Aspects of matrix effects in applications of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry to forensic and clinical toxicology—a review

In the last decade, liquid chromatography coupled to (tandem) mass spectrometry (LC-MS(-MS)) has become a versatile technique with many routine applications in clinical and forensic toxicology. However, it is well-known that ionization in LC-MS(-MS) is prone to so-called matrix effects, i.e., alteration in response due to the presence of co-eluting compounds that may increase (ion enhancement) or reduce (ion suppression) ionization of the analyte. Since the first reports on such matrix effects, numerous papers have been published on this matter and the subject has been reviewed several times. However, none of the existing reviews has specifically addressed aspects of matrix effects of particular interest and relevance to clinical and forensic toxicology, for example matrix effects in methods for multi-analyte or systematic toxicological analysis or matrix effects in (alternative) matrices almost exclusively analyzed in clinical and forensic toxicology, for example meconium, hair, oral fluid, or decomposed samples in postmortem toxicology. This review article will therefore focus on these issues, critically discussing experiments and results of matrix effects in LC-MS(-MS) applications in clinical and forensic toxicology. Moreover, it provides guidance on performance of studies on matrix effects in LC-MS(-MS) procedures in systematic toxicological analysis and postmortem toxicology.     

Electro-optic effects of colloidal crystals

Many kinds of electro-optic effects of colloidal crystals are observed and discussed on the basis of the fundamental properties of colloidal crystals themselves. Several electro-optic effects of colloidal crystals have been found by the authors mainly by use of light-scattering, reflection- and transmitted-light intensity measurements in an electric field, (a) waveform deformation, (b) phase-shift effects, (c) second-order harmonics generation, (d) self-resonance frequency generation (characteristic frequency and harmonic oscillation), (e) peak wavelength-shift effects and (f) waveform transformation. These electro-optic responses are explained successfully by the resonance-, visco-elastic- and structural relaxation-parameters of colloidal crystals.     

Polarizable Poisson-Boltzmann equation: the study of polarizability effects on the structure of a double layer

We incorporate ion polarizabilities into the Poisson-Boltzmann equation by modifying the effective dielectric constant and the Boltzmann distribution of ions. The extent of the polarizability effects is controlled by two parameters, γ(1) and γ(2); γ(1) determines the polarization effects in a dilute system and γ(2) regulates the dependence of the polarizability effects on the concentration of ions. For a polarizable ion in an aqueous solution γ(1) ≈ 0.01 and the polarizability effects are negligible. The conditions where γ(1) and/or γ(2) are large and the polarizability is relevant involve the low dielectric constant media, high surface charge, and/or large ionic concentrations.     

Interference Adsorption Mechanisms of Dimethoate,Metalaxyl, Atrazine,Malathion and Prometryn in a Sediment System Containing Coexisting Pesticides/Heavy Metals Based on Fractional Factor Design(Resolution V) Assisted by 2D-QSAR

