Laser-based ionization method

Muhlberger, F., Zimmermann, R., Kettrup, A. (2001) A Mobile Mass Spectrometer for Comprehensive On-line Analysis of Trace and Bulk Components of Complex Gas Mixtures Parallel Application of the Laser-based Ionization Methods VUV Single-photon Ionization, Resonant Multiphoton Ionization, and Laser-induced Electron Impact Ionization. Anal. Chem. 73 3590-3604. 

Advanced analytical techniques, particularly mass spectrometry (MS), often combined with liquid chromatography (LC) or gas chromatography (GC), are requisite for lipid analysis and they have played the crucial role in the emergence as well as the progresses of lipidomics. MS is the principal choice for the lipid analysis, particularly using electrospray ionization (ESI) and sometimes also atmospheric pressure chemical ionization or laser-based MS methods for surface analysis. The MS-based techniques are the best choice for lipidomics due to their superior sensitivity and molecular specificity, and because they provide the ability to resolve the extensive compositional and structural diversity of lipids in biological systems. 

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) is widely used for the detection of organic molecules. One of the limitations of the method is a strong matrix background in low-mass (up to 500-700 Da) range. In present work an alternative approach based on the application of rough matrix-less surfaces and known as surface-assisted laser desoi ption/ionization (SALDI), has been applied. 

Laser based mass spectrometric methods, such as laser ionization (LIMS) and laser ablation in combination with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) are powerful analytical techniques for survey analysis of solid substances. To realize the analytical performances methods for the direct trace analysis of synthetic and natural crystals modification of a traditional analytical technique was necessary and suitable standard reference materials (SRM) were required. Recent developments allowed extending the range of analytical applications of LIMS and LA-ICP-MS will be presented and discussed. For example ... 

It is therefore not surprising that the interest in PyMS as a typing tool diminished at the turn of the twenty-first century and hence why taxonomists have turned to MS-based methods that use soft ionization methods such as electrospray ionization (ESI-MS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI MS). These methods generate information-rich spectra of metabolites and proteins, and because the molecular ion is seen, the potential for biomarker discovery is being realized. The analyses of ESI-MS and MALDI-MS data will still need chemometric methods, and it is hoped that researchers in these areas can look back and learn from the many PyMS studies where machine learning was absolutely necessary to turn the complex pyrolysis MS data into knowledge of bacterial identities. 

An analytical method based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was applied to provide information on the structure of copolymer 29, for example, repeat units and end groups <2002ANC6252>. 

FIGURE 15.2 Common protein ionization methods used for MS-based proteomics. Two common ionization technologies are currently available for protein analysis. Top ESI volatilizes and ionizes peptides and proteins in solution. Bottom MALDI uses analytes that are co-crystallized in a matrix composed of organic acid on a solid support. A pulse of ultraviolet laser evaporates the matrix and analyte into gas phase, resulting in generation of single charge ions. 

Powell, K.D. Wales, T.E. Fitzgerald, M.C. Thermodynamic stability measurements on multimeric proteins using a new H/D exchange-and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization (MALDl) mass spectrometry-based method. Protein Sci. 2002, 11, 841-851. 

Mass spectrometry methods based on soft ionization techniques, 59,61,88,89 matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF), have been successfully applied for the direct analysis of grape and wine extracts and for monitoring flavonoid reactions in model solution studies. They give access to the molecular weights of the different species present in a fraction or extract and, through fragmentation patterns, provide important information on their constitutive units. Description of the various MS techniques can be found in Chapters 1 and 2. 

In addition to the IR, Raman and LIBS methods previously discussed, a number of other laser-based methods for explosives detection have been developed over the years. The following section briefly describes the ultraviolet and visible (UV/vis) absorption spectra of EM and discusses the techniques of laser desorption (LD), PF with detection through resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) or laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS), variations on the light ranging and detecting (LIDAR) method, and photoluminescence. Table 2 summarizes the LODs of several explosive-related compounds (ERC) and EM obtained by the techniques described in this section. 

Interaction of nanomaterials with native cells is an important problem in modem life science. Recent progress in mass spectrometry provides a vital tool to study this problem. Advances in applications of mass spectrometry for investigating the interaction of nanoparticles with cell membranes and biomacromolecules are based on at least two methods. The first is matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI),1 and the second is temperature-programmed desorption mass spectrometry (TPD MS), newly developed to study the interaction of nanoparticles with a cell surface.2 ... 

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