Development of hybrid monoliths incorporating metal¿organic frameworks for stir bar sorptive extraction coupled with liquid chromatography for determination of estrogen endocrine disruptors in water and human urine samples

[EN] A novel coating based on hybrid monolith with metal-organic framework (MOF) onto conventional Teflon-coated magnetic stir bars was developed. For this purpose, the external surface of the Teflon stir bar was firstly vinylized in order to immobilize a glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)-based polymer onto the magnet. Then, an amino-modified MOF of type MIL-101 (NH2-MIL-101(Al)) was covalently attached to the GMA-based monolith. After the synthesis process, several parameters affecting extraction of target estrogens by stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) including pH, ionic strength, extraction time, stirring rate, desorption solvent, and desorption time were also investigated. The resulting hybrid monolith was evaluated as SBSE sorbent for extraction of three estrogens (estrone, 17 beta-estradiol, estriol) and synthetic 17 beta-ethinylestradiol from water and human urine samples followed by HPLC with fluorescence detection (excitation and emission wavelengths, 280 and 310 nm, respectively). Under the optimal experimental conditions, the analytical figures of the method were established, achieving satisfactory limits of detection in the range of 0.015-0.58 mu g L-1, recovery results ranging from 70 to 95% with RSD less than 6%, and precision values (intra- and inter-extraction units) below 6%.H. Martinez-Perez-Cejuela thanks the MSIU for a PhD FPU grant (ref. FPU18/02179). S. Z., I. L., and D. S. acknowledge the financial support of the Charles University (Project SVV 260 548), Charles University Grant Agency (Project GAUK No. 1070120), and EFSA-CDN project (no. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000841) cofunded by ERDF. This article is based upon work from the Sample Preparation Task Force and Network, supported by the Division of Analytical Chemistry of the European Chemical Society.Zatrochová, S.; Martínez-Pérez-Cejuela, H.; Catalá-Icardo, M.; Simó-Alfonso, EF.; Lhotská, I.; Atínský, D.; Herrero-Martínez, JM. (2022). Development of hybrid monoliths incorporating metal¿organic frameworks for stir bar sorptive extraction coupled with liquid chromatography for determination of estrogen endocrine disruptors in water and human urine samples. Microchimica Acta. 189(3):1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-022-05208-6110189

e-BioFlow: improving practical use of workflow systems in bioinformatics

Workflow management systems (WfMSs) are useful tools for bioinformaticians. As experiences with using WfMSs accumulate, shortcomings of current systems become apparent. In this paper, we focus on practical issues that hinder WfMS users and that arise in the design and execution of workflows, and in access of web services. We present e-BioFlow, a workflow engine that demonstrates in which way a number of these problems can be solved. e-BioFlow offers an improved user interface, can deal with large data volumes, stores all provenance, and has a powerful provenance browser. e-BioFlow also offers the possibility to design and run workflows step by step, allowing its users an explorative research style