Monitoring in vitro experiments using microdialysis sampling on-line with mass spectrometry

Time-resolved microdialysis for in vivo neurochemical measurements and other applications

Monitoring changes in chemical concentrations over time in complex environments is typically performed using sensors and spectroscopic techniques. Another approach is to couple sampling methods, such as microdialysis, with chromatographic, electrophoretic, or enzymatic assays. Recent advances of such coupling have enabled improvements in temporal resolution, multianalyte capability, and automation. In a sampling and analysis method, the temporal resolution is set by the mass sensitivity of the analytical method, analysis time, and zone dispersion during sampling. Coupling methods with high speed and mass sensitivity to microdialysis sampling help to reduce some of these contributions to yield methods with temporal resolution of seconds. These advances have been primarily used in monitoring neurotransmitters in vivo. This review covers the problems associated with chemical monitoring in the brain, recent advances in using microdialysis for time-resolved in vivo measurements, sample applications, and other potential applications of the technology such as determining reaction kinetics and process monitoring.

Microchip Dialysis of Proteins Using in Situ Photopatterned Nanoporous Polymer Membranes

Chip-level integration of microdialysis membranes is described using a novel method for in situ photopatterning of porous polymer features. Rapid and inexpensive fabrication of nanoporous microdialysis membranes in microchips is achieved using a phase separation polymerization technique with a shaped UV laser beam. By controlling the phase separation process, the molecular weight cutoffs of the membranes can be engineered for different applications. Counterflow dialysis is used to demonstrate extraction of low molecular weight analytes from a sample stream, using two different molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) membranes; the first one with MWCO below 5700 for desalting protein samples, and the second one with a higher MWCO for size-based fractionation of proteins. Modeling based on a simple control volume analysis on the microdialysis system is consistent with measured concentration profiles, indicating both that membrane properties are uniform, well-defined, and reproducible and that diffusion of subcutoff analytes through the membrane is rapid.

On-line microdialysis for enhanced resolution and sensitivity during electrospray mass spectrometry of non-covalent complexes and competitive binding studies

Many proteins and macromolecules easily form metal adduct ions which impairs their analysis by mass spectrometry. The present study describes how the formation of undesired adducts can be minimized by on-line microdialysis for non-covalent binding studies of macromolecules with low molecular mass ligands with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The technique was indispensable for protein-ligand studies due to reduction of unwanted adduct ions, and thus gave excellent resolution and a sensitivity improvement of at least 5 times. The core of the analytical system was a modified microdialysis device, which was operated in countercurrent mode. A novel technique based on microdialysis for competitive binding studies is also presented. The non-covalent complex between a protein and a ligand was formed in the sample vial prior to analysis. The complex was injected into an on-line microdialysis system where a competitive ligand was administered in the dialysis buffer outside of the fiber. The second ligand competitively displaced the first ligand through transport via the wall of the dialysis fiber, and the intact complexes were detected by ESI-MS.