Strategies to reduce aspecific adsorption of peptides and proteins in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry based bioanalyses: an overview

Development of a high-throughput liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry platform for the determination of intact natriuretic peptides in human plasma

We present an innovative, reliable, and antibody-free analytical method to determine multiple intact natriuretic peptides in human plasma. These biomolecules are routinely used to confirm the diagnosis and monitor the evolution of heart failure, so that their determination is essential to improve diagnosis and monitor the efficacy of treatment. However, common immunoassay kits suffer from main limitations due to high cross-reactivity with structurally similar species. In our method, we pre-treated the sample by combining salting-out with ammonium sulfate with microextraction by packed sorbent technique. Analyses were then carried out by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. The use of 3-nitrobenzyl alcohol as a supercharger reagent enhanced the ESI ionization and improved the signal-to-noise ratio. The analytical protocol showed good linearity over one order of magnitude, recovery in the range of 94-105 %, and good intra- and inter-day reproducibility (RSD<20 %), and the presence of a matrix effect. Limits of detection were in the range of pg/mL for all peptides (0.2-20 pg/mL). Stability study in plasma samples demonstrated that proper protease inhibitors need to be included in blood collection tubes to avoid peptide degradation. Preliminary analyses on plasma samples from heart failure patients allow the quantification of ANP 1-28 as the most abundant species and the detection of ANP 5-28, BNP 1-32, and BNP 5-32. The method could be used to investigate how cross-reactivity issues among structurally similar species impact determinations by ELISA kits.

Quantification of endogenous Angiotensin 1-10, 1-9, 1-8, 1-7, and 1-5 in human plasma using micro-UHPLC-MS/MS: Outlining the importance of the pre-analytics for reliable results

Angiotensin peptides (ANGs) play a central role in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, rendering them interesting biomarkers associated with hypertension. Precise quantification of circulating ANGs holds the potential to assess the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), a key protease targeted by widely prescribed drugs, namely ACE inhibitors. This ability could pave the way for personalised medicine, offering insights into the prescription of inhibitors targeting either the proteases or the receptors within the system. Despite recent developments in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods for measuring circulating ANG concentrations, comprehensive stability studies of ANGs in human plasma are absent in the literature, raising concerns about the reliability of measured concentrations and their link to clinical conditions. To address this critical gap, we conducted an exhaustive evaluation of the pre-analytical stability of ANG1-10, ANG1-9, ANG1-8, ANG1-7, and ANG1-5. By employing surfactants to mitigate non-specific adsorption and a dedicated mix of protease inhibitors to limit protease activity, we established an MS-based assay for these five peptides. We used this method to quantify circulating concentrations of ANGs in the plasma of 11 healthy donors and 3 patients under kidney dialysis. Our findings revealed that ANG1-10 and ANG1-8 circulate at concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 pM in healthy subjects and exhibit a high degree of correlation. Notably, ANG1-9, ANG1-7, and ANG1-5 were undetectable in any of the 14 patients, despite a sub-picomolar limit of detection. This strikingly contrasts with the reference concentrations reported in the literature, which typically fall within the picomolar range. In light of these discrepancies, we strongly advocate for rigorous pre-analytical considerations and comprehensive stability studies to ensure reliable results. We emphasise the pivotal role of heightened pre-analytical awareness within the clinical chemistry community, and we hope for continued growth in this critical area.

Improved Data Acquisition Settings on Q Exactive HF-X and Fusion Lumos Tribrid Orbitrap-Based Mass Spectrometers for Proteomic Analysis of Limited Samples

Deep proteomic profiling of complex biological and medical samples available at low nanogram and subnanogram levels is still challenging. Thorough optimization of settings, parameters, and conditions in nanoflow liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomic profiling is crucial for generating informative data using amount-limited samples. This study demonstrates that by adjusting selected instrument parameters, e.g., ion injection time, automated gain control, and minimally altering the conditions for resuspending or storing the sample in solvents of different compositions, up to 15-fold more thorough proteomic profiling can be achieved compared to conventionally used settings. More specifically, the analysis of 1 ng of the HeLa protein digest standard by Q Exactive HF-X Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap and Orbitrap Fusion Lumos Tribrid mass spectrometers yielded an increase from 1758 to 5477 (3-fold) and 281 to 4276 (15-fold) peptides, respectively, demonstrating that higher protein identification results can be obtained using the optimized methods. While the instruments applied in this study do not belong to the latest generation of mass spectrometers, they are broadly used worldwide, which makes the guidelines for improving performance desirable to a wide range of proteomics practitioners.

Development of a Mass Spectrometry-Based Method for Quantification of Total Cashew Protein in Roasting Oil

BACKGROUND

Food allergen cross-contact during food preparation and production is one of the causes of unintentional allergen presence in packaged foods. However, little is known about allergen cross-contact in shared frying or roasting oil, which prevents the establishment of effective allergen controls and may put allergic individuals at risk. To better understand the quantity of allergen transferred to frying oil and subsequent products, an analytical method is needed for quantifying protein in oil that has been exposed to frying/roasting conditions.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to develop a parallel reaction monitoring LC-MS/MS method to quantify the amount of cashew protein in shared roasting oil.

METHODS

The sample preparation method was evaluated to improve protein extractability and peptide performance. Four quantitative peptides representing cashew 2S and 11S proteins were selected as targets based on their sensitivity, heat stability, and specificity. A calibration strategy was developed to quantify the amount of total cashew protein in oil. Method performance was evaluated using a heated cashew-in-oil model system.

RESULTS

The method showed high recovery in oil samples spiked with 100 or 10 parts per million (ppm) total cashew protein heated at 138 or 166°C for 2-30 min. Samples (100 ppm total cashew protein) heated for 30 min had more than 90% recovery when treated at 138°C and more than 50% when heated at 166°C.

CONCLUSION

The method is fit-for-purpose for the analysis of cashew allergen cross-contact in oil.

HIGHLIGHTS

A novel MS-based method was developed that can accurately quantify the amount of cashew protein present in heated oil.

Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal IgG mass fraction by isotope dilution mass spectrometry

The availability of serology assays to measure antibodies against the SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) expanded rapidly during the Covid-19 pandemic. The interchangeable use of such assays to monitor disease progression and immune protection requires their standardization, for which suitably characterized monoclonal antibody materials can be useful. The methods, based on isotope dilution mass spectrometry, to value assign the mass fraction of such a material in solution within the context of an international interlaboratory comparison study (CCQM-P216) are described. The mass fraction in solution of a humanized IgG monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the SARS-CoV-2 Spike glycoprotein in the study sample has been value assigned through a combination of liquid chromatography, isotope dilution mass spectrometry (LC-ID-MS) methods and size exclusion chromatography with UV detection (SEC-UV). The former were developed for the quantification of amino acids and proteotypic peptides as surrogate analytes of the mAb while the latter was applied for the determination of the relative monomeric mass fraction. High-resolution mass spectrometry (hrMS) allowed the molecular weight evaluation and ruled out the presence of significant impurities. Method trueness was assessed using a subclass homologous IgG1 material value assigned by amino acid analysis. The assigned mass fraction of monomeric SARS-CoV-2 IgG in solution was 390 ± 16 mg/g. The associated expanded uncertainty originated mainly from acid hydrolysis variability and Trypsin/Lys-C digestion variability and efficiency.

