Investigations on the Coupling of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography to Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry

Recent application of direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry in plant materials analysis with emphasis on traditional Chinese herbal medicine

Direct analysis in real time (DART) represents a new generation of ionization techniques that are used to rapidly ionize small molecules under ambient environments. The combination of DART with various mass spectrometry (MS) instruments allows analyzing multiple plant materials, including traditional Chinese herbal medicines (TCHMs), under simple or no sample treatment conditions. This review discussed the DART principles, including devices, ionization mechanisms, and operation parameters. Typical spectra detected by DART-MS were exhibited and discussed. Numerous applications of DART-MS in the fields of plant material and TCHM analysis were reviewed, including compound identification, biomarker discovery, fingerprinting analysis, and quantification analysis. Besides, modifications and improvements of DART-MS, such as hyphenated application with other separation methods, laser-based desorption techniques, and online sampling configuration, were summarized as well.

Long term online desalting analysis of MS/LC-MS using thermal assisted recrystallization ionization

Mass spectrometric analysis of non-volatile salts containing samples remains challenging due to salt-induced ion suppression and contamination. This challenge is even more pronounced for a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, where the accumulation of salts in the transmission system poses an ongoing problem. In this study, a novel thermal assisted recrystallization ionization mass spectrometry (TARI-MS) device was developed to achieve efficient on-line desalting and prolonged analysis of saline samples. The core component of this device was a heated plate positioned between the electrospray unit and the MS inlet. The desalting mechanism was demonstrated as the spontaneous separation of target molecules from salts during the "crystallization" process. After optimization, the angle between the nebulizer and the heated plate was 45°; the distance between the front end of the heated plate and the MS inlet was 2 mm; the distance between the front edge of the heated plate and the center of the sample spray projected onto the heating plate was 3 mm; the distance between the emitter of nebulizer and the heated plate was 3 mm. TARI-MS realized direct analysis of eight drugs dissolved in eight commonly used non-volatile salts solutions (up to 0.5 mol/L). The high sensitivity, repeatability, linearity, accuracy, and intra- and inter-day precision of TARI-MS confirm its reliability as a robust tool for the analysis of saline samples. Furthermore, TARI-MS allowed continuous analysis of salty eluates of LC for up to nearly 1 h without maintenance and verified the feasibility of LC-MS analysis through detecting a five-drug mixture and a crude aripiprazole product. Finally, six impurities in the crude aripiprazole product were successfully detected by LC-TARI-MS. The established method holds promise for applications across academic and pharmaceutical domains.

Heat-Assisted Dual Neutral Spray Ionization for High-Performance Online Desalting in Mass Spectrometric Analysis

In mass spectrometry (MS), nonvolatile salts contaminate the transmission system and cause ion suppression, hampering MS analysis. When MS is combined with liquid chromatography (LC) that uses a salty mobile phase, the problems become more intractable due to long analysis time. Here, a novel heat-assisted dual neutral spray ionization (HADSI) method was developed, which projected sample solution spray and solvent spray onto a heated plate to achieve online desalting and high ionization. The experimental parameters of HADSI were optimized, which indicated that the plate temperature was crucial for ionization and desalination. Eight drug compounds dissolved in various commonly used buffers were directly analyzed using HADSI-MS, even though the concentration of PBS buffer reached 500 mmol/L. The established method showed considerable sensitivity in the positive ion mode with the limits of detection at the level of nmol/L, and good linearity (R² > 0.99) was achieved for all the analyzed compounds. The repeatability and intra- and interday precisions of the method were evaluated, demonstrating the feasibility and reliability of the analysis of salty samples by HADSI-MS. Further, the method was demonstrated to tolerate the long-time analysis of high-salt LC eluates and the device was easy to maintain. Finally, a crude roxithromycin product was separated by LC and then analyzed by HADSI-MS, and seven unknown impurities and nine known impurities were successfully detected. Our results indicated that HADSI-MS may have potential applications in academic and industrial fields.

