Impact of UPLC-MS in Food and Drug/Metabolite Analysis

Mass spectrometry-based "omics" technologies for the study of gestational diabetes and the discovery of new biomarkers

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is one of the most common complications occurring during pregnancy. Diagnosis is performed by oral glucose tolerance test, but harmonized testing methods and thresholds are still lacking worldwide. Short-term and long-term effects include obesity, type 2 diabetes, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The identification and validation of sensitidve, selective, and robust biomarkers for early diagnosis during the first trimester of pregnancy are required, as well as for the prediction of possible adverse outcomes after birth. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based omics technologies are nowadays the method of choice to characterize various pathologies at a molecular level. Proteomics and metabolomics of GDM were widely investigated in the last 10 years, and various proteins and metabolites were proposed as possible biomarkers. Metallomics of GDM was also reported, but studies are limited in number. The present review focuses on the description of the different analytical methods and MS-based instrumental platforms applied to GDM-related omics studies. Preparation procedures for various biological specimens are described and results are briefly summarized. Generally, only preliminary findings are reported by current studies and further efforts are required to determine definitive GDM biomarkers.

Proteins and metabolites fingerprints of gestational diabetes mellitus forming protein-metabolite interactomes are its potential biomarkers

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a consequence of glucose intolerance with an inadequate production of insulin that happens during pregnancy and leads to adverse health consequences for both mother and fetus. GDM patients are at higher risk for preeclampsia, and developing diabetes mellitus type 2 in later life, while the child born to GDM mothers are more prone to macrosomia, and hypoglycemia. The universally accepted diagnostic criteria for GDM are lacking, therefore there is a need for a diagnosis of GDM that can identify GDM at its early stage (first trimester). We have reviewed the literature on proteins and metabolites fingerprints of GDM. Further, we have performed protein-protein, metabolite-metabolite, and protein-metabolite interaction network studies on GDM proteins and metabolites fingerprints. Notably, some proteins and metabolites fingerprints are forming strong interaction networks at high confidence scores. Therefore, we have suggested that those proteins and metabolites that are forming protein-metabolite interactomes are the potential biomarkers of GDM. The protein-metabolite biomarkers interactome may help in a deep understanding of the prognosis, pathogenesis of GDM, and also detection of GDM. The protein-metabolites interactome may be further applied in planning future therapeutic strategies to promote long-term health benefits in GDM mothers and their children.

Derivatization, an Applicable Asset for Conventional HPLC Systems without MS Detection in Food and Miscellaneous Analysis

One of the most valuable practices for analyzing not-so-analytical-friendly analytes in complex, heterogenous matrices is derivatization. Availability of numerous derivatizing reagents (DRs) makes the modification of analyte more exploitable in terms of an analytical perspective. A wide array of derivatization techniques like pre or post-column, in-situ, enzymatic, ultrasound-assisted, microwave-assisted, photochemical derivatization has added much-needed methodological strength in analyzing intricate analytical matrices (food, water, and soil). In recent years, analytical chemistry has achieved greater heights through the development of new sensitive methods with simple conventional instruments like High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) devoid of Mass detectors. The prompt availability of these straightforward instruments also makes it a favorable option for routine analysis in food, environmental, bioanalytical chemistry. Analyzing food, environmental or bioanalytical specimen has some of the most problematic aspects, like the low concentration of the analytes accompanied by not too suitable analytical properties. Even though conventional HPLC lacks the required sensitivity but merger with derivatization can lead to a remarkable increase in sensitivity. In recent years there has been a lot of application of diverse derivatizations to increase the sensitivity and selectivity of the analyte for available instruments, resulting in notable findings. Therefore, this review describes the application of derivatization principles in the analysis of analytes in food and additional matrices using conventional HPLC instruments such as HPLC-UV, HPLC-DAD, and HPLC-FD. In this article, we will briefly review the different modes and multiple types of derivatizing reagents with their mechanisms and importance for encouraging the use of established HPLC instruments.

Recent Applications of Derivatization Techniques for Pharmaceutical and Bioanalytical Analysis through High-performance Liquid Chromatography

Background:

Derivatization of analytes is a quite convenient practice from an analytical perspective. Its vast prevalence is accounted by the availability of distinct reagents, primarily pragmatic for obtaining desired modifications in an analyte structure. Another reason for its handiness is typically to overcome limitations such as lack of sensitive methodology or instrumentation.The past decades have witnessed various new derivatization techniques including in-situ, enzymatic, ultrasound-assisted, microwave-assisted, and photochemical derivatization which have gain popularity recently.

Methods:

The online literature available on the utilization of derivatization as prominent analytical tools in recent years with typical advancements is reviewed. The illustrations of the analytical condition together with the structures of different derivatizing reagents (DRs) are provided to acknowledge the vast capability of derivatization to resolve analytical problems.

Results:

The derivatization techniques have enabled analytical chemists throughout the globe to develop an enhanced sensitivity method with the simplest of the instrument like High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The HPLC, compared to more sensitive Liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometer, is readily available and can be readily utilized for routine analysis in fields of pharmaceuticals, bioanalysis, food safety, and environmental contamination. A troublesome aspect of these fields is the presence of a complex matrix with trace concentrations for analyses. Liquid chromatographic methods devoid of MS detectors do not have the desired sensitivity for this. A possible solution for overcoming this is to couple HPLC with derivatization to enable the possibility of detecting trace analytes with a less expensive instrument. Running cost, enhanced sensitivity, low time consumption, and overcoming the inherent problems of analyte are critical parameters for which HPLC is quite useful in high throughput analysis.

Conclusion:

The review critically highlights various kinds of derivatization applications in different fields of analytical chemistry. The information primarily focuses on pharmaceutical and bioanalytical applications in recent years. The various modes, types, and derivatizing reagents with brief mechanisms have been ascribed briefly Additionally, the importance of HPLC coupled to fluorescence and UV detection is presented as an overview through examples accompanied by their analytical conditions.