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Metal-organic frameworks composite materials have received tremendous attention because of their versatile structures and tunable porosity for various applications. Herein, amino-functionalized metal-organic frameworks (NH2-Cu3(BTC)2; BTC=benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate) was prepared and used as a novel electrode modifier for the determination of trace levels of lead. NH2-Cu3(BTC)2 shows quite a good capability for the efficient adsorption of lead from aqueous solutions. The parameters affecting the electrochemical process, such as electrolyte solution pH, the amount of NH2-Cu3(BTC)2 suspension, accumulation potential and accumulation time, were investigated in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the electrochemical sensor exhibited a linear response to the concentration of lead in the range of 1.0×10(-8)-5.0×10(-7) mol L(-1) (R(2)=0.9951) with a detection limit of 5.0×10(-9) mol L(-1). The relative standard deviation of 11 successive scans was 3.10% for 1.0×10(-8) mol L(-1) lead. The method was validated with certified reference material (stream sediment and milk powder) and the analytical results coincided well with the certified values. Furthermore, the method was successfully applied to the determination of target analytes in tap and lake water samples and good recoveries were obtained from different spiked values., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Nonelectroactive acetochlor can be indirectly determined through the photocatalytical degradation of acetochlor. A derivative visible light photoelectrochemical sensor for indirect detection of the herbicide acetochlor using TiO2-poly(3-hexylthiophene)-ionic liquid nanocomposite is constructed. Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) was synthesized via chemical oxidative polymerization with anhydrous FeCl3 as oxidant, 3-hexylthiophene as monomer, chloroform as solvent, and the functional TiO2 nanoparticles were facilely prepared by blending TiO2 nanoparticles and P3HT at room temperature ionic liquid, 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate solution. Operational parameters, including the photolysis time, ratios of TiO2 to P3HT, bias voltage and pH of buffer solution have been optimized. Under optimal conditions, the proposed photoelectrochemical method could detect acetochlor ranging from 0.5 to 20 μmol L(-1) with a detection limit of 0.2 nmol L(-1) at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The assay results of acetochlor in water samples with the proposed method were in acceptable agreement with those of the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) method. The promising sensor opens a new opportunity for fast, portable, and sensitive analysis of acetochlor in environmental samples., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To study the association between phthalate esters (PAEs) metabolites in maternal urine and 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2 ) enzyme activity, explore the possible mechanism of PAEs effect on fetal development., Methods: All of 33 cases of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) newborn were selected by random sampling in 2012. And 33 cases of normal control newborn were enrolled, use high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was used to detect 4 kinds of phthalate esters (PAEs) metabolites in maternal urine: mono-n-butyl phthalate ester (MBP), mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono (2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), mono (2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) and three kinds of cortisol corticosterone metabolites, tetrahydrocortisol (THF), allo-tetrahydrocortisol (allo-THF), tetrahydrocortisone (THE), and analyze the association between phthalate esters (PAEs) metabolites in maternal urine and 11β-HSD2 enzyme activity., Results: MBP, MEHP, MEHHP, MEOHP metabolites can be detected in 98% (65 cases) , 89% (59 cases), 91% (60 cases), 91% (60 cases) of all 66 maternal urine samples, respectively. The median concentrations of test material in case group were 31.20 ng/ml for MBP, 24.61 ng/ml for MEHHP, 11.72 ng/ml for MEOHP and 48.67 ng/ml for SumDEHP which were significantly higher than those of the control group (were 17.32, 12.03, 5.68 and 28.64 ng/ml); 11β-HSD2 activity in case group ((THF+allo-THF)/THE = (0.79 ± 0.09) ng/ml) was significantly lower than that of the control group((THF+allo-THF)/THE = (0.58 ± 0.04) ng/ml); PAEs metabolites MBP (β' = 1.12), MEHHP(β' = 1.14), MEOHP(β' = 1.10), SumDEHP(β' = 1.08) in baby boy mother's urine was reversely correlated to 11β-HSD2 activity., Conclusions: PAEs could affect fetal development by inhibit 11β-HSD2 activity.

