Silicon nitride nanoparticles for surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization of small molecules

Conventional matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry is limited to analyses of higher molecular weight compounds due to high background noise generated by the matrix in the lower mass region. Surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization (SALDI) mass spectrometry is an alternative solution to this problem. Nanoparticles, structured silicon surfaces and carbon allotropes are commonly used as SALDI surfaces. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate the application of silicon nitride nanoparticles as a suitable medium for laser desorption/ionization of small drug molecules.     

Cobalt coated substrate for matrix-free analysis of small molecules by laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

Small molecule analysis is one of the most challenging issues in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. We have developed a cobalt coated substrate as a target for matrix-free analysis of small molecules in laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. Cobalt coating of 60-70 nm thickness has been characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy. This target facilitates hundreds of samples to be spotted and analyzed without mixing any matrices, in a very short time. This can save a lot of time and money and can be a very practical approach for the analysis of small molecules by laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.     

Coupling of desorption and photoionization processes in two-step laser mass spectrometry of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The response of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to different desorption and ionization fluences has been investigated in a laser desorption/multiphoton ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry scheme. The results evidence an intricate relationship between the desorption and ionization steps, tentatively attributed to the amount of internal energy acquired by the desorbed molecules. Different behaviors have been found for the various PAHs considered, leading to a parametric “signature” for each species. Moreover, some insights on the fragmentation mechanism of the desorbed PAHs have been obtained, with possible interpretation in the frame of a “ladder-switching” model.     

近场光学用于激光解吸飞行时间质谱的亚微米级空间分辨成像

基于激光离子源的飞行时间质谱法作为一门新兴的成像方法,已经被广泛应用于材料、地质、环境、药物和生命科学领域中。但受限于光学衍射极限、聚焦透镜的焦距和数值孔径等因素,使其难以实现亚微米尺寸的高空间分辨率成像。近场技术的引入成功地解决了光学衍射极限的限制,将近场技术与激光电离技术相结合,可以实现对固体样品表面纳米级弹坑的剥蚀。此外,传统的质谱成像技术常常假设样品表面是平整的,忽略其表面形貌的高低起伏,但这往往会导致信号强度不稳定和成像假象。为此,不仅需要获得样品中的化学组成与空间分布,还需同时获得样品表面的形貌信息,才能实现多功能的原位表征。在自行研制的激光解吸/电离飞行时间质谱的基础上,采用近场纳米有孔针尖离子源代替传统的远场激光聚焦,以532 nm波长激光为第一束解析激光,355 nm波长激光为后电离激光,音叉式原子力显微镜控制系统针尖与样品之间的距离维持在近场范围内,对酞菁铜镀层样品表面进行了弹坑剥蚀实验,获得了直径为550～850 nm的弹坑点阵;并对7.5 μm×7.5 μm的标准酞菁铜网格样品进行了铜离子亚微米级的高分辨率成像;此外,纳米有孔针尖离子源作为原子力显微镜的一种变体,还可同时获得成像区域的表面形貌信息,这一结合优势大大拓展了质谱技术在微纳尺度下的原位表征能力。     

Molecular histology analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry using gold nanoparticles as matrix

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were applied and optimized as matrix for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry analysis of animal tissues, and enabled histological analysis of animal tissues at molecular level by imaging mass spectrometry (IMS). AuNPs were coated on animal tissue in a solvent-free manner via argon ion sputtering. Metabolites, including neurotransmitters, fatty acids and nucleobases, were directly detected from mouse brain tissue. Based on region-specific chemical profiles, fine histological features of mouse brain tissue and heterogeneous regions of tumor tissue were both revealed.     

Photoionization and Dissociative Photoionization Study of Cholesterol by IR Laser Desorption/Tunable Synchrotron VUV Photoionization Mass Spectrometr

介绍了一种将红外激光解吸/真空紫外光电离质谱技术应用于分析胆固醇的新方法. 由于近阈值单光子电离作用,可以在低能量下只产生纯净的胆固醇分子离子峰;增加光子能量则可以使碎片离子峰大量出现. 为了验证碎片离子的归属,利用商用高分辨电子轰击电离-飞行时间质谱仪分析并指认了胆固醇主要的碎片峰. 此外,采用量子化学从头算的方法研究了胆固醇母体离子和碎片构型,并讨论了部分主要的光解离机理     

Silver nanoparticles as matrix for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry of peptides

Silver nanoparticle synthesized from chemical reduction has been successfully utilized as a matrix in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) of peptides. Acting as a substrate to adsorb analytes, as well as a transmission medium for UV laser, silver nanoparticle was found to assist in the desorption/ionization of peptides with little or no induced fragmentation. The size of the nanoparticle was typically in the range of 160 ± 20 nm. One of the key advantages of silver nanoparticle for peptides analysis is its simple step for on-probe sample preparation. In addition, it also minimizes the interferences of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant background signal, resulting in cleaner mass spectra and more sensitive signal, when compared to α–cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CCA) matrix.     

