Dependence of matrix effect on ionization polarity during LC-ESI-MS analysis of derivatized amino acids in some natural samples.

Matrix effect, the influence of co-eluting components on the ionization efficiency of the analyte, affects the trueness and precision of the LC-ESI-MS analysis. Derivatization can reduce or eliminate matrix effect, for example, diethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate (DEEMM) derivatives have shown less matrix effect compared to other derivatives. Moreover, the use of negative ion mode can further reduce matrix effect. In order to investigate the combination of derivatization and different ionization modes, an LC-ESI-MS/MS method using alternating positive/negative ion mode was developed and validated. The analyses in positive and negative ion modes had comparable limit of quantitation values. The influence of ESI polarity on matrix effect was investigated during the analysis of 22 DEEMM-derivatized amino acids in herbal extracts and honeys. Sample dilution approach was used for the evaluation of the presence of matrix effect. Altogether, 4 honeys and 11 herbal extracts were analyzed, and the concentrations of 22 amino acids in the samples are presented. In the positive ion mode, matrix effect was observed for several amino acid derivatives and the matrix effect was stronger in honey samples compared to the herbal extracts. The negative ion mode was free from matrix effect, with only few exceptions in honeys (average relative standard deviation over all analytes and matrices was 8%; SD = 7%). The matrix effect was eliminated in the positive ion mode by sample dilution and agreement between concentrations from the two ion modes was achieved for most amino acids. In conclusion, it was shown that the combination of derivatization and negative ion mode can be a powerful tool for minimizing matrix effect in more complicated applications.

Tutorial review on validation of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods: part II.

This is the part II of a tutorial review intending to give an overview of the state of the art of method validation in liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and discuss specific issues that arise with MS (and MS-MS) detection in LC (as opposed to the "conventional" detectors). The Part II starts with briefly introducing the main quantitation methods and then addresses the performance related to quantification: linearity of signal, sensitivity, precision, trueness, accuracy, stability and measurement uncertainty. The last section is devoted to practical considerations in validation. With every performance characteristic its essence and terminology are addressed, the current status of treating it is reviewed and recommendations are given, how to handle it, specifically in the case of LC-MS methods.

Tutorial review on validation of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods: part I.

This is the part I of a tutorial review intending to give an overview of the state of the art of method validation in liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and discuss specific issues that arise with MS (and MS/MS) detection in LC (as opposed to the "conventional" detectors). The Part I briefly introduces the principles of operation of LC-MS (emphasizing the aspects important from the validation point of view, in particular the ionization process and ionization suppression/enhancement); reviews the main validation guideline documents and discusses in detail the following performance parameters: selectivity/specificity/identity, ruggedness/robustness, limit of detection, limit of quantification, decision limit and detection capability. With every method performance characteristic its essence and terminology are addressed, the current status of treating it is reviewed and recommendations are given, how to determine it, specifically in the case of LC-MS methods.

Study of the matrix effects and sample dilution influence on the LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis using four derivatization reagents.

For liquid chromatographic analysis of amino acids involving derivatization and mass-spectrometric detection, it becomes more important to evaluate the presence of matrix effects in complex samples. This is somewhat complicated for amino acid analysis where analyte free sample matrix is often unavailable. In this work, matrix effects were investigated using post-column infusion method for 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC-Cl) derivatives of ß-Ala, Gly and Phe and diethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate (DEEMM) derivative of ß-Ala. While for DEEMM derivatives, the main signal suppression was due to the borate buffer, in case of FMOC-Cl, other FMOC-derivatives caused signal suppression. Analysis of amino acids in tea and honey with DEEMM, FMOC-Cl, p-N,N,N-trimethylammonioanilyl N'-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate iodide (TAHS) and dansyl chloride (DNS) showed that amino acid concentrations found with different reagents do not agree well. Sample dilution experiments indicated that the sample matrix affected the analysis results obtained with DEEMM the least, but with FMOC-Cl, TAHS and DNS, sample dilution had an influence on the results. When sample dilution and extrapolative dilution approach were applied on the latter results, an agreement of amino acid concentrations measured with different reagents was achieved within relative standard deviation (RSD) of 22% for most cases.

Matrix influence on derivatization and ionization processes during selenoamino acid liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis.

Considering the importance of derivatization in LC/ESI/MS analysis, the objective of this work was to develop a method for evaluation of matrix effect that would discriminate between matrix effect due to the derivatization reaction yield and from the ESI. Four derivatization reagents (TAHS, DEEMM, DNS, FMOC-Cl) were studied with respect to matrix effects using two selenoamino acids and onion matrix as model system. A novel method for assessing matrix effects of LC/ESI/MS analyses involving derivatization is proposed, named herein post-derivatization spiking, that allows evaluating effect of matrix on ESI ionization without derivatization reaction yield contribution. The proposed post-derivatization spiking method allowed to demonstrate that the reason of reduced analytical signal can be signal suppression in ESI (as in case of DNS derivatives with matrix effects 38-99%), alteration of derivatization reaction yield (TAHS, matrix effects 92-113%, but reaction yields 20-50%) or both (FMOC-Cl, matrix effects 28-88% and reaction yields 50-70%). In case of DEEMM derivatives, matrix reduces reaction yield but enhances ESI/MS signal. A method for matrix effect evaluation was developed. It was also confirmed that matrix effects can be reduced by dilution.

Comparison of amino acid derivatization reagents for LC-ESI-MS analysis. Introducing a novel phosphazene-based derivatization reagent.

Amino acid analysis with high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) is an emerging method. For more sensitive analysis, derivatization is used and next to commercially available derivatization reagents such as dansyl chloride (DNS), 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC-Cl) and diethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate (DEEMM), new derivatization reagents are designed specially for LC-ESI-MS, like p-N,N,N-trimethylammonioanilyl N'-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate iodide (TAHS) which provides very low limits of detection. In this work, a novel phosphazene based derivatization reagent (FOSF) that provides comparable limits of quantitation (LoQ) to TAHS is introduced. Moreover, a thorough comparison between FOSF, TAHS, DNS, FMOC-Cl and DEEMM is carried out for 7 different amino acids - Arg, Asp, Gly, ß-Ala, Pro, Trp and Phe. This is a first time that thorough comparison is carried out on the same instrument for amino acid derivatization reagents. Results on the same instrument for five amino acid derivatization reagents show that novel reagents are sensitive with LoQ values around 80 fmol but have disadvantages such as problematic chromatographic separation. Next to novel reagents, DEEMM offers very good LoQ-s (average of 150 fmol) and wide dynamic linear range.