In this work, a novel streptavidin functionalized graphene oxide/Au nanoparticles (streptavidin/GO/AuNPs) composite is prepared and for the first time used to construct sensitive chemiluminescent immunosensor for the detection of tumor marker. The streptavidin/GO/AuNPs composite and the immunosensor are characterized using scanning electron microscopy, static water contact angle measurement and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The biofunctionalized composite has large reactive surface area and excellent biocompatibility, thus the capture antibody can be efficiently immobilized on its surface based on the highly selective recognition of streptavidin to biotinylated antibody. Using α-fetoprotein (AFP) as a model, the proposed chemiluminescent immunosensor shows a wide linear range from 0.001 to 0.1 ng mL(-1) with an extremely low detection limit down to 0.61 pg mL(-1). The resulting AFP immunosensor shows high detection sensitivity, fast assay speed, acceptable detection and fabrication reproducibility, good specificity and stability. The assay results of serum samples with the proposed method are in an acceptable agreement with the reference values. This work provides a promising biofunctionalized nanostructure for sensitive biosensing applications., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A tetragonal columnar-shaped TiO2 (TCS-TiO2) nanorods are synthesized via a facile route for the immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOx). A novel electrochemical glucose biosensor is constructed based on the direct electrochemistry of GOx at TCS-TiO2 modified glassy carbon electrode. The fabricated biosensor is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectra and cyclic voltammetry. The immobilized enzyme molecules on TCS-TiO2 nanorods retain its native structure and bioactivity and show a surface controlled, quasi-reversible and fast electron transfer process. The TCS-TiO2 nanorods have large surface area and provide a favorable microenvironment for enhancing the electron transfer between enzyme and electrode surface. The constructed glucose biosensor shows wide linear range from 5.0×10(-6) to 1.32×10(-3) M with a high sensitivity of 23.2 mA M(-1) cm(-2). The detection limit is calculated to be 2.0×10(-6) M at signal-to-noise of 3. The proposed glucose biosensor also exhibits excellent selectivity, good reproducibility, and acceptable operational stability. Furthermore, the biosensor can be successfully applied in the detection of glucose in serum sample at the applied potential of -0.50 V. The TCS-TiO2 nanorods provide an efficient and promising platform for the immobilization of proteins and development of excellent biosensors., (© 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V.)

