Investigations on the Use of Ion Mobility Spectrometry for Clinical Chemistry Applications

The major objective of this research is to examine ion mobility spectrometry as a rapid screening tool for specific application to clinical chemistry research and laboratory use. Methodology was developed for target analytes representing several classes of physiologically active substances, including anesthetics, illicit drugs, and their metabolites. The IMS characteristics of animal tissues and other compounds such as amino acids and proteins were determined. Quality assurance and control procedures were developed for specific quality data objectives. Criteria were established relating to use of IMS for assessing the precision and accuracy of data, qualitative screening, and semi-quantitative analyses. It was found that animal tissues and plasma harvested from rabbits can be characterized using IMS. The mobility spectra of these tissues were also found to contain peaks assigned to the anesthetics, Rompun and Ketaset, heparin, and ecgonine methyl ester (EME), a cocaine metabolite. Enhancement and retardation effects were identified with cocaine and its metabolites as well as with heroin, and its metabolite 6-acetylmorphine. A nonspecific interaction of heroin and morphine with animal tissues and different proteins was also identified using IMS. It was concluded that the use of IMS for clinical applications is feasible. The benefits and limitations of using IMS for clinical chemistry applications were identified