Ambient ionization mass spectrometry: a tutorial

Ambient ionization is a set of mass spectrometric ionization techniques performed under ambient conditions that allows the direct analysis of sample surfaces with little or no sample pretreatment. Using combinations of different types of sample introduction systems and ionization methods, several novel techniques have been developed over the last few years with many applications (e.g., food safety screening; detection of pharmaceuticals and drug abuse; monitoring of environmental pollutants; detection of explosives for antiterrorism and forensics; characterization of biological compounds for proteomics and metabolomics; molecular imaging analysis; and monitoring chemical and biochemical reactions). Electrospray ionization and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization are the two main ionization principles most commonly used in ambient ionization mass spectrometry. This tutorial paper provides a review of the publications related to ambient ionization techniques. We describe and compare the underlying principles of operation, ionization processes, detecting mass ranges, sensitivity, and representative applications of these techniques.     

实时直接分析质谱在农药检测中的应用

实时直接分析(Direct analysis in real time,DART)作为一种原位电离技术发展迅猛,其与质谱联用已成为热门的分析技术并广泛应用于法庭科学领域,如食品安全、爆炸物检测、毒物毒品分析和药物分析等方面。目前农药的常规检测方法已非常成熟,但引入原位电离-质谱联用技术可以拓宽检测范围,缩短检测时限。该文从实时直接分析质谱(DART-MS)技术的工作原理、检测条件优化及其在农药检测方面的应用进行综述,并对DART-MS的应用前景进行了展望。     

原位电离与小型质谱在公共安全领域的应用

质谱作为一种具有高准确度、高灵敏度、高选择性的检测仪器,在公共安全领域有着重要的应用前景。公共安全领域的需求主要涉及毒品、毒物、爆炸物等化学物质的现场快速检测,因其影响广泛,检测结果需非常准确。作为实验室分析仪器,质谱的准确性和速度能满足公共安全的应用需求,但作为现场快速检测的仪器仍需要一定改进。现场快速检测一方面要求检测仪器的小型化,另一方面要求样品前处理的简单化,以使整个检测流程可以无需专业人员来完成。对于检测仪器的小型化,小型质谱的开发在近20年得到了充分发展;对于样品前处理的简单化,研究者发明了原位电离技术,使得基质复杂的被分析物无需前处理即可进行质谱检测。该文首先介绍了原位电离技术的发展及其在公共安全领域的应用,特别是对解吸附电喷雾电离、实时直接分析电离、激光烧蚀电喷雾电离、纸喷雾电离与纸毛细管喷雾电离等典型原位电离技术的原理、性能及在公共安全领域的应用进行了详细介绍,并讨论了几种原位电离现场定量方法。然后,对原位电离小型质谱的发展进行了综述,从最初的小型化离子阱,到仅能检测可挥发有机物的小型质谱,再到可检测非挥发性物质的常规大气压电离源小型质谱,最后发展成为有原位电离源的小型质谱,历经20年的发展使得原位电离小型质谱得以出现和提升。并列举了原位电离小型质谱在毒品现场检测与吸毒人员排查、爆炸物现场侦察、食品安全之农用化学品检测、药物质量检查等公共安全领域的应用。最后,对原位电离小型质谱的发展进行了展望,指出原位电离与小型质谱相结合是小型质谱发展的必然趋势,未来需使用更加智能化的原位电离小型质谱,结合云数据平台,实现更方便广泛的应用。     

What Can We Learn from Ambient Ionization Techniques?

Ambient mass spectrometry—mass spectrometric analysis with no or minimal effort for sample preparation—has experienced a very rapid development during the last 5 years, with many different methods now available for ionization. Here, we review its range of applications, the hurdles encountered for its quantitative use, and the proposed mechanisms for ion formation. Clearly, more effort needs to be put into investigation of matrix effects, into defining representative sampling of heterogeneous materials, and into understanding and controlling the underlying ionization mechanisms. Finally, we propose a concept to reduce the number of different acronyms describing very similar embodiments of ambient mass spectrometry.     

实时直接分析质谱新技术及其应用

由于不需要复杂的样品前处理过程,并具有实时、原位分析等特点,常压敞开式离子化技术成为近年来质谱研究的热点之一.实时直接分析(direct analysis in real time,DART)是近年来出现的一种常压敞开式离子化新技术,在食品安全、环境监测、爆炸物检测以及生物医药等诸多研究领域均有广泛的应用.本文简单介绍了常压敞开式离子化方法的发展,DART的基本原理和研究现状.进而介绍了我国质谱研究人员在基于DART的质谱仪器改进、联用技术以及生物药物等检测分析方面取得的新进展和新成果.     

