Immobilized carbon nanotubes as matrix for MALDI-TOF-MS analysis: Applications to neutral small carbohydrates

In this work, we reported on the advantages of immobilized carbon nanotubes as a novel MALDI-matrix. Recently, carbon nanotubes have been reported to be an effective MALDI matrix for small molecules (Anal. Chem.2003, 75, 6191), as it can eliminate the interfering matrix peaks as well as form a web morphology to fully disperse the analyte and allow strong ultraviolet absorption for enhanced pulsed laser desorption and ionization. In our study, to overcome the problem that the carbon nanotube matrix may fly off from the target, a type of polyurethane adhesive, NIPPOLAN-DC-205, is introduced to immobilize carbon nanotubes on the target, which enables widespread application of carbon nanotubes as matrix for MALDI-MS analysis. At the same time, the properties of the carbon nanotubes as an efficient matrix remained after immobilization. The presence of NIPPOLAN-DC-205 increases the time for analysis at a particular desorption spot by minimizing the time-consuming search for "hot spots" and facilitating experiments such as post source decay (PSD) which need longer-lasting signals. Moreover, NIPPOLAN-DC-205 produces no interference peaks and can easily be cleaned with acetone. Fast evaporation technology may be used to enhance signal reproducibility in MALDI analysis using carbon nanotubes as matrix. Consequently, the applicability of the carbon nanotube as matrix for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) analysis of low molecular mass analytes is highly improved. The feasibility of the method employing polyurethane is demonstrated by comparison of the results produced from the carbon nanotube matrix with and without immobilization. In addition, neutral small carbohydrates, which are difficult to be ionized normally, can be cationized with high efficiency by MALDI-TOF-MS using the immobilized carbon nanotube matrix. The method was further applied to analyze peptides and detect urine glucose successfully.     

Using oxidized carbon nanotubes as matrix for analysis of small molecules by MALDI-TOF MS

Oxidized carbon nanotubes are tested as a matrix for analysis of small molecules by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Compared with nonoxidized carbon nanotubes, oxidized carbon nanotubes facilitate sample preparation because of their higher solubility in water. The matrix layer of oxidized carbon nanotubes is much more homogeneous and compact than that of nonoxidized carbon nanotubes. The efficiency of desorption/ionization for analytes and the reproducibility of peak intensities within and between sample spots are greatly enhanced on the surface of oxidized carbon nanotubes. The advantage of the oxidized carbon nanotubes in comparison with alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CCA) and carbon nanotubes is demonstrated by MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of an amino acid mixture. The matrix is successfully used for analysis of synthetic hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin, suggesting a great potential for monitoring reactions and for product quality control. Reliable quantitative analysis of jatrorrhizine and palmatine with a wide linear range (1-100 ng/mL) and good reproducibility of relative peak areas (RSD less than 10%) is achieved using this matrix. Concentrations of jatrorrhizine (8.65 mg/mL) and palmatine (10.4 mg/mL) in an extract of Coptis chinensis Franch are determined simultaneously using the matrix and a standard addition method.     

A magnetite/oxidized carbon nanotube composite used as an adsorbent and a matrix of MALDI-TOF-MS for the determination of benzo[a]pyrene

A magnetite/oxidized carbon nanotube composite, Fe(3)O(4)@SiO(2)/OCNT, was fabricated in a simple way, and it was successfully used as a magnetic solid-phase extraction sorbent and a significant matrix of the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) for the detection of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP).     

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry of taxanes

Taxanes are biologically active compounds that have been extensively used in pharmacology for their powerful anticancer properties. High specificity and low level sensitivity for analysis of these compounds have been obtained with reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC/MS), but the number of applications of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) for low molecular weight analytes is rapidly growing. A new MALDI-MS approach for the rapid screening of a variety of taxanes and a tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) analysis of the most important and diagnostic taxane fragmentation pathways are proposed. A solid-phase extraction method followed by preliminary quantification is also reported.     

