There has been a rising concern regarding the harmful impact of biotoxins, source of origin, and the determination of the specific type of toxin. With numerous reports on their extensive spread, biotoxins pose a critical challenge to figure out their parent groups, metabolites, and concentration. In that aspect, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) based analysis paves the way for its accurate identification and quantification. The biotoxins are ideally categorized as phytotoxins, mycotoxins, shellfish-toxins, ciguatoxins, cyanotoxins, and bacterial toxins such as tetrodotoxins. Considering the diverse nature of biotoxins, both low-resolution mass spectrometry (LRMS) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) methods have been implemented for their detection. The sample preparation strategy for complex matrix usually includes “QuEChERS” extraction or solid-phase extraction coupled with homogenization and centrifugation. For targeted analysis of biotoxins, the LRMS consisting of a tandem mass spectrometer operating in multiple reaction monitoring mode has been widely implemented. With the help of the reference standard, most of the toxins were accurately quantified. At the same time, the suspect screening and nontarget screening approach are facilitated by the HRMS platforms during the absence of reference standards. Significant progress has also been made in sampling device employment, utilizing novel sample preparation strategies, synthesizing toxin standards, employing hybrid MS platforms, and the associated data interpretation. This critical review attempts to elucidate the progress in LC-MS based analysis in the determination of biotoxins while pointing out major challenges and suggestions for future development.

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基于 LC-MS 的生物毒素分析的最新进展：当前和未来的挑战

人们越来越关注生物毒素的有害影响、来源和特定毒素类型的确定。由于有大量关于其广泛传播的报道，生物毒素对找出其母体、代谢物和浓度提出了严峻挑战。在这方面，基于液相色谱-质谱 (LC-MS) 的分析为其准确识别和量化铺平了道路。生物毒素理想地分类为植物毒素、霉菌毒素、贝类毒素、雪卡毒素、蓝藻毒素和细菌毒素如河豚毒素。考虑到生物毒素的多样性，低分辨率质谱 (LRMS) 和高分辨率质谱 (HRMS) 方法都已用于检测。复杂基质的样品制备策略通常包括“QuEChERS”萃取或固相萃取结合均质和离心。对于生物毒素的靶向分析，由以多反应监测模式运行的串联质谱仪组成的 LRMS 已得到广泛应用。在参考标准的帮助下，大部分毒素都得到了准确定量。同时，在缺乏参考标准的情况下，HRMS 平台促进了嫌疑人筛查和非目标筛查方法。在取样设备的使用、利用新的样品制备策略、合成毒素标准品、采用混合 MS 平台以及相关的数据解释方面也取得了重大进展。