Analysis of vernix caseosa lipids by chromatografic methods and mass spectrometry

(EN) Vernix caseosa is a white creamy substance that covers the skin of a newborn. It is produced during the third trimester by the skin of the baby and remains there until the age of one or even two weeks. It is uniquely human. In utero, vernix protects the skin from maceration, during the birth it serves as a lubricant and after the delivery it protects the baby against infection and regulates the temperature. As vernix is produced in third trimester, prematurely born infants lack it and this may lead to, among other things, suffering from desiccation and therefore heat loss. It is important to study it thoroughly and to find a suitable substitute of vernix for the preterm infants. Vernix consists of lipids, proteins and 80 % water. This project is aimed at the lipids. Vernix is composed of 10 % of lipids. Basic analytical methods of pocessing vernix were searched. The methods of isolation, separation and transesterification have been optimized for the lipids. For separation, thin-layer chromatography has been chosen. The method of the lipid analysis of intact molecules by MALDI-TOF MS has been optimized for these lipids. The results were confirmed using fragmentation spectra and transesterification. Esterified lipids were measured by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detection...