Enrichment and Identification of Metallothionein by Functionalized Nano-Magnetic Particles and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Publication date: July 2018Source: Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry, Volume 46, Issue 7Author(s): Xin-Yu HE, Bing WANG, Yang-Yang ZHOU, Xiao-Jun BIAN, Juan YANAbstractAs a low molecular weight protein with the ability of binding metal ions and high inducibility, metallothionein (MT) is often regarded as an important biomarker for assessment of heavy metal pollution in water environment. In the light of that the traditional process of enrichment and identification is time-consuming and complicated, we prepared a core-shell nanoparticle, gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4@Au NPs) herein. It possessed the advantages of fast response to magnetic fields and optical properties attributing to Fe3O4 and Au nanoparticles, respectively. The Fe3O4@Au nanoparticles could be used to enrich MT simply through Au–S interaction, and the purified proteins were determined by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS). The results showed that the Fe3O4@Au nanoparticles could directly enrich MT from complex solutions and the detection limit could be as low as 10 fg mL−1.Graphical AbstractHerein, we prepared a core-shell nanoparticle: gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4@Au NPs). And it was used to realize the rapid enrichment and high sensitivity detection of Metallothionein (10fg/mL) combining with the MALDI-TOF technology.
Source: Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research