Analysis of pharmaceutical compounds from glass, fabric, steel, and wood surfaces at atmospheric pressure using spatially resolved, nonresonant femtosecond laser vaporization electrospray mass spectrometry.

Laser electrospray mass spectrometry (LEMS) is demonstrated for pharmaceutical samples at atmospheric pressure. A nonresonant, femtosecond duration laser pulse vaporizes native samples at atmospheric pressure into an electrospray plume for ionization with subsequent transfer into a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The active ingredients in pharmaceutical tablets were detected in the presence of binders and fillers in intact formulations using LEMS. Mass spectra were also obtained for microgram amounts of the pharmaceutical compounds loratadine, oxycodone, and atenolol deposited on glass, wood, steel, and polyester fabric. The neutral capture efficiency by the electrospray plume for nonresonant laser vaporization of oxycodone and atenolol desorbed from steel is 2.4% +/- 1.5% and 0.25% +/- 0.18%, respectively. LEMS imaging of the spatial distribution of an oxycodone spot on a metal slide with resolution of 250 mum is also presented.