Resolving phytosterols in microalgae using offline two-dimensional reversed phase liquid chromatography-supercritical fluid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Anal Methods. 2024 Apr 18;16(15):2278-2285. doi: 10.1039/d3ay02261g.

Abstract

Sterols are unsaponifiable lipids resulting from plant metabolism that exhibit interesting bioactive properties. Microalgae are a major source of specific phytosterols, most of which are still not fully characterized. The similarity in sterol structures and the existence of positional isomers make the separation of phytosterols challenging. A method was developed based on an offline two-dimensional (2D) system, reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC)-supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC)/quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-ToF) mass spectrometry, for the identification of sterols in microalgae. Subsequent positive-mode MS/MS was used to confirm the identified phytosterols. The 2D chromatogram exhibited a pattern related to the positions of the double bonds, which were confirmed by standard injection, enabling structural elucidation. The analysis of the unsaponifiable fraction of two algae, namely Scenedesmus obliquus, a freshwater microalgae, and Padina pavonica, a marine macroalgae, highlighted the ability of the method to distinguish a large number of sterol isomers.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Reverse-Phase / methods
  • Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid* / methods
  • Microalgae*
  • Phytosterols* / analysis
  • Plants
  • Sterols
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods

Substances

  • Phytosterols
  • Sterols