Identification of effective substrates for the direct analysis of lipids from cell lines using desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Abstract

We demonstrate the use of a simple substrate for reliable DESI-MS analysis of cultured cells. This method has the potential to understand various interactions of cells with other external agents. The current method would help in the application of DESI-MS for biology in general and medical sciences in particular.

Nucleolin-aptamer therapy in retinoblastoma: molecular changes and mass spectrometry–based imaging

“…The samples were analyzed from the filter paper by DESI MS in positive ion mode using HPLC grade methanol from Sigma-Aldrich (Bangalore, India) as solvent and conditions published earlier. 23 The snap frozen tumor tissues were sectioned using a Leica cryostat and thaw mounted on glass slides and analyzed by DESI MS using the same conditions used for the cell lines. In brief, the following parameters were maintained throughout the DESI MS experiments; spray voltage: 5 kV, solvent flow rate: 5 µl/minute, nebulizer gas pressure: 150 psi, spray angle: 60° to the surface, surface to spray tip distance: 2 mm, atmospheric inlet of the mass spectrometer to spray tip distance: 3 mm.…”

“…DESI MS can potentially grade the stages in cancer, detect the surgical tumor margins, and study lipogenesis in tumor. 4 , 20 , 21 , 22 DESI MS-based lipid imaging of cultured RB cells was recently optimized by spotting cells onto Whatman filter paper 23 and this method was utilized for studying the aptamer siRNA chimera-mediated changes in cell lines. 24 There is no information on the expression status of NCL in RB and on the use of lipid imaging to study the effect of NCL-APT in situ.…”

Advances in Ionization for Mass Spectrometry

“…Lipid profiling of cultured cells was successfully acquired using filter paper as a DESI substrate by Srimany and coauthors . Their study compared the efficacy of four substrates: glass, Teflon-coated glass, thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates, and Whatman filter paper.…”

“…Lipid profiling of cultured cells was successfully acquired using filter paper as a DESI substrate by Srimany and coauthors. 61 Their study compared the efficacy of four substrates: glass, Teflon-coated glass, thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates, and Whatman filter paper. The filter paper promoted fast drying of the analyte solution, produced uniform distribution of sample on the spot, and yielded good signal intensity.…”

Mass Spectrometry-Based Cellular Metabolomics: Current Approaches, Applications, and Future Directions

“…DESI-MS has also been employed to profile lipids from cultured mammalian cell lines by spotting cells on Whatman 42 filter paper. 161,162 Demonstrated for its ability to detect predominantly phospholipids from two human retinoblastoma cell lines, DESI-MS permitted the detection of reliable ion signal from approximately 10 5 cells. 161 This sample preparation method, ideal for nonadherent cells, has also been shown to be effective for analyzing surface lipid profiles following targeted drug delivery in MCF-7 and WERI-RB1 cells as well as distinguishing the effects of oxidants on a human fibroblast cell line.…”