Quantitative analysis of small molecules by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry from polytetrafluoroethylene surfaces

Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2008;22(4):503-10. doi: 10.1002/rcm.3377.

Abstract

Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) is an emerging technique for ambient analysis. However, its application to routine quantitation has not been explored extensively and this is undertaken here. We present studies that utilize a particularly suitable surface, porous polytetrafluoroethylene (porous PTFE), which shows less cross contamination between samples and improved sensitivity and signal stability compared to other surfaces. Quantitative experiments for 1 microL spotted solutions of the beta-blocker propranolol, using isotopically labeled propranolol as internal standard, showed a good linear correlation (r2 > 0.996) over the range 0.01-100 microM. The inter-day precision, based on the relative standard deviation, for replicates analyzed on three different days was 13% for 0.01 microM and better than 7% for the remainder of the calibration points. The inter-day accuracy, expressed as relative error, was better than +/-7% for all calibration points along the curve. These day-to-day measurements suggest that DESI-MS can be successfully employed for routine quantitative analysis. The use of the analog atenolol as an internal standard and further considerations that should improve quantitation by DESI-MS are also presented.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Molecular Weight
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / analysis*
  • Polytetrafluoroethylene / chemistry*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Specimen Handling / methods*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Pharmaceutical Preparations
  • Polytetrafluoroethylene