Abstract:

Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is a very useful liquid chromatography approach. The simple device, convenient operation, versatility, high throughput capabilities, low cost, and simple sample pretreatments make it widely employed in various fields. In recent years, TLC-MS has become one of the most prominent trends for this technology as developments of modern analytical technology and comprehensive application of different approaches. With the development and upgrading of medicine, food, and scientific instrument industries, it is believed that TLC-MS technology should play a better role and obtain an opportunity for development. This study reviewed TLC-MS interface technologies (most of which are in recent 10 years) based on more than 150 studies and classified these TLC-MS technologies as three strategies. The first is indirect coupling using commercially available interface instruments. The second is TLC-in-site detection directly with special MS ion source devices like fast-atom-bombardment desorption ionization, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization, surface-assisted laser desorption ionization, electrospray-assisted laser desorption ionization, laser-induced acoustic desorption/electrospray ionization, electrostatic-spray ionization, easy ambient sonic-spray ionization, desorption sonic spray ionization, ionization using “desorption/ionization resource”, ionization using “molecular ionization-desorption analysis source”, multiwavelength laser desorption ionization, ionization using flowing afterglow-atmospheric pressure glow discharge, ionization low-temperature plasma probe, desorption/ionization induced using neutral clusters, ionization using inductively coupled plasma and so on. These MS analyses are performed after TLC development, thus, the relative position of the chromatographic bands on TLCs is invariable, and this analysis can be regarded as static detection, though flexible travel stages or conveyor belts can be introduced to move TLC plates. The third strategy is to monitor TLC run using MS in real-time just as the monitor employed in HPLC, in which the chromatographic bands are still moving. This strategy is generally run on forced-flow TLC techniques and is less examined. The typical coupling technologies (especially appeared in recent ten years) are summarized and briefly described in this study. TLC-MS has greatly enhanced the research efficiency of bioactive substances for food and drugs due to the widespread usage of TLC-bioautography technology. Nowadays, the main bottleneck in the development of TLC-MS is the design and commercialization of “plug and play” components. The high-throughput and real-time monitoring TLC-MS technology with flexible scanning functions is also expected. Furthermore, the comparative studies of different kinds of desorbing-ionizing technologies are also application problems for further discussion.

Key words: thin-layer chromatography (TLC), mass spectrometry (MS), interface, review