Title
Automated combustion accelerator mass spectrometry for the analysis of biomedical samples in the low attomole range
Author
van Duijn, E.
Sandman, H.
Grossouw, D.
Mocking, J.A.J.
Coulier, L.
Vaes, W.H.J.
Publication year
2014
Abstract
The increasing role of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) in biomedical research necessitates modernization of the traditional sample handling process. AMS was originally developed and used for carbon dating, therefore focusing on a very high precision but with a comparably low sample throughput. Here, we describe the combination of automated sample combustion with an elemental analyzer (EA) online coupled to an AMS via a dedicated interface. This setup allows direct radiocarbon measurements for over 70 samples daily by AMS. No sample processing is required apart from the pipetting of the sample into a tin foil cup, which is placed in the carousel of the EA. In our system, up to 200 AMS analyses are performed automatically without the need for manual interventions. We present results on the direct total 14C count measurements in <2 μL human plasma samples. The method shows linearity over a range of 0.65-821 mBq/mL, with a lower limit of quantification of 0.65 mBq/mL (corresponding to 0.67 amol for acetaminophen). At these extremely low levels of activity, it becomes important to quantify plasma specific carbon percentages. This carbon percentage is automatically generated upon combustion of a sample on the EA. Apparent advantages of the present approach include complete omission of sample preparation (reduced hands-on time) and fully automated sample analysis. These improvements clearly stimulate the standard incorporation of microtracer research in the drug development process. In combination with the particularly low sample volumes required and extreme sensitivity, AMS strongly improves its position as a bioanalysis method. © 2014 American Chemical Society.
Subject
Life
MSB - Microbiology and Systems Biology
ELSS - Earth, Life and Social Sciences
Healthy for Life
Healthy Living
Automation
Carbon
Mass spectrometry
Particle accelerators
Sampling
Accelerator mass spectrometry
Automatically generated
Biomedical research
Elemental analyzers
Human plasma samples
Lower limit of quantifications
Manual intervention
Sample preparation
Combustion
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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:cfa2246c-2c1a-483b-be48-5937e0aba417
TNO identifier
513450
Publisher
American Chemical Society
ISSN
1520-6882
Source
Analytical Chemistry, 86 (15), 7635-7641
Document type
article