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Nanoscience and nanotechnology have emerged in recent years as revolutionary trends in almost all fields of activity. Their impact has taken place in the analytical science, too. Firstly, because the use of nanomaterials as analytical tools is more and more frequent and secondly, because the analytical control of nanomaterials in a wide variety of samples is required. In both aspects, analytical metrology for nanomaterials is involved as the scientific discipline responsible for providing reliable information (based on experimental measurements) to end users. This review presents a general view of the present achievements and the future challenges of analytical metrology for nanomaterials. Selected references and a critical discussion are reported for illustrating this important role of the metrology applied to nano-world.

Migration of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from food containers (FCs) has been assessed for the first time using a screening method previously validated. Migration was evaluated using water and 3% acetic acid as food simulants (FSs), from 20 to 70 °C at contact times of 2 h and 10 days. Total and migrated Ag were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in the FCs and FSs, respectively. Then, the screening method was validated, and probability of detection (POD) curves were constructed in both FSs to characterize the response to AgNPs. The results provided by the present screening method showed no release of AgNPs. The FSs in contact with FCs were spiked at levels above, inside and below the unreliability region, with a reliability rate (RLR) of 0.90. Asymmetric flow field flow fractionation coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (AF4-ICP-MS) was used for confirmative analyses.

Magnetic cellulose nanoparticles (MCNPs) coated with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluoro phosphate [C4MIM][PF6] ionic liquid (IL) through electrostatic interactions are proposed for the first time as sorbents in a magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) method for the determination of paracetamol (PAR), ibuprofen (IBU), naproxen (NAP) and diclofenac (DIC) in natural waters. The parameters that affect adsorption (dispersive solvent, amount of IL, pH and salt content) and desorption (desorption solvent, type of energy and time) were studied. The values that provided the maximum adsorption efficiency and extraction recovery were selected as optimum conditions for adsorption and desorption, respectively. Under the optimum conditions, the adsorption and desorption of all analytes was simultaneous and quantitative. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultra violet (UV) and fluorescence (FL) detector was used after the sample preparation. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation was between 1.4 and 7.6%. Limits of detection and quantification were in the range 3.2–7.2 μg L− 1 and 11–24 μg L− 1, respectively. Moreover, the proposed method provides enrichment factors from 29.0 to 34.2. Recovery studies on 10 mL of spiked tap, river and dam water samples at 50 and 100 μg L− 1 were carried out. The extraction recoveries were from 85 to 116%, and were in a comparable range regardless of the type of water. The method is simple, rapid, and environmentally friendly.

Dispersive solid phase extraction (DSPE) prior to capillary electrophoresis with ultraviolet and visible detection was used for the first time for the determination of dabrafenib (DB) and trametinib (TT), the main drugs used for the treatment of metastatic melanoma, in serum. Six different magnetic and non-magnetic nanomaterials were evaluated as DSPE sorbents for the extraction and preconcentration of the analytes. The best results were obtained with 4 mg of pristine multi-walled carbon nanotubes in phosphate buffer (pH 12.5; 10 mM). The electrophoretic separation was carried out in a fused silica capillary (30 cm × 75 µm i.d.) at 22 °C in a voltage ramp (8–12 kV) with a background electrolyte consisting of borate buffer (pH 9.2; 25 mM), 37 mM sodium dodecylsulfate, 22% (v/v) acetonitrile and 3% (v/v) methanol. The preconcentration factor achieved was 4, and the limits of detection were 0.012 and 0.008 mg L−1 for DB and TT in serum, respectively. Linearity was observed up to 5 mg/L and precision (n = 7) was below 3% in migration time and 7.8% in peak areas. The present method was applied to six patients under treatment with DB and TT for metastatic melanoma. It requires a less sophisticated instrumentation and lower volume of harmful organic solvents than the methods reported up to present.

