title: Aflatoxin screening by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.
abstract: Efficient detection of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 has been performed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry using a UV-absorbing ionic liquid matrix to obtain "matrix-free" mass spectra and addition of NaCl to enhance sensitivity via Na+ cationization. Using ionic alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (Et3N-alpha-CHCA) as the matrix, matrix-free mass spectra in the m/z range of interest are acquired, and the B1, B2, G1, and G2 aflatoxins are readily detected with an LOD as low as 50 fmol. The technique is fast, requires little sample preparation and no derivatization or chromatographic separation, and seems therefore to be suitable for high-throughput aflatoxin screening. It should be easily extended to other micotoxins and provide an attractive technique to control the quality of major crops subjected to huge world commercial trades such as peanuts, corn, and rice as well as to monitor bioterrorism threats by micotoxin poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Thomson Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry, State University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, SP Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramos Catharino
authors.forename: Lygia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Azevedo Marques
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Silva Santos
authors.forename: Antonio S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Baptista
authors.forename: Eduardo M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Glória
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Calori-Domingues
authors.forename: Elizete M P
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Facco
authors.forename: Marcos N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Eberlin
mesh_terms: D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D010367:Arachis / Q000737:chemistry; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins