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The human body emits a complex blend of hundreds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), collectively known as the volatilome, through exhaled breath, skin, and bodily fluids. Influenced by factors such as disease, nutrition, environment, and the microbiome, the chemical study of the volatilome can provide unparalleled insight into human health and physiology.
The Rankin-Turner lab uses ambient ionization mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to study the human volatilome. Employing comprehensive profiling of whole body, skin, and exhaled breath volatiles, our research aims to elucidate how the chemistry of the human body changes in response to factors such as disease, infection and the environment. We can then leverage this information to develop new tools for the study and non-invasive diagnosis of diverse health conditions, bridging the gap between laboratory research and clinical practice. Our research incorporates aspects of analytical chemistry, clinical chemistry, biochemistry, and data science. Members of the Rankin-Turner lab gain expertise in mass spectrometry, separation science, use and modification of analytical instrumentation, analysis of complex datasets, and managing human subjects research.
- Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship (2023)
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science BRIDGE Fellowship (2022)
- Samuel Jordan Graham Postdoctoral Fellowship (2022)
- American Society for Mass Spectrometry Postdoctoral Career Award (2022)
- British Mass Spectrometry Society Bordoli Prize (2018)
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Predoctoral Fellowship (2018)
“Atmospheric pressure surface ionization mass spectrometry for oxidized SUS304 and nichrome: chromic acids (H2CrnO3n+1) as intermediate precursors for the formation of hexavalent chromium oxide negative ions HCrnO3n+1− and protonated oxide surface as solid acid,” K. Hiraoka, S. Rankin-Turner, D. T. Usmanov, S. Ninomiya. Int Journal of Mass Spec, 2025, In Press.
“Assessing the Quantitative Performance of Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe-Mass Spectrometry,” A. Henderson, S. Rankin-Turner, J. C. Reynolds, M. A. Turner, A. Sage, D. Douce, M. Thevis, L. M. Heaney. Rapid Commun. Mass Spec. 2025, 39 22, e10112.
“Miniature APCI ion source using AC corona discharge in a PFA tube: its application to the analysis of low-volatility compounds coupled with heat pulse desorption mass spectrometry (HPD/MS),” S. Rankin-Turner*, S. Ninomiya, H. Shimada, K. Kinoshita, K. Hiraoka. Int Journal of Mass Spec, 2025, 514, 117461.
“Leidenfrost phenomenon-assisted thermal desorption (LPTD) using a metal substrate coated with a fluoro compound: Mechanism of analyte evaporation,” K. Hiraoka, S. Rankin-Turner, D.T. Usmanov, S. M. Akhmedov, S. Ninomiya. Int Journal of Mass Spec, 2025, 512, 117434.
“Adopting ambient ionization mass spectrometry into bioanalytical laboratories,” F. Doustkhahvajari, S. Rankin-Turner*. Bioanalysis, 2025, 17 7, 439-443.
“Surface ionization of carbaryl, papaverine, cocaine, morphine, and triethylamine by heated surface-oxidized metal filaments of W, Re, Pd, Mo, Ti, and SUS304 under atmospheric pressure: ionization mechanism,” K. Hiraoka, D. T. Usmanov, S. M. Akhmedov, S. Rankin-Turner, S. Ninomiya. Rapid Commun. Mass Spec, 2025, 39, e10029.
“Advancements in Ambient Ionisation Mass Spectrometry in 2024: An Annual Review.” A. Henderson, L. M. Heaney, S. Rankin-Turner*. Anal. Sci. Adv, 2025, 6, e70007.
“Sodiation of Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) in Basic Solution Studied by Electrospray Mass Spectrometry,” K. Hiraoka, S. Ninomiya, S. Rankin-Turner, N. Suzuki, S. Akashi. J Mass Spectrom, 2025, 60 1, e5111
“Ambient ionisation mass spectrometry for drug and toxin analysis: A review of the recent literature.,” A. Henderson, L. M. Heaney, S. Rankin-Turner Drug Testing & Analysis 2024
“Solvent effect on the detection of peptides and proteins by nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry: Anomalous behavior of aqueous 2-propanol,” S. Ninomiya, S. Rankin-Turner, S. Akashi, K. Hiraoka Analytical Biochem 2024, 115461
“Analysis of human skin sebum and animal meats by heat pulse desorption/mass spectrometry using proximity corona discharge ionization,” K. Hiraoka, H. Shimada, K. Kinoshita, S. Rankin-Turner, S. Ninomiya Analytical Biochem 2023, 115249
“Human scent guides mosquito thermotaxis and host selection under naturalistic conditions,” D. Giraldo, S. Rankin-Turner, A. Corver, G. M. Tauxe, A. L. Gao, D. M Jackson, L. Simubali, C. Book, J. C. Stevenson, P. E. Thuma, A. Gordus, R. C. McCoy, M. M. Mburu, E. Simulundu, C. J. McMeniman Current Biology 2023, 2367-2382
