Surfactants usable for electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Mass Spectrometry
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Surfactants typically suppress electrospray ionization (ESI) efficiency.
• Developing sensitive ESI-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) methods is crucial for analyzing complex biological samples.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the utility of fluorinated surfactants, specifically perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOSA), in ESI-MS.
• To evaluate their impact on sensitivity and applicability in various analytical techniques.

Main Methods:

• Micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC)/ESI-MS analysis of ionic and nonionic compounds.
• High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/ESI-MS analysis of enzymatically digested peptides and sulfonamides.
• Protein analysis using ESI-MS in the presence of fluorinated surfactants.

Main Results:

• PFOA and PFOSA did not significantly decrease ESI-MS sensitivity.
• PFOA acted as a paired ion in HPLC/ESI-MS, improving peak shape, retention times, and sensitivity.
• PFOA demonstrated superior sensitivity for protein analysis compared to other surfactants.
• PFOA was easily removed by evaporation, allowing signal recovery.

Conclusions:

• Fluorinated surfactants like PFOA and PFOSA are compatible with ESI-MS, enhancing sensitivity and applicability.
• They can be used in MEKC and HPLC for analyzing various compounds, including peptides and proteins.
• Their ability to aid in protein solubilization, extraction, and disaggregation expands ESI-MS applications in proteomics.