Solid phase micro-extraction coupled with ion mobility spectrometry for the analysis of ephedrine in urine

Quantitative solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) coupled with ion mobility spectrometry is demonstrated using the analysis of ephedrine in urine. Since its inception in the 1970's ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) has evolved into a useful technique for laboratories to detect explosives, chemical warfare agents, environment pollutants and, increasingly, for detecting drugs of abuse. Ephedrine is extracted directly from urine samples using SPME and the analyte on the fiber is heated by the IMS desorber unit and vaporized into the drift tube. The analytical procedure was optimized for fiber coating selection, extraction temperature, extraction time, sample pH, and analyte desorption temperature. The carryover effects, ion fragmentation characteristics, peak shapes, and drift times of ephedrine were also evaluated based on the direct interfacing of SPME to IMS. A limit of detection of 50 ng/mL of ephedrine in urine and a linear range of 3 orders of magnitude were obtained, showing that SPME-IMS compares well to other techniques for ephedrine and drug analysis presented in the literature.     

Fast detection of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) from headspace using planar solid-phase microextraction (PSPME) coupled to an IMS detector

Triacetone triperoxide (TATP) is a high explosive synthesized from easily available reactants making it accessible for illicit uses. In this study, fast detection of TATP is achieved using a novel planar solid-phase microextraction (PSPME) as a preconcentration and sampling device for headspace analysis offering improved sensitivity and reduced sampling time over the conventional fiber-based solid-phase microextraction (SPME) when followed by ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) detection. Quantitation and comparison of the retention capabilities of PSPME as compared to the commercially available SPME were determined using TATP standards and analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for SPME analysis and a commercial IMS with no instrumental modification for PSPME. Static and dynamic headspace extractions were used and compared for PSPME extractions, in which low milligram quantities of TATP were detected within 30 s of static mode sampling and less than 5 s in the dynamic mode sampling for PSPME–IMS.     

Polypyrrole/montmorillonite nanocomposite as a new solid phase microextraction fiber combined with gas chromatography–corona discharge ion mobility spectrometry for the simultaneous determination of diazinon and fenthion organophosphorus pesticides

A novel solid phase microextraction (SPME) fiber was prepared and coupled with gas chromatography corona discharge ion mobility spectrometry (GC–CD–IMS) based on polypyrrole/montmorillonite nanocomposites for the simultaneous determination of diazinon and fenthion. The nanocomposite polymer was coated using a three-electrode electrochemical system and directly deposited on a Ni–Cr wire by applying a constant potential. The scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the new fiber exhibited a rather porous and homogenous surface. The thermal stability of the fabricated fiber was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The effects of different parameters influencing the extraction efficiency such as extraction temperature and time, salt addition, stirring rate, the amount of nanoclay, and desorption temperature were investigated and optimized. The method was exhaustively evaluated in terms of sensitivity, recovery, and reproducibility. The linearity ranges of 0.05–10 and 0.08–10 μg L⁻¹, and the detection limits of 0.020 and 0.035 μg L⁻¹ were obtained for diazinon and fenthion, respectively. The relative standard deviation values were calculated to be lower than 5% and 8% for intra-day and inter-day, respectively. Finally, the developed method was applied to determine the diazinon and fenthion (as model compounds) in cucumber, lettuce, apple, tap and river water samples. The satisfactory recoveries revealed the capability of the two-dimensional separation technique (retention time in GC and drift time in IMS) for the analysis of complex matrices extracted by SPME.     

