Mass Spectroscopy Unit of the Institute for Drug Research
Instrumentation
The Mass Spec Unit of the Institute for Drug Research is offering services on three
modern Mass Spectrometers with utmost professionalism:
GC-MS/MS
High Resolution and Accurate Mass GCxGC-MS/MS (Agilent 7200
GC/Q-TOF) combines high selectivity with the added value of
accurate mass (<5ppm), high resolution, Electron (EI) and Chemical
Ionization (CI), making it the ultimate choice for targeted and nontargeted screening as well as for quantitation analysis. Structural
elucidation of unknown compounds may be achieved by accurate
mass measurements, elemental composition calculations, isotopic patterns, database
searching and fragmentation interpretation. Its expanded sampling range (a liquid, headspace
and SPME injection system) makes it a powerful candidate for metabolomics, volatile
compounds (VOC) and semivolatile compounds (SVOC) analysis.
LC-MS/MS
Two Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometers:
Sciex Triple Quad TM 5500
Thermo TSQ Quantum Access Max
Framingham, MA, USA
San Jose, CA, USA
The major application of these Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometers is the quantitation of
small molecules (pharmaceuticals, natural products, small peptides, fatty acids, steroids,
metabolites and contaminants among them) in diverse biological and complex matrices. These
instruments are ideal for pharmacokinetic studies and quantitation of small amounts of the
molecules in complex biological samples.
Our Specialization
The Mass Spec Unit specializes in a broad range of services for drug development
research -clinical and preclinical studies- and the services are compatible with almost
any small molecule (pesticides, environment contaminants, etc.)
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Identification of unknown compounds in complex mixtures especially volatile
(VOC) and semivolatile (SVOC) compounds
GC-MS/MS targeted and untargeted quantitative analysis of biological samples
LC-MS/MS quantitative bioanalysis of pharmaceuticals, natural compounds and
metabolites in biological matrices such as plasma, serum, tissues and urine.
Kinetic studies of reaction mixtures
Rapid structure confirmation for a wide range of small organic compounds and
small peptides
Mass Spec services are available to all users, both academic and industrial and include
specialist support such as:
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Guidance in the choice of method for sample preparation
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Method development and validation
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Data analysis
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Consulting and advice in Mass Spec data interpretation
The Mass Spec Unit is located at the School of Pharmacy building, floor -1, room No.
25, Ein Kerem Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem.
For more information please contact:
Dinorah Barasch, PhD
Alina Nemirovski, PhD
Tel: +972-2-6757394, Fax: +972-2-6757076, E-mail: [email protected]
Successful projects accomplished
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Pharmacokinetics (PK) and organ distribution of small peptides, drugs
(bupivacaine,
methylprednisolone,
rimonabant,
streptozotocin,
retinoids,
docetaxel, paclitaxel, mitomycin C, lopinavir, sirolimus, florfenicol, ouabain,
digoxin, ibuprofen, huperzine A, amoxicilline, ladostigil) and proprietary prodrugs
after administration to mice, rats, pigs and sheep in diverse formulations,
including liposomes, nanoparticles and nanocapsules
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Quantitative analysis of cannabinoids (THC, CBD & CBG), endocannabinoids
fatty acids, and other endogenous compounds in plasma and different tissues
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Pharmacokinetics and metabolites quantification in human body fluids (plasma,
saliva and urine) during clinical trials
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Quantitative analysis of amino acids in medium and determination of the
uptake/release by cells
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Quantification of 13C-labeled Acetyl CoA in Embryonic Stem Cells
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Quantitative analysis of trace contaminants (DNT and TNT) in soil samples
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Structure confirmation of diverse labile metal complexes
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Identification of low concentrations of suspected illicit drugs and poisons in
mixtures
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Quantitative analysis of diverse vitamins and hormones in complex mixtures
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Analysis of natural compounds, antioxidants and flavonoids in plant extracts
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Drug release profiling and stability studies of diverse drug formulations
Selected publications
1.
Zelber-Sagi, S.; Azar, S.; Nemirovski, A.; Webb, M.; Halpern, Z.; Shibolet, O.;
Tam, J., Serum Levels of Endocannabinoids are Independently Associated with
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Obesity 2017, 25 (1), 94-101.
2.
Boo, H.-O.; Kim, H.-H.; Barasch, D.; Nemirovski, A.; Lee, M.-S.; Gorinstein, S.;
Ku, Y.-G., Codonopsis lanceolata and Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. root extracts for
functional food: metabolic profiling by MS, FTIR and fluorescence and evaluation
of cytotoxicity and anti-obesity properties on 3T3-L1 cell line. European Food
Research and Technology 2017, 243 (4), 689-700.
3.
Knani, I.; Earley, B. J.; Udi, S.; Nemirovski, A.; Hadar, R.; Gammal, A.; Cinar, R.;
Hirsch, H. J.; Pollak, Y.; Gross, I.; Eldar-Geva, T.; Reyes-Capo, D. P.; Han, J. C.;
Haqq, A. M.; Gross-Tsur, V.; Wevrick, R.; Tam, J., Targeting the
endocannabinoid/CB1 receptor system for treating obesity in Pradere-Willi
syndrome. Molecular Metabolism 2016, 5 (12), 1187-1199.
