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Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry for Omics Applications explores the subject of integrated analytical strategies around gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for sample chemical characterization. The book walks through the full analytical workflow, from sample preparation to the type of GC separation and MS hyphenation, how to ensure analytical quality and how to analyze and interpret the resulting data.
The first section provides foundations of key areas like non-targeted and targeted analyses, sample preparation, separation and detection, data management and interpretation, and quality control. The second section focuses on these tools’ applied use, including metabolomics, plants, environmental contaminants, and the study of refined samples for industrial processes.
08/06/2026
Profiling Inflammation in Skin Fibroblast in vitro models
Profiling Inflammation in Skin Fibroblast in vitro models
In this proof-of-concept study, we explored the volatilomic response of primary human dermal fibroblasts exposed to defined inflammatory stimuli associated with distinct innate immune signaling pathways: polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C), a synthetic analogue of viral double-stranded RNA, is commonly used to activate Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and stimulate interferon-related inflammatory signaling; tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), a key mediator of inflammatory processes, which has been reported to promote fibroblast activation and cellular stress responses through Nuclear Factor-κB (NF-κB)-associated signaling pathways; and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a canonical Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist, widely used to model bacterial inflammatory challenge and which has been associated with metabolic and oxidative responses in stromal cells. Using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS), we analyzed volatile organic compounds released by fibroblasts following stimulation and explored differences in volatilomic patterns between stimulated and non-treated cells. By examining volatilome variations in a controlled cellular model and its controls (treated vs. non-treated, treated vs. stimulus solution), this study provides an initial framework for investigating stimulus-associated volatile signatures in fibroblast cultures.
The work is available here (open access).
08/04/2026
Targeted or non-targeted? part#2
Targeted or non-targeted? part#2
the aim of this study is to (I) develop and validate a novel method for the extraction and analysis of target (semi-)volatile PFAS in soil samples and (II) demonstrate the non-targeted capabilities of the proposed analytical approach. This research integrates the extraction efficiency of DHS using sorption tubes with the high sensitivity and identification capabilities of a GC(×GC)-TOFMS system. After initial method development and optimization, the TD-GC-TOFMS methodology was validated for the quantification of nine PFAS, namely fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), fluorotelomer acrylates (FTAc), and alkyl sulfonamides (FOSA and FOSE). In addition, the research demonstrates the capability of the TD-GC×GC-TOFMS methodology for non-targeted screening of environmentally relevant compounds in soils.
The work is available here (open access).
08/01/2026
Targeted or non-targeted? why picking one!? 🤩
Targeted or non-targeted? why picking one!? 🤩
In this research we presented a new analytical method for identifying and quantifying volatile and semi-volatile PFAS, which are increasingly attracting the attention as environmental pollutants. The concepts of targeted and non-targeted analysis were here merged and exploited in an integrated approach exploiting DHS-TD-GC×GC-TOFMS for environmental monitoring of volatile fluoroalkyl pollutants. For targeted analysis, we developed and validated the method for the quantification of nine (semi-)volatile PFAS in water samples. Notably, the enhanced non-targeted capabilities of this method also allowed for the detection of 115 additional pollutants in water samples from an industrial site. The described integrated approach combines targeted PFAS monitoring with comprehensive non-targeted screening, offering a powerful tool for broader environmental assessment of volatile chemicals.
The work is available here, and it's open access!
08/04/2025
Let's smell Cannabis!
Let's smell Cannabis!
Cannabis inflorescences represent an important source of many high-value bioactive specialized metabolites, among which the family of terpenes or terpenoids are the largest classes of natural products known. Besides their biological activities either alone or synergistic with other terpenoids or cannabinoids, they are responsible for the distinctive "cannabis" flavour.
In this research, we exploited the separation power and identification capabilities of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC×GC-MS) for the profiling of terpenes and terpenoids in cannabis inflorescences. As extraction thecnique, dynamic headspace (DHS) was chosen and optimized for the best analyte coverage, reproducibility, and recovery.
The work is available here, and it's open access!
18/01/2025
It's online the talk from Breath Biopsy Conference 2024 on sampling conditions for volatile metabolites exploiting TD-GC×GC-TOFMS
It's online the talk from Breath Biopsy Conference 2024 on sampling conditions for volatile metabolites exploiting TD-GC×GC-TOFMS
The presentation discusses an important limitation of exhaled breath analysis that is the lack of standardized procedures and the need for robust external validation. To address these challenges, a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC×GC-MS) system for monitoring probe metabolites in exhaled breath is presented and discusses. Another important point discussed is the fine selection and optimization of sampling conditions.
