Introduction
Cortisol is an important steroid hormone produced from cholesterol in the adrenal cortex. Its secretion is closely regulated by Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Most cortisol is protein-bound, and only unbound cortisol is excreted in urine. Measurement of cortisol in urine is typically used in the diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome, a disorder of hypercortisolism.
Although immunoassay methods have extremely high sensitivity, they are subject to variable interferences from other steroids and their conjugates. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry is increasingly used in clinical analysis because of its higher specificity and selectivity than immunoassay methods. A simple and robust UHPLC/MS method will be introduced for urinary cortisol analysis and the dynamic range and sensitivity (LOD and LLOQ) of the UHPLC/CMS method will be evaluated.
Introduction
Fentanyl, a fast-acting synthetic painkiller about 100 times stronger than morphine, is also the most widely used synthetic opioid medicine in 2017.1 Its abuse is becoming a public health problem. A quick and easy analysis method for this drug is in high demand from health practitioners and law enforcement agencies.
The Touch Express™ Open Port Sampling Interface (OPSI),2,3 is designed for simple sampling of solids, liquids, sample preparation tips and fibers. Paired with the ESI of the expression® CMS, the product incorporates an open port of continuous low-volume solvent, flowing directly into the ESI for MS analysis. Any soluble sample touching the open port will be analyzed by the mass spectrometer in just seconds.
Here, a simple and quick analysis method for fentanyl in urine using Touch Express™ OPSI on the Advion expression® CMS is presented.
Introduction
The legalization of marijuana and hemp provides commercial opportunities as well as analytical challenges. Accurate and precise quantitative analysis of plant and medicinal products is needed in this new industry to document composition and assure the safety of cannabis products. LC/MS techniques can provide unparalleled selective and sensitive measurements for these purposes. Here we describe the use of a relatively inexpensive compact mass spectrometer for SIM LC/MS analysis of cannabis-related applications.
This poster was presented at ASMS 2018 Annual Conference in San Diego, CA.
Introduction
Metal based compounds have found utility in various fields such as clinical, energy, food safety and environmental to name a few. Creating the metal complex is the last step in a synthetic process when ligands are bound to the metal center. Once made, these metal complexes can be used anywhere from stereospecific synthesis to anti-cancer drugs. It is critical that reaction conditions are providing the desired product and that side products are kept to a minimum to maximize yield. Presented here is the use of an inert atmospheric solid analysis (iASAP) probe to quickly sample and measure the reaction via mass spectrometry.
Chemical processes can be performed in two ways; in batch or in flow, each method having set advantages and disadvantages associated with them.
Flow chemistry has gathered increasing attention over the past decade and is being readily adopted into academia to help improve synthetic routes, which maybe undesirable in batch, where outputs such as yield, productivity, E-factor or selectivity maybe improved via various methods of optimisation. On-line analytics within continuous flow chemistry allow reactions to be monitored in real-time ultimately allowing immediate characterisation and the ability to optimise in the easiest possible way.
Hosted by Jack Henion, Advion’s Chief Scientific Founder, Chris Horbaczewskyj of the University of Leeds outlines the work carried out within the Bourne group for process development applications:
- Use of flow chemistry with online HPLC in the self-optimisation of reactions,
- Use of online mass spectrometry for the optimisation of continuous flow reactions using an experimental design approach,
- The development of new algorithms for multiple variable optimisation in chemical systems.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are neutral compounds containing multiple aromatic fused rings that are present in fossil fuels and can be formed from the incomplete combustion of organic material. In recent years, it has been well documented that several PAHs can be potentially carcinogenic via exposure or ingestion.
In this application note, we analyze 16 PAHs by LC/CMS (EPA 610 Mix) on the EPA priority target list using the Advion expression Compact Mass Spectrometer (CMS) coupled with the Advion AVANT UHPLC system.
The Touch Express™ Open Port Sampling Interface (OPSI), is designed for simple sampling of solids, liquids and sample preparation tips and fibers. The novel ambient sampling technique was developed by Gary Van Berkel and Vilmos Kertesz, of Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Paired with the electrospray ion source of the expression® Compact Mass Spectrometer, the product incorporates a low volume, open port of continuously swept solvent, flowing directly into the electrospray ion source of the mass spectrometer.
During this webinar you will:
- Learn how any soluble material touching the port is analyzed by the expression® Compact Mass Spectrometer in just seconds.
- Learn how the sample technique eliminates sample preparation and provides zero carry over.
- Find fast analysis methods for solids, liquids and sample preparation tips and fibers.
Touch Express™ is a new sampling device for mass spec analysis using a technique developed by Gary Van Berkel and Vilmos Kertesz of Oak Ridge National Laboratory – the Open Port Sample Interface (OPSI). This fast, versatile sample inlet paired with the expression® Compact Mass Spectrometer (CMS) provides simple molecular weight determination of surfaces, solids and liquids in < 30s.
Gary Van Berkel, Vilmos Kertesz
Rationale
An “Open Access”‐like mass spectrometric platform to fully utilize the simplicity of the manual open port sampling interface for rapid characterization of unprocessed samples by liquid introduction atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry has been lacking. The in‐house developed integrated software with a simple, small and relatively low‐cost mass spectrometry system introduced here fills this void.
Methods
Software was developed to operate the mass spectrometer, to collect and process mass spectrometric data files, to build a database and to classify samples using such a database. These tasks were accomplished via the vendor‐provided software libraries. Sample classification based on spectral comparison utilized the spectral contrast angle method.
Results
Using the developed software platform near real‐time sample classification is exemplified using a series of commercially available blue ink rollerball pens and vegetable oils. In the case of the inks, full scan positive and negative ion ESI mass spectra were both used for database generation and sample classification. For the vegetable oils, full scan positive ion mode APCI mass spectra were recorded. The overall accuracy of the employed spectral contrast angle statistical model was 95.3% and 98% in case of the inks and oils, respectively, using leave‐one‐out cross‐validation.
Conclusions
This work illustrates that an open port sampling interface/mass spectrometer combination, with appropriate instrument control and data processing software, is a viable direct liquid extraction sampling and analysis system suitable for the non‐expert user and near real‐time sample classification via database matching. Published in 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
The OPSI/MS analysis was carried out using Advion Expression® CMS.
