Radiofrequency field enhanced chemical ionization with vacuum ultraviolet lamp for miniature time-of-flight mass spectrometer

Radiofrequency field enhanced chemical ionization enhances the sensitivity of benzene, toluene, hydrogen sulfide and other compounds by 2–3 orders of magnitude and expanded the detection range of the compounds with ionization energy from 10.6 eV to 12.0 eV.     

Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry in anabolic steroid analysis--optimization and comparison of three ionization techniques: electrospray ionization,atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and atmospheric pressure photoionization

The applicability of liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) for the detection of the free anabolic steroid fraction in human urine was examined. Electrospray ionization (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and atmospheric pressure photoionization methods were optimized regarding eluent composition, ion source parameters and fragmentation. The methods were compared with respect to specificity and detection limit. Although all methods proved suitable, LC/ESI-MS/MS with a methanol-water gradient including 5 mM ammonium acetate and 0.01% acetic acid was found best for the purpose. Multiple reaction monitoring allowed the determination of steroids in urine at low nanogram per milliliter levels. LC/MS/MS exhibited high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of free steroids and may be a suitable technique for screening for the abuse of anabolic steroids in sports.     

A digital ion trap mass spectrometer coupled with atmospheric pressure ion sources

In a digital ion trap (DIT), the quadrupole trapping and excitation waveforms are generated by the rapid switching between discrete d.c. voltage levels. As the timing of the switch can be controlled precisely by digital circuitry, the approach provides an opportunity to generate mass spectra by means of a frequency scan in contrast to the conventional voltage scan, thus providing a wider mass range of analysis. An instrument has been constructed which employs a 'non-stretched' ion trap and the field fault around the aperture of the end-cap electrode can be corrected electronically using a field-adjusting electrode. The ion trap was coupled with electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (AP-MALDI) sources to demonstrate the capability of the digital method. AP-MALDI mass spectra of singly charged ions with mass-to-charge ratios upto 17 000 Th were generated using a trapping voltage of only 1000 V. Forward and reverse mass scans at resolutions up to 19 000 and precursor ion isolation at resolutions up to 3500 with subsequent tandem mass spectrometric analysis were demonstrated. The method of generating the digital waveforms and period scan is described. Discussion of the issues of mass range, scan speed, ion trapping efficiency and collision-induced dissociation efficiency are also provided.     

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.     

Ionization suppression effects with condensed phase membrane introduction mass spectrometry: methods to increase the linear dynamic range and sensitivity

Condensed phase membrane introduction mass spectrometry (CP‐MIMS) is an online analytical method that allows for the direct, trace level measurement of a wide range of analytes in complex samples. The technique employs a semi‐permeable membrane that transfers analytes from a sample into a flowing acceptor solvent, which is directly infused to an atmospheric pressure ionization source, such as electrospray or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization. While CP‐MIMS and variants of the technique have been in the literature for nearly a decade, much of the work has focused on instrument development. Few studies have thoroughly addressed quantitative methods related to detection limits, ionization suppression, or linear dynamic range. We examine ionization suppression in the direct rapid quantitation of analytes by CP‐MIMS and introduce several analytical strategies to mitigate these effects, including the novel implementation of a continuously infused internal standard in the acceptor phase solvent, and modulation of acceptor phase flow rate. Several representative analytes were used to evaluate this approach with spiked, complex sample matrices, including primary wastewater effluent and artificial urine. Also reported are improved measured detection limits in the low part‐per‐trillion range, using a ‘stopped‐flow’ acceptor mode. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A high-performance bio-tissue imaging method using air flow-assisted desorption electrospray ionization coupled with a high-resolution mass spectrometer

An air flow-assisted desorption electrospray ionization (AFADESI) MSI device was combined with a highresolution mass spectrometer to optimize the system parameters and achieve more accurate spatial distribution characteristics for compounds of interest while investigating bio-tissue sections. Finally, the parameter conditions that can provide optimal ionic intensity and enhanced resolution were confirmed.     

