Mesoporous NiO@ZnO nanofiber membranes via single-nozzle electrospinning for urine metabolism analysis of smokers

Abstract

An effective matrix is very important for impact laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS), and the physicochemical properties of the matrix nanostructures can impact the LDI-MS performance. In this study, a simple and efficient single-nozzle electrospinning strategy using polystyrene (PS) spheres and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) to construct a mesoporous NiO@ZnO nanofiber membrane was developed. Compared with the NiO and ZnO nanomaterials alone, the obtained NiO@ZnO nanofiber membrane was proven to be an efficient material as the matrix to increase the intensity of the mass spectrum speaks of small molecules. The NiO@ZnO nanofiber membrane was used as the matrix for the LDI-MS method for the urine metabolism analysis of smokers, which revealed differences in the metabolic and the possible metabolic markers of smokers through the statistical analysis of the urine samples of 27 smokers and 11 nonsmoker controls.