热裂解质谱法用于生物样品检测的研究进展

Advances in Pyrolysis Mass Spectrometry for the Analysis of Biological Samples

  • 摘要: 质谱技术的持续创新推动了多元化分析系统的快速发展,催生出多种能够满足不同检测需求与应用场景的仪器平台及方法体系。热裂解质谱(pyrolysis-mass spectrometry, Py-MS)联用技术凭借其独特的在线分析特性,在复杂样品的原位实时检测方面展现出显著优势。该技术基于有机化合物的热不稳定性,通过高温裂解使大分子物质解聚生成低分子质量产物,进而依据特征裂解产物的指纹图谱及其相对丰度与母体物质的对应关系实现定性与定量分析。为进一步提升Py-MS对难挥发样品的分析性能,研究人员开发了以四甲基氢氧化铵(tetramethylammonium hydroxide, TMAH)为衍生试剂的在线甲基化改进方法——原位热辅助水解甲基化质谱(in situ thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation mass spectrometry, in situ THM-MS)技术。该技术通过在热裂解过程中同步进行甲基化反应,有效提高裂解产物的挥发性并改善其质谱响应特性,现已在蛋白质、核酸、脂类等生物大分子的快速检测中得到成功应用。Py-MS技术凭借其强大的分析能力与现场检测优势,已拓展至化工材料表征、生物医药分析、环境污染物监测、微生物鉴定、文物考古及法医物证检验等多个交叉学科领域。本文介绍了应用于Py-MS的3种典型热裂解装置,并对用于蛋白质、核酸及脂质等生物样品的研究进展进行综述。

     

    Abstract: Pyrolysis-mass spectrometry (Py-MS) is a powerful analytical technique that combines thermal decomposition of samples with mass spectrometric detection, enabling rapid, high-throughput, and in situ analysis of complex biological materials. This review systematically summarized recent advances in Py-MS and its derivative techniques for the detection and characterization of major biomolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Three principal pyrolysis configurations, i.e., micro-tube, Curie-point, and laser pyrolysis, were described in detail, highlighting their operational mechanisms, advantages, and suitability for different sample types. A significant technical evolution discussed is the integration of in situ thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation (in situ THM) using tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), which enhances the volatility and detectability of non-volatile biomolecules by converting them into methylated derivatives, thereby improving analytical sensitivity and specificity. The application of Py-MS in protein analysis reveals characteristic pyrolysis pathways, such as decarboxylation, deamination, and cyclization, leading to diagnostic products like diketopiperazines (DKPs), which serve as valuable markers for amino acid composition and protein structure inference. For nucleic acids, Py-MS facilitates the identification of nucleobases and methylated derivatives, with TMAH derivatization significantly improving the detection of nitrogenous bases and supporting microbial identification and extraterrestrial biosignature detection, as demonstrated in planetary missions such as Mars Curiosity and ExoMars. In lipid analysis, Py-MS enables rapid profiling of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) from whole cells, allowing for Gram-type differentiation and pathogen identification without extensive sample preparation. The technique has also been successfully applied to specialized targets such as bacterial spores via dipicolinic acid detection, and bioplastics (e.g., polyhydroxyalkanoates), highlighting its versatility. Despite its strengths, Py-MS faces several challenges, including suboptimal transmission efficiency of pyrolysis products to the mass spectrometer, complex spectral interpretation due to overlapping fragmentation pathways, and the lack of standardized pyrolysis spectral libraries. Moreover, current systems often lack portability and require rapid vacuum stabilization for field applications. Future developments should focus on miniaturizing MS instrumentation, integrating multidimensional separation techniques (e.g., ion mobility spectrometry), and applying artificial intelligence for automated spectral interpretation and biomarker identification. With continued innovation in these areas, Py-MS is poised to transition from a laboratory-based tool to a robust platform for real-time, in-field analysis in clinical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, biosecurity, and industrial biotechnology.

     

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