Study of immobilized metal affinity chromatography sorbents for the analysis of peptides by on-line solid-phase extraction capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry.

Several commercial immobilized metal affinity chromatography sorbents were evaluated in this study for the analysis of two small peptide fragments of the amyloid ß-protein (Aß) (Aß(1-15) and Aß(10-20) peptides) by on-line immobilized metal affinity SPE-CE (IMA-SPE-CE). The performance of a nickel metal ion (Ni(II)) sorbent based on nitrilotriacetic acid as a chelating agent was significantly better than two copper metal ion (Cu(II)) sorbents based on iminodiacetic acid. A BGE of 25 mM phosphate (pH 7.4) and an eluent of 50 mM imidazole (in BGE) yielded a 25-fold and 5-fold decrease in the LODs by IMA-SPE-CE-UV for Aß(1-15) and Aß(10-20) peptides (0.1 and 0.5 µg/mL, respectively) with regard to CE-UV (2.5 µg/mL for both peptides). The phosphate BGE was also used in IMA-SPE-CE-MS, but the eluent needed to be substituted by a 0.5% HAc v/v solution. Under optimum preconcentration and detection conditions, reproducibility of peak areas and migration times was acceptable (23.2 and 12.0%RSD, respectively). The method was more sensitive for Aß(10-20) peptide, which could be detected until 0.25 µg/mL. Linearity for Aß(10-20) peptide was good in a narrow concentration range (0.25-2.5 µg/mL, R(2) = 0.93). Lastly, the potential of the optimized Ni(II)-IMA-SPE-CE-MS method for the analysis of amyloid peptides in biological fluids was evaluated by analyzing spiked plasma and serum samples.

On-line immunoaffinity solid-phase extraction capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry for the analysis of large biomolecules: a preliminary report.

The analysis of large biomolecules by on-line immunoaffinity solid-phase extraction capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry (IA-SPE-CE-MS) remains unexplored because of the complex issues that need to be addressed. In this preliminary study, we used the human glycoprotein transferrin (Tf) as a model of a large biomolecule. First, we established by CE-UV a novel method compatible with IA-SPE-CE-MS, based on the use of a fused silica capillary coated with an anionic derivative of polyacrylamide (UltraTrol(TM) Dynamic Pre-Coat High Normal, HN) to prevent protein adsorption. The methodology allowed the detection of the most abundant Tf sialoforms. Repeatability studies demonstrated high stability of the coated capillaries, which was required for on-line immunoextraction and MS detection. IA-SPE-CE-UV and IA-SPE-CE-MS methods were optimized for the analysis of Tf standards and human serum samples using a laboratory-made IA sorbent. Three peaks corresponding to Tf were detected with UV detection when on-line immunoextraction was applied to the standards. The use of MS detection, however, reduced the resolution of the electrophoretic separation. Finally, we demonstrated that it was possible to detect Tf in human serum samples, after off-line serum sample de-salting by centrifugal filtration.

Evaluation of fritless solid-phase extraction coupled on-line with capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry for the analysis of opioid peptides in cerebrospinal fluid.

Fritless SPE on-line coupled to CE with UV and MS detection (SPE-CE-UV and SPE-CE-MS) was evaluated for the analysis of opioid peptides. A microcartridge of 150 µm id was packed with a C18 sorbent (particle size > 50 µm), which was retained between a short inlet capillary and a separation capillary (50 µm id). Several experimental parameters were optimized by SPE-CE-UV using solutions of dynorphin A (DynA), endomorphin 1 (End1), and methionine-enkephaline (Met). A microcartridge length of 4 mm was selected, sample was loaded for 10 min at 930 mbar and the retained peptides were eluted with 67 nL of an acidic hydro-organic solution. Using SPE-CE-MS, peak area and migration time repeatabilities for the three opioid peptides were 12-27% and 4-5%, respectively. SPE recovery was lower for the less hydrophobic DynA (22%) than for End1 (66%) and Met (78%) and linearity was satisfactory in all cases between 5 and 60 ng/mL. The LODs varied between 0.5 and 1.0 ng/mL which represent an enhancement of two orders of magnitude when compared with CE-MS. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples spiked with the opioid peptides were analyzed to demonstrate the applicability to biological samples. Peak area and migration time repeatabilities were similar to the standard solutions and the opioid peptides could be detected down to 1.0 ng/mL.

