Rapid, direct analysis of cholesterol by charge labeling in reactive desorption electrospray ionization.

ABSTRACT: Direct and rapid analysis of cholesterol was accomplished in the ambient environment using reactive desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) mass spectrometry. This was achieved by electrospraying reagent solutions in the form of high velocity charged droplets at surfaces such as dried serum samples and animal tissue sections. Betaine aldehyde, incorporated into the spray solvent, reacts selectively and rapidly with the alcohol group of cholesterol by nucleophilic addition, forming a hemiacetal salt. Limits of detection for pure cholesterol and related compounds were approximately 1 ng when a solution of cholesterol of 1 microg/mL was spotted onto the surface. Quantitative analysis of free cholesterol in serum using reactive DESI was demonstrated using cholesterol-d7 as internal standard.

SUBMITTER: Wu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2747033 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature