Analysis of lipids with desorption atmospheric pressure photoionization‐mass spectrometry (DAPPI‐MS) and desorption electrospray ionization‐mass spectrometry (DESI‐MS)

In this article, the effect of spray solvent on the analysis of selected lipids including fatty acids, fat‐soluble vitamins, triacylglycerols, steroids, phospholipids, and sphingolipids has been studied by two different ambient mass spectrometry (MS) methods, desorption electrospray ionization‐MS (DESI‐MS) and desorption atmospheric pressure photoionization‐MS (DAPPI‐MS). The ionization of the lipids with DESI and DAPPI was strongly dependent on the spray solvent. In most cases, the lipids were detected as protonated or deprotonated molecules; however, other ions were also formed, such as adduct ions (in DESI), [M‐H]⁺ ions (in DESI and DAPPI), radical ions (in DAPPI), and abundant oxidation products (in DESI and DAPPI). DAPPI provided efficient desorption and ionization for neutral and less polar as well as for ionic lipids but caused extensive fragmentation for larger and more labile compounds because of a thermal desorption process. DESI was more suitable for the analysis of the large and labile lipids, but the ionization efficiency for less polar lipids was poor. Both methods were successfully applied to the direct analysis of lipids from pharmaceutical and food products. Although DESI and DAPPI provide efficient analysis of lipids, the multiple and largely unpredictable ionization reactions may set challenges for routine lipid analysis with these methods. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characteristics of probe electrospray generated from a solid needle

Probe electrospray ionization (PESI) has recently been developed, in which the electrospray was generated from a solid needle instead of by using a capillary. In this paper, the characteristics of probe electrospray ionization were studied based on the measurement of spray current, optical microscopy, and PESI mass spectrometry. In the experiment, the solid needle was moved up and down a vertical axis, and a small amount of sample was repeatedly loaded to the needle when the tip of the needle touched the surface of the liquid sample at the lowest position. After the application of high voltage, a liquid droplet was formed on the tip of the solid needle probe, with its size was determined by the size of the needle tip. The liquid flow rate to the tip, as indicated by the spray current, depends on the voltage applied to the needle as well as the loaded liquid amount. Stable electrospray can be maintained until the total consumption of liquid sample. The kilohertz current pulsation takes place in the case of overloading the sample to the needle. The influences of the applied voltage and the liquid flow rate on the PESI mass spectra were also examined.     

Electrospray ionization from a droplet deposited on a surface-modified glass rod

This paper reports development of a non-mechanical electrospray ionization (ESI) method to generate electrospray from a droplet deposited on an optical fiber coated with a thin gold or Nafion film. Modification of the surface of the optical fiber in this manner increases its wettability, such that a droplet of the aqueous sample solution can adhere sufficiently strongly to the tip of the fiber. The aqueous sample solution was deposited near the tip of the fiber with a micropipette. When a high voltage (2,000 V) was applied to the fiber by electrical connection through the gold film, the sample solution moved and hung at the tip of the fiber. Simultaneously, ESI was generated from the sample droplet. Multiply charged peptide and protein ions were detected by connecting the ESI source to a quadrupole mass analyzer.     

水凝胶涂覆纸喷雾离子化用于生物流体样品直接质谱分析

基于琼脂糖水凝胶涂覆的纸基质,实现了纸喷雾离子化,建立了一种新的纸喷雾离子化质谱技术,直接分析生物流体样品。利用纸表面涂覆的水凝胶材料限制液滴的扩散,使互不相溶的喷雾溶剂液滴与生物样品液滴之间形成液液萃取,提高了检测灵敏度。同时通过限制液滴扩散,减少了喷雾溶剂挥发面积,降低了挥发速度,获得了时间更长的稳定质谱信号,可对生物流体样品中的低丰度药物快速、准确定量。相较于常规纸喷雾离子化,该方法喷雾时间延长近10倍,分析物信号提高近100倍,定量分析全血和尿液中的药物,检出限可降低7~33倍。方法材料制备简单,方便快捷,灵敏度高,在现场临床诊断上具有很大的应用潜力。     