Enantioresolution and Binding Affinity Studies on Human Serum Albumin: Recent Applications and Trends

The interaction between proteins and drugs or other bioactive compounds has been widely explored over the past years. Several methods for analysis of this phenomenon have been developed and improved. Nowadays, increasing attention is paid to innovative methods, such as high performance affinity liquid chromatography (HPALC) and affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE), taking into account various advantages. Moreover, the development of separation methods for the analysis and resolution of chiral drugs has been an area of ongoing interest in analytical and medicinal chemistry research. In addition to bioaffinity binding studies, both HPALC and ACE al-low one to perform other type of analyses, namely, displacement studies and enantioseparation of racemic or enantiomeric mixtures. Actually, proteins used as chiral selectors in chromatographic and electrophoretic methods have unique enantioselective properties demonstrating suitability for the enantioseparation of a large variety of chiral drugs or other bioactive compounds. This review is mainly focused in chromatographic and electrophoretic methods using human serum albumin (HSA), the most abundant plasma protein, as chiral selector for binding affinity analysis and enantioresolution of drugs. For both analytical purposes, updated examples are presented to highlight recent applications and current trends.

Implementation of an enclosed ionization interface for the analysis of liquid sample streams with direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

The development of an interface to analyze liquid sample streams with direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) is of great interest for coupling various analytical techniques, using non-volatile salts, with MS. Therefore, we devised an enclosed ionization interface and a sample introduction system for the versatile analysis of liquid samples with DART-MS.

METHODS

The sample introduction system consists of a nebulizer, a spray chamber and a transfer line, while the confined ionization interface is created by implementing a cross-shaped housing between ion source outlet and mass spectrometer inlet. Methodical studies of the effects of various setup parameters on signal intensity and peak shape were conducted, while its diverse applicability was demonstrated by coupling with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the analysis of alcohols, organic acids and furanic compounds.

RESULTS

The confinement of the ionization interface results in a robust setup design with a well-defined ionization region for focusing of the sprayed sample mist. Thereby, an increase in analyte signal intensity by three orders of magnitude and improved signal stability and reproducibility were obtained in comparison with a similar open ionization interface configuration. Additionally, the successful quantification of alcohols could be demonstrated as well as the compatibility of the setup with HPLC gradient elution.

CONCLUSIONS

A versatile setup design for the analysis of liquid sample streams with DART-MS was devised for monitoring reactions or hyphenating analytics with MS. The design minimizes interferences from the laboratory surroundings as well as allows for safe handling of hazardous and toxic chemicals, which renders it suitable for a broad range of applications.

Enantioseparation, recognition mechanisms and binding of xanthones on human serum albumin by liquid chromatography

Aim: To develop a method for enantioseparation of several chiral derivatives of xanthones (CDXs) by LC using a human serum albumin-chiral stationary phase (HSA-CSP) and screening CDX-HSA affinity. Additionally, recognition mechanisms were investigated. Materials & methods: The influence of organic modifier, buffer type, pH and ionic strength of mobile phase, and temperature were explored. The affinity was determined by measuring the retention times and further calculation of bound percentage. Chiral recognition mechanisms were investigated by docking. Results: Enantioselectivity and resolution values ranged from 1.40 to 9.16 and 1.51 to 4.97. Bound percentages ranged from 79.02 to 99.99%. Conclusion: LC systematic study and binding affinity of CDXs on HSA-CSP are presented here for the first time, expanding the applications of HSA-CSP for this class of compounds.

Online coupling techniques in ambient mass spectrometry

Since ambient mass spectrometry (AMS) has been proven to have low matrix effects and high salt tolerance, great efforts have been made for online coupling of several analytical techniques with AMS. These analytical techniques include gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC), capillary electrophoresis (CE), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and electrochemistry flow cells. Various ambient ionization sources, represented by desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and direct analysis in real time (DART), have been utilized as interfaces for the online coupling techniques. Herein, we summarized the advances in these online coupling methods. Close attention has been paid to different interface setups for coupling, as well as limits of detection, tolerance to different matrices, and applications of these new coupling techniques.

