect for copper determination in the spiked tap water samples. The detection limit of the method for Cu²⁺ ion was 0.05 mg/L. The quantification limits of the methods were low enough to determine iron and copper amount in drinking water samples according to EPA.

Novel Schiff bases based on the quinolinone skeleton: syntheses, X-ray structures and fluorescent properties

A series of a new type of Schiff bases 1-7, derived from 2-phenyl-3-amino-4(1H)-quinolinone and R-salicyladehyde derivatives wherein R = 3-hydroxy (1), 3,4-dihydroxy (2), 3-methoxy (3), 3-carboxy (4), 3-allyl (5), 5-chloro (6), and 5-nitro (7), was synthesized and structurally characterized. Each of the molecules 1, 3 and 7 consists of three planar moieties (i.e., a quinolinone and two phenyl rings), which are mutually oriented differently depending on the appropriate substituent R and the extent of non-covalent contacts stabilizing the crystal structures. The compounds were studied for their fluorescence properties, where compound 6 yielded the strongest intensity both in the solid phase and in 100 μM ethanol solution with a quantum yield of φ = 3.6% as compared to quinine sulfate used as a standard. The in vitro cytotoxicity of these compounds was tested against the human osteosarcoma (HOS) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) cell lines, revealing no activity up to the concentration of 50 µM.

6,7-Difluoro-1,4-dihydro-1-methyl-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid, a newly designed fluorescence enhancement-type derivatizing reagent for amino compounds

A novel fluorescence enhancement-type derivatizing reagent for amino compounds, 6,7-difluoro-1,4-dihydro-1-methyl-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid (FMQC), was developed. FMQC reacts with aliphatic primary amino compounds to afford strong fluorescent derivatives having high photo-and thermo-stabilities. The FMQC derivatives of amino compounds showed 12-159 times higher fluorescence quantum efficiencies than those of FMQC in aqueous and polar organic media. Additionally, the absorption and fluorescence emission wavelength of the derivatives are red-shifted from those of FMQC. These differences in the fluorescence properties between FMQC and the fluorescent derivative enabled the simple and highly sensitive determination of amino compounds without removing any excess unreacted FMQC by using a simple spectrofluorometer as well as HPLC.