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Online Charge-Generation Derivatization by Electrochemical Radical Cations of Thianthrene: Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Estrogens in Biological Tissues

Online Charge-Generation Derivatization by Electrochemical Radical Cations of Thianthrene: Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Estrogens in Biological Tissues
Author Liu, YC; Bai, JH; Dong, XX; Cao, YQ; Bao, MM; Lu, YJ; Zeng, H; Zhan, LX; Guo, YL
Journal ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Pub Year 2024
Type
Abstract

Estrogens play a significant role in endocrinology and oncology. Although separation methods coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) have emerged as a powerful tool for studying estrogens, imaging the spatial distributions of estrogens is crucial but remains challenging due to its low endogenous concentration and poor ionization efficiency. Charge-generation derivatization, such as N-alkylpyridinium quaternization and S-methyl thioetherification, represents a method wherein neutral molecules involving analytes and derivatization reagents undergo chemical reactions to establish permanent charges directly onto the analytes to improve detection sensitivity. Here, we developed a novel derivatization reagent, thianthrene (TT), which enabled oxidization to radical cations ([TT](center dot+)) using an electrochemical method and completed the online charge-generation derivatization of estrogens on a mass spectrometry imaging platform. In this strategy, [TT](center dot+) can efficiently and selectively derivatize estrogens via an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction. Results indicated that derivatization with [TT](center dot+) can significantly enhance imaging sensitivity (3 orders of magnitude), enabling the visualization of estrogen and its metabolites in ovarian and breast tissues. Furthermore, a higher mass intensity of these estrogens was captured in breast para-cancerous tissues than in cancerous tissues, which might provide estrogens spatial dimension information for further research on the initiation and progression of breast cancer.

Issue 96
Volume 96
SCI 6.7