With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) and Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) programs, Professor Amanda Hummon from the University of Notre Dame and colleagues Bradley Smith, Marya Lieberman and Michelle Joyce have acquired a matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF-TOF MS) with collision-induced dissociation (CID) capabilities. In general, mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the key analytical methods used to identify and characterize small quantities of chemical species embedded in complex mixture. A laser striking the inert mixture embedded with the sample, vaporizes and makes charged particles (ions) from the sample. The ions pass into the mass spectrometer where the masses of the parent ion and its fragment ions are measured. In a time-of-flight instrument the ions are accelerated by an electric field to allow further characterization. MALDI TOF combines gentle ionization (ideal for producing intact ions of peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, synthetic polymers, and other similarly sized species) with a detection mode that offers an excellent balance between sensitivity and accuracy across a wide mass range. The collision-induced dissociation breaks up the molecular ions in the gas phase. This highly sensitive technique allows identification and determination of the structure of molecules in a complex mixture. The acquisition strengthens the research infrastructure at the University and region. The instrument broadens participation by involving diverse students in research and research training with this modern analytical technique. Because the principal investigator is heavily involved in mentoring students from underrepresented groups and the local Girl Scouts, this instrumentation exposes those students to mass spectrometry techniques and STEM activities.
such The award is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels, especially in: (a) screening of paper substrates and milk; (b) screening for drugs in dried urine spots; (c) characterizing self-assembled supramolecular organic dyes; (d) developing imaging mass spectrometry of platinum compounds; (e) correlating mass spectrometry imaging and confocal Raman microscopy; (f) using plasmon-assisted laser-desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) with gold nanoparticles for the detection of saccharides; (g) studying xenopus laevis developmental biology and (h) using MALDI for metabolomics.
