Anas El-Aneed

Ph.D. Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada
MBA, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
M.Sc. Pharmaceutics, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada
B.Sc. Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Lattakia University (formerly Tishreen University), Syria

Medicinal Chemistry and Physical Pharmacy (Undergraduate) and Analytical Mass Spectrometry (Graduate)

• Analytical mass spectrometry
• Targeted and untargeted metabolomics
• Matrix Assisted laser desorption ionization – mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS)

Stream 1: Analysis of psychoactive compounds: Our work, in collaboration with Dr. Robert Laprairie, is focused on developing targeted and profiling mass spectrometric methods to quantify and identify bioactive substances, present in natural psychoactive plants, such as marijuana and magic mushrooms. We developed tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) fingerprints of cannabinoids form cannabis that are being applied for the screening of additional metabolites within plant extracts. Validated targeted LC-MS/MS methods are utilized for preclinical testing of various plant extracts within animal models of pain to assess efficacy in comparison to pure cannabinoids.

Stream 2: Advancing the Use of MALDI-MS for the Analysis of Small Molecules: Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) is a simple and fast analytical strategy. MALDI-MS analysis, however, is hampered due to the use of matrices that commonly interferes with the analysis of small molecules and metabolites (MW< 1000 Da). Choosing the right matrix for small molecules is tedious and time-consuming. We are, therefore, developing new surface- modified nanostructures as novel MALDI matrices. We demonstrated in the past that newly designed matrices are superior to conventional matrices when analyzing low molecular weight pharmaceuticals. Analyte signal was enhanced while background noise, commonly observed with conventional matrices, was reduced. We are currently focusing on developing new matrices with various surface modifications and applying them to the analysis of psychoactive substances in both urine and plasma. This work can expand the use of MALDI-MS for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of small molecules.

Stream 3: Urine metabolomics for biomarker discovery in respiratory illness: Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common respiratory illnesses that reduce the quality of life and can result in premature death. Asthma, in particular, is common among young children, a vulnerable population that cannot perform conventional clinical diagnostic tests.

In collaboration with Dr. Darryl Adamko, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, we are developing untargeted and targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods for the analysis of urinary metabolites that are linked to respiratory illnesses. Our objectives are to identify potential metabolite biomarkers and develop clinically approved targeted methods for biomarker qualification. The end goal is to develop clinical MS-based testing that can aid in disease diagnosis and therapy management. 

Stream 4: Mycotoxin Analysis in Agricultural Crops

In collaboration with Drs. Randy Kutcher and Lipu Wang form the College of Agriculture, we are working on identifying and measuring mycotoxins in wheat and barley crops. A common Fusarium-produced mycotoxin in North America is deoxynivalenol, which we measured in a simple MS method without the use of conventional chromatography. We are now developing targeted methods to measure multiple DON derivatives with a long-term goal of informing growers about the best cultivars to resist the fungal infection.

