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Analytical Optimizations and Complex Data Processing

Ninette Abou Mrad (Associate Prof), Isabelle Billault (Associate Prof), Myriam Bonose (Associate Prof), Philippe Maitre (Senior Researcher), Marine de Person (Associate Prof), Sylvie Héron (Associate Prof), Marie-Claude Menet (Prof), Roland Thissen (Senior Researcher), Guillaume van der Rest (Prof), Terkia Bettioui (PhD Student), Eva Audouin (PhD Student)
Alumni: Lucie Arberet (PhD 19-23), Hala Dadi (PhD 15-18), Chiraz El Saddik (PhD 18-22), Yali Wang (PhD 18-22), Francis Berthias (PostDoc 17-19), Viet Nguyen (PostDoc 19-21), Eskander Alhajji (Long-term Visitor 18-22).

The optimization of chromatographic methods is a crucial step in the group’s research. This has enabled the resolution of complex issues such as the identification of dopamine metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid (thesis of A. Boulghobra, 2019-22) and the study of the lipidomics of red blood cells for Gaucher's disease (thesis of T. Bettioui, 2021-24). These optimizations are essential to ensure the sensitivity, resolution, and speed necessary for the analysis of complex samples.

Analytical developments have also been applied to the characterization of ancient dyes. For example, the thesis of L. Arberet (2019-23) allowed for the characterization of dyes derived from the Justicia plant, used in Aztec manuscripts such as the Codex Borbonicus. This research combined advanced chromatographic techniques with mass spectrometry to identify heritage molecules. This thesis work, funded by DIM PAMIR at the interface between ICP and the National Museum of Natural History, received significant public communication, notably in SNCF train stations in Île-de-France.

Lucie Arberet and the Codex Borbonicus manuscript, the origin of the brown color extracted from the Justicia leaf, which was elucidated during her thesis.

The "Analytical Physicochemistry" axis also focuses on the development of differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) filters coupled with mass spectrometry. These devices allow the selection of isomers before analysis, simplifying the study of complex mixtures (theses of Y. Wang and C. El Saddik). A third DMS filter is currently under development for quantitative applications, enabling the evaluation of performance metrics such as detection limits and linearity of analyses.

Differential mobility (DMS) data of ions for the 20 protonated amino acids recorded at different dispersion voltages (DV) using N₂ as the carrier gas. (a) DMS dispersion curves, or the evolution of compensation voltage (CV) as a function of DV; the DMS spectra for each individual amino acid at DV = 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 kV are shown in panels (b), (c), and (d), respectively. [Berthias2020]

Finally, the team is engaged in developing expert software for interpreting the complex and abundant data generated by high-resolution mass spectrometers. These tools are particularly valuable for analyzing samples returned from the asteroid Ryugu by the Japanese Hayabusa2 probe.

Collaborations

Hynd Remita (TEMiC, ICP), Ally Aukauloo (ICMMO-Orsay), Stéphane Pasquiers (LPGP, IHU), Isabelle Le Potier (C2N, IHU)