Electrospray ionization with aluminum foil: A versatile mass spectrometric technique

In this study, we developed a novel electrospray ionization (ESI) technique based on household aluminum foil (Al foil) and demonstated the desirable features and applications of this technique. Al foil can be readily cut and folded into desired configuration for effective ionization and for holding sample solution in bulk to allowing acquisition of durable ion signals. The present technique was demonstrated to be applicable in analysis of a wide variety of samples, ranging from pure chemical and biological compounds, e.g., organic compounds and proteins, to complex samples in liquid, semi-solid, and solid states, e.g., beverages, skincare cream, and herbal medicines. The inert, hydrophobic and impermeable surface of Al foil allows convenient and effective on-target extraction of solid samples and on-target sample clean-up, i.e., removal of salts and detergents from proteins and peptides, extending ESI device from usually only for sample loading and ionization to including sample processing. Moreover, Al foil is an excellent heat-conductor and highly heat-tolerant, permitting direct monitoring of thermal reactions, e.g., thermal denaturation of proteins. Overall, the present study showed that Al-foil ESI could be an economical and versatile method that allows a wide range of applications.     

常压电离质谱在公共安全化学毒物检测的应用

常压电离质谱技术(Ambient ionization mass spectrometry,AIMS)以其敞开式环境、简便操作、原位、实时、高通量等优势,成为公共安全化学毒物检测领域的研究热点。该文基于文献计量分析,简要概述了AIMS的分类、发展趋势及其在公共安全化学毒物检测领域的发展现状,重点从检测灵敏度、样品前处理兼容性以及现场检测的小型化质谱适配性等方面,归类总结了AIMS在毒品、爆炸物、化学战剂和生物毒素等分析检测方面的应用特点,最后对其技术特点及未来发展待解决问题等进行了评述,为相关领域研究人员提供有益参考。     

ESI-MS/MS library of 1,253 compounds for application in forensic and clinical toxicology

An electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) library which contains over 5,600 spectra of 1,253 compounds relevant in clinical and forensic toxicology has been developed using a hybrid tandem mass spectrometer with a linear ion trap. Pure compound solutions—in some cases solutions made of tablets—were prepared and 1 to 2,000 ng of each compound were injected into the system using standard reversed-phase analytical columns with gradient elution. To obtain maximum mass spectral information enhanced product ion spectra were acquired with positive and/or negative ionization at low, medium, and high collision energies and additionally applying collision energy spread. In this mode, all product ions generated by the different collision energies are trapped in the linear ion trap prior to their detection. The applicability of the library for other types of hybrid tandem mass spectrometers with a linear ion trap of the same manufacturer as well as a standard triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer has been investigated with a selection of compounds. The spectra of the developed library can be used to create methods for target analysis, either screening methods or quantitative procedures by generating transitions for multiple reaction monitoring. For those procedures, suitable transitions and convenient collision energies are selected from the library. It also has been utilized to identify compounds with a multi target screening approach for clinical and forensic toxicology with a standardized and automated system. The novel aspects compared to our former library produced with a standard triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer are the enlargement of the ESI-MS/MS library and the additional acquisition of spectra with collision energy spread.     

Review and perspectives on the applications of mass spectrometry imaging under ambient conditions

Ambient mass spectrometry (AMS)‐based techniques are performed under ambient conditions in which the ionization and desorption occur in the open environment allowing the direct analysis of molecules with minimal or no sample preparation. A selected group of AMS techniques demonstrate imaging capabilities that can provide information about the localization of molecules on complex sample surfaces such as biological tissues. 2D, 3D, and multimodal imaging have unlocked an array of applications to systematically address complex problems in many areas of research such as drug monitoring, natural products, forensics, and cancer diagnostics. In the present review, we summarize recent advances in the field with respect to the implementation of new ambient ionization techniques and current applications in the last 5 years. In more detail, we mainly focus on imaging applications in topics related to animal whole bodies and tissues, single cells, cancer diagnostics and biomarkers, microbial cultures and co‐cultures, plant and natural product metabolomics, and forensic applications. Finally, we discuss new areas of research, future perspectives, and the overall direction that the field may take in the years to come.     

Research Advances in Ambient Ionization and Miniature Mass Spectrometry

The development and applications of ambient ionization and miniature mass spectrometry are current research focus in chemical measurement. The analytical technology based on the combination of ambient ionization and miniature mass spectrometry can bypass chromatographic separation and eliminate or simplify sample pretreatment process. The protocol can reverse the labor-intensive and time-consuming drawbacks of traditional analytical methodologies, and realize rapid, on-site analysis with high sensitivity and high throughput. In this paper, the research progress and applications of ambient ionization and miniature mass spectrometry in the fields of food safety, consumer product safety, public security, life sciences and environmental monitoring, are reviewed, and future trends and prospects are discussed, which may provide technical guidance for the researchers engaged in relevant fields.     