High resolution electrospray ionization ion mobility spectrometry

Current commercially available ion mobility spectrometers are intended for the analysis of chemicals in the gas phase. Sample introduction methods, such as direct air sampling, a GC injector or a thermal desorber, are commonly an integral part of these instruments. This paper describes an electrospray ionization ion mobility spectrometer system that allows direct introduction samples in solution phase. This allows direct analysis of non-volatile organic and biological samples, and avoids decomposition of thermally liable samples, providing reliable chemical identification. In addition, the new ion mobility spectrometer allows mobility analysis with high resolving power. Commonly used commercial IMS systems provide resolving powers between 10 and 30; this new ion mobility spectrometer has resolving power greater than 60 for routine analysis. A high resolution instrument is necessary for many applications where a complex mixture needs to be separated and quantified. This paper demonstrates the advantages of using a high resolution ion mobility spectrometer and an electrospray ionization source for the analysis of non-volatile pharmaceuticals as well as dissolved explosive in solution phase.     

Fast detection of methyl tert-butyl ether from water using solid phase microextraction and ion mobility spectrometry

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is commonly used as chemical additive to increase oxygen content and octane rating of reformulated gasoline. Despite its impact on enhancing cleaner combustion of gasoline, MTBE poses a threat to surface and ground water when gasoline is released into the environment. Methods for onsite analysis of MTBE in water samples are also needed. A less common technique for MTBE detection from water is ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). We describe a method for fast sampling and screening of MTBE from water by solid phase microextraction (SPME) and IMS. MTBE is adsorbed from the head space of a sample to the coating of SPME fiber. The interface containing a heated sample chamber, which couples SPME and IMS, was constructed and the SPME fiber was introduced into the sample chamber for thermal desorption and IMS detection of MTBE vapors. The demonstrated SPME-IMS method proved to be a straightforward method for the detection of trace quantities of MTBE from waters including surface and ground water. We determined the relative standard deviation of 8.3% and detection limit of 5 mg L⁻¹ for MTBE. Because of short sampling, desorption, and detection times, the described configuration of combined SPME and IMS is a feasible method for the detection of hazardous substances from environmental matrices.     

The coupling of solid-phase microextraction/surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization to ion mobility spectrometry for drug analysis

The construction of a new solid-phase microextraction/surfaced enhanced laser desorption/ionization-ion mobility spectrometry (SPME/SELDI-IMS) device is reported here. A polypyrrole (PPY) coated SPME/SELDI fiber was employed as the extraction phase and SELDI surface to introduce analytes into the IMS. Analytes were directly ionized from the PPY coated fiber tip by a Nd:YAG laser without the addition of a matrix. Optimal experimental parameters, such as extraction conditions and laser parameters, were investigated. The use of a SPME/SELDI fiber simplified the sampling and sample preparation for IMS. Verapamil could be directly extracted from urine sample and analyzed by IMS without any further sample cleanup. This technique could be used for the analysis of drugs and other non-volatile compounds.     

Quantitative determination of famotidine in human maternal plasma,umbilical cord plasma and urine using high‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

Liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the quantitative determination of famotidine in human urine, maternal and umbilical cord plasma was developed and validated. The plasma samples were alkalized with ammonium hydroxide and extracted twice with ethyl acetate. The extraction recovery of famotidine in maternal and umbilical cord plasma ranged from 53 to 64% and 72 to 79%, respectively. Urine samples were directly diluted with the initial mobile phase then injected into the HPLC system. Chromatographic separation of famotidine was achieved by using a Phenomenex Synergi? Hydro‐RP? column with a gradient elution of acetonitrile and 10 mm ammonium acetate aqueous solution (pH 8.3, adjusted with ammonium hydroxide). Mass spectrometric detection of famotidine was set in the positive mode and used a selected ion monitoring method. Carbon‐13‐labeled famotidine was used as internal standard. The calibration curves were linear (r² > 0.99) in the concentration ranges of 0.631–252 ng/mL for umbilical and maternal plasma samples and 0.075–30.0 µg/mL for urine samples. The relative deviation of method was <14% for intra‐ and inter‐day assays, and the accuracy ranged between 93 and 110%. The matrix effect of famotidine in human urine, maternal and umbilical cord plasma was less than 17%. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Direct infusion electrospray ionization–ion mobility–mass spectrometry for comparative profiling of fatty acids based on stable isotope labeling

