title: Application of flowerlike MgO for highly sensitive determination of lead via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) is a high-throughput method to achieve fast and accurate identification of lead (Pb) exposure, but is seldom used because of low ionization efficiency and insufficient sensitivity. Nanomaterials applied in MS are a promising technique to overcome the obstacles of MALDI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Flowerlike MgO nanostructures are applied for highly sensitive lead profiling in real samples. They can be used in two ways: (a) MgO is mixed with N-naphthylethylenediamine dihydrochloride (NEDC) as a novel matrix MgO/NEDC; (b) MgO is applied as an absorbent to enrich Pb ions in very dilute solution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The signal intensities of lead by MgO/NEDC were ten times higher than the NEDC matrix. It also shows superior anti-interference ability when analyzing 10 μmol/L Pb ions in the presence of organic substances or interfering metal ions. By applying MgO as adsorbent, the LOD of lead before enrichment is 1 nmol/L. Blood lead test can be achieved using this enrichment process. Besides, MgO can play the role of internal standard to achieve quantitative analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flowerlike MgO nanostructures were applied for highly sensitive lead profiling in real samples. The method is helpful to prevent Pb contamination in a wide range. Further, the combination of MgO with MALDI MS could inspire more nanomaterials being applied in highly sensitive profiling of pollutants. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Suming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructures and Nanotechnology, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Changyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Huihui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Caiqiao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructures and Nanotechnology, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Weiguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
authors.forename: Zongxiu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nie
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D060106:Lakes / Q000032:analysis; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008277:Magnesium Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007854:Lead; D008277:Magnesium Oxide