A rapid and reliable method based on magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC-FLD) analysis was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of seven polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water samples. Hybrid composites made up of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were tested as adsorbent materials. The main factors influencing the extraction yields were optimized, namely the amount and type of adsorbent in the adsorption, and the solvent, the type of energy and the time in the desorption step. The selected composite was made up of Fe3O4 and multiwalled (MW)-CNTs. The desorption was carried out with sonication probe and tetrahydrofuran (THF); this solvent makes the method directly compatible with the chromatographic mobile phase and it reduces the analysis time. Under the optimized conditions, the LODs and LOQs achieved were in the range of 0.025–0.73 and 0.04–2.4 ng mL−1, respectively. The calibration curves were linear (R 2 ≥ 0.9936) over the concentration ranges from 1 to 500 ng mL−1. The recoveries of PAHs were from 76.4 ± 1.7 up to 106.5 ± 3.5%. The method was applied to synthetic and real (tap, dam, river and mineral) water samples with different characteristics to evaluate the performance under real conditions.

Magnetic cellulose nanoparticles (MCNPs) were used for the first time as sorbents for stir bar-sorptive dispersive microextraction (SBSDME). The main experimental parameters involved in the SBSDME process that affect extraction (i.e. amount of MCNPs, ionic strength, pH, extraction and back-extraction time) were investigated. The method was applied to the determination of nine polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fruit juice samples by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Under the optimized conditions, a good linearity was obtained in a concentration range of 10–1000 ng mL−1 with determination coefficients over 0.9945. Limits of detection and quantification for all target PCBs were in the range 2.1–54 ng L−1 and 7.0–180 ng L−1, respectively. Intra-day precision ranged from 1.7% to 8.8% and inter-day precision from 3.4% to 9.3% RSD. The enrichment factors of the analytes were from 74.6 to 98.2. The MCNPs can be reused up to 5 times. The method was applied to commercial orange and pineapple juices (n = 5), where concentrations were below the limits of detection. Recoveries from 70.4 to 108.0% were obtained by applying the method for the analysis of spiked fruit juice samples at 1 and 2 ng mL−1 concentration levels. The use of cellulose makes this approach environmentally friendly and the magnetism of the resulting sorbent in conjunction with SBSDME provides ease of handling and saving of time.

Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were modified with nanocellulose and are showed to be a useful sorbent for magnetic solid-phase extraction of mercury species. Speciation analysis was performed by using gas chromatography coupled to atomic fluorescence detection (GC-pyro-AFS). The magnetic properties of the sorbent make this approach simple and rapid, and the use of a renewable and biodegradable nanomaterial (nanocellulose) makes it environmentally friendly. The factors that affect adsorption (pH value, amount of nanomaterial, time, volume of sample) and desorption (solvent, time) have been optimized. Both desorption and derivatization of mercury species were performed in a single step. This reduces considerably the sample preparation time. Under the optimized conditions, the limits of detection are 4.0 pg mL−1 for monomethylmercury and 5.6 pg mL−1 for inorganic mercury. The repeatability and reproducibility are satisfactory. The method enables inorganic mercury and monomethylmercury to be simultaneously extracted, with preconcentration factors up to 300. The potential interferences of organic matter and/or co-existing ions were also investigated using synthetic waters. The procedure was applied to the analysis of tap water and river water samples with different characteristics from a mercury polluted area (Almaden, Spain). The extraction recoveries ranged from 81 to 98% regardless of the type of water, which demonstrates the applicability of the method. This is the first time that this kind of sorbent is used for trace metal speciation.

The full characterization of nanomaterials (NMs), which requires a range of different and expensive equipment, is not always necessary to meet certain demands of information. Qualitative analytical methods are ideal alternatives when only a piece of information is required. In this work, a qualitative method for the screening of NMs has been developed and statistically validated for the first time, with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a proof of concept. It is based on the generation of chemiluminescence of the luminol/Ag+ system in alkaline media in the presence of AgNPs. Measurements are obtained in a short time with a simple instrument. Probability of detection (POD) curves were constructed at three cut-off values next to the limit of detection of the chemiluminescent method. The unreliability region (UR) was from 0.50 to 1.82 μg L−1. Currently, no regulation on AgNPs exists, but the present method was successfully tested for a hypothetical threshold of 2.5 μg L−1 of 40 nm AgNPs. The method was applied to silver colored pearls, with silver (E-174) or aluminum (E-173) coating, used for decoration of pastry. Performance parameters such as false negative and positive rates as well as specificity, sensitivity and reliability rates were calculated for validation. The results of the screening method were confirmed by asymmetric flow field flow fractionation coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (AF4-ICP-MS). The proposed screening method is simple, fast, economic, and easy to transfer to routine laboratories in the field of food safety.