Application of DNA-binding polymers for preparation of DNA for analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

The susceptibility of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) to the presence of salts in a sample, especially salts of alkali metals, requires careful and often tedious desalting procedures which complicate and slow the throughput of MS-based methods. A novel approach to sample preparation was developed based on the extraction of DNA out of solution onto a solid surface with an attached DNA-binding polymer, such as polyethyleneimine or polyvinylpyrrolidone. The observed binding is strong enough to sustain washing, and, as a result, desalting and concentration can be performed in a single fast step. After DNA has been immobilized on the surface and supernatant solution removed, subsequent addition of MALDI matrix releases material from the surface, which co-crystallizes with matrix. The mass spectrometric analysis is then performed directly from this support. Analysis of oligonucleotides and three-fold multiplexed SNP typing reactions performed by this method shows improved sensitivity and excellent resolution for various DNA fragments, together with high tolerance to various buffer components, such as alkali metals and surfactants. Simplicity and speed make it attractive for high-throughput sample preparation and analysis of oligonucleotide mixtures by MALDI-MS.     

碳纳米管为基质对氨基酸的MALDI-FT MS分析

Twenty common amino acids have been analyzed successfully by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) using carbon nanotubes as matrix. From the spectra, little or no background interference or fragmentation of the analytes has been observed. This method was also applied to the analysis of amino acid mixture successfully. Carbon nanotubes have some features such as large surface area to disperse the analyte molecules sufficiently and prevent the sample aggregation and strong ultraviolet absorption to transfer energy easily to the analyte molecules. The present method has potential application for the rapid and sensitive analysis of amino acids and their mixture.     

Approaches for the analysis of low molecular weight compounds with laser desorption/ionization techniques and mass spectrometry

This review summarizes various approaches for the analysis of low molecular weight (LMW) compounds by different laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry techniques (LDI-MS). It is common to use an agent to assist the ionization, and small molecules are normally difficult to analyze by, e.g., matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) using the common matrices available today, because the latter are generally small organic compounds themselves. This often results in severe suppression of analyte peaks, or interference of the matrix and analyte signals in the low mass region. However, intrinsic properties of several LDI techniques such as high sensitivity, low sample consumption, high tolerance towards salts and solid particles, and rapid analysis have stimulated scientists to develop methods to circumvent matrix-related issues in the analysis of LMW molecules. Recent developments within this field as well as historical considerations and future prospects are presented in this review.     

Coffee-ring effects in laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

This report focuses on the heterogeneous distribution of small molecules (e.g. metabolites) within dry deposits of suspensions and solutions of inorganic and organic compounds with implications for chemical analysis of small molecules by laser desorption/ionization (LDI) mass spectrometry (MS). Taking advantage of the imaging capabilities of a modern mass spectrometer, we have investigated the occurrence of “coffee rings” in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization (SALDI) sample spots. It is seen that the “coffee-ring effect” in MALDI/SALDI samples can be both beneficial and disadvantageous. For example, formation of the coffee rings gives rise to heterogeneous distribution of analytes and matrices, thus compromising analytical performance and reproducibility of the mass spectrometric analysis. On the other hand, the coffee-ring effect can also be advantageous because it enables partial separation of analytes from some of the interfering molecules present in the sample. We report a “hidden coffee-ring effect” where under certain conditions the sample/matrix deposit appears relatively homogeneous when inspected by optical microscopy. Even in such cases, hidden coffee rings can still be found by implementing the MALDI-MS imaging technique. We have also found that to some extent, the coffee-ring effect can be suppressed during SALDI sample preparation.     

