Characterization of Glitter Cosmetic Particles Using FT-IR Spectroscopy

By Kandyss Najjar, Candice M. Bridge

Glitter particles from cosmetics may transfer during personal assaults, and thus glitter may be useful as a forensic tool. In this study, glitter samples were analyzed using ATR–FT-IR in an attempt to develop a characterization scheme to aid in the identification of these particles.

Quantitative Detection of Phenobarbital in an Injectable Solution Based on Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

By Lin Bao, Siqingaowa Han, Yaoye Xu, Hang Zhao, Dianyang Lin, Wuliji Hasi

“This SERS method is rapid, accurate, nondestructive, and easy.”

Enhanced Protein Structural Characterization Using Microfluidic Modulation Spectroscopy

By Eugene Ma, Libo Wang, Brent Kendrick

This article introduces a new IR technique, microfluidic modulation spectroscopy (MMS), that is designed to address the needs in biotherapeutics, and presents data from measurements of commercially available proteins.

Direct Determination of Oil Content in Binary Mixtures of Peanut and Canola Oils Using Partial Least Squares and Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

By Chloe Lewis, Ghalib A. Bello, Gerard G. Dumancas

This study presents a novel, time-efficient, and cost-effective procedure for determining the percentage of oil content in binary mixtures of peanut and canola oils.

Clare P. Grey Receives EAS Award for Outstanding Achievements in Magnetic Resonance

The EAS Award for Outstanding Achievements in Magnetic Resonance will be presented to Clare P. Grey at the Eastern Analytical Symposium (EAS) on November 14 in Princeton, New Jersey.

Stephen Cramer to Receive EAS Award for Outstanding Achievements in Vibrational Spectroscopy

Stephen Cramer of the University of California, in Davis California, will be presented with the EAS Award for Outstanding Achievements in Vibrational Spectroscopy at the Eastern Analytical Symposium (EAS), taking place in Princeton, New Jersey on November 12–14.

Igor K. Lednev Receives NYSAS for Applied Spectroscopy Gold Medal Award

The New York and New Jersey section of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy (NYSAS) will present the Gold Medal Award to Igor K. Lednev at the Eastern Analytical Symposium (EAS), in Princeton, New Jersey, on November 12.

Not All Nanoparticle Analysis Challenges are Created Equal

By Laura Bush

The detection, quantitation, and characterization of nanoparticles using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and in particular using single-particle ICP-MS (SP-ICP-MS), has developed significantly in recent years. However, the difficulties involved in this type of analysis vary, depending on the composition of the nanoparticles. Martín Resano of the University of Zaragoza, together with colleagues from Ghent University, has recently developed a method for characterizing nanoparticles made from silicon dioxide (Si02), which are much more challenging to detect than those made from silver or gold. He recently spoke to us about this work.

New Atomic Spectroscopy–Based Approaches in Geochronology: An Interview with the 2018 Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy

By Spectroscopy Editors

Geochronology is an exciting area of atomic spectroscopy and earth science research. One of the goals is to answer tectonic questions, and in particular, how the crust responds to continent–continent collision. John M. Cottle, a professor of earth science at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is one of the scientists on that mission. Cottle and his research group are at the forefront of discovery in geochronology, combining both laboratory and field-based research. In particular, Cottle is a leader in the development of novel laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) measurements and their application to tectonic questions in convergent orogens, which are mountain ranges formed when a continental plate crumples and is pushed upwards.

Effective Removal of Isobaric Interferences on Strontium and Lead Using Triple-Quadrupole ICP-MS

By Daniel Kutscher, Simon Lofthouse, Simon Nelms, Shona McSheehy Ducos

Unresolved interferences can lead to biased results in ICP-MS analyses. Here we describe an approach for removing those interferences using reactive gases.

Peptide Mapping of Monoclonal Antibodies and Antibody–Drug Conjugates Using Micro-Pillar Array Columns Combined with Mass Spectrometry

By Koen Sandra, Jonathan Vandenbussche, Isabel Vandenheede, Bo Claerebout, Jeff Op De Beeck, Paul Jacobs, Wim De Malsche, Gert Desmet, Pat Sandra

The structural complexity of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) challenges the capabilities of even the most advanced chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques. This study examines the use of micro-pillar array columns in combination with mass spectrometry for peptide mapping of both mAbs and antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs).

Mass Spectrometry Techniques to Unravel the Heterogeneity of Glycoproteins

By Asif Shajaha, Parastoo Azadi

Since glycans are responsible for bioactivity, solubility, immunogenicity, and clearance rate from circulation, it is vital to have a detailed map of glycans in therapeutic glycoproteins. Detailed glycoprotein structural analysis must be able to identify the peptide sequence where the glycans are attached as well as the structure of the glycan portion, including oligosaccharide sequence and glycosyl linkages. This article details methods for mass spectrometry experiments on both released glycans (“glycomics”), as well as on intact glycopeptides (“glycoproteomics”) using electron transfer dissociation, high-energy collision dissociation, and collision-induced dissociation fragmentation pathways, which are needed to fully elucidate the structure of glycoproteins.

Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry Characterization of Vegetable Oil–Derived Potent Antimicrobial Agents

By Racha Seemamahannop, Prakash Wadhawa, Shubhen Kapila, Abha Malhotra

Under a suitable thermal oxidation regime, vegetable oils yield a mixture of volatile and semivolatile organics that exhibit very high antimicrobial activities against a variety of microbial species. Volatile and semivolatile products were characterized with GC–MS using electron ionization and chemical ionization. The thermal oxidation of vegetable oils resulted in the formation of an array of short and medium-chain acids, aldehydes, and ketones that act synergistically to yield a potent antimicrobial disinfectant.