title: Analysis of nonderivatized steroids by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry using C70 fullerene as matrix.
abstract: Neutral steroid hormones are currently analyzed by gas or liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry based methods. Most of the steroid compounds, however, lack volatility and do not contain polar groups, which results in inadequate chromatographic behavior and low ionization efficiency. Derivatization of the steroids to form more volatile, thermostable, and charged products solves this difficulty, but the derivatization of compounds with unknown chemical moieties is not an easy task. In this study, a rapid, high-throughput, sensitive matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry method is described using C(70) fullerene as a matrix compound. The application of the method is demonstrated for five general sex steroids and for synthetic steroid compounds in both negative and positive ionization modes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, University of Pecs, 12 Szigeti str, 7624, Pecs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gergely
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montsko
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaczy
authors.forename: Gabor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maasz
authors.forename: Erzsebet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mernyak
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Csaba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bay
authors.forename: Zalan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kadar
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ohmacht
authors.forename: Janos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wolfling
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mark
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004958:Estradiol / Q000652:urine; D004964:Estriol / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D037741:Fullerenes; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000652:urine; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D013256:Steroids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D037741:Fullerenes; D013256:Steroids; C069836:fullerene C70; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D004964:Estriol