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, 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: 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 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 substance of abuse 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: 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 are developing tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) fingerprints of cannabinoids form cannabis that will be applied for the screening of additional metabolites within plant and animal tissues. In addition, validated targeted LC-MS/MS methods is being developed for preclinical testing of various plant extracts within animal models of pain.

Stream 4: Extraction of active metabolites from canola oil waste stream: Canada is a major world producer of canola oil. By-products from the crushing and refining process are either treated as waste or low value products. Our analysis revealed that the waste stream contains around 5-10% phytosterols and 2% tocopherols. Therefore, extracting high value compounds particularly phytosterols from canola oil waste stream represents an important value-added opportunity. We are developing industrial extraction strategies to isolate biologically active metabolites from canola’s waste stream without the use of toxic solvents. LC-MS/MS methods were developed to profile the various extracts and nanotechnology were employed to formulate the isolated active metabolites into functional foods. We also devised strategies to prevent the formation of harmful phytosterols oxidation produces (POPs) during the whole process from extraction to formulation.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Khajavinia A and El-Aneed A. Carbon-based nanoparticles and their surface-modified counterparts as MALDI matrices. Analytical Chemistry, 2023 95 (1), 100-114.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Fatani S, Bakke D, Halpape K, D’Eon M, El-Aneed 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. Gachumi G, Purves R, Hopf C, El-Aneed A. Fast quantification without conventional chromatography, the growing power of mass spectrometry. Analytical Chemistry. 2020, 92, 13, 8628–8637.
16. 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
17. Wei J, 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.
18. Ferreira JV, Braga AV, Machado RR, Michel D, Pianetti GA, El-Aneed A, Costa César I. 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
19. Khamis M, Adamko D, and El-Aneed A. Strategies and challenges in method development and validation for the absolute quantification of endogenous biomarker metabolites using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Mass Spectrometry Reviews. 2019, DOI 10.1002/mas.21607.
20. Nwabufo C, El-Aneed A, and Krol E. Tandem mass spectrometric analysis of novel caffeine scaffold-based bifunctional compounds for Parkinson's disease. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. 2019, 33 (23) 1792-1803.
21. Jin W, Al-Dulaymi M, Badea I, Leary SC, Rehman J, and El-Aneed A. Cellular uptake and distribution of gemini surfactant nanoparticles used as gene delivery agents. 2019. The AAPS Journal. 21: 98. https://doi.org/10.1208/s12248-19-0367-1.
22. Awad H, Allen KD, Adamko DJ, and El-Aneed A. Development of a new quantification method for organic acids in urine as potential biomarkers for respiratory illness. Journal of Chromatography B. 2019, Volumes 1122–1123: 29-38
23. Jiang K, Gachumi G, Poudel A, Shurmer B, Bashi Z and El-Aneed A. The establishment of tandem mass spectrometric fingerprints of phytosterols and tocopherols and the development of targeted profiling strategies in vegetable oils. Journal of The American Society for Mass Spectrometry. 2019, 30(9), 1700-1712.
24. Poudel A, Gachumi G, Wasan K, Dallal Bashi Z, El-Aneed A , Badea I. Development and characterization of lipid-based formulations containing phytosterols extracted from Canola oil deodorizer distillate along with tocopherols as food additives. 2019, 11, 185; doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics 11040185
25. Wasan E, Sacevich C, El-Aneed A, Mohammed M, Syeda J, Neville E, Orlowski T, Campbell D, Gamble J. Investigation into spinal anesthetic failure with hyperbaric bupivacaine: the role of cold exposure on bupivacaine degradation. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia. 2019. 66, 803–812.
26. Jin W, Badea I, Leary S, and El-Aneed A. The determination of gemini surfactants used as gene delivery agents in cellular matrix using validated tandem mass spectrometric method. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 2019, 164: 164-172.
27. Khamis M, Adamko D, Purves R, and El-Aneed A. Quantitative determination of potential urine biomarkers of respiratory illnesses using new targeted metabolomic approach. Analytica Chimica Acta, 2019, 1047: 81-92.
28. Fatani S, Dobson R, El-Aneed A. Qualitative exploration of the education and skill needs of community pharmacists in saskatoon concerning substance use disorder. Canadian Pharmacists Journal, 2019, 152 (2), 117-129.