Mass Spectrometry,Review of the Basics: Electrospray,MALDI, and Commonly Used Mass Analyzers

Abstract

Mass spectrometry (MS) has progressed to become a powerful analytical tool for both quantitative and qualitative applications. The first mass spectrometer was constructed in 1912 and since then it has developed from only analyzing small inorganic molecules to biological macromolecules, practically with no mass limitations. Proteomics research, in particular, increasingly depends on MS technologies. The ability of mass spectrometry analyzing proteins and other biological extracts is due to the advances gained through the development of soft ionization techniques such as electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) that can transform biomolecules into ions. ESI can efficiently be interfaced with separation techniques enhancing its role in the life and health sciences. MALDI, however, has the advantage of producing singly charges ions of peptides and proteins, minimizing spectral complexity. Regardless of the ionization source, the sensitivity of a mass spectrometer is related to the mass analyzer where ion separation occurs. Both quadrupole and time of flight (ToF) mass analyzers are commonly used and they can be configured together as QToF tandem mass spectrometric instruments. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), as the name indicates, is the result of performing two or more sequential separations of ions usually coupling two or more mass analyzers. Coupling a quadrupole and time of flight resulted in the production of high-resolution mass spectrometers (i.e., Q-ToF). This article will historically introduce mass spectrometry and summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of ESI and MALDI along with quadrupole and ToF mass analyzers, including the technical marriage between the two analyzers. This article is educational in nature and intended for graduate students and senior biochemistry students as well as chemists and biochemists who are not familiar with mass spectrometry and would like to learn the basics; it is not intended for mass spectrometry experts.     

MATRIX-ASSISTED LASER DESORPTION MASS SPECTROMETRY

ABSTRACT

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry is a technique that has attracted widespread interest since its introduction in 1988. It is primarily implemented using time-of-flight or trapped ion mass analyzers and greatly facilitates determination of molecular weights for biomolecules, polymers, and natural products. Numerous publications on these and related applications have appeared during the past ten years. The present brief MALDI review is intended to provide selected coverage of recent literature, with special emphasis on applications to proteomics, whole cells and tissues, polymers, organic and inorganic molecules. In view of the intense current interest, the choice of topics emphasizes biochemically-related applications.     

Tandem mass spectrometry of poly(ethylene imine)s by electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)

In this contribution, linear poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) polymers, which are of importance in gene delivery, are investigated in detail by using electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time of flight (ESI-Q-TOF) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). The analyzed PEIs with different end groups were synthesized using the polymerization of substituted 2-oxazoline via a living cationic ring-opening polymerization (CROP) and a subsequent hydrolysis under acidic conditions. The main goal of this study was to identify linear PEI polymers in a detailed way to gain information about their fragmentation pathways. For this purpose, a detailed characterization of three different linear PEIs was performed by using ESI-Q-TOF and MALDI-TOF MS in combination with collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments. In ESI-MS as well as MALDI-MS analysis, the obtained spectra of PEIs resulted in fitting mass distributions for the investigated PEIs. In the tandem MS analysis, a 1,2-hydride shift with a charge-remote rearrangement via a four-membered cyclic transition state, as well as charge-induced fragmentation reactions, was proposed as the main fragmentation mechanisms according to the obtained fragmentation products from the protonated parent peaks. In addition, heterolytic and homolytic cleavages were proposed as alternative fragmentation pathways. Moreover, a 1,4-hydrogen elimination was proposed to explain different fragmentation products obtained from the sodiated parent peaks.     