Exploration and performance evaluation of microwave-induced plasma with different discharge gases for ambient desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Microwave-induced plasma (MIP) with different discharge gases of argon or helium provides significant plasma-based ambient desorption/ionization sources, which have potential applicability in direct analysis of complex samples without any sample pre-treatment. In this study, experiments were conducted to better understand microwave-induced plasma desorption/ionization (MIPDI) sources and the corresponding ionization mechanisms.

METHODS

Emission spectra of microwave-induced argon (MIP-Ar) and helium (MIP-He) plasmas were obtained from the plasma tail flame of a MIP source. Compounds including L-phenylalanine, L-serine, L-valine, urea, 4-acetaminophen, gallic acid and L-ascorbic acid were analyzed using both sources. Polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400) oligomers were detected by MIP-Ar and MIP-He mass spectrometry at different microwave powers. Mass spectra of higher molecular weight PEGs (including PEG800, PEG1000 and PEG2000) were also acquired using both sources.

RESULTS

In the emission spectra, N₂ , H-I and O-I species were observed by MIP-Ar/He. In addition, SiO₂ , Na-I, Si-I and Si-II species were generated by MIP-He. In the mass spectra of compounds, [M+H]⁺ , [2M+H]⁺ , [M+O+H]⁺ , [M+2O-H]⁺ and fragment ions were observed. In the mass spectra of PEG400 obtained by MIP-Ar/He at different microwave powers, higher molecular weight oligomers could only be observed with higher microwave power. PEGs with molecular weights as high as 1000 Da were also successfully analyzed by MIPDI.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the different natures of the samples, either MIP-Ar or MIP-He can be chosen as a working ion source for mass spectrometry. The MIPDI source is potentially applicable to the analysis of compounds with high molecular weights, especially polymers with high degree of polymerization (such as PEG2000), which is a challenging issue for the traditional ambient ionization sources. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Applications of DART-MS for food quality and safety assurance in food supply chain

Direct analysis in real time (DART) represents a new generation of ion source which is used for rapid ionization of small molecules under ambient conditions. The combination of DART and various mass spectrometers allows analyzing multiple food samples with simple or no sample treatment, or in conjunction with prevailing protocolized sample preparation methods. Abundant applications by DART-MS have been reviewed in this paper. The DART-MS strategy applied to food supply chain (FSC), including production, processing, and storage and transportation, provides a comprehensive solution to various food components, contaminants, authenticity, and traceability. Additionally, typical applications available in food analysis by other ambient ionization mass spectrometers were summarized, and fundamentals mainly including mechanisms, devices, and parameters were discussed as well. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev. 36:161-187, 2017.

Ionization characteristics of glycosides by direct analysis in real time quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry

Glycosides were ionized via various different reactions including (de)protonation, molecular ion formation, ISD fragmentation, and the formation of adducts.

Mass spectrometric analysis of carisoprodol and meprobamate in rat brain microdialysates

We report the evaluation of several mass spectrometry-based methods for the determination of carisoprodol and meprobamate in samples obtained from the rat brain by in vivo intracranial microdialyis. Among the techniques that aspire to perform analyses without chromatographic separation and thereby increase throughput, chip-based nanoelectrospray ionization and the use of an atmospheric pressure solids analysis probe fell short of requirements because of insufficient detection sensitivity and hard ionization, respectively. Although direct analysis in real time provided the required soft ionization, shortcomings of a tandem mass spectrometry-based assay also included inadequate detection sensitivity and, in addition, poor quantitative reproducibility. Therefore, liquid chromatography coupled with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry was developed to determine carisoprodol and meprobamate from artificial cerebrospinal fluid as the medium. No desalting and/or extraction of the samples was necessary. The assay, combined with in vivo sampling via intracranial microdialyis, afforded time-resolved concentration profiles for the drug and its major metabolite from the nucleus accumbens region of the brain in rats after systemic administration of carisoprodol. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Fast quantitative analysis of ginsenosides in Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Mayer) by using solid-phase methylation coupled to direct analysis in real time

RATIONAL

A fast quantitative method for ginsenosides is essential to minimize analysis time; direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) has the potential to be used for this purpose.

