Study Explores Thin-Film Extraction of Biogenic Amines via HPLC-MS/MS
University of Tabriz and Tabriz University of Medical Sciences researchers in Tabriz, Iran recently developed a new coating sorbent extracting biogenic amines from cheese and alcohol-free beverages. Their findings were published in the Journal of Chromatography A (1).
Various types of cheese - parmesan, brie, roquefort, cheddar | Image Credit: © Anatoly Repin - stock.adobe.com
Biogenic amines (BAs) are molecules that act as direct mediators between the immune and nervous systems. BAs can have immunomodulatory effects on specific immune cells (2). They can be found in different fermented foods, such as cheese, wine, and fish. Small amounts of BAs can typically be detoxified by intestine amine oxidases, but if the detoxification ability of amine oxidases is disturbed or inhibited due to excess BA ingestion, serious health problems can occur (3). For clinical chemistry, BA quantifications are mainly used for diagnosing neuroendocrine tumors (4). It is important to measure BA content in food samples to guarantee food safety and protect human health.
In this study, the researchers combined a thin film dispersive solid phase extraction method and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) for the non-derivatization determination of some biogenic amines such as putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, tryptamine, and 2-phenylethylamine in various types of cheese samples and alcohol-free beverages. Cellulose acetate functionalized UiO-66 with free COOH deposited on a stainless-steel mesh (SSM) was effectively applied as an efficient sorbent for the thin film-dispersive solid-phase extraction (TF-DSPE) of BAs from cheese and beverage samples prior to LC–MS/MS. Applying the SSM enabled large amounts of sorbent to be deposited onto supports, with pore size configuration facilitating the adsorption process. Further, the UiO-66-COOH, which acts as a water-resistant metal-organic framework (MOF) with low porosity, applies as an effective sorbent for BAs while improving the durability of acetate cellulose composite in aquatic media.
This experiment led to an immense surface area containing a low sorbent amount, long lifetime, and fast designing that directly extracted the desired analytes from complicated matrices. The developed design can be a reasonable alternative to electrospinning, thanks to its low energy consumption, saving time, and being more cost-effective. Electrospinning is a voltage-driven fabrication process governed by a specific electrohydrodynamic phenomenon where small fibers are yielded from a polymer solution (5).
Under optimal conditions, the method provided wide linearity (5.6–1000 ng g-1) with high coefficients of determination, satisfactory extraction recoveries, and low limits of detection (0.7–1.7 ng g-1) and limits of quantification (1.6–5.6 ng g-1) with good precision (relative standard deviation less than 10%). UiO-66-COOH further established this composite as a promising material for advanced adsorption applications. The CA@UiO-66-COOH nanofiber offers distinct advantages, including a high surface area for enhanced sensitivity, simplified preparation (eliminating electrospinning requirements), reduced solvent consumption, and cost-effectiveness. Overall, the TF-DSPE-HPLC–MS/MS method proved rapid, eco-friendly, and highly sensitive for precisely quantifying BAs in diverse food and beverage samples.
References
(1) Abbasalizadeh, A.; Mogaddan, M. R. A.; Sorouraddin, S. M.; Farajzadeh, M. A. Cellulose Acetate @ Functionalized UiO-66-COOH as an Affordable Coating Sorbent for the Thin-Film Extraction of Biogenic Amines Followed by HPLC-MS/MS; Application to Various Cheese and Alcohol-Free Beverages. J. Chromatogr. A 2025, 1749, 465829. DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2025.465829
(2) Biogenic Amine. ScienceDirect 2018. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/biogenic-amine (accessed 2025-3-26)
(3) Doeun, D.; Davaatseren, M.; Chung, M-S. Biogenic Amines in Foods. Food Sci. Biotechnol. 2017, 26 (6), 1463–1474. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-017-0239-3
(4) Biogenic Amine. ScienceDirect 2016. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/biogenic-amine (accessed 2025-3-26)
(5) What is Electrospinning? NanoScience Instruments 2025. https://www.nanoscience.com/techniques/electrospinning/ (accessed 2025-3-26)
Advances in Non-Targeted Analysis for PFAS in Environmental Matrices
March 27th 2025David Megson from Manchester Metropolitan University in Manchester, UK, spoke to LCGC International about the latest developments in non-targeted analysis (NTA) of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in environmental matrices based on a recent systematic review paper he has collaboratively published (1).
Quantifying Microplastics in Meconium Samples Using Pyrolysis–GC-MS
March 26th 2025Using pyrolysis-gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, scientists from Fudan University and the Putuo District Center for Disease Control and Prevention detected and quantified microplastics in newborn stool samples.
The Role of SPME Combined with GC–MS for PFAS Analysis
Published: March 25th 2025 | Updated: March 25th 2025Emanuela Gionfriddo and Madison Williams from University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, NY, USA discuss the important role that solid-phase microextraction (SPME) techniques with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS) can play in the analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