Characteristics and origins of common chemical noise ions in negative ESI LC-MS

Ionic chemical background noise in LC-MS has been one of the major problems encountered in trace analysis. In this study, the typical negative background ions in ESI LC-MS are investigated exemplarily. It was carried out using tandem mass spectrometry to study the products and precursors of the major background ions to examine their structures and structure relationship. Various typical LC eluents with different compositions and additives such as ammonium formate/formic acid and ammonium acetate/acetic acid have been studied. Several types of negative noise ions are concluded, which include the cluster chemical background ions only from mobile phase components and additives. Furthermore, there are also abundant clusters resulting from the solvation of some typical individual contaminants (e.g. additives and degradation products from tubing, impurities in the mobile phase, etc.), accompanied by some minor contribution from contaminants. The elemental composition of some selected ions was confirmed using the FT-ICR accurate mass measurement. This work provides us insight into information about the structures and types of common negative background ions and will help to understand their formation and origins. More importantly, it will guide us to prevent chemical noise interference in practice and also contribute to develop methods for noise reduction based on selective ion-molecule reactions.     

Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and atmospheric pressure photoionization for simultaneous mass spectrometric analysis of microbial respiratory ubiquinones and menaquinones

An atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) source and an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source were compared for the selective detection of microbial respiratory ubiquinone and menaquinone isoprenologues using tandem mass spectrometry. Ionization source- and compound mass-dependent parameters were optimized individually for both sources, using the available quinone standards. Detection levels for the two ion sources were determined with ubiquinone-6 (UQ6) and menaquinone-4 (MK4, vitamin K2) standards using flow injection analysis and selected reaction monitoring (SRM). With APPI the calculated lower limit of detection (LLOD) was 1.7 fmol microl(-1) for UQ6 and 2.2 fmol microl(-1) for MK4 at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. These LLODs were at least three times lower than with APCI. The selectivity of detection afforded by SRM detection reduced complex mixture analysis to 3 min per sample by eliminating the need for chromatographic separations. The detection method was successfully applied to quinone quantification in a variety of environmental samples and cell cultures. Adequate amounts of respiratory quinones can be extracted and quantified from samples containing as low as 2 x 10(7) cells.     

Non-thermal internal energy distribution of ions observed in an electrospray source interfaced with a sector mass spectrometer

The internal energy distribution P(E(int)) of ions emitted in an electrospray (ESI) source interfaced with a sector mass spectrometer is evaluated by using the experimental survival yield (SY) method including the kinetic shift. This method is based on the relationship between the degree of fragmentation of an ion and its amount of internal energy and uses benzylpyridinium cations due to their simple fragmentation scheme. Quantum chemical calculations are performed, namely at G3(MP2)//B3LYP and QCISD/MP2 levels of theory. The results show that the internal energy distribution of the ions emitted in the ESI source interfaced with a sector analyzer is very narrow. The MassKinetics software is used to confirm these observations. The P(E(int)) is the parameter that allows to fit the experimental SY of each substituted benzylpyridinium cation with theoretical mass spectra generated by the MassKinetics software. The resulting internal energy distributions are similar to the ones obtained with the experimental SY method. This indicates that in the present experimental conditions, P(E(int)) cannot be compared with a 'thermal-like' Boltzmann distribution. In addition, it appears that with the sector analyzer, increasing the collision energy in the first pumping stage of the ESI source does not correspond to a warm-up of the produced ions.     

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

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

Characterization and application of a self‐aspirating electrospray source with pneumatic‐assisted ionization

A single gas‐assisted electrospray ion source developed for ambient mass spectrometry is introduced in this paper. Simultaneous self‐aspiration and electrospray could be achieved by using a constant sheath gas flow supplied from a mini air pump. A gas dynamic study of the spray module is carried out for structural optimization. The entire device exhibits a simplified design and has been systematically characterized through both simulated and experimental investigations. According to the results, the ion source exhibited satisfactory stability and the ability for quantitative operation in routine electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the ion source can be operated as a desorption electrospray ionization source to perform direct desorption/ionization of the solid samples. The versatile source described here appears to provide a practical approach to perform ambient mass spectrometry analysis with unrestricted sampling operation, and the extensive gas dynamic studies together with the experimental characterization are believed to be helpful in building self‐aspirating spray devices. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