敞开式离子化质谱在贸易产品化学风险物质筛查中的应用及前景

敞开式离子化质谱是一种新兴的质谱快检技术,具有分析速度快、操作流程简单、特异性强等特点。该技术无需对样品做复杂预处理,尤其在与便携式质谱仪联用时,可用于大量样品的现场、快速、准确筛查,在贸易产品化学风险物质的筛查中展现出广泛的应用前景。该文主要综述敞开式离子化质谱近年来在贸易产品化学风险物质筛查方面的研究进展,并对其未来的发展前景进行了展望。     

Comparative study on ambient ionization methods for direct analysis of navel orange tissues by mass spectrometry

It is of sustainable interest to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of the ionization process, especially for direct analysis of complex samples without matrix separation. Herein, four ambient ionization methods including desorption atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (DAPCI), heat‐assisted desorption atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (heat‐assisted DAPCI), microwave plasma torch (MPT) and internal extractive electrospray ionization (iEESI) were employed for comparative analysis of the navel orange tissue samples by mass spectrometry. The volatile organic compounds (e.g. ethanol, vanillin, leaf alcohol and jasmine lactone) were successfully detected by non‐heat‐assisted DAPCI‐MS, while semi‐volatile organic compounds (e.g. 1‐nonanol and ethyl nonanoate) together with low abundance of non‐volatile organic compounds (e.g. sinensetin and nobiletin) were obtained by heat‐assisted DAPCI‐MS. Typical nonvolatile organic compounds [e.g. 5‐(hydroxymethyl)furfural and glucosan] were sensitively detected with MPT‐MS. Compounds of high polarity (e.g. amino acids, alkaloids and sugars) were easily profiled with iEESI‐MS. Our data showed that more analytes could be detected when more energy was delivered for the desorption ionization purpose; however, heat‐sensitive analytes would not be detected once the energy input exceeded the dissociation barriers of the analytes. For the later cases, soft ionization methods such as iEESI were recommended to sensitively profile the bioanalytes of high polarity. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ambient mass spectrometry: bringing MS into the “real world”

Mass spectrometry has recently undergone a second contemporary revolution with the introduction of a new group of desorption/ionization (DI) techniques known collectively as ambient mass spectrometry. Performed in an open atmosphere directly on samples in their natural environments or matrices, or by using auxiliary surfaces, ambient mass spectrometry (MS) has greatly simplified and increased the speed of MS analysis. Since its debut in 2004 there has been explosive growth in the applications and variants of ambient MS, and a very comprehensive set of techniques based on different desorption and ionization mechanisms is now available. Most types of molecules with a large range of masses and polarities can be ionized with great ease and simplicity with the outstanding combination of the speed, selectivity, and sensitivity of MS detection. This review describes and compares the basis of ionization and the concepts of the most promising ambient MS techniques known to date and illustrates, via typical analytical and bioanalytical applications, how ambient MS is helping to bring MS analysis deeper than ever into the “real world” open atmosphere environment—to wherever MS is needed.     

敞开式电离质谱技术在法医毒物分析中的应用

敞开式电离质谱(Ambient ionization mass spectrometry,AIMS)是指在大气压环境下,无需或只需简单的样品前处理即可对样品中目标物进行分析的质谱技术。AIMS具有简单、快速、无损和适用范围广等优势,被广泛应用于法医毒物分析领域。该文对敞开式电离(Ambient ionization,AI)技术进行了简单概述,将检材分为体内检材和体外检材两大类,综述了AIMS技术在不同类型检材毒物分析中的应用,并对其在法医毒物分析中的发展前景进行了展望。     

介质阻挡放电离子源质谱分析

敞开式离子化质谱可对表面样品进行直接快速分析而受到关注,成为质谱分析的热点研究方向.介质阻挡放电离子源是一种基于等离子体放电机理的敞开式离子源,近年来得到了较快的发展.本文着重介绍该离子源的基本原理、性能特征以及应用进展,并对其发展趋势进行了展望.     

