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Analytical surface sampling tools enable direct chemical studies of solid biological samples, including morphologically diverse tissue, and provide both fast chemical analysis with minimum sample preparation and information about molecular spatial distribution. Spatially resolved investigations of tissue sections could help to reveal pathological mechanisms at specific tissue locations. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a valuable method for direct tissue analysis that can give a full molecular profile of heterogeneous biological in a short period of time. However, MSI is not always capable of identifying isomeric and isobaric species, especially for low-weight metabolites. Moreover, the complex chemical matrix of biological samples significantly influences the performance of MSI, including introducing artefacts such as ion suppression. Therefore, separation by liquid chromatography or capillary electrophoresis prior mass spectrometric detection is beneficial to mitigate such artefacts and increase sensitivity. Recently, the new setup for surface sampling capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry (SS-CE-MS) was presented that enables direct sampling from a tissue location followed by separation and mass spectrometric detection. This thesis is aimed to show the developments and improvements of SS-CE-MS along with applications of quantitative spatial metabolomics. Paper I demonstrates SS-CE-MS using a sheath liquid interface to the MS and its robustness and reproducibility both for the injection process and the connection to mass spectrometer. Analysis of small polar molecules, lipids, and proteins in both tissue and blood samples is described in addition to an increased throughput using multisegmented electrokinetic injection. In Paper II five quantitative approaches for SS-CE-MS were developed and evaluated. Off-line one-point calibration was found to be optimal for tissue analysis and further used for mapping metabolites, including isomeric species, in four regions of rat brain. Specifically, aromatic amino acids were found decreased in cortex and the isomers valine and leucine were more abundant than their isomers betaine and isoleucine, respectively. Overall, this thesis shows SS-CE-MS as promising new quantitative method for future applications to healthy and pathological tissue investigation.

O presente trabalho, teve como objetivo, dar continuidade ao estudo apresentado na forma de dissertação de mestrado, utilizando a complexona EDTA, totalmente \"neutralizada\". na forma de Y4-. Na titulação de íons metálicos, a hidrólise acentuada deste ânion, Y4-, causa um aumento marcante de pH após o ponto estequiométrico. Esta variação de pH pode ser acompanhada potenciometricamente, utilizando um eletrodo de vidro, ou visualmente com um indicador ácido/base como a fenolftaleina, em substituição a indicadores metalocrômicos. Uma série de parâmetros foram considerados na preparação do reagente, sua armazenagem e padronização bem como os problemas ligados a percentagem de \"neutralização\". Vários equilíbrios foram considerados no desenvolvimento de um programa em linguagem BASIC, para interpretar a curva teórica da titulação de Mg2+ com EDTA \"tetraneutralizado\", na qual participam também espécies como MgHY-, antes do ponto estequiométrico. Um método complexométrico rápido e preciso foi desenvolvido com este titulante para determinar Mg2+ e SO42- simultaneamente (este por método indireto para o excesso de íons Ba2+) com viabilidade para ser aplicado em água do mar e em concentrados salinos. O método mostrou-se adequado, também, para a determinação da mistura Ca2+ e Mg2+, em substituição ao método clássico com tampão e indicador metalocrômico, eriocromo T. / This thesis has the purpose to give continuity to a former study from the master dissertation, about the use of the complexon EDTA, totally \"neutralized\", as the species Y4-. During the titration of metallic cations the marked hydrolysis of the y4- anion causes a marked pH increase after the stoichiometric point. This change of pH can be followed potentiometrically with the glass electrode or by visual end point indication by on acid/base indicator as phenolphtalein instead of metalochromic indicators. A serie of parameters were considered in the preparation of the titrant, its storage and standardization as well as problems related with the percent neutraIization\". Equilibria were considered and used in a computer program in BASIC language in order to interpret the theoretical titration curve. The species MgHY- was found in significant contribution before the end point. A fast and precise complexometric method was developed with this titrant for Mg2+ and SO42- simultaneously (this last by titration of excess of standard Ba2+ solution). The method has been found adequate to determine mixture of Ca2+ and Mg2+ instead of the classic method which uses a buffer and eriochrome T as indicator.

<p>The actual signal recorded with an analytical instrument is not always a true reflection of the analysed sample. In this thesis a further insight of the atmospheric pressure ionisation processes electrospray (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) has been endeavoured, to provide a deeper understanding of and ways to minimize this bias.</p><p>A response model for ESI has been modified and used to study the influence of solvent composition on the observed mass spectrometric signal. The response model divides the response into an analyte partitioning coefficient and an instrumental response factor. A number of experimental parameters influencing the response were investigated including spray position relative to the orifice, spray potential, nebulizer and curtain gas flow rates, ionic strength and organic content of the sprayed solution. The history of the generated droplets turned out to be of significant importance to both the partitioning coefficients and the instrumental response factor. Furthermore, it was found that the total ionic strength and not only the electrolyte concentration will influence the instrumental response factor.</p><p>In addition, based on the importance of hydrophobicity and electrophoretic mobility, a model was proposed for the ion distribution within the electrosprayed droplets.</p><p>The coupling of an electrochemical (EC) cell to a mass spectrometric (MS) system has been evaluated. The coupling of the EC cell to the MS was made to decouple the cell from the high voltage circuit of the ESI. The feasibility for analyte ionisation, sample pre-concentration and solvent exchange as well as studying redox reaction products was shown.</p>

<p>Electrospray ionisation (ESI) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the most important detection techniques for chemical analysis of small drugs as well as large biomolecules in life science today. In this thesis, aspects on improved compatibility between liquid based separation systems and mass spectrometric detection were investigated regarding buffers, sample preparation and analysis of polar compounds as well as peptides and protein digests for enhanced ESI-MS performance. </p><p>Capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled to ESI-MS detection, was evaluated using both a sheath flow interface and a sheathless design. The separation of peptides and small, polar compounds was optimised for both CE-ESI interfaces. The effect of sheath liquid composition was also studied with the aim to improve sensitivity in the ESI-MS detection. </p><p>Polar compounds were retained and separated by capillary ion-pair chromatography coupled to ESI-MS detection. Since commonly used ion-pairing reagents are detrimental to the ESI process they were effectively removed before the ionisation by the use of a trapping column after the separation. Alternatively, the ion-pairing reagents were exchanged to volatile constituents. </p><p>A method for peptide mapping by liquid chromatography (LC)-ESI-MS was developed for lactate dehydrogenase. The method was further enhanced to involve the proteolysis on-line to the LC-ESI-MS. No manual sample handling was then needed and the total analysis time decreased from 7 to 1.5 hours. The amount of information was also shown to increase in the on-line system.</p><p>Finally, the on-line concept was extended to an innovative interface for direct coupling of a pumped liquid flow to an electroosmotically driven flow. This provided a valve-free sample transfer between capillary LC and CE, aiming towards increased peak capacity per unit time for the analysis of complex peptide samples. </p>