The mechanisms of adsorption of pesticides(dimethoate, metalaxyl, atrazine, malathion and prometryn) and heavy metals(Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn and Ni) coexisting in sediments, with pesticides as target pollutants, and the influence of their main effects and double-order interaction effects were studied using the experimental design module in the Minitab software package with a 2^10?3 fractional factorial design method at resolution V. The main, double-order interaction, synergistic and antagonistic effect values of pollutant concentrations influencing the adsorption of pesticides were set as dependent variables, while various quantum chemical parameters of pesticides were set as independent variables, and two-dimensional quantitative structure activity relationship(2D-QSAR) models were established by stepwise regression to reveal the adsorption mechanisms of pesticides in a composite contamination system. The main effects of pollutants concentration played the primary role in the adsorption of dimethoate and malathion(the rates of contributions were 53.54% and 56.46%, respectively), while double-order interaction effects were primarily responsible for metalaxyl, atrazine and prometryn adsorption(the rates of contributions were 79.05%, 60.21% and 57.89%, respectively) in the pesticide/heavy metals coexisting sediment system. The synergistic effects of the main effects and double-order interaction effects of pollutants concentration(synergistic effects) played a leading role in adsorption of malathion and prometryn(the rates of contributions were 70.61% and 69.61%, respectively), while antagonistic effects of the main effects and double-order interaction effects of pollutants(antagonistic effects) played a dominant role in the adsorption of dimethoate, metalaxyl and atrazine(the rates of contributions were 58.82%, 56.89% and 58.24%, respectively). Moreover, the correlation coefficient value(R²) ranged from 0.986 to 0.999(>0.8783) in the 2D-QSAR model, while the standard deviation(SD) ranged from 0.006 to 0.066 and the F test values were 22.684-199.544, indicating the model has good predictive ability and fit. The 2D-QSAR model revealed a significant correlation(P=0.05) between the main effects of pollutants concentrations on pesticides adsorption(main effect values) and the most positive hydrogen atomic charge(q_H+), the highest occupied molecular orbital energy(E_HOMO) and the dipole moment(μ). Furthermore, double-order interaction effect values of pollutant concentrations influenced the adsorption of pesticides(double-order interaction effect values), and the most positive atomic charge(q⁺), q_H+, and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy(E_LUMO) were significantly correlated. The q_H+, E_HOMO and μ of pesticides were found to be significant factors promoting pesticides adsorption, while the q⁺ and E_LUMO of pesticides were significant inhibiting factors(P=0.05). Overall, this study provides a theoretical basis for further realization of combined pollution control of pesticide pollutants in complex environmental systems.     

Conformational equilibrium isotope effects in glucose by (13)C NMR spectroscopy and computational studies.

Anomeric equilibrium isotope effects for dissolved sugars are required preludes to understanding isotope effects for these molecules bound to enzymes. This paper presents a full molecule study of the alpha- and beta-anomeric forms of D-glucopyranose in water using deuterium conformational equilibrium isotope effects (CEIE). Using 1D (13)C NMR, we have found deuterium isotope effects of 1.043 +/- 0.004, 1.027 +/- 0.005, 1.027 +/- 0.004, 1.001 +/- 0.003, 1.036 +/- 0.004, and 0.998 +/- 0.004 on the equilibrium constant, (H/D)K(beta/alpha), in [1-(2)H]-, [2-(2)H]-, [3-(2)H]-, [4-(2)H]-, [5-(2)H]-, and [6,6'-(2)H(2)]-labeled sugars, respectively. A computational study of the anomeric equilibrium in glucose using semiempirical and ab initio methods yields values that correlate well with experiment. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of glucose and dihedral rotational equilibrium isotope effects in 2-propanol strongly imply a hyperconjugative mechanism for the isotope effects at H1 and H2. We conclude that the isotope effect at H1 is due to n(p) --> sigma* hyperconjugative transfer from O5 to the axial C1--H1 bond in beta-glucose, while this transfer makes no contribution to the isotope effect at H5. The isotope effect at H2 is due to rotational restriction of OH2 at 160 degrees in the alpha form and 60 degrees in the beta-sugar, with concomitant differences in n --> sigma* hyperconjugative transfer from O2 to CH2. The isotope effects on H3 and H5 result primarily from syn-diaxial steric repulsion between these and the axial anomeric hydroxyl oxygen in alpha-glucose. Therefore, intramolecular effects play an important role in isotopic perturbation of the anomeric equilibrium. The possible role of intermolecular effects is discussed in the context of recent molecular dynamics studies on aqueous glucose.     

Ring-chain tautomerism of 1-hydroxyphthalans. An examination of structural effects

1,3-Dihydro-1-isobenzofuranol,(1-hydroxyphtha1an) and 2-(hydroxymethyl)-benzaldehyde exist in a tautomeric equilibrium. The effects of molecular structure on this equilibrium was examined using various derivatives of dihydroisobenzofuranol. Two effects of this molecular modification were identified: (i) 1-arylmethyl substituents favored the ring-opened tautomer if steric effects arose in the ring closed form and (ii) extending the conjugated system of the dihydroisobenzofuran ring (i.e. dihydronaphtho[2,3-c] furan also favored the ring-opened form. These effects are discussed.     

Super-highly hydroxylated fullerene derivative protects human keratinocytes from UV-induced cell injuries together with the decreases in intracellular ROS generation and DNA damages

Polyhydroxylated fullerenes (fullerenols: C(60)(OH)(n)) are known as the major water-soluble fullerene derivatives which possess particular significance as free radical scavengers or antioxidants in biological systems. Recently, the novel polyhydroxylated fullerene (C(60) (OH)(44)·8H(2)O: SHH-F) was successfully synthesized. In the present study, we investigated the radical-scavenging effects and cytoprotective effects of three types of fullerenols (C(60)(OH)(6-12): LH-F, C(60) (OH)(32-34)·7H(2)O: HH-F, and C(60) (OH)(44)·8H(2)O: SHH-F) on UV-irradiation-induced cell injuries. HH-F and SHH-F exerted hydroxyl-radical scavenging activities as shown by DMPO-spin trap/ESR method, more markedly than LH-F. UVA or UVB irradiation-induced injuries in human skin keratinocytes HaCaT were significantly suppressed by HH-F and SHH-F, but scarcely by LF-H. The cytoprotective effects of SHH-F had a tendency to be superior to that of HH-F. And the cytoprotective effects of SHH-F against UVB-induced injuries were more effective than those of UVA. Irradiation with UVB to HaCaT cells was shown to cause rapid increases in cell-injury-associated symptoms such as intracellular oxidative stress levels, the formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and chromatin condensation, all of which were repressed by SHH-F. Thus, UVB-induced diverse harmful effects could be prevented by SHH-F, which was suggested to exert the cytoprotective effects through intracellular reactive oxygen species-scavenging in the keratinocytes.     

河水中兽药多残留分析时亲水亲脂平衡柱的基质效应和保留效果

基质效应是液相色谱-质谱联用(LC-MS)定量分析中的重要干扰因素。以反渗透水为空白对照进行LC-MS/MS检测,在500倍浓缩条件下考察了33种兽药分别经Waters、Supelco和CNW等3种亲水亲脂平衡(hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, HLB)固相萃取柱富集后的基质效应及其保留效果。结果表明,以反渗透水为基质时3种HLB柱均表现出外源性基质效应,对大部分喹诺酮类和四环素类兽药呈现促进效应,有两种HLB柱对雌激素类兽药等呈现抑制效应,对磺胺类兽药的基质效应不显著,有一种HLB柱对氯霉素类兽药呈现抑制效应;以河水为基质时,由于外源性杂质与内源性杂质共同作用,对大部分喹诺酮类和四环素类兽药呈现促进效应,对氯霉素类和雌激素类兽药呈现抑制效应,对磺胺类兽药基质效应不显著。与外标法相比较,基质匹配标准校正法可有效消除基质效应对检测结果的影响。在50 ng/L和200 ng/L两个加标水平下,Waters、Supelco和CNW 3种HLB柱对河水中33种目标兽药的校正后的回收率分别为40.3%~146.0%、37.8%~104.2%和52.9%~150.1%; RSD(n=4)为0.2%~14.6%。相同实验条件下3种HLB柱的外源性基质效应不容忽视。而采用基质匹配标准校正法克服目标物基质效应,保留效果无显著差异,富集效果良好,为河水样品中兽药多残留分析方法中固相萃取柱的选择提供了科学依据。     

Spin-orbit effects in electron transfer in neptunyl(VI)-neptunyl(V) complexes in solution

The spin-orbit effects were investigated on the complexes involved in the electron self-exchange between Np(V) and Np(VI) in both the outer-sphere and inner-sphere mechanisms, the latter for binuclear complexes containing hydroxide, fluoride, and carbonate as bridging ligands. Results obtained with the variation-perturbation and the multireference single excitation spin-orbit CI calculations are compared. Both effects due to different relaxations of spinors within a multiplet (spin-orbit relaxation) and scalar (electrostatic) relaxation effects in the excited states are accounted for in the latter scheme. The results show that the scalar (electrostatic) relaxation is well described by the single-excitation spin-orbit CI, and that spin-orbit relaxation effects are small in the Np complexes, as in the lighter d-transition elements but in contrast to the main group elements.     

Unusual pi-donating effects of pi-accepting substituents on the stabilities of benzylic cations: a theoretical study

The pi-donating effects of pi-accepting X-substituents in substituted benzylic cations, X-C(6)H(5)-CHR(+) where R = CF(3), H and OCH(3), and X = p-NH(2), p-OCH(3), p-CH(3), H, p-F, p-Cl, p-CHO, m-CN, p-CN, m-NO(2) or p-NO(2), have been studied theoretically by using isodesmic hydride transfer reactions at various levels of theory. It might be difficult to determine the pi-donating effects of pi-acceptors using the simple Hammett-type linear equation, because it is not sensitive enough to include small pi-donating effects. Therefore, this effect was estimated using the NBO deletion energy (DeltaE(D)) of the second-order charge-transfer interaction (DeltaE(ct)) between the pi-orbitals (or lone pair orbitals) of the X-substituent and the pi-orbitals of phenyl ring. The extents of pi-donating effects increased in the order X = p-NO(2) < p-CHO < p-CN < p-Cl for both neutral and cationic species, and these effects were found to be more important for para- than for meta-substituents. Moreover, this could represent a general trend for pi-donation by pi-acceptors. On the other hand, the effects of R-substituents on this pi-donating effect were found to be in the order R = OCH(3) < H congruent with CF(3), as predicted by natural resonance theory (NRT) analyses.     

Substituent effects on scalar J(13C, 13C) couplings in pyrimidines. An experimental and DFT study

One- two- and three 13C, 13C (n = 1, 2, 3) scalar couplings, (n)J(C,C) in a set of pyrimidine derivatives were studied both experimentally at natural abundance and theoretically by their DFT calculation of all four contributions. Trends of non-contact terms are discussed and substituent effects are rationalized, comparing some of them with the corresponding values in benzene and pyridine. Although substituent effects on non-contact terms are relatively important, the whole trend is dominated by the Fermi contact term. According to the current literature, substituent effects on 1J(C,C) couplings in benzene derivatives are dominated by the inductive effect, which, apparently, is also the case in nitrogen heteroaromatic compounds. However, some differences observed in this work for substituent effects on 1J(C,C) couplings in pyrimidine derivatives suggest that in the latter type of compounds substituent effects can be affected by the orientation of the ring nitrogen lone pairs.     

Cholesterol modulates amiodarone-membrane interactions in model and native membranes

The effects of cholesterol, a lipid mostly found in the sarcolemmal membranes, on the interaction of amiodarone with synthetic models of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and with native models of mitochondria and brain microsomes was studied. Alterations on the structural order of lipids were assessed by fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) probing the bilayer core, and of the propionic acid derivative 3-(p-(6-phenyl)-1,3,5-hexatrienyl)phenylpropionic acid (DPH-PA) probing the outer regions of the bilayer. As detected by the probes and according to classic observations, cholesterol progressively increased the molecular order in the fluid phase of DMPC. Additionally, it modulated the type and extension of amiodarone effects. For low cholesterol concentrations (≤10–15 mol%), amiodarone (50 μM) ordered DMPC bilayers and the effects were almost identical to those observed in pure DMPC. For higher cholesterol concentrations, amiodarone ordering effects decreased slightly and faded for cholesterol concentrations as high as 25 and 30 mol%, when detected by DPH-PA and DPH, respectively. Above these high cholesterol concentrations, a crossover from ordering to disordering effects of amiodarone was apparent, either in the upper region of the bilayer or the hydrophobic core. The effects of amiodarone in native membranes of mitochondria and brain microsomes, in which "native" cholesterol accounts for about 0 and 25 mol%, respectively, correlated reasonably with the results in models of synthetic lipids. There is a close relationship between cholesterol concentration and amiodarone effects, in either synthetic models or native model membranes. Therefore, it may be predicted that the lipid physicochemical properties regulated by cholesterol concentration will also modulate the effects of amiodarone in sarcolemma.     

Effects of piezoelectricity on acoustic axes in crystals

The following three effects of piezoelectricity on acoustic axes in crystals are considered: (i) shift in the positions of acoustic axes, (ii) disappearance of acoustic axes, (iii) generation of new acoustic axes. The examples of these effects are given for (i) gallium orthophosphate (ii) lithium niobate, (iii) barium titanate and lithium tetraborate.     