A rapid method for fatty acids (FAs) comparative profiling based on carboxyl-specific stable isotope labeling (SIL) and direct infusion electrospray ionization–ion mobility–mass spectrometry (ESI–IM–MS) is established. The design of the method takes advantage of the three-dimensional characteristics of IM–MS including drift time, m/z and ion intensity, for comparison of d0-/d6-2,4-dimethoxy-6-piperazin-1-yl pyrimidine (DMPP)-labeled FAs. In particular, without chromatographic separation, the method allowed direct FAs profiling in complex samples due to the advantageous priority of DMPP in signal enhancement as well as the extra resolution that IM–MS offered. Additionally, the d0-/d6-DMPP-labeled FAs showed expected features, including very similar drift times, 6 Da mass deviations, specific reporter ions, similar MS responses, and adherence to the drift time rule regarding the influence of carbon chain length and unsaturation on relative drift times. Therefore, the introduction of isotope analogs minimized the matrix effect and variations in quantification and ensured accurate identification of non-targeted FAs by those typical features. Peak intensity ratios between d0-/d6-DMPP-labeled ions were subsequently used in relative quantification for the detected FAs. The established strategy has been applied successfully in the rapid profiling of trace free FAs between normal and cancerous human thyroid tissues. Sixteen free FAs were found with the increased level with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) compared to the normal tissue samples. The integrated SIL technique and ESI–IM–MS are expected to serve as an alternative tool for high-throughput analysis of FAs in complex samples.     

Identification of volatile chemical signatures from plastic explosives by SPME-GC/MS and detection by ion mobility spectrometry

This study demonstrates the use of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) to extract and pre-concentrate volatile signatures from static air above plastic explosive samples followed by detection using ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) optimized to detect the volatile, non-energetic components rather than the energetic materials. Currently, sample collection for detection by commercial IMS analyzers is conducted through swiping of suspected surfaces for explosive particles and vapor sampling. The first method is not suitable for sampling inside large volume areas, and the latter method is not effective because the low vapor pressure of some explosives such as RDX and PETN make them not readily available in the air for headspace sampling under ambient conditions. For the first time, headspace sampling and detection of Detasheet, Semtex H, and C-4 is reported using SPME-IMS operating under one universal setting with limits of detection ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 ng for the target volatile signatures. The target signature compounds n-butyl acetate and the taggant DMNB are associated with untagged and tagged Detasheet explosives, respectively. Cyclohexanone and DMNB are associated with tagged C-4 explosives. DMNB is associated with tagged Semtex H explosives. Within 10 to 60 s of sampling, the headspace inside a glass vial containing 1 g of explosive, more than 20 ng of the target signatures can be extracted by the SPME fiber followed by IMS detection.     

Aptamer-functionalized solid phase microextraction–liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for selective enrichment and determination of thrombin

In this publication, a novel solid phase microextraction (SPME) coating functionalized with a DNA aptamer for selective enrichment of a low abundance protein from diluted human plasma is described. This approach is based on the covalent immobilization of an aptamer ligand on electrospun microfibers made with the hydrophilic polymer poly(acrylonitrile-co-maleic acid) (PANCMA) on stainless steel rods. A plasma protein, human α-thrombin, was employed as a model protein for selective extraction by the developed Apt-SPME probe, and the detection was carried out with liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The SPME probe exhibited highly selective capture, good binding capacity, high stability and good repeatability for the extraction of thrombin. The protein selective probe was employed for direct extraction of thrombin from 20-fold diluted human plasma samples without any other purification. The Apt-SPME method coupled with LC–MS/MS provided a good linear dynamic range of 0.5–50 nM in diluted human plasma with a good correlation coefficient (R² = 0.9923), and the detection limit of the proposed method was found to be 0.30 nM. Finally, the Apt-SPME coupled with LC–MS/MS method was successfully utilized for the determination of thrombin in clinical human plasma samples. One shortcoming of the method is its reduced efficiency in undiluted human plasma compared to the standard solution. Nevertheless, this new aptamer affinity-based SPME probe opens up the possibility of selective enrichment of a given targeted protein from complex sample either in vivo or ex vivo.     

