The pH dependent interaction between nicotine and simulated pulmonary surfactant monolayers with associated molecular modelling

Pulmonary surfactant is an endogenous material that lines and stabilises the alveolar air–liquid interface. Respiratory mechanics can be compromised by exposure to environmental toxins such as cigarette smoke, which contains nicotine. This study aims to determine the influence of nicotine on the activity of simulated lung surfactant at pH 7 and pH 9. In all cases, the addition of nicotine to the test zone caused deviation in surfactant film performance. Importantly, the maximum surface pressure was reduced for each system. Computational modelling was applied to assess key interactions between each species, with the Gaussian 09 software platform used to calculate electrostatic potential surfaces. Modelling data confirmed either nicotine penetration into the two‐dimensional structure or interfacial/electrostatic interactions across the underside. The results obtained from this study suggest that nicotine can impair the ability of pulmonary surfactant to reduce the surface tension term, which can increase the work of breathing. When extrapolated to gross lung function, alveolar collapse and respiratory disease (e.g. chronic airway obstruction) may result. The delivery of nicotine to the (deep) lung can cause a deterioration in lung function and lead to reduced quality of life. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The impact of cannabis smoke on the performance of pulmonary surfactant under physiologically relevant conditions

The principal site for gaseous exchange within the lung is the alveolar space, which is bathed in a lipid‐protein blend called pulmonary surfactant. This material is the initial contacting site for orally inhaled products and environmental toxins. Using the lung biosimulator, this study investigates the influence of cannabis smoke on the activity of the lung surfactant replacement product, Curosurf. Initially, 50‐mg cannabis material was pyrolysed and the smoke collected. Cannabis smoke profiling was conducted via gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy, with a mean concentration of 1% Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol determined. The smoke aliquots were transferred to the lung biosimulator and expansion—contraction cycles were then initiated to mimic tidal breathing. Baseline data confirmed that Curosurf works effectively under physiologically relevant conditions. Exposure to cannabis smoke from 2 independent batches reduced the Langmuir maximum surface pressure values by approximately 20% and increased the compressibility term; interbatch variation was detected. Cannabis smoke impaired the ability of Curosurf to lower the surface tension term. This was ascribed to the penetration of the planar, hydrophobic drug into the two‐dimensional film, and destructive interaction with polar functionalities. The net effect would be increased work of breathing for the individual.     

Simultaneous determination of nicotine and 3-vinylpyridine in single cigarette tobacco smoke and in indoor air using direct extraction to solid phase

The aim of the present study was to develop a new analytical method of chromatographic determination of two important markers of ETS exposure: nicotine and 3-vinylpyridine (3-ethenylpyridine, 3-EP) in mainstream (MS) and sidestream (SS) smoke of one single cigarette and in indoor air using direct solid phase extraction combined with gas chromatography. The method can be utilised for both nicotine and 3-EP determination in SS and MS of one single cigarette as well as it allows for a precise determination of compound distribution in indoor air. The application of the same analytical method for both kinds of samples allows anticipating indoor air distribution of both analysed compounds in a very precise way. The precision of the method (calculated as a relative standard deviation) was 9.78% for nicotine and 2.67% for 3-EP; whereas the accuracy (evaluated by a recovery study conducted at three different levels) was 70.1 and 87.3%, respectively. The limit of detection was 0.06 µg per cigarette for both nicotine and 3-EP. The method was evaluated by determining the compounds of interest in two commercially available brands of cigarettes as well as in the reference cigarettes 3R4F and also in indoor air polluted with tobacco smoke. Determined levels of compounds of interest in MS varied from 586 to 772 (nicotine) µg per cigarette and from 3.5 to 10.7 (3-EP) µg per cigarette. In SS smoke the level varied from 14,370 to 22,590 (nicotine) µg per cigarette and from 185 to 550 (3-EP) µg per cigarette, whereas levels in indoor air polluted with tobacco smoke varied from 50.1 to 157.3 (nicotine) µg m^?3and from 7.7 to 20.8 (3-EP) µg m^?3.     

The influence of cannabis smoke and cannabis vapour on simulated lung surfactant function under physiologically relevant conditions

The use of cannabis for medicinal/recreational purposes is widespread throughout the world. Smoke inhalation is known to cause airway irritation due to noxious substances (ie, benzene) within the mix. Thus, advanced vaporisation platforms (eg, Davinci IQ) have been developed to circumvent negative health implications. Here, we consider the impact that cannabis smoke and cannabis vapour have on simulated lung surfactant performance within a model pulmonary space (ie, 37°C, elevated humidity and related fluid hydrodynamics). In total, 50 mg of herbal material was ignited or placed within a Davinci IQ vaporiser with subsequent activation. The aliquots were collected and then analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy for composition and cannabinoid (eg, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol [Δ9-THC]) concentration. The average content within cannabis smoke was 2.84% (0.07%, SD) Δ9-THC, with the same for cannabis vapour being 0.88% (0.14%, SD). Aerosolised samples were transferred to the lung biosimulator. When compared with the pristine Curosurf system, challenge with cannabis smoke and cannabis vapour reduced the surface pressure term by 26% and 7% and increased film compressibility by 60% and 15% at 80% trough area, respectively. The net effect would be enhanced film elasticity and an increased work of breathing, being more pronounced on cannabis smoke inhalation. The trends noted were ascribed to two factors operating synergistically, namely the amount of Δ9-THC (plus others) within the aerosolised samples and the associated toxicity profile. Further research is required to establish mass-balance effects (ie, titrated outputs) along with detailed chemical profiling of material generated from the unrelated cannabis activation pathways.     

Reduction of aldehydes and hydrogen cyanide yields in mainstream cigarette smoke using an amine functionalised ion exchange resin

Background

Cigarette smoking is a well recognized cause of diseases such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease. Of the more than 5000 identified species in cigarette smoke, at least 150 have toxicological activity. For example, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde have been assigned as Group 1 and Group 2B carcinogens by IARC, and hydrogen cyanide has been identified as a respiratory and cardiovascular toxicant. Active carbon has been shown to be an effective material for the physical adsorption of many of the smoke volatile species. However, physical adsorption of acetaldehyde, formaldehyde and also hydrogen cyanide from smoke is less effective using carbon. Alternative methods for the removal of these species from cigarette smoke are therefore of interest. A macroporous, polystyrene based ion-exchange resin (Diaion^®CR20) with surface amine group functionality has been investigated for its ability to react with aldehydes and HCN in an aerosol stream, and thus selectively reduce the yields of these compounds (in particular formaldehyde) in mainstream cigarette smoke.

Results

Resin surface chemistry was characterized using vapour sorption, XPS, TOF-SIMS and ¹⁵N NMR. Diaion^®CR20 was found to have structural characteristics indicating weak physisorption properties, but sufficient surface functionalities to selectively remove aldehydes and HCN from cigarette smoke. Using 60 mg of Diaion^®CR20 in a cigarette cavity filter gave reductions in smoke formaldehyde greater than 50% (estimated to be equivalent to >80% of the formaldehyde present in the smoke vapour phase) independent of a range of flow rates. Substantial removal of HCN (>80%) and acetaldehyde (>60%) was also observed. The performance of Diaion^®CR20 was found to be consistent over a test period of 6 months. The overall adsorption for the majority of smoke compounds measured appeared to follow a pseudo-first order approximation to second order kinetics.

Conclusions

This study has shown that Diaion^®CR20 is a highly selective and efficient adsorbent for formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and HCN in cigarette smoke. The reductions for these compounds were greater than those achieved using an active carbon. The results also demonstrate that chemisorption can be an effective mechanism for the removal of certain vapour phase toxicants from cigarette smoke.

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Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of nicotine and minor tobacco alkaloids in electronic cigarette refill liquids and second‐hand generated aerosol

A liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantification of nicotine and seven minor tobacco alkaloids in both refill liquids for electronic cigarettes and their generated aerosol was developed and validated. The limit of detection and limit of quantification values were 0.3–20.0 and 1.0–31.8 ng/mL, respectively. Within‐laboratory reproducibility was 8.2–14.2% at limit of quantification values and 4.8–12.7% at other concentration levels. Interday recovery was 75.8–116.4%. The method was applied to evaluate the compliance of commercial liquids (n = 95) with their labels and to assess levels of minor alkaloids. Levels of nicotine and its corresponding compounds were also evaluated in generated aerosol. About 47% of samples showed differences above ±10 % of the stated nicotine concentration. About 78% of the “zero nicotine” liquids showed traces in the range of 1.3 ± 0.1–254.0 ± 14.6 μg/mL. Nicotine‐N ′‐oxides, myosmine, and anatabine were the most common minor alkaloids in liquids containing nicotine. Nicotine and N ′‐oxides were detected in all air samples when aerosol was generated from liquids containing nicotine. Nicotine average emissions from electronic cigarette (2.7 ± 0.9 μg/m³) were significantly lower (p < 0.01, t‐test) with respect to conventional cigarette (30.2 ± 1.5 μg/m³).     

An improved headspace solid-phase microextraction method for the analysis of free-base nicotine in particulate phase of mainstream cigarette smoke

The content of free-base nicotine in cigarette smoke is a controversial subject, partly due to methodological issues. In this investigation, an improved method to measure free-base nicotine in cigarette smoke using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with GC/MS analysis, was developed and validated for this purpose. Cigarette smoke particulate phase (PP) was collected onto a 44 mm glass fiber filter pad. The pad was cut in halves with one half used to determine the concentrations of total nicotine and water. The remaining half was analyzed by HS-SPME for free-base nicotine. The following factors were found to have a significant impact on the responses of free-base nicotine: SPME fiber type, pre-equilibrium time before HS-SPME, extraction time and temperature, PP water content, and the solvent used for the preparation of standards. It was also found that the impact of PP water content on the determination of free-base nicotine from smoke sample could be corrected by a water correction factor calculated based on an experimentally determined reciprocal model. The precision of the method was evaluated with smoke samples of reference cigarettes: Canadian flue-cured monitor and Kentucky reference 2R4F. The RSD values obtained were in the 12.8-16.8% range.     

Artifactual chemiluminescence in the determination of nitrogen monoxide in the vapour phase of mainstream cigarette smoke

Evidence is presented for the artifactual chemiluminescence from olefins in the determination of nitrogen monoxide in the vapour phase of mainstream cigarette smoke. The interference may be quantified by measuring the residual chemiluminescence remaining in the vapour phase of mainstream cigarette smoke after 24 h. For the nitrogen monoxide analyser used, corrections to the yield of most cigarette brands retailed in the UK were found to be about 1.5 micrograms of nitrogen monoxide per puff, each machine puff being defined by international standards.     

Molecular interactions of cord factor with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine monolayers: implications for lung surfactant dysfunction in pulmonary tuberculosis

Molecular interactions between mycobacterial cell wall lipid, cord factor (CF) and the abundant surfactant lipid, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) were investigated using Langmuir monolayers at physiological temperatures (37 degrees C). Surface topography of the films was visualized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Thermodynamic behavior of the mixed monolayers was evaluated by investigating the molecular area excess, excess Gibbs free energy of mixing and maximum compressibility modulus (SCM(max)). Cord factor formed immiscible and thermodynamically unstable monolayers with DPPC. Monolayer presence of cord factor altered the physical state of DPPC monolayers from liquid condensed to liquid expanded with the lowering of SCM(max) from 160 to 40 mN/m, respectively. AFM imaging exhibited smooth homogenous surface topography of DPPC films which in the presence of cord factor was markedly altered with the appearance of aggregates and increased surface roughness. The results highlight the capacity of cord factor to disturb DPPC monolayer organization and structure. Interfacial presence of cord factor results in DPPC monolayer fluidization. Lung surfactant function is attributed to its ability to form well packed low compressibility films. Such molecular interactions suggest a dysfunction of lung surfactant in pulmonary tuberculosis due to surfactant monolayer fluidization.     

Influence of hydrophobic alkylated gold nanoparticles on the phase behavior of monolayers of DPPC and clinical lung surfactant

The effect of hydrophobic alkylated gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) on the phase behavior and structure of Langmuir monolayers of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and Survanta, a naturally derived commercial pulmonary surfactant that contains DPPC as the main lipid component and hydrophobic surfactant proteins SP-B and SP-C, has been investigated in connection with the potential implication of inorganic NPs in pulmonary surfactant dysfunction. Hexadecanethiolate-capped Au NPs (C(16)SAu NPs) with an average core diameter of 2 nm have been incorporated into DPPC monolayers in concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 mol %. Concentrations of up to 0.2 mol % in DPPC and 16 wt % in Survanta do not affect the monolayer phase behavior at 20 °C, as evidenced by surface pressure-area (π-A) and ellipsometric isotherms. The monolayer structure at the air/water interface was imaged as a function of the surface pressure by Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). In the liquid-expanded/liquid-condensed phase coexistence region of DPPC, the presence of 0.2 mol % C(16)SAu NPs causes the formation of many small, circular, condensed lipid domains, in contrast to the characteristic larger multilobes formed by pure lipid. Condensed domains of similar size and shape to those of DPPC with 0.2 mol % C(16)SAu NPs are formed by compressing Survanta, and these are not affected by the C(16)SAu NPs. Atomic force microscopy images of Langmuir-Schaefer-deposited films support the BAM observations and reveal, moreover, that at high surface pressures (i.e., 35 and 45 mN m(-1)) the C(16)SAu NPs form honeycomb-like aggregates around the polygonal condensed DPPC domains. In the Survanta monolayers, the C(16)SAu NPs were found to accumulate together with the proteins in the liquid-expanded phase around the circular condensed lipid domains. In conclusion, the presence of hydrophobic C(16)SAu NPs in amounts that do not influence the π-A isotherm alters the nucleation, growth, and morphology of the condensed domains in monolayers of DPPC but not of those of Survanta. Systematic investigations of the effect of the interaction of chemically defined NPs with the lipid and protein components of lung surfactant on the physicochemical properties of surfactant films are pertinent to understanding how inhaled NPs impact pulmonary function.     

Molecularly imprinted polymers on a silica surface for the adsorption of tobacco‐specific nitrosamines in mainstream cigarette smoke

Tobacco‐specific nitrosamines are one of the most important groups of carcinogens in tobacco products. Using adsorbents as filter additives is an effective way to reduce tobacco‐specific nitrosamines in cigarette smoke. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) using nicotinamide as template were grafted on the silica gel surface to obtain MIP@SiO₂ and employed as filter additives to absorb tobacco‐specific nitrosamines in mainstream cigarette smoke. Four milligrams of MIP@SiO₂ per cigarette was added to the interface between filter and tobacco rod to prepare a binary filter system. The mainstream smoke was collected on an industry‐standard Cambridge filter pad and extracted with ammonium acetate aqueous solution before analysis. Compared to the cigarette smoke of the control group, the levels of tobacco‐specific nitrosamines with silica gel and with MIP@SiO₂ were both reduced, and the adsorption rates of N‐nitrosonornicotine, N‐nitrosoanabasine, N‐nitrosoanatabine, and 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridine)‐1‐butanone with silica gel and with MIP@SiO₂ were 20.76, 15.32, 18.79, and 18.01%, and 41.33, 34.04, 37.86, and 35.53%, respectively. Furthermore the content of total particle materials in cigarette smoke with silica gel was decreased evidently but showed no observable change with MIP@SiO₂. It indicated MIP@SiO₂ could selectively reduce tobacco‐specific nitrosamines in the mainstream cigarette smoke with no change to the cigarette flavor.     

Analysis of aromatic amines in cigarette smoke

A method for the analysis of o-toluidine, o-anisidine, 2-naphthylamine, and 4-aminobiphenyl in cigarette mainstream smoke has been developed, which combines the sensitivity of their pentafluoropropionyl (PFP) derivatives in negative ion chemical ionization (NICI) mode with the selectivity of the gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) technique. The use of four deuterated analogues as internal standards along with the application of the standard addition method results in accurate and precise results; the interday precision for the aromatic amines was 3-10% and the accuracy ranged from 97-100%. This method was applied to two American-blend University of Kentucky reference cigarettes, eight American-blend market cigarettes, a bright (flue-cured) tobacco cigarette, and an electrically heated cigarette smoking system (EHCSS). For the American-blend cigarettes there was a linear correlation between aromatic amine yields and mainstream smoke 'tar' ('tar' = total particulate matter - (nicotine + water)), whereas the bright tobacco cigarette and the EHCSS demonstrated significantly lower aromatic amine yields on an equal 'tar' basis. The results support the hypothesis that the nitrogen content of the tobacco, and above all the cigarette combustion temperature, are determining factors for the yields of aromatic amines in smoke.     

