Slug-Flow Microextraction Mass Spectrometry for Enhanced Detection of Analytes in Human Tear Fluids using Noninvasive Microsampling and Nanoelectrospray Ionization via a Capillary

In vivo noninvasive sampling and sensitive analysis of human tear fluids at the microliter level is an important but challenging task in investigating eye health. In this work, capillary microsampling coupled with slug-flow microextraction mass spectrometry (SFME-MS) was developed for enhanced detec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Analytical chemistry (Washington) 2023-11, Vol.95 (44), p.16054-16058
Main Authors: Dong, Songbin, Zhang, Ning, Yi, Man, Zhang, Jianfeng, Di, Dandan, Deng, Jiewei, Li, Lei, Hu, Bin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analytical chemistry
Biomarkers
Capillary flow
Chemical properties
Ionization
Mass spectrometry
Mass spectroscopy
Scientific imaging
Sensitivity analysis
Slug flow
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Summary:In vivo noninvasive sampling and sensitive analysis of human tear fluids at the microliter level is an important but challenging task in investigating eye health. In this work, capillary microsampling coupled with slug-flow microextraction mass spectrometry (SFME-MS) was developed for enhanced detection of analytes in human tear fluids. As low as 1.0 μL of human tear fluid could be directly sampled using a capillary, and extraction/spray solvent was then loaded into the capillary to perform slug-flow microextraction and direct nanoelectrospray ionization (nESI) of analytes. All analytical procedures, including tear microsampling, microextraction, and ionization of analytes, were performed using a capillary. Enhanced detection of therapeutic drugs and disease biomarkers in human tear fluids was successfully demonstrated. Acceptable analytical performances including sensitivity, reproducibility, and quantitation were obtained. It is found that the use of SFME could improve the nESI-MS detection of trace analytes over 100-fold that depends on the chemical properties of analytes. Overall, this study showed that SFME–nESI-MS is a highly effective method for enhanced detection of trace analytes in tear fluids and is expected to be a potentially powerful tool in significant biological and clinical applications.
ISSN:0003-2700
1520-6882
DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.3c03683