Detection systems tandem mass spectrometry

All previous discussion has focused on sample preparation, i.e., removal of the targeted analyte(s) from the sample matrix, isolation of the analyte(s) from other co-extracted, undesirable sample components, and transfer of the analytes into a solvent suitable for final analysis. Over the years, numerous types of analytical instruments have been employed for this final analysis step as noted in the preceding text and Tables 3 and 4. Overall, GC and LC are the most often used analytical techniques, and modern GC and LC instrumentation coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) detection systems are currently the analytical techniques of choice. Methods relying on spectrophotometric detection and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) are now rarely employed, except perhaps for qualitative purposes. 

The most widely regarded approach to accomplish the determination of as many pesticides as possible in as few steps as possible is to use MS detection. MS is considered a universally selective detection method because MS detects all compounds independently of elemental composition and further separates the signal into mass spectral scans to provide a high degree of selectivity. Unlike GC with selective detectors, or even atomic emission detection (AED), GC/MS may provide acceptable confirmation of the identity of analytes without the need for further information. This reduces the need to re-inject a sample into a separate GC system (usually GC/MS) for pesticide confirmation. Through the use of selected ion monitoring (SIM), efficient ion-trap or quadrupole devices, and/or tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), modern GC/MS instruments provide LODs similar to or lower than those of selective detectors, depending on the analytes, methods, and detectors. 

DAGAN, S., Comparison of gas chromatography-pulsed flame photometric detection-mass spectrometry, automated mass spectral deconvolution and identification system and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry as tools for trace level detection and identification, J. Chromatogr., A., 2000,868,229-247. 

Tandem mass spectrometry (i.e., MS-MS) is another technique that has recently become popular for the direct analysis of individual molecular markers in complex organic mixtures [87,505,509,578 - 583]. This technique provides a rapid method for the direct analysis of specific classes of molecular markers in whole sample extracts. In this approach the system is set up to monitor the parent ions responsible for a specific daughter ion as described above and the distribution of parent ions obtained under these conditions should provide the same information as previously obtained by GC-MS [505, 582]. Even greater specificity can be achieved by a combination of GC-MS-MS [516,584]. In view of the complexity of COM samples and the need to detect the presence of individual organic compounds or classes of compounds, it would seem that MS-MS, especially coupled with GC, would be extremely valuable in future environmental organic geochemistry studies. 

Reverse-phase columns with a gradient elution in combination with UV-Vis spectrophotometers using photodiode-array (PDA) (Fig. 1.6) and spectrofiuorimeters are common devices employed in this technique. In a lesser extent, MS, tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS), and nano liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-nanoESI-Q-qTOF-MS-MS) has been used as detection system. This instrumentation has been mainly used in the analysis of dyes and proteinaceous media, and in some extent, in the analysis of drying oils and terpenoid varnishes [47,48],... 

Martens-Lobenhoffer et al. [119] used chiral HPLC-atmospheric pressure photoionization tandem mass-spectrometric method for the enantio-selective quantification of omeprazole and its main metabolites in human serum. The method features solid-phase separation, normal phase chiral HPLC separation, and atmospheric pressure photoionization tandem mass spectrometry. The internal standards serve stable isotope labeled omeprazole and 5-hydroxy omeprazole. The HPLC part consists of Agilent 1100 system comprising a binary pump, an autosampler, a thermo-stated column component, and a diode array UV-VIS detector. The enantioselective chromatographic separation took place on a ReproSil Chiral-CA 5 ym 25 cm x 2 mm column, protected by a security guard system, equipped with a 4 mm x 2-mm silica filter insert. The analytes were detected by a Thermo Scientific TSQ Discovery Max triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, equipped with an APPI ion source with a... 

Frerichs et al. [128] developed and validated a method for the quantitation of omeprazole and hydroxyomeprazole from one 250 [A sample of human plasma using HPLC coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. The method was validated for a daily working range of 0.4-100 ng/ml, with limits of detection between 2 and 15 pg/ml. The interassay variation was less than 15% for all analytes at four control concentrations and the samples were stable for three freeze-thaw cycles under the analysis conditions and 24 h in the postpreparative analysis matrix. The method was used to analyze samples in support of clinical studies probing the activity of the cytochrome P-450 enzyme system. 

Another wide application of mass spectrometry is the detection and characterization of post-translational modifications such as myristoylation, phosphorylation, disulfide bridging, etc. The detection and localization of post-transla-tional modifications has been a rapidly developing area of mass spectrometry due to the functional importance of these modifications in biological systems. An example of this was recently shown for the case of the human rhinovirus HRV14 [10]. Electron density maps from crystallography data indicated a myristoylation of VP4. Mass analysis of VP4 also indicated a mass difference of 212 Da (consistent with myristoylation of VP4). Additional experiments with proteolytic digestion and tandem mass spectrometry were able to localize the modification to the N-terminus of VP4. 

At first, one may show skepticism at the usefulness of diode-array detection because other analytical systems are more sensitive and offer similar features such as peak identification and purity checks. For these alternatives, one would have to refer to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS). However, one must keep in mind the significantly higher costs as a tradeoff for enhanced sensitivity. 

These interface techniques for connecting the HPLC with the MS-system are very sensitive for most of the substances of interest to the flavour industry. Therefore, HPLC-MS coupling techniques have become an increasingly powerful tool for quality control of flavourings, especially for the analysis of complex mixtures like process flavourings or contaminants present in such complex mixtures. New developments in the area of mass detection systems, such as time-of-flight (ToF) mass analysers and tandem mass spectrometry systems or the features of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) techniques, may enhance the analytical capabilities of these systems in the near future [16, 17, 28-31 ]. 

Figure 32F-2 A tandem mass spectrometry system. The ions produced in the source are filtered in the first quadrupole so that only a selected ion passes through to the collision cell. A collision gas in this cell causes fragmentation of the selected ion. The fragment masses are sorted by the quadrupole mass analyzer and detected. Usually, the collision cell is also a quadmpole operated in such a way that the fragment ions are directed into the mass analyzer.

Another current trend that is well underway is the use of more specific analytical instrumentation that allows less extensive sample preparation. The development of mass spectrometric techniques, particularly tandem MS linked to a HPLC or flow injection system, has allowed the specific and sensitive analysis of simple extracts of biological samples (68,70-72). A similar HPLC with UV detection would require significantly more extensive sample preparation effort and, importantly, more method development time. Currently, the bulk of the HPLC-MS efforts have been applied to the analysis of drugs and metabolites in biological samples. Kristiansen et al. (73) have also applied flow-injection tandem mass spectrometry to measure sulfonamide antibiotics in meat and blood using a very simple ethyl acetate extraction step. This important technique will surely find many more applications in the future. 

Stott W. R., Davidson W. R., and Sleeman R., High specificity chemical detection of explosives by tandem mass spectrometry, in Proceedings of applications of signal and image processing in explosives detection systems, ed. J. M. Connelly, S. M. Cheung, Vol. 1824 (Boston, MA, 1992, 68-78). 

Li, Y.H. Wojcik, R Dovichi, N.J. (2011). A replaceable microreactor for on-line protein digestion in a two dimensional capillary electrophoresis system with tandem mass spectrometry detection. Journal of Chromatograph / A, Vol.1218, No.l5 (April 2011), pp. 2007-2011, ISSN 0021-9673... 

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