Use Of Accurate Mass Measurements Research Articles

Systematic bottom-up approach for flavonoid derivative screening in plant material using liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry

In this work, a systematic comprehensive screening procedure has been proposed for the detection of multiclass flavonoid derivatives by liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The procedure is based on the combined use of accurate mass measurements and in-source fragmentation obtained with a liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry instrument. The method relies on automated screening of selected diagnostic ions based on an exact mass database. The included diagnostic ions represent theoretical combinations of aglycones and typical glycan part constituents of flavonoid derivatives (i.e., various saccharide units and acyl moieties). The proposed identification protocol is following a systematic evaluation of the obtained positive hits from the diagnostic ions database according to a "bottom-up" approach that is thoroughly discussed. The main benefit of the proposed bottom-up protocol resides in the fact that untargeted flavonoid derivatives can be detected and tentatively identified without the need for any preliminary knowledge on the sought compound. In addition to information on the nature of the (1) aglycone and the (2) glycan part, further indication of (3) sugar unit distribution and information on (4) the type of the glycosidic bonds can also be attained. Selected examples of plant extracts demonstrate the potential of the proposed LC-HRMS approach for the systematic screening of flavonoids. A broad variety of compounds were tentatively identified including both anthocyanins and non-anthocyanin flavonoids having various glycan moieties such as mono-, di-, and triglycosides with varying distributions and linkage types of carbohydrate moieties (O-glycosides, C-glycosides, O,C-glycosides).

Extraction and analysis of pharmaceuticals in polluted sediment using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

A multi-residue method for the extraction and clean-up of sediment samples was developed for the analysis of pharmaceutical residues. Sediment samples were collected in the proximity of sewage water plant in Stockholm, Sweden. Target analytes were the basic β-blocker propranolol, the neutral neuroleptic carbamazepine and the acidic anticoagulant warfarin, the painkiller diclofenac and the lipid regulator gemfibrozil. The extraction solvent was optimised with regard to pH and organic modifer. Extraction and clean up were performed with liquid-liquid extraction and ultra-sonication followed by solid-phase extraction. One extraction solvent, containing acetone/McIlvaine buffer pH4, provided satisfactory extraction for all substances. LC/MSMS in the MRM mode was used for determination. The recoveries of the extraction and clean-up steps were 60–75% (±2–8%) and LOQs were in the range 0.4–8 ng/g sediment (dry weight). The pharmaceuticals found in the sediment samples were propranolol and carbamazepine, representing substances with basic and neutral properties. Additionally, the samples were analysed with LC/QTOF for verification with the use of accurate mass measurement in the full-scan mode. Pharmaceuticals not represented in the original method were looked for. Non-target pharmaceuticals found using the LC/QTOF system were the basic β-blocker metoprolol and the acidic painkiller naproxen.

Confirmatory analysis of Trenbolone using accurate mass measurement with LC/TOF-MS

The use of accurate mass measurement as a confirmation tool is examined on a TOF-MS and compared with confirmation using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (QqQ-MS). Confirmation of the identity of a substance using mass-spectrometric detection has been described. However, the use of accurate mass measurement for confirmatory analysis has not been taken into account. In this study, criteria for confirmation with accurate mass are proposed and feasibility is demonstrated. Mass accuracy better than 3 ppm of the quasi-molecular ion and a fragment and their relative ratios determined with LC/TOF-MS are compared to the criteria of two transition ions and their ratio of LC/QqQ-MS. The results show that these criteria can be met for Trenbolone in samples of bovine urine and that single MS accurate mass measurement is comparable to nominal mass MS/MS for confirmation. The increase in popularity and availability of LC/TOF-MS instruments and the ease, of which exact masses can be measured, make it important to formulate criteria for this type of instrumentation. It is shown in this study that accurate mass measurement can be used for confirmatory analysis. However, more experiments need to be conducted to demonstrate the applicability of accurate mass measurement in general for residue analysis.

Study of bis(bibenzyls) in bryophytes using electron ionization time‐of‐flight and electrospray ionization triple‐quadrupole mass spectrometry

A detailed analysis of mass spectra generated from bis(bibenzyl) compounds in bryophytes under electron ionization time-of-flight (EI-TOF) and electrospray ionization triple-quadrupole (ESI-TQ) mass spectrometry conditions is reported. Proposed structures of the fragment ions were obtained by tracking the functional groups of 15 bis(bibenzyls), the structures of which are similar except for some alkoxyl substituents and linkage sites of biphenyl ether bonds. The elucidation was aided by the use of accurate mass measurements. Attempts have been made to provide rational pathways for the formation of these fragment ions, and a generalized fragmentation mechanism is proposed. The bis(bibenzyls) mentioned in this study include three types according to their structure characteristics, i.e. one biphenyl ether bond (A-type), two biphenyl ether bonds (B-type), one biphenyl ether and one biphenyl bond (C-type). The three types display different EI-MS and ESI-MS/MS product profiles, by which the bis(bibenzyl) type and the number of alkoxyl substituents can be identified. Isomers of bis(bibenzyls) can be differentiated to some extent, while the linkage sites of biphenyl ether bonds are difficult to identify. The structure-fragmentation relationships will facilitate the characterization of other bis(bibenzyls) and this will be of value for the high-throughput screening of novel bis(bibenzyls) in bryophytes.

Accurate mass measurement using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry for structure elucidation of designer drug analogs of tadalafil, vardenafil and sildenafil in herbal and pharmaceutical matrices

Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors are a class of drugs used primarily in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved PDE-5 inhibitors include sildenafil citrate, vardenafil hydrochloride and tadalafil. In this study, accurate mass measurements were made by electrospray ionization (ESI) using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICRMS) to elucidate the structures of sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil analogs that were found in products marketed as dietary supplements. Initial detection of these analogs was accomplished through routine screening of suspect samples by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization multi-stage mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS(n)) on a low-resolution ion trap instrument. The chromatographic behavior and mass spectrometric fragmentation patterns observed were often similar to those observed for FDA approved PDE-5 inhibitors. The mass accuracy and resolving power associated with FTICRMS allows for the determination of elemental compositions. Elucidation of the product ion structures for the analogs was accomplished through the use of accurate mass measurements with the aid of Mass Frontier software (version 4.0). Using FTICRMS, accurate masses with measurement errors averaging <0.4 ppm were achieved, allowing assignment of one possible elemental formula to each fragment ion. The mass measurement errors associated with [M + H](+) for the analogs aminotadalafil, piperidino vardenafil, hydroxyacetildenafil and piperidino acetildenafil were 0.1, 0.0, 0.1 and 0.5 ppm, respectively. Based on the accuracy of the measurements, structural assignments could be made with a high degree of confidence.

Investigation of low‐abundant in vitro metabolites of stable isotope‐labelled BAL4815 by accurate mass capillary‐LC‐ESI‐qTof‐MS and MS/MS

The metabolic profile of BAL4815, an antifungal azole drug, was determined using in vitro rat hepatocyte incubations and subsequent analysis by capillary LC-qTof-MS and MS/MS including accurate mass determination. For the detection of the metabolites, a mixture of the drug and its deuterium-labelled analogue was used for incubations. Metabolic stability of BAL4815 was high in cultured rat hepatocytes. However, several low-abundant metabolites were detected by the use of capillary LC-qTof-MS and manual investigation of the data. The peak intensity of the most abundant metabolite was close to the limit of detection. Except for an apparent oxidation product, the masses of the other detected metabolites could not be assigned to a single and frequently occurring biotransformation. Accurate mass determination and possible elemental compositions suggested that metabolism occurred through a combination of glutathionylation and defluorination. This was verified using accurate mass MS/MS. The use of accurate mass measurements and the derived suggestions for the elemental compositions were essential to elucidate this atypical metabolic pathway. A mass accuracy better than 8 ppm could be achieved for most assigned MS and MS/MS signals with intensities less than 6 cps in the spectra.