A robust and validated LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of ramucirumab in rat and human serum using direct enzymatic digestion without immunoassay

A new liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was established to quantify the anti-gastric cancer fully human monoclonal antibody (ramucirumab) in rat and human serum. The surrogate peptide (GPSVLPLAPSSK) for ramucirumab was generated by trypsin hydrolysis and quantified using the isotopically labeled peptide GPSVLPLAPSSK[13C6, 15N2]ST containing two more amino acids at the carboxyl end as an internal standard to correct for variations introduced during the enzymatic hydrolysis process and any mass spectrometry changes. Additionally, the oxidation and deamidation of unstable peptides (VVSVLTVLHQDWLNGK and NSLYLQMNSLR) were detected. The quantitative range of the proposed method was 1-1000 μg/mL, and complete methodological validation was performed. The precision, accuracy, matrix effect, sensitivity, stability, selectivity, carryover, and interference of the measurements met the required standards. The validated LC-MS/MS method was applied to pharmacokinetic studies in rats administered ramucirumab at 15 mg/kg intravenously. Overall, a robust, efficient, and cost-effective LC-MS/MS method was successfully developed for quantifying ramucirumab in rat and human serum.

The solvent- and surface-dependent adsorption of the lipopeptide antibiotic daptomycin: The general necessity of adsorption tests

The impact of poor or non-reproducible analyte recoveries due to non-specific drug adsorption on various analytical assays is often underestimated. Even internationally approved guidelines for pharmaceutical analysis such as the EMA guideline on bioanalytical method validation, the ICH guideline M10 on bioanalytical method validation and study sample analysis or the FDA bioanalytical method validation guidance do not adequately encourage more detailed investigations. Furthermore, other areas of research in which the concentration of active pharmaceutical compounds plays a crucial role, for example screening for minimal inhibitory concentrations of bacterial isolates, are potentially affected as well. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the general necessity of drug adsorption tests, using the lipopeptide antibiotic daptomycin as an example. A wide range of typical materials used in processing samples in pharmaceutical and biological analysis, as well as various solvents and biological matrices were included in the experiments. A fully validated LC-MS/MS method was applied for the determination of daptomycin concentrations, which were subsequently used to calculate the recovery. Recovery results (n = 3) ranged from 0.00% to 102.12% with a maximum relative standard deviation of 12.78%. These findings demonstrate that recovery can vary greatly depending on the solvent and the contact material, indicating the need to be optimized and, if applicable, validated. Hence, high reproducibility can only be achieved if all materials (and their manufacturers) used in a method are specified, not just those used in steps considered critical.

Tutorial review for peptide assays: An ounce of pre-analytics is worth a pound of cure

The recent increase in peptidomimetic-based medications and the growing interest in peptide hormones has brought new attention to the quantification of peptides for diagnostic purposes. Indeed, the circulating concentrations of peptide hormones in the blood provide a snapshot of the state of the body and could eventually lead to detecting a particular health condition. Although extremely useful, the quantification of such molecules, preferably by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, might be quite tricky. First, peptides are subjected to hydrolysis, oxidation, and other post-translational modifications, and, most importantly, they are substrates of specific and nonspecific proteases in biological matrixes. All these events might continue after sampling, changing the peptide hormone concentrations. Second, because they include positively and negatively charged groups and hydrophilic and hydrophobic residues, they interact with their environment; these interactions might lead to a local change in the measured concentrations. A phenomenon such as nonspecific adsorption to lab glassware or materials has often a tremendous effect on the concentration and needs to be controlled with particular care. Finally, the circulating levels of peptides might be low (pico- or femtomolar range), increasing the impact of the aforementioned effects and inducing the need for highly sensitive instruments and well-optimized methods. Thus, despite the extreme diversity of these peptides and their matrixes, there is a common challenge for all the assays: the need to keep concentrations unchanged from sampling to analysis. While significant efforts are often placed on optimizing the analysis, few studies consider in depth the impact of pre-analytical steps on the results. By working through practical examples, this solution-oriented tutorial review addresses typical pre-analytical challenges encountered during the development of a peptide assay from the standpoint of a clinical laboratory. We provide tips and tricks to avoid pitfalls as well as strategies to guide all new developments. Our ultimate goal is to increase pre-analytical awareness to ensure that newly developed peptide assays produce robust and accurate results.

Managing nonspecific adsorption to liquid chromatography hardware: A review

The choice of alternative materials over stainless steel hardware in the construction of liquid chromatography systems has unveiled the degree to which nonspecific adsorption impacts the reproducibility of LC methods. Some of the major contributors to nonspecific adsorption losses are charged metallic surfaces and leached metallic impurities, that may interact with the analyte and result in analyte loss and overall poor chromatographic performance. In this review, we describe several mitigation strategies available to chromatographers to minimize nonspecific adsorption to chromatographic systems. Alternative surfaces to stainless steel such as titanium, PEEK, and hybrid surface technologies are discussed. Furthermore, mobile phase additives used to prevent metal ion-analyte interactions are reviewed. Nonspecific adsorption of analytes is not reserved to metallic surfaces, as analytes may adsorb to the surfaces of filters, tubes, and pipette tips during sample preparation. Identifying the source of nonspecific interactions is paramount, as mitigation strategies may differ depending on what stage nonspecific losses are taking place. With this in mind, we discuss diagnostic methods that may help the chromatographer to differentiate losses resulting from sample preparation, and losses during LC runs.

Improving the LC-MS/MS analysis of neuromedin U-8 and neuromedin S by minimizing their adsorption behavior and optimizing UHPLC and MS parameters

Neuromedin U (NmU) and neuromedin S (NmS) are two closely related neuropeptides belonging to the neuromedin family. NmU usually occurs either as a truncated eight amino acid long peptide (NmU-8) or as an 25 amino acid long peptide, although other molecular forms exist depending on the species considered. NmS, on the other hand, is a 36 amino acid long peptide, sharing the same amidated C-terminal heptapeptide with NmU. Nowadays, liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the preferred analytical technique for peptide quantification, because of its excellent sensitivity and selectivity. However, reaching the required quantification limits for these compounds in biological samples remains an extremely challenging task, especially because of their nonspecific binding (NSB). This study highlights the difficulties that are faced when quantifying larger neuropeptides (23-36 amino acids) compared to smaller ones (< 15 amino acids). The first part of this work aims to solve the adsorption problem for NmU-8 and NmS, by investigating the different steps involved in the sample preparation, i.e. the different solvents applied and the pipetting protocol. The addition of 0.05% plasma as an adsorption competitor was found to be primordial to avoid peptide loss due to NSB. The second part of this work focusses on further improving the sensitivity of the LC-MS/MS method for NmU-8 and NmS, by evaluating some UHPLC-parameters, including the stationary phase, the column temperature and the trapping conditions. For both peptides of interest, the best results were achieved when combining a C₁₈ trap column with a C₁₈ iKey separation device containing a positively charged surface. Column temperatures of 35 and 45 °C for NmU-8 and NmS respectively, resulted in the highest peak areas and S/N ratios, while applying higher column temperatures substantially decreased sensitivity. Moreover, a gradient starting at 20% organic modifier instead of 5% significantly improved the peak shape of both peptides. Finally, some compound-specific MS parameters, i.e. the capillary and the cone voltages, were evaluated. The peak areas increased with a factor 2 and 7 for NmU-8 and NmS respectively and peptide detection in the low picomolar range is now feasible.

Diurnal Fluctuations of Orexin-A and -B in Cynomolgus Monkey Cerebrospinal Fluid Determined by a Novel Analytical Method Using Antiadsorptive Additive Treatment Followed by Nanoflow Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Orexin-A (OXA) and -B (OXB) are involved in the regulation of multiple physiological functions including the sleep-wake states; therefore, it is critical to monitor their levels under various conditions. Unfortunately, the widely used radioimmunoassay has insufficient specificity for OXA. Although liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has higher specificity for OXA, previously reported OXA levels in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) measured using this technique are still inconsistent. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, OXB has not been detected in the CSF. In this study, we established a novel method for OXA and OXB measurement. We noticed that OXA and OXB in the CSF was sticky; thus, citric acid and Tween 80 were used to prevent their nonspecific binding. Then, highly specific and sensitive nanoflow liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (nanoLC-HRMS) was used to measure OXA and OXB levels. Evaluation of the diurnal fluctuations of OXA and OXB in cisternal and lumbar CSF samples from cynomolgus monkeys revealed a sharp increase in the early light period, followed by a gradual increase to the maximum levels at the end of the light period, and then a sharp drop to the minimum levels during the early dark period. OXB levels were lower than OXA levels in cisternal CSF. Although basal OXA levels in individual monkeys showed substantial variations, the ratios between the maximum and minimum OXA levels of each monkey were similar. Our method for accurate OXA and OXB measurement should help improve our knowledge of orexin biology.

Determination of insulin secretion from stem cell-derived islet organoids with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Organoids are laboratory-grown 3D organ models, mimicking human organs for e.g. drug development and personalized therapy. Islet organoids (typically 100-200 µm), which can be grown from the patient́s own cells, are emerging as prototypes for transplantation-based therapy of diabetes. Selective methods for quantifying insulin production from islet organoids are needed, but sensitivity and carry-over have been major bottlenecks in previous efforts. We have developed a reverse phase liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (RPLC-MS/MS) method for studying the insulin secretion of islet organoids. In contrast to our previous attempts using nano-scale LC columns, conventional 2.1 mm inner diameter LC column (combined with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry) was well suited for sensitive and selective measurements of insulin secreted from islet organoids with low microliter-scale samples. Insulin is highly prone to carry-over, so standard tubings and injector parts were replaced with shielded fused silica connectors. As samples were expected to be very limited, an extended Box-Behnken experimental design for the MS settings was conducted to maximize performance. The finale method has excellent sensitivity, accuracy and precision (limit of detection: ≤0.2 pg/µL, relative error: ≤±10%, relative standard deviation: <10%), and was well suited for measuring 20 µL amounts of Krebs buffer containing insulin secreted from islet organoids.

Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography of Peptides for Bottom-Up Proteomics: A Tutorial

The performance of the current bottom-up liquid chromatography hyphenated with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses has undoubtedly been fueled by spectacular progress in mass spectrometry. It is thus not surprising that the MS instrument attracts the most attention during LC-MS method development, whereas optimizing conditions for peptide separation using reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) remains somewhat in its shadow. Consequently, the wisdom of the fundaments of chromatography is slowly vanishing from some laboratories. However, the full potential of advanced MS instruments cannot be achieved without highly efficient RPLC. This is impossible to attain without understanding fundamental processes in the chromatographic system and the properties of peptides important for their chromatographic behavior. We wrote this tutorial intending to give practitioners an overview of critical aspects of peptide separation using RPLC to facilitate setting the LC parameters so that they can leverage the full capabilities of their MS instruments. After briefly introducing the gradient separation of peptides, we discuss their properties that affect the quality of LC-MS chromatograms the most. Next, we address the in-column and extra-column broadening. The last section is devoted to key parameters of LC-MS methods. We also extracted trends in practice from recent bottom-up proteomics studies and correlated them with the current knowledge on peptide RPLC separation.

Optimized peptide extraction method for analysis of antimicrobial peptide Kn2-7/dKn2-7 stability in human serum by LC-MS

Aim:

To develop an extraction protocol and determine stability for antimicrobial peptide (AMP) Kn2-7 and its d-enantiomer dKn2-7 in human serum.

Materials & methods:

We compared use of ethanol, acetonitrile, RapiGest SF Surfactant and 1% formic acid in ethanol for AMP recovery from serum prior to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry quantification.

Results:

Precipitation of samples with 1% formic acid in ethanol caused the least amount of AMP loss during extraction from serum. Time-course experiments revealed dKn2-7 was significantly more stable than Kn2-7 in 25% serum, with 78.5% of dKn2-7 and only 1.0% of Kn2-7 remaining after 24 h at 37°C.

Conclusion:

The optimized method significantly increased peptide recovery and allowed more accurate and consistent quantification of Kn2-7 and dKn2-7 serum stability.

Antimicrobial peptides are a new class of molecules being studied for treatment of infections. These peptides can easily be broken down by enzymes present in the body. Removal of the peptides by the enzymes might limit the effect of the drugs against an infection. Our work discusses the importance of testing the stability of these peptides in human serum, a bodily fluid that contains a large amount of enzymes. We describe a method to decrease loss of two potential peptide drugs during sample processing. Further, we report results of testing the stability of these two peptide drugs in human serum.

Peptide extraction was optimized for maximum recovery of antimicrobial peptides Kn2-7/dKn2-7 from serum for LC–MS analysis. Time course experiments revealed d-amino acid analogue antimicrobial peptides were more stable against host proteases.

Nonspecific adsorption evaluation and general minimization strategy in peptide analysis based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

蛋白质组学技术在多肽和蛋白质类新型治疗药物的开发、临床诊断生物标志物的深入发掘中应用广泛。然而,多肽和蛋白质类大分子的非特异性吸附性质给分析方法的开发带来极大挑战,亟须一种通用型的策略去评估和降低非特异吸附对超高效液相色谱-质谱(UPLC-MS)大分子检测造成的负面影响。研究以牛血清白蛋白(BSA)为模型,探讨其酶解后多肽组理化性质与吸附程度之间的相关性;根据肽段的响应和吸附程度设计分级策略;针对高响应、强吸附的Class Ⅱ类肽段,从样品制备中离心管、进样瓶的选择,乃至液相色谱系统中色谱柱固定相、流速、梯度、柱温、洗针液的选择全过程设计试验,探讨非特异吸附的影响因素及其通用型最小化策略。结果显示,肽段的被吸附程度与其理化参数HPLC指数(HPLC Index)、肽段长度等显著相关(p<0.05),但仅凭上述参数仅能解释30%肽段的被吸附程度。改性的聚丙烯材料可使肽段溶液在储存或前处理过程中获得较高的回收率(24 h内回收率大于80%)。在对液相色谱条件的考察和优化过程中发现,C₈填料的色谱柱、高流速、缓梯度以及强洗针液,可使残留量降至最低(降低为原来的1/150)。柱温对残留的影响在肽段间存在较大个体差异,需要对不同的肽段具体分析以得到较少量的残留。研究以详实的数据考察并最小化模型肽段组在分析过程中的非特异吸附,提示了蛋白质类大分子药物分析方法建立中应重点关注的影响因素及其有效的解决方案。

Surface Modified Nano-Electrospray Needles Improve Sensitivity for Native Mass Spectrometry

Native mass spectrometry (MS) and charge detection-mass spectrometry (CD-MS) have become versatile tools for characterizing a wide range of proteins and macromolecular complexes. Both commonly use nanoelectrospray ionization (nESI) from pulled borosilicate needles, but some analytes are known to nonspecifically adsorb to the glass, which may lower sensitivity and limit the quality of the data. To improve the sensitivity of native MS and CD-MS, we modified the surface of nESI needles with inert surface modifiers, including polyethylene-glycol. We found that the surface modification improved the signal intensity for native MS of proteins and for CD-MS of adeno-associated viral capsids. Based on mechanistic comparisons, we hypothesize that the improvement is more likely due to an increased flow rate with coated ESI needles rather than less nonspecific adsorption. In any case, these surface-modified needles provide a simple and inexpensive method for improving the sensitivity of challenging analytes.

Inter-laboratory Validation of an HPLC–MS/MS Method for the Detection of Microbial Transglutaminase in Meat and Meat Products

Microbial transglutaminase (TG) is an enzyme isolated on an industrial scale from Streptomyces mobaraensis. Technical TG, a formulated powder, is primarily used to restructure meat in the meat-processing industry, typically at a 1% concentration and is often referred to as “meat glue.” In the European Union, meat restructured with TG requires the indication “formed meat” on the label according to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. In order to detect food fraud like the undeclared TG usage in meat and meat products, a qualitative mass spectrometric method using specific tryptic marker peptides has been published in 2017. Here the successful inter-laboratory validation and first-time standardization of a proteomics method for food control is described, which was subsequently included into the Official Collection of Analysis Methods according to the German Food and Feed Code (§ 64 LFGB). Thirteen laboratories from governmental, academic, and private institutions participated in the study, whereas four laboratories did not meet the minimal quality criteria and therefore their results had to be excluded. Three different test materials containing between 0.2 and 2% technical TG as well as blank samples were produced and tested. The laboratories used triple-quadrupole mass spectrometers from several vendors as well as quadrupole time-of-flight instruments. The detection of TG was considered to be positive, if three mass transitions for the marker peptides VTPPAEPLDR (TG-1) and SPFYSALR (TG-2), each, showed a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 3. The level of detection LOD95% for the median laboratory with intermediate performance was 0.31%, the false-positive rate was 0% and the false-negative rate was 2.1%.

Analysis of short-chain bioactive peptides by unified chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Part II. Comparison to reversed-phase ultra-high performance liquid chromatography

In the first part of this study, a unified chromatography (UC) analysis method, which is similar to supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) but with wide mobile phase gradients of pressurized CO₂ and solvent, was developed to analyse short-chain peptides, with UV and mass spectrometry (MS) detection. In this second part, the method is compared to a reference reversed-phase ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-UHPLC) method, based on the analysis of 43 peptides, including 10 linear peptides and 33 cyclic ones. First, the orthogonality between the two methods was examined, based on the retention patterns. As the UC method was developed on a polar stationary phase (Ascentis Express OH5), the elution orders and selectivities were expected to be significantly different from RPLC on a non-polar stationary phase (ACQUITY CSH C18). Secondly, the success rate of the methods was examined, based on successful retention / elution of the peptides and the absence of observed co-elutions between the main peak and impurities. A successful analysis was obtained for 81% of the peptides in UC and 67% in RPLC. Thirdly, the performance of the methods for the intended application of impurity profiling of peptide drug candidates was assessed, based on the comparison of peak purities, the number of impurities detected and the thorough examination of impurity profiles. Excellent complementarity of the two methods for the specific task of impurity profiling, and for the separation of isomeric species was observed, with only one isomeric pair in this set remaining unresolved. The method sensitivity was however better with RPLC than UC. Finally, the operational costs in terms of solvent cost per analysis were the same between the two methods.

Study of antifungal agent caspofungin adsorption to laboratory materials

Treatment of invasive fungal infections with Caspofungin is used as the first-line antifungal agents. The minimum inhibitory concentration value is a test which indicates the degree of sensitivity of a strain regarding a drug. However, no value of minimum inhibitory concentration for caspofungin is available because very variable value is obtained. In this work, we study the link with the adsorption phenomenon of CSF previously described in literature and the lack of minimum inhibitory concentration value. A systematic study of the impact of different parameters on CSF adsorption is reported. The effect of the nature of container material, the aqueous solution pH and the organic solvent proportion was studied. In addition, the possibility of using a coating agent to minimize the adsorption was assayed and evaluated. Results obtained showed the importance of the material used during the manipulation of CSF. The use of acidic pH aqueous solution or the addition of acetonitrile or methanol proportions (50 % and 70 %, respectively) were found efficient to avoid adsorption of CSF on glassware material, which is the relevant strategy for analytical samples of caspofungin. The treatment of HPLC glass vials and 96-well plates with N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane reduced the adsorption. The significant adsorption observed in this work especially with plastic materials, questions the results obtained before in different assays and explained the absence of MIC value.

Development and Interlaboratory Evaluation of an LC-MS/MS Method for the Quantification of Lysozyme in Wine across Independent Instrument Platforms

BACKGROUND

Various processing aids and fining agents are used in winemaking to help improve sensory characteristics. Some of these materials may contain or be derived from allergenic foods, such as eggs. In order to ensure food safety and that products meet regulatory compliance, it is essential to have robust and effective analytical methods to verify the removal of allergenic proteins following their use. Current methods include immunoassays (ELISA) and mass spectrometry methods, which can target either whole foods or individual proteins, and provide either quantitative data or qualitative confirmation of proteins. Mass spectrometry methods offer the potential to test for multiple proteins within a single assay to improve cost and efficiency, whereas ELISA methods typically analyze for a single protein per assay.