Rapid analysis of captopril in human plasma and pharmaceutical preparations by headspace solid phase microextraction based on polypyrrole film coupled to ion mobility spectrometry

A rapid, simple, and sensitive headspace solid phase microextraction coupled to ion mobility spectrometry (HS-SPME-IMS) method is presented for analysis of the highly specific angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, captopril (CAP). Positive ion mobility spectra of CAP were acquired with an ion mobility spectrometer equipped with a corona discharge ionization source. Mass-to-mobility correlation equation was used to identify product ions. A dodecylsulfate-doped polypyrrole (PPy-DS) coating was used as a fiber for SPME. The results showed that PPy-DS based SPME fiber was suitable for successfully extracting CAP from human blood plasma and pharmaceutical samples. The HS-SPME-IMS method provided good repeatability (R.S.D.s < 4%) for aqueous and spiked plasma samples. The calibration graphs were linear in the range of 10-300 ng mL⁻¹ (R² > 0.99) and detection limits were 7.5 ng mL⁻¹ for aqueous and 6.3 ng mL⁻¹ for plasma blank samples. Finally, a standard addition calibration method was applied to HS-SPME-IMS technique for the analysis of blood plasma samples and tablets. Purpose method seemed to be suitable for the analysis of CAP in plasma samples as it is not time consuming (state total time from sample preparation to analysis), it required only small quantities of the sample, and no derivatization was required.     

Determining urea levels in dialysis human serum by means of headspace solid phase microextraction coupled with ion mobility spectrometry and on the basis of nanostructured polypyrrole film

A simple and sensitive headspace (HS) solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) method is presented for analysis of urea in dialysis human serum samples. A dodecylbenzenesulfonate-doped polypyrrole coating was used as a fiber for SPME. The HS-SPME–IMS method exhibits good repeatability (relative standard deviation of 3 % or less), simplicity, and good sensitivity. The influence of various analytical parameters such as pH, ionic strength, extraction time and temperature was investigated and the parameters were optimized. The calibration graph was linear in the range from 5 to 50 μg mL^?1, and the detection limit was 2 μg mL^?1. The method was applied successfully for determination of urea in human serum and with acceptable recovery (more than 98 %). Finally, a standard addition calibration method was applied to the HS-SPME-IMS method for the analysis of human serum samples before and at the end of dialysis. The proposed method appears to be suitable for the analysis of urea in serum samples as it is not time-consuming and requires only small quantities of the sample without any derivatization process.

Use of Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) with Ion Mobility Spectrometry∗

Abstract

We report the use of solid phase microextraction (SPME) combined with ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) for sampling, screening and identification of organic compounds that are readily detected by IMS. This is a new SPME application. SPME has emerged recently as an excellent sample preparation technique for gas chromatography (GC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We have found that SPME can be used very conveniently with IMS. An example of SPME-IMS is described using SPME headspace sampling at room temperature with 0.1 mL vials containing 1.0 microgram or less of either cocaine freebase or cocaine hydrochloride. This is followed by analysis using IMS. A hole, drilled in the IMS sample ticket holder, serves as the SPME-IMS interface.

     

Hollow fiber-based liquid–liquid–liquid microextraction combined with electrospray ionization-ion mobility spectrometry for the determination of pentazocine in biological samples

A new method based on liquid–liquid–liquid microextraction combined with electrospray ionization-ion mobility spectrometry (LLLME-ESI-IMS) was used for the determination of pentazocine in urine and plasma samples. Experimental parameters which control the performance of LLLME, such as selection of composition of donor and acceptor phase, type of organic solvent, ionic strength of the sample, extraction temperature and extraction time were studied. The limit of detection and relative standard deviation of the method were 2 ng/mL and 5.3%, respectively. The linear calibration ranged from 10 to 500 ng/mL with r² = 0.998. Pentazocine was successfully determined in urine and plasma samples without any significant matrix effect.     

