Silver-109/Silver/Gold Nanoparticle-Enhanced Target Surface-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation Mass Spectrometry-The New Methods for an Assessment of Mycotoxin Concentration on Building Materials

This study aimed to detect and quantify mycotoxins on building materials using innovative laser mass spectroscopy methods-silver-109/silver/gold nanoparticle-enhanced target surface-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry ((109)AgNPs, AgNPs and AuNPs SALDI). Results from SALDI-type methods were also compared with commonly used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. Standards of seven moulds mycotoxin in a final concentration of 100 mu g/mL for patulin, citrinin, 3-nitropropionic acid, alternariol and 20 mu g/mL for sterigmatocystin, cyclopiazonic acid, roquefortine C in the mixture were tested in pure solutions and after extraction from the plasterboards. Among the studied SALDI-type method, the lowest detection limits and the highest signal intensity of the mycotoxins tested were obtained with the use of (109)AgNPs SALDI MS. The (109)AgNPs method may be considered as an alternative to the currently most frequently used method MALDI MS and also liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry LC-MS/MS for mycotoxin determination. Future studies should attempt to use these methods for mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) to evaluate spatial distribution and depth of mycotoxin penetration into building materials.

Automated summary

This study utilized innovative laser mass spectroscopy methods to detect and quantify mycotoxins on building materials, with (109)AgNPs SALDI MS showing the lowest detection limits and highest signal intensity. The (109)AgNPs method may serve as an alternative to commonly used MALDI MS and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry LC-MS/MS for mycotoxin determination in the future.