Chromatography-mass spectrometry coupling: Recent innovations and applications in metabolomics

Abstract

Metabolomics is the comprehensive identification and quantification of small molecules that drive metabolic reactions within biological systems. Among the various platforms available, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has gained prominence due to its high throughput, soft ionization capabilities, and wide coverage of metabolite classes. The efficacy of LC-MS-based metabolomic studies relies on the optimization of multiple steps, ranging from experimental design to computational analysis. This review outlines a typical LC-MS-based metabolomics workflow, highlighting recent innovations and practical solutions to address the challenges inherent at each stage. By examining advances in untargeted and targeted approaches, this article provides a comprehensive guide to utilizing LC-MS in metabolomic studies, with applications spanning biomarker discovery, systems biology, and environmental stress analysis.