OBJECTIV

This study focuses on the development of a LC-MS/MS quantitative method for lysozyme in white wine and compares performance across two laboratories utilizing two different instrument platforms.

METHODS

Lysozyme target peptides were selected by conducting bottom-up discovery proteomics. Candidate targets were evaluated using parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) or selected reaction monitoring (SRM) LC-MS/MS, depending on the instrument in each laboratory. Quantification of lysozyme was conducted using internal, stable-isotope-labeled synthetic peptide standards.

RESULTS

Three of eight candidate target peptides showed performance suitable for the final quantitative method. White wine spiked with 0.1 and 0.5 ppm lysozyme demonstrated quantitative recovery of 70-120%. While the PRM method delivered better repeatability, the SRM method gave higher quantitative recovery values.

CONCLUSION

A targeted LC-MS/MS method for quantification of lysozyme in white wine has been developed and deployed on two different MS instrument platforms in two laboratories.

HIGHLIGHTS

Both SRM and PRM targeted LC-MS/MS methodologies can be used for quantification of lysozyme in white wine. This study is among the first to evaluate an MS method for food allergen quantification in multiple laboratories.

Comparison of external calibration and isotope dilution LC-ICP-MS/MS for quantitation of oxytocin and its selenium analogue in human plasma

In the present study, a method for quantitation of the pharmaceutical peptide oxytocin (OT) and its diselenide-containing analogue (SeOT) in human plasma was developed using gradient elution LC-ICP-MS/MS. Plasma samples were precipitated with acetonitrile containing 1.0% TFA in a volume ratio of 1+3 (sample+precipitation agent) before analysis. Post-column isotope dilution analysis (IDA) was applied for quantitation and was compared with external calibration. Both calibration methods appeared to be fit for purpose regarding figures of merit including linearity, precision, LOD, LOQ and recovery. Analysis of OT and SeOT showed that selenium-based analysis is considerably more sensitive and selective compared to the sulfur-based analysis. Despite the relatively simpler setup of external calibration, IDA can be advantageous because it compensates for instrument drift and changes in organic solvent concentration. The method was applied for a stability study showing the degradation of OT and SeOT in plasma. The degradation of SeOT was faster than the degradation of OT in plasma. Thus, possible stability effects should be considered before replacing a disulfide bridge with a diselenide bridge or introducing a diselenide label in a potential drug.

An Efficient Heparin Affinity Column Purification Method Coupled with Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography for the Quantification of Native Lactoferrin in Breast Milk

Lactoferrin (LF) is a bioactive multifunctional protein and found in the highest amounts in human milk. Several methods can be used to quantify LF. However, quantification of native LF has garnered relatively little interest to date. This study aimed to develop a novel efficient two-step method for quantifying native LF in breast milk. During the analysis, LF was first extracted with phosphate buffer (pH 5.0), purified using a heparin affinity column. Subsequently, LF was detected using ultraperformance liquid chromatography (UPLC) at a wavelength of 201 nm. A linear calibration curve was obtained in the range of 5–200 mg/L. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation were 1 mg/L and 5 mg/L, respectively, indicating that the validated method could be employed to quantify LF in breast milk. Compared with previous HPLC methods, this method demonstrated several remarkable advantages, including simple operation, low-cost detection, and high accuracy. Hence, the results demonstrate an efficient method that can be employed commercially to purify and analyze LF in human milk samples.

Robust analysis of angiotensin peptides in human plasma: Column switching-parallel LC/ESI-SRM/MS without adsorption or enzymatic decomposition

Angiotensin (Ang) peptides are the main effectors of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) regulating diverse physiological conditions and are involved in renal and vascular diseases. Currently, quantitative analyses of Ang peptides in human plasma mainly rely on radioimmunoassay-based methods whose reported levels are quite divergent. Analyses are further complicated by the potential of Ang peptides to bind to solid surfaces, to be enzymatically decomposed during sample preparation, and to undergo post-translational modifications. A column switching-parallel LC/ESI-SRM/MS method has been developed for seven Ang peptides (Ang I, Ang II, Ang III, Ang IV, Ang 1-9, Ang 1-7, and Ang A) in human plasma. Aqueous acetonitrile (5%) containing 50 mM arginine (Arg) as a dissolving solution and a combination of protease inhibitors with formic acid were used to prevent adsorption and enzymatic degradation, respectively. Plasma samples were simply deproteinized with acetonitrile followed by clean-up with an on-line trap column via column-switching. Stable isotope dilution with [¹³C₅,¹⁵N₁-Val]-Ang peptides as internal standards was employed for quantitative analysis. The current methodology has been successfully applied to determine the plasma levels of Ang peptides in healthy participants, suggesting future applicability to studies of various diseases related to RAS.

Targeted mass spectrometry quantification of total soy protein residues from commercially processed ingredients for food allergen management

Soybean is one of the most commonly allergenic foods in the U.S. However, the variety of commercial soy ingredients used in the food industry makes soybean a challenging allergen to detect and quantify. The processing methods used to produce soy-derived ingredients result in protein modifications that often substantially impact detection and quantification with commonly used antibody-based methods. This study aimed to develop a mass spectrometry (MS)-based method capable of quantifying commercially processed soy ingredients in food matrices. A quantification strategy using external standards with internal calibrants was developed and evaluated, resulting in the ultimate use of a matrix-independent standard curve of non-roasted soy flour with milk proteins as carrier proteins. The method performance was evaluated by quantifying six soy-derived ingredients in incurred food matrices using three quantification strategies. Out of the twelve ingredient-matrix combinations with 10 ppm incurred total soy protein, eight had maximum recoveries between 60 and 120% using the full standard curve strategy. Other quantification strategies may be useful for internal quality control and interlaboratory calibrations. Compared with three commercial ELISA kits, the MS method showed a substantial advantage in quantifying the highly processed soy proteins in food matrices. SIGNIFICANCE: The ability to quantify undeclared soy protein in food products regardless of the soy ingredient source is essential for food allergen management, risk assessment, and regulatory enforcement. The MS-based method described here is able to reliably quantify six different soy-derived ingredients incurred in a model processed food. When compared with existing commercial ELISA methods, the MS method is much less affected by matrices and ingredient types, indicating its wider applicability to a range of soy-derived ingredients and processed products.