表面解吸常压化学电离源的研制及应用

根据表面解吸常压化学电离源(SDAPCI)对表面痕量待测物进行常压解吸化学电离的原理,自行研制了SDAPCI电离源及其与线性离子阱(LTQ)质谱仪的接口,成功地在LTQ上实现了表面解吸常压化学电离。此方法无需样品预处理,直接利用电晕放电产生的H3O 在常压下对待测样品进行表面解吸化学电离,避免了甲醇等有毒试剂的使用。在优化的仪器参数条件下,分别用正/负离子模式成功地检测了片剂药品中的氯雷他定、乙酰氨基酚等活性成分和其它不同表面上TNT、氨基酸和多肽等物质,对这些常见物质的检出限不高于10pg/cm2。采用氩气作为电离试剂,观测到乙酰氨基酚、多肽等物质形成的自由基阳离子,提出了在氩气氛围中获得自由基阳离子的可能机理。实验表明SDAPCI具有灵敏度较高,选择性好,适用范围宽等特点,适合用于药品、食品等非破坏、无污染检测以及对复杂基体物质进行快速现场分析。     

Critical assessment of ionization patterns and applications of ambient desorption/ionization mass spectrometry using FAPA–MS

Ambient desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MS) has gained growing interest during the last decade due to its high analytical performance and yet simplicity. Here, one of the recently developed ambient desorption/ionization MS sources, the flowing atmospheric‐pressure afterglow (FAPA) source, was investigated in detail regarding background ions and typical ionization patterns in the positive as well as the negative ion mode for a variety of compound classes, comprising alkanes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, organic peroxides and alkaloids. A broad range of signals for adducts and losses was found, besides the usually emphasized detection of quasimolecular ions, i.e. [M + H]⁺ and [M ? H]^? in the positive and the negative mode, respectively. It was found that FAPA–MS is best suited for polar analytes containing nitrogen and/or oxygen functionalities, e.g. carboxylic acids, with low molecular weights and relatively high vapor pressures. In addition, the source was used in proof‐of‐principle studies, illustrating the capabilities and limitations of the technique: Firstly, traces of cocaine were detected and unambiguously identified on euro banknotes using FAPA ionization in combination with tandem MS, suggesting a correlation between cocaine abundance and age of the banknote. Secondly, FAPA–MS was used for the identification of acidic marker compounds in organic aerosol samples, indicating yet‐undiscovered matrix and sample surface effects of ionization pathways in the afterglow region. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Differentiation of human kidney stones induced by melamine and uric acid using surface desorption atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Clinically obtained human kidney stones of different pathogenesis were dissolved in acetic acid/methanol solutions and then rapidly analyzed by surface desorption atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (SDAPCI-MS) without any desalination treatment. The mass spectral fingerprints of six groups of kidney stone samples were rapidly recorded in the mass range of m/z 50-400. A set of ten melamine-induced kidney stone samples and nine uric acid derived kidney stone samples were successfully differentiated from other groups by principal component analysis of SDAPCI-MS fingerprints upon positive-ion detection mode. In contrast, the mass spectra recorded using negative-ion detection mode did not give enough information to differentiate those stone samples. The results showed that in addition to the melamine, the chemical compounds enwrapped in the melamine-induced kidney stone samples differed from other kidney stone samples, providing useful hints for studying on the formation mechanisms of melamine-induced kidney stones. This study also provides useful information on establishing a MS-based platform for rapid analysis of the melamine-induced human kidney stones at molecular levels.     

Determination of binding sites in carboplatin-bound cytochrome c using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry

Interaction of carboplatin with cytochrome c (Cyt. c) has been investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). ESI-MS studies revealed that the ring-opened adducts of carboplatin with Cyt. c were formed in the stoichiometric ratio of 1:1 and 2:1 at pH 5.0 and 37 degrees C and in the stoichiometric ratio of 1:1 only at pH 7.0 and 37 degrees C. It was also found that Cyt. c could be cleaved by carboplatin at pH 2.5 and 50 degrees C. The cleaved fragments of Cyt. c were determined by ESI-MS and MS/MS analysis to be Glu66 approximately Met80, Ac-Gly01 approximately Met65, Glu66 approximately Glu104, Ac-Gly01 approximately Met80 and Ile81 approximately Glu104. The carboplatin prefers to anchor to Met65 first, then to Met80. To further confirm the binding site of Met, AcMet-Gly was used as the model molecule to investigate its interaction with carboplatin and its hydrolysis reaction. On the basis of species detected during the reaction monitored by ESI-MS, a possible pathway of the cleavage reaction was proposed.     

