UCT exhibits at SAT Fall Meeting, Norman, OK, October 4th- 6th, 2012

UCT always proudly supports regional meetings for Forensic Toxicologists.   At this years Fall meeting of the Southwestern Association of Toxicologists (SAT) held in Norman, OK, UCT will be represented by Andrew Johansen. Andrew will be on hand throughout the meeting to discuss UCT methods, applications and products for use in the field of Forensic Toxicology.  UCT is recognized for developing one of the first SPE methodologies for use with Spice Drugs and metabolites in blood and urine.  Methods for analysis of bathsalts are also available.  Please visit Andrew at the UCT booth to learn more about Clean Screen, Xcel and FASt range of technologies as well as our derivatizing reagents and manifolds for sample preparation.

In the Journal of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Hedvika Davis, et al, used UCT Specialties silane T2910 (diethylenetriamine trimethoxysilylpropyldiethylenetriamine) in their in vitro CNS myelination model (J. Biomater. Tissue Eng. 2, 206-215, 2012).  The T2910, or DETA, modifies the surface of a glass coverslip.  Motorneurons are then attached to the coverslip via the T2910.  The motorneurons, in turn, were seeded with OPCs (oligiodendrocyte precursor cells) and then allowed to culture.  The DETA used gave the surface the following advantages:

·The tramine moiety of T2910 resembles the structure of spermidine, a well known growth factor

·T2910 is an aminosilane that forms a covalently bound, uniform, self-assembled monolayer on glass surfaces

·At physiologic pH, the amines in T2910 carry partial positive charges, providing a hydrophilic surface that promotes cellular attachment

·T2910 also promotes long-term cell survival because it is non-digestible by matrix proteases secreted by cells.

·By using T2910 micropatterning of the culture can now be performed using photolithorgraphy.  This cannot be performed using current attachment techniques.

UCT Specialties (Petrarch) continues to manufacture high quality specialty silanes, silicones, catalysts and coatings for a vast variety of manufacturing markets.  Coupled with our excellence in the Solid Phase Extraction chromatography markets, this demonstrates UCT Inc. as a leader for your silicon related chemistry products.

UCT Xcel I and Xcel II SPE columns, Hydrocodone

It has been recognized by forensic toxicology laboratories around the world that the abuse of prescription opioids for non-medical use has been on the rise over the past decade. The most commonly abused opioid is hydrocodone, a frequently prescribed pain medication. Laboratories have been requesting a sample prep column that would offer a rapid, efficient and reproducible methodology.  UCT has responded with Xcel I and II SPE columns.

In a study recently published in Journal of Analytical Toxicology (September  (2012;36:507–514))  Sandra Valtier and Vikhyat S. Bebarta of Lackland Air force Base, TX, demonstrated the use of the Xcel I column to determine the metabolites of hydrocodone  i.e.  hydromorphone, norhydrocodone in human urine. Their study describes the excretion profile of hydrocodone, hydromorphone and norhydrocodone in urine following a single dose (10 mg) administration of the drug to human subjects and presents a validated liquid chromatography– tandem mass spectrometry method for analysis of the drug and its metabolites. By showing that a LOQ was 5 ng/mL and LOD was 2.5 ng/mL for hydrocodone and norhydrocodone, and 5 ng/mL for hydromorphone were achievable through the use of Xcel I phase, it demonstrates how effective this SPE sorbent is in analyzing urine for these opiates.

UCT proudly stands behind its support of laboratories facing the increasing number of abused drugs by having a superior portfolio of SPE sorbents under the Clean Screen® banner.  This line also includes the CSDAU and CSTHC range of sorbents, acknowledged around the world for their excellence in drug analysis.

UCT Presentation at STFA Congres (Chambery, France, September 18-21)

UCT is well known and highly regarded around the world for its experience in producing the finest Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) sorbents for the Forensic/Clinical Toxicology and Environmental communities, as well as our line of Petrarch Chemicals (including dertivatizing reagents). In the field of Forensic Toxicology, there is no finer performing SPE column than UCT's flag ship sorbent Clean Screen DAU for the extraction of a diverse range of forensically significant drugs from a wide variety of biological matrices.

At this years Annual Congres of the Societe Francais Toxicologique et Analytique (SFTA) held in Chambery, France, UCT scientist Dr.Jeff Hackett will be presenting some recent research involving the extraction and analysis of Amphetamines (Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, MDA, MDMA) from Hair samples. The research (carried out in collaboration with a major State Crime Laboratory) demonstrates the ability to produce highly reproducible samples, with high recovery values and low matrix effects (at very low concentrations) using small amounts of sample (approx. 10 mg). The use of the Clean Screen DAU in this analysis shows why this is the first choice SPE sorbent for analysts in facilities around the world for drug testing.

N-Octadecyltrichlorosilane (O9750) is used to create single and two-component gradient monolayers on silicon surfaces

Research conducted by Brandon D. Booth and associates at Vanderbilt University (B.D. Booth, et al., Tribological characterization of gradient monolayer films from trichlorosilanes in silicon, Colloids Surf. A: Physicochem. Eng. Aspects (2012)) recently published that n-octadecyltrichlorosilane from UCT Specialties (United Chemical Technologies) was used to create single and two-component gradient monolayers on silicon surfaces. Both of these techniques impart stronger tribological qualities to the surface.  In fact, the two-component gradient monolayer provides a more robust tribological interface demonstrated by increased stability in gradient frictional performance for at least 5 hours of continuous sliding.

UCT Specialties (Petrarch) continues to manufacture high quality specialty silanes, silicones, catalysts and coatings for a vast variety of manufacturing markets.  Coupled with our excellence in the Solid Phase Extraction chromatography markets, this demonstrates UCT Inc. as a leader for your silicon related chemistry products.

Clean Screen DAU and Analysis of Spice Drugs in Athletes

It is known that Synthetic Cannabinoids (Spice Drugs) are found to be used across the whole spectrum of society. Typically analysis is reported by Forensic Toxicologists testing samples obtained from people involved with motoring offenses. Since the Spice Drugs are active at much lower concentrations than the conventional cannabinoids, a very efficient and robust methodology of extraction must be used. UCT Inc, the premier manufacturer of Solid Phase Extraction materials has been at the forefront of this type of analysis with the Clean Screen THC column. The THC column has been shown to be highly efficient in this area of Forensic Drug Testing.

Now in a publication to be seen in Journal of Analytical Toxicology (August 2012), Rebecca Heltsley et al have employed UCT's foremost SPE sorbent Clean Screen DAU in the testing of US athletes for the presence and concentrations of JWH-018, JWH-073, and their respective metabolites. The analytical team were able to detect and quantify the drugs down to 1 ng/mL of urine, with highly reproducible recoveries and minimal matrix effects. This report demonstrates why UCT is the world leader in SPE with Clean Screen DAU and THC SPE columns.

UCT at NEMC, Washington DC, August 6-10 2012

As the world's premier manufacturer of Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) sorbents and products, UCT is at the cutting edge of Environmental Analysis. At this years annual meeting of the National Environmental Monitoring Conference, Washington DC (August 6-10 2012), UCT will be represented by its most senior representatives: Don Shelly, Phil Spraker, and Dr. Xiaoyan Wang.  Don will be giving an informative presentation "An Optimized Method for the Determination of Haloacetic Acids and Dalapon using Quaternary Amine Anion Exchange SPE". This talk will be given on August 8th and 9th.  Dr. Wang will be presenting her work "Determination of Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Bottled Drinking Water" on August 8th. Don and Phil will be at the UCT booth throughout this conference to help and assist with any questions regarding SPE products, methods or applications.