Solid-phase microextraction combined with surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization introduction for ion mobility spectrometry and mass spectrometry using polypyrrole coatings

The successful application of polypyrrole (PPY) solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coatings as both an extraction phase and a surface to enhance laser desorption/ionization (SELDI) of analytes is reported. This SPME/SELDI fiber integrates sample preparation and sample introduction on the tip of a coated optical fiber, as well as acting as the transmission medium for the UV laser light. Using ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) detection, the signal intensity was examined as a function of extraction surface area and concentration of analyte. The linear relationship between concentration and signal intensity shows potential applicability of this detection method for quantitative analysis. Extraction time profiles for the fiber, using tetraoctylammonium bromide as test analyte, illustrated that equilibrium can be reached in less than one minute. To investigate the performance of the PPY coating, the laser desorption profile was studied. The fiber was also tested using a quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometer with leucine enkephalin as test analyte. Since no matrix was used, mass spectra free from matrix background were obtained. This novel SPME/SELDI fiber is easy to manufacture, and is suitable for studying low-mass analytes because of the intrinsic low background. These findings suggest that other types of conductive polymers could also be used as an extraction phase and surface to enhance laser desorption/ionization in mass spectrometry.     

Direct surface analysis of fungal species by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

In this study various methods of sample preparation and matrices were investigated to determine optimum collection and analysis criteria for fungal analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Intact spores and/or hyphae of Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus oryzae, Trichoderma reesei and Phanerochaete chrysosporium were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS). The fungal samples were applied to the MALDI sample target as untreated, sonicated, or acid/heat treated samples, or blotted directly from the fungal culture with double-stick tape. Ferulic acid or sinapinic acid matrix solution was layered over the dried samples and analyzed by MALDI-MS. Statistical analysis showed that simply using double-stick tape to collect and transfer to a MALDI sample plate typically worked as well as the other preparation methods, and required the least sample handling.     

Rapid determination of trace nitrophenolic organics in water by combining solid-phase extraction with surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A rapid technique for the screening of trace compounds in water by combining solid-phase extraction (SPE) with activated carbon surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization (SALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry is demonstrated. Activated carbon is used both as the sorbent in SPE and as the solid in the SALDI matrix system. This eliminates the need for an SPE elution process. After the analytes have been adsorbed on the surfaces of the activated carbon during SPE extraction, the activated carbon is directly mixed with the SALDI liquid and mass spectrometric analysis is performed. Trace phenolic compounds in water were used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. The detection limit for these compounds is in the ppb to ppt range.     

An activated carbon substrate surface for laser desorption mass spectrometry

A method to obtain laser desorption/ionization mass spectra of organic compounds by depositing sample solutions onto a carbon substrate surface is demonstrated. The substrate consists of a thin layer of activated carbon particles immobilized on an aluminum support. In common with the porous carbon suspension samples used in previous “surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization” (SALDI) work, the mass spectra contain only a few “matrix” background ion peaks, minimizing interference with analyte ion peaks. The presence of glycerol ensured that the ion signals were stable over hundreds of laser shots. In addition, the carbon substrate surface has several advantages over the suspension samples. The use of a very thin layer of carbon significantly improves the sensitivity. Detection limits range from attomoles for crystal violet to femtomoles for bradykinin. Very little sample preparation is required as the analyte solution is simply pipetted onto the substrate surface and glycerol added. When using an alternate sample deposition method, a mass resolution for bradykinin of 1800 is achieved in linear time-of-flight mode. This is close to the resolution limit set by the detector system and above instrument specification for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectra.     

Hyphenation of capillary high-performance liquid chromatography with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for nano-scale screening of single-bead combinatorial libraries

This paper focuses on the technical aspects of chemical screening from 384-well plate nano-scale single-bead combinatorial libraries. The analytical technique utilized is a combination of capillary liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. The HPLC/MALDI-MS hyphenation is achieved by means of a micro-fraction collector with a peak detection system that automatically collects the peaks onto the MALDI targets for subsequent characterization. Several experimental parameters such as type of 384-well plate, well-plate sealing foils, and a column-switching procedure were investigated using a small test library of nine components. Additionally, the influence of different MALDI matrices, different MALDI targets and sample-spotting techniques on the MALDI detection sensitivity as well as the ruggedness and sample throughput capacity of this technique were studied. Optimum results for the analytes investigated were obtained with 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid using on-line mixing of HPLC effluent and matrix solution. To demonstrate the potential of this capillary HPLC/MALDI-TOFMS method, its application to several single-bead libraries was investigated. The instrumental method allowed for the rapid identification and purity assessment of combinatorial libraries with detection limits down to the higher femtomole level using both UV detection and MALDI mass spectrometry.     