1. Mahmoud R, Laprairie RB, and El-Aneed A.* Analytical approaches to address challenges in the analysis of cannabinoids in vascular matrices using mass spectrometry. 2025, Mass Spectrometry Reviews, doi: 10.1002/mas.70005.
2. Barzegar S, Shurmer B, El-Aneed A, Purves R.* Investigation of morantel metabolism and its application in veterinary drug residue screening. 2025, Analytica Chimica Acta, 1372, 344421, ISSN 0003-2670, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2025.344421.
3. Gachumi G, Bashi Z, and El-Aneed A.* New green extraction approach for the isolation of phytosterols from canola oil deodorizer distillate. 2025, Food Chemistry, Volume 492, Part 2, 15 November, 145482.
4. Ghanbarian M, Dolgova N, Vizeacoumar FS, Vizeacoumar FJ, Michel D, El-Aneed A, and Dmitriev OY.* Metabolic effects of the cancer Metastasis modulator MEMO1. Metabolites, 2025, 15(4), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15040277.
5. Mahmoud R, Khajavinia A, Sedigheh B, Purves RW, Laprairie RB, El-Aneed A.* Establishment of tandem mass spectrometric fingerprint of the most common phytocannabinoids in electrospray positive ion mode ionization, Rapid communications in Mass Spectrometry, 2025, 28;39(4):e9952. doi: 10.1002/rcm.9952.
6. Khajavinia A, Michel D, Ezeaka UC, Purves RW, Laprairie RB, El-Aneed A.* Addressing a major interference in the quantification of psilocin in mouse plasma: development of a validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method. Journal of Chromatography A, 2024, Volume 1730, 465123.
7. Poudel A, Gachumi G, Paterson PG, El-Aneed A, Badea I.* Liposomal phytosterols as LDL-cholesterol lowering agents in diet-induced hyperlipidemia. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 2023, 20, 4443–4452.
8. Elessawy F, Hughes J, Khazaei H, Vandenberg A, El-Aneed, A, Purves R.* A comparative metabolomics investigation of flavonoid variation in faba bean flowers. Metabolomics, 2023, 19, 52.
9. Elessawy F, Wright D, Vandenberg A, El-Aneed, A, Purves R.* Mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolomics reveals the importance of glycosylated flavones in lentil seed coat patterns. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2023, 71 (7) 3541–3549.
10. Khajavinia A and El-Aneed A.* (invited review article) Carbon-based nanoparticles and their surface-modified counterparts as MALDI matrices. Analytical Chemistry, 2023 95 (1), 100-114.
11. Khajavinia A, Yarahmadi M, El-Aneed A, Haddadi A.* Development of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of docetaxel-loaded Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 2023 Volume 223, 20 January, 115114. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2022.115114.
12. Wang L,* Michel D, Zhang W, El-Aneed A, Fobert PR, Ruan Y, Berraiers S, Cuthbert R, Kutcher HR. A high-throughput fast chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (FC-MS/MS) based method for deoxynivalenol (DON) quantification in wheat grain. PhytoFrontiers. 2022, https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-03-22-0024-TA.
13. Poudel A, Gachumi G, Purves R, Badea I, El-Aneed A.* Determination of phytosterol oxidation products in pharmaceutical liposomal formulations and plant vegetable oil extracts using novel fast liquid chromatography - Tandem mass spectrometric methods. Analytica Chimica Acta. 2022 Feb 15;1194:339404. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2021.339404.
14. [Book Chapter] Al-Dulaymi M,* El-Aneed A, Badea I. Cationic Gemini Surfactants as Genes and Drug Carriers in Drug Delivery Using Nanomaterials (1^st Edition), Edited by Shahzad Y, Rizvi SA, Yousaf AM, Hussain T. 2022. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
15. Fatani S, Bakke D, Halpape K, D’Eon M, El-Aneed A.* Development and validation of patient- community pharmacist encounter toolkit regarding substance misuse: Delphi procedure. 2021. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, S1544-3191(21)00359-9. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2021.08.018.
16. Elessawy F, Vandenberg A, El-Aneed A, Purves RW.* An untargeted metabolomics approach for correlating pulse crop seed coat polyphenol profiles with antioxidant capacity and iron chelation ability. 2021, Molecules, 26, 3833. DOI 10.3390/molecules26133833.
17. Khajavinia A, Haddadi A, El-Aneed A.* Establishment of the tandem mass spectrometric fingerprints of taxane-based anticancer compounds. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 2021; 35:e9107. doi: 10.1002/rcm.9107.
18. Fatani S, Bakke D, D’Eon M, El-Aneed A.* Qualitative assessment of patients' perspectives and needs from community pharmacists in substance use disorder management. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy. 2021, 16, 38. DOI 10.1186/s13011-021-00374-x
19. Gachumi G, Demelenne A, Poudel A, Dallal Bashi Z, El-Aneed A.* Novel fast chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric quantitative approach for the determination of plant-extracted phytosterols and tocopherols. Molecules. 2021, 26, 1402. DOI 10.3390/molecules26051402.
20. Gachumi G,^¥ Poudel A,^¥ Wasan K, El-Aneed A.* Analytical strategies to analyze the oxidation products of phytosterols, and formulation-based approaches to reduce their generation. Pharmaceutics, 2021, 13, 268.DOI 10.3390/pharmaceutics13020268. ^¥Contributed equally.
21. Gachumi G, Purves R, Hopf C, El-Aneed A.* (Invited Perspective Article) Fast quantification without conventional chromatography, the growing power of mass spectrometry. Analytical Chemistry. 2020, 92, 13, 8628–8637.
22. Poudel A, Gachumi G, Badea I, Bashi ZD, El-Aneed A.* The simultaneous quantification of phytosterols and tocopherols in liposomal formulations using validated atmospheric pressure chemical ionization- liquid chromatography –tandem mass spectrometry. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020. 183, 113104
23. Jin W, Randy P, Krol E, Ildiko B, El-Aneed A.* Mass spectrometric detection and characterization of metabolites of gemini surfactants used as gene delivery vectors. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry. 2020. 31, 2, 366-378.
24. Ferreira JV, Braga AV, Machado RR, Michel D, Pianetti GA, El-Aneed A,* Costa César I.* (co-corresponding authors contributed equally to the work). Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry bioanalytical method for the determination of kavain in mice plasma: Application to a pharmacokinetic study. Journal of Chromatography B. 2020, 1137, 121939