Fe3O4-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry for typical metabolite analysis and localization: Influencing factors, mechanisms, and environmental applications

Wen-Wen Wei; Yuanhong Zhong; Ting Zou; Xiao-Fan Chen; Li Ren; Zenghua Qi; Guoguang Liu; Zhi-Feng Chen; Zongwei Cai

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121817

Fe₃O₄-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry for typical metabolite analysis and localization: Influencing factors, mechanisms, and environmental applications

J Hazard Mater. 2020 Apr 15:388:121817. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121817. Epub 2019 Dec 3.

Authors

Wen-Wen Wei¹, Yuanhong Zhong², Ting Zou¹, Xiao-Fan Chen¹, Li Ren², Zenghua Qi¹, Guoguang Liu¹, Zhi-Feng Chen³, Zongwei Cai⁴

Affiliations

¹ Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
² School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
³ Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China. Electronic address: chenzhf@gdut.edu.cn.
⁴ Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: zwcai@hkbu.edu.hk.

PMID: 31843410
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121817

Abstract

Fe₃O₄ has been suggested as an efficient matrix for small-molecule analysis by laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS), but thus far there has been no systematic study exploring the influencing factors of nano-Fe₃O₄ on the detection of typical metabolites, or the mechanism by which nano-Fe₃O₄ assists the desorption and ionization of analytes after receiving laser energy. In this study, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with different physicochemical properties were synthesized and characterized. The results revealed that smaller particle size and greater surface hydroxyl amount of nano-spherical Fe₃O₄ could improve the intensity and relative standard deviation of typical metabolites by LDI-MS. The thermally driven desorption process played a vital role in LDI performance, but the chemical interactions between nano-Fe₃O₄ and analytes did not. Good intra- or inter-spot repeatability and linearity of analytes were obtained by the optimum Fe₃O₄-assisted LDI-MS. Finally, the developed method was successfully used for the rapid analysis and localization of endogenous metabolites in biofluids and whole zebrafish tissue section samples. Our results not only elucidate the influencing factors and mechanisms of nano-Fe₃O₄ for the detection of typical metabolites in LDI-MS but also reveal an innovative tool for the imaging of chemicals in the regions of interest in terms of eco-toxicological research.

Keywords: Fe(3)O(4); Laser desorption ionization; Physicochemical property; Small-molecule metabolite; Time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't