UCT at TIAFT 2013

UCT is proud of its support of Forensic Toxicologists and Toxicology groups around the world. The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT) is celebrating its 50th year of activity in 2013; and the TIAFT annual meeting is being held on the island of Madeira, Portugal from September 1st through the 6th.  UCT will be exhibiting at this auspicious meeting where many of the major international toxicologists will gather to discuss the latest advances in the field. UCT will be represented by Hocine Omari, one of our International Sales Representatives.  Stop by to learn about our latest applications and products.

UCT Specialties, the manufacturer of the Petrarch line of specialty silanes, continues to find use in the biomaterials field

Research in the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A recently published that tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl-1-trichlorosilane (T2492) from UCT Specialties (United Chemical Technologies) was a key component in research to develop a simple 1D submicron, and linear patterned extracellular matrix on a multilayer silicone material.  Specifically, the T2492 was used to adhere via vapor deposition Pluronic F127 blocking agent to a plasma treated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) well. The goal of the work is to create a 1D manufacturing process that is simpler and cheaper than other 1D processes, which require great skill and expensive equipment to manufacture.  If the manufacturing hurdles can be overcome, 1D cell culture environments may offer advantages over currently popular 3D cultures.  Both 1D and 3D environments appear to present similar cellular morphology and behavior patterns.  However, 1D may make the control of external environmental parameters, such as applied mechanical forces, easier for biologists to control than current 3D systems.

UCT Specialties continues to manufacture high quality specialty silanes, reactive silicones, catalysts and coatings for a variety of manufacturing markets.  Coupled with our excellence in the Solid Phase Extraction chromatography markets, this demonstrates UCT Inc.’s ongoing leadership for your silicon related chemistry products

Reference: Dixon AR, Moraes C, Csete ME, Thouless MD, Philbert MA, Takayama S. 2013. One-dimensional patterning of cells in silicone wells via compression-induced fracture.
J Biomed Mater Res Part A 2013;00A:000–000.

UCT Announces the Launch of a New EPA Method 8270 Solid Phase Extraction Product at NEMC 2013

The National Environmental Monitoring Conference (NEMC) will take place in San Antonio, TX this year from August 5-9.  NEMC is the largest conference focused solely on environmental measurements in North America. The conference brings together scientists and managers from federal and state agencies, the regulated community, academia, and laboratory and engineering support communities.  At this year’s conference UCT is excited to announce the launch of a new two column cartridge system for EPA method 8270 sample extractions.  Please stop by our booth, #40, to learn more about this new product.  Also, be sure to stop by our poster, ‘Complete Determination of Acids, Bases, and Neutrals in Water Using Solid Phase Extraction for EPA Method 8270’ to speak with Dr. Xiaoyan Wang, one of our applications chemists.

UCT at NACRW

UCT is proud to be a platinum sponsor at this year’s NACRW conference taking place next week from July 21 – 24.  This year, UCT’s CEO, Michael Telepchak, is the president of the conference organizing committee and is honored to fill this role in anticipation of a memorable meeting celebrating the 50^th anniversary of this important show.  We look forward to meeting with all the attendees during the course of the week.  Please stop by our booths 40 & 41, or come to our lunch and learn seminar being presented in the Tarpon Key Room on Tuesday July 23.  Dr. Brian Kinsella and Michael Telepchak will be presenting on the ‘The Chemistry of QuEChERS: Theory, Method Development, and Applications.’

Pepsi containing 4-methylimidazole

CBS News recently reported on the discovery by a watchdog group, The Center for Environmental Health, that the caramel coloring used in Pepsi contains high levels of a probable carcinogen according to the state of California.    It has found the compound 4-methylimidazole, or 4-Mel, from Pepsi samples acquired in 10 different states.   This link will take you to the original article.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57592155/environmental-group-cancer-causing-agent-found-in-pepsi-products/

If you are interested in investigating this further in your lab, UCT has the SPE tools to help you do the extraction.  Contact methods@unitedchem.com for help.

UCT presenting Workshop and Case Study Presentations at LTG (formerly London Toxicology Group) meeting in London, July 5

UCT is proud to announce its sponsorship of the United Kingdom’s LTG July 5th meeting.  LTG was founded in the 1970's in order to provide a forum for toxicologists around the United Kingdom to come together and discuss topics of interest regarding the field of forensic toxicology.  UCT maintains a significant presence for providing products and technical support for the forensic toxicology field.  As part of its sponsorship and commitment to the LTG and forensics in general, UCT’s Dr. Jeff Hackett will be offering our UCT SPE workshop as well as presenting a series of case studies highlighting the analysis of designer drugs.  The studies being presented employ two of UCT flagship sorbents (Clean Screen DAU for the analysis of Methoxetamine, and Clean Screen THC for AM-2201).

Need an alternative to Toxi-Tubes?

UCT is well recognized for excellence in SPE. It is also the premiere supplier for sample prep products to the Forensic / Clinical Toxicology Community. Recently, it was announced that a general drug screening tool, the Toxi-Tubes® from Agilent, is being discontinued this fall. UCT understands that this is putting a lot of pressure on analysts to search for an alternate pathway to prepare their samples.  UCT has always provided the ideal solution for extraction and analysis - the Clean Screen suite of SPE cartridges. Clean Screen DAU is the flagship sorbent for all types of confirmations; however, it can also be used as a sorbent for screens. It extracts all weak acids, neutrals, and bases resulting in clean, reproducible extracts. This front end effort makes for a cleaner injection port and detector source on your GC/MS and/or LC/MS meaning more instrument up time and less noise in your chromatograms. If time is of critical importance - UCT also offers the Clean Screen Xcel range of SPE tubes. This product line requires no tube pre-conditioning, just a simple sample load, wash, and elute process. In addition to products to ease your transition to a new extraction technique, UCT also has a team of in-house and field application specialists that can help you with your transition to a new and better sample preparation for your biological matrices. Contact us at info@unitedchem.com or call us at 215-781-9255 or 800-385-3153 to discuss how we can help you keep the samples moving through your lab.

Toxi-Tubes® is a registered trademark of Agilent Technologies, Inc.