Introduction to time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry application in chromatographic analysis

Comparative TOF-SIMS and MALDI TOF-MS analysis on different chromatographic planar substrates

A comparison is made between two high resolution, surface-based, mass spectrometric methods: time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF-MS) in indication of abietic and gibberellic acids molecular profiles on different chromatographic thin layers. The analytes were applied to silica gel chromatographic thin layers with SIMS on-line interfacing channel, monolithic silica gel ultra-thin layers, and thin layers specifically designed for direct Raman spectroscopic analysis. Two MALDI matrices were used in this research: ferulic acid and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid. The silica gel SIMS-interfacing channel strongly supported formation of numerous different MALDI MS fragments with abietic and gibberellic acids, and ferulic acid matrix. The most intense fragments belonged to [M-OH](+) and [M](+) ions from ferulic acid. Intense conjugates were detected with gibberellic acid. The MALDI MS spectrum from the monolithic silica gel surface showed very low analyte signal intensity and it was not possible to obtain MALDI spectra from a Raman spectroscopy treated chromatographic layer. The MALDI TOF MS gibberellic acid fragmentation profile was shielded by the matrix used and was accompanied by poor analyte identification. The most useful TOF-SIMS analytical signal response was obtained from analytes separated on monolithic silica gel and a SIMS-interfacing modified silica gel surface. New horizons with nanostructured surfaces call for high resolution MS methods (which cannot readily be miniaturised like many optical and electrochemical methods) to be integrated in chip and nanoscale detection systems.

Phosphopeptide analysis by directly coupling two-dimensional planar electrochromatography/thin-layer chromatography with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A novel strategy is presented for the fractionation of complex peptide mixtures using two-dimensional planar electrochromatography/thin-layer chromatography (2D PEC/TLC). Phosphopeptides migrate more slowly in the first dimension, based upon their anionic phosphate residues, and certain predominantly acidic phosphopeptides even migrate in the opposite direction, relative to the bulk of the peptides. Phosphopeptides are further distinguished based upon hydrophilicity in the second dimension. This permits a restricted region of the plate to be directly interrogated for the presence of phosphopeptides by mass spectrometry (MS). Phosphopeptide analysis from the plates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF)-MS and tandem MS enabled peptide sequencing and identification.

New method for caffeine quantification by planar chromatography coupled with electropray ionization mass spectrometry using stable isotope dilution analysis

A new high-performance thin-layer chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPTLC/ESI-MS) method for the quantification of caffeine in pharmaceutical and energy drink samples was developed using stable isotope dilution analysis (SIDA). After sample preparation, samples and caffeine standard were applied on silica gel 60 F254 HPTLC plates and over-spotted with caffeine-d3 used for correction of the plunger positioning. After chromatography, densitometric detection was performed by UV absorption at 274 nm. The bands were then eluted by means of a plunger-based extractor into the ESI interface of a single-quadrupole mass spectrometer. For quantification by MS the [M+H]+ ions of caffeine and caffeine-d3 were recorded in the positive ion single ion monitoring (SIM) mode at m/z 195 and 198, respectively. The calibration showed a linear regression with a determination coefficient (R2) of 0.9998. The repeatability (RSD, n=6) in matrix was<or=+/-3.75%. The intermediate precisions (RSD, n=2) for two samples of different brand names were determined three times and ranged between RSD+/-0.68% and+/-2.64% (sample 1) and between+/-3.44% and+/-8.60% (sample 2). The method accuracy was evaluated by comparing the results obtained by HPTLC/SIDA-ESI-MS with those from the validated HPTLC/UV method. The results for pharmaceutical and energy drink samples were (ng/band) 99.82+/-3.75 and 338.09+/-4.87 by HPTLC/SIDA-ESI-MS and 104.74+/-1.51 and 334.86+/-5.63 by HPTLC/UV. According to the F-test (homogeneity of variances) and the t-test (comparison of means) the two methods show no significant difference. The detection and quantification limits were 75 and 250 microg L-1 (0.75 and 2.5 ng/band), respectively, which were a factor of 13 lower than those established for HPTLC/UV. The positioning error (RSD+/-6%) was calculated by comparing HPTLC/SIDA-ESI-MS with HPTLC/ESI-MS. However, using SIDA the positioning error was nullified. HPTLC/SIDA-ESI-MS was demonstrated to be a highly reliable method for the quantification of compounds by planar chromatography coupled online with mass spectrometry.