Objective We studied the effects of exercise training alone or combined with dietary supplementation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (Ω-3PUFA) and oleate on metabolic syndrome (MSyn) components and other markers of cardiometabolic health. Methods Thirty-six patients with MSyn underwent 24 weeks of high-intensity interval training. In a double-blind randomized design, half of the group ingested 500 mL/day of semi-skim milk (8 g of fat; placebo milk) whereas the other half ingested 500 mL/day of skim milk enriched with 275 mg of Ω-3PUFA and 7.5 g of oleate (Ω-3 + OLE). Results Ω-3 + OLE treatment elevated 30% plasma Ω-3PUFA but not significantly (P = 0.286). Improvements in VO2peak (12.8%), mean blood pressure (−7.1%), waist circumference (−1.8%), body fat mass (−2.9%), and trunk fat mass (−3.3%) were similar between groups. However, insulin sensitivity (measured by intravenous glucose tolerance test), serum concentration of C-reactive protein, and high-density lipoprotein improved only in the Ω-3 + OLE group by 31.5%, 32.1%, and 10.3%, respectively (all P < 0.05). Fasting serum triacylglycerol, glucose, and plasma fibrinogen concentrations did not improve in either group after 24 weeks of intervention. Conclusions Diet supplementation with Ω-3PUFA and oleate enhanced cardiometabolic benefits of intense aerobic exercise training in patients with MSyn.

Ionic liquid dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (IL-DLLME) was used for the first time for the extraction and preconcentration of cortisone and cortisol from human saliva samples. This approach allows the determination of both compounds by liquid chromatography (LC) with ultra-violet/visible (UV/Vis) detection at physiological levels. The IL 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [C4MIM][PF6] and methanol (MeOH) were used as extraction and dispersive solvents, respectively. The parameters that affect extraction (ionic strength, pH, amount of IL, volume of dispersive solvent, vortex and centrifugation time) were optimized. Limits of detection were 0.11 (cortisone) and 0.16 μg L−1 (cortisol) and enrichment factors of 5.0 (cortisol) and 6.3 (cortisone) were achieved. Recoveries from 83.3 ± 1.6 to 115.8 ± 3.0% were obtained for the extraction of the target analytes in spiked human saliva samples. Intraday and interday precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, was below 4.2 and 7.8% for cortisone and cortisol, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of cortisone and cortisol in saliva from healthy volunteers (n = 9) in the morning and in the evening. The method is simple, faster, and more environmentally friendly than the current ones.

Hybrid nanocomposites based on Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) coated with different types of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been studied for the first time as sorbent materials for magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) for mercury speciation analysis. Monomethylmercury (MMHg) was the target mercury species in water samples and the adsorption and desorption processes were optimized based on this species. Single-walled CNT-MNP showed higher adsorption capacity than double-walled or multi-walled CNTs. Then, the magnetic sorbent was retrieved with an external magnet and MMHg was selectively desorbed from it with dichloromethane (DCM) in two steps with vortex agitation. Inorganic mercury was removed during the desorption stage. The rapid adsorption and desorption equilibrium, the magnetic separation of the sorbent, and the simple and fast synthesis of CNT-MNPs without any additional modification of the CNTs simplified and shortened the extraction procedure. The extract was submitted to derivatization of the mercury species by ethylation (with an optional nitrogen stream evaporation of the organic phase) and injection into a gas chromatograph coupled to an atomic fluorescence detector (GC-pyro-AFS). The overall procedure provides the preconcentration of MMHg up to 150 times and the removal of inorganic mercury at the same time. The procedural limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 5.4 and 17.9 pg mL−1, respectively. Moreover, magnetic nanocomposites can be reused at least 7 times without losing their efficiency. The methodology was validated in tap, dam and river water samples to evaluate the performance under real conditions with recoveries from 79% to 97% of spiked MMHg.