Transient isotachophoresis in on-line solid phase extraction capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight-mass spectrometry for peptide analysis in human plasma.

In this study, we evaluated the combination of transient isotachophoresis with on-line solid-phase extraction capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SPE-tITP-CE-TOF-MS) to improve sensitivity of peptide analysis, using several opioid peptides as model compounds. First, standard solutions were analyzed in order to establish the tITP-CE methodology using UV and TOF-MS detection. The volume and composition of the leading and terminating electrolytes (i.e. LE and TE) for an efficient tITP were investigated to obtain optimum detection sensitivity and electrophoretic separation. In the best cases, LODs in tITP-CE-TOF-MS were tenfold better than those obtained in CE-TOF-MS (i.e. 5 versus 50 ng/mL). Afterwards, the tITP-CE-TOF-MS methodology was adapted to perform SPE-tITP-CE-TOF-MS. Repeatability, linearity and LODs were investigated and compared to the values obtained by SPE-CE-TOF-MS. Furthermore, human plasma samples fortified with the opioid peptides were analyzed in order to show the potential of SPE-tITP-CE-TOF-MS for peptide analysis in biological fluids. The LODs attained in standard solutions and plasma samples for some of the studied peptides (i.e. 0.01 and 0.1 ng/mL, respectively) were tenfold better than those obtained in SPE-CE-TOF-MS, proving the enhanced sensitivity that could be achieved when both on-line preconcentration approaches were combined together.

Investigation of commercial sorbents for the analysis of opioid peptides in human plasma by on-line SPE-CE.

In this study, we investigated the performance of several commercial sorbents (Sep-pack) C18, (t)C18, C8 and (t)C2, Oasis HLB, Isolute ENV+, Strata-X and Oasis MCX) for the determination of opioid peptides by solid-phase extraction coupled on-line to capillary electrophoresis (SPE-CE). First, standard solutions were analyzed in order to achieve the lowest LOD and the best electrophoretic separations using UV detection. The best results were obtained using C18, C8 and (t)C2 sorbents, which were examined for the analysis of spiked human plasma samples. A double-step sample clean-up pretreatment, which consisted of precipitation with acetonitrile and filtration, was needed to prevent saturation of the on-line SPE microcartridge. The filtration step was critical to obtain optimum analyte recovery and to clean up the sample matrix. A range of centrifugal filters and filtration conditions were tested and the recoveries of the sample pretreatment were evaluated by CE-ESI-MS. The LODs attained through SPE-CE-UV were approximately ten-fold better with C18 than with C8 and (t)C2. The 0.1 microg/mL LODs achieved by C18-SPE-CE-UV were further improved until we could detect 1 ng/mL concentrations of opioid peptides in plasma samples by C18-SPE-CE-ESI-MS, due to the outstanding selectivity of the MS detection.

On-Line Solid-Phase Extraction Capillary Electrophoresis Mass Spectrometry for Preconcentration and Clean-Up of Peptides and Proteins.

One of the major drawbacks of capillary electrophoresis (CE) and other microscale separation techniques, for the analysis of low abundant peptides and proteins in complex samples, are the poor concentration limits of detection. Several strategies have been developed to improve CE sensitivity. Here, we describe an on-line solid-phase extraction capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry method with a commercial C18 sorbent for clean-up and preconcentration of neuropeptides from highly diluted biological samples.

Low-picomolar analysis of peptides by on-line coupling of fritless solid-phase extraction to sheathless capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry.