Rapid liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry quantitation of glucose-regulating hormones from human islets of Langerhans

Glucose homeostasis is maintained through the secretion of peptide hormones, such as insulin, somatostatin, and glucagon, from islets of Langerhans, clusters of endocrine cells found in the pancreas. This report describes an LC-MS method using multiple reaction monitoring for quantitation of insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, and somatostatin secretion from human islet populations. For rapid analysis, a 5 min separation was achieved using a 2.1 × 30 mm (i.d. x length) C18 column with 2.7 µm diameter core shell particles. A sacrificial protein hydrolysate was used with the sample and found to improve signal magnitude, repeatability, and to reduce carryover between runs. At optimized gradient conditions, the gradient run time was 4.55 min producing an average peak width of 0.3 min, a minimum resolution of 1.2, and a peak capacity of 20. As a proof of concept, the method was used to measure secretions from static incubations of human islets from 2 donors. Insulin and C-peptide were quantified and matched well with literature values of these hormones. We expect that this antibody-free quantitation of multiple hormones secreted from islets will provide insights into the temporal relationships of these peptides in the future.

Controlling Experimental Parameters to Improve Characterization of Biomaterial Fouling

Uncontrolled protein adsorption and cell binding to biomaterial surfaces may lead to degradation, implant failure, infection, and deleterious inflammatory and immune responses. The accurate characterization of biofouling is therefore crucial for the optimization of biomaterials and devices that interface with complex biological environments composed of macromolecules, fluids, and cells. Currently, a diverse array of experimental conditions and characterization techniques are utilized, making it difficult to compare reported fouling values between similar or different biomaterials. This review aims to help scientists and engineers appreciate current limitations and conduct fouling experiments to facilitate the comparison of reported values and expedite the development of low-fouling materials. Recent advancements in the understanding of protein-interface interactions and fouling variability due to experiment conditions will be highlighted to discuss protein adsorption and cell adhesion and activation on biomaterial surfaces.

Comparison of magnetic bead surface functionalities for the immunopurification of growth hormone-releasing hormones prior to liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry

Growth hormone-releasing hormone and its analogues sermorelin, tesamorelin and CJC-1295 are included in the prohibited list of the World Antidoping Agency. These target peptides are found at very low concentrations in urine (at the pg/mL level). For this reason, hyphenated enrichment and purification steps prior to mass spectrometric detection are required. Among different strategies, immunopurification based on magnetic beads is an excellent alternative, as it offers improved selectivity when the immunoreactivity and orientation of the antibody are optimum and non-specific adsorption is minimized. However, choosing the magnetic bead surface functionalities that provide the best recoveries is not so straightforward. In this work, we have evaluated the suitability of magnetic beads with different supports, binding capacities and affinity chemistries prior analysis of human urine samples by liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry using a Quadrupole-Orbitrap instrument. After optimization of the immunopurification protocol with the magnetic beads that provided better recoveries, the method was fully validated and found to be adequate considering the parameters specificity, intra- and inter-day precision (lower than 15 and 25%, respectively), matrix effect, limit of detection (0.2 ng/mL) and limit of identification (0.5 ng/mL).

Parallel Reaction Monitoring Mass Spectrometry Method for Detection of Both Casein and Whey Milk Allergens from a Baked Food Matrix

Milk allergy is among the most common food allergies present in early childhood, which in some cases may persist into adulthood as well. Proteins belonging to both casein and whey fractions of milk can trigger an allergic response in susceptible individuals. Milk is present as an ingredient in many foods, and it can also be present as casein- or whey-enriched milk-derived ingredients. As whey proteins are more susceptible to thermal processing than caseins, conventional methods often posed a challenge in accurate detection of whey allergens, particularly from a processed complex food matrix. In this study, a targeted mass spectrometry method has been developed to detect the presence of both casein and whey allergens from thermally processed foods. A pool of 19 candidate peptides representing four casein proteins and two whey proteins was identified using a discovery-driven target selection approach from various milk-derived ingredients. These target peptides were evaluated by parallel reaction monitoring of baked cookie samples containing known amounts of nonfat dry milk (NFDM). The presence of milk could be detected from baked cookies incurred with NFDM at levels as low as 1 ppm using seven peptides representing α-, β-, and κ-casein proteins and three peptides representing a whey protein, β-lactoglobulin, by this consensus PRM method.

Improving sensitivity for the targeted LC-MS/MS analysis of the peptide bradykinin using a design of experiments approach

The nonapeptide bradykinin is endogenously present only in low picomolar plasma concentrations, subsequently making reliable detection using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) challenging. Furthermore, non-specific adsorption during sample preparation and storage can lead to unpredictable peptide losses. To overcome these issues, a design of experiments (DoE) approach was applied, which consisted of a screening to identify impacting factors, optimisation and confirmation runs. On the one hand, different injection solvent compositions and sample collection materials were investigated in order to decrease non-specific adsorption. On the other hand, the addition of modifiers, which are known to enhance the signal intensity in LC-MS/MS, to the chromatographic mobile phase was examined. Polypropylene was the most suitable material among those investigated and resulted in a factor increase of 12.0 compared to LC-MS glass. The advantages of protein low-binding polypropylene versus standard polypropylene were fully compensated by the optimisation of the injection solvent. The latter substantially contributed to a decrease of non-specific adsorption of bradykinin. In this regard, bradykinin further benefitted from an organic fraction and a high amount of formic acid. Based on the DoE results, the final optimised injection solvent-consisting of 8.7% formic acid in 49.4/5.3/36.6 water/methanol/dimethyl sulfoxide (v/v/v)-was established. Furthermore, optimisation of the mobile phase composition yielded a signal intensity increase by a factor of 7.7. The transferability of the optimisation results conducted in neat solutions were successfully confirmed in human plasma. The applicability of this approach was further supported by the successful determination of low-abundance endogenous bradykinin levels in human plasma using LC-MS/MS.

Strategies for effective development of ultra-sensitive LC–MS/MS assays: application to a novel STING agonist

Background: The continual need for the development and validation of ultra-sensitive (low pg/ml) LC–MS/MS assays in the pharmaceutical industry is largely driven by the ultra-low analyte exposure or very low sample volume. Methodology: Strategies and systematic approaches for sensitivity enhancement are provided which cover all aspects of a LC–MS/MS bioanalysis. A case study where such strategies were applied for the validation of a 5.0 pg/ml assay for a STING agonist is discussed. Conclusion: Analytical protocols were developed to extract analytes from large volume of plasma samples (600 and 400 μl) with high throughput. The guidance provided in this publication can serve as a resource to influence LC–MS/MS method development activities.