An electrochemical sensor based on a copolymer poly(4-vinylpyridine)-co-poly(acrylonitrile), P4VP-co-PAN, and Fe2O3 nanoparticle film modified glassy carbon electrode was developed for the determination of glucose. We studied the response of glucose with the proposed electrode, and determined the optimum conditions by changing the potential, pH and P4VP-co-PAN. The current response measurements were performed in PBS (c=0.1 M) with a potential of 0.7 V. The current response of this glucose sensor showed a linear relationship with the concentration in the range of 2.5 μM-0.58 mM (r=0.997). The experimental results demonstrate that this method has such merits as simple operation, low cost, high sensitivity, long term stability and good reproducibility, with satisfactory results., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This is the first time when protein-imprinted polymers are prepared with "pending templates." The polymers were synthesized in the presence of a real sample (chicken egg white), rather than any known commercial proteins. Compared with a simultaneously synthesized nonimprinted control polymer, the polymers show higher adsorption capacity for abundant components (as "pending templates") in the original sample. Chromatography experiments indicated that the columns made of the imprinted polymers could retain abundant species (imprinted) and separate them from those not imprinted. Thus, the sample could be split into dimidiate subfractions with reduced complexities. "Pending template imprinting" suggests a new way to investigate molecular imprinting, especially to dissect, simplify, and analyze complicated samples through a series of polymers just imprinted by the samples per se., (© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-nanoflake-like SnS(2) nanocomposite were designed for immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOx). The direct electrochemistry of GOx and glucose sensing at MWCNTs-SnS(2) modified glassy carbon electrode were studied. Compared with single MWCNTs or SnS(2), the MWCNTs-SnS(2) film has larger surface area and provides a more favorable microenvironment for facilitating the electron transfer between enzyme and electrode surface. The properties of GOx/MWCNTs-SnS(2) were examined by scanning electron microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The immobilized enzyme on MWCNTs-SnS(2) composite film retained its native structure and bioactivity and showed a surface controlled, reversible two-proton and two-electron transfer reaction with a apparent electron transfer rate constant of 3.96 s(-1). The constructed glucose biosensor exhibits wider linear range from 2.0×10(-5) M to 1.95×10(-3) M, much lower detection limit of 4.0×10(-6) M at signal-to-noise of 3 and higher sensitivity of 21.65 mA M(-1) cm(-2) than our previous nanoflake-like SnS(2)-based glucose sensor. The proposed biosensor has excellent selectivity, good reproducibility, and acceptable operational stability and can be successfully applied in the reagentless glucose sensing at -0.43 V. This MWCNTs-SnS(2) composite provides a new avenue for immobilizing proteins and fabricating excellent biosensors., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Co(3)O(4) nanoparticles (NPs) with an average diameter of about 20 nm were synthesized by using MOFs as a template. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to characterize the as-prepared Co(3)O(4) NPs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to confirm the structure of the Co(3)O(4) NPs. Then the Co(3)O(4) NPs were modified on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to obtain a non-enzymatic glucose and H(2)O(2) sensor. The NPs show electrocatalytic activity toward oxidation of glucose and H(2)O(2) in alkaline medium. For glucose detection, the developed sensor shows a short response time (less than 6 s), a high sensitivity of 520.7 μA mM(-1) cm(-2), a detection limit of 0.13 μM (S/N = 3), and good selectivity. The high concentration of NaCl does not poison the electrode. Its application for the detection of glucose in a human blood serum sample shows good agreement with the results obtained from the hospital. Furthermore, the proposed sensor was used for the detection of H(2)O(2). The results indicate that the detection limit and sensitivity for H(2)O(2) are 0.81 μM and 107.4 μA mM(-1) cm(-2), respectively. Determination of H(2)O(2) concentration in a disinfectant sample by the proposed biosensor also showed satisfactory result. The high sensitivity and low detection limit can be attributed to the excellent electrocatalytic performance of the as-prepared Co(3)O(4) NPs. These results demonstrate that the as-prepared Co(3)O(4) NPs have great potential applications in the development of sensors for enzyme-free detection of glucose and H(2)O(2).

Graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were immobilized onto the capillary wall using 3-aminopropyldiethoxymethyl silane as coupling agent. Graphene coated column (G@column) was fabricated by hydrazine reduction of GO modified column. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images provided visible evidence of the GO grafted on the capillary wall. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) indicated the high coverage of the GO on the capillary wall. The G@column exhibited a pH-dependent electroosmotic flow (EOF) from anode to cathode in the pH range of 3-9 while the graphene oxide coated column (GO@column) showed a constant EOF. Both GO@column and G@column were evaluated for open-tubular capillary electrochromatography (OT-CEC). The GO@column was also evaluated for open-tubular capillary liquid chromatography (OT-CLC). Good separation of the tested neutral analytes on the GO@column was achieved on the basis of a typical reversed-phase behavior. On the contrary, G@column showed poor separation performance because of the strong π-π stacking and hydrophobic interactions between graphene and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. The high coverage of GO improved the column phase ratio which makes the GO@column promising for OT-CLC separation. Five of the major known proteins including three glycoisoforms of ovalbumin in chicken egg white were identified in a single run on the GO@column with phosphate buffer (5 mM, pH 7.0) and an applied voltage of 20 kV. The run-to-run, day-to-day, and column-to-column reproducibilities are evaluated by calculating the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the EOF in OT-CEC and retention time of naphthalene in OT-CLC, respectively. These RSD values were found to be less than 3%.

