title: Gelified Biofluids for High-Resolution Magic Angle Spinning1H NMR Analysis: The Case of Urine.
abstract: In this letter, we propose an alternative, effective protocol for metabolomic characterization of biofluids based on their gelification and subsequent application of high-resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS)1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The sample handling is very rapid and reproducible, and much less than 40 μL of neat urine are needed to obtain a sample. Our results indicate that the HRMAS spectra of gelified urine encompass all metabolites in the NMR fingerprint, as observed by solution NMR. The proposed approach can be efficiently integrated into the NMR based metabolomics analyses routines: multivariate statistical analysis of both solution and HRMAS data produced very similar statistical models, with high classification accuracy. One of the key advantages offered by the gelification approach is the improved short-term (up to 24 h) preservation of nonfrozen HRMAS NMR gel urine samples compared to the solution samples, which could lead to an alternative way for transportation or domestic collection of biofluids, without the need of cold-storage and reducing the risks of leakage.
authors.affiliation: Giotto Biotech S.R.L. , Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Panteleimon G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Takis
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence , Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy.|Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence and Interuniversity Consortium for Magnetic Resonance of Metalloproteins (CIRMMP) , Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tenori
authors.affiliation: Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence and Interuniversity Consortium for Magnetic Resonance of Metalloproteins (CIRMMP) , Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7708-9208
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ravera
authors.affiliation: Giotto Biotech S.R.L. , Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.|Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence and Interuniversity Consortium for Magnetic Resonance of Metalloproteins (CIRMMP) , Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.|Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence , Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2271-8921
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luchinat
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D055432:Metabolomics / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D066244:Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D018401:Sample Size; D058428:Silica Gel / Q000737:chemistry; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D059349:Urine Specimen Collection / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D058428:Silica Gel