High-throughput assay of rotenone in olive oil using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A high-throughput method is presented for the determination of rotenone in contaminated matrices. The procedure involves atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry with a triple-quadrupole instrument and the use as internal standard of a cycloadduct derivative of rotenone itself. The method was applied to the evaluation of the decay of rotenone in olives and olive oil at various times after exposure to the contaminant.     

Application of high‐resolution ESI and MALDI mass spectrometry to metabolite profiling of small interfering RNA duplex

We investigated the application of a high‐resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source and a matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometer to the metabolite profiling of a model small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplex TSR#34 and compared their functions and capabilities. TSR#34 duplex was incubated in human serum in vitro, and the duplex and its metabolites were then purified by ion exchange chromatography in order to remove the biological matrices. The fraction containing the siRNA duplex and its metabolites was collected and desalted and then subjected to high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a reversed phase column. The siRNA and its metabolites were separated into single strands by elevated chromatographic temperature and analyzed using the ESI‐Orbitrap or the MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometer. Using this method, the 5' and/or 3' truncated metabolites of each strand were detected in the human serum samples. The ESI‐Orbitrap mass spectrometer enabled differentiation between two possible RNA‐based sequences, a monoisotopic molecular mass difference which was less than 2 Da, with an intrinsic mass resolving power. In‐source decay (ISD) analysis using a MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometer allowed the sequencing of the RNA metabolite with characteristic fragment ions, using 2,4‐dihydroxyacetophenone (2,4‐DHAP) as a matrix. The ESI‐Orbitrap mass spectrometer provided the highest mass accuracy and the benefit of on‐line coupling with HPLC for metabolite profiling. Meanwhile, the MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometer, in combination with 2,4‐DHAP, has the potential for the sequencing of RNA by ISD analysis. The combined use of these methods will be beneficial to characterize the metabolites of therapeutic siRNA compounds. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of amino acid‐derived betaines by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Betaines belong to the naturally occurring osmoprotectants or compatible solutes present in a variety of plants, animals and microorganisms. In recent years, metabolomic techniques have been emerging as a fundamental tool for biologists because the constellation of these molecules and their relative proportions provide with information about the actual biochemical condition of a biological system. Therefore, identification and characterization of biologically important betaines are crucial, especially for metabolomic studies. Most of the natural betaines are derived from amino acids and related homologues. Although, theoretically, all the amino acids can be converted to corresponding betaines by simple methylation of the amine group, only a few of the amino acid‐derived betaines were fully characterized in the literature. Here, we report a combined electrospray ionization tandem and high‐resolution mass spectrometry study of all the betaines derived from amino acids, including the isomeric betaines. The decomposition pathway of protonated, sodiated and potassiated molecule ions that enable unambiguous characterization of the betaines including the isomeric betaines and overlapping ionic species of different betaines is distinctive. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural distinction among inositol phosphate isomers using high-energy and low-energy collisional-activated dissociation tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization

Electrospray (ESI) collisional-activated dissociation (CAD) tandem mass spectrometric methods for the structural characterization of inositol phosphates (InsPs) using both quadrupole and sector mass spectrometers are described. Under low-energy CAD, the [M + H](+) ions of the positional isomers of inositol phosphates, including inositol mono-, bis- and trisphosphates, yield distinguishable product-ion spectra, which are readily applicable for isomer differentiation. In contrast, the product-ion spectra arising from high-energy CAD (2 keV collision energy, floating at 50%) tandem sector mass spectrometry are less applicable for isomer identification. The differences in the product-ion spectrum profiles among the aforementioned InsP isomers become more substantial and differentiation of positional isomers can be achieved when the collison energy is reduced to 1 keV (floating at 75%). These results demonstrate that the applied collision energies play a pivotal role in the fragmentations upon CAD. The product-ion spectra are similar among the positional isomers of inositol tetrakisphosphates and of inositol pentakisphosphates. Thus, isomeric distinction for these two inositol polyphosphate classes could not be established by the tandem mass spectrometric methods that have achieved such distinctions for the less highly phosphorylated inositol phosphate classes. Under both high- and low-energy CAD, the protonated molecular species of all InsPs undergo similar fragmentation pathways, which are dominated by the consecutive losses of H(2)O, HPO(3) and H(3)PO(4).