Simultaneous analysis of acylcarnitines using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry based on a parylene matrix chip

Analyst. 2022 Nov 7;147(22):5044-5053. doi: 10.1039/d2an01199a.

Abstract

Short and medium chain acylcarnitines have been used for the diagnosis of various fatty acid oxidation and organic acid disorders. This report presents a multiplex and quantitative analysis of acylcarnitines using MALDI-TOF MS based on a parylene matrix chip. The parylene matrix chip was fabricated by the deposition of a nanoporous film of parylene on an organic matrix array, which reduced the number of mass peaks from the organic matrix in the low m/z range. Quantitative analysis was possible using the parylene matrix chip because of the formation of nano-sized sample crystals on the nanoporous parylene film. Seven acylcarnitines were quantitatively analyzed using the chip; the method detection range included the cut-off values for metabolic disorders. The seven acylcarnitines of different concentrations were simultaneously detected using the parylene matrix chip and the interference from the mixed carnitines was estimated. Real L-carnitine (C0) samples were analyzed using serial dilution, and the recoveries were calculated by comparisons with a standard curve.

MeSH terms

  • Carnitine*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods
  • Xylenes* / chemistry

Substances

  • parylene
  • acylcarnitine
  • Xylenes
  • Carnitine