Triboelectric spray ionization

Triboelectric spray ionization (TESI) is a variation of electrospray ionization (ESI) using common instrumental components, including gas flow, solvent flow rate and heat, the only difference being the use of a high‐voltage power supply for ESI or a static charge for TESI. The ionization of solvent or analyte is due to the electrostatic potential difference formed between the spray electrode and counter electrode. The ion source contains a pneumatic spray operated over a range of flow rates (0.15–1.5 µl/min) and gas pressures (0–100). This new design contains a standalone spray assembly and an optional metal mesh in front of the spray. There are several parameters that affect the performance during ionization of molecules including the flow rate of solvent, gas pressure, temperature, solvent acidity, distance and potential difference between emitter and counter electrode. A variable electrostatic potential can be applied for higher ionization efficiency. The new ionization method was successfully applied to solutions of various proteins under different conditions. The same charge‐state distributions compared to other ESI techniques are observed for all the protein samples. The unique feature of TESI is very efficient spraying by using a natural electrostatic potential even at the potential that a human body can produce. This provides very gentle ionization efficiency of peptides and proteins in different solvents. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nanoflow liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the characterization of intact phosphatidylcholines from soybean, bovine brain, and liver

Nanoflow liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem-mass spectrometry (nanoLC-ESI-MS-MS) was applied for the characterization of intact phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipid molecules using a homemade reversed phase capillary column with a pulled tip for direct ESI at positive ion mode. Prior to the analytical column, a short capillary trapping column was utilized for on-line pre-concentration via microcross connection. Separation of intact phosphatidylcholines in the nanoflow LC column was carried out using a binary gradient elution method at 300 nL/min. The structures of the eluted PC components were determined by analysis of the typical fragment ions of PC molecules obtained from collision-induced dissociation (CID) after each precursor scan in mass spectrometry. In the current study, nanoflow LC-ESI-MS-MS analysis of PC molecules demonstrated the ability to obtain clear structural information, such as alkyl chain lengths and the degree of unsaturation with a protonated molecule ([M + H]+) and its characteristic fragment ions ([M + H-RCH2COOH]+, [M + H-RCH=C=O]+, and [M + H-184]+). Results from the nanoflow LC-ESI-MS experiment showed the limit of detection at 3.5 fmol for the 14:0/14:0-PC standard. This technique then was applied to intact PC extracts from soybean, bovine brain, and liver without derivatization and resulted in the identification of 28, 25, and 39 phosphatidylcholines, respectively. The LC-MS-MS method has been shown to be useful for the analysis of low concentration PC molecules in biological samples.     

Analysis of Biological Samples Using Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry: An Investigation of Impacts by the Substrates, Solvents and Elution Methods

Paper spray has been developed as a fast sampling ionization method for direct analysis of raw biological and chemical samples using mass spectrometry (MS). Quantitation of therapeutic drugs in blood samples at high accuracy has also been achieved using paper spray MS without traditional sample preparation or chromatographic separation. The paper spray ionization is a process integrated with a fast extraction of the analyte from the raw sample by a solvent, the transport of the extracted analytes on the paper, and a spray ionization at the tip of the paper substrate with a high voltage applied. In this study, the influence on the analytical performance by the solvent–substrate systems and the selection of the elution methods was investigated. The protein hemoglobin could be observed from fresh blood samples on silanized paper or from dried blood spots on silica-coated paper. The on-paper separation of the chemicals during the paper spray was characterized through the analysis of a mixture of the methyl violet 2B and methylene blue. The mode of applying the spray solvent was found to have a significant impact on the separation. The results in this study led to a better understanding of the analyte elution, on-paper separation, as well as the ionization processes of the paper spray. This study also helps in establishing a guideline for optimizing the analytical performance of paper spray for direct analysis of target analytes using mass spectrometry.     