Forensic analysis of latent fingermarks by silver‐assisted LDI imaging MS on nonconductive surfaces

Silver‐assisted laser desorption ionization (AgLDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) has been demonstrated to be a useful technology for fingermark analysis allowing for the detection of several classes of endogenous as well as exogenous compounds. Ideally, in IMS analyses, the fingermarks are deposited under controlled conditions on metallized conductive target slides. However, in forensic investigations, fingermarks are often found on a variety of nonconductive surfaces. A sputtered silver layer renders the target surface conductive, which allows the analyses of insulating surfaces by time‐of‐flight IMS. Ultimately, the major consideration when developing analytical methods for the analysis of latent fingermarks is their capability to be incorporated within forensic standard operational procedures. To demonstrate the potential of AgLDI IMS for forensic applications, fingermarks deposited on nonconductive surfaces commonly found during an investigation, including paper, cardboard, plastic bags and lifting tape, were first revealed by the Sûreté du Québec by using forensic enhancement techniques prior to the IMS analyses. Numerous endogenous compounds including fatty acids, cholesterol, squalene, wax esters, triglycerides and several exogenous substances were detected and imaged. Here, we show that silver sputtering can provide visual enhancements of fingerprint patterns after FET procedures through different scenarios in which AgLDI IMS can contribute to forensic investigations. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

复杂样品质谱分析技术的原理与应用

原位、实时、在线、非破坏、高通量、低耗损的质谱学方法是质谱分析技术发展的重要趋势.在无需样品预处理的条件下对复杂基体样品中痕量待测物直接离子化技术的出现,极大地提高了质谱分析的效率,使实际样品的快速质谱分析成为可能.本文着重综述了能够在无需样品预处理情况下对复杂基体样品离子化的新兴质谱技术及其应用研究,系统阐述了直接离子化技术的基本原理和方法,介绍了几种典型的常压直接离子化技术和装置,对直接离子化质谱分析技术在食品、药品、环境、活体分析、代谢组学、蛋白质组学以及生物组织质谱成像等领域的典型应用进行了述评,讨论了提高复杂样品快速质谱分析选择性的可能方法,并展望了常压直接离子化技术未来发展的可能趋势.     

LC-MS analysis in the aquatic environment and in water treatment – a critical review

LC-MS has become an invaluable technique for trace analysis of polar compounds in aqueous samples of the environment and in water treatment. LC-MS is of particular importance due to the impetus it has provided for research into the occurrence and fate of polar contaminants, and of their even more polar transformation products. Mass spectrometric detection and identification is most widely used in combination with sample preconcentration, chromatographic separation and atmospheric pressure ionization (API). The focus of the first part of this review is directed particularly toward instruments and method development with respect to their applications for detecting emerging contaminants, microorganisms and humic substances (HS). The current status and future perspectives of 1) mass analyzers, 2) ionization techniques to interface liquid chromatography (LC) with mass spectrometry (MS), 3) methods for preconcentration and separation with respect to their application for water analysis are discussed and examples of applications are given. Quadrupole and ion trap mass analyzers with electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) are already applied in routine analysis. Time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometers are of particular interest for accurate mass measurements for identification of unknowns. For non-polar compounds, different ionization approaches have been described, such as atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI), electrochemistry with ESI, or electron capture ionization with APCI. In sample preconcentration and separation, solid phase extraction (SPE) with different non-selective sorbent materials and HPLC on reversed-phase materials (RP-HPLC) play the dominant role. In addition, various on-line and miniaturized approaches for sample extraction and sample introduction into the MS have been used. Ion chromatography (IC), size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), and capillary electrophoresis (CE) are alternative separation techniques. Furthermore, the issues of compound identification, matrix effects on quantitation, development of mass spectral libraries and the topic of connecting analysis and toxicity bioassays are addressed.     

Analysis of sexual assault evidence: statistical classification of condoms by ambient mass spectrometry

Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI‐MS) and easy ambient sonic‐spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI‐MS) are employed here in the forensic analysis of chemical compounds found in condoms and relative traces, and their analytical performances are compared. Statistical analysis of data obtained from mass spectra only was applied in order to obtain classification rules for distinguishing ten types of condoms. In particular, two supervised chemometric techniques [linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA)] were carried out on absolute and relative intensity values to test the performances of statistical models in terms of predictive capacity. The achieved classification of samples was excellent because of the high prediction percentages of the method used both for DESI and EASI mass spectrometry analyses, confirming these two as potential ambient ionization techniques for forensic analyses in case of sexual assault crimes. EASI‐MS showed 99% prediction ability for LDA using relative data and 100% prediction ability for SIMCA using both absolute and relative ones, while DESI showed 94% prediction ability for both LDA and SIMCA. The absence of any sample preparation technique gives advantages in terms of sample preservation and reduced contamination, allowing successive analyses to be performed on the same sample by other techniques. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

实时直接分析质谱的原理及应用

新型常温常压离子化技术是近几年质谱学领域的一个研究热点。实时直接分析(direct analysis in real time,DART)作为该技术的一种,自2005年首次报道以来,已被应用于不同样品的分析。本文介绍了DART技术的发展过程、离子化机理以及影响DART离子化效率的参数,综述了其在活体果蝇费洛蒙检测、假药识别、墨水成分分析等方面的应用,并在结论部分对其应用前景进行了展望。