Simple, Fast, and Sensitive detection of artemisinin in human serum and Artemisia annua using microsensor array coupled with electrochemiluminescent imaging technique

Recent Advances in Electrochemiluminescence Visual Biosensing and Bioimaging

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is one of the most powerful techniques that meet the needs of analysis and detection in a variety of scenarios, because of its highly analytical sensitivity and excellent spatiotemporal controllability. ECL combined with microscopy (ECLM) offers a promising approach for quantifying and mapping a wide range of analytes. To date, ECLM has been widely used to image biological entities and processes, such as cells, subcellular structures, proteins and membrane transport properties. In this review, we first introduced the mechanisms of several classic ECL systems, then highlighted the progress of visual biosensing and bioimaging by ECLM in the last decade. Finally, the characteristics of ECLM were summarized, as well as some of the current challenges. The future research interests and potential directions for the application of ECLM were also outlooked.

Hydrogels for Chemical Sensing and Biosensing

The development and synthesis of hydrogels for chemical and biosensing are of great value. Hydrogels can be tailored to its own physical structure, chemical properties, biocompatibility, and sensitivity to external stimuli when being used in a specific environment. Herein, hydrogels and their applications in chemical and biosensing are mainly covered. In particular, it is focused on the manner in which hydrogels serve as sensing materials to a specific analyte. Different types of responsive hydrogels are hence introduced and summarized. Researchers can modify different chemical groups on the skeleton of the hydrogels, which make them as good chemical and biosensing materials. Hydrogels have great application potential for chemical and biosensing in the biomedical field and some emerging fields, such as wearable devices.

A review on the latest advances in extraction and analysis of artemisinin

INTRODUCTION

Artemisinin (1), a well-known natural antimalarial drug, is a sesquiterpene lactone that contains a unique peroxide bridge. Since its discovery, the amount of research into the analysis of artemisinin has increased considerably, and it has been further intensified since the Noble Prize win by Tu Youyou in the year 2015 for the discovery of artemisinin.

OBJECTIVE

To review literature on the extraction and analysis of artemisinin, published during 2017-present, and to present an appraisal of those methods.

METHODOLOGY

Extensive literature search was carried out which involved, but not limited to, the use of, various databases, like Web of Knowledge, PubMed and Google Scholar, and relevant published materials including published books. The keywords used, in various combinations, with artemisinin being present in all combinations, in the search were artemisinin, Artemisia annua, analysis, extraction, quantitative, qualitative and quality control.

RESULTS

During the period covered in this review, several methods of analysis of artemisinin have been reported, the most of which were liquid chromatography (LC)-based methods. However, the use of new methods like near-infrared analysis, fluorometirc analysis and molecular imprinting, and a significant increase in the use of computational tools have been observed. Mainly several methods involving supercritical fluid extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction of artemisinin have dominated the extraction area.

CONCLUSIONS

Newer analytical tools, as well as improved protocols for the known analytical tools, for qualitative and quantitative determination of artemisinin (1), have been made available by various researchers during the period covered by this review. Supercritical fluid extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction are still the methods of choice for extraction of artemisinin.

Analysis of Artemisia annua extracts and related products by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry coupled to sample treatment miniaturisation

Artemisinin, the main antimalarial compound of Artemisia annua L., is currently attracting increasing interest for its antiproliferative properties, but its content is highly variable, depending on several genetic, environmental and processing conditions. Aim of the present study is to analyse the artemisinin content in different plant extracts, to test their in vitro activity on cell proliferation and then to correlate these data to the active principle concentration. For this purpose, an innovative miniaturised sample pretreatment strategy based on microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) was developed and coupled to an original advanced method based on liquid chromatography with diode array detection and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-MS/MS). The method was fully validated, granting consistent data. Good linearity was found over a suitable concentration range, i.e. 5-1000ng/mL. Extraction yields (>85%), precision (RSD < 3.5%) and accuracy (recovery 88-93%) were all within acceptable levels of confidence. After validation, the method was successfully applied to the determination of artemisinin in A. annua extracts. Analyte content was widely variable (up to twenty-fold) according to the starting material and the extraction procedure, ranging between 5.9μg/g and 109μg/mL. The cytotoxic activity of all analysed extracts was also tested on human leukemic cells by viable cell count and cell cycle analysis. Artemisinin concentrations and biological activity were carefully evaluated and the observed antiproliferative effects varied according to artemisinin content in each extract type. This highlights the need to quantitatively analyse the main active constituent of plant extracts and the obtained data have shown to be promising for the choice of the related herbal product dosage.