Women in (Bio)Analytical Chemistry: Moving Towards Equity and Inclusion

Prof. Dr. Márcia A. Mesquita S. Veiga
Dept. of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil - Guest Editor of this Special Issue

Joanna Szpunar, an outstanding chemical researcher in the chemistry of metal-biomolecule interactions, shares her experience as a woman scientist with BrJAC

Dr. Joanna Szpunar
National Research Council of France (CNRS)

“I have had an extraordinary opportunity to be a part of the beginnings of an emerging field of analytical chemistry - speciation analysis. I started at the University of Antwerp where I participated in method development for environmental projects dealing with the long-distance transport of organolead compounds from leaded gasoline and with organotin cycling in the marine environment.”

Artificial Photosynthesis Technology: Is it Possible?

Prof. Dr. Maria Valnice Boldrin Zanoni
Institute of Chemistry and INCT-DATREM, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil

“…The great challenge is to find ideal semiconductor materials that can be photoexcited when exposed to sunlight, generate electron/hole charge pairs with a low recombination rate, and still present the ability to catalyze water reduction and/or conversion of CO2 into hydrogen and hydrocarbons of economic interest, respectively...”

Affinity Selection Mass Spectrometry (AS-MS) as a
Tool for Prospecting Target Ligands

Dr. Fernando G. Almeida¹, Prof. Dr. Quezia B. Cass^2
1OMass Therapeutics, Oxford, United Kingdom
²Dept. of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, SP, Brazil

“Unlike most conventional high-throughput screening assays, AS-MS has fewer or no limitations when it comes to target selection. It is important, however, to understand the implications of choosing membrane proteins as targets.”

Recent Developments in Green Chromatography
Bianca F. G. Passerine, Márcia C. Breitkreitz

In this paper, strategies for greening methods and recent developments in green chromatography are presented. In addition, metrics for the proper evaluation of these methods are discussed.

Fundamentals and Analytical Strategies for Metabolomics Workflow: An Overview and Microbial Applications
Hanna C. de Sá, Emile K. P. dos Santos, Samara C. dos Santos, Rafaela S. Nunes, Gisele A. B. Canuto

This review presents the fundamentals of metabolomics and workflow, focusing on the description of the steps and analytical strategies applied to microbial sample preparation, highlighting the current challenges in sample handling. In addition, the state of the art of analytical technologies based on separation techniques hyphenated to mass spectrometry and applications in microbial metabolomics are presented.

The Emerging of Microplastic and Nanoplastic as Pollutants and their Characterization and Analysis
Lilian R. R. Souza

This review proposes an integrated approach of methodologies of sampling, sample preparation, and analysis of solid and aqueous samples with microplastics and nanoplastics besides discussing the challenges and new methodologies for microplastics and nanoplastics analysis.

Development of an Electrochemical Sensor Modified with Dealuminated Zeolite with Citric Acid for Hydroxyzine Determination by Amperometry-BIA
Fabiana S. Felix, Matheus J. F. Bazzana, Letícia C. Assis, Bethania L. Mansur, Sara S. Vieira, Zuy M. Magriotis, Leonardo L. Okumura, Adelir A. Saczk

The present work aimed to develop an electrochemical sensor modified with dealuminated zeolite with citric acid for the determination of hydroxyzine. During amperometric experiments, this sensor modified with zeolite was associated with a batch injection analysis configuration for analyses of pharmaceutical samples.

Extraction of Non-Volatile Chemical Compounds in High-Quality and Traditional Coffee
Gabriela M. R. N. de Alcantara, Giovanna B. F. Spíndola, Wanessa R. Melcher Mattos

This exploratory study aims to evaluate the efficacy of different solvents and processes in extracting the characteristic compounds that discriminate high-quality and traditional coffee types using an HPLC method with UV detection.

Iridium Oxides Based Potentiometric Sensor for pH Monitoring in Biological Samples
Jessica S. G. Selva, Mauro Bertotti

Our goal in this work was to enhance some features of a microsensor previously fabricated by us aiming at getting more sensitive pH measurements with enhanced stability and short response time. We have demonstrated that such a miniaturized sensor shows favorable sensing performance and can be successfully applied to measure pH in biological samples.

The Importance of Sample Preparation for Omics Analysis: Which Extraction Method is the most Suited for my Biological Question?
Mariana S. Marques, Patrick C. Ferreira, Thales F. D. Pereira, Alessandra Sussulini

This work presents an evaluation of liquid-liquid extraction protocols for blood serum samples aiming at metabolomics and lipidomics analysis using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The outcomes of this study can assist researchers in selecting the most suitable sample preparation method for their specific research needs.

Multi-Techniques for Iodine Determination and Dose Uniformity Assays in Iodized Mineral Dietary Supplements
Marcia F. Mesko, Rodrigo M. Pereira, Natalia J. Bielemann, Filipe S. Rondan, Diogo L-R. Novo

In this work, microwave-induced combustion was combined with ion chromatography and ion-selective electrode potentiometry for iodine determination and dose uniformity assays in mineral dietary supplements. The analytical strategies presented in this study can be successfully used in routine analysis of the quality control of mineral dietary supplements.

Bioaccessibility of Ca, Fe, Mg, and Mn in Brazilian Propolis
Lana P. B. Pereira, Robson C. M. Brito, Kelly G. F. Dantas

The goal this study was evaluate the bioaccessibility of calcium, iron, magnesium, and manganese in Apis mellifera and Melipona propolis samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The bioaccessibility levels of these inorganic constituents found in propolis by gastric and gastrointestinal simulation showed that these inorganic elements are available for absorption in the body.

Determination of Essential and Non-Essential Elements in Dietary Supplements by Microwave-Induced Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry: Method Development and Study of Non-Spectral Interferences
Paola A. Mello, Gustavo R. Bitencourt, Thaís S. Berón, Aline L. H. Müller

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the suitability of MIP OES for the determination of essential and non-essential elements in dietary supplements, aiming a method for the quality control of elements added as a supplier, as well as those present as contaminants. A study of non-spectral interferences was carried out, comprising common concomitant elements present in dietary supplements. Moreover, non-spectral interferences caused by residual HNO3 acidity remained from sample preparation were also investigated.

In vitro Bioaccessibility of Cd, Cu, Fe and Zn in Basil (Ocimum basilicum L. Grecco a palla) after Cadmium Intoxication
Sofia S. Martins, Giselle V. de Sousa, Vânia L. G. Teles, Letícia M. Costa

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the lyophilized and fresh leaves of basil on the in vitro bioaccessibility of Cd, Cu, Fe and Zn, and the correlations established with Cd and these nutrients. A simulated gastrointestinal digestion was performed to assess the in vitro bioaccessibility of Cd, Cu, Fe and Zn in basil samples after Cd intoxication.