Issue 9, 2017

Detection of chemical warfare agent simulants and hydrolysis products in biological samples by paper spray mass spectrometry

Abstract

Paper spray ionization coupled to a high resolution tandem mass spectrometer (a quadrupole orbitrap) was used to identify and quantitate chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulants and their hydrolysis products in blood and urine. Three CWA simulants, dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), trimethyl phosphate (TMP), and diisopropyl methylphosphonate (DIMP), and their isotopically labeled standards were analyzed in human whole blood and urine. Calibration curves were generated and tested with continuing calibration verification standards. Limits of detection for these three compounds were in the low ng mL−1 range for the direct analysis of both blood and urine samples. Five CWA hydrolysis products, ethyl methylphosphonic acid (EMPA), isopropyl methylphosphonic acid (IMPA), isobutyl methylphosphonic acid (iBuMPA), cyclohexyl methylphosphonic acid (CHMPA), and pinacolyl methylphosphonic acid (PinMPA), were also analyzed. Calibration curves were generated in both positive and negative ion modes. Limits of detection in the negative ion mode ranged from 0.36 ng mL−1 to 1.25 ng mL−1 in both blood and urine for the hydrolysis products. These levels were well below those found in victims of the Tokyo subway attack of 2 to 135 ng mL−1. Improved stability and robustness of the paper spray technique in the negative ion mode was achieved by the addition of chlorinated solvents. These applications demonstrate that paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) can be used for rapid, sample preparation-free detection of chemical warfare agents and their hydrolysis products at physiologically relevant concentrations in biological samples.

Graphical abstract: Detection of chemical warfare agent simulants and hydrolysis products in biological samples by paper spray mass spectrometry

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 Jan 2017
Accepted
14 Mar 2017
First published
17 Mar 2017
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Analyst, 2017,142, 1442-1451

Detection of chemical warfare agent simulants and hydrolysis products in biological samples by paper spray mass spectrometry

J. McKenna, E. S. Dhummakupt, T. Connell, P. S. Demond, D. B. Miller, J. Michael Nilles, N. E. Manicke and T. Glaros, Analyst, 2017, 142, 1442 DOI: 10.1039/C7AN00144D

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