Rapid screening of methamphetamines in human serum by headspace solid-phase microextraction using a dodecylsulfate-doped polypyrrole film coupled to ion mobility spectrometry

A simple, rapid and highly sensitive method for simultaneous analysis of methamphetamine (MA) and 3,4-methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA) in human serum was developed using the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) combined with ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). A dodecylsulfate-doped polypyrrole (PPy-DS) was applied as a new fiber for SPME. Electrochemically polymerized PPy is formed on the surface of a platinum wire and will contain charge-compensating anion (dodecylsulfate) incorporated during synthesis using cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique. The extraction properties of the fiber to MA and MDMA were examined, using a headspace-SPME (HS-SPME) device and thermal desorption in injection port of IMS. The results show that PPy-DS as a SPME fiber coating is suitable for the successful extraction of these compounds. This method is suitable for the identification and determination of MAs, is not time-consuming, requires small quantities of sample and does not require any derivatization. Parameters like pH, extraction time, ionic strength, and temperature of the sample were studied and optimized to obtain the best extraction results. The HS-SPME-IMS method provided good repeatability (RSDs<7.8 %) for spiked serum samples. The calibration graphs were linear in the range of 20-4000 ng ml(-1) (R(2)>0.99) and detection limits for MDMA and MA were 5 and 8 ng ml(-1), respectively. HS-SPME-IMS of non-spiked serum sample provided a spectrum without any peak from the matrix, supporting an effective sample clean-up. Finally, the proposed method was applied for analysis one of the ecstasy tablet.     

稳定同位素稀释离子色谱-三重四极杆质谱法测定血浆和尿液中的氟乙酸

建立了离子色谱-三重四极杆质谱测定血浆和尿液样品中氟乙酸（MFA）的方法。血浆样品经高氯酸超声提取,尿液样品经高氯酸酸化,血浆和尿液提取液在pH 0.5~1.0条件下用叔丁基甲醚（MTBE）萃取,萃取液经氮吹浓缩后溶于0.1%（v/v）氨水溶液。以Ionpac AS 19型阴离子色谱柱为分析柱,在线自动产生的氢氧化钾作为淋洗液进行梯度分离,柱流出液经阴离子抑制器抑制后进入质谱系统。采用电喷雾电离源,在负离子、多离子监测（MRM）模式下检测,¹³C₂-氟乙酸稳定同位素内标法定量。血浆和尿液样品中氟乙酸的平均加标回收率为96.2%~120%,相对标准偏差为1.1%~13.1%（n=6）,方法的检出限（S/N=3）分别为0.03 μg/L和0.1 μg/L。该法简单、灵敏、准确,可用于生物样品中氟乙酸的检测。     

Determination of polyamine metabolome in plasma and urine by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method: Application to identify potential markers for human hepatic cancer

To evaluate the potential relationship between cancer and polyamine metabolome, a UHPLC–MS/MS method has been developed and validated for simultaneous determination of polyamine precursors, polyamines, polyamine catabolite in human plasma and urine. Polyamine precursors including l-ornithine, lysine, l-arginine and S-adenosyl-l-methionine; polyamines including 1,3-diaminopropane, putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine, spermine, agmatine, N-acetylputrescine, N-acetylspermine and N-acetylspermidine; polyamine catabolite including γ-aminobutyric acid had been determined. The analytes were extracted from plasma and urine samples by protein precipitation procedure, and then separated on a Shim-pack XR-ODS column with 0.05% heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA) in methanol and 0.05% HFBA in water. The detection was performed on UHPLC–MS/MS system with turbo ion spray source in the positive ion and multiple reaction-monitoring mode. The limits of quantitation for all analytes were within 0.125–31.25 ng mL⁻¹ in plasma and urine. The absolute recoveries of analytes from plasma and urine were all more than 50%. By means of the method developed, the plasma and urine samples from hepatic cancer patients and healthy age-matched volunteers had been successfully determined. Results showed that putrescine and spermidine in hepatic cancerous plasma were significant higher than those in healthy ones, while spermidine, spermine and N-acetylspermidine in hepatic cancerous urine were significant higher than those in healthy ones. The methods demonstrated the changes of polyamine metabolome occurring in plasma and urine from human subjects with hepatic cancer. It could be a powerful manner to indicate and treat hepatic cancer in its earliest indicative stages.     

