Determining estrogens using surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry with silver nanoparticles...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Nanomaterials Science

Background:

• Estrogen determination is crucial for monitoring endocrine health.
• Existing methods for estrogen analysis can be complex and time-consuming.
• Silver nanoparticles offer unique properties for mass spectrometry applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel method for estrogen determination using silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) as matrices for surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS).
• To evaluate the sensitivity, reproducibility, and practicality of the Ag NP-SALDI-MS approach for analyzing estrogens.

Main Methods:

• Application of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) as matrices for SALDI-MS.
• Analysis of three estrogens: estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3).
• Direct SALDI-MS analysis of analytes concentrated on Ag NPs after centrifugation.

Main Results:

• Ag NPs demonstrated high efficiency as SALDI matrices due to their strong absorption at 337 nm.
• Achieved limits of detection for E1, E2, and E3 were 2.23, 0.23, and 2.11 microM, respectively.
• Demonstrated low shot-to-shot (<9%) and batch-to-batch (<13%) variations.
• Successfully quantified estradiol (E2) in human urine from a pregnant woman (0.16±0.05 microM).

Conclusions:

• Silver nanoparticles are effective and versatile matrices for SALDI-MS analysis of estrogens.
• The developed Ag NP-SALDI-MS method offers high sensitivity and good reproducibility.
• This approach is practical for the quantitation of estrogens in complex biological matrices like human urine.