Effect of difluoroacetic acid and biological matrices on the development of a liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method for determination of intact growth factor proteins

In biological systems, variable protein expression is a crucial marker for numerous diseases, including cancer. The vast majority of liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry-based quantitative protein assays use bottom-up methodologies, where proteins are subjected to proteolytic cleavage prior to analysis. Here, the effect of difluoroacetic acid and biological matrices on the developement of a multiple reaction monitoring based top-down reversed-phase liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method for analysis of cancer-related intact proteins was evaluated. Seven growth factors (5.5-26.5 kDa; isoelectric points: 4.6-9.9) were analyzed on a wide-pore C4 column. The optimized method was performed at 30°C, using a 0.2 mL/min flow rate, a 10 %B/min gradient slope, and 0.05% v/v difluoroacetic acid as a mobile phase modifier. The increase of mass spectrometry sensitivity due to the difluoroacetic acid (estimated limits of detection in biological matrices 1-500 ng/mL) significantly varied for proteins with lower and higher charge state distributions. Matrix effects, as well as the specificity of the method were assessed for variable biological samples and pretreatment methods. This work demonstrates method development to improve the ability to target intact proteins directly by more affordable triple quadrupole mass spectrometry instrumentation, which could be beneficial in many application fields.

LC-MS Compatible Antiadsorption Diluent for Peptide Analysis

Analytical method development for peptides often proves challenging since these molecules can adsorb to the plastic or glass consumables used in the analysis. This adsorption causes considerable loss and unreliable results, especially in the lower concentration range. Therefore, a variety of antiadsorption strategies have previously been developed to cope with this adsorption, often however incompatible with direct liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. Here, a novel antiadsorption diluent is introduced, based on controlled hydrolysis and precipitation of bovine serum albumin. This diluent considerably decreases the adsorption of certain peptides to glass. Moreover, it is LC-MS compatible and can also be used in combination with formic acid and/or acetonitrile addition.

Assessing mixtures of supercharging agents to increase the abundance of a specific charge state of Neuromedin U

With increasing evidence of the important role of peptides in pathophysiological processes, a trend towards the development of highly sensitive bioanalytical methods is ongoing. Inherent to the electrospray ionization process of peptides and proteins is the production of multiple charge states which may hamper proper and sensitive method development. Supercharging agents allow modifying the maximal charge state and the corresponding distribution of charges, thereby potentially increasing the number of ions reaching the detector in selected reaction monitoring mode. In this study, the use of mixtures of charge state modifying additives, i.e. m-nitrobenzylalcohol (mNBA), sulfolane and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), to specifically increase the abundance of one charge state of interest has been investigated. Screening experiments were performed to define an experimental domain, which was then further investigated via a response surface design to predict the optimal combination and concentration of superchargers. Using a combination of mNBA and DMSO (0.008% and 0.5% m/v respectively), we were able to increase the abundance of the +4 charge state of the investigated peptide neuromedin U from 64% to 87%. Unfortunately, charge state coalescence did not result in repeatable sensitivity improvements in this case study. However, it remains an attractive approach during method development of peptide bioanalytical methods, as coalescence to a particular intermediate charge state is difficult to obtain by using only one supercharging agent.

Quantification below the LLOQ in regulated LC–MS/MS assays: a review of bioanalytical considerations and cautions

In response to an earlier workshop covering the pros and cons of quantification below the LLOQ (BLQ) the author reviews the topics discussed from the bioanalytical standpoint. Important considerations for estimating concentrations below the LLOQ include: method signal-to-noise, baseline shape and condition, close lying interference peaks (especially for protein methods), matrix effect, adsorption and stability of the analyte at low concentrations and carryover. These methodological issues are discussed as possible contributors to inaccuracy in BLQ estimations, and appropriate cautions are provided via examples. A proposed method for the evaluation of BLQ estimations utilizes extended incurred sample reanalysis analysis where BLQ samples or spiked simulated samples are analyzed with quality controls and standards in addition to those in the original study. Generally, BLQ estimations are discouraged, with the recommendation that any extrapolations should be done in close collaboration between the pharmacokinetic (PK) and bioanalytical scientists in consultation with the regulatory agency.

Sub-picomolar quantification of PTH 1-34 in plasma by UHPLC-MS/MS after subcutaneous injection of teriparatide and identification of PTH 1-33, its degradation product

Teriparatide (PTH 1-34, Forsteo^®) is a bioactive N-terminal fragment of the native endogenous parathyroid hormone (PTH 1-84) recommended for the treatment of osteoporosis in patients with high risk of fracture. Since PTH 1-34 may undergo proteolysis we have validated an ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for unambiguously measuring intact PTH 1-34 with the same sensitivity as ELISA, at subpicomolar level (LLOQ at 0.4 pM). The full chromatographic run was achieved in 16.5 min. The method validation showed satisfactory intra- and inter-assay precision (CV < 13%) and excellent trueness (<5%), and almost no matrix effect (recoveries 78-92%). We found that after subcutaneous injection in two volunteers, PTH 1-34 half-life was shorter with UHPLC-MS/MS and that ELISA was overestimating PTH 1-34 late concentrations in both volunteers. Qualitative mass spectrometry was performed and led to the discovery of PTH 1-33, a fragment of PTH 1-34 with unknown function. This study emphasized the importance of switching from immunoassays to mass spectrometry when measuring bioactive peptides prompt to proteolysis into fragments that may exhibit altered bioactivity and duration of action.

Quality control in mass spectrometry-based proteomics

Mass spectrometry is a highly complex analytical technique and mass spectrometry-based proteomics experiments can be subject to a large variability, which forms an obstacle to obtaining accurate and reproducible results. Therefore, a comprehensive and systematic approach to quality control is an essential requirement to inspire confidence in the generated results. A typical mass spectrometry experiment consists of multiple different phases including the sample preparation, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics stages. We review potential sources of variability that can impact the results of a mass spectrometry experiment occurring in all of these steps, and we discuss how to monitor and remedy the negative influences on the experimental results. Furthermore, we describe how specialized quality control samples of varying sample complexity can be incorporated into the experimental workflow and how they can be used to rigorously assess detailed aspects of the instrument performance.

LC-MS/MS assay for the determination of a novel D-peptide antagonist of CXCR4 in rat plasma and its application to a preclinical pharmacokinetic study

DV1 is a potent and selective D-peptide antagonist of CXCR4 and being developed as a novel drug candidate molecule. For preclinical pharmacokinetic study of DV1, we established an efficient and reliable liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method for the assay of DV1 in rat plasma. Plasma samples were acidified by formic acid and then their protein content precipitated by acetonitrile. Sample separation was processed with a C18 column (4.6 mm × 100 mm, 5 μm) and washed by a water-acetonitrile gradient mobile phase containing 0.1% (v/v) formic acid at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The mass spectrometer was operated in the multiple reaction monitoring mode and positive electrospray ionization. The assay had a good linearity over the range of 10-10000 ng/mL (r>0.998) for DV1. The adsorption of the peptide was diminished by organic additives during the quantitative procedure. The intra- and inter-day precision was 1.9-9.8% and the accuracy was 91.2-110.0%. No significant variation was observed under the optimized conditions. The recovery was above 52% with low matrix effects. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of DV1 after subcutaneous injection at dose of 10 mg/kg in rats. The half-life and AUC_inf of DV1 were calculated as 8.7 h and 35,553 ng/mL·h, respectively. It is the first report on the quantitative analysis and pharmacokinetic characterization of a D-peptide targeted CXCR4, which should be useful for further preclinical studies and development of this and other peptide therapeutics.

