Quantitative Spatial Analysis of PFAS in Nine Biological Tissues from Mouse via MALDI-TIMS-MSI

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Toxicology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent, widespread environmental contaminants.
• Their ubiquity, persistence, and mobility lead to biomagnification.
• Understanding PFAS tissue distribution is crucial for assessing health effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a fast, reproducible, and cost-effective in situ analytical method for PFAS detection and localization.
• To simultaneously quantify 24 PFAS across nine different male mouse tissues.
• To utilize mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) for spatial exposomics studies of PFAS.

Main Methods:

• Development of a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) coupled with trapped ion mobility separation (TIMS) MSI protocol.
• Optimization of ammonium fluoride as a cost-effective ionization agent in a 1,5-diaminonaphthalene (DAN) matrix.
• Evaluation of ion mobility separation for enhanced sensitivity in PFAS analysis.

Main Results:

• A limit of detection of 17.20 fmol/mm² was achieved for PFAS.
• Simultaneous detection, localization, and quantification of 24 PFAS in nine mouse tissues (brain, spleen, testis, heart, intestine, thyroid, kidney, pancreas, liver).
• The optimized MALDI-TIMS MSI method demonstrated high throughput and spatial resolution.

Conclusions:

• The developed MALDI-TIMS MSI method is a powerful tool for spatial exposomics of PFAS.
• This technique facilitates future environmental and toxicological studies on PFAS accumulation and effects.
• The cost-effective approach enhances the study of PFAS distribution in biological systems.