A new, fast and simple methodology for the determination of total glutathione in earthworms, excellent bioindicators of oxidative stress, using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection is presented. Total glutathione could be a biomarker of oxidative stress caused by heavy metals such as mercury. The strategy for the analysis was to transform oxidized glutathione (GSSG) into reduced glutathione (GSH) and then to derivatize total GSH with o-pthalaldehyde to a fluorescent adduct. The analysis was carried out using an Eclipse XDB-C18 (50 mm × 4.6 mm × 1.8 μm) column at 25 °C, and using 100 mmol L−1 phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 and acetonitrile (phosphate buffer–acetonitrile, 85:15, v/v) as the mobile phase at 1.5 mL min−1. The volume injected was 5 μL and the excitation and emission wavelengths were 340 and 420 nm, respectively. Under the optimized conditions, the retention time of the derivatized analyte was as short as 0.536 min, which allows also a very short time between consecutive injections. The instrumental limits of detection and quantification were 1.8 and 5.3 μg L−1 (5.7 and 17.0 nmol L−1) and the calibration curve was linear up to 5 mg L−1 (16.3 μmol L−1). The methodology was also proved to be robust and precise. The methodology was validated using earthworms spiked with GSH, obtaining recoveries close to 100%.

A rapid, economic and environmentally friendly analytical methodology has been implemented for the determination of alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-HCH, p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDE, PCBs congeners #28, #52, #101, #153, #138 and #180 and Hexachlorobenzene in fish oil. 1,2,3,4-Tetrachloronaphtalene was used as internal standard. The sample preparation, consisting of a single step of clean-up and fractionation, took place in a column filled with different layers of neutral and sulphuric acid modified silica. The analytes were eluted by vacuum with of hexane. Significant reduction in terms of solvents, sorbents, and analysis time was achieved in comparison with literature. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was used for the separation and determination of the analytes. The instrumental limits of detection were from 0.1 to 1.3ngmL(-1) and the response of the detector was linear up to 200ngmL(-1). The separation proved to be precise (RSD

An analytical methodology was proposed and validated to be applied to the determination of p , p′ -DDT and its metabolites p , p′ -DDE and p , p′ -DDD in fish oil. The analytical procedure presented in this paper involves a single-step clean up process prior to the analysis. A solution of 1,2,3,4-tetrachloronaphtalene was used as internal standard. The analytical technique used was gas chromatography coupled to an electron capture detector. Details on the validation process are provided. The limits of detection ranged from 2.6 to 4.7 pg μL − 1 . The BCR 598 standard reference material (cod liver oil) was used to evaluate the performance of the methodology with satisfactory recoveries for all the compounds. The analytes were determined in three different fish oil pills sold in Spain as a supplementary vitamin support. The sum of p , p′ -DDT and metabolites was from 13.2 to 51.3 ng g − 1 , the dominant compound being p , p′ -DDE.

A simple, rapid and sensitive procedure using solid phase extraction and capillary zone electrophoresis for the determination of propranolol (a beta-blocker) and one of its metabolites, N -desisopropylpropranolol, has been developed and validated. The optimum separation of both analytes was obtained in a 37 cm × 75 μm fused silica capillary using 20 mmol/L phosphate buffer (pH 2.2) as electrolyte, at 25 kV and 30 °C, and hydrodynamic injection for 5 s. Prior to the electrophoretic separation, the samples were cleaned up and concentrated using a C 18 cartridge and then, eluted with methanol, allowing a concentration factor of 30. Good results were obtained in terms of precision, accuracy and linearity. The limits of detection were 28 and 30 μg/L for N -desisopropylpropranolol and propranolol, respectively. Additionally, a robustness test of the method was carried out using the Plackett–Burman fractional factorial model with a matrix of 15 experiments. The presented method has been applied to the determination of both compounds in human urine.

