Multiple Reaction Monitoring
Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) is a highly sensitive and specific analytical technique based on mass spectrometry, widely used for targeted analysis of complex biological samples. MRM works by selecting specific ion pairs-combinations of parent ions and product ions—to achieve both quantitative and qualitative analysis of target substances. Compared to traditional mass spectrometry, MRM provides significant advantages in terms of sensitivity and specificity, especially for detecting target analytes in complex matrices at low concentrations. This makes multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) an essential tool in various fields, including life sciences, clinical diagnostics, drug analysis, and environmental monitoring.
The principle of multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) relies on tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). In this mode, the mass spectrometer first selects and ionizes the parent ion (the ion corresponding to the target compound). The ion is then fragmented through a process known as Collision-Induced Dissociation (CID), producing product ions. These product ions correspond to specific fragments of the target compound. By measuring the intensity of these product ions, quantitative data about the target substance can be obtained. The ability to select precise parent and product ion pairs effectively reduces background interference, which increases the selectivity and sensitivity of the analysis. This feature is particularly advantageous when analyzing complex samples, allowing accurate quantification of specific compounds or biomarkers.
A significant advantage of multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) technology is its extremely high sensitivity and specificity. In conventional mass spectrometry, it is often difficult to detect low-abundance target substances due to background interference in complex matrices. MRM overcomes this by choosing specific ion pairs, which significantly reduces noise, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio. This makes MRM particularly useful for monitoring trace components in complex biological fluids, tissues, and serum. It is highly effective for precise analysis of low-abundance proteins, small molecules, and metabolites, thus becoming a core technology in clinical metabolite analysis, disease biomarker identification, and drug monitoring.
In biological research and clinical medicine, multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) has been extensively applied for the quantitative detection of biomarkers. Specific biomarkers are often linked to the development and progression of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. MRM offers high-sensitivity detection of these biomarkers, facilitating early diagnosis and disease monitoring. For example, MRM can be used to accurately detect tumor markers in cancer patients, aiding in disease classification and monitoring. Additionally, MRM can track changes in drug metabolites during treatment, providing valuable data on drug efficacy and safety.
In drug development, multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) holds great value by monitoring the pharmacokinetics of candidate drugs, including processes such as absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). By quantifying drug metabolites, MRM helps to identify metabolic pathways, detect potential toxic metabolites, and provide data for drug optimization and safety assessment. It can also be used for drug screening and efficacy evaluation during the early stages of drug discovery.
Beyond biological and pharmaceutical fields, multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) technology is also widely applied in environmental monitoring and food safety. In environmental pollutant analysis, MRM can detect harmful substances in air, water, and soil, such as heavy metals, organic pollutants, and pesticide residues. This provides critical data for environmental protection and public health. In food safety, MRM is used to identify harmful substances such as pesticide residues, food additives, and harmful microorganisms, ensuring food safety for the public.
The high-throughput capability of multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) is another key reason for its widespread adoption. When multiple target substances need to be analyzed simultaneously, MRM can monitor several ion pairs with a single mass spectrometer, enabling efficient quantification of multiple targets. This multi-target detection ability makes MRM especially advantageous for large-scale screening and high-throughput analysis. In clinical diagnostics, disease monitoring, and drug screening, multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) enables the simultaneous acquisition of data on multiple analytes in a single experiment, greatly improving both efficiency and data reliability.
MtoZ Biolabs is committed to offering precise analytical services. Whether for disease biomarker screening, drug metabolism studies, or environmental pollutant detection, MtoZ Biolabs provides high-sensitivity and high-selectivity results to meet diverse research needs.
MtoZ Biolabs, an integrated chromatography and mass spectrometry (MS) services provider.
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