A Fe(3)O(4)/multiwall carbon nanotubes/β-cyclodextrin (Fe(3)O(4)/MWCNTs/β-CD) modified electrode, for highly sensitive and automated hypoxanthine measurements, was developed in a sequential injection lab-on-valve system. The electrochemical oxidation behavior of hypoxanthine was investigated in phosphate buffer solution by cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry. The Fe(3)O(4)/MWCNTs/β-CD modified electrode exhibits preferably analytical characteristics in electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of hypoxanthine. Under optimized conditions, the log oxidation peak current intensity was proportional to log hypoxanthine concentration covering the range from 5.0×10(-8) to 1.0×10(-5) mol L(-1) with a correlation coefficient of 0.9965. A detection limit of 0.3×10(-8) mol L(-1) was achieved along with a sampling frequency of 20 h(-1). This hyphenated system offers some advantages in terms of rapidness, sensitivity and ease of manipulation. Its further applications were utilized for the determination of hypoxanthine in meat samples., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this study, an automated sequential injection lab-on-valve (SI-LOV) system was designed for the on-line matrix removal and preconcentration of quercetin. Octadecyl functionalized magnetic silica nanoparticles were prepared and packed into the microcolumn of the LOV as adsorbents. After being adsorbed through hydrophobic interaction, the analyte was eluted and subsequently introduced into the electrochemical flow cell by voltammetric quantification. The main parameters affecting the performance of solid-phase extraction, such as sample pH and flow rate, eluent solution and volume, accumulation potential and accumulation time were investigated in detail. Under the optimum experimental conditions, a linear calibration curve was obtained in the range of 1.0 × 10(-8) to 1 × 10(-5) mol L(-1) with R(2) = 0.9979. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were 1.3 × 10(-9) and 4.3 × 10(-9) mol L(-1), respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for the determination of 1.0 × 10(-6) mol L(-1) quercetin was found to be 2.9% (n = 11) along with a sampling frequency of 40 h(-1). The applicability and reliability of the automated method described here had been applied to the determination of quercetin in human urine and red wine samples through recovery experiments, and the obtained results were in good agreement with those obtained by the HPLC method.

The potential capabilities and analytical performance of lab-on-valve (LOV) manifold as a front end to amperometry have been explored for the on-line determination of morin. Meanwhile, the electrochemical behaviors of morin were investigated based on polyvinylpyrrolidone- (PVP-) doped carbon paste electrode (CPE), which found that PVP can significantly improve its oxidation peak current. The excellent amperometric current response was achieved when the potential difference (ΔE) of 0.6 V was implemented in pH 6.5 phosphate buffer solution (PBS) that served as the supporting electrolyte. A well-defined oxidation peak has been obtained in studies using PVP as a modifier of CPE based on the oxidation of morin. The present work introduces the LOV technique as a useful tool for amperometric measurement, documents advantages of using programmable flow, and outlines means for miniaturization of assays on the basis of PVP modified CPE. The proposed method was applied successfully to the determination of morin in real samples, and the spiked recoveries were satisfactory.

A dramatic visible light photoelectrochemical sensing platform for the detection of pesticide molecules at zero potential (versus saturated calomel electrode) was first constructed using poly(3-hexylthiophene)-functionalized TiO(2) nanoparticles. Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) was synthesized via chemical oxidative polymerization with anhydrous FeCl(3) as the oxidant, 3-hexylthiophene as the monomer, and chloroform as the solvent, and the functional TiO(2) nanoparticles were facilely prepared by blending TiO(2) nanoparticles and P3HT in chloroform solution. The resulting photoelectrocatalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffractometry. Under visible light irradiation, P3HT generated the transition from the valence band to the conduction band, delivering the excited electrons into the conduction band of TiO(2) and then to the glassy carbon electrode. Simultaneously, a positive charged hole (h(+)) of TiO(2) may form and migrate to the valence band of P3HT, which can react with H(2)O to generate (•)OH, and then it converted chlopyrifos into chlopyrifos(•) that promoted the amplifying photocurrent response. On the basis of the proposed photoelectrochemical mechanism, a methodology for sensitive photoelectrochemical sensing for chlopyrifos at zero potential was thus developed. Under optimal conditions, the proposed photoelectrochemical method could detect chlopyrifos ranging from 0.2 to 16 μmol L(-1) with a detection limit of 0.01 μmol L(-1) at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The photoelectrochemical sensor had an excellent specificity against the other pesticides and could be successfully applied to the detection of reduced chlopyrifos in green vegetables, showing a promising application in photoelectrochemical sensing.

