Histamine determination in human urine using sub-2 μm C18 column with fluorescence and mass spectrometric detection

Experimental Design Application for Measuring Histamine in Tuna Fish Samples by Phenyl Isothiocyanate Derivation Method Using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Histamine as an important biogenic amino acid was measured in tuna fish samples by ultra-performance liquid chromatography using a phenyl isothiocyanate derivative. Minitab software was used to design the experiment and investigate the effective factors during the process, which includes screening and optimization steps. A partial factorial design was used in the screening stage and a central composite design was used in the optimization. Effective parameters in histamine derivatized were examined in the screening step including triethylamine volume, phenyl isothiocyanate volume, reaction temperature, reaction time and mobile phase pH. Then, in the optimization, effective parameters were identified and finally, the calibration curve was drawn from a concentration of 0.5-10.0 μg.mL-1 for histamine derivatized and a correlation coefficient of 0.994 was obtained for histamine derivatized. The method detection limit was 0.36 μg.mL-1 and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 1.19 μg.mL-1. The relative standard deviation of the method was obtained for concentrations of 1.0-100.0 μg.mL-1 in the range between 1.06 and 2.21%. The recovery method was obtained from 90.8 to 103.1% for measuring histamine derivatized in real fish samples.

Colorimetric visualization of histamine secreted by basophils based on DSP-functionalized gold nanoparticles

Histamine released by activated basophils has become an important biomarker and therapeutic target in the development of allergic diseases. To date, several gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based nanosensors have been reported for histamine detection in foods. However, rapid, highly sensitive and direct detection of histamine in allergic diseases is still lacking due to the complexity of the physical environment. Herein, we developed a novel nanosensor for colorimetric visualization of histamine in activated basophils by simply coupling dithiobis(succinimidylpropionate) (DSP) on the surface of AuNPs (DSP-AuNPs). The DSP moiety serves as a linker and can react with the aliphatic amino group of histamine, and the imidazole ring of histamine can selectively bind with Au by means of p-p conjugation, thus inducing the aggregation of AuNPs. In this study, we experimentally proved that DSP-AuNPs showed good sensitivity and selectivity to histamine among various amino acids, including histidine. Additionally, this nanosensor displayed a rapid response to histamine with a linear range of 0.8-2.5 μM, and the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.014 μM, which is a relatively low LOD in comparison with those of other AuNP-based nanosensors. Finally, DSP-AuNPs are used, for the first time, to successfully detect endogenous histamine changes in activated basophils. Therefore, our work may provide a promising strategy to monitor histamine levels in the basophil activation test.

Construction and Studies of Histamine Potentiometric Sensors Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymer

Objective:

Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP)-modified potentiometric sensors for histamine (HIS) (as denoted as HIS sensor) have been developed.

Methods:

The MIPs comprise HIS, Methacrylic Acid (MAA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the template molecule, functional monomer and cross-linker, respectively. To examine the specificity of the MIP to HIS, the MIP particles were prepared with varying ratios of HIS: MAA and the HIS binding amount toward the MIP particles was determined by UV spectrophotometry. Furthermore, to quantitatively determine the ability of MIP (H2M20) to HIS, a HIS sensor was measured using Ag/AgCl as a reference electrode.

Results:

MIP particles having a HIS:MAA of 2 mmol:20 mmol (MIP (H2M20)) had the largest HIS binding amount among the MIP particles prepared. Additionally, MIP (H2M20) displayed a HIS binding amount approximately two times larger than the corresponding non-imprinted polymer (NIP) particles in the absence of template. The HIS sensor potential change increased as a function of HIS concentration and exhibited a near-Nernstian response of −25.7 mV decade−1 over the HIS concentration range of 1×10−5 to 1×10−4 mol L−1 with a limit of detection of 9.6×10−6 mol L−1. From the Nernstian response value, it was observed that the HIS sensor could detect the di-protonated HIS binding to the MIP. Conversely, when comparing at the same HIS concentration, the potential response value of the sensors fabricated using NIP particles were significantly smaller than the values of the corresponding HIS sensor.

Conclusion:

The MIP-modified potentiometric sensors can potentially be employed as an analytical method to quantitatively determine various analytes.