20/11/2024
Review in Anal. Bioanal. Chem.: "The contribution of high-resolution GC separations in plastic recycling research"
Review in Anal. Bioanal. Chem.: "The contribution of high-resolution GC separations in plastic recycling research"
30/01/2023
The most valuable product from advanced recycling is a fluid hydrocarbon stream (or pyrolysis oil) which represents the feedstock for further refinement and processing into new plastics. In this context, gas chromatography is currently playing an important role since it is being used to study the pyrolysis oils, as well as any organic contaminants, and it can be considered a high-resolution separation technique, able to provide the molecular composition of such complex samples. This information significantly helps to tailor the pyrolysis process to produce high-quality feedstocks. In addition, the detection of contaminants (i.e., heteroatom-containing compounds) is crucial to avoid catalytic deterioration and to implement and design further purification processes. The current review highlights the importance of molecular characterization of waste stream products, and particularly the pyrolysis oils obtained from waste plastics.
Here's the link to the publication: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00216-023-04519-8
30/12/2022
The paper describes an alternative modeling approach that breaks down the GCxGC system into two separate individual one-dimensional GC (1D GC) subsystems. Consequently, 1D GC retention time predictions are considered as separate 1D and 2D columns and then combined to describe the two-dimensional separation space.
Here's the link to the publication: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.2c03107
GCxGC platforms comparison in tracking exhaled breath metabolites
GCxGC platforms comparison in tracking exhaled breath metabolites
30/07/2022
The paper describes an alternative modeling approach that breaks down the GCxGC system into two separate individual one-dimensional GC (1D GC) subsystems. Consequently, 1D GC retention time predictions are considered as separate 1D and 2D columns and then combined to describe the two-dimensional separation space.
Here's the link to the publication: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jssc.202200164
Review in Advances in Sample Preparation: "Modern sample preparation approaches for small metabolite elucidation to support biomedical research
Review in Advances in Sample Preparation: "Modern sample preparation approaches for small metabolite elucidation to support biomedical research
29/08/2022
The review is featuring the most used sample preparation techniques used for biological samples, especially considering those with a great premise in automation and in reducing the environmental impact. We focus the discussion on those techniques and applications aiming at extracting small molecules for the high-resolution analysis involving GC–MS for the following separation and detection.
Here's the link to the publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sampre.2022.100017
New resource for Metabolomics studies!
New resource for Metabolomics studies!
29/06/2022
Metabolomics Perspectives is a metabolomics teaching book designed for undergraduate and graduate students as weel as researchers who are new to this discipline. It is divided into 3 parts: the first summarizes the necessary background to tackle the study of metabolomics, the second is dedicated to the main data analysis techniques applied in metabolomics, while the third reports a broad overview of the main applications in metabolomics.
Our contribution with the chapter on Separation Sciences used in this challenging field.... Chromatography and mass spectrometry lead the way!
Hello... (again)
Hello... (again)
01/04/2022
Hi,
I am happy to welcome you to my new personal webpage. My name is Flavio, and I'm currently holding an assistant professor position at the DOCPAS department (@University of Ferrara - Unife). I replaced the previous website with this new platform, also refreshing it with a new look!
A lot has changed from my first post (you find it also at the bottom of the page), it was 2015!... However, there are still plenty of (analytical) challenges to address!
My research at Unife is focused on the application and improvement of conventional and multidimensional gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry for life science and environmental applications.
Cheers,
Flavio A. Franchina
New research exploiting SBSE, GCxGC, and (LR- and HR-)MS in cannabinomics. Unbiased/wide metabolite coverage extraction with high-res separation/detection for untargeted/targeted analysis. I particularly enjoyed in developing this project. The power of SBSE, GCxGC, low- and high-res MS..together! So challenging and so much to do..here's the link to the publication: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.analchem.0c01301
The path to follow for more reliable breath sampling is still long...this might represent a little step forward! I hope you enjoy the reading (you can download the article published in Talanta (Elsevier) here, or drop me a line if not free download not available anymore). Here's the link to the publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121569
Investigating aroma diversity combining purge‐and‐trap, comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography and mass spectrometry: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jssc.201900902 .
HI...
HI...
04/16/2015
Dear Friends,
I'm glad to welcome you in my blog. First of all, I'm Flavio Antonio Franchina, that's why the website name (FFA), and I'm currently a post-doc researcher at the SCIFAR department (University of Messina). I have gained a good knowledge of various analytical techniques, mainly in the field of chromatography (GC, GC×GC, LC-GC) and mass spectrometry (GC and GC×GC coupled to single quadrupole, time of flight, triple quadrupole mass analyzers), for the analysis of various complex samples (petrochemical, food, flavour&fragrance, biological etc..).
As regards my main research target until now, it was focused on the development and improvement of both modulation interfaces for multidimensional (comprehensive) gas chromatography, namely cryogenic (as popular as it is expensive) and flow modulators, which still possess great separation power, do not require cryogenics and are therefore inexpensive to run, and are intrinsically suitable for a wider volatily range.
I decided few weeks ago to create a website to collect and share my work experience and my travels (attending conferences or training courses): the binder will be the chromatography. It's funny, I want to use here a separation technique with no separation power, as a unifying factor :)
Whoever you are, no matter if a full-time lab worker or just a weird curious one, you just need to be involved with anything around chromatography, from the intimate analyte/stationary-phase interaction inside the column, to the everyday-used chromatographic products: You Are in the Right place!
Best,
Flavio A. Franchina
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