METHODS

However, in order to produce ginsenosides, a derivatization such as methylation is required because the strong polarity of ginsenosides makes it difficult to desorp and ionize them in DART-MS. The main objectives of this study were to achieve fast detection and quantitative analysis of ginsenosides by using DART-MS; solid-phase methylation of ginsenosides has been accomplished in a reaction column; methylated products of ginsenosides Rb1, Rd, Re, Rf and Rg1 were analyzed by applying DART-MS where samples could be detected after methylation without the need for further purification. For quantitative analysis, deuterated methylated ginsenosides were prepared by using the solid-phase methylation method and used as internal standards to improve repeatability in DART-MS.

RESULTS

Methylated ginsenosides produced protonated molecules [M + H](+) and fragment ions in DART-MS. Two pairs of ginsenoside isomers, Rd/Re (C48 H82 O18 , MW 946) and Rf/Rg1(C42 H72 O14 , MW 800), could be discriminated based on their characteristic fragments in tandem mass spectrometry. By using deuterated methylated ginsenosides as internal standards, fast quantitative analysis of ginsenosides Rb1, Re and Rg1 in Asian ginseng was achieved by DART-MS.

CONCLUSIONS

DART-MS is a feasible technique for fast quantitative analysis of ginsenosides by assisted methylation and the deuterated internal standard technique. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Development and Applications of Liquid Sample Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) is a recent advance in the field of analytical chemistry. This review surveys the development of liquid sample DESI-MS (LS-DESI-MS), a variant form of DESI-MS that focuses on fast analysis of liquid samples, and its novel analy-tical applications in bioanalysis, proteomics, and reaction kinetics. Due to the capability of directly ionizing liquid samples, liquid sample DESI (LS-DESI) has been successfully used to couple MS with various analytical techniques, such as microfluidics, microextraction, electrochemistry, and chromatography. This review also covers these hyphenated techniques. In addition, several closely related ionization methods, including transmission mode DESI, thermally assisted DESI, and continuous flow-extractive DESI, are briefly discussed. The capabilities of LS-DESI extend and/or complement the utilities of traditional DESI and electrospray ionization and will find extensive and valuable analytical application in the future.

Improved desorption/ionization and ion transmission in surface scanning by direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Modifications to the Direct Analysis in Real Time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) interface, its source cap and transfer tube were necessary to obtain highest efficiency in desorption and ionization from the sampling surface and in ion transmission into the MS system. These issues are crucial for the trace analysis of any surface and the hyphenation of high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) with DART-MS.

METHODS

The ion source mounting was modified to enable short source caps to be utilized in combination with a short transfer tube. The grid voltage contact section was readjusted to increase the intensity of the metastable gas stream towards the substrate. Eighteen different cap and two transfer tube geometries (including gas-stream focusing), along with the influence of their distance from the mass spectrometer glass capillary, were investigated for best signal intensity.

RESULTS

Using shortened source caps with staged inner bore, a transfer tube with gas-stream focusing and an optimized mounting geometry for DART-MS scanning along five identical deposited bands (600 ng each) of butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, an average signal precision of 3.6% was obtained and the signal intensity was increased by a factor of 34. The width of the gas impact area did not exceed 1.5 mm and the smallest FWHM was determined to be 0.9 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

The desorption strength, ionization efficacy and ion transmission were improved significantly giving increased detectability using this further modified DART-MS interface with reduced cap length and optimum transfer tube geometry. The resolution was comparable with state-of-the-art densitometry. With this setup, reliable HPTLC surface scanning is possible, even for substance amounts in the low-nanogram range.

Plasma-based ambient ionization mass spectrometry in bioanalytical sciences

Plasma-based ambient ionization mass spectrometry techniques are gaining growing interest due to their specific features, such as the need for little or no sample preparation, its high analysis speed, and the ambient experimental conditions. Samples can be analyzed in gas, liquid, or solid forms. These techniques allow for a wide range of applications, like warfare agent detection, chemical reaction control, mass spectrometry imaging, polymer identification, and food safety monitoring, as well as applications in biomedical science, e.g., drug and pharmaceutical analysis, medical diagnostics, biochemical analysis, etc. Until now, the main drawback of plasma-based techniques is their quantitative aspect, but a lot of efforts have been done to improve this obstacle.

Thermal-assisted gasification injector for analyzing high-salt solution samples: a novel device developed for online coupling of liquid chromatography with direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry

A thermal-assisted gasification injector was designed for online coupling of liquid-chromatography to direct-analysis-in-real-time mass-spectrometry. The method can be used in analysis with an inorganic salt matrix and weak polar solvent.

Quantitative surface scanning by Direct Analysis in Real Time mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Only a few ambient ionization sources have been demonstrated to work quantitatively for surface scanning. A modification of the Direct Analysis in Real Time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) interface is needed to improve the precision during the scanning of a high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) plate or any other surface or planar substrate, especially for quantitation without an internal standard correction.

METHODS

The substrate movement relative to the ion source outlet and the mass spectrometer inlet was optimized to improve the desorption, ionization, and capture of analytes. The substrate carrier was mounted at an angled position, thus reducing collisions between the deflected gas stream and the inner transfer tube wall. A special transfer tube, whose edge was angled towards the substrate and allowed a narrow set-up of the ambient air gap, captured the deflected DART gas stream.

RESULTS

For the repeated DART-MS scanning along five identical deposited bands of butyl-4-hydroxybenzoate a mean precision of 2.7% was obtained. A signal decay of 62% was observed after five scans. After HPTLC of methyl-4-hydroxybenzoate and butyl-4-hydroxybenzoate, mean determination coefficients of 0.9937 and 0.9906 were obtained for five calibrations on five plates, respectively. The mean recovery of two control standards was 94% with a mean repeatability of 9% (%RSD, n = 5) obtained on five different plates.

CONCLUSIONS

The DART SVPA-3DS system remained compact and the access to the substrate was kept wide open despite the optimized scan lane (spatial resolution at full width at half maximum 0.8 mm, height 3 mm). The performance data showed that the quantitative surface scanning was improved as well as the desorption efficacy and detectability using this modified DART-MS interface.

Coupling of ultrafast LC with mass spectrometry by DESI

Recently we reported a desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) interface to combine liquid chromatography (LC) with mass spectrometry (MS) using a new LC eluent splitting strategy through a tiny orifice on LC capillary tube [J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 25, 286 (2014)]. The interface introduces negligible dead volume and back pressure, thereby allowing "near real-time" MS detection, fast LC elution, and online MS-directed purification. This study further evaluates the LC/DESI-MS performance with focus of using ultra-fast LC. Using a monolithic C18 column, metabolites in urine can be separated within 1.6 min and can be online collected for subsequent structure elucidation (e.g., by NMR, UV, IR) in a recovery yield up to 99%. Using a spray solvent with alkaline pH, negative ions could be directly generated for acidic analytes (e.g., ibuprofen) in acidic LC eluent by DESI, offering a novel protocol to realize "wrong-way around" ionization for LC/MS analysis. In addition, DESI-MS is found to be compatible with ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) for the first time.

Plasma-spray ionization (PLASI): a multimodal atmospheric pressure ion source for liquid stream analysis

A new ion generation method, named plasma-spray ionization (PLASI) for direct analysis of liquid streams, such as in continuous infusion experiments or liquid chromatography (LC), is reported. PLASI addresses many of the analytical limitations of electrospray ionization (ESI) and has potential for real time process stream analysis and reaction monitoring under atmospheric conditions in non-ESI friendly scenarios. In PLASI-mass spectrometry (MS), the liquid stream is pneumatically nebulized and partially charged at low voltages; the resultant aerosol is thus entrained with a gaseous plasma plume from a distal glow discharge prior to MS detection. PLASI-MS not only overcomes ESI-MS limitations but also generates simpler mass spectra with minimal adduct and cluster formation. PLASI utilizes the atomization capabilities of an ESI sprayer operated below the ESI threshold to generate gas-phase aerosols that are then ionized by the plasma stream. When operated at or above the ESI threshold, ionization by traditional ESI mechanisms is achieved. The multimodal nature of the technique enables readily switching between plasma and ESI operation. It is expected that PLASI will enable analyzing a wide range of analytes in complex matrices and less-restricted solvent systems, providing more flexibility than that achievable by ESI alone.