High Affinity Aptamer for the Detection of the Biogenic Amine Histamine

The importance of histamine in various physiological functions and its involvement in allergenic responses make this small molecule one of the most studied biogenic amines. Even though a variety of chromatography-based methods have been described for its analytical determination, the disadvantages they present in terms of cost, analysis time, and low portability limit their suitability for in situ routine testing. In this work, we sought to identify histamine-binding aptamers that could then be exploited for the development of rapid, facile, and sensitive assays for histamine detection suitable for point-of-need analysis. A classic SELEX process was designed employing magnetic beads for target immobilization and the selection was completed after ten rounds. Following Next Generation Sequencing of the last selection rounds from both positive and counter selection magnetic beads, several sequences were identified and initially screened using an apta-PCR affinity assay (APAA). Structural and functional characterization of the candidates resulted in the identification of the H2 aptamer. The high binding affinity of the H2 aptamer to histamine was validated using four independent assays ( K_D of 3-34 nM). Finally, the H2 aptamer was used for the development of a magnetic beads-based competitive assay for the detection of histamine in both buffer and synthetic urine, achieving very low limits of detection of 18 pM and 76 pM, respectively, while no matrix effects were observed. These results highlight the suitability of the strategy followed for identifying small molecule-binding aptamers and the compatibility of the selected H2 aptamer with the analysis of biological samples, thus facilitating the development of point-of-care devices for routine testing. Ongoing work is focused on extending the application of the H2 aptamer to the detection of spoilage in meat, fish, and beverages, as well as evaluating the affinity of truncated forms of the aptamer.

Analytical Methods for the Quantification of Histamine and Histamine Metabolites

The endogenous metabolite histamine (HA) is synthesized in various mammalian cells but can also be ingested from exogenous sources. It is involved in a plethora of physiological and pathophysiological processes. So far, four different HA receptors (H₁R-H₄R) have been described and numerous HAR antagonists have been developed. Contemporary investigations regarding the various roles of HA and its main metabolites have been hampered by the lack of highly specific and sensitive analytic methods for all of these analytes. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the method of choice for identification and sensitive quantification of many low-molecular weight endogenous metabolites. In this chapter, different methodological aspects of HA quantification as well as recommendations for LC-MS/MS methods suitable for analysis of HA and its main metabolites are summarized.

Quantitative analysis of drugs in biological matrices by HPLC hyphenated to fluorescence detection

An overview of the state-of-the art in HPLC coupled with fluorescence detection is presented. Over the last 20 years, the increasing number of methodological papers on this topic (4082 between 1994 and 2004 and 7725 between 2004 and 2014) is testament to its utility in bioanalytical applications. Compared with conventional UV absorbance detection used in HPLC, fluorescence detection can greatly enhance the sensitivity leading to limits of detection similar to those obtained with mass spectrometry, offering researchers a sensitive, robust and relatively inexpensive instrumental method. This work will focus on the analysis of pharmaceutical compounds in different biological matrices, either naturally fluorescent or derivatized with a fluorescent agent, and some of them chiral. Therapeutic applications, sample preparation and derivatization, sensitivity for each example are described.

Determination of Histamine by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography After Precolumn Derivatization with o-Phthalaldehyde-Sulfite

A fast and sensitive method was developed for in vivo determination of histamine in the brain microdialysate by reverse ion pair chromatography with electrochemical detection. The microdialysates were derivatized with o-phthalaldehyde and sodium sulfite, and separation was achieved using isocratic elution within 10 min. The separation was performed in an Agilent Eclipse Plus C18 column (3.0 × 150 mm, particle size 3.5 μm), and the mobile phase consisted of 100 mM monosodium phosphate (pH 6.0), 500 mg L(-1) OSA and 20% methanol (v/v). The linearity (R(2)) was found to be >0.999, with a range from 2 to 50 nM and excellent repeatability (relative standard deviation, 2.29-6.04%), and the limit of detection was 0.4 nM. This method was successfully applied to analyze the extracellular concentration of histamine in the hypothalamus of rats, with probe recovery calculated in vivo.

Histamine quantification in human plasma using high resolution accurate mass LC-MS technology

BACKGROUND

Histamine (HA) is a small amine playing an important role in anaphylactic reactions. In order to identify and quantify HA in plasma matrix, different methods have been developed but present several disadvantages. Here, we developed an alternative method using liquid chromatography coupled with an ultra-high resolution and accurate mass instrument, Q Exactive™ (Thermo Fisher) (LCHRMS).

METHODS

The method includes a protein precipitation of plasma samples spiked with HA-d4 as internal standard (IS). LC separation was performed on a C18 Accucore column (100∗2.1mm, 2.6μm) using a mobile phase containing nonafluoropentanoic acid (3nM) and acetonitrile with 0.1% (v/v) formic acid on gradient mode. Separation of analytes was obtained within 10min. Analysis was performed from full scan mode and targeted MS2 mode using a 5ppm mass window. Ion transitions monitored for targeted MS2 mode were 112.0869>95.0607m/z for HA and 116.1120>99.0855m/z for HA-d4. Calibration curves were obtained by adding standard calibration dilution at 1 to 180nM in TrisBSA.

RESULTS

Elution of HA and IS occurred at 4.1min. The method was validated over a range of concentrations from 1nM to 100nM. The intra- and inter-run precisions were <15% for quality controls. Human plasma samples from 30 patients were analyzed by LCHRMS, and the results were highly correlated with those obtained using the gold standard radioimmunoassay (RIA) method.

CONCLUSION

Overall, we demonstrate here that LCHRMS is a sensitive method for histamine quantification in biological human plasmas, suitable for routine use in medical laboratories. In addition, LCHRMS is less time-consuming than RIA, avoids the use of radioactivity, and could then be considered as an alternative quantitative method.