In many of our research articles, the supported liquid membrane (SLM) is a key parameter when optimizing liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) or electromembrane extraction (EME) for new substances. Recently, when we optimized EME for 37 drugs of abuse in a large polarity range, we used a new and completely different strategy…
We have been working with liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) for a long time, and LPME can now be done with commercial equipment in 96-well format, and it can be automated. Getting LPME into routine laboratories is a final goal for us, and in this direction we recently tested and documented the reliability of LPME combined with LC-MS for measurement of antidepressants in human blood. Testing was done according to industrial guidelines, and involved blood samples from different patients, and data were in compliance with routine laboratory requirements…
In biochemical research, proteins are often labelled with a fluorescent compound for visualisation. However, prior to visualisation, excess of label has to be removed to reduce the background fluorescence. In a recent work published in Analytical Chemistry, we tested the idea of using electromembrane extraction (EME) for such purposes. The philosophy behind this work is to push EME in new directions, and to inspire other scientists to explore and develop new applications of EME. Some of these future applications will hopefully be “killer applications”, and EME will be an established technique in the analytical toolbox…
With our smartphone, we can send text messages, google, and talk, and do many other things…but in some years we can even use the smartphone for measurement of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Thus, non-trained persons may in the future conduct analytical measurements currently done by trained scientists in specialized laboratories, on-site. This may open new doors, but there are many challenges…
Microextraction has been a hot topic in analytical chemistry for long time, and still there is strong activity. Thus, in 2018 and 2019 approximately 1500 research papers were published each year on the topic. Major justifications for development and implementation of microextraction are elimination of organic solvent (green chemistry & sustainability), high enrichment, improved sensitivity and selectivity, and compatibility with small sample volumes and modern instrumentation. Next generation analytical chemists will use microextraction techniques and methods, and therefore we devoted a special issue of Trends in Analytical Chemistry to this subject. We authored the foreword and two of the review papers...
In several research papers, we have developed electromembrane extraction in microchip systems together with Danish and Spanish colleagues. This technology can be the size of a thumbnail, and can be used to extract, isolate, and pre-concentrate drug substances present in small blood sample. More research is required, but in five to ten years the technology may be combined with smartphones, and patients can check themselves that they are properly medicated by a finger prick. Recently, we published a new paper in this research line, focused on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
For many years, we have developed the concepts of liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) and electromembrane extraction (EME). In both cases, extraction is performed across an artificial liquid membrane. However, the driving force for extraction is different. In LPME, extraction is facilitated by a pH gradient across the membrane, while an external electrical potential is applied across the membrane in EME. Together with Chinese colleagues, we asked the following question: Who wins, LPME or EME?
During October 14-18, 17 PhD students from six different countries followed our course “BIOANALYSIS – Forefront Technologies and Applications”. In this course we discussed selected 2019 research papers in the forefront of bioanalytical chemistry, we discussed how to present scientific data orally and in research papers, we discussed how to communicate with journal editors and reviewers, and we reviewed selected papers as an exercise. A comprehensive training camp for the future stars in analytical chemistry… We organized the course also in 2018. Read more about the 2018 course on https://theanalyticalscientist.com/techniques-tools/those-who-can-teach-pharma-stars, and sign-up for the 2021 course by email to stigpe@farmasi.uio.no.
As a part of our lab course FRM2010 pharmacy students Oda Kristine S. Rosseland, Ole Martin Drevland and Rolf Ståle Barstad conducted assays of pharmaceuticals by titration according to the European Pharmacopoeia. Not only did they verify the purity of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), but now their titration curves are published in our international textbook “Introduction to Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry”.
From August this year, Elisabeth Leere Øiestad will join our research group in 100 % position. Up to date, she has been working in 20 % position in our group. Elisabeth is highly experienced in forensic toxicology, analytical chemistry, and mass spectrometry. Elisabeth will focus on micro sampling, microextraction and forensic applications. In addition, she will strengthen our conceptual and fundamental work with LPME and EME.
On June 11, Linda Vårdal defended her PhD thesis “Microextraction of benzodiazepines and drugs of abuse with supported liquid membranes”. In her thesis, Linda investigated both electromembrane extraction (EME) and 96-well LPME for extraction of drugs of abuse.
On June 11, Berina Qoragllu defended her master thesis “96-Well LPME of basic drugs”. This work developed and tested a generic method for 96-well liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) of basic drugs in the log P range 2-4, from human plasma samples. The experimental work clearly demonstrated a potential for a generic method. This is highly important for future 96-well LPME, and simplifies the implementation of the new technology. Development of generic methods will be of high priority also in our future LPME research.
On June 11, Marit Li defended her master thesis “On-chip electromembrane extraction coupled with capillary electrophoresis”. The experimental work was conducted at University of Copenhagen, and was focused on development of a nano-scale electromembrane chip coupled directly to capillary electrophoresis. This work is a part of a long-term project on development of EME for micro-physiological systems (including organ-on-chip systems). This is technology at the outer limit of analytical chemistry…
Today (May 31, 2019), we tested for the first time a finalized commercial device for electromembrane extraction, developed by a Norwegian company. A big day both for us in SamplePrep@UIO and for the company. We plan a comprehensive test of the device, and publish data on design, optimization and performance at the end of year 2019. With a commercial device, research and development in electromembrane extraction can be performed on standardized equipment, and this will be a very important step forward for the technology.
On May 9, Jelena Komnenic defended her master thesis entitled “Electromembrane extraction followed by smartphone detection of methamphetamine – A feasibility study”. In this research, chromatography and mass spectrometry were replaced with smartphone detection to measure methamphetamine (selected as model substance). Maybe, in 5-10 years, patients can check their own medication by a finger prick, followed by EME plus smartphone detection from the finger prick blood droplet. In other words, the analytical chemistry will move out of the laboratory and into our private house…
This summer, a new postdoctoral fellow will join our group for three years, working on the project entitled “Electrophoresis across liquid membranes – extraction of peptides according to isoelectric point”. The Norwegian Research Council under the FRIPRO-program funds this project. From next summer, a PhD student will be part of the project (position will be announced in the spring 2020), and the aim is develop electromembrane extraction (EME) for highly selective extraction of peptides. This is an important step forward and part of our strategy, namely to develop EME for more and more complex biomedical applications.
In two related papers, prepared in collaboration with Oslo University Hospital, we have developed 96-well EME and LPME for extraction of benzodiazepines from human blood samples; close to 100 samples can be processed simultaneously, in 15 minutes, using less than 400 microliter organic solvent in total.
In two invited review papers (Trends in Analytical Chemistry and Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry), we have discussed recent progress in electromembrane extraction (EME), and we have discussed some of our views and expectations for the future. EME is very interesting from a conceptual point of view, and we are sure that this concept (originally invented in our group) will be used in the future.