Multifunctional nanoparticles composite for MALDI-MS: Cd2+-doped carbon nanotubes with CdS nanoparticles as the matrix, preconcentrating and accelerating probes of microwave enzymatic digestion of peptides and proteins for direct MALDI-MS analysis

For the first time, we utilized multifunctional nanoparticles composite (NPs composite) for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric (MALDI-MS) analysis of peptides and proteins. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes doped with Cd(2+) ions and modified with cadmium sulfide NPs were synthesized by a chemical reduction method at room temperature. The multifunctional NPs composite applied for the analysis of peptides and microwave-digested proteins in the atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization ion-trap and MALDI time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) was successfully demonstrated. The maximum detection sensitivity for peptides in MALDI-MS was achieved by the adsorption of negatively charged peptides onto the surfaces of NP composite through electrostatic interactions. The optimal conditions of peptide mixtures were obtained at 20 min of incubation time using 1 mg of NPs composite when the pH of the sample solution was kept higher than the pI values of peptides. The potentiality of the NP composite in the preconcentration of peptides was compared with that of the individual NP by calculating the preconcentration factors (PF) and found that the NPs composite showed a 4-6 times of PF than the other NPs. In addition, the NPs composite was also applied as heat-absorbing materials for efficient microwave tryptic digestion of cytochrome c and lysozyme from milk protein in MALDI-TOF-MS analysis. We believe that the use of NPs composite technique would be an efficient and powerful preconcentrating tool for MALDI-MS for the study of proteome research.     

Desorption/ionization mass spectrometry on nanocrystalline titania sol-gel-deposited films

This paper describes a matrix-free method for performing desorption/ionization directly from mesoporous nanocrystalline titania sol-gel thin films, which have good absorption capacity in the ultraviolet (UV) range and can act as assisting materials during UV matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric (MALDI-MS) analysis. A high concentration of citrate buffer was added into this system to provide the proton source and to reduce the presence of alkali cation adducts of the analytes. The analyte signals appear uniformly over the whole sample deposition area. Protonated molecules (MH(+) ions) of analytes dominate the titania MALDI mass spectra. Surfactants, peptides, tryptic digest products, and small proteins with molecular weights below ca. 24 000 Da, are observed in the titania MALDI mass spectra. Detection limits for insulin are as low as ca. 2 fmol with mass resolution of ca. 660.     

Serum protein profiling by miniaturized solid-phase extraction and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

Serum profiling by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) holds promise as a clinical tool for early diagnosis of cancer and other human diseases. Sample preparation is key to achieving reproducible and well-resolved signals in MALDI-MS; a prerequisite for translation of MALDI-MS based diagnostic methods to clinical applications. We have investigated a number of MALDI matrices and several miniaturized solid-phase extraction (SPE) methods for serum protein concentration and desalting with the aim of generating reproducible, high-quality protein profiles by MALDI-MS. We developed a simple protocol for serum profiling that combines a matrix mixture of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid with miniaturized SPE and MALDI-MS. Functionalized membrane discs with hydrophobic, ion-exchange or chelating properties allowed reproducible MALDI mass spectra (m/z 1000-12,000) to be obtained from serum. In a proof-of-principle application, SPE with chelating material and MALDI-MS identified protein peaks in serum that had been previously reported for distinguishing a person diagnosed with breast cancer from a control. These preliminary results indicate that this simple SPE/MALDI-MS method for serum profiling provides a versatile and scalable platform for clinical proteomics.     

聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯固定化碳纳米管作为MALDI基质的研究

将聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯材料在多壁碳纳米管表面原位聚合, 利用这种修饰的碳纳米管作为基质辅助激光解析离子化(MALDI)的基质, 利用修饰后的碳纳米管可以“溶解”的特性实现了稳定的MALDI离子化, 并且消除了在低质量端的基质噪音. 此类聚合物衍生的碳纳米管具有相对较好的亲水性表面, 可“溶解”在溶剂中. 此方法适用于有机小分子、多肽、聚合物和蛋白质酶解肽段的质谱分析. 实验表明聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯固定化碳纳米管能有效地吸收和传递激光能量, 可与样品充分地分散混合, 质谱检测背景低, 重现性好, 具有较宽的可测质量范围. 此方法在小分子快速检测和蛋白质组学方面有很大的应用前景.     

提高MALDI-MS测量溶菌酶分子量灵敏度的研究

近 1 0年来 ,基质辅助激光解吸质谱 (MALDI- MS)作为一种新兴的“软电离”质谱技术 [1,2 ] ,已很快地应用于生物大分子特别是蛋白质研究领域 [3 ] .MALDI- MS可在 1 0 - 12 mol甚至 1 0 - 15mol的水平上 ,准确地测定分子量高达几万到几十万的生物大分子 ;还可通过改变基质、溶液条件和样品的制备方法等实现大分子蛋白质非共价复合物的质谱检测 [4 ] .MALDI- MS能够得到如此广泛的应用 ,在很大程度上要归功于基质的辅助效应 .基质的作用主要可以概括如下 [5～ 7] :(1 )削弱样品分子间的相互作用 ;(2 )与样品分子结合并使之快速结晶 …     

β-环糊精包覆碳纳米管基质用于氨基酸及小分子聚合物的MALDI-FT MS研究

制备了可用作氨基酸及小分子聚合物的MALDI-FTMS分析基质的β-环糊精包覆多壁碳纳米管.通过引入β-环糊精改善其碳纳米管亲水性.所制备的β-环糊精包覆多壁碳纳米管的扫描电镜图表明,该碳纳米管呈现纳米带状结构.与通常的氧化碳纳米管相比,所制备的β-环糊精改性CNT具有更低的背景信号.进一步采用氨基酸及聚乙二醇等小分子化合物对所制备的碳纳米管进行评价,得到很强的氨基酸及聚乙二醇的碱金属离子加合峰,表明该材料可使小分子化合物解吸离子化,且背景干扰小不会影响到小分子化合物检测.由此可见,制备的β-环糊精包覆多壁碳纳米管适于小分子化合物的MALDI-MS分析.     

Development of magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotubes as solid-phase extraction technique for the determination of p-hydroxybenzoates in beverage

In this work, magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotubes were synthesized through a facile hydrothermal process, and then successfully used as magnetic solid-phase extraction sorbents for the determination of p-hydroxybenzoates in beverage. The prepared magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotubes presented both satisfactory superparamagnetism and strong capacity of absorption, with magnetic Fe(3)O(4) beads of 200 nm average diameters decorated at either ends of the tubes. The hybrid nanocomposites showed a high efficiency in the extraction and enrichment of p-hydroxybenzoates via π-π stacking of targeted molecules onto the polyaromatic composed surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes, which entitled them promising magnetic solid-phase extraction sorbents for p-hydroxybenzoates at trace level from complex drink samples. By using an external magnetic field, p-hydroxybenzoates adsorbed on magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotubes could be rapidly isolated in only 30 s, and subsequently analyzed by liquid chromatography-diode array detector after elution with organic solvents. Extraction conditions such as eluting solvent, the amounts of magnetic sorbents added, pH values, adsorption and desorption time were investigated and optimized to achieve the best effect. Method validations including linearity, detection limit, and precision were also studied. The linearities were in the wide range of 0.05-500 μg/mL with correlation coefficients higher than 0.9983 for all p-hydroxybenzoates. The limits of detection were less than 20 ng/mL. Acceptable RSDs were achieved within 5-8% for all analytes. The results indicated that the proposed method based on magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotubes as magnetic solid-phase extraction absorbents was rapid, efficient, and convenient for the analysis of the targeted compounds of p-hydroxybenzoates in beverage sample.