Enhancing the LC-MS/MS Analysis of B-group Vitamins with MaxPeak High Performance Surface Technology

Importance of the Topic

Effective analysis of B-group vitamins by LC-MS/MS is crucial for accurate nutritional assessment, food and beverage quality control, and nutraceutical research. Adsorptive interactions between polar vitamins and stainless-steel flow paths can degrade peak shapes, reduce sensitivity, and cause carry-over, complicating routine workflows.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application brief evaluates the impact of MaxPeak High Performance Surface (HPS) technology on the LC-MS/MS measurement of 18 water-soluble B vitamins. A direct comparison was made between a conventional UPLC system (SOP setup) and the ACQUITY PREMIER Solution equipped with HPS surfaces (HPS setup) under AOAC Official Method 2015.14 conditions.

Methodology

Standard mixture injections (1 µg/mL) were performed in septuplicate, followed by calibration series from 3 ng/mL to 10 µg/mL. Both setups used identical chromatographic gradients and a Xevo TQ-S micro triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with optimized MRM transitions for each vitamin.

Used Instrumentation

• ACQUITY PREMIER System with MaxPeak HPS flow path components
• ACQUITY PREMIER BEH C18 Column (1.7 µm, 2.1 × 100 mm)
• ACQUITY UPLC H-Class PLUS System with conventional stainless-steel parts
• ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 Column (1.7 µm, 2.1 × 100 mm)
• Xevo TQ-S micro Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer
• MassLynx and TargetLynx MS Software

Main Results and Discussion

• Increased Response: All 18 vitamins showed equal or enhanced peak areas with HPS; particularly flavin mononucleotide, thiamine, thiamine pyrophosphate, pyridoxal 5′-phosphate, and pantothenic acid exhibited dramatic signal gains.
• Improved Sensitivity: Limits of quantification improved 3–10-fold for key vitamers when using HPS hardware.
• No Carry-Over: Residual peaks for riboflavin, pyridoxine, 5-methyl-THF, and methylcobalamin observed in the conventional setup were eliminated with HPS components.

These enhancements persisted after extended use, underscoring the robustness of the HPS technology.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Sharper, more symmetric peaks facilitate lower detection limits and improved quantification accuracy.
• Elimination of surface-related artifacts reduces the need for mobile phase additives or surface coatings, streamlining sample workflows.
• Higher precision and reproducibility support reliable quality control in food, beverage, and nutraceutical laboratories.

Future Trends and Opportunities

As demand grows for trace-level vitamin analysis and novel biomarkers, surface-passivation strategies like MaxPeak HPS may be extended to broader metabolomic and lipidomic assays, emerging omics applications, and challenging analyte classes prone to surface adsorption.

Conclusion

The ACQUITY PREMIER Solution with MaxPeak High Performance Surfaces significantly mitigates metal-induced adsorption in LC-MS/MS analysis of B vitamins, delivering enhanced peak quality, sensitivity, and carry-over prevention. This advancement streamlines workflows and elevates analytical performance for routine and research applications.

References

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