基于脂质代谢组学研究褐藻糖胶对黄颡鱼幼鱼的影响

采用超高效液相色谱-四极杆-飞行时间质谱 (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) 技术,结合多元变量数据分析方法,研究0.1%褐藻糖胶喂养黄颡鱼幼鱼1~8周的脂质代谢组学.通过不同喂养时间的黄颡鱼脂质成分的重要性(VIP)值和差异性(P)值,筛选出98个差异性代谢物,其中鉴定出与褐藻糖胶对黄颡鱼随喂养时间变化的影响有重要作用的11种脂质生物标志物,包括Lyso-PC 16∶0、PC 22∶6/16∶0、PE 22∶6/16∶0、PI 18∶0/22∶6、DAG 16∶0/16∶0、DAG 16∶0/18∶1、DAG 18∶1/18∶1、TAG 20∶5/16∶0/18∶3、TAG 20∶4/16∶1/18∶2、TAG 16∶0/18∶2/20∶5 和TAG 18∶2/14∶0/18∶1.研究表明,经0.1%褐藻糖胶喂养不同时期的黄颡鱼中Lyso-PC、PC、PE和PI的含量在第8周时达到最大值;DAG的含量呈现出先减少后增加的变化规律,而TAG的变化不定,TAG 18∶2/14∶0/18∶1、TAG 20∶5/16∶0/18∶3和TAG 20∶4/16∶1/18∶2的含量随着喂养褐藻糖胶时间的延长而增加,而TAG 16∶0/18∶2/20∶5呈减少的趋势.根据上述实验结果,推测褐藻糖胶可能通过调节脂质成分的含量来增加黄颡鱼幼鱼的免疫力.本研究结果为褐藻糖胶对黄颡鱼脂质代谢响应机理的影响的研究提供理论依据.     

Solvent effect in polymer analysis by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Solvent effect is one of the important factors in sample preparation which may affect matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectra of synthetic polymers. MALDI imaging, a useful imaging tool for discovering biomarkers in tissues, is applied here for better comprehension of solvent effect in polymer analysis by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Nylon-6 was chosen as a model polymer for the study of solvent effect. Its MALDI mass spectra in different solvents were performed. MALDI imaging analysis was performed for studying the incorporation of analytes into matrix crystals in different solvent combinations. Specifically, the colocalization of matrix and analyte was obtained through Pearson’s correlation (PC) coefficient analysis of their MALDI images. The results demonstrated that satisfactory spectra were obtained in higher PC value conditions. PC decreased along with an increase in the ratio of poor solvent, which suggested that we should minimize the poor solvent ratio to obtain better MALDI spectra.     

Correlation of the rates of solvolysis of cyclopropylcarbinyl and cyclobutyl bromides using the extended Grunwald-Winstein equation

The reactions of cyclopropylcarbinyl bromide (1) and cyclobutyl bromide (2) in hydroxylic solvents proceed with both solvolysis and rearrangement. Depending on the solvent, the reactions of 1 are 10-120 times faster than those of 2, and both are faster than the previously studied allylcarbinyl bromide (3). Specific rates are reported for the reactions of 2 proceeding to solvolysis products and 3. Reactions of 1 proceed to solvolysis products and both 2 and 3; since 2 slowly undergoes further solvolysis, specific rates are obtained by a modified Guggenheim treatment. The two sets of specific rates are analyzed using the extended Grunwald-Winstein equation to give sensitivities toward changes in solvent nucleophilicity of 0.42 for 1 and 0.53 for 2 and corresponding sensitivities toward changes in solvent ionizing power of 0.75 and 0.94. A mechanism is proposed involving a rate-determining ionization with an appreciable nucleophilic solvation of the incipient carbocation.     

Ultrasound extraction and thin layer chromatography-flame ionization detection analysis of the lipid fraction in marine mucilage samples

This paper reports an analytical procedure based on ultrasound to extract lipids in marine mucilage samples. The experimental conditions of the ultrasound procedure (solvent and time) were identified by a FT-IR study performed on different standard samples of lipids and of a standard humic sample, before and after the sonication treatment. This study showed that diethyl ether was a more suitable solvent than methanol for the ultrasonic extraction of lipids from environmental samples because it allowed to minimize the possible oxidative modifications of lipids due to the acoustic cavitation phenomena. The optimized conditions were applied to the extraction of total lipid amount in marine mucilage samples and TLC-flame ionization detection analysis was used to identify the relevant lipid sub-fractions present in samples.     

Characterization and quantification of triacylglycerols in peanut oil by off‐line comprehensive two‐dimensional liquid chromatography coupled with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

The complexity of natural triacylglycerols (TAGs) in various edible oils is prodigious due to the hundreds of set is of TAG compositions, which makes the identification of TAGs quite difficult. In this investigation, the off‐line 2D system coupling of nonaqueous RP and silver‐ion HPLC with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization MS detection has been applied to the identification and quantification of TAGs in peanut oil. The method was successful in the separation of a high number of TAG solutes, and the TAG structures were evaluated by analyzing their atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectra information. HPLC and MS conditions have been optimized and the fragmentation mechanisms of isomers have been validated. In addition, an internal standard approach has been developed for TAG quantification. Then this system was applied in peanut oil samples and there was a total of 48 TAGs including regioisomers that have been determined and quantified.     

Analysis of oil used in late Roman oil lamps with different mass spectrometric techniques revealed the presence of predominantly olive oil together with traces of animal fat.

The lipid fraction of residues in ancient oil lamps found at the archaeological site of Sagalassos (south-west Turkey) was analysed by gas chromatography (GC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS). The identification of plant sterols and long chain alcohols suggested that a vegetable oil was used in these lamps. The lipid sample was also analysed with reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to MS with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). The identification of TAG's detected with LC-APCI-MS showed that predominantly olive oil was used as a fuel for the antique oil lamps. The presence of large quantities of multiply unsaturated triacylglycerol (TAG) and traces of saturated TAG indicated that also other oils and animal fat were added. Summarizing, the analysis of TAG's with LC-APCI-MS in lipid extracts of ancient ceramics proved to be a valuable method to reconstitute the original contents.     

银离子高效液相色谱-质谱法分析血清中甘油三酯类化合物的组成

针对甘油三酯(TAG)类化合物的复杂性,建立了分析小鼠血清中TAG类化合物的方法。采用经典的氯仿-甲醇溶剂体系对血中的TAG类化合物进行提取。脂质提取物经Varian ChromSpher 5 Lipids柱分离,在0.75 mL/min的流速下以乙腈-正己烷(1:99, v/v)为流动相进行等度洗脱,采用大气压化学电离源正离子模式电离,质谱增强型全扫描、增强型子离子扫描和中性丢失扫描模式检测。根据银离子色谱对双键的保留规律以及质谱所给出的碎片离子信息,对血清中TAG类化合物进行了结构鉴定。结果表明采用该方法可以从小鼠血清中鉴定到66个TAG类化合物以及5个胆固醇酯。该方法简单,重现性好,可通用于其他样品中TAG类化合物的检测。     

Selective imaging of positively charged polar and nonpolar lipids by optimizing matrix solution composition

Previous studies have shown that matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization–imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI‐IMS) is useful for studying the distribution of various small metabolites, particularly lipids. However, in this technique, selective ionization of the target molecules is imperative, particularly when analyzing small molecules. Since the sample clean‐up procedures available for the MALDI‐IMS of small metabolites are limited, the tissue sample will contain numerous molecular species other than the target molecules. These molecules will compete for ionization resulting in severe ion suppression. Hence, it is necessary to develop and optimize a sample preparation protocol for the target molecules. In this study, through model experiments using reference compounds, we optimized the composition of the matrix solution used for positively charged lipids in terms of the concentration of the organic solvent and presence/absence of alkali metal salts. We demonstrated that a high concentration of organic solvent in the matrix solution favors the preferential detection of lipids over peptides. The presence of alkali metal salts in the matrix solution was favorable for the detection of polar lipids, while a salt‐free matrix solution was suitable for the detection of nonpolar lipids. Furthermore, potassium salts added to the matrix solution caused merging of various lipid adducts (adducts with proton, sodium, and potassium) into one single potassiated species. Using the optimized protocols, we selectively analyzed phosphatidylcholine (PC) and triacylglycerol (TG) with different fatty acid compositions in a rat kidney section. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous detection of phosphatidylcholines and glycerolipids using matrix‐enhanced surface‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐mass spectrometry with sputter‐deposited platinum film

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) allows for the simultaneous detection and imaging of several molecules in brain tissue. However, the detection of glycerolipids such as diacylglycerol (DAG) and triacylglycerol (TAG) in brain tissues is hindered in MALDI‐IMS because of the ion suppression effect from excessive ion yields of phosphatidylcholine (PC). In this study, we describe an approach that employs a homogeneously deposited metal nanoparticle layer (or film) for the detection of glycerolipids in rat brain tissue sections using IMS. Surface‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation IMS with sputter‐deposited Pt film (Pt‐SALDI‐IMS) for lipid analysis was performed as a solvent‐free and organic matrix‐free method. Pt‐SALDI produced a homogenous layer of nanoparticles over the surface of the rat brain tissue section. Highly selective detection of lipids was possible by MALDI‐IMS and Pt‐SALDI‐IMS; MALDI‐IMS detected the dominant ion peak of PC in the tissue section, and there were no ion peaks representing glycerolipids such as DAG and TAG. In contrast, Pt‐SALDI‐IMS allowed the detection of these glycerolipids, but not PC. Therefore, using a hybrid method combining MALDI and Pt‐SALDI (i.e., matrix‐enhanced [ME]‐Pt‐SALDI‐IMS), we achieved the simultaneous detection of PC, PE and DAG in rat brain tissue sections, and the sensitivity for the detection of these molecules was better than that of MALDI‐IMS or Pt‐SALDI alone. The present simple ME‐Pt‐SALDI approach for the simultaneous detection of PC and DAG using two matrices (sputter‐deposited Pt film and DHB matrix) would be useful in imaging analyses of biological tissue sections. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Laser spray: electric field-assisted matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization

A new liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry interface, the laser spray, has been developed. Explosive vaporization and mist formation occur when an aqueous solution effusing out from the tip of the stainless-steel capillary is irradiated from the opposite side of the capillary by a 10.6 microm infrared laser. Weak ion signals could be detected when the plume was sampled through the ion sampling orifice. When a high voltage (3-4 kV) was applied to the stainless-steel capillary, strong ion signals appeared. The ion abundances were found to be orders of magnitude greater than those obtained by conventional electrospray ionization in the case of aqueous solutions. The present method is regarded as an electric-field assisted form of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization in which the liquid chromatographic solvent (water, etc.) acts as a liquid matrix. Laser spray ionization is expected to become a versatile method for biological mass spectrometry because this method is compatible with the natural solvent, water.     

ESI-MS studies of mixed-ligand Fe(II) complexes containing 1,10-phenanthroline and 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione as ligands

In order to monitor the progression of the synthesis and the separation of novel mixed-ligand iron complexes containing 1,10-phenanthroline, 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione, and NCS- as ligands all products were mass analyzed by electrospray ionization ion trap MS/MS. The spectra of methanol (MeOH), acetonitrile (ACN), water, and ethanol (EtOH) solutions were collected and the results were compared. It was detected under applied electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) conditions that MeOH, water, and EtOH formed solvent clusters around the free or complexed 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione. Owing to the solvent-ligand hydrogen-bond formation, the solvent-ligand clusters were formed in the polar protic solvents. The number of protic solvent molecules per complex ion in cluster depended on the number of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione ligands in the complex ion. Unlike MeOH, EtOH, or water, ACN was not involved in the formation of the solvent clusters with the iron complexes containing 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione as ligand. We also showed that the NCS- group under certain solvent conditions served as a bidentate ligand.     

Novel microfabricated device for electrokinetically induced pressure flow and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A novel microchip device for electrospray ionization has been fabricated and interfaced to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Fluid is electrokinetically transported through the chip to a fine fused-silica capillary inserted directly into a channel at the edge of the device. Electrospray is established at the tip of the capillary, which assures a stable, efficient spray. The electric potential necessary for electrospray generation and the voltage drop for electroosmotic pumping are supplied through an electrically permeable glass membrane contacting the fluidic channel holding the capillary. The membrane is fabricated on the microchip using standard photolithographic and wet chemical etching techniques. Performance relative to other microchip electrospray sources has been evaluated and the device tested for potential use as a platform for on-line electrophoretic detection. Sensitivity was found to be approximately three orders of magnitude better than spraying from the flat edge of the chip. The effect of the capillary on electroosmotic flow was examined both experimentally and theoretically.     

Vibrating tip spray ionization mass spectrometry for direct sample analysis

In this work, a vibrating tip spray ionization source was developed for direct mass spectrometric analysis of raw samples under voltage‐free condition. A solid tip was mounted on a vibrator, and the solid tip was placed on the front of MS inlet. Liquid, viscous, and bulk solid samples could be directly loaded on the tip‐end surface, and then a drop of solvent at microliter level was subsequently loaded on the tip for dissolution and extraction of analytes, and a vibrator was then started to atomize and ionize the analytes under ambient condition. We demonstrated vibrating tip spray mass spectrometry in various applications, including food safety, pharmaceutical analysis, and forensic science. Furthermore, in situ analysis of biological tissues and in vivo analysis of living plants were conveniently performed, due to voltage‐free. Different vibration frequencies and solvent compositions were investigated. The analytical performances, including sensitivity, reproducibility, and linear range, were investigated. The ionization process and mechanism were also discussed in this work.