Method and apparatus for chemical and biological sample separation

A structure selective resolution method, comprising:

• a) adding at least one immobilizing agent to a sample, which rigidifies at least one component of the sample;
• b) ionizing and providing the sample with the immobilizing agent to an ion mobility based spectrometer;
• c) adding at least one chemical modifier that interacts selectively with the component and/or the associated immobilizing agent of the sample;
• and
• d) resolving the component from other components of the sample based on their measured ion mobility characteristics.

A structure selective resolution method, comprising:

• a) adding at least one transforming agent to a sample, which bonds to at least one component of the sample;
• b) ionizing and providing the sample with the transforming agent to an ion mobility based spectrometer;
• c) adding at least one chemical modifier that interacts selectively with the component of the sample and/or the transforming agent;
• and
• d) resolving the component from other components of the sample based on their measured ion mobility characteristics.