Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026
08:57
Scalable Syntheses of Graphene Oxide and Reduced Graphene Oxide using Cascade Design Oxidation and Highly Basic Reduction Reactions
Published on: July 3, 2025
SALDI-MS signal enhancement using oxidized graphitized carbon black nanoparticles
Nahid Amini1, Mohammadreza Shariatgorji, Gunnar Thorsén
1Department of Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry
|March 20, 2009
Summary
Oxidized graphitized carbon black (GCB) significantly enhances surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SALDI-TOF-MS) for detecting low-molecular-weight compounds. This method successfully quantified propranolol in mussels, a feat not possible with non-oxidized GCB.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SALDI-TOF-MS) is a powerful technique for analyzing low-molecular-weight compounds.
- The choice of desorption/ionization surface critically impacts signal intensity and analyte detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of oxidized graphitized carbon black (GCB) as a SALDI surface for enhancing signal intensity.
- To develop a method for extracting and quantifying propranolol in biological matrices using oxidized GCB.
Main Methods:
- Utilized oxidized graphitized carbon black (GCB) particles as the SALDI surface.
- Employed surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SALDI-TOF-MS) for analysis.
- Quantified propranolol in Baltic Sea blue mussels using deuterated propranolol as an internal standard.
Main Results:
- Oxidized GCB demonstrated significantly enhanced signal intensity compared to non-oxidized GCB.
- The presence of carboxylic acid groups on oxidized GCB improved ionization efficiency and desorption of hydrophobic compounds.
- Propranolol was successfully extracted and quantified from blue mussels with a wide linear dynamic range (0.1-20 microg/mL) and good reproducibility (RSD < 10%).
- Detection of propranolol was not achievable using non-oxidized GCB.
Conclusions:
- Oxidized GCB serves as a superior SALDI surface for the sensitive detection and quantification of low-molecular-weight compounds, including pharmaceuticals.
- The enhanced ionization and desorption properties of oxidized GCB, attributed to carboxylic acid groups, enable robust analysis in complex matrices like blue mussels.
