The impact of phospholipids and phospholipid removal on bioanalytical method performance

Phospholipids (PLs) are a component of cell membranes, biological fluids and tissues. These compounds are problematic for the bioanalytical chemist, especially when PLs are not the analytes of interest. PL interference with bioanalysis highly impacts reverse-phase chromatographic methods coupled with mass spectrometric detection. Phospholipids are strongly retained on hydrophobic columns, and can cause significant ionization suppression in the mass spectrometer, as they out-compete analyte molecules for ionization. Strategies for improving analyte detection in the presence of PLs are reviewed, including in-analysis modifications and sample preparation strategies. Removal of interfering PLs prior to analysis seems to be most effective atmoderating thematrix effects from these endogenous cellular components, and has the potential to simplify chromatography and improve column lifetime. Products targeted at PL removal for sample pre-treatment, as well as products that combine multiple modes of sample preparation (i.e. Hybrid SPE), show significant promise in mediating the effect on PL interference in bioanalysis. Copyright (C) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.