Combined hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-scanning field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry-time-of-flight mass spectrometry for untargeted metabolomics.

Untargeted metabolite profiling of biological samples is a challenge for analytical science due to the high degree of complexity of biofluids. Isobaric species may also not be resolved using mass spectrometry alone. As a result of these factors, many potential biomarkers may not be detected or are masked by co-eluting interferences in conventional LC-MS metabolomic analyses. In this study, a comprehensive liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry workflow incorporating a fast-scanning miniaturised high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry separation (LC-FAIMS-MS) is applied to the untargeted metabolomic analysis of human urine. The time-of-flight mass spectrometer used in the study was scanned at a rate of 20 scans s-1 enabling a FAIMS CF spectrum to be acquired within a 1-s scan time, maintaining an adequate number of data points across each LC peak. The developed method is demonstrated to be able to resolve co-eluting isomeric species and shows good reproducibility (%RSD < 4.9%). The nested datasets obtained for fresh, aged, and QC urine samples were submitted for multivariate statistical analysis. Seventy unique biomarker ions showing a statistically significant difference between fresh and aged urine were identified with optimal transmission CF values obtained across the full CF spectrum. The potential of using FAIMS to select ions for in-source collision-induced dissociation is demonstrated for FAIMS-selected methylxanthine ions yielding characteristic fragment ion species indicative of the precursor. Graphical abstract.

Recommendations for reporting ion mobility Mass Spectrometry measurements.

Here we present a guide to ion mobility mass spectrometry experiments, which covers both linear and nonlinear methods: what is measured, how the measurements are done, and how to report the results, including the uncertainties of mobility and collision cross section values. The guide aims to clarify some possibly confusing concepts, and the reporting recommendations should help researchers, authors and reviewers to contribute comprehensive reports, so that the ion mobility data can be reused more confidently. Starting from the concept of the definition of the measurand, we emphasize that (i) mobility values (K0 ) depend intrinsically on ion structure, the nature of the bath gas, temperature, and E/N; (ii) ion mobility does not measure molecular surfaces directly, but collision cross section (CCS) values are derived from mobility values using a physical model; (iii) methods relying on calibration are empirical (and thus may provide method-dependent results) only if the gas nature, temperature or E/N cannot match those of the primary method. Our analysis highlights the urgency of a community effort toward establishing primary standards and reference materials for ion mobility, and provides recommendations to do so. © 2019 The Authors. Mass Spectrometry Reviews Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Rapid Analysis of Anabolic Steroid Metabolites in Urine by Combining Field Asymmetric Waveform Ion Mobility Spectrometry with Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry.

The combination of field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-FAIMS-MS) has been developed for the analysis of glucuronide and sulfate metabolites of seven anabolic-androgenic steroids in urine. Separation by FAIMS-MS was investigated in positive ion mode for selected cationic adducts (H+, NH4+, Na+, K+, and Cs+). LC-FAIMS-MS analysis of the doubly sodiated adducts ([M + 2Na - H]+) of isobaric and coeluting steroid metabolites allowed their rapid (8 min) qualitative and quantitative determination in spiked urine using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography prior to FAIMS-MS separation, with discrimination >95% achieved between the steroids investigated. A quantitative evaluation of the LC-FAIMS-MS method was performed giving limits of detection in the range 1-6 ng mL-1, limits of quantification in the range 3-20 ng mL-1, with reproducibility (%RSD < 10%; n = 6) and linearity (R2 > 0.99). The LC-FAIMS-MS method demonstrates increases in signal-to-noise ratios for the doubly sodiated steroid metabolites in unspiked urine (>250%) by the reduction of isobaric interferences from the matrix. An alternative or additional tool for identification of the steroid metabolites is based on the observations of different patterns of sodium acetate clusters that are characteristic for each metabolite.

Development of a UHPLC-MS/MS (SRM) method for the quantitation of endogenous glucagon and dosed GLP-1 from human plasma.