VUV laser photoionization of laser-stimulated desorbed species

We report here first results about single-photon VUV laser photoionization of desorbed species from a silicon surface irradiated by a pulsed and tunable UV laser (290-300 nm). The combination of VUV photoionization at 10 eV with laser-induced surface desorption offers a largely non-destructive and sensitive method for quantitative analysis. Indeed it allows mass spectrometry measurements with uniform sensitivity and without breaking the chemical bonds in the probed species. The energy of the VUV photons (9.91 eV) is above the ionization limits of a number of molecules and fragments. Moreover, adjustment of the delay between the desorbing and the probe lasers allows the measurement of the time-of- flight distribution of the ejected species. Data extracted from these measurements are fundamental for a better understanding of laser-surface interaction phenomena.     

MALDI-TOF MS对难溶聚芳酰胺PA6T的分析表征

选用五种样品试剂三氟乙酸、四氢呋喃、甲酸、乙腈、60%乙腈/5%三氟乙酸和两种不同的制样方法,采用基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF MS)表征难溶性聚合物聚对苯二甲酸己二酰胺(PA6T)的结构和分子量。发现以60%乙腈/5%三氟乙酸为样品试剂所得谱图的分子质量范围和信噪比最大,且溶剂法一步点样优于无溶剂法制样。获得了离子液体中合成产物PA6T的链结构,表明其主链为线性,未发现环状聚合物的存在,存在三种端基结构聚合体： 两端均为氨基或羧基、或一端为氨基另一端为羧基。采用MALDI-TOF MS和SEC两种方法对比测量了PA6T的平均分子量和分子量分布指数,表明MALDI-OF MS测得的平均分子量低于SEC法,分子量分布指数也低于SEC法,这是由于MS处理数据时忽略了低分子量部分,且高分子量部分因难以离子化而无法得到引起的。对于难溶的聚芳酰胺类聚合物的结构和分子量及其分布表征,MALDI-TOF MS仍不失为一个好方法。     

ESI-MS and MALLS analysis of quaternary structure of molluscan hemocyanins

The understanding of the function of macromolecular complexes is mainly related to a precise knowledge of their structure. Recently, the development of suitable mass spectrometric techniques (electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)) and multi-angle laser light scattering has enabled mass determination of native complexes and of their subunits. By these techniques, the structure and association/dissociation behavior of huge molecules of molluscan Octopus vulgaris, Sepia officinalis and Rapana venosa have been characterized. Molecular masses of the native and dissociated molecule of cephalopodan Hcs O. vulgaris (3545 and 359.3?kDa, respectively) and S. officinalis (4134 and 443.8?kDa, respectively) revealed that only one type subunit organizes their molecules, while the presence of two isoforms with different masses (422.8 and 400.0?kDa) has been determined for gastropodan R. venosa Hc, aggregated into didecamers. The difference of their structural subunits was also established after limited proteolysis with TPCK-trypsin. Eight functional units (FUs) with masses of?~?50?kDa were isolated from both subunits of RvH and isoform of Sepia officinalis, while seven FUs were purified from OvH. Further characterization of proteins by ESI-mass spectrometry (MS) and MALDI-MS, methods gave insights into post-translational modifications such as glycosylation. Glycosylation of O. vulgaris and S. officinalis Hcs was suggested based on the differences (11.6 and 40.0?kDa, respectively) between the masses measured by ESI-MS and those calculated by their gene sequences.     

Vapor deposition of intact polyethylene glycol thin films

Thin films of polyethylene glycol (PEG) of average molecular weight, 1400 amu, were deposited by both matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) and pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The deposition was carried out in vacuum (∼10^-6 Torr) with an ArF (λ=193 nm) laser at a fluence between 150 and 300 mJ/cm². Films were deposited on NaCl plates, Si(111) wafers, and glass slides. The physiochemical properties of the films are compared via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry, and matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The results show that the MAPLE films nearly identically resemble the starting material, whereas the PLD films do not. These results are discussed within the context of biomedical applications such as drug delivery coatings and in vivo applications where there is a need for transfer of polymeric coatings of PEG without significant chemical modification. Received: 2 March 2001 / Accepted: 5 March 2001 / Published online: 23 May 2001     

Application of the surface ionization for the detection of secondary particles in the secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS)

A method for postionization in the course of ion sputtering that is based on surface ionization of the sputtered particles is developed. The estimations show that the method allows a significant increase in the sensitivity of the secondary-ion mass spectrometry for several elements. Nonadditive increase in the sputtering coefficient of indium is experimentally studied using the surface-ionization method of postionization when the number of atoms in projectile clusters Bi _m ⁺ (m = 1–7) increases at energies 2–10 keV. Such a scheme for the detection of neutral particles can be used in alternative methods for the surface analysis, in particular, laser evaporation of surface and electron-stimulated desorption.     