A novel fritless solid-phase extraction (SPE) microcartridge was designed for combination with sheathless capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (sheathless CE-MS) employing a prototype porous-tip capillary for nanoelectrospray ionization (nanoESI). The inlet of the separation capillary (30µm inner diameter (id), 150µm outer diameter (od)) was inserted in a 4mm long SPE microcartridge (150µm id, 365µm od) packed with a C18 sorbent of 55-105µm particle size. Performance of the SPE-CE-MS system was evaluated using diluted solutions of the three opioid peptides dynorphin A (1-7) (DynA), endomorphin 1 (End1) and met-enkephalin (Met). Sample volumes of 1.5µL were loaded on the SPE microcartridge and the retained peptides were eluted with 22nL of an acidic methanol/water (60:40, v/v) solution. Using a pressure of 50mbar during separation to speed up the analysis, good peptide resolution was obtained with acceptable plate numbers (between 53,000 and 92,000). Intraday relative standard deviations (% RSD) for peptide migration times and peak areas were below 4% and 9%, respectively. The SPE-CE-MS method showed good linearity in the 0.05-5ngmL(-1) range and limits of detection (LODs) were 10pgmL(-1). However, loading a larger volume of sample (8µL), LODs could be decreased down to 2pgmL(-1) (2.2-3.5pM). This represents an improvement of up to 5000-fold with respect to the LODs achieved by sheathless CE-MS without on-line preconcentration demonstrating the potential of on-line SPE for further enhancing sensitivity.

Preparation and evaluation of an immunoaffinity sorbent with Fab' antibody fragments for the analysis of opioid peptides by on-line immunoaffinity solid-phase extraction capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry.

An immunoaffinity (IA) sorbent with antibody fragments was prepared for the analysis of opioid peptides by on-line immunoaffinity solid-phase extraction capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (IA-SPE-CE-MS). The antibody fragmentation was evaluated by MALDI-TOF-MS. Fab' fragments obtained from a polyclonal IgG antibody against Endomorphins 1 and 2 (End1 and End2) were covalently attached to succinimidyl silica particles to prepare the IA sorbent. An IA-SPE-CE-MS methodology was established analyzing standard solutions of End1 and End2 and acceptable repeatability, linearity ranges and LODs (0.5 and 5 ng mL(-1), respectively) were obtained. The LOD of End1 was slightly better than that previously obtained using an IA sorbent with intact antibodies (1 ng mL(-1)). In human plasma samples, End1 and End2 could be detected at 1 and 50 ng mL(-1), respectively, which meant an improvement of 100 and 2-fold with regard to the LODs using an IA sorbent with intact antibodies (100 ng mL(-1)).

Preparation and evaluation of an immunoaffinity sorbent for the analysis of opioid peptides by on-line immunoaffinity solid-phase extraction capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry.

In this study, we explored a procedure for the preparation of an immunoaffinity (IA) sorbent for the analysis of opioid peptides by on-line immunoaffinity solid-phase extraction capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (IA-SPE-CE-MS). We followed a site-specific antibody immobilization approach based on the covalent attachment of the oxidized antibodies through their carbohydrate moieties to hydrazide silica particles, using a polyclonal antibody against Endomorphin 1 and 2 (End1 and End2). The main features of the IA sorbent were studied, such as the amount of hydrazide groups and antibodies attached onto oxidized diol silica particles. Once the procedure was optimized, standard solutions of End1 and End2 were used in order to establish the IA-SPE-CE-MS methodology. Acceptable repeatability, reproducibility and linearity range values were obtained for the proposed methodology. The limits of detection (LODs) of 1 ng mL(-1) were approximately 100-fold better than those obtained by CE-MS. Selectivity of the IA sorbent was good but some cross-reactivity against Dynorphin A (1-7) was observed when a mixture of several opioid peptides was analyzed. Human plasma samples spiked with End1 and End2 were also analyzed and both peptides could be detected down to 100 ng mL(-1).