A boronic acid–modified C₆₀ derivatization reagent for the rapid detection of 3‐monochloropropane‐1,2‐diol using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐mass spectrometry

Abstract

Rationale: 3-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) is a well-known contaminant formed in food thermal processing, which could be found in a variety of foodstuffs.Due to its potential carcinogenicity, it was essential to quickly develop a rapid and high-throughput analytical method to monitor 3-MCPD in foodstuffs, which is described in this study.Methods: 3-MCPD was extracted from foodstuffs and then was derivatized with a boronic acid-modified C 60 (B-C 60 ) through the boronic acid-diol reaction. Microwave heating was used to accelerate the derivatization reaction. Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis was conducted using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-MS (MALDI-MS). The application of the method was validated using various smoked food samples. Results:The chemical derivatization of 3-MCPD with B-C 60 enabled the addition of a C 60 -tag to 3-MCPD. High-throughput analysis of the sample within 0.5 h was realized. A good linear range from 0.02 to 1.5 μg mL À1 for 3-MCPD was obtained, with a detection limit of 0.005 μg mL À1 . The recoveries in spiked foodstuffs ranged from 85.4% to 115.1% with relative standard deviations of 2.0%-14.2%. This method was successfully applied to detect 3-MCPD in smoked foodstuffs.Conclusions: A quantitative method was developed for the detection of 3-MCPD in foodstuffs using B-C 60 derivatization combined with MALDI-MS strategy. This proposed method may serve as a potential platform for the rapid and highthroughput analysis of 3-MCPD in foodstuffs for the purpose of food safety control.

A Five-Year Update on Matrix Compounds for MALDI-MS Analysis of Lipids

“…Unfortunately, 3-MCPD is rather difficult to detect by MS and particularly MALDI-MS. This study [ 60 ] has shown that derivatization of 3-MCPD with a boronic acid-modified C60 (B-C60) through the boronic acid-diol reaction facilitates the detection of 3-MCPD significantly. A detection limit of 9 ng could be achieved under these experimental conditions.…”