Influence of the photoionization process on the fragmentation of laser desorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) samples has been performed by laser desorption combined with multi-photon ionization technique using two different geometries of the ionization laser beam. This comparative study evidences the strong influence of ionization laser fluence on PAH fragmentation. Through a ∼10³ enlargement of the ionization probe volume and 10⁴ reduction of laser fluence over previous studies, fragment free mass spectra are obtained with higher sensitivity and selectivity. The ability to measure fragment free PAH mass spectra is a very important step in the end goal of measuring complex unknown mixtures of PAH desorbed from solid surface such as soot samples.     

Laser desorption jet-cooling of organic molecules

Laser desorption followed by jet-cooling allows wavelength-selective as well as mass-selective detection of molecules desorbed from a surface without fragmentation. The cooling characteristics and detection sensitivity of laser desorption jet-cooling of organic molecules are investigated. From the rotational contour of the electronic origin of the S ₁ S ₀ transition of laser-desorbed anthracene, rotational cooling to 5–10 K is demonstrated. Vibrational cooling is studied for laser-desorbed diphenylamine, a molecule with low-energy vibrations, and a vibrational temperature below 15 K is found. The absolute detection sensitivity is determined for the perylene molecule. Using two-color (1+1) resonance enhanced multi-photon ionization (with a measured ionization efficiency of 0.25) for detection, it is found that one ion is produced in the detection region for every 2×10⁵ perylene molecules evaporated from the desorption laser spot. A two-color (1+1) REMPI spectrum (400 points) of perylene is recorded using only 30 picogram of material.     

Metastable decay of DNA components and their compositions – a perspective on the role of reactive electron scattering in radiation damage

Here we review recent studies on the metastable fragmentation of individual DNA and RNA building blocks and their compositions using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI). To compare the fragmentation channels of small DNA components with larger compositions we have studied the metastable fragmentation of the deprotonated nucleobases, ribose, ribose-monophoshates, the nucleosides, the nucleoside 5′-monophosphates and selected oligonucleotides. Both previously published and unpublished data are reported. To gain a comprehensive picture of the fragmentation of individual components, metastable fragmentation of native components are in many cases compared to chemically modified components and isotopic labelling is used to unambiguously identify fragments. Furthermore, to shed light on the underlying fragmentation mechanisms we complement the experimental studies with classical dynamics simulations of the fragmentation of selected compounds. For the DNA and RNA components where dissociative electron attachment studies have been conducted we compare these to the metastable fragmentation channels observed here.     

Laser ion kinetics: set-up and application of a single-shot femtosecond pump–probe technique

In this contribution the first measurements of a single-shot femtosecond laser pump–probe technique are reported. The technique is based on counter-propagating femtosecond laser pulses in a supersonic beam of a low density of sample molecules and simultaneous probe detection by ion or fragment-ion formation through a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer. It will be shown that the range of the pump–probe delays covers the time span between 100 fs and 10 ps depending on the pulse width of the laser used and the stability of the volt ages of the mass spectrometer. The application of this technique to organometallic compounds as well as to medium-sized organic molecules reveals some insight into the electron-transfer process during ionization through a 1+1 multi-photon absorption procedure. Furthermore it is demonstrated that this technique is also applicable to the investigation of ultra-fast isomerization and fragmentation processes. As an example the results of the processes within iron pentacarbonyl and substituted benzalacetones are reported. Received: 22 October 1999 / Published online: 24 July 2000     

New physical methods of organic compound identification using a surface ionization drift spectrometer

A new material for an ion thermoemitter is developed that provides efficient selective ionization of nitrogen-, sulfur-, phosphorus-, and arsenic-based organics and stability of ionization parameters. A new design of a drift spectrometer that allows for drift spectrometry analysis of unneutralized ion beams is suggested. It is shown that a drift spectrometer of such a design makes it possible to simultaneously determine a number of physicochemical characteristics of organic molecules (such as a complete set of drift mobility parameters for ions, activation energy of organic molecule ionization, and activation energy of organic molecule desorption from the test sample carrier), which is equivalent to significant improvement of the instrument’s effective resolution.