Functionalized capillary device for mass spectrometry-based subcellular lipid profiling

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K20560
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0502:Inorganic/coordination chemistry, analytical chemistry, inorganic materials chemistry, energy-related chemistry, and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Liu Chenchen 九州大学, 理学研究院, 助教 (50963211)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: mass spectrometry / solid phase extraction / subcellular analysis / lipidomics

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A simple glass needle device was developed and demonstrated for subcellular lipid analysis. Subcellular lipid profiling is a highly valuable research area, but it is challenging due to the limited sample volume and high structural/molecular diversity. Mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the most advanced techniques for subcellular composition analysis, but it requires delicate sample pretreatment methods to ensure reliable analysis. A major issue in crucial sample detection by MS is ion suppression from impurities present in the complex sample matrix. With our glass needle device, impurities could be removed by its solid phase micro extraction (SPME) function, and electro-spray ionization-based MS would be realized by its electrically conductive character. The SPME was demonstrated using a standard lipid sample, and subcellular analysis via the glass needle device and MS was demonstrated using Neuro2a cells.

Free Research Field

分離化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

サブセルラーリピッド プロファイリングは細胞の生理機能や病態解明において極めて有益な研究分野である。しかし、サンプル量の制限と高い構造/分子多様性が大きな課題である。質量分析法(MS)はサブセルラー組成分析に有力だが、複雑なサンプル中の不純物によるイオン抑制が重要な検出問題となっている。本研究で開発したガラス針デバイスは、不純物を除去し、エレクトロスプレーイオン化MSを実現できる。この簡便製作のデバイスは高性能なMS分析を可能にするため、実現可能性の高いサブセルラーリピッド プロファイリング手法として貢献できると期待される。