Recent Advances in Combinations of TLC With MALDI and Other Desorption/Ionization Mass-Spectrometry Techniques

Abstract

The combination of planar chromatography with desorption/ionization mass-spectrometry (MS) techniques provides chemists with unique tools for fast and simple separation of mixtures followed by the detection of analytes by the most powerful analytical method. Since its introduction in the early 1990s, thin-layer chromatography (TLC)/matrix-assisted mass spectrometry (MALDI) has been used for the analysis of a wide range of analytes, including natural and synthetic organic compounds. Nowadays, new desorption/ionization approaches have been developed and applied in conjunction with planar chromatography competing with MALDI. This review covers recent developments in the combination of TLC with various desorption/ionization MS methods which were made in recent several years.

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

“…Nowadays, there are commercially available techniques that enable the direct combination between TLC and ESI MS by re-elution of the analytes from the TLC plate. Nevertheless, TLC can also be coupled to MALDI MS [ 80 ] at which the TLC plate is analyzed in a similar way as a thin tissue slice in MSI. Therefore, the TLC plate (or just the regions of interest) is dipped into the matrix solution and, after drying, “scanned” by MALDI MS.…”

“…Although HPLC-MS is more widely used, there are increasing applications of TLC in order to analyze lipids [ 81 ]. A comprehensive review of this field is already available [ 80 ].…”

Comprehensive Study of Si-Based Compounds in Selected Plants (Pisum sativum L., Medicago sativa L., Triticum aestivum L.)

“…A technique often used for this purpose is matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS). TLC/MALDI enables the analysis of complex organic mixtures [253,254]. Previous reports indicate that this approach is effective in the identification of active compounds of plant origin, such as lipids or flavonoids [255,256].…”

Thin layer chromatography/desorption flame‐induced atmospheric pressure chemical ionization/mass spectrometry for the analysis of volatile and semi‐volatile mixtures

“…To further identify specific analyte spots, tedious sample pretreatment is therefore applied to remove, extract, and concentrate analytes from the gel bed for subsequent off‐line analysis using GC/MS, LC/MS, infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI/MS), or matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI/MS) 13–17 . Mass spectrometric approaches such as fast atom bombardment (FAB), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), laser desorption ionization (LDI), and MALDI can also be used to directly characterize analyte spots on the TLC plate 18–23 . However, these ion sources, which are vacuum operated, are unsuitable for analyzing volatile and semi‐volatile compounds as there is a need for a TLC plate to be placed in a vacuum environment for analysis.…”

“…[13][14][15][16][17] Mass spectrometric approaches such as fast atom bombardment (FAB), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), laser desorption ionization (LDI), and MALDI can also be used to directly characterize analyte spots on the TLC plate. [18][19][20][21][22][23] However, these ion sources, which are vacuum operated, are unsuitable for analyzing volatile and semi-volatile compounds as there is a need for a TLC plate to be placed in a vacuum environment for analysis. In addition, the required processes in MALDI, such as depositing matrix solutions on a TLC plate, may induce lateral spreading of analyte spots and decrease the spatial resolution and detection sensitivity.…”