A LC-MS/MS method to monitor the concentration of HYD-PEP06, a RGD-modified Endostar mimetic peptide in rat blood

HYD-PEP06 is a novel RGD-modified Endostar mimetic peptide with 30 amino acids that is intended to suppress the formation of neoplasm vessels. This assay was developed and validated to monitor the level of the peptide HYD-PEP06 in rat blood, using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). HYD-PEP10, another peptide similar to the analyte, was used as an internal standard (IS). A triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) mode and an electrospray interface (ESI) in the positive mode were used for MS analysis. The analysis was optimized with addition of 0.3% formic acid (FA) into the mobile phase as well as with a needle washing solution to overcome the carryover effect. In addition, the carryover was reduced by optimizing the mobile phase gradient. Methanol was used as a diluent of working solutions to avoid any adsorption. Methanol:acetonitrile (1:1, v:v) containing 0.3% FA was employed to precipitate the blood samples. Unknown blood samples must be placed in ice bath immediately, and precipitating agents should be added within 30 min to ensure the stability of blood samples. The assay was established and validated. This method showed a good linear relationship for the HYD-PEP06 in the range of 10 ng·mL^-1 to 2000 ng·mL^-1, with R > 0.99. HYD-PEP06 was determined with accuracy values (RE%) of -5.06%-8.54%, intra- and inter-day precisions (RSD%) of 3.13%-4.87% and 4.81%-9.42%. The method was successfully in monitoring the concentration of HYD-PEP06 in rat blood.

Sensitive quantification of the somatostatin analog AP102 in plasma by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and application to a pharmacokinetic study in rats

AP102 is a di-iodinated octapeptide somatostatin agonist (SSA) designed to treat acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors. A sensitive and selective method was validated for the quantification of AP102 in plasma following the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. Sample preparation was performed using solid-phase extraction microplates. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) C18 column in 6.0 minutes. The compounds were quantified using multiple reaction monitoring on a tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer with ¹³ C,¹⁵ N-labeled AP102 as internal standard. Calibration ranged from 50 to 10000 pg/mL. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was measured at 20 pg/mL, and robust analytical performances were obtained with trueness at 99.2%-100.0%, intra-assay imprecision at 2.5%-4.4%, and inter-assay imprecision at 8.9%-9.7%. The accuracy profiles (total error) built on the 3 concentrations levels showed accuracy within the 70%-130% range. AP102 is remarkably stable since no proteolytic fragments were detected on plasma samples analyzed by Orbitrap-MS. Pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in rats, after single dose (1, 3, and 10 μg/kg, sc) and continuous subcutaneous administration (osmotic minipumps for 28 days, 3.0 or 10.0 μg/kg/h). AP102 showed a rapid absorption by the subcutaneous route (T_max : 15-30 minutes) and a fast elimination (t_1/2 : 33-86 minutes). The PK profile of AP102 exhibited a mean clearance of 1.67 L/h and a mean distribution volume at steady state of 7.16 L/kg, about 10-fold higher than those observed with other SSA or non- and mono-iodinated AP102. LogD_7.4 determination confirmed the lipophilic properties of AP102 that might influence its distribution in tissues.

Performance of Optimized Wide Pore Superficially Porous Particles for Separation of Proteins and Immunoglobulin G Antibodies

In this study, we studied the chromatographic performance of this newly developed wide pore superficially porous particles (SPPs) with 3.5 μm particle size and 450 Å pore size, for the separation of proteins and Immunoglobulin G antibodies. We studied the selectivity of different phases (C4, SB-C18 and Diphenyl), the effect of temperature, column carryover and column chemical lifetime. We also compared our SPPs with other wide pore SPPs in similar particle sizes and sub 2 µ wide pore totally porous particles by van Deemter studies and gradient separations of proteins and immunoglobulin G antibodies. The results showed that the SPPs containing larger pore size gave better chromatographic performance.

LC-MS/MS analysis of lipidized analogs of prolactin-releasing peptide utilizing a monolithic column and simple sample preparation

AIM

Novel compounds for obesity treatment are currently being studied employing lipidized analogs of anorexigenic neuropeptides. Various analogs of prolactin-releasing peptide have demonstrated their ability to decrease food intake. Adequate analytical tools are required to support corresponding research. Methodology & results: An analytical method was developed that includes simple dilution of plasma samples prior to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and employs a monolithic column for the determination of lipidized analogs of prolactin-releasing peptide in complex biological samples. A multiple reaction monitoring approach was applied that included matrix calibration and an internal standard and produced a linear calibration range 20-200 ng ml^-1 in rat and macaque plasma samples.

CONCLUSION

A straightforward, simple and reliable analytical method was developed satisfying major validation criteria.

A Hydrogel-Microsphere Drug Delivery System That Supports Once-Monthly Administration of a GLP-1 Receptor Agonist

We have developed a chemically controlled very long-acting delivery system to support once-monthly administration of a peptidic GLP-1R agonist. Initially, the prototypical GLP-1R agonist exenatide was covalently attached to hydrogel microspheres by a self-cleaving β-eliminative linker; after subcutaneous injection in rats, the peptide was slowly released into the systemic circulation. However, the short serum exenatide half-life suggested its degradation in the subcutaneous depot. We found that exenatide undergoes deamidation at Asn²⁸ with an in vitro and in vivo half-life of approximately 2 weeks. The [Gln²⁸]exenatide variant and exenatide showed indistinguishable GLP-1R agonist activities as well as pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects in rodents; however, unlike exenatide, [Gln²⁸]exenatide is stable for long periods. Two different hydrogel-[Gln²⁸]exenatide conjugates were prepared using β-eliminative linkers with different cleavage rates. After subcutaneous injection in rodents, the serum half-lives for the released [Gln²⁸]exenatide from the two conjugates were about 2 weeks and one month. Two monthly injections of the latter in the Zucker diabetic fatty rat showed pharmacodynamic effects indistinguishable from two months of continuously infused exenatide. Pharmacokinetic simulations indicate that the delivery system should serve well as a once-monthly GLP-1R agonist for treatment of type 2 diabetes in humans.

Lipopeptides as therapeutics: applications and in vivo quantitative analysis

A number of novel lipopeptides have been studied for their possible therapeutic potential. These studies should be supported by the appropriate analytical tools not only for novel potential drugs but also for their metabolites, precursors and side products. Lipopeptides have specific physicochemical properties that make them successful in medical applications. However, there are some difficulties with their qualitative and quantitative analyses in biological samples. Therefore, reliable, sensitive and robust analytical methods are in high demand. The main interest of our review is to describe a selection of specific and important properties of lipopeptides, and the analytical methods currently utilized for their characterization and determination in biological samples. A comparison of the pros and cons of immunomethods versus LC-MS methods is discussed in detail.