4.
Leontowicz, H.; Leontowicz, M.; Latocha, P.; Jesion, I.; Park, Y. S.; Katrich, E.;
Barasch, D.; Nemirovski, A.; Gorinstein, S., Bioactivity and nutritional properties
of hardy kiwi fruit Actinidia arguta in comparison with Actinidia deliciosa 'Hayward'
and Actinidia eriantha 'Bidan'. Food Chemistry 2016, 196, 281-291.
5.
Leontowicz, M.; Leontowicz, H.; Namiesnik, J.; Apak, R.; Barasch, D.;
Nemirovski, A.; Moncheva, S.; Goshev, I.; Trakhtenberg, S.; Gorinstein, S.,
Rapana venosa consumption improves the lipid profiles and antioxidant
capacities in serum of rats fed an atherogenic diet. Nutrition Research 2015, 35
(7), 592-602.
6.
Moussaieff, A.; Rouleau, M.; Kitsberg, D.; Cohen, M.; Levy, G.; Barasch, D.;
Nemirovski, A.; Shen-Orr, S.; Laevsky, I.; Amit, M.; Bomze, D.; Elena-Herrmann,
B.; Scherf, T.; Nissim-Rafinia, M.; Kempa, S.; Itskovitz-Eldor, J.; Meshorer, E.;
Aberdam, D.; Nahmias, Y., Glycolysis-Mediated Changes in Acetyl-CoA and
Histone Acetylation Control the Early Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells.
Cell Metabolism 2015, 21 (3), 392-402.
7.
Momic, T.; Katzhendler, J.; Shai, E.; Noy, E.; Senderowitz, H.; Eble, J. A.;
Marcinkiewicz, C.; Varon, D.; Lazarovici, P., Vipegitide: a folded peptidomimetic
partial antagonist of alpha 2 beta 1 integrin with antiplatelet aggregation activity.
Drug Design Development and Therapy 2015, 9, 291-304.
8.
Moradov, D.; Finkin-Groner, E.; Bejar, C.; Sunita, P.; Schorer-Apelbaum, D.;
Barasch, D.; Nemirovski, A.; Cohen, M.; Weinstock, M., Dose-limiting inhibition
of acetylcholinesterase by ladostigil results from the rapid formation and fast
hydrolysis of the drug-enzyme complex formed by its major metabolite, R-MCPAI.
Biochemical Pharmacology 2015, 94 (2), 164-172.
9.
Nudelman, Z.; Findler, M.; Barasch, D.; Nemirovski, A.; Pikovsky, A.; Kirmayer,
D.; Basheer, M.; Gutkind, J. S.; Friedman, M.; Czerninski, R., Levels of sirolimus
in saliva and blood following oral topical sustained-release varnish delivery
system application. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology 2015, 75 (5), 969974
10. Barasch, D.; Nemirovski, A.; Nassar, T., Non-conventional approach to
quantitative analysis by LCMS/MS. Oral presentation at ISRANALYTICA 2015,
The 18th Annual Meeting of the Israel Analytical Chemistry Society, Tel-Aviv,
Israel.
11. Nudelman, Z.; Friedman, M.; Barasch, D.; Nemirovski, A.; Findler, M.; Pikovsky,
12.
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A.; Gutkind, J. S.; Czerninski, R., Levels of sirolimus in saliva and blood following
mouthwash application. Oral Diseases 2014, 20 (8), 768-772.
Zivi, E.; Barash, D.; Aizenman, E.; Gibson, D.; Shufaro, Y., Zygote serine
decreased uptake from the fertilization medium is associated with implantation
and pregnancy. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 2014, 31 (7),
889-897.
Zivi, E.; Aizenman, E.; Barash, D.; Gibson, D.; Shufaro, Y., Use of culture media
amino acid mass spectrometry/liquid chromotography (LCMS) measurments in
identifing the embryo with the best implantation potential. Human Reproduction
2013, 28, 189-189.
Karra, N.; Nassar, T.; Ripin, A. N.; Schwob, O.; Borlak, J.; Benita, S., Antibody
Conjugated PLGA Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery of Paclitaxel Palmitate:
Efficacy and Biofate in a Lung Cancer Mouse Model. Small 2013, 9 (24), 42214236.
Attili-Qadri, S.; Karra, N.; Nemirovski, A.; Schwob, O.; Talmon, Y.; Nassar, T.;
Benita, S., Oral delivery system prolongs blood circulation of docetaxel
nanocapsules via lymphatic absorption. Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences of the United States of America 2013, 110 (43), 17498-17503.
Burshtein, G.; Friedman, M.; Greenberg, S.; Hoffman, A., Transepithelial
Transport of a Natural Cholinesterase Inhibitor, Huperzine A, along the
Gastrointestinal Tract: the Role of Ionization on Absorption Mechanism. Planta
Medica 2013, 79 (3-4), 259-265.
Nudelman, Z.; Keshet, N.; Elhalal, M. D.; Friedman, M.; Czerninski, R., Levels of
Sirolimns in Saliva vs. Blood - the Rationale of Topical Oral Use for Oral
Malignancy. Anticancer Research 2013, 33 (2), 661-663.