Evaluation of capillary liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization ion mobility spectrometry with mass spectrometry detection

Due to the proteomics revolution, multi-dimensional separation and detection instruments are required to evaluate many peptides and proteins in single samples. In this study, electrospray ionization (ESI) ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) was evaluated as an additional separation after HPLC separations. Common HPLC mobile phase compositions (solvents, acid modifiers, and buffers) were assessed for the effect on ESI-IMS response. Up to 5 mM sodium phosphate, a non-volatile buffer, was able to be electrosprayed into the IMS without degradation of the instrumental performance. Due to the rapid separation times of IMS, multiple IMS spectra were obtained within a single HPLC peak. A five-peptide mixture was separated in a capillary HPLC column under isocratic conditions within 3 min. Coelution of two peaks due to non-optimal HPLC conditions occurred and these two peaks could not be distinguished by HPLC with UV detection. In contrast, the single ion mobility chromatograms provided separation of each peptide as well as providing a second degree of analyte identification (HPLC retention time and IMS mobility). Furthermore, IMS-MS analysis of the five peptides and comparison with HPLC retention times showed that each peptide had a unique retention time-ion mobility-mass to charge value. This work showed that IMS could be employed for direct separation and detection of HPLC eluents and also could be combined with HPLC-MS for three unique dimensions of separation.     

Determination of cocaine and methadone in urine samples by thin-film solid-phase microextraction and direct analysis in real time (DART) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry

The use of thin-film solid-phase microextraction (SPME) as the sampling preparation step before direct analysis in real time (DART) was evaluated for the determination of two prohibited doping substances, cocaine and methadone, in urine samples. Results showed that thin-film SPME improves the detectability of these compounds: signal-to-blank ratios of 5 (cocaine) and 13 (methadone) were obtained in the analysis of 0.5 ng/ml in human urine. Thin-film SPME also provides efficient sample cleanup, avoiding contamination of the ion source by salt residues from the urine samples. Extraction time was established in 10 min, thus providing relatively short analysis time and high throughput when combined with a 96-well shaker and coupled with DART technique.

Detection and identification of drugs and toxicants in human body fluids by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry under data-dependent acquisition control and automated database search

Systematic toxicological analysis (STA) is aimed at detecting and identifying all substances of toxicological relevance (i.e. drugs, drugs of abuse, poisons and/or their metabolites) in biological material. Particularly, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) represents a competent and commonly applied screening and confirmation tool. Herein, we present an untargeted liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) assay aimed to complement existing GC/MS screening for the detection and identification of drugs in blood, plasma and urine samples. Solid-phase extraction was accomplished on mixed-mode cartridges. LC was based on gradient elution in a miniaturized C18 column. High resolution electrospray ionization-MS/MS in positive ion mode with data-dependent acquisition control was used to generate tandem mass spectral information that enabled compound identification via automated library search in the “Wiley Registry of Tandem Mass Spectral Data, MSforID”. Fitness of the developed LC/MS/MS method for application in STA in terms of selectivity, detection capability and reliability of identification (sensitivity/specificity) was demonstrated with blank samples, certified reference materials, proficiency test samples, and authentic casework samples.