Tautomerism of sterically hindered schiff bases. Deuterium isotope effects on 13C chemical shifts

A series of sterically hindered o-hydroxy Schiff bases derived from o-hydroxyaceto- and benzophenones with very short intramolecular hydrogen bonds were described qualitative and quantitatively by deuterium isotope effects on (13)C chemical shift, (n)DeltaC(XD), (n)DeltaF(XD), (1)J(N,H) coupling constants, deltaNCH(3) chemical shifts and UV spectra. All the investigated compounds are found to be tautomeric. The tautomeric character is described by the signs of the deuterium isotope effects on the (13)C chemical shifts. For the 3-nitro-5-chloro derivatives at low temperature, the equilibrium is shifted almost fully toward the proton transferred form in CD(2)Cl(2). Intrinsic deuterium isotope effects on chemical shifts of these compounds as well as (1)J(N,H) coupling constants suggest that a zwitterionic resonance form is dominant for the proton transferred form. Structures, (1)H, (19)F, and (13)C chemical shifts, and deuterium isotope effects on (13)C chemical shifts are calculated by ab initio methods. The potential energy functions and the total deuterium isotope effects are calculated, and they are shown to correspond well with the experimental findings.     

Investigation of matrix effects in bioanalytical high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric assays: application to drug discovery

A series of studies was performed to investigate some of the causes for matrix effects ('ion suppression' or 'ion enhancement') in bioanalytical high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS) assays. Previous studies have reported that matrix effects are mainly due to endogenous components in biological fluids and are a greater concern for electrospray ionization (ESI) than for atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). In this report we demonstrate that: (1) matrix effects can also be caused by exogenous materials, such as polymers contained in different brands of plastic tubes, or Li-heparin, a commonly used anticoagulant; (2) matrix effects are not only ionization mode (APCI or ESI) dependent, but also source design (Sciex, Finnigan, Micromass) dependent; and (3) for at least one vendor's design, we found the APCI mode to be more sensitive to matrix effects than the ESI mode. Based on these findings, we have proposed the following simple strategies to avoid matrix effects: (1) select the same brand of plastic tubes for processing and storing plasma samples and spiked plasma standards; (2) avoid using Li-heparin as the anticoagulant; and (3) try switching the ionization mode or switching to different mass spectrometers when matrix effects are encountered. These three strategies have allowed us to use protein precipitation and generic fast LC techniques to generate reliable LC/MS/MS data for the support of pharmacokinetic studies at the early drug discovery stage.     

Salt and solvent effects on the kinetics and thermodynamics of the inclusion of the ruthenium complex [Ru(NH3)5(4,4'-bpy)]2+ in beta-cyclodextrin

The influences of solvents (in water-cosolvent mixtures) and salts on the kinetics and thermodynamics of the inclusion of [Ru(NH3)5(4,4'-bpy)]2+ in beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) have been studied. Solvent effects on the kinetics can be described as a consequence of the competition of the cosolvent for the beta-CD cavity. The salt effects on the kinetics depend on the ion pairing of the anions with the [Ru(NH3)5(4,4'-bpy)]2+ complex. On the other hand, the solvent effects on the equilibrium constant depend on the stabilization of the 4,4'-bipyridine ligand in the water-cosolvent mixture relative to water. Finally, salt effects on the equilibrium constant are interpreted as a consequence of ion pairing between the anion of the salt and the inclusion complex.     

Theoretical study of tautomeric and ionizing effects of guanine,cytosine, and their methyl derivatives

The study of pre-translational effects (ionization, tautomerization) and post-translational effects (methylation) of guanine and cytosine has only recently been the focus of some studies. These effects can potentially help regulate gene expression as well as potentially disrupt normal gene function. Because of this wide array of roles, greater insight into these effects in deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) are paramount. There has been considerable research of each phenomenon (tautomerization, methylation and ionization) individually. In this work, we attempt to shed light upon the pre- and post-translational effects of guanine and cytosine by investigating the electron affinities (EAs) and ionization potentials (IPs) of the major and minor tautomers and their methyl derivatives. We performed all calculations using the density functional theory B3LYP functional accompanied with 6-311G (d,p), 6-311+G (d,p), and 6-311++G (df,pd) basis sets. Our results reveal that the cytosine tautomer has a higher EA and IP than the guanine tautomers. The higher EA suggest that an electron that attaches to the GC base pair would predominately attach to the cytosine instead of guanine. The higher IP would suggest that an electron that is removed from the GC base pair would be predominately removed from the guanine within the base pair. Understanding how tautomerization, ionization, and methylation differences change effects, discourages, or promotes one another is lacking. In this work, we begin the steps of integrating these effects with one another, to gain a greater understanding of molecular changes in DNA bases.     

Thermal and solvent effects on NMR indirect spin-spin coupling constants of a prototypical Chagas disease drug

NMR J-couplings across hydrogen bonds reflect the static and dynamic character of hydrogen bonding. They are affected by thermal and solvent effects and can therefore be used to probe such effects. We have applied density functional theory (DFT) to compute the NMR (n)J(N,H) scalar couplings of a prototypical Chagas disease drug (metronidazole). The calculations were done for the molecule in vacuo, in microsolvated cluster models with one or few water molecules, in snapshots obtained from molecular dynamics simulations with explicit water solvent, and in a polarizable dielectric continuum. Hyperconjugative and electrostatic effects on spin-spin coupling constants were assessed through DFT calculations using natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis and atoms in molecules (AIM) theory. In the calculations with explicit solvent molecules, special attention was given to the nature of the hydrogen bonds formed with the solvent molecules. The results highlight the importance of properly incorporating thermal and solvent effects into NMR calculations in the condensed phase.     

Mechanism of ene reactions of singlet oxygen. A two-step no-intermediate mechanism

The mechanism of the ene reaction of singlet ((1)delta(g)) oxygen with simple alkenes is investigated by a combination of experimental isotope effects and several levels of theoretical calculations. For the reaction of 2,4-dimethyl-3-isopropyl-2-pentene, the olefinic carbons exhibit small and nearly equal (13)C isotope effects of 1.005-1.007, while the reacting methyl groups exhibit (13)C isotope effects near unity. In a novel experiment, the (13)C composition of the product is analyzed to determine the intramolecular (13)C isotope effects in the ene reaction of tetramethylethylene. The new (13)C and literature (2)H isotope effects are then used to evaluate the accuracy of theoretical calculations. RHF, CASSCF(10e, 8o), and restricted and unrestricted B3LYP calculations are each applied to the ene reaction with tetramethylethylene. Each predicts a different mechanism, but none leads to reasonable predictions of the experimental isotope effects. It is concluded that none of these calculations accurately describe the reaction. A more successful approach was to use high-level, up to CCSD(T), single-point energy calculations on a grid of B3LYP geometries. The resulting energy surface is supported by its accurate predictions of the intermolecular (13)C and (2)H isotope effects and a very good prediction of the reaction barrier. This CCSD(T)//B3LYP surface features two adjacent transition states without an intervening intermediate. This is the first experimentally supported example of such a surface and the first example of a valley-ridge inflection with significant chemical consequences.     

Comparison of Plackett-Burman and supersaturated designs in robustness testing

An optimized FIA assay of L-N-monomethylarginine (LNMMA) was validated. The linearity, precision, accuracy and range of the analytical method were evaluated and robustness testing was performed. Several experimental designs for robustness testing containing different numbers of experiments (N) were compared. Both Plackett-Burman (N=8 or 12) and supersaturated designs (N=6) were examined. The latter design results were analyzed with the Fixing Effects and Adding Rows (FEAR) method, based on the initial addition of zero effect rows to the model matrix, which then are iteratively replaced by fixed effects. It was evaluated whether by reducing the number of experiments from 12 to 8 or 6, similar effects are estimated and considered (non-)significant. The FIA method was found linear in a range of 70-130% of the LNMMA concentration in the samples, and precise and accurate in a range of 80-120%. The estimated factor effects and the critical effects were found comparable for all examined designs, though there also are some indications that some from the supersaturated designs tend to be overestimated. The method was considered robust, since no significant effects occurred for the response describing the quantitative aspect of the method. For other responses, such as peak height and residence time, significant effects occur. However, only the most important effects are found with all designs. The effects reported from a supersaturated design based on the FEAR method still can be subject of further research.