AIM: The performance of glucagon and GLP-1 immunoassays is often poor, but few sensitive LC-MS/MS methods exist as alternatives. EXPERIMENTAL: A multiplexed LC-MS/MS method using a 2D extraction technique was developed. RESULTS: The method was established for the quantitation of endogenous glucagon (LLOQ: 15 pg/ml) and dosed GLP-1 (LLOQ: 25 pg/ml) in human plasma, and is the first such method avoiding immunoenrichment. Specificity of endogenous glucagon quantitation was assured using a novel approach with a supercharging mobile phase additive to access a sensitive qualifier SRM. Endogenous glucagon concentrations were within the expected range, and showed good reproducibility after extended sample storage. A cross-validation against established immunoassays using physiological study samples demonstrated some similarities between methods. CONCLUSION: The LC-MS/MS method offers a viable alternative to immunoassays for quantitation of endogenous glucagon, dosed glucagon and/or dosed GLP-1.

Increasing Peak Capacity in Nontargeted Omics Applications by Combining Full Scan Field Asymmetric Waveform Ion Mobility Spectrometry with Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

Full scan field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) combined with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-FAIMS-MS) is shown to enhance peak capacity for omics applications. A miniaturized FAIMS device capable of rapid compensation field scanning has been incorporated into an ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis, allowing the acquisition of full scan FAIMS and MS nested data sets within the time scale of a UHPLC peak. Proof of principle for the potential of scanning LC-FAIMS-MS in omics applications is demonstrated for the nontargeted profiling of human urine using a HILIC column. The high level of orthogonality between FAIMS and MS provides additional unique compound identifiers with detection of features based on retention time, FAIMS dispersion field and compensation field (DF and CF), and mass-to-charge (m/z). Extracted FAIMS full scan data can be matched to standards to aid the identification of unknown analytes. The peak capacity for features detected in human urine using LC-FAIMS-MS was increased approximately threefold compared to LC-MS alone due to a combination of the reduction of chemical noise and separation of coeluting isobaric species across the entire analytical space. The use of FAIMS-selected in source collision induced dissociation (FISCID) yields fragmentation of ions, which reduces sample complexity associated with overlapping fragmentation patterns and provides structural information on the selected precursor ions.

The preanalytical stability of glucagon as measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and two commercially available immunoassays.

Background One of the main challenges in the measurement of glucagon is the premise that it is unstable in human plasma. Traditionally, protease inhibitors have been used to prevent its degradation; however, their use is controversial. Here, we investigated the optimal method of sample collection for glucagon, with measurement by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and two commercially available immunoassays. Methods Blood from healthy fasting volunteers (n = 10) was processed under a variety of preanalytical conditions including collection in EDTA vs. lithium heparin tubes and the addition of aprotinin and/or a dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (DPPIV) inhibitor. Additionally, the effect of freeze thaw was assessed. Plasma glucagon concentrations were measured by LC-MS/MS and two commercially available immunoassays (HTRF® sandwich immunoassay, Cisbio and Milliplex MAP Human Metabolic Hormone Panel, Merck Millipore). Results A systematic bias of Milliplex > LC-MS/MS > HTRF was noted and plasma glucagon concentrations were significantly different between methods (Milliplex vs. LC-MS/MS P < 0.01; Milliplex vs. HTRF P < 0.0001; LC-MS/MS vs. HTRF P < 0.001). The addition of aprotinin, DPPIV inhibitor or a combination of aprotinin and DPPIV inhibitor had no effect on plasma glucagon concentrations when compared to 'non-stabilized' samples or each other. Whether samples were taken in EDTA tubes or lithium heparin tubes made no difference to plasma glucagon concentrations. These findings were consistent for all three methods. Plasma glucagon concentrations were not significantly different after two freeze-thaw cycles (performed on samples in EDTA tubes containing aprotinin and DPPIV inhibitor). Conclusions This study demonstrates that glucagon is stable in both EDTA and lithium heparin tubes when stored at -80℃. Furthermore, the addition of aprotinin and DPPIV inhibitors is unnecessary.

Analysis of Supramolecular Complexes of 3-Methylxanthine with Field Asymmetric Waveform Ion Mobility Spectrometry Combined with Mass Spectrometry.

