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Updated: May 23, 2026
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Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Refractive Index or Mass Spectrometric Detection for Metabolite Profiling in Lysate-based Cell-free Systems
Published on: September 23, 2021
Metabolic profiling reveals structure-based common metabolites for liquid crystal monomers
Sin-Yu Lee1, Japhet Cheuk-Fung Law1, Chi-Hang Chow2
1Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|May 21, 2026
Summary
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are found in humans, but their metabolism and toxicity are unclear. This study identified common metabolites and found some metabolites may pose risks like mutagenicity and endocrine disruption.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Toxicology
- Human Metabolism
Background:
- Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are prevalent in electronic displays and increasingly detected in human and environmental samples.
- Understanding the human metabolism and toxicity of LCMs and their byproducts is crucial due to potential health risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro phase I metabolism of representative cyano-LCMs and fluoro-LCMs using human liver microsomes.
- To identify and structurally elucidate LCM metabolites.
- To assess the potential toxicity of LCMs and their metabolites and explore biomonitoring strategies.
Main Methods:
- In vitro phase I metabolism assays using human liver microsomes (HLMs).
- Ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) for metabolite identification and structural elucidation.
- In silico toxicity prediction models.
- Targeted analysis of meconium samples.
Main Results:
- Twenty-six metabolites were identified, including 4-cyano-4'-hydroxybiphenyl (CN-195) and 2-fluoro-4-hydroxybenzonitrile (2F4OHBN).
- Structurally related LCMs converged to common metabolites (e.g., CN-195, 2F4OHBN).
- CN-195 and 2F4OHBN were detected in 30% and 55% of meconium samples, respectively. In silico analysis suggested potential mutagenicity, developmental toxicity, skin sensitization, and endocrine disruption for several metabolites.
Conclusions:
- LCM biotransformation can generate potentially toxic metabolites that should not be underestimated.
- Common metabolites from structurally related LCMs can be used for future human biomonitoring and risk assessment.
- Further research into LCM metabolite toxicity is warranted.
