SPME-GC×GC-TOF MS fingerprint of virally-infected cell culture: Sample preparation optimization and data processing evaluation

Untargeted metabolomics study of volatile organic compounds produced by different cell cultures is a field that has gained increasing attention over the years. Solid-phase microextraction has been the sampling technique of choice for most of the applications mainly due to its simplicity to implement. However, a careful optimization of the analytical conditions is necessary to obtain the best performances, which are highly matrix-dependent. In this work, five different solid-phase microextraction fibers were compared for the analysis of the volatiles produced by cell culture infected with the human respiratory syncytial virus. A central composite design was applied to determine the best time-temperature combination to maximize the extraction efficiency and the salting-out effect was evaluated as well. The linearity of the optimized method, along with limits of detection and quantification and repeatability was assessed. Finally, the effect of i) different normalization techniques (i.e. z-score and probabilistic quotient normalization), ii) data transformation (i.e. in logarithmic scale), and iii) different feature selection algorithms (i.e. Fisher ratio and random forest) on the capability of discriminating between infected and not-infected cell culture was evaluated.

Multivariate analysis of mainstream tobacco smoke particulate phase by headspace solid-phase micro extraction coupled with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A method involving headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) was developed and applied to evaluate profiles of volatile compounds present in mainstream tobacco smoke particulate matter trapped on glass fiber filters. Six SPME fibers were tested for the extraction capacities toward selected compounds, showing the best results for the polyacrylate fiber. The optimization of the extraction conditions was carried out using multivariate response surface methodology. Two cigarette types differing in a filter design were analyzed using optimized conditions. A template was built in order to generate comprehensive chemical information, which conceded obtaining consistent information across 24 chromatograms. Principal component analysis (PCA) allowed a clear differentiation of the studied cigarette types. Fisher ratio analysis allowed identification of compounds responsible for the chemical differences between the cigarette samples. Of the selected 143 most important ones, 134 analytes were reduced by the active carbon filter, while for nine, classical cellulose acetate filter was more efficient.

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography under high outlet pressure conditions: a new approach to correct the flow-mismatch issue in the two dimensions

The typical column sets employed in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) suffer from the impossibility to fully exploit the efficiency of both dimensions simultaneously. Adding a restrictor at the end of the second dimension is a possible approach to adjust the linear velocity profile. Under these high outlet pressure conditions the second dimension becomes much slower while the effect on the primary column is limited. The gap in terms of optimum inlet pressures is thus reduced. A program written in Microsoft Excel was used to calculate the efficiencies of the two dimensions in GC × GC at different outlet pressures. A GC × GC set-up with a restrictor at the end of the second dimension column was successfully installed. Experiments proved that this is a possible way to have a better exploitation of the columns. The chromatograms obtained for a number of applications confirm that the separations achieved at elevated outlet pressure are more efficient than those obtained with the same column set under atmospheric outlet conditions. The price to pay is that the separations become considerably slower.