Miniaturised field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS), combined with mass spectrometry (MS), has been applied to the study of self-assembling, noncovalent supramolecular complexes of 3-methylxanthine (3-MX) in the gas phase. 3-MX forms stable tetrameric complexes around an alkali metal (Na(+), K(+)) or ammonium cation, to generate a diverse array of complexes with single and multiple charge states. Complexes of (3-MX)n observed include: singly charged complexes where n = 1-8 and 12 and doubly charged complexes where n = 12-24. The most intense ions are those associated with multiples of tetrameric units, where n = 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24. The effect of dispersion field on the ion intensities of the self-assembled complexes indicates some fragmentation of higher order complexes within the FAIMS electrodes (in-FAIMS dissociation), as well as in-source collision induced dissociation within the mass spectrometer. FAIMS-MS enables charge state separation of supramolecular complexes of 3-MX and is shown to be capable of separating species with overlapping mass-to-charge ratios. FAIMS selected transmission also results in an improvement in signal-to-noise ratio for low intensity complexes and enables the visualization of species undetectable without FAIMS.

Direct Analysis of Oil Additives by High-Field Asymmetric Waveform Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry Combined with Electrospray Ionization and Desorption Electrospray Ionization.

The analysis of corrosion inhibitors in the presence and absence of an oil matrix is reported using electrospray ionization (ESI) and desorption electrospray ionization (DESI), hyphenated with miniaturized high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) and mass spectrometry (MS). The target analytes were successfully ionized in solution by ESI and directly from steel surfaces using DESI ambient ionization at levels ≥0.0004% w/w (4 ppm) in oil. Differences in the mass spectral profiles observed for the additive/oil mixture are attributed to differences between the ESI and DESI ionization processes. The use of FAIMS improved selectivity for ESI generated analyte ions through reduction in the chemical noise resulting from the oil matrix. DESI enabled the direct, rapid, native state interrogation of oil samples on steel surfaces without sample pretreatment, and the hyphenation of DESI with the miniaturized FAIMS enhanced the relative analyte responses of the surface-active corrosion inhibitors.

Analysis of triacetone triperoxide complexes with alkali metal ions by electrospray and extractive electrospray ionisation combined with ion mobility spectrometry and mass spectrometry.

The complexation of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) with a range of alkali metals has been studied by electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry yield [M+Cat](+) ions for all of the alkali metals. The formation of [2TATP+Li+LiX](+) (X = Br, Cl) sandwich complexes was also observed. Collision cross- sections for the lithium-containing complexes of TATP were measured by travelling wave ion mobility spectrometry mass spectrometry, and compared well with computationally determined structures. Extractive electrospray ionisation (EESI) using a lithium doped electrospray is demonstrated for the detection of TATP vapours desorbed from a metal surface. The limit of detection for EESI was shown to be 20 ng using the [TATP+Li](+) ion.

Search for novel circulating cancer chemopreventive biomarkers of dietary rice bran intervention in Apc(Min) mice model of colorectal carcinogenesis, using proteomic and metabolic profiling strategies.

SCOPE: There is strong epidemiological evidence indicating that consumption by humans of whole-grain foods including rice bran may be associated with a low incidence of cancer, especially in the colorectum. Molecular processes associated with cancer development may be retarded by fiber consumption. Consequently, intervention with dietary fiber might be suitable as a cancer chemoprevention strategy in high-risk populations. Here, we searched for putative molecular mechanism-based efficacy biomarkers of rice fiber consumption in the plasma of mice characterized by a genetic propensity to develop gastrointestinal adenomas. The hypothesis was tested that metabolic and proteomic changes in blood reflect the chemopreventive activity of rice bran. METHODS AND RESULTS: Apc(Min) mice received diet supplemented with rice bran at 5, 15, and 30%. Blood and tissue samples were taken. Plasma was subjected to MS-based proteomic and metabolic profiling analyses as well as assessment of hematocrit values. Gastrointestinal tracts were removed and adenomas were counted and their size was measured so that total tumor burden could be calculated. The hypothesis was tested that metabolic and proteomic changes in blood reflect chemopreventive activity. CONCLUSION: Rice bran consumption reduced adenoma burden and number in a dose-related fashion when compared to controls. Metabolic profiling data demonstrated strong clustering of the groups indicating that metabolic pathways are perturbed. Proteomic analysis identified adiponectin as a molecule that was significantly altered, which may play a role in tumor suppression.

