A simple procedure for selecting the correct weighting factors for linear and quadratic calibration curves with least-squares regression algorithm in bioanalytical LC-MS/MS assays is reported. The correct weighting factor is determined by the relationship between the standard deviation of instrument responses (σ) and the concentrations (x). The weighting factor of 1, 1/x, or 1/x(2) should be selected if, over the entire concentration range, σ is a constant, σ(2) is proportional to x, or σ is proportional to x, respectively. For the first time, we demonstrated with detailed scientific reasoning, solid historical data, and convincing justification that 1/x(2) should always be used as the weighting factor for all bioanalytical LC-MS/MS assays. The impacts of using incorrect weighting factors on curve stability, data quality, and assay performance were thoroughly investigated. It was found that the most stable curve could be obtained when the correct weighting factor was used, whereas other curves using incorrect weighting factors were unstable. It was also found that there was a very insignificant impact on the concentrations reported with calibration curves using incorrect weighting factors as the concentrations were always reported with the passing curves which actually overlapped with or were very close to the curves using the correct weighting factor. However, the use of incorrect weighting factors did impact the assay performance significantly. Finally, the difference between the weighting factors of 1/x(2) and 1/y(2) was discussed. All of the findings can be generalized and applied into other quantitative analysis techniques using calibration curves with weighted least-squares regression algorithm.

A novel methodology of in-sample calibration curves (ISCC) using multiple isotopologue reaction monitoring (MIRM) of multiple naturally occurring isotopologue transitions of a stable isotopically labeled (SIL) analyte for instant liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) bioanalysis of biomarkers, biotherapeutics, and small-molecule compounds is proposed and demonstrated for the first time. The theoretical isotopic abundances of the SIL analyte in its MIRM channels can be accurately calculated based on the isotopic distributions of its daughter ion and neutral loss. The isotopic abundances in these MIRM channels can also be accurately measured with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. By spiking a known amount of a SIL analyte into each study sample, an ISCC can be established based on the relationship between the calculated theoretical isotopic abundances (analyte concentration equivalents) in the selected MIRM channels of the SIL analyte and the measured MS/MS peak areas in the corresponding MIRM channels in each individual study sample. The analyte concentration of each study sample can then be calculated individually with the ISCC instantly without using an external calibration curve. The MIRM− ISCC−LC-MS/MS methodology was evaluated and demonstrated in this work with the examples of quantitation of a protein biomarker in human and monkey serum processed with immunocapture and trypsin digestion; three surrogate peptides in trypsin-digested human colon tissue homogenates; and a small-molecule drug in human and rat plasma extracted with liquid− liquid extraction. The potential applications of the MIRM−ISCC−LC-MS/MS methodology in quantitative proteomics, clinical laboratories, and other areas are also discussed in this paper. Without the need for using external calibration curves, this novel MIRM−ISCC−LC-MS/MS methodology can provide accurate and reliable bioanalysis in many potential applications, especially for cases where authentic matrices for external calibration curves are not available.

Boron nitride nanotubes (BN-NTs) were synthesized by using excimer laser ablation at 1200 °C in different carrier gases. The main characteristic of the BN-NTs produced by this method is that nanotubes are of only one to three atomic layers thick, which could be attributed to the dominance of the axial growth rate over the radial growth rate. The diameter of the BN-NTs ranged from 1.5 to 8 nm. The tips of the BN-NTs are either a flat cap or of polygonal termination, in contrast to the conical ends of carbon nanotubes. The atomic ratio of boron to nitrogen as measured by means of parallel electron energy loss spectroscopy is 0.8, which is within the experimental error of the stoichiometry of hexagonal BN structure.

No abstract

Preparation of multisample external calibration curves and dilution of study samples are critical steps in bioanalytical sample processing for quantitative liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) based bioanalysis of small-molecule compounds, biotherapeutics, and biomarkers, but they can be time-consuming and prone to error. It is highly desired to simplify or eliminate these two steps in order to improve the assay throughput and robustness. While multisample external calibration curve preparation using authentic matrices can be eliminated with a previously reported in-sample calibration curve (ISCC) approach using multiple isotopologue reaction monitoring (MIRM) of a stable isotopically labeled (SIL) analyte, dilution of study samples is still inevitable due to limited LC-MS/MS assay ranges. In this work, a one-sample multipoint external calibration curve and isotope sample dilution, both using MIRM of an analyte, for quantitative LC-MS/MS based bioanalysis are proposed and demonstrated. By spiking a known amount of an analyte into one blank authentic matrix sample, a one-sample multipoint external calibration curve in an authentic matrix can be established on the basis of the relationship between the calculated theoretical isotopic abundances (analyte concentration equivalents) and the MS/MS responses in the corresponding MIRM channels. This one-sample multipoint external calibration curve can be used in the same way as the traditional multisample external calibration curve for quantitative LC-MS/MS-based bioanalysis. As isotopic abundance in each MIRM channel can be calculated and measured accurately, isotope sample dilution can be achieved by simply monitoring one or a few of the MIRM channels of the analyte in addition to the most abundant MIRM channel for study samples. While the most abundant MIRM channel (isotopic abundance of 100%) is used for the quantitation of samples having concentrations within the assay calibration curve range, less abundant MIRM channels (isotopic abundance of IA%) can be used for the quantitation of samples having concentrations beyond the assay upper limit of quantitation (ULOQ), resulting in isotope dilution factors (IDF) of 100%/IA%. The approaches of one-sample multipoint external calibration curve and isotope sample dilution were evaluated and demonstrated in this work with an example of the quantitation of daclatasvir in human plasma extracted with liquid–liquid extraction. Using these approaches together with the MIRM-ISCC methodology, accurate and reliable LC-MS/MS bioanalysis can be achieved without the need of preparation of multisample external calibration curve and dilution of study samples.