A microfluidic platform integrating paper adsorption-based sample clean-up and voltage-assisted liquid desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for biological sample analysis

Abstract

Clinical application of direct sampling electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) remains limited due to problems associated with very “dirty” sample matrices. Herein we report on a microfluidic platform that allows direct mass spectrometric analysis of serum samples of microliter sizes. The platform integrates in-line paper adsorption-based sample clean-up and voltage assisted liquid desorption ESI-MS/MS (VAL DESI-MS/MS) to detect multiple targeted compounds of clinical interest. Adenosine monophosphate (AMP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were selected as model analytes. Simultaneous quantification of these compounds in human serum samples was demonstrated. For all the three compounds, linear calibration curves were obtained in a concentration range from 0.20 to 20.0 μmol/L with r2 values ≥ 0.996. Limits of detection were 0.019, 0.015, and 0.011 μmol/L for AMP, ADP, and ATP, respectively. Recovery was found in the range from 96.5% to 103.5% at spiking concentrations of 0.25 and 2.50 μmol/L. The results indicate that the proposed microfluidic mass spectrometric platform is robust and effective. It may have a potential in clinical analysis.