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In this study, the effectiveness of powder laser desorption/ionization (LDI) coupled with Fourier-transform ion cyclotron mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) was evaluated for the improved coverage of plant metabolites. Ground plant (powder) was fixed on a metal plate using double-sided tape. Compared with the conventional approach involving liquid extraction, which is followed by electrospray ionization MS analysis, a smaller amount of sample (∼200 µg) was required in the proposed method. Additionally, the laborious steps of liquid extraction, concentration, and solid-phase extraction were avoided. Employing the proposed method in Centella asiatica leaves analysis, higher number of reproducible molecular formulas (>5000) and metabolites (>650) were obtained than the conventional methods. Flavonoids, phenolic acids, xanthones, lipids, carbohydrates, terpenoids, and alkaloids compounds were detected from leaves, stems, and roots of C. asiatica. This study indicates that LDI FT-ICR MS is a quick and effective tool for enhanced plant metabolite profiling in the solid phase., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Thrombin generation (TG) has an important part in the blood coagulation system, and monitoring TG is useful for diagnosing various health issues related to hypo-coagulability and hyper-coagulability. In this study, we constructed probes by using mixed cellulose ester membranes (MCEMs) modified with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) for monitoring thrombin activity using laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS). The LDI process produced Au cationic clusters ([Au(n)](+); n = 1-3) that we detected through MS. When thrombin reacted with fibrinogen on the Au NPs-MCEMs, insoluble fibrin was formed, hindering the formation of Au cationic clusters and, thereby, decreasing the intensity of their signals in the mass spectrum. Accordingly, we incorporated fibrinogen onto the Au NPs-MCEMs to form Fib-Au NPs-MCEM probes to monitor TG with good selectivity (>1000-fold toward thrombin with respect to other proteins or enzymes) and sensitivity (limit of detection for thrombin of ca. 2.5 pM in human plasma samples). Our probe exhibited remarkable performance in monitoring the inhibition of thrombin activity by direct thrombin inhibitors. Analyses of real samples using our new membrane-based probe suggested that it will be highly useful in practical applications for the effective management of hemostatic complications.

The ligand exchange process on gold nanorods (Au NRs) was explored by using laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LDI-TOF-MS). Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) adsorbed on Au NRs was replaced with alkanethiol derivatives presenting different functional groups. The ligand exchange process was investigated under various conditions, such as in the presence of different functional groups in the ligands and with different concentrations of CTAB. The ligand-exchanged Au NRs were characterized by using a combination of UV–Vis spectroscopy and LDI-TOF-MS. Based on the results, it was revealed that LDI-TOF-MS analysis can provide crucial and distinct information about the degree of ligand exchange on Au NRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon fiber (CNF), prepared by carbonization of electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers, is systematically investigated as a mediator to replace conventional organic matrices for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). CNF exhibits a high salt tolerance, sensitivity, and resolution for organic matrix-free laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) analysis of various analytes under both positive and negative ionization modes. Especially, saccharides, a neutral molecule having low negative ionization efficiency, are successfully detected with CNF. Taken together, this study clearly demonstrates CNF is a promising material to develop an efficient and universal platform for LDI-MS analysis regardless of preferential ionization modes of analytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the matrix-free laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric data, the reaction of benzimidazole with bis(iodomethyl)tetramethyldisiloxane at different temperatures leads to the formation of linear and cyclic organosilicon systems containing benzimidazole fragments. The structures of the major and minor products were determined by analysis of the fragmentation patterns in the field-free space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An aerosol laser time of flight mass spectrometer (ALTOFMS) that can be used for real-time measurement of the size and composition of individual aerosol particles has been designed and utilized to provide on-line measurement of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particles resulted from Cl-initiated oxidation of toluene in smog chamber. Both the size and chemical compositions of individual aerosol particles were obtained in real-time. According to a large number of single aerosol diameters and mass spectra, the size distribution and chemical composition of aerosol were determined statistically. Experimental results indicate that aerosol particles produced from Cl-initiated oxidation of toluene were predominantly in the form of PM 2.5 particles, and nine positive laser desorption/ionization mass spectra peaks: m/z 18, 29, 30, 44, 46, 52, 65, 77, and 94 may come from the fragment ions of the products of the SOA: aromatic aldehydes, aromatic acids, phenolic compounds, and nitrogenated organic compounds. These results were in good agreement with those ones from previous Cl-initiated oxidation of toluene. These were demonstrated that ALTOFMS is a useful tool to reveal the formation and transformation processes of SOA particles in smog chamber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five aromatic hydrocarbons – benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene – were selected to investigate the laser desorption/ionization mass spectra of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) resulting from OH-initiated photooxidation of aromatic compounds. The experiments were conducted by irradiating aromatic hydrocarbon/CH3ONO/NO X mixtures in a home-made smog chamber. The aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ATOFMS) was used to measure the aerodynamic size and chemical composition of individual secondary organic aerosol particles in real-time. Experimental results showed that aerosol created by aromatics photooxidation is predominantly in the form of fine particles, which have diameters less than 2.5 μm (i.e. PM2.5), and different aromatic hydrocarbons SOA mass spectra have eight same positive laser desorption/ionization mass spectra peaks: m/z = 18, 29, 43, 44, 46, 57, 67, 77. These mass spectra peaks may come from the fragment ions of the SOA products: oxo-carboxylic acids, aldehydes and ketones, nitrogenated organic compounds, furanoid and aromatic compounds. The possible reaction mechanisms leading to these products were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A laser aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ATOFMS) that can be used for real-time measurement of the size and composition of individual aerosol particles has been designed and manufactured in our laboratory. Particles are introduced into the instrument through a particle beam interface, sized by measuring the delay time between two scattering lasers, and compositionally analyzed using a laser desorption/ionization linear-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Secondary organic aerosol particles from the photooxidation of toluene in the CH3ONO/NO/air mixture were generated in a home-made smog chamber and measured using it. Experimental results showed that the individual aerosol particles from photooxidation of toluene can be measured in real-time by this instrument. This unique capability is impossible in off-line methods such as chromatography and chemical method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]