An Interlaboratory Comparison of High-Resolution Ion Mobility Collision Cross-Sections from Human Plasma.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Metabolomics

Background:

• High-resolution ion mobility (HRIM) is increasingly used in untargeted omics.
• Reproducible collision cross-section (CCS) measurements are crucial for HRIM adoption.
• Standardized CCS values are needed for interlaboratory comparisons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reproducibility of a HRIM platform using traveling wave ion mobility spectrometry (TWSLIM).
• To establish a consensus database of lipid CCS values for community use.
• To support the integration of HRIM into lipidomic workflows.

Main Methods:

• An interlaboratory study was conducted using a HRIM platform with TWSLIM in nitrogen drift gas.
• 250 lipid features from human plasma standard reference material were analyzed.
• Data-independent, mobility-aligned fragmentation (MAF) was used for structural insights.

Main Results:

• The HRIM platform demonstrated high CCS measurement reproducibility, with an average relative standard deviation of ~0.1%.
• Triglycerides showed multiple IM features, highlighting HRIM's utility for structural elucidation.
• A database of 250 lipid consensus ^TWSLIMCCS_N2 values was compiled.

Conclusions:

• The HRIM platform offers high reproducibility for lipid CCS measurements.
• The developed HRIM database will facilitate the advancement of lipidomic studies.
• Standardized CCS measurements are essential for robust omics data interpretation.