title: A method for the analysis of low-mass molecules by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.
abstract: We report a novel method termed matrix suppressed laser desorption/ionization to improve the analysis of low-mass molecules by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. In this method, the surfactant of cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) is added to the conventional matrix of alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid solution to prepare the MALDI samples. During the MALDI process, the presence of CTAB could substantially or even completely suppress the matrix-related ion background. As a result, very clean mass spectra can be routinely obtained in the low-mass range. In addition, the presence of CTAB can significantly improve the mass resolution of low-mass molecules. It is seen that high-quality spectra were routinely obtained at a matrix/CTAB ratio of 1000:1. This method has been successfully used to analyze a variety of low-mass molecules.
authors.affiliation: National Chromatographic R&A Center, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Qingchun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hanfa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Baochuan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jianyi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ni
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D003505:Cyclodextrins / Q000032:analysis; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D003505:Cyclodextrins; D010455:Peptides; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations