Overview of Services
The core maintains mass spectrometers and runs methods for the detection and quantification of small molecules in a wide range of sample types. Services include:
- Consultation with core users: We discuss the goal of the project, suggest an experimental design, provide updates on the progress of the project, and share and discuss results.
- Method development and protocol testing: For each small molecule not previously measured in the core, a new method is developed in consultation with the investigator, before sample analysis begins.
- Sample preparation: To obtain data with minimal noise, samples are extracted, which may involve clean-up, liquid-liquid extraction, sonication, bead homogenization, solid phase extraction, or microwave digestion.
- Running analytical instrumentation: Extracted samples are analyzed on the designated instrument, with quality assurance and control procedures in each run.
- Data processing: Data are processed with analysis software, and a written report is shared with the investigator.
- Grant and manuscript writing: The core assists in writing sections related to core services for grant proposals and research papers.
List of example assays offered by the core:
- Exogenous molecules: pharmaceuticals, pesticides
- Endogenous molecules: nucleosides, vitamins, amino acids, neurotransmitters, one-carbon metabolism compounds
- Elemental heavy metals and minerals
- Volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds
Instrumentation
Instrumentation associated with the Bioanalytical Core includes the following:
UHPLC – Triple Quad mass spectrometer
gilent Infinity II 1260 ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with column manager, autosampler, binary pump, high dynamic range Diode Array Detector coupled to an Agilent Ultivo triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Used for targeted quantification of non-volatile small molecules at a concentration range of 1-1000 ng/mL.
HPLC – Single Quad MS
Waters Acquity high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to a Waters Photo Diode Array and Quadrupole Dalton mass selective detector mass spectrometer. Used for targeted quantification of fluorescence-active small molecules at a concentration range of 0.01-1000 ng/mL.
HPLC – PDA
Agilent Infinity 1260 high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to a Photo Diode Array. Used for targeted quantification of small molecules based on their UV-Vis spectral profiles at a concentration range of 1-1000 ng/mL.
ICP-MS (with or without UHPLC)
Thermo Fisher Scientific iCAP RQ inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), with an ESI AutoSampler 4DX. Optional microwave digestion with CEM MARS6. Used for trace element quantification down to parts per trillion and non-trace quantification.
GC-MS
Agilent 7890A gas chromatography (GC) Agilent 5975C inert XL single quadrupole/mass selective detector (triple-axis detector). Used for targeted identification and quantification of semi-volatile and volatile small molecules.
Acknowledgment & Citation
All users agree to acknowledge the use of the Bioanalytical Core in scholarly work such as publications, presentations, and posters and provide a copy of this work. To acknowledge the core, please state: Research reported in this publication was supported by the UAMS Bioanalytical Core.
To acknowledge the core, please state: Research reported in this publication was supported by the UAMS Bioanalytical Core (NIH P20 GM109005).