Strategies and data analysis techniques for lipid and phospholipid chemistry elucidation by intact cell MALDI-FTMS

Ions attributed to lipids and phospholipids are directly observed by desorption from whole bacteria using intact cell (IC) matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization (MALDI) Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS). Saccharomyces cerevisiae are grown in rich media broth, concentrated, and applied directly to the MALDI surface without lysis or chemical treatment. FTMS of MALDI ions gives excellent signal to noise ratios with typical resolving powers of 90,000 and mass precision better than 0.002 Da. Use of accurate mass measurements and a simple set of rules allow assignment of major peaks into one of twelve expected lipid classes. Subsequently, fractional mass versus whole number mass plots are employed to enhance visual interpretation of the high-resolution data and to facilitate detection of related ions such as those representing homologous series or different degrees of unsaturation. This approach, coupled with rules based on bacterial biochemistry, is used to classify ions with m/z up to about 1000. Major spectral peaks in the range m/z 200-1000 are assigned as lipids and phospholipids. In this study, it is assumed that biologically-derived ions with m/z values lower than 1000 are lipids. This is not unreasonable in view of the facts that molecular weights of lipids are almost always less than 1000 Da, that the copy numbers for lipids in a cell are higher than those for any single protein or other component, and that lipids are generally collections of distinct homologous partners, unlike proteins or other cell components. This paper presents a new rapid lipid-profiling method based on IC MALDI-FTMS.

Intercomparison study on accurate mass measurement of small molecules in mass spectrometry

The results from an intercomparison of accurate mass measurement of a small molecule (molecular weight 475 Da) across a broad range of mass spectrometers are reported. The intercomparison was designed to evaluate the relative capabilities and the optimum methodology of the diverse range of mass spectrometers currently used to record accurate mass measurements. The data will be used as a basis for developing guidance on accurate mass measurement. The need for guidance has resulted from the continued growth in the use of accurate mass measurements for assignment of elemental formula in the chemical and biochemical industries. This has been fuelled by a number of factors and includes the rapid pace of instrument development, which has enabled accurate mass measurements to be made in a less costly, yet robust fashion. The data from the intercomparison will allow us to compare those protocols that produced excellent accuracy and precision with those that produced poorer accuracy and/or precision for each type of mass spectrometer. The key points for best practice will then be established from this comparison for each type of mass spectrometer and accurate mass measurement technique. A compound was sent to the participating laboratories (in the UK, Europe, and USA), the identity of which was not revealed. Each laboratory was asked to record a minimum of five repeat mass measurements of the molecular species using their local protocols and their preferred ionization technique or techniques. To the best of our knowledge there were no interfering (unresolved) ions that originated from the sample. A questionnaire was also completed with the experimental work. The information from the questionnaires was used to evaluate the protocols used to record the measurements. Forty-five laboratories have reported their results. To summarize the performance of mass spectrometers in the intercomparison, magnetic sector field mass spectrometers used in peak matching mode and FTMS reported the highest mean mass measurement accuracy (88 and 83%, respectively, achieved ≤1 ppm). Magnetic sector field mass spectrometers used in voltage scanning produced 60% of the mean mass measurements with accuracy ≤1 ppm. Magnetic sector field mass spectrometers used in magnet scanning modes, quadrupole-TOF and TOF instruments generally achieved mean mass measurement accuracy between 5 and 10 ppm. The two low resolution triple quadrupoles used in the inter-comparison produced mean mass measurement accuracy of <2 ppm. The precision of the data from each instrument and experiment type is an important consideration when evaluating their relative capabilities. Using both the precision and accuracy, it will be possible to define the uncertainty associated with the elemental formulae derived from accurate mass measurements. Therefore, a thorough statistical evaluation of the data is underway and will be presented in a subsequent publication.

The Use of Accurate Mass Measurement by Orthogonal Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry in Pharmaceuticals Research

Allan Maccoll was the founding editor of Organic Mass Spectrometry, the first journal dedicated to the application of mass spectrometry to the analysis of organic structures. Many papers in OMS described the elucidation of structures from natural and synthetic sources. This is still a major application of mass spectrometry today, especially in those fine chemical industries such as Pharmaceuticals which depend on the discovery and development of organic compounds for a variety of applications. In this paper we describe the advances we have made in the last few years, especially utilising time-of-flight (ToF) mass spectrometers, to use accurate mass measurement to determine the structures of minor components contained within drug substance and degraded samples. The additional information obtained from accurate mass measurement is shown to be critical in assigning a particular structure in a number of examples.