Identification of plasma protease derived metabolites of glucagon and their formation under typical laboratory sample handling conditions.

RATIONALE: Glucagon modulates glucose production, and it is also a biomarker for several pathologies. It is known to be unstable in human plasma, and consequently stabilisers are often added to samples, although these are not particularly effective. Despite this, there have not been any studies to identify in vitro plasma protease derived metabolites; such a study is described here. Knowledge of metabolism should allow the development of more effective sample stabilisation strategies. METHODS: Several novel metabolites resulting from the incubation of glucagon in human plasma were identified using high-resolution mass spectrometry with positive electrospray ionisation. Tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) scans were acquired for additional confirmation using a QTRAP. Separation was performed using reversed-phase ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography. The formation of these metabolites was investigated during a time-course experiment and under specific stress conditions representative of typical laboratory handling conditions. Clinical samples were also screened for metabolites. RESULTS: Glucagon(3-29) and [pGlu](3) glucagon(3-29) were the major metabolites detected, both of which were also present in clinical samples. We also identified two oxidised forms of [pGlu](3) glucagon(3-29) as well as glucagon(19-29), or 'miniglucagon', along with the novel metabolites glucagon(20-29) and glucagon(21-29). The relative levels of these metabolites varied throughout the time-course experiment, and under the application of the different sample handling conditions. Aprotinin stabilisation of samples had negligible effect on metabolite formation. CONCLUSIONS: Novel plasma protease metabolites of glucagon have been confirmed, and their formation characterised over a time-course experiment and under typical laboratory handling conditions. These metabolites could be monitored to assess the effectiveness of new sample stabilisation strategies, and further investigations into their formation could suggest specific enzyme inhibitors to use to increase sample stability. In addition the potential of the metabolites to affect immunochemistry-based assays as a result of cross-reactivity could be investigated.

Development of a high-throughput UHPLC-MS/MS (SRM) method for the quantitation of endogenous glucagon from human plasma.

BACKGROUND: Published LC-MS/MS methods are not sensitive enough to quantify endogenous levels of glucagon. RESULTS: An ultra high performance liquid chromatography-MS/MS (SRM) method for the quantitation of endogenous levels glucagon was successfully developed and qualified. A novel 2D extraction procedure was used to reduce matrix suppression, background noise and interferences. Glucagon levels in samples from healthy volunteers were found to agree with radioimmunoassay (RIA) derived literature values. Bland-Altman analysis showed a concentration-dependent positive bias of the LC/MS-MS assay versus an RIA. Both assays produced similar pharmacokinetic profiles, both of which were feasible considering the nature of the study. CONCLUSION: Our method is the first peer reviewed LC-MS/MS method for the quantitation of endogenous levels of glucagon, and offers a viable alternative to RIA-based approaches.

Analysis of human breath samples using a modified thermal desorption: gas chromatography electrospray ionization interface.

A two-stage thermal desorption/secondary electrospray ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry for faster targeted breath profiling has been studied. A new secondary electrospray ionization (SESI) source was devised to constrain the thermal desorption plume and promote efficient mixing in the ionization region. Further, a chromatographic pre-separation stage was introduced to suppress interferences from siloxanes associated with thermal desorption profiles of exhaled breath samples.In vitro tests with 5-nonanone indicated an increased sensitivity and a lowered limit-of-detection, both by a factor of ~4, the latter to an on-trap mass of 14.3 ng, equivalent to a sampled breath concentration of 967 pptv. Analysis of the mass spectrometric responses from 20 breath samples acquired sequentially from a single participant indicated enhanced reproducibility (reduced relative standard deviations (RSD) for 5-nonanone, benzaldehyde and 2-butanone were 28 %, 16% and 14% respectively. The corresponding values for an open SESI source were that 5-nonanone was not detected, with %RSD of 39% for benzaldehyde and 31% for 2-butanone).The constrained source with chromatographic pre-separation resulted in an increase in the number of detectable volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from 260 mass spectral peaks with an open SESI source to 541 peaks with the constrained source with pre-separation. Most of the observed VOCs were present at trace levels, at less than 2.5% of the intensity of the base peak.Seventeen 2.5 dm(3) distal breath samples were collected from asthma patients and healthy controls respectively, and subjected to comparative high-throughput screening using thermal desorption/SESI/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TD-SESI-ToFMS). Breath metabolites were detected by using a background siloxane ion (hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane m/z 223.0642) as an internal lockmass. Eleven breath metabolites were selected from the breath research literature and successfully targeted. These data reinforce the proposition that TD-SESI-MS has potential for development as a rapid screening method for disease stratification and targeted metabolism profiling.

