Spray-Capillary: An Electrospray-Assisted Device for Quantitative Ultralow-Volume Sample Handling

Top-Down Proteomics Analysis of Picogram-Level Complex Samples Using Spray-Capillary-Based Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry

Proteomics analysis of mass-limited samples has become increasingly important for understanding biological systems in physiologically relevant contexts such as patient samples, multicellular organoids, spheroids, and single cells. However, relatively low sensitivity in top-down proteomics methods makes their application to mass-limited samples challenging. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has emerged as an ideal separation method for mass-limited samples due to its high separation resolution, ultralow detection limit, and minimal sample volume requirements. Recently, we developed "spray-capillary", an electrospray ionization (ESI)-assisted device, that is capable of quantitative ultralow-volume sampling (e.g., pL-nL level). Here, we developed a spray-capillary-CE-MS platform for ultrasensitive top-down proteomics analysis of intact proteins in mass-limited complex biological samples. Specifically, to improve the sensitivity of the spray-capillary platform, we incorporated a polyethylenimine (PEI)-coated capillary and optimized the spray-capillary inner diameter. Under optimized conditions, we successfully detected over 200 proteoforms from 50 pg of E. coli lysate. To our knowledge, the spray-capillary CE-MS platform developed here represents one of the most sensitive detection methods for top-down proteomics. Furthermore, in a proof-of-principle experiment, we detected 261 ± 65 and 174 ± 45 intact proteoforms from fewer than 50 HeLa and OVCAR-8 cells, respectively, by coupling nanodroplet-based sample preparation with our optimized CE-MS platform. Overall, our results demonstrate the capability of the modified spray-capillary CE-MS platform to perform top-down proteomics analysis on picogram amounts of samples. This advancement presents the possibility of meaningful top-down proteomics analysis of mass-limited samples down to the level of single mammalian cells.

Insights on droplet drift and effective utilization of pesticide in "Third Pole"：Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China

Crop protection pesticide spraying aims to greatly improve the utilization rate of pesticides. Controlling pesticides deposition requires a thorough understanding of the spatial behaviour of spray droplets.The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which is the headwaters of three largest water resources (Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang) in China, has exceptionally unique climatic characteristics. The goal is to reduce the amount of pesticides entering water resources. The wind tunnel experiment was used to validate the discrete phase method for tracking the trajectories. Cooperation between the smaller and larger droplets (greater than 150 μm) in the dense area around the nozzle can undoubtedly enhance the initial dispersion of droplet sizes. Droplet coalescence, which lowers the proportion of readily dispersed droplets, can greatly boost droplet deposition onto the target location.The crucial drift height is presented and clarified when droplets gradually disperse by identifying the descending length at which efficiency of mass transit starts towards decrease off quickly. The pesticide transport efficiency will not be enhanced by reducing the initial relative spread of droplets if the actual spray height surpasses the crucial drift height, and may even worsen drift loss. The temperature and relative humidity of the air have a greater influence on the evaporation losses of droplets smaller than 150 μm. In addition to providing information about pesticide spraying, the results of studies on droplet drift behaviors also suggest a method for controlling drift.

High-Performance, Low-Cost, Additively Manufactured Electrospray Ion Sources for Mass Spectrometry

We report novel 3D-printed electrospray sources for mass spectrometry (MS) that produce twice the signal strength of their mainstream counterparts. Leveraging 3D printing to fabricate in bulk nano- and microscale-featured electrospray emitters, this work shows a path for scalable integration in clinically relevant diagnostics. This solution improves the device performance by simultaneously tuning the surface hydrophilicity, solvent evaporation, and geometry. The emitters are made of stainless-steel (SS) 316L via binder jetting and coated in a conformal, hydrothermally grown zinc oxide nanowire (ZnONW) forest. The printed emitters are designed as surface mount devices that can be directly soldered to printed circuit boards with built-in digital microfluidics as part of an automated device assembly. The electrospray sources use a novel extractor electrode design that enables operation at ∼24% larger bias voltages compared with conventional MS cylindrical inlets. The 3D-printed electrospray emitters were characterized against their state-of-the-art counterparts (coated blades and paper spray). MS data from the 3D-printed electrospray emitters show detection of therapeutically relevant targets at 1 μg/ml concentrations with a variety of solvents; for nicardipine, such emitters attain 116% higher signal-to-noise ratios and far greater stability than their counterparts.

Capillary self-aspirating electrospray ionization (CSESI) for convenient and versatile mass spectrometry analysis

Electrospray ionization (ESI) is one of the most widely used ionization techniques, and its simplification can benefit many interested users. In this study, sample introduction by capillary action was studied and used to develop a simple ESI source called capillary self-aspirating electrospray ionization (CSESI). A conventional CSESI source requires only a common capillary of appropriate diameter in addition to the support of high voltage (HV). No pumps and sample loading is needed because the solution can spontaneously climb across the capillary by capillary action. With the proper modification of the glass capillary, the operation of CSESI can be further simplified and efficient. Specifically, cold plasma processing of the capillary creates a more hydrophilic surface that can facilitate sample introduction. Moreover, sputtering a thin platinum layer on the capillary tip makes the application of HV more convenient, and it also eliminates the influence of air bubbles in the capillary to ensure a sustained and stable electrospray. Overall, CSESI exhibits multiple desirable features such as simple structure, self-aspiration ability, low sample consumption, and inherent physical filtration capability. Apart from the routine ESI-MS analysis, it has also been applied in real-time monitoring of the oxidative dimerization of 8-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline, as well as direct analysis of muddy soil solutions without pretreatment.

An automated spray-capillary platform for the microsampling and CE-MS analysis of picoliter- and nanoliter-volume samples

Capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry (CE-MS) is an emerging analytical tool for microscale biological sample analysis that offers high separation resolution, low detection limit, and low sample consumption. We recently developed a novel microsampling device, "spray-capillary," for quantitative low-volume sample extraction (as low as 15 pL/s) and online CE-MS analysis. This platform can efficiently analyze picoliter samples (e.g., single cells) with minimal sample loss and no additional offline sample-handling steps. However, our original spray-capillary-based experiments required manual manipulation of the sample inlet for sample collection and separation, which is time consuming and requires proficiency in device handling. To optimize the performance of spray-capillary CE-MS analysis, we developed an automated platform for robust, high-throughput analysis of picoliter samples using a commercially available CE autosampler. Our results demonstrated high reproducibility among 50 continuous runs using the standard peptide angiotensin II (Ang II), with an RSD of 14.70% and 0.62% with respect to intensity and elution time, respectively. We also analyzed Ang II using varying injection times to evaluate the capability of the spray-capillary to perform quantitative sampling and found high linearity for peptide intensity with respect to injection time (R2 > 0.99). These results demonstrate the capability of the spray-capillary sampling platform for high-throughput quantitative analysis of low-volume, low-complexity samples using pressure elution (e.g., direct injection). To further evaluate and optimize the automated spray-capillary platform to analyze complex biological samples, we performed online CE-MS analysis on Escherichia coli lysate digest spiked with Ang II using varying injection times. We maintained high linearity of intensity with respect to injection time for Ang II and E. coli peptides (R2 > 0.97 in all cases). Furthermore, we observed good CE separation and high reproducibility between automated runs. Overall, we demonstrated that the automated spray-capillary CE-MS platform can efficiently and reproducibly sample picoliter and nanoliter biological samples for high-throughput proteomics analysis.

Multidimensional Separations in Top-Down Proteomics

Top-down proteomics (TDP) identifies, quantifies, and characterizes proteins at the intact proteoform level in complex biological samples to understand proteoform function and cellular mechanisms. However, analyzing complex biological samples using TDP is still challenging due to high sample complexity and wide dynamic range. High-resolution separation methods are often applied prior to mass spectrometry (MS) analysis to decrease sample complexity and increase proteomics throughput. These separation methods, however, may not be efficient enough to characterize low abundance intact proteins in complex samples. As such, multidimensional separation techniques (combination of two or more separation methods with high orthogonality) have been developed and applied that demonstrate improved separation resolution and more comprehensive identification in TDP. A suite of multidimensional separation methods that couple various types of liquid chromatography (LC), capillary electrophoresis (CE), and/or gel electrophoresis-based separation approaches have been developed and applied in TDP to analyze complex biological samples. Here, we reviewed multidimensional separation strategies employed for TDP, summarized current applications, and discussed the gaps that may be addressed in the future.

Recent advances (2019-2021) of capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry for multilevel proteomics

Multilevel proteomics aims to delineate proteins at the peptide (bottom-up proteomics), proteoform (top-down proteomics), and protein complex (native proteomics) levels. Capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) can achieve highly efficient separation and highly sensitive detection of complex mixtures of peptides, proteoforms, and even protein complexes because of its substantial technical progress. CE-MS has become a valuable alternative to the routinely used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for multilevel proteomics. This review summarizes the most recent (2019-2021) advances of CE-MS for multilevel proteomics regarding technological progress and biological applications. We also provide brief perspectives on CE-MS for multilevel proteomics at the end, highlighting some future directions and potential challenges.

Separation methods in single-cell proteomics: RPLC or CE?

Cellular heterogeneity is commonly investigated using single-cell genomics and transcriptomics to investigate biological questions such as disease mechanism, therapeutic screening, and genomic and transcriptomic diversity between cellular populations and subpopulations at the cellular level. Single-cell mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics enables the high-throughput examination of protein expression at the single-cell level with wide applicability, and with spatial and temporal resolution, applicable to the study of cellular development, disease, effect of treatment, etc. The study of single-cell proteomics has lagged behind genomics and transcriptomics largely because proteins from single-cell samples cannot be amplified as DNA and RNA can using well established techniques such as PCR. Therefore, analytical methods must be robust, reproducible, and sensitive enough to detect the very small amount of protein within a single cell. To this end, nearly every step of the proteomics process has been extensively altered and improved to facilitate the proteomics analysis of single cells including cell counting and sorting, lysis, protein digestion, sample cleanup, separation, MS data acquisition, and data analysis. Here, we have reviewed recent advances in single-cell protein separation using nano reversed phase liquid chromatography (nRPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) to inform application driven selection of separation techniques in the laboratory setting.