Fast analysis of nicotine related alkaloids in tobacco and cigarette smoke by megabore capillary gas chromatography

A novel fast megabore capillary gas chromatographic (MCGC) method for analysis of 7 nicotine related alkaloids in tobacco and cigarette smoke, including nicotine, nornicotine, myosmine, nicotyrine, anabasine, anatabine and 2,3-dipyridyl, was developed. The use of megabore capillary column GC methodology, equipped with flame ionization detector (FID), provided rapid, unambiguous nicotine related alkaloids analysis. One gram flue-cured tobacco (or Cambridge filter pad), 20 ml ether, and 5 ml 10% sodium hydroxide solution, added with n-heptadecane as the internal standard, were placed in a flask, and the flask was capped and placed in an ultrasonic bath for 15 min. A 1 microl volume was analyzed by capillary GC operating in split-injection mode on a mega bore Simplicity-5 column. This simple procedure was compared with the previously reported packed column GC method and the Griffith still-colorimetric method. The application of the method for analysis of various flue-cured tobaccos and cigarette smoke was discussed.     

示波极谱法烟丝中尼古丁含量测定及电极反应机理

研究了用示波极谱法直接测定烟丝中的尼古丁含量的新方法.在0.2mol/L草酸底液中(pH=4.0),于-1.22V处得到尼古丁的灵敏还原峰,峰电流与尼古丁浓度在1.5～31.5mg/L范围内呈良好的线性关系,检测下限达0.37mg/L.该方法用于烟丝中尼古丁含量的测定,简单快速,测定回收率在91%左右.     

Effect of mycolic acid on surface activity of binary surfactant lipid monolayers

In pulmonary tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis lies in close physical proximity to alveolar surfactant. Cell walls of the mycobacteria contain loosely bound, detachable surface-active lipids. In this study, the effect of mycolic acid (MA), the most abundant mycobacterial cell wall lipid, on the surface activity of phospholipid mixtures from lung surfactant was investigated using Langmuir monolayers and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In the presence of mycolic acid, all the surfactant lipid mixtures attained high minimum surface tensions (between 20 and 40 mN/m) and decreased surface compressibility moduli <50 mN/m. AFM images showed that the smooth surface topography of surfactant lipid monolayers was altered with addition of MA. Aggregates with diverse heights of at least two layer thicknesses were found in the presence of mycolic acid. Mycolic acids could aggregate within surfactant lipid monolayers and result in disturbed monolayer surface activity. The extent of the effect of mycolic acid depended on the initial state of the monolayer, with fluid films of DPPC-POPC and DPPC-CHOL being least affected. The results imply inhibitory effects of mycolic acid toward lung surfactant lipids and could be a mechanism of lung surfactant dysfunction in pulmonary tuberculosis.     

液相色谱-串联质谱法测定卷烟主流烟气中的四种致癌物

N-亚硝基降烟碱（NNN）、4-（亚硝基甲氨基）-1-（3-吡啶基）-1-丁酮（NNK）、N-亚硝基新烟草碱 （NAT）和N-亚硝基假木贼碱（NAB）是4种广泛存在于烟草和烟气中的致癌物,准确测定其含量对评估其对人体健康的影响有着重要的作用。采用液相色谱-电喷雾串联质谱(LC-ESI MS/MS)技术建立了卷烟主流烟气中NNN、NNK、NAT和NAB的测定方法,并将其用于中国烤烟和混合型卷烟主流烟气的分析。卷烟主流烟气通过剑桥滤片捕集,捕集烟气后的滤片在加入100 μL氘代混合内标后用10 mL 100 mmol/L醋酸铵水溶液萃取,萃取液过水相滤膜后直接进行LC-ESI MS/MS检测。选用Agilent Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18色谱柱,以流动相0.1%(v/v)乙酸水溶液和0.1%（v/v）乙酸甲醇溶液梯度洗脱,质谱检测采用正离子扫描,多反应监测模式。NNN、NNK、NAT和NAB的检出限分别为0.019、0.002、0.008和0.007 μg/L,回收率为84.9%～104.5%,相对标准偏差(n=8)为2.96%～6.65%。该方法的检出限低,特异性好,适用于卷烟主流烟气中NNN、NNK、NAT和NAB释放量的检测。     

Iron pentacarbonyl detection limits in the cigarette smoke matrix using FT-IR spectroscopy

Endogenous metals present in tobacco from agricultural practices have been purported to generate metal carbonyls in cigarette smoke. Transition metal catalysts, such as iron oxide, have been investigated for the reduction of carbon monoxide (CO) in cigarette smoke. These studies motivated the development of an analytical method to determine if iron pentacarbonyl [Fe(CO)(5)] is present in mainstream smoke from cigarette models having cigarette paper made with iron oxide. An FT-IR puff-by-puff method was developed and the detection limit was determined using two primary reference spectra from different sources to estimate the amount of Fe(CO)(5) present in a high-pressure steel cylinder of CO. We do not detect Fe(CO)(5) in a single 35 mL puff from reference cigarettes or from those cigarette models having cigarette paper made with iron oxide, with a 30-ppbV limit of detection (LOD). Also, it was shown that a filter containing activated carbon would remove Fe(CO)(5).     

Radioactivity levels in jurak and moasel,comparison with cigarette tobacco

Jurak and moasel are tobacco products that contain, in addition to tobacco, juice of sugar cane, fruits, spices, tar and nicotine. These products are smoked by hubble-bubble, a popular smoking habit in the Middle Eastern and North African countries. Charcoal is put directly on these products during smoking and the smoke passes through water for cooling purpose before it goes to the lung, without filtering. Radioactivity levels were measured in these products, tobacco leaves, charcoal and in cigarette tobacco of most well known brand names by gamma spectrometry system consisting of HPGe detector coupled to a PC-based 8192 channel multichannel analyzer. The average²²⁶Ra concentrations in jurak, moasel, tobacco leaves, charcoal and cigarette tobacco in Bq/kg were: 3.4, 1.8, 3.2, 2.9 and 7 respectively; that of²³²Th were: 3.8, 2.6, 3.5, 2.2 and 7.8 respectively; that of⁴⁰K were 620, 445, 511, 163 and 876 respectively. It is expected that a jurak smoker inhales 10 times the radioactivity and a moasel smoker twice that compared to a 25 cigarette/d smoker.     

Starker Tobak

The active ingredient of tobacco, nicotine, is originally biosynthesized by plants as a protection against pests. Nicotine survives the harsh conditions in a burning cigarette and binds to certain acetylcholine receptors in the smoker's nerve system within seconds after the first puff. It is the nicotine that makes smoking so extremely addictive. On the other side, the majority of tobacco‐related diseases are not caused by nicotine but by other smoke components. Therefore smoke‐free products like electronic cigarettes have been developed that potentially pose less risk. It is now up to the individual smoker to make an informed choice between different nicotine delivery products and/or smoking at all.     

Determination of nicotine in mainstream smoke on the single puff level by liquid-phase microextraction coupled to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry

A method coupling liquid-phase microextraction with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry (LPME/MALDI-FTMS) was developed to measure the content of nicotine in mainstream smoke at the single puff level. Glycerol was utilized as a matrix additive in the sample preparation to improve the homogeneity of analyte distribution in a sample spot. Good repeatability of the MALDI-MS signal (RSD <9%) was achieved by the method. Selective LPME facilitated the separation and purification of basic components from cigarette smoke. The LPME device was coupled to a smoking machine, and each puff of one cigarette could be gathered by this modified machine. The amount of nicotine in the mainstream smoke was measured at the single puff level by LPME/MALDI-FTMS. The method was simple and selective and was sufficiently sensitive to detect nicotine in each puff of one cigarette. The method thus offered an alternative approach to the study of the formation mechanism of cigarette smoke constituents.