Statistical significance for amine determinations, HDC activity and β-hexosaminidase activity analysis was determined by the Student's paired samples t-test (two-tailed) using the GraphPad software.
The normality of each analysis was determined by visual assessment of residual plots.
Elemental analysis was determined by Perkin-Elmer analyzer model 2400 CHN analyzer.
The particle size analysis was determined by hydrometer method (Bouycocous 1951).
The surface characterization was performed using SEM and the surface elemental analysis was determined by EDS.
Sensitivity analysis was determined by monitoring the absorbance change following the addition of various amounts of bacteria and high level of salt.
The repeatability of the derivatization procedure and the chromatographic analysis was determined by five replicate injections of the standards prepared as described above.
The stability of the drug in solution during analysis was determined by repeated analysis of samples during the course of experimentation on the same day and also after storage of the drug solution (8 μg/ml) for 24, 48 and 72 hours under laboratory bench condition (25 ± 1°C) and under refrigeration (8 ± 0.5°C).
Fiber-type analysis was determined by immunohistochemistry techniques as described previously [19].
The sample order for LC/MS analysis was determined by randomization.
Metal ion analysis was determined by ICP-MS, at the Analysis Center of Tsinghua University (Beijing, China).