A novel photoelectrochemical sensor for detection of the organophosphorus pesticide (OP) dichlofenthion using nanometer-sized titania coupled with a screen-printed electrode is presented. Nonelectroactive dichlofenthion can be indirectly determined through the photocatalytical degradation of dichlofenthion with nanometer-sized titania. The electrochemical characterization and anodic stripping voltammetric performance of dichlofenthion were evaluated using cyclic voltammetric (CV) and differential pulse anode stripping voltammetric (DPASV) analysis, respectively. DPASV analysis was used to monitor the amount of dichlofenthion and provide a simple, fast, and facile quantitative method for dichlofenthion. Operational parameters, including the photocatalysis time, pH of buffer solution, deposition potential, and accumulation time have been optimized. The stripping voltammetric response is linear over the 0.02-0.1 and 0.2-1.0 μmol/L ranges with a detection limit of 2.0 nmol/L. The assay result of dichlofenthion in green vegetable with the proposed method was in acceptable agreement with that of the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) method. The promising sensor opens a new opportunity for fast, portable, and sensitive analysis of OPs in environmental samples.

A stripping voltammetric assay using a morin modified electrode in a sequential injection lab-on-valve system was developed for the determination of trace amounts of cadmium. The sample and reagent arrangements were achieved by a syringe pump. The target metal ions were accumulated on the morin modified glassy carbon electrode surface, and the quantification step was performed by subsequent anodic stripping voltammetry. The key experimental variables relevant to the voltammetric measurement procedure were optimized. For a 100 s preconcentration time, a linear calibration curve was obtained for a concentration range of 1 to 125 μg L-1 with a detection limit of 0.41 μg L-1. The analytical use of the established method was assessed by applying it to the determination of cadmium in real samples and carrying out recovery experiments. The method was subsequently validated by comparing the results with those given by ICP-OES.

The miniaturized lab-on-valve (LOV) manifold well hyphenated with indirect biamperometry is presented for automated determination of trace level concentrations of organic environmental pollutants by programmable flow. The experimental procedure was carried out by means of taking o-phenylenediamine (OPDA) as a model analyte, relying on the Fe(iii)/Fe(ii) couple that served as an indicating redox system. The miniaturized electrochemical flow cell (EFC) designed and processed was integrated into the LOV module which is assembled with two identical polarized platinum electrodes between which a small potential difference (ΔE) was applied, to implement automated on-line analysis in a closed system. Factors affecting analytical performance are discussed, including indicating redox systems, concentration of indicating system, the acidity, the potential difference, and flow variables in the LOV. The calibration curve showed an excellent linearity in the concentration range of 5.0 × 10(-7) to 1.0 × 10(-4) mol L(-1) (R(2) = 0.9993). The limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) for OPDA were found to be 1.1 × 10(-7) and 3.7 × 10(-7) mol L(-1), respectively. A sampling frequency of 40 h(-1) was obtained along with an R.S.D. of 2.8% at 1.0 × 10(-6) mol L(-1) OPDA (n = 11). The proposed procedure was successfully applied to the assay of OPDA in industrial waste water.

With water droplets as sacrificed templates at a particular humidity, micro-porous solid thin films were successfully fabricated by self-assembly using an amphiphilic block polymer, polystyrene-b-polyacrylic acid (PS-b-PAA). Interface interactions between the micro-porous thin film and a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), are investigated by in-situ AFM in aqueous solutions. An interesting phenomenon was observed in water and CTAB solution, which the dimensions of the micropores are remarkably larger than the dimensions of those in air. The solid thin films exhibit different surface morphologies in response to stimulus by different concentrations of CTAB. These observations were explained by positing that the PAA chains in the micropores stretch and contract with interface interactions between PAA and CTAB. A promising electrochemical application of this film is suggested. This study is aimed at strategies for the functionalization of stimulus-responsive micro-porous solid thin films with tunable surface morphologies, and exploring new smart materials., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Bare nonporous silica particles with diameter around 1 microm were prepared. A 20 cm section of a total length of 45 cm capillary (100 microm i. d.) was packed electrokinetically and the separation performance of basic compounds was investigated in the pressurized capillary electrochromatography (pCEC) system using 1 microm nonporous bare silica spheres as stationary phase and acetonitrile-water as mobile phase. The effects of the composition of the mobile phase, the concentration of the buffer, pH value, applied voltage and so on on the separation performance were investigated. The experimental results demonstrated that the bare silica column showed a typical reversed phase separation mechanism when it was used for separation of basic compounds. The separation performance changed slightly with changing buffer concentration. Since the degree of dissociation of the basic compounds depended greatly on the pH value, the interaction between the compounds and stationary phase changed with the changing of pH value, thereby changing the resolution of the compounds. The separation performance increased with the increase of applied voltage. A column efficiency of 35 000 for o-toluidine was obtained when a voltage of 1 kV was applied.