A new splitting method for both analytical and preparative LC/MS

This paper presents a novel splitting method for liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) application, which allows fast MS detection of LC-separated analytes and subsequent online analyte collection. In this approach, a PEEK capillary tube with a micro-orifice drilled on the tube side wall is used to connect with LC column. A small portion of LC eluent emerging from the orifice can be directly ionized by desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) with negligible time delay (6~10 ms) while the remaining analytes exiting the tube outlet can be collected. The DESI-MS analysis of eluted compounds shows narrow peaks and high sensitivity because of the extremely small dead volume of the orifice used for LC eluent splitting (as low as 4 nL) and the freedom to choose favorable DESI spray solvent. In addition, online derivatization using reactive DESI is possible for supercharging proteins and for enhancing their signals without introducing extra dead volume. Unlike UV detector used in traditional preparative LC experiments, this method is applicable to compounds without chromophores (e.g., saccharides) due to the use of MS detector. Furthermore, this splitting method well suits monolithic column-based ultra-fast LC separation at a high elution flow rate of 4 mL/min. Figure ᅟ

On-line coupling of macroporous resin column chromatography with direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry utilizing a surface flowing mode sample holder

A surface flowing mode sample holder was designed as an alternative sampling strategy for direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS). With the sample holder, the on-line coupling of macroporous resin column chromatography with DART-MS was explored and the new system was employed to monitor the column chromatography elution process of Panax notoginseng. The effluent from macroporous resin column was first diluted and mixed with a derivatization reagent on-line, and the mixture was then directly transferred into the ionization region of DART-MS by the sample holder. Notoginsenosides were methylated and ionized in a metastable helium gas stream, and was introduced into MS for detection. The on-line system showed reasonable repeatability with a relative standard deviation of 12.3% for the peak area. Three notoginsenosides, i.e. notoginsenoside R1, ginsenoside Rb1 and ginsenoside Rg1, were simultaneously determined during the eluting process. The alteration of the chemical composition in the effluent was accurately identified in 9 min, agreeing well with the off-line analysis. The presented technique is more convenient compared to the traditional UPLC method. These results suggest that the surface flowing mode DART-MS has a good potential for the on-line process monitoring in the pharmaceutical industry.

Ambient laser ablation sampling for capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Ambient laser ablation with mass spectrometric detection is a powerful method for direct analysis of biological samples in their native environment. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) can separate complex mixtures of biological molecules prior to mass spectrometry (MS) analysis and an ambient sampling interface for CE/MS will allow the detection of minor components.

METHODS

An infrared (IR) laser ablated and transferred sample materials under ambient conditions for direct loading onto the CE separation column. Samples were deposited on a transparent target and ablated in transmission geometry using a pulsed mid-IR laser. The ablated materials were captured in the exposed sampling solvent and then loaded into a capillary by electrokinetic injection for separation and analysis by electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS.

RESULTS

The system was tested using mixtures of peptide and protein standards. It is estimated that tens of fmol of material was transferred from the ablation target for injection into the CE system and the theoretical plate number was between 1000 and 3000.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel interface for ambient sampling to CE/MS was developed. The interface is generally applicable and has potential utility for mass spectrometry imaging as well as the loading of microfluidic devices from untreated ambient samples.

