title: Stationary phase thickness determines the quality of thin-layer chromatography/matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization mass spectra of lipids.
abstract: Normal phase thin-layer chromatography (NP TLC) is an established method of (phospho)lipid analysis. The determination of the fatty acyl composition is, however, a more challenging task by NP TLC. The direct coupling of TLC separation with mass spectrometric detection (e.g., matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, MALDI MS), however, enables a detailed characterization of complex lipid mixtures. Here we show that the thickness of the silica gel layer has a considerable effect on the quality of the mass spectra recorded directly from the TLC plate. In particular, the intensity of the matrix background signals can be reduced if "thinner" TLC layers are used.
authors: Merck KGaA, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany.
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Griesinger
authors: Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Beate
authors: B
authors: Fuchs
authors: Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Rosmarie
authors: R
authors: Süß
authors: Merck KGaA, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany.
authors: Katerina
authors: K
authors: Matheis
authors: Merck KGaA, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Schulz
authors: Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: juergen.schiller@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Schiller
mesh_terms: D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000032:analysis; D058428:Silica Gel / Q000737:chemistry; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D058428:Silica Gel
keywords: MALDI–TOF MS; Matrix background; Phospholipids; Thin-layer chromatography