“Applications of ambient ionization mass spectrometry in 2022: An annual review,” S. Rankin-Turner, P. Sears, L. M. Heaney Analytical Science Advances 2023, 133-155
“Electrospray droplet impact/secondary ion mass spectrometry (EDI/SIMS) applied to the analysis of explosives,” K. Hiraoka, R. Takaishi, S. Ninomiya, S. Rankin-Turner Int Journal of Mass Spec 2023, 116993
“Site-specific deprotonation/sodiation of gramicidin S studied by electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry,” K. Hiraoka, S. Akashi, S. Rankin-Turner, S. Ninomiya Int Journal of Mass Spec 2023, 117135
“Site-specific sodiation of peptides studied by pulsed nanoelectrospray ionization," K. Hiraoka, D.T. Usmanov, S. Ninomiya, S. Rankin-Turner, S. Akashi Int Journal of Mass Spec2023, 117073
“Cuticular profiling of insecticide resistant Aedes aegypti,” E. Jacobs, C. Chrissian, S. Rankin-Turner, M. Wear, E. Camacho, N. A. Broderick, C. J. McMeniman, R. E. Stark, A. Casadevall Scientific Reports 2023, 10154
“A headspace collection chamber for whole body volatilomics,” S. Rankin-Turner, C. J. McMeniman Analyst 2022, 5210-5222
“Mass spectrometry in the clinical laboratory. A short journey through the contribution to the scientific literature by CCLM,” S. Rankin-Turner, L. M. Heaney Clin Chem Lab Med 2022, 873-879
“Heat Pulse Desorption of Low-Volatility Compounds by a Heated N2 Gas Pulse with Mass Spectrometry,” S. Ninomiya, H. Shimada, K. Kinoshita, S. Rankin-Turner, K. Hiraoka J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom 2022, 2046–2054
“Positive and negative cluster ions of amino acids formed by electrospray droplet impact/secondary ion mass spectrometry (EDI/SIMS),” K. Hiraoka, S. Rankin-Turner, S. Ninomiya Int Journal of Mass Spec 2022, 116895
“Applications of ambient ionization mass spectrometry in 2021: An annual review,” S. Rankin-Turner, J. C. Reynolds, M. A. Turner, L. M. Heaney Anal. Sci. Adv 2022, 67–89
“Comparative study of H3O+ (aq) and NH4+ (aq) on electrophoresis, protonating ability, and sodiation of proteins,” K. Hiraoka, S. Ninomiya, S. Rankin-Turner, S. Akashi Int Journal of Mass Spec 2022, 116728
“Corona Discharge and Field Electron Emission in Ambient Air Using a Sharp Metal Needle: Formation and Reactivity of CO3-• and O2-•,”K. Hiraoka, S. Rankin-Turner, S. Ninomiya, H. Shimada, K. Kinoshita, S. Yamabe Mass Spectrometry 2021, A0100
“Reaction of CO3−• with trinitrotoluene (TNT) in CO2 plasma: Experimental and theoretical study on the formation of [TNT + O]−• and its fragmentation pathways,” S. Ninomiya, K. Hiraoka, N. Tsuchida, S. Rankin-Turner, S. Yamabe Int Journal of Mass Spec2021, 116622
“A call for the standardised reporting of factors affecting the exogenous loading of extracellular vesicles with therapeutic cargos,” S. Rankin-Turner, P. Vader, L. O'Driscoll, B. Giebel, L. M.Heaney, O. G. Davies Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 2021, 479-491
“Applications of ambient ionization mass spectrometry in 2020: An annual review,” S. Rankin-Turner, L. M. Heaney Anal. Sci. Adv 2021, 193-212
“Using mass spectrometry to transform the assessment of sexual assault evidence,” S. Rankin-Turner, P. F. Kelly, R. S. P. King, J. C. Reynolds Forensic Chem 2020, 100262
“Point analysis of foods by sheath-flow probe electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (sfPESI/MS) coupled with a touch sensor,” K. Hiraoka, S. Rankin-Turner, S. Ninomiya, R. Sekine, H. Wada, M, Matsumura, S. Sanada-Morimura, F. Tanaka, H. Nonami, O. Ariyada J. Agric. Food Chem 2020, 418-425
“Rapid desorption of low-volatility compounds in liquid droplets accompanied by the flash evaporation of solvent below the Leidenfrost temperature,” S. Ninomiya, S. Rankin-Turner, K. Hiraoka Mass Spectrometry 2020, e8535
“Sheath-flow probe electrospray ionization (sfPESI) mass spectrometry for the rapid forensic analysis of human body fluids,” S. Rankin-Turner, S. Ninomiya, J. C. Reynolds, K. Hiraoka Analytical Methods 2019, 3633-3640
“Component Profiling in Agricultural Applications Using an Adjustable Acupuncture Needle for Sheath-Flow Probe Electrospray Ionization/Mass Spectrometry,” K. Hiraoka, S. Rankin-Turner, S. Ninomiya, H. Wada, H. Nakano, M. Matsumura, S. Sanada-Morimura, F. Tanaka, H. Nonami J. Agric. Food Chem 2019, 3275–3283
“Transforming Presumptive Forensic Testing: In-situ Identification and Age Estimation of Human Bodily Fluids,” S. Rankin-Turner, M. A. Turner, P. F. Kelly, R. S. P. King, J. C. Reynolds Chemical Science 2019, 1064-1069