What Is the Opposite of Pandora's Box? Direct Analysis, Ambient Ionization, and a New Generation of Atmospheric Pressure Ion Sources

The introduction of DART and DESI sources approximately seven years ago led to the development of a new series of atmospheric pressure ion sources referred to as "ambient ionization" sources. These fall into two major categories: spray techniques like DESI or plasma techniques like DART. The selectivity of "direct ionization," meaning analysis without chromatography and with little or no sample preparation, depends on the mass spectrometer selectivity. Although high resolution and tandem mass spectrometry are valuable tools, rapid and simple sample preparation methods can improve the utility of ambient ionization methods. The concept of ambient ionization has led to the realization that there are many more ways to form ions than might be expected. An interesting example is the use of a flint-and-steel spark source to generate ions from compounds such as phenolphthalein and Gramicidin S.

Infrared laser ablation sample transfer for on-line liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

We have demonstrated an on-line laser ablation sampling system and coupling of the system to liquid chromatography (LC) using an infrared (IR) laser to ablate and transfer materials into a flowing solvent stream. With this approach, samples are deposited on a microscope slide mounted on a translation stage and ablated in transmission geometry using a pulsed mid-IR laser. The ablated material is captured in an exposed flowing solvent stream that carries the ablated material to the electrospray source. Post-ablation separation is accomplished using a capillary column downstream of the capture zone. The performance of the system was assessed using peptide and protein mixtures ablated from the target and analyzed with and without LC separation.

Signal and Charge Enhancement for Protein Analysis by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry with Desorption Electrospray Ionization

We recently reported the use of desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) as a novel interface to couple high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with mass spectrometry (MS) (Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 4171). One of the benefits of such an interface is that post-column derivatization of separated analytes can be integrated with ionization via a "reactive" DESI approach in which a derivatizing reagent is doped into the spray solvent. The reactive DESI interface allows analyte desorption/ionization from the end of the chromatographic column with prompt MS detection; a short time delay of ~20 ms was demonstrated. In this study, we extended this application by "supercharging" proteins following HPLC separation using a DESI spray solvent containing supercharging reagents, m-nitrobenzyl alcohol (m-NBA) or sulfolane. Proteins (insulin, ubiquitin, lysozyme and α-lactalbumin) eluted out of the LC column can be supercharged with the protein charge state distributions (CSDs) significantly increased (to higher charge), which would be advantageous for subsequent top-down MS analysis of proteins. Interestingly, supercharging combined with reactive DESI enhances tolerance towards trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), which is known to be a superior additive in the mobile phase for premium peptide/protein chromatographic separation but has severe signal suppression effects for conventional electrospray ionization (ESI). In comparison to electrosonic spray ionization (ESSI), a variant form of ESI, the sensitivity of protein analysis using LC/DESI-MS with the mobile phase containing TFA can be improved by up to 70-fold for lysozyme and α-lactalbumin by including m-NBA in the DESI spray solvent. Presumably, by reducing TFA dissociation in the droplet, supercharging agents lower trifluoroacetate anion concentrations and concomitantly reduce ion pairing to analyte cationic sites. The reduced ion pairing therefore decreases the TFA signal suppression effect. The supercharging capability and the reduction of TFA signal suppression suggest that LC/DESI-MS is a valuable method for protein analysis.

10 years of MS instrumental developments--impact on LC-MS/MS in clinical chemistry

The combination of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is a powerful and indispensable analytical tool that is widely applied in many areas of chemistry, medicine, pharmaceutics and biochemistry. In this review recent MS instrumental developments are presented as part of a special issue covering various aspects of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in clinical chemistry. Improvements, new inventions as well as new combinations in ion source technology are described focusing on dual or multimode sources and atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI). Increasing demands regarding sensitivity, accuracy, resolution and both quantitation and identification guarantee on-going improvements in mass analyzer technology. This paper discusses new hybrid MS instruments that can perform novel scan modes as well as high-resolution mass spectrometers (HRMS) that finally seem to be able to overcome, or at least significantly reduce, their weaknesses in quantitative applications. Ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IMMS) itself is not an invention of the last 10 years, but a lot of progress was made within the last decade that reveals the potential benefits of this combination. This is clearly reflected by the increased number of commercially available instruments and the various designs of IMMS are covered in detail in this review. Selected applications for all these instrumental developments are given focusing on the perspective of clinical chemistry.