The early 2000s brought a new age in the field of mass spectrometry (MS) with the introduction of ambient ionization MS techniques. As defined by one of its early visionaries, Prof. R. Graham Cooks, ambient ionization refers to \"the ionization of unprocessed or minimally modified samples in their native environment, and it typically refers to the ionization of condensed phase samples in air.\" Since its inception in 2004, many researchers and laboratories have contributed with approaches for sampling and ionization at atmospheric conditions, greatly decreasing experimental complexity and time required for mass spectrometry analyses. In the last 15 years, innovations in the field of ambient ionization MS have grown expansively, pushing these technologies far past their point of conception and integrating them into the broader scientific community in creative and stimulating ways.

Ambient ionization Mass Spectrometry: Recent Developments and Applications

Quality assurance procedures for mass spectrometry untargeted metabolomics. a review.

The adulteration of food has received substantial amounts of media attention in the last few years, with events such as the European horsemeat scandal in 2013 sending shockwaves through society. Almost all cases are motivated by the pursuit of profits and are often aided by long and complex supply chains. In the past few years, the rapid growth of ambient mass spectrometry (AMS) has been remarkable, with over thirty different ambient ionisation techniques available. Due to the increasing concerns of the food industry and regulators worldwide, AMS is now being utilised to investigate whether or not it can generate results which are faster yet comparable to those of conventional techniques. This article reviews some aspects of the adulteration of food and its impact on the economy and the public's health, the background to ambient mass spectrometry and the studies that have been undertaken to detect food adulteration using this technology.

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The current and potential applications of Ambient Mass Spectrometry in detecting food fraud

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) have experienced rapid growth over the past decade due to their simple design, low cost, minimal sample requirement, and good sensitivity, selectivity and accuracy. While designed originally for point-of-care medical diagnostics, biological, and food safety applications, μPADs are now used increasingly for environmental monitoring purposes. This review provides a detailed overview of the μPADs developed over the past ten years for the environmental analysis of soil, air, ecology (pesticides) and river water. The review commences by introducing the fabrication techniques and detection methods used in μPAD technology. A detailed description of the main μPAD frameworks proposed in the past decade for environmental monitoring is then provided. The review concludes by examining the challenges facing μPADs for environmental monitoring and identifying probable avenues of future research.

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices for environmental analysis of soil, air, ecology and river water

The direct interface of microextraction technologies to mass spectrometry (MS) has unquestionably revolutionized the speed and efficacy at which complex matrices are analyzed Solid Phase Micro Extraction–Transmission Mode (SPME-TM) is a technology conceived as an effective synergy between sample preparation and ambient ionization Succinctly, the device consists of a mesh coated with polymeric particles that extracts analytes of interest present in a given sample matrix This coated mesh acts as a transmission-mode substrate for Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART), allowing for rapid and efficient thermal desorption/ionization of analytes previously concentrated on the coating, and dramatically lowering the limits of detection attained by sole DART analysis In this study, we present SPME-TM as a novel tool for the ultrafast enrichment of pesticides present in food and environmental matrices and their quantitative determination by MS via DART ionization Limits of quantitation in the subnanogram per mill

Ultrafast Screening and Quantitation of Pesticides in Food and Environmental Matrices by Solid-Phase Microextraction–Transmission Mode (SPME-TM) and Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART)

Tutorial review on validation of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods: part II.

Tutorial on estimating the limit of detection using LC-MS analysis, part I: Theoretical review

Paper spray ionization mass spectrometry: Study of a method for fast-screening analysis of pesticides in fruits and vegetables

Tutorial on estimating the limit of detection using LC-MS analysis, part II: Practical aspects

Sample preparation for the analysis of clinical samples with the mass spectrometer (MS) can be extensive and expensive. Simplifying and speeding up the process would be very beneficial. This paper reports sponge spray—a novel sampling and direct MS analysis approach—attempting exactly that. It enables direct analysis without any sample preparation from dried blood, plasma, and urine. The tip of a volumetric absorptive microsampling device is used to collect an exact amount of sample and from that same tip an electrospray can be directed into a mass spectrometer. We demonstrate here that, although with significant matrix effects, quantitation of penicillin G, a common antimicrobial, is possible in plasma and in urine, with essentially no sample preparation.

Hanno Evard

Papers

Tutorial review on validation of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods: part II.

Tutorial on estimating the limit of detection using LC-MS analysis, part I: Theoretical review

Paper spray ionization mass spectrometry: Study of a method for fast-screening analysis of pesticides in fruits and vegetables

Tutorial on estimating the limit of detection using LC-MS analysis, part II: Practical aspects

Sponge Spray—Reaching New Dimensions of Direct Sampling and Analysis by MS