A new petentiometric method to determine peroxide hydrogen and glucose had been studied. This method had been applied on the petentiometric determination of peroxide hydrogen and glucose in the total ionic strength adjustment buffer (TISAB) (pH 7.5) solution with the glassy electrode modified by the calix[4]arene. The glassy carbon electrode covered with the calix[4]arene depended on the H(2)O(2) concentration in the range of log[H(2)O(2)] from -3.3 to -1.2 in the solution of TISAB (pH 7.5) with nearly Nernstian slope of about 65.6+/-3 mV and the detection limit of peroxide hydrogen was 4.0x10(-5) mol L(-1). The glassy carbon electrode covered with the calix[4]arene depended on the glucose concentration in the range of log[glucose] from -3.6 to -2.8 in the solution of TISAB (pH 7.5) with nearly Nernstian slope of about 50.2+/-2 mV and the detection limit of glucose was 2.0x10(-5) mol L(-1). The electrode had the good selectivity, sensitivity, stability and repeatability.

Serotonin (5-HT) is released from the enterochromaffin cells and plays an important role in regulating intestinal function. Although the release of 5-HT is well documented, the contribution of the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) to the levels and actions of 5-HT in the intestine is unclear. This study aimed to demonstrate real-time SERT activity in ileal mucosa and to assess the effects of SERT inhibition using fluoxetine. Electrochemical recordings were made from the mucosa in full-thickness preparations of rat ileum using a carbon fiber electrode to measure 5-HT oxidation current and a force transducer to record circular muscle (CM) tension. Compression of the mucosa stimulated a peak 5-HT release of 12 +/- 6 microM, which decayed to 7 +/- 4 microM. Blockade of SERT with fluoxetine (1 microM) increased the peak compression-evoked release to 19 +/- 9 microM, and the background levels of 5-HT increased to 11 +/- 7 microM (P < 0.05, n = 7). When 5-HT was exogenously applied to the mucosa, fluoxetine caused a significant increase in the time to 50% and 80% decay of the oxidation current. Fluoxetine also increased the spontaneous CM motility (P < 0.05; n = 7) but did not increase the CM contraction-evoked 5-HT release (P > 0.05, n = 5). In conclusion, this is the first characterization of the real-time uptake of 5-HT into the rat intestine. These data suggest that SERT plays an important role in the modulation of 5-HT concentrations that reach intestinal 5-HT receptors.

Nonporous silica spheres (1 microm) were synthesized and bonded with octadecylsilane functionality. These stationary phase particles were packed electrokinetically into fused-silica capillaries with 100 microm id for a length of 20 cm, which was evaluated by using pressurized CEC (pCEC). The efficiency of the C18 RP column was characterized through the theoretical plates of thiourea, benzyl alcohol, toluene, styrene, and naphthalene. The effects of experimental parameters such as the applied voltage, sample size, pump flow rate, pH value and the concentration of the buffer solution, and the content of methanol in the mobile phase, on-column efficiency were evaluated. Column efficiency as high as 200 000 theoretical plates per meter for naphthalene was obtained with the optimal condition of 70% v/v methanol and 30% v/v of 10 mmol/L phosphate buffer (pH 7.8) at an applied voltage of 10 kV and a supplementary pressure of 500 psi.