On-capillary Cell Lysis Enables Top-down Proteomic Analysis of Single Mammalian Cells by CE-MS/MS

Proteomic analysis of limited samples and single cells requires specialized methods that prioritize high sensitivity and minimize sample loss. Consequently, sample preparation is one of the most important steps in limited sample analysis workflows to prevent sample loss. In this work, we have eliminated sample handling and transfer steps by processing intact cells directly in the separation capillary, online with capillary electrophoresis coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (CE-MS/MS) for top-down proteomic (TDP) analysis of low numbers of mammalian cancer cells (<10) and single cells. We assessed spray voltage injection of intact cells from a droplet of cell suspension (∼1000 cells) and demonstrated 0-9 intact cells injected with a dependency on the duration of spray voltage application. Spray voltage applied for 2 min injected an average of 7 ± 2 cells and resulted in 33-57 protein and 40-88 proteoform identifications (N = 4). To analyze single cells, manual cell loading by hydrodynamic pressure was used. Replicates of single HeLa cells (N = 4) lysed on the capillary and analyzed by CE-MS/MS demonstrated a range of 17-40 proteins and 23-50 proteoforms identified. An additional cell line, THP-1, was analyzed at the single-cell level, and proteoform abundances were compared to show the capabilities of single-cell TDP (SC-TDP) for assessing cellular heterogeneity. This study demonstrates the initial application of TDP in single-cell proteome-level profiling. These results represent the highest reported identifications from TDP analysis of a single HeLa cell and prove the tremendous potential for CE-MS/MS on-capillary sample processing for high sensitivity analysis of single cells and limited samples.

Nanoflow Sheath Voltage-Free Interfacing of Capillary Electrophoresis and Mass Spectrometry for the Detection of Small Molecules

Coupling capillary electrophoresis (CE) to mass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful strategy to leverage a high separation efficiency with structural identification. Traditional CE-MS interfacing relies upon voltage to drive this process. Additionally, sheathless interfacing requires that the electrophoresis generates a sufficient volumetric flow to sustain the ionization process. Vibrating sharp-edge spray ionization (VSSI) is a new method to interface capillary electrophoresis to mass analyzers. In contrast to traditional interfacing, VSSI is voltage-free, making it straightforward for CE and MS. New nanoflow sheath CE-VSSI-MS is introduced in this work to reduce the reliance on the separation flow rate to facilitate the transfer of analyte to the MS. The nanoflow sheath VSSI spray ionization functions from 400 to 900 nL/min. Using the new nanoflow sheath reported here, volumetric flow rate through the separation capillary is less critical, allowing the use of a small (i.e., 20 to 25 μm) inner diameter separation capillary and enabling the use of higher separation voltages and faster analysis. Moreover, the use of a nanoflow sheath enables greater flexibility in the separation conditions. The nanoflow sheath is operated using aqueous solutions in the background electrolyte and in the sheath, demonstrating the separation can be performed under normal and reversed polarity in the presence or absence of electroosmotic flow. This includes the use of a wider pH range as well. The versatility of nanoflow sheath CE-VSSI-MS is demonstrated by separating cationic, anionic, and zwitterionic molecules under a variety of separation conditions. The detection sensitivity observed with nanoflow sheath CE-VSSI-MS is comparable to that obtained with sheathless CE-VSSI-MS as well as CE-MS separations with electrospray ionization interfacing. A bare fused silica capillary is used to separate cationic β-blockers with a near-neutral background electrolyte at concentrations ranging from 1.0 nM to 1.0 μM. Under acidic conditions, 13 amino acids are separated with normal polarity at a concentration ranging from 0.25 to 5 μM. Finally, separations of anionic compounds are demonstrated using reversed polarity under conditions of suppressed electroosmotic flow through the use of a semipermanent surface coating. With a near-neutral separation electrolyte, anionic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are detected over a concentration range of 0.1 to 5.0 μM.

Spray-Capillary-Based Capillary Electrophoresis Mass Spectrometry for Metabolite Analysis in Single Cells

Single-cell capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry (CE-MS) is a promising platform to analyze cellular contents and probe cell heterogeneity. However, current single-cell CE-MS methods often rely on offline microsampling processes and may demonstrate low sampling precision and accuracy. We have recently developed an electrospray-assisted device, spray-capillary, for low-volume sample extraction. With the spray-capillary, low-volume samples (pL-nL) are drawn into the sampling end of the device, which can be used directly for CE separation and online MS detection. Here, we redesigned the spray-capillary by utilizing a capillary with a <15 μm tapered tip so that it can be directly inserted into single cells for sample collection and on-capillary CE-MS analysis. We evaluated the performance of the modified spray-capillary by performing single-cell microsampling on single onion cells with varying sample injection times and direct MS analysis or online CE-MS analysis. We have demonstrated, for the first time, online sample collection and CE-MS for the analysis of single cells. This application of the modified spray-capillary device facilitates the characterization and relative quantification of hundreds of metabolites in single cells.