Profiling of collagen and extracellular matrix deposition from cell culture using in vitro ExtraCellular matrix mass spectrometry imaging (ivECM-MSI).

While numerous approaches have been reported towards understanding single cell regulation, there is limited understanding of single cell production of extracellular matrix phenotypes. Collagens are major proteins of the extracellular microenvironment extensively used in basic cell culture, tissue engineering, and biomedical applications. However, identifying compositional regulation of collagen remains challenging.

Differential Protease Specificity by Collagenase as a Novel Approach to Serum Proteomics That Includes Identification of Extracellular Matrix Proteins without Enrichment.

Circulating extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are serological biomarkers of interest due to their association with pathologies involving disease processes such as fibrosis and cancers. In this study, we investigate the potential for serum biomarker research using differential protease specificity (DPS), leveraging alternate protease specificity as a targeting mechanism to selectively digest circulating ECM protein serum proteins. A proof-of-concept study is presented using serum from patients with cirrhotic liver or hepatocellular carcinoma.

Predictive value of collagen in cancer.

Cancer is a complex disease and a significant cause of mortality worldwide. Over the course of nearly all cancer types, collagen within the tumor microenvironment influences emergence, progression, and metastasis. This review discusses collagen regulation within the tumor microenvironment, pathological involvement of collagen, and predictive values of collagen and related extracellular matrix components in main cancer types.

Machine Learning Approaches to Identify Discriminative Signatures of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from Bacteria and Fungi Using SPME-DART-MS.

Point-of-care screening tools are essential to expedite patient care and decrease reliance on slow diagnostic tools (e.g., microbial cultures) to identify pathogens and their associated antibiotic resistance.

Evaluation of portable devices for medicine quality screening: Lessons learnt, recommendations for implementation, and future priorities.

Céline Caillet and co-authors discuss a Collection on use of portable devices for the evaluation of medicine quality and legitimacy.

A comparative field evaluation of six medicine quality screening devices in Laos.

Background: Medicine quality screening devices hold great promise for post-market surveillance (PMS). However, there is little independent evidence on their field utility and usability to inform policy decisions. This pilot study in the Lao PDR tested six devices' utility and usability in detecting substandard and falsified (SF) medicines.

Implementation of field detection devices for antimalarial quality screening in Lao PDR-A cost-effectiveness analysis.

Substandard and falsified (SF) antimalarials have devastating consequences including increased morbidity, mortality and economic losses. Portable medicine quality screening devices are increasingly available, but whether their use for the detection of SF antimalarials is cost-effective is not known. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of introducing such devices in post-market surveillance in pharmacies in Laos, conservatively focusing on their outcome in detecting SF artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs).

Pyrolysis Vacuum-Assisted Plasma Ionization Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry for Insoluble Polymer Analysis.

This Communication describes a new thermal desorption/pyrolysis vacuum-assisted plasma ionization (pyro-VaPI) ion source coupled to ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) for insoluble polymer analysis. Pyro-VaPI combines a pyrolysis device, soft ambient plasma ionization, IM, and MS into a single platform for polymer analysis with minimal sample preparation. Nylons, a widely used and well-studied thermoplastic, were chosen to evaluate the pyro-VaPI performance.

Field detection devices for screening the quality of medicines: a systematic review.

Background: Poor quality medicines have devastating consequences. A plethora of innovative portable devices to screen for poor quality medicines has become available, leading to hope that they could empower medicine inspectors and enhance surveillance. However, information comparing these new technologies is woefully scarce.

Robotic Surface Analysis Mass Spectrometry (RoSA-MS) of Three-Dimensional Objects.

Many technologies currently exist that are capable of analyzing the surface of solid samples under ambient or vacuum conditions, but they are typically limited to smooth, planar surfaces. Those few that can be applied to nonplanar surfaces, however, require manual sampling and a high degree of human intervention. Herein, we describe a new platform, Robotic Surface Analysis Mass Spectrometry (RoSA-MS), for direct surface sampling of three-dimensional (3D) objects.

Aerosol Vacuum-Assisted Plasma Ionization (Aero-VaPI) Coupled to Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry.

In this communication, we report on the real-time analysis of organic aerosol particles by Vacuum-assisted Plasma Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (Aero-VaPI-MS) using a home-built VaPI ion source coupled to a Synapt G2-S HDMS ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) system. Standards of organic molecules of interest in prebiotic chemistry were used to generate aerosols. Monocaprin and decanoic acid aerosol particles were successfully detected in both the positive and negative ion modes, respectively.

Atmospheric Pressure Drift Tube Ion Mobility-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry: Initial Performance Characterization.

Atmospheric pressure drift tube ion mobility spectrometry (AP-DTIMS) was coupled with Fourier transform Orbitrap mass spectrometry. The performance capabilities of this versatile new arrangement were demonstrated for different DTIMS ion gating operation modes and Orbitrap mass spectrometer parameters with regard to sensitivity and resolving power. Showcasing the optimized AP-DTIMS-Orbitrap MS system, isobaric peptide and sugar isomers were successfully resolved and the identities of separated species validated by high-energy collision dissociation experiments.

Microplasma Ionization of Volatile Organics for Improving Air/Water Monitoring Systems On-Board the International Space Station.

Low molecular weight polar organics are commonly observed in spacecraft environments. Increasing concentrations of one or more of these contaminants can negatively impact Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) systems and/or the health of crew members, posing potential risks to the success of manned space missions. Ambient plasma ionization mass spectrometry (MS) is finding effective use as part of the analytical methodologies being tested for next-generation space module environmental analysis.