Immunoaffinity sample purification and MALDI-TOF MS analysis of alpha-Solanine and alpha-chaconine in serum

A sample purification technique was developed for the detection of potato glycoalkaloids (GAs) in blood serum by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). GAs were extracted from spiked serum (5 mL) using a C(18) solid-phase extraction cartridge. The GAs were then selectively captured on antibody-coated agarose beads. The agarose beads were washed with water and the GAs eluted with 25 microL of methanol. MALDI-TOF MS was used to detect the GAs in the methanol eluent. Immunoaffinity sample purification of the GAs effectively reduced the signal suppression observed during the analysis of unpurified samples. alpha-Chaconine and alpha-solanine were detected in serum spiked with 1 ng/mL of each GA.