Direct determination of urinary creatinine by reactive-thermal desorption-extractive electrospray-ion mobility-tandem mass spectrometry.

A direct, ambient ionization method has been developed for the determination of creatinine in urine that combines derivatization and thermal desorption with extractive electrospray ionization and ion mobility-mass spectrometry. The volatility of creatinine was enhanced by a rapid on-probe aqueous acylation reaction, using a custom-made thermal desorption probe, allowing thermal desorption and ionization of the monoacylated derivative. The monoacyl creatinine [M + H](+) ion (m/z 156) was subjected to mass-to-charge selection and collision induced dissociation to remove the acyl group, generating the protonated creatinine [M + H](+) product ion at m/z 114 before an ion mobility separation was applied to reduce chemical noise. Stable isotope dilution using creatinine-d3 as internal standard was used for quantitative measurements. The direct on-probe derivatization allows high sample throughput with a typical cycle time of 1 min per sample. The method shows good linearity (R(2) = 0.986) and repeatability (%RSD 8-10%) in the range of 0.25-2.0 mg/mL. The creatinine concentrations in diluted urine samples from a healthy individual were determined to contain a mean concentration of 1.44 mg/mL creatinine with a precision (%RSD) of 9.9%. The reactive ambient ionization approach demonstrated here has potential for the determination of involatile analytes in urine and other biofluids.

The quantitative surface analysis of an antioxidant additive in a lubricant oil matrix by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE: Chemical additives are incorporated into commercial lubricant oils to modify the physical and chemical properties of the lubricant. The quantitative analysis of additives in oil-based lubricants deposited on a surface without extraction of the sample from the surface presents a challenge. The potential of desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) for the quantitative surface analysis of an oil additive in a complex oil lubricant matrix without sample extraction has been evaluated. METHODS: The quantitative surface analysis of the antioxidant additive octyl (4-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)propionate in an oil lubricant matrix was carried out by DESI-MS in the presence of 2-(pentyloxy)ethyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate as an internal standard. A quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometer fitted with an in-house modified ion source enabling non-proximal DESI-MS was used for the analyses. RESULTS: An eight-point calibration curve ranging from 1 to 80 µg/spot of octyl (4-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)propionate in an oil lubricant matrix and in the presence of the internal standard was used to determine the quantitative response of the DESI-MS method. The sensitivity and repeatability of the technique were assessed by conducting replicate analyses at each concentration. The limit of detection was determined to be 11 ng/mm(2) additive on spot with relative standard deviations in the range 3-14%. CONCLUSIONS: The application of DESI-MS to the direct, quantitative surface analysis of a commercial lubricant additive in a native oil lubricant matrix is demonstrated.

Direct detection of a sulfonate ester genotoxic impurity by atmospheric-pressure thermal desorption-extractive electrospray-mass spectrometry.

A direct, ambient ionization method has been developed using atmospheric pressure thermal desorption-extractive electrospray-mass spectrometry (AP/TD-EESI-MS) for the detection of the genotoxic impurity (GTI) methyl p-toluenesulfonate (MTS) in a surrogate pharmaceutical matrix. A custom-made thermal desorption probe was used to the desorb and vaporize MTS from the solid state, by rapid heating to 200 °C then cooling to ambient temperature, with a cycle time of 6 min. The detection of MTS using EESI with a sodium acetate doped solvent to generate the [MTS+Na](+) adduct ion provided a significant sensitivity enhancement relative to the [M+H](+) ion generated using a 0.1% formic acid solvent modifier. The MTS detection limit is over an order of magnitude below the long-term daily threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) of 1.5 µg/g and the potential for quantitative analysis has been determined using starch as a surrogate active pharmaceutical ingredient (API).

