Systems and methods extending the laserspray ionization mass spectrometry concept from atmospheric pressure to vacuum
AssigneeWayne State University
InventorSarah Trimpin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are systems and methods that allow analysis of macromolecular structures using laserspray ionization at intermediate pressure or high vacuum using commercially available mass spectrometers with or without modification and with the application of heat. The systems and methods produce multiply-charged ions for improved analysis in mass spectrometry.
Claims22
A method of producing multiply-charged analyte ions from a matrix/analyte association comprising:
- placing the matrix/analyte association into an intermediate pressure or high vacuum region in fluid contact with a lower pressure region of a mass spectrometer;
- contacting the matrix/analyte association with a force that generates transfer and receipt of charge between the matrix and analyte;
- allowing the matrix/analyte associations to contact a condition leading to evaporation or sublimation of the matrix from the matrix/analyte association thereby producing desolvated analyte ions;
- allowing the desolvated analyte ions to enter a mass analyzer of the mass spectrometer thereby producing multiply-charged analyte ions.
A method of gas phase separation of an analyte comprising:
- contacting a matrix/analyte association with a force that generates transfer and receipt of charge between the matrix and analyte;
- allowing the matrix/analyte association to enter the gas phase of an ion source of a mass spectrometer wherein the gas phase comprises (i) an intermediate pressure zone or a high vacuum zone such that the matrix/analyte association is exposed to a decrease in pressure and (ii) at least one condition such that the matrix/analyte association is exposed to a collision within the gas phase of the ion source;
- thereby producing multiply-charged ions and enabling the differentiation of isomers by MS/MS using collision induced dissociation (CID), electron transfer dissociation (ETD) and electron capture dissociation (ECD) fragmentation and/or cross section shape, and permitting cross section analysis using modeling of ions from surfaces using ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry instrumentation for structural characterization.
A method of analyzing a matrix/analyte association using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry comprising:
- contacting the matrix/analyte association with a force thereby exposing the matrix/analyte association to an intermediate pressure or high vacuum zone within a mass spectrometer or ion mobility mass spectrometer and at least one obstacle so that the matrix/analyte association is exposed to a decrease in pressure and a collision thereby producing multiply-charged ions that are positively or negatively charged depending on the operation of the mass spectrometer and detector;
- acquiring a mass spectrum, fragmentation spectrum or ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) data of the analyte;
- and evaluating the mass spectrum, fragmentation spectrum or IMS data to determine a characteristic of the analyte.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.