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant with different highly toxic chemical forms that can be bioaccumulated and biomagnified. Up to now most studies on Hg pollution have focused on aquatic ecosystems, and this is why little information about Hg in terrestrial ecosystems is currently available. However, the impact of Hg pollution on the terrestrial environment and food chain is of great interest for its human health implications. In this context, earthworms, which constitute a major component in soil ecosystems and act as a food source for a wide variety of organisms, are an excellent option to study Hg biochemistry in terrestrial ecosystems. The use of earthworms as bioindicators of Hg soil pollution involves a wide number of variables to be considered since the metal–biota interaction is very complicated in this case. Therefore, the aim of this chapter is to review the role of earthworms as bioindicators of Hg pollution in soils.

Carotenoids are organic pigments involved in several important physiological functions and may serve as indicators of individual quality in animals. These pigments are only obtained by animals from the diet, but they can be later transformed into other carotenoids by specific enzymatic reactions. The diet of farm-reared and probably wild red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) is mainly based on cereals that contain high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin. These two carotenoids are also predominant in internal tissues and blood of red-legged partridges. However, in their integuments, astaxanthin and papilioerythrinone (the last one identified in this work) are mainly present in their free form and esterified with fatty acids. According to available literature about carotenoid metabolism in animals, we propose that astaxanthin (λ max=478 nm) and papilioerythrinone (λ max=452-478 nm) are the result of a chromatic convergence of the transformation of dietary zeaxanthin and lutein, respectively. Moreover, the results obtained in this work provide the first identification by liquid chromatography coupled to accurate mass quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer system of papilioerythrinone (m/z 581.3989 [M+H] +) in the skin (i.e., not feathers) of a vertebrate. Astaxanthin and papilioerythrinone are very close in terms of chemical structure and coloration, and the combination of these two keto-carotenoids is responsible for the red color of the ornaments in red-legged partridges., Esther García-de Blas was supported by a predoctoral grant (JAE-PRE) from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) cofinanced by Fondo Social Europeo. This study was funded by Consejería de Educación y Ciencia, Junta de Comunidades de Castilla la Mancha (PII1I09-0271-5037), and Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CGL2009-10883-C02-02 and CGL2012-40229-C02-01) from the Spanish government.

A simple and rapid method has been developed for speciation analysis of inorganic mercury and monomethylmercury (MMHg) in biological tissues. The procedure is based on the quantitative closed-vessel microwave-assisted leaching of mercury from biological samples with an alkaline extractant. The extracted mercury species are ethylated and analysed by capillary gas chromatography coupled to an atomic fluorescence detector via pyrolysis (CGC-pyro-AFS). The coupling between capillary gas chromatography and atomic fluorescence detector was optimized with the aim of minimizing the detection limits and time necessary for the species-selective determination of mercury compounds. The use of closed-vessel microwave-assisted extraction along with no clean-up steps before the ethylation leads to a significant total analysis time decrease with respect to similar procedures. The detection limit was 2 pg for MMHg (as Hg) and 1 pg for inorganic mercury. The method was validated by the analysis of DORM-2 (dogfish muscle) and DOLT-3 (dogfish liver) certified reference materials. The inorganic mercury and methylmercury concentrations found were in good agreement with the certified values. Recovery studies of fish muscle tissue spiked with inorganic mercury and MMHg were done to check the reliability of the method. In all cases satisfactory recoveries (92-105%) were obtained.

A complete analytical procedure, including sample clean-up and a micellar electrokinetic chromatographic method, is presented for the determination of sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and their main metabolites by using 20 mmol L(-1) borate buffer (pH 9.3), 25 mmol L(-1) sodium dodecylsulfate, and 5% v/v acetonitrile as electrolyte. The separation was carried out at 30 kV and 20 degrees C in a fused silica capillary (60.2 cm x 75 microm inner diameter) fitted with a window in the capillary cartridge of 100 x 800 microm. The detector response was linear from the limit of quantification to 3 mg L(-1) for the individual components. The limits of quantification ranged from 0.13 up to 0.24 mg L(-1). The method was applied to human serum, previously spiked at different concentrations of all the analytes, and recoveries between 95% and 108% were obtained.