Enhanced performance in the determination of ibuprofen 1-ß-O-acyl glucuronide in urine by combining high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry with liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

The incorporation of a chip-based high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) separation in the ultra (high)-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) determination of the (R/S) ibuprofen 1-ß-O-acyl glucuronide metabolite in urine is reported. UHPLC-FAIMS-HRMS reduced matrix chemical noise, improved the limit of quantitation approximately two-fold and increased the linear dynamic range compared to the determination of the metabolite without FAIMS separation. A quantitative evaluation of the prototype UHPLC-FAIMS-HRMS system showed better reproducibility for the drug metabolite (%RSD 2.7%) at biologically relevant concentrations in urine. In-source collision induced dissociation of the FAIMS-selected deprotonated metabolite was used to fragment the ion prior to mass analysis, enhancing selectivity by removing co-eluting species and aiding the qualitative identification of the metabolite by increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of the fragment ions.

Gas-phase and solution studies of three resorcin[4]arene derivatives using electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) has been used to study the relative gas-phase proton and alkali metal (Li, Na, K and Cs) binding affinities of three different resorcin[4]arenes using the kinetic method. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) was used to study the fragmentation of resorcin[4]arene heterodimer sandwich complexes, allowing the relative binding affinity order to be established. All the alkali metal cations have the same gas-phase binding affinity order with the resorcin[4]arene host molecules. At collision energies of > or = 13eV, one of the [resorcin[4]arene+Metal]+, (Metal = Li, Na, K) ions fragmented through break-up of the resorcin[4]arene, whilst the other host resorcin[4]arene remained intact, causing an apparent change in binding affinity at high collision energy. This effect was not observed with caesium, since all complex ions dissociated readily under CID by displacement of the caesium cation. The binding affinity for the protonated resorcin[4]arenes was found to be different from the alkali metal cation binding affinity because of the higher proton affinity of the nitrogen-containing resorcin[4]arenes. It is shown that resorcin[4]arenes containing an oxazine ring can be converted into a ring-opened derivative via an Eschweiler-CLarke reaction in the presence of formic acid. A second ring-opening process also occurs, including a hydrolysis reaction that results in apparent Losses of 12 mass units from the intact resorcin[4]arene. Both these reactions occur in solution before mass spectrometric investigation and cannot be achieved by CID. This observation was confirmed by inducing the Eschweiter-CLarke reaction in a model benzoxazine compound.

UHPLC for the separation of proteins and peptides.

There is increasing interest within the pharmaceutical industry in the development of proteins and peptides as drugs in addition to their use as biomarkers. Immunochemistry-based techniques have been traditionally used for the quantitation of proteins and peptides; however, LC-MS-based methodologies are being increasingly adopted as they offer several advantages. UHPLC is well established within the small-molecule community as a means to increase resolution and/or the speed of separations prior to MS detection; however, it is rarely applied to proteins or peptides separations. In this paper, current applications of UHPLC to such separations are reviewed, as well as considerations with regard to the effect of altering various chromatographic parameters.

Direct extraction of urinary analytes from undeveloped reversed-phase thin layer chromatography plates using a solvent gradient combined with on-line electrospray ionisation ion mobility-mass spectrometry.

The direct extraction of urinary analytes deposited on reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography (RP-TLC) plates is demonstrated using a solvent gradient extraction procedure without prior chromatographic development. The surface sample probe TLC-MS interface used for the gradient extraction is compared to direct loop injection into the electrospray ion source for biofluid profiling. The gradient elution is shown to enhance ion intensities, as urinary salts are eluted in aqueous formic acid in the early part of the gradient reducing ion suppression. The retention of urinary components on the C18 RP-TLC plate was confirmed by monitoring analyte responses with, and without, an aqueous wash phase prior to the solvent gradient extraction. The use of gradient elution allows fractionation of the complex biological matrix as a result of differential retention of urine components on the undeveloped RP-TLC plate. The direct gradient analysis of TLC plates has also been combined with ion mobility-mass spectrometry to further resolve the complex urinary profile and identify co-eluting compounds.