Thin layer chromatography/desorption flame-induced atmospheric pressure chemical ionization/mass spectrometry for the analysis of volatile and semi-volatile mixtures

Flame-induced atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (FAPCI) has been used to directly characterize chemical compounds on a glass rod and drug tablet surfaces. In this study, FAPCI was further applied to interface thin layer chromatography (TLC) and mass spectrometry (MS) for mixture analysis.

METHODS

A micro-sized oxyacetylene flame was generated using a small concentric tube system. Hot gas flow and primary reactive species from the micro-flame were directed toward a developed TLC gel plate to thermally desorb and ionize analytes on the gel surface. The resulting analyte ions subsequently entered the MS inlet for detection.

RESULTS

A 1-1.5-mm-wide light-brown line was observed on the TLC plate after the desorption FAPCI/MS (DFAPCI/MS) analysis, revealing that the gel surface withstood a high temperature from the impact of the micro-flame. Volatile and semi-volatile chemical compounds, including amine and amide standards, drugs, and aromatherapy oils, were successfully desorbed, ionized, and detected using this TLC/DFAPCI/MS. The limit of detection of TLC-DFAPCI/MS was determined to be 5 ng/spot for dibenzylamine and ethenzamide.

CONCLUSIONS

TLC/DFAPCI/MS is one of the simplest TLC-MS interfaces showing the advantages such as low costs and an easy set up. The technique is useful for characterizing thermally stable volatile and semi-volatile compounds in a mixture.

Probing the Fundamentals of Native Liquid Extraction Surface Analysis Mass Spectrometry of Proteins: Can Proteins Refold during Extraction?

Native ambient mass spectrometry has the potential for simultaneous analysis of native protein structure and spatial distribution within thin tissue sections. Notwithstanding sensitivity, this information can, in principle, be obtained for any protein present with no requirement for a priori knowledge of protein identity. To date, native ambient mass spectrometry has primarily made use of the liquid extraction surface analysis (LESA) sampling technique. Here, we address a fundamental question: Are the protein structures observed following native liquid extraction surface analysis representative of the protein structures within the substrate, or does the extraction process facilitate refolding (or unfolding)? Specifically, our aim was to determine whether protein-ligand complexes observed following LESA are indicative of complexes present in the substrate, or an artifact of the sampling process. The systems investigated were myoglobin and its noncovalently bound heme cofactor, and the Zn-binding protein carbonic anhydrase and its binding with ethoxzolamide. Charge state distributions, drift time profiles, and collision cross sections were determined by liquid extraction surface analysis ion mobility mass spectrometry of native and denatured proteins and compared with those obtained by direct infusion electrospray. The results show that it was not possible to refold denatured proteins with concomitant ligand binding (neither heme, zinc, nor ethoxzolamide) simply by use of native-like LESA solvents. That is, protein-ligand complexes were only observed by LESA MS when present in the substrate.

Direct Depolymerization Coupled to Liquid Extraction Surface Analysis-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry for the Characterization of the Surface of Plant Tissues

The cuticle, the outermost layer covering the epidermis of most aerial organs of land plants, can have a heterogeneous composition even on the surface of the same organ. The main cuticle component is the polymer cutin which, depending on its chemical composition and structure, can have different biophysical properties. In this study, we introduce a new on-surface depolymerization method coupled to liquid extraction surface analysis (LESA) high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) for a fast and spatially resolved chemical characterization of the cuticle of plant tissues. The method is composed of an on-surface saponification, followed by extraction with LESA using a chloroform–acetonitrile–water (49:49:2) mixture and direct HRMS detection. The method is also compared with LESA-HRMS without prior depolymerization for the analysis of the surface of the petals of Hibiscus richardsonii flowers, which have a ridged cuticle in the proximal region and a smooth cuticle in the distal region. We found that on-surface saponification is effective enough to depolymerize the cutin into its monomeric constituents thus allowing detection of compounds that were not otherwise accessible without a depolymerization step. The effect of the depolymerization procedure was more pronounced for the ridged/proximal cuticle, which is thicker and richer in epicuticular waxes compared with the cuticle in the smooth/distal region of the petal.